General News in the 316

[SubGod22]

KWCH - Kelsey Grammer performing with Wichita Grand Opera this spring

The Wichita Grand Opera announced upcoming performances of Leonard Bernstein’s operetta, Candide, starring “Cheers” and “Frasier” actor Kelsey Grammer, who narrates the tale and performs the role of Dr. Pangloss. The semi-staged production comes to Century II Concert Hall on April 27-28.

Grammer is best known for his Emmy Award-winning roles on two classic sitcoms. He starred as Frasier Crane on “Cheers” from 1984-93 before reprising the role in the spinoff “Frasier,” which ran originally for 10 seasons and was rebooted last year. He will be joined by a cast of singers gathered from across the U.S., along with the Wichita Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus led by WGO Artistic Director Whitney Reader. Metropolitan Opera veteran Emily Pulley returns to Wichita to direct the production and perform the role of the Old Lady.

Grammer will help tell the story of a naïve young protagonist who journeys through a world filled with misfortune and absurdity as he searches for happiness and meaning. The operetta is a conglomeration of several musical styles, including romantic grandeur, jazz, foxtrot, waltz, polka, hornpipe, bolero, barcarolle, gavotte and a tango as the story makes its way through a world of musical styles and genres.

I don't know much about the opera, nor do I know what kind of talent Mr. Grammer has in this regard, but I'll say this is kind of cool and I hope it helps draw more people to see it.

[SubGod22]

KSN - Wichita Wind Surge release 2024 promotions calendar

Here’s a breakdown of the weekly promotions for the 2024 season:

• Two for Tuesdays: Get two tickets for the price of one every Tuesday home game when you show your Dillon’s Shopper Card or Dillon’s App at the Wind Surge Box Office.
• Silver Sluggers Night, plus Half Off Wednesday: Groups of 20 fans or more receive 50% off ticket purchases.
• Thirsty Thursday: Enjoy $3 sixteen-ounce select beers and $2 sixteen-ounce fountain sodas every Thursday.
• Fireworks Spectacular: Stick around after every Friday Wind Surge game for a fantastic fireworks show.
• Surge Saturday: From giveaways to character appearances to theme nights and fiestas, there is something for everyone on Saturdays at Riverfront Stadium.
• Sunday Family Fun-Day: Bring the whole family out for an afternoon matinee baseball game, complete with pre-game catch on the field and post-game Kids Run the Bases.
• The Wind Surge will continue their pregame Happy Hour for all games with $5 domestic drafts (from gates open to first pitch).

For more information and a complete listing of the Wind Surge promos, click here. Individual tickets for the Wind Surge go on sale on Feb. 29 at 3 p.m.

[SubGod22]

MSN - Tallgrass Film Festival is in the running for top 10

Wichita’s Tallgrass Film Festival hopes to win a national title, but it needs your help.

USA Today is searching for the best film festivals in its “10Best” contest, and it is letting people decide the winners. As of Monday afternoon, the Tallgrass Film Festival is ranked fourth among 20 festivals. USA Today says a panel of experts nominated Tallgrass and the other 19.

Tallgrass Film Association sent an email on Monday asking people to vote for it and to shine the “spotlight on Wichita!”

If you want to vote for the Tallgrass Film Festival, click here to get to the voting page and then submit your vote.

The website describes Tallgrass as the largest independent film festival in Kansas. It says Tallgrass showcases the best films from around the world each October. It also mentions the Tallgrass parties, filmmaker discussions and filmmaking classes. It also says many films are screened at the historic Orpheum Theatre, which dates back to 1922.

At the time of this posting, it's number 2.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - BizTalk 351: The background behind the expansion campaign at Exploration Place

Adam Smith has been through large fundraising campaigns before — like the one that has rounded third base at Exploration Place and is heading for home.

He acknowledges that the most successful campaigns aren't always the easiest, and vice versa.

But what Exploration Place has planned over the next 18 months is massive, that's for sure.

On this week's BizTalk with the Wichita Business Journal podcast, the president and CEO of Exploration Place talked about the $22-million project that will construct an amphitheater on the northwest corner of the Exploration Place and a massive playscape on the southeast side of the 24-year-old science center and museum.

March 6 is the groundbreaking date for the amphitheater, which will host events and be a nightly home for folks to watch the lighting of the cauldrons surrounding the Keeper of the Plains across the Arkansas River. The amphitheater is scheduled to be completed this fall.

After that, the playscape that covers more than 6 acres with science themes — Smith says to envision 10 playgrounds put together — is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2025.

Smith said 80% of the fundraising goal has been achieved, but it's time to start moving dirt.

"You can't always wait to raise every single dollar," Smith said, "and we've had enough success so far that we feel comfortable moving forward."

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Wichita developer poised to build 370-unit, downtown luxury apartment project

Since 2020, developer Paul Jackson has been acquiring property at the northwest corner of Washington and Waterman in downtown Wichita.

Now, he's set the stage for a major project in the southeastern portion of the city's core.

Jackson, president of locally-based Vantage Point Properties, is advancing plans to construct a 370-unit, luxury apartment building at the site a few blocks east of Intrust Bank Arena and south of Old Town — a move propelled by what he sees as downtown's momentum and its need for housing.

On Tuesday, the Wichita City Council will consider Vantage Point's request for a letter of intent to issue up to $95 million in industrial revenue bonds to help finance the project's construction costs. The development will qualify for a sales tax exemption on bond-financed purchases, and the IRBs will provide a 10-year property tax abatement, according to a Council agenda report.

The project, which Jackson says will be in the $90-million range, will span five stories and include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.

"I think it's a wonderful time to be developing downtown Wichita, to live in Wichita and participate in the growth," said Jackson, whose other major development efforts in the city include the new Avante luxury apartment complex in northwest Wichita.

