KANSAS! Magazine | Summer 2012

AE DRI TTI OSN

EXPERIENCE

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the Art of a Kansas Summer KANSASMAG.COM

REASONS to love Kansas

PARK IT

VOL 68 ISSUE 2

2012

Summer

WE SCREAM for ice cream

K A N S A S

Drive-Ins

CONTENTS FEATURES

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Reasons We Love Kansas

Summer is the perfect time to pay homage to our sunflower state—from fresh vegetables to road trips, we find plenty of reasons to celebrate the season Written by Gloria Gale

16 The Legendary Big Screen As drive-in theaters become a thing of the past, some Kansas proprietors believe the show must go on Written by Sally M. Snell

26 The Sound of Summer As the season heats up, so do music festivals across Kansas Written by Kimberly Winter Stern

38 The Colors of Van Go

Painting the town red … and green, purple, yellow and blue Written by Pam Grout

54 Art Party in NOTO

Once-empty historic buildings in North Topeka are now the backdrop for a flourishing arts scene Written by Anita Miller Fry

58 Healing Brush Strokes

Kansas artist Wayne Clark finds painting to be a release after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Written by Amy Conkling ON THE COVER

Prairie Sounds

in Jefferson County Photograph by Jason Dailey

KANSAS!

Send your story ideas to KSMAGAZINE@SUNFLOWERPUB.COM or to KANSAS!, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612.

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The Legendary Big Screen FROM THE EDITOR

A

s summer swings into high gear, so do the opportunities to get out and enjoy what Kansas has to offer, especially among the arts.

Music lovers will find our feature on music festivals to be a fine celebration of events across the state, from Symphony in the Flint Hills to Jazz in the Woods. Of course we can’t forget the Emma Chase Café in Cottonwood Falls and its Friday Night Jam Sessions, named as our Milestone this season.

Beyond the sound of art, we also explore the NOTO Arts District in Topeka as a joyful observer; and for a more hands-on experience, we drop into Van Go Arts in Lawrence.

We also sit back and enjoy the experience of cinematic arts on the big screen at Kansas’ drive-in movie theaters.

I still remember going to the Clover Leaf and Chief driveins in Topeka as a child. Many of these symbolic theaters are still thriving, and we share why.

And as summer traditions go, we tip our hat to the Phillipsburg Rodeo and the community of Phillipsburg in “Our Town.”

I’m sure this issue of KANSAS! will bring out your creative side while piquing your interests to experience Kansas’ artistic destinations. Thank you for reading.

Jennifer Haugh, Editor FIND US ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/KansasMagazine FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @KANSASMag

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Taste of Kansas: Brain Freeze!

DEPARTMENTS

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The Making of KANSAS!

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Letters

14 Kansas Events 34 Our Town: Phillipsburg A visit to this north-central Kansas town will feel like your first rodeo Written by Cheryl Hofstetter Duffy

42 Tour Kansas:

Tour de Art Kansas-style

Discover mechanical marvels and whimsical creatures in this Midwestern mecca for folk art Written by Kelly Ludwig

46 Gallery 60 Taste of Kansas: Brain freeze!

Three Kansas creameries rev up taste buds churning out handcrafted dairy delights scoop by scoop Written by Gloria Gale

64 Milestone:

The Emma Chase Café IN THIS ISSUE

JACKSON KANSAS SHERIDAN GRAHAM PHILLIPSBURG POTTAWATOMIE TROY CITY COUNTY COUNTY COUNTY COUNTY BELLEVILLE ATCHISON COLBY COUNTY SHAWNEE GOODLAND ALTON WYANDOTTE GRANTVILLE DICKINSON COUNTY COUNTY COUNTY MANHATTAN LUCAS OVERLAND SALINA PARK TOPEKA 70 GOVE PAXICO LAWRENCE KANOPOLIS OLATHE COUNTY JUNCTION McPHERSON LANE CITY 35 OSAWATOMIE GREAT BEND MARION COUNTY EMPORIA FT. SCOTT DODGE CITY HUTCHINSON 135 COTTONWOOD ULYSSES FALLS WICHITA MULLINVILLE ERIE CHENEY EL DORADO BARBER COUNTY

NEODESHA

PITTSBURG

MEDICINE LODGE

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GO MOBILE! Scan our QR code with your smartphone for the latest from KANSAS! magazine.

THE MAKING OF

A RT E D I TS IO N

WORDSMITH FAVORITES

HONORABLE GALLERY MENTIONS PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES

8 Freelance Writers

10 Gallery Photographers

Brad Neff

Kelly Ludwig Living: MT Liggett and his welded sculptures.

Dead: SP Dinsmoor, Garden of Eden (see pages 42 for more on these artists.)

Sally M. Snell Martin and Osa Johnson, early 20th century documentary filmmakers, explorers and authors. From my earliest childhood I recall my grandmother recounting the tales of Martin and Osa (Leighty) Johnson.

Anita Miller Fry

6 Contributing Photographers

Cheryl Hofstetter Duffy

Harland J. Schuster

Terry Wiechman

My favorite Kansas artist is fine arts photographer Daniel Coburn. He is currently in New Mexico doing graduate studies. I think his Kansas landscapes are great. Every time I see amazing clouds, I think of Dan as he often captures the Kansas sky at its most dramatic moments.

SHUTTERBUGS First Shoot

Most Delicious Shoot

“OUR TOWN: PHILLIPSBURG” page 34

“TASTE OF KANSAS: BRAIN FREEZE” page 60

Last Shoot

Most Envious Shoots

“THE COLORS OF VAN GO” page 38

“THE SOUND OF SUMMER” page 26

REFERENCE

ON THE COVER

4K digital projection As drive-in theaters work to keep up with digital enhancements, some are converting to 4K digital projection, which produces four times the number of pixels of 2K projection.

This photo illustration was created as an extension of our music festival feature “The Sound of Summer” (on page 26). Courtesies to: model Jessica Davis (Financial Advisor with Waddell & Reed), location Hundred Acre Farm (Nick Gregory), hair and makeup by Amy Colvin for Lada Salon.

My favorite Kansas artist is actually nationally and internationally renowned: Kris Kuksi, sculptor and painter. He’s had over 100 gallery exhibitions, including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., and the Halle Saint Pierre in Paris.

ALTERNATE COVER OPTION

kansasmag.com

summer 2012 volume 68 issue 2

$4.99

a rt e d i ts io

seeing summer

on the big screen

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$4.99

Michael C. Snell KA NSA SMA G.C OM •

KANSAS!

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LETTERS PICTURE PERFECT gallery

SUMMER ISSUE 2012

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES Kansas reflects a global perspective with its many cultural communities

Spring’S colorful hueS

LawrenCe

naTive ameriCan manny King knows what’s happening in Lawrence’s native american community.

King, northern Cheyenne/ Dine (navajo), has served as Haskell indian nations University’s registrar since 1985. During his tenure he has met thousands of native americans. This year, King estimates that students attending Haskell will represent 135 tribes out of the 565 tribes in the United States. many native american families reside in Douglas County, and Haskell is the common thread that bonds them together. The commencement powwow, may 11–12, 2012, is an event that truly celebrates these bonds. another annual favorite is the Haskell indian art market, held the second week in September.

Both events find people journeying back to Haskell annually. Haskell welcomes the general public to visit and learn more about the university and the local native american community. while King is a wellknown emcee on the national powwow circuit, he prefers to stay in Lawrence, where he finds a community that embraces diversity and is a good place to live. “my main goal is to bring enjoyment and an appreciation of indian cultures to people from all walks of life,” King says.

Spring welcomes a renewed spirit featuring Kansas’ landscapes, beautiful sunsets and blissful blooms.

The

MidwesTern MelTing PoT

(Opposite)

SunSet Over univerSity Of KanSaS Dick Herpich, Douglas County (From top)

SunSet fOr Spring Marciana Vequist, Douglas County

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The photography in the spring issue is excellent. I especially liked the gallery of photos that could be featured in any salon anywhere … you are doing a fine job.

AL HOLLIDAY Publisher, Pennsylvania Magazine SEE THE STATE Tour Kansas

For The Family

Attractions for the whole gang abound this spring

With spring break around the corner and summer vacation looming in the distance, the season for planning family excursions is here. Consider adding these Kansas family-fun destinations for playing, learning and chowing down to your next itinerary.

Tip: keep your eye on the panorama’s prairie dog mound.

Tip:

Schlitterbahn (n): A fictitious German word that translates loosely to “slippery road” and the namesake of Kansas City’s newest waterpark. Opened in summer 2009, Schlitterbahn Kansas City Waterpark has an uphill water coaster, three mammoth tubing rivers, including the world’s longest “tidal wave” river and the Midwest’s longest rapids river, surfing ride, six slides, three chutes, 13 mini-slides for little ones, four relaxing beach areas, private cabanas and a giant hot tub with a swim-up refreshment bar for mom and dad.

The park’s mainstay is the long and winding “Torrent River,” which supplies continuous swells that toss patrons along a culvert snaking throughout the park as the world’s longest tidal wave river. The budget-conscious will appreciate free parking and the fact that the park welcomes picnics and coolers. schlitterbahn/kc

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PhotograPhs this Page: (toP to bottom) Courtesy sChlitterbahn WaterParks (2) PhotograPhs oPPosite Page: (CloCkWise from left) Jason Dailey (2), aDam hofmann (2), Jason Dailey

Avoid the park’s long lines by visiting on weekdays and by arriving when the park opens at 10 a.m. most days.

The University of Kansas’ Natural History Museum, a classic field trip destination in the Lawrence area, welcomes young paleontologists with a 45-foot hanging mosasaur skeleton in the main lobby. Bone and reptile enthusiasts may want to head straight to the museum’s numerous other Cretaceous period fossils or to the small collection of live snakes. However, just beyond the lobby awaits the museum’s perennially popular panorama of North American plant and animal life, where you can (gently) high-five a (taxidermic) polar bear. http://naturalhistory.ku.edu

K-state Insect zoo KU natUral hiStory mUSeUm

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Schlitterbahn

A sign at the entrance of the Kansas State University Insect Zoo states the zoo’s two simple rules: Don’t tap on the cages, and don’t try to scare your friends. “We don’t want it to be like Fear Factor,” says Zoo Coordinator Kiffnie Holt. “We want people to leave here happy or having learned something.” With a play area for young children, an enlightening display on local insects of Kansas (who knew both scorpions and tarantulas live in Kansas?) and numerous live specimens of tropical spiders, scorpions and other arthropods, the zoo does well at achieving its goal. For the really brave, there is also an opportunity to hold a millipede and a hissing cockroach. k-stAte.edu/butterfly

Although Boss Hawgs’ official tagline is “Horrifying vegetarians since 1995,” this familyowned Topeka barbeque joint is also well-known for welcoming families over the years. The restaurant has an ample kids’ menu that includes classic favorites like chicken fingers and PB&J, as well as brisket and babyback ribs. Children eat for $2 every Sunday. If the crayons and coloring pages don’t keep the kids entertained before the meal, perhaps the complimentary plates of warm cornbread will. bosshawgsbbq.com

Written by Susan Heck Photograph by Jason Dailey

There is a cultural richness to the state that many might not expect.

Communities all over the state honor their ancestries with celebrations, cultural history and food. This winter we learn more about these communities and meet their cultural leaders.

SunriSe COw Brad Neff, Shawnee County

Tip: Call a week in advance to schedule an entomologistled tour.

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For a listing oF events at Haskell visit tHe calendar at Haskell.edu

Manny King

My husband and I really enjoy KANSAS! magazine, for we both grew up in Kansas. I grew up in Frontenac and know the Pallucca family and store well. I went to grade school with the writer, J T Knoll, and his siblings. My husband and I started dating when we were students at Pittsburg State University. Although we have lived outside of Kansas since leaving college, we go back frequently to visit family. Your magazine helps us stay connected to our home state. We have had a subscription for 20 years.

