Section A • Page 8
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, September 21, 1998
Funny business back in Lawrence
Downtown toy store Fun and Games, set for reopening sale
Bryce Billings is the new owner of the Fun and Games toy store, 816 Massachusetts St. Fire damage forced the store to close for a year, but the grand opening with its new owner will be this Saturday. Photo by Matt Dauaherty/KANSAN
By Chris Fickett Kansan staff writer
When Bryce Billings saw a businessfor-sale sign on Massachusetts Street, his reaction was all fun and games.
"My brother and I both joked about buying it," he said of the vacant storefront.
After discussing financial issues with his parents, Gwen and Larry, who own the Lawrence Antique Mall, 830 Massachusetts St., Billings stopped joking and purchased the Fun and Games toy store. 816 Massachusetts St.
The sale will include a raffle for everything in the store's display window. Customers can win such items as a picture of dogs playing pool, board games, kites and other assorted novelty toys.
Although Billings reopened the store Aug. 31, the official grand reopening sale will be Saturday.
Fun and Games had been owned by Larry Cornelius for 20 years. It had been closed for one year after damage from a fire next door at Sunflower Outdoor and Bike Shop. Cornelius decided not to reopen the store and sold it to Billings.
It took about one week of cleaning and rummaging through inventory before Billings could open for business — funny business.
"It's the kind of place where you walk in and you're stepping into another world," Billings said. "It's a place to get crazy stuff."
Most of the inventory hangs from the ceiling, protrudes from walls or hangs on shelves.
The store features two giant display cases of stuffed animals and dolls, puzzles, model airplanes and board games.
Fun and Games also has a vast array of costumes and party supplies, including tiki torches and other tropical-theme decorations.
"This is your one-stop luau store," he said.
Billings also pointed out some of the
stranger items in the store.
"There's weird stuff like rubber hearts," he said.
Billings said that Fun and Games could order many items it does not have in stock.
Samuel Copeland, Great Bend junior,
was shopping at Fun and Games for a gift for his girlfriend.
"They've got interesting little trinkets like rock polishers," he said. "They're so simple even intellectuals think they're fun."
Graduate students Kevin Armitage (left), Todd Ormsbee, Kip Curtis, and Mark Frederick review their independent newsletter, The Kaw Valley Independent. Photo by Graham K. Johnson/KANSAN
Alternative publication keeps eye on local issues
By Pallavi Agarwal
Kansan staff writer
After making a profit of $35 last semester, an alternative newspaper published by a group of University of Kansas students is hitting the stands again.
The first fall issue of the Kaw Valley Independent, a semi-weekly community newspaper that deals with local issues and the Lawrence arts scene, will be out tomorrow.
About 8,000 copies will be distributed to 125 destinations in Lawrence everywhere Pitch Weekly, a Kansas City-based newspaper, is found, said Kip Curtis, New York City graduate student and staff member.
The magazine is eclectic, although it leans to the left politically, Curtis said.
"We cover several things from local issues to music and art. We believe that the University and the community are intricately linked," he said. "We also want our newspaper to be an independent voice of the community."
The newspaper was created out of a need to address local issues not covered by other city media, Curtis said.
"Local media like the Kansan and
Lawrence Journal-World do not ask hard questions," he said.
The first fall edition will look at issues of development in Lawrence.
"We want to provide alternative perspectives to what the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce says about progress. For example, we will be looking at development in the west side of the city where real estate agents are making millions by selling farmland." Curtis said.
But the newspaper is not against business. The Independent's financial mainstay has been advertisements from local businesses.
"We love downtown local business. But we draw a line. We will not accept ads from say, Borders." Curtis said.
Last semester, the group invested $4,000 in the paper, largely obtained through advertising. But money is a perennial headache, said Randall Statler, Kansas City, Kan., senior and staff member.
"Even though people compliment us for our work, nobody wants to invest in the paper," he said.
Statler, who handles graphic art , said his portfolio is building slowly with his work for the paper.