Arts^Entertainment
Brewpub tantalizes beer lovers’ taste buds
New cafe offers
plenty of beer,
food, atmosphere
By Mark Baldridge
Senior Editor
It wasn’t long ago that Nebraskans
suffered under the iron hand of the
major bo^r brewers; choices and tastes
were limited.
But then they were introduced to
the wonderful world of microbrewing
and suddenly everyone’s a connois
seur. Today wc Lincolnitcs have two,
count ‘em, two brewpubs to choose
from.
AsofOct. 16,Crane River Brcwpub
and Cafe is on line and running, brew
ing five kinds of beer and the occa
sional seasonal flavor.
Owned and managed by Linda
Vcscio and Kristina Tibcl (who also
serves as head brewer), the place is
literally flooded with atmosphere —
so bring a snorkel.
The menu tells you that in addition
to restoring the original tile floor to
the historic Commercial Club Build
ing, the restaurant also sports a bar
inset with rock from the Platte River
Valley and a dining room laid with
carpet “produced from fibers spun
from recycled plastic pop bottles.”
When I arrived, incognito, I sat at
the bar in my usual “timid customer”
mode and wailed. After a minute a
"suit” came along and sal next to me.
A bartender appeared as if summoned
by the expensive tic and sharp lapel.
“I’d like a menu,” I said and the
fellow seemed mildly surprised. I
don’t think he’d noticed me there in
my T-shirt and shorts.
But after that-lhcy were pleasant
enough. I say “they” because I sud
denly had two bartenders waiting on
me—when I took out a notebook and
started taking notes on the quality of
the beer.
Then I let them sec me drawing
pictures and one of them went away.
It never fails, act like a reviewer
and the quality of service miracu
lously improves.
As a conscientious reviewer I felt
compelled to try every kind of beer
they made. And here’s where the story
takes an upturn. The beer was excel
lent, unlike anything I have had be
fore.
They offer four-ounce tasters for
50 cents and I had six of them. (One
flavor was so great I had to try it again
to see if I had been imagining things.)
The Platte Valley E.S.B. (Extra
Special Bitter) was like the beer they
brew in dreams. A red beer, it was
beautiful to look at, to smell, to touch,
to taste — if it had made a noise it
would have chimed like bells in
heaven.
The menu says it’s the head
brewer’s favorite. Obviously, a
woman of taste.
Another fine and original beer is
the Whooping Wheal. It’s a tradi
tional German-style summer ale —
again, according to the menu — and
comes served with a lemon slice.
The color of apple juice, this beer
has none of the abominable sweetness
of some lighter beers. But it’s as re
freshing as a glass of iced tea in
Atlanta — where iced tea has the
status of a house wine.
The Zlate Pevo is almost smoky
Courtesy of RCA Records
Clint Black will perform with Aaron Tippin Saturday evening
at Pershing Municipal Auditorium.
Pershing holiday performance
to feature singer Clint Black
From Staff Reports _
Pershing Municipal Auditorium
will be the sight of a Black Halloween
Saturday evening.
Country and western singer Clint
Black will perform at 8 p.m. in sup
port of his latest album, “The Hard
Way.”
Saturday’s concert is one of 150
tour dates that Black will perform this
year.
Black is known for his hit songs
such as “A Belter Man, Killin
Time,” “Nobody’s Home,” “Walkin’
Away” and “Nothing’s News."
Opening for Black will be Aaron
Tippin.
Reserved scaling is $19.50. Tick
ets may be purchased at the Pershing
Auditorium box office or through all
TickctMasterlocations, including the
University of Ncbraska-Lincoln Ne
braska Union.
* ' « Robin Trim^rchi/DN
Sean Strough, right, chats with friends at the newly opened Crane River Brewpub and Cate at
11th and R streets. Clockwise from center front are Robert Eckerson, Ron Schmidt, Shawn
Farriter and Nancy Thiel.
flavored, il has a tang that slays with
you. The flavor changes as you drink
it, but il never fails to please. And the
Homestead Pale Ale is an amber beer,
similar to Lazlo’sCaptain Donovan’s.
The only low point is the Good
Life Stout, but only if you really like
your stout... well... stout. If dark
beers have frightened you in the past,
you may find this beer more to your
liking.
The food, judging by the french
fries and the black bean soup, is good
standard fare (for Lincoln even quite
good), if just a little pricey.
So wear a tie, come prepared for
atmosphere and taste the new beers in
town.
You can’t hardly not enjoy your
self.
Cinema quality of ‘ Dr. Giggles
proves to be a laughing matter
"Dr. Giggles"
By Gerry Beltz
Staff Reporter
For the most pari, the sloppy teen
age hack-’cm-up movies have been
dodged by the theaters and get re
leased straight onto the video shelves.
Unfortunately, movies like “Dr.
Giggles” (Plaza 4,12th and P streets)
have stil I been able lo ooze onto movie
screens nationwide.
Music provided by Brian May (leg
endary guitarist for Queen and
Starflccl Project) would be enjoyable
if one didn’t have to watch the movie
to hear the soundtrack.
Larry Drake (the finger-chopping
gangster in “Darkman”) portrays Evan
Rcndcll, an escaped mental patient
whose father was a small-town physi
cian who cut out his patients’ hearts
while they were still alive.
The angry townspeople dragged
the father into the street and stoned
him to death, but his 7-ycar-old son
(whoallcgcdly helped him) was never
found or seen again.
Now, some 35 years later, Evan
has returned to the small town of
Moorchigh to avenge his father’s death
and to continue his father’s work in
heart transplants.
— **
The film degenerates into the typi
cal slasher Hick syndrome, complete
with Drake delivering morbid one
liners akin to his character.
“It’s time to do what a doctor does
best!” Rendcll says, as he reaches for
his golf clubs.
Naturally, his victims arc the un
suspecting teen-agers of Moorehigh.
All arc portrayed with the depth of a
shallow puddle.
An annoying subplot throw n in is
the recently discovered heart condi
tion of one of the teen-agers.
Golly, will Doctor Giggles My to
save her with his untested techniques
and tools and leave a bloody trail ol
her friends and relatives in the pro
cess? Will he do it with even more
snappy one-liners that Freddy Krueger
hasn’t used yet?
Probably.
(Weekend preview
** “Reaction" (Theatrix) at fie Howell m,
^Theatre, today and Saturday at 8:30 p.m.
-'■"''and Sunday at 2 p.m. $2
The ChrJe Duarte Group (guitar blues)
—at the Zoo Bar, 136N 14th fit., today,
Saturday and Sunday from 9 p.m. to 1
a.m. $5 today and Saturday, $4 Sunday.
k~"CIOud Nine” (University Theatre play)
ft in the Studio Theatfe of the Temple
B Building, 12th and R streets, today and
B Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6 for
Bmudonta and 18 lor adults.
™ Hubbard Street Dance Company at
the Lied Center for Performing Arts toddy
and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $22,
$18 and $14 tor adults with half-price
available for students.
University Symphony Orchestra at
Kimball Recital Hall, Sunday at 3 p.m.
Free admission.
David Badders DN