Topeka, KS February 2026

The Many Ways We Love Local

February invites us to think about love in all its forms, the romantic kind, yes, but also the quieter, often overlooked ways we care for ourselves and the communities that shape us. In this Love Local issue, we're celebrating just that: the beauty of investing in yourself while supporting the people and places that make our Golden City feel like home.

Self-love isn't always indulgent. Sometimes it looks like prioritizing your health, asking thoughtful questions, or choosing a doctor whose compassionate approach reminds us that attentive care is one of the greatest acts of self-respect. We also feature a local neurosurgeon whose recently authored book offers an intimate, compelling look at a life shaped by purpose, resilience and reflection, proof that even the most accomplished among us continue learning how to care for their whole selves.

Of course, love is also meant to be shared. Few places capture that spirit better than our beloved TPAC, where stories and performances come alive and connection fills every seat. And for those planning a future celebration, we're highlighting local event spaces perfect for wedding receptions, venues where love stories are toasted, danced out, and remembered for years to come.

You'll also find something delicious waiting inside these pages. Our February salad recipes are fresh, satisfying, and anything but ordinary, meals you'll truly love eating. Because nourishing yourself should feel joyful, not obligatory.

This issue is a reminder that loving local is deeply personal. It's choosing care, creativity, and community, again and again. We hope these stories inspire you to savor what's close to home and to extend that same care inward.

With love,

KATHY GRAHAM, EDITOR @TOPEKALIFESTYLE

February 2026

PUBLISHER

Brian Rodehorst | brian.rodehorst@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Kathy Graham | kathy.graham@citylifestyle.com

STAFF WRITERS

Kelsey Huber | khuber2@gmail.com

Linda Ditch | lindaaditch@gmail.com

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kristol Kumar | kristol@kristolkumar.com

Lindsey Wagers | info@wagersphotography.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lea Grimaldi, Amalia (Amy) Lolia

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Stacey B Photography, Amalia (Amy) Lolia

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad

LAYOUT DESIGNER Jamie Housh

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Anna Minnick

Proverbs 3:5-6

city scene

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DIRECT PRIMARY CARE

AN OPTION FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE TO AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE

Dr. Douglas Iliff has spent the past 40 years caring for patients in his private family practice in the Fleming Place shopping center on Gage Blvd. He also spent time at Minor Med urgent care in the same building, treating walk-in patients for everything from colds and cuts and scrapes to routine injuries and physicals.

ARTICLE BY LINDA DITCH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTOL KUMAR PHOTOGRAPHY

This year, Dr. Iliff is transitioning out of his family practice, leaving it in the capable hands of Blaire Helgeson, DNP, APRN, FNP-C. This will give him

the time to pursue a new medical concept at Minor Med that he has considered for the past 15 to 20 years--direct primary care.

What is direct primary care? The cost of medical care continues to rise much faster than inflation. Ideally, everyone should have insurance, but many individuals and small businesses find it unaffordable. Lacking coverage, patients skip essential preventive care and struggle with unexpected medical emergencies, highlighting the need for affordable options.

That is where the concept of direct primary care comes into play.

"The concept is simple," says Dr. Iliff. "It's for people who don't have insurance or people who have very high deductibles and would like to have a relatively conservative monthly subscription fee for which they get a package of services. That package of services depends on the individual direct primary care. In our case, it would be everything that I do in my normal family practice, or that Minor Med does after hours, such as suturing, biopsies, all the lab work we do for routine physicals, and just general maintenance care and preventive medicine, which is the thing I've always been most interested in."

For a monthly fee, Minor Med direct primary care patients receive scheduled preventive care visits or unscheduled urgent care at no cost. The monthly subscription fees range from $30 to $90, depending on the patient's age, plus a one-time enrollment fee of $100. Covered tests and procedures include the most common bloodwork for lipid, thyroid, and metabolic profiles; urinalysis; strep, flu, and Covid tests; EKG; treadmill stress test; 24-hour blood pressure;

biopsies; and x-rays. Some laboratory tests, immunizations, and prescriptions are not covered.

Patients will always speak to a person when they call during regular office hours. Dr. Iliff notes, "I hate phone trees. Especially the ones that say, 'If this is an emergency, call 911,' followed by numerous other choices. When someone calls, they always get a person, usually someone who knows them well. That's an important feature of our building, in contrast to corporate practices."

