I've lived in Lawrence, Kansas for oh, I guess about sixteen years. It is the home of the University of Kansas, and so as you might guess there is quite a bit of culture connected with the University; chamber music, art galeries and museums, theater both community and University, etc. Permanent population is about 50.000 nearabouts, and student population adds maybe another 20,000. Lawrence is located right on Interstate Highway 70 between Kansas City, Missouri, and Topeka, Kansas, the state capital.

One of the attractions for me about Lawrence is that we have managed to retain a vital down town area, that is we really don't have a Mall. So, along with all the restaurants, and stores, downtown serves as the main entertainment center. On the edges of town we have the usual Wal-Mart, K-Mart sorts of stores, but downtown seems to keep going right along, anyway.

As far as music goes, you can just about find anything you want. There are college hangouts that cater to the head-banger crowd, and then there is also a well established contra dance venue, the Lawrence Barn Dance Association. The LBDA keeps Old-time music in the Kansas City-Topeka metro area alive, and helps nurture local musicianship. There is also a Sacred Harp Society chapter, the Kaw Valley Shape Note Singing Association. We are also fortunate in that the local NPR affiliate, KANU has a weekly folk/celtic/old-time/bluegrass show on Sunday afternoons, from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM hosted by Bob McWilliams. Bob also is the guiding light behind Westside Folk a venue which attracting national touring folk musicians and singer/songwriters.

All in all, I think it's a pretty good place to live.
Jim