Star City Blog

Invisible Gifts - On-line vs. Brick and Mortar Holiday Shopping

by Indigo Zgud

Did you brave the retail mayhem also known as Black Friday? If you’re like a growing number of holiday shoppers, you may have opted to skip the bone-chilling barometric meter, scarce parking, endless lines and unpredictable crowds that are practically synonymous with the post-Thanksgiving retail rat race. Or, perhaps you’re boycotting the hustle and bustle altogether by doing all of your gift shopping online. 

But is there a downside to going totally digital for your seasonal gift shopping? Is something lost when one opts out of the annual craziness that defines December shopping, or is it all the same in the end? According to local businesses, it depends on what you’re looking for.

Specialty market The Saucy Cook is fast-becoming a premier destination for those with culinary enthusiasts on their gift list. The storefront boasts extensive selection premium gourmet food items, spices, cheeses, sauces, pastas, oils, seasonings, snacks and more. This extensive arsenal of wares provides shoppers with a hands-on sensory experience that is impossible to recreate online or through a catalog. But with logistics being what they are, making a trip to the store just isn’t feasible for some. 

“You can just reach so many more people online… It just opens the door to a lot more people,” owner Martin Wells said. “We’ve got this great radio spot that goes out all across the state but if you live out in the Panhandle or something, you’re probably not going to come here. You might come into Lincoln and maybe you’ll remember, but our online store is a way to let those people know that you don’t have to leave home to purchase our products. If you live in Grand Island and you see something that you like, you can order it online.”

But does increased reach always mean increased sales for a retailer? Not always. In fact, Ten Thousand Villages representative Lisa Lux explained that, for their location, online sales’ impact is fairly minimal. “A lot of the online shopping that is happening for Ten Thousand Villages is people who don’t have a location near them, or in their city,” Lux said, “…but especially at this location, being in the Haymarket, we do get a lot of traveling people as well. So to a certain extent we do discuss online options, but we ship items for people all the time. It’s not like people say 'Oh, well I’ll just get it online.' They want to come into the store.”

“I think people enjoy the store experience, being able to see things and touch things,” Lux said, adding that Ten Thousand Villages’ longstanding local presence is an attractive feature for many visitors. A 30-year history in the Lincoln community and over 10 years in the Historic Haymarket has allowed the store to become a well-known fixture for area gift shoppers— not just during the holiday season, but year-round, as well.

Buying Local “Local support has been helpful… We haven’t necessarily seen a decline in business that we could attribute to [online shopping] specifically… It seems that people are buying less in general, so it’s hard to know what to attribute slower sales to. But with that being said, we’ve also fared better than many retailers due to increased awareness and support of local and fair trade business practices.” The organization is run by a volunteer board of directors. Locally generated profits directly benefit the community through taxes, and the retail proceeds are used to promote the growth of its fair trade network.

This “buy local” movement and mentality have also benefitted The Saucy Cook, and their locally-procured inventory is a feature that is appreciated by both its online and its in-person customers. “It’s important to us to get a lot of Nebraska food in,” Wells said, gesturing toward a basket of locally made, fresh dried pastas crafted by local chef Jill Rodger.  Rodger’s succulent strands of Pumpkin Sage Nutmeg and Red Pepper, Dill and Sweet Potato-flavored pasta have earned a significant local following, and Wells believes that supporting local food artisans is integral to supporting local commerce. Other homegrown offerings include a variety of habanero jams produced by Chili Dawgs Foods of Fire in Blair, Nebraska, and beef jerky marinades from Lincoln’s own The Smoking Gun Jerky.

Why Leave Home? If you can support local commerce without leaving home, then what’s the benefit of braving long checkout lines, traffic jams and teeth-chatteringly cold temperatures? According to Wells, getting up close and personal with his storefront has a number of perks that are completely absent from the typical online shopping experience. 

“Not all of the products we carry are online,” he said. “We don’t have our cheese online because the shipping cost would be so prohibitive. Cheese has to be refrigerated. You can’t just cut a block of cheddar and away you go. You have to pack it ice and ship it overnight. We may do it at some point, but right now, we’re just not there yet.”

