Topeka’s guide to art, entertainment, lifestyle + local flavor
toPeKa’s guide to aRt, enteRtainment, liFestyle + local FlavoR
Vol. V Issue VII April 15 - May 31, 2011
vol. v Issue vIII • June 1 - July 15
collect me
FRee! Rev me
New Urban Cuisine + Martini Bar Come down to Bosco’s M-F and try our $7 daily lunch special or enjoy a 1/2 price hand-crafted pizza from 11a - noon.
[on the cover]
toPeKa’s guide to aRt, enteRtainment, liFestyle + local FlavoR
vol. v Issue vIII • June 1 - July 15
John Holcomb Artist / Illustrator johnholcomb.com
Reggae Revolution FRom Kingston to Kansas
Pow Wow savvy ResPect the Ritual
arty Party 2010 histoRy + modeRnity Wed doWntoWn
M - W: 11a - 3p | R + F 11a - 10p | S: 5 - 10 p
2 3 2 .6 7 2 6 | 5th + Kansas FRee! Rev me
seveneightfive is a free lifestyle magazine highlighting entertainment, art, local businesses + more in Topeka.
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Disclaimer: seveneightfive strives for accuracy in all of our materials, regrets errors, but cannot be held responsible. We recommend contacting venues to confirm dates and events (sometimes they change).
r
p
seveneightfive magazine June 1 - July 15, 2011 Vol. V Issue VIII
Publisher/Owner
Kerrice Mapes kerrice@sevneightfive.com
features editor
Leah Sewell leah@seveneightfive.com
Poetry Editor
Marketing Specialist
Rio Cervantes-Reed rio@seveneightfive.com
Advertising
Kerrice Mapes + Rio Cervantes-Reed
Illustrations
Aymen Ghali Amanda Reynolds
Layout + Design
Kerrice Mapes Leah Sewell
writers
Amber Bonnett Robin Cremer Dennis Etzel Jr. Cale Herreman Larissa Keller Kerrice Mapes Gary Piland Matt Porubsky Rio Cervantes-Reed Melissa Sewell Macie Smith Tom Wah Janice Watkins Erin Wynkoop
photography
Lydia Barnhart Tiffany Bonnewell EJ Drake Adam Koger Colin MacMillan Matt Porubsky
Distribution
Rio Cervantes-Reed Larissa Keller
Business
Liz Bell
Bar WArs
Jared Hitchens
[ in this issue ] 2 the shack effect
The simplicity of a good hamburger at The Shack.
4 killer customs Topeka car culture
14 topeka tejano
5Q with Paradize band
16 prepare to scream
Slash and Bash film festival is back.
17 new topeka
It’s a new brand of Topeka pride.
20 lit w/Al Ortolani 23 culinary blend
O’Dooley’s kicks off a menu update with savory dishes from the Brick Oven Courtyard Grille.
24 on the house
Topeka bars give back in an intro to our new column: “on the house.” Be philantrhopic and have a beer too.
26 mad eliza’s
A Topeka baker with a wild side.
Overhear something funny out-and-about tweet it here: @785heardnoted Events we support: #ffaw | #topcitythursday
Weekender Editors
Alice C. Hunt + Rio Cervantes-Reed
@seveneightfive
Dennis Etzel Jr. poemslyrical@yahoo.com
magazine
thursdays | downtown topeka | 5 - 8 pm Retail Shops • Vendors • Local Flavor • Music & Entertainment Use the QR Code or visit TopCityThursday.com for a weekly list of events, TCT news, a map and more!
Use hashtag #topcitythurs
$25 MEMBERSHIPS FIT JUST RIGHT jayhawktheatre.com
Brought to you by a partnership of Downtown Topeka, Inc. and seveneightfive magazine downtowntopekainc.com | seveneightfive.com
A Topeka Favorite.
DAILY SPECIALS MON. Includes non-alcoholic beverage of choice | Add One Side for $1.99 baCon, ranCh SandwiCh $6.99 TUES. Turkey, Choice of Bread and One Side .45 hoT wingS WED. $Minimum Order of Five | Choice of BBQ or Hot Sauce THURS. open FaCed roaST beeF SandwiCh $6.99 oz. SpeCialTy FiSh $10.99 FRI. 8Choice of Two Sides Cuban SandwiCh $5.99
a high style home furnishings store with an eclectic mix of new designs, antiques and vintage pieces...
with a new online storefront
www.warehouse414.com 414 south east second street | 785.232.8008 Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 11a - 5:30 p By chance or appointment 2
- Offering a unique lunch, dinner and catering menu - LIVE entertainment - Historic atmosphere
- Home of the greatest steaks in Topeka - Kid friendly menu and atmosphere - Full bar and wine list
ORDER ONLINE www.kansangrill.com
Mon. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. | 705 S. KanSaS ave. | 785.233.0086
menu proclamation
the Shack effect
The Shack Bar & Grill 2842 SE 29th St. Kitchen open till 10:30 pm
b y L y l e Va u g h n • p h o t o b y L y l e Va u g h n
Mon. - Sat.; till 9 p.m. Sun.
T
he thing about burgers is that they’re pretty easy to screw up. We’ve all gotten the grey, slimy things from the drive-thru window, the half-cooked meatwads your neighbor tried to force you to eat last summer at their last get-together, the charred mess dripping with ketchup from the place your friend just swears by. But when a place gets it right, there are few things better on a summer day. Or any day, really. My father-in-law couldn’t believe I’d never been to The Shack. Apparently, it’s an institution around town that I’ve been missing out on. So, recently, we went down to make sure I was among the initiated. The Shack is a place that gets it right. They focus on the right areas—the food and the service—instead of trying to fill the walls with kitschy crap or figure out cute names for their appetizers. The menu is simple, the burgers are hot and delicious. I opted for the plain old hamburger and fries, but my fatherin-law swears by the double cheeseburger—add jalapenos—and onion rings. The thing was massive and I’m surprised he finished it. It’s easy to see why he likes it so much, but the fact that it’s so underappreciated is absolutely mystifying. In a city replete with burger joints, it’s easily among the best, so the next time you’re heading out for a day at the lake or catching a Golden Giants game, make The Shack a part of your stop. You’ll definitely be back. aseveneightfive
“They focus on the right areas - the food and the service - instead of trying to fill the walls with kitschy crap or figure out cute names for their appetizers.”
deliciously evolving...
785.235.1700
www.RowHouseRestaurant.net 3
feature
killer customs Topeka car culture
“One of the best things about beer is the community it creates...”
b y J a n i c e Wa t k i n s • p h o t o s b y E J D r a k e
a certified “car killer” goes looking under hoods in downtown Topeka
the keys to the kingdom .
M
y father once called me a “car killer.”
He sneered at me with those nasty, green eyes and his untrimmed mustache that crooked around his lips and breathed in a huff of hot breath. “Janice Lyn, you are a car killer. I can’t trust you with these keys,” he snarled, jangled them in front of my darting eyes, kicked the hubcap I had knocked loose from his Pontiac hours before and finished the dramatic speech with a mumble of “certified car killer...” Perhaps he was right. I was itching to get my license and escape that always snarling mustache that mocked me from across our country cabin. I was aching to be out of the rural dullness and into the city lights. Once I had that small, laminated rectangle in hand it was over. I was done. I was driving and never looking back. I was driving without checking oil, gas levels, traveling distance between other vehicles or the proximity of my car to the curb. Yes, “car killer” seemed appropriate. For me, the car was a means to escape, to get from point nowhere to point everywhere - a tool, a regular household item. I have never put much thought into signing the title to a new vehicle. It’s as if the car knows our unwritten contract - get me where I need to go, I will remember to service you every five months, give or take, and I will drive you until there are 180,000 miles on your odometer if you obey. A true contract of convenience.
