Under the Stars Kansas’ brilliant night sky is the stuff of dreamers and visionaries
46 A Cocktail Renaissance Uncover hip lounges that are shaking up Kansas’ nightlife
Dockum Speakeasy in Wichita serves no- and low-alcohol cocktails, including this blend of raspberry purée, lemon juice and ginger beer.
honky-tonk in downtown Emporia is drawing people to the dance floor for some good ol’ fashioned fun
Latin Bar & Grille brings
In 2024, Country Stampede moved to Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs. This year’s festival featured Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan and Cole Swindell.
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One Last Symphony After 20 years of world-class symphonic music beneath beautiful sunsets and amid tallgrass prairies, the annual Symphony in the Flint Hills took its final bow June 14. This year’s show, titled the “20th Anniversary Grand Finale,” featured Kansas native and country music artist Logan Mize for a night of dancing. The sold-out event took place on the Evans Family Ranch in Chase County. The annual symphony had become a cherished occasion unlike any other and will be missed. “As we say farewell to this event, we’re also looking ahead—exploring new opportunities to celebrate and preserve the Flint Hills in innovative ways,” says account supervisor Chelsey Dawson. “Stay tuned for what’s next, and thank you for helping us make this finale one to remember.”
James Beard Semifinalists While working on the feature story “A Cocktail Renaissance,” page 46, author Meta Newell West visited many hip and trendy cocktail lounges throughout Kansas—a tough assignment, but she was happy to do it. She was excited to learn that one of the bars she would be visiting, John Brown’s Underground, was recently named a James Beard Award semifinalist. The James Beard Awards are among the most prestigious honors in the American culinary world. They celebrate outstanding chefs and other food professionals, restaurants and bars representing the very best in their categories. We love seeing Kansas represented among this list of semifinalists and would like to recognize these outstanding professionals. For cocktail services, let’s give a big round of applause to John Brown’s Underground (Lawrence), which was nominated for Outstanding Bar, and Jay Sanders at Wild Child (Shawnee), who was nominated for Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. For food services, congratulations are in order for Linda Duerr at The Restaurant at 1900 (Mission Woods) and Rozz Petrozz at Saltwell Farm Kitchen (Overbrook), who were both nominated for Best Chef, and Georges French Bistro (Wichita), which was nominated for Outstanding Restaurant.
KANSAS! Events If the stories about dance halls, music festivals and cocktail lounges have you itching for a night out on the town, then check the KANSAS! online events calendar to discover the happenings going on near you. travelks.com/events and travelks.com/things-to-do
When the lights go down …
If you think Kansas shuts down when the sun sets, think again.
There’s something magical about Kansas after nightfall. This issue is for the night owls, the music lovers, the stargazers—anyone curious about what Kansas has to offer after dark.
Nightlife in Kansas isn’t about glitz or flash. It’s about community. It’s that local spot you go to decompress, unwind from your day and find your people. Where you have a seat and are known by name. Where there are no strangers—just old friends and new acquaintances.
In our story, “A Cocktail Renaissance” (p. 46), writer Meta Newell West takes readers on a journey to speakeasies across Kansas. These cocktail lounges not only mix drinks but also blend history and modern flair, crafting experiences infused with both spirits and stories.
We’re also taking you beyond the city lights, into the deep, dark Kansas skies. These skies are among the best in the country for stargazing, reminding us that awe doesn’t always come with a spotlight. Sometimes, it’s just the quiet brilliance of the Milky Way stretching across the night.
Here’s to the nighttime wanderers. May this issue spark a late-night road trip or two.
@KANSASMag
KansasMagazine (get spotted; use #kansasmag to tag us) facebook.com/KansasMagazine
ANDREA ETZEL PUBLISHER, KANSAS! MAGAZINE
PHOTO Andrea Etzel
Beyond the Magazine
A look back at the projects that have defined KANSAS!
Story by Andrea Etzel Illustrations courtesy Kansas Tourism
since its earliest years, KANSAS! has acted as both a lens and a voice for the Sunflower State. Over the decades, the magazine has expanded beyond its printed pages, creating innovative ways to share Kansas stories with readers.
In the winter of 1983, the magazine introduced the first KANSAS! calendar, a yearly keepsake for subscribers to mark the changing seasons. Delivered as a fold-out poster, it quickly became a fan favorite. By 1986, it had evolved into the wall-hanging style that still decorates homes and offices across the state. Each year, thousands of images are submitted, showcasing Kansas through the eyes of its talented photographers.
In the spring of 1984, a student edition of the magazine was launched: KANSAS! Too. Playful and engaging, with a touch of educational articles mixed in, this edition connected young readers with the land and stories around them. Published for nearly a decade, it laid the foundation for today’s KANSAS! Kids to inspire a new generation.
Beyond the magazine, KANSAS! has published a collection of vibrant photography books. Kansas in Color, edited by Andrea Glenn with an introduction by Zula Bennington Greene, celebrated the state’s beauty in 100 full-color photographs. Later titles such as The Four Seasons of Kansas and My Kansas offered seasonal splendor and thematic journeys through small-town charm, wildlife and scenic byways.
magazine’s pages to life with an exciting new experience that was equal parts travel and storytelling: Readers were invited to tour Kansas with Glenn on a specially curated bus tour. Driving from Topeka to Dodge City, the group made stops at notable locations, including the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City, Botanica in Wichita, the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, and the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene. In true KANSAS! fashion, the tour blended history, community and homegrown hospitality.
Longtime editor Andrea Glenn was a visionary. During her tenure, the calendar, books and student edition of the magazine became a reality. In the autumn of 1988, Glenn brought the
As KANSAS! moves into the future, these past projects serve as both inspiration and foundation. With each new issue, there are fresh opportunities to reimagine how we share the stories, landscapes and people that define our state—ensuring that the story of Kansas is not only remembered, but always unfolding.
Next Stop, Flavor!
These historic depot stations provide a unique dining experience
Story by Cecilia Harris
once a bustling train station, the former Santa Fe depot in Leavenworth has transformed into a popular destination for hungry diners. Aptly named The Depot, the restaurant offers award-winning comfort food inside the pink sandstone structure built in 1887 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Although passenger service ended in the late 1930s—and freight service to the area nearly 50 years later—the train tracks still run alongside the depot. With striking architectural features, including the original stained-glass windows, elaborate woodwork, hardwood floors and two reconstructed fireplaces, the restaurant transports patrons back to the glory days of rail travel.
“You can just imagine the people in the 1920s running around,” says chef Michael Nachbar, who also co-owns the restaurant with his wife, Mary. “You can imagine guys sitting around smoking their pipes or cigars and playing cards in the Men’s Waiting Room, and the women conversing in their waiting room while taking care of the children.”
It was common for train stations to separate passengers into different waiting areas, sometimes by gender, sometimes by travel class. The words “Men’s Waiting Room” still mark the door to one of the dining areas, where historic photographs adorn the walls.
“We have some pictures of the building when it was a station,” Nachbar says. “In the ticket room, which is where the conductor always sat, there is a picture of him sitting at his desk in the early 1900s.”
Nachbar crafts a sustainable menu with help from local partners who supply fresh ingredients. His breakfast and lunch options often come with fun names that nod to the building’s railroad past.
The Depot in Leavenworth is a nostalgic return to the days of railroad travel.
Photography by Kevin Anderson
Their No. 1 seller is the Main Railway, an allAmerican breakfast of two eggs, crisp hash browns, and choice of meat, served with toast or a muffin. The Iron Horse features the same foods as the Main Railway, along with a half order of biscuits and gravy. The Train Wreck Scrambler serves up sausage, ham, eggs, peppers and hash browns, all scrambled and served with toast.
The smoked chicken hash Benedict is one of the depot’s most talked about brunch dishes, Nachbar says. It features pulled smoked chicken with sweet potatoes, caramelized onions, two eggs and chipotle hollandaise. The chicken and waffles is another popular brunch choice.
For lunch, customers love Nachbar’s Blue Ribbon Mojo Pulled Pork Sandwich. Stacked with the chef’s own NachBBQ pulled pork and topped with Swiss cheese, Asian slaw and mojo sauce, this sandwich won first place at the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, Kansas’ largest barbecue competition.