[SubGod22]

MSN - Southbound I-135 ramp to eastbound K-96 to close Friday

The Kansas Department of Transportation will be closing a section of a major Wichita interchange on Friday, Feb. 16.

KDOT says beginning at 7 p.m. southbound Interstate 135 to eastbound Kansas Highway 96 ramp will be closed. The plan is to have the ramp reopen on Monday by 6 a.m.

KDOT says it will allow the public to travel on the new ramp from 37th going south to eastbound K-96 as well as re-opening the 29th Street exit ramp.

Some potential driving pains this weekend for some.

This will still be insanely worth it when they finish this project. The new ramps between 135/235/96 are going to be game changers for traffic flow and traffic safety.

[Kung Wu]

What are the benefits of annexation for the developer? Always glad to see Wichita grow, whether it be in population or footprint, and hopefully both.

Guessing tie into city water, sewer and road and storm sewer development deferred as specials taxes? Can the developer get all that if not annexed?

[ABC]

West Wichita is going to get bigger.

WBJ - Developer's big west Wichita housing, commercial plans get annexation approval

What are the benefits of annexation for the developer? Always glad to see Wichita grow, whether it be in population or footprint, and hopefully both.

[SubGod22]

West Wichita is going to get bigger.

WBJ - Developer's big west Wichita housing, commercial plans get annexation approval

While it is still early the process, it appears a well over $100-million development is in the works on the western edge of the Wichita, south of Kellogg.

The Wichita City Council on Tuesday approved the annexation of 161 acres at the southeastern corner of Pawnee and 119th Street into the city. The move was requested by Kick “N” Development Corp., an entity whose registered agent is longtime local developer Paul Kelsey, state business records show.

According to a Council agenda report, Kick “N” Development plans to build 240 single-family homes, 85 duplexes and 176,500 square feet of commercial space at the location over the next decade.

Residential neighborhoods within Wichita city limits are located to the property's northwest, north and east.

The report said that the property owner anticipates that, upon completion, the single-family and duplex component of the development will have an appraised value of $102.6 million, while the commercial space is anticipated to have an appraised value of $35.3 million once it is finished.

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Water-focused national company picks Wichita for added Kansas branch

A national provider of water equipment and supplies for contractors is preparing to launch its first location in Wichita.

Western Hydro, a part of Headwater Companies LLC, will be moving into the 27,430 square-foot building at 818 E. Orme St. by April 1, branch manager Craig Carlson said.

The company, which previously had a single Kansas location in Garden City, will use the space as a warehouse and for offices.

"The goal is just to expand our company and business," he said.

Western Hydro's offerings include drilling supplies, water pumps and accessories, well service equipment and water treatment and wastewater handling equipment. The company's customers use its products for a range of applications including agriculture, environmental, industrial, pipeline and more.

Colorado-based Headwater Companies is a collection of businesses throughout the U.S. that deal in groundwater distribution. Headwater is a subsidiary of Franklin Electric Co. Inc. (Nasdaq: FELE), a publicly-traded company out of Indiana.

[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
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
Slaughter Beach, Apr 13, TempleLive
Fit for a King, Apr 13, TempleLive
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
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
Josh Turner, May 9, Cotillion
Damage Inc./Noise Pollution, May 10, Cotillion
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
Rivers of Nihil, May 29, TempleLive

From Ashes to New, Jun 2, Cotillion
Brit Floyd, Jun 4, Orpheum
The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band, Jun 4, TempleLive
Punch Brothers, Jun 17, Stiefel Theatre
Brad Williams, Jun 21, Orpheum

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

Graham Nash, Aug 10, Steifel 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

Wynonna Judd, Sep 6, Kansas State Fair Grandstand
Goo Goo Dolls, Sep 7, Kansas State Fair Grandstand
Oak Ridge Boys, Sep 15, Kansas State Fair Grandstand
Intocable, Sep 26, Century II

John Lyndon, Oct 1, Cotillion
Celtic Thunder, Oct 4, Orpheum
John Michael Montgomery, Oct 11, TempleLive
Jelly Roll, Oct 15, IBA


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

[SubGod22]

WBJ - Report: Wichita saw biggest U.S. jump last month in apartment-seeker interest

Apartment hunters showed a heightened interest in Wichita to start the new year, according to a new report, as more luxury units continue to hit the market.

The city jumped 89 spots to No. 19 nationally in RentCafe's January Rental Activity Report, a monthly analysis that ranks the most in-demand U.S. cities for renters.

That marked the biggest leap of all cities analyzed by the apartment search website, and Wichita's ranking was good for No. 6 in the Midwest region.

Minneapolis took the crown as the most popular city for renters in January — both in the region and nationally.

Among cities closer to home, Overland Park ranked No. 11 in the U.S. and No. 4 in the Midwest, while Omaha came in No. 10 in Wichita's region.

[SubGod22]

And again...

MSN - Evergy cuts power to Towne West again

Towne West Mall is once again without power.

On Wednesday, Evergy said it disconnected the power at the mall due to unpaid bills by mall owner Kohan Retail Investment Group.

“Kohan Retail Investment Group has again fallen delinquent on the electricity bill for Towne West Mall, and the electric service has been disconnected,” said Evergy in a statement

[SubGod22]

[SubGod22]

I know they were looking into it as they'd have more space for exhibits as well as storage and office, but I know that they had concerns about how much would be needed to be put into updating the building for them. I don't know if they've come to a decision either way.

I do agree that WAM is too small as it is. It's a nice looking building and the surrounding area makes for a nice feel, but they could definitely use a larger building.

I was honestly surprised at how small WAM was the first time I went. You can get in and out pretty quick without even rushing.