Best Of Lawrence - 2015 by Sunflower Publishing

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| p l Ace to get estaurant to Watch a Ga food | s eC ret Menu hai

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| w ings | Art nion | Family Fun witter or other s o C on- P R o F it | l unity

| n ational Business |

Chiro P ra ision Center or p L aC e to ol F Course | rai L s

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10-29 | BEST | FOOD & DINING: New Restaurant, Caterer, Grocery Store, Coffee or Tea Shop, Delivery, Pizza, Breakfast Spot, Barbecue, Hamburger, Place to Watch a Game, Outdoor Dining, Fast Food, Overall Restaurant, Mexican Food, Dessert, Bakery, Sandwich 30-45 | BEST | COmmuNITy: Teacher K-12, Bank, Place to Hold an Event, Credit Union, Mature Living, Hotel, Local Store Owner, New Business, Place for Children’s Birthday, Art Gallery, Small Place to Work, Local Event, Large Place to Work, Nonprofit 48-64 | BEST | HEalTH & FITNESS: Orthodontist, Golf Course, Spa, Pediatrician, Dentist, Chiropractor, Gym, Family Doctor, Eyewear, Sports Medicine 66-80 | BEST | SHOppING: Bike Shop, Pet Store, Shoe Store, Unique Store, Bookstore, Window Display, Men’s Clothing Store, Floral Store, Garden Store, Women’s Clothing Store, Gift Shop, Place to Buy a Car (New), KU Souvenir 82-95 | BEST | SErvICES: Auto Collision Repair, Landscaping, Barber, Insurance Agent, Lawyer, Realtor, Veterinarian, Plumber, Electrician, Photographer, Pet Care, Handyman 96-107 | BEST | ENTErTaINmENT & NIGHTlIFE: Happy Hour, Tattoo Shop, Live Music Venue, Wine List, Liquor Store, Bartender, Local Band, Bar

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GeNeral MaNaGer scott stanford

advertisiNG MaNaGer

Kathleen Johnson

editors

Kim Callahan, Katy ibsen, Jon ralston

Writers

Fally afani, becky birdson, Karen dillon, linda ditch, Caitlin doornbos, Joanna hlavacek, elliot hughes, Nadia imafidon, seth Jones, Carolyn Kaberline, Chad lawhorn, sara shepherd, Julie tollefson, rochelle valverde, liz Weslander

PhotoGraPhers

Jason dailey, richard Gwin, Nick Krug, emily steele, bill stephens, Mike yoder

desiGNer: Janella l. Williams

Cover desiGNer: shelly bryant

survey & CoMMuNiCatioNs adrian Jacobs, ajacobs@ljworld.com

MarKetiNG allie sebelius

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Kansas City Metro: 816-453-8584 cekinsurance.com

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advertisiNG sales

Jeff Cuttell, Cindy draskovich, Jenny herrick, John Kramer, Candace Moore, t im Phenicie, John singer, allison Wilson

This is our third Best of Lawrence magazine, and the annual survey is more popular than ever. We set several records this year, including: Most survey participants. Most total votes. Finally,

8,735 Most categories.

165

A little bit about how the Best of Lawrence is conducted. From March 1 through March 31, we surveyed residents on every subject imaginable from the best hamburger to the best dentist. Survey participation is conducted online and is limited to one ballot per registered user.

Much of the survey is multiple choice; however, most questions

257,002

401

Unique businesses or organizations are represented among the top three in this year’s survey.

allow for write-in answers. This year, we received more than 47,000 writein votes. Many of the write-ins will be added as multiple-choice answers in next year’s survey.

The survey is divided into six themes: food and dining, community, health and fitness, services, shopping, and entertainment and nightlife. One thing that was new this year – we added a number of survey questions that were suggested by readers. Examples include best tattoo shop and best automotive collision

112 pages

This is the largest Best of Lawrence magazine we have ever produced.

repair. We are open to adding more categories in the future.

If you have suggestions for new categories, please email ajacobs@ ljworld.com.

Lawrence is a special community, and much of the credit for that goes to the shops and restaurants that distinguish it from others its size. Such businesses deserve to be celebrated, and that’s one of the major intents of the 2015 Best of Lawrence magazine. We hope you find it as helpful and fun as we intended it to be.

— Scott Stanford, General

Making the best cover for the Best of Lawrence is no easy feat. From conception to design — it must make a splash (with or without bubbles).

Thank you to our gracious models: Rick Martin, Limestone pizza + kitchen + bar; TK Peterson, Merchants Pub & Plate; and Meg Heriford, Ladybird Diner for popping champagne in celebration (seen on page 4). Another thank you to Brittany Long, the chalk artist whose work appears on the 2015 cover. All photos by Nick Krug.

Manager

F OOD & D INING

New restaura Nt

Ladybird diner

721 Massachusetts St. • (785) 856-5239

“Our objective is to be lively and approachable,” says Ladybird Diner owner Meg Heriford. “Ladybird is staffed by friendly, energetic people. It’s a little family.”

Ladybird is her first restaurant endeavor, and Heriford says she designed the menu and atmosphere after her own heart. The nostalgic offerings — everything from hamburgers and shakes to pancakes and omelets — are sure to remind customers of homemade cooking.

“The base menu is me; that was my input,” Heriford says. “Scratch cooking and Americana appeal — that’s really my roots.”

this American diner experience,” Heriford says.

To complete the “diner experience,” Ladybird prides itself on its pies and pastries. With combinations like gooseberry apricot and blueberry basil, along with classics like Ladybird’s best-seller, coconut creme, Heriford says she’s proud to serve the community a slice of what she thinks they’ve been missing.

“There wasn’t a place to get a piece of pie in this town that wasn’t corporate,” Heriford says. “We sat down and thought, ‘It’s time to have a place that you could have dang good coffee and a great cherry pie.’”

“It’s time to have a place that you could have dang good coffee and a great cherry pie.”

Heriford says Ladybird’s daily specials, which are dreamed up by staff and rotate daily with dishes from Germany to Mexico, along with the classic diner food, offer customers a satisfying experience.

“From Southwestern dishes to Midwestern grandmother, it all sort of melts together into

— Caitlin Doornbos

Editor’s note: In March, Ladybird Diner was affected by a fire at a neighboring business, causing the restaurant to close its doors for renovations because of smoke damage. Ladybird plans to reopen in summer 2015.

Jason Dailey

Caterer

MaceLi’s 1031 New Hampshire St. • (785) 331-2096

Steve Maceli’s catering business has grown a lot since the days of moonlighting his friends’ wedding receptions. In its 20 years in business, Maceli’s has gone from a one-man caterer to a staff of about 30 people.

“This is a very large family business,” says Maceli.

With its evolution, the cuisine has gotten more sophisticated, Maceli says. Executive Chef Dave Nigro joined the culinary team six months ago, and has since been putting his own twist on things.

“Dave is one of the newest additions to the family, and I would say that he has initiated a retooling of all our culinary offerings,” Maceli says. “We’re very excited about our new cuisine.”

These days Maceli’s offers more than wedding catering, which represents

only about 30 percent of its business. The rest of its catering is for business gatherings and private or community meetings. A lot of that is repeat business, Maceli says, from groups such as Altrusa, Nerd Night or Cosmopolitan Club, which host regular meetings at Maceli’s.

Maceli’s downtown venue offers a private dining room and a large party room, accommodating groups from 25 to 400 people. Maceli’s will also cater events of all sizes at other venues, including private homes.

What makes Maceli’s a success, he says, is being multifaceted: offering good food, service, venue and price.

“When you add everything up, we are the best combination of all of the above,” he says.

— Rochelle Valverde

CateReR

TIE: Culinaria and Evan Williams

Catering

Mr. Bacon BBQ

What makes Maceli’s a success is … offering good food, service, venue and price.

Mike Yoder

Gro C ery store

“We have learned to grow by continuing to listen very closely to what our customers want.”

The red cursive logo is a familiar one around town. Voted best grocery, Dillons, with its four locations in Lawrence, offers quality as well as quantity.

The strategy for success at Dillons is a customer-first mantra.

“We have learned to grow by continuing to listen very closely to what our customers want and adapting and changing based on their feedback,” says Dana Knott, Dillons customer communications manager.

Knott says offerings like sushi, freshly brewed Starbucks coffee and gourmet cheeses are all examples of identifying and responding to consumer trends.

Focusing on the customer is what makes

1740 Massachusetts St. • (785) 842-2942 3000 W. Sixth St. • (785) 843-0652

1015 W. 23rd St. • (785) 841-3366

4701 W. Sixth St. • (785) 838-0100

Dillons a Lawrence favorite, Knott says, and it’s the store associates who make that difference.

“Our associates really try to focus on meeting or exceeding what our customers want, whether that be a dinner for a special occasion, flowers or a birthday cake,” she says.

Dillons opened its first store in Lawrence in 1960 at its current Massachusetts Street location. In 2012, the building was torn down and replaced with a modernized store.

The other three Dillons stores in town, at Sixth and Wakarusa, Sixth and Lawrence Avenue and on 23rd Street, have also been renovated or expanded in the last several years.

— Rochelle Valverde

Richard Gwin

Coffee tea shop

La PriMa Tazza 638 Massachusetts St. • (785) 832-2233

alchemy Coffee & Bake House starbucks

La Prima Tazza has a lot to celebrate these days.

In addition to its Best of Lawrence recognition, the first and oldest gourmet coffee shop in town is turning 25 this year, and Rob Schulte couldn’t be happier.

“It feels terrific — especially since I took over as manager less than a year ago — seeing that people love this place so much and they want everyone else to know they love it,” Schulte says.

The shop, which boasts nearly 20 varieties of coffee, is a coffee

lover’s dream, attracting everyone from hipsters, college students, townies and the business community.

“Everyone can come here, and whatever time they come, it’s a different spot,” Schulte says.

“From the students who come at 8 o’clock to closing time for studying to the Saturday morning workout crew who comes in to re-energize to the people who hang out here to read — you can make it anything you want.”

La Prima Tazza’s cacao blend and Ethiopian coffees remain

best-sellers, while the Peruvian iced coffee, once found only on the shop’s secret menu, is starting to pick up steam.

When it comes to specialty drinks, there’s no topping the popular Grasshopper, a crème de menthe-flavored beverage that can be ordered hot or iced. You’ll find it, along with other La Prima Tazza classics, listed on the large chalkboard menu.

“You can always come in and find something new,” Schulte says.

— Joanna Hlavacek

“You can always come in and find something new.”

Nick Krug

JiMMy John’s

922 Massachusetts St. • (785) 841-0111

1720 W. 23rd St. • (785) 838-3737

601 Kasold Drive • (785) 331-2222

Don’t get confused that a gourmet sandwich has to be complicated. In fact, the crews at Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches work hard to keep it simple.

“We try not to be complicated,” says Russell Hacker, general manager for Jimmy John’s in Lawrence. “We focus on making the same perfect sandwich every time, and making it as quick as we can.”

Speed definitely is a focus at Jimmy

John’s, which topped the Best of Lawrence delivery category this year. Hacker says the restaurant takes pride in its delivery program, which covers essentially all areas of Lawrence.

“Speed is what sets us apart,” Hacker says.

The company also focuses on specialization. Jimmy John’s has a policy of having a menu that includes only sandwiches and sides. It doesn’t try to

“Speed is what sets us apart.”

do salads, lettuce wraps or other entrees. The menu includes more than a halfdozen specialty sandwiches, another half-dozen single-meat sandwiches, and about a dozen “giant club sandwiches,” including favorites such as the Ultimate Porker and the Billy Club.

The company operates three restaurants in Lawrence, making sandwich cravings easy to cure.

— Chad Lawhorn

Pizza shuttle Ramen Bowls

College towns are famously chock-full of pizza — fantastic pizza. But not pizza like a Neoprairie pizza.

In fact, even big cities here or abroad would be hard-pressed to claim anything quite like the Italymeets-Midwest farmhouse pies at Limestone pizza + kitchen + bar, which opened in April 2014.

Chef and owner Rick Martin calls it “Neoprairie”; Neapolitan-style pizza, with a Kansas spin.

The Neapolitan part — a flat, from-scratch crust so simple yet so scrumptious you hardly need toppings — comes from baking the pizzas next to an open wood flame inside a 20,000-pound European brick oven the restaurant calls “Maggie.” Super-high heat caramelizes toppings and tinges the crust with char.

“That develops a lot of flavor, unlike any other pizza that’s just baking to melt the cheese and get the crust to rise,” Martin says. “It really is amazing

what 850 degrees will do to a spear of asparagus or a chanterelle mushroom.”

Asparagus, chanterelles and other local, seasonal ingredients account for the Kansas spin. Martin says 54 percent of Limestone’s purchases are locally sourced.

Simple combinations help those ingredients shine.

Limestone’s Margherita pizza is a fan favorite, topped with tomato sauce, house-made mozzarella and basil oil. His personal favorite, Martin says, is the greens pizza. Seasonal greens — including beet tops in the fall, chard through the winter and local spinach when it becomes available in spring — top Gruyere, reduced cream and cracked pepper.

Sure, cheap, greasy, typical college-town pizza delivered after midnight is good, but Limestone pizza is a whole new category of good.

— Sara Shepherd

“It really is amazing what 850 degrees will do to a spear of asparagus or a chanterelle mushroom.”

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Papa Keno’s Pizzeria Minsky’s Pizza

Sara Shepherd

Breakfast spot

The roosT 920 Massachusetts St. • (785) 843-1110

As breakfast out and weekend brunch have exploded in popularity, so, too, have out-of-thebox creations on morning menus. At the same time — perhaps with breakfast more than any other meal — the basics still reign.

The Roost tries to offer the best of both worlds.

Consistency, service, good coffee and no-fuss combos seem to be what keep most diners coming back to the Roost for breakfast, coowner Kenny Pingleton says.

Pingleton guesses that the restaurant’s bestseller is its simple “Kansan” breakfast combo: two eggs, the Roost’s signature thick-sliced pecan wood-smoked bacon or sausage, toast and breakfast potatoes.

More whimsical diners can get outdoorsy with the Campfire Breakfast (eggs with cornbread and pinto beans), go south of the border with Chorizo and Eggs or channel

a champagne-brunch with three kinds of “Bennys:” traditional, tomato and avocado, or smoked salmon eggs Benedict.

The Roost’s made-in-house baked goods range from old-fashioned cinnamon rolls and carrot cake to jumbo handmade marshmallows and lemon-lavender cake.

One more thing that elevates a Roost breakfast from the typical diner: an array of “Collaboration Coffees” (the collaborator being the bar) and other breakfast-appropriate handcrafted cocktails, including no fewer than six versions of the bloody mary.

The Roost has popular homemade soups, salads, sandwiches and macaroni and cheese on the lunch menu, but the breakfast menu never gets taken away.

“Throughout the day,” Pingleton says, “breakfast is still the biggest seller.”