Gangster Love .
L
uis “Fernie” Muñoz wipes his brow as he carries steaming plates of hot enchiladas to a side table at his family-owned and operated restaurant, “Lupita’s.” Each time he passes by the register at the front of the restaurant he spies the candy paint and silver flakes that occupied five years of his life. He catches the girl trapped in the moon, surrounded by her falling tears and the gangster that yearns from afar, knowing he and his soul mate will never be. The tears of the girl in the moon mirror the tears that Muñoz wants to shed when passing by one of the remaining pieces of what was once known as “Gangster Love.” Munoz has never been deemed a, “car killer.” His eyes illuminate when he remembers a hot summer day, as a young child where he treaded pavement at the popular Fiesta Mexicana parade, when a ‘65 Impala with hydraulics passed by and as it raised or lowered he caught the glimpse of the cartoon mouse. Mighty or Mickey - not important, but the effect on the young Muñoz and the suit of the mouse as the perfected machine raised and lowered, still induces a memory of , “Wow,” to this day. Building and perfecting cars became something of a lifestyle as Muñoz grew older. “It would be nothing for me to go out and spend $1500 on a part or an accessory,” Muñoz sighs.
Muñoz spent five years erecting what would eventually become the custom painted, side-to-side hydraulicbearing, all original, “Gangster Love.” continued on page 6 >>
“You can see immediately he is proud of ‘Olivia’ - his ’81 Cutlass Supreme.” >> continued from previous page
He spent five years erecting what would eventually become the custom painted, side-to-side hydraulic-bearing, all original, “Gangster Love.” “Anyone can build a car. To me personally, it’s an extension of your soul, your inner self. You can’t turn yourself inside out and show what’s inside, but your car can reveal that piece of you,” Muñoz spews with fists pumping and a redness in his eyes while catching a glimpse of the hood that was custom airbrushed to reflect Muñoz’s vision. Accompanying the moon-torn lovers are pictures of each of the cars that were once member cars in the iconic, “Latino Dreams,” car club. Partially founded by Muñoz, along with his brothers, a Wichita-based chapter caught attention of what the group of Topekans was doing and Lowrider magazine even came to photograph and feature Muñoz’s brother, Martin’s car. “The Golden Aztec.”
Just as “Gangster Love” was taken apart, the club members of the “Latino Dreams” car club disbanded - “went their own way”, according to Muñoz about ten to twelve years ago, closing a long chapter for the members and dimming the light on Topeka car art for a decade. “It depends on the person, what type [of car] you get,” Muñoz laughs, staring at his own inked-arms. “It’s just like a tattoo - to each their own.”
Olivia . I have stopped listening to seveneightfive photographer EJ lecture about how to identify a muscle car from a lowrider. I am not catching on to this wheel-height science. In fact, for about three blocks, he is probably not aware that I have been stepping in tandem to the “boo boo boo boo” of the lowrider chorus that has been playing in my head. We have been muscling the pavement at the Downtown Topeka Cruise Night for an hour or more and I am tired and cranky that my diet did not allow me to jump in line for a funnel cake. Near 12th and Kansas I am on the verge of tears, from frustration and the growing blisters on my feet, when I spot the apple-candy paint from the corner of my eye. It is beautiful. Chris Carson saunters up to us while we wipe the saliva from the corners of our mouth. You can see immediately that he is proud of “Olivia” - his ‘81 Cutlass Supreme. With a love of all things
cars, working at a local body shop by day, Carson set out to build a certain type of car, starting with the year. Selecting an Oldsmobile was easy, as he always loved the make and wanted to start from 1981, a particularly good year for Carson - the year of his birth. Carson set out on his journey, keeping tabs on trends of car-rebuilds from the Southern styles to the local flavor.
Over five years, 200 hours later and countless late nights, Carson’s finished product, “Olivia,” named after his grandmother, paid off with “Best in Class” and “Best in Show” prizes at the Washburn Institute of Technology show last year, later moving on to take third in his class at the World of Wheels show. I senselessly blurt to Carson that I think Olivia is “pretty” and am sure that I have offended him and his car expertise. He just smiles and takes it in stride as the compliment it was intended to be. I recall Muñoz and the look in his eyes when he talked of “Latino Dreams” and wonder about Carson, all of his talent and the youth to match the playful exterior look of his prize-winning car. I question him about starting a club and he easily replies. “I’m in my own club - just me, myself and I.” And Olivia, I’m sure. aseveneightfive
tweet your heard + noteds
(funny stuff you hear others say while you are out-and-about)
/seveneightfive @seveneightfive
seveneightfive .com weekender email
stay in touch.
@785heardnoted (or #) Why is she still talking? She hurts my ears! @ the Celtic Fox What’s the problem here? It’s string cheese that’s fried. @ College Hill I should be a YouTube sensation. @Lucky Dog’s That metal show was like Elton John for gay guys. @ The Lazy Toad Get back over here! I need a drinking partner! @ Lucky Dog’s c o m p i l e d b y E r i n Wy n k o o p illustration by Amanda Reynolds
Chugging a 4Loko before taking Jager bombs was the worst idea of my life @ Bullfrogs I partied so hard my “check liver” light came on @ Pigskins Any chance I can buy you a cocktail? I’ve never met someone I couldn’t get used to. @ The 20’s
heard + noted 7
seen + noted |
LOCAL
by Rio Cer vantes-Reed • photo by Adam Koger
FLAVOR sub tropiXS
909 N. Kansas Ave.
margie’s
a Wanamaker gem by Rio Cervantes-Reed photos by Lydi a B ar n har t
“Have you been here before?” Sub TropiXS is new to Topeka, located in the heart of the NOTO Arts District. “No,” I answered, and I was schooled on ordering a sandwich made just for me at this above-average sub shop. But, I wasn’t here for “the best sandwich under the sun.” Hi, my name is seveneightfive, and I’m a crushed ice-aholic. I wanted a Snowie. With a cup of crushed ice in hand, I was directed to the Flavor Station. I opted for the Pina Colada, choosing from Dragon’s Blood, Watermelon, Cherry and more. Much more. The Caribbean music piped out to the sidewalk and into the shop will tip off that you’re somewhere special. The flip-flops nailed to the wall inspire you to get lost in Nathan Ham’s tropical photography. The virtual surfboard invites you to take pictures and post them to the Sub TropiXS Facebook page. We loved the game tokens we received with our order for the Jurassic Park pinball machine. aseveneightfive
An alternative to Wanamaker’s chains, Margie’s Cafe serves made-from-scratch fresh-baked pastries, breakfast and sandwiches, with meats roasted daily on-site. Located at 5999 SW 22nd Park, facing Wanamaker, this little gem also serves PT’s Coffee, a sure sign of quality. seveneightfive loves the fluffy biscuits served with creamy gravy dotted with sausage crumbles and the baked french toast. And never wanting to be far from our web-friends, we also love the free WiFi. Hours: Opens daily at 6:30am, closes at 9pm Sunday through Thursday, open until 11pm on Friday and Saturday. aseveneightfive
GYRO
+ a full tank of gas story + photo by Rio Cervantes-Reed
W
ith high fuel prices, visiting a gas station may not be your favorite activity. However, you might be surprised that you can fill up your belly at a fair price with some pretty good dining fare. And I’m not talking gizzards and pork rinds. Although those are good, too. There’s been a lot of buzz lately on Twitter about gyros at the Quick Stop at 29th and Randolph. My Kia was running low, and I was hungry, so I headed over. A large yellow “Boyles” sign out front advertised, “Gyro, fries and soda, $4.99.” It was a late lunch, so my fingers were crossed. “Yes, I’d like a ‘yee-ro,’” unsuredly using the pronunciation that was pounded into my head by an arrogant law school boyfriend years ago. Luckily the guy the behind the counter knew what I was asking for, and a second man nodded and ran to a back room. I took the opportunity to remove the pump from my car, and went back in to look around. The east wall featured foods from Middle Eastern countries, but what gained my fixation was an arrangement of bright blue labeled jars filled with what I thought was marshmallow cream. I suddenly craved a Fluffernutter-Peanut Butter sandwich. Reading the label though provided an education. In addition to the Arabic spelling of its contents, it also stated, “Queso blanco,” revealing it’s cheesy origin, a relative to the all-American CheezWhiz. I shortly returned to the bullet-proof window just as the gentleman reappeared from the backroom, gyro in hand. “I made this especially for you.” Ooh! I went out to my car, pumped up the a/c and dug in. The gyro was scrumptious. The flat bread was soft and warm, the meat thinly shaved. I dipped my fries into
seconds please.... If you haven’t been to Tuptim Thai lately, just go there. Do it now. The restaurant’s new location is 220 SW 29th St. - Great decor and
the hot sauce and immediately cooled my tongue on another bite of gyro, with its cucumber-yogurt sauce. Nirvana, pure nirvana. I went back into the gas station. I needed more information. I spoke with the man who made my gyro. His name is Tuny and he said he was here from Italy. “Italy? What brings you to Topeka?” Tuny shared that he was a chef in Italy for five years, and came to America for the opportunity to own his own business. I asked about the hot sauce. It had the look and almost the taste of an Asian hot sauce with which I was too familiar. “It’s my own recipe, it’s a secret.” All the more intriguing. “The meat, is it lamb?” I asked with my guilty meat-eating eyes. “It’s lamb and beef.” I saw the spit behind him from which the meat was shaved, and wondered how this happened. But it was so delicious, I decided not to ask. Just enjoy it for what it is, a delicious, easy to eat mix of flavors that you won’t find anywhere else in Topeka. Gyros are served at the Quick Stop from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Get yours. aseveneightfive
some changes or insiders news on restaurants that local foodies should know about
more spacious. New to the menu is a weekly offering of appetizer and entree. If you see the wontons offered, don’t hesitate. Order them.
