Cranes are a hot item on the Lincoln landscape lately -- which means building is not only hot but tall, too.
Winter has been hotter than normal here as well -- 3.5 degrees above average to be exact.
Even before the big snow, boots were big.
Sake shots are hot.
Vintage is also hot -- as in cool -- and so is buying local. And, if you believe the buzz, sales of new cars in general, and Hyundais in particular, are also heating up.
There's been a cupcake boom this year and frozen yogurt shops are following suit. And as an antidote to the sugar, gyms are filling up empty commercial spaces. (Circuit training at the old Circuit City, anyone?)
Boutiques are blossoming. (When will the first dinner plate-sized pair of earrings adorn a fashion forward twentysomething from Lincoln?)
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And while Netflix is easier, Redbox -- now appearing at a Walgreens near you -- still appears to be a hot option in DVD rentals locally.
Here's what we know for sure:
Yogurt shops: For years, TCBY was the only game in town, and its presence shrunk to a single store at 69th and O. Now we have Red Mango at 14th and P, Cherry on Top in several locations and the soon-to-open Cherry Berry at 39th Street and Yankee Hill Road.
Cupcakes: We were behind the curve on this one, but the city has clearly caught up -- or exceeded -- the national average of cupcakes per capita. With University Place's PJ's Baby Cakes leading the way in the summer of 2010, the city now has at least three more brick-and-mortar specialty cupcakes-only shops: Cupcakes & More, Serendipities and Le Cupcakes.
Donuts: Gourmet donut shops are the latest in sugar-inspired storefronts, with long waits for $3 donuts in major markets like Portland, Dallas, Chicago and NYC. We don't have a Voodoo Donuts here, but Maggie's in the Haymarket is now offering cake donuts daily, along with its muffins and cookies. (And of course the trusty standbys: LaMar's, Randy's Donut Shop in Capital Beach and Conroy's in College View.)
Gyms: Since the boot camp craze began a few years ago, new gyms, big and small, have opened their doors. Among the latest: Aspen Athletic Club in the old Circuit City building north of Westfield and Fit4Lincoln, just north of 33rd and A.
Gyms for kids: It's been more than three years since Lost in Fun hit south Lincoln and became a hot spot for birthday parties and indoor romping in general. Soon to join the scene is My Gym Children's Fitness Center, a national franchise that applied for a building permit in December at 25th Street and Jamie Lane, just north of Yankee Hill.
Boutiques: Downtown isn't the only place that's trendy; locally owned clothing stores have taken hold. Be Yourself -- women's clothing, shoes and accessories -- opened last year at 16th Street and Pine Lake Road, joining Edge Women's and Men's Apparel and Tiara's Kids Boutique. College View is home to several boutiques, including Sunny's, Scout (for children), Pattino (shoes) and Rae'n (new and vintage). Other newish boutiques include Rita's in Clocktower, Blu Velvet in University Place and Amanda's Apparel in Havelock.
Food trucks: Since Lincoln doesn't have an ordinance allowing the trucks to park on city streets, the trucks are finding friendly businesses that have enough cement for them to linger. Korean cuisine served from the Heoya food truck (www.facebook.com/heoya1) has opened the way for at least one other food truck in Lincoln. GUP Kitchen serves sandwiches and sides at various locations -- see www.eatgroundup.com to find out more. (There is talk on the street of a third truck serving comfort food -- think mashed potatoes and meat loaf -- in the works.)
Candles: Hot, literally and figuratively. Two local all-candles, all-the-time-stores make Lincoln home, along with candle giant Yankee Candle. Hallow Candle Co. is next door to Starbucks at 33rd and O and Dragonfly Candle is at the corner of South Street and Normal Boulevard.