The presentation has its own charm, too: Some menu items arrive wrapped in newspaper print on galvanized pans, and seasonal desserts are served in mason jars. These serving dishes—along with their comfortable fare—evoke a bygone era when the depot served as one of many lively stops along the railroad. thedepot1887.com 913.297.0361
Depot Market
Courtland / Road trippers traveling along U.S. Highway 36 can stop by the Depot Market in Courtland. At this historic market, located at the 120-year-old Santa Fe Depot, travelers can pack their bags full of seasonal, home-grown cantaloupe, asparagus, watermelon, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, summer squash and more. Visitors can also pick their own apples, blackberries, strawberries or pumpkins, depending on the season. Depot Market participates in a variety of family-friendly festivals and activities, featuring food trucks, corn mazes, hayrides and more. It is also a stop on the Treasure Hunt Across Kansas, an annual scavenger hunt that highlights establishments along U.S. Highway 36.
depotmarket.net / 785.374.4255
Shindigs
Winfield / Shindigs Bar & Grill is just the ticket for a night out in Winfield. Featuring a wide range of menu items, Shindigs offers favorites such as their rib-to-rib cut tomahawk steak; Chicken Frizzled Steak, hand-battered and topped with house-made gravy; Bruiser Burger, with blue cheese crumbles and caramelized onions; and Junkyard Fries, topped with smoked pulled pork, Riff Raff Mushrooms, jalapeño relish and cheese curds. You’ll find more to love on their seasonal menus, which keep every visit fresh and flavorful. Located in a completely renovated former Santa Fe freight house built in 1910, the two-story restaurant features industrial-rustic décor, with old cars, bolts, chicken feeders, pulleys and other vintage items. For an open-air experience, head out to the patio, where street and railroad lights set the scene for an evening of food and drinks. And don’t miss the quirky touches: the old truck that was turned into a beer dispenser and the keg urinals in the restrooms.
shindigsbarandgrill.com / 620.221.4782
Courtland Winfield Leavenworth
Star Light, Star Bright
These stargazing experiences offer breathtaking views of the Kansas night sky
Story by Cecilia Harris
when Matt and Laura Cunningham moved out of the suburbs, the couple quickly discovered the vantage point of their new home—high on a hill with no interference from city lights or neighboring farmsteads—was the perfect setting for gazing at the night sky in all its brilliance. It is here they opened Cedar Crest Lodge, a cozy 11-room bed and breakfast located on 111 acres in rural Pleasanton.
After guests commented that “The stars just jump out of the sky” and “I can’t remember the last time I saw the Milky Way,” the Cunninghams created the Stargazer package. Depending on accommodating weather, this amenity can be added to any room, any night of the week.
“The stars at night are just incredible out here; we don’t have any real light pollution,” Matt says. “When we bought the place about 25 years ago, every night for three months we would just sit outside and look at the stars.”
“People like the app because it helps them out when they’re not sure if they’re looking at the Big Dipper or the Little Dipper,” Matt says. “But there’s so much to look at, you can pick out a lot of the constellations on your own.”
“When we bought the place about 25 years ago, every night for three months we would just sit outside and look at the stars.”
With the package, guests can access an app (either on their personal device or an iPad provided by the inn) to help them identify planets and constellations while relaxing on a quilted blanket, provided by the lodge, under the night sky. The package also includes fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies, a thermos of homemade hot cocoa, and breakfast service in your room the next morning.
—MATT CUNNINGHAM
Ardent stargazers may bring their own telescope to get a closer look at the sky, as telescopes are an especially great way to view the Perseid meteor shower, an annual display of as many as 100 meteors appearing per hour that peaks in mid-August. Other guests can simply delight in gazing at the beautiful night sky.
PHOTO Karen Davis
“Most people just want to enjoy it and relax,” Matt says. “It’s quiet and peaceful. We have 111 acres and no neighbors. You hear frogs and birds, and that’s about it.”
Cedar Crest Lodge also offers an outdoor pool, hot tub and sauna, spa services, farm-fresh dining, and walking trails among trees and ponds.
The amazing celestial view is a bonus that Matt and Laura continue to appreciate.
“We still sit out and look at the stars at night,” Matt says. “There are millions.” cedarcrestlodge.com / 913.352.6533
plus.
Star Party
Fall River State Park, Toronto / The Kansas Astronomical Observers will present an educational program about planets, moons, stars, constellations, nebulas and more on August 23 at the 23rd Annual Fall River Star Party. This star-studded event will take place at the Casner Creek Campgrounds in the Fredonia Bay Area near Fall River. Rangers will turn out the park lights to allow for dark sky viewing, and visitors will be asked to avoid using white light from phones, flashlights and car headlights. Park vehicle permits are required, and visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and bug spray. ksoutdoors.com/state-parks/locations/fall-river 620.637.2213
Open Park Night
Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park, Oakley / Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park near Oakley typically offers not one, but two night-sky watching events each year. No reservations are required for the open park night, which offers amazing views of the Milky Way and the Perseid meteor shower. However, visitors must stay on the park’s trails and overlooks or remain in the parking lot. Off-trail access is available to those with reservations for the park’s off-trail photo excursion, led by park staff. If there are clear skies, participants will get the chance to photograph meteors and other nighttime subjects. Because the moon’s phases influence the timing of these events, the dates are not determined until four to five weeks in advance; check the website calendar for up-to-date information. ksoutdoors.com/state-parks/locations/little-jerusalembadlands / 620.872.2061
Festivals Fit for Royalty
Step into the 16th century with music, merriment and open-air theater at these fall Renaissance-style festivals
Story by Cecilia Harris Photography by Nick Krug
Last year’s Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival featured one of the bard’s most popular comedies, Much Ado About Nothing.
ll the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players … or so Shakespeare says. Every fall, the annual Flint Hills Shakespeare Festival in northcentral Kansas celebrates the English playwright with rousing performances of his greatest works, along with a lively medieval-style marketplace, games and musical performances.
Located on the outskirts of Saint Marys, this family-friendly event transforms the wooded meadow affectionately known as Sir William’s Hollow into a rustic outdoor amphitheater. This year’s festival, September 26–28 and October 3–5, presents The Tempest, which is thought to be one of Shakespeare’s last plays. In The Tempest, Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, uses his magical powers to create a storm (or tempest) that shipwrecks many of his enemies onto a remote island. Ultimately, it is a story about magic, love, betrayal and forgiveness.
Actors from across the region audition for this festival, which stages a different Shakespeare play each year. The last two festivals featured some of the bard’s most popular comedies: Much Ado About Nothing in 2024 and A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 2023.
“Of course, those are always going to be fan favorites,” says festival director of operations Therese McFarland. “They’re fun, and they’re great introductions to Shakespeare.”
The surrounding woods provide a natural canopy for the lively marketplace, where food vendors offer Renaissance fare, such as the iconic turkey leg and savory hand pies (small medieval meat pies). The separate pub area serves food and drink near a stage featuring live folk music and traditional Irish songs performed by groups from all over the country.
Throughout the market, local artisans stock their booths with handmade goods that blend modern designs with traditional techniques, and a glassblower and blacksmith demonstrate their skills on-site.
The year’s festival will also offer horse and hay wagon rides, as well as a variety of traditional games, including archery, axe throwing, fencing and target shooting. “There’s one called the Hangman’s Pole,” McFarland says. “Participants have to see how long they can hang by their hands from a rolling bar.”
The entire festival is made possible by community volunteers.
“We mostly focus on the Shakespearian period, which puts us roughly in England at the end of the 1500s, early 1600s,” McFarland says. “We want the whole family to come and enjoy the atmosphere.”
flinthillsshakespearefestival.com / 913.583.6365
Great Plains Renaissance & Scottish Festival
Wichita / Jousters and fire breathers come to Sedgwick County Park in Wichita every fall and spring. At this fall’s Great Plains Renaissance & Scottish Festival, September 27–28, knights will battle for the honor of their lady fair, royal falconers will fly birds of prey, magicians will perform sleight of hand, and aerialists will entertain. Visitors will also get the chance to dress up in several layers of a knight’s protective armor, including chainmail, gorget (worn around the neck), gauntlets and helmets. Attend the pirate comedy show ScallyWags for laughing, singing and swashbuckling. The festival will also host the Wichita Highland Games, which features traditional Scottish events such as the caber toss, hammer throw, sheaf toss and stone throw, as well as the International Highland Games Federation’s Men’s U.S. National Amateur Championship. The winner of this event will go on to represent the U.S. in the world games.
