Sunday, February 25, 2024

Mannequin

 



Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Erin Jones, Vocalist

 

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Erin, performing with The Phil Collins Experience.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@pcexperience 

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Milkshake

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

 

Heading Home

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#walkway #businessman 

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Aqua Penny's


Although still under construction, Chef Penny Mufuka (#WomenYouShouldKnow) offered me a peek inside her newest restaurant, Aqua Penny's, at Park Place in Leawood, Kansas.

Expect fresh coastal-seafood flown in daily and a full-service raw bar when they open in about 6 weeks.

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@aquapennys @parkplaceleawood #chefdriven #culinarywizardry #seafoodrestaurant

Awning and Window

 

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Dresses

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved. 

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Noble Gasses

 

A selection of noble gasses, not just neon, are used in gas-discharge decorative lighting.

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#chemistry

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Keshon Duke, Musician

 

Keshon, performing with the St. Louis-based band JAM: Jackson and Mars.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@jacksonandmars #bassguitar #guitarist 

Ice Skater

Photograph © 2021 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Moving Van

 

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

Honoring A Military Veteran


An officer and a gentleman has passed: Brigadier General William Joseph Mullen III (Ret), United States Army.

-Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point; Master of Science degree from The George Washington University, awarded while a student at the Naval War College; graduate of the Army War College.

-Army Ranger, Master Parachutist.

-Vietnam, twice. Korea, Panama.

-Commanded 1st Infantry Division (Forward) in Germany and deployed with them to Saudi Arabia during Desert Shield/Storm.

-Staff positions at The Pentagon, US Central Command, and US Forces Command.

-Awards include Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman's Badge, Distinguished Service Cross, two Distinguished Service Medals, two Soldiers Medals.

-His 33 years of active duty culminated with command of the 1st Infantry Division (Separate) (Forward) in Germany. 

In one of the emails between us after I made this photograph, he expressed his gratitude, "I am honored and flattered." 

He signed his notes, "All the best, Bill."

I never called him Bill.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@westpoint_usma @usarmy 


Friday, February 16, 2024

Carmen Dieker, Musician

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Photograph © 2020 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@la_colina_violinista @quixoticfusion #violinist  

Zae Romeo, American Idol

 

Watch Sunday, February 18, 2024, as Zae Romeo auditions for American Idol (ABC, Season 22).

You will recognize Zae from The Voice (NBC, Season 20).

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@ZaeRomeo @AmericanIdol @TheVoiceCasting @KMBC9News #TheVoice #AfroLatino 

Thursday, February 15, 2024

Guitarist, and Technician

 

Lars Groce (l), guitarist and vocalist for The Zeros, and Mike Foster, guitar technician.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

@larsgroce @thezeroskc #musician

Straws



Photograph 2024 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved. 

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Valentine's Day

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved. 

Valentine's Day

A sidewalk-flower for Valentine's Day.

Artist: Unknown. Young at heart.

Photograph © 2021 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

 

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Dang Thai Son, Musician

#ClassicalPianist  #Pianist

As a boy in Vietnam, pianist Dang Thai Son took refuge from the Vietnam War by evacuating with his family to a remote village in the mountains.

His mother, the co-founder of what is now known as the Vietnam National Academy of Music, taught him to play on old pianos rescued from her school in Hanoi.

Their extraordinary story is recounted in the feature-length documentary, "The Cannon and The Flower" (2014, Story4).

He studied at the Moscow Conservatory, in Russia.

In 1980, Mr. Dang was the First Place Winner and Gold Medalist at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland, becoming the first pianist from Asia to do so.

Mr. Dang has performed with renowned orchestras in more that 40 countries.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

@icmpark


Monday, February 12, 2024

David Luther, Musician

 

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@thedavidluther #guitarist #vocalist 

New Life

I was 21 years old, when I placed spermatozoa into Petri dish containing an ovum.

A membrane formed around the ovum within a minute of being fertilized, creating a barrier to other spermatozoa.

Then, new life: Cells divided and multiplied.

The profundity of that experience has lasted a lifetime.

Photograph © 2021 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.


Sunday, February 11, 2024

Head Chiefs



Former Kansas City Chiefs General Manager, CEO and President Carl Peterson, and former Head Coach Dick Vermeil, exchanging opinions.

Photograph © 2009 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

@chiefs  

Sunrise

 

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.


Saturday, February 10, 2024

Homage to the 1942 Kansas City Monarchs Baseball Team

#BlackHistory #AmericanHistory

When the Kansas City Monarchs, Negro Leagues baseball team won the 1942 Negro World Series, players wore a larger version of this 'KC Heart' patch on the sleeves of their uniforms.

I purchased this cap at Sandlot Goods. The line of merchandise is part of a collaboration with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, honoring the rich history of African American baseball.

A portion of the profit from my purchase is going directly to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

And, the cap is cut and sewn in Kansas City.

