Gen Z Paradise

Hey Ledgers,

We begin today with a moment of appreciation for Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog turned American icon.

With a body of work stretching back to the 1800s, Punx is best known for his predictive work within the field of climatology where he’s garnered international scientific acclaim. Like clockwork, he emerges on this day each year to reveal his findings — each prediction, the culmination of hundreds of hours of tireless work underground building data models, charting climate conditions, and refining his algorithm.

This year’s prediction?.. An Early Spring. But will it be a Midwest fake spring? Only time can tell…

FINE PRINT: PHIL’S PREDICTIONS HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED AS “LARGELY INACCURATE”. WHILE TRUE, THE EDITORIAL TEAM OF THE LINCOLN LEDGER REFUTES THIS AND AS SUCH CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THIS AMERICAN LEGEND. SUE US.

FINER PRINT: PLEASE DON’T SUE US

After a resounding vote last week, we’ll be transitioning TLL to go out on Thursdays in the future. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this late afternoon edition. 🫡

In this week’s issue:

• Pizza Cone: Maybe dessert, maybe pizza.

• Gen Z Paradise: And that’s on god.

• What To Do: First Fridays, new sports, and saddle rash.

• Sportz: The madness is still alive.

• Neighborhood Watch: Cabin in the cul-de-sac.

This is the second-ever edition. If you’re new here, welcome!

- Landon

PIZZA CONE

Pepperoni sundae, please. 🍕

Before we voted Republican or Democrat, a more important debate was unfolding in the classrooms of elementary schools… pizza party, or ice cream party? As it turns out, maybe you can have both.

This week, 402 Creamery announced a collab with Valentino's Pizza to create “Slice of Valentinos”, a pizza-flavored ice cream. The limited batch is on sale today through February 8th. It is the second headline-grabbing flavor from the creamery, which most recently partnered with Runza for a "cinnamon roll and chili" flavored ice cream.

Timed perfectly for Valentine's Day, the stunt capitalizes on Valentino's strong marketing connection to the romantic holiday, known for its much-adored, heart-shaped pizza.

Local brand collaborations are here. National brands like Crocs and McDonalds have been embracing collaborations for years. At the local level, this trend is heating up with companies like Wax Buffalo and Saro Cider finding creative opportunities to capitalize on their devout followings.

NO CAP

Gen Z paradise? 🏝️

A recent study has ranked Lincoln as the #6 easiest metro for Gen Z (those under 25) to purchase a home. The study analyzed the top 100 markets in the U.S. by population and looked at the home-price-to-income ratio and the unemployment rate for Gen Z.

The highlights:

• Lincoln houses cost nearly seven times the median Gen Z income (this is good in comparison to others)

• Lincoln ranked #18 for shortest Days-on-Market (DoM) at 21 days

• Homeownership in Lincoln for Gen Z is roughly 12.8%

The worst performers? The coasts. Of the bottom 10 cities, California claimed 7 spots. Fremont, California, stood out as the most expensive, with 70% of homes selling above their listed price, costing nearly 23 times the average income of Gen Z. 

Top 10 Hardest U.S. Cities for Gen Z to Purchase a Home:
Fremont, CA (1st), San Diego, CA (2nd), Lexington, KY (3), San Jose, CA (4th), Riverside, CA (5th), Los Angeles, CA (6th), Sacramento, CA (7th), Chula Vista, CA (8th), Richmond, VA (9th), Newark, NJ (10th)

📌 What does this mean?
Despite an encouraging headline on Lincoln's affordability for homebuyers, it's not currently a top choice for Gen Z, who prefer other metropolitan areas, as indicated by Lincoln’s absence from a list of the 50 most popular metros for Gen Z homebuyers.

WHAT TO DO

Arts, new sports, and saddle rash.

After a record high of 65 degrees on Thursday, the weekend is set to be a bit rainy. Here’s what you should be doing while the rain pours down.

• 🖼️ Last-second happy hour for First Fridays.

  Tonight will be the perfect weather to bounce between galleries. Start with happy hour at Bin 105 or Occidental End it with a bite to eat downtown and a nightcap.
  GALLERY GUIDE

• 🏸 New sport. New you.
  Over five different UNL sporting events are happening over the weekend. From wrestling to gymnastics, there is no shortage of athletic options for you. Who says Lincoln is just a football town?
  VIEW ALL EVENTS

• 🚴‍♀️ Put on those bike shorts.

  Bike Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN) just released this year’s bike route. Get ready for it, and the inevitable saddle rash, with a quick ride along the Lincoln trail system. It will be wet, but who cares?
  BIKE TRAIL GUIDE
  

SPORTZ

Local headlines for sporty guys and gals.

• ⛹️ NCAAMB: Nebraska downs #6 ranked Wisconsin 80-72 in OT.

• 🏐 Volleyball: The Omaha Supernovas host their second match of the season on Saturday, Feb 3rd vs the San Diego Mojo.

• 🏀 NCAAWB: Husker women tip off at home tomorrow vs Rutgers. They’re still very much in the hunt for a tournament slot.

• 🏟️ Spring Game: Tickets go on sale Feb 7th at 10:00 AM. The much-anticipated QB recruit Dylan Raiola is expected to take the field for the first time.

• 🏉 Football: “Winning six games a year shouldn’t be the Mount Everest expedition that Nebraska has made it,” says Coach Matt Rhule.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

1001 Galloway Circle, Lincoln, NE 68512

Cabin in the cul-de-sac.

Nestled away off of South 14th Street, this log cabin might feel more at home in the mountains somewhere instead of Lincoln. With huge windows overlooking the adjoining Densmore Park, this house could bring that little bit of peace found in the early morning hours sipping coffee outside in the cool morning air. Sitting right off the trail, it’s perfect for active families who want to hop on their bikes and go.

❤️ KEEP: The giant windows (of course), gigantic deck, heated floors throughout the first floor, and most of the kitchen. Also, keep the ski lodge vibes. 🎿

🗑️ TOSS: The living room window shades, upper deck level (looks like it might be time to replace), several of the light fixtures throughout, and the seemingly greyish hardwood or LVT flooring.

The Details:

• 2,383 Sq Ft

• 3 Bed, 2 Bath

• Built in 2000

• A tiny troll bridge in the backyard that permits safe passage for those who know the answer to the riddle 🧌

CHECKLIST

Things to do if you’re feeling ambitious this weekend.

🏃 Start Training: The Lincoln Half Marathon is officially 93 days away. 

🧽 Clean your dishwasher: We both know it is overdue. Here’s how.

📄 Tax Docs: Collect your hard copies and put them in a folder for tax season.

🌬️ Furnace Filter: It’s time for a swap. Your allergies will thank you.

⛽️ Fill-Up: Or better yet, fill up your partner’s gas tank. They’ll love that. 😍

HEADLINES

More headlines from around the capital.

• Grocery-Getter: Open Harvest is hosting a close-out sale this weekend before moving to their new Telegraph District location.

• Lil Wayne: Call the Fireman. Weezy F. Baby will be blessing PBA on April 10th. Get Tickets

• Hozier: Will play in Lincoln on August 14th. Get Tickets.

• Callback: Lincoln crews are filling an avg. of 720 potholes per day.

🐻 WEEKLY WILDCARD (a headline we never saw coming)

• Space Surgery: Virtual Incision, a Lincoln-based remote surgery company sent one of its devices to the International Space Station this week.