Tip: save room for ice cream, which comes with all kids’ menu items.

MARY MARGARET JONES REALS Mission Viejo, California

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Another great KANSAS! magazine.

Wonderful photography and enough information to incite the wanderlust in a couch potato. After the legislature goes home sometime the first of May, we always try to find ways to supplement our longerdistance travels by finding special places in Kansas. Your magazine makes our quest much easier.

GARY DEETER Secretary serving Representative Forrest Knox and Committee Secretary for the House Financial Institutions Committee

TWITTER WOW! Great job on the Spring 2012 issue. It knocked my socks off! Nice job all involved. Proud to be a Kansan!

WENDEE LAPLANT Love the ads by town. Easy to explore that way! Love the photos.

Always a treat to get the magazine!

CAROLYN K. CARTER

SEND YOUR LETTERS TO: Editor, KANSAS!, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612 or e-mail KSMAGAZINE@SUNFLOWERPUB.COM

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Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Jennifer T. Haugh EDITOR

Sam Brownback GOVERNOR

Becky Blake

DIRECTOR, TOURISM DIVISION

WWW.SUNFLOWERPUB.COM LAWRENCE, KANSAS

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Katy Ibsen

MANAGING EDITOR

Shelly Bryant

DESIGNER/ART DIRECTOR

Jason Dailey PHOTOGRAPHER

Bert Hull

GENERAL MANAGER

KANSAS! (ISSN 0022-8435) is published quarterly by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200 Topeka, KS 66612; (785) 296-3479; TTY Hearing Impaired: (785) 296-3487.

Periodical postage paid at Topeka, KS, and at additional mailing offices.

Newsstand price $4.99 per issue; subscription price $18 per year; international subscription price $22 per year.

All prices include all applicable sales tax.

Please address subscription inquiries to: Toll-free: (800) 678-6424 KANSAS!, P.O. Box 146 Topeka, KS 66601-0146 e-mail: ksmagazine@sunflowerpub.com Website: www.KansasMag.com POSTMASTER: Send address change to: KANSAS! P.O. Box 146, Topeka, KS 66601-0146.

Please mail all editorial inquiries to: KANSAS!, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612 e-mail: ksmagazine@sunflowerpub.com The articles and photographs that appear in KANSAS! magazine may not be broadcast, published or otherwise reproduced without the express written consent of Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism or the appropriate copyright owner. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Additional restrictions may apply.

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REASONS WE ❤ KANSAS

Written by Gloria Gale

1 TRAVELIN’ MAN

LOOKING FOR EXQUISITE LANDSCAPE ART? Photographer Kevin Venator’s intrepid wanderlust will solve the problem. The Kansas native’s stunning images captured on his treks from sea to sea can be found on his website. Never been to Castle Rock, Kauai and everywhere in-between? No problem. AMERICASWONDERLANDS.COM

Summer is the perfect time to pay homage to our sunflower state—from festivities to fishing trips, we find plenty of reasons to celebrate the season.

Share your Reasons to Love Kansas (see page 13).

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FLYING HIGH

PHOTOGRAPHS: (CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT) COURTESY OF KEVIN VENATOR AMERICASWONDERLANDS.COM, SHUTTERSTOCK, COURTESY OF THE GREAT MIDWEST BALLOON FEST, COURTESY OF EARL KUHN

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HEAD FOR THE HILLS

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO EXPLORE KANSAS IS BY STAYING OVERNIGHT. When you rent a home from Vacation Rental by Owner, you’ll enjoy the luxury of a house, not just a hotel room. The rental properties provide detailed online photos plus a decent overview of the area. If sitting on an authentic Victorian porch watching the sunset in Waterville is just what you had in mind, Vacation Rental by Owner will get you there.

VRBO.COM

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FACEBOOK: VRBO

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LOOK! UP IN THE SKY, IT’S A BIRD—IT’S A PLANE —no, it’s a flotilla of creatively designed hot air balloons. Plan on staking out your perfect spot to watch the third annual Great Midwest Balloon Fest, August 10-12 at the Great Mall of the Great Plains, Olathe.

Over 50 balloons will ascend at dawn and again for an evening show with glow. Food and entertainment are also on tap.

GREATMIDWESTBALLOONFEST.ORG FACEBOOK: GMBFEST

TWITTER: @GMBFEST

TWITTER: @VRBO

HOME ON THE RANGE

EARL KUHN HAS THE TOUCH. As a watercolor artist who just happens to paint the American cowboy, Kuhn paints western scenes portraying contemporary ranching heritage from his home base of Medicine Lodge. Whether it’s herding cattle, the stunning backdrop of Medicine Lodge’s Gypsum Hills or a prized portrait of a favorite horse, Kuhn’s watercolor paintings truly celebrate Kansas’ ranching lifestyle. EARLKUHN.COM FACEBOOK: EARLKUHNFINEWESTERNART

REASONS WE ❤ KANSAS

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MAD FOR PLAID

TRADITION COMES ALIVE AT THE MCPHERSON SCOTTISH FESTIVAL. Annually, the festival features 16 venues of familyoriented activities reflecting the traditions and heritage of the Celtic lands. This year the Highland Games will be in full swing (September 22-23). MACFESTIVAL.ORG FACEBOOK: MCPHERSON.KS.SCOTTISH.FESTIVAL

CHEF’S CHOICE

EVEN IF YOU’RE ALL THUMBS IN THE KITCHEN, the Junior League of Wichita wants you to gloat over their big, bountiful cookbook, Pinches & Dashes: Recipes & Life Measures. Bursting with 185 triple-tested recipes, this collection took 18 months to complete. More than 2,000 recipes were submitted, resulting in the best-of-the-best. Julie Prater, cookbook chair, isn’t shy to admit, “This is our third cookbook, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.” Foodies can also peruse the online flipbook for a visual temptation before ordering a copy at $28.95. PINCHESANDDASHES.ORG

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IN GOOD HANDS

THROUGHOUT THE STATE, YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ROUTINELY MEET TO HONE THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS and promote the diversity of their individual communities. These groups work together to build a strong generation of people prepared to handle the future challenges within the state. Growing personally and professionally is a key goal of the Young Professional groups.

DODGE CITY AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: DODGECHAMBER.COM/YOUNG_PROFESSIONALS/ PITTSBURG AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: PITTSBURGAREAYP.NET YOUNG EMPORIA PROFESSIONALS: FACEBOOK.COM/PAGES/YOUNG-EMPORIA-PROFESSIONALS/ SALINA AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: FACEBOOK.COM/SALINAAREAYP FAST FORWARD, TOPEKA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS: TOPEKACHAMBER.ORG

PHOTOGRAPHS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) CAMERA ANGLES LTD., LAURENCE VENTRESS, SHUTTERSTOCK, CURT DENNISON, COURTESY OF SCOTT WILLIAMS KTWU

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FACEBOOK: JUNIORLEAGUEOFWICHITACOOKBOOK TWITTER: @JLWCOOKBOOK

8 AND ... ACTION DISCOVERING FACTS ABOUT KANSAS CAN BE FASCINATING. Bringing the facts into focus is Sunflower Journeys, a weekly half-hour magazine-style program highlighting various aspects of culture, history and geography in Kansas. Now in production for its 25th season, this popular series may be seen on all the PBS stations in Kansas as well as the Kansas City metro area. Tune in and become a fan of celebrating Kansas’ heritage. HTTP://KTWU.WASHBURN.EDU/JOURNEYS/ FACEBOOK: KTWU’S SUNFLOWER JOURNEYS

REASONS WE ❤ KANSAS

Dave Kendall

REASONS WE ❤ KANSAS

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CHIT CHAT

IF YOU’VE EVER WONDERED WHO IS GROWING YOUR FOOD, farmers from CommonGround would like to proudly introduce themselves. Women from Grantville, Ulysses and Alton share their personal expertise with farming through online blogs, newsletters and special events. If you want to know more about the food you purchase at the grocery store, CommonGround is the place. Read about life on the farm and ask questions; these informative women have the answers and are eager to share their knowledge. FINDOURCOMMONGROUND.COM FACEBOOK: COMMONGROUNDNOW

TWITTER: @COMMONGROUNDNOW

HIGH PLAINS HERITAGE

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MUSEUMS MAKE FOR FUN DESTINATIONS, including Goodland’s High Plains Museum.

Through a whirlwind tour visitors can experience part of the Museum’s 8,000-piece collection that represents more than 100 years of Sherman County history. Visitors will discover Northwest Kansas history through interactive and educational exhibits, including the replica of the first patented helicopter and Sherman County’s first automobile.

There’s always a special presentation in store. Check out the museum’s Facebook page for a current calendar.

HTTP://HIGHPLAINSMUSEUM.ORG

KANSAS DUET

KELLEY HUNT IS MAKING SOUNDS AROUND KANSAS. Most recently she has been heard at the end of the immersive experience at the new Flint Hills Discovery Center in Manhattan. Currently she and Bill Kurtis are also collaborating on music and a voice-over for a new TravelKS tourism campaign. “One of the reasons I’m so excited about this is because it gives me the opportunity to help promote the unexpected, positive things about our state out there in the world,” says Hunt.

“When I found out Bill Kurtis was involved, a clear picture of it all came together— that’s what Bill does better than anyone— he paints a crystal clear picture. What a great voice, and a great Kansan. He’s a perfect choice. I know we’re really going to have something strong.”

FACEBOOK: HIGHPLAINSMUSEUM TWITTER: @HIGHPLAINSMUSE

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JUST BOBBIN’ ALONG

DON’T LET THE NAME DARK RIVER SCARE YOU—it’s just another moniker for the Missouri River. Float and kayak trips don’t usually happen along the Mighty Mo, but Casey Rush is an expert guide, preferring to float on waters less traveled. Based in Troy, Rush will take you to farm ponds, community lakes and small rivers, where the angling is low-pressure and relaxed. Experience Rush’s enthusiasm for the guided fishing experience either by kayak or canoe. Rentals include tackle, lures and bait, or bring your own. Full- and half-day trips available. DARKRIVEROUTFITTERS.COM

REASONS WE ❤ KANSAS

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A STEWARDSHIP OF GREENABILITY

ONLY 20 PERCENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IS RECYCLED IN THE STATE OF KANSAS. Kansas Organization of Recyclers hopes to increase that number by informing the public how they can shop, then recycle smarter. This nonprofit organization advocates and educates on all facets of waste reduction, composting, reuse, recycling and sustainable efforts in Kansas.

In partnership with local, state, regional and national organizations, KOR wants to green up and clean up Kansas. KSKOR.ORG FACEBOOK: KANSASORGANIZATIONOFRECYCLERS

PHOTOGRAPHS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) COURTESY OF HIGH PLAINS MUSEUM (2), TRAVELKS, SHUTTERSTOCK (2) COURTESY OF THE KANSAS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, SHUTTERSTOCK

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TWITTER: @RECYCLEKANSAS

SHINING EXAMPLES

U.S. SEN. ARTHUR CAPPER always held the farmer and the land in highest esteem. Even before throwing his hat into the political arena early in the 20th century, the Garnett native and successful newspaperman commissioned three stained-glass windows depicting plowing, planting and harvesting to be installed into his home. In 2001, the beautiful windows were donated to the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka.

KSHS.ORG/PORTAL_MUSEUM FACEBOOK: KSHISTORICALSOCIETY

TWITTER: @KANSASHISTORY

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ANGLER’S PARADISE

ROD ... CHECK, REEL ... CHECK, TACKLE BOX ...

CHECK, BAIT ... NOPE. If you’re going to boast about your fish tale, here’s a look at shops that stock exactly what you’ll need.

