The Bethany Gardens bring organic gardening to the heart of the city
Brookwood Retail Liquor
Dillons
Fox The Barber
H&R Block
Heart and Home Design Co.
Interior Design Resources
Kansas Drug Testing
Linen Tree & Company
Madison Avenue Boutique
Pam Luthi Insurance Solutions
Prairie Trading Company
Ryan’s Pub
Sewing Shack
SoulFire Nutrition
Stillpoint Massage and Body Work
Stitching Traditions
Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant
The Burger Stand
The Laundry Chute
The Tasteful Olive
The Wild Bird House
TopCity Tech
Tuxedo Shack
Wheatland Antique Mall
Get answers at the speed of light. Learn more at lmh.org/pet. See your heart in a different light.
At LMH Health, advances in patient-centered technology are transforming the healthcare journey. Now, patients seeking treatment for heart conditions can access a state-of-the-art Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner — the first of its kind in the Lawrence and Topeka area. When you need cardiac imaging, be sure your cardiologist knows the latest cardiac PET scan technology is now available at LMH Health. The gold standard in cardiac diagnostics is in your own backyard!
Welcome to the fall 2024 edition of TopekaMagazine!
We hope you enjoy reading our collection of stories that take you to various venues in Topeka—from the serenity of a showcase organic garden to the intensity of an indie-league wrestling match.
For more than 18 years, this publication has focused on seeking out and bringing authentic stories about Topeka, Topekans, and the events that unite the city.
“Unity” is an abstract, fuzzy word often used to convince people that they need to conform or accept what the speaker wishes to see or wants others to do. But unity can also mean something brighter: the idea that we can live side by side and explore different aspects of the city, different cultures, different traditions and appreciate them and feel welcomed without feeling threatened.
For some people, a weekend might mean time best spent gardening, for others, it might mean attending a slamdown wrestling bout. We recognize those differences in our magazine while also recognizing that an interest in one thing does not preclude a curiosity about another.
As always, we hope these pages bring you something that both speaks to your interests and sparks some new awareness about fascinating people, places, events and historical aspects of home.
—NATHAN PETTENGILL, EDITOR
On
the Cover Bethany Gardens groundskeeper
Editor Nathan Pettengill
Art Director/Designer Alex Tatro
Copy Editor Leslie Clugston Andres
Advertising Representative Angie Taylor ataylor@sunflowerpub.com (785) 832-7236
Photographer Jason Dailey Nick Krug Bill Stephens
Writers Christine Steinkuehler Bill Stephens
Subscriptions $27 for a one-year subscription; email topekamagazine@sunflowerpub.com
Please contact us at topekamagazine@sunflowerpub.com for all comments, subscription and editorial queries.
Topeka Magazine is a publication of Sunflower Publishing, a division of Ogden Publications. Director: Bob Cucciniello Publisher: Bill Uhler
Ogden Publications 1503 SW 42nd St Topeka, KS 66609
sunflowerpub.com topekamag.com
Willie Madl shows a handful of peppers harvested from the garden. Photograph by Nick Krug.
Willie Madl harvests a pepper from the Bethany Gardens.
DEPARTMENTS
08 ALONG THE SKYLINE
Enjoy one of the region’s best drives for fall colors
12 YOUR GUIDE TO HISTORIC GROUP TOURS ACROSS TOPEKA
Fascinating, mostly free, and close to home—these tours of historic sites provide mini excursions for groups with a wide range of interests
16 THE BETHANY GARDENS
An oasis of native plants and meditative space in the center of Topeka, the Bethany Gardens are open to the public for rest and education
FEATURE
24 'ARE YOU READY?'
Topeka’s O.C.W. Pro Wrestling league brings all the spectacle and adrenaline to the ring while framing its fight nights as family-friendly, safe, and charity-driven events
Enjoy one of the region’s best drives for fall colors
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Bill Stephens
Around Topeka, there are several scenic routes that provide beautiful views of the landscape and fall colors. One of our favorites is the Skyline Road in Wabaunsee County. The approximately 14-mile drive combines breathtaking views of the Flint Hills with passages through dense, colorful foliage. We asked photographer Bill Stephens to travel along this road last autumn and share some of the scenic sights. Try your own tour, when you can. If you’re driving in the evening and want to keep the sun out of your eyes for most of the drive, exit Topeka going west on I-70, turn south at Alma and continue south through Alma on Highway 99 for about one mile until you see Skyline road off to the east; follow it until it ends at Highway 4, which is also the eastern leg of the state’s Native Stone Scenic Byway. It will take you past Echo Cliff Park and back into Topeka.
