1. You know anything and everything about Quantrill’s Raid, courtesy to USD 497.
If you went to public school in Lawrence, then you know everything there is to know about Quantrill’s raid. Your elementary school education was filled with field trips to the Eldridge Hotel and Old West Lawrence. While Quantrill’s Raid definitely wasn't the most important part of U.S. history, you grew up thinking that it was.
2. Every Wednesday after early-release, you and your friends would squad up at Munchers.
Voted #1 Bakery in Kansas, Munchers is one of the only places where you can spend less than $1 and leave with a full stomach. The cheap prices and laid-back atmosphere is every middle schooler’s dream. If school got out at 1:30, the bakery would be filled with groups of kids toting their backpacks by 2:00. Whether you picked a cream-cheese filled donut or a strawberry knot, Munchers never disappointed.
3. You had to beg your mom to get you a pair of Birkenstocks.
By the time you were in middle school, everyone had a pair of Birkenstocks. Outside of Lawrence, they’re seen as 'Jesus Shoes' or 'Dad Sandals', but in little old LFK, they’re considered a staple in everyone's wardrobe. Although $100 seemed a bit pricey for a pair of sandals, you had to have them. Some were lucky enough to snag a pair during the annual 50% off warehouse sale.
4. Whenever you had a sleepover, 785-842-1212 was called.
There’s something about a cream cheese and bacon pizza from Pizza Shuttle that makes even the lactose intolerant consider grabbing a slice. It’s cheap, it’s delicious and the phone number is so easy to remember! Sleepovers almost always meant ordering the three-for special and eating it in your friend’s basement while gossiping about the latest High School Musical.
5. At one point or another, you’ve snuck out of your house to go to Stull Cemetery and look for demons.
Stull, Kansas is a small ghost-town about 20 minutes west of Lawrence. Although there isn’t much in the town, they have one haunted cemetery. It is labeled as a gateway to hell, and even the Pope won’t fly over it. Even though your parents warned you never to go there, you did, and you had nightmares for weeks.
6. KU Basketball is your $#!T
Bill Self and the Jayhawks were a household name growing up in Lawrence. Every March your family would sit around the TV and watch the Hawks play their hearts out in the NCAA National Championship. Even though most years ended in disappointment and heartbreak, you never gave up on the team. You couldn’t wait to attend KU and watch a game in the student section at Allen Fieldhouse.
7. The LHS vs. Free State rivalry is real.
Whether you identified as a chesty Lion or a Firebird, you probably took part in the cross-town rivalry. The rivalry football game was the perfect excuse to fill a water bottle with your parent’s vodka and get drunk in the bleachers. LHS vs. FSHS basketball games were always jam-packed, and free throws were an opportunity for the student section to call out the basketball captain for cheating on his girlfriend. Even though it sometimes it seemed extreme, it’s was a tradition.
8. The first time you went to The Hawk was probably your senior year of high school.
Lawrence, Kansas might as well be the capital for underage drinking in America. College bars that have been here since the beginning of KU are still open today, and most of them will accept any ID you hand them, real or fake.
The Jayhawk Cafe, otherwise known as the Biggest Disappointment Ever, is one of these infamous bars. The first time you heard of the Hawk it seemed like a magical party place for college kids, but after visiting once you realized the sticky floors and long lines weren’t all that.
9. You’ve run into Dennis and his blow-up doll while walking on Mass Street.
Dennis is one of the most beloved personalities in Lawrence. While most KU student’s see him as just another homeless person, he’s far more than that. He has a Facebook dedicated to him and makes his presence known to every friendly face he passes by.
Most days you can find him pushing around a shopping cart on Mass Street. If you’re lucky enough, he’ll introduce you to his girlfriend, a blow-up doll gifted to him by a local sex shop. Although he can be controversial to some, Dennis has earned a place in every true Lawrencian’s heart.
10. You’re registered as a Democrat…in Kansas.
If you look at any electoral map of Kansas from the past 20 years, you’ll be able to find Lawrence quite easily. Just look for the small blue dot in the top right-hand corner of the state. Although Kansas is traditionally a red state, Lawrence has been challenging those views since it’s conception. Although we’re not big enough to change our state’s vote - we’ll never give up.