KAT N CAL’S COUNTRY STORE & BAIT SHOP in Cheney. This mom-and-pop shop has gas, groceries, gear and bait. (316) 542-9800, 15541 NE 50TH ST., CHENEY HOOK SET TACKLE offers all types of jigs, spoons and lures to make this Paxico shop a fisherman’s dream for artificial bait. They specialize in tackle for crappie, white bass, walleye, bluegill and catfish; if they don’t have it, you don’t need it. (785) 636-5374, 224 MAIN ST., PAXICO HILLTOP BAIT, GROCERY, CAFE AND CABIN RENTAL IN TORONTO offers coffee, breakfast and the works for great fishing and camping.

Plan an overnight stay in one of their cabins.

(620) 637-2700, 153 WESTSHORE ROAD, TORONTO

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REASONS WE ❤ KANSAS

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MIRACLE, SAMMIE, PRECIOUS AND CHLOE ARE WAITING PATIENTLY FOR YOU. The cats and dogs of the Kansas Humane Society can’t help but tug at your heartstrings. There is an abundance of adorable pets that need loving homes. In addition to adoption services, the privately funded, nonprofit Society also provides fostering, training classes, a gift shop and volunteer opportunities. KSHUMANE.ORG FACEBOOK: KSHUMANE

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TWITTER: @KSHUMANESOCIETY

BEYOND THE BATTLEFIELD

OPERATION HOMEFRONT, a nonprofit organization with national and local chapters, aids military families in need of assistance. When a family experiences personal difficulty transitioning back from deployment or wounded in action, OHF assists with financial, food, health, moving, child care and a host of other critical needs.

To date, nearly 500,000 needs have been met through donations helping soldiers and their families. Be a hero and donate to Operation Homefront’s local Kansas chapter.

OPERATIONHOMEFRONT.NET/KANSAS FACEBOOK: OPERATIONHOMEFRONTKANSAS TWITTER: @OHKANSAS

SWINGIN’ GOOD TIME

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BUILD A ROPE TREE SWING USING KANSAS COTTONWOOD, THE STATE TREE. 1. Pick a piece of lumber that is at least 2 inches thick and 15 to 25 inches long.

2. Use a pencil and ruler to mark off these measurements onto the lumber.

3. With safety glasses on, cut the wood using a power saw.

4. Sandpaper the entire board until it’s smooth.

5. On each side, or short width of the seat, drill two holes for natural fiber or polyester rope. Use a power drill with a large bit and make sure the holes are wide enough for a ½ -¾ inch rope.

6. Attach heavy-duty eyehooks on a strong branch of a tree in your backyard. Make sure that the branch you use is at least 5 to 8 inches in diameter. The hooks should be at least 15 inches apart, or base the measurement on the length of the swing seat that you made.

7. You can also use a slipknot to secure the rope on the tree branch.

8. Hang the rope first to find the appropriate length for the seat.

9. Pull the rope through the holes on the bottom of the seat with a secure knot. If the knot unties, the swing could seriously hurt the person using it, so make sure to make a really strong and safe knot and seal the rope with a small flame.

Compiled from ehow.com, stuffwedo.com and handymanhowto.com

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PHOTOGRAPHS: (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) KANSAS HUMANE SOCIETY (2), SHUTTERSTOCK, COURTESY OF COBALT BOATS, LAWRENCE ORIGINALS, SHUTTERSTOCK

PET PALS

PROWESS ON THE WATER

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PACK ST. CLAIR, FOUNDER OF COBALT BOATS, HAD A VISION. His entrepreneurial dream was to build luxury watercrafts.

What began in Chanute eventually moved to Neodesha. Cobalt, now in its fifth decade of building cruisers and runabouts, thrives within this niche market. Routinely recognized for the highest-quality powerboat craftsmanship, Cobalt has brought recognition to the small southeastern Kansas town for its uncompromising work ethic.

COBALTBOATS.COM

FACEBOOK: COBALTBOATS

TWITTER: @COBALTBOATS

❤

REASONS WE LOVE KANSAS Send your “Reasons We Love Kansas” to KSREASONS@SUNFLOWERPUB.COM

or to Reasons, KANSAS!, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612.

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NO CLONES

FOR A TASTE OF “LOCAL” IN LAWRENCE, try one of the Lawrence Originals restaurants. This diverse group of 27 local and independent establishments offers a variety of casual to upscale cuisines.

Experience the dedicated hospitality, exceptional food and hard-working staff of the Originals—it’s anything but a familiar dining experience. LAWRENCEORIGINALS.COM FACEBOOK: LAWRENCEORIGINALS

TWITTER: @LAWORIGINALS

SUMMER 2012 KANSAS EVENTS FREEDOM’S FRONTIER & KANSASNEBRASKA ACT EXHIBITS LAWRENCE JANUARY 1-DECEMBER 31 Experience this unique pre-statehood exhibit as the first stop of the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Exhibit.

FREEDOMSFRONTIER.ORG

NATIONAL BIPLANE FLY-IN

K-96 JUNE JAUNT

JUNCTION CITY JUNE 1 A celebration of antique, vintage and modern biplanes at Freeman Field. Begins at 7 a.m. NATIONALBIPLANEFLYIN.COM

LEOTI JUNE 1-3 Don’t miss this opportunity to experience authentic rural Kansas at its best with dining, antiques, craft shows and concerts.

Get your fix on K-96. Begins at 8 a.m.

K96JUNEJAUNT.COM

100 YEARS OF GIRL SCOUTS

GREAT PLANES ON THE GREAT PLAINS

ABILENE MARCH 10-SEPTEMBER 3 Celebrate 100 years of the Girl Scouts at the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum. EISENHOWER.ARCHIVES.GOV

HAYS JUNE 2 Fun-filled day for families is the third annual Fly In with helicopter rides, airplane displays, demonstrations and games for kids. Begins at 7 a.m.

OPERA ON THE LAKE

FLYHAYS.COM

WICHITA MAY 19 Wichita Grand Opera’s regular season grand finale under the stars at Bradley Fair. Begins at 7 p.m.

BEEF EMPIRE DAYS PRCA RODEO GARDEN CITY JUNE 7-9 The PRCA rodeo, part of a communitywide event celebrating our Western heritage at Finney County Fairgrounds. Begins at 7 p.m. BEEFEMPIREDAYSRODEO.COM

WICHITAGRANDOPERA.ORG

FISH TROT FOR KIDS FISHING DERBY GARNETT MAY 26 Hosted by the Friends of the Prairie Spirit Trail, this free fishing derby offers fun and prizes for everyone. Begins at 5 p.m. at the children’s fish pond at the Garnett Country Club. BIKEPRAIRIESPIRIT.COM

ECHOES OF THE TRAIL COWBOY GATHERING

ART TOUGEAU PARADE

ECHOESOFTHETRAIL.COM

LAWRENCE MAY 26 Creativity abounds in this four-wheeled art parade running through downtown. Parade begins at noon. LAWRENCEARTSCENTER.COM

SUNFLOWER MUSIC FESTIVAL

VINTAGE & EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT FLY-IN

SUNFLOWERMUSICFESTIVAL.ORG

FORT SCOTT JUNE 8-10 Plenty of cowboy tales and music, real chuck wagon cooking, family fun. Begins at 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday.

TOPEKA JUNE 8-16 Presents an annual series of orchestra concerts and chamber music evenings.

MAYHEM ON THE MARAIS DES CYGNES

ATCHISON MAY 26 Enjoy this aviation event at the Amelia Earhart Airport. (816) 262-5090 CHINGAWASSA DAYS FLINT HILLS RODEO STRONG CITY MAY 31-JUNE 2 Oldest consecutive rodeo in Kansas and PRCA-sanctioned celebrates its 75th annual event. Begins at 8 p.m.

FLINTHILLSRODEO.COM

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KANSAS!

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MARION JUNE 1-3 This annual festival features nationally known acts and plenty of fun for the entire family, this year featuring Starship.

Begins at 5 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m.

Saturday. CHINGAWASSA.COM

OTTAWA JUNE 9 A Micro Brew Tasting Event and BBQ contest with entertainment. Begins at 11 a.m. OTTAWAMAINSTREET.ORG

SUMMER 2012 KANSAS EVENTS FORT HARKER DAYS AND FRONTIER LIVING HISTORY KANOPOLIS JULY 13-14 Experience a Kansas fort’s role in settling the West at this unique two-day event.

Begins at 5 p.m. HTTP://MYELLSWORTH.COM/ECHS HUTCHINSON GRAND NATIONAL AUTO RACES HUTCHINSON JULY 13-14 56th annual Hutchinson Grand National Auto Races at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets required. (316) 755-1781

FIND MORE EVENTS

AT TRAVELKS.COM

CENTRAL STATES INT LEAGUE WATER SPORTS TOURNAMENT GARNETT JUNE 9-10 Water-ski, wakeboard, wakeskate and kneeboard tournament on Lake Garnett. Registration begins at 7 a.m. INTLEAGUE.COM TERRITORIAL DAYS LECOMPTON JUNE 22-23 Celebrate Lecompton’s Territorial Days and national history.

LECOMPTONTERRITORIALDAYS.COM

50’S FEST: SHAKE, RATTLE & ROLL ABILENE JUNE 23 This fundraiser includes admission to the Smithsonian exhibit Elvis at 21 Photographs by Alfred Wertheimer. Begins at 6 p.m.

PHOTOGRAPHS: SHUTTERSTOCK

EISENHOWER.ARCHIVES.GOV

2012 SUNFLOWER ARTFEST DESOTO JULY 13-15 Fine arts festivities, food, live entertainment at The Barn at Kill Creek Farm Association.

HTTP://DESOTOARTSKS.ORG

GOODLAND • COLBY • OAKLEY WAKEENEY • HAYS • RUSSELL • SALINA • ABILENE JUNCTION CITY • MANHATTAN • TOPEKA • LECOMPTON LAWRENCE • BONNER SPRINGS • KANSAS CITY

16

Boulevard Drive In

photography by

Michael C. Snell

the legendary

BIG SCREEN As drive-in theaters become a thing of the past, some Kansas proprietors believe the show must go on

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Boulevard Drive In

Boulevard Drive In Midway Drive-In Midway Drive-In

Since the first drive-in theater opened in Camden, New Jersey, in 1933, families have been drawn to drive-ins as an economical solution to the problem of restless children in traditional movie houses. As parents of a small child, that’s something Kanopolis Drive-In owners Josh and Amanda Webb understand fully.

“We realized we couldn’t take her to a regular movie and expect her to stay still,” says Amanda. “At the drive-in, children can get up and run around, or they can throw a blanket on the ground, and they can take a nap.”

Theaters draw patrons from a large demographic pool.

“You’ll have a $600 car parked next to a $60,000 Suburban,” says Terry Fox, who oversees the operation of El Dorado’s Star Vu Drive-In for his son, Tyler, an Army medic currently deployed in the Middle East.

The popularity of drive-ins climbed after World War II, reaching their peak during the latter ’50s and early ’60s. In 1958, there were 125 drive-ins operating in Kansas. By 2011 this number had plunged to six. The reasons for their decline include rising land values, rising expenses and increased options for home entertainment. But one of the industry’s biggest blows came from a simple change of a clock.

What time does the movie start?

That’s what Amanda says is the most frequent question she is asked. The response is always the same: “When it’s dark.”

Unlike interior theaters, drive-in films cannot start until well after the sun has set. With Daylight Saving Time, movies might not begin until 9:30 p.m.—a difficult hour for families with children, or who have to work the next morning.

Theaters that survived have a new threat looming on the horizon as production companies plan to make movies distributed on 35mm film a thing of the past, replacing film with digital. Once that happens, no theater will be able to show new releases without investing in costly new projection systems.