Your Guide to Historic Group Tours Across Topeka
Fascinating, mostly free, and close to home—these tours of historic sites provide mini excursions for groups with a wide range of interests
STORY BY Christine Steinkuehler and Bill Stephens
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Bill Stephens, Nick Krug, and Jason Dailey
Just over a dozen of us are following Dusty Nichols, the director of Shawnee County Emergency Management, as he walks us through his department’s underground offices. A basement or underground office is not that unusual in the older areas of Topeka, but this office complex below the county courthouse has the distinction of having been a designated nuclear shelter area.
What is now the Shawnee County Emergency Management was envisioned and constructed shortly after World War II as a state command center that could house 130 essential offices, including county commissioners, law enforcement, judges, and military liaisons in the advent of an atomic or nuclear strike. Initially, the area was accessed through a thick blast door and an escape hatch to ground level. It held a cafeteria, a medical and surgical center, and dormitories with triple-deck bunks. A two-week food and water supply was stored to be accessed when needed.
The 100-kilowatt generator, meant to supply crucial electrical energy in the days after an attack, still sits in the basement.
Group tours of the facility are periodically offered through Shawnee County Emergency Management and announced on the department’s Facebook page.
If you lived through the Cold War, this subterranean tour will likely evoke memories of when we first began to grapple with the idea of atomic and nuclear war—the initial belief that we might go underground for a few days and then reemerge to pick up wherever we left off, and then the gradual, dreadful realization that humans were entirely capable of destroying one another—and the world.
As our group returns to the surface of Topeka, it is clear that both old and young visitors are still reflecting on this sober reminder—one that is not pleasant but perhaps vital to encounter.
That’s the power of visiting such sites—encountering historic places and artifacts provides a connection to the past in ways that reading or watching a video about them cannot.
Several Topeka venues, some well-known and some lesser-known, provide this experience. We hope this list inspires you to visit some or all of them and experience your own direct contact with local history.
Dusty Nichols guides visitors through offices below the county courthouse; the underground area was designated as the post-nuclear-attack command center for the county.
Kansas State Capitol
SW 8th St. and SW Van Buren St. | 785.296.3966
kshs.capitol@ks.gov
An absolute must-see in Topeka. If the last time you were in the capitol was for a school field trip, you owe it to yourself to return for a tour to experience the recent renovations and the rich storytelling from the trained guides.
• Guided building tours: Reservations are not required for groups of 10 or fewer people. These approximately one-hour tours are free, and there are no physical restrictions. Tours are generally offered from 9–3 every hour, depending on the season.
• Guided dome tours: These tours take guests up 296 steps, from a series of straight, steep, narrow and then spiral stairs that hang over the capitol’s interior, and then to an outside viewing area near the very top of the dome. The guided excursion takes approximately 45 minutes. The tours are free, and reservations are not required for groups of less than 10 people, but there is a maximum of 30 people per tour. Several ours are offered on most days (except Sundays) between 9:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. This can be a physically demanding tour. It is not accessible for those with mobility issues or recommended for people with heart, back, neck, knee, or breathing problems. Nor is it recommended for anyone with a fear of heights. Children must be four years or older, and parents should be aware that it is difficult to turn around at certain points of the tour.
• Self-guided tours: The public areas of the capitol are available when the building is open. Maps, guide booklets, and enrichment materials for children are available at the Capitol Visitors Center, located as you go in on the first floor on the north side of the building.
Thomas Fox Averill Kansas Studies Collection at Washburn University Mabee Library | 785.670.1981 martha.imparato@washburn.edu
This one-of-a-kind collection includes books, periodicals and videos by Kansas authors and about Kansas. It also includes the family library of James Meade (a founder of Wichita) and a selection of books by and about the Menninger family and colleagues. Parts of the collection are in a public area, but tours and use of the main collection are available by appointment only. Contact Martha Imparato, Washburn University archivist and special collections librarian, if you are interested in touring or consulting the collection.
Topeka Room in the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
1515 SW 10th | 785.580.4400
The Topeka Room on the second floor of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library is an elegant, accessible library and research center with original and historic stained glass windows. Its collections include directories, phone books, yearbooks, Sandborn maps and many other
items. The library also subscribes to databases that are accessible to the public. Informal tours are provided whenever the room is open and a librarian is available. Formal tours for groups of more than five or groups with specific interests need to be scheduled in advance. Tour lengths vary, and there is no cost. The Topeka Room is open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.
Combat Air Museum
7016 SE Forbes Avenue | 785.862.3303 office@combatairmuseum.com
The Combat Air Museum displays approximately 50 planes and aircraft, several accessible to visitors. The flight simulator—with instructor—is available with the price of admission for old and young pilots alike. Accessible guided tours are available for groups of 10 or more, last for approximately 90 minutes, and should be scheduled at least a week in advance. Special group rates are available upon request. The museum is open Monday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, noon–3:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 5–17 and active military in uniform or with ID.
