What's changed in Lawrence, KS in the past 10 years
May 12, 2011 11:33 AM Subscribe
What's changed in Lawrence, KS since 2001-ish?
I'm going to be in Lawrence for the next several days.
It's been about 10 years since I've lived here, so I'm wondering about the new things around town - restaurants, businesses, buildings, traffic signals, whatever.
I'm with a two year old, so bars/clubs are probably out, but feel free to drop them in anyway, maybe I'll find a babysitter.
I'm going to be in Lawrence for the next several days.
It's been about 10 years since I've lived here, so I'm wondering about the new things around town - restaurants, businesses, buildings, traffic signals, whatever.
I'm with a two year old, so bars/clubs are probably out, but feel free to drop them in anyway, maybe I'll find a babysitter.
I'm a college student so I've only been here a few years, but here's some things that have changed while I'm here:
Of course, restaurants come and go like crazy in Lawrence. However, the restaurant I like the best is The Burger Stand, moved from Dempsey's to the Casbah and probably the best in taste and value.
They've also revamped Potter's Lake, it doesn't smell anymore.
If you're still in Lawrence late May and interested in art, Final Fridays have started up.
posted by xinglin91 at 12:17 PM on May 12, 2011
Of course, restaurants come and go like crazy in Lawrence. However, the restaurant I like the best is The Burger Stand, moved from Dempsey's to the Casbah and probably the best in taste and value.
They've also revamped Potter's Lake, it doesn't smell anymore.
If you're still in Lawrence late May and interested in art, Final Fridays have started up.
posted by xinglin91 at 12:17 PM on May 12, 2011
Bucky's went out of business. They have built a wetland across from the real wetland that the owner of the journal world wants to cover in a freeway.
posted by pickypicky at 12:23 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by pickypicky at 12:23 PM on May 12, 2011
Response by poster: If you'll have a car and are sincere in your desire to see new buildings/traffic lights
I totally am. I've already come across a few stop signs that didn't exist back then. heh.
Campus has also seen some change: there's a new sports complex near Memorial Stadium, a new hotel on Oread where The Crossing/Yello Sub/the Glass Onion used to be
I'm actually in that hotel. My window looks out over what I'm assuming is the new sports complex at the bottom of the hill. There's a crane over on West Campus by the looks of it as well.
Bucky's went out of business.
I saw that, no more drive-thru shakes, I guess. Kids today don't know what they're missing!
If you're still in Lawrence late May and interested in art, Final Fridays have started up.
I'm afraid I'll miss that by a few weeks, as well as the Farmer's Market they have on Tuesdays, apparently.
posted by madajb at 1:08 PM on May 12, 2011
I totally am. I've already come across a few stop signs that didn't exist back then. heh.
Campus has also seen some change: there's a new sports complex near Memorial Stadium, a new hotel on Oread where The Crossing/Yello Sub/the Glass Onion used to be
I'm actually in that hotel. My window looks out over what I'm assuming is the new sports complex at the bottom of the hill. There's a crane over on West Campus by the looks of it as well.
Bucky's went out of business.
I saw that, no more drive-thru shakes, I guess. Kids today don't know what they're missing!
If you're still in Lawrence late May and interested in art, Final Fridays have started up.
I'm afraid I'll miss that by a few weeks, as well as the Farmer's Market they have on Tuesdays, apparently.
posted by madajb at 1:08 PM on May 12, 2011
Oh yeah, the pharmacy building on West Campus was recently completed.
The farmer's market is also open Saturday morning from 7-11 am, between 8th and 9th on New Hampshire.
posted by xinglin91 at 1:28 PM on May 12, 2011
The farmer's market is also open Saturday morning from 7-11 am, between 8th and 9th on New Hampshire.
posted by xinglin91 at 1:28 PM on May 12, 2011
Pachamama's moved downtown. It's got a nifty bar area (the Star Bar), so if you're able to make it out for a(n expensive) drink go there. If you want fancy-pants tacos go to Esquina. That's the Krauses' new endeavor.
