Daily Archives: May 12, 2009

Wichita Sessions, the company and the show, to debut

May 12, 20095:43 p.m.

guitarDigitalBrand Communications owner Eric Zoller and producer and director Lonny Quattlebaum have formed a new company, Wichita Sessions, to produce a local music series called “Wichita Sessions” on KPTS, Channel 8, and KMUW, 89.1-FM.

“At this point, we’re just looking to . . . kind of break even and support the production of the show,” Zoller says. “This is more for the love of doing music production.”

However, he says, “We are going to set it up as a for-profit company.”

The shows, which will showcase a variety of Wichita musicians and styles, will begin airing this fall. The first two of four in the first season have already been completed. A 12-show second season will immediately follow.

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By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , , , , , , Filed under Radio, Television | Comments Off

You don’t say

May 12, 20094:41 p.m.

“Not to talk too much smack, but a couple city planners soundly beat the city manager in the 10k Saturday.”

– Jess McNeely, a senior planner in the city’s planning department who ran the race in 36:56 along with fellow senior planner Scott Wadle, who ran the race in 37:01 (compared to City Manager Bob Layton’s 38:39)

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , Filed under You don't say | Comments (2)

New retail center to open by Lowe’s at Maple and Ridge

May 12, 20093:26 p.m.

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Developer Leisa Lowry, who is also a commercial broker for J.P. Weigand & Sons, is close to building on the southeast corner of University and Ridge across from Lowe’s.

“I have been pursuing this for a while because it’s a great intersection with very high traffic,” Lowry says.

In addition to access to Kellogg and traffic on Maple and Ridge, nearby Taft is extremely busy as well thanks to the strip of shopping by Sam’s Club and other businesses in Westgate Market.

“A lot of the residential people on the west side take that to go to those retailers,” Lowry says.

She initially plans a 12,000-square-foot center for retail and restaurant space. But she says she’s open to doing pad sites instead if that’s what someone would prefer.

“I just started marketing it and have seen a lot of interest,” Lowry says. “I will start building in the next few months.”

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under Restaurants, Retail, Shopping centers | Comments Off

Rain Cafe & Lounge opens in Old Town

May 12, 20092:26 p.m.

Just when you thought Wichita had enough rain . . .

William Davis is having a soft opening for his new Rain Cafe & Lounge in the former Boulevard space at 518 E. Douglas.

“We’re not fully up and running yet,” says Davis, who plans a grand opening for Memorial Day weekend.

Soon, he plans to add a DJ on weekends and karaoke on Tuesday nights.

“It is going to be some high-energy dance music,” says Davis, who hopes to appeal to “young adults and those young at heart.”

Landlord Alan Mairs has extensively renovated the building.

“We’re getting ready to retrofit the patio area also,” Mairs says. “It’s essentially always been a great neighborhood bar. An Old Town neighborhood bar.”

Davis says the space is a lot smaller than a lot of Old Town bars, though.

“We hope to find a niche,” he says.

Next week, he plans to roll out a new Mediterranean menu for lunch and dinner. Davis says he’ll stop serving at 10 p.m. “to cut over to the nightlife.”

Rain doesn’t have a particular meaning.

“I was just looking for a name that was short and fun,” Davis says.

By Carrie Rengers | Tags: , , , , Filed under Bars, Old Town, Restaurants | Comments (1)