Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, November 30, 1998
Weary KU students venture out to Topeka's pub scene
Andrea Stewart Special to the Kansan
When looking for wildlife in Topeka, University of Kansas students don't have to visit the zoo — they can just hit the local bars.
The Mad Squirrel, Jeremiah Bullfrogs and The Dutch Goose are just a few of the city's hangouts frequented by KU students.
Cory Sunderman, who has worked at The Dutch Goose since its opening, said there was a noticeable difference between Topeka's nightlife and what existed in other cities.
"Lawrence is a college town," Sunderman said. "Topeka is the capitol. Kansas City is different because there are a lot more people, and there is a lot more culture."
Despite the popularity of the eastern cities, Topeka still attracts a variety of bar enthusiasts, Sunderman said. Between 3 and 9 p.m., bars cater to blue-collar workers just off work.
After 9 p.m., the bulk of the crowd includes local college students and some from Lawrence and Emporia.
Tyler Gill, Topeka senior, said he visits places such as Quincy Magoo's or the country dance club Remington's when he travels home for the holidays.
Mitch Bradbury, Topeka senior, sald he enjoys the informal nature of Topeka's bars.
"The cool thing is you don't have to feel like you have to dress up." Bradbury said. "You can just go have a beer."
Megan Walker, a former KU student who now is in the nursing program at Washburn University, said the two cities are not miles apart geographically they are miles apart in culture.
"It is not as much of a meat market as Lawrence," Walker said. "There is not the social atmosphere. It is mostly just groups of people hanging out with friends."
Walker said the age group at
"The cool thing is you don't have to feel like you have to dress up. You can just go have a beer."
Mitch Bradbury
Topeka senior
bars in Topeka ranges from 21 to 30.
The Dutch Goose, a sports bar known for its 20 televisions, has some competition around town. Sunderman described a T-shirt hanging just above the entrance that survived some of the not-so-friendly competition.
"Some people from (Jeremiah) Bullfrogs walked in and bought a T-shirt," Sunderman said. "They burned it and messed it up with catsup and mustard and then wrote 'Bullfrogs Rules' on it. When they returned it, we took it, washed it and framed it."
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Kelly's Westport Inn, located at Westport Road at Pennsylvania Ave. in Kansas City, Mo., is the oldest building in Kansas City. The structure was built in 1837. Photo by Kate Levenson/KANSAN
Westport bars offer variety, barrels of fun, cheap drinks
Atmosphere one attraction to patrons
By Melissa Russo Special to the Kansan
Students venturing out on the weekends seeking to spice up their night life have a variety of places to choose from in Westport.
Dancing, cheap drinks and no cover charges are just a few of the glimmicks used to draw the 21-and-older crowd to Kansas City.
America's Pub, 510 Westport Road, offers dancing and a live disc jockey on the weekends. Chris Peirson, manager, thinks this atmosphere is what attracts a voucher crowd.
"We try to keep the mood in the club light," he said. "Like it's a giant party."
Jessica Shelley, Overland Park senior. eniovs Kelly's.
Matt Weiner, pub bartender,
enjoys working the weekends
when there is a bigger crowd.
A wall full of lingerie can attest to the singles appeal of the bar.
“It's fun because it's something different to do, rather than staying in Lawrence and going to the same places,” she said.
Employee Michael Casey
"There is a lot of action on Saturday nights," he said. "It's a good bar."
Another way for patrons to receive free drinks is to participate in games on the dance floor. Games, such as musical chairs or ducks races, are played on the weekends.
"Women give us their lingerie when they run out of money so they can get free drinks," Weiner said. "Elizabeth, our only female bartender, won't take underwear from men or women."
For students who don't enjoy dancing, Kelly's Westport Inn, 500 Westport Road, offers a college sports bar atmosphere.
"Women give us their lingerie when they run out of money so they can get free drinks."
Matt Weiner America's Pub bartender
thinks that the bar's fame is what keeps the crowds coming.
"The history and tradition behind the bar is important," he said. "This is the oldest building and oldest bar in Kansas City."
At Mill Creek Brewery and Restaurant, 4050 Pennsylvania Street, drink specials are offered. On weekends, the brewery offers $1.50 beers after midnight and food specials. The bar also has dart boards, pool tables and foozball for people looking for fun and games.
Jerry Arnold, Mill Creek manager, said that the appeal of the bar mainly was its ambiance
and drink prices.
"The appeal to college students would be the casual atmosphere," he said. "We really have an eclectic group — meaning younger and older people — a real rounded-out crowd."
Stanford and Sons Restaurant, 504 Westport Road, offers a combination of a bar and restaurant on the lower level with a comedy club upstairs. Stanford's comedy club has performances throughout the week. The restaurant is open until 11p.m. After that, they have a live DJ playing music. This combination can offset the monotony of the bar scene.
GIGI Gallinger, Kearney, Mo,
senior, likes the variety.
"I went to Westport when I turned 21 to see what it was like," she said. "But I didn't really care for it. It just wasn't an overly comfortable atmosphere. But I enjoyed the comedy house because it was different than the bar part of it."
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