Avoid Tweety

It's a damn shame how many tattoos are drunkenly selected off the artist's wall of flash art after the artist rejected your first seven ideas because he couldn't draw them from memory. Attending this weekend's Tattoo Rendezvous convention, held by the Alliance of Professional Tattooists Inc., should go a long way toward helping you understand what'll be cool in 20 years and what'll be embarrassing in 30 days. It might just save you from getting a pink butterfly on the small of your back. Today through July 20 at the Embassy Suites (7640 Northwest Tiffany Springs Parkway, 816-891-7788), check out seminars, tattoo contests, live music and appearances by the Kansas City Roller Warriors. If you are swept up in a wave of enthusiasm, there's tattooing in the ballroom from noon to 11 p.m. each day, with a tattoo-of-the-day contest at 10 p.m. Daily admission costs $10; weekend registration is $50 and includes access to the seminars. For details, see safe-tattoos.com.
Thu., July 17, 12-11 p.m.; Fri., July 18, 12-11 p.m.; Sat., July 19, 12-11 p.m.; Sun., July 20, 12-11 p.m., 2008