Manhattan, KS November 2025 by City Lifestyle

Daily Attitude of Gratitude

Each morning before the world really wakes up, I sit down with a cup of coffee, open my journal, and write down a few things I am thankful for. It’s a simple ritual, and one that’s grown over time. When I first started consistently doing this last year, it was just a few lines. Now, it fills an entire notebook page.

This daily act of gratitude sets the tone for the day. Some days, I am just feeling grateful for life’s simple comforts: warm water, my bed, my house, having an iPhone, iPad, and MacBook. Other times, it’s deeper: family, friendships, divine connections, or opportunities that remind me how good life truly is. Whatever I am feeling thankful for that morning, I write it down. Combined with reading my Bible, this quiet pause to recognize what’s good has become one of the most grounding and meaningful parts of my entire day.

What I’ve learned is that gratitude isn’t just a feeling; it’s a practice. It truly changes the way you see the world. When you start focusing on what you have instead of what’s missing, life feels a little lighter, a little more full. It doesn’t mean every day is perfect. Far from it. But it does mean that even on the hard days, you can still find something to be thankful for. Science even backs it up: people who intentionally practice gratitude often sleep better, worry less, and feel more content. But for me, it’s not about checking a wellness box—it’s about seeing life with clearer eyes.

I am especially grateful to be the steward of Manhattan City Lifestyle magazine. Each issue has come from my soul, and it reflects the people, places, and passions that make the Little Apple such a remarkable community. It’s people like Dr. Frank Tracz, and all the townie dreamers and doers in between, that we feature that constantly remind me how lucky I am to call it home.

Gratitude has a way of multiplying when you share it. The more you look for what’s good, the more you find it. That’s the power of being thankful. So if you haven’t already, take a few minutes each morning to pause, reflect, and write down what you’re grateful for. It might just change the way you see everything else.

Happy Thanksgiving season!

Warm Regards,

November 2025

PUBLISHER

Tyler Jackson | tyler.jackson@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Heather Hoffman | heather.hoffman@citylifestyle.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Tim Sigle | siglephoto@gmail.com

MARKET SUPPORT ASSISTANT

Cooper Deters | cdet112@gmail.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kenny Whitis, Cooper Deters

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Scott Sewell

TYLER JACKSON, PUBLISHER @MANHATTANCITYLIFESTYLE

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad

LAYOUT DESIGNER Adam Finley

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.

inside the issue

Frankly The Greatest

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CANDLEWOOD SHOPPING CENTER

3252 Kimball Ave, Manhattan, KS 66503 topshelfmhk.com 785-517-2996

The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

1: K-State’s Avery Johnson runs the ball in the game against UCF 2: K-State’s #3, Dylan Edwards 3: The final two of the Stein Holding Contest at Aggieville Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest 5: Jacob Nixon, lead brewer at Aggieville Brewing Company, taps the Maple Pecan O-Face keg at Oktoberfest 6: Horse Power Top Hand Collection boots make great gifts from Outpost Western Store 7: The Manhattan Eagles high school football team during their victory over Northland Christian

COLD WEATHER WARNING

Only

Never leave them running unattended

If you’ve seen signs of damage like this, give us a call. We’ll check your system and make sure your home’s wiring can handle the heat.

Keeping your family warm and safe.

business monthly

2025 Kansas Holiday Market & Food Truck Festival

Celebrate the holiday season at this unique outdoor shopping experience at the Flint Hills Discovery Center, featuring Kansas-made products and local food trucks. On Small Business Saturday, the FHDC connects Kansas merchants—those who grow, craft, or manufacture locally—with shoppers eager to support their home state. This is a great event before the holidays. Admission to the vendors and FHDC gift store is free; regular rates apply for exhibit entry. Saturday, November 29 2 pm to 7 pm

2025 MHK Chili Showdown

The 2025 MHK Chili Showdown returns on Saturday, November 15, bringing together over 30 chili teams and fans for a day of flavor and fun. Attendees sample chilis, vote for their favorites, enjoy the K-State game on a giant jumbotron, and participate in fun activities like a bounce house and pepper-eating contest. Tickets support local nonprofits, making this a delicious way to give back. 1960 Kimball Ave - The Edge District. Get tickets at mhkchili.com

10th Annual MHK Turkey Trot 5K, Thanksgiving Morning

The 10th Annual MHK Turkey Trot 5K will take place on Thanksgiving Day, November 27. The race kicks off at 9:00 AM from Aggieville, winding through City Park and down Poyntz Avenue before returning to the starting point. Participants can register online, with adult entry fees at $30 until November 13 and $35 thereafter. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Flint Hills Breadbasket, supporting local families in need. mhkturkeytrot.com

FRANKLY THE GREATEST

The king of the Pride, Dr. Frank Tracz retires, leaving an unforgettable legacy at K-State.

