General News in the 316

[SubGod22]

MSN - Botanica announces dates for Tulip Festival

Botanica announced dates for the annual Tulip Festival. The garden announced it will take place April 13, 14, 20 and 21 with hourly time slots at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The festival will have live music, treats and adult beverages. Families can enjoy many activities, such as yard games, children’s art and science activities, carousel rides, tulip information stations, face painting and a petting zoo on the Grand Lawn.

Tickets must be pre-purchased and are $12 for non-member adults and $10 for youth, Botanica members, and military. Children 2 and under are free of charge.

[SubGod22]

A list of shows coming to Wichita this year. I'm sure more will pop up down the road.

Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience, Feb 9, Orpheum Theatre
Cody Johnson, Feb. 9, IBA
Rockin' The Fe with the Sunset Sinners, Feb 9, Stiefel Theatre (Salina)
Mountain Deer Revival, Feb 10, Wave
Hariball, Feb 10, Hartman
Extreme with Living Colour, Feb 13, Cotillion
Wade Bowen, Feb 15, Cotillion
That Arena Rock Show, Feb 16, TempleLive
The Legends Tour, Feb 17, Century II
Jukebox, Feb 17, TempleLive
Yo La Tengo, Feb 20, Wave
Postmodern Jukebox, Feb 20, Orpheum Theatre
Tommy Emmanuel, Feb 21, Stiefel Theatre
Matt Anderson, Feb 22, Stiefel Theatre
Mr. Big, Feb 23, Cotillion
Social Cinema, Feb 23, TempleLive
Vehicles, Feb 24, Wave
Arkansauce, Feb 24, Wave
Steel Panther, Feb 24, TempleLive
Josh Abbot Band, Feb 24, Cotillion
Gregory Alan Isakov, Feb 28, Cotillion
Kolby Cooper, Feb 29, Cotillion
Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen, Feb 29, Stiefel Theatre

Bob Wills' Texas Playboys, Mar 1, Cotillion
My So Called Band, Mar 1, Wave
Carrie Nation & The Speakeasy, Mar 2, Wave
Whitey Morgan and the 78's, Mar 3, Wave
Winter Jam, Mar 3, IBA
Drew Lynch, Mar 6, Orpheum
Boy Named Banjo, Mar 6, Wave
Zach Rushing, Mar 9, TempleLive
Anthony Gomes, Mar 9, Cotillion
Flogging Molly, Mar 9, Kansas Star Casino
Brian Seltzer: Rockabilly Riot, Mar 9, Stiefel Theatre
Tropidelic: Il Nino Tour, Mar 14, Wave
Me Like Bees, Mar 15, Wave
Frank Foster, Mar 15, TempleLive
Jo Koy, Mar 15, Orpheum
The Ultimate Doors, Mar 16, TempleLIve
Liverpool Legends, Mar 22, Orpheum
Jackyl, Mar. 22, Cotillion
Ed Bassmaster, Mar. 22, Century II
Kansas, Mar 22-23, Stiefel Theatre
Rock and Roll Never Forgets: A Tribute to Bob Seger, Mar 23, Cotillion
Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Mar 23, TempleLive
Darkest Hour, Mar 23, TempleLive
The Astronauts, Mar 23, Wave
Vincent Neil Emerson, Mar. 27, Wave
Blake Shelton, Mar 29, IBA
Cinderella's Tom Keifer, Mar 29, Cotillion
Gary Owen, Mar 29, Century II
Trey Kennedy: Grow Up, Mar 30, Orpheum
Not.Greenday, Mar 30, Wave
Jaret Ray Reddick, Mar 30, TempleLive
Three Dog Night, Mar 30, Kansas Star Casino
Chicos de Barrio, Mar 30, Cotillion