Though many drive-ins have closed and their lots reclaimed by pastures, the screens of these remaining few stand defiant and unmistakable on the horizon. With dusk, a stream of headlights approaches the main gate. Couples, families and friends spill out of their cars and line up at the concession, where the fragrance of hot buttered popcorn and sizzling hot dogs blends with the cooling night air. And the projector sparks to life.

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DID YOU KNOW? The owner of a drive-in theater is called an “ozoner.”

Many small theaters don’t accept credit cards, so bring cash for admission and concession purchases.

A “first run” film is one that is newly released, while “second run” refers to movies distributed after the initial release.

With a short season, many drive-ins depend on sales from their snack bar to stay in business.

Movies are shipped to drive-ins in multiple reels that are usually manually spliced together by the projectionist before they are run, then re-cut before shipping to the next theater.

Midway Drive-In

Older systems may switch between two projectors, with the projectionist using a cue or mark visible on the last frames of film to know when to make the switch.

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Star Vu Drive-In

Star Vu Drive-In

Star Vu Drive-In

BOULEVARD DRIVE IN THEATRE

MIDWAY DRIVE-IN

Nearby Turkey Creek has flooded the drive-in so many times that owner Wes Neal has lost count. Despite that, Wes is meticulous in its upkeep, ensuring that all the speaker stands are straight and the speakers work, the screen is in good condition, and the grounds well-maintained. The drive-in was constructed in 1950 for a quarter of a million dollars. Wes has worked at the drive-in since 1954, and he and his wife, Mazie, bought it in 1993. He touts that his was the first drive-in in the world to convert to digital sound, and he is converting to 4K digital projection in 2012. Boulevard is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Ann and Paul Dimoush, A&D Entertainment, purchased the Midway in 2006 after Ann retired from county government. “After three years I got tired of talking to cows,” says Ann, speaking of their family farm. The couple have made extensive improvements on the property, including replacing thousands of feet of speaker wire. The drive-in focuses on recent second-run family movies, though Ann says, “They are few and far between.”

The theater draws patrons from neighboring Osawatomie and Paola, as well as Topeka, Wichita and parts of Missouri, and plays two movies per ticket. Paul currently runs the EPRAD Universal Lamphouse projector, and they are considering upgrading to digital in the future.

FAST FACTS: The poster from the first movie shown at the Boulevard—The Lady Takes a Sailor, starring Jane Wyman—hangs in the snack bar.

FAST FACTS: The snack bar uses a vintage wheeled Manley popcorn popper equipped with a money drawer suitable for use by street vendors.

CONCESSION FAN FAVORITE: Nachos

CONCESSION FAN FAVORITES: Popcorn, followed by hamburgers.

TUNE IN: 89.7 FM

TUNE IN: 91.9 FM

1051 MERRIAM LANE, KANSAS CITY (913) 262-2414

29591 WEST 327TH ST., PAOLA (913) 755-2325

Kansas City

Osawatomie/ Paola

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Kanopolis Drive-In

Star Vu Drive-In Copyright: Rod Mikinski Photo Courtesy of Bowman Bowman Novick Inc.

STAR VU DRIVE-IN |

El Dorado

Opened in 1949, the Star Vu is one of the oldest drive-ins in Kansas. It had been closed for five years and in need of repairs when Tyler Fox purchased it in May 2011. While Tyler is on deployment in the military, his parents, Terry and Barbara Fox, together with a dedicated team of employees, have been operating the theater and overseeing repairs.

“Anything you did, when you say ‘2 or 3 or 4,’ you never mean in the hundreds [of dollars]. It was always the thousands,” says Terry, a pastor at a Wichita church. No speakers or speaker stands remain at the property, so theater patrons currently rely on their car radios tuned to the theater frequency. Plans are in place to add patio seating with a sound system so they can dine and enjoy the movie outside their vehicles. “It’s been a challenge to piece it together, but it’s been fun, too,” he says. The theater screens family-friendly movies with a mix of first-run and recent second-run films.

KANOPOLIS DRIVE-IN THEATRE |

Kanopolis

Horses graze in the pasture next to the Kanopolis Drive-In, set on over 2 acres just on the outskirts of town. Though one of Kansas’ smallest theaters, it draws a large following since it was reopened in 2011, showing only first-run movies from family to action-adventure. If the movie sells out, customers can walk in and use the bench seating at the base of the screen, which owner Josh Webb says is the best seat in the house. “It’s like watching an IMAX film.”

The site is colorful, with bright red speaker stands and a concession building painted up like a slice of Neapolitan ice cream. They still use a vintage Manley Aristocrat model popcorn popper. Instead of splicing movie reels together, Josh loads sideby-side projectors and uses cue marks on the film to know when to switch to the second projector.

FAST FACTS: Their head projectionist has been in the Kansas theater business for half a century. He operates an ORCON 4,200-watt projector with a projection head that was built in 1942.

FAST FACTS: Owner Josh Webb runs the original carbon arc projectors that once belonged to the former Rocket Drive-in in Salina. Instead of a bulb, the film is illuminated by an electrical charge arcing between a positive and negative carbon rod.

CONCESSION FAN FAVORITES: Funnel cakes and root beer floats

CONCESSION FAN FAVORITES: Nachos Grande and pizza

TUNE IN: 96.7 FM

TUNE IN: 101.1 FM

1010 SOUTH HAVERHILL ROAD, EL DORADO | (316) 322-0045

804 NORTH KANSAS AVENUE, KANOPOLIS | (785) 472-4786

photo: Jason Waite

Let Your expLoration Begin Here a family-focused interactive learning center exploring the science and history of the Flint Hills

the Flint Hills Discovery Center explores the geology, biology and cultural history of the Flint Hills – through permanent and temporary exhibits.

For hours, admission and programming, please visit:

www.flinthillsdiscovery.org 315 S. 3rd Street, Manhattan KS 66502 • 785.587.2726

Kanopolis Drive-In

Kanopolis Drive-In

PAGEANT DRIVE-IN THEATRE

STARLITE DRIVE-IN THEATRE

SOUTH DRIVE-IN THEATER

The Pageant, built in 1952, screens action and family shows, “but no Jane Fonda movies,” says owner Mike Sill, explaining that because his father was in service during Vietnam, “she’s never been on our screen.”

Mike’s parents, Wayne and Wanda Sill, owned and operated the theater from 1968 to 1988. It remained closed for seven years until Mike and his wife, Amy, reopened it in 1995. The Pageant draws patrons from the surrounding counties and down into Oklahoma from its opening Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day, depending on when the school year begins. Mike hopes to reopen in 2012, though he’s at the “mercy of the film studios.” The theater still relies on a 35mm projection system.

Depending on the type of vehicle you drive (high profile or low), you’ll be directed to park next to a yellow or green pole, mounted with a matching light. At night when the theater is in operation, they appear like “hundreds of yellow and green fireflies” says owner James Goble, who bought the ’70s-era theater in 1998.

Once a common sight, now the Starlite is the only twin screen theater still operating in Kansas. One screen is usually dedicated for families with small children, while the second shows PG13 and some R-rated movies for a more mature audience. During the off season, the theater screens recent second-run films, though first-run is the norm during peak season. Goble anticipates upgrading to digital in 2013.

Built in 1947, the South Drive-In holds the title of Kansas’ oldest drive-in theater in continuous operation. Glen and Roma Cooper, who built the theater, used to fly their Beechcraft Bonanza to California and return with Hollywood movie stars like Rex Allen to promote their films. The Coopers’ son, Ron Cooper, owns and runs the movie house today, along with his wife, Pam, and son, R.J. They play first-run family films during peak season and second-run films during the off season. The Coopers plan to keep the theater open as long as 35mm film is available.

FAST FACTS: The screen is 55-feet high by 70-feet wide, with a viewing area of 35-by-70 feet.

FAST FACTS: An original carbon arc projector is on display in the concession area.

CONCESSION FAN FAVORITES: Popcorn and drinks

CONCESSION FAN FAVORITE: Funnel cakes, made fresh onsite

TUNE IN: 88.1 FM or 530 AM

TUNE IN: 100.7 FM on screen 1 and 97.5 on screen 2

1019 W. MCARTOR ROAD, DODGE CITY (620) 225-4301

3900 S. HYDRAULIC ST. WICHITA (316) 524-2424

Lawrence writer Sally M. Snell still carries vivid memories of her first drivein experience, watching the 1973 horror flick The Exorcist.

Medicine Lodge/ Anthony

Wichita

Dodge City

FAST FACTS: Original owners Glen and Roma Cooper used to create elaborate custom floats for the Boot Hill Fiesta parade to promote films showing at the theater, such as a paddle wheeler for the movie Show Boat, complete with a spinning paddle and music.

CONCESSION FAN FAVORITES: Popcorn and drinks

TUNE IN: 88.5 FM 3492 SE PAGEANT, ANTHONY (620) 886-5358

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KANSAS!

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KANSAS galleries Mayauel Ward Fine Art Glass

Manhattan Scott City Wamego Wichita

Topeka Humboldt Lawrence There is plenty to see and do in Kansas.

Be sure to call ahead for complete directions.

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PHOTOGRAPH: JASON DAILEY

Th

of

26

heTheSound Sound of f Summer Summer As the season heats up, so do music festivals across Kansas

The Kansas summer forecast: blue skies, hot and humid, occasional thunderstorms and frequent outbreaks of music festivals, symphonies and concerts.

As emerald green rows of corn grow to an elephant’s eye and winter wheat’s golden fields are harvested across the state, another commodity unfolds that has toes tapping and hips swinging. A diverse crop of music festivals fills up the June-August calendar, attracting thousands of souls in the mood for summertime fun.

From an undulating prairie pasture in the storied Flint Hills to a state park outside Manhattan, to 10 wellmanicured acres in a gleaming corporate office complex, Kansas provides stunning backdrops for heritage- and culture-rich family-friendly events requiring nothing more than a lawn chair, a bottle of sunscreen and a love of priceless al fresco entertainment.

Kansas summer music celebrations are readymade adventures, sprinkled throughout the state ‌ here are a few to add to your dance card.

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Symphony in the Flint Hills

The stretch of pristine land in central and eastern Kansas is poetry to many who value its timeless, magical and mysterious qualities. The area plays host to nature walks on meandering trails, horseback rides and the famous springtime prairie burns that recall the beloved hills’ history and allure.

True to the nature of the modern-day residents of the Flint Hills, Matfield Green rancher Jane Koger extended an invitation to the people of Chase County to help mark her 40th birthday by gathering for a “Symphony on the Prairie” June 12, 1994.

Eighteen years later, Symphony in the Flint Hills is one of Kansas’ most-anticipated summer events.

Today sellout crowds of more than 6,000 people, along with sponsors, foundations, corporations and patrons, make the ongoing series possible.

This year’s event will be in Lyon County, northwest of Emporia, on the privately owned Leet Pasture. Ticket sales defray approximately 39 percent of the costs, with hundreds of volunteers and a small paid staff, headed by Matfield Green resident Emily Hunter Connell, working to organize the sprawling celebration’s logistics.

The weekend experience includes a 90-minute rousing performance by the Kansas City Symphony against a milieu of cowboys silhouetted by the setting sun. Other activities include a silent art auction, prairie walks, presentations of heritage and culture, dancing, food and basking in the essence of a prairie that impacts and stirs the spiritual consciousness of many.

Stilwell resident and Symphony in the Flint Hills advocate Bryden Becker compares the event to a scene from a classic John Ford western movie. “The sweeping prairie combined with the beautiful music is a gift,” says Becker.

“The magical day transports you. One of my favorite feelings in the world is gratitude, and that’s what I feel at Symphony in the Flint Hills.”