ARTICLE BY TYLER JACKSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY SIGLE PHOTOGRAPHY & PROVIDED

As sunlight filters through the northwest windows of the Tracz Band Hall inside Kansas State University’s Memorial Stadium, it casts a golden glow on decades of memories hung inside a cozy office. Framed photos of friends and mentors hang beside shelves of Cleveland baseball memorabilia. There’s a fist full

Photo: K-State Athletics

“We were only supposed to be here for just a couple of years, and I’ve been doing this since 1993.”

of well-earned bowl rings. An Ohio State bumper sticker jokes, “This car stops for all animals except Wolverines,” while a bold purple neon sign proclaims K-State Marching Band . At the center of it all sits Dr. Frank Tracz, the longtime director and professor who built his purple legacy note by note.

Frank Carl Tracz was born in January, 1956 in Cleveland, Ohio. Raised at the corner of East 128th Street and Miles Avenue, eight miles southeast of downtown, he was the fifth of six children. His father, an Eastern European steel mill worker with an eighthgrade education, instilled in him the Cleveland way: toughness, a relentless work ethic, and community pride. The winters were harsh, the neighborhoods gritty, and nothing came easy. You had to earn respect. You had to fight for everything. Beyond just survival, he learned how to flourish through resilience.

At just eight years old, Frank’s world changed forever when his mother passed away. His father suddenly found himself raising six children alone while working full-time at the mill. Amid the hardship, Frank discovered an unlikely source of hope: His Catholic school decided to start a band, and he jumped at the chance to join. He wanted to play trumpet, but after a minor disciplinary issue, the instrument was taken away and he was handed a pair of drumsticks instead.

It turned out to be the best twist of fate imaginable.

At Brooklyn High School, Frank did it all: football, baseball, wrestling, and, of course, band. Each activity taught him about teamwork, discipline, and leadership. But by seventh grade, he already knew what he wanted to do with his life: he wanted to be a band instructor. While many of his classmates

Photo by Scott Sewell

planned to follow their fathers into the steel mills, Frank dreamed of something different. Music called to him. Not just to play, but to teach, to lead, and to build something lasting through sound.

That dream carried him to The Ohio State University, where his passion for music took shape. There, he marched on the drumline of The Ohio State University Marching Band under the legendary Dr. Paul Droste. His first two years, he played snare drum; his last two, he moved to duo drums, learning the precision and pageantry that would define his career. It was in Columbus that Frank realized music was his life’s calling.

After graduating in 1978, Frank returned home to Cleveland during a difficult time for that nation: the oil embargos. Schools across the country were cutting budgets, and young teachers struggled to find jobs. One weekend, Dr. Droste called him with news: “The University of Wisconsin is looking for a graduate student to work with their band program. They need a percussionist, someone who can write drumline parts and wants to be a band director.”

“That’s me,” Frank said without hesitation.

He interviewed, got the job, and that fall moved north to Madison to begin his next chapter. There, he earned his master’s degree, taught in local elementary schools, and served as a graduate assistant for the Wisconsin band program. “I went to class in the afternoons and evenings, taught during the day, and learned how to drink beer,” he jokes.

Madison gave him more than an education; it also gave him a lifelong partner. There, he met his wife, Geralyn, a Wisconsin native, and the two have now been married 44 years.

After a few years of teaching in Wisconsin, Frank and Geralyn moved back to Ohio, where he took a position at West Geauga High School, one of the largest high

Photo by Sigle Photography

Photo Courtesy of K-State Marching Band Archives

“As I tell the kids: it’s not the goal, it’s the process. Because the goal is gonna happen and when you get there the first question I’m gonna ask is, ‘Is this it?’”

schools in the state. For four years, he poured his heart into that program, believing at the time that high school directing was his true calling.

Then fate intervened again.

At the start of their fourth year, they were ready to buy their first home in Mentor, Ohio. But right before closing, the realtor called with bad news: the house had a mechanic’s lien. The deal fell through. The very next day, the phone rang, this time from Ohio State. The university needed assistants for its band program.

