Mingling was a must Wednesday night at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce’s “Taste of Lawrence” fall mixer.

An estimated 1,700 merchants, bankers, politicians and teachers came together to sample food from local restaurants and sip beer on the grounds of Meadowbrook Apartments, 15th Street and Crestline Drive.

The purpose of the 30-year-old event — open only to chamber members and Douglas County educators — is to honor teachers in a relaxed setting. It also gives business people a chance to chat outside the office, and it showcases food, which this year ranged from stuffed grape leaves to steak burgers.

“Good food attracts people, and it creates an environment for conversation,” said Sarah Martin, director of the Lawrence school district’s Lawrence Education Achievement Partners program, or “LEAP.”

Martin stood a few feet from a giant, beret-clad fiberglass Jayhawk that was being raffled off at $10 per chance as a benefit for her program, which pairs community organizations or businesses with schools.

She was so busy spreading the word about the LEAP program that she hadn’t had time to use up many of her pre-paid food tickets.

“Hy-Vee’s chicken was wonderful,” she said.

Steve Howland, a vice president at U.S. Bank, stood with a cup of Coors Light in his right hand and a bag of fudge from the Chocolate Factory in the other.

Greg and Carol Rau, Lawrence, take some prime rib from Gerry McGuire at the Don's Steakhouse booth at Taste of Lawrence. The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce event Wednesday honored Douglas County educators on the grounds of Meadowbrook Apartments, near 15th Street and Crestline Drive.

He said he’d been making small talk with bank clients and other people in a way that’s difficult to do at the office.

“You get a chance to see a lot of people you don’t normally see during the business week,” he said.

Judging by the length of the lines, steak burgers from Hereford House and frozen custard from Sheridan’s were among the more popular foods. The beer tents scattered around the hillside also seemed popular.

“We’re just milling around drinking the free pale ale,” said 26-year-old Shana Rubin, who said she got an invitation to the event because she’s “a friend of a friend who makes steak burgers.”

Aaron Brinkerhoff, general manager of Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, 1012 Mass., reported that he’d gone through 600 wings in two hours.

“It’s more for the exposure, not really for the profit,” he said.

¢ 6News video: Taste of Lawrence celebrates partnership of educators and businesses