The Break Room serves Tapas every Thursday. Tapas is Spanish appetizers or small plates meant to share. Our favorites include the
mushrooms and crabstuffed tomatoes. RowHouse Restaurant: uses herbs grown in their garden and has a lovely table located out back.
Be adventurous and book this table when the weather permits.
food including owner Todd’s family recipes for meatloaf sandwiches.
The Lazy Toad, Topeka’s newest club in Fairlawn Plaza mall has great
The Copper Oven is reopened, 5421 SW 21st St.
9
events around town
|seen + noted
just a few fun events to check out over the next six weeks. Get weekly events sent to your inbox via the s e v e n e i g h t f i v e We e k e n d e r . S i g n u p o n l i n e or use the QR Code to the left.
T
CRUSH ERS
he Capital City Crushers are lacing up for a bout with the ICT Roller Girls from Wichita, Kan. and if there’s ever been a time to check out a match - this is it. The Crushers are in top form and ready to kick some Wichita tail. The bout takes place, as always, at the Sk8 Away rink, 815 Fairlawn, Saturday June 11. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the bout starts at 7pm. The entry price is $10 for adults, $8 for kids. Advance tickets are available at Sk8 Away for $8 adults and $6 kids. Check out some major bruises, get your soda fountain fix and cheer on Top City’s toughest chicks. aseveneightfive
savor what’s here Savor Kansas celebrates 150 years of Kansas through arts, entertainment and special events. Everything seveneightfive is all about. So grab your insert or go online to savorkansas.com and don’t miss out on this once-in150-years celebration of Kansas.
logo by FryeAllen
Slash + Bash Film Fest Friday, 6/24 On the outdoor screen 9:00 pm – Lawrence Filmmaker Patrick Rea Presents two short films with Q&A – “Time’s Up Eve” & “Get Off My Porch” 10:00 pm – “Aliens (Special Edition)” Saturday, 6/25 The Break Room (Main Screen) 11:00 am – Ghostbusters 1:30 pm – War Of The Worlds (The Original) 3:30 pm – Insanitarium 5:00 pm – The Slash And Bash Short Film Contest 7:00 pm – The Descent 9:30 pm – Bonnie And Clyde Vs. Dracula with Q&A with KC Filmmaker Timothy Friend and actress Jennifer Friend Saturday, 6/25 Field Of Greens (Second Screen) 11:30 am – Monster Squad 1:30 pm – Night Of The Creeps 4:30 pm – Without Warning 6:30 pm – Scream 9:00 pm – Carrie Film titles and times subject to change. Read about the Slash + Bash film festival on page 16
11
a+e
seen + noted |
b y E r i n Wy n k o o p
T
he Mulvane Mountain/Plains Art Fair happens once a year, the first weekend of June, and is, as always, the best way to start the summer. Artists from all over the country, as well as our favorite locals come to celebrate art and sell their creations. Along with over 90 artists to peruse and schmooze with, this years featured musical guests Pastense, Bridges and John MacManamy will be entertaining throughout the weekend and there will be plenty of food vendors to keep you fueled for the day. Families can bring the kids, who get their very own tent and activities including mural painting and creating their own butterflies The 19th Annual Mulvane Mountain/Plains Art Fair will be held June 4th and 5th at Washburn University, rain or shine. Hours are 10am to 5pm Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased at the gate for $6 with children under 12 free. aseveneightfive
12
Ad Astra Theatre Ensemble | www.adastratheatre.com
theatre
fly with art
Beyond Therapy | A funny and popular play by Tony and Obie awards winner Christopher Durang. | Performances: June 2-4 at Warehouse 414. Reasons to be Pretty | A Tony-award nominated play by Neil Labute | Performances: June 23-25 at Blue Planet Cafe. Helen Hocker Center for the Performing Arts www.topeka.org/parksrec/hocker.shtml | 368.0191 Pippin | A tongue-in-cheek fairytale with music + lyrics by three-time Oscar winner Stephen Schwartz. Auditions: June 2, 9-4pm, for ages 14-18, with parts available for males and females. | Performances: June 24-July 10; Tickets go on sale June 6. The Secret Garden, Spring Version | A classic adapted by Marsha Norman from her Tony award-winning book. Auditions: June 3, 9-4pm, for ages 14-18, with parts available for males, females and a chorus. | Performances: July 22-31; Tickets go on sale July 5. Topeka Civic Theatre & Academy www.topekacivictheatre.com | 357.5211 The Boys Next Door | A touching comedy by Tom Griffin. Performances: June 3-25; Tickets on sale to general public May 24. Peter Pan | The musical adaptation of James M. Barrie’s Classic Story. | Performance: July 15-August 13; Tickets on sale to general public July 5
Scott Senn @ Bosco’s Friday nights
photo courtesy Jeff Davis/Music at the Market
Music @ the Market
by Robin Cremer • photos by Lydi a B ar n har t
D
rop into Bosco’s at 5th and Kansas every Friday night between 6:30 and 9:30 for an evening of laid back jazz and the keyboard expertise of Manhattan resident Scott Senn. Mixing standards and originals, Senn, a composer and multi-instrumentalist has been performing and arranging for over 30 years. If you’ve seen the film, “Elegy,” starring Ben Kingsley, Penelope Cruz and Dennis Hopper, you may have encountered some of his compositions. His piece, “Distant Rumour,” was featured in the 2008 motion picture. Describing a typical evening at Bosco’s, Scott said, “I would characterize the atmosphere as romantic. I play and sing lot of cool jazz ballads that lend themselves to quiet conversations and intimate exchanges. I write all the arrangements so they have my own personal style. It’s usually a very relaxing evening for people.” Stop by Scott’s website (scottsenn.cc) and check out his arrangements of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Black Orpheus, All of Me and Distant Rumour. Then head over to Bosco’s for an evening of Mr. Senn’s romantic keyboard wizardry. aseveneightfive
Music at the Market, in its second full year at the Downtown Topeka Farmers’ Market, is again underway. From 9 - 11 am each Saturday, local, regional and national acts will appear alongside the jellied jalapenos and the watermelon pyramids. Music at the Market 12th & Harrison, South of the Judicial Building Saturdays | 9 – 11 am A joint effort by Topeka Blues Society | Americana Music Academy | seveneightfive magazine | Capital District Project | Heartland Visioning
[ schedule]
entertainment subject to change. Some dates still TBA
May 28 | Snow Blind (classic rock) June 18 | J.L. Hall (singer songwriter) June 26 | The Argyll MacHaggis Memorial Pipes & Drums (bag pipers) July 2 | Buddy Flett (blues) July 16 | Bridges (folk/rock) August 20 | The Argyll MacHaggis Memorial Pipes & Drums (bag pipers) August 27 | Sam Billen (indie / alternative)
June 3 & July 1
13
5Q / Paradize
Performing the music from their youth, Tejano band Paradize is celebrating 35 years of music-making this year.