Frank returned to Columbus, earned his doctorate, and soon landed his first college teaching position at Syracuse University in New York.

From 1987 to 1991, Frank taught at Syracuse University, where he and Geralyn welcomed the

first two of their three daughters, Jessica and Kelley. Then came another call, this time from Morehead State University in eastern Kentucky. He took the job, drawn by Morehead’s strong tradition. “It was great,” he shares. “Just five hours from Cleveland, and one of the best band director schools in the country. If you wanted to be a band director, that’s where you went.”

Two years later, another pivotal call came, this one from a man named Gary Mortenson at Kansas State University.

Before Frank and Geralyn first arrived in Manhattan, he had no idea where the Sunflower State was on a map. They figured they’d stay for a year or two, just long enough to get experience before heading back east. That was 33 years ago.

Photo courtesy of K-State Athletics

When he officially accepted the position at Kansas State in 1993, he arrived with boundless energy and a vision to grow the program. He found strong leadership under President Jon Wefald, legendary head football coach Bill Snyder, alumni director Amy Button Renz, and Dean of Students Pat Bosco. Together, they fostered a culture that believed in excellence, family, and purple pride.

With his trademark mix of discipline, humor, and heart, Dr. Tracz began shaping a legacy.

When he started, the marching band had a few hundred members. Through his leadership, it grew into one of the most respected collegiate marching bands in the country, dubbed The Pride of Wildcat Land.

Photo courtesy of K-State Athletics

Photo by Scott Sewell

Under Dr. Tracz, the K-State Marching Band became known for its precision, power, and unmistakable spirit. “It wasn’t just about music,” he says. “It was about creating an experience, something people could feel.”

That feeling reached its peak in 2015, when the Pride of Wildcat Land received the Sudler Trophy from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The award, given every two years, honors collegiate marching bands that demonstrate outstanding musicianship, innovative performance, and significant contributions to the advancement of college band performance. Often called the “Heisman Trophy of marching bands,” the Sudler was a crowning moment for both the program and the man who led it.

However, Dr. Tracz’s success isn’t defined by awards but by the connection he’s built with his community. His students describe him as both demanding and deeply caring. He pushed them to achieve more than they thought possible, not just as musicians, but as people.

He believed in structure, in tradition, in doing things the right way. But he also knew how to have fun. His booming laugh, quick wit, and occasional sarcastic jab became part of the band’s folklore. He could bark out instructions one moment and share a heartfelt life lesson the next. For decades, his leadership turned a group of college students into a family bound by purple and brass.

In 2025, after 33 years of dedication, Dr. Tracz decided it was time. “I was just spent,” he admits. “Physically and mentally, I was tired.”

Retirement had been a topic for years. It had been discussed between rehearsals, at home with Geralyn, and with colleagues

who knew how much of himself he’d given to the program. “I wanted to leave before I ran out of energy, or before everyone started calling me an old, crotchety guy,” he laughs. “Though, maybe they already were!”

But even in retirement, slowing down isn’t exactly his style. He plans to remain active in the music world leading clinics, mentoring young directors, and speaking at events. What he won’t be doing, however, is leaving Manhattan.

“This is home,” he said. “We built our life here. We raised our girls here. This community is special.”

When asked about his favorite memories, Dr. Tracz smiles and recalls a Sunflower Showdown years ago. “We were blowing them out thirty-something to nothing in the first quarter,” he says, laughing. “Coach Snyder called off the dogs, and I played Happy Trails. I turned around, and Coach just gave me that little smirk. That’s when I knew he got it.”

That simple moment captures the essence of Dr. Tracz’s legacy. He built a culture of excellence wrapped in laughter and love.

To sum up Dr. Tracz’s remarkable 33-year career at Kansas State, it’s fitting to borrow the words written by Dale Evans, and made famous by cowboy entertainer Roy Rogers: “Some trails are happy, others a bit blue, but it’s the way you ride the trail that truly counts. Yours has certainly been a happy one. Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Happy trails to you, keep smiling until then.”

Thank you, Dr. Tracz! Happy Trails!

Photo courtesy of K-State Athletics

Sherricole Waggoner

Madison Iman Shayla Olson Sales Specialist Office Manager Marketing Specialist

ARTICLE BY ALISON STANTON

Tips on meal prepping for less stress

Let’s face it: hosting Thanksgiving dinner can be stressful.

Between grocery shopping, house cleaning, cooking and baking, it’s no wonder the day devoted to giving thanks can feel a tad daunting.