— Sara Shepherd

BReaKfast sPot

Big Biscuit

Ladybird Diner

Jason Dailey

BarBe Cue

Since 2004, Bigg’s has strived to serve quality barbecue in a region of the country that takes ribs and pulled pork very seriously, says owner Doug Holliday.

Crafting sauces, smoking meats and preparing much of the food in house is no easy task, but the long-standing restaurant is up to it.

“It’s a labor of love, and we enjoy doing it,” Holliday says.

Every day the restaurant makes its own barbecue egg rolls, stuffed jalapenos, french fries, onion rings and more.

Holliday says aside from the baby-back ribs, his favorite item on the menu is the stuffed jalapenos.

“What’s really good is the sweet Thai chili sauce we serve it with,” he says. “You could eat that stuff on pancakes.”

Along with its signature food, the restaurant aims to present a family atmosphere. Bigg’s ensures a top-notch barbecue experience by listening to customer suggestions.

“When you’re a local restaurant like we are, you can get immediate feedback from

your guests and find out what their wants or needs are,” he says. “We feel like we’re really in tuned to our guests.”

The proof is in the pudding, or rather in the sauce.

Holliday, a Kansas University graduate, recognizes customers as former KU students back in town with their children.

“We’ve made a lot of friends over the years. People come in from out of town, maybe once or twice a year, and they come to us,” he says.

— Conrad Swanson

Biemer’s BBQ Hog wild Pit Bar-B-Q

Jason Dailey

hamBurGer

The burger sTand 803 Massachusetts St. • (785) 856-0543

Dempsey’s Burger Pub Burgers by Bigg’s

While the fries at The Burger Stand at the Casbah have become as well-known a food in Lawrence as any other, don’t look past the dish that gave this downtown staple its name.

With seven burgers on the menu — the Fire, Barnyard Bash chicken sandwich, and Black and Blue iterations are fan favorites — and a catalog of specials rolling in and out, The Burger Stand continues as a local master of burger-making.

Part of the reason behind it is its relentless pursuit of tasty flavors, says owner Simon Bates. Sauces (like the habanero-cactus jam and the chipotle-cocoa ketchup) are made from scratch. Fresh-baked buns are trucked in every day from Kansas City. If the restaurant finds a better cheddar cheese to use, it’ll use it without upping

the price on the menu.

“We’re using the highest-quality ingredients that we can, and I feel like everyone else doesn’t do that,” Bates says. “We put our flavors first. We want to make the burger taste better.”

While the menu mainstays are enough to attract a following, The Burger Stand’s specials also can get people in the door “an unbelievable amount of times” a week, says general manager Beau Bruns. Regulars will sometimes demand that a sandwich be immortalized on the menu (a few, like the catfish po’boy and the Barnyard Bash, have taken the leap).

“We’d have 600 items” on the regular menu, Bruns says, if everyone’s favorite made it.

— Elliot Hughes

THANKS, LAWRENCE

“We put our flavors first. We want to make the burger taste better.”

Jason Dailey

restaura Nt To watC h a Game

If you thought Buffalo Wild Wings was a good place to watch a game at its former location, you should see it now.

The Lawrence Buffalo Wild Wings relocated from downtown to its new Iowa Street location in December, says Craig Miller, operations general manager. In addition to the menu of hot wings and beer it’s always had, the new location has a lot more space.

And that means a lot more TVs for watching sports.

Buffalo Wild Wings boasts 65 TVs at its new location, Miller says. Eight of those are on the patio, which has space for 18 tables.

“There’s not a bad seat in the house,” he says.

Obviously, Kansas University games are a big draw at Buffalo Wild Wings. Miller says it’s also a popular destination for watching Royals, Chiefs, NBA and even NHL games.

To go along with the game, the restaurant serves its signature wings — choose from 16 sauces, sweet to “Blazin’” hot — other bar and grill items and plenty of cold beer. The restaurant has Wing Tuesdays and Boneless Thursdays wing specials, plus Happy Hour from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

True to the Buffalo Wild Wings motto, Miller says, customers are there for the atmosphere: “wings, beer and sports.”

— Sara Shepherd

Henry T’s Johnny’s Tavern West RestauRaNt to watCH a GaMe

Bill Stephens

outD oor Di Ni NG

When the weather warms up, Cielito Lindo co-owner José Lopez says he knows to expect the masses.

A term of endearment in Spanish, “Cielito Lindo” literally translates as “pretty little sky” or “heaven.” And for those dining on the Mexican restaurant’s spacious patio, the restaurant is aptly named, with plenty of sunshine and sky to kick back and relax beneath during a warm day.

Lopez says in addition to the vast menu and popular margaritas, the patio area is a major draw.

“People like the patio because during the winter they’re always inside,” Lopez says. “Business picks up with the warm weather and we see a big difference (in sales.)”

Having an outdoor seating area allows customers a little more

freedom in their dining experience, Lopez says. The restaurant allows pets to join their owners for lunch or dinner outside. Customers can also smoke, dance to merengue music and enjoy the occasional live outdoor performance.

“Relaxation is important to our atmosphere,” Lopez says. “We have a guy coming to play guitar and we’ve seen (customers) dancing through the windows.”

But Lopez said it is not just the patio, food and beverages customers come for; he attributes much of Cielito’s success to his servers, who know many customers’ names.

“We have a great staff working here,” Lopez says.

The restaurant also boasts a colorful inside dining area.

— Caitlin Doornbos

La tropicana 715

Bill Stephens

fast fooD

chiPoTLe Mexican griLL

911 Massachusetts St. • (785) 843-8800

4000 W. Sixth St. • (785) 843-1510 1420 W. 23rd St. • (785) 312-9081

“It’s the quality.

That’s what brings people back.”

In a category flooded with quick and cheap value meals, Chipotle keeps its focus on fresh food, served promptly and with exceptional customer service, says Miranda Rice, assistant manager of the Massachusetts Street location.

“It’s the quality. That’s what brings people back,” Rice says. “Which definitely means a lot more work. Everything we make is fresh daily.”

Multiple deliveries each week enable Chipotle to keep wholesome food in stock. Restaurant chefs dice tomatoes for their salsa and make their guacamole in house daily, Rice says.

“We go through a lot of both, too,” she adds. “We’re putting in that effort every day.”

One of the most popular items on the menu is the Quesarito, a combination of a quesadilla and a burrito.

“People are still coming back a year and a half after we started,” she says of the Quesarito.

One of Rice’s personal favorites is one of the simplest: the crispy shell tacos.

Unlike other fast food establishments, patrons can customize their dining experience at Chipotle. Add a side of friendly employees, and the entire experience is reinventing fast food.

“You have to start from within in order to give it to other people,” Rice says. “We want people to enjoy coming into work and to stay here, being happy.”

— Conrad Swanson

Mike Yoder

overall restaura Nt

Free State Brewing Company isn’t just a good restaurant — it’s a Lawrence tradition.

After pushing for a change to Kansas law, proprietor Chuck Magerl opened Free State, as locals call it, in 1989 as the first legal brewery in the state in more than 100 years. Naturally, its famous beer has remained a staple.

Free State usually has 12 to 16 beers on tap, most brewed right behind a big glass wall inside the restaurant, with a few brewed only blocks away at Free State’s production plant, Magerl says.

The brews range from light and easy patio-sippers (Wheat State Golden is a go-to) to dark and brooding hard-core-beer-nerdpleasers. IBUs, hop strains and other brewing details are available on the menu, online or in many cases from your server. Magerl says Free

State has multiple staffers who have cicerone certifications (like a sommelier, but for beer).

Menu items are designed to pair well with beer and in some cases are actually made with it, such as Free State’s famous cheddar ale soup. Daily specials keep dining options fresh.

Magerl says Free State aims to be part of the community through events ranging from little sidewalk concerts to the massive annual Brew to Brew race. In historic brewhouse style, Free State is a place where you can dine with a large group or make friends with other diners at the bar.

“In the ideal world, going out for food and drink is a social situation,” Magerl says. “The ability to have food and drink, and service and companionship — it all works together.”

— Sara Shepherd

Jason Dailey

mexiCa N fooD

In a sea of dining options it can be difficult to stand out. But El Potro is setting itself apart from other Lawrence eateries by focusing on food and service.

“Everything has to come together,” says manager Victor Alvarez. “Give [diners] good service and good food and the people will come back.”

Easier said than done, Alvarez admits, but a successful restaurant cannot have one without the other.

First and foremost is the food. Much of El Potro’s menu is made in house and from scratch. Bringing a unique flavor to the menu options is a great way to make an impression, Alvarez says.

“We make every sauce, every marinade,” he says. “Every day they’re made fresh.”

Many of the restaurant’s recipes are closely guarded secrets, he says.

Aside from quality food, Alvarez says, it’s just as important to provide consistent and quality customer service.

One way to do that is by showing customers that the employees take pride in their work. That sense of pride translates to a positive dining experience.

“Sometimes you get a rush and it can be difficult, but everyone is happy here,” Alvarez says. “They keep smiling, all the time; it helps the customers to come back.”

— Conrad Swanson

“We make every sauce, every marinade. Every day they’re made fresh.”

Mi Ranchito Cielito Lindo

Sara Shepherd

Dessert

syLas & Maddy’s hoMeMade ice creaM 1014 Massachusetts St. (785) 832-8323

On any given day, Sylas & Maddy’s Homemade Ice Cream can go through eight full buckets of handmade waffle cones and as many as 30 buckets of homemade ice cream.

Not bad for a business that doesn’t have an advertising budget.

“We used to advertise, but we just kind of lost touch with doing it,” says owner Sarah England. “Now, when most people come back it’s just by word of mouth.”

The ice cream parlor runs local specials, offering buyone-get-one deals for students and free treats for parents on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

For the past 18 years Sylas & Maddy’s has been a Lawrence dessert institution with the line frequently snaking out the door.

Even with the recent resurgence of frozen yogurt and gelato shops, England says, the ice cream shop holds its own.

“Now we’re starting to do dairy free and sherbets, freezes and creamsicles, limeades, lemonades and smoothies,” she says.

England has been around Sylas & Maddy’s since her parents opened the business when she was 10 years old.

For England, the business is very much a family endeavor — ice cream made by her family and lovingly shared with yours.

— Conrad Swanson

orange Leaf Cold stone Creamery

Jason Dailey

Bakery

“It’s really cool that we’re able to make everything in house and from scratch.”

When many in Lawrence are just bedding down for the night, WheatFields Bakery Café employees are just showing up to work.

General Manager Amy Savoie says WheatFields’ bakers often arrive between midnight and 1 in the morning on weekends. It’s a position that requires dedication and discipline. Despite the challenging hours, the bakery is up to the task.

“We’re making a fresh product daily,” she says of the restaurant’s popular loaves, croissants, cakes and other goodies. “We’re a scratch bakery. And not a lot of people are doing this every day.”

The team continues to offer fresh bread, pastries, sandwiches, salads and more day in and day out — and the community notices.

“It’s really cool that we’re able to make everything in house and from scratch,” she says.

Savoie says the restaurant’s dinner options have been attracting attention as well.

Many of WheatFields’ products can be found outside of its downtown location. Businesses throughout Lawrence, and even one in Manhattan, purchase their breads and pastries from the bakery, says Savoie.

“We also have a lot of folks that come in from Kansas City that buy 10 loaves and freeze them,” Savoie says.

— Conrad Swanson

BaKeRy

Jason Dailey

Creating Memories

for 20 years

Customized Catering with personalized attention to your unique event needs

“We use quality ingredients, make bread from scratch, and we hire the kind of people who take pride in the restaurant.”

sa NDwiC h

yeLLo sub 1814 W. 23rd St. • (785) 843-6000

wheatfields Bakery Café Dillons

Nick Beck says he will likely be the general manager of Yello Sub until he’s 70 years old.

Starting in the mid-1990s, Beck spent a seven-year stint working in the sandwich shop before pursuing a career change. In 2013, however, Beck found himself working once again at Yello Sub, and all was right with the world.

“I felt like I was returning to the fold. It was good to come back,” he says. “People who work there take a lot of pride in what they do.”

While there are other sandwich shops in Lawrence, Yello Sub tries to offer something the rest can’t.

“We try to provide an experience when our customers come in,” he says. “We try to make it feel like it’s their place, their secret.”

That secret includes a list of fresh ingredients, lovingly stacked on homemade buns with combinations you simply can’t find anywhere else.

“We use quality ingredients, make bread from scratch, and we hire the kind of people who take pride in the restaurant,” he says.

While Beck has a few years at Yello Sub under his belt, some have been there even longer, he says, including one baker who has worked at the restaurant for more than 25 years.

Yello Sub’s longevity and continuing success are largely due to the employees, all of whom make up the best team Beck says he has ever worked with — in any job.

