West Southwest 2 - Topeka, KS

Topeka got its start as a ferry landing which brought westward-bound pioneers across the Kansas River in the mid-19th century. Rather than travel further west, many settlers made Topeka their final destination. Kansas was admitted to the Union soon after, and Topeka was chosen as the state capital. The state provides the most jobs in the area, but many residents work in health and social services as well.

Topeka provides a home for the Kansas History Museum, which houses displays and artifacts illustrating the state’s rich history. The Mulvane Art Museum features a permanent collection of over 4,000 pieces of art and provides guest exhibitions as well. The museum also hosts an annual art fair every summer featuring the work of almost 100 artists as well as music and food. The Topeka Civic Theatre and Academy regularly hosts theatrical productions to entertain residents.

There exist some great choices of dining and drinking establishments near the West Southwest 2 neighborhood. Instead of one central location, they can be found scattered throughout the surrounding area.

For a taste of great Indian cuisine, the Monsoon Indian Grill seldom disappoints. With flaky samoa appetizers, fluffy naan bread, and entrées of spiced tandoori chicken and shrimp, there’s plenty to love here. Vegetarians appreciate dishes such as dal makhni, made with black lentils, and the creamy saag paneer made with baby spinach.

AJs NY Pizzeria proves to be the place for a slice of authentic, thin crust New York pizza. Using a recipe given to AJs from a Brooklyn restaurant, the classic New York pizza gets replicated here so residents in West Southwest 2 can experience it the Big Apple way. The Blue Moose Bar & Grill features a variety of dinner-size salads, sandwiches, flat bread pizzas and entrées, such as the milk-braised pork and grilled mahi fish tacos. The Blue Moose also lets patrons build their own mac and cheese dinners with a choice of ingredients that include wood-grilled shrimp and pit-smoked ham.

If you can’t relax at the Lazy Toad, then you’re not trying hard enough. The Toad features plenty of TVs for watching sports and has a great outside patio for enjoying the warmer Kansas weather. The Toad offers a number of drink specials every night of the week and also provides a backroom for karaoke, open jams and dancing. Keeping with the amphibian theme, Jeremiah Bullfrogs Bar & Grille provides another opportunity for locals to relax with a beer or cocktail and watch a Chiefs or Royals game. To catch a local rock band, folks drop by The Boobie Trap to enjoy a beer and a night of live music.

Most residents in the area rely on their cars for transportation, and free parking can be found on residential streets. Walking and biking can be accomplished safely in the area, but caution should be used when accessing busier thoroughfares. Topeka does have streets with designated bike lanes, and several paved trails can be found throughout the city for further biking options. Uber ride sharing does not operate in the area, but several options for cab service exist. Calling for a taxi yields better results than trying to flag one down on the street. The Topeka Metro transit system features a dozen color-coded bus routes that cover the city. Interstate 70 bisects the neighborhood and provides a route east to Lawrence and Kansas City. A connection to I35 can be used for trips south to Wichita.

Gage Park provides many wonderful amenities for kids, adults, pets and families to enjoy. The doggy play area of Hills Bark Park features plenty of room for romping and a separate enclosure for small dogs as well as water spigots and benches for humans to utilize. Use of the dog park remains free, but donations can be submitted. Gage Park also provides a home to Topeka Zoo. In addition to lions, tigers and bears, the zoo also provides a home to apes, giraffes, elephants and the Schendal Bug Zoo. Kids of all ages appreciate Gage Park's mini-train, which allows visitors to take a mile-long scenic journey around the grounds. The park provides free access to the public, but the zoo requires an admission fee. The Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center and the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center can also be found on the park's campus.

The county-run Lake Shawnee park area provides a home for the Spirit of Kansas Blues Festival. Held every July, the festival attracts musicians and fans from all over the state for a day of blues music. The park also features the 6.6-mile concrete pathway of the Lake Shawnee Trail. Exercise options on the trail include biking, hiking and rollerblading.

The cost of living in this neighborhood falls in line with the rest of the city, which sits well below the national average. Gas prices in the area fall 12 percent below the national average. A one-bedroom apartment rental can be found for around $588 per month. A ride downtown on a Topeka Metro bus costs $2 for adults, $1.50 for students, and $1 for seniors and disabled passengers. A bottle of domestic beer at a local bar costs $2.25, and a bottle of import costs $4.

West Ridge Mall provides a choice of retail options, with shops selling a range of upscale women’s and men’s clothing and apparel, as well as outlets for electronics, beauty supplies and footwear. Brookwood Center presents similar choices but from locally owned businesses, such as The Wild Birdhouse, which features a variety of awesome outdoor birdhouses, feeders, seeds and books on bird watching. The Linen Tree features a great selection of sheets, towels and accessories to help accent the home. Candles, fragrances and items for the kitchen and bath can be found here as well. Stitching Traditions provides a place to cover the quilting needs of residents with a range of fabrics, patterns, tools and books.

There are several options for grocery shopping in the area, including Dillons, which sells a variety of fresh produce, deli and bakery items. Natural Grocers provides a place to purchase certified organic produce and natural food products. The Downtown Topeka Farmer’s Market, held every Saturday from April to November, features fresh, locally grown produce, meats, cheeses and an assortment of handmade goods.