Tom Wah

KICKIN' ASS + TAKING NAMES

by Tom Krebs

Every day KSEF-DB keeps growing stronger and getting better. More and more shows created by fellow Topekans are added, the focus on service to the Top City continues to sharpen, and the musical selections continue to grow and diversify such that the station accommodates a wide variety of musical tastes while generally staying in the parameters shared by the station’s intended audience.

So what has me hooked? Three things: the music, the music, and the music.

Where else can you hear in a set a tejano tune, a reggae number, and a blues selection ALL done by a local band that plays Topeka and knows Topeka? And that’s just the start! Local music lies at the core of KSEF. Bands that played local venues as many as 10-12 years ago and ones that continued until the pandemic curtailed the live music scene are featured in three hour-long shows a day. The genre ranges from straight-ahead blues, to hard-nose rock, from country rock to smooth jazz, and from reggae to rap. It’s such a pleasure for so many of these artists to get the air time they deserve. But that’s not all. Over the last seven decades, Americans have listened to thousands and thousands of tunes starting with AM radio, moving through emerging FM stations, internet and now DAB. The contributors to the station continue to add, consistently, the best ones, regardless of era or genre. Sprinkled throughout the day are selections from those early AM days: Motown, the British invasion to album rock featured on many FM stations of the 70s, through alternative and Indie rock that continues through to today. You just never know what the next song coming down the pike might be. One of the best things about the station is its willingness to play ALL the songs from a CD, not just the pre-ordained one or two that are generally featured on radio stations. Some might be a bit stronger than others, but they all represent the artists’ work at the time and deserve a listen. Many other shows are featured twice a week and reemerge as a replay on another day. Lock into the ones that ring your bell, and tune in. It’s definitely worth a listen to the best station in the Top City that reflects the music of the Top City. aseveneightfive

TAP THAT

EXPERIENCE. DISCOVER. TASTE. LEARN.

TAP THAT, the largest beer fest in the Midwest, takes place rain or shine June 12, 2021. Travel multiple downtown city blocks sampling hundreds of beers. VIP ticket holders get access to reserve style beers not available to the general public, early entry, Skip the Line lanyard, sampling glass, private restrooms and more. New this year is the VIP Designated Driver ticket. These unsung heroes will have access to free non-alcoholic beverages courtesy of Pepsi Co. along with other amenities. Tickets are $35 or $65, designated driver tickets are $10 or $20. Learn more and purchase tickets at visit.topekapartnership.com

TOP BEER TOURS

TOP BREW TOURS

TopBrewTours.com

Explore Topeka's craft breweries with The Five Brewery Tour or The Three Brewery Tour. Private tours also available. Book online, tours begin late Spring.

BARRISTER'S BREWING INC.

BLIND TIGER BREWERY & RESTAURANT

HAPPY BASSET BREWING CO.

IRON RAIL BREWING

NORSEMEN BREWING COMPANY T op Beer Tours provides craft brewery tours of Topeka for groups of three to 20 people. The facilitated tour includes transportation to and from three or five TopCity breweries, private tasting plus a unique meet-the-brewer or brewery tour. "While trying some of the best beer in Kansas you'll have a chance to hear what makes each brewery different, straight from those who make it," said William Beteta, owner, Top Beer Tours. The guided tour also provides little extras that make it oh-soworth-it. Extras like coolers filled with ice so your ToGo growler(s) stay cold, light snacks between stops and coordinated pick-up / drop-off, which could mean one centralized location or a few stops–safety first.

With Beteta at the wheel, your tour will consistently be fresh, interesting and relevant. Before serving Top Beer Tours, Beteta was the (first) executive director of Heartland Visioning. Prior to this community development position, he worked for the National Park Service for almost 15 years, four at Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. His background makes him a viable and knowledgeable community and craft beer concierge. It wouldn't surprise us if tours enjoy some shots of history along a well-planned route.

"There's a lot of opportunity to be had. But what Topeka is missing...to make it easy for people to learn about and explore and have fun." That's what Top Beer Tours is all about. "It's about providing a service in Topeka, to Topekans and guests," said Beteta. "It's about providing you the opportunity to see our local breweries up close, taste the beer, explore the town and do it without any planning, driving or worry."

Reserve your Top Beer Tours today! Reservations being accepted for summer 2021 at TopBeerTours.com. CHEERS!

LET'S ALL HAVE PIE

BRADLEY'S CORNER CAFE

844 N KANSAS AVE family-owned, American diner known for fresh homemade pies and all day breakfast

SUN: 8a-2p MON: 6a-2p TUE-SAT: 6a-8p

by Alison Beebe | @TopCityFlavorista | AlisonFlavorista.com

Wearing a nursing cap with voluminous '80s hair was, well, not delightful. Add in the white shoes, white stockings plus a student nurses uniform with the requisite stethoscope flung around the shoulders and you’ll have fashion nightmares for a week. At least nurses are no longer tested on how tightly we’re able to make a bed. I worked two jobs during nursing school- admissions assistant-showing prospective students and their families around campus. ‘A day in the life’ sort of deal. Plus, working in the campus library which was fitted in a quintessential ‘small town Maine’ chapel. This afforded me the time needed to read the 300 plus pages of assignments each night. I’m surprised I still have two eyeballs. In the summer I worked in a nursing home. When I say work, I mean WORK. I was just 18 years old and exhausted. One of my sweet patients spoke only about pie–quite literally. “Do you have pie?" “I like pie.” She'd answer questions with “What about pie?” “Let’s all have some pie!” Otherwise, she was mute. I think of her whenever I have pie. Bradley’s Corner Café in the NOTO Arts District has been a Topeka staple for 16 years and certainly well known for their pies and pie selection, on any given day they have 20 plus different types. Bradley retired last year and sold the café to employee James Urton. Since then, the restaurant has expanded into the adjacent building, doubling its capacity to seat 117 people. That's a lot of pie people. As James transitions from cook to pie maker/owner, he shares some of his Bradley favorites: favorite item on the menu–chicken fried steak; most requested pie flavor–coconut cream. Bradley's Corner Cafe is open daily for your fix on diner staples. Try the "Everything Omelet" with, everything. Don't forget lunch and dinner and "Let's all have some