I know, I know: the cheapest way to get your java fix is to brew it up yourself at home. But there are some days when that’s just not going to happen, and a quick coffee run on the way to work is required.  Luckily for the financially challenged among us, several local coffee shops offer special deals to help you stretch your latte budget.
This is pretty much the best-kept coffee secret in Wichita. Are you ready? Go to Watermark Books between 7 and 9 a.m. Monday-Friday and order a …

Winter in Wichita is nothing if not schizophrenic. We went from a white Christmas to an extreme cold snap to springlike temperatures in just a few weeks. While you may be ready to start shopping for shorts, the harsh reality is that spring is still months away. The good news? Now is a great time to stock up on winter essentials; local boutiques like Pink Saloon, Wild at Heart and Eccentricity are having big sales to make room for new spring merchandise.
We’ve already covered men’s winter fashion; ladies, here are …

Outsiders may think nothing interesting ever happens in Kansas, but we know it’s been a newsy year in Wichita. Here’s a look back at the good and bad of 2009.
Intrust Bank Arena/Downtown development

The arena’s not even open yet, and it’s already causing a lot of consternation among Wichitans. First we complained about a lack of diversity in acts – most of the performers lined up so far fall into the country genre – and then, when tickets for said acts went on sale, we complained they sold out too quickly. …

A recent episode of National Public Radio’s Planet Money explored the concept of multiple stores selling the same product or service being located in the same place. In New York, where the show is produced,  there’s a floral district, a jewelry district, even a chess district. (Really, there are chess stores. Who knew?)
It works because customers have heightened awareness of a product or service being available, and the stores complement each other. If you’re seeking a certain rare flower or need an awesome arrangement made, you know you can get …

Since moving 800 miles from Wisconsin to Kansas last summer, I’ve become well acquainted with the joys of traveling during the holidays. Last year’s adventures included three two-way trips within six weeks, leaving the boyfriend and I exhausted and vowing never to fly again. Which, of course, we will (but we’re only taking one trip this time, thank God). Holiday travel is a just cause for a nervous breakdown, but there are ways to make it easier on yourself. Here are some of mine:
If you’re driving:

Patience is a virtue. You …