— Conrad Swanson

amErICaN CuISINE

1. Free State Brewing Company

2. The Burger Stand

3. Ladybird Diner

BakEry

1. WheatFields Bakery Café

2. Munchers Bakery

3. Great Harvest Bread Co

BarBEquE

1. Bigg’s

2. Biemer’s BBQ

3. Hog Wild Pit Bar-B-Q

BarISTa

1. Chelsea Rae, The Roost

2. Regan Broadfoot, J&S Coffee

3. Adam Lott, The Bourgeois Pig

BEST rESTauraNT DISH

1. The Bill Self, 23rd Street Brewery

2. Black Bean Quesadillas, Free State Brewing Company

3. Fish and Chips, Free State Brewing Company

BrEakFaST SpOT

1. The Roost

2. Big Biscuit

3. Ladybird Diner

BurrITO

1. Chipolte Mexican Grill

2. Burrito KING

3. El Potro

CaTErEr

1. Maceli’s

2. TIE: Culinaria and Evan Williams Catering

3. Mr. Bacon BBQ

CHEF

1. Rick Martin, Limestone pizza + kitchen + bar

2. TK Peterson, Merchants Pub & Plate

3. Ken Baker, Pachamamas

CHINESE FOOD

1. Encore Café

2. Jade Garden

3. Oriental Bistro & Grill

COFFEE Or TEa SHOp

1. La Prima Tazza

2. Alchemy Coffee & Bake House

3. Starbucks

1. Eileen’s Colossal Cookies

2. Hot Box Cookies

3. WheatField’s Bakery Café

DElIvEry

1. Jimmy John’s

2. Pizza Shuttle

3. Ramen Bowls

DESSErT

1. Sylas & Maddy’s Homemade Ice Cream

2. Ladybird Diner

3. WheatFields Bakery Café

DINEr

1. Ladybird Diner

2. Big Biscuit

3. Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

ETHNIC markET

1. The Merc Co-op

2. Au Marché

3. Mediterranean Market & Cafe

FaST FOOD

1. Chipotle Mexican Grill

2. Runza

3. Culver’s

FrENCH FrIES

1. The Burger Stand

2. McDonald’s

3. Runza

FrESH prODuCE

1. Lawrence Farmers Market

2. Checkers

3. The Merc Co-op

GrOCEry STOrE

1. Dillons

2. Checkers

3. Hy-Vee

HamBurGEr

1. The Burger Stand

2. Dempsey’s Burger Pub

3. Burgers By Bigg’s

ICE CrEam Or FrOzEN yOGurT

1. Sylas & Maddy’s Homemade Ice Cream

2. Orange Leaf

3. Cold Stone Creamery

INSIaN Or mIDDlE

EaSTErN FOOD

1. India Palace

2. Aladdin Cafe

3. Mediterranean Market & Cafe

ITalIaN FOOD

1. The Basil Leaf Café

2. Paisano’s Ristorante

3. 715

luNCH SpOT

1. WheatFields Bakery Café

2. Terrabonne Po’ Boys

3. 715

mExICaN FOOD

1. El Potro

2. Mi Ranchito

3. Cielito Lindo

NEw rESTauraNT

1. Ladybird Diner

2. Limestone pizza + kitchen + bar

3. Mi Ranchito

OuTDOOr DINING

1. Cielito Lindo

2. La Tropicana

3. 715

OvErall mENu

1. Free State Brewing Company

2. 715

3. Merchant Pub & Plate

OvErall rESTauraNT

1. Free State Brewing Company

2. 715

3. Merchants Pub & Plate

pIzza

1. Limestone pizza + kitchen + bar

2. Papa Keno’s Pizzeria

3. Minsky’s Pizza

plaCE TO GET a pIE

1. Ladybird Diner

2. Perkins Restaurant & bakery

3. The Roost

rESTauraNT FOr kIDS

1. Ladybird Diner

2. Cici’s Pizza

3. Free State Brewing Company

rESTauraNT TO waTCH a GamE

1. Buffalo Wild Wings

2. Johnny’s Tavern West

3. Henry T’s

SalaD

1. Ingredient

2. WheatField’s Bakery Café

3. Dillons

SaNDwICH

1. Yello Sub

2. WheatFields Bakery Café

3. Jimmy John’s

SEaFOOD

1. Mariscos

2. 715

3. Merchants Pub & Plate

SECrET mENu

1. Oriental Bistro & Grill

2. TIE: Panda & Plum Garden and Cafe Beautiful

3. Burger Fi

STEak

1. LongHorn Steakhouse

2. Six Mile Tavern & Chop House

3. 715

SuSHI

1. Yokohama Sushi

2. Wa Japanese Restaurant

3. Kokoro Japanese Sushi & Steakhouse

TaCOS

1. Fuzzy’s Taco Shop

2. El Potro

3. TACO ZONE

TakE OuT

1. Ramen Bowls

2. China House

3. TIE: Jade Garden and Thai-Siam Restaurant

THaI FOOD

1. Zen Zero

2. Thai-Siam Restaurant

3. Baan Thai Restaurant

vEGETarIaN Or vEGaN FOOD

1. Zen Zero

2. The Merc Co-op

3. Encore Café

waITSTaFF/SErvICE

1. Free State Brewing Company

2. 715

3. The Roost

wINGS

1. Buffalo Wild Wings

2. Jefferson’s

3. Henry T’s

mmu NIT y

C

“Your day is never the same. You’re rewarded just by watching them become successful.”

Mike Yoder

teaC her k-12

Jeanne yanTzie

Lawrence High School

teaCHeR K-12

TIE:

David Platt, Lawrence High School

Paul Corcoran, West Middle School

TIE: Jessica Miescher-Lerner, Sunset Hill Elementary Hilary Morton, Free State High School

When Jeanne Yantzie left Nebraska for Kansas just five years ago, she didn’t know what the future held. But after working as a para-educator in the Lawrence school district, she almost immediately fell in love with special education.

“I decided this was my new path,” Yantzie says. “I love working with the teachers and the kids and the staff.”

A typical day for Yantzie involves working with special-education students on math or reading and on setting life goals.

“I think by working with the students and preparing them for life after high school, because that transition is really hard, I’m just making sure they’re ready to take on the community and that the

community is ready to work with them,” she says.

Yantzie often is the teacher or confidant who gives them the extra help they need, and she says it’s rewarding to see these students become valuable and positive members of the community.

“They’re going to need the support and encouragement, whether it be academically or socially,” she says.

Yantzie also encourages others to work in special education because of the unexpected rewards.

“Your day is never the same,” she says. “You’re rewarded just by watching them become successful.”

— Fally Afani

“We make an effort to know all our customers and welcome the opportunity to meet new customers.”

Commerce Bank us Bank

Capitol Federal is a homegrown Kansas bank, originating in Topeka in 1893. The first branch outside of the capital city opened in Lawrence in 1953.

Today the Lawrence locations, named best bank, are part of the 47-branch network in Kansas and Missouri. The bank offers a long list of traditional and technological services and is proud of its long history of customer service.

“We make an effort to know all our customers and welcome the opportunity to meet new customers. We become part of their family,” says Deborah Johnston, vice president and downtown branch manager. “Customers will stop by and say,

‘Grandma brought me into this office when I was 7 years old, and now I’m on my second mortgage with you.’”

Supporting the Lawrence community is also important to the bank. The bank backs organizations such as United Way, Relay for Life and Court Appointed Special Advocates. It also is in partnerships with the Kansas University School of Business, Prairie Park Elementary School, Lawrence High School and the public schools’ Lawrence Education Achievement Partners program. The Capitol Federal Foundation also helps fund many other services in the community. — Linda A. Ditch

plaC e To holD AN eveNt

A combination of rich history and interesting architecture are the perfect ingredients for an event atmosphere.

Abe & Jake’s Landing has plenty of both, which is why people love throwing events at this one-of-a-kind venue.

Abe & Jake’s is situated on the bank of the Kansas River in a building that once housed the Consolidated Barbed Wire Company. The space is named after two local fishermen who had a cabin next door, Abe Burns and Jake Washington.

Today, Abe & Jake’s is home to five different spaces that can accommodate between 25 and 700 people. The spaces feature picturesque views of the river, plenty of natural light, exposed brick and hardwood floors.

“The history and architecture, along with the rustic and vintage feel of the

building make Abe & Jake’s a unique space,” says Leila Ahvarhoush, event manager for Abe & Jake’s. “The venue also offers access to a patio overlooking the river, which people like.”

Abe & Jake’s, popular for private receptions and parties, also hosts a number of public events and fundraisers, such as the annual Kansas Craft Beer Expo, the annual Gingerbread Festival benefiting Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and the annual Catfish Fry benefiting Friends of the Kaw.

While Abe & Jake’s has a great atmosphere, Ahvarhoush says the high-quality staff should not be overlooked.

“Behind the scenes is a dedicated and caring staff that will ensure success to all events,” she said.

— Liz Weslander

Liberty Hall Maceli’s

Jason Dailey

3400 W. Sixth St.

1300 W. 23rd St. 2221 W. 31st St. (785) 749-2224

What makes a credit union different from a traditional bank?

Truity Credit Union regional vice president Ginger Wehner explains that, unlike a bank controlled by shareholders, Truity is a not-for-profit organization owned by members, much like a co-op.

“All the profits go back to the members, either in more services available, higher dividends or lower loan rates,” she says.

Truity is a full-service credit union, offering a host of benefits to members, including checking accounts, savings accounts, auto loans and mortgages.

Wehner is especially proud of Truity’s technology offerings. Members can take advantage of Apple Pay, as well as remote check deposit, and mortgage applications are available online.

Seeking to invest in the future, Truity gives back to its members with scholarships and contests throughout the year. The credit union also supports the community through sponsorships and education programs, plus financial contributions and staff volunteering.

“Everything that we do, we do in the best interest of our members,” Wehner says. “We’re grateful for the community’s continued support and look forward to giving continued service in the years to come.”

— Linda Ditch

In the coming year, the focus will be on green spaces such as courtyards and enhanced gardening areas.

brandon Woods aT aLvaMar 1501 Inverness Drive • (785) 838-8000

Since opening in 1987, Brandon Woods at Alvamar has been popular with seniors in Douglas County.

Brandon Woods features townhouses, independentand assisted-living apartments, a health center for rehabilitation services, long-term care and nursing memory care.

Additionally, the community, spanning 30 acres in west Lawrence, offers outpatient rehabilitation and concierge services that allow individuals to remain independent for as long as possible. Add to that restaurant-style dining, in-home catering and room service in all areas of living and you have a recipe for success.

“In the last year we have really focused on wellness programming,” says Donna Bell, executive director. “Lifestyle 360 is our new framework for wellness programming.”

The program focuses on five dimensions of wellness: social wellness, physical wellness, intellectual wellness, emotional wellness and spiritual wellness.

“We keep this model in mind as we develop very active programs and seek resident input on how they want life to be lived at Brandon Woods,” says Bell.

In the coming year, the focus will be on green spaces such as courtyards and enhanced gardening areas. Residents will enjoy expanded menus, which will be customized even more to reflect needs and preferences of clients.

“We will continue to open our doors to the community who have come to expect great fellowship, interesting educational events and outstanding food service from us,” Bell says.

— Carolyn Kaberline

TruiTy credi

Nick Krug

the oread Holiday inn Lawrence

Lawrence’s Eldridge Hotel is among the most historic in Kansas.

Built in 1925, The Eldridge is on the National Register of Historic Places and still has many of its original features.

“You don’t see a building like this everywhere you go,” says Nancy Longhurst, the hotel’s general manager. “It’s fun and it’s who we are.”

Today, The Eldridge has 48 hotel suites and houses TEN Restaurant and The Jayhawker, as well as its original 1920s ballroom (available to rent for group functions).

Notable guests have included John Wayne and the entire cast of “Dark

Command,” a film from 1940 based on Quantrill’s Raid. The original hotel at the site was famously burned in the raid in 1863.

After two previous hotels were erected in its place, its namesake, Colonel Shalor Eldridge helped found today’s historic version. It’s even said that his ghost still roams the premises, with numerous sighting and stories of the supernatural.

“People know who we are and they know we’re going to take great care of them,” Longhurst says. “We’re going to go the extra mile. That’s the beauty of being around for a long time.”

— Bethaney Wallace

“We’re

to go the extra mile. That’s the beauty of being around for a long time.”

Sunflower Publishing

lo Cal store owNer

Linda & ToM coTTin, coTTin’s h

1832 Massachusetts St. • (785) 843-2981

For Linda and Tom Cottin, the magic of owning a local business is in the customers.

“Customer service supersedes all other duties,” Linda says. “This job wouldn’t be any fun if we didn’t have good customers”

Linda and Tom are the owners of Cottin’s Hardware & Rental in downtown Lawrence and have been named best local store owners. Both grew up working in family hardware stores and have been running Cottin’s since 1992, when they purchased the store from Bob and Barbara Zimmerman.

The Cottins’ commitment to customer service involves staying attentive to shoppers, special ordering products not in stock, and customizing items to the desires

of their customers, Linda says.

But it also goes above and beyond hardware retailing.

For instance, the Cottins hold a weekly farmers market at the store every Thursday with vendors, live music and beer. They also organize an annual scarecrow contest and auction to benefit local school gardens. And Linda is the author of “Fix-It Chick,” a Lawrence Journal-World home improvement column.

“We want to support the customers and the community that support us,” Linda says. “We love Lawrence and are grateful to live here and be a part of the community.”

— Liz Weslander

“We love Lawrence and are grateful to live here and be a part of the community.”

Bill Stephens

“This

New Busi Ness

When Meg Heriford opened Ladybird Diner in August 2014, she didn’t expect to see 1,000 people come through her doors on opening weekend. Heriford knew Lawrence needed a spot to get Americana-style diner food, she said, but the degree of desire is “surreal.”

“This all came about as a result of pie,” Heriford says, recalling the first time she had made buttermilk pie for 715, where she worked for five years as a server. “People were lining up for it. We couldn’t keep it in stock, and I couldn’t make it fast enough.”

The momentum didn’t stop there. Heriford has been churning out triple berry, coconut cream, Mexican chocolate, blueberry rhubarb and many other flaky-crusted handmade pies on a regular basis to meet the demand of

customers who want it by the slice — and by the whole pie.

Ladybird Diner’s from-scratch fare has garnered so many accolades it’s been awarded Best of Lawrence 2015’s best new business.

Heriford credits her success to the honest approach they’ve taken with serving up traditional nostalgic dishes inspired by different parts of the country. It’s not just burgers, fries, shakes and pies, which was the menu Heriford had originally dreamed up.

“We’re certainly not reinventing the wheel in there; I mean, everyone’s had meatloaf before,” she says. “Hopefully at Ladybird there’s something for everyone that will remind them of a time when they were growing up.”

— Nadia Imafidon

Jason Dailey

plaCe FOR ChilDreN’s BirthDay

Children’s birthday parties should be fun for everyone, including the parents. That is the philosophy at Lawrence Gymnastics and Athletics, where birthday party packages come with a party host who supervises activities, runs the cakes and presents operation, and cleans up afterward.

“We like to say that the parents’ only job is to take pictures and enjoy themselves,” says Randy Laggart, event coordinator. “It’s a lowstress experience for the parent.”

The main event at LGA birthday parties is supervised play in the gym, which has trampolines, inflatables, a foam pit and other equipment.

“The foam pit is definitely our biggest draw,” Laggart says. “We are the only place in town with one. You can jump in and out of it.”

Laggart says that LGA has hosted birthday parties for kids as young as 1 and as old as 18. The Clinton Parkway location is ideal for children under 5 because it has more equipment designed specifically for preschoolers, but both locations accommodate all ages.

Laggart says that people wanting a specific date usually book about a month before the party but that he can sometimes book parties with as little as one week’s notice.

— Liz Weslander

“We like to say that the parents’ only job is to take pictures and enjoy themselves.”

John Young

a rt Gallery

Phoenix Gallery spencer Museum of art

A one-stop shop for performing arts, education and exhibitions, the Lawrence Arts Center engages with the community in a number of ways. And that’s probably why it has been voted Best of Lawrence 2015’s best art gallery.

Ben Ahlvers, the center’s exhibitions director, says as a nonprofit the Arts Center doesn’t have the same limitations as a commercial space that relies on sales to keep its doors open. It allows Ahlvers to seek and display work that couldn’t necessarily function in those spaces but is relevant to the community.

“We have a lot of freedom with what we can do with exhibitions,” he says. “We can do a wide range of projects with a wide range of approaches to putting on exhibitions and I

think that’s a real asset to this organization.”

At the heart of each show is the desire to always bring something new and different to the walls of the center’s three galleries. From artistic medium to subject matter to the artists themselves, it’s about being representative of the diverse interests of the community.

This could mean displaying paintings that are stunningly beautiful or bodies of ceramic work that are conceptually challenging, Ahlvers says.

