Star City Blog

It's a Bar, It's an Arcade, It's "Mix Barcade"

By Dustin Hunke

Arcade game enthusiasts have few options in downtown Lincoln. The closest real arcade has been Champion Fun Center.  As of last week, Lincoln residents have a new option.

Mix Barcade opened to the public last Thursday, October 20th, at 1427 O St.  The location formerly housed the Bricktop dance club for many years before The District briefly occupied the property early this year.  The barcade will be open from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m., Monday through Saturday.

The business features a wide assortment of arcade games, including the fighting games Mortal Kombat 4, the racing game Daytona USA, a Player’s Choice machine featuring an assortment of classic Nintendo Entertainment System games and many more.  Most of the machines are set at 50 cents per play, with some machines costing less.  In addition to their impressive selection of games, Mix Barcade has alcohol for those that choose to partake.  In addition to a selection of tap beers (arriving soon) and typical bar drinks, Mix also offers two house sangrias.  Mix Sangria is a “classic” wine sangria, and they also offer a white sangria called White Lightening

The owners of Mix Barcade, Jamie and Josh Root, have completely remodeled the location since The District closed in May.  The renovations include the bar, taking tables and booths out for space where the arcade machines currently stand, the bathrooms and a complete overhaul of the stage and sound system in the building.  The sound system was custom designed by sound engineer Bryan Ruhs, the sound engineer and facility operations manager at The Bourbon Theatre and a stage technician at UNL.

“Mix has a 15,000 watt high energy sound system with state of the art QSC audio amplifiers and Grundorf audio speakers.  All custom engineered,” Ruhs said.

The Roots are also the owners and operators of The Fat Toad Pub at 1409 O St.  They plan on having DJs play electronic music at Mix on Friday nights, but the focus will not be on dance music.

“We aren't focusing to be another dance bar.  The DJs won't start until late at night, maybe around midnight,” Jamie said.

Mix Barcade was advertised to open during the weekend of Lincoln Calling, but, despite their best efforts, the Roots couldn't make it happen.

“Josh had an image in his head and he made it a reality.  Even with him working 18-hour days he just couldn't get it done in time.  We were sad it wasn't ready,” Jamie said.

Mix Barcade is still a work in progress.  There are more machines to be worked on, and the Roots plan on renovating the property further.

 As for the name of the establishment, Jamie Root explains, “We kept on trying to come up with some kind of description to help us give it a name.  We kept on saying that we have a mix of things going on.  Creating a space for a mix of different people to feel comfortable in, having a mix of things to do or to entertain. Then of course DJs relate to the term mixing.  We stretched it as long as we could without selecting a name and then Randy from the liquor commission called me up and said we had to have a name by the end of the day, so we just went with Mix.  Mix Barcade.”

HEARING LINCOLN: Schooner the State

By Andrew Norman
Via HearNebraska.org

A diverse chorus of birds and frogs chirp in swamped ditches while tall grasses fan the prairie like millions of whispering children. The constant warm hum of longboard tires on asphalt means we're getting somewhere. Skating at about 10 to 15 mph along the shoulder of the highway, we're alone with the cows, deer, vulchers and coal trains, until an occasional semi- or pickup truck blows by us going 60. 

 

Leaving Scottsbluff and heading southeast down HWY 26, we passed huge bluffs and rocky plateaus. Jutting out of the fields along the plains, the Courthouse, Jail and Chimney Rocks look like man-made monuments to ancient idols. These naturally formed geographic marvels captivated pioneers along the Mormon and Oregon trials, who used them as landmarks along their journey to the West. Heading the opposite direction, we're doing the same thing, slowly passing them and realizing that this crazy odyssey might just be possible.

 

Yesterday was day one of of Skate the State, a sort of reverse Manifest Destiny — a 430-mile journey to raise $50,000 to make Lincoln's nonprofit, indoor skatepark sustainable, to provide a free, safe, healthy outlet for kids who really need that sort of escape. Mike Smith, the 28-year-old founder of that skatepark — Bay 198 — organized this trip to bring attention to the issue. 

Skate the State Project Seeks to Raise Funds, Awareness for Skateboarding Youth in Lincoln

By Dene Oglesby

After spending a month sleeping under a bridge in order to raise $10,000 for local skater youth, Mike Smith has developed a reputation for unconventional non-profit fundraising. His next fund-raising goal? $50,000. How does he plan to raise it? By skating across the state of Nebraska.

Smith intends to use the money he fundraises to “give the kids the gift of skateboarding” by eliminating the entrance fee to the state’s only indoor skate park, Bay 198, located in Westfield Mall. As Bay 198 is a non-profit run completely by volunteers, Smith also hopes to use the funds towards insurance and rent costs, as well as purchasing new equipment for skaters such as helmets and boards.