The store’s year-round cooking classes are another in-person only offering. The courses are available as gifts for yourself or someone else, and are poised to resume in January after the seasonal hustle and bustle subsides. “Our webpage has a ‘Classes and Events’ section, and we’ll be posting a list so that people know what’s coming.”

The importance of customer interaction was echoed by Lux, who said that Ten Thousand Villages customers enjoy the face-to-face shopping experience that is unique to an in-person visit. “I think people appreciate being able to actually see something, try it on, talk to somebody about the product. And there’s a certain amount of accountability there, too, that we can actually talk to you about the people who are making the products.” 

And she does have a point. Whether you’re browsing Ten Thousand Villages’ mind-bogglingly vast jewelry selection or perusing its collection of hand-carved sculptures, every item in sight has a story that is waiting to be told. “These are all carved from one piece of stone,” Lux explained, selecting a glossy, grapefruit-sized ‘Unity Sculpture’ from a nearby display table. “They are traditional gifts in Kenya. Each comes with a story as well, and they are a very popular gift selection here.”

Lincoln locals with incomplete holiday shopping lists may want to take a closer look at local offerings. Although it might be tempting to shop in the safe, cozy blue glow of your computer screen, an unexpectedly rich, varied and rewarding experience awaits those who dare to gift shop the old-fashioned way.

 

North Lincoln Art Crawl Features 5 Galleries on December 2nd

On Friday, December 2, 9 Muses Studio, Heart of Gold Jewelers, International Quilt Study Center & Museum, LUX Center for the Arts, and Mo Java Café will participate in the North Lincoln Art Crawl.

Gallery maps will be provided at each of the galleries.

9 Muses Studio, located at 2713 N 48th Street, will be open from 6 p.m to 9 p.m.  9 Muses Studio continues the showing of paintings and watercolors by Arden Nixon.

Heart of Gold Jewelers, located in their new location at 2701 N 48^th Street, suite #1 will be open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Heart of Gold Jewelers presents new work by local artists in jewelry, pottery, woodcarving, glasswork, and photo prints.

International Quilt Study Center & Museum, located at the Intersection of 33rd & Holdrege Streets, will be open from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  International Quilt Study Center & Museum continues the showings of “Yvonne Wells: Quilted Messages”, “Elegant Geometry: American & British Mosaic Patchwork”, and “Second Time Around: Quilts Re-Made by Joan White”. 

LUX Center for the Arts, located at 2601 N 48^th Street, will be open from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.  LUX Center for the Arts presents “Changes: UNL Ceramics 1987-2011”.  This show opens December 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and runs through January 28.  This exhibition celebrates the extensive career of retired faculty member, Gail Kendall and the contributions of Peter Pinnell and Eddie Dominguez, who helped build UNL into a hotspot for contemporary ceramics.  In addition, this show introduces the work of new ceramic professors Margaret Bohls and Mark Cole to the Lincoln art scene.  All of the participating artists will be on hand to talk about their work and answer questions.

 

“Gifts from the Heart” runs through December 24.  More than fifty locally, regionally, and nationally known artists delivered works for this holiday event.  Pottery, paintings, photographs, framed prints, jewelry, textiles, wood work, and more will be for sale.  Buyers will be able to purchase and take works of art with them the same day. 

 

Mo Java Café, located at 2649 N 48^th Street, will have an art opening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and live music from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.  Mo Java Café presents the artwork of a local artist.  

 