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PHOTOGRAPHS: LEFT TOP TO BOTTOM: JASON SODEN (2) COURTESY OF SYMPHONY IN THE FLINT HILLS. RIGHT: COURTESY OF THE OVERLAND PARK SOUTH ROTARY CLUB AND THE RYE STUDIO

Lyon County/Leet Pasture June 9 symphonyintheflinthills.org

Jazz in the Woods Corporate Woods/Overland Park June 15-16 jazzinthewoods.com The sounds of cool jazz waft through Overland Park’s steel-and-glass Corporate Woods office park each June as more than 30,000 music lovers attend what is billed as Kansas City’s largest free music festival. Celebrating its 23rd year, Jazz in the Woods raises funds for three children’s charities and the organizer, the Overland Park South Rotary Club Foundation. This year’s benefactors are Operation Breakthrough, Lee Ann Britain Infant Development Center and the Love Fund for Children.

Marc Shaffer, Jazz in the Woods 2012 sponsorship chair and last year’s event chair, says Kansas City’s jazz heritage was a natural starting point when the Overland Park South Rotary Club launched the festival.

“KC is known for great jazz musicians,” says Shaffer.

“Jazz in the Woods has raised more than $1 million since its inception. Our community and a terrific corps of volunteers allow us to keep it free.”

The variety of music includes ragtime, zydeco, fusion, traditional, smooth and contemporary jazz. In addition, there are blues performers and Latin jazz artists—in other words, there’s something for every taste. A family-friendly event, Jazz in the Woods has a Kids’ Pavilion, which includes crafts, face painting and inflatables.

Jazz in the Woods draws attendees from a tri-state region, and people come to relax and groove to well-known artists.

This year’s festival includes Oleta Adams, a vocalist whose career started in Kansas City before she broke into the national spotlight. Other performers include Jonathan Butler, Warren Hill and Marcus Anderson. A perennial Kansas City and regional favorite, The Elders, a six-piece Irish-American folk-rock band, performs on Friday night.

Barb Kovacs, an Overland Park resident and jazz aficionado, lives 10 minutes from the 10-acre venue. “There’s nothing I don’t like about Jazz in the Woods,” says Kovacs. “It’s a professional event, great food and drink, incredible music, and it’s free. Plus, the money raised through corporate sponsorships goes to worthwhile causes. What’s not to like?”

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Pickin’ on the Plains Thomas County Fairgrounds/ Colby - July 15-17 pickinontheplains.com

:

p land dours, Jason Bo Turnpike Trouba Nichols e Jo d an s, ler & The Stragg CA Rodeo Four Nights of PR and Much More

Lineu

This bluegrass and folk festival in tiny Colby has a big personality and marquee-name performers to boot.

Since its humble beginnings in 1994, when 50 acoustic music enthusiasts attended the first informal “Pickin’ Picnic,” the festival’s popularity has grown exponentially.

Today Pickin’ on the Plains is a blue-ribbon bluegrass festival that books top-notch bands and is still funded largely by community contributions. Leilani Thomas of the Colby Convention and Visitors Bureau was part of the original planning group.

“It’s a big deal for our little town to host 1,500 people,” says Thomas.

“Our folks are friendly, and we welcome people with open arms.”

This year’s Pickin’ on the Plains features national recording artists Dailey and Vincent, along with Cody Shuler and Pine Mountain Railroad, Driven, Triple L Band and local favorites the McLemores, a family of musicians that has been involved in some way since the beginning.

Brandon McLemore, 25, and his twin brother, Blake, grew up playing and singing harmonies with their parents, Bob and Susan. His enthusiasm level is off the charts for a music genre native to America.

“Generations of people have played bluegrass, and it’s family-friendly, fun and happy music,” says Brandon, who plays the mandolin and guitar, and is a founding member of Driven.

Brandon says Pickin’ on the Plains is not just a celebration of three days of Nashville-quality entertainment for a bargain-basement price of $35, but also a festival that recognizes American-grown music.

“It’s unprocessed, authentic music,” says Brandon.

KANSAS

destinations

Bonner Springs

Topeka

Baldwin City Chanute

There is plenty to see and do in Kansas.

Be sure to call ahead for complete directions.

Scenes from Pickin’ on the Plains

Polka Days

PHOTOGRAPHS: JENNIFER HEEKE

Highland Hotel and Convention Center/ Great Bend - August 17-19 (316) 722-1170 Roll out the barrel for an old-fashioned polka fest in Great Bend. This event celebrates the fabled dance of Central Europe and the heritage of the immigrants who brought it to the Heartland in the 1800s.

Wichita resident Angie Kinderknecht Kaiser, president of the Polka Club, which organizes Polka Days every August, is a descendant of some of the original polka dancers who settled in Kansas.

“My dad was born in Russia and had a German accent,” says Kaiser. “I remember Saturday nights when they packed us up and took us to their dances. My siblings and I would sleep on a blanket behind the piano.”

Kaiser recalls the first time she danced with her father, at a family wedding. “My sisters and I were out on the dance floor, doing the polka,” she says. “We danced until the wee morning hours.”

And that’s the flavor of the 25-year-old Polka Days—a group of people dedicated to the art of the polka. Nearly 500 polka fans pay $34 for the three-day package each August.

They dance until the cows come home on a custom-built, 4,800-square-feet wood floor that’s disassembled following the event and stored for the next year. Though there’s a tight camaraderie among the regulars, Kaiser says the welcome mat is always out.

“We have such a good time at Polka Days,” says Kaiser, who met her husband of 63 years, Bob, at a wedding polka.

“It’s a celebration of a vanishing part of our culture. We want everyone to enjoy it.”

Country Stampede

Brush off your cowboy hat and pull on your best dancing boots—this 17-yearold spirited ode to country music will have you clapping and stomping to some of the industry’s most popular acts.

Founder and president Wayne Rouse, a local business owner, wanted to boost his beloved state’s tourism quotient and tap into his event-planning passion. Prior to opening the gates of the inaugural Country Stampede in 1996, Rouse researched similar events in neighboring states, including one in Wisconsin at which thenrising star Tim McGraw took the stage.

Excited to design an equally buzzworthy event in Kansas with headlining bands, great food and a good vibe, Rouse developed a business plan, secured funding and started promoting the rain-or-shine date. More than 30,000 country music fans poured into Tuttle State Park outside Manhattan that first year, and in 2011, the four-day festival attracted nearly 160,000 people of all ages.

Country Stampede 2012 features superstars Toby Keith and Zac Brown Band and popular acts like The Band Perry and Luke Bryan. The music-filled weekend boasts three stages, kids’ entertainment, food vendors and merchandise exhibitors. Tickets for the four-day country music showcase, which includes nearly 50 performers, are $105.

“We work with 58 different radio stations to promote Country Stampede,” says Rouse, whose son, Chris, handles marketing. “A talent buyer in Nashville, Gil Cunningham and his wife, Liz, help secure the lineup, which is a large part of the festival’s success.”

Mikeal Hodges, a Manhattan insurance professional, has made Country Stampede a summer tradition since he was a Kansas State University student 17 years ago. “It’s an amazing and very well-managed event,” says Hodges. “I’ve made lifelong friends at Country Stampede.”

An equal-opportunity music lover, Overland Park-based writer Kimberly Winter Stern stakes out a place each year at some of Kansas’ most well-known festivals.

PHOTOGRAPHS: JENNIFER HEEKE

Tuttle Creek State Park/Manhattan June 21-24 countrystampede.com

There is plenty to see and do in Lindsborg. Be sure to call ahead for complete directions.

Lindsborg Convention & Visitors Bureau • Tours • Family Reunions • Meeting Facilities

www.VisitLittleSweden.com

Travel questions? 888-227-2227

Paintings, Glass Art, Jewelry, Photography, Pottery, Wood Carving, Wheat Weaving and more.

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Home of National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson Gallery hours 10-5 M-S | 11:30-4 Sunday www.smallworldgallery.net

OUR TOWN

PHILLIPSBURG

A visit to this northcentral Kansas town will feel like your first rodeo

Photography by Karen Hoar

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KANSAS!

• S UMMER 2 0 1 2

★

C

Join Us phillipsburgks.us

OPPOSITE A view of downtown Phillipsburg reveals vintage signs and awnings, remnants of yesteryear that remain today.

TOP Phillipsburg is home to Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo, kicking off the first weekend in August. A celebrated event, the rodeo began in 1929.

ABOVE The Majestic Community Theatre was recently renovated with new digital equipment and an exterior marquee.

ome the first weekend of August, Phillipsburg transforms into rodeo central, hosting “Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo.” Beneath waving American flags at the arena north of town, community members don their western wear and turn out in force to ensure visitors a memorable night of rodeo thrills.

As rodeo association president Rod Innes puts it, “Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo has become a summer celebration kind of event.”

That celebration includes not only the fun and excitement of the arena—with championship bull riders and specialty acts to spice up the show—but also a downtown parade and dances for rodeo ticket holders. Pink Night encourages the crowd of spectators to help raise money for breast cancer research. “Last year we raised over $5,000,” Innes says.

The Rock Island Railroad dubbed the rodeo “Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo” back in the early 1930s as a promotion to attract passengers for a featured excursion to Phillipsburg, and the name stuck. The Rock Island Railroad might now be defunct, but the rodeo continues to move full speed ahead.

While you’re in town for the rodeo, be sure to enjoy all of Phillipsburg’s other attractions. Cool off at the new aquatic facility set to open this summer—complete with slides, zerodepth entry, lap lanes and an indoor therapy pool. Take the kids to the extensive play town at the tree-shaded City Park on the west edge of Phillipsburg. While you’re there, visit the adjoining Fort Bissell Museum, open Memorial Weekend through Labor Day, for a fun history lesson.

In the 1870s, when native tribes still roamed Phillips County and Phillipsburg was a newly incorporated town, settlers built Fort Bissell for protection. At the site today, you can browse railroad and military artifacts in the Glade depot and tour other authentic buildings from the 1800s, including a general store, a one-room schoolhouse and even a weathered cabin where “Buffalo Bill” Cody reportedly spent the night.

For a unique stop, visit the C&R Railroad, an extensive model railroad display with 94 engines, 170 cars and 34 cabooses. Housed at the McDill “Huck” Boyd Center, these trains run along 1,200 feet of track winding around a detailed model town, over railroad bridges and through mountain tunnels.

Heading downtown, you might take in a movie at the Majestic Community Theatre. Newly renovated with 3D/ digital equipment and a striking exterior, the Majestic welcomes moviegoers Friday through Monday nights. Central to downtown is the historic Phillips County Courthouse on the square, the site of the annual Riverless Festival held the first weekend in June and now in its 28th year.

Chamber of Commerce director Jackie Swatzell reels off the jam-packed schedule: “We have two bands playing throughout the day; we have inflatable games for the kids, food,

KA NSA SMA G.C OM •

KANSAS!

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OUR TOWN crafters, a flea market, a horse show, turtle races, a men’s softball tournament and a men’s senior golf tournament … too much to list!”

Whether you’re in town for the rodeo or the Riverless Festival, or just passing through, you can satisfy your hunger at nearly a dozen eateries.

For home cooking, try Shelly Ann’s Café or Third Street Bakery, where you’ll have a hard time resisting a bakery-fresh slice of cherry pie for dessert—or maybe coconut cream. Indulge your international taste buds at the wellestablished Oriental & American Restaurant, or perhaps at the newly opened Mexican restaurant, El A de Oros, with its festive décor of brightly painted tables and chairs. And it wouldn’t be a trip to Phillipsburg without a stop at The Chubby Pickle, one of several restaurants featuring— what else—the Phillipsburger.

Phillipsburg is a community that takes pride in its offerings to residents and visitors. The City Park play town was designed by a group of young adults who also raised money for the project. In less than a week volunteers built the entire playground. The Majestic Community Theatre has been refurbished with private donations and is run by volunteers. One can only imagine the thousands of volunteer hours dedicated to making Kansas’ Biggest Rodeo the place to be every August.

As Mayor Fred Robinson says, “My wife and I volunteer two nights out at the rodeo every year, and we just have a ball.”

