To the midwesterners who complain about the Midwest, have you even been to Lawrence, KS? The first time I went to Lawrence was in 2014 with a few of my best friends to see my favorite Pop Punk band. It was an interesting experience because I assumed it was just another city in Kansas and was proved wrong. The vibe was unique and inviting and now I go to Lawrence at least every four months because it has become my second home.

Lawrence is my favorite city because of the food, people, clothing, concerts, and overall mood of the city. It is an innovative and very hipster town. Most of the fun happens on Massachusetts Street, where you can hear musicians play guitar on the sidewalk and enjoy the local community. Here are my top five reasons Lawrence is wonderful.

1. Concerts

I had to start with this one because it's the reason I discovered Lawrence. The best concerts come to Lawrence! At least, if you are into indie, rock, metalcore, punk, pop-punk, emo, or anything of the sort.

The two venues I most frequently go to are The Granada Theater and The Bottleneck. These are some pretty rad venues. Smashing Pumpkins, Sublime, Goo Goo Dolls, and Radiohead are just a few awesome bands who've played at the Bottleneck.

Did you know there's this cool thing that comes to The Granada called Emo Nite, which is basically a party thrown for emo kids who'd get together to scream emo songs. Sounds cool, right? You will have to pay a minor fee, but there is free water at The Bottleneck! And who doesn't love free things? I just love these venues.

2. Food

So much local food! If you go on Mass Street you can basically find any food you want. Asian, Italian, Mexican, Mediterranean food, you name it! One of my favorite places is Hot Box Cookies. It's a local business where you can buy warm cookies and milk.

Craving a chocolate chip cookie at 1 am? No problem. The best breakfast diner is called Wheatfields, where they have yummy biscuits and gravy and exceptional toast. Props to the baker who makes bread interesting.

3. People

This is kind of basic, but the people there are super friendly. It's an innovative and hipster city, so people of all ages are pretty cool. You'll see a lot of people and think, "I want to meet them and become their best friend."

When I go to Lawrence to see a band in concert, I stay with my mom's friends, who are also some of the coolest people I've ever met. They love the Beatles and decorate their bathroom door with creepy doll stuff. It's great.

4. Seasons

Lawrence is beautiful during all times of the year! Every season, I think, "Wow, Lawrence is so pretty during this time of year," but then I realized I say that during Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

5. Shopping

I'm not big on shopping, or the American consumerism mindset in general, but the local shops are super cool in Lawrence. My favorite stores are Arizona Trading Company and EarthBound.

ATC is a local vintage used resale store that I can usually find a cute denim skirt or vintage shirt at. EarthBound is a next level Third Planet. It is full of glasses, fanny packs, essential oils, tapestry, and, what I love most, drapey hippie clothes.

Lawrence is my second home. It brings me joy and happiness, and I want others to experience what I feel when I go to Lawrence. Give it a chance and it could be your second home too.