Winter 2018
PLUS
HOLIDAY
PEPPERMINT DRINKS
KANSAS
MEMORIES OF ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH
A BRIE
RECIPE FOR WINTERTIME HOSTING
Emily’s moment
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
FROM THE EDITOR WINTER 2018 | VOLUME 13, NO. 1
Editor Nathan Pettengill Art Director Jenni Leiste Designers Jenni Leiste Alex Tatro Copy Editor Leslie Andres Advertising Peterson Publications, Inc. Representative publish@petersonpublications.com (785) 271-5801 Ad Designer Alex Tatro Photographers Nick Krug Katie Moore Brittany JoRae’ Pusch-Zuniga Bill Stephens Writers
Linda A. Ditch Jeffrey Ann Goudie Katie Moore Leah Sewell Bill Stephens Michelle R. Terry
Illustrator Lana Grove
Welcome to the winter issue of Topeka Magazine! We’re pleased to bring you another edition of stories representing the spirit of this publication: recipes, recommended events, an interview with a prominent local author, a selection of Topeka-original drinks, personal histories of fellow Topekans and our cover feature on cancer survivors at the core of an annual fundraiser. This edition also continues a new series from longtime Topeka Magazine photographer Bill Stephens. In “Perfect Shot,” Stephens shadows fellow photographers in their work and discovers each photographer’s unique artistic approach to and perspective on the same surroundings. Understanding how we experience and interpret the exact same things in entirely different ways is crucial to living together, sharing a city and being somewhat bound together in our fate. We hope you find aspects of Topeka in these pages that you treasure, as well as new perspectives on the city and life within it.
Subscriptions $27 for a one-year subscription, including Topeka SR; order at sunflowerpub.com Production Manager Jenni Leiste Director Bob Cucciniello
Please contact us at topekamagazine@sunflowerpub.com for all comments, subscription and editorial queries.
— NAT H A N P E T T E N G I L L , E D I T O R
Topeka Magazine is a publication of Sunflower Publishing, a division of Ogden Publications. Ogden Publications 1503 SW 42nd St Topeka, KS 66609
sunflowerpub.com topekamag.com
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
WHAT’S INSIDE WINTER 2018 | VOLUME 13, NO. 1
TOPEKANS 10 “YOU SHOULD ALSO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF”
The latest in our series of personal letters from local residents brings the story of an unusual student-tutor relationship and the difference it has made in their lives
12 ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH: AN APPRECIATION
Award-winning author returns to Topeka through an emotional work rooted in the aftermath of losing her mother and the dangers she encountered as a global journalist
APPETITE 16 BRIE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
For adult palates, this festive dish moves beyond the sugar-saturation of gumdrops and candy tins without requiring long preparation
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PEPPERMINT, FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Area bartenders bring us three takes on drinks with this classic seasonal taste
I N E VE RY I S S U E 26 WHAT’S HAPPENING
Selected Topeka events for the winter season
F E AT U R E S 30 COUTURE FOR CANCER
A popular, inspiring fundraiser works to combat cancer by stylishly highlighting Topekans who have faced the disease
4 0 PERFECT SHOT
Brad Neff has us up early, feeling the mists and viewing sunrises for our latest in-the-field conversation with area photographers
Winter 2018
PLUS
HOLIDAY
PEPPERMINT DRINKS
KANSAS
MEMORIES OF ELIZABETH FARNSWORTH
A BRIE
RECIPE FOR WINTERTIME HOSTING
On the Cover Cancer survivor and Couture for Cancer model Karsyn Hastert stands in a white dress. Styling by Sue Dickerson and Karsyn Hastert; photograph by Bill Stephens.
WHAT’S INSIDE
Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
TOPEKA TALK
What Will We Wave? We are eagerly awaiting the second round of a contest to create a new flag for Topeka. Adopted in 1977, the current electric yellow and green version with a coat of arms reflects one interpretation of the city’s heritage—along with echoes of a 1970s Oakland A’s baseball jersey. City officials have not promised to retire the 40-year-old version, but an administration representative said officials are open to considering artists’ proposals to better capture the spirit of the city. You can follow the initiative, spearheaded by the group Topeka Forge, at topekaflag.com.
Top City Lakers “What I’ve found with coaching is that basketball can do a lot for kids,” says youth league coach Terry Smith. “Particularly kids who might not have a father at home, but also kids who are secure, who don’t have to worry about finances—they all have something in common. Basketball can give them confidence, it can bring together different kids from different cultures. It teaches you how to meet and work with different friends. I’ve coached kids who are now grown, and even if they don’t play college basketball, I feel like I’ve helped them become young men, people to be looked up to.” Smith, shown above with fellow coaches and a team of 5th-grade boys, is the head of the Top City Lakers, an organization with some 13 youth teams—from first-grade to high school students— that compete in various leagues throughout the year. In more than 11 years of coaching, he has seen his teams win several tournaments in Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, Colorado, Minnesota and other locations. But more importantly, he has seen kids work together and succeed or fail as a team. He and his volunteer coaches use the sport as a way to instill discipline, recreational habits and fellowship between kids, both for the boys and girls programs.
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Party Accomplished “In schools, they have the concept of ‘no child left behind,’” Smith says. “We are trying to develop the same for kids with basketball, so we come up with programs for kids at a competitive level and recreational-type teams.” For Smith and his volunteer coaches, that means not only creating strategies on the court but also developing a game plan to make sure that all the players have rides to practice, that everyone has had time to eat and that things are going well for them at school and home. Our calendar of events in this winter edition has information to find the Lakers’ schedule if you want to cheer on one of Coach Smith’s teams on the court. But win or lose, the players and coaches on these teams—as in many other teams across the city—believe a winter of basketball is time well spent. “The relationships I have developed with kids and parents are second to none,” says Smith. “This game has allowed me to use basketball as a tool to help bring up young men as members of our society, as family men. That’s what keeps me going.”
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Tails were wagged. The 7th annual Kansas Corgi Gathering brought to the Topeka region packs and packs of corgis (plus the people who love them), including our fall issue cover model, Lola. Corgi Connection of Kansas, the all-volunteer organization that sponsored the event, continues its work throughout the year of finding loving homes for dogs in need.
Next Edition The spring issue of Topeka Magazine will arrive in early March. If your neighborhood is not included in our routes, remember that we distribute complimentary copies through the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and other locations. Subscriptions are also available through our publishing company website, sunflowerpub.com.