“The bottom line and the common denominator of everything is quality,” he says. “There’s going to be something that’s going to engage people and that can mean a lot of things to a lot of people.”

— Nadia Imafidon

“We have a lot of freedom with what we can do with exhibitions.”

Sunflower Publishing

small plaC e To work

Fundraising is generally not an easy task, but at Pennington and Company, a fundraising consultation firm, it’s a rewarding one.

Here a strong employee recognition program provides team members with incentives like paid time off for birthdays, a profit-sharing plan, cash bonuses and help in reaching individual dreams. It’s easy to see why it’s been named the best small business to work at in Lawrence.

“We have a tremendous team,” says Rod Barleen, executive vice president. “As Pennington and Company has grown, we feel we have been successful in executing our vision for the company that includes fostering a culture that attracts and retains goal- and team-oriented people who are passionate about helping our clients and colleagues.”

Monthly meetings recognize individual staff successes in securing major gifts, exceeding goals or other milestones. The “Raving Fan” award is based on staff nominations for positive referrals or client compliments.

In addition to the numerous awards and incentives offered, social outings — such as impromptu scavenger hunts, trips to Worlds of Fun or a Royals game, along with in-office fitness competitions and an annual Chili Cook-Off — help cement employees into a true team.

“We also take time to recognize personal moments, such as wedding and baby showers, to celebrate our growing family,” Barleen says. ”We also strive to be an active participant in the Lawrence community.”

With numerous opportunities for growth and recognition, Pennington and Company has found ways to create a loyal employee base and a promising atmosphere for continued success.

— Carolyn Kaberline

“We have a tremendous team.”

Nick Krug

“The

lo Cal eveNt

With Lawrence landing itself on last year’s Travel + Leisure’s list of quirkiest towns in America, it’s no surprise that the Lawrence Busker Festival was voted the best local event for the second year in a row.

Its tagline touts the most talented “freaks, geeks, artists and musicians around.” The festival is a three-day event boasting street performers of the highest caliber.

Richard Renner is the mastermind behind the madness, recruiting acts that draw more than 18,000 curious onlookers each year. This year will mark the eighth successful festival.

“What makes it good for Lawrence is that it’s a nontraditional way of experience

performance,” Renner says. “And Lawrence is all about being nontraditional.”

The free event takes street performance to the next level. On various stages and sidewalks in downtown Lawrence, find pogo acrobats, fire-eaters, sword swallowers, contortionists and many other unusual characters looking to entertain.

Year after year the event grows and gains even more notoriety, Renner says. Worldrenowned street performers make their way to Lawrence to be a part of the festival that started on a $2,000 budget. Now with a $25,000 budget, it’s safe to say Lawrencians are adamant about keeping this weekend of weird an annual tradition.

— Nadia Imafidon

Lawrence st. Patrick’s Day Parade Christmas on Massachusetts st.

John Young

l arGe plaC e To work

When it comes to naming the benefits that come with working at Kansas University, Easan Selvan needs very little prompting.

“Earlier this year I got to see a sitting president speak,” says the chief of staff for Information Technology Services at KU.

At a private-sector job, he continues, the day might end in a happy hour. His day on campus, however, could end with an engaging talk given by distinguished author Margaret Atwood. Not one day is like another, especially when he has access to such a large pool of accomplished faculty and staff.

“At KU, I get to work with so many experts from so many different disciplines solving so many cool problems on the cutting edge of whatever field they’re working in; it’s

fascinating,” Selvan says. “I develop a new skill set every day.”

With eight years of experience under his belt, Selvan has gone from desktop technician support (e.g., plugging in keyboards) to interacting with individuals across the country on issues facing technology in higher education.

And it’s not just access to the experts on campus. As an employee at KU, he has access to the gym at Robinson Center, free of charge. He can purchase basketball tickets “for the greatest team in the NCAA.” He was even able to take Latin over his lunch hour, with tuition assistance, just because he had a personal interest.

“That’s just not something that anybody else has ever been able to offer me,” he says.

— Nadia Imafidon

Lawrence Memorial Hospital Lawrence Public schools

Nick Krug

NoNprofit

LaWrence huMane socieTy 1805 E. 19th St. • (785) 843-6835

Since the 1890s, Lawrence has had some type of organization to watch out for unwanted or abused animals. Today that responsibility is handled by the Lawrence Humane Society, which was chartered in 1951.

Executive Director Kate Meghji describes the nonprofit’s mission as “caring for animals other people don’t care about.”

As the only shelter in Douglas County, the Humane Society provides housing for a variety of pets and rural animals from the city and county. Emergency on-call staff is available 24/7 to assist injured or stray animals in getting the care they need.

The average length of time an animal stays at the Lawrence Humane Society decreased from 33-34 days in 2014 to fewer than 19 days in 2015. Next on the society’s agenda is to develop education programs outside the shelter and accumulate resources to help owners keep their pets.

“People assume an animal in a shelter has something wrong with them,” Meghji says. “Usually they are animals that come in because of a housing or economic issue. An owner can no longer afford to keep their pet, or they need medical treatment they can’t afford. It can be very sad.”

Meghji says plenty of pleasant moments also occur.

“Someone lost a pet six months ago that we were able to track down by reading the animal’s microchip,” she says. “Or we find the perfect match of a pet to a new owner. Those are the happy times.”

— Linda A. Ditch

Richard Gwin

arT GallEry

1. Lawrence Arts Center

2. Phoenix Gallery

3. Spencer Museum of Art

arTIST

1. John Sebelius

2. TIE: Stan Herd and Louis Copt

3. Jason Barr

BaNk

1. Capitol Federal ®

2. Commerce Bank

3. US Bank

CrEDIT uNION

1. Truity Credit Union

2. Meritrust Credit Union

3. Mainstreet Credit Union

FamIly FuN

1. Lawrence Public Library

2. Royal Crest Lanes

3. Laugh Out Loud Family Zone

HOTEl

1. The Eldridge

2. The Oread

3. Holiday Inn Lawrence

lOCal BlOG, FaCEBOOk, TwITTEr Or OTHEr

SOCIal mEDIa paGE

1. @Larryvillelife

2. Chad Lawhorn, Lawrence Journal World

3. F—— you, I’m from Kansas Facebook page

lOCal EvENT

1. Lawrence Busker Festival

2. Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade

3. Christmas on Massachusetts Street

lOCal NON-prOFIT

1. Lawrence Humane Society

2. Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence

3. Just Food

lOCal STOrE OwNEr

1. Linda and Tom Cottin, Cottin’s Hardware & Rental

2. Matt and Jennifer Richards, Made

3. Jim Lewis, Checkers

maTurE lIvING COmmuNITy

1. Brandon Woods at Alvamar

2. Pioneer Ridge Assisted Living

3. Lawrence Presbyterian Manor

NaTIONal CElEBrITy FrOm lawrENCE

1. Paul Rudd

2. Bill Self

3. Kathleen Sebelius

NEw BuSINESS

1. Ladybird Diner

2. Limestone pizza + kitchen + bar

3. Mass Street Soda

park

1. South Park

2. Clinton Lake State Park

3. Centennial Park

plaCE OF wOrSHIp

1. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church

2. Corpus Christi Catholic Church

3. Plymouth Congregational Church

plaCE TO HavE a kIDS

BIrTHDay parTy

1. Lawrence Gymnastics and Athletics

2. Laugh Out Loud Family Zone

3. Sports Pavilion Lawrence

plaCE TO HOlD aN EvENT

1. Abe & Jake’s Landing

2. Liberty Hall

3. Maceli’s

plaCE TO TakE aN OuT-OF-TOwNEr

1. Free State Brewing Company

2. Downtown Lawrence Inc.

3. Allen Fieldhouse

plaCE TO wOrk, larGE BuSINESS 100 Or mOrE pEOplE

1. The University of Kansas

2. Lawrence Memorial Hospital

3. Lawrence Public Schools

plaCE TO wOrk, Small BuSINESS

lESS THaN 100 pEOplE

1. Pennington & Company

2. TIE: Liberty Hall and Lawrence Public Library

3. Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop

TEaCHEr k-1

1. Jeanne Yantzie, Lawrence High School

2. TIE: David Platt, Lawrence High School Paul Corcoran, West Middle School

3. TIE: Jessica Miescher-Lerner, Sunset Hill Elementary Hilary Morton,

TEaCHEr uNIvErSITy

1. Mary Klayder, Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies, University Honors Lecturer, KU

2. Stephen S. Ilardi, Associate Professor, Psychology, KU

3. TIE: Brian Staihr, Lecturer, Economics, KU

Anne Patterson, Lecturer, Architecture, Design & Planning, KU

Alice Lieberman, Professor, Center for Children & Families, KU

uNSuNG HErO

1. Lawrence Fire and Medical

Jeff Larkin, DDS

Marvin Heinbach, DDS

al TH &F ITNESS

Acupuncture | ChiropraC tor | Dentist | Ey E Doctor,

Vision cE nt E r or plac E to buy Ey E w E ar | FA mily

orthoD oNtist

Lawrence-based orthodontist Dr. Daniel Ranjbar looks at the people in his chair as patients, not consumers.

“We treat them like family. We educate them so they understand the problem and what treatment is needed, if any; we’re not trying to sell a treatment,” he says.

When treatment is necessary, clients can expect use of the latest in orthodontia methods and technology. For example, Ranjbar prefers to take scans of teeth, versus a mold, which is converted into a digital image for diagnosis.

“Being able to scan teeth without impressions is well-received,” he says.

Ranjbar also treats about 30 percent of his patients with Invisalign, a method that uses a series of clear plastic retainers to straighten teeth.

Ranjbar credits his team, many of whom have worked with the practice for more than 10 years, to keep patients comfortable. “I couldn’t do what I do without them,” Ranjbar says. “I need them to be high-functioning and skilled, and they are.”

A top staff, up-to-date technology, and a strong education program all add up to Ranjbar Orthodontics being voted the Best of Lawrence.

— Carolyn Kaberline

Emily Steele

Golf Course

aLvaMar goLf course and counTry cLub 1809 Crossgate Drive • (785) 841-1907

At Alvamar, Hooser and his team are making the game customerfriendly to the longtime member as well as to the newcomer.

Paul Hooser, PGA Professional and head golf pro, is excited for his third season at Alvamar to get into full swing. An ownership change is pending. He’s unsure of what will happen and when, but he is sure that Alvamar, which features two 18-hole courses — the public Championship Course and the private Member’s Course — is geared up to welcome golfers.

“The golf courses are the big reason — the No. 1 reason — why we’re successful here,” Hooser says. Golf course superintendent Kent Morgison and his maintenance team always keep the courses in great condition, Hooser adds.

But it’s also an attitude. Golf can be an intimidating sport to the uninitiated. At Alvamar, Hooser and his team are making the game customer-friendly to the longtime member as well as to the newcomer.

“We have a volunteer corps of 30 guys here, who at other places would be called marshals,” Hooser says. “We call them the ‘volunteer corps’ because they’re here to help golfers. Calling them ‘marshals’ sounds harsh for someone who is here to help.”

For those interested in experiencing what’s been voted the best golf course in Lawrence, it’s easy to get a tee time, and it’s affordable.

For the smallest crowds, Hooser suggests visiting the course in the mid- to late-morning, or early- to midafternoon Tuesday through Thursday. The cost for nine holes is $15 for those willing to walk, $30 to rent a cart. The course also offers student, senior and military discounts.

— Seth Jones

GoLf CouRse

Nick Krug

saLon di Marco 733 Massachusetts St. • (785) 843-0044

Pampered, relaxed, beautiful: Those are just some of the customer goals put forth by Salon Di Marco, a full-service salon and spa in downtown Lawrence.

Offering everything from skin care to hair care, to waxing, manicures, pedicures and more, Salon Di Marco draws clientele from all age groups.

“We try to do our best to fulfill all the needs that our clients have,” says owner Carlos Castillo.

The business opened in 2001. Castillo and his wife, Jackie, took over

as owners five years ago.

Seven days a week they strive to create a satisfying and individualized experience, no matter how small or quick the service, they say. They have attempted to find the best staff available, honing their team of about 25 so that each can excel in his or her specialty.

“We get into different [salon service] areas,” he says. “Anything the client might need.”

— Bethaney Wallace

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our patients for their continued support and for vo ting us Best of Lawrence Chiropractor We are bo th honored and humbled by the conﬁdence our patients have shown us over the years. Come experience how Active Release Therapy, innovative rehab, and a personalized approach to addressing pain and injuries, are why over 4000 patients trust Peak Performance for their care

Dr. Rob Jones, Ronda & Rene, and Dr. Abby Robinson

Jason Dailey

peDiatriC ia N

PediaTric and adoLescenT Medicine, Pa 346 Maine St. • 4824 Quail Crest Place • (785) 842-4477

Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, PA has been around since 1976, modernizing steadily through the decades.

“We are able to provide a doctor with the bedside manner to fit best with any parent and patient.”

Besides caring for patients from birth to 18 years, the practice offers such services as a walk-in clinic Monday (Maine Street location) and a weight management clinic led by a dietitian each Tuesday.

Office manager Geoff Coburn thinks the practice’s popularity has to do with its five doctors and two midlevel practitioners (a physician’s assistant and a nurse practitioner).

“We are able to provide a doctor with the bedside manner to fit best with any parent and patient,” Coburn says. “Parents can find

a medical home that fits their child’s needs and conditions.”

The doctors also service the pediatric needs of Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Kids like seeing each of the exam rooms decorated in a different theme, from baseball and maps, to zoo animals and ocean scenes. The waiting room was recently redecorated in sports themes, focusing mainly on soccer and basketball.

“We have to pay homage to Lawrence,” Coburn says. “We hope to offer subtle encouragement for kids to become more active.”

— Linda Ditch

Googols of Learning Child Development Center www.googolsoflearning.com*785-856-6002

Lawrence Pediatrics, PA

Lawrence Family Medicine and Obstetrics

PeDiatRiCiaN

Emmalee Schaumburg

einbach Larkin dds

10 E. Ninth St., Suite C/D • (785) 749-2525

Customizing care, emphasizing prevention and establishing a “layer of trust” are important principles at Heinbach Larkin DDS.

Along with their staff — many of whom have 20plus years experience in the practice — dentists Marvin Heinbach and Jeff Larkin also emphasize putting people at ease.

“When [patients] come in they get a sense that we’re professional, yet we also try to make it an environment where people enjoy coming to the dentist,” Heinbach says. “They realize we have a little bit of fun while trying to do a good job at the same time, which is a hard thing to balance, but I think we do a pretty good job with that.”

In 2014 the practice added a dentist, Jeff Larkin. Larkin, Heinbach says, possesses the exact characteristics he was seeking for the practice. “He’s a personable guy,” Heinbach says. “He cares about people. He’s outgoing. He’s just a good, quality dentist.”

One thing the practice prides itself on is that it doesn’t insist on nonessential services such as annual X-rays, which Heinbach says aren’t necessary as long as a patient is disease-free and hasn’t had a cavity for several years.

