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FEATURE
24 HOURS OF LAWRENCE
A JOURNEY THROUGH THE TOWN AT ALL HOURS
// WORDS BY ZACH GETZ
// PHOTOS BY RYAN WAGGONER
12:00 P.M., LOCAL BURGER, 714 VERMONT ST.
I'm sitting in Local Burger chewing my elk burger and washing it down with organic wine while I think of the day ahead of me.
It's the Friday of fall break, and I am trying to go out in Lawrence for 24 hours straight. I've spent many long nights out and have had many allnighters, but I want to push the limits of my body and see if I can go out for a whole day straight.
I finish the burger. Very little flavor, but it definitely tastes healthy. The wine is good, though. I sit at a window seat to get a good view of outside while I finish my wine. I'm a little self-conscience because I am wearing a grey hoody and a beanie. I don't look the type to be sipping wine at noon at a burger joint. I get over it quickly.
It's now very cloudy, threatening to rain. Funny because it was sunny at 11:59 a.m. The moment I start my little experiment the clouds roll in. I take it as a bad omen and an overcome with fear that this day will suck. I continue anyway.
12:30 P.M. ARIZONA TRADING CO.
736 MASSACHUSETTS ST.
I've been wanting a vintage-style coat, so I try my luck at Arizona Trading Co. I'm quickly taken with a brown corduroy peacoat with lining like a crappy 1970s couch. It's a good price, too — $17.50.
I sift the store's collection of T-shirts but find nothing I like, so I go back to the jacket and model it again in the mirror. Still unsure, I ask some girls who are shopping. They say it doesn't accentuate my ass. I decide my ass doesn't need accentuating and buy the coat anyway.
1:05 P.M., SPENCER MUSEUM OF ART,
1:011 MISSISIPPIST.
It's still early and there's not much to do, so I go to take a gander at some of the exhibits at the Spencer. I walk in to see the Graphic Imperative exhibit in the central court, which is displaying propaganda-like posters.
The exhibit has posters about rape, war, religion and the Holocaust. I find it a little disturbing that they've set up a place where children can draw their own propaganda posters. One child draws a 'no' symbol around what looks like a penis, but maybe it's just a hot dog. I quickly turn away from whatever it is and move on.
2:03 P.M., NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM,
1345 JAYHAWK BLVD.
I used to walk past Dyche Hall all the time never knowing there was a museum inside. Though the museum is small, it has a few interesting things; dinosaur bones found in Kansas come to mind.
I'm crushed to discover that my favorite exhibit — one that shows the inside of a beehive — is closed because all the bees died of nosema apis, some sort of horrible bee parasite. I make my way through the museum and have a stare-down with a rattlesnake. Luckily the snake is behind glass.
2:53 P.M., SOUTH PARK,
11TH AND MASSACHUSETTS STREETS
Needling to burn a little time before my girlfriend, Laura, gets off work, I head to South Park. I get some entertainment from a few gothy high school kids playing with a pink sombrero in the gazebo while I sit and read Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five to past the time.
3:56 P.M., THE REPLAY LOUNGE,
946 MASSACHUSETTS ST.
Getting cold, I start walking to find a coffee shop. I get detoured on the way when I remember the Replay has free pinball going on. I duck inside and grab a can of PBR and play Indiana Jones and Ripley's Believe it or Not pinball.
It's been a while since I've last played, and I've forgotten how great it is to properly navigate a multi-ball, when five balls start coming at you at once. I leave after what seems like 15 games.
5:03 P.M., LA PARRILLA,
814 MASSACHUSETTS ST.
I pick up Laura and we go to La Parrilla to get some grub. I get the enchilada ranchera and Laura gets the enchilada suiza. Mine is good but hers has some sort of white sauce and is much better. The grass is always greener with me, though.
We also order a pitcher of lime margaritas that never seems to end. We have a window seat and relax and people watch while we drink.
6:56 P.M., THE WHEEL, 507 W. 14TH ST.
Laura and I try to rock out Jaybowl, the bowling alley on campus, but it's closed for the break. Lame. I also toy with the idea of a tattoo, but Laura puts her foot down. We go to The Wheel instead to try and catch Late Night in the Phog on TV.
We walk in and it's old people galore. With students gone for fall break and a class reunion of 1985 or something going on, it's wall-to-wall old guys trying to relive their youth. There are only two women other than my girlfriend there, making me wonder where all these guys' wives are.
We each order a way-too-expensive can of beer, and to my dismay. The Wheel is airing baseball. We finish our beers and get the hell out of there.
7:47 P.M., HENRY'S ON EIGHTH,
11 E. EIGHTH ST.
We go to Henry's to grab a drink and hopefully some coffee later on. I order a double whiskey and diet and Laura gets a double vodka and cranberry. Drinks are too strong and almost painful to take sips from.
We sit by the window again while nursing our drinks. I love being a voyeur from the comfort of
indoors. We finish our drinks and I buy a coffee to-go because I can tell it's going to be a long night.
9:27 P.M., I-BAR, 945 MASSACHUSETTS ST.
The plan is to see Cowboy Indian Bear, one of my favorite local bands, at the Jackpot. Because it's still a little early, we head next door to I-Bar. I've never been here before, but it is pretty nice. We are the only customers in the bar, but it may be closing for the night soon.
I order a couple of bottles of Boulevard Wheat and the bartender doesn't take my tip. I offer again and he refuses. I find it a little strange but I don't argue.
We walk toward the plush leather couches in the back, and I spill beer all over myself as I plop down way too hard. I have an inebriated laugh at myself while Laura rolls her eyes.
10:32 P.M., JACKPOT MUSIC HALL,
943 MASSACHUSETTS ST.
Yes! A crowd. I easily see more people here then I have all night. It's a nice change. I grab a couple of "whatever's cheapest" from the bar and relax on a bench up front.
I see Marty Hillard and Beau Bruns of Cowboy Indian Bear and give them a quick, "Hey, how's it going?" I try to convince Marty to let me introduce the band on stage, but he would have none of that.
Cowboy Indian Bear comes on and plays their usual good set of poppy music. They have a guest singer on a few songs, which is a nice addition.
Around the time the band comes on I decide to cut myself off. When I need to lean against a speaker to keep my balance, I figure it's time to stop. I still have 12 hours to go, and I've been drunk-texting random people. Cell phones should have breathalyzers.
Jabbering at the Jackpot: Jayplay writer Zach Getz (left) chats with Marty Hillard of local band Cowboy Indian Bear. The band played the Jackpot Music Hall the night of '24-hour run through Lawrence.
12:00 p.m.
12:30 p.m.
1:05 p.m.
2:03 p.m.
2:53 p.m.
3:56 p.m.
5:03 p.m.
6:56 p.m.
7:47 p.m.
9:27 p.m.
0:32 p.m.
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