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
TOPEKANS
STORY BY Jacob Machnov and Paul Schmidt with Leah Sewell | PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Bill Stephens
“You Should Also
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF” The latest in our series of personal letters from local residents brings the story of an unusual student-tutor relationship and the difference it has made in their lives
JACOB MACHNOV (JAKE), GED CANDIDATE On the day I dropped out of high school, I’d gotten into an argument with a teacher. I can’t remember what it was about. I just remember that the consequence was having to face a group of teachers, like facing a firing squad. As they ganged up on me, I grew more angry and more ashamed. I knew in that moment I would quit. I hated everything about
high school—the pressure of trying to get good grades, having to spend the day in and out of classrooms with hundreds of other students, feeling like I was running a rat race I had no chance of winning—every day was a struggle. In retrospect, I know I could have talked to someone above those teachers to say, look, this isn’t working for me. But throughout my whole high school career, I felt that, no
TOPEKANS
matter how I tried, I wound up repeatedly banging my head against a wall. I knew I didn’t have it in me to make it work. I wasn’t thinking about my future. I was so relieved to have the pressure taken off. But as time wore on, I saw the repercussions of that hole in my record. Initially, I felt the stigma of it socially. It was something I made an effort to avoid bringing up. My friends talked about what college they were going to attend and all the plans they had for their lives. I just stayed conspicuously quiet, and it got to be awkward. No one wants to acknowledge that they’re a high-school dropout. Then Sara came along. Sara is my girlfriend, and she’s someone I have always felt really comfortable opening up to. When I met her, I was unemployed, I was staying at home with my mom, and I was living life without a purpose or a goal. Sara never passed judgment on my situation or made me feel ashamed. I landed a really great job working in heating and air conditioning. I learned to do the work and do it well. I found myself wanting more, though, and kept eyeing the opportunity to move up. My ultimate goal is to work with cooling towers, but you need a technical degree to be considered for that line of work. Obviously, I couldn’t continue my education without a GED or a high school diploma. At 19, there was no way I was going back to high school. The GED option scared me because what if I failed? Even as I stalled out, Sara never let up on encouraging me to go after my goals. She gave me only positivity even though some of the obstacles were due to my own mistakes. I was worried her family wouldn’t be as accepting of me. I came to find out she was from a family of teachers. More specifically, I learned that her dad, Paul, was a retired high school teacher who now worked with high school dropouts to help them get their diplomas. That was a pretty shocking coincidence. Nervous as I was, the day came to meet Sara’s family. The first time I opened up to Paul, I knew everything would be okay.
PAUL SCHMIDT (PAUL), TEACHER, SOUTHEAST KANSAS EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER—GREENBUSH When my daughter started going out with Jake, I was cognizant of how intimidating it would be for him to meet us. I had no intention of sitting him down and lecturing him. I felt like I already knew him, because I was him in a past life. I wasn’t happy in high school either. I was an outsider, a non-athlete at a very athletics-focused school. I wasn’t interested in my classes and found the strict environment offputting. There was a time when I wasn’t sure I was going to make it through, but I did make it, barely. I scraped by with a 1.9 GPA. I wanted to be a teacher because I told myself that I would be the opposite of my own teachers who failed to inspire me and seemed to hew to the rules rather than serving the more crucial task of engaging students. But I found, ultimately, that you have to strike a balance.
Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
During my third year of teaching, a principal came in wanting us to conform to a standardized, behavioral-focused climate. I went with the program. I showed up to class as the “hard-ass teacher,” but I was miserable because I was only performing. I wasn’t being true to myself. For me, teaching isn’t about standardization. It’s about making bonds with these kids and sharing stories to encourage interest. My natural approach to teaching was to say, “You should learn this stuff because it’s fascinating.” I taught high school for 36 years, and I still teach kids who are a lot like Jake was in high school. I also work with adults. By the time the adults get in touch with me, they’re in the right head space. They want to take care of this stain in their past and move on, advance themselves or better position themselves in life. They want to hold their heads up with dignity. I got to know Jake but never pressured him to get his diploma. I learned he was a good person, and I was happy for Sara that she’d chosen to be with him. The part about not finishing school, that didn’t matter. As we grew closer and talked more, the idea of working with me to finish his diploma started to take root in him independently. He approached me about making it happen, and, of course, I was ready to help. With adults, the plan is to dovetail the credits into their existing lives. Like with any of my adult students, Jake and I sat down and looked at a calendar and decided on a timeline that would work with his schedule. We settled on Christmas 2018 for a graduation goal. And it’s looking like that will be the case.
JAKE Once I began achieving credits toward my diploma, my whole outlook changed. Before, I lived only in the moment; now the future opened up before me. I began to love to learn. In high school, my weakness was history, and history happened to be Paul’s main thing. The way he uses stories and jokes around, I didn’t have a choice; I got sucked into learning about it and became genuinely interested. I come home from work in the evenings around 9 p.m. and put on one of Paul’s lectures and log in to check in with him on my progress. I have that one-on-one help, and, for the first time in my life, I’m maintaining my focus on my studies. It’s honestly the most ideal situation I could have hoped for. One thing Paul has taught me is to be patient with myself. Good things happen when I keep my head down and work hard. That’s how I’ve made it as far as I have, and pretty soon I’ll have my diploma. I’m nervous about moving on to get the technical degree. Going back to a classroom environment, having to do book learning, that terrifies me. But I know I can do it, because Sara taught me a really valuable lesson, too. When someone believes in you, take it as a clue you should also believe in yourself.