Topeka Tejano by Robin Cremer photos by Lydi a B ar n har t
G
rowing up in the Oakland neighborhood, with a career older than most of the upstarts usually featured in the pages of seveneightfive, the members of Paradize can keep you entertained for hours with stories from the road. Featuring vocational highlights (and lowlights) that include performing at the Surf Ballroom (the last venue Richie Valens played before his death), to watching their tour van go up in flames on the way home from a gig, these guerreros de camino just may be one of the last practitioners of the unique and wonderful style of Mexican music known as Tejano. Join me as the six members of Paradize share a snap shot view of the last three decades in the life of Topeka’s own venda del Tejano. And so it begins. What bands or musicians have influenced you? Roger Ortega (bass/vocals): I would say Little Joe y La Familia. He’s the guy who started it all. He’s like the godfather of Tejano music. Ray Ortega (guitar/lead vocals): The four brothers Arthur, Roger, Steve and myself, we all grew up in the 60’s and 70’s, so we incorporate a lot of Motown and a lot of rock music . . .but Roger is right, Little Joe is the first one who brought Tejano music to the forefront, with horns and keyboards and drums and percussion. Prior to that, it wasn’t that advanced. That’s where we picked it up. Ray Ayala (trumpet/keys): For me, Little Joe definitely, but Maynard Ferguson was a big influence.
(from left to right): Roger Ortega (bass/vocals), Ray Ayala (trumpet/keys), Ray Ortega (guitar/lead vocals), Arthur Ortega (drums/ vocals), Steve Ortega (trumpet/keys/guitar/vocals) and Tony Vargas (percussion/vocals). You recently released your new CD, Past Due. How is that being received? Steve Ortega (trumpet/keys/guitar/vocals): We almost sold out of our first batch (375) and that was really by word of mouth . . . and we have 10 or 11 left.
Roger: Even here in Topeka, I think we’re the only Mexican band in Kansas that’s ever played at Landon Arena . . . we played for a wedding there. Do you see any younger players coming up to replace you in this type of music?
Roger: They have a top ten on Picante radio stations and we were number five on the top ten, which is fantastic.
Roger: We were the ones to carry on the tradition when they left . . . but we’re at an age and there’s nobody left.
Arthur Ortega (drums/vocals): Some of the people down in Lubbock TX; they couldn’t believe it was a band out of Kansas, everybody thought it was a band out of Texas, ‘cause that’s the kind of music that grows down there.
Tony Vargas (percussionist/vocals): Kids growing up today, they got the interest in it, then all of a sudden, when they hear the new style of music, that catches their ears and they just lose interest in it.
What are some of American bands that you cover?
Arthur: Our dad had a group when we were little. He would come home and had some guys from Fort Riley that he knew. They’d come down to the house, and my dad would wake us up like at 10 or 11 o’ clock. And we were kids and we’d have our equipment set up downstairs, he’d wake us up, come on I want these guys to hear you play. And we actually started playing in bars with my dad when we’re like thirteen, fourteen. June 24 Joletta’s Steve: Our dad was a big influence on us four brothers, he’s the one 600 NW Paramore that got us all started when we were young. July 9 Fiesta Mexicana | Topeka Arthur: Whether we wanted to or not, through osmosis, we just absorbed it. aseveneightfive
All: Garth Brooks, Kool and the Gang, Earth Wind and Fire, Bryan Adams, Loverboy, Blues Brothers. Roger: I think that the big diversity is we’ve been together for so long, and we first started playing for weddings. It was more Mexican weddings, and we played Mexican music. As time went on, interracial marriages made us change our style. If a girl is marrying a white guy and he likes country, of course we provide country. DJs weren’t big back then, so we had to learn country. Are there any performances that particularly stand out in your memory? Arthur: We played the Wichita Cotillion, we were outside, in the stadium, and we played for about 5000 people.
see them live
prepare to
scream
Topeka’s Slash + Bash Festival back and bigger than ever.
T
he fifth annual Slash and Bash Horror/Sci-Fi Film Festival is slated for June 24 and 25 in downtown Topeka. Expanding to twice a year and now centered around The Break Room and Field of Greens, the festival is preparing this year to be better than ever.
I’m so grateful. I’m just thankful that I get do things like mow the lawn,” he said, laughing.
This would have been the sixth year for this Topeka-based, homegrown movie event, but founder and organizer Keith Van Sickle experienced a setback last year when he suffered a series of strokes, a lingering viral infection that landed him in the hospital in ICU and near death on at least two occasions.
“I started Slash and Bash because I noticed nobody in Kansas was running a horror film festival,” Van Sickle said. “I just think horror and science fiction do not get their due, whether it is in awards or box-office receipts. There are many talented filmmakers and actors in this underappreciated, but popular, genre.”
After more than a month of recovery at the Kansas Rehabilitation Hospital, Van Sickle was able to continue his recuperation at home while going to therapy at the hospital every day . “The strokes were so debilitating that when he first went into therapy, he couldn’t even speak or write his name,” family said. “He is so fortunate to have regained those abilities and so much more.” Nearly a year later, he still undergoes about three hours of therapy a week, he said, and continues to improve every day. He is grateful for all the people who visited him and supported him during his recovery. The ordeal has changed his perspective and now he relishes even the most mundane of tasks. “I have a better feeling about everything now. I look at everything differently, and
Van Sickle, who has worked as a film critic on radio, television and in print for the past 15 years, is healthy enough now that he and a group of organizers have decided to rekindle the festival he first created in 2005.
The first Slash and Bash Festival was only one day, and the screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho was extremely successful, he said. The following year, the event was expanded to two days.
by Elizabeth Page photos contributed
Lawrence filmmaker Patrick Rea will introduce his shorts, Time’s Up, Eve and Get Off My Porch, which are screening later this month at the Phoenix ComicCon. Newly released on Blu-ray and DVD, the 2008 film, Bonnie & Clyde vs. Dracula, by Kansas City filmmaker Timothy Friend, also will be shown during Slash and Bash. Friend and his wife, actress Jennifer Friend, will conduct a Q&A and sign autographs in conjunction with the screening. In addition to highlighting Kansas moviemakers, the festival will be highlighted by mainstream horror and sci-fi favorites such as Carrie, Scream, War of the Worlds
“I just think horror and science fiction do not get their due, whether it is in awards or box-office receipts.”