“Does the state believe in these kids enough to put their money where their mouth is?” he asked.

Smith is not alone in his endeavor. Originally, the crew just included fellow Bay 198 volunteers and skate enthusiasts Steve Andel, Phil Burcher and Nick Goodwin; in the last few days, however, HearNebraska.org directors Angie and Andy Norman decided to participate and will be joining Smith and the others on their 400+ mile trek from Scottsbluff to Lincoln. Their journey begins tonight, May 21st, and they'll spend about ten days passing through smaller Nebraskan towns, inviting local youth to skate with them and talking to residents about their project and skateboarding.

Gearing Up: Campus, City Hope for Bike Friendly Recognition

By John Wenz

 It's official: UNL's effort to become a recognized Bike Friendly Campus is underway, and they're joined by the city of Lincoln's own quest to be a Bike Friendly Community.

The award, designated by the League of American Bicyclists, recognizes those campuses and communities that go the extra mile for bike commuters by fostering a safe environment for cyclists, including infrastructure.

Jordan Messerer, coordinator for Outdoor Adventure at Campus Recreation, said that UNL's partnership between the student government, Campus Recreation, the Chancellor's Wellness Iniative and the City of Lincoln, is coming up with a master plan for projects short- and long- term. 

This isn't just designated bike lanes for cross campus cycling. It's also building shower facilities, safe roads into campus, placing proper signage, studying traffic patterns to determine areas of potential pedestrian/cyclist conflict, and establishing preferred cycling routes. The goal is to get even more students riding in on two wheels instead of four.

"Once you build that infrastructure, cyclists will fill [it]," Messerer said. 

Anime NebrasKon Expects More than 2,000 Attendees at 7th Annual Convention

From staff reports

Held at the CoCo Key Water Resort convention center in Omaha, this year's anime convention Anime NebrasKon will feature more than 160 panels and activities, including a cosplay contest, anime idol, anime music video contest, dealer's room, dating auction and artist's alley.

"Previously it was held in Lincoln at the University (of Nebraska-Lincoln)," said Ellene Cudd, promotions coordinator for Anime NebrasKon, which is hosted by the non-profit Nebraska Japanese Animation Society. "We grew out of the university ... We were busting at the seams."

Running today, Nov. 5, through Nov. 7, the convention attracts attendees from around the Midwest, as far as eight hours away, Cudd said -- the block of hotel rooms reserved for the convention sold out. Last year's attendance hit 1,600, and she said they're expecting up to 2,400 attendees this year.

Registration is today from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. A three-day adult pass costs $45; single day passes cost $25 for today, $30 for Nov. 6 and $20 for Nov. 7.  A child's badge is $15 for all three days or $10 for a one-day pass. 

Derby Girls Host "Amber Waves of Pain" Regional Tournament Oct. 8th to 10th at Pershing

By Hilary Stohs-Krause

It's an understatement to call Lincoln a football town.

But come Friday, the No Coast Derby Girls are hoping the city will cheer on Mad Maxine black with as much gusto as it normally supports Husker red.

Friday, Oct. 8 through Sunday, Oct. 10, Lincoln will play host to the the South Central Regionals Tournament -- otherwise known as "Amber Waves of Pain" -- at Pershing Auditorium, 226 Centennial Mall S. Teams will come from as far as San Antonio to the south and Tampa to the east.

The name is fitting; after all, your grandmother never roller-skated like this.

"I have places on my body that have permanent bruises because they get hit everyday at practice," said Lizzy Shrader, 34, aka "Hugs," who started playing soon after the No Coast league started back in 2005. "Once, we had a bout outside on a rocky parking lot, and I skidded across the ground on my thigh. Tights offer no protection; the EMTs quickly duct-taped cotton balls to the huge wound, and I kept skating.

"I have a weird striated scar from that."

Max Maxine aliases include "Busty St. Claire," "Kelly Ripa-Nipalov" and "Kobra Kai."

Newcomer Elizabeth Cain, 26, aka "Brook N. Hearts," said derby is "the most physically and mentally demanding sport" she's ever played, adding that she's probably in the best shape of her life.

"I ... think it is important to show Lincoln that there is a place for the strong athletic women of Nebraska to come together, no matter what your story has been or is," the blocker said.

Midnight Showings of Raunchy Cult Classic "Rocky Horror" Threatened by Dwindling Attendance

By Marypat Heineman

Havelock Avenue will experience something of a transformation Saturday, Oct. 2 as veterans and virgins alike don skimpy costumes and descend upon the Northeast Lincoln neighborhood to do the “Time Warp” and celebrate the return of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

“I started coming when I was either 14 or 15,” said Mandy Thomas. “The crowd is what drew me back every Saturday. If you’ve ever watched ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show,’ it’s weird. It’s so much fun.”

