by Debbi | Nov 30, 2011 | Christmas, Downtown, Events, Good Things, Pub Crawl
SantaCon 2011 is coming to town!
Last year we participated in the inaugural SantaCon in downtown Lawrence, and we're excited to be part of this event again this year!
What is SantaCon? “SantaCon is a mass gathering of people dressed in Santa Claus costumes parading publicly on streets and in bars in cities around the world. The focus is on spontaneity and creativity, while having a good time and spreading cheer and goodwill," according to Wikipedia.
SantaCon Lawrence also incorporates a bit of charity: a food drive to benefit Just Food, the local food bank.
Here's the details for this year's extravaganza:
- When: Saturday, Dec. 17
- Time: 2 p.m.
- Where: Starts at the Sandbar and travels to downtown Lawrence bars
Food donations will be accepted at the Sandbar all day on Dec. 17, so even if you can't participate in SantaCon you can still donate non-perishable food.
Be sure to find a Santa costume! Check out Fun & Games or the Antique Mall in downtown Lawrence for suits or accessories. Or, be creative and make your own!
For more information about SantaCon Lawrence, including the rules, visit the website. You can also like the SantaCon Lawrence Facebook page or RSVP to the event on Facebook.
by Debbi | Oct 14, 2011 | Downtown, Events, Good Things
Last night's inaugural Girls' Night Downtown shopping extravaganza and fundraiser was a big success!
Girls' Night Downtown featured discounts at over 25 participating downtown merchants for ladies (and men!) who bought a $20 shopping pass. All proceeds from the shopping pass benefit Mario's Closet at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. We don't know the total amount raised yet, but based on the number of pink bags we saw last night, it has to be a good amount!
We were excited to be one of the five after-party locations. Shoppers dropped their passes into pink boxes at each of the after-party spots to be entered into a grand prize drawing- and the prize was amazing! Participating merchants all donated gift certificates ranging from $20 to $200 (and maybe even more than that!), and the winner got a pink wallet stuffed with over $1900 worth of gift certificates.
Dave had another treat for the shoppers and bar-hoppers last night:
All of the participating businesses had pink wigs to designate their status. Dave cleverly attached our pink wig to the photo cut-out. And of course, he couldn't resist an opportunity to take a picture himself!
We also gave away free pint glasses to anyone who showed their shopping pass to the bartender.
Thanks to all the wonderful businesses downtown who participated in this great event, to Downtown Lawrence Inc. and Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association for dreaming up such a fun idea and to all the shoppers who flocked downtown last night! Hope you had a great time!
by Debbi | Oct 10, 2011 | Downtown, Events, Good Things
Have you heard about Girls' Night Downtown?
We posted about it here, but it's such a great event and for a wonderful cause that we're mentioning it again. All ticket proceeds benefit Mario's Closet at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
- When: Thursday, Oct. 13
- Time: 5-9 p.m.
- Where: Downtown Lawrence
Buy a ticket for $20 ($10 with a college ID), and you'll get access to great discounts at participating shops in downtown Lawrence.
Get your hot pink ticket stamped at the stores you visit, and you could win the grand prize- a pink wallet stuffed with gift certificates from all the participating merchants! The value of the gift certificates is over $1000!
(photo borrowed from the Downtown Lawrence Facebook page)
We have a few tickets available on a clipboard behind the bar; if you're interested in buying one just ask the bartender. Otherwise, you can purchase them online here, or in person on Thursday night in front of U.S. Bank or next to the Eldridge.
Click here for a list of participating merchants.
And if you come to the after-party at the Sandbar, you'll get a free pint glass! Show your pink pass to the bartender, and you'll get a free Sandbar pint glass with our logo in pink. Stick around for tropical drink night and enjoy any of our delicious tropical drinks for only $2.50! It's the perfect way to unwind after an evening of shopping.
Like Girls Night Downtown on Facebook.
by Debbi | Oct 1, 2011 | Events, Good Things
Once again the Sandbar sponsored a team at the Spurling Scramble, the sixth annual golf tournament put on by the Lawrence Police Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police and International Association of Firefighters. This year's event was held last Thursday at Alvamar.
Proceeds from the event benefit a family or organization in need.
Team Sandbar consisted of staffers Tegan, Joe, Nathan and Tyler. Dave dragged himself out of bed early to be there at 7:30 a.m. with thermoses full of hot chocolate and bottles of Buttershots. He didn't golf, but he happily handed out shots and hung out with Karen and Kalissa.
According to the golfers, the "Factor" was in full effect that day. If you don't know what that means, you need to spend more time at the Sandbar.
by Debbi | Sep 30, 2011 | Downtown, Events, Good Things
Ladies, mark your calendars for a Girls' Night Downtown, a fun new event in downtown Lawrence!