KANSAS’ BIGGEST RODEO August 2-4 This PRCA rodeo features more than 500 cowboys and cowgirls competing in seven events: Bareback riding Tie-down roping Steer wrestling Saddle-bronc riding Team roping Bull riding Women’s barrel racing Held annually since 1929, the rodeo entertains crowds the first weekend in August.

Tickets go on sale the first weekday in July: Reserved seats are $14 for adults and $10 for children under 12; general admission seats are $12 for adults and $9 for children.

Children 2 and younger attend free if they sit on an adult’s lap. Order tickets by calling (785) 543-2448, or purchasing at the gate.

Find the rodeo grounds 2 miles north of Phillipsburg on Highway 183.

Hays writer Cheryl Hofstetter Duffy, a native Kansan, is an English professor at Fort Hays State University, where she directs the Writing Concentration within the English department.

Tip: Order your tickets in advance. The best seats go fast, and the 5,000-seat arena usually sells out Saturday night. kansasbiggestrodeo.com

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TOP Phillipsburg is nestled in the north-central plains, providing picturesque views of Kansas’ native landscape.

CENTER A downtown icon is the Phillips County Courthouse and its beautiful clock.

BOTTOM Children and families flock to the City Park play town, which was designed as a community project.

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COLORS THE

OF VAN GO

PAI NTI N G TH E TOWN R E D … AN D G R E E N, P U R P LE, YE LLOW AN D B LU E

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P H OTO G RAP HY BY JAS O N DAI LEY

WHEN 19-YEAR-OLD MIQUEL BROWN RECEIVED THE PHONE CALL ABOUT COMING TO WORK AT VAN GO, HE SAYS, “I HAD TO PUT THE PHONE ON MUTE BECAUSE I WAS DANCING AROUND AND YELLING. I WAS SO EXCITED.” If anyone knows the power of Lawrence-based Van Go, the state’s largest job-training program for teens, it’s

A mural inside the Van Go studio truly illustrates the mission of the program, which supports at-risk teens by giving them work in the art field.

Brown and the hundreds of at-risk youths who have used the innovative program to interrupt a cycle of poverty or family dysfunction.

Using art as an empowerment tool— the “artists” paint, make mosaic, build furniture, create sculptures and all sorts of saleable art—Van Go offers 100 job openings each year to at-risk Douglas County teens. Brown, a high school dropout who was in foster care when first admitted to the program, had a lot of strikes against him.

“I didn’t have much hope. I was pretty lost,” he says.

But from the very first day he stepped inside the former warehouse turned Van Go art studio, he felt like he belonged. “Everybody was just so accepting, and something just clicked,” he says.

Today, Brown, who with the help of Van Go managed to get his high school diploma, is studying music therapy at Johnson County Community College, working 22 hours a week and helping other at-risk kids with PDH, Performance Development Haven, a program to help youth find a healthy, safe place to show and develop their performing skills,

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CENTER Lynne Green, executive director, is the mastermind behind Van Go. She developed the program 15 years ago.

whether it be music, poetry or other genres through a Lawrence church.

“There’s not a lot we can do about the overwhelming life circumstances these young people face,” says Lynne Green, Van Go executive director, former special education teacher, social worker and gallery owner.

“But we can build their resiliency—help them survive the challenges life throws. We let our teens know that we’re ‘there’ for them.”

The proof is in the dozens of success stories she has witnessed over the last 15 years. “Attending the college graduation

ceremony of a Van Go alumni is one of the most rewarding things I do,” says Green.

“We say ‘Van Go Works’ ... and it does.”

When Green started Van Go in 1997, she was convinced that traditional talk therapy just wasn’t enough to really help adolescents.

“I spent many an hour pondering why some kids get saved and others don’t,” says Green, a part-time poet and sketch artist herself. “I knew art had the power to heal, and I knew these kids desperately needed a venue for expressing themselves.

I didn’t have a map, but I had a gut feeling

that art might be the way home.

One of Van Go’s first projects was a 1972 Checker limousine that the kids painted in workshop. With the limo, Van Go was able to bring art opportunities to underserved youth throughout the county. Although the wildly decorated Van Go-mobile, as it was affectionately known, is long gone, the youthcreated art pieces remain all over Lawrence.

There are nearly 250 painted benches, commissioned by local businesses, colorful newspaper dispensers on downtown streets and numerous public murals throughout the

The Van Go studio doubles as a gallery, hosting many events and showings. Pieces made by Van Go participants are also available for purchase at the studio.

Van Go includes a woodshop where students begin the creation process. Students are also employees, making art to help inspire workplace responsibility.

community, including the public library and county courthouse.

The apprentice artists, ages 14 to 21, are paid as part of Van Go’s job-training program. As employees they’re expected to show up on time, meet deadlines, consult with clients and be responsible to their team. Mental health services, academic support and healthy living lessons are also integral parts of the program.

Van Go Gallery is open year-round where teen-created works are for sale, including fused glass bowls, handmade

cards, jewelry and furniture, custom-built in Van Go’s woodshop. Each apprentice-artist is paid minimum wage to create the original artwork. All proceeds go directly to support Van Go’s year-round programming.

Van Go’s influence doesn’t stop in Lawrence. Nobel Prize Winner Toni Morrison and former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove both own a bench commissioned through JAMS (Jobs in the Arts Matter), one of Van Go’s programs.

Van Go was the recipient of the 2005 “Coming Up Taller” award from the

President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, presented to outstanding afterschool programs throughout the country.

And while the national recognition is certainly gratifying, Green says, “Seeing our young people overcoming life’s obstacles to create successful futures, that’s why we’re here.”

Writer Pam Grout, author of 16 books, including Kansas Curiosities, lives in Lawrence and visits Van Go several times a year.

van-go.org

TOUR KANSAS

TOUR DE ART

Discover mechanical marvels and whimsical creatures in this Midwestern mecca for folk art Photography by Kelly Ludwig

Maybe it is the wide-open spaces, or maybe there is something in the water, but Kansas just happens to have more than its fair share of internationally recognized folk art sites and artists.

Hop in the car and embark on an adventure that’s uniquely Kansas with a generous helping of original art.

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THE GARDEN OF EDEN

Add Lucas to your must-see destinations, for the Garden of Eden is sure to please. This jaw-dropper is the oldest complete folk art environment in the United States, creating an imaginative epicenter in this rural town. Civil War veteran, populist and artist Samuel P. Dinsmoor began pouring forth his vision in 1907 when, at age 64, he completed his log cabin home built from native limestone. Then, using the newest building compound—concrete—he spent the next 18 years surrounding his house with a narrative sculpture garden.

Serpents, soldiers, Adam and Eve are all on display, enduring harsh Midwestern weather.

Dinsmoor rests in a mausoleum out back.

Populists believed that humor could help attract attention, and the sheer audacity of the Garden has brought plenty of grins.

The garden was also the first place in Lucas to have its own electric generator powering lights.

The night train, which ran from Kansas City to Denver, would stop once it saw the glow on the horizon, letting passengers off to marvel at the site and get a good dose of Kansas populist preaching.

As one might suspect, the community hasn’t always been crazy about the Garden. At one point, there was serious talk of bulldozing the Garden down. Luckily, cooler heads prevailed.

And just last summer, the Garden was restored to Dinsmoor’s vision.

305 E. Second St., Lucas | (785) 525-6395 garden-of-eden-lucas-kansas.com Concrete environment Restored/preserved Open to the public

GRASSROOTS ART CENTER - LUCAS 213 S. Main St., Lucas | (758) 525-6118 grassrootsart.net Kansas art on display Open to the public

It all began with a gargoyle to protect M.T. Liggett’s horse. What came next was a less-thanflattering caricature of a county commissioner. Soon, Liggett’s welded social commentary took root on his farm just outside Mullinville.

In 1989, after a career in the Air Force, Liggett returned to the farm where he grew up. There he began creating fantastic, sometime kinetic, “totem poles” from scraps of metal, old car parts, road signs and just about anything else he could find.

Now stretching almost a mile along Route 400, his garden of goat-getting political satire keeps the town folks at the local diner buzzing.

“I say what I want to say,” quips Liggett. But beneath his gruff exterior lies an extremely intelligent and talented artist who just has a lot to say. In person he’s a gregarious host, and his football-field-sized outdoor gallery is a memorable stop that shouldn’t be missed.

M.T. LIGGETT

Visitors entering Lucas are greeted by a sign created in the spirit of Kansas folk artist and farmer Ed Root. In 1937 an automobile accident ended his farming career in the Saline River Valley. He then began to build hundreds of castconcrete pieces studded with broken glass, rocks, toys and jewelry.

The Kansas Grassroots Art Association and Art Center has it all, and curator Rosslyn Schultz has celebrated Kansas folk art. Here visitors will find works by many Kansas artists, including Root, Leroy Wilson, Inez Marshall, John Woods, Lawrence Reynolds, Earl Slagle, Glenn Stark and the chewing gum art of Betty Milliken.

Spearmint was the medium of choice for Milliken, who created the likeness of friends out of chewing gum. Caulk, talcum powder, orange peels, Styrofoam meat trays ... all possessed portrait possibilities for the Lawrence native.

Inez Marshall’s collection includes large (and heavy) limestone pieces. At her Continental Sculpture Hall in Portis, she carved houses, cars and stone guitars.

But best of all is Herman Divers’ pull-tab motorcycle and car.

Built in Topeka, they are made from the little metal rings pulled from pop and beer cans, 35 years or older, in days of yore. Herman knew he could use them to make things, like a hat, vest, slacks, an umbrella, chair and table. “I don’t know how I knew, I just did,” he says.

The full-size motorcycle, with wheels that actually roll, is the pulltab piece de resistance made with an astonishing 179,200 pull-tabs.

The Topeka native started small with a bedspread and some clothing.

Since pull-tab cans are no longer an available resource, he has turned his talents to creating objects with threaded buttons.

119 N. Cherry, Mullinville (620) 548-2597 Sculpture environment Private property Visible from the street

TOUR KANSAS

BOYER MUSEUM OF ANIMATED CARVINGS 1205 M St., Belleville (785) 527-5884 | Call ahead to confirm hours Mechanical sculptures Open to the public

Not far from the Nebraska border, the Boyer Museum stands as a testimonial to how much a man can do in spite of adversity. Paul Boyer lost his leg to an accident in 1966 but didn’t let that keep him from using his hands to create one amazing mechanical marvel after another. His kids decided to share their father’s gifts and opened this small museum in his honor.

On display are fascinating Rube Goldberg-style creations where ball bearings bounce around, gears and gizmos whirl and turn, chickens shoot baskets with their tails, and an Indian tribe parties hearty.

Some of them are corny, some profoundly beautiful, and they’re all made from scrap parts and old appliance motors.

Press the buttons on the walls and watch them in awe.

Robert Dorris, a former Air Force engineer began to populate his yard with “half-assic” creatures after he retired. The giant reptiles and dinosaurs are rigged from car parts skillfully welded together (with some attempt at structural accuracy gathered at the Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.) This attraction will delight children and adults.

Dorris died in 2007 at the age of 82; however, his son is still taking care of the property and dinosaurs. It’s an awe-inspiring sight to see what one man can do with a welding torch, scrap parts and an old pickup with a crane.

Kansas City writer Kelly Ludwig is the author of Best Road Trip Ever! iPhone and iPad app, and Detour Art (bestroadtripever.com).

ROBERT DORRIS’ DINOSAUR NOT-SO-NATIONAL PARK RR 2, Erie Folk art site Private property Visible from the street

KANSAS museums There is plenty to see and do in Kansas.

Be sure to call ahead for complete directions.