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
TOPEKANS STORY BY Jeffrey Ann Goudie ILLUSTRATION BY Lana Grove
Illustration by Lana Grove based on photograph courtesy Pat Johnson Studios
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Elizabeth Farnsworth:
AN APPRECIATION Award-winning author returns to Topeka through an elegant work rooted in the aftermath of losing her mother and the dangers she encountered as a global journalist
TOPEKANS
Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
O
ver years of watching The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour (which later became The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer), I became an admirer of contributing journalist Elizabeth Farnsworth but had no idea she grew up in Topeka. That I learned when Farnsworth came to the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in 2017 and then to Washburn University in 2018 to read from her memoir A Train through Time: A Life, Real and Imagined. About a train trip the author took in 1953 with her father from Topeka to California when she was nine, shortly after the death of her mother, A Train through Time intersperses a description of that journey with memories of her reporting trips to far-flung locales, including Chile, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, Iraq, Vietnam and Haiti. Farnsworth’s recounting of the reporting trips is factual. For the train trip, she took some poetic license. Having heard her describe this mixing of fact and fiction when she was interviewed on The NewsHour by Jeffrey Brown shortly after the book’s initial release, I wasn’t sure what I would think. But the imaginative liberties Farnsworth indulged both heightened and unified the emotional experience she describes in the aftermath of losing her mother. By book’s end, the author clearly delineates fact from fiction. Farnsworth has described the book originating at a time when she was working on a documentary film on torture and murder in Chile. During a break outside the mixing studio, she had an image of herself as a child asking her current self, “What sent you on a path through death and destruction?” That self-examination prompted her project and shaped the form it would take. “My past had temporarily overtaken the present,” Farnsworth wrote in an email. “To answer the girl’s question, I wrote a book that also intertwines current and past events. I hope the through-line of the train keeps the action moving forward. In a way, the structure of the book mimics real life. A strong forward momentum carries us through the present, but we’re nonetheless strongly affected by the past.” Farnsworth’s past is deeply connected to Topeka. She graduated from Topeka High School in 1961 and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1999, the same year as her father, H. Bernerd Fink, who was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy and eventually became president of a large grain company. Following THS, she graduated from Middlebury College in 1965 and earned her MA in history from Stanford the following year. She has published articles in many publications, including Foreign Policy and The Nation. Joining PBS’s evening news show in 1984, she became its chief correspondent and principal substitute anchor. Her television reporting and documentaries have netted Emmy nominations and the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award. Farnsworth was named a Distinguished Kansan of the year in 1995 by the Topeka Capital-Journal, and in 1997 by the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas. These days Farnsworth lives in Berkeley, California, and returns to Topeka for research and visits with friends and family. She took the time to answer by email some questions about her debut book and also her connections to her hometown.
Topeka Magazine (TM): How did growing up in Topeka shape you? Elizabeth Farnsworth (EF): Topeka had a powerful influence on me. The great-grandparents of my mother, Jane Mills Fink, came from the East as abolitionists during “Bleeding Kansas.” What could be more admirable than fighting slavery? My father’s grandparents had pioneered in the Dakotas. When they were ruined by an historic blizzard in 1888, they came to Topeka for work on the Santa Fe. They eventually became prosperous after having lost almost everything. I have always been proud of my ancestors. They made me want to work hard. I also think that the sometimes dangerous weather of Kansas keeps us from thinking we’re too significant. We humans are one element in a very complex natural world, and that’s easier to remember in Kansas than in other places I’ve lived.
TM: What Topeka public schools did you attend? Who were your most memorable teachers? EF: I started kindergarten at Randolph School in 1948 and then went to Southwest (Whitson), Capper Junior High and Topeka High. I am grateful to many inspiring teachers and wish I could name them all, but here are a few: Miss Gray (first grade), Miss Oxendale (third grade), Mr. Hula (algebra, Capper), Mr. Pringle (history, Capper and Topeka High) and Miss Herrick (drama, Topeka High).
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
Renovation & Expansion is Underway at
TO
.
P E K A C.C
The Topeka Country Club
EST. 1905
TM: Does the train trip you took with your father hold a larger meaning for you? EF: As a Kansan with many relatives who worked for the Santa Fe Railroad, trains played a major role in my life. The sound of a train whistle takes me right back to my childhood. We took trains when we had far to go. I imagine the train is also a way of paying homage to my grandfather Homer B. Fink, who had to leave high school to help his family by working for the Santa Fe. He took correspondence classes while working full time, and when he retired, he was the railroad’s secretary-treasurer. I still meet people in Topeka who worked with him. His father and two brothers also worked for Santa Fe, as did my uncle, Robert M. Clark.
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TM: You write at one point in the memoir that you may be “most comfortable on the edge of loss.” Would you elaborate on that? EF: My mother died of cancer a month after I’d turned nine. She had been ill for two years, and I think the experience of being “on the edge of loss” became familiar—perhaps too familiar. Reporting on the forced disappearances of people in Chile, including someone I had known, is an example of reporting from the edge of loss. I understand what others in the midst of grievous loss are experiencing. TM: You also write that your family has had “good bad luck.” Would you explain that apparently contradictory statement? EF: Losing a mother when you’re a child is very bad luck, but I had a large extended family in Topeka with a loving father, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. That was very good luck. Two years later, my father married a Topeka widow, Ruth Garvey Cochener. We moved into her house on Shadow Lane, and suddenly I had two step-sisters and a brother: Bruce, Diana and Caroline Cochener. That was good luck as well. TM: People used to be circumspect about death with children. How do you think the way your mother’s death was imparted to you as a 9-year-old influenced your wanting to unmask the truth as a journalist? EF: I was told my mother “would get better,” and when she died, people said, “She’s gone” or “She’s left us.” No one ever used the word “died,” and I believed my mother had disappeared. If I looked hard enough, maybe I could find her from the train. The reluctance to tell me the truth about my mother, though it was done with good intentions, made me seek truth almost obsessively later, and I still can’t bear being lied to. I have come to believe that I majored in history and became a journalist partly because of that early experience.
Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
TM: As a journalist you covered stories for the PBS NewsHour in Haiti, Chile, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Cambodia, among others. What drove you to undertake potentially risky assignments? EF: I always wanted to cover stories where a lot was at stake. War or the aftermath of war is always important and usually dramatic. I also believe that losing my mother as a child made me especially aware of people’s suffering. I wanted others to know the truth about what was happening in those places. TM: What pulled you away from the hot spots? EF: After the mid-1990s, and especially in the Middle East, reporting became more and more dangerous for members of the crew. A camera looks like a gun. Also, local interpreters—“fixers,” as they’re known—became more and more endangered. We could probably get out of a dangerous country quickly, but the fixer couldn’t. I was often in charge of the shoots, and after a few bad experiences, I didn’t want to risk precious lives anymore. TM: Care to comment on your current writing project? EF: I’m trying to write fiction—a novel set during WWII in Topeka’s Winter General Hospital. I’m renaming and changing much about the hospital, but parts of the story will ring true to those who remember that time. I’ve researched the history of the hospital at the Kansas State Historical Society and am grateful to the staff for their kindness and time. TM: You’ve remained connected to Topeka although you live in Berkeley, California. What brings you back, physically and in your imagination? EF: I remain a Kansan in my heart and soul. My sister Marcia Anderson lives in Salina. Her home looks west over the town and prairie. I like that view very much.