Here’s some very welcome good news: whether this is your first holiday hosting rodeo or you’ve stuffed many a turkey over the years, you can knock out most of the Thanksgiving meal prep work in advance – some of it two weeks before the big day.

To make this year’s Thanksgiving meal easier and more enjoyable, consider the following timeline of tips.

2 WEEKS BEFORE

Create Your Thanksgiving Menu

• Print out the recipes you plan to use – this will be much easier than constantly tapping your phone to prevent the screen from going dark or scrolling when your hands are covered with flour or onions.

• Using your menu and printed out recipes as a guide, compose a complete shopping list.

• Double check your supply of herbs and spices to see what you have on hand – even the ones you are pretty sure you have enough of, like salt and pepper (this tip comes from personal experience!).

• Shop for all non-perishable and frozen food items. Basically, if it doesn’t need to be stored in the fridge, or if it doesn’t have a short shelf life, it’s going in the cart.

• Plan three easy and tasty dinners for the days leading up to Thanksgiving and purchase those ingredients during your shopping trip. Or plan at least one night of takeout.

4-5 DAYS BEFORE

Clean & Organize, Buy Fresh Groceries

• Clean your home completely, enlisting family members to help. Then, as the big day approaches, you can touch up as needed.

• Finish your grocery shopping for fresh vegetables like potatoes, onions and carrots and other items not purchased earlier.

• Go through your fridge and toss any old, expired condiments, leftovers and mysterious food items that no one is eating. This will free up valuable real estate for your various dishes.

2-3 DAYS BEFORE

Prep Meals & Set the Table

• Wash and chop all veggies and place the prepped produce into plastic baggies or airtight food storage containers. If some recipes call for “minced onion” and others require “chopped onion,” label the bags accordingly.

• Set the table, and include the empty serving dishes. This will help you figure out ahead of time where the larger dishes can go (and if they will all fit!) Add Post-It notes to the empty dishes to remind you what will go in what. Use a clean sheet to cover everything and keep it all dust-free until Thursday. You can also do this for a buffet.

• Gather all needed serving spoons and other serving pieces.

• Pre-measure herbs and spices for your recipes and store them in labeled small plastic bags with the name of the dish they are for and what’s in the baggies. You can also do the same for any flour, sugar or other non-perishable ingredients you’ll use in your dishes.

1 DAY BEFORE

Tidy, Prepare Dishes & Drinks

• Do a quick clean and tidy around the home; for instance, run the vacuum and shine up the bathrooms.

• If you haven’t already done so, bake your pies, or, at the very least, prepare your pie dough. Wrap the dough in plastic and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble and bake the pies.

• Make the mashed potatoes. Bonus tip: on Thanksgiving, put the potatoes into a slow cooker and heat them up using the “warm” setting.

• Prepare the gravy. If you have a second slow cooker, it too can be warmed up this way on Thanksgiving. This will also help free up pots, pans and burners on the stove!

• Set up a separate drink station where guests can help themselves or someone can serve them away from the kitchen. Stock it with glasses of different sizes, napkins, bottle and can openers and straws.

thanksgiving cornucopia

How To Decorate Tables With Noteworthy November Flair

ARTICLE BY JULIE BROWN PATTON

• An old dough bowl or wood trencher makes a great low centerpiece when filled with seasonal pumpkins, gourds, pinecones and flowering branches.

• Fill a stoneware sugar bowl with seeded eucalyptus, chrysanthemums and pears.

• Use one or a nest of baskets, floral foam and some blooms to craft a themed stunner.

• Incorporate family heirlooms by using an inherited (or thrifted) antique teapot, surrounded by other vintage finds.

• Stack two cake plates on top of each other with bite-size edibles; add other, shorter floral arrangements in pitchers or vases, if desired.

• Add soft candlelight with rustic textures of wood and lots of fall color via an assortment of fresh and faux gourds, silk sunflowers and dried seed pods.

use vintage finds

Whether

traditional or modern, formal or fussfree, Thanksgiving centerpieces set a memorable ambiance for November gatherings.

Make an edible bread cornucopia, ‘horn of plenty,’ for the Thanksgiving table using refrigerated bread or pizza dough, a plastic bottle mold and aluminum foil. Wrap the bottle with foil, make a tail at one end and then layer adjoining strips of dough on the foil. Brush cornucopia with melted butter, remove the plastic bottle and bake at 350 F for 25 to 30 minutes on the lower rack, or until it turns a golden, shiny brown. Fill with sweet or savory nibbles, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, gourds, nuts, rosemary breadstick twists or even cookies, for an impressive centerpiece that’ll keep guests happily munching while they wait for the main meal to begin.