greatplainsrenfest.com / 316.253.3392
Kansas City Renaissance Festival
Bonner Springs / For nearly 50 years, the Kansas City Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs has celebrated this historic era, immersing visitors in a world where kings and queens reign, knights joust, and fairies flutter about, blending history with fantasy. Set in a sprawling, permanent 16th-century style village, it is one of the largest Renaissance festivals in the nation. Costumed characters roam the grounds; booths are filled with hand-blown glass, fine metal crafts, pottery, woodwork, leatherwork, paintings and jewelry; and artisans demonstrate textile, wood and metal-crafting techniques. Entertainment revolves around the seven themed weekends from August 30 to October 12, including Labor Day and Columbus Day. kcrenfest.com / 913.721.2110
Wichita Saint Marys Bonner Springs
BEHIND THE SCENES WITH
Meta Newell West
A native Kansan, Meta Newell West grew up in Stafford. She fondly remembers her high school home economics teacher, who encouraged her to pursue a career in education at Kansas State University. After graduating from college, she moved to Abilene, where she taught home economics at Abilene High School for 33 years. Upon leaving the classroom, she became a catering manager at the historic Kirby House, a Victorian-era mansion turned restaurant and bed and breakfast. It was during this time that she drew on her culinary experience to write The Kirby House Cookbook, which traces the history of this historic home and dishes up more than 200 of the restaurant’s beloved recipes. She is now KANSAS! magazine’s go-to food and recipe freelance writer. cookingwithbarryandmeta.blogspot.com
Cooking with Barry & Meta
What inspired you to pursue a career in freelance writing? Believe it or not, I relished my high school term paper assignment. In fact, I still have that paper. Then, in college, a professor selected some of my writing to be published. I really honed both my organizational and technical writing skills during my teaching career. After I wrote the cookbook, I started writing a monthly cooking column that featured local cooks for my local newspaper. Eventually, I began submitting my writing to other publications.
feel like most of my stories find me. For example, when my husband and I attended a program at the Eisenhower Library & Museum on agricultural policies in the United States, it dawned on me that this would be an exciting topic to weave into an article about food sustainability in Kansas, which I later wrote for KANSAS!
What do you enjoy writing about the most? Although I’ve written about other topics, I enjoy writing about food the most—not only about the food itself, but the way it brings people together. I think it’s because of the fond memories I have of gathering around my grandmother’s dining table for family dinners and the parties we would plan together.
What do you enjoy reading? Historical novels are always at the top of my list. My current favorite is Miss Eliza’s English Kitchen by Annabel Abbs, a book based on the life of a Victorian poet turned cookbook writer who revolutionized recipe writing.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? My husband and I like to travel and cook. For several years, we had fun teaching cooking classes across the state. Now we enjoy entertaining friends and family in our home. I keep track of our cooking and culinary experiences on our blog, cookingwithbarryandmeta.blogspot.com.
How do you approach finding a subject to write about? It’s easy for me because the subject I write about surrounds me—there are always new and exciting happenings in the culinary world! I also
How do you find compelling sources? I search the internet for as much information as I can. If I’m looking for a source in Kansas, I contact friends, the chamber and county offices. Sometimes I run into comical moments, like the time I called a friend in Garden City to ask about the upscale restaurant and cocktail lounge I found online. Turns out it was in Garden City, New York!
What has been your favorite article to write for KANSAS! magazine, and what made it so special for you? The people I meet and the places I go have made every story I’ve ever written memorable. I’ve joined locals at church dinners across the state, toured the dining facilities at Kansas State, traveled to vintage drugstore museums, explored the culinary history of Kansas via community cookbooks and visited farms and ranches that produce Kansas’ agricultural products. Most recently, my husband and I had the opportunity to tour Ellinwood’s underground tunnels for the cocktail article featured in this issue. We enjoyed the evening attraction (a magic show) and spent the night at the Historic Wolf Hotel. My quirkiest experience will be revealed in the next issue … stay tuned!
What is a subject you would love to write about someday? I’d really like to write a story about high school culinary programs, cooking classes offered at kitchen stores and culinary centers, and the ways small towns create social gatherings to keep residents connected and engaged.
In your opinion, what are the most important skills that every freelance writer should develop to be successful? Beyond the usual skills, this is my advice: Don’t worry about how to begin—just start writing. Sorting content, putting it in order and trimming the excess will fall into place. Verify every conversation and detail. Sometimes a person will say one thing, but the listener will hear another. And finally, start early so there’s time to reflect and rewrite as needed.
What advice would you give to an aspiring freelance writer? Don’t be afraid to try something new based on your set of skills. I often wonder if I ever would have agreed to write a cookbook or lobbied to write a newspaper column if I truly understood the time and effort that went into these endeavors. But sometimes, not knowing what you are getting into can be a good thing.
“Don’t be afraid to try something new based on your set of skills. ... Sometimes, not knowing what you are getting into can be a good thing.”
–META NEWELL WEST
Saline County
“This picture was taken during the cowboy church service on Sunday morning at EquiFest of Kansas in Salina. I was in the arena, walking around and capturing the pastor during his sermon, when I happened to see a spotlight on him. As he was walking around, the dust stirred up and I had the thought to get behind him and capture the light burst coming through his hat. To me, this picture speaks to him spreading the light and the love of God to everyone that attended. … I want my photos to spark something in the audience, whether that’s a sense of peace, excitement, nostalgia, or just a moment to pause and appreciate the world a little bit more than before.”
–Amanda Overton
Amanda Overton / Photographer
amandaovertonphotography.mypixieset.com
@amanda.overton.photography
@amanda.overton.photography
Amanda Overton captured this image using her Nikon D750. She took up photography in 2015, when she started taking pictures of nature. Over the years, she has expanded on her skills and photography has become more than a hobby—it’s how she connects with the world. Today she lives in a small town just outside Ottawa where she shoots events such as the city’s annual Ol’ Marais River Run car show. Every subject has a story worth telling, Amanda says.
REASONS WE LOVE
Kansas
By Cecilia Harris
These fun-filled festivals are a celebration of the season and our state’s history Fall Festivals IN THIS ISSUE
Liberal, Arkansas City, Hiawatha, Independence, Osawatomie
NEEWOLLAH
Independence / In 1919, after Halloween pranksters played an unusually large number of rowdy, destructive “tricks” in Independence, city leaders launched the inaugural Neewollah, a festival they hoped would create positive experiences—and stop the recent acts of vandalism—during this whimsical holiday. Once a oneday event, Neewollah (Halloween spelled backwards) has evolved into a nine-day fall festival and become one of the largest and oldest in the state. Although similar events are held across the country, the festival in Independence is the original Neewollah. This year’s festival will take place October 17–25.
“In the early days of the festival, there were parades in the morning, afternoon and evening of Halloween,” says Mindy Blackard, this year’s generalissimo (the person in charge of the festival). “The parades were made up of decorated cars and carriages.” The early parades also introduced Queen Neelah, a young woman selected by popular vote (each vote costing a penny) to become that year’s festival ambassador.
The festival was intermittently suspended during some historic downturns: 1931–1934 (Great Depression), 1936–1947 (World War II) and 1950–1957 (lack of financial support). In 1958, several community
members fully revived Neewollah, expanded the number of days it was celebrated, turned the Queen Neelah contest into a pageant and added more events to its lineup, including a play and a children’s parade.
Over the years, Neewollah has cultivated a number of beloved traditions, none more anticipated than the play performed by local actors. What began as a simple production has evolved into a major attraction, now featuring big-name musical hits. Each year’s generalissimo picks the musical as well as the festival’s theme. This year’s theme, “The Fun Will Come Out at Neewollah,” was inspired by Blackard’s chosen musical, Annie.
“Neewollah is about creating memories.”
—MINDY BLACKARD
event, each band can choose whether to compete or simply participate.
“Students march in the parade and then go out to the stadium afterward to perform what they might do for a halftime show,” Blackard says. “Both small schools and large schools are among our participants.”
Three different parades take place during Neewollah: the Kiddie Parade, which features children in Halloween costumes, the Doo Dah Parade, in which adults dressed in their Halloween best march down the streets, and the Grand Parade, a traditional procession of floats and marching bands.
Schools are also invited to participate in the Neewollah Marching Band Festival, one of the longestrunning festivals in the state. During this
A few events in recent years have become new traditions. “The Scarecrow Contest was created in 2020, when we weren’t able to have a full Neewollah,” Blackard says. “Our generalissimo that year had to think outside the box.” For this contest, participants must create a scarecrow based on that year’s theme. The scarecrows are displayed downtown so residents can see them and later vote for their favorites.
“The generalissimo in 2020 also started a yard decorating contest … it was just a way to keep Neewollah going,” Blackard adds.
This year’s festival will include live music, food vendors, a chili cookoff, a pumpkin decorating contest, a carnival, an arts and crafts show, a fun run, and—for the first time—Buckets and Boards, a family percussion comedy show.
“Neewollah is about creating memories,” Blackard says. “We have a lot of past community members who still come home to get back that small-town feeling that maybe they have lost moving to bigger cities.” neewollah.com / 877.633.9655
Nicknamed “The City of Beautiful Maples,” Hiawatha is known for its maple trees that provide beautiful fall colors. The city’s annual Maple Leaf Festival, September 27, will feature live music and familyfriendly activities.