About the Writer: Jeffrey Ann Goudie is a freelance writer and book reviewer whose work has appeared in many publications, including the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Huffington Post. She has written for Topeka Magazine since 2007.
15 “Persistence can grind an iron beam down into a needle.” – Chinese Proverb
When was the last time you became agitated when your smart phone took 12 Nano-seconds to connect, instead of the usual 7? It seems everything happens at lightning speed today. But there is one thing that still requires our patience, planning, and perseverance – the pursuit of wealth! According to best-selling author Thomas Corley in his “Rich Habits Study,” 80% of American millionaires became so after the age of 50! Perhaps this very longterm approach is why very few actually reach a high level of financial success? So in this instant gratification and “7-Minute Workout” world that we now live, maybe we need to consider a different playbook?
3 Habits to Develop: 1. Track spending in your early years—it will become a habit 2. Focus on your goals every single day 3. Maintain a daily to-do list and connect this to your goals in #2 If you are frustrated with your financial status quo, and serious about your wealth, start by downloading our free SPENDING TRACKER™ and then promptly add “Call Reinert Wealth Management today” to your to-do list.
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APPETITE
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018 STORY BY
Linda A. Ditch |
BRIE for the Holidays For adult palates, this festive dish moves beyond the sugar-saturation of gumdrops and candy tins without requiring long preparation
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Bill Stephens
APPETITE
T
opeka designer Tammy Thiessen favors a style of clean, simple lines with a touch of sophistication. It’s an approach that you immediately sense as you walk into her home of cool, neutral tones of grays and whites with pops of muted colors and touches of extravagance. It’s also an approach with practicality in mind. “I have four boys, so a room has to look pretty but also stand up to a family,” Thiessen says. “I create a space that they want to be in constantly. It has to have beauty and function. I like design features that have a lot of impact without a lot of stuff.” For winter, Thiessen creates simple holiday arrangements of boxwood, berries, pomegranates and birch branches. The furniture is draped with warm, cozy throws. The pillows are subdued colors of forest green, sandy tan, winter white and sky blue, some with bits of sparkle to reflect the weakened sunlight.
[T]he dish is easy to prepare and elegant to the eye. “That is my version of winter because my house doesn’t do warm, earthy tones well. A holiday look has to stay with the décor look,” Thiessen explains. Holiday entertaining at the Thiessen home fits into this concept of minimal elegance as well. One of her favorite items is a brie appetizer that Thiessen began making eight years ago for a holiday gathering of parents whose children all attended Prince of Peace Preschool. The five couples and fourteen kids would meet once a month for dinner, and the adults would meet once a year alone for a Christmas gathering. The brie dish, which pairs well with wines and drinks, has been a holiday tradition ever since Thiessen first served it. Like Thiessen’s design style, the dish is easy to prepare and elegant to the eye. Plus, it’s scrumptious. Move over, candy canes.
Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
Brie with Sweet and Spicy Pecans and Blackberry Compote Ingredients 1 cup pecan halves 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted 1 1/2 tablespoons light brown sugar 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste 2 cups blackberries, plus more for garnish Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet and spread the pecan halves on top. Roast in the oven for 10 minutes or until you just start to smell them. 2. While the pecans are in the oven, mix together the butter, sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl. When the pecans are ready, pour them while still hot into the bowl and coat them evenly with the butter mixture. Spread the pecans back onto the baking sheet and bake for another 10 minutes, stirring every 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Note: These pecans make a great snack on their own. 3. Place the blackberries, lemon juice, honey and vanilla into a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring regularly, until the berries begin to release their juice and the mixture is reduced to a syrupy consistency. Set aside.
1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 8-ounce wheels of brie at room temperature Pomegranate seeds, for garnish Fresh thyme stems, for garnish Crackers for serving
4. Line another baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice off the top rind of each brie wheel, leaving the sides intact. Place the wheels onto the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted all the way through. 5. Take the brie wheels off the baking sheet and place on a serving dish. Top with the blackberry compote and pecans. Garnish with fresh blackberries, pomegranate seeds, and thyme stems. Serve while warm with crackers.
About the Writer: Linda A. Ditch is a Topeka-based writer and writing workshop leader who specializes in culinary stories.
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
APPETITE STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Katie Moore
APPETITE
Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
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PEPPERMINT, for the Holidays Area bartenders bring us three takes on drinks with this classic seasonal taste
A
s the temperature drops, people seek out heartier, richer and deeper flavors from their drinks. And if those flavors come with a nostalgic, sweet taste—such as peppermint—then it is even more of a treat. Peppermint can come in many forms in a drink: infused in syrup, as a candy or organically with a few sprigs for a fresh finish. But combining peppermint and alcohol can be tricky. If added improperly, peppermint can taste like cough syrup. Making sure the ingredients and proportions are right takes a bit of practice. We sampled three fine-tuned peppermint drinks from local bartenders. Their diverse choices reflect the complexity and enjoyable familiarity of peppermint and its wide application for use in seasonal drinks.
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
WE RECOMMEND
PEPPERMINT 3 drinks for winter
CELTIC FOX’S NAUGHTY OR NICE CHRISTMAS MARTINI is shaken over ice that general manager Katie Turner describes as “rich but delicate.” The martini-style drink that premieres on their menu this winter features white crème de cacao, vanilla vodka, crème de menthe and Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur. It’s finished with a chocolate syrup design and crushed peppermint on the rim, making it pretty and not too boozy. “My forte is more drinks that don’t kill you with the alcohol taste,” Turner says.
THE PENNANT’S CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT TWIST is a martini shaken over ice featuring a chocolate-and-peppermint-pieces rim and a candy cane. Bar manager Alexandra Seelbach says that The Pennant’s garnishes (like cotton candy made nearby in Lawrence) are known to be “over the top.” For this holiday cocktail, Seelbach says she wanted to create something “frosty,” especially because patrons are more inclined to sugary, heavier libations during the winter.
ROWHOUSE’S CARIBOU CRUSH spotlights peppermint from specialty shop Moburt’s on Kansas Avenue. General manager Ryan Willis says the goal was to blend in a peppermint that gives the drink nuance instead of an overpowering flavor. Topped with red pomegranate seeds and green peppermint garnishes over vanilla vodka, pomegranate juice, a splash of lime juice and topped with ginger beer, the drink is “like winter in a glass” and “refreshing but warm,” says bartender Tammy Blase. RowHouse also offers a nonalcoholic version.
