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Wichita Life

Nov 6, 2026

🌾 Last Call Shocks

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Together With

This is the Wichita Life Update, the only email more refreshing than a saxophone solo on a quiet November evening downtown. Happy National Saxophone Day!

Let’s get to it!

- Landon

🎂 Happy birthday to Dalton Langham from his wife Emry!

Last Call, Future Shockers

High school seniors have until Sunday, 11/8, at 11:59pm to apply for Wichita State's Distinguished Scholarship Invitational, with the in-person competition on campus 11/21.

This year's awards are the biggest yet, including a new $80,000 Richard D. Smith Scholarship and three $80,000 Harry Gore scholarships. To qualify, students need to have applied to WSU by 11/1 and have a 3.5 unweighted GPA, a 27 ACT, a 1260 SAT, or a top-10% class rank.

p.s. My friend Wichita by EB and I are giving out a $1000 scholarship to a WSU student. Deadline is in a week or so, apply today.

Together with the City of Wichita

See a pothole? Notice a damaged street sign or a fallen tree on public property? The City of Wichita makes it easy to report issues with its free mobile app or online.

Last week alone, residents submitted 139 service requests, with potholes, tree removals, traffic signal issues, and homeless encampments among the most common.

I’ve submitted my fair share of potholes, have you ever tried?

LOCAL BUSINESS

Opening

Closing

Anniversaries

  • Parlor Doughnuts - 7010 W. 21st St. N. - one-year anniversary 11/7, 6:30am–4pm (Parlor Perks members get a free layered doughnut)

Holiday Pop-Ups

Haute Handmade is bringing two holiday pop-up markets to Hopping Gnome Brewing, 1719 E. Victor, on Saturdays 11/7 and 11/14 from 12-5pm. Each date has a totally different lineup of local artisans, makers, bakers and brewers, so you can knock out some gift shopping with a beer in hand.

Americana Mahj

Jennifer and Mike Munson's Americana Mahj makes American-themed mahjong sets, like national parks and America the Beautiful, in their garage for just over $500 each. They're renovating a 2,000-square-foot building in Delano to move into.

NONPROFIT

Build a Kid a Bed

Army of Normal Folks is teaming up with Sleep in Heavenly Peace and CarePortal to build about 30 beds for local kids this Saturday 11/7, 9am-2pm at Lynette Woodard Recreation Center, 2750 E. 18th St. N. You don't need any woodworking experience, and you can sign up here.

Dorothy's Lane Turns 10

Dorothy's Lane is marking 10 years of providing food, baby needs, clothing and foster support, and it has helped 700+ families at Christmas. A new program for up to 25 preteen and teen girls starts next weekend, and the pantry needs volunteers and donations.

Vote for Illuminations

Botanica's Illuminations is up for USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Award for best botanical garden holiday lights in 2026. You can vote through 11/30 at 11am, and the top 10 will be announced 12/3.

Foster ICT Signs Off

After six years, Foster ICT is closing because others now meet the need, especially Care for Every Family, which it helped create. Co-founder Jill Ayres has fostered 300+ kids over 25+ years and will keep doing the work on her own.

Mission accomplished.

Last Call…

You all are amazing. We’ve been hosting dinner clubs for a year already. If you are new to Wichita or just want to make some friends, sign up today!

Here’s how it works:

🍽️ Take a quick quiz about your personality, interests, and food preferences.

✨ Get matched with five other Wichitans who fit your style (think food preferences, budget, life stage).

📍Your table of six meets for dinner on Tuesday, November 10th at 6:30PM - the exact restaurant is revealed that morning.

🥂 After dinner, all groups are invited to a casual after-meetup to keep the conversation going.

Want to go with someone specific (signifcant other, good friend, etc.)?

Fill out the form, then forward the link to that person. At the end of the quiz, you’ll have the option to invite a friend — they’ll get an email and need to book within 12 hours so the platform can seat you together.

The logistics:

  • Booking: Just 16 bucks per seat (supports Wichita Life)

  • Your meal: You pay for what you order at the restaurant

  • What we do: Orchestrate everything. Book the restaurant, send reminders, sort every detail. You just show up.

If you’ve been wanting to meet new people in town, this might be the easiest (and most fun) way to do it.

CIVIC

Music Census Out

Wichita's Music Census Report is out, drawn from nearly 1,500 responses, and it finds creatives generating about $25M a year while naming connection as the top need. Catch the overview this Saturday 11/7 at CityArts (334 N. Mead), with doors at 10:30am and results at 11am.

LOCAL

First Friday Art

This Friday, 11/6, most of Wichita's art galleries open their doors for First Friday, and you're invited to wander in with friends and family. For example, artist Kirsten Shannon is hosting a gallery party from 6-10pm at Diver, 424 S. Commerce, with The Flying Stove and Argentina's Empanadas serving food and Fisch Haus open just down the street.

Concert Under the Stars

Stardust puts musician John Allen inside Exploration Place's 60-foot dome, where he builds a live-looped score in real time while 4K space footage plays overhead. Shows are 6pm Friday 11/6 and 2pm and 6pm Saturday 11/7 and Sunday 11/8, and tickets are $35, or $30 for seniors and veterans.

Check Your Tickets

More than 60 Kansas Lottery prizes are still unclaimed, including a $100,000 Holiday Millionaire Raffle prize from 1/4 that was sold in South Central Kansas. Winners have 365 days to claim at Lottery HQ in Topeka.

Congrats, Ava Claassen

Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior Ava Claassen set the all-time Kansas girls 5K record at 16:20.74 this fall, then went undefeated - seven wins, a 5A state title, a Rim Rock course record, and the Bob Timmons Award. Next up is Nike Cross Regionals in Sioux Falls on 11/15, with a shot at nationals in Portland on 12/5.

Wichita's behind you (and apparently so is everyone else)!

Aero Club Honors Utash

The Wichita Aero Club named WSU Tech President Dr. Sheree Utash its 2026 Trophy recipient for building aviation training that feeds the industry's workforce. Congrats Dr. Utash!

Find something to do in Wichita →

💼 JOB BOARD

Find your next opportunity →

🍽️ DINNER CLUB

Good food. New friends. Join us →

Put your business in front of Wichita →

Click the banner above to view the full event calendar

Weekend

Friday 11/6

Saturday 11/7

LIVE MUSIC

SPORTS

Thunderbirds Night

This Saturday 11/7, the Wichita Thunder take the ice as the Wichita Thunderbirds for Native American Heritage Night at INTRUST Bank Arena. The Mid-America All-Indian Museum is bringing Native culture, art, and music to the rink, with puck drop at 6:05pm.

Thunder Alum Debuts

Former Wichita Thunder captain Dillon Boucher made his NHL debut Wednesday night with the Chicago Blackhawks against the Florida Panthers. He played 151 games for the Thunder and is the 785th former ECHL player to reach the NHL.

That's it for today! Send this to a friend who loves local Wichita State. Want to give someone a shoutout like this? Share Wichita Life with a friend, because referrals earn you prizes.

Thanks!

- Landon

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