Slash and Bash has continued to grow over the years and has featured appearances by such special guests as actress Dee Wallace (ET, Cujo), stuntwoman Eileen Deitz (The Exorcist) and cast members from the Halloween franchise and Night of the Living Dead. In 2009, Van Sickle brought Adrienne Barbeau (Swamp Thing, The Fog, Escape From New York) to Topeka as the special festival guest, with Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten declaring a day in her honor. This year the spotlight will shine on Kansas talent, Van Sickle said, and the festival will feature local filmmakers, actresses and artists.
and a pinnacle outdoor showing of James Cameron’s Aliens. “I think this is going to be our best festival yet because of the outdoor movie screening and the incredible support we’ve had from The Break Room/Field of Greens and other downtown merchants,” Van Sickle said. “Come on out and watch some great films and be prepared to scream.” aseveneightfive
view full schd. go to page 11
For more information about this year’s Slash and Bash Horror / Sci-Fi Festival, visit www.slashandbash.com
feature
#new topeka
“N
b y L e a h S e w e l l • g r a p h i c s b y Ay m e n G h a l i • p h o t o b y Z a c k S n e t h e n
ew Topeka” is an old concept with a new and astute moniker. Politicians have always displayed civic pride - it’s part of that complicated equation of bullhorn personality and policy; local leaders, by definition, must be cheerleaders for the city. Organizations that help the City of Topeka reach higher ground on a nose-to-the-grindstone daily level, display perhaps the purest form of pride in the city, one with a backbone and some muscle to boot. Heck, even this magazine you now hold in your hands has shouted to the rooftops the merits of the city, and has done so since 2006, with a meager but passionate staff of proud Topekans. It’s not a new concept, but the term “New Topeka” itself is rather new. It’s a term that is used precisely and carefully, but always carries a nuance of revolutionary sentiment. It’s a phrase with a purpose. And it’s becoming an oft-used part of the lexicon of our city. 17
>> continued from page 17
Do you know who Chad Manspeaker is? If you don’t, you probably don’t live in District 6 (encompassing the entirety of the College Hill District near Washburn’s campus) where Manspeaker is a newly elected City Councilperson. Watching Manspeaker’s campaign unfold on social networks, the Twitter, the Facebook, was like seeing an Obama-like figure climb the status ladder. He became an icon of liberal-minded 20 and 30-somethings in Topeka. They kept saying those words when they spoke of him: “New Topeka, #newtopeka, this [he] is the New Topeka.” Manspeaker ran on a “New Topeka” platform. His campaign buttons declared it. Is this a new political party? A movement? An ideology? Yes, yes and yes. Sort of. Depending on your perspective. Manspeaker, along with activist and man-about-town Karl Fundenberger and local architect and outspoken proponent of “New Topeka,” Zach Snethen, coined the phrase in 2009. It has since taken off, particularly on social networking site, Twitter, as a hashtag and a description. It started as a joke, says Manspeaker. “We were going to change Topeka,” he says. “It’s supposed to be more about imagination, not concrete. It’s not about living within confines, but getting outside the box. It’s a little complicated, but not really.” One thing is for sure: the phrase “New Topeka,” if you use it, implicates the user has a pride in the city. It’s a trained eye on the city. The discovery of a new gyro joint, is New Topeka. An afternoon on the porch on a block in the central part of the city where old homes radiate the city’s storied history, is New Topeka. A packed dance floor on a Thursday night, is New Topeka. The bio on the Twitter account with the handle “@newtopeka” states ambiguously, “It starts anywhere and ends everywhere.” “It’s a mentality - a community that is built from all over creates a diverse, proud and vibrant Topeka. It’s as much sitting on your porch with friends and family as it is any place or structure,” explains Snethen. “It’s different for everyone, but it’s a collective mindset as why one has chosen to put down roots and not just call Topeka home, but make it home.” Members of Think Big Topeka, an organization founded to lure Google and its fiber project to Topeka, messaged me on Twitter to explain their ideas of “New Topeka.” “To me, #newtopeka is a progressive state of mind. It’s not being told ‘that’s not the way we do it,’ ” says Alissa Sheley. “#newtopeka is something we can all be proud of - old, young, conservative, liberal, all races. It’s defined by a new zeitgeist,” says Marc Limon.
“[New Topeka] is as much sitting on your porch with friends and family as it is any place or structure.” 18
-- Zach Snethen
The Boobie Trap, which I think deserves “New Topeka” status although its doors have been open since the old days of 1993, has a dance night called “Resistance,” which was started in the summer of 2010 and is raging every Thursday night with electronica/DJ music, drinking, dancing and general carousing. I thought I’d get some kind of a definition to the ethereal label among the city’s bold youth. The answers I got weren’t always informed. A 22-year-old brunette Washburn student with dangly earrings who declined to give me her name, said that New Topeka is “all that stuff they’re trying to do downtown, like making it artsy and narrowing the street.” The brunette continued on, telling me that Topeka is trying to be like Lawrence, which is impossible. “My worst nightmare is getting stuck in Topeka for the rest of my life.” In the background, a teeming dance floor rolled with the beats issued forth by DJ Josh “LeTrouble” Luttrell. “There’s nothing to do here,” she finished. That, I can say with confidence, is not New Topeka. Let’s step out of the bar and into the City Council chambers. Here is what a few of our city leaders think about “New Topeka”: “To me, it means the new approach many Topekans are taking about their city. They are no longer looking what Topeka has
been in the past, but appreciating what it is today and what it can become,” says Larry Wolgast, District 5 city councilperson. “There is a new attitude and confidence about our city. We have pride in what Topeka is today and will become tomorrow.” Karen Hiller, District 1 City Councilperson, referenced Topeka’s ascension in a Gallup poll of small cities on overall well-being of the citizens: “Topeka jumped from the 178th city in the country to 30th in overall sense of well-being in one year. We finished 3rd in the country in emotional health...physical health, 5th...and life evaluation, 14th. Those numbers are not only great, but they demonstrate the momentum and great spirit we have right now.” “To me, ‘New Topeka’ means several things, but above all, it means visionary leadership. Leadership that is focused on accountability and transparency in city government. We want leaders that serve as role models who reinforce ethics, values and results,” says Bob Archer, District 7 city councilperson. That idea of transparency has been labeled “New Topeka.” Here’s a tweet from Chad Manspeaker’s City Council handle on Twitter: “@Topcity6: Don’t forget to tune into Channel 4 tonight at 6pm to watch the first live broadcast of a JEDO meeting. Transparency delivered. #newtopeka” The Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) meetings had never been televised before, and some called this “#oldtopeka.” Criticism of the city government came heavily on social networks and online after the handling of “Scrapgate,” the alleged burglary and sale of scrap metal from a construction site by city employees. The details of the situation weren’t initially issued to the public, and much of the handling of the case, and the fate of city manager Norton Bonaparte’s job, took place behind closed doors in private city council “executive sessions.” When the Topeka Capital-Journal requested documents concerning the “scrapgate” case, they were denied, told that the documents were classified as private. The whole scandal was as murky as the Kaw. Manspeaker, newly elected to the District 6 seat, says he’s trying to battle an “Old Topeka” mindset, the closed doors, the tendency to leave some out of the conversation.