The Bright Light Social Hour, Apr 3, Wave
Mo Lowda & The Humble, Apr 3, Wave
Bumpin' Uglies, Apr 4, Wave
Night Ranger, Apr 5, Kansas Star Casino
G-Space, Apr 5, Wave
Glenn Miller Orchestra, Apr 7, Orpheum
Galactic Empire, Apr 7, Temple Live
Dust City Opera, Apr 8, Wave
Toto, Apr 12, Stiefel Theatre
ABBAFAB, Apr 12, Cotillion
Uncle Lazer, Apr 12, TempleLive
Johnny Woods, Apr 12, Wave
The Offspring, Apr 12, Wave
Slaughter Beach, Apr 13, TempleLive
Fit for a King, Apr 13, TempleLive
When Doves Cry, The Prince Tribute Show, Apr 13, Orpheum
Voyage - The Ultimate Journey Tribute Band, Apr 18, Cotillion
Dexter and the Moonrocks, Apr 18, Wave
The Mountain Goats, Apr 19, Stiefel Theatre
Flux Pavilion, Apr 19, Cotillion
Sum 41, Apr 20, Wave
The Tierney Sutton Band, Apr 20, Orpheum
meth. w/Dreamwell, Leech Fetish, Virgins, Apr 22, Wave
Icon for Hire, Apr 23, TempleLive
Jeff Dunham, Apr 25, IBA
John Craigie & Mason Jennings, Apr 25, Wave
Rend Collective, Apr 25, Orpheum
Home Free, Apr 26, Stiefel Theatre
The Wallflowers, Apr 26, TempleLive
Terri Clark, Apr 26, Crown Uptown Theatre
Tom's Elton Tribute, Apr 27, Century II
The Comedy Function, Apr 27, Orpheum
Joe Satriani & Steve Vai, Apr 29, Stiefel Theatre
Wild Party, Apr 30, Wave

Creed Fisher, May 2, TempleLive
Pony Bradshaw, May 2, Wave
Turnpike Troubadours, May 3, IBA
Peter Antoniou, May 3, TempleLive
Little Miss Nasty, May 4, Wave
Whiskey Myers, May 4, Hartman
Hippie Sabotage, May 4, Cotillion
Earth, May 4, TempleLive
City Morgue, May 5, Cotillion
P.O.D., May 5, TempleLive
Eidola, May 5, TempleLive
Josh Turner, May 9, Cotillion
Flaw, May 9, Wave
Damage Inc./Noise Pollution, May 10, Cotillion
Steel Skarecrow, May 10, TempleLive
Zach Top, May 10, Wave
Ashley McBryde, May 11, Stiefel Theatre
Nekrogoblikon, May 11, Wave
Get the LED Out, May 11, Cotillion
Emo Orchestra: Escape the Fate, May 12, Orpheum
Lacuna Coil, May 14, TempleLive
Havoc, May 15, TempleLive
Cake, May 16, Wave
Chicago, May 17, Hartman
Ian Munsick, May 17, Wave
Josh Gates Live, May 17, Orpheum
The Steel Wheels, May 22, Wave
Mo B. Dick, May 24, Wave
Shaggy 2 Dope, May 25, Wave
Uriah Heep & Saxon, May 25, TempleLive
Alien Ant Farm, May 28, TempleLive
Rivers of Nihil, May 29, TempleLive
Southall, May 30, Wave
Legends of Country Rock: Firefall and Richie Furay of Poco & Buffalo Springfield, May 31, Stiefel Theatre

Hunter Hayes, Jun 1, Riverfest
From Ashes to New, Jun 2, Cotillion
Brit Floyd, Jun 4, Orpheum
The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Jun 4, TempleLive
Randy Travis, Jun 7, Orpheum
Kool & The Gang, Jun 8, Riverfest
Of Montreal, Jun 11, Wave
Punch Brothers, Jun 17, Stiefel Theatre
Brad Williams, Jun 21, Orpheum
Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, Jun 26, Cotillion
Sunset Sinners, Jun 27, Wave
James McMurtry, Jun 29, Wave

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, July 11, Wave
The Wallflowers, July 13, TempleLive
Left to Suffer, July 13, TempleLive
Maddie & Tae, July 19, Kansas Star Casino
Muscadine Bloodline, July 19, Cotillion
Jo Dee Messina, July 19, Dam Jam
Brantley Gilbert, July 20, Dam Jam
Stone Temple Pilots, July 20, Dam Jam
Ryan Upchurch, July 20, Dam Jam
Wheeler Walker Jr., July 20, Dam Jam
Demun Jones, July 20, Dam Jam
Killer Queen, July 23, Cotillion
Eazybaked, July 25, Wave
Gabby Barrett, July 25, Kansas Star Casino

Blues Traveler & Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Aug 6, Wave
I Prevail & Halestorm, Aug 6, Hartman Arena
Graham Nash, Aug 10, Steifel Theatre
Ben Folds, Aug 10, Cotillion
Bored Teachers, Aug 10, Kansas Star Casino
Graham Nash, Aug 10, Stiefel Theatre
Bulls, Bands and Barrels featuring Koe Wetzel, Aug. 16, IBA
Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood, Aug 18, Orpheum
Fitz and the Tantrums, Aug 20, Wave
Dwight Yoakam, Aug 22, Hartman Arena

