If this will be your first trip to L-town, prepare to enjoy. But don’t write home about it–Lawrence is a well-kept secret. A treasure. Below are some of my favorite spots in town. Most are an easy walk from the Eldridge Hotel or the Marriott. Parking is plentiful (and a dreaded parking ticket will only run you $2.)
A full and happy Joe outside Milton's Cafe in 2008.
If you’re hungry on Saturday morning, head over to Wheatfields Bakery and Cafe. It’s right around the corner from The Eldridge at 904 Vermont Street. They open at 6:30 am and offer a full spread of breakfast delights. The scones and omelets both rank as special. If you’re a french toast type–head down to 920 Massachusetts Street to Milton’s. There might be a line–it’s worth it.
Other great coffee stops include La Prima Tazza, The Bourgeois Pig (they serve booze, too), and The Java Break. The Java Break is open all day and night. They have high speed internet and a cereal bar.
Now: the shopping. It’s overwhelming. There are so many fantastic places. Just explore. Not to miss:
Goldmakers Jewlery
Waxman Candles
Love Garden Records
The Raven Bookstore
Sunflower Outdoor and Bike
Au Marche
Phoenix Gallery
The Bay Leaf
Should hunger strike again around lunchtime, I recommend Aladdin’s Cafe for fallafel. Sustainable food enthusiasts can enjoy some local, organic Kansas fare at Local Burger at 7th and Vermont–just around the corner from the Eldridge. Also right in the neighborhood–a Lawrence institution–Free State Brewery. Their website seems to be down, but the onion rings endure.
And I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t know where to look for sweets:
Sylas and Maddies Homemade Ice Cream
Penny Annie’s Sweet Shoppe
But what if the weather stinks and walking around seems like a bad idea?
Right across the street from the Eldridge, there’s a great independent movie house. They’re only usually showing two things, but they’re usually both good–AND!–there are angels painted on the ceiling of the main theatre. The snack bar serves Free State brews and popcorn.
The University of Kansas Campus, just up The Hill from downtown is home to a few great museums. The Spencer Museum of Art at 1301 Mississippi Street houses special collections in medieval art; European and American paintings, sculpture and prints; photography; Japanese Edo-period painting and prints; 20th-century Chinese painting.
The Natural History Museum is right across the way from the chapel where we’re tying the knot. I haven’t been there in years, but I seem to remember a fantastic working bee hive and some animatronic prairie dogs.
