More Catfish!
MON 8/11
Though neither the sport of kings nor the sport of champs, fishing earns its title as the sport of the serene. What other sport endorses bringing your own chair and cooler full of beer, then smoking a cigarette while deep in competition? And we dare you to find another sport that allows you to eat your opponent after your victory. Going fishing usually means a long drive to a placid lake, followed by the purchase of fancy bait and a trudge to the perfect spot. Not so at Lake of the Woods. Smack-dab in the middle of Swope Park — straight down Gregory Boulevard — Lake of the Woods boasts several fishing environments: the friendly camaraderie of fishing from the concrete dock; the breezy, duck-heavy experience of sitting around the stoney edge of the lake; the Thoreauesque endeavor of digging into the dirt that slopes toward the water; and the man-versus-nature thrill of creeping through the thickly wooded banks without another human in sight.
Some things to remember are your fishing permit, bait and a cooler to fill with drinks (or to sit on while waiting for something to bite). On Monday, the lake will be restocked with catfish, but there are other fish, turtles, snails and clams to occupy your line in the meantime.— Christopher Sebela
Wet ‘n’ Wild
It’s time to get all shook up in a swimsuit.
SAT 8/9
Waterfest 2003 might not have the skyscraping, spine-twisting tube slides of the higher-profile Oceans of Fun. But the park-turned-waterland has Green E, the Environmental Elvis. Green E, who aims to save the planet one song at a time (in a white jumpsuit), performs such classics as “Are You Recycling Tonight?” and “Viva Falafel.” (We hope he left his suede shoes at home — there will be lots of water balloons on hand.) The free Waterfest also offers paddleboats, a moonwalk, cane-pole fishing, water games and, yes, a water slide. Plus, the first 750 people get free food. The event runs from 5 to 9 p.m. at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, 87th Street and Lackman Road in Lenexa. For more information, call 913-541-0209.— Sarah Smarsh