Dr. Iliff graduated from the University of Kansas Medical School in 1974. He worked his way through college as a sports correspondent for the Kansas City Star and joined the army to pay for medical school. His residency in family practice was at Womack Army Hospital, Fort Bragg, NC, and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Faculty Development Program (1979).

He came to Topeka in 1980 not to set up a medical practice, but to join six other young couples in starting Cair Paravel Latin School. During that time, he worked as an emergency physician at StormontVail until starting his private practice.

CONTINUED >

Dr. Iliff says, "Originally, back when I was in medical school, I thought that I probably wouldn't practice until I was in my 50s and then, having made enough to retire on, I could go do the things I really enjoyed. A lot of things happened along the way, and I found that what I really enjoyed was being a family physician.

I've wanted to do direct primary care for a long time because I love the model. We're now well-equipped to deal with a variety of problems. We've got Minor Med for urgent care issues for anybody. Otherwise, we have regular primary care with Dr. Helgeson for insured patients and Minor Med primary care by subscription for those who want direct primary care."

To learn more about Minor Med's direct primary care, visit minormedtopeka.com/primary-care

When a City Believes

THE PASSION AND PARTNERSHIP THAT BROUGHT TOPEKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TO LIFE

In 1940, the Topeka Municipal Auditorium opened. For more than five decades, it served as the center of entertainment in the city. It was the go-to spot to experience everything from circuses and basketball games to Broadway talent. Stars including Count Basie, Nat King Cole, and even Elvis Presley graced its stage.

As time went on, however, Topeka’s population center shifted south and west. In 1987, the Kansas Expocentre opened, and the once-proud Municipal Auditorium sat empty.

But a special group of Topeka citizens, with a vision and a love for the performing arts, refused to let this Art Deco treasure

fade into the past. Willing and able to help fund the project, they formed a public-private collaboration to renovate the building and create something extraordinary in downtown Topeka. In this first-of-its-kind partnership, the City of Topeka contributed $2.5 million, with the remaining funds raised from corporations, foundations, and individuals within the community.

In March 1991, the Topeka Performing Arts Center became a reality, opening with On Broadway, starring Ben Vereen. TPAC, as Topekans lovingly refer to it, is a world-class auditorium suitable for performances by Broadway touring companies, major dance companies, and full orchestras.

“It’s wonderful that people recognized the opportunity and found a way not only to save this architecturally unique building, but to turn it into the showplace it is today.”

We sat down with Dan Kays, Executive Director of the Topeka Performing Arts Center, and Shawn Brian, Marketing Manager, to learn how this uniquely founded and funded renovation was made possible.

“The fact that this building exists speaks volumes about our community,” Kays said. “It’s wonderful that people recognized the opportunity and found a way, even if it was unconventional, not only to save this architecturally unique building, but to turn it into the showplace it is today.”

“A lot of communities aren’t fortunate enough to have something like this,” Kays continued. “It’s important for the community to understand that they need to support this space because they use it. For instance, TPAC is the only venue in Topeka that can accommodate ballet. There are five dance companies in the city, two of them ballet, and every single one holds its recitals at TPAC.”

As a city facility, TPAC hosts many community events. For example, Kansas Ballet presented a shortened version of The Nutcracker for 2,000 schoolchildren in December. “We want to remind Topekans that their kids and grandkids are benefiting from this wonderful center, which relies on community support to thrive,” Kays said.

In his first year as Executive Director, Kays plans to bring more live shows to TPAC. “We are introducing TPACLive! When I found out that Topeka has a jazz organization, Topeka Jazz , I thought it was a great opportunity for us to combine efforts and bring bigger names to our city,” he said.

Following a holiday performance at the famed Carnegie Hall, jazz trumpeter Jonathan Dely is among the first artists scheduled for the TPACLive! music s eries. “He’s set to perform on Valentine’s Day,” Kays said excitedly. “I saw him in New York in 2023. I loved his energy and his talent. He’s just amazing on the trumpet. He’s going to be the next Chris Botti or Wynton Marsalis.”

Marketing Manager Shawn Brian echoed Kays’ enthusiasm for TPAC and the upcoming season.

“My favorite part of the job is being able to go out into the community and tell our friends and neighbors about all the exciting things happening here at TPAC,” Brian said. “There are folks who’ve never been here, and exposing them to this gem of a building for the first time is incredibly rewarding. The more events they attend and the more experiences they add to their lives, the more they become involved in the arts. There’s nothing like the excitement and buzz we share when watching a live performance.”

