🌾 Gradey 🤝 Drake

June 23, 2023 | Sign Up | Support Us

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Wichita!

Today is National Hydration Day! For the record, hard seltzers do not hydrate you no matter what your buddies may say (but it is going to be hot, so I don't blame you. Just drink some water too).

In today's Wichita Life Update:

Gradey Dick = Lottery Pick
Kansas made films
Young Bag Getter

Let's get to it!

- Landon Huslig

Gradey to the 6

Gradey Dick is about to become good, good friends with Drake. Gradey was just drafted in the 1st round of the NBA draft at the 13th overall pick to the Toronto Raptors. He also didn't disappoint with his Dorothy / Oz inspired outfit.

Following a couple years at Collegiate, a couple years at Sunrise Christian Academy and his lone year at KU, Gradey has made it to the big leagues.

Congrats to Gradey and his family! You have all of Wichita behind you.

We just narrowly missed a really cool connection as former Raptors Assistant Coach Adrian Griffin was just hired as the new Head Coach for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Adrian Griffin is an Wichita East High legend who had a great career at Seton Hall and in the pros and just won the NBA title a few years ago as asst. coach with Fred Van Vleet on his squad.

It is a small world people.

TOGETHER WITH DONDLINGER CONSTRUCTION

Before Ron Baker helped lead the Shockers to the Final Four.

Before it was named Charles Koch Arena or Levitt Arena.

It was called the University of Wichita Field House and was built in 1953 by none other than Wichita's very own Dondlinger Construction.

The building was considered ahead of its time because of the circular design and there really isn't a bad seat in the house.

Flashback to when "The Roundhouse" was born.

Learn More Here

#WichitaLife

@NolanRothICT | Goats at work at Sim Park

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BUSINESS

Opening

Prime IV Hydration & Wellness - 4041 N Maize Rd - Now Open
Oishi Poke Ramen - 1845 S Rock Road - Now Open
Take 5 Car Wash - 29th and Maize - Opening in the next couple months
Deano’s Grill & Tapworks - 37th & Ridge Rd - Opening end of 2023
The Ridge (32 lane bowling center) - K-96 & Ridge - Opening 2024

Closing

Kookaburra Coffee - 9414 W Central - Possibly closed for good

Young Bag Getter

Mark Lozada is opening his first YBG (Young Bag Getter) Studios store in revolutsia.

Mark sees cloth (blankets, old shirts, jerseys, etc) and repurposes them into unique 1 of 1 clothing items.

One man’s cloth is another man’s swag.

Spirit Strike

The Machinists Union represents ~6000 works at Spirit AeroSystems.

These members just rejected a 4-year contract offer and will be going on strike as their current contract expires just before midnight Friday night.

This will suspend production.

Towne West

The owners of Towne West were falling behind on bills (I hate it when that happens), but paid it just in time to keep the lights on for all 12 people that still shop over there.

I kid, I kid, I would love to see a thriving Towne West. It has a lot of potential, but does the chicken or the egg come first i.e. the people or the stores?

STARTUP

Diabetes Moments

Miguel Johns is a staple for the entrepreneur community in Wichita and he doesn’t get enough credit.

His newest venture is Diabetes Moments which is a peer support community powered by people with diabetes.

His dad has had Type-2 diabetes for 15 years so the mission hits home for him. Learn more here.

KC Rise Fund

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of venture capital?

I imagine it’s big tech or San Francisco, stuff like that.

But what about here in the Midwest? KCRise Fund just closed its third venture capital fund, adding $34 million of new capital to invest in tech startups in Kansas and western Missouri.

Why does this matter for Wichita?

Well they’ve already invested in Wichita startups PLOT and WorkTorch and will continue to look for upcoming startups to invest in.

TOGETHER WITH MORNING BREW

There's a reason over 4 million people start their day with Morning Brew - the (free) daily email that delivers the latest news from Wall Street to Silicon Valley.

Business news doesn't have to be boring...make your mornings more enjoyable, for free.

CIVIL

Siren Issue

Last weekend, many people woke up from the scary Amber alert sounding alarm on their phones to alert them of a tornado warning. This was followed by tornado sirens for some places.

There was a technical glitch in other areas that prevented the sirens near Derby. This issue is being addressed.

LOCAL

Kansas Films

Why aren’t more films made in Wichita?

We miss out on so many opportunities due to our legislature.

You know the show Tulsa King with Sylvester Stallone? It was supposed to be Kansas City King, but Oklahoma offered film incentives.

Today one of the biggest proponents of Kansas Film, Kristen ‘Kiki’ Bush (acting credits include Law & Order: SVU, The Good Wife, HBO’s ‘Paterno’, & more - learn more about her story here) is executive-producing and starring in her film ‘THE GAME CAMERA’ which is a women-centered film about grief, set in rural Kansas.

This is being funded at the grassroots level from dozens of Kansas women. You can join them in supporting Kristen and Kansas-made films.

Everyone who donates will have VIP access to the preview screening as well as mentioned in the film’s credits.

You can donate here.

Miss JuneteenthICT 2023

Congrats to the newly crowned Miss JuneteenthICT for 2023, Dorothy Arnold!

ICT EXTRA

Exploration Place Maker Faire

The Maker Faire is coming up on August 26th from 10am to 5pm at Exploration Place.

This is a fun, family friendly event which is free to all. They are currently looking for a food truck for the event, so if you or someone you know has one, shoot Ali a message as he organizes it!

Goat Update

Watch the goats clear Sim Park.

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Click Here for the Full Calendar

Friday 6/23

Shop & Grub Night Market | Exploration Place Festival Plaza | 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Watermark Hosts Olivia Hayse | Watermark Books & Cafe | 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Art & Krimes Documentary Film & Panel Discussion | Wichita Art Museum | 6:30 pm
Nick Allen Comedy | Barleycorn's | 9:00 pm
POP-UP at Adult Skate Night | Carousel Skate Center | 9:00 pm
Anime Festival of Wichita | Hyatt | 6/23 - 6/25

Saturday 6/24

Twilight Tour | Tanganyika | 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Kansas Grown! Farmers Market | 21st & Ridge | 7am
American Heart Association Heart Walk | Riverfront Stadium | 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Old Town Farm & Art Market | Old Town Farm & Art Market | 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Brunch & Bingo | Chicken N Pickle - Wichita | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Poppin’ Up: Coffee Daze & Groupie Candles | Clifton Square | 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Wichita Pride | Century II | 6/24 - 6/25
Friends of WAM Fill-A-Bag Mini Used Book Sale | Wichita Art Museum | 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Summer SHiNE & Sip Class | White Crow Cider | 10:30 am - 11:30 am
NAMI Wichita’s 3rd Annual Picnic in the Park | Wichita State Metroplex | 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Local Artisan Fair | Grace Hill Winery | 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The Big Float | Old Cowtown to Shocker Rowing River Vista Boathouse | 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Keepers of the Culture Powwow | Mid-America All-Indian Museum | 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm
20th Anniversary The Room and Table Read | Roxy's Downtown | 6:00pm
Cowboys and Cocktails | Cowtown | 6:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Pride Drag Show | Norton’s | 10:00 pm