Archive for "Things to Do"
2024 Wichita Wicked Brew Tour
Posted on June 28, 2024 by Ching under Things to Do.
The Wicked Brew tour is one of the drink tours that Brian and I most look forward to doing every summer. We usually start at Wichita Brewing Co. but this year we started it at River City Brewery in Old Town.
Stop #1 – River City Brewing Co.
We really like the pizzas at RCB but we also got to try something new this time – pork belly lettuce wraps. They were amazing! In fact, I’m thinking we should go back there soon before it comes off the menu.
Stop #2 – Cocoa Dolce
Instead of having dessert at RCB, we drove down the street to Cocoa Dolce to pick up our second stamps of the tour.
Stop #3 – Mokas Cafe
I managed to talk Brian into driving me to Riverside Tennis Center for the iPickle Nation Nation Builder Series round robin mini tournament on one Sunday morning so we stopped by Mokas on the way and picked up our third stamps.
Stop #4 – Pennant Coffee
My friend Chris Townley and I went one morning. I had to buy two iced vanilla lattes in order to get two stamps because I didn’t want Brian’s book to fall behind.
Stop #5 – The COOP
I once again went with my friend Chris. Neither of us had been to the COOP before so it was neat checking out a new place. I’ll create a separate post about the COOP because I took a bunch of photos. First time there, and all. Anyway, I got an iced vanilla latte and a caffe shakerato – two iced drinks so that I could get two stamps and keep Brian’s book on track.
Stop #6 – The Depot
Brian and I only cook our Hello Fresh dinners during the week so we can eat out on weekends. On this particular night, we decided to hit the Depot (formerly PourHouse ICT) so we could continue to get Wicked Brew tour stamps. He had a warbeard (his favorite beer from Walnut River) and I had a strawberry summer brew (which counts because it does have beer in it).
Stop #7 – Il Primo Espresso Caffe
Brian picked up some breakfast burritos (we love theirs), a plain black coffee for him, and an ice vanilla latte for me. I’m not sure if their remodel is complete at this point but Brian went right when they first reopened their lobby. Everything was still very much under construction.
Stop #8 – Wichita Brewing Co.
WBC is always one of our tour stops. Usually it’s our first stop. We ended up going towards the end of our tour this year.
Not only do they have good pizzas but they also have great daily specials.
Stop #9A – Nortons Brewing Company
We had to visit a couple of places for #9 because Brian didn’t feel like drinking when we went to Nortons. He was on some special meds and didn’t want to mess it up. I was fully intending to take one for the team and drink a couple of beers but their beers are strong and I could not have another after my first one.
Stop #9B – Fairmount Coffee Co.
I decided to grab an iced brown sugar latte from Fairmount Coffee one morning to get Brian’s book caught up with mine. I had never been there before so I took advantage of the opportunity to check out a new coffee spot. The shop is super cute and made me wish it was around when I was attending Wichita State.
Stop #10 – Reverie Coffee Roasters
Reverie was our final stop this year. We went there for breakfast on our way out of town to Nebraska. Looking back (at this year and previous years), I guess I always end up doing most of the drinking whenever we do these tours. Brian enjoys getting the free shirt, though. Actually, it’s something that we both look forward to doing every year. I’ve even gotten my friend Chris doing it with us too. He was on vacation in the UK recently so he just finished his book this past week. Just in the nick of time too. The guy at the Visit Wichita office said they are about a week and a half away from running out of shirts. Until next year! #SaveTheDate
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Mani and Pedi with Chris
Posted on April 29, 2024 by Ching under Things to Do.
We managed to get Chris Townley to join us for manis and pedis at Nails & Beyond a couple of weeks ago. It’s crazy to think that my friend Misty Miller introduced us to this place over 15 years ago and we are still going there long after she has stopped. Since then I’ve known some other friends who are regulars. There is nowhere else in Wichita that you can get nails done for such a reasonable price.
Nails & Beyond
6110 W Central Ave
Wichita, KS 67212
(316) 944-0187
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Debbie’s Retirement Celebration at Top Golf
Posted on April 22, 2024 by Ching under Things to Do.
We had a great time celebrating Debbie Osborn’s retirement at Top Golf last week. Here are some pics.
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10 Years as a Rotarian
Posted on April 21, 2024 by Ching under Community, Things to Do.
This year marks my 10th year as a Rotarian. I joined in 2014 when I was looking to be more involved in the community. At the time my office was located at Douglas and Broadway so I was originally looking at the Rotary Club of Wichita which meets on Mondays at Botanica. However, they already had 400 members (and a few from my company) so my joining wasn’t likely to make much of a difference.
Living in Southeast Wichita, I was close to the Andover branch of the Greater Wichita YMCA so I was working there as a group fitness instructor in my off time. I also had a coworker David Austin, who was a member of the Rotary Club of Andover, and he invited me to visit. It was a small club consisting of only twenty or so members. Anyway, I ended up joining the Andover club because I felt like I would make much more of an impact there.
For such a small club, the Andover Rotary does a lot. We’ve contributed to so many things in the Andover community and internationally. We’ve also partnered with other Rotary clubs in the Wichita area on several initiatives. You can find out more about our club’s current and past projects here
Last month we sponsored food packing at Christ Church – East in partnership with the Outreach Program. Club members, along with volunteers from the church, Boy Scouts of America, and National Honors Society, participated in this community service project. The boxes of food packaged were donated to the Andover Community Food Pantry, Butler Community College Food Pantry, and Christ Church’s own ministry with North High School.
Last week Rotary Club of Andover school mini grant recipients for the 2023-2024 school year (five teachers from the Andover school district along with their students) presented their community service projects to the club.
I am so grateful to be part of a club that makes an impact in our community both directly (through our own community service projects) and indirectly by supporting and funding the projects of others. The school mini grant program is particularly meaningful because it encourages our youth to get involved in their community.
If you would like to learn more about our club, and/or support our projects and initiatives, we have a fundraising event next month at Crestview Country Club. It’s our annual team pickleball tournament. Spectator tickets (which cover lunch and drinks) are available for purchase here. We will also be raffling off some awesome prizes at the event. I hope you can make it.
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Newbie Night at Chicken N Pickle
Posted on March 25, 2024 by Ching under Pickleball, Things to Do.
I’m on a mission to get all of my friends.. Scratch that. I’m on a mission to get every single person I meet into pickleball. Recently, I met a couple of friends (Jarrica Briedenthal, a friend from Zumba, and Teresa Winfield, an former coworker) at Chicken N Pickle for Newbie Night.
Me and Jarrica
Me and Teresa
Michael Harris, director of pickleball at our Chicken N Pickle in Wichita, did a wonderful job of leading the session.
Newbie Nights are a great way to introduce friends to pickleball because of the fun casual environment. Besides that, they also provide all the equipment so you don’t even have to have your own paddle. Most people who are eager to get into the sport have already bought a starter set from Amazon and usually show up with their own paddles but it is not required.
I remember dragging mom and dad, and even some of my Leadership Wichita classmates, to a Newbie Night a couple of years ago when they were first getting into pickleball also. Anyway, if you would like to check it out, the next one is on Tuesday, April 16.
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