Star City Blog / Food

Featured Business: Wise Oven Bakery

By Cory Kibler

Although the Havelock neighborhood is now a part of Lincoln--it was once its own village until it was annexed by the city of Lincoln in 1930-- it is still very much its own community.  Havelock’s former downtown area is its current business district, and the home to a wide variety of fine local restaurants, art galleries, bars and shops that all have a certain small town charm.      

Started in early 2007 by the native Havelock husband and wife team Todd Rivers and Susan Ames Rivers, Wise Oven Bakery is surrounded by businesses that have already made their mark in Historic Havelock. Taking up residence at the back of the Against the Wall Art Gallery and below the already popular Pepe’s Bistro, Wise Oven Bakery is just as unique and charming as the neighborhood and businesses surrounding it.

Smart Giving Program Donates 7,550 Pounds of Smart Chicken

As part of the annual Smart Giving program, the Food Bank of Lincoln received 7,550 pounds of Nebraska-produced Smart Chicken. Lincoln residents made the donation possible through purchases of Smart Chicken products at Russ’s Market and Super Saver stores during the month of November 2009.

“Thanks to the generous support of the people of Lincoln, the Smart Giving program helps the Food Bank of Lincoln put wholesome, nutritious food on the tables of people in need here in our community,” said Pat Raybould, president of B&R Stores, Inc., parent company of Russ’s Market and Super Saver. “Especially with the cold winter we’re experiencing and the increasing need among families in the community, we’re committed to supporting both the Smart Giving program and the Food Bank of Lincoln.”

Mission to Marz Bar

by Dennis Kornbluh

On a recent evening, I emerged from the Lincoln Grand cinema with my wife, daughter and friends into a bitter cold wind that was blowing down “O” Street.  Somehow I had left my gloves and hat at home, even though I knew the mercury was hovering around the single digits.  A friend suggested that we pop into the Marz Bar near the corner of 12th and “O” Streets for a bite to eat.  She had apparently been there before and was eager to return.  I had never been, but at that moment I would have gladly entered any warm space.

When I opened the door, I was rewarded with a rush of warm air and was immediately struck by the other-worldly appearance of the interior.  A self-supported set of doors stood before me.  I walked through them and took in a large, softly lit room with brick walls and a high ceiling that was decorated with sparkling, multi-colored globes.  A long, elegant bar extended along the right, backlit bottle racks and flat-screen televisions hovering on the walls.  A series of half-moon shaped booths resided along the left wall.  At the north end, a balcony decorated with a large mural overlooked the interior.  It was an unexpectedly dramatic setting, and I was intrigued.