OUT AND ABOUT: LAWRENCE, KANSAS

A few weeks ago, we went to see Griffin House play at The Bottleneck in Lawrence, Kansas. It was in the middle of the week, and while I usually hate doing things on week nights, for this I made an exception.

While Lawrence may best be known for its role in the Civil War, for me it will always be the place I spent my formative college years at the University of Kansas (KU).  I have so many wonderful memories of this place, especially of Mass. street, the main street of town that harbors independent shops and bars in the old buildings from the 1800s.  There's just so much character and history.  I've tried to persuade Wade more than once to move here.  Maybe one day I'll convince him.

We got into town a few hours before the concert so that we could grab a few drinks at my absolutely most favorite bar in the whole entire world--The Sandbar.

I've always had an affinity for the ocean and an island styled life, but I'd say that this bar really made this love 100 times greater.  When you walk in there you immediately feel like you're at a little dive bar right by the ocean.  The music comes from a jukebox that only plays Jimmy Buffett and some good old classics.  It's totally based on the patron's selections, so the first thing we usually do when we go there is stick a few bucks in the jukebox and pick out our favorite tunes.  Over the past 10 years they haven't changed the music choices, and I like it that way.

As we wait for our songs to come on, we enjoy one of their many tropical drinks.  My favorite is the Shark Attack. It's a blue concoction that is served with a plastic shark with grenadine in it.  So when you pour the grenadine out of the shark's mouth into the drink it looks like blood trickling into the ocean water.  And the best part is that you get to keep the shark! I have quite a few around the house.  The other drinks come with similar "prizes".  Who doesn't love a toy with their drink?

We weren't there late enough to enjoy the "Hurricane", which is a reenactment of a hurricane using a bubble machine and lots of fans.  I have so many vivid memories of this place.  From my best friend Kate and I dressing up like mermaids and dancing on the bar to walking home with my purse stuffed with plastic sharks and beaded necklaces.  Evidence of a night well spent.  If you're ever in the area, this place is a must stop.  I managed to dig out this old picture of Kate and me on the bar.  I think it was her 21st birthday.  We had just gotten spray on tans and were feeling really good.  I laugh at this picture now, because I bought this skirt in the swimsuit cover-up section of Kohl's, so not sure how appropriate it was to wear as everyday attire.  Oh, well.  The things you get away with when you're young.  **Special note: When I say "dancing on the bar", I in no way mean Coyote Ugly type of dancing.  We definitely did not have the skills for that.  This was more G-rated interpretive dancing to songs like "Car Wash".  If you ever go there, you'll see how tame it is.

After reliving old memories, it was time to head over to the concert.  We had seen Griffin House play a few years before when he opened for the The Cranberries, and I immediately loved him.  He's got a folksy, soulful sound and all he needs is a guitar.

The concert was awesome, and we even got to meet Griffin after the show.  I bought a record from him and had him sign it for me: "Have a great summer, Kari. Never change."  Wade wondered why I chose that.  I thought it was funny since it sounded like what he would have written to me in my high school yearbook.

So HAGS everybody!