Wynonna Judd, Sep 6, Kansas State Fair Grandstand
Goo Goo Dolls, Sep 7, Kansas State Fair Grandstand
Gary Clark Jr., Sep 10, Wave
Broadway's Rock of Ages Band, Sep 12, Kansas State Fair Grandstand
Riley Green, Sep 14, Kansas State Fair Grandstand
Oak Ridge Boys, Sep 15, Kansas State Fair Grandstand
38 Special, Sep 21, Kansas Star Casino
Intocable, Sep 26, Century II

John Lyndon, Oct 1, Cotillion
Celtic Thunder, Oct 4, Orpheum
Kansas, Oct 5, Hartman Arena
John Michael Montgomery, Oct 11, TempleLive
Jelly Roll, Oct 15, IBA
Michael Jackson Tribute, Oct 27, Cotillion

Barenaked Ladies with Toad the Wet Sprocket, Nov 2, Stiefel Theatre
Heart, Nov 16, Intrust Bank Arena


Some things to look forward to. Just for fun, I went through and highlighted the ones I'm most intrigued by.

Updated list. New acts in green

[SubGod22]

A new business headed this way.

WBJ - Propelled by Covid-shaped experiences, former physician assistant launches Wichita cycle studio

She's now taking that experience and turning it into her first business: opening We Ride studio in northeast Wichita.

Jablonski's rhythmic cycling studio is set to launch May 13 in the Village at Greenwich shopping center at the northeast corner of 21st Street and Greenwich.

"I am so re-energized," said Jablonski, who added it was "bittersweet" recently wrapping her last shift as a PA. "I am just so happy and more care-free. Even though, with starting a business and running a business, I'm in here working about 16 hours a day, it's still so much less stress than I was under going through Covid."

We Ride, which is not a franchise, will offer rhythm-based cycling classes in an environment Jablonski hopes will help individuals' mental and physical health.

Classes are 45 minutes, with a focus on letting go of stress and losing one's self in the music more than being concerned with the numbers surrounding a person's workout.

Sounds like an interesting concept that could actually do really well. Cycling is a good form of low impact exercise. Hope she finds success.

[SubGod22]

Wichita pimpin'

WBJ - Wichita aerospace businesses will tout the Air Capital at national events in April

Wichita aerospace companies are headed to Chicago, Colorado and Florida next weekto tell people about the advantages of working with businesses in the Air Capital.

Representatives of the Greater Wichita Partnership, Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport and six companies head to Chicago next week to showcase the city's manufacturing capabilities and talent pipeline. More than 1,000 global exhibitors will be at the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Americas exhibition April 9-11.

While the private companies will be looking for business, the Partnership will look to tout the advantages of Wichita, which it says is one of the strongest MRO markets for workforce and operating costs and has a network of more than 450 air craft suppliers and many FAA-certified repair sites.

“This is a strategic opportunity to highlight the nation’s No. 1 skilled aviation workforce to the largest gathering of aviation maintenance professionals in the world," Partnership president Jeff Fluhr said in a news release. "It also serves as a platform to leverage the region as a prime location for business and investment.”

Jet AirWerks, NIAR WERX, Mid-Continent Controls, Valence Surface Technologies and Aircraft Covers Unlimited are exhibiting with the Partnership at the MRO Americas exhibit. Representatives will have the chance to speak with more than 16,000 airline, manufacturer, MRO service provider, leasing and supply chain attendees.

A lot of potential contacts and business available.

A team from WSU Tech will also compete in an aerospace maintenance competition.

The Partnership will exhibit a Smart Rover robotics kit, a component of The Smart Factory Believers Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education program, which are made at Wichita State University.

Starting on Monday, the Greater Wichita Partnership will head to Colorado Springs for the 39th annual Space Symposium. The Partnership will highlight Wichita’s growing space and defense expertise through April 11. The event brings together global leaders from commercial, government and military areas, who plan for space achievements.

The vice president of Space, Intelligence and Weapon Systems at Boeing, Kay Sears, will speak during the conference, as will representatives from NASA, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Department of Defense and others. Around a dozen business and military leaders from around the world will also give presentations, including some from Columbia, Germany, Italy and Norway.

Continuing to grow the space industry here in ICT is important for the area. A lot of potential to be had as space becomes more accessible as private industry as well as governments continue to increase the desires to make space a new and interesting frontier for science and commercial endeavors.

