Neighborhoods
After much research, I chose West Hills. For me I love life east of Iowa with some exceptions. Why because it fits my criteria: http://west-hills.org/WHHADetails.html#more
- Walking distance to downtown
- Walking distance to KU
- Walking distance to the Merc-/Co-op grocery
- Walking distance to the Jewish Community Center
- <1 mile to Lied Center for Performing Arts
- Interesting neighbors, professors and retired professors, artists, judges
- 1 mile to necessary shopping: target, home depot, world market
- Liberal and economically and diversity in terms of ages, and family structure
- <1mile to I 70 to Topeka or Kansas City
- Includes a small bird sanctuary, lots of greenery, trees.
- A wide range of architecture, new to older homes
- a be and let be attitude
- Houses range from $150k to 1M
- Excellent elementary with international students, diversity and professors kids. Students are from over 50 countries
Best Events
- Art in Park, south park – May?
- St Patrick day Parade, Massachusetts Street - March
- Art Tougeau, south park
- What floats you boat, sponsored by Van go (a very cool space and Not for profit, great cause) june, Clinton lake marina- June
- Summer weeknight concert series, family friendly, classical music and fireworks on the last night
- Earth Day parade and festival
- Gingerbread house auction and display
- Old Fashion Christmas Parade of horses, antique buggies
- Halloween trick or treat on Massachusetts Street
- Holiday art faire and kid shopping, Lawrence Art Center - December
- Final Fridays Gallery walk, Massachusetts Street
- Busker Festival, street performers, music, - August
Best Grocery Store
The Community Mercantile (aka The Merc, aka the Co-Op)
http://communitymercantile.com/
Natural, organic foods, and local good, knowledgeable and kind employees, wonderful prepared foods, highest quality meats and fish in Lawrence, nice separate room – pickup take away for home or to have in the very nice seating area (quiet, light, nice art) for a quick breakfast. lunch or dinner (not late dinners), excellent coffee drinks, great reasonably priced cooking classes in a fabulous classroom kitchen
Best Drycleaner
Scotch Cleaners (not that there is any other choice)
Drive- through! Multiple locations which if requested will allow drop off at one and pick-up at another.
Best Massage
Todd @ Southwind Health Collective. One of best ever and @ $65 a bargain too.
http://www.southwindhealthcollective.com/
1045 Kentucky Street, 785.843.7500
Best Place for Performing Arts
Lied Center
Theatre, Dance, Music. Local, National and International Talent such as Phillip Glass, Winton Marsalis, Pillbolus, George Winston, Second City, Stomp…etc. and best of all, free parking and a short walk to the entrance.
Best Movie Theatre
Liberty Hall
At the north end of Massachusetts Street Indy and foreign films in a beautiful old restored movie theatre, they serve beer and let you bring in coffee from the excellent coffee shop next door.
Best Movie Rentals
Liberty Hall
Next to the theatre of the same name
Best Places to Find Peace of Mind
Clinton Lake and Parks, 500 acres of lake and Approximately 9,190 acres of land
Easy paved trails and a beautiful modern look out, also camping, boating, fishing, hunting, over 50 miles of hiking, equestrian and mountain bike trails, 18-hole golf course, playground, picnic tables model airplane airport and the Clinton Lake Historical Society Museum.
House of Cha Tea
Authentic Taiwanese Tea shop, beautiful presentation, will set up private tea ceremony,
Also serves bubble tea
785-856-6688
21 W 9th St., Lawrence, KS
Waters Edge Garden Center
847 Indiana Street
Lawrence, Kansas 66044
(785) 841-6777
It’s a retailer but the setting is so nice we stop by often to do a quick look Everything you need for you water garden and a great gift shop,
Saturday Morning Farmers Market
New Hampshire St and 9th
Opens at 7am?- 11:30, Not sure I never get there before 9am,
But a pastry, some hummus, fresh meat, organic veggies and flowers and the weekend is off to a great start. Not a lot of Hill’s people frequent the market.
Lawrence Public Library
Guest authors and interesting lectures, manager account, order books online.
Japanese Friendship Garden
http://lawrenceks.org/lprd/park/friendshipgarden
A favorite of mine, often missed, a quite retreats, built to honor the 10 year anniversary of Lawrence's relationship with its sister city, Hiratsuka, Japan.
KU Campus and Potter’s Lake on the KU Campus
Wander, wander wander, visit the Natural History Museum and the Art Museum, it seems both are seldom crowded.