FREEDOM FESTIVAL
September 20–21
Osawatomie / A historical reenactment of the Battle of Osawatomie in 1856—a key moment in Kansas’ fight to remain a free state— takes center stage at the Freedom Festival in John Brown Memorial Park. At this festival, Mary Buster, great-great-granddaughter of abolitionists Samuel and Florella Brown Adair, will host tours of the historic Adair Cabin, John Brown’s headquarters whenever he was in Kansas territory. Other scheduled events for this family-friendly event include artillery demonstrations, portrayals of historic figures such as abolitionist Frederick Douglass, hatchet throwing, live music, a corn pit and other children’s activities. osawatomieks.org 913.755.4384
MAPLE LEAF FESTIVAL
September 27
Hiawatha / In the early 1900s, Theodore H. Korthanke planted hundreds of maple trees from the seedlings of a single tree. Today, these maples line the streets, earning Hiawatha its nickname “The City of Beautiful Maples.” At this year’s 67th annual Maple Leaf Festival, visitors can listen to live music, ride a mechanical bull, and be amazed by a magician. Stop by the 1920s-era limestone courthouse square to browse the car show, shop with local vendors and sample foods. Children’s activities will include a bouncy house, petting zoo and games. hiawathaks.com 785.742.7136
ARKALALAH
October 22–25
Arkansas City / In 1928, as the Great Depression loomed over the nation, a group of local businessmen decided a fall festival would be a fun way to lift the spirits of Arkansas City’s townspeople. The name for the event, Arkalalah, was chosen through a contest with a $15 prize: It came from “Ark,” an abbreviation for the town, and “alalah,” a word they believed to be Native American in origin meaning “good time.” This fall’s 93rd annual Arkalalah festival is Happy Days–themed and will feature a variety of events, including three parades (one after dark, one just for children, and the big parade on Saturday), a medallion hunt, a fireworks show, a parade of lights (put on by the high school marching band), carnival games, dodgeball and cornhole tournaments, a Soap Box Derby, a coronation for Queen Alalah and Little Mr. and Miss Arkalalah, and more than 25 food vendors. arkalalah.com
620.442.6077
OZ FEST
October 11
Liberal / This year’s Oz Fest, Liberal’s long-standing biennial event, premieres a new format, providing interactive activities for people to learn about the city’s history. But not to worry. Fans of the 1939 movie
The Wizard of Oz will still be able to tour Dorothy’s House and the Land of Oz, a 1907 farmhouse that replicates scenes and displays memorabilia from the classic film. For the latest information about Oz Fest, visit the museum’s website, follow the museum’s Facebook page (Dorothy’s House and Coronado Museum) or phone the museum directly.
dorothyshouse.com
620.624.7624
The Arkalalah festival was created in 1928 to boost the morale of Arkansas City’s townspeople. This year’s Happy Days–themed festival, October 22–25, will feature three parades, fireworks, carnival games, and the coronation for Queen Alalah.
Summer Nights, Amplified
These outdoor venues are serving up live music and good vibes
Story by Nick Spacek
when the weather’s warm and breezy, there’s no better way to listen to live music than at an outdoor venue. Beneath an open sky and under a blanket of stars, there’s something almost ethereal about the experience. From massive amphitheaters to local bars with ambient patios, Kansas is home to many amazing outdoor venues.
Azura Amphitheater
Having celebrated its 40-year anniversary in 2024, Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs is one of the biggest names in outdoor Kansas concerts—even if that name has changed a few times. Known as Sandstone Amphitheater when it first opened in 1984, the venue landed on its current name in 2021. However, as stated by T-shirts sold at the online shop Loyalty KC, “I Still Call It Sandstone” is the usual retort from any longtime music fan in Kansas. Surrounded by rolling hills and trees, Azura has hosted some of the biggest names in music over its four-decade history, with such performers as Metallica, Foo Fighters, Green Day and Cardi B, along with popular music festivals such as Lollapalooza, Warped Tour and Breakaway Music Festival. More recently, Azura has become the new home for the ever-popular Country Stampede (set for June 26–28).
The 18,000-capacity open-air amphitheater is currently managed by venue operator Chris Fritz, president of New West Presentations. “We owe our success to the incredible artists, dedicated staff, and, most importantly, the loyal fans who have made Azura Amphitheater an integral part of their lives,”
states Fritz in a press release celebrating Azura’s 40th season.
WAVE
New to the scene, WAVE is a hybrid venue located in downtown Wichita. It opened in September 2018 and features an indoor venue with a capacity of 500 and an outdoor space that can host up to 4,000 attendees—a blend of vibrant outdoor entertainment with a friendly neighborhood bar. In an interview with KMUW 89.1 ahead of WAVE’s opening, Adam Hartke said he and co-owner Jessie Hartke set out to create a permanent location “where we can do outdoor shows in Wichita on a more frequent basis— somewhere where we don’t have to set up a temporary space.”
Although WAVE had to cope with the pandemic during its early years, it has become a Midwest staple for many touring acts. Alt-country troubadour Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, reggae legends The Wailers, pop-punks Sum 41, and many more have graced the WAVE stage, with many acts now opting to route their tours through Wichita rather than Lawrence or Kansas City.
Left Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2024.
Right Azura has become the new home for the Country Stampede, set for June 26–28 and featuring Miranda Lambert, Cole Swindell and Luke Bryan.
Capitol Federal Amphitheater
Also new to the scene, Capitol Federal Amphitheater is in the heart of Andover Central Park near Lake George. This outdoor venue opened in 2018 and is located off I-35, just 20 minutes east of Wichita.
Owned by the city of Andover and managed, operated and booked by ASM Global, the amphitheater began as a small venue that seated only 600. But in 2018, a $1.6 million construction project expanded the amphitheater to a capacity of 10,000.
Additional seating will soon become available, as the city has been working hard to rebuild The Lodge, a long-standing building in Central Park that sustained irreparable damage in the tornado that struck Andover in 2022. The original structure was demolished, and The Lodge has since been relocated about 100 yards west of its original location. The new building includes premium patio seating for the amphitheater, as well as space for lighting and sound controls.
In addition to concerts from rockers such as Melissa Etheridge and Daughtry or bluesman Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Capitol Federal Amphitheater frequently hosts food festivals, movie nights and more.
Neosho Riverwalk Amphitheater
The Neosho Riverwalk Amphitheater in Council Grove may be small, but it is mighty. Improvements to the Old Riverbed Amphitheater in Neosho Riverwalk Park began in May 2021, creating a more modern structure that would better meet the community’s needs. The city continues to look for ways to update this growing 1,100-capacity venue with native limestone seating. Located near the Neosho River, it hosts many of the city’s signature events, including Sethfest, an annual celebration of the arts; Washunga Days, a cultural heritage festival; and Voices of the Wind People, a historical pageant that tells the story of the Kanza people, the Native tribe who once lived in the region.
More Venues
These may be some of the big names in Kansas outdoor music,
Recently expanded to accommodate 10,000 people, Capitol Federal Amphitheater in Andover has hosted musical talents Melissa Etheridge and Daughtry.
but don’t discount smaller venues throughout Kansas. In Lawrence, you can catch shows on the patios of the Replay Lounge, Gaslight Gardens and Northside Social when the weather’s right. Trotter’s on the River in Atchison offers live music next to the Missouri River, and Carrie’s Beer Garden at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson regularly hosts bands and DJs, even when the state fair isn’t going on.
Kansas is also home to many annual outdoor music events. Camp Leavenworth is a free twoday festival that showcases the finest in local talent alongside national and regional stars. Winfield has come to be known for its Walnut Valley Festival, an annual gathering of acoustic sound hosted at the Winfield Fairgrounds. And for the full bluegrass experience, check out either the Lovegrass Music Festival, with beautiful views of Wilson Lake in Russell County, or Colby’s annual Pickin’ on the Plains.
Whether you want to see some of the biggest names in the music world or local artists from down the block while soaking in the sun or gazing at the stars, there’s something for every taste when it comes to seeing live music outdoors across Kansas.
coming soon.
A new and exciting venue, scheduled to open in Kansas City in the fall of 2025, is ready to set itself apart from the rest. Straddling the Kaw River, Rock Island Bridge will be a community-driven multifunctional space that offers stunning views of the historic Strawberry Hill neighborhood. At 705 feet long and 49 feet wide, with three trusses and two decks, this trailhead and entertainment district is just 40 feet over the water.
The main deck will be a fully public space that functions as a public crossing and will also feature a restaurant with a bar. The top deck will serve as a private event space and entertainment venue. Although there are no events ready to announce at the time of this publication, the team in charge of this space is excited to fill the calendar once they are closer to the opening date. They foresee the bridge as a great place to listen to live music, whether at a large, formal ticketed concert upstairs or a smaller gathering of local musicians playing at the bar downstairs.