[SubGod22]

$9.5-million Orpheum upgrade gets financial incentive package approval

The Orpheum Theatre's plans for a full-scale renovation are getting a multi-pronged financial hand from the city of Wichita.

On Tuesday, the City Council backed an incentive package that included final approval on a new community improvement district, as well as a letter of intent for the city to issue up to $9.5 million in industrial revenue bonds that bring with them a sales tax exemption on items purchased for the project.

The unanimous vote comes after the Council in early March set a public hearing for Tuesday to consider the creation of the new CID, which will allow for an additional 2% sales tax on purchases within the theater — including ticket sales and concessions — to go toward the costs of interior rehabilitation, lighting system and audio upgrades, new seating and other improvements.

"I really want to applaud the Orpheum for being creative and thinking of a way to get to 'yes,' so that you can have the renovations that the building has so desperately needed," Council member Becky Tuttle said.

The Council's approvals on Tuesday also included backing a development agreement between the city and the Orpheum related to the project. The agreement notes the CID sales tax is authorized for a 22-year period.

Closing for a year once the process begins sucks, but should be well worth it once completed.

[SubGod22]

More growth at Jabara

WBJ - Wichita City Council approves bonds for new Clemens Aviation hangar at Jabara Airport

Clemens Aviation LLC, a fixed-base operator at Jabara Airport, asked for approval on a letter of intent to issue $4 million of airport special facility revenue bonds to build a new hangar at the airport, which are in high demand in the Wichita area. The company will also install a small paint booth.

"The bonds will provide a sales tax exemption only on construction materials," said Tim Goodpasture, economic development analyst for the city.

Since 2020, Clemens has constructed four 18,000 square-foot hangars and one 6,000 square-foot storage facility at 3622 N. Jabara Road, on the north end of the airport. The new facility will be of a similar size to the four existing hangars and will be located close to the other hangars.

Along with selling gas, Clemens performs maintenance on planes, provides aircraft storage and charter operations, as well as aircraft management and pilot services.

As the property is on land owned by the city's airport authority, Clemens will not have any property tax abatement.

[WstateU]

KSN - Kool & the Gang bringing 'Celebration' to Wichita Riverfest

Very nice...

[SubGod22]

KSN - Kool & the Gang bringing 'Celebration' to Wichita Riverfest

The Wichita Riverfest is bringing Kool & the Gang to this year’s big party on the river.

The legendary band will perform on Saturday, June 8, and will play many of their iconic hits: “Celebration,” “Cherish,” and “Jungle Boogie.”

In March, organizers announced the first concert for this year’s Riverfest. Hunter Hayes will perform on the first Saturday of the festival.

[SubGod22]

And the Dam Jam is on!

KSN - The Dam Jam Music Festival announces new location

The Dam Jam Music Festival, also known as the biggest lake party in Kansas, announced a new location for their musical festival on Monday.

Dam Jam will now take place at 1744 S. 183rd St. West in Goddard.

“This vibrant new setting promises a bright future for our festival. Goddard’s openness and enthusiastic support for our event shine as a testament to community resilience,” said Dam Jam in a news release.

In February, Sedgwick County commissioners denied the bid for Dam Jam to be held at Lake Afton this summer following multiple concerns being raised. The festival is expecting thousands of people, so finding a new location was a must.

This is wonderful for Goddard and the area as a whole.

Festival will include Brantley Gilbert, Stone Temple Pilot, JoDee Messina, Ryan Upchurch, Wheeler Walker Jr., and Demun Jones.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Heart Royal Flush Tour 2024 coming to Wichita

A band known for powerful hits like “Crazy on You” and “These Dreams” is going to take center stage at Intrust Bank Arena later this year.

Rock-and-roll legend Heart is bringing its Royal Flush Tour 2024 to Wichita on Saturday, Nov. 16. The band will be joined by Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening.

Heart’s career spans nearly five decades. The band, led by Nancy and Ann Wilson, has been in the Rock Hall of Fame since 2013. It has sold over 35 million albums worldwide with 20 Top 40 singles.

And for the classic rock fans, this is another nice one.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Randy Travis tour coming to Wichita's Orpheum Theatre

Wichita’s Orpheum Theatre on Tuesday announced that the Randy Travis: The More Life Tour will take the historic stage on Friday, June 7.

Tickets to see the Randy Travis: The More Life Tour at 7:30 p.m. go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, Apr. 5.

The show features the legendary country singer and singer James Dupré. Dupré co-starred with Travis in the 2015 movie “The Price.”