“Overall, it is a pet peeve of mine due to the radiation exposure and the dental expense, which is not necessary for a lot of people,” Heinbach says. “Basically, we personalize the care. You’re not a widget. You’re a unique individual.”

— Becky Bridson

Peterson, Krische & Van Horn, DDS

Wilkerson, Saunders & Anderson DDS, LLC

“We also try to make it an environment where people enjoy coming to the dentist.”

DeNtist

Jason Dailey

ChiropraCtor

Drive • (785) 842-4181

It’s one happy family — literally — at Advanced Chiropractic Services.

“All of my doctors are related to me … a sister, niece, a couple of my sons, a cousin,” says Dr. Chris Wertin proudly. “I know who these people are, and I trust them all dearly.”

Trust goes a long way when it comes to chiropractic care. At Advanced Chiropractic Services, an instrument called the Activator, which Wertin helped develop in the 1980s, has been the system his team trusts the most.

“We don’t do any twisting, cracking or popping. We use a hand-held instrument, and that’s all we do,” Wertin says. “When we give an adjustment, we give literally the best adjustment that anybody can give that

patient. If there were a better way, we’d do it that way.”

Wertin, who has been a chiropractor since 1985 and has practiced in Lawrence since 1989, has had patients come from around the world to visit him, he says. Not bad for a “country kid” from Wathena, Kansas.

The family atmosphere grew recently at Advanced Chiropractic Services with the addition of Wertin’s oldest son, Harry. His younger son, Kyle, has been on the staff for over a year. Both are licensed chiropractors.

“I like the situation I’ve created here. I come from a family of 11. I’m used to a lot of people around me,” Wertin says. “Even my staff who aren’t related to me, I love them, they’re like my family.”

— Seth Jones

“When we give an adjustment, we give literally the best adjustment that anybody can give that patient.”

Your Hometown Team

At Lawrence Otolaryngology, we’ve been a part of the Lawrence community for 31 years. We are proud to be your hometown option for audiology services, including diagnostic testings, hearing screenings and one of the largest selection of hearing aids and accessories in our area. We serve our patients every day, with the time and attention it takes to truly be a partner in their hearing jour ney. And, our patients say it best...

“Our daughter recommended we come to Lawrence Otolaryngology for our hearing aids and we’re sure glad she did! Everyone we’ve worked with, from the doctors to the audiologist, have been kind and paid attention to all our needs. We would deﬁnitely recommend them to our friends... And we have, often!” —Archie and Sally, LOA patients

Questions about your hearing? We look forward to the opportunity to answer your questions and treat you like we’ve been treating your neighbors for more than 30 years. Call 785.841.1107 or visit us

Peak Performance Health Center Rodrock Chiropractic

After a lot of heavy lifting, commitment and dedication, the result has been undoubted success.

Every good lifter deserves a good spotter.

The business plan that fitness professional Lorinda Hartzler designed and presented to various banks decades ago still exists today. Hartzler found financial flexibility in local banker Mark Gonzalez, who spotted Hartzler her first loan in 1995 to buy Body Boutique, a second loan in 2004 to move the business to its current location, and a recent loan to expand the facility, doubling its size.

“He [Gonzalez] believed in me with our very first loan back then,” Hartzler says.

After a lot of heavy lifting, commitment and dedication, the result has been

undoubted success.

Following the recent stretching of the space and addition of “Free State Ride,” a licensed freestanding co-ed indoor cycling studio, Body Boutique will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year.

Hartzler, who believes everyone should own a gym membership, has often heard members say they’ve met good friends at Body Boutique.

“I know because I’ve been doing this for a long, long time that women feel very comfortable and relaxed when they’re with other women,” she says. “It creates this beautiful, warm atmosphere.”

— Becky Bridson

GyM

Genesis Health Club

The Summit

Emily Steele

family Do Ctor

Lawrence Family Medicine and Obstetrics prides itself on providing care to all types of patients at any age.

“I think our doctors are some of the most personable, caring physicians in the Lawrence area,” says Barb Riley, office administrator. “They truly love their work and love their patients, and it shows.”

The practice offers a variety of services, including obstetrics, pediatrics, primary care, gynecology, orthopedics, dermatology, cosmetic procedures and more.

The practice also devotes a large portion

of its time and effort to preventive medicine.

“Our mission is to provide our patients personalized, comprehensive, preventive and acute care with accessibility 24 hours a day,” says Dr. Larisa Kimuri.

The practice cares for patients from infancy to old age and is available for appointments or walk-ins seven days a week.

“Our goal is to keep patients healthy but to also be here for them when they get sick,” Kimuri says.

— Becky Bridson

the eyeDoctors

If there’s one thing the staff at Lawrence Family Vision Clinic has learned over the years, it’s how to go with the flow.

The clinic, founded in 1983 by Dr. Dennis Hoss, has seen a lot of change over the decades. In addition to adding several optometrists, it has updated the clinic to use electronic records, as well as installing new diagnostic machines.

Embracing technology is one of the many ways the clinic has perfected that personal touch, says practice manager Mily Boone.

Drs. Dobbins & Letourneau

“We strive for the experience here,” she says. “Our patients come in feeling completely welcomed, having an individual experience as opposed to being treated like a number.”

The clinic expanded its optical side as well, offering a large selection of fashionable frames.

“We carry designer sunglasses from Tom Ford to Cavalli and lightweight frames like IC Berlin,” Boone says. “It fits people’s lifestyles; I think that’s what people are looking for.”

Lawrence Family Vision Clinic strives to know what its customers are looking for, Boone says.

“Our doctors are definitely incredible doctors that go above and beyond for our patients,” she says, noting that they often participate in community outreach events.

— Fally Afani

Mike Yoder

sports meDiC i Ne

orThokansas, LLc

1112 W. Sixth St., Suite 124 • (785) 843-9125

It takes a good team to be successful in sports, and it seems the same rule is true in sports medicine.

If the team at OrthoKansas were a college basketball team, they’d rival the 2008 Kansas University Jayhawks.

The team, which includes Dr. Jeffrey Randall, Dr. Neal Lintecum, Dr. Stephan Prô, Dr. Doug Stull and several other key players, is as balanced as that national championship team.

“Dr. Randall is the head orthopedic surgeon at Kansas University; Dr. Lintecum is our hand specialist; Dr. Prô has recently added the hip; I take care of most of our shoulder and elbow problems,” Stull says. “We all have our special interests, and that makes us a great team.”

When patients need to be transferred to

another specialist at a different clinic that can delay healing and getting back to the sport. With the many technologies and specialists at OrthoKansas, patients can receive immediate care on-site.

“Once we decide someone needs treatment or imaging or diagnostic studies, we’re able to quickly get it done and decide if a patient needs surgery or prolonged physical therapy,” Stull says. “One of the best things we offer is timeliness of care.”

The team at OrthoKansas works hard to stay current with the latest in medicine.

“Sports medicine is rapid; it’s in constant motion,” Stull says. “Staying abreast of techniques and what’s brand new is paramount to top-of-the-line care.”

— Seth Jones

“One of the best things we offer is timeliness of care.”

Lawrence therapy services sport & spine

aCupuNCTurE

1. Ad Astra Acupuncture

2. Southwind Health Collective, LLC

3. Risley Chiropractic

CHIrOpraCTOr

1. Advanced Chiropractic Services

2. Peak Performance Health Center

3. Rodrock Chiropractic

DENTIST

1. Heinbach Larkin DDS

2. Peterson, Krische & Van Horn, DDS

3. Wilkerson, Saunders & Anderson DDS, LLC

EyE DOCTOr, vISION CENTEr

Or plaCE TO Buy EyEwEar

1. Lawrence Family Vision Clinic

2. The EyeDoctors

3. Drs. Dobbins & Letourneau

FamIly DOCTOr

1. Lawrence Family Medicine and Obstetrics

2. Family Medicine Associates, PA

3. Lawrence Family Practice Center

aND

GOlF COurSE

1. Alvamar Golf Course and Country Club

2. Eagle Bend Golf Course

3. Lawrence Country Club

Gym/FITNESS CENTEr

1. Body Boutique

2. Genesis Health Club

3. The Summit

HIkING aND BIkE TraIlS

1. Clinton Lake Trails

2. The Kansas River Trails

3. Mutt Run, Off-leash Dog Park

lOCal mEDICal ClINIC

1. Family Medicine Associates, PA

2. Lawrence Family Medicine and Obstetrics

3. Lawrence Family Practice Center

marTIal arTS

1. Prime Martial Arts

2. Premier Martial Arts

3. Lawrence Tae-Kwon-Do School

mESSaGE THErapy

1. Salon Di Marco & Day Spa

2. Massage Envy Spa

3. Southwind Health Collective, LLC

NurSE

1. Joni Lawrence, Lawrence Family Medicine and Obstetrics

2. Andrea D’Achiardi, NeuCare

3. Amy Vestal, OrthoKansas, LLC

OrTHODONTICS

1. Ranjbar Orthodontics

2. Oread Orthodontics

3. McColm Orthodontics

pEDIaTrICIaN

1. Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, PA

2. Lawrence Pediatrics, PA

3. Lawrence Family Medicine and Obstetrics

pErSONal TraINEr

1. James Findley, Athletic Republic

2. Tracey English, Aspire Fitness

3. Scott Elliott, The Summit

pHarmaCy

1. Dillons Pharmacy

2. Walgreens Pharmacy

3. Sigler Pharmacy

pHySICal THErapIST

1. OrthoKansas, LLC

2. TherapyWorks

3. Neu Physical Therapy Center

pSyCHIaTrIST, pSyCHOlOGIST Or COuNSElOr

1. 1. Interpersonal Psychiatry

2. TIE: Kendall Heiman, LSCSW, LCAC, Paramount Recovery, LLC

Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center

3. TIE: Jena Bloch, LCMFT, Life Enrichment Center

Dennis Detweiler, LSCSW, Detweiler Counseling Services Inc.

Spa

1. Salon Di Marco & Day Spa

2. TIE: Massage Envy Spa and Sensora Spa

3. Lada Salon & Spa

SpOrTS mEDICINE

1. OrthoKansas, LLC

2. Lawrence Therapy Services

3. Sport & Spine

SurGEON

1. Dr. Jeffrey C. Randall, OrthoKansas, LLC

2. Dr. Cheryl Rice, Lawrence General Surgery

3. TIE: Dr. Richard G. Wendt, OrthoKansas, LLC

Dr. Stephen W. Myrick, Lawrence General Surgery

Where

Antique Store | Bike Shop | Bookstore | Children’s

“It sounds funny to say the bike business is cyclical, but it’s true.”

Bike shop

sunfLoWer ouTdoor & bike shoP

804 Massachusetts St. • (785) 843-5000

Lawrence has always been a popular city for bicycling, and the popularity of riding bikes is flourishing in the region.

“It sounds funny to say the bike business is cyclical, but it’s true,” says Sunflower Outdoor and Bike owner Dan Hughes. “The first big bike boom was in the ’70s because of the gas shortage. Then in the mid-’80s, there was the mountain bike boom that allowed people to ride on trails.”

Now many people have become environmentally conscious and are trying to find ways to reduce their pollution footprint, and cycling is one way to do that, Hughes says.

Lawrence also has become the epicenter of gravel riding, Hughes says.

On many weekends even in winter, 100-plus gravel road races are held. In April, Sunflower

helped sponsor the Gravelleurs Raid 100-mile race that began and finished at Johnny’s Tavern.

Hughes, who has an anthropology degree from Kansas University, began working at Sunflower in 1989 when his degree “wasn’t going anywhere.”

In 2000 he and his wife bought the shop.

The shop keeps a large inventory, from 600 to 700 bikes of multiple colors and various prices, “as much as you want to spend,” Hughes says.

To foster a cycling community, Hughes supports efforts to produce maps of local trails and also provides workshops to teach riders how to repair and maintain their bikes.

“Lawrence is a good town for riding,” he says.

— Karen Dillon

Mike Yoder

“When you are that deeply rooted, the community needs you to be more than just a pet store.”

Pawsh wash and Pet Health Market Petco

If you’re feeling adventurous about the next pet you want to welcome into your home — a creature other than a dog or cat — it may be best to visit with Pet World.

The local pet store offers a wide selection, sure. Among the gerbils, guinea pigs, iguanas and birds, there are also tortoises bigger than your head and snakes that are twice as long as you are tall.

But another reason to visit Pet World is the informative staff. They’ll let you know what you’re in for.

“Goliath is a perfect example of what not to buy — he’s a 15-foot Burmese python,” says Sherry Emerson, who owns the store with her husband, Tim. “We go straight over to his cage and go, ‘Are you sure?’ And then we show them something that maxes out at 5 feet.”

Pet World has been a mainstay in Lawrence since

its opening in the 1970s (the Emersons have owned it since 1988). Emerson surrounds the fauna with a knowledgeable staff who host educational programs for kids.

Pet World, Emerson says, is more than just a store.

“Kids are growing up with us,” she says. “We teach the rain forest together; we learn together. When you are that deeply rooted, the community needs you to be more than just a pet store.”

— Elliot Hughes

Editor’s note: On May 25, a fire at Pet World took the lives of a number of small animals, while some reptiles and others survived. Lawrence emergency crews, store staff and community members responded to the fire in an effort to provide support. At press time the cause of the fire had not been determined.

“We try to go out of our way to make sure that the customer’s taken care of.”

shoe store

When Ryan Schwisow, owner of Brown’s Shoe Fit Co., says the store is about comfort, he means it.

What separates Brown’s from competitors is that it is a “sit and fit” store, Schwisow says. In addition to being able to get their feet measured, customers can also select a shoe based on their arch type and gate.

“Everybody walks different, so you need that person to tell you that because of your particular gate, this is the type of tennis shoe that works best for you,” he says.

To do so, Brown’s has a pressure point analysis machine that can determine customers’ arch types and staff can observe

how customers walk to see whether they walk more on the inside or outside of the foot, Schwisow says.

Schwisow says the store specializes in shoes with good structure and support for all ages. In addition to tennis shoes, Brown’s carries hiking shoes, flip-flops, sandals, boots and flats.

Brown’s staff also does house calls to private homes and nursing homes for customers who have a hard time making it to the store.

“We try to go out of our way to make sure that the customer’s taken care of,” Schwisow says.

— Rochelle Valverde

OUR MISSION IS SIMPLE:

Use the best materials available, combined with quality craftmanship to guarantee that we exceed our clients expectations.

No job is too big or small. Whether it is painting the walls in a single room, or taking care of all of the coatings in a large remodel or custom construction project . We are meticulous painting professionals, whose attention to detail will ensure the beauty and longevity of any painting project .