Downtown Topeka is alive with music! #newtopeka Big development is not New Topeka. Transparency delivered. #newtopeka It means visionary leadership. It’s something we can all be proud of. A progressive state of mind #newtopeka Making it artsy and narrowing the street. An all-inclusive resort. A new attitude and confidence about our city. #newtopeka “We frame the discussion in ‘New Topeka’ when we talk about things now. The barriers are what drove me to run for office,” says Manspeaker. “New Topeka is not singular, it encompasses everything. If we’re going to grow as a community, we need to have everyone at table. It should be an all-inclusive resort.” Don’t be deterred by the politics - “New Topeka” can be used to describe things that are a lot more lighthearted, too. Jim Ogle, general manager of TV station WIBW, wrote this tweet last year during the ReThink Topeka event, High Noon: “Downtown Topeka is alive with music! Way to Go ReThink Topeka! Musicians on every street corner! #tbt #newtopeka #wibw #IG4Topeka” When news that Bobo’s Drive-In would open a second location, some on Twitter labeled that event #newtopeka. A discussion about public art being a crime deterrent, had the hashtag, #newtopeka. New Topeka is #swag, it’s cheap beer and old neighborhood bars. It’s making Kiplinger’s Top Ten list, it’s eating and shopping at locally-owned establishments. “Big development is not New Topeka,” says Manspeaker. People aren’t ready to pin the phrase down with a definition. It’s still fluid. But from my little foray into the world of people who acknowledge and sometimes use the label, I’ve found that it is twofold: New Topeka is pride in the city and a determination to change it for the positive. On April 9 this year, according to Hashtags.org, the use of the hashtag “#newtopeka” spiked. On that day, during the 2nd Annual ReThink Topeka exhibition, the label “New Topeka” was tossed around like a handmade banner in the winds of change on the corner of 7th and Kansas, with people walking by in droves, enjoying the city, swelling with pride. aseveneightfive
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An interview with Al Ortolani
writing a way to the surface
[ lit ]
b y D e n n i s E t z e l Jr. • p h o t o b y C a r o l Pe t e r s o n
“I’m grinding out new poems...on the computer... in my journal...on a bar napkin. I save the efforts and let them cool. Eventually, I’ll read over what I’ve written to see if anything is worth a rat’s ass.” - Al Ortolani
A
s editor for Al Ortolani’s latest book Finding the Edge (Woodley Press, 2011), I had several questions I wanted to ask. This seemed like a great opportunity to combine my Q&A feature with my interest in wanting to know more about Al’s process.
Dennis: How long did it take to write Finding the Edge? Was there a time period when more of the poems were written? Al: The poems in Finding the Edge are scattered over roughly a 20 year period. Shortly after The Last Hippie of Camp 50 came out from Woodley Press in 1989, I felt this surge of creativity and confidence. Several poems appeared. I had some publishing success. As time wore on, I found myself trying other types of writing: a novel, a 50 page narrative poem, haiku. However, my teaching began to take command of much of my time and the writing slowed down. When my father passed away in 2008, I took a long look at where I stood with my writing and realized that time was limited. I reevaluated and began working the poetry hard again. The book took several shapes and a boatload of titles. I knew poetry was something I wanted in my life, something to leave behind for my grandkids. As I reflect on this now, I realize that there were bursts of poetry usually following a major shift or change in my life. Probably, they were designed to help me understand where I’d been and where I was heading. I mean, writing is thinking, and working with poetry is like swimming to the bottom of a lake and then trying to write your way to the surface. Dennis: What is your process for writing a poem? Also, do you find yourself “writing on the spot” of an experience for a first draft or afterwards? Al: Personally, I think that writing a poem involves two very different thought processes. One involves synthesis and the other analysis. The first phase of synthesis is a rough draft period. It may go on for several days when I’m grinding out new poems. These may be on the computer. They might be in my journal. They could appear on a bar napkin. I save the efforts and let them cool. Eventually, I’ll read over what I’ve written to see if anything is worth a rat’s ass. If the words strike me as having potential, I’ll begin editing. This is the analysis period. I enjoy this part of the process a lot. My time is spent almost always on the computer so that I can cut and paste and generally play with line breaks. However, this part of the process can continue for a long time. If I like a poem too much, then I’m probably in trouble. I need to let the words cool once again and come back to them later with a fresh eye. Most poems won’t make the cut, but I seldom throw them away. Who knows when they might resurface with a new insight?
In terms of “writing on the spot,” I’ve always wanted to be that guy who could sit by a mountain stream or in a Paris café and write wonderful poetry. However, I find myself too immersed in the experience to step out of it and write much. The poems appear later, after the experience has been digested. Ortolani’s book, recently released from Topeka’s Woodley Press, is available on Amazon or through Woodley Press, washburn.edu/ reference/woodley-press 20
Dennis: I like how you mention that, after enough time and distance, you learn something from the experience to place it in a poem. You have a lot of advice within your responses—your approach to poetry. Is there anything else you would include to someone who is new at writing poems? Al: Naturally as a teacher, I’m full of advice. Some of it is worth listening to, some is just advice. In
terms of new poets making their first stabs at poetry, I’d have to say that they should enjoy playing with words. Many of us have strong feelings and interesting insights, but the hope of the poet has something to do with saying what many feel and think in a new or unusual light. This has much to do with how we shape our language. And, I might add, how we twist a sometimes common experience with a unique perspective or angle. For instance, sweeping the steps on a November day could suddenly become a metaphor for sweeping away the past, or hanging Christmas lights could somehow turn into a celebration of the winter solstice. These are angles that might give a reader a different vantage point.
[ poetry ]
New poets need to develop thick skins and be able to handle rejection and advice. Some editors are especially good at seeing parts of a poem that the writer has missed. Friends are usually supportive, but maybe not critical enough. Robert Stewart, Gordon Lish, Jo McDougall and Steve Meats are especially solid at shedding light through editing. I’ve also had important input from Bob Day, Mike Heffernan, Bill Trowbridge and Dan Jaffe. Seldom is a poem that I write finished. I can almost always find a better way to turn a phrase. aseveneightfive The Day Before Winter Leaves scatter in tight winds while the grackle sketches a bouncing line across the picket fence to a place on the lawn. There is little movement, even among the neighbors, who may with long, November chins dropped to their chests wedge a foot into the back door and with a tip of a broom sweep yesterday down the steps.
Reading to Her Daughter The song of rivers is the voice of a woman who in reading a book to her daughter resonates with the melody of water. She creates words the way waterfowl fly, soft wings fluttering in her mouth, sentences streaming to become rivers. Her daughter listens, and in the end will touch her fingers to her mother’s lips like a willow twig dragging current, language breaking around her, tumbling calmly into the eddy of the room, where awash in words, they swim the evening.
On a Brighter Note, the Christmas Lights Are Up I climb the pea pitch roof and tack a string of white lights to the peak. In the surrounding air, the night spreads from my fingertips to the edge of the continent. I am touched by the vast Atlantic, an ocean of blue midnight that washes my heart in waves while the lights of shrimp boats twinkle white on the sea. I think Christ would smile, balancing the rigging in bare feet, his arms wide, spread in salt spray. Tonight, we unwind large nets, buoyed in the darkness of rooftops, a string of lights, bright as baskets of fish.
