Sunday, September 7th, 2008

Stay and play

If you’re staying in Lawrence, fall in step on Mass

By Adrienne Bommarito

Thursday, October 4th, 2007

Ariel Alexandrou, Dallas freshman, says she chose to stay in Lawrence for the fall break weekend because flying home for only four days is too much trouble. Instead, she will be hanging out with friends.

If traveling is too much for you, too, here are some options of how to make Lawrence your own vacation spot. Plan your days accordingly, for the weekend will fly by. Catch up on sleep and studies, but be sure to visit a few of the places mentioned below.

Massachusetts Street may only have six blocks of shops but it offers enough to fill an entire day. Visit the shops you never have time to stop at, like It’s About Time, 816 Massachusetts St., a store that houses local art. The sign on the outside of the store says it contains yard, clock, folk and functional art. Owner Kelvin Schartz displays his art along with other artists from around the country. All the work is created for outside display. You can find everything from yard decoration, such as chimes and sundials, to indoor decoration, like mirrors and wall hangings.

Using vibrant, bold colors on the walls, It’s About Time draws you in. It’s set up like an art gallery with a circle formation where you can walk around the store eyeing the art work. You won’t leave It’s About Time without wanting one of the many eccentric pieces of work that range from $20 to $600.

Another distinctive shop on Massachusetts Street is Beyond the Door, 918 Massachusetts St. Sherry Fitzgerald moved the store from Florida 10 months ago to be closer to family. She says she loves her old hippie store that is filled with lots of random stuff.

And it’s true. Fitzgerald’s store contains everything: clothes, wedding dresses, jewelry, wall hangings and “Jesus Shoes,” which are straw-like sandals.

It’s one of those stores where you could walk around for hours and still not see everything.

Thursday

If you crave a cultural change try Brits, 920 Massachusetts St. Owner Sally Helm opened the store 13 years ago because she had a dream of owning a store and loved British items and British people.

Helm says most of the items sold are everyday items that can be found in Europe. The store offers food items such as pickled onions and British chocolate, along with T-shirts, glasses, movies—to rent or to buy—and books. And yes, Harry Potter is on sale at Brits.

At 4 p.m. on Thursdays on Vermont St. between 10th and 11th streets you can hear a bell ring, signaling the start of the Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market. A Lawrence tradition, the farmers market brings local farmers to town to sell their goods, whether it’s vegetables, flowers, meats or jelly.

Jim Krause plays the violin at the farmers market. He says he played at the farmers market about five times this summer and considers it similar to street entertainment.

Krause contributes to the character of the farmers market. It creates an oldtown feeling that can put you back in time to the early 1900s. The variety of venders in the casual, walk-around setting will make you feel like grabbing your horse instead of your car keys.

Amy’s Meats, a vender at the farmers market, offers angus beef without hormones. Amy Saunders and her husband Dan Saunders are the brains and the effort behind their cattle farm, which is located nine miles north of Lawrence. The Saunders attend the farmers market weekly along with shows in Topeka. They also sell bratwurst to Local Burger, a burger joint offering meat supplied by Kansas farmers.

The beauty behind the Farmer’s Market is that Lawrence residents are able to purchase fresh meats and produce at an affordable cost.

Vegetables at Irick Farms in Linwood can be purchased by the box. Prices vary depending on the vegetable. For example, a box of okra costs $3 and a box of jalapenos costs $2.

The farmers market is held on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. and also on Saturdays from 7 to 11 a.m.

Before leaving Massachusetts Street stop by Indo Café, 125 E. 10th, to try bubble tea, a drink that began in Taiwan in the 1980s. Bubble tea comes in different flavors such as strawberry, mango, kiwi and blueberry or even traditional tea flavors such as honey green tea and honey black tea. However, the real kick of bubble tea are the pearls of either tapioca, coconut, pudding or wheat germ at the bottom. You suck up the pearls through a gigantic straw while you drink the tea. Delicious. Bubble tea can be purchased on ice or as a smoothie and costs about $3.

Friday

Start Friday off with lunch at one of Lawrence’s favorite eating spots such as Milton’s or Local Burger. Milton’s, 920 Massachusetts St., has breakfast and lunch food such as omelettes and sandwiches. Pair that with a cup of hot tea or coffee and you’ll be set for a day of walking on Massachusetts Street. Try the vegetable scramble ($6.95) and a cup of blackberry sage tea ($1.50).

If you crave a heavier meal head over to Local Burger, 714 Vermont St., and feel your mouth water as you try the buffalo or elk burger, both of which come from farms in Lawrence and Winchester, Kansas. If you are a vegetarian, be sure to try the veggie burger.

