Books To Go

This is a great alternative to the WSU Bookstore. You can nearly always get a better deal on your textbooks here. You are better off if you know the exact book that you need for a class - - sometimes there are problems with this bookstore carrying an older edition of a book when the newest edition is required for a class, but they do have a good return policy.

My suggestion is to make a trip to the WSU bookstore, locate all of your textbooks there and note down all the info about them, then comparison shop here.

Parking is a problem. The store has a very small parking lot just off Hillside, where you must back out of your parking space right onto Hillside near a busy intersection.

Whole Foods Market

Everything a health food store should be! This large store stocks fresh produce, vegetarian and vegan items, organic items, fresh fish, rare cheeses, vitamins, and natural beauty products. There is even an area of the store with prepared-to-order food "to go." I love going to this store when I'm in the neighborhood, and I always end up buying more than I think I will. Filled with light, and pleasing to all the senses, I highly recommend this place.

Center On Family Living Friend

Beautiful university campus located on west side of Wichita. Strong religion, theology, music, dance, and art programs. The Singing Quakers choral group sounds marvelous, and has performed at the White House and Carnegie Hall. Be sure to check out one of their performances.

Friends is a private university, with emphasis on incorporating liberal arts instruction with the Christian faith, but students from all religious and cultural backgrounds are accepted at this university. The tuition is much higher than at a public university, but most students are able to acquire scholarships to lower the tuition that they pay.

Pensione Nichols

I stayed at this bed and breakfast in October 2004 for my honeymoon. From our suite, we could look out the large windows and gaze at Elliot Bay. We also had a good view of a corner of Pike Place Market, where we could see merchants early in the morning setting up their stands for the day. Looking straight down out of our windows, we saw The Pink Door, a hard to find restaurant in Seattle that is not to be missed. The suite was spacious, with high ceilings and included a small kitchen and private bath.

The owner was friendly and hospitable and made us feel right at home. The breakfasts were held in a large sitting room, and were composed of fresh muffins and rolls, and fresh fruit, coffee, tea, and juice.

When we return to Seattle, we will definitely stay here again!

Check out their website at http://www.pensione-nichols.com/

PROS: Location near Pike Place Market and Waterfront
CONS: Suites are the only rooms with private baths, other rooms share bathrooms

Premiere Palace

This is one of the older still-operating movie theaters in Wichita. The owner, Bill Warren, went on to open the more upscale Warren East and Warren West. Overall, this theater complex seems a little neglected. But it does occasionally show movies that don't hit the other theaters in town - smaller, critically acclaimed movies, along with the usual first run movies.

Be aware that some of the theaters here are very small. If you are looking to see a first run movie, I would recommend a different theater, like the Warren East or Northrock 14. But if this is the only theater in town showing the movie you want, go see it here. A lot of these movies are better seen on a big theater screen than on your home tv.

Inn at Willowbend

This is my favorite hotel in Wichita. The Inn at Willowbend is located just to the east of Rock Road and 37th, in a quiet cul-de-sac on the edge of a golf course. I stayed in the La Quinta Room in the Caddy Castle. It is the bathtub in this room that is the real draw for me. Long and deep, the tub is perfect for taking a nice, relaxing bath. Everything in the room seemed clean and the furniture was all on the "new" side.

Breakfast was a treat. Continental breakfast is provided, with a good selection of muffins, rolls, fruit, juice, and coffee. Don't miss the biscuits and gravy, they are wonderful! The kitchen will also prepare a cooked to order breakfast if you would prefer the special of the day (breakfast burritos, etc.).

C D Tradepost

This is a great store to browse. They have used video games, cds, vhs tapes, and dvds. The staff is always helpful and courteous. This might be the place to buy that dvd set of "The Sopranos," if the "new" price at a retail store is too expensive for you. They guarantee that anything you buy in their store will play or you can get your money back within 7 days with your receipt. Prices are reasonable, and they often have deals where if you buy 2 vhs movies, you can get one free.

Bradley Fair Shopping Ctr

This is a great place to shop or even go for a date. You can walk around the lake and listen to the music playing at Cibola (sometimes a live band). Observe the ducks and listen to the soothing sound of the water fountain in the shopping center and the two waterfalls in a landscaping feature on the lake. Be sure to grab an ice cream cone at the Marble Slab Creamery and enjoy your cone on one of the benches by the lake.

Shop 'til you drop at the many fine stores in this shopping center, like Victoria's Secret, Gap, Williams Sonoma, Coldwater Creek, and Bath and Body Works. This is a much more laid back and less crowded shopping center than Towne East or Towne West, and includes some of the nicest stores in Wichita.

Heidi C. Bette, DDS

Dr. Bette is kind, competent, and thorough. I have been a patient of hers for several years, and I have been pleased with each of the dental hygienists I have seen at her office.

In addition, I love the teeth cleaning method this dentist's office uses. It's a bit like a water pik, but with a baking soda solution, that is blasted from the pik with greater force. I much prefer the baking soda solution pik to the scrape, scrape of sharp metal tools against my teeth and gums. What was once torture for me is now quite bearable.