(Blog Monday 8/23/2010)

Recap and What’s Coming: First of all, our apologies for being a day late in posting this week’s blog.

We enjoyed breakfast at Jimmie’s Diner and dinner at China Inn, but it was mostly another quiet weekend avoiding the heat and planning for cooler weather. The brochures are out for Woofstock and we’ll be setting up a Woofstock page and seeking donations for the Kansas Humane Society. Mark your calendars now for Woofstock, and plan to celebrate peace, love and pets and help support the Kansas Humane Society on Saturday, October 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.. at Sedgwick County Park.

August 16-August 22, 2010: This week seems to be a bit slow from an entertainment perspective, but here are some events of potential interest going on in Wichita and surrounding communities.

First of all, Botanica and the Sedgwick County Zoo provide opportunities for relaxation on Tuesday evening. Botanica offers “Tuesdays on the Terrace ~ Salvia & Screwdrivers” which mixes things up with live music, mixology and horticulture. The Zoo features “Twilight Tuesday,” special evening hours for visitors to relax with family and friends while strolling through the Zoo after a long day. Hours for the Botanica event are 5:30-7:30 pm while the Zoo is open until 8:30 pm. Normal admission applies to both events.

Michell Hoover, author of The Quickening will be at Watermark Books and Café on Wednesday evening for a reading and signing. The reading begins at 7:00 pm. While speaking of Watermark, I would like to inform you that this bookstore offers a variety of book discussion groups throughout the month. This week’s offerings include the Longitude (Tuesday 6:30 pm) and the Spanish (Wednesday 6:30) Book Clubs. Information about this and other book clubs may be found at the Watermark website. In addition, the Wichita Public Library hosts a series of reading groups in various locations throughout Wichita. This week’s meetings include the Masters of Mysteries club (Wednesday 7:00 pm) which meets at the Alford branch. Check with the Library website for information about this and other reading groups.

If you like sighing for the dainty heroine, cheering for the hero, and booing the villain, Mosley Street Melodrama‘s current production is THE HARLOT LETTER … or JACK TO THE FUTURE. Show dates/times are Thursday through Saturday. Buffet dinner begins at 6:15 pm and the show starts at 7:50 pm. Ticketing information is available at the Mosley Street website.

The Crown Uptown‘s offering is Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The show is a musical comedy about two fraudsters, living on the French Riviera, in a town that is not big enough to support two con men. Show dates/times are Thursday through Saturday with a buffet dinner begins at 6:00 pm and the curtain rising at 7:30 pm. On Sunday, dinner begins at 4:15 pm with the show starting at 5:45 pm. Ticketing information is available at the Crown website.

On Saturday the Kansas Acoustic Arts Association is sponsoring “Acoustic Arts in the Park.” This week’s performers will be Katie Vanderford, Curt Turner, and Trevor Stewart & Earthlines. Showtime is 11:00 am. This free concert will be at the bandstand in Central Riverside Park.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

(Blog Sunday 8/8/2010)

Recap and What’s Coming: This was a busy weekend for the Kennedy household. On Friday evening, a group of us had an excellent dinner at the Hyatt’s new restaurant, the HARVEST Kitchen/Bar. Not only was the food good and the service prompt, but we parked in the Hyatt garage, had our ticket validated by the restaurant, and after dinner, walked through the Hyatt and the convention center to see the Music Theatre of Wichita production of “Curtains,” which was a riot.

Then, on Saturday evening we enjoyed the Celtic Woman show at the Intrust Bank Arena It was our first visit to the arena, and we were impressed! Parking was no problem; neither was traffic bad after the performance. We always enjoy Celtic Woman and this time, they brought a special performer with them, an award-winning bagpiper who also played for the crowd outside the arena after the performance.