AZA Grants Accreditation To Lincoln Children's Zoo

The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) yesterday announced that Lincoln Children's Zoo was granted accreditation by AZA's independent Accreditation Commission.   AZA Executive Director Kristin Vehrs, on hand to present the Accreditation plaque to Lincoln Children's Zoo President and CEO John Chapo and the Zoo's Board of Directors, said, "Association of Zoos and Aquariums Accreditation Standards are the best way for the public to know that their zoo, the Lincoln Children's Zoo, is a great place."   "Only the best of the best meet these standards, and we congratulate the professionals at Lincoln Children's Zoo for their hard work," she added.   To be accredited, the Lincoln Children's Zoo underwent a thorough review to ensure it has and will continue to meet ever-rising standards, which include animal care, veterinary programs, conservation, education, and safety. AZA requires zoos and aquariums to successfully complete this rigorous accreditation process every five years in order to be members of the Association. This is the Lincoln Children's Zoo's 5th AZA accreditation.   "Lincoln Children's Zoois a great place for kids to connect with nature," Vehrs added. "Members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, including Lincoln Children's Zoo, support their communities with affordable family recreation and science-based education programs that inspire."   The accreditation process includes a detailed application and a meticulous on-site inspection by a team of trained zoo and aquarium professionals. The inspecting team observes all aspects of the institution's operation in areas such as animal care; keeper training, safety for visitors, staff, and animals, educational programs, conservation efforts, veterinary programs, financial stability, risk management; visitor services, and other areas. Finally, top officials are interviewed at a formal Commission hearing, after which accreditation is granted, tabled, or denied. Any institution that is denied may reapply one year after the Commission's decision is made.   Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting an institution dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, please visit www.aza.org.

 

Kiechel Fine Art's "Holiday Reception"

Kiechel Fine Art is pleased to announce its annual Holiday Reception. Work will be on view at Kiechel Fine Art from December 5th through January 20th. The opening reception will be held on Friday, December 9th from 6 to 8 p.m.

This festive occasion combines pieces from some of Nebraska’s most highly regarded artists as well as significant works from history and from around the country. It provides the opportunity to view an eclectic array of art from the gallery’s extensive inventory.

Also on display are the remaining works from “A Golden Year” by Keith Jacobshagen. This unique series created in 2010, consists of 365 small oil paintings on copper. The full series can be viewed at www.keithjacobshagen.net. 

Kiechel Fine Art is located at 5733 S. 34th Street, Suite 300, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Works from the exhibition can be found on our website, www.kiechelart.com.

Holiday Reception
Friday, December 9, 6-8 PM
Work from the show will be on display from December 5, 2011 to January 20, 2012

Hours: 
M to F 9-5
Sat. 10-5 and by appointment

Featuring New and Recent Work by:
Neil Christensen
Judith Cherry
Bill Coulter
Marcia Goldenstein
Hal Holoun
Dan Howard
Keith Jacobshagen
Steven Delair
Steven Dinsmore
Barry Monohon
Deborah Murphy
Gary Pummel
Francisco Souto
Diana Woods
Faridun Zoda
and more!

A Cup of Lincoln: New Coffee Roasters Build on Tradition

Editor's note: "A Cup of Lincoln" will be a three-part series by Michael Hennings exploring Lincoln's eight coffee roasters. Today, he writes about The Mill, 800 P St., and Coffee Emergency, 2723 N. 48th St. Look for part two on Tuesday, July 5th and part three on Monday, July 11th.

By Michael Hennings

Twenty years ago, there were only a handful of coffee shops in Lincoln. Since then, coffee culture has grown immensely, and today there are more than twenty-five coffee houses speckling the landscape.

But have you ever wondered where the coffee comes from? The Lincoln area alone is home to eight different roasters. Star City Blog spoke with all of them, and what we found was more than just a hill of beans.

Outpost12 Studios Unveils New Space

By Beth Sacthjen

From a basement studio to their first office with two card tables as computer desks, Outpost12 Studios has come a long way.

The only full-service production studio in Nebraska, Outpost12 will be celebrating its newly renovated office and studio space, along with six years in business, with an open house tomorrow from 3:30 to 10 PM. The modern-futuristic-themed event will offer Outpost12 Studio’s signature cocktails served by fashion models; dancing; and sushi catered by Blue restaurant of Omaha. Also on display will be the new office facilities, designed by Outpost12 Studio president Michael Domgard, with the remodeling help of Ken Inness of Skyline Homes.