Starlight Painting is committed to ser vicing the needs of homeowners, businesses, interior designers, general contractors, and real estate professionals.

foxtrot

famous footwear

Jason Dailey

uNique store

Made

737 Massachusetts St. • (785) 749-1162

“A gift that is truly unique, made by individuals, rather than corporations or a factory.”

When you need a gift, going for something unique is always a solid choice.

Shoppers can find plenty of things under that category at Made, a 4-year-old store in Lawrence’s downtown that sells handmade items from more than 100 independent artists across the country.

“Our goal is to have items here that you can’t get anywhere else, a gift that is truly unique, made by individuals, rather than corporations or a factory,” says Jennifer Richards, who owns the store with her husband, Matt.

Made sells all sorts of household and garden items, including kitchenware, pillows, candles, soap, greeting cards, children’s clothing, various prints and artisan foods.

The two owners travel to craft fairs all over the region and even to Chicago and New York City to find new artists. And yet there are local artists contributing in every “department” of Made, Jennifer says. Many items from faraway are customized with a Lawrence spin.

Customers will enjoy the knowledge of who is behind the items they’re about to buy, Jennifer says.

“I enjoy buying something that came from a stay-at-home mom or a brotherand-sister team,” she says. “I like having that connection with the maker of it.”

— Elliot Hughes

Jason Dailey

Bookstore

The dusTy booksheLf 708 Massachusetts St. • (785) 749-4643

Manda Barker finds bookstores in general to be romantic places filled with surprises.

“I just think they are a comfortable place for people,” says Barker who is the manager of The Dusty Bookshelf in downtown Lawrence. “I think they make people feel good. There are surprises here, and people will find things they weren’t looking for.”

Barker began working at the store in her junior year at Kansas University. She graduated with a degree in social services

but found her calling at the bookstore.

Since 1996, customers have bought, sold and exchanged books at the Massachusetts Street location. As of January, the store’s inventory was at almost 56,000 books.

For Barker, being able to exchange books is a plus.

“Recycling books is something people really appreciate,” she says.

A longtime favorite at the store was a popular cat named Alice, who died last year. “The whole community mourned our

“There are surprises here, and people will find things they weren’t looking for.”

loss,” Barker says. However, in April, store employees went to the Humane Society to pick out a new kitty.

Dinah, named after a cat in “Alice in Wonderland,” has found a new home in the bookstore. The stray is black with big yellow eyes. “She is playful and ornery,” Barker says.

For now, as Dinah naps in the window, customers enjoy finding the unexpected on the store’s shelves.

— Karen Dillon

We congratulate all businesses featured in this year ’s Best of Lawrence, and thank you for your ongoing community partnership. Meritrust is proud to join with all Lawrence businesses and organizations to serve the community It’s our commitment to Lawrence to help make it the best place to live and work.

Kevin Anderson

wi ND ow Display

“I think that attracts people, since we’re a toy store. They see things that are fun.”

As per usual, the Toy Store in downtown Lawrence had plenty of fun things on display in its storefront window this spring.

A stuffed snake and lion could be seen playing checkers. Colorful kites hung from above. A stuffed dog (who is wearing his safety goggles, by the way) was working with a chemistry set.

A closer look at that chemistry set, though, reveals a signature detail behind one of Lawrence’s most consistently vibrant window displays. Among science dog’s equipment is a Petri dish filled with three little toy babies.

“That’s the stuff I like to put in there, to make people do a double-take,” says Paul Thomas, who helps construct the displays at the store. “Sometimes I see people come up and point at things. I think that attracts people, since we’re a toy store. They see things that are fun.” Thomas, along with Margaret Warner and Nick Guffey, are the window designers. Stretching 45 feet wide, the space demands an ample amount of preparation. The team generally puts up a new design every month or two and plans for the switch more than a week in advance. A range of toys from the store’s shelves can appear, not to mention handcrafted life-size models of Lego figures.

With plenty of toys to draw from, the trio is sure to keep children and the young at heart entertained — one window display at a time.

— Elliot Hughes

Entertainment (Massachusetts Street location) Weaver’s

Nick Krug

meN’s Clothi NG store

Weaver’s 901 Massachusetts St. • (785) 843-6360

Trends have come and gone since Weaver’s department store opened its doors in 1857. But there is a key difference between trends and style, and the store’s focus is on the latter, says Brady Flannery, vice president of Weaver’s.

“In everything, we try to have a timeless style,” Flannery says. “We believe in style but not trends. Trends come and go; style evolves naturally.”

That philosophy has been working well for Weaver’s, which has been named best men’s clothing store. But as much as the product is important, Weaver’s also owes its success to its people.

“Our ears are always open to our customers’ wants and needs,” Flannery says

of the staff.

And one of the needs Weaver’s strives to meet is versatility. That’s why while one can certainly find suits, ties and dress shoes, there are also T-shirts, flip-flops and sunglasses.

“In that small space provided, we can help the customer with any occasion that life’s going to throw his way,” Flannery says.

The ability to serve a range of customers is also important, Flannery says, and they’re proud to be able to serve everyone from a high school student to the gentleman who’s been shopping at Weaver’s his entire life.

“That’s a badge of honor to do all that and do it successfully, we think,” he says.

— Rochelle Valverde

Kohl’s Jos. a. Bank

Nick Krug

floral store

Imagine the joy of going to work every day in a shop brimming with freshly cut flowers.

Could you ever tire of it?

“I still love it,” says Kristin Spacek, owner of Owens Flower Shop. “I don’t think there’s a day that I didn’t want to go to work.”

Spacek and her husband are the fourth owners of the shop, which has been in Lawrence for 68 years.

Spacek moved to Lawrence when she was 21 and was looking through the phone book for possible jobs when she spotted Owens Flower

Shop. Thinking it might be a good place to work, she applied and got the job.

Within just a few years, the owners decided to retire, and she and her husband were able to buy the business.

Spacek enjoys the creative side most, cutting and arranging flowers and greenery into decorative displays. The shop carries houseplants, fresh flowers and gift items. If you don’t see the plant you want, Spacek says she can order almost any kind.

— Karen Dillon

J

LYNN BRIDAL HAS

englewood florist Hy-vee floral

Jason Dailey

Clinton Parkway

Earl May Nursery & Garden Center

GarDeN store

hoWard Pine’s garden cenTer and greenhouse 1320 N. Third St. • (785) 749-0302

Gerald Pine is a better gardener than Google.

Sure, you could turn to Google when you need to figure out when to plant radishes in Lawrence or what type of snap pea performs best in local soils. But you’re not likely to find a database that goes deeper than Pine’s.

“Our family’s gardening history in Lawrence goes back to 1868,” Pine says.

That’s when William Allen Pine came to the fertile area now known as North Lawrence. He made his living by growing vegetables. Today, Gerald Pine runs the

venerable Howard Pine’s Garden Center and Greenhouse, which is named after its founder and Pine’s father, who died in 2002.

“Our family really has passed on knowledge about gardening from generation to generation,” Pine says.

Howard Pine used the site of the garden center for years as a produce farm. Then in 1962 he decided to open a greenhouse operation on the property. It has been going strong ever since.

The operation remains unique today because it focuses on growing most of its merchandise straight from seed rather than

“Our family really has passed on knowledge about gardening from generation to generation.”

having it shipped in from distant locations.

“We’re a real greenhouse,” Pine says.

The business specializes in annuals, perennials and vegetable plants. Of course, it also specializes in promoting the joys of gardening.

“When people are here, it is like they are at their favorite hobby store,” Pine says. “This is a fun thing to do. They have all their necessary rounds done, and when they are here it is their fun time to shop.”

The store is open three seasons out of the year: March through October.

— Chad Lawhorn

womeN’s Clothi NG store

Earlier this year, BusinessInsider. com reported that nationwide Kohl’s was women’s favorite place to shop for clothing and has been for several years now.

That’s according to a consumer research survey from Piper Jaffray, which showed Kohl’s as the top choice several years running over other large and midsize stores, according to BusinessInsider.com.

Best of Lawrence voters agreed.

Kohl’s offers a wide selection of stylish women’s casual, business, dress and athletic clothes — plus shoes, handbags and jewelry to go with them.

One thing that differentiates Kohl’s, especially for the fashion-savvy, is its designers. The store sells fashionforward brands such as Rock & Republic, Juicy Couture, LC Lauren Conrad and Simply Vera by Vera Wang — at affordable prices.

— Sara Shepherd

Richard Gwin

There’s a word for a family of 350 artists: fun, says Sue Shea, manager of the Phoenix Gallery.

The gallery, being honored as the best gift shop in town, has about 350 artists represented in its space, but has worked with a lot more during its more than 20-year history in downtown.

The store chooses to work with artists who share the same philosophy about art.

shop

“Our mantra is to have art that everyone can have,” Shea says. “We have a price point of $10 and up. That is pretty much our motto: Get art in everyone’s hands.”

The store offers jewelry, blown glass, ceramics, wood work, mixed media, sculpture, paintings, drawings and many other types of art.

Many of the pieces are from local artists, which Shea says adds to the fun of the store.

“You really do get to know the artists like family,” she says. “They come in the store and we chat. When they bring new stuff in, I can’t hardly wait for them to open the box so I can see what they have.”

— Chad Lawhorn

“Our mantra is to have art that everyone can have.”

LMH Gift shop Made

Jason Dailey

C e To B uy

(785) 843-7700

It’s not just the cars that make Crown Automotive a favorite dealer around town, though it does have a lot of those. Between the dealership’s lot and its big showroom, Crown has a selection of 400 to 500 new and used vehicles, says Randy Habiger, general sales manager for the dealership.

But above all, Crown’s success comes down to two things: the customer and the community, Habiger says.

He says the dealership values transparency in customer service.

“We try to treat people the way we’d want to be treated if it was us walking in the door,” he says.

The other key element of Crown’s philosophy, he says, is community involvement, which is why the dealership supports dozens of fundraising events and nonprofit organizations annually.

“Being able to support the community and the things we feel strongly about is important,” Habiger says.

Like its inventory, the list of organizations that Crown supports is extensive, with last year’s count reaching 87, according to the dealership’s customer and community relations manager, Connie Beebe. Organizations include Habitat for Humanity, the Lawrence Schools Foundation and the Lawrence Public Library.

As varied as the organizations are, the message is the same: “Take care of the people that are in your community, and they’ll take care of you,” Habiger says.

— Rochelle Valverde

Laird Noller automotive Briggs auto

Mike Yoder

ku s ouveNir store

kansas saMPLer 921 Massachusetts St. • (785) 841-1300

Ku

Memorial union Bookstore Jock’s Nitch

The Kansas University souvenir market isn’t just for T-shirts anymore. One step inside Kansas Sampler in downtown Lawrence makes that obvious.

When it comes to KU gifts and gear, the shop carries an array of items aimed at appealing to all Jayhawk fans.

That’s part of what sets Kansas Sampler apart, store manager Candace Anstaett says.

“Just about anything you can think of — premium jewelry, kitchenware, you name it, they make it,” Anstaett says. “It’s so diverse.”

Lawrence’s store is one of seven Kansas Samplers in the state, and the specialty

sports boutique company has expanded to include a couple dozen Rally House stores outside Kansas. The Lawrence store also sells Royals, Chiefs and Sporting KC gear, and even a few Kansas State University items.

Anstaett says one unique offerings is a three-section black-and-white artwork depicting Allen Fieldhouse. For clothing, there’s everything from classy buttonups for men to chiffon fashion tops for women.

So you’re actually just looking for a T-shirt? Kansas Sampler has those, too, of course.

— Sara Shepherd

“Just about anything you can think of … you name it, they make it.”

Nick Krug

aNTIquE STOrE

1. Lawrence Antique Mall

2. Amy’s Attic Interiors and Antiques

3. Blackbird Trading Post

BIkE SHOp

1. Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop

2. Cycle Works

3. The Lawrence Re-Cyclery

BOOkSTOrE

1. The Dusty Bookshelf

2. The Raven Book Store

3. Hastings

CHIlDrEN’S ClOTHES

1. Blue Dandelion

2. 2 Shy Kids Children’s ReRun Store

3. The Gap

CONvENIENCE STOrE

1. Kwik Shop

2. QuikTrip

3. Hy-Vee Gas

DEparTmENT STOrE

1. Weaver’s

2. Target

3. Kohl’s

DrESS SHOp Or FOrmal wEar

1. Weaver’s

2. Kieu’s

3. J.Lynn Bridal

ElECTrONICS STOrE

1. Best Buy

2. Game Nut Entertainment

3. Hastings

FlOwEr SHOp

1. Owens Flower Shop

2. Englewood Florist

3. Hy-Vee Floral

FurNITurE STOrE

1. World Market

2. Winfield House

3. Lawrence Habitat for Humanity ReStore

GarDENING STOrE

1. Howard Pine’s Garden Center and Greenhouse

2. Clinton Parkway Nursery

3. Earl May Nursery & Garden Center

GIFT SHOp

1. Phoenix Gallery

2. LMH Gift Shop

3. Made

HarDwarE STOrE

1. Westlake Ace Hardware

2. Cottin’s Hardware & Rental

3. Ernst & Son

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Accountants with an Attitude

• Tax Preparation & Planning

• Accounting & Payroll Services

• Quickbooks Consulting

Ser

JEwElry STOrE

1. Marks Jewelers

2. Goldmakers Jewelry

3. Kizer Cummings Jewelers

ku SOuvENIr SHOp

1. Kansas Sampler

2. KU Memorial Union Bookstore

3. Jock’s Nitch

mEN’S ClOTHING STOrE

1. Weaver’s

2. Kohl’s

3. Jos. A. Bank

muSIC STOrE

1. Love Garden

2. Mass Street Music

3. Richards Music Store

pET STOrE

1. Pet World

2. Pawsh Wash and Pet Health Market

3. Petco

plaCE TO Buy a NEw Car

1. Crown Automotive

2. Laird Noller Automotive

3. Briggs Auto

plaCE TO Buy a uSED Car

1. Crown Automotive

2. Laird Noller Automotive

3. Johnny I’s

SECONDHaND STOrE

1. Arizona Trading Co.

2. Plato’s Closet

3. Wild Man Vintage SHOE STOrE

1. Brown’s Shoe Fit Co.

2. Foxtrot

3. Famous Footwear

SpOrTING GOODS

1. Dick’s Sporting Goods

2. Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop

3. Garry Gribble’s Running Sports

TOy STOrE

1. The Toy Store

2. Wild Territory Science & Nature Store

3. Astrokitty Comics & More

uNIquE STOrE

1. Made

2. Mass Street Soda

3. Wild Territory Science & Nature Store

vINTaGE ClOTHING

1. Wild Man Vintage

2. Arizona Trading Co.

3. Plato’s Closet

wINDOw DISplay

1. The Toy Store

2. Game Nut Entertainment

3. Weaver’s

wOmEN’S ClOTHING STOrE

1. Kohl’s

2. Weaver’s

3. Kieu’s

A Beautiful

S E rv ICES

auto CollisioN repair

Since 1960, Hite Collision Repair Center has been bringing broken cars back to life.

