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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 1991)
Arts & Entertainment arton Fink’ makes film viewers think “Barton Fink” %■ By Jeffrey Frey Staff Reporter “I could tell you stories,” Charlie Meadows — embodiment of the Common Man — is trying to tell Barton Fink. But Fink doesn’t listen. And so, the stories come after him. Barton Fink (John Turturro), an earnest New York playwright, has been drafted to write genre screenplays for Capitol Pictures during the early 1940s. He is riding the crest of critical acclaim received for his new play “Bare Ru ined Choir,” a celebration of the common man. He has holed himself up in a seedy Los Angeles hotel room amid the sweltering heat, nagging mosquitos and peeling, oozing wall paper, while trying desperately to live a life of the mind. Fink is looking for inspiration; he’s grasping at straws when common man Charlie Meadows (John Goodman) appears at his door. “Barton Fink,” (The Lincoln Theater) the fourth movie crafted by siblings/auteurs Joel See FINK on 11 I Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox John Turturro (left) plays fidgety screenwriter “Barton Fink,” a dark comedy co-starring John Goodman. guana’s offers change, nore traffic to O Street t Dionne Searcey tor Editor MBS— Being the new kid on the block — to speak —r doesn’t worry Becky nith. Newcomers can get a lot of spec ial ention, she said, especially when ty are among old timers. Smith, along with Jenyand Jody ith, are co-owners of Iguana’s, a w bar at 1426 O St. “Everybody likes a change,” she id. “They may be faithful to their d bar, but everyone needs a new ace to go.” And she’s convinced her new es jlishment will succeed even though uana ’ s is located bet ween two other >pular downtown bars, Duffy’s and e Brass Rail. But Red Tolnai, manager of Duffy’s, 112 O Sl, isn’t worried about busi es letting up because of the new tr. He said even though Duffy’s is rated two doors west of Iguana’s, isiness will pick up, not slow down. “Any type of business downtown ings in more traffic,” he said. Jason Gaughan, manager of the irass Rail, 1436 O St., agreed. “Iguana’s is pulling more people owntown to our block,” he said. Lincoln has a big enough market for one more bar, Smith said. The city is full of college students and others looking for a new scene, she said. Everybody likes a change. They may be faithful to their old bar, but everyone needs a new place to go. Smith Iguana’s co-owner -99 - The bar’s popularity could be seen on opening night, Thursday, Sept. 26, when about 250 people showed up. “It comes with being new. Every body wants to see it,” she said. Iguana’s offers 33-ounce mugs of beer for $2. And drink specials will be offered regularly once the bar estab lishes a routine, according to Smith. Smith said patrons of the bar can choose from 150 music selections ranging from alternative to classical, but she said there are no plans to feature live bands. Starting in about three weeks, she said, a disc jockey will play tunes on weekends. According to Smith, the grill will open soon, serving hamburgers, chicken and salads at lunchtime. Staci McK*e/DN A crowd gathered to celebrate the opening of Fat City, a new nightclub at 227 N. 9th St. Fat City draws full crowd By Mark Nemeth Staff Reporter_ clflb Fat City is a fantasy citv of a club where people can pretend Lincoln is large. “Lincoln is not a big city, but we’ re going to make it big, said Waheed Malik, owner of Fat City, 227 N 9th. Formerly Cafe Society, Fat City is located on the Haymarket side of the traffic ravine that separated down town Lincoln from the historic Hay market. Fat City is Lincoln’s new alterna tive dance and band bar for upwardly mobile Bohemians and college stu dents, though that description may be too narrow. They’re calling it a bar and grill, full of things that make you go, Hmmm ... Bar and grill?’’ Fat City celebrated its grand open ing Friday night, drawing a full and eclectic crowd. Even those who would never even think about dancing had a great lime. There seems to be something for everyone at Fat City. Some people even talked about literature while they were there — imagine that. Fat City’s seating is expansive, its bar beautiful, its size large and its bathrooms full of interesting adver tising pictures of sharks and steaks above the urinals. There’s a big and bright mural of a downtown city on the back wall in side the club, some black and white photographs on the walls, thick pil lars connected by black steel geomet ric patterns, a pool table, leopard skin stools and tall round tables, black seats and square short tables, a long, well-placed bar with stools, large eye drop lights, a mirror, a pay phone and a dance floor by the front window. Maybe what’s most impressive though, is Fat City’s overall feel — its composition of attractive things and people, yet the place and every one in it is Midwestern. There’s no pretension here. “Our market is 21-plus. We don’t want a label.. . . Let students know this is a college bar,’’ Malik said. Unlike many college bars, Fat City is decorative and maybe too well-lit. DJ Excellent Dave said he plans to bring in bands on Wednesday nights. Wednesday, the Yardapes and Dema gogues will play. On non-bands nights, David Con nover plays a mix of industrial and popular dance tracks. “1 groove a techno, industrial, acid groove, Hi-NRG, hip-hop mix with a deep bass sound,” he said. So if for no other reason, you may want to start going to Fat City just for Excellent Dave’s musical hairsplit ting. Tonight and every Tuesday at Fat City, draws are 35 cents and well drinks are 65 cents. “This is what Lincoln needs,” Malik said. Andy Frederick/DN Kevin Frey plays pool at Iguana’s, which opened Sept. 26.