Topeka Cemetery
1601 SE 10th | 785.233.4132
The city’s historic cemetery holds stunning monuments and the graves of several notable Topekans, such as U.S. Vice President Charles Curtis and founding member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association Marilynn Louise Smith. Several different tours are available. The cemetery has uneven terrain and gravel roads and is inaccessible to those with limited mobility.
• Ghost tours: This annual event takes place the second weekend in October and features true stories of mystery, murder and mayhem. Reservations are not required. Admission is $10 per person for the 45–60 minute tour.
• Self-guided tours: The cemetery office provides guidebooks and maps for visitors to explore the cemetery independently.
• Guided walking tours: Tours last 45 minutes to an hour and must be scheduled a week in advance. There are different tours: an introductory tour covers Mausoleum Row, early Topeka residents and the Civil War section; a second-visit tour includes other sections of the cemetery; and a pick-your-topic tour with themes such as politics, interesting people, etc. The cemetery staff can customize a tour based on a group’s preference. Group tours are free Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., but donations are accepted. Weekday evening tours can start as late as 7:30 p.m. and cost $10 per person, with a minimum of eight people. Weekend tours are available between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and they also cost $10 per person, with a maximum of 20 people per tour.
• Bus tours: Step-on bus tours are available under the same terms as walking tours. A standard school bus is the largest vehicle that can safely navigate the cemetery’s narrow roads and roundabouts.
Constitution Hall
429 S Kansas | 785.250.8228 | tour@OldKansasCapitol.org
Tours of the site where delegates in the Territory of Kansas drafted the territory’s most progressive preUnion constitution are unavailable this year. A 2025 opening is projected, but in the meantime, the pocket park with historical signage is open and accessible.
Topeka High School Historical Society provides individual and group tours of its historical building by appointment. There is no charge for the one-hour tours, but donations are greatly appreciated. There are no physical restrictions to the tour, and elevators are available.
Museum of the Kansas National Guard
125 SE Airport Dr. | 785.862.1020
office@kngmuseum.org
The museum features exhibitions on the Kansas National Guard’s deployment in the Civil War, Indian Wars, Spanish American Wars, Mexican Border War of 1916, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, and the global war on terrorism. The exhibits include a wide variety of artifacts, such as tanks, helicopters, and artillery.
Self-guided tours are available during museum hours, generally 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Guided tours are available by appointment and typically take about an hour. The tour is accessible to visitors with limited mobility and includes both indoor and outdoor sections. Group tours are limited to 50 people.
Topeka Council of Colored Women’s Clubs
1149 SW Lincoln St sandral2k9@gmail.com
The museum also has various resources for researching the Kansas National Guard, including unit rosters, soldier records, photographs, movies, and personal accounts. There are two libraries: a reading library and the Kansas National Guard archives. Although they do not have records for individuals, you can call in advance to request assistance from the command historian.
Shawnee
County Historical Society and the Historic Ritchie House
1116 and 1118 SE Madison Ave
785.234.6097
shawneecountyhistory@gmail.com
Once a stop on the Underground Railroad and home to one of Topeka’s earliest Euro-American settlers, the Ritchie House and the Shawnee County Historical Society are open for tours Tuesday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–1 p.m., and take about an hour. Admission fees are $2.00 for adults and 50 cents for students. The Ritchie House is partially accessible. The historical society also offers periodic guided tours of sites throughout Topeka. See the website, shawneecountyhistory.org, for a complete listing of upcoming tours.
The Kansas Association of Colored Women’s Clubs was founded in 1896 and chartered in 1906 to advance civil rights, achieve suffrage, and establish childcare and kindergartens to help working women. Tours are by appointment. There is no fee, but donations are encouraged. Not all portions of the house are accessible.
Seaman
High Historical Society Museum
4850 NW Rochester Rd. awomack@usd345.com
The Seaman High School Historical Society Museum is unique because it is student-run. The museum does not have regular hours, but tours can be scheduled with history teacher Ashley Womack during the school year. The students also usually open the museum at a couple of basketball games each year.
Brown
v. Board of Education
1515 SE Monroe Street
785.353.4273
The national historic site devoted to commemorating and exploring the U.S. Supreme Court case that effectively ended legalized segregation in American public schools is not only for school groups. Any group of up to 90 people (though the staff recommends no more than 50) may call to schedule a guided park ranger tour of 30–50 minutes, with additional time to explore the exhibition halls. Self-guided tours are also possible whenever the site is open, Tuesday–Saturday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Old Prairie Town
124 NW Fillmore Street
785.251.2989
gena.brooks@snco.us
Free, self-guided tours of the exteriors of the historic buildings and the gardens are available when the gardens are open. There are no physical restrictions. Guided tours are generally available Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Groups of 10 or more need to contact Geena Brooks in advance. The cost is $3 for children, $4 for seniors and $5 for adults. Some of the interiors of the buildings on the tour are not ADA-compliant.