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@kc_monarchs @nlbmuseumkc @sandlotgoods @parkplaceleawood #baseball 

Dancers

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Photograph © 2020 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

 

Friday, February 9, 2024

Karen Agron Flattery, Vocalist

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Our beloved Kansas City jazz singer, Karen Agron Flattery, has passed.

I wrote the following in 2014:

"Vocalist Karen Agron's first publicity photographs were made by Bruno of Hollywood when she was a teenager. An agent suggested she change her professional name to Karen Day because, 'Agron isn't catchy enough.' 

Karen entertained audiences across the United States, performing with first-class bands and orchestras. 

Many years ago, Karen sang at Le Carrousel in Kansas City's famous downtown Muehlebach Hotel. It was a posh setting for the ultimate in dining, dancing, and musical entertainment."

I remember my last telephone conversation with Karen, and it was too long ago.

Karen and Kevin Flattery have been married 27 years.

"Be kind, be hopeful, do as much as you can for others, love yourself and find peace." -Karen.

Photograph copyright 2014 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@klflattery 

Newspaper Delight

I held a newspaper this morning, lingering on every page; the disposable cup indicates I was originally on the move. 

The mission I had been on was easily postponed.

Did it matter that the newspaper was not the current edition? Not a bit.

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved

@wsj #TheWallStreetJournal   

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Kansa Warrior

This sculpture, "Ad Astra", is of a Kansa warrior, and sits atop the Kansas State Capitol.

Photograph © 2021 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

 

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Bill Plympton, Animator

Portrait of an Academy Award nominee.

Animator Bill Plympton, has been nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Animated Short: 'Your Face' (1987), and 'Guard Dog' (2004). His career totals for awards are 56 nominations, and 41 wins.

Bill declined a 7-figure offer from The Walt Disney Company to animate 'Aladdin' (1992); he knew any ideas he developed under contract with them would become Disney intellectual property.

Three of the opening-sequence couch gags on The Simpsons were done by Bill.

Photograph © 2014 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

@plymptoons #movies #oscars #academyawardnominations #animation

 

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Sgt. Brittany Shaner, United States Marine Corps

#WomenYouShouldKnow

This morning, Marine Corps Times reported. "The Marines are retaining women at significantly higher rates than men", and, "The military service with the smallest proportion of women in the ranks may also be disproportionately good at retaining them." The story was written by Hope Hodge Seck.

I was fortunate to photograph this Marine, Sgt. Brittany Shaner, and have no doubt she will serve our country with exceptional leadership and dedication.

Thank you for your military service, Sgt. Shaner.

Photograph copyright 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

She's not a female Marine. She is a Marine. 

@Marines #WomenInTheMilitary #marines #military 

 

Danielle Nicole Schnebelen-Miller, Musician

 

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Danielle Nicole's single, "The Love You Bleed", is #1 on iTunes, #1 on Amazon, and #1 on Billboard.

Brandon Miller, Go-Go Ray, Damon Parker, Tony Braunagel, Eric Corne, Duane Trower.

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@daniellenicoleband #guitarist #bassguitar  

Monday, February 5, 2024

Violin and Piano

 

This handsome German violin and bow, are resting on a Steinway & Sons piano.

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

#music #musicalinstruments 


No Fixed Abode

#WomenYouShouldKnow 

"No fixed address", is a description used by law enforcement, and a euphemism used by news media.

Photograph © 2021 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#NoFixedLocation #PoliteTermForHomeless 

Inappropriate?

Perhaps the skull-and-crossbones decorative license plate is inappropriate here.

Photograph © 2024 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.


Sunday, February 4, 2024

Paul Steger, Musician

Photograph © 2021 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@paulsteger123 #keyboardist #keyboards 

Bill Graham, Musician

Photograph © 2022 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

#drummer

 

Ashley Barron: Singer, Songwriter, Vocalist

#WomenYouShouldKnow  

Ashley is a country-music artist in Nashville, Tennessee.

Photograph © 2021 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@ashleybarronofficial 

Friday, February 2, 2024

Erica McKenzie, Musician

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Photograph © 2023 Larry F. Levenson.

All rights reserved.

@EricaOneWomanBand #EOWB #Erican #IAmAnErican 

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Black History Month

#BlackHistory #AmericanHistory 

I publish stories and images of African Americans throughout the year, rather than hold them for February, which is Black History Month.

Many Black sports figures politely turn down appearance and speaking requests to celebrate Black History Month. Often, they are contacted only once during the year; for the February commemoration. 

They wonder why there is no invitation to speak in other months, to acknowledge contributions of Black men and women.

The prominent figure respectfully declines the engagement, frequently without explanation.

Pictured, is the late Kanas Senator Ulysses Lee "Rip" Gooch. He became a candidate for the Senate seat because people told him his voice was needed.

They were right.

Photograph © 2007 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved. 

#FromTheBottom