For a 2026 show schedule, go to topekaperformingarts.org

See Jazz Trumpeter Jonathan Dely

Live on Valentine’s Day

I’m really happy anytime I get an opportunity like this to come to a community I’ve never been to with people I don’t know, and perform real music for real people, and there are no robots involved.

I dedicate 99% of my time to live performance because you can’t bottle that up and consume it for 0.0037 cents per stream. A live performance, with that unique combination of people in a theater that can never be duplicated ever, ever again, that is invaluable to me. You can never come for my job. You can’t ever put a robot on stage in place of me, or my musicians, like you can with recorded music.

I hope the audience, and this is consistent with my story of having turned down a lucrative career in the world of finance, I hope what they hear and see is sacrifice. I hope that they can feel that there is a certain joy onstage of saying no to selfish monetary wealth for this collective artistic project that now lives and breathes in the world and carries on the tradition of jazz music.

ARTICLE BY LINDA DITCH PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTOL KUMAR PHOTOGRAPHY

Steep

A Story About The Past’s Hold On Life

When retired neurosurgeon Dr. Craig Yorke first got the idea of writing about his past, he planned it as a letter to his two adult sons, Zach and Chris. Then he found himself facing the Black Studies section of a local bookstore. He was impressed by the scholarly books that diagnosed America's problems, but noticed they gave little mention of solving them.

Thus was born "Steep: A Black Neurosurgeon's Journey".

Yorke says, "The goal was to get shelf space in the Black Studies section, but to lengthen the shelf a little bit and redefine in a small way what black studies means, therefore expanding the audience."

At first, the book may seem like a rags-to-riches narrative like those by Horatio Alger. Yorke was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, known as Boston's Black Ghetto. He went on to attend the prestigious Boston Latin School. A talented violinist, he played for the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra in both Carnegie Hall and for President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy at the White House. During his senior year, he was named a Presidential Scholar, which produced an invitation back to the White House for a reception hosted by President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird.

Yorke went on to attend Harvard University and Harvard Medical School. He served his residency at the University of California San Francisco.

Then, thanks to the efforts of Jack Runnels of the Menninger Foundation, he spent the next 25 years as a practicing neurosurgeon in Topeka, living in a large older home with his wife Mary and their sons.

Though the book highlights Yorke's many successes, there is a deeper underlying theme to the writing. Yorke explains, "I intended to write a book about how we inhabit and relate to our history. I'm convinced that almost all of us are unconscious of history's power over us. And therefore, that power is very great. And "Steep" is a book of trying to nuzzle up to the part of the past that hurts. And as you do that, you start to get friendly with it, and it starts to lose its power. You begin to get a little bit of liberation, from not just the past, but you get liberated a little bit from the future, too. Now, I have never met a fully liberated person," he continues. "But I will say that writing the book showed me the trailhead to that path. And honestly, I recommend it to everybody. It is certainly the cheapest therapy you'll ever get."

In the book, Yorke shows how his parents not only wanted him to be successful, but they also used his achievements as a kind of shield to protect themselves from those who saw them as less than. It was a way to avenge centuries of pain. His success proved they were not contemptible, but he paid a heavy price for their ambitions.

“Yorke has met many readers who identify with his story.”

"It's less about the weight of bigotry than the price and value of success. The price of success for me was significant. It cost me my childhood, and I spent decades living the life of somebody else. Living my ancestor's life," Yorke says.

Steep opens with a quote from James Baldwin: "The great force of history comes from the fact that we carry it within us, are unconsciously controlled by it."

"That was me," says Yorke. "And that is a whole lot of people."

Since the book's publication in May 2025, Yorke has met many readers who identify with his story. Perhaps most surprising, many of those people are white.

He says, "Writing the book is a way of blurring the margins of self and opening yourself, your identity, to being surprised by what you share with unlikely people. I like to think that my story is seldom told, but it certainly isn't alien. That's what I mean by steeping yourself. Kind of ripening, flowering, taking off the armor."

"Steep: A Black Neurosurgeon’s Journey" is published by Flint Hills Publishing. It is available at local bookstores, Bookshop. org, and Amazon. For more information, visit craigyorke.com.