Tyler turned a magazine into community.

City Lifestyle isn’t just a publication — it’s a pulse. A rhythm of voices, neighbors, and stories woven together by someone who believes in the power of connection. As we expand, we’re looking for people ready to turn care into community. Are you ready to be that spark?

Manhattan City Lifestyle

HOMEMADE ROLLS CINNAMON

Ingredients

For the dough:

• 1 cup warm milk (Around 100 degrees)

• 1/2 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 large eggs

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

For the filling:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup brown sugar, packed

• 2 tbsp ground cinnamon

For the icing:

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 2-3 tbsp milk

• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. Prepare the dough: Warm the milk and sprinkle the yeast over it. Let it sit 5–10 minutes until frothy. In a large bowl, combine sugar, melted butter, salt, eggs, and yeast mixture. Mix well. Gradually add flour, one cup at a time, mixing until a soft dough forms.

2. Knead and rise: Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise for 1–2 hours, until doubled in size.

3. Prepare the filling: Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Roll dough into a 16×12-inch

rectangle and spread softened butter over it. Sprinkle evenly with cinnamon sugar.

4. Roll and cut: Roll the dough tightly from the long side into a log. Slice into 12 even rolls and place them in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.

5. Second rise: Cover the rolls and let them rise 30–45 minutes, until puffy.

6. Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).Bake rolls for 20–25 minutes, until golden brown. 7. Ice: Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Drizzle over warm rolls.

EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF HOMEMADE, FRESH-BAKED CINNAMON ROLLS. SOFT, FLAVORFUL, AND TOPPED WITH A DECADENT SWEET GLAZE FOR BREAKFAST BLISS.

Manhattan’s Favorite Christmas Spot

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

NOVEMBER 8TH

Downtown Holiday Open House

Downtown Manhattan | 10:00 AM

Kick off the holiday season at Downtown Manhattan’s biggest shopping day! Shop local businesses while enjoying festive ensembles from the Manhattan Symphony Orchestra, plus refreshments, special deals, and plenty of holiday cheer all day long.

NOVEMBER 8TH

Museum of Art + Light’s Creepies, Crawlies & Creatures

Museum of Art + Light | 11:00 AM

This drop-in, family-friendly event features LIVE critters and hands-on activities. Inspired by Des Lucréce’s “Mons” from the NeoTechne and Erosion of Time exhibitions, participants will use a self-guided field book to explore the artwork, observe creepy crawlers, and create their own imaginative creatures and habitats. Girl Scouts can also complete Daisy and Brownie Animal Observer and Bugs badges.

NOVEMBER 9TH

Straight No Chaser: Holiday Road

McCain Auditorium, 1501 Goldstein Cir, Manhattan, KS | 7:30 PM

Get into the holiday spirit with Straight No Chaser! Enjoy festive favorites, witty banter, and infectious energy. With two RIAA Gold albums, over one billion streams, and nine harmonious voices, this worldwide phenomenon delivers extraordinary entertainment.

NOVEMBER 11TH

Veterans Day Parade

Poyntz Ave: 3rd Street to 11th Street | 9:30 AM

Honor our nation’s service members at the Veterans Day Parade, spanning from the Manhattan Town Center on 3rd Street to City Hall on 11th Street along Poyntz Avenue. Thank you to the Flint Hills Veterans Coalition, in partnership with the Kansas State Army ROTC, Ft. Riley, USO, for organizing this commemoration!

NOVEMBER 21ST

Poinsettia Sales

Quinlan Visitor Center, K-State Gardens, 1500 Denison Ave Manhattan, KS | 10:00 AM

Purchase beautiful, bright poinsettias for your own home — or as a gift — and support the hands-on education of students mastering the art of greenhouse management. Every plant at the K-State Gardens is nurtured by dedicated students. Online orders open November 3–14, 2025, with pickup on November 20. The in-person event is November 21, 10am-3pm

NOVEMBER 29TH

Santa’s Luminary Trail

5:30 PM

Embrace the holiday spirit at the Sunset Zoo’s magical celebration! Venture onto the Africa Trail for the enchanting Luminary Trail. Take photos with Santa and enjoy warm drinks, family-friendly activities, animal encounters, and holiday treats to the tune of festive music. Kids (3-12): $10; Adults (12+): $15.