Best Pick your Own
Chestnut Charlie’s organic
http://www.pickyourown.org/PYO.php?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chestnutcharlie.com
Pendleton’s. Asparagus and flowers
Lawson, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries
http://www.pickyourown.org/PYO.php?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.LawsonBrothersFarm.com
Shaakess Pumpkin Patch
http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/Pumpkin.php?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.schaakespumpkinpatch.com
Best Store to buy a Apple Computer or IPOD or get advice or repairs
KU bookstore in the KU union.
Young computer wizards with nothing to sell at lots of time to explain.
10% discount for students.
Best Bowling Alley
Jay bowl
Located on the 1st floor of the KU union. Also a great place for a small party, no alcohol allowed.
Best Parks
Best Parks for a picnic Lawrence has 52!
(From West Hills Assoc, city secrets)
Micro park, on the south bank of the river and minutes from
Downtown. It was originally called “Bosco” Park after the Bowersock
Watchdog. It is accessed on foot from the east side of the northbound bridge
Into North Lawrence. Nestled beside the Bowersock power generating
plant, this quiet green space gives an opportunity to watch the river, read a
book or just relax for a few minutes while shopping.
Downtown
Riverfront Park along the Kansas River. Located at the intersection of N. Second Street and Highways 24 and 40,
Central Lawrence
Centennial Park Located between 6th and 9th Streets; Iowa Street and Rockledge Road, this 35-acre park
The Sensory Garden
1120 West 11th Street. (From West Hills Assoc, city secrets)
To get there, take the driveway north of the TKE fraternity sign. The garden offers plants that can be touched and smelled, as well as seen. The butterfly garden is behind Foley Hall on KU’s West Campus. Aptly enough it is laid out in the shape of a butterfly, and showcases plants that attract monarchs and other species of butterflies that pass through Lawrence during their annual migration. The garden is an educational project of the
Kansas Biological Survey’s Monarch Watch program. If you want to learn how to attract butterflies to your own yard, check out their annual open house in September. But if you are just looking for a quiet place to sit and enjoy nature, go at your leisure.
South Park
Lawrence's first oldest park, South Park was part of the original 1854 town site, located on south Massachusetts Street at 11th, watch for many small town feeling events, including the art fair in august and plenty of festival and concerts surrounding the charming Gazebo. Lawrence City Band plays free concerts on Wednesday evenings
Centennial Park.
North of 9th street just west of Iowa. The city bought this parkland for $1 in celebration of its 100th birthday in 1954. Frisbee golf course, and a lighted skateboard park and a Polaris Missile that was made during the Cold War and used on a Fleet Ballistic Nuclear Submarine.
Best dog Park
Off-leash Dog Park east of the Clinton Dam. With amenities of water for the animals, benches under the trees, toilets, cleared paths through grasslands
Best Place to ride your bike
Clinton Lake
Kansas river levee, trail, (from West Hills Assoc, city secrets)
Accessed just north of the downtown bridge. The flat, finely
Crushed gravel surface is ideal for riders (as well as walkers and runners) of
All abilities. The trail goes about five miles in each direction. The ride east
Offers views of one of local artist Stan Herd’s large scale artworks, North
Lawrence backyards reminiscent of small town Kansas with rusted old cars
And ambitious vegetable gardens, and fertile farmland. The ride west starts
with views of a trailer park, but quickly offers more pleasing sights of rural
Douglas County. Mountain bikers will also find dirt trails on the east side
that snake through wooded areas. A word of caution: if you start your ride in
West Hills, keep in mind that the ride home from the downtown area will be
mostly uphill!
Best Place for a Euro Fix
Au Marche
cheese, sausage, pine nuts olives or sweets. French soaps, perfumes, etc. (chestnuts in the winter) 900 block of Massachusetts
Brits
Next to Au Marche for all things British
Wackiest Shoe Repair
BKB Leather
811 Elm Street, 785-331-2303
Only place in town, located in north Lawrence (north of the river). Great work although service can be slow to very slow. Worth a trip just to see the place and do a treasure hunt on the outside, find the boots, find the covered wagon, find the football. See the bowl ball fench on the east side of property, etc. etc. kids get marbles and will enjoy the parrot.
Best Best Place for Artisan Bread
Wheatfield’s
http://www.wheatfieldsbakery.com/
Excellent. As good as SF and Chicago!
Complete with brick oven that sends its heat out into the street on winter days.
