photo by: Richard Gwin

Float riders flash the peace sign as they pass the crowd on Massachusetts Street on Saturday during the 15th annual Earth Day Parade.

I’ll admit names that involve geography sometimes get me confused. For instance, my trip to Austin, Texas, to steal the mascot of Austin Peay university has really left me scratching my head. (I won’t even attempt to explain the confusion the rest of their name caused.) But I’m not confused about this: The popular Middle Eastern restaurant Jerusalem Cafe is opening in downtown Lawrence.

Jerusalem Cafe is set to open at 1008 Massachusetts St., which is the spot that previously housed KC Smoke Burgers. Plans call for the restaurant to open early next week.

Jerusalem Cafe operates a popular restaurant in the Westport area of Kansas City, Mo. My understanding is the ownership group of the Lawrence restaurant won’t be entirely the same as the Kansas City restaurant, but the establishments will be affiliated. Stephanie Garman, a manager for the Lawrence restaurant, told me she did her training at the Kansas City Jerusalem Cafe. And she said the Lawrence restaurant will use the same menu, although the Lawrence menu won’t be quite as large.

“But we’re going to have all the favorites,” she said.

She said that means hummus and gyros will be big parts of the menu. I didn’t get into other details with her, but the Kansas City restaurant also features dishes such as kabobs, baba ghanouj, falafel, many combinations of olives and pita bread, and a dish I once fixed by accident: flaming cheese.

As for KC Smoke Burgers, that restaurant — which also was a spin-off of a Kansas City establishment — closed at the end of January. It was operating in a crowded market of fancy hamburger places that include Dempsey’s Burger Pub, The Burger Stand and BurgerFi.

As for Austin Peay State University — mascot the Governors — I now have figured out that KU’s first-round opponent is not located in Austin, nor Texas, but rather somewhere in Tennessee. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry wishes I would have figured it out a bit earlier, but it was an honest mistake and the trunk had lots of air holes.

In other news and notes from around town:

• Based on the number of people I’ve seen with Shamrock green Jayhawk tattoos creeping through downtown looking for a parking spot, I assume you already know massive events will be happening in downtown Lawrence on Thursday. First there is the 29th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade at 1 p.m. that runs along Massachusetts Street and into North Lawrence. Then at 3 p.m. there is an event that I believe will involve green beverages, yelling at referees, and perhaps even a basketball game.

So, Thursday could be considered the kickoff to event season in downtown Lawrence. Soon, we’ll be closing streets left and right to host some sort of party or festival. For those of you who like to keep up on such things, get out your calendar. Here’s a look at a few events that recently have been approved by City Hall.

• I’m not sure if there will be leprechauns at this one, but there will be lots of green at an upcoming Earth Day Parade. It is set for 11 a.m. on April 23 on Massachusetts Street. I think there also will be some celebrations and information fairs planned in Watson Park after the parade.

photo by: Richard Gwin

Float riders flash the peace sign as they pass the crowd on Massachusetts Street on Saturday during the 15th annual Earth Day Parade.

• One of downtown Lawrence’s more unique events is set for April 22. The Downtown Shot Put Event will return to the intersection of Eighth and New Hampshire streets. The event is held in conjunction with the Kansas Relays, but actually is organized by the folks at the Lawrence convention and visitors bureau. It usually attracts some of the top shot putters in the country. In addition to the shot put competition, there’s also a beer garden and other attractions. The event is scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

photo by: Nick Krug

Competitor Christian Cantwell throws up his arms as he watches his final throw of the night along with hundreds of spectators during the Downtown Olympic Shot Put event on Friday, April 17, 2015 at the intersection of Eighth and New Hampshire streets. Cantwell's won the competition with a throw of 70 feet six and a half inches.

• No promises that shot puts won’t be a part of this event. If you like the unusual, mark your calendars for May 27-29. Both the Art Tougeau Parade and the Busker Fest are set for downtown that weekend. The Art Tougeau Parade features a number of vehicles elaborately decorated and modified, while the Busker Fest is a celebration of street performers such as fire eaters, stilt walkers, sword swallowers and other such performers. The Art Tougeau event will close the 900 block of New Hampshire Street for parts of the weekend, and the Busker Fest will close the 100 block of East Eighth Street for portions of the weekend.

photo by: John Young

Mariel Reynolds, of Kansas City, Mo., hangs upside down, suspended above New Hampshire St. in front of the Lawrence Arts Center, as she performs with the aerial performance group Voler - Thieves of Flight while spectators watch as part of the annual Lawrence Busker Festival, Sunday, May 31, 2015.

• The Kansas Food Truck Festival is set for May 7. It will close the 800 block of Pennsylvania Street, the 600 block of East Ninth Street and the 600 block of East Eighth Street in East Lawrence. Expect a multitude of food trucks, live music and other such attractions.

photo by: John Young

Sara Danner, of Kansas City, Mo., works in the back of the Coffee Cake KC food truck while customers line up outside during the second annual Lawrence Food Truck Festival Saturday evening in east Lawrence.

• The Lawrence Community Shelter and Family Promises’ Home Run 5K will take place May 30. Parts of Massachusetts Street will be temporarily closed while runners make their way through the area.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Runners start the 2nd Annual Home Run 5K Monday morning, May 26, 2014. The run through downtown and into East Lawrence benefits th Lawrence Community Shelter and Family Promise of Lawrence.

• If there is one thing I’ve said about crafters, it is that they are planners. (I think that is what I said.) Regardless, the date already has been set for the Lawrence Parks and Recreation Fall Arts and Crafts Festival. It will be Sept. 11. It is scheduled to close the portion of Massachusetts Street that runs through South Park.

photo by: John Young

Shoppers browse through booths at the 2015 Fall Arts and Crafts Festival on Sunday in South Park in downtown Lawrence. The festival featured music, food, giant bubbles, mini horse rides and, of course, plenty of arts and crafts for everyone.

Don’t worry, we are just getting started with the events. There will be a multitude of events that get City Hall approval in the coming weeks.