Free State opened up an expanded brewery on the east side. They're having a party this coming Sunday, should be fun. Here's the announcement from their newsletter:
The Saturday Farmer's Market changed location, it's now in a parking lot east of New Hampshire St., just south of 8th St.
Had the T started up while you were here? Well, it's still here despite a push by city council members to kill it. Take your kids for a bus ride, wee.
The public library will get an expansion in a couple years, so come back in 2014 or 2015 to check it out.
posted by cog_nate at 1:32 PM on May 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Free State opened up an expanded brewery on the east side. They're having a party this coming Sunday, should be fun. Here's the announcement from their newsletter:
SUNDAYAlso, since they opened that location they're making all sorts of crazy and fantastic beers at the downtown location. Pay them a visit, tell them Nate sent you, try the saison.
Come by our Eastside Brewery for an open house on Sunday, May 15th from 1-3 in the afternoon. There’ll be beer, brats, burgers, music, and a chance to talk with the brewers and tour the brewing and bottling facility in east Lawrence. String band music provided by the guys in Old Fangled. The brewery is alongside the Burroughs Creek trail, so bike or hike to 1923 Moodie Road.
The Saturday Farmer's Market changed location, it's now in a parking lot east of New Hampshire St., just south of 8th St.
Had the T started up while you were here? Well, it's still here despite a push by city council members to kill it. Take your kids for a bus ride, wee.
The public library will get an expansion in a couple years, so come back in 2014 or 2015 to check it out.
posted by cog_nate at 1:32 PM on May 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: nate - They had decided on the name for the T. Despite not having buses. Or funding.
The Free State event sounds like fun, will dropping your name get me a free beer? heh.
posted by madajb at 3:55 PM on May 12, 2011
The Free State event sounds like fun, will dropping your name get me a free beer? heh.
posted by madajb at 3:55 PM on May 12, 2011
I have made two work trips there recently, and a few more coming up, but coming from the East Coast (and having been raised in the midwest), I was very impressed with Lawrence. And, yes, the downtown was really nice and seemed to really be buzzing. Went to the Free State brewery, awesome brew -can't remember the name of one that I had, but great atmosphere. Plan on heading back downtown when I visit again.
Also, I noticed that it generally looked really "clean" while driving around the city.
posted by foxhat10 at 5:53 PM on May 12, 2011
Also, I noticed that it generally looked really "clean" while driving around the city.
posted by foxhat10 at 5:53 PM on May 12, 2011
The Free State event sounds like fun, will dropping your name get me a free beer? heh.
Maybe, it's worth a shot. I'll probably be there for a little while, but I have to work Sunday afternoon and evening so at best I'll have a brat.
Other things I forgot last time:
That multi-use trail the Free State announcement mentioned is pretty new and a very nice way to get downtown via bike (if you're in east Lawrence).
Like rebekah said, there's been a ton of development out on the west side. There's now a second high school in town, just northeast of 6th and Wakarusa.
The arts center moved into a new building in 2002. It's on New Hampshire now, just south of 9th.
Oh, and there are probably have been a few new Rockhilll homes built since 2001. I know the screen house is new, and it's just south of KU on Louisiana St. They're neat to look at.
posted by cog_nate at 6:27 PM on May 12, 2011
Maybe, it's worth a shot. I'll probably be there for a little while, but I have to work Sunday afternoon and evening so at best I'll have a brat.
Other things I forgot last time:
That multi-use trail the Free State announcement mentioned is pretty new and a very nice way to get downtown via bike (if you're in east Lawrence).
Like rebekah said, there's been a ton of development out on the west side. There's now a second high school in town, just northeast of 6th and Wakarusa.
The arts center moved into a new building in 2002. It's on New Hampshire now, just south of 9th.
