Hi Everyone!

Yesterday NuWay was the featured deal at Groupon for Wichita!  There are still a few hundred left before we sell out.  The deal is buy $7 worth of store credit and get $14!  You can use it for any purchase at all five Wichita NuWays from now til April 18th.  Must be used on one visit, and not applicable to Sunday Specials (1/2 price Med NuWays are already a great deal right???) or the Monthly Special.  But it covers anything else on the menu!  Stay and dine in, carry out and take it home, or pull up to the drive thru window!  You can even buy frozen NuWays by the dozen to keep at home and pop in the microwave when the urge for a crumbly burger hits you!

Check out:

http://www.groupon.com/deals/nu-way-burger?c=dnb&p=7

Thanks everyone who already bought theirs!  The Groupon people in Chicago said NuWay was one of the fastest sellers in the whole country!  Thanks for your support!

Hurry and get yours if you have not already!

I read today’s article in the Wichita Eagle about Boeing leaving Wichita:

http://www.kansas.com/2012/01/07/2167212/boeings-departure-will-leave-a.html

The article not only mentioned the pictures NuWay proudly hangs in our stores, but the people who make up the fabric of our lives too.  Betty Gettings who is a long time employee, in the article pointed to the picture and identified her father-in-law.  How many other customers and friends come in and out of our doors, have some special memory of Boeing and what it means to their family and their own history.

We have pictures of Boeing, Beechcraft (it ‘IS’ Beechcraft to us, and always will be), Cessna and Lear; and Travel Air and Stearman.  Those places are as much a part of Wichita as we feel we are ourselves, in some small way.

My family always looks for my grandfather when we see old pictures of Boeing.  During World War II my grandfather was too old to be drafted but wanted desperately to participate in the war effort.  He therefore moved the family to Wichita, and got a job at Boeing.  In the end, he worked there over 30 years.  On VJ Day when the war was over, Boeing employed more than 30,000 people.  That week over 95% of the work force was laid off because the war had ended, but luckily my grandfather kept his job.  My family lived in Planeview.  My father graduated from high school there.

My great aunt who recently passed away last year also worked in the war effort – at the Coleman Factory.  Because of that, since she was in an essential war industry, she could get housing in Planeview too.  Her husband, my great uncle, fought in the European Theater, along with many of my grandfather’s brothers who were younger than he was.  I think there were five at one time from my grandfather’s family, plus Uncle Max, all in Europe.

It has long been a fond memory – and a fond trip – to ride with my father and great aunt, and drive around Planeview and look at the old homes where they lived, and hear them reminisce about who lived across the street, where someone else would walk between the houses to pay a visit, where the bank was (the first branch bank in the United States – and they put it in Planeview for the war workers!), and the grocery, and the community victory gardens.  Although the neighborhood is a little more run down now than when they lived there, the landmarks all still exist.  The families that live there now are just as happy it seems; sometimes when they are in the front yard, staring at us like we are strange intruders, my father will roll down the window and shout, “we used to live in that house!”.  If they understand, they break out in smiles and wave back.  Sometimes they do not understand, and usually just wave and watch us drive on.

Everyone was friends, none of the children did bad things, everyone studied hard at school, and all the mothers and fathers worked hard, most at Boeing, some at Coleman and other factories, but all “essential war effort” jobs.

I have seen too, the looks on employee’s faces when they hear my father say, “I graduated from Planeview “, when they ask where he went to school.  There is at once a look of profound respect, and an innate curiosity, which he usually satisfies, “yes it was a little rough even back then, but it was a good school”.  And you left Planeview and became a businessman?  “Yes, anyone in this country can do what they want, you just have to try” – it is a story I have told to professors who scoff at the stuff of such Horatio Alger tropes, but if you tell someone from Wichita, that the owner of NuWay grew up in Planeview, and he is still proud of that fact, those people nod their heads in appreciation.  And they get it.  You can really do something here in Wichita if you set your mind to it.  There are still opportunities — and there will continue to be.

The streets in Planeview, for the people who grew up there, and remember living there during the war…..were paved with gold.  To hear their stories, you would think there was no finer place on Earth to live, and no greater calling than the war effort, to work at Boeing, and do some little part to preserve and defend freedom and liberty.

It was a sad day to hear that Boeing was leaving Wichita.  We never left Boeing.  We still carry a bit of Boeing, and the old neighborhood, with us where ever we go.

Tallgrass Film Festival from right here in little old Wichita, Kansas is the premier independent film festival in the Midwest.  And it is happening next weekend!