“Nobody thinks about bridges as destinations,” says Rock Island Bridge engagement manager Jake Fesi. “They think about bridges as a way to get from one place to another. But there are so many old railroad bridges that look just like ours that are just sitting and going to waste.” Fesi hopes that people will be inspired to replicate this idea all over the country and tap into these unused spaces.
“Where Everybody Knows Your Name”
A honky-tonk in downtown Emporia is drawing people to the dance floor for some good ol’ fashioned fun
Story by Susan Kraus Photography by Dave Leiker
PHOTO COURTESY Bourbon Cowboy
honky-tonk. It’s a word you’ve likely heard, but what exactly does it mean? A honky-tonk is a no-frills dance hall that offers a place to unwind after a demanding day. There is never a dress code, the drink of choice is often cold beer, and there is always country music to enjoy—although rock, blues and soul may be included in the mix. At a honky-tonk, you can cut loose and dance like no one is watching or simply sit on a barstool to soak up the sights and sounds.
Over the generations, honky-tonks have evolved from rowdy dives on the outskirts of town to hip bars on main streets, drawing a mix of locals, students, cowboys
Along the way, the Brinkmans started to miss the music and camaraderie from their youth. They wanted to add fun— noisy, messy fun—back to their lives. So Susan came up with a new career goal: to bring new life to downtown Emporia by revitalizing an old building with a new purpose. It was a daring financial decision, but big dreams often require big risk.
She found the perfect downtown building (formerly a JCPenney and later a storage facility). It had good bones, but layers of carpet covered original hardwood floors that seemed made for dancing. After extensive renovations—and expenses that seemed to multiply by the hour—Bourbon Cowboy opened in 2016.
“We wanted to create a place for live music and DJs, with a dance floor and pool tables, darts, pinball machines and vintage arcades. We wanted to create a place where everyone was welcome, and people of all ages could come together.”
and “suits” alike. Honky-tonks are noisy and messy, but that’s the appeal. You go for the music, the vibe, the beat.
The Bourbon Cowboy in downtown Emporia has become a slice of honky-tonk heaven.
Saddle Up
Susan and Jason Brinkman met in 1990 at the Cowboy Palace in Emporia, one of Kansas’ original honky-tonks. Susan, a bartender, and Jason, a DJ, were both students at Emporia State University with professional goals that did not include the crazy hours and challenges of running a bar. After graduating, the couple moved to Minneapolis for a while before returning to their hometown. In Emporia, they raised their son, developed their careers, and became heavily involved in the community. Susan served on the school board, was elected to the city commission, and served as mayor for a time.
—SUSAN BRINKMAN
Above Located at 605
Commercial Street, Bourbon Cowboy is a country dance bar and pool hall that has become an integral part of downtown Emporia.
Right To bring noisy, messy fun back into their lives, Susan and Jason Brinkman renovated a former storage facility into a hip dance hall.
“We wanted to create a place for live music and DJs, with a dance floor and pool tables, darts, pinball machines and vintage arcades,” Susan says. “We wanted to create a place where everyone was welcome, and people of all ages could come together.”
Honky-Tonk Heaven
Kansas’ only certified woman-owned bar or nightclub, Bourbon Cowboy is a 6,000-square-foot, two-level country dance bar and pool hall, and it has become an integral part of downtown Emporia. Susan went through the certification process with the Kansas Department of Commerce to become certified as a Kansas Woman Business Enterprise.
Located at 605 Commercial Street, Bourbon Cowboy hosts local pool leagues every Tuesday, an indoor disc golf putting league on Wednesdays, and karaoke on Fridays. House DJs play weekend nights, and live bands often perform later on Saturday evenings. (The bar typically sticks to country music, including performances by many honky-tonk bands.) It doesn’t serve food and doesn’t charge cover for anyone over 21; anyone 18–20 is welcome to dance, play games and socialize, sans alcohol. Pool tables are free for play on weeknights. Doors are open from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m., Tuesdays–Saturdays.
folks come early and stay until about 10 p.m., and some show up at 11 p.m. and stay until 2 a.m. I can come anytime and grab a stool. There’s always something happening that’s fun to watch.”
“A college town needs to provide places that keep kids in town,” Susan says. Welcoming spaces that help college kids decompress are a benefit to the community, she adds, and help students
I asked a university student playing pool what brought him in. “It’s right downtown, so we can directly walk from campus,” he says. “There’s no cover, which is a big deal, and free pool!”
“I like the music and to dance,” says another college student I met. “You can jump up whenever a song comes on that you love and just dance. You don’t have to be asked and you don’t need a partner. I brought my grandma here for her birthday, and we had some serious fun.”
“I guess I’m a regular,” says 49-year-old Chris Linebarger. “I’ve been coming for about six years, and now my son works here. What I like is meeting people I wouldn’t otherwise have met. Some
feel connected to their university as well as to the city overall.
Bourbon Cowboy is a mom-and-pop establishment, with a staff of about 18 young people. Susan and Jason both have professional day jobs, but this honkytonk is more than just work. When I asked Susan about the hardest part of owning a honky-tonk—and what the most satisfying part was—it turned out her answers were linked.
“A nightclub environment with 300
The Hitching Post
820 Bridge St. / Humboldt
This upscale tavern looks like it came straight out of a 1950s Western. Serving up a variety of beers, nonalcoholic cocktails and southeast Kansas’ largest selection of whiskey, this honky-tonk is open Friday and Saturday, 6–11 p.m., often featuring live vintage country music.
Gayle’s
600 NW Paramore St. / Topeka / 785.232.5511
With live music (most) Friday and Saturday nights, 8 p.m.–12 a.m., this neighborhood bar also hosts karaoke, Sunday and Monday, and open music jam nights every Thursday, 7:30–10:30 p.m.
Club Rodeo
3426 E MacArthur Rd. / Wichita / 316.613.2424
Kansas’ largest night club with DJs, classic country music and a mix of today’s hit music, this honkytonk includes dancing, monthly live concerts, half-price drinks and no cover before 9 p.m. Open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.–2 a.m.
Guitars & Cadillacs
7312 W. 119th St. / Overland Park 913.413.0077
Although it’s too big to be a “classic” honky-tonk, this bar features live music every Friday and Saturday night; free dance lessons every Thursday and Friday, 6:15–7 p.m. (country swing two-step) and 7–8 p.m. (line dancing); and country jam nights every first Sunday of the month, 6–10 p.m.
Buster’s Saloon
104 W. Main St. / Sun City / 620.248.3215
This bar was first opened in 1946 by Buster Hathaway, a World War II veteran. After an extended hiatus, it reopened in 2012. Although it doesn’t have a designated dance floor, people dance whenever the music calls. Buster’s Saloon is a restaurant and bar that occasionally features live bands, in addition to playing music from the speakers. If you want to dance, bring some friends and have a party.
people can be stressful and intense, with surprises to deal with on any shift. Whatever can break down will always do so at the most inconvenient time,” Susan says. “But working with young people—both staff and customers—is the best. We’re a team. We rely on each other. We make this fun together.”
“It’s keeping me young,” she continues with a grin. “You can’t be a couch potato in a honky-tonk.”
“I started working as a bartender with zero experience,” says Brenna Truhe, who worked at Bourbon Cowboy for six years. “We always had a goal to give our customers ‘uncomplicated good times.’ You can dance, play pool, meet up with friends, make new friends … everyone is treated respectfully and as an equal.”
“Is it like Cheers?” I asked Susan, referencing the 1980s TV show that popularized the camaraderie of working in a bar.
“Yes, actually, it is,” Susan says. “We’re a safe place for learning about life—many different facets of life. And that includes knowing a lot of people’s names.”
bourboncowboybar.com
To get the most out of your dancing shoes, house DJs play Bourbon Cowboy on weekend nights, and live bands often perform later on Saturday evenings.
Story by Beccy Tanner Photography by Doug Stremel
under the stars.
Kansas’ brilliant night sky is the stuff of dreamers and visionaries
Although the weather was dreary and soggy when Horace Greeley, the editor of the New York Tribune, visited Kansas in May 1859, he was enthralled by its night sky. “Kansas brags on its thunder and lightning and the boast is well founded. I never before observed a display of celestial pyrotechny so protracted, incessant and vivid,” he wrote.
When traveling, Greeley would write about what he saw. On his trip to Kansas, he wrote of the unexpected scenery and the wildlife—prairie dogs, antelope, bison. But it was the night sky that most caught his attention.
Through the years, many of us have shared his enthusiasm. True Kansans love the wide and open spaces—the expansive horizon that inspires so many of us to dream about what life can be. Kansas, at night, is both subtle and majestic.