Oh, and there are probably have been a few new Rockhilll homes built since 2001. I know the screen house is new, and it's just south of KU on Louisiana St. They're neat to look at.
posted by cog_nate at 6:27 PM on May 12, 2011
Ah, hell, there's a few other things.
Boog, when he was mayor, proclaimed that Lawrence would celebrate International Dadaism Month -- a month consisting of 13 non-consecutive days.
There's a smoking ban, excluding one or two exempted downtown hookah joints.
West Campus has had a bit of a boom. There's a new multi-disciplinary research building (Mr. B! No seriously, it was nicknamed that during the design and fundraising phases), and a library annex where library books are stored.
The Merc underwent a renovation and is even better now.
posted by cog_nate at 6:46 PM on May 12, 2011
Boog, when he was mayor, proclaimed that Lawrence would celebrate International Dadaism Month -- a month consisting of 13 non-consecutive days.
There's a smoking ban, excluding one or two exempted downtown hookah joints.
West Campus has had a bit of a boom. There's a new multi-disciplinary research building (Mr. B! No seriously, it was nicknamed that during the design and fundraising phases), and a library annex where library books are stored.
The Merc underwent a renovation and is even better now.
posted by cog_nate at 6:46 PM on May 12, 2011
715 is an astonishing new restaurant at 715 Mass. Tons of locally-sourced ingredients, food to die for. Truly, truly amazing. Please try the brussels sprouts and the chestnut ravioli if you go.
posted by donnagirl at 7:02 PM on May 12, 2011
posted by donnagirl at 7:02 PM on May 12, 2011
Seconding Ingredient. Local Burger might have opened after you left. I think. Love Garden moved down the street and downstairs but is still very awesome and probably has some of the same people there.
I was downtown last weekend and noticed a lot of vacant buildings. The recession may be taking its toll. I try to visit every couple of months. It seems like a lot changes, and fast. Try not to get too upset about the new Wal-Mart on 6th and Wakarusa and all the little bits of Johnson County creeping up around the edges.
Free State keeps getting better and better. Now you can buy it in bottles in addition to growlers.
posted by J0 at 8:39 PM on May 12, 2011
I was downtown last weekend and noticed a lot of vacant buildings. The recession may be taking its toll. I try to visit every couple of months. It seems like a lot changes, and fast. Try not to get too upset about the new Wal-Mart on 6th and Wakarusa and all the little bits of Johnson County creeping up around the edges.
Free State keeps getting better and better. Now you can buy it in bottles in addition to growlers.
posted by J0 at 8:39 PM on May 12, 2011
Response by poster: I was downtown last weekend and noticed a lot of vacant buildings. The recession may be taking its toll. I try to visit every couple of months. It seems like a lot changes, and fast. Try not to get too upset about the new Wal-Mart on 6th and Wakarusa and all the little bits of Johnson County creeping up around the edges.
There seem to be more restaurants and less stores downtown. A few vacant storefronts but still pretty lively.
I did notice some of the californication but that's "progress", I guess.
posted by madajb at 7:23 AM on May 13, 2011
There seem to be more restaurants and less stores downtown. A few vacant storefronts but still pretty lively.
I did notice some of the californication but that's "progress", I guess.
posted by madajb at 7:23 AM on May 13, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you'll have a car and are sincere in your desire to see new buildings/traffic lights, drive out by 6th and Wakarusa—there's been a ton of new development, including a new Walmart. (Yay?) More fun would be walking down Mass and just peeking your head in new shops, etc. The Borders on the corner of 7th and New Hampshire apparently just closed, and the other half of the block has a giant, new-ish condo/apartment building in place of the giant tree that used to be there, but there are also happier new things to check out.
Campus has also seen some change: there's a new sports complex near Memorial Stadium, a new hotel on Oread where The Crossing/Yello Sub/the Glass Onion used to be, and a new fountain at 13th & Oread, among other things.
Have fun!
posted by rebekah at 12:04 PM on May 12, 2011