Wichita KS "city meet" - April 18, 2026

[A.J. Bertin]

Alright, I've decided that I'll be able to get there for this meet.

Hopefully we can schedule a lunch at 323 N Rock Rd.

Nah... our lunch won't be at Olive Garden.

[Rothman]

Alright, I've decided that I'll be able to get there for this meet.

Hopefully we can schedule a lunch at 323 N Rock Rd.

Nah... our lunch won't be at Olive Garden.

Would have made some great meet-up theater...but...thank you.

[rte66man]

Since it's only 2 hours away, I'm going to try to make this one. I retired this month and no longer have to use my Saturdays to catch up on stuff around the house.

[kphoger]

I should mention that this will be just a few days before our 20th wedding anniversary, so there's a small possibility I'll be out of town.  No actual plans at this point, though.

[Rothman]

I'm flying out there.  Do you have a loose idea of what the schedule'll be?  I take it we're getting together for lunch and dinner?

[kphoger]

I take it we're getting together for lunch and dinner?

Still hoping for Taco Bell and Olive Garden.

[okroads]

Past city meets have had lunch at ~11 AM and dinner at ~7 PM.

[A.J. Bertin]

I'm flying out there.  Do you have a loose idea of what the schedule'll be?  I take it we're getting together for lunch and dinner?

You are correct!  Lunch and dinner with everyone free to explore on their own between the meals.  More than likely, we will meet for lunch at around 11 a.m. (probably a fast-casual place like I typically aim for)... and then 7 p.m. at a sit-down restaurant somewhere for dinner.

[A.J. Bertin]

Past city meets have had lunch at ~11 AM and dinner at ~7 PM.

This is exactly right!

[A.J. Bertin]

Just so everyone's aware, I'm in the process of selecting the lunch and dinner spots... hoping to have those decisions firmed up over the next week or two.

[Rothman]

Just so everyone's aware, I'm in the process of selecting the lunch and dinner spots... hoping to have those decisions firmed up over the next week or two.

Thanks a ton.

[ModernDayWarrior]

I'm interested in this as well but will have to wait and see what my work schedule and finances look like before I can commit.

[A.J. Bertin]

Hi, everyone!  I've finalized the details of our gathering in Wichita:

• At 11:00 a.m. CDT, we will gather for lunch at one of the Meddys locations in Wichita (the one located at 2300 N. Greenwich Rd. Ste. 100, Wichita, KS 67226).  Meddys is a local/regional, fast-casual Mediterranean chain.
• Because my "city meet" format is a choose-your-own-sightseeing format, everyone is encouraged to go off on their own and explore the Wichita area individually or in groups throughout the afternoon... whatever you'd prefer to do.  For anyone who is interested in carpooling with others, there is ample parking near Meddys.
• At 7:00 p.m. CDT, we will gather for dinner at Bite Me BBQ, which is located at 132 St. Francis, Wichita, KS 67202.  Bite Me BBQ is a sit-down restaurant, and they will have no issues splitting the check for our group.  (I've got a reservation under the name "A.J." for 10 people, which is a rough estimate right now.)

Of course, if you are only able to attend lunch or dinner but not both, that is totally fine.  Just let me know your plans when you are able.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone in Wichita for my sixth "city meet"!

[Rothman]

w00t!

[kphoger]

Hi, everyone!  I've finalized the details of our gathering in Wichita:

• At 11:00 a.m. CDT, we will gather for lunch at one of the Meddys locations in Wichita (the one located at 2300 N. Greenwich Rd. Ste. 100, Wichita, KS 67226).  Meddys is a local/regional, fast-casual Mediterranean chain.
• Because my "city meet" format is a choose-your-own-sightseeing format, everyone is encouraged to go off on their own and explore the Wichita area individually or in groups throughout the afternoon... whatever you'd prefer to do.  For anyone who is interested in carpooling with others, there is ample parking near Meddys.
• At 7:00 p.m. CDT, we will gather for dinner at Bite Me BBQ, which is located at 132 St. Francis, Wichita, KS 67202.  Bite Me BBQ is a sit-down restaurant, and they will have no issues splitting the check for our group.  (I've got a reservation under the name "A.J." for 10 people, which is a rough estimate right now.)

Of course, if you are only able to attend lunch or dinner but not both, that is totally fine.  Just let me know your plans when you are able.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone in Wichita for my sixth "city meet"!

For what it's worth...

If you're looking for an even more local Mediterranean restaurant, I highly recommend N&J Cafe, at the corner of Lincoln & Edgemoor.  Carrie and I like it better than Meddy's and it's only a block and a half from our house.  There's not nearly as much public parking there, but I'm sure a couple of vehicles could be left behind in our driveway.  Just a thought.

