Topeka Capital-Journal, The: Goering Column

Area offers lots of ways to have fun

With the changes in City Hall, now might be a good time to change something else --- the perception there's nothing to do and that Topeka has nothing going for it.

I didn't do all these things, but I could have.

Tuesday, March 29: Bummed about the K-State women and the KU men? Get over it by joining the governor, a senator and the mayor --- and 1,300 other fans --- at a pep rally honoring the Washburn Lady Blues' national championship, another reminder that we have the best of both NCAA Division I and II worlds around here.

Wednesday, March 30: Feeling good before a routine doctor's appointment, knowing Topeka's medical community is second to none.

Thursday, March 31: You may not always like what comes out of the Statehouse, but it's here and you're welcome to see government in action. Better hurry, though, this is the next-to-last day of the regular session.

Friday, April 1: Don Quixote may act like one at times, but Topeka Civic Theater's rendition of "Man of La Mancha" is no April Fools' Day joke.

Saturday, April 2: Motor sports fans waiting for the NHRA at Heartland Park Topeka and NASCAR at the Kansas Speedway enjoy an hors d'oeuvre, a Sports Car Club of America regional event at Heartland Park.

Sunday, April 3: Ever seen a team roping competition? Me, neither. The U.S. Team Roping Championship qualifying event at the Kansas Expocentre is fun. Unless you're a calf.

Monday, April 4: One of the nation's premier lecture series, Kansas State University's Landon Lecture, presents, at no cost, one of the premier television commentators, Kansas native Jim Lehrer.

Tuesday, April 5: After voting, throw a couple of extra Road Runner jigs in the tackle box and head for the walleye spawn at Milford, one of seven or eight nearby federal reservoirs.

Wednesday, April 6: Watch The Engineer steal the show --- or was it the helicopter animation? --- at the touring Broadway production of "Miss Saigon" at the Lied Center in Lawrence.

Thursday, April 7: Stand and sing The National Anthem with the Oak Ridge Boys during, not before, their rousing show at the Topeka Performing Arts Center.

Friday, April 8: Rather participate than sit? Play blackjack, quarter slots and craps, then eat dinner at the Three Fires Steakhouse, at Harrah's Prairie Band Casino.

Saturday, April 9: Tickets went on sale for the first rap concert presented at the Kansas Expocentre, the April 27 show that includes Trick Daddy, Too Short and my personal favorite, The Outlawz.

Today, Sunday, April 10: Launch your boat, drop in your Trick Daddy or Oak Ridge Boys CD, fire up your Q Grill, get out on the water and enjoy ... it's springtime.

Tomorrow: Run over to Kauffman Stadium for the Royals' home opener.

Two weeks full of Broadway productions and civic productions, rap and country music, college and professional sports, reservoirs, roping and hot rods, universities and state government. And all within a 60-mile radius of Topeka.

We might not have it all, but we're in the middle of it all.

Pete Goering, Executive Editor of The Capital-Journal, writes a column on Sunday and Thursday. He can be reached at (785) 295-1191 or pete.goering@cjonline.com.