Around town with Pulse: Old Town Farmer’s Market

Having only lived in Wichita a year, I’m always looking for new ways to explore the city. Recently, I visited the Old Town Farmer’s Market and it turned out to be one of the best Saturday mornings I’ve had in a while. As you approach the square on 1st street and Mosley, you’re greeted with the tunes of local musicians and the aroma of fresh popped kettle corn. There are little ones playing in the kids’ activity area and pets leading their owners to follow all of the wonderful scents.

The vendors sell anything and everything local or hand-made including candles, art & crafts, kids clothing, honey, salsas, pastas, sweet treats like cinnamon rolls & pies, Mexican breakfast tacos, fruits & veggies, jewelry and the list goes on. They are all so excited to tell you about their product and some even have free samples, which I never seem to be able to turn down. Two of my favorite samples were chicken enchiladas and pecan pie flavored honey…so delicious! I made my way around to visit all of the tents and ended up leaving with a bag full of goodies and a full stomach. All in all, it’s a pretty great way to spend a Saturday morning so next Saturday check out the Old Town Farmer’s Market and support your local farmers and artists.
The farmer’s market is held every Saturday from 7am – 12pm at 1st street and Mosley from May 14 – October 15.

About the author:
Jenny Gautreaux is Certified Professional Organizer and loves to help others create an organized environment. She is a native Louisianan who loves any community festival or themed event, discovering local “non-chain” restaurants and traveling to new and exciting places. Jenny is a member of the Junior League of Wichita, a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wichita and just had a wee one this August!

Dining out with Pulse: Redrock Canyon Grill

Where in Wichita would you eat if you were facing three weeks of no American food? I had a trip abroad so I was determined to pick a Wichita eatery that would suffice my American cravings for three weeks. I chose Redrock Canyon Grill in Bradley Fair. The local Wichita purists will argue that Redrock is not truly local because there are actually three locations (two in the red dirt state to the south of Kansas and the other in Wichita). I disagree though; it offers great service from familiar faces, the food is prepared fresh by incredible chefs and I know about their diligent efforts to keep their customers happy. That said, off to Redrock I went with fellow YP, Trish Inslee.

We started with queso and chips as our appetizer. Now, I consider myself a queso connoisseur, always searching for the best and latest concoction of melted cheese and spices. In fact another YP, Warren Potter, and I argue so often about Wichita's best queso destination that we have actually discussed organizing a blind taste test of various queso dips. We have even considered the logistics of keeping the queso warm for fair and impartial testing, and a scoring scale. I digress. The queso arrived quickly, appearing with plenty of chips and a warm yellow tone. It was delicious, the perfect blend of cheese, spices and whatever other unhealthy ingredients they throw into queso. One thing I liked about their queso was that it wasn't too heavy; it was just enough to wet my palette and keep me satisfied - but not stuffed - before dinner.

For dinner, we split the John "B" Good enchilada platter. Three succulent corn-tortilla enchiladas featuring rotisserie chicken and dripping with monterey jack cheese and salsa verde. It arrived with fresh pico de gallo, sour cream and guacamole. Now, Redrock's rotisserie chicken is second to none. In fact, if you ever have a few minutes while you are there, before you order swing by the window inside the restaurant so you can watch the chicken go round and round on the open flame. I dare you to do so and not order the chicken; impossible to pass up once you see the method in which it was prepared. It didn't disappoint this time. The enchiladas were perfect.

We finished it off with their wonderful "something chocolate" dessert. Chocolate cake, ice cream, whipped cream and some other glorious toppings were the perfect ending to our tasty dinner. It is impossible for me to eat at Redrock and not order that dessert! Unrelated, they have a newly renovated patio, some nice summer wines and a full menu that offers something that will suit your preferences.

I know what you are thinking. I wanted one good American meal to last me three weeks and I chose two traditionally Tex-Mex dishes. Let's be honest. There are very few, truly American dishes. One thing we do well, as a culture, is take some of the best things from other cultures, put our American stamp on it and, in some cases, make it even better. With queso and enchiladas, Redrock preserves the Tex-Mex flavor, but combines it with a tremendous flavorful American twist.

Top it all off with one of their desserts and your American taste buds will leave happy.

About the Author:
Bobby Gandu has been a Kansan his entire life, formerly living in Topeka but now residing happily in Wichita. He has been involved in YPW for several years, previously serving as an Ambassador but now enjoying his role on the Pulse Team. He currently serves as the Director of Admissions for Wichita State University, after having served the university in numerous other capacities and roles. In short, if you get stuck sitting next to him at a meeting or an event, he’ll probably talk your ear off about why WSU is a special place. Aside from bleeding black and yellow, Bobby is active as a board member for the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center and volunteers as a Big for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Dining Out with Pulse: Starlite Drive-In

Having only moved to Wichita a year ago, I thought that surely I was the only person I knew here that hadn’t experienced Wichita’s Starlite Drive-In Theatre. Come to find out, most of the people I know who have been here for many years have either never gone or didn’t even realize that there was a drive-in here in Wichita. Despite the hot weather, if you can find the energy to stay up all night, the Starlite Drive-In Theatre is one of Wichita’s more nostalgic experiences. There aren’t very many places left that still have a drive-in theatre and we are lucky enough to be one of them. Not only does the drive-in have shows every night of the week, but they also frequently have special midnight showings up movies such as Transformers, Harry Potter, and Captain America.

