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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 31, 2000)
farefree orner -— -j ■ / Woody’s Bar retains its relaxed aura, customers n_T_TT_1_ r.<r1n uy liaiuy Staff writer With a name like Woody’s, it’s not surprising that there is a decidedly masculine feel to the L-shaped bar at the comer of 14th and O streets. Woody’s has the atmosphere of a remodeled basement rec-room, com plete with tall chairs, pool tables, beer signs, TVs in a range of sizes and a carpeted floor. The bar even caters to women in a masculine way, offering Jell-0 shots and other fruity drinks that don’t taste like beer. Nevertheless, since its beginning on April 18, 1995, Woody’s has used this atmosphere to carve out an re shaped niche that sets it apart from other O street bars. It’s definitely dif ferent from most of the bars, and that’s something people have come to appreciate. From a corner table in Woody’s south wing, one can take in about half of the bar’s scenery. There are scat tered couples along the east wall, a couple of larger groups in the center, some guys playing pool and a small crowd around the Golden Tee video game. The male to female ratio is about even, and the trousers of choice for both sexes seem to be blue jeans, with a few mesh and khaki short exceptions. The crowd reflects the face of UNL at a glance: mostly white, young adults ranging from 21 to about 35. Look closer, however, and some diversity seems to appear among what is still a pretty homogenous crowd. Still, one thing strongly connects almost everyone in the bar - each per son looks like they could be friends with everyone else. Be it the older guy singing along with the Commodores’ hit, “Brick House,” the b VllbJ JVUlVbUlUg gU - playing darts or the guys in the corner who came “to shoot pool and look for tail.” Arron Diskin, co-owner and co-manager of Woody’s, along with Brian Linderman and Ben Moran, said this implied cama raderie was one of Woody’s biggest assets. “I think the people who come in here generally get to know each other,” he said. “When we’re not working, we come out and drink here. Seeing the same faces all the time makes them feel comfort able.” Scott Eastman/DN Ally Hofts, a member of one of the groups sitting in the center of Woody’s south wing Wednesday things such as Woody Harrelson, Woodrow Wilson, woody cars, wood chucks and people playing woodwind night, makes a / instruments strong case for U / think the people ar,e every_ Diskrns point. * * where. back;"'"he Who come in here **£££ so"much about generally get to know ^ ap“"e^ going out and pnrh nthpr” itS earlier meeting lots moments, of new people, before things like thinking Arron Diskin get out of you have to go co-manager and co-owner, Woody’s Pub hand, and it’s to a certain about the place to meet closest thing people. It’s not so much greek-orient- to a sports bar O street has, but this ed compared to the (Brass) Rail and statement seems relative to who is Iguanas.” talking. It s just something different, interjects her friend Nikki Moeller. The two then comment positively on the music selection as a Creed song comes on. Someone in the back ground says, “This is an awesome song.” Because Woody’s is fairly large, it seems spacious despite being pretty busy. Husker paraphernalia covers the walls, and pictures of people and Every bat down here that s opened calling itself a sports bar was out of business in six months,” said Reg McMeen, former Woody’s owner. “So we didn’t want to limit ourselves to that.” McMeen and his former partner John Mahoney said when they opened Woody’s in ‘95 they wanted it to look like a pretty traditional pool hall and be a place everyone could enjoy. Even in the bar’s opening stages, they said, it was apparent that their laid-back approach for a bar was something Lincoln residents would appreciate. “The afternoon we opened, we were scheduled to open at six, and I was still running around looking for stuff to put on the walls,” McMeen said. “I came back at 4:45, and we were packed because my partners decided to open the bar early.” For Mahoney, this set the prece dent for how the bar should be run from that day forth. reopie nice 10 come mio a joint and know the workers. If there’s a problem, it can get handled here,” Mahoney said. “If someone comes in and asks for something, we’ll get it, as long as it’s not ridiculous.” One such example is the foosball table near the jukebox. Mahoney said people told him they wanted to play foosball, so he got a table. After five years, Woody’s is start ing to become a fixture in the down town neighborhood. Considering the success of some of the businesses that previously occupied the corner of 14th and O streets, it is not surprising that Woody’s would follow suit. Before the building that currently houses Woody’s was built in 1987, the block hosted the original O’Rourkes, Sandy’s and the Mill, all of which have become very successful Lincoln establishments in new locations. Still, the thing that sets Woody’s apart from those and other downtown bars, and what makes it such a suc cess, is that people feel comfortable there. It doesn’t feel like a bar, and that’s what a lot of people are looking for. “I’ve been coming here for a long time,” said Shawn Ayotte, a 30-year old UNL senior who just finished winning a Woody’s pool tournament. He mentions his wife, child and full time job and then explains why he finds Woody’s so inviting. “Basically, the atmosphere is awesome, and pints are a buck - there you go, man.” Along with the aforementioned implied camaraderie comes an implied loyalty among the Woody’s crowd. It’s an obvious source of pride for McMeen. “Oh yeah,” he said. “You look at all the new places that have opened and haven’t taken our crowd away. It’s great.” April 15, 2000 $5.00 at the door J OR * And on the eighth day, God saidlet there be... dmMymhcmm Thefollowing is a brief list of events this weekend. For more information, call the venue. CONCERTS: Duffy’s Tavern, 1412 O St. (402) 474-3543 Sunday: The Mezcal Brothers Duggan s Pub, 440 S.llth St. (402) 477-3513 Friday: Shuttle Cau> Saturday : The Right Mix Kimball Hall, 11th and R streets (402)472-4747 Friday: Jay Hershberger, piano Saturday: Scarlet and Cream Singers Sunday: Peggy Holloway, soprano; Michael Cotton, piano Knickerbocker’s, 901 OSt. (402) 476-6865 Friday: Chezwicks, Meelee Saturday: Black Light Sunshine, Clever Newman Methodist, 2242 R St. (402) 477-7899 Saturday: “A Brass Managerie” Royal Grove, 340 W. Comhusker Highway (402) 474-2332 Friday and Saturday: Bosch 1 he Zoo Bar, 13b N. 14™ St. (402) 435-8754 Friday: E.C. Scott Saturday: Debbie Davies THEATER: Lincoln Community Playhouse, 2500S.56th St. (402) 489-7529 All weekend: “Children of Eden” Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater, 12™ and R streets (402) 472-2461 All weekend: “42 UP” O’Donnell Auditorium, 50th and Huntington streets (402) 465-2319 Friday and Sunday: Opera Theatre Production: “The Consul” GALLERIES: Burkholder Project, 719 P St. (402)477-3305 All weekend: Laron McGinn, Harry Dingman, Fine Crafts Group Show Decl Place, NON. 8th St. Suite 150 (402) 476-3232 Adi weekend: Liz Dodds Noyes Gallery', 119 S. 9th St. (402) 475-1061 All weekend: Western Nebraska Artists: Carol Sexton, Maxine Yost, Alis Rodgers, Richard Tucker; Jo Brown, Sheila Downey The Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, 12th and R streets (402)472-2461 All weekend: “Visions of the Prairie,” “Parallel Perspectives: Early 20th Century American Art,” Josef Albers: “Elements of Art”