Al Ortolani from Finding the Edge Woodley Press 2011
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kansas celebrates 150 years |inaugural hall of fame
E • • • • • • •
ight legends of Kansas history and industry were announced as the inaugural class of the Kansas Hall of Fame at the Great Overland Station Museum.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower Vice President Charles Curtis US Senator and Presidential Nominee Bob Dole General and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers Pizza Hut founders Dan and Frank Carney Aviatrix Amelia Earhart Marshall Matt Dillon of “Gunsmoke” as portrayed by James Arness
The class will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at a gala banquet June 17, at the Great Overland Station Museum. Individual tickets are $150 each or two for $250, which includes reception, dinner, entertainment and program; sponsorships are also available. All proceeds go to support the Great Overland Station Museum, All Veterans Memorial and the Kansas Hall of Fame. For information, call 785.232.5533 or visit www. greatoverlandstation.com. The establishment of the Kansas Hall of Fame comes in conjunction with the state’s Sesquicentennial Celebration being held throughout 2011. Organizers will install a permanent display panel for each inductee and will eventually create a database identifying “Notable Kansans” that can be accessed by visitors. The Kansas Hall of Fame will enhance the Great Overland Station and All Veterans Memorial as a significant tourist attraction in Topeka and Kansas, educating visitors about the heritage of our state through the many achievements of the people of Kansas. According to Beth Fager the selection was tough. “The question was never who belongs in the Hall of Fame, but rather who goes in first. We could easily put two hundred amazing Kansans into the Hall of Fame tomorrow but we want these ceremonies and events to be special and to do true honor to every person being inducted. So we had to draw the line at eight.” Certainly no one will argue with the accolades of all these legends. Learn more about each honor at www.seveneightfive. com. aseveneightfive
VIRGO It didn’t work out, Bucko. No big deal. Lots of fish in the sea. Which is great if yer a squid. LIBRA Sometimes the easiest way to get out of a sticky situation is to NOT get the gooey stuff on yer sweater in the first place. Words of wisdom. SCORPIO Wow! SAGITTARIUS I know we’ve touched on yer inability to resist scary liaisons with unsavory mattress mashers in the past, but did ya have to lower the bar? Get yer shots and try not to come out until yer not contagious. Yick! CAPRICORN Just because ya didn’t get caught, doesn’t mean yer free and clear. Nothing stays hidden forever, Bucko. Not even with extra weights attached. AQUARIUS Guys sporting tattoos with their cell mate’s name might not be the best long term prospects for love, Bucko. Get yers removed. PISCES When that big comet finally comes and smashes us to tiny little bits, will the Universe remember us for what we did? Or what we didn’t do? ___________________________ Question for the Blue Guru? Stop kidding yerself, Bucko. Yer not as big (a loser) as ya think! Ruprecht@PsychicChicken.com ___________________________ * Astrological predictions... gee, I’m speechless. I usually use this space to poke fun at the rabid right and their frothy-mouthed followers. But I’m just too disgusted to bother this time. Shame on ya, Governor Brownback. Shame!
a new irish blessing by Kerrice Mapes + Rio Cer vantes-Reed photos by Lydi a B ar n har t
Y
ou can take the girl out of the Brick Oven (by force, when it closed a few months back) but you can’t take the Rosemary Tenderloin craving out of the girl. Some things in life can’t be shut down, and my craving for the Rosemary Tenderloin from the Brick Oven is one of them. Mike Owen, a co-owner of the Brick Oven Courtyard Grill, served up some of Topeka’s finest American cuisine for over five years until unexpectedly shutting their doors about five months ago. But luckily, I will soon be satiating those cravings for Brick Oven flavor outside of my wildest dreams. Jay Weber, owner of Frances O’Dooley’s and Lucky Dog’s, has the monopoly on Irish pubs in the west side of Topeka. Jay has been with O’Dooley’s since it opened in 2004, and is entering his third year as owner. The “sister-bar,” Lucky Dog’s opened next door a year later, and they have shared a menu and kitchen since. Menu items included traditional Irish meals such as bangers and mash, fish and chips and Shepherd’s Pie, as well as what came to be an, albeit non-traditional, bar favorite Irish Eggrolls. Both locales have served as identifiers for locallyowned restaurants on the west side of town. O’Dooley’s and Lucky Dog’s will continue as such when Owen joins Weber as a co-owner. Taking Owen’s button-up approach and unique American cuisine (featuring that tenderloin) and pairing it with button-down, wild Irish man Weber? The two might be a bigger hit than Paula Abdul’s “Opposites Attract.”
Their new menu, featuring Irish favorites that reflect O’Dooley’s name and origin, and Brick Oven’s signature dishes like the Lobster Mac, create a new ambiance at O’Dooley’s. An upgraded menu will be featured at Lucky Dog’s at tiered prices. And, dear readers, I know you too well. After seeing the new menu, I put in a request for Brick Oven’s famous Tamale Cakes. Hopefully we’ll see these creamy, tasty delectables again, and soon. Jay understands that their regulars may miss a few of their O’Dooley’s favorites, however his ears are open. “I think they’ll embrace the new menu, but regardless, the customer is always right. We want their feedback.” Jay also shared that some items that aren’t on the menu may make appearances as a daily special, and that to take advantage of fresh food and Kansas’ four seasons, the menu will change quarterly. Mike’s goal in joining Jay as co-owner is to create a nice local eatery with a great dining experience. “We want to stay within the concept of an Irish pub, just upgrade it a little using locally-sourced items such as Kansas-grown beef and potatoes.” Mike also shared his culinary philosophy, “Number one priority is increasing the quality of the food, and we’ll do that with good ingredients and time-tested recipes.” Help celebrate this marriage of wonderful Topeka cuisine and standard Irish fare by coming out to experience the new menu at O’Dooley’s. Whether you were a fan of Brick Oven or are a fan of O’Dooley’s, you’ll find a whole new love with this culinary communion. aseveneightfive
entertainment
on the
house how Topeka bars are giving back by Larissa Keller photos by EJ Drake
S
ince the day I turned 21, I had a second home. Oscar’s was my place to relax, do homework and meet up with friends. Oscar’s was also a second home to Connie Baatrup, who lost her battle to cancer in 2009. After Connie passed away, the Oscar’s family hosted a dart tournament in her name, and donated the money raised to the Cotton O’Neil Cancer Center Angel Fund. Connie’s story is just one of many in Topeka. Nearly every bar has found a way to give back to the people in our city, choosing a charity that is close to the heart of the bar owner, employees and patrons. Tailgators started hosting fundraisers for TARC, the organization that helps those with developmental disabilities in our community, after co-owner Chris Proffitt went to the organization for help with his son.
Sara Dieker Springer - bartender at College Hill. When her brother passed away, the bar helped out with a benefit concert for her family featuring the Gypsy Jazz Band (pictured right).
“When we were going through everything we were going through with our family they were the ones that were there for us and helping us through it. This place is there for people when they really need them,” Proffitt remembers. When Eric Kerns, brother of bartender Sara Dieker Springer, passed away from colon cancer, College Hill Tavern hosted a benefit concert for his family. There was live music all day, and the door charge was donated to Kern’s family to ease the burden of expenses with his sudden passing. The stories of Connie Baatrup, Eric Kerns and the Proffitt family display the strength and unity of the people in our community. Thanks to the Topeka bars, some pain has been eased for people in our city. Proffitt states, “I think a lot of times most bars are local small business owners who have more willingness to give back…it’s a lot easier when you’re local. You feel everyone’s pain and you want to help out.” The impact the bars make on our community is endless. In addition to the poker tournaments and concerts to raise money for families in need that have been held at nearly every bar, other charity fundraising events include: concerts and a golf tournament for The Capper Foundation and TARC at Tailgators, TAP and school supplies fundraisers at College Hill Tavern and the Jam for Dan at the Celtic Fox.
The spirit of giving has even become a competition between the local bars. Bar Wars, the brainchild of Jared Hitchens, was born when Jared was working at Lucky Dogs. What started as bar employees hanging out after work snowballed into a city-wide event involving fourteen bars, boosting business for bars during the slow season and raising thousands for local charities. Over a twomonth period, employees and regulars from fourteen bars compete in events such as poker and speed pool. All of the money raised during Bar Wars is donated to the winner’s charity of choice. Last year, Tailgators donated their winnings to TARC. “Last year between Bar Wars and the golf tournament we were able to raise around ten thousand dollars for TARC,” Proffitt says. Bar Wars has been so successful in Topeka that Jared Hitchens is planning to reach out to Lawrence, Manhattan, and other cities with the idea. People in our community are thankful for the “second home” bars have become. Bar owners and the people in their ‘second home’ enjoy giving back to the communities they serve and making a positive impact in people’s lives. Watch for seveneightfive’s new section, “On the House,” to see what fundraisers are happening in your community and how you can get involved. aseveneightfive
Motorcycle Ride | 6/4 | Victoria’s
Benefit for Tristain Hart who has Cerebral Palsey and Early Parkinsons Distonia | Ride, auction, raffle and music by Meltdown. More info. call 817.6224
Concert to benefit TARC | 7/16 | Tailgators
Soul Rebel and the Beast, Rising Tide, Josh Vowell and the Rumble and Slow Ya Roll. *** Email your bar charity event to seveneightfive@gmail.com
local flavor
• 1 large kitchen • 3,000 tbsp. of courage and ambition • 1 beautiful, blonde namesake • An infinite love of all things sweet • 1 bold “cakemaster” Let ingredients simmer for a couple of decades and then remove finished product Mad Eliza’s Cakes & Confections.