LOVE IS IN the Air

Finding the Perfect Place to Say “I Do”

ARTICLE BY KELSEY HUBER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTOL KUMAR PHOTOGRAPHY/STACEY B PHOTOGRAPHY

No two love stories are the same, and neither are the spaces chosen to honor them. Today’s brides are redefining what a wedding looks like, embracing styles that range from timeless elegance and high-class glamour to relaxed, easygoing gatherings that feel effortlessly personal. Both visions are equally beautiful and equally meaningful.

Love is in the air, and in Topeka, it drifts through grand halls, open fields, and rustic barns waiting to be filled with celebration. A wedding venue does more than simply hold a group of people; it sets the tone for the entire day. It frames the vows, defines the photographs, and quietly reflects the bride’s personality at every turn. Whether you envision a black-tie soirée complete with sweeping staircases and sparkling chandeliers or an outdoor sunset ceremony with laughter carried on the breeze, Topeka offers a variety of venues to suit every modern bride.

Wedding celebrations are deeply personal expressions of love. The perfect venue isn’t about trends or expectations. It’s about finding a place that fits, a place that feels like you. Whether polished and formal or warm and casual, the right setting allows a bride’s style to shine and her love story to unfold naturally. From historic architecture to wide-open prairie horizons, Topeka offers venues that celebrate individuality, complement vision, and echo each couple’s unique story. Whether you’re planning a small, intimate affair or an exclusive, all-weekend, all-property celebration, here are three wedding venues that offer unforgettable experience.

SOPHISTICATED AND UPSCALE

The Beacon is a natural choice for brides drawn to blacktie sophistication and upscale celebrations. Located in downtown Topeka inside the former Topeka Woman’s Club building, this historic venue radiates 1920s elegance. This newly renovated space, spanning more than 25,000 square feet across three floors, offers a collection of character-rich spaces that feel both grand and intimate.

Ceremonies can unfold in the dramatic theater, while cocktail hour invites guests into the speakeasy-style Founders Room lounge. The third-floor ballroom, complete with twin balconies and sweeping city views, provides an elegant setting for receptions. With its timeless glamour, architectural beauty, and refined atmosphere, The Beacon offers a unique space perfectly suited for unforgettable formal weddings.

RUSTIC AND ROMANTIC

Cedar Lawn Farm speaks to brides who crave warmth, nature, and effortless romance. Centered around a lovingly restored 1889 barn, this venue blends oldworld charm with modern comfort. Rolling hills, endless grasslands, and golden sunsets create a breathtaking backdrop for ceremonies and photographs alike. Inside, historic details meet thoughtful updates, allowing celebrations to feel timeless yet comfortable. Cedar Lawn Farm is a place where love feels as expansive as the horizon itself. It is ideal for easygoing brides seeking authenticity and natural beauty.

ELEGANT AND RELAXED

The Brownstone offers a seamless balance of elegance, comfort, and rustic charm for brides who want it all. This boutique indoor-outdoor venue blends historic architecture with modern amenities, creating a welcoming space that feels both refined and relaxed. The property features 2,400 square feet of open space for weddings and receptions, along with its original salt-glazed block silo, which now houses a circular wine cellar and bar.

The Brownstone offers big-city style with small-town prices. Thoughtful details, including premier bridal lounges, personal wedding coordinators, and flexible ceremony packages, ensure each celebration feels seamless and stress-free. The result is a wedding day filled with individuality, hospitality, and heartfelt joy, creating memories that last long after the final dance.

A SALAD REC IPE TO LOV E

A GORGEOUS, FRESH AND SIMPLE DISH

PEAR, PROSCIUTTO,

Burrata Salad

INGREDIENTS

• Ripe Pear

• Prosciutto

• Burrata

• Lemon Zest

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• Dried Figs

• Red Pepper Flakes

DIRECTIONS

1. Slice the ripe pear into thin slices.

2. Arrange pear slices on a plate, creating a base for the salad.

3. Nestle slices of prosciutto in-between pear slices, a perfect combo of sweet and savory.

4. Tear the burrata into bite-sized pieces and scatter them over the salad adding a velvety creaminess to the ensemble.

5. Grate fresh lemon zest over the entire salad, infusing it with citrus flavor.

6. Top with fresh basil, figs and pepper flakes.

7. Finish by generously drizzling extra virgin olive oil over the salad, creating a silky texture that ties it all together.

realty report

MIRROR WORK FOR SELF-LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? Everyone knows this line from Snow White. The Queen wanted to be the fairest. When she wasn’t, she poisoned beautiful Snow White. Most of us do not believe ourselves to be the fairest, but quite the opposite.

