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Kansas City Connection: Sushi and Sufjan

By Lucas Wetzel - | Apr 19, 2015

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could feast on food from dozens of Kansas City’s finest restaurants while feeling like you’d actually done something good?

If so, the 2015 Harvesters Forks & Corks dinner and auction on Thursday evening is a great way to fill up your plate and glass while aiding hunger relief efforts in the community.

The 19th annual event will be at the Grand Ballroom at the Kansas City Convention Center.

Participating restaurants include Grunauer, Kona Grill, Rudy’s Tenampa Taqueria and The Capital Grille, to name a few, with beverage purveyors including Amigoni winery, Boulevard Brewing Company and Mothers Brewing Company.

Individual tickets are $90 and higher-level sponsorship packages are available at harvesters.org.

Nara Sushi

Another one of the restaurants providing food for Forks & Corks is Nara Sushi Restaurant at 1617 Main St. in the Crossroads. Nara is an excellent spot to sample different kinds of sushi or specialty rolls, stir-fry, teriyaki plates and other Japan-inspired specialties.

I don’t typically take pictures of my food, but halfway through my Forbidden Apple Roll (five large rolls, $14), which includes apple, mango, avocado, cucumber and tempura shrimp, I found myself wishing I’d gotten a photo of the dish’s pink soy paper and zig-zagging drizzle of peanut sauce, which was as delicious to eat as it was delightful to look at.

Nara regularly runs dinner and lunch specials and also serves specialty cocktails such as a plum mojito or “samurai sangria.” Wednesday is ladies’ night, with $3 sushi rolls and $5 martinis. It’s a modern yet relaxed environment in a historic brick building that also includes a nice patio space. Nara is open every day but Sunday. Visit narakc.com to see a full menu.

Sufjan Stevens

On Tuesday, songwriter Sufjan Stevens will play an 8 p.m. show at the Arvest Bank at Midland Theatre.

Stevens’ new album, “Carrie & Lowell,” chronicles the troubled life of his mother in a series of intimate, whispery ballads.

Balcony seats are available at midlandkc.com, and seats at all levels are for sale on StubHub.

David Sedaris

If you enjoy a good humorous essay or a night of comedic storytelling and haven’t yet managed to catch one of his Lied Center visits, check out humorist David Sedaris on Wednesday evening at the Kauffman Center.

Whether he’s skewering the virtues of the FitBit or recounting the awkwardness of a family funeral in his characteristic high-pitched voice, Sedaris keeps his tour readings full of fresh, funny and thought-provoking material. Remaining tickets are $43 and up at kauffmancenter.org.

Middle of the Map

Middle of the Map Festival’s music portion begins Wednesday, with viral music video stars OK Go playing a 9:45 p.m. set at the Uptown Theater. The event continues with 130 different bands from then through Sunday at Westport venues including the Westport Saloon, The Record Bar, Ernie Biggs, Riot Room, and an outdoor stage at Westport Road and Mill Street.

Other headliners include Iron & Wine (10 p.m. Thursday at the Uptown), hip-hop favorites Atmosphere (10:15 p.m. Friday at the Outdoor Stage) and Ben Kweller (midnight Friday at Record Bar) along with dozens of local acts.

It’s a great deal at $75 for a four-day pass, and you can view a full lineup of bands at middleofthemapfest.com.

Kansas City On Tap

The season of endless beer festivals begins on Saturday with the epic Kansas City On Tap festival, featuring over 100 different beers from 50 American craft breweries, as well as food and live music. This national touring event will stop in in Berkley Riverfront Park from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Pick up tickets online at americaontap.com for $45 a piece.

AIDS Walk

Saturday at Theis Park, just south of the Nelson-Atkins Museum Lawn, the 2015 Aids Walk Kansas City will kick off at 10 a.m. and wind through the neighborhoods surrounding Brush Creek. Visit Aidswalkkansascity.org for registration information.

— Lucas Wetzel is a writer and editor from Kansas City, Mo. Know of an upcoming event in Kansas City you’d like to see featured in Kansas City Connection? Email us about it at kcconnection@ljworld.com.