Experiences, food, and events that help make Lawrence unmistakable
Lawrence, KS, February 21, 2020 – Lawrence, Kansas is a city happy to be what it is: a city doing things in its own way, with free thinkers not trying to be anyone else. Founded by pioneers driven to create a state where people of all races would be free, Lawrence has continually defined itself as an open, energetic and welcoming community. Quirky? Different? Unexpected? Yes! But more importantly, we invite you to define your own version of a city that offers an escape from the ordinary.
There are no shortage of new experiences, food, and events for visitors to enjoy on their next visit to this cool, artsy, historic college town. Here are a few to be excited about.
EXPERIENCES
Jayhawk Experience
Sports enthusiasts and fans are gaining access to Kansas Jayhawk sports facilities like never before through the brand new Jayhawk Experience. Guided tours with The Jayhawk Experience are a 90-minute experience that showcases many of Kansas Athletics’ venues and iconic exhibits, including the Booth Family Hall of Athletics, Allen Fieldhouse and Dr. Naismith’s Original Rules of “Basket Ball,” as well as Hoglund Ballpark, the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena and Anschutz Pavilion. An Experience Guide will deliver the story of the program’s rich history, traditions and celebrated student-athletes.
Interested in hosting an event in one of the University of Kansas’ athletic facilities? The Jayhawk Experience crew can help make that a reality as facility space is now available for rent for private events.
Jayhawk Experience is also bringing exciting events to the University’s athletic facilities. On April 25 the Jayhawk Experience is hosting Stadium Blitz in David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, home of Jayhawks Football. Stadium Blitz, presented by Rob Gronkowski and Gronk Nation, is designed to make the fun and empowering experience of obstacle course racing available to fitness enthusiasts of any level and children as young as seven years old.
RPG
Short for Restaurant – Pub – Games. With more than 1,000 board games available, a menu of nourishing comfort food, and handcrafted cocktails, RPG takes game night to a whole new level. RPG features 2 or 3 meads on tap supplied by Black Labs Mead, a craft meadery out of Olathe, Kansas. RPG hosts weekly events including Trivia Night and Adventurer’s League. An upstairs event space is available for private events.
Wonder Gallery
Wonder Fair in Downtown Lawrence has recently opened Wonder Gallery, a space dedicated to showcasing the work of local artists and art books at 15 West 9th Street. Wonder Fair’s flagship store at 841 Massachusetts Street is a home to art supplies, stationery, prints, gifts and more.
Lawrence Visitors Center
The Lawrence Visitors Center has relocated to the most popular tourist attraction in Kansas, Massachusetts Street. The space at 812 Massachusetts features brochures and publications for things to do in Lawrence and in Northeast Kansas, an interactive kiosk with the most up-to-date calendar of events and recommendations for places to eat, play, and stay. Travel Counselors are available to answer your questions and Lawrence souvenirs are for sale. The space also serves as an art gallery featuring a different local artist every month. New artists premier at the Visitors Center on the final Friday of each month when it is open late for Final Fridays Art Walk.
FOOD
Mama’s Tamale Shop
The owners of one of Lawrence’s go-to late night food establishments, Burrito King, has opened a new restaurant featuring an intriguing assortment of homemade tamales including vegan and vegetarian varieties. The restaurant also features a variety of empanadas and street tacos.
Ta Co.
Jay Draskovich has spent the last several years pleasing taste buds throughout the region from his food truck, Draskos. Now he has opened his first full-service restaurant in Downtown Lawrence. His restaurant features variations of the tacos that made his food truck such a hit. The tacos can be ordered as soft or puffy. Flavors include Fried Avocado, Korean Chicken, Shrimp & Caviar, and many others. A variety of tortas are also on the menu as well as a fun variety of margaritas.
Cheesy Street at Lucia
One of Kansas City’s favorite food trucks now has a kitchen inside of Lucia, a local bar and live music venue in Downtown Lawrence. Cheesy Street, which is still operating a food truck, has expanded it’s menu of grilled cheese and mac & cheese options for this new collaborative effort. Options include Buffalo Chicken, Bacon Jalapeno, Veggie and much more.
EVENTS
Paper Plains Literary Festival
2020 is the first year of an annual literary festival in Lawrence, Kansas called Paper Plains. Paper Plains is a collaborative, cross-media, diverse and inclusive literary festival celebrating authors and artists from the Plains and beyond. This annual event nurtures and showcases the literary landscapes of Lawrence, Kansas and the surrounding region through a variety of free programs for all ages. Featured authors include Colson Whitehead, Natalie Diaz, and Sarah Smarsh.
Encountering John Brown Traveling Exhibit
In pre-Civil War America, a bloody conflict over slavery was far from a foregone conclusion. John Brown helped change that. “Encountering John Brown,” a traveling exhibition from Overland Traveling Exhibits, explores the story of one of 19th century America’s most complicated figures through the encounters he had with other important figures of the time, including Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass, and Robert E. Lee. The exhibition will make its debut at the Union Pacific Depot in Lawrence, Kansas from August 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020. The exhibit will tour the United States through 2025. “Encountering John Brown” was developed, designed, built, and toured by Overland Traveling Exhibit. Founding institutions include the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence, Kansas.