 Renovating their headquarters on the sixth floor of the Gold's Building at 1033 O St. hasn't been too far off from Outpost12 Studios' work in visual production; the 7,100 square feet have been painstakingly designed, down to every minor detail. The company also drew renovating design inspiration from their expertise in video production. For example, much of the lighting and color selection is based in the RGB (red, green, blue) color model that makes the display of electronic images possible. A highlight of the renovations is the custom designed whiteboard: Backlit with RGB LEDs and cleverly maximized by mirrors, it is more akin to a futuristic nightclub than an office conference room.

The Bottle Chronicles: Lucky Bucket Brewery and Solas Distillery Bring Unique Products to Nebraska

By Alexis Abel

Zac Triemert loves single malt whisky so much that he spent a year in Edinburgh earning a master’s degree in distilling and brewing. 

And instead of writing a tedious research paper for his thesis, Triemert, a former chemist and brewer at Omaha’s Upstream Brewing Company, designed a unique column with multiple distillation filters. Now he's using that same column to create super premium Joss Vodka, single malt whisky and Cuban-style rum at Sòlas Distillery. The same building in LaVista also houses Triemert’s Lucky Bucket Brewing Company.

Triemert is president, brewmaster and distiller for both companies — but in order to get to this point, he had to change Nebraska law.

Lincoln's Only African Restaurant Offers Unique Dining Experience

 By Indigo Zgud

Like many communities in the U.S., Lincoln’s cultural influences are reflected in the foods we eat. Irish pubs, Italian bistros, Pan-Asian eateries and Greek diners all celebrate and reflect the fact that almost everyone was new here, once.  Yet for all of the cultural richness represented in the city, the local culinary vista was lacking when it came to the inimitably seasoned, stick-to-your-ribs flavors of East African cuisine.

That was then.  Last May, Mulugeta “Roy” Ruei changed everything.

 

“I learned that there was no African restaurant here,” said the proud owner of Lincoln’s first and only African dining establishment, located at 313 N. 27th St. “And I wanted to change it.”

The current menu features items that will be familiar to those acquainted with East Africa’s culinary traditions, including an array of marinated meats and simmered vegetables, along with sheets of the infamously airy, pancake-like flatbread called injera.

While the restaurant’s recipes have been prepared the same way for centuries, its owner traveled a long way before settling in Lincoln. Ruei came to the U.S. in 1995, working and acquiring an education in Tennessee and Minnesota, respectively.

 

As for his culinary know-how, Ruei credits his mother. In addition to helping him develop the menu at African Restaurant, she constantly reinforced the importance of kitchen-sense to a young Ruei.

“My mother was always telling me to pay attention in the kitchen,” he said, smiling. “And I was like, 'I don’t really know why I need to know this, Mom,' you know?  But she was onto something, I think!”

New Gourmet Catering, Deli and Butcher Shop Seeks to Fill Untapped Niche

By Alexis Abel

Gourmet food is in the blood of Kevin Mandigo and his wife, Shalla Powell-Mandigo, and they're bringing their wealth of culinary experience and knowledge to Lincoln via Greta’s Gourmet Butcher Shop, Deli and Catering, a gourmet food store and catering business that opened on Tuesday.

Mandigo is the son of University of Nebraska meat scientist Dr. Robert Mandigo, who was recently inducted into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for his contribution to the research that led to McDonald’s McRib sandwich.

Coming from such meat royalty, it’s no surprise that the Mandigos would choose to open a butcher shop in Lincoln. Greta’s Gourmet, located at 5660 S. 48th St. and named after their 3-year-old daughter, offers Lincolnites a variety of services and products previously unseen.

BUSINESS REVIEW: Hallow Candle Offers a Scent of Something New

By Indigo Zgud

From a business perspective, scent might just be the original traffic-stopper. Fancy signage and promotions can pique our interest, but few things hold it the way that scent can. 

At the same time, life’s breakneck pace can make smell seem pretty trivial.  And sometimes, it is.  (Feedlots and fertilizer are, after all, innate components of our beloved state’s aroma-scape.) 

But if you’ve ever chased the beckoning aroma of freshly baked cookies, or felt a wave of nostalgia from a waft of familiar perfume, or let espresso’s toasty scent demand an impromptu coffee break, then you know this: Scent, however subtle, can literally transform a moment.   

Hallow Candle Co. knows it, too.