East Lawrence
East Lawrence offers a neighborhood full of character and an emerging art scene.
Warehouse Arts District
Located around 9th and Pennsylvania this section of town historically was filled with industrial and factory buildings but has undergone an interesting transformation in recent years. It now houses art galleries, lofts, and the surrounding historic neighborhood. Recent preservation and development projects in this district have contributed to the revitalization of this small section of our community. Lawrence has one of the highest percentages of working artists in the country per capita, and The Warehouse District has become the perfect area for those wanting space to create and display their works.
The Cider Gallery hosts an eclectic array of exhibits throughout the year. The unique building that houses the Cider Gallery previously served as a cider mill. The gallery doubles as an event space and is a popular spot for wedding receptions, meetings, and parties.
A giant warehouse welcomes you with large outdoor installation pieces and a vintage van before you even step foot through the door of Art Emergency. Inside, the giant warehouse is split into booths used as mini-galleries for local artists’ work. Art Emergency is open every month during Final Fridays.
See the intricate hand-cut paper art of Angie Pickman at Rural Pearl Studio. Pickman exhibits at galleries and fairs throughout the country. Most recently, her work has been featured in Midwest Living and Martha Stewart Living magazines, and her animation work premiered on PBS in the summer of 2016 in the documentary “Daughters of the Forest”. The studio and gallery are open by appointment and during Final Fridays.
With 18 artists studios, a music recording operation and collaborative space/gallery, SeedCo Studios is a creative laboratory. Each of the resident artists bringing their singular artistic identity and prowess to expand and delve deeper into conception and production.
“Sit down and make a wish. You will not be disappointed.” Sitting down used to be an easy task back when the Wishing Bench was unadorned by hanging ropes of knitted yarn, layers of mismatched cloth, and trinkets and tokens left behind by wishers past. You won’t be disappointed, though, by the wacky decoration and potential luck this Lawrence legend has to offer. You can find the wishing bench on the corner of 9th and Delaware.
For the Foodie
The foodie scene in East Lawrence keeps getting better and better. Several new and unique restaurants have popped up in recent history, and the reviews are stellar!
From the creators of the wildly successful Burger Stand comes Bon Bon! A cute little cafe with an impressive food and cocktail menu. The food, full of quality local ingredients (much of it from Bon Bon’s on-site garden), is prepared in the food truck next to their ginormous patio.
Beer. Food. Family. Friends. All of this can be found at East Lawrence’s newest dining establishment, Lawrence Beer Company. Located in a 100+-year-old building in the Warehouse Arts District, you can see the brewery production area from within the restaurant. The large wrap-around porch is a great place to try the brewery’s creations. A private tasting room is perfect for meetings and small events.
Enjoy a cup of coffee in a fresh, welcoming atmosphere at Decade. The coffee is supplied by Four Barrel Coffee, a much-acclaimed Bay Area roaster and served in mugs crafted by a local ceramist. Local artists’ works decorate the walls. Coffee isn’t the only thing you can order. The ice cream is made in-house and the ingredients in their sandwich and brunch menu are locally sourced.
Another excellent place for coffee is 1900 Barker Bakery & Cafe. Don’t skip on the fresh-baked goods at this organic, artisan bakery. The bread at 1900 Barker is made using freshly-milled grain from the best farms they can find. Some say their croissants are the best around!
History
Historic East Lawrence self-guided tour