ByWater Solutions Presents a Locals' Guide to Lawrence, Kansas for KohaCon 22!

by Elise Aiello on Aug 17, 2022

Three ByWater Solutions staff members, Liz Rea, Hebah Amin-Headley, and Kirstien Kroeger, who all live in Kansas have offered up some recommendations for dining, drinks, destinations, and of course tea and books in Lawrence for those attending the KohaCon 22 Conference.

Note: Many of the recommendations are along the same street, Massachusetts Street (or Mass Street). Downtown Lawrence is very walkable and there is a plethora of dining options and shops.

Dining and Drinks

Biemer's Barbeque

According to Liz (and Google), Biemer's is the best barbeque in Lawrence!

Amazing brisket, fall-off-the-bone ribs, and the best pulled pork in the entire region...Biemer's BBQ has it all! Whether you're looking to get out of the house and enjoy some delicious Bar-B-Que, hit the drive-thru and take some home, or have unforgettable barbecue catered for your next party, event, or the big game--the answer is Biemer's BBQ!

Learn more here: https://www.biemers.com/about/

Free State Brewing Company

Liz raves about the beer cheese soup at Free State.

In 1989, Free State Brewing Company became the first legal brewery in Kansas in over 100 years. Since opening the doors at our Mass Street HQ, we’ve been working day in and day out to be a haven for beer lovers, where good beer and good food can inspire lively conversations and memorable experiences.

Learn more here: https://www.freestatebrewing.c...

John Brown's Underground

"You can't visit Lawrence without doing something John Brown related, why not drink"- Liz

Established in 2014, John Brown's Underground is a welcoming cocktail destination located in downtown Lawrence.

We specialize in using spirits with integrity to create seasonal menus of inventive drinks, and, above all, in providing a space for all to explore and enjoy!

Learn more: http://www.freelawrence.com/#/

Rudy's Pizzeria

"Rudy's Pizzeria is a Lawrence icon"- Liz

Choose from our classic spicy red wine sauce, homemade pesto sauce, all-natural alfredo sauce, barbecue sauce, or olive oil. Our cheese is our own blend that we shred fresh daily or try our dairy-free cheese. We offer a traditional white and our own wheat crust, and each are available in original thickness or thin St. Louis style. We also have gluten-free crust. Over 40 toppings to choose from…everything from avocado to zucchini.

Learn more here: https://rudyspizzeria.com/

Sylas and Maddy's Homeade Ice Cream

Sylas and Maddy's Homemade Ice Cream has been a Kansas City favorite since 1997. We first opened in Lawrence, followed by the second store in Olathe in 1999. From the very first days of existence up until now, this KC favorite has been a family owned and operated business! We started when our daughters were young and now they are grown with their own families. All 3 families help to operate the stores.

Learn more at: http://www.sylasandmaddysicecr...

The Burger Stand

The Burger Stand got its start in an Irish pub kitchen in 2009. since relocating to the Casbah at 803 Massachusetts in historic Downtown Lawrence and expanding to Topeka in 2011, The Burger Stand has a large menu of gourmet burgers, hawt doggz, a large vegetarian menu and so many sides (fries galore!) and a free sauce bar. Our bar menus specialize in classic, American cocktails as well as carefully curated craft beers on tap and over 100 bottles. Each location offers larger private rooms available for reservations.

Learn more here: https://www.burgerstandrestaur...

Wheatfields Bakery

"Wheatfields is essential Lawrence eating for us."- Hebah

WheatFields is a full service artisan bakery cafe in downtown Lawrence, Kansas.

Come in for a loaf of hand-shaped bread, baked on the stone hearth of our wood-fired brick oven. Stay for a cup of coffee and one of our mouth-watering pastries. Or choose from a menu of fresh, wholesome food at the cafè, where we offer dine-in and carryout options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Our bread is crafted by early-rising bakers who apply their talent and touch at each stage of the baking process. We use natural starters and slow fermentation to ensure a superb depth of flavor and an ideal texture.

