FLIP + CHING

Summer 2026 Recap

Posted on August 22, 2026 by Ching under Family, Life.

Here’s a quick summer 2026 recap before I dive into our vacation highlights… I already told you all about the new Wichita Transit Hub in Delano–let’s see… What else happened this summer?

Brian’s parents came up for the weekend and we celebrated Brian’s 52nd birthday at the Belmont, Brian’s all-time favorite resto.

The following day we continued the celebration at Chicken N Pickle.

Our nephew Logan even came and stopped by for a bit. He is so grown up! He actually bought his first house this year. We are so proud of this kid.

We completed the Wicked Brew Tour and earned our 2026 shirts.

I played in my first Queen City Open pickleball tournament. This was also our first time in Springfield, MO.

We celebrated Hannah’s birthday at Sabor.

I walked in the Wichita Pride parade for the first time.

Here’s a short highlight video I made:

We competed in our first Tallgrass Film Association trivia event. Our friend Susie won some awesome prizes.

We checked out Aught2 Pickleball. It was Brian’s first time in Bartlesville.

I learned how to play Lite Tennis.

We created Saki paintings.

I learned to play American mah jongg.

We attended the National Baseball Congress championship game at Equity Bank Park with the Drinnens.

We checked out some restaurants we hadn’t tried before–I may write about those separately. In the meantime, I really want to get the blog caught up so can I tell you all about our latest adventure.

First Time Riding the Wichita Transit

Posted on July 27, 2026 by Ching under Things to Do.

I’ve ridden public transit while traveling to other cities but for some reason I’d never ridden the Wichita bus before. Perhaps it’s because I have my own car here and it’s way more convenient to drive yourself. Perhaps it’s Brian’s ultra-negative view of the bus–he thinks it’s gross. For one reason or another, I never have ridden our local transit until last month.

With the launch of the Hub in Delano, bus rides were free for a week so I took advantage of that time to check it out. I met up with a couple of friends (Susie Ternes and Chris Townley) at the Hub and we rode the 21 (WSU route) to 21st and Rock, stopped at the Bradley Fair Bella Luna for some drinks and apps (mocktail for me because I was taking a couple of antibiotics at the time), and then hopped back on the same bus on its way inbound back to the Hub.

We did look at the Lindsey Kernodle installation while we were waiting for the bus but it was very loud at the transit station at times, specially when all the busses are back. It was so much nicer when Brian and went on a Sunday and there were no busses and not a soul around. If you’re just wanting to check out the interactive murals, I highly recommend skipping the bus experience and just going to the Hub on a Sunday. For me, I wanted to experience a real bus ride so that’s what we did.

Shout out to Susie and Chris for experiencing the bus with me. It was kind of a fun adventure. Check out the highlights here.

Only Susie can make riding the bus look cool.

Mom wanted to experience riding the bus too so I went with her later that week also. We got on the 22 (East Harry route) from the East Kellogg Walmart parking lot and took the bus back to the Hub so mom could check out the art. From the Hub, we got on the Q-line and walked around downtown before hopping on another inbound bus to return to the Hub. Here are some highlights from that.

If you own a car, the bus is really not the most convenient mode of transportation but I appreciate that it’s an option. When I went with Susie and Chris, we met a college student who got the bus from the WSU campus and hopped off at the stop by Aldi’s. He hopped back on the same bus as us to return to campus after completing his grocery shopping.

As someone who hates driving, I could totally see myself regularly using public transit to go places. I even thought of parking at the Walmart and taking the 22 to the Hub next time I have to go to a baseball game. The bus fare is way cheaper than parking; and you can drink and not worry about driving. By the time you return to your car, you’ve sobered up a bit and it’s just short drive back home. Not that I’m a huge drinker, but it’s an idea.

Of course, I’ve never followed through on this plan because I’m always with Brian and he hates riding the bus with a passion. If I had to go by myself though, I’d totally take the bus. Anyway, what are your thoughts on riding the bus and public transit in general?

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Checking Out the Hub

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Ching under Events, Things to Do.

I managed to convince Brian to check out the Hub, Wichita’s new transit center in Delano, last month. I did have to bribe him with breakfast and coffee first though. Actually, it was more like a trick than a bribe. I suggested we have coffee and breakfast at Pennant because he’d never been there and they have the best ice vanilla latte in town. Brian doesn’t really drink those but I like them. Anyway, afterwards I was like, “While we are here–the new transit center is just around the corner. Wanna go check it out?”

It was a busy Sunday morning at the Pennant.

Brian got a breakfast burrito.

I had a breakfast pizza.

We shared a peanut butter pennant, my favorite breakfast treat.

And, of course, the most important thing–coffee!

Sunday is the best day to check out the Hub because the busses aren’t running. Otherwise, it is super loud in there. When we went on Sunday we got to enjoy the interactive art by Lindsey Kernodle. It’s soo cool.

Here’s a reel I made of Brian and I checking out the Hub after breakfast that morning. I highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t been yet.

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Laurie’s Last Visit to Wichita

Posted on July 17, 2026 by Ching under Food and Drink, Pickleball.

This is a late post but here are some pics from our friend Laurie Adams’ visit to Wichita last month. Laurie came down to play in the IPN mini tournament at TapNPaddles and got partnered with Harvey Self and won first place!

I ended up taking third place with Deanna Agpoon.

Afterwards we stopped by to check out Gilley’s grand opening open play.

Senda Vu and Lena Quach were running the show.

Kyle Rinck happened to be there.

Then we went home to pick up Brian and take him to dinner at my favorite pizza place — Piatto’s.

The pizzas were delicious as always.

Walked over to Hopping Gnome after for drinks so we could get stamps on our Wicked Brew passports. I was on antibiotics and couldn’t drink so I donated my drink to Laurie. Worked out perfectly.

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Champion Social at the Hutchinson YMCA

Posted on July 14, 2026 by Ching under Community, Events.

Just a few pictures from the Greater Wichita YMCA Champion Social last month that was held at the brand new Hutchinson YMCA. We got to tour the facility that Friday before it officially opened to the public the following Monday.