[think] East vs. West: Long Live the Wild West Side
Hold on Eastsiders, before you get your Bradley Fair-purchased panties in a bunch about this post, you should know it’s the first in a two-part “duel” between a passionate Westsider and an equally passionate Eastsider. So while we encourage you to comment away about why YOUR side of town is superior, the East side will officially get its turn tomorrow.
I was born and raised on the West Side of Wichita and I’m damn proud of it. I know Eastsiders think Westsiders are all farmers and rednecks, but it isn’t so! Well, mostly anyway.
The West side has awesome amenities, some of which we even got BEFORE the privileged East including the first Warren Theatre in town. Yeah, Bill Warren loves us best and why shouldn’t he? We were instrumental in the success of his Palace Theatres (cheap movies in a cool building) and yes, we had that first too.
Shopping out west isn’t anything to turn up your nose at either. Easties have Bradley Fair but we have the ever-growing New Market Square where we will see your GAP and raise you an Old Navy (more affordable anyway,) an Under the Cork, Get Cooking and a Shoe Carnival. And we won’t even get into the Towne East versus Towne West argument because OUR mall has a tattoo parlor. The closest to edgy Towne East gets is Hot Topic.
We also have steakhouses. Yep. Westsiders are known for our love of a nicely grilled steak and restaurateurs have accommodated us. You want to lure a Westsider to your end of the ICT, put up a good steakhouse. But make it affordable, because Westsiders aren’t dripping with old money like those Easties are. Timberline, Outback, Logans, Texas Steakhouse, all these cut their chops on the teeth of well-fed Westsiders. An experience found only out west? Pei Wei. ‘Nuff said.
West side culture (and we are cultured) dictates that we be a friendly bunch. No stuffy uppercrusts here, just nice folks. We stake claim to Delano too. I know, it’s close to downtown, but Delano is the original (very wild) West side. The folks who live there now aren’t quite as wild although our founding fathers probably never pictured a hipster hangout like The Vagabond or a French-Lebanese slice of heaven at La Gallete, but we love our Delano.
I would love to claim Riverside too but Riversiders can never truly be tamed or claimed. They belong to themselves and the North End. But, I would put Riverside up against College Hill any day! In fact, we should start at Riverside/College Hill rivalry. Battle of the Big Old Houses and Beautiful Scenery. I love it.
But, back to the far Westies. We’re friendly, helpful and yes, many of us drive big trucks. I mean, this is the Wild West and we are still taming some of that land out yonder past Maize Road.
Photo courtesy of Eric Wittman
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What about housing prices? You can get more house for you buck out west!
I’m anxious to hear the retort tomorrow? (Will there be a discussion on how many bookstores on each side of town?)
WEST SIDE RULES!! When I go east side, I feel so out of place, bumpkinish even. Traffic is slower on the west side. People still WAVE at each other. Although, I do *love* the cooler building that the east side has – so many gorgeous places and historic homes that we just don’t have.
I’m a West-Side raised East-Side transplant living in Andover. Talk about identity crisis!
Having lived on both sides and Riverside at one point in my life, I can say I was reluctant to move to the outer edge of the west side last year. Being a vegetarian and someone who enjoys art & live music, the west side feels a bit like an undeveloped frontier. It is absolutely land of the steak! The massive SUV’s and pickups that make up about 80% of the traffic on the west side require some zen on my part, but the traffic is far less aggressive than on the east side. And, yes it’s hard to be uppity over here with all the cowboy energy. Not a bad thing. Mostly we chose to live here because you *can* get more house for your money. I remember years ago before the west Border’s opened when I had to drive across town to buy a friggin’ book! Just cause we’re west of the river doesn’t mean we don’t read! So yes, we have Border’s and Book-a-Holic, which are great, although the latter on this side is a little religion heavy. A little more diversity would be nice over here.
The best things about the west side: Bamboo Stix and a far, far superior farmers market.
hi….my name is eric…and i was born and raised on the east-side. even though, i’m a big fan and supporter of the east side, i enjoyed this article. the only thing i could never understand about you “west-siders”, given that most people tend to drive into the core of the city for their commute, is how you can stand driving into the sun in the morning, and into the sun on your way back home! come to the east side, where the sun is always at your back!
Westsiders = squinters. Just wait for my rebuttal tomorrow ;)
We all know that I am a big fan of the South Side but if I have to pick a side in this debate I’ve got to give it up for the West Side. The people are more friendly, the traffic less hectic, the atmosphere less stuffy and let us not forget the best part of it all…THE MALL BAR. Yes, friends, Denim and Diamonds (otherwise known as the Mall Bar) can only be found on the west side. Case closed.
WESTSIDE!!! Sure, the east side might have better shopping… for now… but for the most part the west side has everything you guys have, and it’s conveniently located on roads that accommodate cars instead of horse-drawn carriages. And while you guys may have the old money, new money abounds out here… Just drive down 119th street sometime. And then turn down 29th street and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Driving into the sun? No problem. It just takes an attitude adjustment and quality sunglasses.
Besides, I like having the sun on my face a little each day.
I don’t know that this article makes an argument for what makes the west side a great place to be. Pei Wei and Shoe Carnival? Hardly. The presence of TGIFriday’s is definitely a big strike against New Market Square, which is almost entirely composed of big-box stores and chain restaurants. Boring, boring, boring.
But how about the parks? Swanson, Sedgwick County, Pawnee Prairie . . . What about the miles of easily-accessible, open road (which isn’t to say that the east side doesn’t have decent biking, because it definitely does)? What about the Rolling Hills area, the older communities, the friendly and comfortable atmosphere? And let’s not forget the Big Ditch. I’m pretty sure that’s the only place in town where you can do any white-water kayaking.
Downsides to the west side, however, include:
– An overabundance of Palin supporters
– Drivers who don’t know what they’re doing
– Did I mention the TGIFriday’s?
Two words:
Mall. Bar.
East side, your argument is invalid.
I grew up in Maize and I now live west. Why? Because I love it.
Side note: I am not a fan of chain restaurants – AT ALL! But I do have to say the best value in a steak is Texas Roadhouse. Go straight to the bar and eat there – Andrea and Jessica will take good care of you. $8.99 for a 6 oz sirloin – perfectly done every time. Just sayin….
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