I left Friday for a drive 178 miles south of where I actually wanted to go…
So I mentally adjust my attitude to, “Hey, it’ll be time away with the girl” and that’s always nice given the rush of life.
But why did it have to be Wichita?
My first head scratching moment came when I reserved our suite at the “Marriott WaterWalk.” It was River Fest weekend and the town was booked solid. I asked for a suite facing the water, only to be told the property wasn’t on the water. You can’t even see the water. Now, I don’t have Hearne’s brainpower or Craig’s tenacity, but what would the name “WaterWalk” insinuate to you?
I’ve been to the River Walk in San Antonio. You know what they have? A river.
We arrived, checked in and headed to the rehearsal dinner in Andover.
Moment No. 2 came when I experienced a “loafer” for the first time. Not the shoe but an Italian style loaf of bread, stuffed with your choice of meats, cheese and veggies, then baked. It’s then sliced into inch-wide, five inch long bites of culinary education.
Apparently, it’s a really big deal – you know, in Wichita
Zigzagging across this sad town, I began to notice a trend. I’ve seen this in KC, but one pickup after another had a last name emblazoned across its back window, a memorial message commemorating a dead loved one, or a mural. In one case, it was a mural of the very truck it was painted on with the presumed driver taking a siesta under a palm tree.
That said, I saw no palm trees in Wichita.
Which went well with the WaterWalk with no water.
And hey, I’m not talking about a truck here and a truck there. We’re talking truck after truck after truck. With the required subject matter of the murals seeming to range from the Virgin Mary to Jesus to various senoritas, cartoon characters or horse and cowboy scenes. But if by chance one didn’t want to go the full mural route, an absolute must was their last name…in Olde English in a 1,000 point font on a crescent shape that covers the entire back window.
Where did this start and why is it so universal within the Wichita culture?
Is it some sort of secret communication, like rainbows for the gay crowd that says, “Hey, I’m Mexican, too?” Or does it signal, “I’m one of you, steal someone else’s truck? ”
I have no idea where this came from. Historically, Mexican murals have played a huge role in the art world, retelling stories and preserving history. Is it a tip of the hat to that tradition?
Good ‘mericans don’t do this.
We have other lame ways to express our individuality. We invented vanity plates so for an extra 50 bucks you get a license plate for your 2010 Lexus that says “10LEXUS.” Or “MYVETTE” for Craig’s Lotus.
And then are were the rolling back window memorials to dead loved ones.
Mexican culture seem embraces death; they even have a Day of the Dead holiday! “Death is present in our fiestas, our games, our loves and our thoughts,” wrote Octavio Paz in his 1950 classic The Labyrinth of Solitude. “To die and to kill are ideas that rarely leave us. We are seduced by death.”
I came across a fair number of workers from South of the border down Wichita way. Seems in their culture, a man’s prowess is measured by the number of children he sires, the volume of cervazas and senoritas he can consume simultaneously, and his car.
Or maybe it’s the visual display of all those values placed on what he values most, the back window of his pickup.
A commitment-less Sunday paid us back for the previous day and a half in Wichita
It started with the most incredible breakfast ever at the Doo-Dah Diner. Opened in 2012 by Patrick and Timirie Shibley, this is a don’t miss foodie option if you’re in town.
At the behest of a friend who said the Flint Hills are a must see, we followed Supertramp’s suggestion and took the long way home. We turned a simple two and a half hour trip back into six, taking in what has to be the most beautiful parts of Kansas.
Happy Monday, people; it’s a relief to be back in the office.
Back in the days of Crime Scene KC, James Hart had a very well-used lede……’Something Awful Happened in Wichita’.
No shortage of weird news there!
Lib, you are correct. Dated a girl down there post divorce. She told some wild stories about Koch, how untouchable their execs were, with bonuses distributed to local boutiques and jewelry stores for the “Koch Wives!” The stores knew what was allocated before the “wives” did. Apparently they’d all flock the high end stores and check with their shopping assistant to see what their “allowance” was.
Odd little town…
nice article….ad Wichita is the truck capital of the world outside every town in texas!
wichita is indeed different. spent quite a bit of time down there for work. but, you could do worse.
couldn’t tell if the bit about the Flint Hills had your sarcasm font on, but it is a nice scenic drive. there’s a lookout point north of 1-70 as you head into manhattan on 177. from there you can look west and can see just how damn flat ks is.
miket, actually no font used! Like I said, we took the old highway up through the little towns, hit a couple galleries, ate some food, it was a gorgeous drive!
Doo-Dah, Doo-Dah.
Zippity….
Good piece, Paul. I’m a fan of alliterations in the title so you had me at hello. Glad to see you back at KCC. Don’t be a stranger. I guess we ran off Rich Steele, or maybe HC couldn’t afford him. We need your critical insight.
Thanks, Stomp! Hearne gave me a raise if I’d write more often, given my schedule. I think that came out of Rich’s bucket.
What did you order at the diner?
I love small town restaurants.
Oh my gosh, have you looked at their menu?! I nearly drowned myself. One of everything, please.
Also a lot of press there about another very popular and creative restauranter who was recently murdered.
Gayle, I DID look at the menu; it’s world class comfort food and I’ve never been to a better diner!
And, Wichita has had some foodie crime of late.
Also, the hipster joint seems to be the Donut Whole. Went there Saturday morning; jam packed! “Organic” donuts, all cake style, a hundred flavors all done with the icing, still plain cake donut.
Chuck, we actually split the Triple D; a sampler of their best items.
The Blonde pointed out bread pudding, of which I’m an aficionado. Number one was a breakfast joint in Honolulu, second, Avalon up in Weston. This ties them both!
We were about done when she heard the word “crab cake” ordered up, so she got one as well. Equally outstanding. I’m not looking for a reason to go back to W ville, but if I do, this joint will NOT be missed!
Sounds wonderful!
Sounds like a road trip just to eat there is in order!