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
MEET THE
EXPERTS Katie Turner, general manager, The Celtic Fox Native Topekan Katie Turner says she loves developing unique cocktails that highlight new liquors or ingredients. When local spots like the Jayhawk Theatre are looking for themed drinks, she and her Celtic Fox crew are happy to come up with a fitting creation. “People really seem to get into it and enjoy it,” says Turner, who has been with the bar for eight years and general manager for three. In this time, she has enjoyed interacting with patrons and pointing them in the right direction for drink choices if they wish. “You get to really know people real quickly,” she says.
Alexandra Seelbach, bar manager, The Pennant When Alexandra Seelbach got the opportunity earlier this year to move back to Topeka from the East Coast, she jumped at the chance because it meant she would get to dig into her role as The Pennant’s bar manager. “Being bar manager is so much fun,” Seelbach says. “I love service.” She was also excited about downtown Topeka’s revitalization and says she wanted to be a part of it. Seelbach says she sees The Pennant’s downtown role as being a fun spot for families, young professionals and the community with its bowling lanes and vintage arcade games.
Tammy Blase, bartender, RowHouse For Tammy Blase, creating drinks is a way to put the finishing touch on patrons’ dining experience. Blase loves watching people’s reactions and seeing them enjoy her concoctions. In crafting cocktails, Blase says she likes to develop plays on classic cocktails, coming up with drinks that haven’t been done before. “Every cocktail deserves to be dressed up,” she explains. A bartender at RowHouse for three years, Blase says she enjoys the fast pace of the job and meeting new people. She has also gotten to witness ongoing efforts “to make downtown cool again.”
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
WHAT’S HAPPENING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DECEMBER
DECEMBER FEATURED EVENT
NUTCRACKER PERFORMANCES
Various Dates
Topeka’s richness of Nutcracker performances continues in 2018. On November 24 and 25, dancers from ITAV, Inc. (It Takes a Village) perform their version of The Chocolate Nutcracker. Now in its fourth year, this stage adaptation blends several musical genres and the classic holiday story. On December 7–9, Ballet Midwest presents its version of the ballet classic; that performance is followed by Kansas Ballet Company’s December 15 and 16 performances together with the Topeka Symphony Orchestra. All three Nutcracker stagings are held at the Topeka Performing Arts Center. Ticket reservations and additional information are available at topekaperformingarts.org.
December 1–31 Elf the Musical
Topeka Civic Theatre’s stage adaptation of the popular film continues into December with evening, matinee and dinner performances. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at topekacivictheatre.com.
December 1–31
TARC’s Winter Wonderland A Topeka tradition—two miles of holiday lights strung across the Lake Shawnee campgrounds for families and friends to enjoy. Ticket proceeds benefit the mission of TARC, the city’s nonprofit dedicated to assisting individuals with intellectual, developmental and related disabilities. For more information, go online at winterwonderlandtopeka.com. Photography via Shutterstock, courtesy Nathan Ham Photography and courtesy South Wind Gallery
December 1–31
December 12
South Wind Art Gallery continues “Autumn Classics,” its showing of Kansas landscapes with a cold-weather theme. Featured artists include Judith Mackey, Cindy Krallman, Jessie Rasche, James Pringle Cook and more. For more information, go online at southwindartgallery.com.
The Topeka Symphony Orchestra hosts a night of music from classic Hollywood holiday soundtracks. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at topekasymphony.org.
Seasonal Paintings
December 1, 8 and 15 Winterfest
From 10 am–2 pm, Downtown Topeka hosts special events such as ice sculpting, carriage rides and holiday characters roaming the streets. For details on each day’s events, go online at visittopeka.com.
December 2
Santa Arrives at Great Overland Station Santa’s other sled? It’s a Union Pacific train, and he’ll ride it into Topeka to greet children and families. Holiday foods, music and entertainment are part of the celebration. For more information, go online at greatoverlandstation.com.
December 7
Mannheim Steamroller The group that made electronic carol music cool appears at the Kansas Expocentre for a holiday concert. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at ksexpo.com.
December 8
A Big Band Christmas The Jayhawk Theatre hosts an evening of swinging carols with beginner dance lessons and performance by the 18-piece 785 Big Band. For ticket reservations or more information, go online at jayhawktheatre.org.
Christmas at the Movies
December 15
WWI Virtual Reality The Sabatini Gallery of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library hosts a 3D showing of World War I trench scenes to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the devastating conflict. The event overlaps with the ongoing exhibition “Over There: Americans Abroad in World War I.” For more information, go online at tscpl.org/gallery.
December 29
Read with a Ranger Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library hosts a ranger from the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site who will read from The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles. This book tells the heroic story of Ruby Bridges, an African-American girl who walked through angry crowds each day to attend a white school. For children 5–10 years. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
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OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR JANUARY
JANUARY FEATURED EVENT
“ALL OF US” EXHIBITION January 1–31
The artists at Studio 831 open the year with a group show highlighting at least one work, usually something new, from each of the collective members. Studio 831, founded in 2010 by artist and Topeka Magazine contributor Barbara Waterman-Peters, was one of the first independent NOTO artist studios and has played a crucial role in the region’s development as a cultural center of the city. The venue, located at 831 N. Kansas Avenue, is open on First Fridays and by appointment (785) 224-5728.
January 1–March 20 Shifting Perspectives
January 4 Art Walk
Held on the first Friday of every month, this event allows visitors to enjoy new openings, special shows and ongoing exhibitions at galleries and studios across the town. For a full listing of venues and showings, go online at artsconnecttopeka.org.
January 5
Nitro Monster Truck Tour The Kansas Expocentre hosts two showings of big trucks and maximum smashing. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at ksexpo.com.
January 18–February 10 The Fox of the Fairway
Topeka Civic Theatre presents a comedy about intrigue and heartbreak, both in romance and golf. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at topekacivictheatre.com.
The Mulvane Museum of Art continues its showing of sword guards, woodblock prints, ceramics, and paintings that show the interaction between American, East Asian and European art traditions. For more information, go online at washburn.edu, and search for “Mulvane.”
January 18–March 10
January 2–February 28
January 19
Topeka’s museum showcasing authentic military aircraft and the stories behind them moves to winter visiting hours of noon 4:30 (with entrance closing at 3:30) for the months of January and February. For ticket, exhibition and other information, go online at combatairmuseum.org.