Learn more here: http://wheatfieldsbakery.com/

Tea, Books, and Shopping

Brits

Purveyors of Enlgish goods. Childhood friends and devoted Anglophiles, Sally Helm and Susie Pryor, opened Brits in a small side-street in the historic downtown shopping area of Lawrence, Kansas in the summer of 1995. Sally had just returned from a "life-changing" trip to England. She wanted to bring back and surround herself with a taste of the things she loved so much in the UK.

Learn more here: https://www.britsusa.com/

Lawrence Public Library

We couldn't leave out one of the main venues of KohaCon 22, the Lawrence Public Library!

Learn more here: https://lplks.org/

Love Garden Sounds

Love Garden is a full service record store. We Buy, Sell and Trade CDs, LPs and more every day.

Learn more here: http://www.lovegardensounds.co...

Raven Book Store

The Raven Book Store was founded in 1987 as a mystery-specialty store, and it retains a strong mystery section to this day with additional specialties in fiction, poetry, current events, environmental writing, children's books, science fiction, and romance. Once one of several bookstores in Downtown Lawrence, the Raven survived a difficult period across the street from a Borders superstore and now is Lawrence's new general-interest bookstore.

Learn more here: https://www.ravenbookstore.com...

The Dusty Bookshelf

We..buy, sell, and trade high-quality, gently read books, sell books online at Amazon, Abebooks, Alibris, and Bookzangle, connect the community with a monthly literary calendar, buy books from scholarly collections, help you find the perfect book for your mood with on-the-spot suggestions and ongoing searches.

Learn more here: https://www.dustybookshelf.com...

Wonder Fair

Print Palace of the Great Plains: for lovers of fine prints, stationery, zines, and wonderful, whimsical artist editions of any kind.

Learn more here: https://www.wonderfair.com/

Yarn Barn of Kansas

"And because the Venn diagram of 'people who like yarn' and 'librarians' is a decent overlap, the Yarn Barn" - Hebah

Learn more here: https://www.yarnbarn-ks.com/

Destinations

Haskell Indian Nations University Cultural Center and Museum

Haskell Cultural Center and museum celebrates the strength and resiliency of the students and their contribution to what today has grown to become Haskell Indian Nations University. Punctuating the re-emergence of Indigenous expression, Haskell strives to incorporate the elements of Tribal pride and self-determination into its academics and University spirit.

Learn more here: https://www.haskell.edu/cultur...

KU Natural History Museum

The KU Biodiversity Institute studies past and present life on Earth to educate, engage, and inspire. The institute, including the KU Natural History Museum, accomplishes this mission through the acquisition, curation and study of collections of plants, animals, fossil material and cultural artifacts for undergraduate, graduate and public education, as well as research and public and professional service.

Learn more here: https://biodiversity.ku.edu/

Lawrence Art Center

Today, the Lawrence Arts Center provides contemporary exhibitions, performances, and arts education for individuals of all ages and backgrounds in a 40,000 square foot, state-of-the-art contemporary building. Completed in 2002, the facility contains a 300-seat theater, a black box theater, four exhibition galleries, two dance studios, a digital media lab, graphics and printmaking studio, photography darkroom, ceramics studio, writing lab, preschool and kindergarten classrooms and outdoor creative play spaces, painting studio, and two additional visual arts studios. Driven by high demand for Arts Center programs, in 2018 the Arts Center expanded to Studio 840, an East Lawrence performance space for dance and theatre classes, small audience productions, and community events.

Learn more here: https://lawrenceartscenter.org...

Spencer Museum of Art

Located on the University of Kansas campus, the Spencer Museum of Art is a vibrant cultural center that sparks curiosity, inspires creativity, and creates connections among people through art.

Learn more here: https://www.spencerart.ku.edu/

Watkins Museum of History

Since 1975, the Watkins Museum of History, housed in the iconic 1888 Watkins Land Mortgage and National Bank Building in downtown Lawrence, has provided programs and public events, educational resources and activities, and changing exhibits that explore the heritage of Douglas County and connect the past with issues that affect our communities today. The Watkins is rich in resources to help researchers uncover their family history or learn more about the place where they live.

Learn more here: https://www.watkinsmuseum.org/