This is the ninth year it has been going on and it is a wonderful opportunity to see nationally known and up and coming artists and meet and talk to some of the film makers — and see their work on displayed on the big screen!  October 20-23 in downtown Wichita at venues all over.  You not only have the opportunity to see cool movies, but also have a chance to check out for perhaps the first time a cool venue you might never have been to or even knew was in downtown Wichita!  You probably have driven by the Scottish Rite Temple on 2nd Street half a million times.  But have you ever been inside, to the beautiful 1930s theater?  Or when was the last time you visited the remodeled and amazing Orpheum Theater almost next door?  It is truly splendid, and happens to have such lively extras and beautiful tile work, a ponderously high ceiling, and now of all things, a bar.  Yes a bar – so you can be just like John Travolota in Pulp Fiction and drink a beer (or whatever you prefer) at the movie.  Very European indeed, isn’t it?  They serve Tallgrass Beer, one of the festival’s sponsors no less!  Brewed in Manhattan, Kansas, imported just for you and me.

Last year one of the highlights for me was the closing night screening of Charlie Chaplin’s masterpiece The Kid set to music —- are you ready for this?  Set to music performed by local high school and college musicians, and CONDUCTED and WRITTEN by local composer and musician and all around great guy Arri Simon – I tried for three weeks afterwards to find him and ask him if he would give piano lessons until he moved back to New York City to no avail.  In addition to classics there are plenty of features for the whole family.  From weird and quirky, to funny, to family entertainment, with documentaries and everything in between.

And if you volunteer…..On Friday Oct 21 we will serve free NuWays and Root Beer in the volunteer lounge to all volunteers who want some!  Plus you get passes to see movies and a very cool tee shirt.  Plus you probably will receive a personal level of satisfaction for being cultural relevant — you can volunteer all year long for the ongoing events, or help out at the festival.

A small army of volunteer screeners work all year long to pick through literally thousands of submissions to filter out the best of the best, and the result is a massive undertaking to show some 45 feature length movies plus shorts, talks with artists, and this year, the festival honors the work of Elliot Gould who will be present for a screening of his new film THE ENCORE OF TONY DURAN on Friday Oct 21 at the Scottish Rite with a Q&A session with the artist.

Here is the full line up that you can refer to or print:

http://www.tallgrassfilmfest.com/content/tallgrass-2011-official-festival-schedule-grid

Official Site:

 http://tallgrassfilmfest.com/

Here is the info from the site:

“2011 Tallgrass Film Festival

What: 9th Annual Tallgrass Film Festival
When: Oct. 20-23, 2011
Where: Various downtown Wichita locations including the Orpheum Theatre, Garvey Center, Wichita Scottish Rite, and Bank of America Center

Tallgrass Programmer Picks!

Our pre-screening and programming committees have worked long and hard watching more than 500 movies this year to bring you the best of new independent film from around the world. Here is a cross-section of programmer and staff picks — movies you can’t miss at the ninth annual Tallgrass Film Festival.

The full printed program can be found at locations throughout downtown Wichita and at the Tallgrass Central Box Office. For digital versions, visit the festival website or the festival mobile site.

Tickets & Passes may be purchased online or at the Central Box Office beginning on Monday, Oct. 17:

TFF Central Box Office Hours:

Mon., Oct. 17 to Wed., Oct. 19: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Tallgrass Offices (212 N. Market, 2nd Fl.)
Thu., Oct. 20: 8:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre
Fri., Oct. 21 to Sun., Oct. 23: 7:30 a.m. until last show at the Orpheum Theatre

Jeremy, 33, Project Manager
The King of Devil’s Island; Shut Up Little Man; Kumaré

Nick, 31, Dad/Aerospace Engineer (TFA Co-Director of Programming)
Just Like Us; The Greater Good; The Other F Word

John, Ageless (50+), Television Account Executive
12 Angry Lebanese; King of Devil’s Island; Kumaré

Art, 65, Special Effects/Photographer
The Bengali Detective; Tyrannosaur; Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

Arietta, 49, Administrator (TFA Hospitality Director)
Child of Giants; 12 Angry Lebanese; Happy, Happy

Vaughn, 26, Movie Critic
Kumaré; Largo Winch; King of Devil’s Island

Tyler, 25, Law Student; Semi-professional Jayhawk Fan
Largo Winch; High School Filmmakers Program; Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

John, 44, Writer & Web Developer
Tyrannosaur; Kumaré; Tucker & Dale vs. Evil

Joan, 48, Attorney
Wish Me Away; Out For The Long Run; Speak

Eric, 31, Councilman (TFA Senior Programmer)
Wish Me Away; Shut Up Little Man: An Audio Misadventure; The Sandman

Michael, 66, Therapist
Kumaré; Face to Face; The Redemption of General Butt Naked

Tina, 45, Advertising Account Executive
Leave Them Laughing; Tyrannosaur; The Redemption of General Butt Naked

Amy, 31, Community and Organizational Specialist
The Get Together shorts program; Bhopali; The Benghali Detective