Daily Bread Specials: Monday
Whole Wheat pain au levain
Currant Rye
Seedless Rye
Tuesday
Whole Grain Spelt
Wednesday Whole Wheat pain au levain, Roasted Garlic and Herb, Thursday
Brioche
Seedless Rye
Semolina - baguettes
Semolina - rolls
Semolina - loaves
Friday
Whole Wheat pain au levain, Challah
Cinnamon Raisin
Pretzel Roll
Pretzel Twist
Saturday
Challah
Cherry Hazelnut
Semolina - baguettes
Semolina - loaves
Semolina – rolls Sunday, Best Bagels - boiled, hearth-baked
Best Lawrence Trivia . (from West Hills Assoc, city secrets)
A curious fact is that the default geostatic position for the PC version of
Google Earth is on Lawrence. If you open Google Earth and zoom-in on the
default setting, you land in Lawrence. To be precise you land in a parking
spot in the Meadowbrook apartment complex, near Regency Place!
Explanation: This is where the Google Earth software-developer Brian
McClendon, a 1986 graduate of the University of Kansas and director of
engineering for GoogleEarth lived as a child!
The streets of Lawrence are in the order of their acceptance into the Union.
Best Ethnic Festivals
St John the Evangelist (between 11th and 12th on Kentucky Street) hosts two
of the best ethnic festivals in Lawrence.
Mexican Fiesta
The Mexican Fiesta happens in June, and features great food prepared by
church ladies, children performing traditional Mexican dances, carnival
games for the kids, and dancing to live Latino bands. Go early if you mostly
want to eat; go later if you mostly want to dance and listen to the music.
October Fest
The Octoberfest features traditional German fare, beer, music and dancing
for the whole family. KU German professor Bill Keel leads rousing singalongs,
and the serious German-Americans dress in traditional costumes and
bring their own beer steins. You might even spot the church’s pastor wearing
lederhosen.
Best Hair and Nail Salon
Lada Salon & Spa (It’s where all the upscale west side ladies go)
Mark the owner gives a great cut. Spa manicures, pedicures, waxing
4931 6th street, 785.842.5232
Best Facial
Perfect Face
Hydorfacial – the ultimate microdermabrasion is wonderful and euro facials. Get a package for a better deal. Very cute, comfortable and cozy, Mary will do your skin proud, She is a bit gossip so beware. She knows everyone.
http://www.perfectface.info/10oct.htm
700 Mass., Suite 207 Lawrence, Kansas 66044 785.331.3223
Best Clothes Boutique
Spectators
Designer clothes, fabulous owner, personal service and alterations.
710 Massachusetts Street
Best Artisan Gallery
Diane’s (Al Horning’s wife)
4 East 7th Street
Best Lawrence Builder/Architect for Modern/Green homes.
Gria Inc, Scott Trettle
New or remodels, be sure to ask to see the 4 very green houses, including his in north Lawrence.
Best Eyeglasses
Winks
806 Massachusetts Street,
trendy hip cool, great service and selection, feels like a big ciy place. With Ikea furnishings.
Best Fabric Store
Sarah’s
Excellent selection and quality
925 Massachusetts St
Best Yarn Shop
Yarn Barn
930 Massachusetts Street
Best Pizza?
Still searching
Best Homemade Ice Cream
Sylas & maddies
Named after a cat and a dog
1014 Massachusetts St
Best Bagels
Wheatfields (see restaurants)
Sunday only or your only choice is Einstein’s on south Mass.
Best Garden Shops
http://sunrisegardencenter.com/
19th and New York,
Greenhouse hidden behind the charming front area
Henry’s Plant Farm
http://www.thehenrysplantfarm.com/
between Lawrence and Topeka,
a lovely ride of winding road, west 6th street.
Best Coffee
For real coffee
La Prima Taza
638 Massachusetts St, next to Liberty Hall
Z’s
A hippy style place with Internet access
10 E 9th S
The Community Mercantile (aka The Merc, aka the Co-Op)
http://communitymercantile.com/
I didn’t realize this for almost 2 years! Best oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and muffins.
Best Bookstore
Ravens
Just off Massachusetts Street around the corner from Liberty Hall theatre
8 east Seventh Street, Lawrence
Best-Used Bookstore
The Dusty Bookshelf
Buy, sell or wander, if your allergic to cats the resident cat may be an issue
708 Massachusetts Street
Best Doctors
Best Gynecologists office
Lawrence Ob/Gyn specialists
Samantha Durland
Next to Lawrence Memorial Hospital
330 Arkansas St Lawrence, KS 66044-1394 (785) 832-1424
Best Dematogist
There isn’t one in Lawrence but this guy is worth the drive to KCK
Dr. Kaplan
Suite 116, 4601 West 109th Street
Leawood, KS 66211-1313
(913) 469-1115
Best Dr for Colonoscopy (yuk but if you are of a certain age you will want to know)
Dr. Theresa King
4525 W 6th Street # 100
Lawrence, KS 66049
(785) 843-5160
Best Orthopedics
Lawrence Orthopaedic Surgery
Good enough for the KU athletes, good enough for my daughter
1112 W. Sixth Street Suite 124 Lawrence, Kansas 66044 785-843-9125
Best Botox by a Doctor
And half the cost of SF or Chicago (not that I know)
Dr. Carla Phipps (don’t go to her as your doctor, there are better options)
Lawrence Family Practice Ctr 4951 W 18th St Lawrence, KS 66047 Phone: (785) 841-6540
Best Dematogist
Best Source for anything to do with Home Remodeling – Modern and Green
Gail Kernes
Best Restaurants
Food hits the top of my to do list, warning gaining weight is easy here, life can be sedentary, I have exceeded expectations on the promised Topeka 10.
