🌾The Big Float

July 12, 2024 | Sign Up | Support Us

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Wichita!

Welcome to the Wichita Life Update that is like finding extra marshmallows in your lucky charms.

Let's get to it!

- Landon Huslig

NEWS

The Big Float

Big Float' brings awareness to Arkansas River

We don’t have mountains. We don’t have oceans. Heck, we don’t even have a lake (shout out El Do for holding that down).

But we do have a river.

We haven’t been shy about wanting Wichita to better utilize the Ar-Kansas River and this weekend is another chance for all of us to do just that.

The Big Float is tomorrow from 1pm to 5:30pm.

The Big Float is a river float and beach party on the Arkansas River in downtown Wichita put on by Wichita Clean Streams. The goal of the Big Float is to build support for improving river access and creating a river habitat for Wichitans.

The event includes live music, drinks, food, fun in the sun activities, and more. All ages are welcome and life jackets are required.

TOGETHER WITH THE CITY OF WICHITA

What do other cities do well?

The City of Wichita wants your feedback.

They are utilizing an ideation hub to help transform Wichita into a city we all love even more.

To start, they want to know your insight into what other cities do well.

You can submit your own idea as well as comment and vote (or downvote) on other ideas.

The current most popular ideas include:

Activating the River, Invest in a Light Rail Transit System, Maintain what we’ve already got.

LEARN MORE HERE

#WichitaLife

@wichitabyeb | You have to check out this story from EB about Connie Williams, owner of Sport Burger

Use #WichitaLife to get your post in the Wichita Life Update!

BUSINESS

Opening

Rent.Fun Lawn Games - Central Riverside Park (720 Nims) - Ribbon Cutting today 6/12 at 1pm
Jabo’s Liquid Lounge (also New Orleans-inspired food) - 3107 W Central (former Paradise Donut) - Now Open
Kyuramen / TBaar - 314 N Rock Road (behind Freddy’s) - Opening by end of July
JuhBa’s Officla BBQ - 3200 W 13th St - Now Open Wednesdays through Sundays

Closing

Chic Custom Tailoring & Alterations - Closing after four decades

Argentina’s Empanadas

The Great Food Truck Race is currently on the Food Network and our friends Chad and Carolina are lighting up the screen each Sunday.

If you missed it, here is a recap from the Eagle.

Tune in this Sunday on Food Network or head to the watch party at Hopping Gnome!

Who has the best burger in Wichita?

See who won the most liked burger in Wichita by EB’s bracket!

75 Years of Lincoln Heights Village

Congrats to the Lincoln Heights Village shopping center at Douglas and Oliver on 75 years of business!

Towne West

A tale as old as time. Kohan Retail Investment Group is going for a record on number of power shut offs as it was just shut down for the 6th time this year:

START UP NEWS

Kitchen Manager

Looking for a new opportunity in management in the restaurant industry? Want great benefits, strong team culture, and a good home-life balance? Another Broken Egg Cafe may be the answer! My friends at ABEC are looking to find someone who wants to get in the ground floor with a new restaurant group committed to offering upward mobility, without ever working nights!

If this sounds like you or someone you know, check out the job posting here.

Wizard’s Alley

Looking for a new place to geek out?

Right in the heart of downtown and end of Gallery Alley you’ll find a place to dive into your fandom of choice. Check out Wizard’s Alley Geek Store & Gaming Tavern.

WICHITA LIFE JOB BOARD

Are you looking for good help right here in Wichita? There is no better place than the Wichita Life Job Board, the only job board by Wichita, for Wichita.

We are extending our 50% off for job postings! Use code 50OFF to post your job today.

Check out a few of our recent job postings:

Kitchen Manager - Another Broken Egg Cafe ($45-50k annually)
Tree Maintenance Supervisor Forestry - Wichita Park & Recreation ($22.25 - $31.44 hourly)
Recreation Aide at Riverside Tennis Center - Wichita Park & Recreation ($10 - $14.13 hourly)
Tree Maintenance Worker II -Forestry - Wichita Park & Recreation ($19.28 - 27.75 hourly)
Manager Marketing, Events, and Corporate Partnerships - TapNPaddles ($35 - $75k annually)

LEARN MORE HERE

CIVIL

Historic Kansas Places

The Register of Historic Kansas Places just added another downtown Wichita building to the list:

McClellan Hotel at the southwest corner of William and Broadway aka “O’Rourke Title Building” was just added.

Millwood Park

Check out the brand new Millwood Park that just opened at 501 N. McLean blvd.

KTAG

The Kansas Turnpike is officially cashless as of July 1, which makes K-Tag that much better of a deal if you ever take the turnpike.

You can get your free KTAG at a pop up event on Monday (7/15) from 11am to 2pm at the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce.

LOCAL

Rest in Peace Rita

Some teachers teach and go home. Some coaches coach and go home.

Some teachers and coaches make an impact on their students that lasts a life time. Rita Frakes of Andover Central was one of those teachers.

Rita just lost her battle to cancer, but she will be remembered for making every person she talked to feel like the most special person in the world.

Sedgwick County Fair

The 80th annual Sedgwick County Fair just kicked off a couple of days ago and runs today and tomorrow.

Head to Cheney for a petting zoo, carnival, food, and commercial booths.

MTW Frozen

Experience the magic of Disney's Frozen live on stage at Music Theatre Wichita. I'm not sure if my daughter or I am more excited to go see Elsa and Anna this weekend. After touring the facilities last year, I have a whole new respect for what Music Theatre Wichita does. This is the final weekend, so don’t miss it!

Take a look at the work from local set designer.

Dog Park

There is a new dog park coming to Delano at Seneca and Douglas! Downtown is becoming more and more attractive for living.

316 Run Club

Do you like to run? But want a friend to run with?

Join the 316 Run Club (it’s very informal), just message their Instagram.

Blood Pressure Monitors

Did you know you can rent various items from the “Library of Things” at the Wichita Public Library? Things like blood pressure monitors.

ICT EXTRA

Best Fried Chicken

Where is the best fried chicken in Wichita (according to Yelp)?

Da’ Chicken Shak & More.

Kindness

The world could use more kindness.

We should take notes from Nora Ellis who was just recognized in the top 10 of a National Kindness Speech Competition.

Fireworks Incidents

There was a notable decrease in fires and injuries this year for the 4th of July, which comes in the same year Wichita was allowed to buy and shoot aerial fireworks.

Award Winning Bus Driver

Congrats to Dorothy Dorman who won the top prize for the National School Transportation Association’s School Bus Driver International Safety Competition!

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