KANSAS! Magazine | 2018 Winter

Page 46

Lawrence

I have always found Lawrence to be a unique city. Partly it’s that vibrant, youthful vibe that comes from the large student population at the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University, but Lawrence is more than just a college town. Outside of campus, the town boasts its own activities, events, nightly live music, great restaurants and bars. You can find a wide variety of cultures represented in the events and on the streets. For example, a Greek restaurant sits across the street from a ramen shop that is around the corner from an Indian restaurant. People are very friendly and accepting of all kinds of lifestyles in Lawrence. Everywhere I went, people would strike up conversations with me. The locals like to point out that Lawrence’s principles of tolerance and inclusion date back to its founding by fervent antislavery activists during the “Bleeding Kansas” era of the 1850s. The community also supports their local businesses, which says a lot about their residents. It’s not uncommon to find shops downtown that have been there more than 20 years. Just off Interstate 70, halfway between Topeka and Kansas City, you’ll eventually have a reason for stopping off in Lawrence. And if you don’t, here’s my invitation to make it a weekend destination for your next trip. Story by Justin Lister Photography by Justin Lister with Carter Gaskins, Brian Goodman and Michael C. Snell


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