St. Joseph Catholic Church
227 SW Van Buren | 785.232.2863
stjosephtopeka@att.net
This historic St. Joseph is open to tour groups with reservations (allow at least one week). Tours are generally at noon on Mondays and Wednesdays, with some flexibility, and are accessible. There is no charge, but donations are accepted.
The
Great Overland Station Union Pacific Depot
701 N Kansas Ave | 785.232.5533
Opened in 1927 as the Union Pacific railroad passenger station, the renovated building now features exhibitions on railroad history, a model train collection, and interactive learning stations. Self-guided tours are available when the station is open, Thursday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m., and Friday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tickets cost $2 for children, $5 for seniors, and $6 for adults. There are no physical restrictions to access the building.
Shawnee North Community Center
300 NE 43rd Street | 785.251.6900 devin.cooper@snco.us
This parks and recreation center provides programs and tours about the Shawnee County Poor Farm, social and medical programs in Kansas, former residents, the missing cemetery, the 1951 Flood, and Dornwood Park. Tours and presentations generally take 60–90 minutes and cost $3, with group rates available.
Grace Episcopal Cathedral
701 SW 8th Avenue
785.235.3457
info@gracecathedraltopeka.org
Tours are available upon advance request of the cathedral and the Bethany Gardens (see related story on page 16). One of the most recent additions is a stained-glass window featuring Rev. Joe Thompson, who was the vicar of St. Simon’s and then served as deacon at the cathedral until his death in 2003.
Tours take approximately 15–20 minutes. The cathedral has two libraries on site. These are open to the public by appointment and focus on the history of the Episcopal church, spirituality, theology and church history. There is no fee, but donations are appreciated. All areas are accessible.
Kansas Museum of History
Kansas Museum of History Archeology Lab
Kansas State Archives 6425 SW 6th Street | 785-272-8681 | kshs.org
One of the city’s largest and most open historical sites is still undergoing renovation but is set to reopen in 2025, with tours expected to resume soon afterward. Until December 2024, a temporary exhibit, “On the Move: The Kansas Museum of History,” provides an overview of the museum’s mission and history.
First Presbyterian Church
817 SW Harrison | 785.233.9601 | info@fpctopeka.org
The First Presbyterian Church contains the largest Tiffany stained glass windows collection west of the Mississippi River. The windows can be viewed during regular church office hours, 9 a.m.–noon and 1–4 p.m. (last entry at 3:30 p.m.), Monday–Friday. Groups of eight or more may request a 45-minute tour with a docent. Requests must be made at least two weeks in advance. The church is fully accessible, and the accessible entrance with a ramp is on the east side of the building.
The Bethany Gardens
An oasis of native plants and meditative space in the center of Topeka, the Bethany Gardens are open to the public for rest and education
STORY BY Christine Steinkuehler PHOTOGRAPY BY Nick Krug
As the autumn sun rises over the Kansas Capitol and the roofs of downtown Topeka, it bathes the greenery and prairie grasses of the Bethany Gardens in a golden glow and shines off the rims of two cyclists leisurely gliding along a pathway. It’s a stunning start to the day and a peaceful interlude in the heart of an urban center.
Two years after its formal opening, Bethany Gardens has become a fixture in central Topeka, known as a pocket of peaceful green amid concrete surroundings, a connection to the city’s past, and a reminder of the prairie upon which Topeka is built.
Nestled between Grace Episcopal Cathedral and Topeka High School, the gardens sit on land once part of a 20-acre parcel given in 1860 by the founders of Topeka to the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas to build a school for women. That school became known as the College of the Sisters of Bethany and operated as a women’s college from 1870 to 1928 as one of the state’s few institutions of higher education for women. After its closure, most of the property was sold to Topeka Public Schools to build Topeka High. However, two buildings and just under three acres remained. The land was vacant for decades, with only a few established trees.
When Bishop Cathleen Chittenden Bascom arrived in Topeka in 2019, she carried with her memories of the pocket prairie garden around the Cathedral Church
Groundskeeper Willie Madl, landscape designer Ann Palmer, the Right Reverend Cathleen Chittenden Bascom, and many volunteeers care for the Bethany Gardens.
of St. Paul in Des Moines, where she had served as dean. That garden provided beauty and practicality, helping to prevent runoff water after floods.