One of the area’s most popular runs with plenty of hills and camaraderie along the way. For registration and race information, go online at Facebook.com and search for Sunflower Striders Running Club of Topeka.
Combat Air Museum
The Four Elements
The Sabatini Gallery of the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library hosts the works of four area artists exploring the environment and the key elements of earth, air, fire and water. For more information, go online at tscpl.org/gallery.
January 19
Jennifer Forni with Topeka Symphony Orchestra Formerly with the New York City Opera and The Metropolitan Opera, soprano Jennifer Forni joins the Topeka Symphony Orchestra for a night of introspective and memorable music, including Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, with the theme of “Who am I? Where am I going?” For more information and ticket reservations, go online at topekasymphony.org.
January 27
Auschwitz #34207 Topeka author Nancy Sprowell Geise reads from her biography about Holocaust survivor Joe Rubinstein at a free event held in the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.
January 29 Kansas Day
The Kansas Museum of History hosts performances and demonstrations of historic crafts and activities connected to the state’s history and celebrating the 158th anniversary of Kansas entering the Union. For more information, go online at kshs.org.
Topeka to Auburn Half-Marathon
Photograhy: courtesy Nathan Ham Photography; BS/HG (Little Boy Blue) by Barbara Waterman-Peters and courtesy Barbara Waterman-Peters; courtesy Bel Canto Global Arts.
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WHAT’S HAPPENING OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FEBRUARY
FEBRUARY FEATURED EVENT
TOP CITY LAKERS
Various days, times and locations
February is a big month for basketball—the NBA holds its All-Star game, and, here in Topeka, the youth and high-school leagues are winding down their season. For the 5th-grade boys team of the Top City Lakers, this month marks the height of the SportZone second wintersession recreation league. You can catch a game featuring these young players, and other local teams, throughout the winter. The seats are free, but the competitive spirit is just as intense as in the NBA. For information on game schedules, or to see rosters of teams looking to add players, go online at isportzone.com or look for this squad’s schedule by going to Facebook and searching for “Top City Lakers.”
February 2
Feed a Giraffe Spend a dollar, get a giraffe treat and a close-encounter with a grateful giraffe at the Topeka Zoo’s reoccurring event. For more information, go online at topekazoo.org.
February 2 Polar Plunge
Brave souls dive into Lake Shawnee to raise money for the Special Olympics. For registration, donation and more event information go online at plungeks.org/topeka.
Photography courtesy Harlem Globetrotters, Bill Stephens and courtesy The Matchsellers.
February 12
February 18
The greatest entertainment show on the basketball courts returns to the Kansas Expocentre with a new generation of Globetrotter stars but the same blend of humor and super-sharp sporting skills. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at ksexpo.com.
On this day in 1973, the legendary daredevil jumped a row of 51 cars in Las Vegas in front of a crowd of over 23,000. What better way to celebrate this feat than a visit to Topeka’s Evel Knievel Museum. For ticket, times and exhibition information, go online at evelknievelmuseum.com.
Harlem Globetrotters
February 12 Saxsational
On Stage Live brings saxophonist Rob Verdi to perform at White Concert Hall with area musicians. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at onstagelive.org.
February 16
The Matchsellers The Last Minute Folk Concert series hosts The Matchsellers at Jayhawk Theatre, bringing a blend of hipster bluegrass sounds for a new generation. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at lastminutefolk.org.
February 16
Will You Be My Valentine? The Topeka Symphony Orchestra takes the stage with crooner Steve Lippia to perform a tribute to the love ballads of Frank Sinatra. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at topekasymphony.org.
Evel Knievel’s Jump Anniversary
February 19
Birds and Beer It’s cold outside, so the smart birders of Topeka Audubon Society hold this February gathering at Blind Tiger Brewery. A chance to talk bird lists, upcoming migrations and birding gear—while keeping warm and hydrated. For more information, go online at topekaaudubonsociety. org. Advance registrations are requested.
February 22–24 Equifest
The Kansas Horse Council holds its annual horse competition and trade show as well as presentations by expert trainers and stars of the field, including documentary filmmaker Ben Masters of Unbranded. For more information and a full lineup of events, go to equifestofks.com.
February 23
Chocolate After Dark Gourmet chocolates, wines, beer, a jazz combo, the backdrop of the historic Dillon House and more can be enjoyed in this one-night event. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at visittopeka.com.
Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
FEATURES 30 40
Couture for Cancer
Perfect Shot
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C COUTURE FOR CANCER 2019 Topeka’s 15th-Annual Couture for Cancer event is held on March 2. In addition to the catwalk of survivors, the live and silent auctions spotlight exclusive items and experiences. More information, volunteer and ticket information can be found online at acstks.ejoinme.org/ topekacoutureforcancer or by calling (785) 438-5605.
e r u t u o C r r e e c c n a c Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
for
ago as Mary me 15 years so n sed ga be s a Topeka-ba tradition envisioning great annual d ion ’s an at ty rs ee ci ve ff e n co th One of cer. That co ere having n w ca st or n n ai on lag C and al out Julie e fight Martell and shion and th ity fundraiser fa ar e n ch , bi m ow co sh ould isease. fashion event that w battled the d for Cancer, a e re av h tu for the or ou C g n st ho are faci ds of dollars n w led to the fir e sa os ou th th r fo ed pport d research. as rais evening of su the event h revention an p , r on ce a ti n p ca ce n g 0, thanks to of fundin Since its co than $85,00 ty’s mission g e ie n or oc ri S m so r on ed ce is sp an and cer ra American C ture for Can rvivors, local boutiques ity n ou u C m e, m on co al of ent Last year urageous su r managem mmunity, co Weiter, senio ie Society. r an h ce generous co p an te C S clusive e American cording to th ac of s, or ch el in this ex d fe n an ve night-out Topeka br se s and rl th or gi a at on t d te g en e amazin developm nteers crea av lu h vo e d “W an s. f e af e liv and the year The ACS st ations for th scope over on d in n the p to ow egr h -t as s go beyond et, over event that h ingful change ion, big-tick n h ea as m -f t h ig os h m e get some says. But th e auction. ed ns,” Weiter handbag in th sed, the planners decid n ki es silent auctio ak sn ea ve ng si cr ti u in vi cl r in ex ce an show to for Can inclusion of of Couture e the fashion ar ty in ri or s la d el u ce od op fa p m As the e who have rofessional p os g th n si of u l al from onor to transition as a way to h be alk the stage w to s hat they will or iv surv st learn of w fir eir th ey g th in tt en r. h ru etrified w ey are st p th facing cance e d ar an s el f, y of od r rr em s wea lle R. Te “Some of th re the nerve Story by Miche ed, ot long befo n ’s it , t ug te personaliz bu Kr g, Nick doin ques to crea ti to u s bo . er n g Photography byll Stephens ys ig in sa h es r tique d local clot stuff,” Weite and the bou h-Zuniga and Bi paired with sc e el Pu ar od e’ s m el Ra e Jo od th ny m The Britta allow both sembles that flattering en e. yl st r sense of show off thei
g n i r i p s n i , r a l u A pop s k r o w r e s i a r d fun er c n a c t a b m o c to by stylishly highlightinge v a h o h w s n a k Tope e s a e s i d e h t faced
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FEATURE 1
Colleen Spencer Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
THE LOOK Colleen Spencer’s dress and cardigan (page 30) is by Gentle Fawn. On opposite page, her print top is by Y Fifteen Twenty and pants by Veronica M Clothing. Styled by Ashley Dassinger-Carson at Ash Boutique.