Teddie, 50, Museum Curator
Kumaré; The Sandman; The Selling

Lela, 35, Mom/Chef (TFA Executive Director)
Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice; The Sandman; Happy, Happy 

Jason, 29, Writer and Non-profit fundraiser
Wish Me Away; Circumstance; Face to Face

Shan, 52, Study Abroad & International Student Advisor (TFA Dir. Of Acquisitions)
Child of Giants; Elevate; Never Make It Home

Gretchen, 44, Marketing Director & TFA Co-Director of Programming
The Clean Bin Project; Flight to the Wall; Speak

Thane, 50, Sales Representative (TFA Director of Screenings)
The Encore of Tony Duran; Cure for Pain: The Mark Sandman Story; How to Live Forever

Nick, 23, College Student (TFA Programming Intern)
Mangus!; Romeos; Joint Body

Mike, 38, Stay-At-Home-Dad (TFA Director of Technologies)
Never Make It Home; Out for the Long Run; Project Nim”

——

Get out and enjoy the show!

Today is Final Friday and the weather is great!  Tonight on Commerce Street – in the downtown Arts District where Final Friday began – there are several galleries open and there is another Temporary Entertainment District!

You may have thought that TED was just an internet thing for techno-geeks with spreadsheets:

http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_slavin_how_algorithms_shape_our_world.html

But NO!  Once again, the city in its infinite wisdom, this being the 19th Century, er, 20th Century, er, 21st Century … will allow people of appropriate age, who purchase a drink from a temporary bar, to take it with them into public on the actual street!  Shocking, isn’t it?  Tonight you can go down to Commerce Street, buy a drink from friendly Joe the bartender, and take it with you as you stroll along and take in the sights and sounds and see the art.

Positive Directions is hosting the block party called “Art 4 Life” — their parties are always much better than their spelling — and PDI is the sponsor of the TED district for tonight.  As usual they will be open Final Friday and have a show:

http://pdiks.com/news_events-art_aid.php

From their page:

“The Paul Kroeker and Friends Art Show and Block Party
Sponsored by The Bar’s Open.
What: Fantastic art show with Paul Kroeker and friends with art sales benefitting Positive Directions
Where: Positive Directions, 414 S. Commerce
When: Final Friday, September 30, 2011
Time: 6:00-10:00 pm
How much: FREE”

There will also be live music about 600pm featuring local musicians “Tom Page Trio”:

http://www.reverbnation.com/tompagetrio

Next door Dock 410 should be open, a locally owned eclectic antiques and photography dealer.

Check out as well: Diver Studio, Go Away Garage, Clotia, Fiber Studio, and of course….

Fisch Haus, the granddaddy of the block:

http://www.fischhaus.com/Fisch_Haus/IMAGES.html

http://www.kansas.com/2011/04/10/1801549/fisch-tale.html

Have fun!  Should be a great night – get out and get involved in the art scene Wichita!

Happy Birthday Old Town!

This weekend marks the ‘unofficial’ 20th birthday of Wichita’s Old Town — way to go Wichita!  Transformed by a handful of truly brave and visionary people, Dave Burk, Rich Vliet and Gary Streepy did a great job all those years ago and it is a wonderful thing for everyone in Wichita and this part of the state to have a first class entertainment and nightlife district with modern apartments that have the highest occupancy rates in Wichita.  Every city has great suburbs and Wichita is no exception.  But not every city has a great downtown and Wichita DEFINITELY does have that!

Count me among those who think it is just fantastic.  So much so, if emulation is highest form of flattery, that when I moved back to Wichita I looked all over in College Hill and Riverside for a place to buy, while living in the Eaton.  But I could never seem to find just the right place in those historic neighborhoods, and one day I went for a walk touring the old buildings in the environs of the Eaton to the north and south…..and saw a “For Sale” sign on a building on Commerce Street.  I bought it and found another great neighborhood, and now am a happy downtown resident and owner myself.  The whole time thinking of the idea of Old Town as a model!

Tonight is the second night of the celebration, and drinks and food are available all over Old Town Square from local merchants and the city has designated a “TED” area around the square – Temporary Entertainment District, so you can take your adult beverages with you as you take in the sights and sounds and see all the people:

http://www.kansas.com/2011/09/22/2028246/happy-20th-birthday-old-town.html

From the official site, here is the line up of events:

http://www.oldtownwichita.com/old-town-20th-birthday-events

“Saturday, Sept. 24:
* Party on the Plaza: Rock out with us from 8-11 p.m. on the Old Town Square Plaza at Second Street and Mead. Enjoy your favorite adult beverage under the stars and dance to Monterrey Jack, Jenny Wood & the Watchers and Scroat Belly. Old Town Square will be blocked off, but parking will be available in the parking garage. Alcohol will be available outdoors within the party area, so be sure to bring your ID if you plan to imbibe.