They’ve taken the crashed, wrecked and the severely scratched and made them good as new. It’s a process they’ve gotten so good at they have been voted Lawrence’s best auto collision repair center.

Dave Buller, owner, says it’s the attention to detail that explains the shop’s success.

Every car that passes through his shop is inspected and hand-detailed by the owner himself. It’s a process he follows about 20 times per week, no matter how small the repair.

“We always treat every car like it’s my own. When you do that, you can’t fail,” he says.

Buller enjoyed tinkering with cars so much he made a career change to do it. After growing up fixing cars on his family’s farm, Buller attended college and worked in the medical field for 10 years. Eventually he decided he missed his days in the shop and purchased Hite from its previous owner.

With an experienced team who’s been together long enough to know who’s best at what (his newest employee started eight years ago), Buller says it’s led to an incredible setup.

“We’re just a bunch of old farts who work on cars,” he says. “And I think we do it really, really well.”

— Bethaney Wallace

“We’re just a bunch of old farts who work on cars.”

auto CoLLisioN RePaiR

Steve’s Auto Plaza Body Shop

Pearson Collision Repair

Richard Gwin

l a ND s Capi NG

LaWrence LandscaPe

600 Lincoln St. • (785) 843-4370

Glen Westervelt, president of Lawrence Landscape, loves coming up with cool outdoor projects for his clients. The only problem: He’s easily distracted.

Not to worry. Over the past 28 years he’s surrounded himself with talented employees.

“We put a lot of work in trying to make our clients happy and meet their needs,” Westervelt says. “We still have many of the same clients that we started with over 28 years ago.”

Westervelt started the company in 1987. That same year, Frank Male, production manager, became a partner. Since then, the company has grown into a family of companies, including Midwest Custom Pools and LLI Tree Farm.

Outdoor living spaces — patios, pools, fireplaces and outdoor kitchens — have become popular with their clients in recent years.

“The Internet has really allowed people to visualize and unlock the potential that exists in their backyard,” Westervelt says.

Estate maintenance plans have also become a vital part of his business. “It allows a homeowner to enjoy the benefits they would have by living in a Homeowners Association, while having a program tailored to their individual home and budget,” he says.

Even though Westervelt might joke about being easily distracted, he’s clearly laser-focused on his business. Winning this award for a third year in a row is proof. So what’s his secret to success?

“We have a lot of very good people in our organization who share my commitment to customer service,” he says.

— Seth Jones

“We put a lot of work in trying to make our clients happy.”

turf Masters inc. Parker Landscape Management inc.

Jason Dailey

BarBer

doWnToWn barber shoP

824 Massachusetts St. (785) 843-8000

For Jay Amyx, co-owner of Downtown Barber Shop, the best part of being in the family business is the people he meets and the stories they tell when they take their spin in the barber chair.

“I get to be part of every occasion that is special in someone’s life, whether it be good or bad,” he says. “Weddings, births, birthdays, funerals. They come here, and we get to be part of that.”

Amyx has been cutting hair for 16 years, but he’s helped in the shop — sweeping floors and doing other odd jobs — since his father, Jon, opened it in 1987. In recent years, he’s become the barber shop’s expert when it comes to intricate shaved designs that have become popular, especially among athletes.

It’s a specialty that fell to him almost by accident. “Kids would come in and want their sporting number or their team’s design,” he says, and he took on the challenge.

Being in a college town helps when it comes to keeping abreast of new techniques and new styles, but standard men’s cuts, including military cuts, make up the bulk of the shop’s business.

Still, it’s people and relationships that keep customers of all ages coming back.

“The biggest thing that sets us apart is customer service,” Amyx says. “We have a great staff. There’s no doubt about that. I’d put our staff up against anybody.”

— Julie Tollefson

“Weddings, births, birthdays, funerals. They come here, and we get to be part of that.”

iNsura NC e aGeNt

Ron King is a popular guy.

He founded his insurance agency in 1988 and is now a common name in many households across Lawrence. More than 2,000 households, to be exact.

King’s customers have remained so loyal to him over the years that now he’s doing business with their children.

King has made a point to keep his business, and his life, in Lawrence. He’s involved with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and St. John Catholic School.

“Relationships, that’s what it’s all about,” King says. Insurance is “a service, and we need to provide a service. We can do that best if we have relationships, and you can best have relationships if it’s local.”

King’s emphasis on the personal touch extends from clients to his own employees.

“We try to do our business with empathy, with integrity,” he says. “We try to do what we say we’re going to do. There’s not a lot of magic to it. We care. We really, really do.”

— Fally Afani

“We try to do our business with empathy, with integrity.”

“Do

Patricia Reed, farm Bureau financial services D J flummerfelt, american family insurance

“I am truly dedicated to helping people who need help.”

l awyer

David Brown began his law practice in Lawrence in 1992, and in the decades since has developed a reputation for civic commitment.

“This community has been generous to me, and I want to give back as much as I can,” he says. “Really, that is what community means. You give back, and it’s our civic responsibility.”

Brown fell in love with the small-town vibe of Lawrence after moving here from Albany, N.Y. “Albany’s big enough where there is no sense of community like there is in Lawrence,” he says.

But that’s not what got Brown to stick it out in the Heartland. The avid LGBTQ-rights advocate felt a need for his services.

“I am a passionate advocate of their rights,” he says. “My dedication to serving my clients and the needs of a community that has been discriminated against has somewhat been helpful to my image, but I am truly dedicated to helping people who need help.”

Brown also practices in other areas, including family law.

“I work with folks in crisis situations who need help getting through, frequently, what are just horrible times in their lives,” Brown says. “Those people need dedicated and skilled professionals to assist them because people should not go to court without help.”

— Fally Afani

TIE: John Frydman, Frydman Criminal Defense

Darryl Graves, P.C. Rick Frydman, Frydman Law Office

LawyeR

Nick Krug

Although the real estate profession can be difficult and stressful at times, the happy-ever-afters makes all the effort worthwhile for Nicholas Lerner.

“Handing a key (to clients) at the end of the process is such a good feeling,” he says.

Lerner has been in real estate for nearly a decade. He began at Reece & Nichols Acres Realty and continued at McGrew in 2008.

“I never knew it would grow into this thing where I get to help literally hundreds of people through the challenging process,” he says.

Lerner loves Lawrence for its diverse community. He also values safety and the excellent education his children are receiving.

“Lawrence is this unique gem of amazing people,” he says.

— Becky Bridson

“Handing a key (to clients) at the end of the process is such a good feeling.”

Holly Garber, american Dream Realty tanya Kulaga, Realty executives Hedges Real estate

Bill Stephens

v eteri Naria N

For 40 years, Lawrence pets and their owners have relied on Clinton Parkway Animal Hospital for quality medical care.

Veterinarian and co-owner Gary Olson recalls the open house that marked the launch of the new business in 1974. A dozen people showed up. Contrast that with the hospital’s 40th anniversary celebration last fall when close to 400 clients and pets joined the festivities.

“It kind of shows the bond that we have with some of our clients,” Olson says. “It was pretty special for the staff and for the clients.”

Though services at most veterinary hospitals are similar, Olson says the award-winning staff at Clinton Parkway set it apart.

“We have a lot of maturity here, but we also have youth and enthusiasm,” he says.

What the hospital’s staff and four doctors all have in common is a dedication to providing the best veterinary care possible, from the emotional lows of helping owners say goodbye to beloved pets to the highs of giving a new puppy its first vaccinations.

Touches of whimsy underscore their enthusiasm. Exam rooms are named after Olson’s pets, and coowner Tom Leibl’s new puppy greets patients and their people when they visit the hospital.

Olson values the hospital’s place among the greater veterinary services community in Lawrence.

“For a community the size of Lawrence, we’re fortunate to have a lot of good quality veterinary hospitals,” Olson says. “I think that’s pretty neat. It gives pet owners good options where they feel comfortable.”

— Julie Tollefson

“We have a lot of maturity here, but we also have youth and enthusiasm.”

wakarusa veterinary Hospital Lewis veterinary Clinic

Jason Dailey

Kastl Plumbing Jim Bost Plumbing

Plumbing may not be something that’s at the top of everyone’s mind, but Kevin Hoppe knows how truly essential it is.

“Plumbing does provide a very important thing for the community … keeping people healthy with the water and drain systems,” says Action Plumbing owner Kevin Hoppe. And it’s something he enjoys doing.

Hoppe purchased Action Plumbing from its original owner nine years ago, but had worked with them before that.

“I came out of KU and I had a degree and was looking for a job,” he says. “I had worked for the plumbing company before, so I came back to work after KU and just ended up staying.”

Hoppe has nothing but praise for the small-business community of Lawrence.

“Lawrence is very important to us; we really appreciate the community and like having our business here,” he says.

Like many businesses owners, Hoppe has recognized the importance of giving back to his community. Action Plumbing has helped sponsor a lot of community events, such as charity golf tournaments that raised funds for a local day care center.

“It’s good to give back to the community to help out people who are less fortunate. So it’s something that we try to do,” he says.

— Fally Afani

“We really appreciate the community and like having our business here.”

Bill Stephens

“We want to be as nice and as positive as we can.”

ele CtriC ia N

Lights off, lights on: That’s the motto of Danielsan Electric, a growing go-to source for electrical needs in Lawrence.

Founded by Dan Huston, Danielsan Electric always looks to go the extra mile when dealing with customers, from the smallest of electric jobs to the biggest installations.

“We want to be as nice and as positive as we can,” Huston says.

It’s that attitude, Huston says, that has kept clients happy.

In 2011 Danielsan Electric was given the Angie’s List Super Service Award based on the long list of positive reviews from clients.

Today the company has expanded its services to include home-theater systems. Clients can experience options through a showroom, according to Huston, then customize their order.

He’s known for keeping the community’s lights on, but that’s not all Huston does. He actively gives back to the community in time and money; that also means giving employees paid days off to volunteer.

“It’s important to give back to others,” he says. “We try to incorporate that theme as much as possible.”

— Bethaney Wallace

Mike Yoder

Ailecia Ruscin, owner of Oh Snap! Photography, got her start snapping the action during concerts: no poses, no setup, no doovers.

The work taught her to seek out and capture moments of true, unfiltered emotion — skills that serve her well shooting weddings and portraits for a growing list of clients.

Her photography style complements her artistic philosophy — “Everyone is beautiful at every stage in life,” according to her website.

“It’s a big part of my personal aesthetic and my own belief system,” Ruscin says.

Before she ever opens her camera bag, Ruscin spends hours getting to know her clients. Based on their interests, she plans photo shoots designed to create lasting memories. From the

grain elevator in North Lawrence to downtown alleys, from small Kansas City parks to Perry Lake, she chooses locations that fit each client’s style.

“I’m really just trying to create a fun experience,” she says.

Ruscin opened Oh Snap! in 2011, when she was a graduate student at Kansas University, where she was known as “the girl who likes to take pictures.”

She took the risk, she says, despite trepidation about the perils of owning a business in unstable economic times. In the beginning, fellow graduate students were her first clients. Now, she’s booked to shoot weddings through the end of 2015 and into 2016.

— Julie Tollefson

TUCKAWAY MANAGEMENT

“I’m really just trying to create a fun experience.”

KASTL PLUMBING

Courtesy of Oh Snap!

pet Care

PaWsh Wash and PeT heaLTh MarkeT 1520 Wakarusa Drive, Suite C • (785) 856-7297

Ten years ago, sisters Amber Nickel and Nichele Spurling had an idea. They regularly hauled Spurling’s Labrador to a self-service pet bath in Kansas City and always, on the way back to Lawrence, talked about how cool it would be to have a similar option in Lawrence.

“Finally, the light bulb went on and we thought we’d try it,” Nickel says. And that’s how Pawsh Wash and Pet Health Market was born.

Their original idea to offer space for owners to wash their own pets has evolved.

“We found ourselves washing people’s dogs for them,” Nickel says. “When you’re young and getting started, you say yes to pretty much everything.”

Then came requests for “bang trims”

to get hair out of dogs’ eyes, then summer shave downs, then full professional grooming.

Today, Pawsh Wash offers a mix of selfservice and full-service pet care plus sales of a range of quality pet products. The 15 to 20 staff members see more than 200 dogs a week, offer more limited services for cats, and welcome the occasional goat or rabbit.

“We pride ourselves on the amount of education and training that everybody on our staff goes through and their desire to be the best at what they do,” Nickel says. “We aren’t just here to bathe dogs; we’re here to help make our community the best place to own dogs and cats.”

— Julie Tollefson

“We’re here to help make our community the best place to own dogs and cats.”

Nick Krug

Greg springer Kevin and Casey Kesinger, K and C Concrete

“You

Everyone needs a good handyman. While some of us are lucky enough to have a friend or family member who is both handy and generous, the rest of us need a reliable person we can call when things break.

For many people in Lawrence, that person is Patrick Shea of Shea Handyman Services.

“It’s something that I always did for myself, and eventually I started doing it for family and friends as well,” he says. “One day a friend told me I should just start doing it full-time, so I did.”

Shea, who spent years working in law enforcement, started Shea Handyman Services in 2009. The jobs that Shea

takes on include a little bit of everything: interior and exterior repair work, small plumbing and electrical issues.

Alas, roofs are no longer included. “At the age of 60, I’ve decided that getting up on those ladders is dangerous,” he says.

Shea has no shortage of business, and because it’s a one-man operation his clients sometimes have to practice patience.

“People will call me sometimes and ask if me or my crew can squeeze in a quick job, and I tell them, ‘I am the crew,’” Shea says. “I really like the people I meet, and I like the variance in the work. You never know what you are going to do one day to the next.”

— Liz Weslander

aCCOuNTaNT Or Tax CONSulTaNT

1. Roark & Associates, PA

2. Kahn & Associates Inc.

3. Kohart Accounting, PA

auTO BODy rEpaIr

1. Hite Collision Repair Center

2. Steve’s Auto Plaza Body Shop Inc.

3. Pearson Collision Repair

auTO SErvICE rEpaIr

1. Westside 66 and Carwash

2. Lawrence Automotive Diagnostics Inc.

3. Crown Toyota

BarBEr

1. Downtown Barber Shop

2. Amyx Barber Shop

3. Rex’s Stadium Barber Shop

CHIlDCarE CENTEr

1. Hilltop Child Development Center

2. Stepping Stones

3. Googols of Learning

COmpuTEr rEpaIr Or SErvICE

1. UNI Computers

2. DoctorDave Computer Repair

3. Geek Squad

Dry ClEaNEr/lauNDry

1. Scotch Fabric Care Services

2. Eco-Logic Dry Cleaners

3. Lawrence Laundromat

ElECTrICIaN

1. Danielsan Electric

2. Lynn Electric & Communications Inc.

3. Mel Lisher Electric

EvENT plaNNEr

1. A Beautiful Wedding by Carmen Hocking

2. Red Door Event & Design

3. Be Seen! Event Planning

FlOOrING

1. Kring’s Interiors

2. Paradise Carpet One Floor & Home

3. Pod’s Discount Carpets

HaIr SalON

1. Salon Di Marco & Day Spa

2. Static Hair Salon

3. Greenroom Salon

HaIr STylIST

1. Brad Hestand, Bzar Salon

2. TIE: Roxanne McCoy-Klaus, Static Hair Salon Kevin Shutts, Static Hair Salon

3. Suzi McKinney, Greenroom Salon

aND THE w INNE r S ar E...