Those who don’t know us—those who consider Kansas flat and boring—have most likely never seen our pollutionfree, as-God-intended night skies. With low levels of artificial light, especially in rural areas, Kansans are often treated to majestic views of the Big Dipper, the full moon and even the planets that dominate the horizon.
Almost as exciting as the constellations are the sounds. On some nights, you can hear the hum of distant combines cutting wheat. On others, the migration of thousands of birds as they cross over, or the howls of coyotes calling to one another in the distance.
There are many places in Kansas that especially capture the night’s beauty. Don’t be afraid to travel the back roads. Here are a few spots we recommend.
Mushroom Rock State Park
As early as 1867, one of the most famous 19th-century photographers was attracted to Mushroom Rock. Alexander Gardner was a renowned Civil War photographer who documented significant moments on the battlefield. He also photographed President Abraham Lincoln a few months before his assassination. In 1867, Gardner was commissioned to photograph the Kansas Pacific Railroad. Along this route, near Kanopolis Lake, Gardner photographed Mushroom Rock.
Today it is known as Mushroom Rock State Park, and it is the smallest state park in Kansas. Resembling giant mushrooms—the largest of these rock outcroppings is 27 feet across—these Dakota formations are the remnants of beach sand and sediments of the Cretaceous Period, a geological period that began 144 million years ago (and ended 66 million years ago).
During the day, it’s the destination of many curious sightseers and children on school field trips. But at night— far from city lights and sounds—it is the perfect place to gaze at the stars and galaxies.
Whoever travels into Kansas
Exploring the great American desert
Goes out into space,
Into the interstellar distances
Between the lights of the prairie farms …
The wind touches his face
Like a wrinkled wife
Who loves him
And grain moves at his feet
Like grandchildren …
–Excerpted from Journey West (1977) by Victor Contoski
Coronado Heights
A natural platform of Dakota Formation sandstone, Coronado Heights in Lindsborg features a scenic overlook on a hilltop more than 300 feet above the surrounding Smoky Hill River Valley—the highest point in the area. At this historic landmark, generations of Kansans have picnicked, flown kites, climbed, stargazed and waved to cameras.
It’s believed that Spanish conquistador Francisco Vásquez de Coronado visited this site during his 1541 expedition in search of the legendary golden cities—and that it’s where he gave up his fruitless search. The little stone castle that sits atop the majestic hill was built in 1936 by workers who were a part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration program.
Kansas-born poet William Stafford once said of Coronado Heights, “When we touch the rock, a little cold shiver begins; this is the place where Coronado found that cities of gold are dust, that the world had led him north beyond civilization, beyond what was good. … And right down onto this prairie grass he fell. His helmet tumbled right here.”
Although the park closes at 10 p.m., Coronado Heights is a great place to view the night sky from sunset until closing. Enjoy a special late night sky viewing with a special presentation from National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson, hosted by the Cosmosphere and Lindsborg Convention and Visitors Bureau. Date to be determined. visitlindsborg.com/StarryStarryNightatCoronadoHeights
Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse
Part of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, the Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse is a one-room schoolhouse near Strong City, off K-177. In its heyday, it was a place of pioneers. In operation from 1882 to 1930, it was where children gathered to pursue an education, as well as a spot for local families to socialize in the evenings and on the weekends. Today, it is a formidable reminder that one-room schools were once the heart of a community.
Kansas had more than 8,000 organized school districts by the turn of the 20th century, and most were one-room schools modeled after Horace Mann’s Common School Movement. But after World War II, larger and fewer school districts became the standard. Rural children were encouraged to attend schools in nearby towns instead.
When you visit this site to stargaze, the Lower Fox Creek Schoolhouse acts as a foreground against the night sky. Look for the Milky Way. It’s not unusual to see satellites or even meteors streaking across the sky. And, if a thunderstorm is working its way through, be like Horace Greeley and watch for celestial pyrotechny.
more stargazing destinations
Arikaree Breaks In the far northwest corner of Kansas lies what many folks call our state’s mini Grand Canyon. The Arikaree Breaks is known for its rugged canyons, caves, valleys, creeks and mesas. Just 2 to 3 miles wide, it cuts diagonally across Cheyenne County and stretches west into Colorado and north into Nebraska. The breaks are located on private land, but visitors can travel the back roads to experience this unique beauty without trespassing.
Red Hills Located west of Medicine Lodge, the Red Hills, known for its red soil and rocks, offers plenty of buttes and valleys, along with iconic Old West views of buffalo, cattle, open ranges and cowboys—lots and lots of cowboys. It is also a solid spot for dark skies and meteor showers. Stay on the back roads to see what the prairie might have looked like a few centuries ago.
Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge Nearly half of all North American shorebirds migrating east of the Rocky Mountains stop to rest and feed at Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Visit these two wetlands of international importance during the spring and fall migrations to be greeted with a cacophony of geese, sandhill cranes and ducks, all calling and cackling. At dusk, wave after wave of waterfowl visit the waters to roost and take flight at dawn.
Smoky Valley Scenic Byway
Story by Meta Newell West
Photography by Julie Mead, Aaron Patton, and Doug Stremel
acocktail
Kansas is crafting a hip and rebellious identity, one martini glass at a time. Mixologists all over the state are shaking up inventive batches of spirit infusions in hip speakeasy-style lounges. But these lounges are more than a product of today’s passing trends—they’re rooted in history.
Kansas’ rocky relationship with alcohol began in 1881 when the state passed a ban that lasted 54 years, outlasting both the ratification and the repeal of the 18th Amendment. The state’s “dry” crusade led to many rebellious Kansans opening speakeasies, where they secretly sold alcohol in dimly lit spaces hidden behind unmarked doors.
Today’s craft cocktail movement channels that rebellious spirit as bartenders put their own spin on iconic drinks, ranging from the ultratrendy and beloved classics to even spirit-free libations. Experimenting with unusual ingredients to create fresh recipes that can be found in every region of the state, these contemporary lounges aren’t just serving drinks—they’re curating experiences.
John Brown’s Underground
Lawrence | 7 East Seventh Street | 785.840.8800
Let’s begin in downtown Lawrence, where the neighborhood-style basement bar John Brown’s Underground pays homage to the city’s abolitionist history. Recently named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Bar, John Brown’s is creating a sensation with its conceptual approach to cocktails. According to general manager Dante Colombo, their team of bartenders collaborates every five to six months to create a totally new themed cocktail menu. Drinks are carefully formulated, but their creative vision extends to serving glasses, special garnishes and even the type of ice that will best hold up in each libation. They create printed and bound menus complete with original artwork and explanations of their unique concoctions.
The bar’s logo, a resting chair once used by John Brown, was a logical theme for their cocktail menu “Pull Up a Chair.” After selecting several iconic chair designs, the team created drinks to complement each one. The classic Eames chair served as inspiration for the cocktail Reclining in the Age of Loneliness, a brooding take on a Manhattan.
John Brown’s “The Devil,” in Spanish
Trendy cocktail menus have put John Brown’s Underground on the map. Bartenders at the Lawrence-based bar like to shake things up with drinks that incorporate interesting ingredients and flavors. YIELD 1 drink
INGREDIENTS
1¼ ounces additive-free ElVelo Tequila Blanco
¼ ounce pomegranate liqueur
¼ ounce pistachio liqueur, or 1 ounce pistachio tea
½ ounce lime juice
2 dashes angostura bitters
4 ounces ginger beer
INSTRUCTIONS
one. Fill an 8- to 10-ounce glass with ice. Set aside.
two. Add a few ice cubes to a cocktail shaker. Pour in tequila, pomegranate and pistachio liqueurs, lime juice and angostura bitters.
three. Give it a vigorous shake for 20 seconds.
four. Strain into the prepared glass and top with ginger beer.
Their “A Day in the Park” menu featured Afters, a drink infused with apple brandy and served in a teacup on a vintage tray, accompanied by handcrafted biscotti and a candy cigarette. Their “2024 Yearbook” menu, designed to resemble a high school yearbook, featured popular drinks the bar has served over the last 10 years. Colombo acknowledges that a few tried-and-true drinks always appear on their menu, including their version of an Old Fashioned, which uses bonded bourbon, Barbados rum and American brandy.
They’ve perfected make-ahead batching methods that allow bartenders to quickly serve cocktails like their popular Let Me Be Clear, a clarified jungle bird that requires a day of preparation to turn fresh pineapples into a clarified syrup that is then mixed with multiple rums and chilled in the freezer.
Although the staff enjoys pushing boundaries when it comes to cocktails, their ultimate goal is to provide friendly service. Off-duty bartenders rotate as servers, so patrons can always expect top-notch service.