Downtown Lawrence, Inc., and the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association are teaming up to bring a shopping extravaganza to our downtown shopping district. Along with special discounts at participating stores, the proceeds will all benefit Mario's Closet, a specialty shop at LMH that offers wigs and other accessories for cancer patients that was founded by the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation.
Here's what you need to know:
- When: Thursday, Oct. 13
- Time: 5-9 p.m.
- Cost: $20, or $10 with a college I.D. (All ticket proceeds go directly to Mario's Closet)
Tickets can be purchased online in advance here. You can also purchase tickets at the DLI office, 833 1/2 Massachusetts, or on the night of the event next to the Eldridge or in front of U.S. Bank.
So, what do you get for the ticket price?
A pink shopping passport that gives you access to great discounts at participating merchants (see a list of participants here) and a pink shopping bag from Douglas County Bank filled with more coupons.
At every store you shop, be sure to get your passport stamped, and after you've shopped 'til you're about to drop, you can stop by after-parties at several venues, including the Sandbar. Drop your completed passport into the drawing box at the after-party, and you'll be entered to win the grand prize: a pink wallet full of gift certificates to downtown businesses!
This is a fabulous opportunity to shop downtown, enjoy great discounts, get some early holiday shopping done AND help raise money for a great cause.
We'll be participating in the party afterwards with a shot special, and everyone who visits and shows their pink passport to the bartender will get a free Sandbar pint glass. It just so happens that Thursday nights are tropical drink nights, too, so you can enjoy $2.50 tropical drinks in your new glass!
by Debbi | Sep 23, 2011 | Events, Good Things
Did you know Lawrence is in competition with Manhattan for $100,000? Lawrence is participating in the Take Charge Challenge, a community-wide project challenge, and the prize is $100,000 for energy-efficient projects. Oh, and bragging rights.
Here's what you need to know, straight from the city of Lawrence (note: copy provided by the city, not written by me):
What is Change5? It’s about saving money! Did you know that if you change the 5 most used bulbs in your house that you’ll save $75 a year? That’s $75 you save on bills and $75 you can spend on other things. Why not Change 5?
Have you changed 5? With only 9 days left in the Take Charge Challenge, Lawrence is lagging behind Manhattan and we have just a few days left to change the outcome to beat Manhattan (and KSU!) and bring home bragging rights to Lawrence that we won the 2011 University challenge!
How can YOU help? We’re asking everyone in Lawrence to log on to the Take Charge Kansas website and register ANY bulb switches (from incandescent to CFL) that you’ve made in 2011. If you’ve already registered your bulbs, then tell a friend! We are canvassing Lawrence via email and social media to get the message out that we’re in this to WIN it and we need the community to get behind us to win! If everyone in Lawrence registers 5 bulbs, then Lawrence can win and bring home the $100,000 grand prize for LOCAL Lawrence projects.
Why should YOU care? The projects selected would not happen in our local community without the funding from the Take Charge Challenge. What will Lawrence do if (when) we win:
1. Fire Station #5 – Take Charge Challenge funds would be used to install solar photovoltaic panels at Fire Station #5 at 19th and Stewart Ave. The project would cost approximately $66,000. Fire Station #5 is the largest user of energy amongst the five Lawrence stations. The panels would reduce energy usage by 16,500 kWh or 2% annually.
2. Prairie Park Nature Center – Take Charge Challenge funds would be used to install solar thermal panels at Prairie Park Nature Center in southeast Lawrence. The panels would cost approximately $8,000 and would reduce energy uses by 2,500 kWh annually.
3. East Lawrence Recreation Center – Take Charge Challenge funds would be used to install large fans at East Lawrence Recreation Center. The fans would reduce HVAC energy costs by 15% annually and save approximately $1,400 per year.
4. Energy Audits for city buildings – The remaining funds will be used to help improve efficiency in city buildings – fewer dollars for energy costs means more dollars available for services and programs.
What NOW? Log on to the Take Charge Kansas website and register your bulbs immediately. And, ask your friends, co-workers and neighbors in Lawrence and encourage them to do the same. But, don’t wait — time is running out — only 9 days left!
Don’t have any more bulbs to change? Tell a friend or neighbor! We need EVERYONE to get involved – KU students, landlords, homeowners, neighborhood organizations – anyone who wants Lawrence to win and be able to complete these great projects for our community.
Thanks for helping out! The Take Charge Challenge ends on September 30, 2011. Energy efficiency matters to Lawrence and not losing to Manhattan matters to our community. Go Lawrence, beat Manhattan!
Friends, this is a small, simple thing you can do that not only helps you save money and energy, but it also helps your community. These projects will benefit us all!