Just Wander along Mass St. (Massachusetts Street) and find one of the local restaurants that look good, these all have very good food in a casual atmosphere, no need for reservations.
Best Asain Fusion (Chinese, Thai)
Encore Cafe
Very Good, kid friendly, bubble tea, authentic, can be slow service and a short wait on busy nights, many veggie options, noisy, clean, had private karaoke rooms in back. Bathroom with two way mirrors.
1007 Massachusetts Street,
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-832-0001
Best Sort of Thai (trendier version of authentic Thai)
Very Good
811 Massachusetts Street,
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-832-0001
Best Brew Pub (if you like that kind of thing)
Micro Brew Pub: Free State Brewing Co., Inc.
Loud, noisy, their cheese soup uses my favorite cheese from Sonoma – Sonoma Dry Jack (available at Whole foods)
636 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, KS 66044 785-843-4555
Best Japanese
in an Authentic Atmosphere
Yokahama on 23rd street,
Excellent sushi, (located in an ugly strip center) quiet, small wooden booth, sit as long as you like. They opened a downtown version in 2008, in a trendy space, right in town so I still eat there sometimes – although often frequented by noisy privileged (how else can they afford sushi) college kids doing sake bombs (shots)
http://www.yokohamasushioflawrence.com/
Wa
Excellent sushi, fairly authentic atmosphere, nice chefs
740 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 843-1990
Best Poor boys
Only poorboys, its carry out only
785-856-3287
805 Vermont St,
Lawrence, KS 66044
Best Greek
The Mad Greek
907 Massachusetts Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-843-2441
Best Middle Eastern
Aladdin's Café
Massachusetts Street KS 66044
Excellent, Hummus an all the usual, even has a hookah bar next door
1021 Mass. Lawrence, KS 66044 785-832-1100
Best Indian
India Palace
129 E. 10th St. (1/2 block west of Mass sty.)
Lawrence, KS 66044
785-331-4300
Best Italian
Italian, nice modern atmosphere, co-owners of La Parilla and Zen Zero, former chef from the fab Rose Pistola, North Beach San Francisco – and why is he in Lawrence?
www.genoveseitalian.com 941 Massachusetts St Lawrence, KS 66044-2869 (785) 842-0300
Best Breakfast
Miltons,
Long waits on weekends, so serve yourself a gourmet coffee and chat with friends
Massachusetts Street near 9th
Wheatfield’s
904 Vermont Street Lawrence, KS 66044
785.841.5553
http://www.wheatfieldsbakery.com/
Best Burgers
The Burger Stand in the Casbah,
http://www.theburgerstand.com/
803 Massachusetts St
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 856-0543\
Try the Kobe beef burgers, too noisy, too small, crowded filled with college kids
Dempseys
623 Vermont St
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 856-5460
A real surpise is the burgers and veggie burgers in Pacahamamas (see below)
and play a game of pool, have a beer in a small pub style atmosphere
623 Vermont St, (one block west of Massachusetts Street at sixth street)
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 856-5460
Best Local and Healthy Restaurants
Local Burger national recognized Bill Kurtis hawked his book here.
Excellent food, sustainable. “good food fast” try an elk burger (low fat, mild taste) also, buffalo, turkey, tofu, lamb, very very causal, earthy, diner style, but your own table, not your typical fries- not crispy – some people find this a problem. They sell fresh meat one night a week. Located across from the library.
714 Vermont, Lawrence, KS 66044 785-856-7827
Best Upscale Restaurants
http://www.746mass.com/ Excellent food in a bright open space, formerly an old bank reservations for Sat. night or groups of 6 – walk-in, Nice bar to wait at, have an appetizer or wonderful martini, good wine list
www.746mass.com 746 Massachusetts St Lawrence, KS 66044-2344(785) 843-4111
http://eldridgehotel.com/ Very good, Classic/Traditional, Can be a bit blue-hair for early dinners, comfy, booth seating, Located in the historic Eldridge Hotel. Stop in the hotel lobby and sit by the fire.