Find us on Facebook

Ag HeritAge PArk

103 South Main, Alta Vista, Kansas To schedule bus tours or individual family tours, please call 785-482-3865 or cell 620-767-2715 www.AgHeritagePark.com

ABOUT US P E R M A N E N T E X H I B The Wyandotte County Historical Museum opened in 1956. The first museum was located in Memorial Hall in downtown Kansas City, Kansas. In 1962, the Wyandotte County Commission approved a 99-year lease with the Wyandotte County Historical Society for land in the Wyandotte Historical Lecompton

County Park. An effort Civil War Birthplace by the Society and the Museum was started to collect artifacts and archives for a new museum facility and in December 1962, the Society broke ground for the first stage of a new museum.

In 1967, the Museum was opened to the public in the Wyandotte County Park in Bonner Visit Constitution Hall & Territorial Capital Springs, Museum Kansas. The Museum houses the 10-5 pm Wed-Sat • 1-5Trowbridge pm Sun Research Library, two permanent Tours (785) 887-6148 exhibition galleries and an auditorium. www.lecomptonkansas.com

631 N. 126tH Street BoNNer SpriNgS, KS 66012 913.573.5002 www.wycomuseum.org Summer Hours Monday–Friday:

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday:

9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Trowbridge/Barker Gallery

East Gallery

The West Gallery features early Wyandotte County history; Native American collections, including 2000 year old Hopewell artifacts, a 300 year old dug-out canoe found on the Kaw River and the stories of the three immigrant tribes of Wyandotte County- the Shawnee, Delaware and Wyandot. In addition to the museum displays, hands-on educational stations include an a r ch a e o lo g ic a l d i g box, Native American language station, corn grinding and a pot shard puzzle.

The East Gallery fe and cities in Wya Metropolitan hor fire engine, one-r barbershop, you c of Wyandotte Cou an actual KCK fire

TROWBRIDG

Historic photogr records, marriag newspapers, ob cemetery record materials housed can assist visitors Wyandotte Coun

GALLERY

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SUMMER’S EYE FOR DESIGN

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Artistic scenes abound in summer; from the peak of a schoolhouse to a bolt of fire during a prairie burn, these graphic representations are more than just images—they’re art.

(Opposite)

NICODEMUS SCHOOL HOUSE FLAGPOLE Megan Hughes, Graham County (From top)

SUNFLOWER Jason Soden, Lane County FRUIT Terry Wiechman, Wyandotte County

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(Above)

TO THE STARS RJ MacRae, Barber County (Opposite, from top)

BURNING THE PASTURE Gary Skidmore, Pottawatomie County KANSAS DEER Megan Hughes, Sheridan County

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(From top)

PRAYING MANTIS Rick Battis, Shawnee County WEATHERED WINDOW Brad Neff, Shawnee County (Opposite)

AIR SHOW AMELIA Jason Soden, Atchison County

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(Opposite, from top)

RED TRUCKS Brad Neff, Jackson County PLAY BALL Harland J. Schuster, Dickinson County (Left)

MONUMENT ROCKS Dick Herpich, Gove County

GALLERY

Send your scenic photos to Gallery, KANSAS!, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612.

Visit KANSASMAG.COM for submission guidelines and deadlines.

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visit with other guests or your friends in one of our three living rooms or over a great evening meal.

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14910 Blue Mound Rd. Valley Falls, Ks 66088 • www.thebarnbb.com

BEFORE THE HISTORIC NORTH TOPEKA BUSINESS DISTRICT BECAME THE NOTO ARTS DISTRICT, IT SUFFERED EVENTS CAUSING IT TO HIT ROCK BOTTOM. FROM DEVASTATING FLOODS IN 1903 AND 1951 TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE MELAN ARCH BRIDGE IN 1965, THE AREA WOULD EVENTUALLY UNDERGO A GENTRIFICATION WITH THE ARTS IN MIND. GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN A replacement bridge, built one block to the east of the original bridge, caused traffic to divert from the once lively district. Buildings became vacant and neglected, and the Topeka Rescue Mission expanded into North Topeka as the area’s homeless population outgrew its existing quarters.

Efforts to promote the area were resurrected every few years by local supporters, but it wasn’t until the Great Overland Station, a Union Pacific railroad station, was renovated as a museum and community center that North Topeka found its way back on to the map. In 2009, Topeka’s Heartland Visioning project helped when the community called for Topeka to develop a thriving arts district.

“Through Heartland Visioning’s community conversations, we asked what people wanted, and one of the things that rose to the top of the list was that they wanted a vibrant arts district. They wanted places that are fun,” says North Topeka (NOTO) Project CoDirector Anita Wolgast.

Instead of building something new, the dilapidated North Topeka Business District appeared like a perfect match to champion for artists seeking a creative and supportive environment.

Today, under Wolgast and Project Co-Director John Hunter’s direction, 12 artists and vendors have relocated to the area, with works of about 75 local artists represented in galleries. Events are increasing exponentially, and additional creative entities are considering the move. Empty buildings and taverns have been transformed into galleries, art studios, antique stores, retailers and much more.

“We are working carefully to build a strong foundation to make the district sustainable,” says Wolgast, calling the excitement for the district “infectious.”

CREATING COMMUNITY Studio 831, where artist Barbara Waterman-Peters created studio and gallery space, is an example of how NOTO is attracting artists and spectators today.

Hi Stockwell leases space at Studio 831. He returned to art after a 40-year hiatus, previously working with the University of Kansas printing services. By taking painting classes from WatermanPeters he was hooked.

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ART PARTY IN NOTO O N C E- E M P T Y H I STO R I C B U I L D I N G S I N N O RT H TO P E K A A R E N OW T H E BAC K D R O P FO R A F LO U R I S H I N G A RTS S C E N E PHOTOGRAPHY BY JASON DAILEY

“She used a completely different style than what I used to do.

She has you [paint] in black and white before you do the painting.

You really get to know the subject,” he says.

The North Topeka landscape inspired some of Stockwell’s paintings; Early Morning on the Kaw shows the area where the Kansas River passes near NOTO. He finds inspiration in the area as well as from the other artists sharing studio space.

Waterman-Peters was the first artist to move her studio to the district after NOTO was formed, but another artist was already calling North Kansas Avenue home. Shelly Bedsaul moved to Topeka nine years ago from the Seattle area, where she had been involved in an arts district. She wanted to find a location where she could live and have a studio. She found it in North Topeka.

“I like being in this little spot with my art, and my computer has helped to not only attract a local following, but national and international as well,” says Bedsaul of her business, Foole’s Dream Studio. “I have sold to people in London, Australia and Amsterdam.”

Her main focus is acrylic abstract and illustrative work in colored pencil. The studio and home, previously a lawyer’s office, is her dream come true where she pursues her art full-time. “I love it. Topeka has it own little quirkiness,” she says.

ARTISTIC SYNERGY Those with renewed interest in the area include business owner Dan Wiltz. He has had his commercial glazing business in North Topeka for three years and watched through the window of his first-floor office as pedestrian traffic has increased.

“I’m really excited that things are starting to change,” he says. “Now on First Fridays and other times you can’t find a parking place.”

According to Wolgast the activity in NOTO has exceeded what organizers anticipated. The weekly NOTO Weekend Arts and Crafts Market featuring juried arts and crafts, heritage foods, music and entertainment was created in 2012 to “put more feet on the pavements.” First Friday now attracts 500-700 people and can top 1,000 if there is a special event.

Events like Blues and BBQ, which began in 2011, are in the works as an annual event. Organizers of Dia de los Muertos are initiating an annual celebration in NOTO this fall, expected to attract thousands of people.

NOTO is now working on fundraising efforts that will include national marketing to make the area sustainable over the years.

They want to connect with artists around the country who meet their criteria and may want to relocate to the district.

“Five years from now, with the fantastic response NOTO is receiving, we anticipate a thriving, bustling district making a strong economic impact with a blend of artist studios/ galleries, antique stores, coffee shops and restaurants, and other complementary businesses,” says Wolgast.

Writer Anita Miller Fry likes learning about how Kansans use creativity and hard work to better their communities.

LEFT Considered a founder in the North Topeka Arts District (NOTO), artist Barbara Waterman-Peters shows a piece inside her art space, Studio 831.

INSET Scenes of the NOTO arts district during a summer event.

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WHAT YOU’LL FIND IN NOTO A IS FOR ART

A VA R I E T Y O F C O M M U N I T Y A N D A RT E V E N TS , C L AS S E S , A N T I Q U I N G , LO CA L FA R E A N D I N T E R E ST I N G A R C H I T ECT U R E AWA I TS T H O S E W H O P L A N A V I S I T TO TO P E K A’S N OTO A RTS D I ST R I CT.

FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALK The NOTO Arts District art studios and showrooms and complementary businesses participate in the citywide artwalk during the evening of the first Friday of the month.

NOTO COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER The center offers monthly art classes from afterschool art for children to mosaic, jewelry making, clay, fused glass and stone-carving classes for adults. The NOTO Community Arts Center is a collaboration of the North Topeka Arts District, Topeka Unified School District 501 and Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University. Artists teach classes for the community and also work with Visit Topeka to provide classes for people who may be in Topeka for a convention or vacation.

922 N Kansas Ave., (785) 969-9631 notoartsdistrict.com STUDIO 831 Established by artist Barbara Waterman-Peters, Studio 831 is now occupied by eight artists who work and exhibit in the space. The studio/gallery is in the historic Paramore Building and is open on First Fridays or by appointment.

831 N. Kansas Ave., (785) 224-5728 FOOLE’S DREAM STUDIO This art studio and gallery features two full-time and five part-time artists displaying their work. The studio is open daily as well as on First Fridays.

833 ½ N. Kansas Ave. http://sbedsaul.ebsqart.com THE ECLECTIVE This art showroom houses stainless-steel artist Renee Johnson’s studio, and has local and regional art, poetry readings and book signings in the 1,500-square-foot showroom.

900 N. Kansas Ave., (785) 806-7674 http://the-eclective.com NOTO WEEKEND ARTS AND CRAFTS MARKET With a grand opening April 7, a Saturday market for arts and crafts will be 7 a.m.-2 p.m. through November 3. It will be located at the north end of

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the Kansas Avenue Memorial Bridge, within walking distance of the NOTO Arts District. The NOTO market will focus on juried arts, antiques, crafts, heirloom collectibles, local produce and heritage food booths, music and entertainment. notoartsdistrict.com

ARTSY EVENTS BLUES AND BBQ Launched in 2011 by Brad Jennings, owner of Bradley‘s Corner Café, Blues and BBQ features a street music fair and barbeque. The event is planned for fall 2012.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS 2012 CELEBRATION The Tonantzin Society, a Topeka organization, is planning this weeklong event for Day of the Dead from October 26 to November 2 in NOTO to showcase Latino arts and culture. It will include an art exhibit and family carnival. http://diadelosmuertostopeka.com

CREATIVE SHOPPING TWO DAYS MONTHLY MARKET An antiques and collectibles shop open only the first Friday and Saturday of the month.

824 N. Kansas Ave. RUSTY HAGGLES ANTIQUES AND ARTISTS LOFTS Sells antiques and local and regional artwork, as well as artist lofts in the upper level.

826 N. Kansas Ave. KAW RIVER MERCANTILE Features antiques, quilts and pottery.

833 N. Kansas Ave. SOUTHWEST TRADERS Sells museum-quality Southwest and American Indian art, jewelry, pottery and artifacts in a beautiful 5,000-square-foot historic building.

830 N. Kansas Ave. SECOND CHANCE ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES Offers a variety of goods to suit any collector.

840 N. Kansas Ave.

TOP A sign designating the NOTO district welcomes art connoisseurs to North Topeka.

BOTTOM Hi Stockwell, a NOTO artist, finds inspiration in nearby landscapes for his paintings.