Thomas, 20, has been working at the Joyo Theatre, 6102 Havelock Ave., for the last five years.

The theatre will be showing the “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” every Saturday in October at midnight and on Sunday, Oct. 31. Doors open at 11:30 p.m. and the cost is 7 dollars.

The 1975 cult classic musical was adapted from British stage play, “The Rocky Horror Show." Shortly after its screen premiere, audiences all over the world returned the film to its theatrical roots. This live energy drew Thomas to the Joyo week after week, back when the theatre showed the film every Saturday. 

In recent years, screenings were limited October Saturdays as attendance began to dwindle, Carter and Thomas said.

“During the first few years, it was nothing to get a couple hundred people, but now it’s really died down,” Carter said, questioning the fate of the Joyo’s “Rocky Horror” screenings. “Last year was pretty slow. If no one shows up, we may not do it next year.”

But Thomas is sure that if people come to the screenings, they’ll be hooked.

“It’s so much different to see it in a theatre,” she said.

In Short: Briefs for Sept. 30

Compiled by Star City Blog staff

Lincoln City Libraries' annual book sale runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday: Open to the public, the book sale began today, Sept. 30, at 10 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m. Friday hours are also 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., while Saturday the sale runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The book sale is being held at the Lancaster Event Center, 4100 N. 84th St.

Lincoln Children's Zoo's annual food drive begins Friday: Most of the Zoo’s animals stay on grounds and are fed daily while the park is closed for the season, and on Friday, the Zoo will be accepting food donations for the animals. Donations help the food budget and fortify the animals to get through the winter. Items that can be donated include:  Baby food (mango), canned peas/corn/beans/pumpkin, cereal, honey, jelly, peanut butter, juice, syrup, graham crackers, nuts, marshmallows, sunflower seeds, raisins, dried fruits, trail mix, frozen meat (no pork, and must be less than 1 year old), frozen fruit/vegetables, bird seed, sugar-free ice cream cones, skittles and tea bags, as well as dish soap, laundry soap, paper towels and, sponges.

Geocaching is a Modern-Day Treasure Hunt For All Ages

By Beth Sorensen

The silence of a remote, overgrown hilltop cemetery is broken by the sound of footsteps. Skirting the edge of the grave of a person buried when Abraham Lincoln was president, a man squints in the bright sunlight at the GPS device in his hand. Miles up in the atmosphere, an orbiting satellite has pinpointed his location, as well as the exact cedar tree he’s searching for. At the base of the tree, he finds the plastic box, signs the paper inside, and returns it to its hiding place. 

He’s geocaching.

In 1993, when the U.S. government declassified the global positioning system of satellites, fun-loving techie types quickly took advantage of the technology to make up the game of geocaching, which is a modern, high-tech version of hide-and-seek.

“Geo” refers to the geographic locations where caches are hidden.  A “cache” is traditionally a store of supplies left by travelers to restock from during a journey.  In this case, it’s a container with log paper for geocachers to sign to prove they’ve visited.  Many geocaches have small trade items, kids’ meal toys or other small trinkets, for geocachers to find and trade.

Today, there are tens of thousands of geocaches across the U.S and in other countries. 

“Geocaching has taken me to the far corners of Nebraska, and other states as well,” said Janice Hueske, who has more than 1,000 cache finds under her belt. “My all-time favorite is one in the very small town of Winnetoon, Nebraska. If I describe it then it would ruin it for others, but it really is a great cache."

Overlooked Lincoln: The National Museum of Roller Skating

Editor's note: "Overlooked Lincoln" is a new series profiling unique and under-the-radar museums and personal collections in the Lincoln area. It will run the second Thursday of every month. If you have a suggestion, send an email to editor@starcityblog.com.

By Ladd Wendelin

If humans were intended to walk, roller skates wouldn't have been invented.

This much is clear when visitors step through the doors of the National Museum of Roller Skating, which sits inconspicuously at the corner of 48th and South streets. Through the offices of USA Roller Sports, past the dozens of shiny plaques honoring famed athletes, coaches and roller skating elite, lies the hallowed sanctum itself, commemorating roller skating past and present in an effort to educate and inspire future skaters.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year under the direction of curator James Vannurden, the National Museum of Roller Skating hosts a surprising and exhaustingly thorough collection of historical artifacts, photos and memorabilia detailing the evolution of roller skating as a sport and national past-time. It also includes long-forgotten niches of roller skating culture that often escaped the public’s eye.

“When I go to museum conferences, I’m the one people want to talk to,” Vannurden said, referring to the novelty of a museum devoted entirely to roller skating.