Comments on: [think] East vs. West: The East Side = The Best Side

By: Steph Barnard

Steph Barnard — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:04:53 +0000

This site was designed for people just like you, Alex.

Take a look around. You might like what you see.

By: andrea

andrea — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:17:43 +0000

When we began looking for houses here during our move from Denver we thought the same thing. We didn’t want a cookie cutter house in a town, yes I said town, because I have to agree Wichita is not a city, where we could actually afford a 1920’s charmer, after all we’d already had cookie cutters in Denver and the Bay Area of San Fran and Wichita’s builders weren’t even coming close to what you could get there. So in College Hill we settled and though I miss my cities dearly this town is small enough that you can have the best of both worlds er sides… my husband laughs at me when I bemoan about going all. the. way. to either “side”, though I do stay east most of the time.

By: Jana Curl

Jana Curl — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:44:47 +0000

You know what makes me laugh about this debate is that Wichita is so stinking small that I can’t believe we even have “sides.” It literally takes me 15 minutes from my house to get to somewhere on the east side. Yet I hear all the time – “I don’t want to drive clear out west/east.” Really? Clear out?
So the moral of my story is – can’t we all just get along?

By: Jennifer Jones

Jennifer Jones — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:20:24 +0000

As a liberal, Honda Fit driving, NPR listening, ethnic restaurant loving, Converse wearing, professional working mother living on the far West side, I would live to give a shout out in defense of “tract” homes. When my family decided to buy a home a new “cookie-cutter home” was truly the best deal for us. We were able to afford a decent sized house in our price range that was brand new, and by brand new I mean clean and problem free. A house with “character” in our price range would have meant painting, remodeling, repairing, redecorating. Right now, I don’t have time for that. I have a full and busy life with my daughter, husband, job, friends, traveling, eating out, etc. My neighborhood is safe and clean. My fireplace turns on with a switch, so when I curl up on the couch with my Snuggie to watch Anthony Bourdain (or more likely, Yo Gabba Gabba) I don’t have to make a mess making a fire. When I am done I just turn it off. It’s pretty awesome, and I love it! Does my house have “character?” Probably not, but I have enough character to make up for it.

On another note: Maharaja is moving to the West side. Woo-hoo!

By: Alex

Alex — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:30:20 +0000

Really? Isn’t being the “better” side of Wichita much like being the thinnest contestant on The Biggest Loser? Outside of College Hill and Riverside, there isn’t a single attractive area to live. As far as nightlife, you can choose between the Old Towne scene (and how the d-bags from the Jersey Shore ended up at Heroes confuses me) or a movie at the Warren. Before I moved to Kansas, I was told that people out here love Ranch dressing. If I had to pick a condiment that best describes Wichita, it would probably be ranch. Or maybe mayo. And I know I already sound like a snob, but Scotch and Sirloin is epically overrated. And I swear to whatever God you choose, I am on the verge of jumping in the AR-KAHN-SAW river if I have to hear one more time about how much better the school system is in Andover over Maize, or vice versa. I apologize for the insulting of your fair city, and I say good day to you.

By: Bree A Cox

Bree A Cox — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:58:33 +0000

I think Riverside, College Hill, Delano and Downtown belong to their own category (Midtown). As a College Hillian, I don’t want to be lumped in with Bradley Fairesques and Rock Road Nightmares. No thanks!

By: Cindy

Cindy — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:12:16 +0000

Mid town rules! You can go west or east, but you have old homes, the rivers, big trees, bike paths, Old Town farmer’s market.

By: Steph Barnard

Steph Barnard — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:34:21 +0000

Missy, you’ll be close to what is, IMHO, one of the best Dillons stores in town: 37th and Woodlawn! (21st and Rock is pretty good too.)

By: Conan

Conan — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:38:49 +0000

Oh, I thought of a couple of other things last night. While the East Warren is currently the biggest and baddest in (out of) town, the West 21st Warren was the first and for many years clearly superior to the East side’s Dickinson theaters (which happens to be my new favorite theater because of its very low attendance). And before the East Warren began showing more art-house films, Cinemas West was making a comeback as the art-house theater in town (Bill Warren has since shut it down unfortunately). Also lets not forget that the West Palace Theater is still in business, and I love heading back over to my old side of town for the midnight showings of older cult classics there.

By: James

James — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:37:54 +0000

Shea, this might be your Sistine Chapel.

Funny story about East v. West. Grandparents, local socialites, were looking at moving to a new house in town but were becoming frustrated by the lack of east side availability. I said, “Grandma, you could always look at moving out west.” Her response? “Never.”