701 Massachusetts Lawrence, KS 66044
Pachamamas
http://www.pachamamas.com/ Cutting edge food, something you would expect in San Francisco, Chef studied and worked in SF and New Orleans 800 New Hampshire Street Lawrence, KS 66044 785-841-0990
European Bistro Style
715 Restaurant
715 Massachusetts
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 856-7150
currently boycooting for my daughter. The ads show a cute bunny.. My daughter has a pet name Freddie a Holland Lop bunny, so I promised I wouldn’t go to 715.
Best Unique Upscale Restaurants
Café Beautiful
Reservations a must. Can be long wait
730 Massachusetts St Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 843-7423
Haven’t been yet but here is a quote “this is one of the most amazing meals of my life. Never have I had such intricately and exquisitely meal complete with personal service and a full explanation of every dish. We brought two bottles of wine with us and feasted like kings (queens?). Yes it's expensive but it's a 5-course dinner with dessert” Ask for the private room, they'll let you dine there at no additional cost, and you feel like you are in the chef's home. All 2-2.5 hrs for the full dinner. Prix fixe menu
Don’t be late, change reservations, or you are out…literally, many stories on his antics.
Topeka
Who would have though this city girl, with attitude could find some things she likes in Topeka
Kansas State Historical Society
A huge surprise, set in a very modern building in what fieels like a prarie yet is located close to Hill’s. Great place to learn about local native Americans including seeing an orignal school that operated for a short time to assimilate them, sm. Book store contains interesting books on the area.
Lowes DIY store (we don’t have one in Lawrence)
Remote control and Model Airplane Store
5331 SW 22nd Pl
Topeka, KS 66614-1518
(785) 228-9601
The owner is bit curt, but it’s fun to see all the planes and kits, he also owns his own airstrip.
Hotels close to Hills Pet Nutrition
Capitol Plaza Hotel
Restaurants very close to Hills
Celtic Fox
Good beer- they serve my favorite English Beer – Bodingtons,
Nice pub atmosphere, Basic food – iceberg and pink tomatoes
www.thecelticfox.com
118 SW 8th Ave
Topeka, KS 66603
(785) 235-2138
Row House
Wow, I’m not in Kansas anymore, excellent food. Lunch is for groups of 12 or more by reservation only. It feels very city, and is located in a 3 story Grey stone, and dining is in the small intimate rooms.
http://rowhouserestaurant.net/index.html
515 SW Van Buren St.
Topeka, Kansas 66603
Phone: 785.817.6052
Email: rowhousetopeka@gmail.com
Lupita's Mexican Restaurant
Authentic – Good, fast service, very casual, no reservations, I’m told it’s good
732 S Kansas Ave
Topeka, KS 66603
(785) 234-6340
Globe Indian Cuisine, Inc.
Authentic – Good, fast service, very casual, no reservations
117 S.E. 10th Street
Quincy Plaza
Topeka, KS 66612
Phone: 785-354-1500
Authentic – Good, fast service, very casual, no reservations
5301 SW 21st St
Topeka, KS 66604
(785) 228-9225
Very close to Capitol Plaza Hotel
Chez Yasu French Restaurant
A surprise that it’s in Topeka, KS.
Very Good food. This is a very small friendly, casual French restaurant with a Japanese chef.
11-2 lunch m-f
5-9pm-dinner m-s
2701 Southwest 17th Street
Topeka, KS 66604
Phone: (785) 357-1003
Reservation recommended
-5 5 miles from Hills
New City Café
Haven’t been told it’s very good.
4005 SW Gage Center Drive
Topeka, KS 66604-1831
Phone: 785.271.8646
Brick Oven Courtyard grille
http://www.brickovencourtyardgrille.com/
Nice business lunch venue, Good to very good food - a modern space with a more traditional steak and fish menu,
3030 SW Wanamaker Rd
Topeka, KS 66614-4424
(785) 478-2742
New City Cafe
Modern, trendy, causal, quiet, place for lunch. - Prepared salads – great curry chicken
http://www.newcityonline.biz/dinner.html
4005 SW Gage Center Drive
Topeka, KS 66604-1831
Phone: 785.271.8646
Fax: 785-271-8636
Tuptim Thai Restaurant
Excellent, casual, Best Authentic Thai
2949 S Kansas Ave.
Topeka, KS 66611
(785) 266-2299
Across from VW dealer
(About 15 minutes from Hills)
Recommended haven’t been
www.bosshawgsbbq.com
2833 SW 29th St
Topeka, KS 66614-2002
(785) 273-7300