H E A L I N G brush strokes

KANSAS ARTIST WAYNE CLARK FINDS PAINTING TO BE A RELEASE AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON’S Photography by Ze Bernardinello

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“He was fascinated by the construction of bridges. He went to the library to learn about their history and how they were built.”

–Jonathan Clark

W

ayne Clark sits underneath one of his paintings at his favorite brunch spot. He jokes that he began practicing art back in the days when it involved chiseling a few stones. Then, with a twinkle in his eye, he adds that a world-renowned artist followed his lead.

“Van Gogh picked up on what I was doing,” he says, chuckling.

Humor aside, the renowned painter has made quite a name for himself; from Wichita, where he currently resides, to California. The 85-year-old artist from small-town Vesper has Parkinson’s disease, yet his uncontrollable tremors don’t slow him down when it comes to his life’s passion—his artwork.

KANSAS ROOTS The state’s endless amount of rural beauty has inspired Wayne’s canvas for much of his artistic life. Add his unique technical approach, and a typical picture of a Kansas barn or beautiful sunset instantly turns into a masterpiece, complete with the correct shadows, perfect highlights and contrasts that make his paintings look more like still-life photos.

“He’ll sit, draw, check; sit, draw and take more measurements until it’s just right,” says Wayne’s son, Jonathan Clark. “It means that much to him to get the painting perfect.”

Wayne’s technical method comes from two semesters’ worth of engineering classes back in the ’40s—before he modeled for the legendary art teacher

Clayton Staples at the Municipal University of Wichita and fell in love with the world of visual art.

Soon after the modeling stint, he went off to World War II in 1944, only to return to Kansas three years later and study art at the Kansas City Art Institute under dean emeritus Thomas Hart Benton, the legendary painter. Eventually Wayne completed his degree in fine arts at Wichita State University in 1950. Decades later—after working in the aircraft industry to pay the bills and support his wife and seven kids—he made a name for himself as a full-time commercial and textbook artist.

“Engineering was a big influence,” he says. “I like it drawn correctly.”

KANSAS INSPIRATION Wayne’s variety of paintings comes from the diversity of the state surrounding him. Painting after painting, his collections include the famous Kansas cottonwoods, sunflowers and sunsets.

Admirers of Wayne’s work are also delighted to find some hidden gems.

Ten years ago, Wayne and Jonathan stumbled across a stone bridge in Butler County. The accidental discovery turned into weeks of researching bridges and eventually capturing their natural beauty through brush strokes. “I find something and just get into a groove,” Wayne says.

Wayne’s attention to detail is revealed in his paintings of limestone bridges. The natural element is beauti-

ful and often taken for granted, until the viewer sees its magnificence on canvas.

“He’ll look at a painting and just say the perspective is wrong,” Jonathan says.

“A lot of artists don’t know perspective, and it shows in their artwork. They know art, but they don’t know perspective.”

ARTISTIC THERAPY It’s hard to believe now that less than a decade ago Wayne had to take a hiatus due to his Parkinson’s disease. From 2003 to 2005 the artist didn’t pick up a paintbrush due to the disease taking its toll on his body. He spent those three years working through the trembling and figuring out a way to continue painting.

In 2010 Wayne painted 13 pieces. In 2011 he painted roughly 28 pieces. Once a month, he and Jonathan would head over to the Bluebird Art Store in Wichita’s Delano district for a drawing class that features a real-life model.

Wayne’s paintings are stacked and scattered throughout his home, on display at The Egg Crate Cafe in west Wichita, and a portion of his private collection was also on display in Point Reyes Station, California, in March, where he has lived and visits often.

“I’ve done farmhouses, bridges and pets,” Wayne says. “Something sparks interest, and I just paint.”

Writer Amy Conkling doesn’t know much about art but enjoyed learning from the best while interviewing Wayne Clark.

waynesclark.com LEFT Wichita painter Wayne Clark creates beautiful pieces that include Kansas landscapes, architecture and people, created with dedication and his exacting perspective.

RIGHT Painting Flint Hills Wind Sculpture

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BRAIN FREEZE! Three Kansas creameries rev up taste buds by churning out handcrafted dairy delights scoop by scoop Photography by Jason Dailey

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Sylas and Maddy’s in Lawrence services up a colorful line of flavors.

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RECIPE

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or the greater part of the last 100 years, the soda fountain was at the pinnacle of popularity in most American towns.

Just ask your grandparents, who will likely regale you with “when-I-wasyour-age” yarns about the sodas, shakes, malts and splits, among other frozen concoctions that swirled and twirled. The demise of the soda fountain melted into oblivion in the l970s, but that doesn’t mean today’s ice cream parlors are any less dedicated in their pursuit of happiness—they’re just harder to find.

A few shops in Kansas feature the dreamiest licks, from cutting-edge flavors to old-fashioned ambiance.

TEMPTATION STATION Ice cream dreams come true at Glace Artisan, Christopher Elbow’s handcrafted confectionery.

Elbow, already a celebrated chocolatier with a national reputation for his modern culinary artistry, decided to delve into a different type of sweet when he opened his two shops in Kansas City, Missouri, and Leawood.

“This isn’t your typical ice cream parlor,” says J.K. Hufford, manager of both stores.

You won’t find any cones or candy in this zenlike shop. It’s all about

the two or three scoops of seduction nestled in a bowl. Elbow pours his creativity and culinary approach into a slew of all-natural flavors that are so atypical it makes people stop and analyze the flavorful listing. It explains why there’s usually a line snaking out the door.

“We use all types of ingredients that most people don’t think of when eating ice cream. The most important thing—we’re infusing fresh and natural products sourced locally whenever possible. There’s nothing artificial in our ice cream,” says Elbow.

Among the exotic pairings: Fleur de Sel Caramel, French Lavender, Goat Cheese and Fig, Salted Pretzel, Vietnamese Cinnamon and Pineapple Cilantro sorbet.

Word has spread quickly, and Food and Wine magazine named Glace one of the country’s 25 best ice creameries in 2011.

“Chris’ ideas spring from his travels or a great food combos he’s tasted. He’s totally inspired, and we’re the lucky recipients,” says Hufford. Elbow’s Glace Artisan is an ice creamy dream.

4535 W. 119th St. Leawood glaceicecream.com

Recipes courtesy of

THE CORNER PHARMACY

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK

O L D FA S H I O N E D BANANA SPLIT On top of the banana, place three scoops of Sterling Ice Cream: one scoop of vanilla with pineapple syrup; one scoop of chocolate with Hershey’s syrup, and one scoop of strawberry with strawberry syrup.

Highlight the traditional banana split with real whipped cream, nuts and a maraschino cherry.

“BANANA SPLITS ARE MADE IN A GLASS BANANA BOAT INTO WHICH A BANANA IS SLICED IN HALF AND PLACED IN THE BOAT.”

—Louise Jones manager at the Corner Pharmacy

HOT FUDGE SUNDAE Place three scoops of vanilla ice cream into a glass sundae dish, add a dollop of hot fudge on top, followed by real whipped cream, nuts and a maraschino cherry.

FIND MORE RECIPES ONLINE AT KANSASMAG.COM

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ADD A NEW FLAVOR TO YOUR LIFE There’s hardly any contest in finding the best ice cream in Lawrence. Jim and Cindy England’s Sylas and Maddy’s Homemade Ice Cream is a hands-down favorite.

“It’s been on everyone’s radar since we started in l997,” says Jim, fully aware of the good fortune. Located on bustling Massachusetts Street, their cheerful yellow shop (named for a cat and dog) has always been the traditional go-to creamery in this town.

“We make approximately 144 blends with all-natural ingredients. We rotate 40-50 flavors at any time,” he says.

What’s the key to the England’s success? “Honestly, since we’re local and don’t advertise, I’d have to say tradition and taste—our product isn’t pumped full of stabilizers. We count on our 15 employees to dip with a generous hand and courteous attitude.”

Flavorwise, there’s scoops from the standards, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, but exotics, with flirting titles including Gold Dust, Coconut Cream Pie, Almond Joy and Kansas Twister, flirt with temptation.

What’s Sylas and Maddy’s most popular flavor? “Rock Chalk Jayhawk!,” says Jim. “We must be doing something right. Our business has only increased steadily over the years.”

1014 Massachusetts Lawrence (785) 832-8323

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LEFT Scenes from Sylas and Maddy’s in Lawrence.

OTHER FROSTY NOTABLES THE BIG SCOOP This family-owned restaurant is known far and wide for soft-serve, hard and chilled novelties in Marion. No visit to the edge of the Flint Hills is complete without a detour to this scoop shop.

STEP BACK IN TIME Downtown Leavenworth’s The Corner Pharmacy is a study in nostalgia. Mayor Mark Preisinger says, “The Pharmacy is an institution in Leavenworth taking you back to a simpler time.”

USA Today concurred when it declared it one of the 50 best ice cream parlors in the country in 2010.

Pharmacist and owner Ronald Booth bought the Leavenworth building back in 1981 with the intention of showcasing the Victorian embellishments inside and out. “As everyone was taking out their soda fountains in drug stores, I was expanding mine. As far as I can tell, there has always been a soda fountain in this building dating back to 1871,” he says.

Booth dedicated himself to authentically renovating the soda fountain by installing a 40-foot-long mahogany counter, swiveling, bentwood-backed stools, black-and-white tile floor and ornate plaster ceiling with gold-leaf highlights.

Breakfast (served throughout the day), lunch and homemade pies draw raves, but it’s the hand-dipped malts and milkshakes, authentic Green River soda, Birch beer, phosphates and sundaes that help keep business perking along.

Each dessert is made the old-fashioned way— scooped and served by enthusiastic employees.

Store manager Louise Jones appreciates themom-and-pop atmosphere and camaraderie of the staff and customers. “That’s probably why I’ve worked here for 23 years.”

Booth agrees. “This place is a melting pot of America. Guys in suits sit next to guys that don’t have two dimes to rub together. Soda fountains are important public spaces, giving communities a place to stay connected.”

The Corner Pharmacy’s fizzy old-time flavorings, Norman Rockwell ambiance and prices reflecting yesteryear is the epitome of small-town America—something Booth is happily maintaining.

429 Delaware Leavenworth (913) 682-1602

Once known as Mocha Chai Bunny, Overland Park freelance writer Gloria Gale now prefers Pistachio Almond Nut.

RIGHT Brady Johnson dives into a chocolate cone at Sylas and Maddy’s.

616 Main, (620) 382-3838

OLD MILL TASTY SHOP Chocolate, cherry and vanilla cokes are still mixed the old-fashioned way in downtown Wichita’s favorite soda fountain and restaurant. It must be good. It’s been around since 1932.

604 E. Douglas Avenue, (316) 264-6500

BOGEY’S Few chains can match the 101 flavors that this privately owned shake shop stirs up in Hutchinson. A hands-down favorite—chocolate-chip cookie dough.

1718 N. Plum St., (620) 665-8189 bogeysonline.com

CALL HALL DAIRY BAR Students at Call Hall Dairy Bar on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan have been providing homemade cheese, butter, milk and ice cream since 1923.

Raves never stop for their 16 flavors of ice cream, including cherry cheesecake, toffee vanilla and purple pride.

144 Call Hall, K-State campus (785) 532-1292, k-state.edu

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THE EMMA CHASE CAFÉ Friday evenings spent at the Emma Chase Café in Cottonwood Falls are magical and melodic.

As community members saunter downtown with their lawn chairs and iced tea, musicians prepare their instruments and arrangements along the sidewalk. Considered one of Kansas’ 8 Wonders, the Emma Chase Café Friday Night Jam Sessions have become legendary.

Welcoming local ensembles and regional acts, the venue has served as a site for a CD launch party, family reunion, holiday entertainment and so much more.

Travel through the Flint Hills this summer and stop on Friday for a tune or two.

EMMACHASECAFE.COM

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TRAVELKS

MILESTONE