Dockum Speakeasy
Wichita | 104 South Broadway | 316.719.7119
Chances are Dockum Speakeasy has an elixir for whatever ails you. Located in the lower level of the Ambassador Hotel in Wichita, it’s named after the historic Dockum Drugstore that once operated in the space now occupied by the hotel’s Siena Tuscan Steakhouse.
During Prohibition, pharmacies would often double as covert liquor suppliers, legally prescribing “medicine” to patrons. Leaning into that aesthetic, Dockum “pharmacists” stir up a variety of handcrafted “remedies,” measuring fruit purées, infused spirits, simple syrups and fresh citrus juices into cocktails. Expect signature favorites like the High C Dose (orange-infused vodka) or the Gingerly Lightning Bee (a mixture of house-infused ginger gin, honey simple syrup and a dash of cayenne).
With the rising popularity of no- and lowalcohol options, Dockum also offers a lineup of “preventatives”—alcohol-free and low-ABV (alcohol by volume) drinks made with the same care and creativity as any other cocktail on the menu. Options like the refreshing Antidote (made with cucumber
Drugstore Cowboy
This low-alcohol option includes in-house flavored bitters.
YIELD 1 drink
INGREDIENTS
1½ ounces espresso
1 ounce brown sugar simple syrup
3 ounces vanilla cream (lightly whipped heavy cream with vanilla)
2 dashes black walnut bitters
INSTRUCTIONS
one. Add espresso, syrup, cream and bitters to a shaker with ice.
two. Shake vigorously.
three. Pour into a 12-ounce glass and fill with fresh ice.
syrup and fresh lime juice) and the creamy, lightly boozy Drugstore Cowboy (made with espresso concentrate, vanilla cream and black walnut bitters) ensure that every guest has something to sip on without compromise.
Adding to the speakeasy’s mystique, guests knock on a solid wooden door where they are greeted by a doorman before stepping into a dimly lit space. It is anchored by a dramatic wood bar and exposed brick walls, and a vintage vault stands as a nod to the building’s banking history. (Prior to being the Ambassador Hotel or Dockum Drug Store, the building was home to Union National Bank.) Even its name is rooted in history, paying homage to the 1958 Dockum Drugstore Sit-In, a student-led civil rights protest that inspired a nationwide demonstration for racial equality.
The Antidote
This refreshing zero-proof cocktail is the perfect summer sip.
YIELD 1 drink
INGREDIENTS
5 ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
2 ounces cucumber syrup
Soda water
INSTRUCTIONS
one. Stir lime juice and syrup in a 12-ounce glass. two. Add ice and top with soda water.
The Underground Saloon
Ellinwood | 1 North Main Street | 620.639.6915
The spirit of early speakeasies is fully embodied in The Underground Saloon, located in the tunnels below The Historic Wolf Hotel and Event Center in Ellinwood. German Protestant immigrants who settled the town in the late 1800s dug these tunnels to create more space for businesses. In 2013, current owner Chris McCord bought the hotel to bring it back to life. He restored the tunnels and even created a hidden cocktail lounge.
Open on Friday and Saturday nights, the saloon is accessible only through the hotel’s back alley door and down a steep set of stairs. Stepping over the saloon’s threshold, patrons enter a cozy room framed with original limestone walls, complete with cement floors that have been epoxy-stained to look like wood. A large fireplace and vintage-inspired chairs and tables add to the welcoming allure, but the custom-built bar is the focal point.
It’s not uncommon for locals and out-of-towners to belly up to the bar to indulge in various types of “giggle water” (a slang term for alcohol during Prohibition). The saloon offers the classic Sidecar (traditionally made with cognac, orange liqueur and lemon juice) and Bee’s Knee (a mixture of gin, lemon juice and honey syrup). Their signature drink, Sally’s Hard Cherry Limeade, is laced with vodka and affectionately named after Miss Sally, the mannequin who has greeted hotel guests for more than 50 years. Another crowd pleaser is their Moscow Mule—it’s the perfect mix of vodka, lime juice and ginger beer that creates just the right amount of fizz and a strong, spicy burst of flavor.
Special events, including comedy and magic acts, murder mystery dinners, musical groups, and after-hours ghost tours, help keep the saloon open for business in this small central Kansas town.
The Underground Saloon Sidecar
The Underground Saloon’s nostalgic Sidecar embodies the elegance and decadence of the Jazz Age. YIELD 1 drink
INGREDIENTS
2 ounces Hennessy cognac
¾ ounce lemon juice
¾ ounce triple sec (orange-flavored liqueur)
INSTRUCTIONS
one. Add cognac, lemon juice and triple sec to a shaker with ice, and shake until well chilled. two. Strain into a small glass.
Do-It-Yourself Cocktails
Topeka | 301 Southeast 45th Street | 785.506.8811
Joining the cocktail craze, 785 Beer Company in Topeka is experimenting with cocktail classes. “It all started as a celebration of National Cocktail Day, an annual event that is celebrated on March 24th,” says owner Ashley Loewen. Offered as a fun and interactive way to learn the art of cocktail preparation, their monthly cocktail classes provide insight into techniques and flavor profiles.
HIP & TRENDY Cocktail Lounges
Fat Matt’s Vortex
Kansas City | 411 North Sixth Street | 913.296.7142
Kansas City buzzes with an assortment of cocktail lounges and mixologists, but Fat Matt’s Vortex is one of the oldest bars in the city—it opened in 1934. Located in the historic Strawberry Hill neighborhood, it is likened to an Irish pub where regulars gather in a friendly, homey, living room-like environment.
In the evenings, patrons come out in droves, says bartender Christine Mackey. “It is lively, fun-loving and loud … A place that is very inclusive, opening its door to all,” she adds. Part of its charm may be the lore surrounding this quirky space. This drugstore-turned-funeral-home (there’s still a crematory in the basement!) is said to be one of the most haunted dives in the city.
Another draw is their infamous grog shot, a signature blend that uses a Captain Morgan rum base. Instructions are provided with the drink: “Take a swig, swish it around in your mouth, swallow and then inhale to enjoy the full bouquet of flavors and aromas.” This “almost cocktail” has sweet overtones—patrons have picked up flavors of circus peanuts (the peanut-shaped marshmallow candy), cotton candy, bananas and cinnamon, but it is a proprietary blend that the bar is careful not to share.
Fat Matt’s is a welcoming place where strangers become fast friends, offering a memorable experience for your money. “We are careful to keep prices reasonable,” Mackey says.
The Elephant Bistro & Bar
Hoxie | 732 Main Street | 785.677.3977
Promoted as “something out of the ordinary,” the Elephant Bistro & Bar has put Hoxie on the map, transforming one of the town’s oldest buildings into a welcoming culinary and cocktail destination. Guests can enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail at the bar or pair their meal with a compatible cocktail. Popular entrées such as the Wagyu meatloaf or a dry-aged ribeye pair well with a bourbon-based classic like their Old Fashioned or Peach Bourbon Arnold Palmer. Or, savor the truffle risotto bowl while sipping a stylish herb-infused spritzer or an outof-the-ordinary Italian margarita. The food—most of which is locally sourced—is as delicious as it is eclectic, and the drink menu is a match for any classy urban cocktail lounge.
Rackets Tap House
Abilene | 303 North Broadway Street | 785.470.6315
Rackets Tap House has become a hub for nighttime activity in downtown Abilene. In addition to providing Kansas beers and wines via self-service taps, the bar also offers nonalcoholic beverages and cocktails. Diverse groups gather in its renovated historic building with a large outdoor porch. Special events include date nights, trivia, music bingo, dog-friendly mixers and boozy book swaps.
A crowd-favorite event is their Cocktail Showdown, an evening where guests can choose flights featuring variations of popular cocktails. “It’s a chance for people to branch out and for us to put our spin on a classic,” says co-owner Lydia Witt. “In the process, we also find new drinks to add to our cocktail menu.” The tap house is constantly evolving and looking for fun ways to bring people together in a social setting.
Black Bison Pub
Syracuse | 122 Main Street | 620.384.6348
Folks in Syracuse can enjoy pub fare, cocktails and time with friends at the Black Bison Pub. This hidden gem tucked away in the southwestern part of Kansas shakes things up with liquid assets that include a blackberry margarita and their Cowboy Vacation, a cocktail made with tequila, peach schnapps, Malibu rum, orange and pineapple juice and margarita mix. Another frothy favorite is the Apple Bomb, which combines Crown Royal apple whiskey with pineapple and cranberry juice.