August 9-August 15, 2010: Events of potential interest going on in Wichita and surrounding communities this week include:

On Monday evening between 5:00 and 7:30 pm the College Hill Pool will host the “Dog Days of Summer.” This event, sponsored by the Kansas Humane Society, invites all dogs to try wading, paddling, swimming, or diving. The event allows dogs to experience the joy of swimming in a pool without chlorine. Owners can wade only knee‐deep with their dogs in the shallow end of the zero‐depth entry family swimming pool or let the dogs jump by themselves into the deep end. Or compete in the long jump contest, frisbee catch, or largest and smallest dog contests. All dogs must be leashed when not in the pool or participating in contests and current on all vaccinations including rabies. All proceeds go to benefit the Humane Society.

Janet Williams AKA “The Tennessee Tramp” will be appearing at the Looney Bin Wednesday through Saturday. Her audiences consist of folks 18 to 80 as her subject matter encompasses all ages, genders, and ethnic groups. She has an endearing stage presence that makes her audiences think of her as a crazy grandmother, a wacky aunt, or a nutty neighbor. All can relate to her in some way. Showtimes are 8:00 pm Wednesday through Saturday with 10:30 pm performances on Friday and Saturday.

Friday offers Loretta Lynn at the Wichita’s Orpheum Theatre. For over four decades now, Loretta has fashioned a body of work as artistically and commercially successful—and as culturally significant—as any female performer you’d care to name. Her music has confronted many of the major social issues of her time, and her life story is a rags-to-riches tale familiar to pop, rock and country fans alike. Showtime is 8:00 pm. Tickets are available through Select-A-Seat or at any Dillon’s Superstores, and Plant Employee Clubs.

“A Taste of Wichita” will be held on Saturday between 11:00 am and 7:00 pm. This is a benefit for the Lord’s Diner and the City of Wichita’s No More Hungry Children Program The event will feature food sampling, music, art, car show, and childrens activities. It will be held at Naftzger Park which is located downtown at Douglas and St. Francis streets.

On Sunday, Gordon Lightfoot will be performing at the Cotillion. He is the author and voice of many other timeless songs including Early Morning Rain, Sundown, and If You Could Read My Mind. Showtime is 8:00 pm. Tickets are available through the Cotillion or Select-A-Seat.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

(Blog Sunday 7/18/2010)

Recap and What’s Coming: We didn’t do much this week except try to stay cool and figure out where to put all of the stuff Liz brought home from work. Liz has been making big changes this week as she officially retires from Arts Partners. She plans to spend a lot of her time writing articles and reviews for her website for About.com, which is part of the New York Times Company. Liz does the About Children’s Books site and has an About Children’s Books Facebook Fan Page. Check them out.

July 19-July 25, 2010: Some of the things of potential interest going on in Wichita and surrounding communities this week.

The Babylon Saints perform Monday night at the Blue Lounge. One of the group members is Joseph “Panhead” Peck, a Wichita native and a friend of Liz. The cover charge at $3.00 is quite modest.

Music Theatre of Wichita’s latest show, Annie opens Wednesday with performances Wednesday (8:00 pm), Thursday (8:00 pm), Friday (8:00 pm), Saturday (2:00 & 8:00 pm, and Sunday (2:00 & 7:00 pm). A perfect show for the whole family, this great Broadway treat is packed with wonderful songs, delightful comedy, and a bracing dose of optimism! Ticketing information is available through the MTW website.

Rascal Flatts will be performing at the Intrust Bank Arena on Thursday evening. This country music group is one of the decade’s top-selling and most awarded acts. Showtime is 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at the Arena’s box office or through Select-A-Seat online or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.

Kissin’ Country 102.1 Summer Splash will be held late Sunday afternoon. Featured acts are Eli Young, Randy Rogers Band, Kevin Fowler, and more! Showtime is 4:00 pm at the Hartman Arena. Tickets are available through Stage 1 Tickets.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

(Blog Sunday 7/11/2010)

Recap and What’s Coming: All of the high energy dancing and singing was a big hit with the audience at Music Theatre of Wichita’s Crazy for You. Liz is already looking forward to Annie two weeks from now.

Liz also attended the Wichita Public Library’s news conference this week to learn about the library’s latest NEA grant for The Big Read. In October, residents of Wichita and other parts of south-central Kansas are invited to read Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, discuss the book and attend related programs. To learn more, visit The Big Read – Wichita, the new website about the project.