In the Wichita concert, Dupré and Randy’s band will perform all 16 of Travis’ iconic No. 1 hits, including “On The Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” and “Three Wooden Crosses.” Travis will make a special appearance, and VIP passes are available that include a meet and greet with the country icon himself.

Randy is one of my all-time favorite country artists.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Coming soon: Construction slated to begin this month on Wichita's first Love's Travel Stop

Get ready to see dirt moving at the site of Wichita's first Love's Travel Stops location.

The Oklahoma City-based company with a national footprint confirmed Monday that — weather-permitting — construction is scheduled to start next week at the northwest corner of I-135 and 21st Street within the ICT21 Industrial District. The store is expected to open by the end of the year.

"Love's is excited to join the Wichita community, serving customers with the clean spaces and friendly faces we are known for," the company said in an email. "Love’s chooses locations on highway corridors that are known to be highly trafficked by our customers and underserved by our current locations. This location off I-35 in Wichita will allow customers to get the services they need while traveling this stretch of the country and get back on the road quickly."

A new Love's at the north Wichita site has been in the works for a while. Last spring, the City Council approved the company's request to update the zoning of more than 19 acres in the industrial park.

The Love's development — in addition to a convenience store and gas pumps — will include a restaurant, RV overnight parking, dog exercise area, electric vehicle charging and a semi-truck repair and wash.

[SubGod22]

Eagle - Wichita cracks top 5 of Forbes' best cities to move to in 2024. Why it ranked so high

If you’re wanting to move away from Wichita anytime soon, a new ranking may change your mind.

A recent analysis from Forbes Home named the city fourth in its list of best places to move to in 2024, citing things like employment rates, housing costs and median family incomes. Wichita ranked right below Oklahoma City, Okla., and right above Colorado Springs, Colo. The top city to move to this year, according to the publication, is Omaha, Neb.

So, how does Wichita’s affordability compare to the other cities on this list? Here’s what to know.

Scoring 80.02 out of 100, Wichita gained a top spot by having a low median monthly housing cost of $930, lower than all of Forbes’ top five cities. The median family income in Wichita is $60,856, with an employment rate of 98%, according to Forbes. The company found its information through the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, MIT’s Living Wage Project, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and NeighborhoodScout, a real estate platform.

[WstateU]

WBJ - Downtown Vitality Index: How Downtown Wichita's comeback compares



Top 10 for reference

Miami, FL
Wichita, KS
Nashville, TN
Cincinnati, OH
Orlando, FL
Tampa, FL
Honolulu, HI
Albany, NY
Raleigh, NC
Greensboro, NC

Bottom 10 for reference, starting at dead last

San Francisco, CA
Portland, OR
Pittsburgh, PA
Denver, CO
Seattle, WA
Chicago, IL
St. Louis, MO
Minneapolis, MN
Philadelphia, PA
Louisville, KY

Not to bring in politics, but the bottom 10 are interesting, especially 1.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Downtown Vitality Index: How Downtown Wichita's comeback compares

Wichita ranks among the strongest when it comes to downtown recovery after the pandemic.

That’s according to the latest Downtown Vitality Index from The Business Journals, which analyzed a variety of metrics affecting downtown activity to determine which central business districts are best positioned for success in the post-pandemic world.

Wichita posted a Downtown Vitality Index score of 66.71, which ranked second among the 44 markets analyzed by The Business Journals.

That score is based on a weighted formula that looked at these factors:

• Downtown office commercial real estate trends
• Urban/central business district hotel occupancy
• Percentage of individuals working from home
• Downtown cellphone activity compared to pre-pandemic levels
• Public-transit ridership trends
• Metro population growth momentum

The formula is weighted, with office space trends, work-from-home percentage and downtown cellphone activity among the heaviest-weighted factors. With the exception of downtown cellphone activity, the category scores are compiled using percentiles that show how downtowns around the nation compare. A score of 0 is worst and a score of 100 is best.

Those obviously aren't the only factors that contribute to downtown vitality, but this project aims to put downtown recoveries in context and spotlight standout performers in these metrics in conjunction with our recent Future of Cities event.

Top 10 for reference

Miami, FL
Wichita, KS
Nashville, TN
Cincinnati, OH
Orlando, FL
Tampa, FL
Honolulu, HI
Albany, NY
Raleigh, NC
Greensboro, NC

Bottom 10 for reference, starting at dead last

San Francisco, CA
Portland, OR
Pittsburgh, PA
Denver, CO
Seattle, WA
Chicago, IL
St. Louis, MO
Minneapolis, MN
Philadelphia, PA
Louisville, KY