With this experience in mind, Bascom envisioned a space for the Bethany grounds that could serve as both an educational resource and a community haven. A decision was made to transform the site into a multifaceted garden featuring a demonstration prairie, a culinary garden, St. Simon’s Chapel, a meditative/spiritual garden, and outdoor classrooms—all of which provided a natural counterpoint to the immediate urban surroundings.
“This particular neighborhood was a greenspace desert,” Bascom says. “The Old Town Neighborhood Association brought that truth to city officials for many years. Unaware of that opinion and effort, the Diocese of Kansas [transformed] what remains of our historic acreage on Polk Street between 8th and 10th into public green space.”
The bishop began by reaching out to landscape professional Scott Bingham of BBN Architect, whom she knew from working with the campus ministry at Kansas State University. She also called on Ann Palmer, owner of landscape firm Designscapes and a parishioner of St. David’s Episcopal.
Both Bingham and Palmer played a crucial role in bringing the vision of a purposeful green space to life. Bingham provided drawings based on photos taken by Palmer. Together, they helped create a green space that complemented the existing Bethany House, which the diocese owns.
“This garden is a microcosm, a teaching garden for prairie restoration and for healthy food production,” Palmer explains. “We hope others will imitate our efforts on both postage stamp and large tracts of land.”
The gardens—drawing on native plants selected to thrive without excessive watering or chemical feeding—were completed in April 2022, with a formal opening in October of that year. Groundskeeper Willie Madl directs community volunteers in organic gardening and care for the landscape, which is divided into distinct spaces.
The Bethany Gardens are both decorative and practical, with an emphasis on prairie restoration and organic food production.
Demonstration Prairie and Pollinator Garden
Visitors entering the main Polk Street entrance will first come upon the vibrant prairie and pollinator garden. Dominated by a striking golden rain tree, this area is a showcase of native grasses, forbs, and wildflowers.
Palmer points out how the rattlesnake master, royal catchfly, blue-eyed grass, and vivid blackeyed Susans allow the garden to thrive and showcase blooms into the late summer.
The garden is designed to educate, with species grouped together for teaching rather than intermingled as in a restoration project. A circular seating area made of giant limestone blocks serves as a popular resting and gathering spot.
Culinary Garden
Just to the west of the garden’s main entrance is the culinary garden, which features organically grown vegetables and herbs. This garden includes the traditional Native American “three sisters” planting of corn, beans, and squash, along with asparagus, rhubarb, serviceberries, paw paws, and raspberries. All produce from this garden is distributed through community programs at St. David’s Episcopal and Westside Baptist Church.
St. Simon’s Chapel
The outdoor chapel on the garden grounds commemorates St. Simon’s Episcopal Church. Founded in 1884 and closed in 1964, St. Simon’s Episcopal served Topeka’s Black community for decades and was affiliated with Grace Cathedral. The chapel’s design reflects St. Simon’s history, with a picture of St. Simon’s congregation in the front under the shade of a large sugar maple.
Spiritual Life Garden
Created for meditation, prayer and rest, this garden features a center wall enclosing a bubbler fountain, which is encircled by a path and boulders. Benches provide visitors places to sit for quiet contemplation.
Purple Beauty peppers are part of the crop of organic vegetables, berries and beans grown in the garden.
Visiting Bethany House and Garden
The gardens are open from 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The main entrance is on Polk Street, and parking is available at Grace Episcopal Cathedral, just a short walk away. The gardens are wheelchair accessible. Topeka High School students and staff frequently visit, using the gardens for quiet reflection and outdoor classes. The site serves as a peaceful retreat for neighborhood residents, offering a place for walking, contemplation, and spending time with pets. Group visits and tours can be arranged in advance by calling 785.438.9881.
The gardens are part of a larger complex of land and buildings that serve various aspects of the mission of the Episcopal diocese.
September
FEATURED EVENT
Huff-’n’-Puff Hot Air
Balloon Rally
September 6–8
The Great Plains Balloon Club presents its annual hot air balloon festival, with vendors, childrens activities and more from the launch site of Mount Hope Balloon Field. For more information and full schedule, go online at huff-n-puff.org.