Mad
Eliza’s b y J a n i c e Wa t k i n s photos contributed by Pegg y Murnahan
A
result of the above homemade recipe Mad Eliza’s Cakes & Confections has entered the Topeka custom cakes and original sweet treats scene suited to top a tiered, sugary tower. For years, founder and “cakemaster” Peggy Murnahan baked for friends, family and her own children (including Madeline Elizabeth - the company’s namesake). That combined with a general love of the creative culinary arts, she knew she made the right choice when she ditched her former corporate duds and banking suits for the crisp, white chef coat. “I always liked bakery and always did big parties with cooking and bakery,” Murnahan reflects. “It just went from there - each cake got bigger and better.” Murnahan enjoys pushing the envelope with her sweet creations, and caught the attention of several local charities who have solicited her to make creations and that attention has spread to a national level. Murnahan was contacted by the Food Network and asked to submit an audition for the Food Network Challenge. Sadly, she was passed for the current season, but network executives have kept her on the contact list for next season. With future sights on annihilating the competition in a Challenge, if given the opportunity, in the immediate future Murnahan is keeping busy with her current orders and enjoying the opportunity to further fine-tune her craft. “There is a challenge in all of the different suggestions. I like that my customers have faith and trust me to use my artistic license.” For more information on Mad Eliza’s Cakes & Confections, visit www.madelizas.com or call 785. 478.0880. aseveneightfive (from top to bottom): Pegg y with her audition cake for the Fo o d Network, c ustom c up cakes, Hungr y J a c k C u p c a k e s ( y e a h , t h a t ’s b a c o n ) a n d a c u s t o m Mario cake.
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Upcoming Events for YPs
“The ultimate dining experience.”
Quarterly Networking Socials: Members free / Guests $5. Socials are from 5 - 7 pm
LUNCH
June 23: 5- 7 pm @ Boutique 1047 1047 Gage Blvd. July 28: 5 - 7 pm @ Collective Brands 3231 SE 6th
Mon - Fri: 11 am - 2 pm
DINNER
Quarterly Insiders Series Events:
Mon - Thu: 5:30 - 8:30 Fri & Sat: 5:30 - 9:30
Members free / Guests $10 / 5:30 - 7 pm
July 21: Capitol Federal Natatorium Expansion tour, Hummer Sports Park Educational Luncheon Programs: Members pay $10 / guests $15
June 16: “Preserving the Heritage of Topeka” 12:15 p.m.-1:30 p.m Golf Tournament July 2 | 1:30 - 8 pm
Firekeeper Golf Course, Prairie Band Casino
Register by June 10 | 4-man scramble www.fastforwardtopeka.org
photo by Lydia Barnhart
Fast Forward is a program of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce designed to offer young professionals a place to socialize, network and grow in leadership potential through a variety of yearly programs. We invite you to attend an event as a guest or become a member. Please refer to our website www.fastforwardtopeka.org for information about joining Fast Forward or to RSVP for an event.
College Hill Tavern THE placE To bE all SummEr long
upComing evenTs All parties start at 9p unless notedd
Retro Party - June 3 June 11 Rod Wade Band
June 17
Jason Ricci
ChRis Aytes & the Good Ambition
4005 Gage Center Drive 785.271.8646 • newcityonline.biz
every Week
authentic feather extensions
tues: Jeff 1616 todaSW 17th St. 785.234.0700 aCoustiC deBauChery wed: all star Band & open Jam thur: dJ (Music by Groovy Girl) Fri: Karaoke w/Groovy Girl Karaoke contest starting June 10
sat: Gypsy Jazz Band 5 - 8p sun: Free Jukebox & all drink specials honored
July 1 & auGust 5
First Friday (after) artwalk Jazz Music 6:30 - 9:30 p w/ orlando ZuniGa & Char Matheny
June 18
June 25 | 8p Parking Lot Party
Urban Safari
July 8 | 7p Mike Babb & S’More Blues Band (w/Groovy Girl)
July 9: Char Matheny & her VelVet Blues reVue with the Just us Band
obtain what you desire. 2601 SW 17th 233.5577
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bud light behind the bar by Amber Bonnett photo by Colin MacMillan / Nathan Ham Photography
Party with Jory, Bud Light + 785 Thursday, June 9 • 8:30 - 10:30 p
to the trap with ye!
BudLight Specials + Giveaways (must be 21) Follow Us on FaceBook for more details.
“In Topeka, you aren’t just a bartender, you are a host.” Especially at the Boobie Trap when live music or the underground sensation, “The Resistance,” isn’t scheduled. “You have to make the party.” We immediately made our own party as I sat down to interview Jory, the Behind the Bar bartender of the month from The Boobie Trap. Party favors included a quickly delivered Gin & Tonic and sassy bartender Bobbie chiming in.
[Jory from the Boobie Trap Bar]
Who would you most like to have a drink with? Winston Churchill. He was one of the greatest leaders ever. And I bet that he drinks the best scotch in the world. Best hangover cure? It’s all about predictability. Go home and drink as much water as possible. Like a gallon. And ride that out. Then you get up and force yourself to go about it. Nothin’ that a hot shower and a little productivity won’t cure. But in a nutshell, if you have a hangover, you deserve it. You know what you did. Favorite drink to drink? J: *sigh* I don’t even know what it’s called but you get it at the Replay [Lounge in Lawrence]. There’s a bartender that looks like a fifties greaser. Go to him and ask for a boat drink and tell him Jory from Topeka sent you. He will make you a drink that tastes like heaven. A: Do you need a special knock or handshake or passcode or anything? J: It’s a right place at the right time drink and its absolutely worth it if you achieve it. A: I take this as a challenge. J: Just ask him to make you a drink that makes you feel like you are drinking a drink. On a boat. On the Pacific Ocean.
Favorite drink to make? I like to give people a Bud Light bottle. Now, if you are asking me what people prefer me to make them, that’s a Bloody Mary. I’ve heard mine are pretty good - Dawn goes head over heals for them. Drink you hate making? B: Yeah Jory? *snicker* J: I hate making anything that makes me get out a book. I hate it when someone pulls out an iPhone and shoves it in my face and asks me to make this drink. “Like, look at me and my fancy phone.” It’s so insulting. What makes you ignore a customer at the bar? *fingers snap around the bar* I hate it when people yell my name across the bar. We are a democracy here. First come first serve. Best/worst song on the jukebox? I would say that off our jukebox, I enjoy the “Best of the Police” compilation. Worst song: the NOW cds and the whole concept behind the NOW cds.
Beards seem to be a favorite conversation piece amongst Behind the Bar interviews. A: I hear you keep your beard so silky smooth with Garnier Fructose. Is this true? J: Yes! I swear to God. Everyday. I shampoo AND condition. And I don’t use the combos, I use legitimate shampoo and conditioner. And it smells soooo good. B: Well, it’s so close to your nose. Good thing it smells good. Visit Jory at the Boobie Trap Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays from 10 pm to close. Also check out his latest music and video project Wolf Creek. Find the most recent video “The Gunfight” on YouTube and learn more about Jory and get the full article at seveneightfive.com. aseveneightfive
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