Lincoln's Getting Cooler For Teens
Samm Sack
Co-Editor
I’ve had my fair share of complaining about the lack of entertainment there is around Lincoln. Every other day I groan about the fact that there’s absolutely nothing to do around here, and instead of finding something interesting to occupy my time, I fall back onto my bed and pout. There’s no cool movie theaters with loveseats like in Omaha (totally recommend it if you ever have some extra gas you’re looking to spend), amusement parks like in Kansas City, MO or drive-in theaters like in Neligh, Nebraska (Lincoln should really get on that).
Though that may be true, this scenario is just about as equivalent as a teenage girl grumbling about having absolutely nothing to wear with a closet full of clothes. There’s a lot more than meets the eye regarding activities in Lincoln, especially lately. Reason being, a surplus of expansions has occurred in the past few years, and particularly in the past few months.
One of the biggest advancements Lincoln is most recently undergoing is the extension of well liked stores throughout the busiest parts of the city, as well as stretching into areas previously ignored.
“I can’t drive yet,” freshman Makenzie Saltzman said, “so it’s nice that it’s easier to get to places since they’re all close to Waverly.”
A bonus to the spread is that the stores, shops and restaurants which were once a good twenty minutes away from the high school have started relocating closer and closer to Waverly and Eagle. O Street is half of the evidence. The well-traveled road, which boasts Lincoln’s modest Westfield Gateway mall, is officially littered with hot spots nearby like Noodles and Company, Chipotle, Forever 21 and Best Buy.
Downtown has its own share of newness. Even though the new location won’t be as convenient as the current one for some students, Raising Canes opened a location on 14th and P. That extension was well overdue considering the popularity of the restaurant, especially on Husker game days. I would have liked to see some new flat screen TVs so that diners could enjoy the game while gnawing on some quality chicken, but that was not part of the new addition.
“Ever since they got the [Pinnacle Bank] Arena, there’s a lot more stuff downtown, like [Raising] Canes,” senior Rachel Parks said. “I do still get kind of bored because I live there, so I am around it a lot and it gets old faster than it would for people in Waverly.”
Deeper into the Haymarket, restaurants, apartment complexes, shops and other entertainments are being put up left and right. One of the most exciting was during the winter season, when an ice-rink was erected. Waverly students work there--like junior Laura Barry--and others have gone out to check it out.
“I’m not very good at ice-skating, but it’s a lot of fun when it’s not freezing out,” junior Sawyer Boddy said.
All of these stores and shops (the heart of Lincoln) have pushed themselves past previous barriers, and that in turn has shifted Lincoln’s suburbs. What used to be considered part of the outskirts of town ten years ago now has hotels, Scooter’s and other luxuries. That means the new suburbia has been pushed nearer to the country. Farms have been transformed to neighborhoods with dozens of houses and playgrounds. People who have previously lived in isolation use the word “intruded”, but others, like myself, find it to be progress.
For teenagers under 21 that can’t roam from bar to bar for what adults consider a fun night out, Lincoln is getting kind of cool.
“I think it gives Lincoln more of a variety,” junior Conner Stutheit said. “It gives kids more to do instead of being bored.”
It may not stand up to the likes of New York City or even Omaha, but even larger cities like Chicago had to start somewhat small. Lincoln is on the road to modernization, and at this rate, it’s bound to prosper as a decent-sized city with plenty of things to do.
