Posted
by Joel Mathis
May 21, 2006 at 3:23 p.m.
The perfect summer
School's out. Summer's here. And while that doesn't make much of a dent in the schedules of those of us out in the work world, this does seem to be a good time to reflect on what would make the perfect Lawrence summer:¢ Attending the [Wakarusa Festival][1]. The stereotype is that Clinton Lake will be filled with sunburned, patchouli-smelling hippies wearing dreadlocks and playing Frisbee golf while some "Grateful Dead"-wannabe band burns through 25-minute-long songs. The stereotype is accurate, for the most part. But, as usual, there's lots of good music for non-hippies at the festival this year - Flaming Lips are headlining, and I have a special place in my heart for Norway's Hurra Torpedo, "the world's leading kitchen appliance rock group," which destroys a stove with a sledgehammer while performing a cover of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart."It's true. I've seen the video, and I can't get their version of the song out of my head. Forever's gonna start tonight. ¢ Taking a [float trip down the Kansas River][2]. I've been eyeing the kayaks at Sunflower Bicycle Shop for a couple of years now, but I haven't actually taken a river trip yet. The idea of meandering down the river, watching the wildlife and chilling out, still holds appeal.¢ [Bicycling down the Kansas River levee][3]. I don't possess the skills to take the off-road trail, but the gravel path at the levee top is perfect for jogging and biking, and is a great way to get away from it all for an hour or two while sticking close to town.¢ Sitting on a [Massachusetts Street][4] bench, watching the world go by. It's just fun to people-watch downtown on a Saturday night. 'Nuff said.¢ Buying sausage biscuits on Saturday mornings at the [Farmers Market][5]. Seriously: The Flory sausage biscuits are about the closest thing to heaven that I know.¢ Viewing a [kickball game][6] in South Park. I've heard tales of hypercompetitiveness on the kickball circuit - but folks, let's remember one thing: It's kickball. If you take it too seriously, you're silly beyond belief. If you play hard, but with tongue in cheek, it's a lot more fun. Especially for those of us on the sidelines.That's just the start. What else makes a good Lawrence summer? [1]: http://www.lawrence.com/events/2006/j... [2]: http://www.lawrence.com/news/2006/apr... [3]: http://www.lawrence.com/news/2006/apr... [4]: http://www.lawrence.com/places/downto... [5]: http://www.lawrence.com/events/ongoing/12565/ [6]: http://www.lawrence.com/news/2003/aug...
and 5 others
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edie_ (anonymous) says…
* Planning an entire summer vacation based on the collection of commerative plates you have gathered from the dumpsters of the senior citizens housing complexes.
* Assuring that you have enough flasks that you can travel pedestrian style with three different kinds of liquor so that at least one blends with whatever soda is available as a mixer at the vending machine in front of the auto shop on East 8th Street.
* Discovering first hand which hotels have a guest clientele that allows you to blend inconspicuously (well, as inconspicuously as you can in a bright aqua swimming costume and cap from grandma) at the swimming pool.
* Getting as far from Lawrence as possible during the Wakarusa Patchouli InFest and escaping to the Windy City to see the Oblivians and Mr. Quintron play at the last annual garage rock festival.
* Using these balmy days and sultry nights to finish writing the spoken word breakdown in that teen tragedy asphalt ballad you've been meaning to complete.
* Developing some Shirley MacLaine and Dick Van Dyke inspired choreography to perform in costume across the street from the Heritage Honky Church singers on Thursday nights downtown.
* summer '06 already rulz!
jacquelined (Jacqueline Davison) says…
I'm really jealous because I have to be in school and can't be in Lawrence this summer.
chrysanthalbee (chrys anthalbee) says…
don't forget the sunday patio shows at the replay for an afternoon delight:
http://www.lawrence.com/blogs/mathis/...
gaiapapaya (anonymous) says…
And the brown bag concerts on Mass.
And the band concerts at South Park.
scary_manilow (anonymous) says…
And eating mushrooms down by the river. And spraying mace on a spare-changing hippie or two. I love the summer time.
mitzibel (Misty Nuckolls) says…
Wow. I wanna have an edie summer, dammit.
CafeSiren (anonymous) says…
Hmmm.... perhaps getting married?
Oh, wait: that's someone else who's doing that in Lawrence this summer.
TheEleventhStephanie (anonymous) says…
Edie--A more appropriate use of the word "honky" I have never seen. Well done.
And Misty--Yes, let's have one. I'm still unemployed.
thetomdotdot (anonymous) says…
I did it. I finally broke down and googled patchouli.
hodgie (anonymous) says…
This summer will be alcohol and cigarette free for me, making it hard to hang out with most of my friends, but this is what I have on tap...
*Avoiding the "Mistake and the Lake" with all my will. Even though I enjoy The Flaming Lips, you can't make me go!
*Attending at least ONE of The Hunts put on by Huntmasters Kitty, Andy, and Matt.
*Attending as many T-bones games as possible.
*Porch-sitting
*Going to see Poison & Cinderella at Sandstone while being 5 months pregnant and looking my trashiest.
*Going to Omaha for the College World Series
*Hopefully, I'll be able to make a weekend trip to Hooker, Oklahoma with my best friends.
*And maybe, finally, going to the Loony Bin Museum in St. Joe.
I'm sure there are more things I've got on tap, but that's all I can think of now...
CafeSiren (anonymous) says…
"Loony bin museum"? Is that the Gore (Glore?) psychiatric museum? If so, then I've been, and it's definitely worth a short trip.