The Art of Ye Wang
September (all month)
NOTO’s Morris Gallery hosts the paintings of Ye Wang, a Topeka resident and professor of art at Washburn University. explorenoto.org/arts-center
Sing, Sing, Sing
September 7
The Topeka Symphony Orchestra opens its 2024–2025 concert season with an evening of music featuring opera star Michael Spyres and his family. topekasymphony.org
Mulvane Art Museum Story
September 12
Connie Gibbons, director of the Mulvane Art Museum, provides a guided tour of the museum’s exhibition halls and talks about the history and future of the museum in celebration of its 100-year anniversary. mulvaneartmuseum.org
Oak Ridge Boys
September 12
Legendary country music group performs at the Prairie Band Casino and Resort. prairieband.com
Artistic Expressions
September 12 and 19
Arts Connect hosts artist John Sebelius, who leads an evening of free art classes for veterans, first responders, and others impacted by trauma. Class repeats on the second and third Thursday evenings of each month. artstopeka.org
Up
September 13
Evergy Plaza hosts a free outdoor evening showing of the popular 2019 animated movie with food and drink vendors on site. evergyplaza.com/event
The Woman in Black
September 13–22 (various dates)
Topeka Civic Theatre presents Stephen Mallatratt’s ghost tale of a man who risks recounting a frightening vision of a local spectre. topekacivictheatre.com
Great Topeka Duck Race
September 14
Annual race of some 10,000 rubber duckies across Lake Shawnee raises funds for Sertoma Clubs’ charitable initiatives for children. Sponsor one duck. Sponsor five ducks for $20 or an oodle (27) of ducks for $100 to improve chances of winning the grand prize of a 2018 Hyundai Sonata, while helping a good cause. For more information and sponsorship/racing opportunities, go online at duckrace.com/topeka
Brew at the Zoo
September 14
The Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center hosts an evening celebration with local and domestic beer and live musical performances. topekazoo.org/brew
Lowrider Culture Festival
September 14
The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library hosts the 4th annual celebration of lowrider vehicles and bikes, along with children’s games and activities. events.tscpl.org
NOTO Art Cakes Pancake Feed
September 14
A pancake and sausage breakfast, along with children’s art activies in Redbud Park, raises money for both the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District and the Topeka Rescue Mission. explorenoto.org
Balloons rise above Topeka as part of the annual Huff-'n'Puff Hot Air Balloon Rally. Photograph by Bill Stephens.
Women of Excellence
September 14–15
Northeast Kansas YWCA hosts the annual Women of Excellence awards ceremony. ywcaneks.org/events
Kansas Mushrooms
September 19
The Topeka Audubon Society hosts mushroom expert and author Sherry Kay for a free presentation on how to identify local, wild mushrooms. tscpl.org/events
NOTO Live
September 20–21
A weekend of musical performances, circus acts, roller derby, pet parade and more free events to celebrate the city’s community of performing arts. explorenoto.org
Cider Days
September 21–22
The Stormont Vail Events Center, formerly the Kansas Expocentre, hosts two days of live music, entertainment and hundreds of food and craft vendors with an emphasis, of course, on all things apple. For more information, go online at ciderdaysmarket.com
Aaron Douglas Art Fair
September 28
Topeka’s annual celebration honors its native son, who went on to become a leading composer and artist and prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Includes free admission to art booths, musical performances and more at the Aaron Douglas Park. This year’s event features the work of Topeka illustrator Yanfei Gao. For more information, go online at aarondouglasartfair.com
Celebrity Waiter Gala
September 28
Nonprofit Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas hosts a dinner at the Townsite Tower Ballroom with local celebrity waiters. east.ks.childcareaware.org
I Got Rhythm
September 28
The Topeka Symphony Orchestra continues its new season with a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony and the U.S. premiere of Thai composer Narong Prangcharoen’s “Sound, Echo and Silence.” topekasymphony.org
Kansas Book Festival
September 28
Award-winning mystery author Sara Paretsky headlines the 13th annual celebration of Kansas authors and book illustrators. All readings and activities are free. kansasbookfestival.com
October
FEATURED EVENT
Kansas
October 4–5
Legendary rock band Kansas appears at the Topeka Performing Arts Center for a celebration concert marking the band’s 50th anniversary. topekaperformingarts.org
A Celebration of Souls
October–December 2024
A traveling photography exhibit from the Chicago Field Museum celebrates traditional Day of the Dead celebrations in and around Oaxaca, Mexico. explorenoto.org
First Friday Artwalk
October 4 (and first Friday of every month) Galleries, studios, and other venues across the city open for art showings and other events. artstopeka.org
Topeka Oktoberfest
October 5
The Topeka Vendors Market hosts the 5th annual community Oktoberfest with live music, beer garden, wiener dog races, and more. vendorsmarket.com/Oktoberfest
Combat Air Museum Car Show
October 6
Topeka Combat Air Museum hosts its 4th annual car show on the tarmac of Forbes Field. combatairmuseum.org
Boo at the Zoo
October 9 and 16
The Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center hosts a day of trick-or-treating with a backdrop of wild animals and children’s activities. topekazoo.org
