The Historic Haymarket in downtown Lincoln, Neb., is an ever-evolving neighborhood that offers the best of this capital city, from fine dining and shopping opportunities to attractions that include the Pinnacle Bank Arena and the Railyard, which just opened in 2013 and has brought with it a renewed excitement for this popular area.
The Railyard, featuring restaurants, bars and a public market with shops selling everything from donuts to jewelry, is located in the West Haymarket and, according to Derek Feyerherm, director of sales and operations for the Lincoln CVB, is Nebraska’s first and only entertainment district that has a special liquor license designation that allows visitors to carry alcoholic beverages from one establishment to another and around the public areas.
“The open-air courtyard of the Railyard has year-round activity, including live entertainment and an ice rink free to the public during the winter,” he adds. “The Railyard’s centerpiece is The Cube, a 750-square-foot screen that shows sporting events, movies, public artwork and other visual media.”
Among the Railyard’s other residents are Longwell’s, a bar/restaurant with more than 100 beers on tap; Vega, a music venue and event space; and the Catalyst, which provides a meeting space that promotes creative collaboration among attendees.
Also in the West Haymarket, situated adjacent to the Railyard, is the recently opened Pinnacle Bank Arena, which is home to the Nebraska Cornhusker men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as concerts and other entertaining events.
Upcoming on the calendar for 2015 are August’s Capital City Ribfest, featuring award-winning barbecue from around the country, and old-school rock concerts courtesy of Def Leppard and Motley Crue in October and December, respectively.
With more than 60,000 square feet of flexible space, the arena also hosts conventions, tradeshows, meetings and various other group events during the year.
The Burkholder Project is a collection of 36 works-in-progress art and design studios and three levels of galleries. Patrons are invited to both witness art in progress as well as finished work, including landscape paintings, photography, woodwork and jewelry.
The Other Room, according to Feyerherm, is a hidden “speakeasy” that is accessed through a secret alley door that one must knock on to enter, but only if the light above is green.
“If it is red, it is at capacity, which is 25 people,” he says. “There are no photos allowed in the 400 square feet and nobody is allowed on their cell phones.”
For treats of the non-alcoholic variety, groups can check out Ivanna Cone, which is located in the Creamery Building and, Feyerherm says, offers at least 17 flavor choices per day. He adds that the line is usually out the door, so busy groups should plan accordingly.
And at LeadBelly, groups can dine on contemporary American cuisine in a historic building or a vintage caboose attached to the restaurant.
The menu here features Kalua pork nachos and fried mac and cheese among its starter options, a variety of burgers, sandwiches and entrees, including blackened chicken posole and bangers and mash for the main course, and pie for dessert.