This high-energy weekend also features the Wagonmasters Old Town Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, Sept. 24 with the public tasting starting at noon (tasting kits are $5) and the Wichita Blues Society Blues Crawl from 5-10 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25.

Fall Blues Crawl Sunday September 25 5pm-10pm

Join us for the Fall Blues Crawl in Old Town.
$5 donation get you into ALL venues: Rock Island Live, America’s Pub, The Brickyard*, Mort’s, Loft 150*, Heroes*, Club Indigo
WITH: Craig “Twister” Steward, Rachelle Coba Band, Ray Drew Revue, Henry Walker and the Regents, The Watchers, Euphonious Funk and Louisiana Street Band
PLUS the After Party with The Joe Pitts Band.
Want to volunteer? Contact us via email at webmaster@wichitablues.org
* Indicates venues that allow under 21 years of age”

Get out and have a fun night!  Wonderful weather for it if you do not have allergies……

WATCH WICHITA WIN!

“In fair Riverside, where we lay our scene”….

I went last night with a friend to see the first night of the fall edition of Wichita Shakespeare Company’s Troilus and Cressida at Riverside Park.  Go see it.  Ars longa, vita breva.  The story is of two young lovers caught in the midst of war and betrayal and uncertainty.  In other words, what Shakespeare always writes on, and always does better than anyone else.  Life itself, two hours traffic on the stage!  I thought it was so good, I am going to go again in two weeks or so when it moves to College Hill Park.  We had a picnic dinner and we were not the only ones, and with a blanket and folding chairs, the show was just perfect.

And now with fall officially here, or at least that cooler weather that is autumn’s beautiful trademark theme in Wichita, the nights are perfect for it!  Even last night in the mid-90s it was fine with a soft end of summer breeze and some shade for the first half of the play or so in trees, and as darkness fell the players stood out all the more with the stage’s soft lights!

It was great.  I had read parts of the play but never the whole thing, and had never seen it performed.  Part tragedy and part comedy and mostly satire, it is a reflection of the futility of war.  Set in Troy and the Greek camps on the plain between the citadel and the sea, it is a nuanced re-reading of the chivalry and its breakdowns between the warring Greeks and Trojans and artfully done.  I had not realized how much Shakespeare changed from the original in Homer’s Iliad, and of course in the bard’s masterly way, does perfect justice to his theme.

Here is the schedule, coming to a park near you!  Check out the great parks we have on offer here in Wichita, and see some really great acting:

Friday Sept 2 – Central Riverside Park
Saturday Sept 3 – College Hill Park
Sunday Sept 4 – Andover Sports Park, Andover
Friday Sept 9 – Buffalo Park
Saturday Sept 10 – Hap McLean Park, Park City
Sunday Sept 11 – Riggs Park, Haysville
Friday Sept 16 – Central Riverside Park
Saturday Sept 17 – College Hill Park
Sunday Sept 18 – High Park Amphitheatre, Derby

All shows begin at 700pm and the play last night went slightly over two hours, no intermissions.

For full information:

http://www.wichitashakespearecompany.org/

I thought I saw two weeks ago an itinerant Monarch heading south leisurely, or perhaps just ambling along, on the eponymous south wind of Kansas.  Today my friend said she witnessed virtual marches of them heading south.

The sun is coming up later, with some slight reduction in heat, and setting sooner.  It almost seemed a day ago or so that it was just dark too early.  Could it be?  So soon?

And last week my yoga teacher said she saw mums for sale in the grocery store parking lot.   Yesterday I saw them too.

What would summer be without those amazing bees!

And just as much, here in Wichita, without the NBC Tournament?

It is later summer now.  And fall is coming soon.

Late day sun in reds reflects

And later the waning crescent moons sets,

As the arc of the sky is filled with stars

Heat of the summer night gently fades,

Great soft billows of summer clouds

Now yield once again to fading insects buzz.

And soon the leaves begin to fall.

I went over to local hero Randy Croley’s woodworking shop to talk about cabinets and he was not there, but on the way back, I passed the Wichita Eagle.  And what did I see?  The BNSF locomotive dropping off three boxcars of paper and at least one of ink, and picking up an empty tank car for ink!

Here is the video:

Too bad the wind made such a hiss, in reality it was a lovely late summer evening with cicadas in the background and bugs hissing and just really a gentle breeze that the iphone microphone distorted in fuzz.  A pity.  You can still get cool old brick warehouses and flashing lights and that wonderful train horn (probably announcing to me – do NOT get near these tracks when we come by) and a few passing cars and the streetlight’s glare.

Pretty cool I think.  How could you live or work downtown near Old Town or the Eaton or Commerce Street and “not” love trains?

I hope they bring back train service to Wichita and speed it up from here to DFW and Austin and north to KC and Chicago.  How wonderful would that be?