Ornamental Trees
October 10
Shawnee County Extenstion Master Gardeners and the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library share information on how to select and care for ornamental lawn trees. tscpl.org/events
Top Gun
October 11
Evergy Plaza hosts a free outdoor evening showing of the popular action movie with food and drink vendors on site. evergyplaza.com/event
Opa! Greek Food Festival
October 12
Saints Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church hosts its 20th annual open house and festival of Greek cuisine. peterandpaul.net
Bowdog Ensemble
October 13
Topeka Jazz presents an evening of musical performances with Bowdog, bassist Bob Bowman, and his musical friends. topekaperformingarts.org
Floyd Nation
October 17
Pink Floyd tribute band performs at the Prairie Band Casino and Resort. prairieband.com
Evergy Plaza hosts a free outdoor evening showing of the popular 2002 adventure comedy with food and drink vendors on site. evergyplaza.com/event
The Haunting of Hill House
October 25–November 9 (various dates)
Topeka Civic Theatre presents a thrilling drama about a foreboding, abandoned mansion and the supernatural legends that swirl around it. topekacivictheatre.com
November
FEATURED EVENT
Puttin' on the Ritz
November 2
Pianist Chaeyoung Park joins the Topeka Symphony Orchestra for an evening featuring the works of Rimsky-Korsakov, Grieg, and Shastakovich. topekasymphony.org
First Friday Artwalk
November 1 (and first Friday of every month) Galleries, studios, and other venues across the city open for art showings and other events. artstopeka.org
Lucy & Bram Wijnands Quartet
November 3
Topeka Jazz presents a concert of ballads featuring father-daughter duo of acclaimed vocalist Lucy Wijnands and stride piano master Bram Wijnands. topekaperformingarts.org
Water in Kansas
November 8
Topeka Audubon Society and the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library host a presentation by naturalist and author Rex Buchanan on water use and the critical level of the Ogallala Aquifer. tscpl.org/events
Gardens to Support Wildlife
November 14
Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners and the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library host a presentation on how to create and sustain home gardens that support native wildlife. tscpl.org/events
Zoo Lights
November 22–December 27
Topeka Zoo and Conservation Center, along with Evergy, invites guests to step into a festival of light and entertainment each evening on the zoo grounds. topekazoo.org
Joe Cartwright
November 24
Topeka Jazz presents an evening with the Joe Cartwright trio. topekaperformingarts.org
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
November 25
A traveling stage production recreates the classic stop-action 1964 animation movie for a new generation to enjoy. topekaperformingarts.org
Festival of Trees
November 26–December 7
Fairlawn Plaza hosts a daily showing of decorated holiday trees to benefit nonprofit SLI. slitopeka.org/festival
Winter Wonderland
November 27–December 31
The nonprofit TARC holds its annual evening drive-through showing of holiday light displays to support its ongoing work in the community.
winterwonderlandtopeka.org
Promoter Daniel Brown (center) is working with wrestlers such as Burt Cameron (left) and Judie Salazar to strengthen local, independent wrestling leagues.
“Are You Ready?”
STORY AND
PHOTOGRAPY
BY Bill Stephens
Topeka’s O.C.W. Pro Wrestling league brings all the spectacle and adrenaline to the ring while framing its fight nights as family-friendly, safe, and charity-driven events
The lights dim and the crowd of a few hundred grows silent. For a few dramatic seconds, darkness and silence cover the Stormont Vail Event Center … and then a blinding spotlight shines on Daniel Brown in his shiny sequined suit jacket.
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls … people of all ages!” he booms, striding into the center of the raised and roped fighting ring. “Prepare to be captivated as multiple championships are on the line, with champions defending their titles against the very best in the business. … Are you ready?”
The crowd, via a roar and applause, indicates it is.
This is the opening of Slamfest 2, one of the many local wrestling matches held throughout the year by the O.C.W. Pro Wrestling league. Going back to at least 2009, O.C.W. originated as Ortega Championship Wrestling, a wrestling organization featuring several Topeka wrestlers. Over the years, the league’s popularity grew. The management changed several times, but the familiar abbreviation O.C.W. remained.
and a former mayoral candidate, has been involved in producing pro wrestling events in Topeka for more than 15 years. More recently, he has focused on keeping the talent and the production as local as possible.
“We did a show last year, and it occurred to me that if we cut out the touring company that comes around and puts these shows on we could keep all of the money here in Topeka,” Brown says. “We could provide the entertainment, the food trucks, and with that collaborative effort, we’d make the money. Although we have been doing wrestling shows for many years, this was the first collaborative effort, and it paid off.”
An O.C.W. match ends with the wrestling but begins long before that with three local bands playing up-tempo music and food trucks providing the hungry crowd plenty to eat. Dozens of tables encourage the attendees—many families with children—to sit and visit.