[A.J. Bertin]

Hi, everyone!  I've finalized the details of our gathering in Wichita:

• At 11:00 a.m. CDT, we will gather for lunch at one of the Meddys locations in Wichita (the one located at 2300 N. Greenwich Rd. Ste. 100, Wichita, KS 67226).  Meddys is a local/regional, fast-casual Mediterranean chain.
• Because my "city meet" format is a choose-your-own-sightseeing format, everyone is encouraged to go off on their own and explore the Wichita area individually or in groups throughout the afternoon... whatever you'd prefer to do.  For anyone who is interested in carpooling with others, there is ample parking near Meddys.
• At 7:00 p.m. CDT, we will gather for dinner at Bite Me BBQ, which is located at 132 St. Francis, Wichita, KS 67202.  Bite Me BBQ is a sit-down restaurant, and they will have no issues splitting the check for our group.  (I've got a reservation under the name "A.J." for 10 people, which is a rough estimate right now.)

Of course, if you are only able to attend lunch or dinner but not both, that is totally fine.  Just let me know your plans when you are able.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone in Wichita for my sixth "city meet"!

For what it's worth...

If you're looking for an even more local Mediterranean restaurant, I highly recommend N&J Cafe, at the corner of Lincoln & Edgemoor.  Carrie and I like it better than Meddy's and it's only a block and a half from our house.  There's not nearly as much public parking there, but I'm sure a couple of vehicles could be left behind in our driveway.  Just a thought.

Thanks for sharing this!  I'll stick with Meddys, though.

Do you think you'll be able to join us for lunch or dinner (or both)?

[kphoger]

Do you think you'll be able to join us for lunch or dinner (or both)?

I don't know yet.  If I'm in town, then definitely.  But, as I mentioned earlier, that's the week-end before our 20th anniversary, so there's a possibility we'll have made plans out of town.  Just can't say at this point for sure.

[The High Plains Traveler]

This is a maybe for me, though at that time I should have just completed a round of medical treatment, and at this point I don't know if I'll be up for a 400+ mile drive. I'll put my name out there as possible as long as a firm headcount isn't required. I should have a pretty good idea early that week how I'm doing.

[A.J. Bertin]

This is a maybe for me, though at that time I should have just completed a round of medical treatment, and at this point I don't know if I'll be up for a 400+ mile drive. I'll put my name out there as possible as long as a firm headcount isn't required. I should have a pretty good idea early that week how I'm doing.

I'm glad you're considering going!  At some point (at least a week beforehand), I will need as firm of a headcount as possible so that I can make any adjustments, if needed, to the dinner reservation in terms of the number of attendees I'll have.  If there's any way for you to know by April 11, that would be super helpful... but if not, I can try to account for the possibility that you will or won't be able to join us.

Best wishes to you on your medical treatment.  I hope that goes smoothly for you.

[A.J. Bertin]

We are now down to less than four weeks away from the big day!  I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone and exploring Wichita for the first time.

I know there are a few people who have chimed in on this thread saying they are interested in attending or are otherwise in a "maybe" status of some sort.  I'm trying to nail down the final headcount no later than April 11, so for anyone who has expressed or said they might attend, please chime in and provide a firm "yes" or "no" response by April 11.  I'd appreciate it!

[kphoger]

Anyone hoping to clinch I-135 on this trip should still be able to.  NB I-135 remains open again after a derailed train nearly wiped out a bridge structure Saturday night—restricted to a single lane, but still open.  Both NB and SB I-135 will be closed this week-end to finish the transition to the newly built WB K-96 to NB I-135 ramp, but it appears that will just be a single week-end thing, so it should all be open again by the time of the meet.

[kphoger]

Both NB and SB I-135 will be closed this week-end to finish the transition to the newly built WB K-96 to NB I-135 ramp, but it appears that will just be a single week-end thing, so it should all be open again by the time of the meet.

This is the ramp that should open soon:  https://maps.app.goo.gl/mm39knrk2DXrU7H18

Unfortunately, the big flyover in the background still looks the same as it did back when the GSV shot was taken.

[Rothman]

If there was anyone doing more exploring of Kansas as part of their trip to the meet, K-177 is closed to through traffic between US 50 and US 56, while maintaining local access to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve from the south.

The official detour from Strong City: US 50 to K-150 to US 56, nearly 70 miles.

[kphoger]

K-177 is closed

Dang, they just can't seem to keep that highway open, can they?

[kphoger]

One other oddball thing to see is how they shoehorned the this huge pillar into the central barrier of Kellogg when they redid the I-235 interchange.  Zero shoulder, bouncy pavement, heavy traffic, freeway speeds.