Listening Post

COMEDY CITY — KC native Corey Rittmaster and his wife, Monique Madrid, will sit in with ComedyCity on Friday, Dec. 23, for the 7:30 p.m. performance, which is appropriate for all ages. ComedyCity is located in the Westport Flea Market, 817 Westport Road in Kansas City, Mo. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.comedycity.cc/Tickets.html. Or you can get more info by calling the box office at 816-842-2744. ComedyCity is the competitive improv comedy show that used to be called ComedySportz. Both of the comedians started their performing careers there, before moving to Chicago about eight years ago. Most of their time recently has been spent performing with The Second City on board Norwegian Cruise Line ships in Alaska, the Caribbean and Hawaii.

 

 

MAT CATCHES MESSY CANDLE WAX — In the category of why didn’t I think of this comes the MenorahMate. I was shopping this weekend at a popular kitchen and bath chain store when I came across the MenorahMate. I picked it up and was struck by the thought conveyed on the package. It noted that we may use our beautiful heirloom menorahs and table cloths, but the beauty of the moment is ruined because we place aluminum foil underneath the menorah to catch the candle drippings. MenorahMate takes the place of the ugly aluminum, and protects linens and tables from the dripping wax and the soft backing prevents scratches on tabletops. It also features the three Chanukah blessings printed in Hebrew, English and transliteration. To clean, simply place in freezer for at least two hours then flex where wax has dripped. I was at a local synagogue gift shop on Sunday and noticed another similar product. I’m so impressed I plan to get a few as gifts this year. Happy shopping!

CANDLES PART II — A few years ago we featured Creative Candles, owned by Ken Weiner and Pam Fleischer, in Jewish Life magazine. Creative Candles has been featured in Martha Stewart Living, Martha Stewart Wedding and on The Martha Stewart Show. While Stewart was in Kansas City recently, she stopped to visit the facility. She enjoyed the visit and mentioned it on her blog. Here’s what she said:
“I even listed Creative Candles as one of my ‘secret sources’ on my website, and for good reason. These candles are crafted with old world techniques, using only the finest blend of waxes. They burn cleanly and for a long period of time. The color choices are fabulous and there are several styles from which to choose. It was wonderful seeing Ken Weiner and Pam Fleischer, the lovely husband and wife team who own Creative Candles. I really enjoyed our in-depth tour of the facility.”

PANERA GIVES BACK — Our friends at Panera Bread, led by Marketing Director Michelle Cole, have been busy conducting charitable activities lately. In October the restaurant chain sponsored the 4th Annual Swing for Life Gold Tournament. The one day event raised more than $25,000 to be donated to Gilda’s Club of Kansas City, an organization that provides networking and support activities to cancer patients. Panera Bread of Kansas also donated 10 cents from every Pink Ribbon Bagel sold and $1 from every baker’s dozen sold during the month of October to Gilda’s Club. Cole noted that due to the “amazing support of our customers, the sales of the Pink Ribbon Bagels and baker’s dozen added another $7,300 for the charity for a grand total of $32, 965.83 to be donated.”