HEarING aID prOvIDEr

1. Lawrence Hearing Aid Center

2. Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates, LLC

3. Kaw Valley Hearing

HOmE HaNDymaN Or laDy

1. Patrick Shea

2. Greg Springer

3. Kevin and Casey Kesinger, K and C Concrete

INSuraNCE aGENCy

1. Ron King, American Family Insurance

2. CEK Insurance

3. Kurt Goeser, State Farm

INSuraNCE aGENT

1. Ron King, American Family Insurance

2. Patricia Reed, Farm Bureau Financial Services

3. D J Flummerfelt, American Family Insurance

INTErIOr DESIGNEr

1. Rynette Designs

2. Jane Bateman Interiors

3. Winfield House

laNDSCapING SErvICE

1. Lawrence Landscape

2. Turf Masters Inc.

3. Parker Landscape Management Inc.

law FIrm

1. Stevens & Brand, LLP

2. Law Offices of David J. Brown, LC

3. Riling, Burkhead & Nitcher, CHTD

lawyEr

1. David J. Brown, LC

2. TIE: John Frydman, Frydman Criminal Defense

Darryl Graves, PC

3. Rick Frydman, Frydman Law Office

NaIl SalON

1. Salon Di Marco & Day Spa

2. Nail Citi

3. Chieu’s Nail Salon

paINTING SErvICE

1. KB Painting, LLC

2. Color My World Painting & Countertop Resurfacing

3. Starlight Painting

pET CarE

1. Pawsh Wash and Pet Health Market

2. Clinton Parkway Animal Hospital

3. Home Sweet Home Dog Resort

pHOTOGrapHEr

1. Oh Snap! Photography

2. The Crystal Image

3. Schaumburg Photography

plumBEr

1. Action Plumbing

2. Kastl Plumbing

3. Jim Bost Plumbing

prINTING SErvICE

1. Printing Solutions

2. Minuteman Press

3. Pro-Print

prOpErTy maNaGEmENT COmpaNy

1. First Management

2. Tuckaway Management

3. Midwest Property Management

rEal ESTaTE aGENCy

1. McGrew Real Estate

2. Stephens Real Estate

3. Keller Williams Realty Diamond Partners

rEalTOr

1. Nicholas Lerner, McGrew Real Estate

2. Holly Garber, American Dream Realty

3. Tanya Kulaga, Realty Executives Hedges Real Estate

rOOFING COmpaNy

1. Alpha Roofing, LLC

2. Garrison Roofing

3. K S R Roofing

TaNNING

1. Mango Tan

2. The TAN Company

3. Ultimate Tan and Spa

T-SHIrT Or SCrEEN prINTING

1. Acme

2. Happy Shirt Printing

3. Blue Collar Press

uTIlITy COmpaNy

1. City of Lawrence Utilities

2. AT&T U-Verse

3. Westar Energy

vETErINarIaN

1. Clinton Parkway Animal Hospital

2. Wakarusa Veterinary Hospital

3. Lewis Veterinary Clinic

rT a IN m ENT & NIGHT l IFE

ENTE

“We prepare everything thoughtfully, and that includes the bar.”

happy hour

Partakers in Merchants Pub & Plates’ happy hour specials have much more to look forward to than a cheap swig after work. With 30 craft beers on tap at any given time, customers at the historic former bank building can expect the best, owner Emily Peterson says.

“The quality of the product we offer at happy hour is second to none,” Peterson says. “Other bars may offer wells, and the beer selection is limited.”

Beginning April 1, Merchants “upgraded” its happy hour specials, Peterson says. The restaurant previously offered $2 draft beers from a selection of four. Now during happy hour, any craft beer pint with less than 7 percent alcohol is 50 percent off and select wines and craft cocktails are just $5.

Peterson says Merchants offers higher quality beverages because she believes the values and quality of the restaurant should extend to the bar.

“We prepare everything thoughtfully, and that includes the bar,” Peterson says. “We want our customers to feel the love in everything we’re making.”

One of Peterson’s favorite reasons for offering discounted craft beers is because it encourages beer drinkers to become beer connoisseurs. She says she and her staff are “beer geeks,” so it’s fun to have customers who are experimental.

“We ask [customers] what types of beers they normally like and sample them a couple of beers to find something that fits them,” Peterson says. “We’re like personal beer shoppers.”

Happy hours are 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close, Monday through Thursday; and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to close on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday happy hour runs all day, and all beer pints, no matter the alcohol content, are half price.

— Caitlin Doornbos

Jason Dailey

tattoo shop

bdc

TaTToo

938 Massachusetts St. • (785) 312-8288

Most people who walk in the door of BDC Tattoo (formerly Big Daddy Cadillac) know what they’re getting themselves into: some pain. Every so often, though, tattoo artist and shop co-owner Steven Bridgman might encounter someone in need of good, oldfashioned bedside manner.

“We keep our time on the skin short, push them through and don’t let them give up,” Bridgman says. “We try to talk to them and take their mind off it.”

Sometimes, he says, it’s best to bring in a friend or two for support. Or five.

“It can get kind of loud in here,” Bridgman jokes of his shop, which he describes as having a fun and laidback vibe.

The tattoo studio, which is celebrating

10 years at its current Massachusetts Street location, attracts a “diverse crowd” of college students, local residents and folks from outside the city.

Some drive a couple of hours just to get inked at BDC Tattoo, Bridgman says.

He’s not sure what draws longtime customers to the shop (“I’d have to ask my clients”), but he guesses it might have something to do with the quality of the work, the relaxed atmosphere and reasonable prices.

“I have a few people who have been coming to see me since I started here,” Bridgman says. “You’ll go through stages where you see them once a month or you might see them once a year, but they’ll always come back.”

— Joanna Hlavacek

“I have a few people who have been coming to see me since I started here.”

abraxas tattoo Co. ichiban tattoo studio

Nick Krug

live musiC v eN ue

LiberTy haLL

644 Massachusetts St. • (785) 749-1972

“The Hall is whatever you want it to be, and I think that’s what makes it interesting.”

What do Joan Baez and the Wu-Tang Clan have in common?

Both acts — along with such varied artists as Willie Nelson, Sonic Youth, M.I.A. and The Police, among others — have performed at Liberty Hall, Lawrence’s pick for best live music venue.

“There really isn’t another place in town that you can go from a really highscale, sit-down kind of show to a dirty, punk-rock theater vibe,” says events manager Dean Edington, who remembers attending several of his favorite concerts at Liberty Hall as a young man. “The Hall is whatever you want it to be, and I think that’s what makes it interesting.”

The venue boasts a similarly quirky history. An abolitionist newspaper, The Herald of Freedom, was the first business to occupy the corner of Seventh and Massachusetts Streets, where Liberty Hall now stands.

After being burned to the ground during the sacking of Lawrence in 1856, it was rebuilt the same year and in 1870 was christened Liberty Hall, deriving from an Abraham Lincoln quote in which he called Lawrence “the cradle of liberty.”

The building, as it appears today, opened in 1912 as the Bowersock Opera House and ever since, “there’s been some form of live entertainment” streaming from Liberty Hall’s theater, Edington says.

“Whenever a place has occupied this same area like we have for 103 years now, it obviously builds up a kind of mystique,” he says. “The building is alive and the people have a relationship with it. That’s really the thing.”

— Joanna Hlavacek

Live MusiC veNue

The Granada

The Bottleneck

Fally Afani

“The most beneficial thing we’ve done for evolving our wine list is being open-minded.”

From a glass of house wine at $6 to a bottle of Chateau Latour for $1,200, 715 has something for everyone, says co-owner and manager Matt Hyde of his downtown restaurant.

“The core of the list is $20, $30 and $40 items,” Hyde says. “We wanted to make sure we had all different choices at each price level.”

The extensive wine list, including about 100 selections from South Africa to New Zealand, has grown from a “simple list” when the restaurant opened in 2009, Hyde says. As more customers came with new preferences and requests, the list expanded.

“The most beneficial thing we’ve done for evolving our wine list is being open-minded,” Hyde says. “We’re always open to suggestions from guests.”

wi Ne list

One such suggestion came from a visit by Google Maps inventor and Lawrence native Brian McClendon, who “travels a lot” and said he’d “appreciate some more unique offerings,” Hyde says.

And it’s not just guests who make suggestions. Hyde says 715 prioritizes making wine work with its menu and he holds tastetesting sessions for his employees so they are prepared to make wine-pairing suggestions with their customers’ meals.

“We talk to the staff, but we don’t tell them what to suggest,” Hyde says. “They’re educated, and take questions from guests. If they don’t know something, they will find someone who does.”

— Joanna Hlavacek

Nick Krug

liquor store

Cork & Barrel Jensen’s Liquor

Having won best liquor store in 2013 and 2014 and having scored runnerup in 2012, On The Rocks general manager Matt Easley attributes the store’s consistent success to its “neighborhood feel with a metropolitan selection.”

Easley says the store, which boasts a spacious beer cave with more than 600 types of beer, offers one of the largest selections of alcohol in Lawrence. But that’s not the only thing that keeps customers coming back, he says; it’s also On The Rocks’ focus on customer service.

“We’re being ourselves and being nice to customers, greeting them when they enter and helping to carry (their

purchases) out to their cars,” Easley says.

Easley says the “neighborhood feel” comes from the business’ Massachusetts Street location and its loyal staff.

“Many employees have been here since we first opened, live nearby and know the customers,” Easley says.

With the store’s vast inventory, Easley’s staff must be knowledgeable about the store’s selections and be able offer advice to customers.

“A lot of people know just a little bit about what they like, and we steer people to try new things,” Easely says. “We’re not just selling product; we want people to really enjoy it.”

— Caitlin Doornbos

Nick Krug

BarteNDer

dave Johanning, The sandbar 17 E. Eighth St. • (785) 842-0111

If you’ve ever spent one too many dollars — or brain cells — on the Sandbar’s famous “shot wheel,” you’ll have to thank longtime bartender and managing partner Dave Johanning.

Johanning, who has spent the last two decades mixing drinks at the tropical-themed hot spot, is the brainchild of some of The Sandbar’s most treasured traditions.

A few nights a week at 10, you’ll find him facilitating indoor “hurricanes” — in which a fake newscast warns us of Neptune’s rage before a high-tech vortex machine begins blowing cocktail napkins around the bar — for enthusiastic customers.

“It’s probably been 15 years and still going strong,” Johanning says of the admittedly cheesy stunt, which he devised with co-owner Peach Madl and her brother. “The girls still like

to get up [on the bar] on their birthday and put on the mermaid costume and do a little dance.”

Of course, he had already made a name for himself long before inventing his “obnoxious, flashing wheel of happiness.” The 6-foot10 Johanning played center on the Kansas University basketball team before joining The Sandbar party in 1995.

Luckily for Lawrence, he’s “loved it ever since.” The mix of 15-year regulars and college students keeps the job fresh, he says.

“The reason I do it is because I love people. I see that influx of new energy and new faces every year,” Johanning says of working at The Sandbar. “You get to make new friends all the time. To me, that’s what living’s all about.”

— Joanna Hlavacek

“The reason I do it is because I love people.”

A Thank You!

For voting Kwik Shop one of the Best of Lawrence!

• 1846 Massachusetts

• 1611 E 23rd Street

• 4841 W 6th Street

• 1420 Kasold

• 3440 W 6th Street

• 845 Mississippi

adam Lott, the Bourgeois Pig

Chris Neverve, Red Lyon tavern

Courtesy of The Sandbar

lo Cal Ba ND

“People

Come fall, Mike and Katie West will celebrate 12 years in Lawrence.

The Midwestern oasis has become home for the husband-and-wife team that forms Truckstop Honeymoon, Lawrence’s favorite local band.

Truckstop Honeymoon, with Mike on banjo and Katie on bass, weaves elements of bluegrass, music hall jazz and rock ‘n’ roll into a catalog of playful, high-energy tunes that often reflect realities from their own lives.

Mike and Katie met in New Orleans’ French Quarter, and famously spent their wedding night in a truckstop somewhere between Lafayette and Atchafalaya Swamp — hence the name Truckstop Honeymoon.

They relocated here after Hurricane Katrina washed away their house and recording studio in 2005.

“People have been extraordinarily good to us here — neighbors, people we didn’t really know,” Mike says of his adopted hometown. “When we came to this town, people really took us in.”

Since then, they’ve rebuilt their recording studio, continued to tour nationally and around the world, and even brought a little piece of the Big Easy to Lawrence: the city’s annual Mardi Gras parade.

And, with a new album on the way, Truckstop Honeymoon isn’t slowing down.

As usual, they’ll also be hitting the road this summer, along with their four kids (ages 5, 7, 11 and 14).

“The last album we made was a little more of a rock ‘n’ roll record,” Mike says. “This one might have more of an acoustic feel, but we’ll see. It could all change.”

— Joanna Hlavacek

LoCaL BaND

Sellout

The Sluts

Jason Dailey

“We’re a community gathering spot.”

Aside from that little university on the hill, it could be argued that no Lawrence institution is as widely beloved as Free State Brewing Company.

The downtown bar and eatery has been a hit with locals since opening its doors in winter 1989, when it became Kansas’ first legal brewery in more than 100 years.

“We’re not solely a sports bar, and we’re not solely a gastro pub,” says longtime Free State owner Chuck Magerl. “We’re a community gathering spot.”

After more than 25 years in business, Magerl says he’s still surprised by the range of customers — from college students to senior citizens — who walk through his door every day.

“I remember we had a fellow stop in who had just gotten his driver’s license renewal at 82 years old, and he had just stopped in to get a beer and celebrate,” Magerl recalls. “I thought that had a nice spirit to it.”

With anywhere from 12 to 16 varieties of Free State brews available behind the bar, the place really does have something for everyone, says Magerl — though the Copperhead Pale Ale might just be the consistent best-seller.

Almost every beer sold at Free State is brewed on the premises, Magerl says. Customers seated at the bar can watch the process unfold in fermentation tanks beyond a glass wall a few feet away.

“I think people are continuing to look for greater flavor, greater variety and greater quality,” he says. “What we’ve been doing here for years really dovetails with that desire to enjoy food and beer.”

— Joanna Hlavacek

The Sandbar

Lyon

Jason Dailey