Towns in towns - NOTO

Once it was the center of the city, the place to go for shops and open markets, government and gossip. But with the advent of growth, North Topeka became that street most places know, where the double b's of bars and bad congregated and families kept away, along with people still went out but who might want to come home safely at the end of the evening. 

But then, as these things go, the city leaders and forward thinking citizens took a look and realized there was a lot of charm still waiting and turned the tide of the town (you see what I did) and NOTO was reborn into the Arts District of Topeka. The bars are now cool, antique stores line the street, monthly art walks happen and as the promotional press reads "NOTO is now, once again the place to be seen and is the colorful heartbeat of North Topeka with murals, artists, antiques and so much more!" 

We were headed to a arty cool furniture store to check out the potential of shifting some pieces. The store we were looking for was closed until Wednesday but an antique store was open (sort of, ok, they weren't really open, just working in the shop but an open door is an open door to me). It is the place in your head when you think of antiques, with two older men moving things around in cool, high ceiling dim rooms that stretch out of sight, with the scents of books and polished old wood and maybe even glass in the air. 

There was the  de rigueur cat, her name is Patina (of course her name is Patina) and there were older gentlemen (older, so polite I am when we were probably of a generation) helpful with some funny mixed in. For all that folky charm, Rusty Haggles has a savvy online presence, if you want to check it out. 

I remembered being here before, this place with its historic Main Street - I don't know if it's called Main Street but it looks like one to me, its gorgeous train depot, its generous parking. The cars looked too modern, but in my head I could see horses and carts, old cars with fat rounded fenders... Michelle indulged my frequent need to get photos.

The only thing better than an old building with a painted advert on it?
An old building with painted adverts painted over painted adverts. 

I'm a sucker for architectural detail,
especially when side by sided with modern boredom buildings

The capitol building peeks out from behind buildings (it's taller than the Capitol building in DC) until coming into full view. 

This is from the Kansas Historical Society, some trivia I didn't know, or forgot. I'm going with forgot. Maybe. I don't remember.

"The bronze statue of the Kansa warrior, Ad Astra, was placed on top of the dome in 2002. Sculpted by Kansas artist Richard Bergen, it is 22 feet and 2 inches tall and weighs 4,420 pounds. The Kansa people, for whom the state takes its name, contributed to the history of Kansas. The warrior faces toward the North Star, a symbol of finding one’s way. The statue is named for the state motto: Ad astra per aspera, “To the stars through difficulties.”

Facing the North Star. That's pretty awesome, we all need one.

The Western Meadowlark, the state bird, needs a serious makeover

In one of our stops, because moves always end up with some donations made, we asked what they would take, pick up, etc. He said the one thing they won't take is - get ready for it - desks. Desks! He said no one uses them anymore. It was sad. I remembered getting each of my children their own desk, how excited they were, a step in growing up, their OWN DESK! All those drawers to be filled, that surface to be used, a lamp to find. And now no one wants desks? Hey, GET OFFA MY LAWN, KID!

Have a what the hell Wednesday. Do something wendingly.