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Looking for some new additions to your book collection? Whether you’re a collector or just searching for your next good book, find it at a local Wichita bookstore. Here are five places to find the perfect book. more Watermark Books & Cafe For a truly local bookstore experience, be sure to visit Watermark Books and Cafe on East Douglas Ave. Open six days a week and closed on Sunday, the store offers a variety of books across many genres. With an excellent children's section, the store hosts many storytimes and author signing events to help encourage young readers. In addition, the bookstore publishes newsletters for kids, teachers, new releases, and seasoned readers. With a big focus on local and regional authors, you can find some Wichita gems at Watermark. The bookstore's cafe offers soups and a variety of pastries to enjoy with your book. F.C. Ziegler Co. Also located on East Douglas Ave., F.C. Ziegler Company is a small Catholic bookstore chain. Open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, they carry prayer books, devotionals, bibles, and gift items. You can find history books and commemorative edition books to celebrate special occasions such as baptisms and weddings. Book-a-holic Book-a-holic is a wonderful independent used bookstore. With three locations in Wichita, all three are open seven days a week. Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The store allows you to buy, sell, or trade for your next great read in any genre from cooking to science-fiction and everything in between. Barnes & Noble Are you ready to explore a store with something for everyone? Stop by Barnes and Noble on North Rock Road. Free WiFi means you can escape the daily grind to study or work while enjoying a Starbucks coffee in the on-site cafe. You can also relax and disconnect in many of the welcoming seating areas located throughout the store. With weekly storytimes (featuring free cafe items and giveaways for the kids), author events, book release parties, Barnes & Noble is a great weekly stop for the kids. In addition to their events and extensive periodical inventory, you can pick up special orders in-store. Al's Old & New Book Store LLC If you are looking for a new copy of an old book, head over to Al's Old and New Book Store on East William Street. The store focuses on carrying older titles that are hard to find in other locations, including classics and a variety of history books. If you are looking for a treasured book from years ago, ask them to show you the special research tools they have to help cut down your search time. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to explore their more than 40,000 book inventory. With so many options, it will be fun and easy to find your next read at one of these Wichita bookstores. Make it a weekly after-school field trip with the kids or make it a date night stop to sip a cup of coffee and browse the extensive book selections at your favorite store. Image via Pixabay by geralt

It's never too late to pick up a new hobby or find a new way to entertain yourself, and around the Wichita, Kansas, area there are a lot of things to do. Here is a list of some fun, exciting activities you can try that will broaden your horizons. more 1. Yoga From the outside looking in, yoga might just seem like a bunch of breathing and stretching, but the transformative effects it can have on the body are simply amazing. According to studies, yoga not only builds up inner core strength and increases flexibility but also will reduce stress levels and strengthen the immune system. It's an all-natural way to increase your quality of life and there are a lot of different classes going on throughout the Wichita area that will fit into any schedule. 2. Rogers Ballet Rogers Ballet offers classes for students throughout the year regardless of their experience level. Their focus is on classical ballet and classes focus on everything from mechanics and presentation to maintaining a positive and joyful attitude. The school is owned and operated by Sharon Rogers, who is an Associate Professor of Ballet at the Friends University Ballet Program. Her spacious studio is equipped with Harlequin covered floors and the small class sizes ensure that students get the attention they need to excel at ballet. For information on class schedules and tuition, information is available on their website or via phone at (316) 263-8014. 3. Youth Lawn Mowing Clinic Designed for fifth- through ninth-graders who are interested in earning some money over the summer mowing lawns, the Youth Mowing Clinic is a one-day event on March 13, 2019. Over the course of a few hours, students will learn about different types of lawn grass, mowing safety, mower maintenance, and the business basics of mowing lawns. There are a morning and afternoon classes available and registration is $10. For more information and registration details, check out the Youth Lawn Mowing Clinic sign-up page. 4. Technology Classes at the Wichita Public Library The public library in Wichita has a plethora of different technology classes and seminars patrons can attend to become more digitally proficient. These classes cover subjects such as basic computing skills, audio/visual technology, building a digital business, learning Apple products, and many others. Many of these classes are free, but prospective students will still need to sign up through the specific branch where the class is being held. 5. Wichita Old Cowtown Lecture Series Local history buffs will love this set of lectures about everyday life during the latter half of the 19th century in the Wichita area. The lectures cover topics such as the hotels of the era, love and marriage, the development of Kansas and Wichita, banking, and more. The cost of each lecture is $3 or free if you're a member. For more information, check out the Old Cowtown Museum website or give them a call at (316) 350-3323. As you can see, there are many different classes and lectures to take in Wichita that appeal to a wide range of interests. Check out the ones that appeal to you and have fun learning something new. Image via Flickr by PaulAdamsPhotography