When hearing citizens of rural Kansas towns describe Wichita as a “big city,” I’ve never been able to keep a straight face. I mean, come on. Our skyline is backed by grain elevators. Drive an hour in any direction, and you’ll hit rows of fields. And if you’re thinking about using public transportation to travel downtown, you might be better off with a good pair of walking shoes.
However, a Labor Day road trip through southern Kansas may have caused me to put my “metropolitan” foot in my mouth. There was …

Every week, we feature a few adorable, adoptable pets from the Kansas Humane Society and dare you to resist their cute lil’ faces. Want to bring one of these loveable cats or dogs home with you? Visit KHS from 11 am – 6:30 pm Monday through Saturday and 1 – 5 pm Sunday. Have a happy adoption story to tell? Email us at editors@verbict.com and we might feature you in an upcoming post.

Eugene, a 3 year old Border Collie mix, is looking for some TLC. He loves to play …

“It’s like Christmas morning!” I said to my friend Amy back in May, the day before we were to report to the Old Town farmers’ market to pick up our very first CSA share. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. The concept: you pay a local farm a certain amount each week or month, and you get a selection of their produce each week. Rather than buying each item piecemeal from the farmers’ market, you just get a share of whatever the farm has available. It’s a cross between bulk buying and those “mystery grab bags” at the dollar store.

I am not an expert on running. I don’t run every day. I don’t run every other day. To put it simply, I run when I want to run.
But I do have a few preferences: no music, no watch, no machine. This third preference refers to the treadmill. Stationary running just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, but I acknowledge its use when the weather is hazardous or when working out seems dreadful without the TV’s distraction.
Even though the weather may sometimes be hazardous due to July’s heat …

Every week, we feature a few adorable, adoptable pets from the Kansas Humane Society and dare you to resist their cute lil’ faces. Want to bring one of these loveable cats or dogs home with you? Visit KHS from 11 am – 6:30 pm Monday through Saturday and 1 – 5 pm Sunday. Have a happy adoption story to tell? Email us at editors@verbict.com and we might feature you in an upcoming post.

Jesse, a 3 year old German Shepherd mix, is a Lonely Hearts Club member, and he’d really like …

It was hot.
Really hot. As in, people were so drenched with sweat they looked like they’d just crawled out of a swimming pool.
Despite the B.O.–inducing heat, music lovers flooded the Commerce Arts District June 19 to partake in Wichita’s first LIV Music and Arts Festival. They were rewarded with live performances by local artists and plenty of Tallgrass beer.
“We should have had tents, we should have had misters,” festival organizer Adam Hartke said, laughing. “Next year, we won’t repeat those mistakes.”
As advocates of all things live and local, my friend …

You might be the guy or gal who gazes lovingly at it rolling through Wichita on a Tuesday night, longing to be part of the fun. Or you might see them lining Douglas in Old Town on Saturday night, as mostly-conscious passengers pile out. Whether you’ve been on one or not, you’ve probably seen or heard of a party bus. And if you’ve never been on one, but are curious, I’m here to answer your questions.
What exactly is a party bus?
Generally, it’s a bus that’s been converted to accommodate a more social, fun atmosphere. …

Every week, we feature a few adorable, adoptable pets from the Kansas Humane Society and dare you to resist their cute lil’ faces. Want to bring one of these loveable cats or dogs home with you? Visit KHS from 11 am – 6:30 pm Monday through Saturday and 1 – 5 pm Sunday. Have a happy adoption story to tell? Email us ateditors@verbict.com and we might feature you in an upcoming post.

Jax, a 1 year 6 month old Labrador Retriever mix, has been raised around kids and other animals. He’s …

Like many other people around town, the rain put a damper on my 4th of July plans. When my friends and I found out the Saturday barbecue we were supposed to attend was cancelled, we headed to Oasis Lounge (4121 W. Maple) to indulge in burger and a beer. I had heard the French fries were worth checking out, so I got an order. They were homemade, thick cut, just the right amount of greasy, and hit the spot. Sampling the Oasis’  excellent offering got me to thinking about some …

Recently I decided to search for delicious local chicken wings and enlisted the help of friend, cook, and self-professed wing nut, Jeff.  Our first stop was Neighbors Restaurant & Bar (2150 N. Amidon) for buffalo wings.
Jeff and I ordered 12 wings for $5.99.  The sauce for the wings was right on for heat; it builds as you eat, with just enough bite and kick with a vinegar finish. The wings had a good amount of sauce on them but still had crispiness to the skin.  The meat was juicy.  Jeff asked for blue cheese …

If you’re looking for something different to do on Friday, consider a Wichita Wild game. My brother-in-law told me he thought I would like it because it’s fast-paced and fans sit really close to the game. He was right. The game moves quickly, there’s always something going on during breaks in play (such as T-shirt giveaways, the dance team performing, a rib-eating contest – In know, right?!), and they have a fully stocked bar.
I consider arena football a cross between football and hockey. You move a soccer game indoors, and it’s faster-paced. Same thing happens …

Not to get all “Sex and the City” on you, but I really do love a good martini. Wichita isn’t exactly known for martini bars. I’ve actually had a little trouble finding bars that know how to make a martini that doesn’t taste like pure alcohol or pure mixer. However, there are a few places around the city that know how to serve a tasty martini.
Some of the best martinis in town come from Mort’s Martini and Cigar Bar (923 E. 1st St.). Aside from their wonderful 2-4-1 specials on Monday nights, they also …

Although I own a small amount of jewelry, I have a great appreciation for the most unique of accessories. Never mind the latest trends — accessories should express who you are. I have found a handful of boutiques throughout the Wichita area that can help with this self-expression. Each of these places impressed me with its details. They are some of my favorite hometown treasures, each with a sparkle and a different definition for practical.
1) Pink Saloon (4730 E. Douglas) has the look of a high-style boutique minus the I’m-better-than-you atmosphere. …

When Jennifer Keller, Communications Manager for the American Red Cross, contacted verb [ICT] about doing a story on giving blood, I didn’t exactly jump at the chance to participate. Like many people, I have my own reasons for not donating. Until today, the most significant reason was that I have tiny veins and I’m hard to get blood from. Even my sister, who happens to be a phlebotomist at the American Red Cross, couldn’t convince me. Like many people, I just didn’t have all the facts.
Because the Red Cross adheres to strict standards regarding who can give, …

It’s almost July and summer is in full swing. If your kids are like mine, they’re in full-on frenzy mode. Luckily Wichita has a ton of things to do to keep those little bodies busy.
All Star Sports West wants you to come check out all they have to offer, including arcade games, bowling, laser tag, bumper boats, go-karts, mini golf and more. They even have a few things for the tiny tykes, including kiddie karts and mini air hockey.
verb [ICT] is giving away two family fun-packs. …