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The University Daily Kansan > Jayplay > March 30, 2000
Kansas, K-State break even in culture comparison
Lawrence's Massachusetts Street versus Manhattan's Aggieville — a bitter battle of Kansas' college cultural centers. Business Diversity: KU wins
Jerry Bottenfield, executive director of Downtown Lawrence Inc., said that one of the strengths of the Massachusetts Street area was the diversity of businesses.
"We have retail establishments and a strong mix of professional offices, bars and restaurants as opposed to Aggieville, which is primarily bars and restaurants," he said.
He said that a key to the longevity and success of downtown Lawrence was keeping the retail and professional businesses in balance with restaurants and bars.
"When the businesses close their doors for the day, people are showing up for the night life." Button said.
Silverado Bar,
531 N. Manhattan
St., in Manhattan,
serves students,
locals and military
personal Tuesday
through Saturday.
Photo Jamie Roper
nightlife, Bottenfield said. think that's a healthy mix."
Sarah Cretors, Lenexa senior, said she likes going out in Lawrence because there are a lot of different bars to go to. Joey Podrebarac, K-State
sophomore, said there were pluses and minuses to the diversity of Lawrence.
"You can't beat dollar pitchers at the Granada, although the guy's restroom left a more lasting impression," he said. "There are fewer cowboys in Lawrence, which is good. There are also more guys who may try to pick up on me, which is not good." Bar Diversity: KSU wins
Cheryl Sieben, executive director of Aggieville Business Association, said that a lot of the diversity on Massachusetts Street could be attributed to the fact that the area is larger than Aggieville.
"We're both probably unique in our own way," Sieben said. "We both offer the same types of things. You just have more space to do a greater number of things."
Kimm Eilenberger, K-State senior, said Aggieville had a good mix of bars that were known for either live music sports or dancing.
Mark Toepfer, K-State senior, said he goes to a lot of different bars: 12th Street for the Greek scene and occasional live music; Joe's for a mixed crowd; Lucky's to bust a move; and Scoreboards to play
pool and get cheap eats
"On Wednesdays and Thursdays there are dollar drinks, dollar burgers and pool." Toepfer said. "I run the table. I'm known as the pool shark there."
He said the weekend starts on Wednesday night for most K-State students and gets bigger on Friday and Saturday nights.
To break up the monotony in Manhattan, Toepfer said that he and three friends had started the Mullet Club after a hair-style popular in the '80s. He said that they had shaped wigs into the short-in-front, long-in-back hairstyle.
"People love it," Toepfer said. "We're just out there to educate the people." Toepfer said there were only four people who were officially in the club, but they were constantly recruiting. They are looking to get a sponsorship from NASCAR or the World Wrestling Federation whose members have similar haircuts
Access and Barhoppability: KSU wins Fermin Santos, Shawnee senior, said he thought that bars at K-State were better.
"We have friends there, and you can walk back home so you don't really need a designated driver," Santos said.
Cretors said she didn't go to Lawrence's downtown area much anymore because she lived farther away from the area than she used to.
Toepefer said that the best thing about Aggieville was that all of the bars were in one area.
"No matter what kind of bar you want to go, it's all in one area," Toepfer said. "KU is kind of similar down on Mass., but it seems farther away from campus."
Eilenberger liked the downtown stores and Lawrence's diverse population. However, it was harder to bar hop and not as safe as in Aggieville, she said.
"Whether it be Chance, Lucky's, Tula's or anywhere, no one stays in one spot." Podrebarac said. "Part of the fun is walking from one to another." Shopping: KU wins
Shopping: KU wins In Aggieville's four-block district, there are about 100 businesses, including tanning salons and a movie theater. National
Monday nights at the Free State Brewery. 636 Massachusetts St. Lawrence, attract beer drinkers by the hundreds with its $1.25 pints of handcrafted brew.
Photo by Jame Roper/KANSAN
chains such as Dillard's or JC Penney are located at the local mall.
Lawrence's five-block downtown area features 130 businesses, including national chains such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap and Borders.
"Downtown Lawrence offers a lot more in the way of shopping," Eilenberger said. "That's what I like best about the downtown."
Podrebarac said he preferred shopping in Lawrence, but after sundown, he would rather be in Aggieville because it was more down-to-earth. Friendliness: KSU wins
Toepfer said he hadn't been to Lawrence for a while but liked to visit once or twice a semester for a change of scenery.
"Personally, I think the people at K-State are more friendly and more accepting of strangers," Toepfer said. "When I go out there, it seems to be a major Johnson County scene. Here, it's more diverse."
Under 21 scene: KU wins
Aggieville has two 18-and-older bars, while the Massachusetts Street area has at least three times that amount. Podrebarac also said he didn't have a favorite bar in Aggieville, but he preferred the 21-and-older crowd and the sports-bar atmosphere. Duncan Murphy, K-State sophomore, said that Aggieville would be great if there were more places to go.
"There's nothing really other than the bars," Murphy said. "It would be great if there were places for underaged people to go." Final score: It's a tie.
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