Colleen Spencer, breast cancer survivor and past Couture for Cancer model, said that being part of the event was exhilarating. “On the day of the show, we went in early for hair and make-up. Because of that, I got to spend the day with all of these strong and inspiring women who have beat cancer.” Referring to what she calls her “cancer perks,” she has made lifelong girlfriends and is a powerful role model to her two daughters. Spencer was outfitted by Ashley Dassinger-Carson, the owner of Ash Boutique, who has been inspired by the women she has met through Couture for Cancer since her store became involved in 2015. “Some of these ladies are still fighting the after-effects of treatment. I want that person to feel good about herself no matter her shape, size, or stage of recovery.” Dassinger-Carson usually dresses 4–5 of the models each year. “I love seeing them evolve from self-conscious to self-confident. I feel fortunate to have met so many amazing women.” For models like Spencer, the encounter has proven equally rewarding. “Finding my outfit was so much fun. I took my mom, and we made a day of it,” Spencer says. The event itself proved to be another part of her journey through cancer, and one that exemplified her reaction to the disease. “People used to talk to me about fighting cancer,” says Spencer. “I wasn’t fighting anything. I was winning.”
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
Karis Selk
Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
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Karis Selk says she felt like a superstar when walked the Couture for Cancer stage in an outfit from Ethan and Anna’s. Diagnosed with brain cancer upon entering kindergarten, Selk went through a series of surgeries and procedures with her family at her side. Mother Stephanie Selk recalls how they had a wheelchair waiting for Karis when she arrived home after her first surgery, but the young Selk declared, “I’m not going to need that.” She kept that spirit through Floral leggings, plaid three tumor removals, numerous dress, red dress, and faux rounds of chemotherapy and fur vest by DEX Clothing. radiation and especially Hoodie tee from Tea Collecthrough the more enjoyable tion. Styling by Kim Adair challenges, such as coming and Aimee Rosenow; all into Ethan and Anna’s for the items from Ethan + first time to select her outfits. Anna’s. Store owners Kim Adair and Aimee Rosenow recall that day, when Selk arrived with another survivor. “The memory is so vivid!” Rosenow says. “The girls were smiling the moment they entered the store.” Those types of moments were what prompted the owners to support Couture even before their doors opened. “We wanted to give back to our community, so we wrote that into our business plan. The Cancer Society contacted us on our first day of business, and we said ‘yes’ immediately.” A “yes immediately” also describes the approach Karis took in meeting with Adair and Rosenow and choosing her outfits. When her mother asked how she was feeling about walking onto the stage in the new clothes, she responded, “I’m gonna rock it!” A few months afterward, in October 2018, Karis’ medical team announced that her body showed no detectable signs of the disease.
THE LOOK
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
THE LOOK Karsyn Hastert, a former Couture for Cancer model, styled herself in this white dress by Old Navy and cowboy boots from Target.
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Winter 2018
Karsyn Hastert, a now-healthy and exuberant tenyear-old, remembers walking the Couture for Cancer show when she was five. “I was wearing a cute KU dress, and everyone was screaming. I didn’t know why!” But those loud cheers were entirely understandable for those in the audience who knew that Karsyn had battled with retinoblastoma (eye cancer) when she was only two years old and at the same time she was about to become an older sister. “We received Karsyn’s diagnosis in my final month of pregnancy,” says her mother, Jennifer Hastert. “A week later we had her surgery and her eye was removed. A week after, that we gave birth.” The chance for Karsyn to walk out on stage provided a much-needed celebration. Sue Dickerson understands the need to create positive moments when battling cancer. As owner of The Hub, a Hastert’s cozy sweater, boutique that provides space for jeans, white pants, seven merchants, Dickerson solid tee, and plaid shirt has volunteered with are all by Trend Notes and Couture since her store supplied by Pish Posh opened and has helped at The Hub. dress many survivor models. All styled by “I call the model so I can learn Karsyn Hastert. more about her as a person,” says Dickerson. After this conversation, she prepares some clothing options and invites the model in for a fitting. “They get to choose what they want to wear for the show, but I always have some good ideas, too.” Dickerson continues to be in touch with the Hasterts. Karsyn’s mother, Jennifer, owns the Pish Posh, one of the merchant spaces inside The Hub. And Karsyn continues to confidently model Dickerson’s selections. Several years into remission, Karsyn has a firm grasp of who she is and a deep sense of empathy for anyone who might feel or look different because of an illness. And her mother looks back on the life-altering experience with gratitude for her family’s unity. “Cancer is terrible, and it turns your life upside down,” says Jennifer. “But we had faith, and we had family, and that got us through.”
THE LOOK
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Topeka SR 2018 edition focuses on senior leisure New photography series examines state’s small wildlife
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perfect shot FEATURE 2
Brad Neff has us up early, feeling the mists and viewing sunrises for our latest in–the–field conversation with area photographers Story by Bill Stephens Photography by Bill Stephens with Brad Neff
Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
FEATURE 2
Neff photographed this waterlily after a shower at Reinisch Rose Garden in Topeka’s Gage Park. Neff uses this "point–and– shoot" Canon G16 for many of his images. Its size allows it to go into his pocket in wet weather.
