The Thompson Family Short List of Topeka Favorites
I received a wonderful surprise in my mailbox on Friday when I got home from work. I received a letter from Fred and Sherry Thompson, whom I had the opportunity to meet and visit with at last weekends TransformTopeka potluck dinner/gathering. They said that over the years they have found many wonderful things in Topeka. Along with a letter, Sherry sent me a list of their favorite things in Topeka and I want to take a moment to share those with everyone (these are in no particular order).
- We live here!
- Monthly Art Walks - 19 galleries and counting
- Festivals, Festivals, Festivals - Cider, Apple, Indian, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, German, Sunflower Music, Coleman-Hawkins, Prairie Fest at the Villages, Celebration of Cultures, Festival of Trees, Mexican Fiesta, Exodusters (Juneteeth)
- Railroad Days
- Christmas Home Tours - especially Holiday Park’s (Their vision and intentional move into the city center is so uplifting!). Also, Potwin Area with Christmas lights.
- City/County Library - with classes (especially the free computer classes), Annual Library Book Sale, and free movies & great gallery
- KS State Capital/Tours
- KS State History Museum - Reenactments, Children’s Hands-On Place, Picnic Area & Trails, School House
- Warde Meade - Prairie Town and Arboretum and Park
- Walking/Biking Trails - Shuga, Doren Wood (East of Highland Park = a woods within the city)
- Parks in General - Frisbee golf, skate park in one/BMX in another, Gage Park train, Rose Garden, Bark Park
- Swimming Pools
- Tennis Courts
- Great Overland Station & Veteran’s memorial
- Gem and Mineral Show
- Wood Carvers Show
- Center for Historical Research
- Charles Curtis House Museum
- Brown vs. Board of Education Historic Site
- Pretty downtown - beginnings of apartments being occupied
- Volkssport Association
- Combat Air Museum at Forbes Field - “Starbase” for schools - 5 day classes that National Guard teaches to introduce kids to a fun way to learn about math, science, and technology (connect with Judy Jones at McEachron Elementary to learn more).
- Lake Shawnee - picnic, swimming, campground, Volunteer Flower “Jewel” = Ensley Gardens
- Frito-Lay tours
- North Topeka Business Group - annual celebration
- Best Rescue Mission - people from all over the U.S. come here to see it (they’re amazed at the local support given).
- Washburn University - beautiful campus, interesting & thought provoking plays, great museum/art gallery
- Annual Art Fair (on WU campus)
- KS Expocentre - concerts, shows, 4-H fair
- Some pretty good public/private schools with hardworking teachers who spend enormous hours trying to make school fun and enjoyable in the face of No Child Left Behind.
- Hummer Sports Complex - state of the art sports park for USD #501
- Sports Zone - indoor soccer
- Community Centers
- Topeka Civic Theatre and Acadamy
- Helen Hocker Theatre for Youth Musicals
- Friendly Churches/Temples/Mosques - offer classes, free auto care for single mothers, divorce care, daycare, etc
- First Presbyterian Church’s Tiffany Windows
- Topeka High School - architecture, diversity, plays, musicals, tours
- Topeka Zoo - animal classes
- Kansas Lavendar - Agro Tourism !!! (12021 NW 13th, - 15)
- Farmer’s Market - weekly, convenient, fun!
- Heartland Raceway
- Topeka Auto Show
- Airport - restaurant to watch planes come in and go out
- Great Restaurants! - of all type/taste
- Cheap $2.00 Movie Theatre
- Some great Antique/Thrift Stores
- Positive Mayor
- Governor’s Mansion & Walking Trail
- Westridge Mall let’s people walk their halls for exercise!
- Hidden away gift shops (with unusual gifts) - St. Francis Gfot Shop, Topeka Public Library, KS Museum
- Annual Home Tours - Every Women’s Resource Designer’s Showcase, Contractors, Yard and Garden, etc
- Pretty Neighborhoods & good local businesses!
Sherry said creating this list was a great trip down memory lane for her. I am sharing her list to allow her thoughts to be shared in her words. Sherry, Frank, and all those who were at the Potluck last week, thank you again and please continue to share what you think makes Topeka a great place to live and work!
Last 5 posts in Topeka Entertainment
- Enjoy a Night on the Town - STOMP - December 9th, 2008
- New Downtown Bar - December 1st, 2008
- What is TransformTopeka about? - October 27th, 2008
- Topeka can still bring in some talent - October 1st, 2008
- Shanae Gooden
- October 19th, 2008
- Topeka Entertainment
- downtown topeka, topeka, Topeka Entertainment
Virginia Schmelzle
October 31st, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I have lived in this town since the early 80’s. I came here after graduating from Cloud County Coummity College in Concordia Kansas.
I enjoy working with very young children in Topeka. It is great to see some of these adults now that I had as children in diapers.
I like belonging to Capital Area Providers which is an organization of Providers helping Providers. We meet monthly 7-9 p.m on the 3rd Monday of the month and we have speakers that are approved through Kansas Department of Health and Environment. We are able to receive In-Service Hours which we all need to continue to have a license to provide child care in our homes. I like belonging to CCPC of Kansas it is the State Organization of Family Child Care Providers. ( Which I might add will have their state conference in Topeka the last Friday and Saturday of April 2009).
I like being able to network with other providers through our Resource and Referral Agency which is ERC. I have had the honor of meeting the staff of ERC. The staff help make our jobs as a family childcare providers much easier. If we are having issues with children or parents they are there to send us information to read and to pass on to our parents. I have taken a class called Cousious Discipline it has helped me work with my children and their families.This is a teaching tool that I would not have received with out the guidance of ERC and with out them having their office in TOPEKA. ERC sponored a Capital City Learn and Share which was in Topeka in September. Again an opportunity to receive In Service Hours. It is nice that this agency is in Topeka.
I am thankful for our church University United Methodist Church.
These are some of the things I like about Topeka.