After you grab a bite to eat head to Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts St., for an afternoon movie. Movie showtimes vary depending on running time but a matinee will start around 4 p.m. Check Liberty Hall’s website, www.libertyhall.net, for times. Movies are chosen by the cinema manager and a booking agent each Tuesday and start showing that Friday. At least two movies will be shown each week, sometimes even three.

Doug Redding, video store manager, says Liberty Hall traditionally was called an art house theater and can still be considered that. Movies shown will eventually go to DVD and be added to the Liberty Hall video store.

Matinee tickets sell for $5.50 and evening tickets are $7.50. Student ticket prices are $5.50 but only on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tuesdays are two-for-one. Another great thing about Liberty Hall: you can drink a beer while watching a movie.

If you don’t feel like watching a movie, stop by Sunfire Ceramics, 1002 New Hampshire St., to paint pottery. Sam Snyder, Topeka junior, has worked at Sunfire Ceramics for almost a year. She says that painting the pieces can be challenging, especially for those people without painting talent, but almost anything comes out looking great once the pottery is fired and glazed.

Sunfire Ceramics opened nine years ago and just opened it’s second location in Kansas City, Mo. Owner Cheryl Roth molds and paints her own ceramics, which are on sale at Sunfire Ceramics.

You’ll pay $4 for the paint plus the cost of the ceramic, which varies from $4 to $40. The ceramics range from bowls, plates and coffee mugs to dog bowls and ring boxes. Everything is food, microwave and dishwasher safe.

Once you paint your ceramic it takes three to five days to fire.

Clay-making classes are held Wednesday through Friday for groups of six or more. The cost is $15 for the ceramic and the paint.

Make a piece for yourself or give it to someone. Either way it’s a creative and relaxing way to spend the afternoon.

On Friday night head to The Sandbar, 17 E. 8th St., and enjoy the wind, lightening and rain during the hurricane. Starting at 10 p.m. the weathermen will come on the TV and explain that a hurricane is predicted for the Lawrence area. Hold onto your hats as the hurricane takes over the bar. Forecast: lost of bubbles and blowing fans.

During the hurricane three men or women have the chance to dress in mermaid costumes and dance on the bar. Watch the mermaids dance or volunteer to be a mermaid youself. However, if you are wanting to be a mermaid arrive around 9 p.m. to call dibs.

If you are an early bird arrive at 7 p.m. for the early hurricane show or the matinee show at 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Try a Bahama Mama while eating a bag of popcorn provided by The Sandbar. Gawk at the fish in the 500 gallon tank or just enjoy the music on a jukebox featuring an eclectic selection of Jimmy Buffett. Let The Sandbar take you to the tropical island of your choice.

Saturday

Luckily for those students staying in Lawrence over the fall break weekend there is a football game against Baylor University. Here are a few options for some pre-game fun.

Whether you have a ticket to the game or not, being around the stadium is a must. If you don’t have a ticket head to the hill; there’s a perfect view of the stadium and a fun gathering of students and families. Plus, you can drink during the game without using your entire paycheck for a beer at the stadium.

For the tailgate, pick the outdoor drinking game of your choice, such as washers, beruit or flip cup. If you need a new spin on a standard game try beer pong with paddles. On a side note, be careful about staying in the yard while holding a beverage. An open container ticket will only dampen the day.

If a tailgate isn’t for you, then stop by Louise’s West, 1307 W. 7th St., for pre-game festivities. The tone of the bar screams football. Specials for the day are $2.50 aluminum bottles and Budweiser products, $2 Miller Light cans and $2 single wells.

If you want to stay around the stadium area move to The Crossing and say hello to the game day goat who makes his appearance in KU gear. The great thing about The Crossing is the location because it’s within walking distance of the stadium and tailgates.

If you get hungry turn the corner towards the back of The Crossing and grab a meal from Big 12 Burrito, 620 W. 12th St. With an array of tortillas—regular flour, spinach herb, jalapeno and tomato basil—and meat and veggie options, you are sure to find something to fill your stomach. Don’t forget to add queso; it pulls the burrito together. If a burrito doesn’t sound appetizing create your own nachos.

After the game go to The Wheel, 507 W. 14th St. to continue the football festivities. Sing along to Margaritaville while enjoying Saturday’s drink specials: $2 Rolling Rocks, $3.75 double wells and Long Island iced tea and $1.25 house shots.

Don’t forget to stop by and say hello to Pizza Pete, and have a great Fall Break weekend.

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