Having just recently discovered the drive-in myself, I went twice in 2 weeks earlier this summer and intend to go back for more. On Fridays and Saturdays, you can go watch 3 movies for $8.00 per person, but you have to be a trooper to make it through all 3 because they don’t start until around 9:30 after the sun goes down! Granted, watching a movie is still just watching a movie, but there is something much more enjoyable about sitting outside under the stars and enjoying Hollywood. While there is a no alcohol policy, everyone is welcome to pack a cooler and bring their own food and beverages to enjoy throughout the evening. You can sit inside your car and listen to the movie through your radio or use the speakers provided by the theatre; you can pull out a few camper chairs and sit outside; or you can back up your truck with whatever furniture you pack (many bring couches or mattresses) and enjoy the movie that way!

Having gone twice now, here are a few tips and pointers:

• If you intend to show up for the first movie (you can show up for just the 2nd or 3rd, whatever you want) get there by 9pm so that you arrive early enough to pick the spot that you want. The lots fill up on the weekends a lot faster!
• If you show up for the 2nd or 3rd movies, park in the back and wait for everyone to leave from the previous movie before trying to find a spot.
• If you plan on sitting in chair outside of your vehicle, take a car, not an SUV or truck. Tall vehicles have fewer options for good parking spots due to visibility.
• Pack sandwiches, drinks and snacks in a cooler rather than eating before or eating at the snack bar. It’s like a picnic at night!
• We live in Kansas so it’s hot even after 9:30. If you don’t want to deal with the heat, go to the 2nd show; otherwise wear cool clothes but bring a jacket for cooler nights!
• After you eat, go to the snack bar for a funnel cake!!!
• If you are going to use your car radio, turn your key backwards to listen so that you don’t run-down your battery (or bring jumper cables!)
• Sleep in the day that you go! If you intend to stay to the end you won’t be getting home until after 3:30am!

The theatre has 2 screens going every night and there are different movies showing on each so be sure to check-out the showings before you go so that you know which screen you want to watch. This truly is a wonderful experience whether you are taking your family, going with friends, or having a date night. I highly recommend it to anyone in the area!

Here is their link for more information on drive-in theatres, snack bar prices, and what is showing.

About the author:

Megan Junk is an Activities Advisor at Wichita State University. She has lived in Illinois, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Hawaii, and Minnesota and is loving Wichita, Kansas. Outside of work, Meg enjoys traveling, watching Cubs baseball, watching movies at the Warren Theatre, and eating as much Olive Garden as her stomach will allow!

Dining Out with Pulse: Wichita Pizza Co.

So, you think you know where to find the best pizza in Wichita—Knolla’s, A.J.’s, Papa Murphy’s, or Il Vicino, right? Wrong. Opened last fall, Wichita Pizza Co. has quickly become my go-to location for great pizza that offers a combination of traditional favorites and innovative creations. Notwithstanding its wonderful toppings and creative pizza offerings, Wichita Pizza Co. has one feature common to all its pizzas that makes it superior to all others—the best pizza crust in town.

While everything on the menu is fantastic, I would be remiss if I didn’t recommend my favorite pizza selections. If you’re a fan of buffalo wings, try the Buffalo Chicken pizza. For an extra kick, ask for bacon. You can even request to have your favorite dipping sauce, ranch or bleu cheese, mixed into the sauce. On the other hand, if you’re craving something different, try the Canadian Bacon & Kraut pizza. The sweet, salty flavor of the Canadian bacon goes perfectly with the kraut.

Of course, pizza isn’t all that Wichita Pizza Co. offers. It has great appetizers, calzones and hoagies, as well. Not only that, but all of Wichita Pizza Co.’s selections are at an affordable price, ranging from $9.75 for a small cheese pizza to $18.99 for a large, specialty pizza. Finally, perhaps the most endearing part about Wichita Pizza Co. is the fact that it is a family run restaurant where the people are friendly, and the service is great. To view a menu, visit http://wichitapizzacompany.com. Eating options include both dine in and carry out.

Location:
1520 South Webb, #120
Wichita, Kansas 67207

About the author:
Brett Legvold enjoys long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners...ok, maybe not. How about: Brett is an attorney at Martin Pringle. Outside of work, Brett enjoys playing, watching, and debating anything and everything that has to do with sports, watching movies and TIVO'd shows, and spending quality time with his wife and child, a border collie.