Money Trees 🌳 - TLL Mini Edition

Happy Friday Ledgers,

Who needs a football national championship when you can have a National Tree Championship? Nebraska’s latest claim to fame is a massive Eastern Cottonwood, standing 85 feet tall with a 37.2-foot circumference—a true legend in the making.

Located at Pibel Lake Recreation Area, about 60 miles north of Grand Island, this century old, 8-person hugging tree has officially been crowned the biggest of its kind. The title comes courtesy of Nebraska Forest Service—essentially the Guinness World Records for trees.

In this week’s issue:

• What To Do: Comedy, state celebrations, and kickball.

• Sportz: Pins, Pinning, and a Pine Tar

• Neighborhood Watch: A cozy colonial

This week’s ledger comes directly from the beautiful rocky mountains of Colorado. We’re shredding a bit of powder (aka pizza-ing all the way down the mountain) and enjoying the great outdoors. We’ve also noted that every time we leave Lincoln for a weekend, the weather seems to improve dramatically while we’re gone… Coincidence? Maybe. 🤔 

🌼 The Way Too Early Spring Playlist
Looking for a bit more warm weather delusion for your weekend? Here’s your second dose of The Way Too Early Spring Playlist, curated by years of seasonal depression and yearning for the bliss of spring.

- Landon

WHAT TO DO

Comedy, state celebrations, and kickball. 🎙️

😂 Live Comedy at Howler Haus
Tonight, you’ll shake off the week with stand-up at Howler Haus, Lincoln’s newest comedy spot, tucked in the basement of Bierhaus Maisschäler. Heath Cordes and Leyla Ingalls—both of Kill Tony fame—are on the mic, ready to remind you that maybe the world isn’t completely on fire, or at least make you laugh about it.

With two shows starting at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM, you’ve got time to grab dinner in the Haymarket before settling in for a night of solid laughs. GA tickets are $29.

🎂 Nebraska’s Statehood Celebration
For a bit of family-friendly fun, you’ll load up the minivan on Saturday and head over to the Nebraska History Museum to celebrate our state’s 158th birthday. You’ll get a deep dive into the state’s backstory, plus the kind of party only a Grade A, bonafide state deserves—think square dancing, history exhibits, and cupcakes.

The event runs from 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, and admission is free. Sugar highs and state pride included.

🏆 A Kickball Tournament for the Ages
Open your phone and text your group chat the following three things in rapid succession:

1. “Yo, what’s going on this weekend”

2. “JK Don’t Care — We’re playing kickball”

3. “BYOB (Bring your own ball), BYOC (Bring your own cooler)”

Where will this epic showdown take place? Take your pick from Holmes Lake Park, Pioneers Park, or Kiwanis Field. The weather is perfect, the competition will be ruthless, and you will CRUSH the opposition. See you on the field, champ. 🫡

SPORTZ

Sporting headlines from around the capital.

• 🚜 NFL Combine: Former Husker Ty Robinson (who for reference is 6'5" and 288 pounds) ran a 4.83 40-yard dash at the NFL combine

• ⛹️ NCAAMB: NU Men’s basketball fell short to Michigan at home (46-49), in what may be the lowest ever scoring game of basketball (watch the recap)

• 🏀 NCAAWB: Husker Women’s Basketball fell to Washington on senior day

• 🏃 Track: Husker track goes to battle in the Big Ten Indoor Track Championships today in Indianapolis

• 🍽️ Hostess with the Mostest: Pinnacle Bank Arena is reportedly close to being considered as a host for a future round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament

• 🥎 Softball: Nebraska heads to the Wichita State tournament this weekend, looks to improve on rocky start to the season

• 🏈 Football: Nebraska is set to hire Pat Stewart of the New England Patriots as the new general manager for the football program

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

2627 Van Dorn St, Lincoln, NE 68502

A cozy colonial. 🎩

Van Dorn Street is home to some of the best houses in Lincoln. Decorated with tudors, cottages, the street is a staple for any home design buff, and 2627 Van Dorn Street is here to keep the reputation alive. This renovated colonial classic checks nearly every box: perfect for hosting, low-maintenance for non-DIYers, and a backyard that practically begs for a summer cookout (we’ll bring the burgers).

Perhaps its only flaw? You’ll be admired—a lot. Sitting on a busier stretch of Van Dorn, this home won’t go unnoticed. But if that doesn’t bother you, it’s a rare value buy that delivers charm, space, and modern updates without the usual to-do list.

The Details:

• 4 beds, 3 baths

• 2.408 sq/ft

• Built in 1932

• The perfect shade of pink for a bedroom 🦩

❤️ KEEP:
The wall molding in the living room (elegance defined), the classic and perfectly done kitchen, the original bathroom tiles, the sunroom on the second level, and the patio and backyard space that make this home feel like an entertainer’s dream. Bonus points for being a completely finished renovation—no projects necessary.

🗑️ TOSS:
The sauna-esque basement (not not a vibe, but maybe not the right one), and the street location, which means you’ll never live in total obscurity. Other than that? This one’s move-in ready perfection.

CHECKLIST

An over-ambitious weekend to-do list.

• Turn on the TLL Way Too Early Spring Playlist and just vibe for a little bit

• Fill up your bike tires (here’s how in case you don’t know)

• Go for a run in the beautiful weather

• For the love of sweet baby Jesus, take your Christmas lights down

• Try making a new cocktail (this honey dew spritz caught our eye)

HEADLINES

More news from around the capital.

• Library: Lincoln Libraries received a $10,000 grant from the Public Library Association to improve digital literacy

• Training: The City of Lincoln announced the Future-Ready Workforce Initiative, which is designed to help provide Lincoln residents with scholarships to pursue education in high-growth areas such as HVAC and Electrical

• Open House: A public meeting was held for the upcoming University Place project, which looks to reinvigorate the area between 48th Street, Nebraska Wesleyan and UNL East Campus

• OSHA: OSHA is investigating the deaths of two workers at a Nebraska windmill farm

🐯 Weekly Wildcard:
One headline (or post) we never saw coming.

• Sorority: A century-old sorority at Nebraska Wesleyan disbanded