Happy Birthday Old Town!

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!

One Response to “Happy Birthday Old Town!”

  1. jessica Thomas

    The Saturday night show was great, the weather was perfect for it! Had you not posted this I would not have known about this event. Thank you!