Market Bar
Yates Center
The Market Bar in Yates Center offers a unique delivery system for cocktails in Southeast Kansas. Party organizers can choose either mobile or satellite bar service. “We do weddings, pop-up events, holiday parties and festivals and are willing to work with clients to customize their drink menus,” says owner Rachelle Galemore. They craft classic drinks with fresh-squeezed juices, adding their own creative twist—the Market Marg is their version of a margarita, while the Market Fizz is their take on a paloma.
Stephanie Peck / Franklin County
Amanda Overton / Franklin County
Christine Curry / McPherson County
Rachael Sebastian / Gove County
Savor Latin Flavors
Sabor Latin Bar & Grille brings the heat to the heart of Wichita
Story by Meta Newell West
Photography by Aaron Patton
sabor Latin Bar & Grille invites diners to savor the rich and vibrant flavors of Latin America in the heart of Wichita’s Old Town Square. Sabor, a Spanish word that means “taste” or “flavor,” is a fitting name for this eatery that infuses a bit of culture and history with each meal. Their well-planned menu relies on an array of fresh ingredients, spices and seasonings reminiscent of Central and South American cuisine.
Owner Melad Stephan says that when he opened Sabor back in 2008, it introduced a new dining concept to the downtown, allowing diners to experience food from another culture in an inviting atmosphere. More than 15 years later, the concept still resonates with diners.
Starters are a great way to ease into an evening in Sabor’s spacious, contemporary dining space. The wait staff might suggest the queso with corn, a white cheese blend served with tricolor chips and flatbread. Other offerings range from Caribbean coconut fried shrimp, empanadas and ceviche de camarones. A favorite is their platanutres, or crispy plantain chips. Though often mistaken for bananas, plantains are a fruit with a starchy texture more akin to a potato. They are thinly sliced, then fried until crispy and served in a paper-lined cone with chimichurri and avocado crema for dipping. Bold, salty and addictive, they’re hard to stop eating.
sweetness that enhances the flavor of the chips.
After perusing their extensive menu, diners can choose from a variety of Latin-inspired soups, salads and specialty dishes, including the Sabor paella, Salvadorian pupusas (corn cakes stuffed with roasted pork), sirloin Caribe, churrasco steak, tacos, and an assortment of chicken, pork and fish entrées. Meatless offerings include an impressive polenta vegetarian tower, a risotto-based dish, and green chili mac and cheese—a fresh take on classic comfort food. For sides, look for the Cuban slaw, Latin rice, chipotle mashed potatoes, tostones (mashed plantains) and black bean frito—all infused with Latin flavors.
“Surround yourself with good people, provide them with the training and the tools they need to succeed, and then let them do their job.”
—MELAD STEPHAN
“We try to include something for everyone,” Melad says. “Over the years, our menu has changed a bit but remains essentially the same as customers continue to expect their favorite dishes.”
Melad believes there is often a misconception that Latin food is inherently spicy. “Our goal is to just add tons of flavor,” he says. Sabor diners can tailor the heat to their liking—habanero peppers for those who want serious spice or poblano peppers for just a kick.
For those who might enjoy a cocktail with their plantains, co-owner Deanna Stephan suggests either a Brazilian caipirinha or a fruity mojito made with passion fruit, strawberry or mango. Both drinks are mixed fresh and have a hint of
House-made sauces are included with many of the dishes or can be ordered on the side. Options include tropical mango sofrito, orange poblano, chimichurri, red wine mole and fiery habanero mojo.
The vibrancy of Latin American cuisine doesn’t end with savory dishes, sauces and sides. Sabor also offers an array of desserts made in-house that are sure to please. Caramel is a classic
Opposite Starters, such as these crispy plantain chips, are a great way to ease into an evening at Sabor Latin Bar & Grille.
recipe.
Sabor’s Beef Picadillo
One of Sabor Latin Bar & Grill’s specialties, beef picadillo is a Latin American favorite that varies by region. (Picadillo, pronounced pee-cah-DEE-yo, essentially means “all chopped up” or “hash” in Spanish.) Sabor’s interpretation of this classic dish incorporates a laborintensive mole made with chili peppers and tons of spices. Store-bought mole can be substituted. Chefs at Sabor spoon chipotle mashed potatoes onto one side of the plate before adding a generous portion of beef picadillo. This meal pairs well with a glass of red sangria. For smaller appetites, this could make two home-style servings. Yield: 1 generous serving
INGREDIENTS
• 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• 6 ounces beef tips, cut into bite-sized pieces
• ½ medium red pepper, thinly sliced
• ¼ medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup button mushrooms, cut into ¼-inch slices
• ½ cup frozen corn
• 4 ounces (½ cup) mole
• Pepperoncini, to garnish
• Chopped cilantro, to garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
one. Heat oil in a skillet set over medium-high heat.
two. Once the skillet is hot, add beef tips and sauté, tossing and stirring occasionally, until tips are no longer pink on the outside.
three. Add onions, peppers and mushrooms, tossing or stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes or until onions are translucent.
four. Add corn and mole, and simmer for 3 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
five. Plate and garnish with a pepperoncini and cilantro.
ingredient in favorites such as their iconic custard flan. Tres leches, a sponge cake drenched in milk and cream, is a sweet treat all by itself but can be taken to the next level with a shot of RumChata. Their Spanishstyle churros are made from choux pastry, piped into hot oil and fried until golden. Paired with caramel and chocolate dipping sauces, they deliver the perfect balance of crispy richness.
Don’t forget bar drinks that pair well with dessert—or let your drink be dessert. The espresso martini, made with coffee and vanilla vodka, and the chocolate martini, smooth and velvety, are indulgent ways to end the evening.
Melad sums up his approach for running a successful restaurant: “Surround yourself with good people, provide them with the training and the tools they need to succeed, and then let them do their job.”
Wait staff are specially trained to make dining a memorable experience. Thoroughly acquainted with the menu, they offer thoughtful recommendations and can answer questions about each dish, whether it’s the ingredients it contains or the culture it represents. Longtime waiter Joshua Dunston likened working at Sabor to being part of a family. “This place has become part of my DNA,” Dunston says.
While wait staff tend to diners with ease, the kitchen bustles with energy as Chef Gerson Harody Saavedra and his team bring passion and skill to every plate. Every detail is carefully considered, from timeconsuming house-made sauces to generous, artfully arranged portions and unfussy garnishes that elevate without overwhelming.
Chef Gerson started out as a dishwasher almost 15 years ago and steadily worked his way up, learning every aspect of kitchen operations along the way. Trained in food preparation and cooking by a previous head chef, he gained intensive hands-on experience over the years. Today, he oversees the kitchen and back-of-house staff. “I still try to learn something new every day,” he says.
The restaurant welcomes everyone from business clients and loyal regulars to couples on date night and families with children. The space begins to fill up early in the evenings, so reservations—especially on the weekends—are recommended. “We’ve hosted marriage proposals, wedding celebrations, prom-goers … any and every kind of celebratory event,” Melad says. “We’ve even hosted a few celebrities, including Harrison Ford, who stops by at least once a year!”
Melad and Deanna genuinely enjoy connecting with guests, especially seeing first-time diners turn into regulars. For them, creating a place where people feel at home—and want to come back—is what it’s all about.
Above Creating a place where people feel at home is what it’s all about, says owners Melad (left) and Deanna Stephan.
Sabor’s interpretation of beef picadillo incorporates labor-intensive mole made with chili peppers and tons of spices.
Up Where the Flashlights End
JESSICA K. HYLTON holds a Ph.D. in creative writing from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and is an instructor at Kansas State Salina. Her books include Gag Order (Akinoga Press, 2020), The Great Scissor Hunt (Headmistress Press, 2016), and the collection Fracture; or, James Joyce Always Makes Me Think of Boobs (Clare Songbirds Publishing House, forthcoming). She is an associate editor for The Main Street Rag, and in her free time, she staunchly advocates for women’s rights and abandoned animals.
The front porch sags under the weight of me both of us older now, softer in the wrong ways I tilt my head upward watching the dark bloom with stars too high for any canvas too wild for any storybook but burning without apology
I remember being four years old my fists clutching the shingles of a roof my grandfather built from earth fertilized by generations of familial memories as my father’s hands tried to lift me closer to the wheeling sky
But I feared getting too close even the strongest flashlight we had couldn’t tame the dark—it was too big beams sputtering upward and giving out long before they reached the stars
Tonight, I sit heavy knowing the weight of 401ks, the stacks of student loans, and the weakness of filament holding on to brightness
And the stars?
They still do not come down to meet me instead insisting that I rise to them past where the flashlights end past where the roof meets the sky past where hands built anything
to places too stubborn and too beautiful to ever know the laws of gravity to ever be controlled to ever be broken
I breathe in celestial defiance I drink the long history of light and I stay underneath the Kansas sky learning how to glow again