July 12-July 18, 2010: There are a number of events of interest this week.

First on Tuesday evening, two acts that were regulars on the charts in the early ’80s, REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar, will join forces for a summer co-headlining tour dubbed “Love On The Run.” They will be performing at the Intrust Bank Arena. Showtime is 7:00 pm. Tickets are available through Select-A-Seat online or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.

Also on Thursday, “Weird Al” Yankovic will be appearing at Wichita’s Cotillion Ballroom. The undisputed king of pop culture parody, “Wierd Al” has sold more comedy recordings than any other artist in history. In a career spanning nearly three decades, he has amassed 30 Gold and Platinum albums, 7 Gold and Platinum-certified home videos and 3 Grammy Awards (with 11 nominations). Showtime is 8:00 pm with tickets are available through Select-A-Seat online or by calling (316) 755-SEAT.

Wichita Community Theatre opens a new show this week. Entitled Almighty Bob, the play is about Bob who is being checked into a nursing home. Problem is that sometimes Bob thinks he is God. And sometimes he is right. Bob has become too much of a handful for his daughter Karen, so they’re trying a trial period at Dr. Wally’s nursing home with miraculous results. The show runs Thursday thru Saturday through July 31st. Showtime is 8:00 pm for all performances. Tickets are available at the door.

On Saturday (8:00 pm) and Sunday (4.00 pm) the Heart of America Men’s Chorus will be presenting a show called “Let Music Live.” This show will be a concert featuring music to stir the emotions and illustrate why we sing. The show is at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets may be obtained online at the Chorus’ website or by calling (316) 708-4837.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

(Blog Sunday 7/4/2010)

Recap and What’s Coming: First of all, let us wish you a somewhat belated, “Happy Independence Day!”

Next, an apology because we didn’t post anything last week. Liz and I left on a road trip to North Carolina on the 21st, and we just returned to town last Friday. The purpose for the trip was my daughter’s wedding on the beach. As I don’t fly, we spent three days driving there and back. I don’t know about Liz, but I was able to add three states (Kentucky, South Carolina and North Carolina) to my lifetime list of states visited. Though the wedding was held on the beach adjacent to the Surf Club, our accommodations were at the Comfort Inn in Shallotte, NC.

The wedding was beautiful. We had an opportunity to meet and socialize with our new vastly extended family. After several days I was able to put names and faces to the bridegroom’s brothers and their wives but it seems like that every time I turned around there was a new uncle or cousin or whatever. However, the family was wonderfully accepting, and we received several invitations to come back. I could see how my daughter and her children were part and parcel of the family already.

July 5-July 11, 2010: There are a number of events of interest this week.

First, for those not aware of it, Botanica has a weekly event called “Tuesdays on the Terrace.” Every Tuesday through September, the Garden mixes things up with live music, mixology and horticulture. You can enjoy cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages from The Bar’s Open from 5:30-7:30pm and enjoy the summer garden until 8:00pm.

Thursday evening from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm the Ulrich Museum of Art presents “Art for Your Ears” featuring Ray Bonneville. Described as a roaming blues poet, Bonneville is inspired by the road and the many places he has called home. A one-man band, he backs up weathered, storytelling vocals with a highly percussive guitar style, dramatic harmonica lines and a floor that keeps the rock steady beat. The event will be held in the McKnight Outdoor Plaza. Admission is free, and everyone is invited to bring chairs and blankets for the lawn, bask in the evening air, and converse with friends and family.

Also on Thursday, the Sedgwick County Zoo’s Summer Concert Series features the Honey Island Swamp Band. The concert begins at 7:30 but the Zoo opens at 6:30 for this event. Ticket information can be found at the SCZ website.

Friday also offers two events. The first is the 3rd Annual BAND TOGETHER Concert featuring Lotus and 3 Ring Circus. This is a benefit for the Mental Health Association. The concert venue is the Beech Activity Center and starts at 7:15 pm. Ticketing information is available from Select-A-Seat.

