USA Soccer couldn’t quite get the job done on Monday, but as long as England doesn’t win the World Cup… in the USA… on the 250th anniversary of America gaining independence from England… we should be okay, right?

Let's get to it!

- Landon Huslig

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Together with Music Theatre Wichita

“Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?”

If you asked me the movie I have watched the most around Christmas time, Elf would easily be a top 2.

Now, Music Theatre Wichita is bringing Elf: The Musical to the stage July 8–12 (that starts TONIGHT), transforming the beloved holiday movie into a heartwarming live production filled with catchy songs, laugh-out-loud moments, and enough Christmas cheer to make it feel like December in the middle of July.

It's a fun, family-friendly show that reminds us all that the real magic of Christmas is found in joy, kindness, and the people we share it with.

Idk if this will be in the musical, but the line I’ve quoted the most from the movie is…

Bronze and Chrome

Visit Wichita

Picture this:

You’re walking along Douglas Avenue downtown, maybe you aren’t paying attention, maybe you’re texting, and you bump into someone..

“Excuse me” you say as you look up to see a man reading a paper with no shoes on.

It is in fact a bronze statue, but where did he come from?

Where did any of the statues downtown come from?

That’s what we’re here to find out on this weeks episode of…

CSI: Wichita

just kidding, but can’t you hear the theme music intro?

So what am I even talking about?

Bronze Sculptures

Along Douglas Avenue, between Main and Topeka, you can find 31 bronze sculptures by Washington artist, Georgia Gerber. These were placed downtown in the late 1990’s when they were commissioned by the DeVore Foundation to restore the downtown area.

Many of the pieces of art incorporate running water and encourage people to interact with them.

The sculptures take the form of life-size animals and human figures.

Dockum Drug Sit-ins

This story and statue deserves a whole email itself, but we will keep it short today.

The largest of the downtown sculptures was once located at Lewis Reflection Square Park and is now located at Finlay Ross Park (123 W Douglas Ave).

It is a recreation of F.W. Woolworth store which was a dime store and used to sit in that same location. Back in 1958, the “Dockum Drug Store sit-ins” took place and played a large role in the peaceful integration it brought to Wichita.

I never realized there were 31 of the bronze statues! How many have you seen up close and personal?

Chrome Bumper Sculptures

Bronze isn't the only metal in Wichita used in sculptures.

You've likely seen John Kearney's life-size welded chrome horse, but did you know there are several other animals? The inspiration comes from auto bumpers in a pile at the dump.

Chrome Bumper Horse
Chrome Bumper Pig
Chrome Bumper Giraffe
Chrome Bumper Bull
Chrome Bumper Goats

Other sculptures in Wichita:

Carry Nation Statue - Carry Nation was an anti-saloon, bottle-smashing prohibitionist. Back in the year 1900 she walked into the Carry House Bar in Wichita and smashed bottles, fixtures and furniture. Carry is known for carrying a hatchet and wrecking saloons on her anti-alcohol crusade. We did a whole deep dive on Carry.

Carry Nation - Roadside America

Boy and the Boot - The Boy and the Boot fountain was first purchased in 1899 by Finlay Ross (the rich mayor at the time). It stood for 70 years at North Riverside Park, was destroyed by vandals in 1969, then a new, bronze copy was made in 1978. It's now at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum on the 3rd floor.