Brown, a native Topekan, an IT professional, a boxing coach and trainer, a bare-knuckle fighter,
Brown stresses these events are intentionally family-friendly. Profanity is forbidden on stage, and the
A group fight breaks out as supporting wrestlers jump into the ring during a match. According to Brown, a good bout should look and feel chaotic, but always keep the athletes' and the audience's safety in mind.
The Inter-Promotional Open Weight Championship
One of Daniel Brown’s latest ventures is a collaboration with Topeka wrestler and promoter S.J. Hazim to create a series of fights across different leagues known as the InterPromotional Open Weight Championship.
“The whole goal of the championship is to lift up indie wrestling in our area and give exposure to talented and entertaining wrestlers who might not have a promoter,” Brown explains.
Though Brown, Hazim and other promoters are still setting up the championship tourneys, the plan is to involve promoters, leagues, and wrestlers in cities such as Topeka, Lawrence, Wichita, Junction City, Manhattan, Hoisington, Lincoln (Nebraska), and Iowa City.
Brown, wrestling as One Shot, kicks off the tournament as championship belt defender. Collectively, his traveling group is known as The Original Rose Garden, a tribute to the late Topeka wrestler Blade Braxton, who fought as Midnight Rose and formed a group of supporting wrestlers known as The Rose Garden.
While their goal is to help wrestlers promote one another and bring new competitors and fresh excitement into each venue, the inter-league wrestlers are still competitors with rivalries. For The Original Rose Garden, the biggest rivalry is from The Rose Garden, a group of wrestlers headed up by a Kansas City wrestler known as Mr. Fitness 2.
But the championship title could be won by any number of wrestlers in the league, male or female, of any weight.
“We didn’t define any limits to it,” Brown says, “and there are certainly female wrestlers who could take the belt—we’ll have to see.”
Bruisedor Violencia (top left) plans his pre-match strategy with teammate El Toro de Oro. Kansas OCW champion Burt Cameron (long hair) fights Rey Leone.
fighting is intense but not gratuitous. O.C.W. matches frequently double as charitable events to support the Holy Family School (the parochial school for the parishes of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and Sacred Heart/ Saint Joseph) and other nonprofits.
Each event includes several matches, and each match—according to Brown—should provide its own dramatic arc.
“When we set up a match, we want to be able to tell a story in a 5–10-minute slot. When it’s over, you are entertained, not because of the daredevil flips, but rather the story that is told. The story can be the continuation of a grudge between two wrestlers or a challenge for a title belt or to see who can trash talk the best,” he explains. “Without a story, you don’t care about a wrestler—but if you have never seen a wrestler before and you hear their story and hate them or love them before they even step into the ring, then that wrestler has given the performance you paid your money to see.”
From a wrestler’s point of view, it is all about how you handle yourself from the time you clear the entrance curtain until you exit back through that curtain a few minutes later at the conclusion of the match. If you can captivate the crowd by doing something entertaining, then you will get more bookings, and people will be more likely to buy your T-shirts and other merchandise and follow you online. All of this support is an important boost
When’s the Bout?
To find out the day and location of the next O.C.W. Pro Wrestling event, as well as Daniel Brown’s more recent One Finger fight promotions, look for O.C.W. Pro Wrestling or SJ the Finger on Facebook.
for independent wrestlers, ensuring they at least don’t lose money on their hobby. If a fan buys a $20 shirt, then that’s gas money to get to the next show.
Though most wrestlers hold regular jobs and none of them make a full-time living from their matches, they must still devote considerable hours to training. Wrestlers are skilled athletes, versed in acrobatic leaps and physically demanding coordinated movements that appear to maul their opponents, but are designed to avoid injury. In any match, a wrestler might be on either end of a body slam, a tomb-stone (holding the opponent upside down in a belly-to-belly position and falling to a kneeling position), or a suplex (when the wrestler picks up the opponent and then, using a large portion of his own body weight, drives the opponent down on the mat by throwing them over their center of gravity). Wrestlers commonly throw one another out of the ring—which is not without pain but should be without lasting harm.
“We have wrestlers who have gotten injured but can still be a part of the show,” Brown notes. “They can talk the talk, do interviews, train other wrestlers, but not compete, and thus avoid the chance of further injury. As a promoter, you know that the Kansas venues require a state license, insurance, an ambulance on site, and many behind-thescenes activities to ensure safety for everyone. Ultimately the job each wrestler has is to protect the safety of the other wrestler. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes camaraderie that the fans don’t see.”
While wrestling is an intense, physically demanding sport, Brown and other wrestlers say that creating a persona and providing audiences with a dramatic story is an equally important aspect to every match.