Friday also offers two events. The second is KMUW’s Literary Feast. This monthly dinner-and-book discussion series is the most delicious book club in town! Attendees enjoy appetizers, a gourmet dinner, dessert, coffee, and a rousing roundtable discussion of a major new book. This month’s book is Beatrice & Virgil by Yann Martel. The event is held at Watermark Books. Ticketing information by calling (316) 682-1181 or visiting the store.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

(Blog Sunday 6/20/2010)

Recap and What’s Coming: First of all, to all those dads out there, “Happy Fathers’ Day!” My celebration was highlighted when my daughter and her husband-to-be took Liz and I to brunch at Hereford House which is located at Terradyne. Good food! Good company! What a great way to celebrate the day!

Liz passed a milestone this week when she retired from Arts Partners. Liz was the first, and for awhile only, staff member when the organization was founded in 1995. Although she plans to do keep her hand in by doing some consulting for them, Liz is looking forward to extra time to devote to her About Children’s Books site.

June 21-June 27, 2010: There are a number of events of interest this week.

Leading off, on Tuesday evening, Michael Bublé is appearing at the Intrust Bank Arena. The show begins at 8:00. Information about ticketing is available at the Arena website.

Also on Tuesday the Raleigh Ringers will be appearing at the Orpheum Theatre. Curtain time is 7:30 pm. This is an internationally acclaimed, advanced community handbell choir that has been dazzling concert audiences with unique interpretations of sacred, secular and popular music, including famous rock ‘n’ roll tunes arranged just for handbells. Further information about ticketing can be accessed at the Orpheum website.

Just a reminder that there are two outdoor concerts on Thursday. Both performances are at 8:00 pm. The the subdudes are performing at the Sedgwick County Zoo. Information about tickets is available at the Zoo’s website. At the same time, Joseph Vincelli is performing at Bradley Fair. This concert is free.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

(Blog Sunday 6/13/2010)

Recap and What’s Coming: While I didn’t do much this weekend, the big event of the weekend for Liz was the Music Theatre of Wichita performance of Gypsy. While all MTW productions are excellent, this one was exceptional, according to Liz, thanks to the singing and acting ability of Karen Robu who portrayed Gypsy Rose Lee’s mother, Rose. If you haven’t been to a MTW production, we highly recommend them.

June 14-June 20, 2010: There are a number of events of interest this week.

Recap and What’s Coming: Leading off, on Tuesday evening, the 9th Annual Celebrity And Chef Cookoff will be held at the Wichita Marriott Hotel. This fundraiser for the Historic Orpheum Theatre starts at 6:00 pm. Once again, expect fabulous food, fun, music and, of course, the main attraction: the teams of celebrities and chefs who race against the clock to create a culinary masterpiece. All proceeds benefit the Theatre’s continued maintenance and restoration. Further information is available at the Orpheum website.

We just received the list of Senior Wednesday programs through September. These are informational and entertaining sessions, designed for active seniors and offered by a collaboration of ten Wichita institutions. Programs are either free or at modest programming fees. This week’s presentations will be offered at the Ulrich Museum of Art (10:00 am) and the The Kansas African American Museum (1:30 pm). The presentation at the Ulrich is entitled “Hands-On: Sketching Sculpture in the Gardens.” Other institutions participating in this program include Exploration Place, the Great Plains Nature Center, Old Cowtown Museum, the Sedgwick County Zoo, the WATER Center, the Wichita Art Museum, the Wichita Public Library, and the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum.

Lastly, the Wichita Wingnuts baseball team will return to Lawrence-Dumont stadium for a three game series against the Sioux City Explorers starting on Friday at 7:05 pm.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

(Blog Sunday 6/6/2010)

Recap and What’s Coming: This weekend, we enjoyed meals at two of our favorite restaurants for breakfast: Jimmie’s Diner and The Beacon. Saturday night was Kids Zoobilee and Liz was there with the group from Arts Partners. Despite the heat, several thousand families enjoyed the festivities. The food, music, face painting, inflatables and other activities were a big hit.

June 7-June 13, 2010: There are a number of events of interest this week.