As February is widely known as the month of love, let’s focus on self-love. Often people, especially parents, tend to give a lot to their partners and their children and less to themselves. Sometimes it is challenging for us to silence the inner critic that speaks harshly to ourselves in a way we would never speak to a loved friend or family member. This is where mirror work can help.

Many people have a complicated relationship with the mirror. We don’t always like to look at our reflections. We may find it confronting. Taylor Swift even sings about it in her song Anti-hero: “I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror.” Why is it so difficult for some of us to gaze with love–or affection–into the mirror?

ARTICLE BY LEA GRIMALDI

Mirror work, a term coined by transformational teacher and selflove expert Louise Hay, founder of Hay House Publishing, and the author of You Can Heal Your Life and Mirror Work: 21 Days to Heal Your Life, is the practice of looking at yourself in the mirror and saying nice things to yourself. You can start with something simple. “I like myself. I am doing the best I can today.” Or even, “Hey sweetie! You look great!” One of my favorites is, “I love, accept, and forgive myself fully and completely.” Mirror work combines well with affirmations, which are positive phrases said in the present tense as if they are already true. The practice of saying affirmations combined with mirror work can increase the benefits of both practices.

I AM STRONG. I AM CAPABLE. I CAN DO THIS. I BELIEVE IN MYSELF. I KNOW MY WORTH. I CAN DO HARD THINGS. MY LIFE IS ABUNDANT. I AM HAPPY AND HEALTHY IN MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT. I BELIEVE IN MYSELF. I AM KIND AND COMPASSIONATE. I DESERVE LOVE AND ABUNDANCE. I AM DOING MY BEST. I AM SMART. I AM BRAVE. I AM POWERFUL. I AM STRONG.

The objective of mirror work is to help people silence their inner critic and believe the positive words they are telling themselves while looking at themselves in the mirror.

Mirror work can help with self-esteem issues and can achieve results such as changing a negative body image to a more positive one. Hay developed the practice to increase self-compassion and self-love as part of the daily activities detailed in her 1984 book You Can Heal Your Life

Although it can be confronting and challenging, it is important to practice mirror work regularly to reap the benefits. Set a daily goal of saying affirmations while looking at your reflection in the mirror and seeing how it makes you feel. Start with two minutes a day and work up to five.

As a yoga teacher, I have included mirror work in my classes with clients. Often the first experience with the exercise is somewhat uncomfortable, but with practice, it becomes more natural. When resistance comes up, ask yourself what you are feeling, allow the emotion to be present, and then release it. It may be rooted in a past experience and just needs to be acknowledged and felt before you can let it go.

HERE ARE SOME SIMPLE GUIDELINES FOR HOW TO CREATE A MIRROR WORK PRACTICE:

• Make sure you will be alone and uninterrupted so you can let your guard down and allow emotions to surface

• Try to do it for a set amount of time, such as five minutes every day

• Allow yourself to feel and process whatever emotions show up

• Keep a journal to record your feelings, reactions, and experiences

• Start with less confronting or difficult phrases, and as you become comfortable increase the intensity

Mirror work can be used in tandem with inner-child work because many of the negative limiting beliefs that play in our minds are the result of something we were told as a child that is not true about us or our life. If something negative comes up during mirror work, we can challenge it and write about the feelings in the journal, thus freeing us from that limiting belief.

Inner child work is an approach to recognizing and healing childhood trauma. We all experience traumas as children which affect the way we experience the world. As adults, we can reconnect with the child we once were, in order to heal. Mirror work is one way to help facilitate that process, in addition to talk therapy, meditation exercises, and setting healthy boundaries.

MIRROR WORK COMBINES WELL WITH AFFIRMATIONS, WHICH ARE POSITIVE PHRASES SAID IN THE PRESENT TENSE AS IF THEY ARE ALREADY TRUE.

Here are some ideas for affirmations to use with your mirror work. I am strong. I am capable. I can do this. I believe in myself. I know my worth. I can do hard things. My life is abundant. I am happy and healthy in mind, body, and spirit. I believe in myself. I am kind and compassionate. I deserve love and abundance. I am doing my best. I am smart. I am brave. I am powerful.

In the words of Hay, “Doing mirror work is one of the most loving gifts you can give yourself.”