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"I always want the viewers of my images to feel some of the same peace I feel when making the image." — Brad Neff
Neff shot this image of a solitary tree near Perry in Jefferson County at sunrise while the low- lying mist rose from the ground.
Winter 2018 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
You know the adage “early to bed, early to rise,” right? Well, that wisdom of building health and wealth also sums up Topeka photographer Brad Neff’s philosophy about photography. Doing what he loves and does best has Neff up before dawn, traveling to a scenic location and preparing his photo shoots before the sun is up. As the sun rises, it provides dramatic lighting conditions that make many of Neff’s compositions spring to life. This approach has served Neff well since his work appears on a regular basis in KANSAS! magazine’s “Gallery” section and in the annual calendar, both inclusions sought after by many of the state’s photographers. Neff has an ability to capture quintessential Kansas themes, without being cliche. The beauty of his landscapes come not from corrective post-production image manipulation, but from knowing where to be and showing up at the right time. An example of this is an image of a rainbow over a field that he captured not too far from his home. “I noticed the sun popping out after a passing thunderstorm. Knowing a rainbow would most likely be present nearby, I took off to the east behind the storm. After a few minutes I saw the intense rainbow in the eastern sky. Luckily there was a hayfield close where I could safely pull over and make a series of images. A rainbow and hay bales really say ‘Kansas,’” Neff notes. “Making a good image is sometimes a combination of recognizing the proper conditions and just plain luck.” Neff, a professional photographer since 1979, has owned and operated a studio in Topeka, photographed hundreds of high school seniors and attended more than 300 weddings with a camera as his date. Now, he enjoys shooting landscape, and nature and has climbed to the top rung of the PPofA (Professional Photographers of America) ladder, earning both a master of photography degree and a photographic craftsman degree. Both awards require years of collecting merits for speaking to groups, service to the PPofA organization, and having his prints scrutinized by juries of his peers.
“I spent ten years fulfilling the requirements for my PPofA degrees. The juries were brutal, but that is how I learned my craft and grew professionally,” Neff says. Currently, Neff works with Nikon DSLR (digital single lens reflex) cameras, particularly the D300 and D90 bodies. Among his many lenses, his go-to choices are the 70-200mm long zoom and a 12-24mm wide-angle zoom, his favorite for landscapes. “I shoot in the manual mode, taking exposure readings with a light meter and adjusting the shutter speed and aperture to produce the image qualities I want. I try to shoot at a low ISO (light sensitivity setting) of 100 whenever possible,” Neff explains. “The low ISO provides a richer and more color-saturated image and it avoids the ‘noise’ (grainy appearance) that affects high-ISO settings.” Surprisingly though, many of Neff’s images are produced using a simple point-and-shoot Canon G16 that frees him from exposure readings and allows him to get close-ups of flowers and other nature subjects as well as landscapes. “An added bonus of the pointand-shoot is that it frees me from the necessity of toting a heavy gadget bag, a real consideration since I have recently had both hips replaced,” Neff notes. For Neff, a photo is made or lost in the field—no amount of postproduction can replace standing in the right spot, at the right time, with the right equipment. “I don’t enjoy the technical part of today’s photography. I am not a fan of Photoshop or Lightroom,” Neff says in regard to popular photo-editing programs. “For my digital editing, I use freebies such as Picasa and PhotoPlus for my burning and dodging and vignette effects. The camera is just a tool, and the success of the final image is due to the craftsman using the tool,” he explains. And for Neff, success is also judged by a viewer’s response. “I always want the viewers of my images to feel some of the same peace I feel when making the image,” he explains. For Neff, that means getting as close to Kansas nature as possible, as early as possible, as frequently as the weather and his schedule allow.
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"Making a good image is sometimes a combination of recognizing the proper conditions and just plain luck." — Brad Neff
Neff captured the image of this rainbow as it appeared near his home in northern Shawnee County.
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ready when you are with hours, nowofopen Winter Wonderland is a benefit for TARC, Inc. in Topeka, Kan. We’re TARC, Inc. is Shawnee County’s mostextended experienced provider service Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and support for children, adults and families with developmental, intellectual and related disabilities. All proceeds from Winter Wonderland benefit TARC programming and helps TARC continue to provide these muchCall, needed supports as we years.a click or stop by have and for ask64about SuperCheck today. Now OpenThank Saturdays you to our advertising sponsor! Jeff Biggs, LUTCF To Serve Better! Now You Open Saturdays To Serve2901 You Better SW Burlingame Rd., Topeka ®
We’re ready when you are with extended hours, now open Saturdays 9:00 a.m. – ready 1:00 p.m.when you are with extended We’re
(785) 271-1216
hours, now open Saturdays 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. www.agentjeffbiggs.com
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Jeff Biggs, LUTCF Jeff Biggs, LUTCF
2901 Burlingame 2901 SWSW Burlingame Rd., TopekaRd., Topeka (785) 271-1216 (785) 271-1216 www.agentjeffbiggs.com www.agentjeffbiggs.com
Jeff Biggs & Associates
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Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Insurance Company,* Farm Bureau Life Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Company,* Western Agriculturtal Insurance Company,* Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company* /West Des Moines, Company,* IA. *CompanyWestern providersAgricultural of Farm Bureau Financial Services M172(1-17)
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2018-2019
Season Sponsor:
STOMP 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15
The Manhattan Transfer meets Take 6 — The Summit
The Hot Sardines
7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 31
(Wareham Opera House)
Diana Krall
7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2
imPerfect Dancers: Anne Frank — Words From the Shadows
The King and I
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29
The Dalí Quartet with Cliburn Gold Medalist Olga Kern
7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5
Legally Blonde — The Musical 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2
2 p.m. Sunday, April 14
Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5
Church Basement Ladies: Rise Up O Men
Potted Potter
2 and 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18
7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10
Neil Berg’s 101 Years of Broadway
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
7 p.m. Sunday, May 19
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14
Actors from the London Stage: Shakespeare’s King Lear
Presenting Sponsors:
(Chapman Theatre)
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23
Sir James Galway, Flute 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8
Switchback (Wareham Opera House)
7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9
Storm Large & Le Bonheur (Wareham Opera House)
7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23
K-STATE STUDENTS and
KIDS 18 AND UNDER
50%
OFF
Dates and artists are subject to change.
785-532-6428
k-state.edu/mccain
McCain Auditorium
mccainksu