School’s out. If you are looking for activities for your children, you might want to check out the Wichita Public Library. They offer a variety of free activities for children of all ages, including terrific summer reading programs. Two other venues offering summer programs of interest to children include Exploration Place and the Sedgwick County Zoo. Dates, times, and fees can be found on each organization’s web site.

This week features the first performance in the summer concert series for two organizations. Unfortunately, both are on Thursday night at 7:30 pm. First is the Bradley Fair Summer Concert which, this week, features jazz saxophonist Mindi Abair. Subsequent concerts will be offered weekly through July second. Bradley Fair concerts are free to the public. As noted, on the same evening the Sedgwick County Zoo is the venue for the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Zoo concerts are offered every other week through August 5. Visit each venue’s web site for information concerning these and future performances..

Under the guise of “better late than never,” we must confess that we are a week late in highlighting Shakespeare in the Park. Presented by the Wichita Shakespeare Company, these productions offer free of charge performances of Shakespearean plays in accessible settings. The current performance is The Merry Wives of Windsor. This week’s performances will take place at 7:00 pm in College Hill Park (Friday), Buffalo Park (Saturday), and Andover Sports Park (Sunday). Next week performances will be offered at College Hill Park (Friday & Saturday) and Hand Park (Sunday). Later in the summer, the Company will be presenting Macbeth. Additional information about current and future productions may be found on the Company’s web site.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

(Blog Sunday 5/23/2010)

click for larger image

Recap and What’s Coming: On Saturday morning, Liz and I visited the the first ever Wichita Highland Games & Celtic Festival. It is anticipated that this will become an annual event. This year’s event featured Celtic related athletic contests (Caber throw, hammer toss, weight throw, etc.), entertainment (Corry Academy of Irish Dance, Dolphin’s Barn, and Knocknasheega), and vendors. In addition, a number of clans (MacNiel, Davidson, MacPherson, Elliot, MacKenzie, & Donald) were represented as was the Scottish – American Military Society and The Society For Creative Anachronism. Unfortunately, while Liz and I were in attendance, a rather brisk wind made life somewhat difficult for those of us in attendance.

[/caption][/caption]

On Sunday Liz took a flight to New York City to attend a conference. Left to my own devices, I did some gardening. We have a section of our front yard where we have planted wildflowers that are native to the high plains, so I must confess that part of my gardening just required sitting on the porch and enjoying the plants that are currently in flower. The Meadow Sage (Salvia verticillata) has just about gone by and the Coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora) are just beginning to flower. Our Butterfly Weeds (Asclepias tuberosa) are probably about a week from full flower. I wasn’t the only one interested in our wildflower garden. As I watched, a number of butterflies seemed to be flitting from plant to plant as were some smaller bees. i can’t prove it scientifically, but since we have planted our wildflower garden, we have seen both more and a greater variety of birds and butterflies.

May 24-May 30, 2010: This week seems to be a bit slow in terms of entertainment, but things should get busy shortly.

Monday evening Daughtry is performing at the Intrust Bank Arena. Showtime is 7:30 pm. Tickets are available through Select-A-Seat.

On Thursday evening the Intrust Bank Arena is hosting Brooks & Dunn. Showtime is 7:30 pm. According to today’s Wichita Eagle the duo is splitting up at the conclusion of this tour. Tickets are available through Select-A-Seat.

If there is anyone out there who is interested in seeing stars, the Lake Afton Public Observatory offers weekly astronomy programs on Friday and Saturday evenings. You can experience the excitement of the night sky by seeing it through the Observatory’s 16-inch telescope. This week’s program is titled Big, Bigger and Biggest offers the opportunity to look at Venus, Saturn, a giant star, a cluster of stars and another galaxy to get a better idea of just how small Earth is in comparison to the universe. program times and subjects change with the seasons, so check the Observatory’s web site for details.

Just a reminder that Music Theatre of Wichita‘s 2010 season starts on June 9. This year’s productions are Gypsy, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Crazy for You, Annie, and Curtains. Enjoy Broadway quality entertainment at Wichita prices. Go to MTW’s web site for show dates/times and ticketing options.

There are more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.