Project 1: I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream

The moment I see the three story brick building my mouth begins to water. The sign in the front window is a lit-up clock with a circle of a bright pink neon light around the edge. Above the clock, in neon green lights are the words “Time to eat.” Just underneath the clock, lit up in white, are the two favorite words of anyone with a sweet tooth “Ice Cream.” I can barely contain my excitement as I walk up the gray cement steps with my tall, blonde haired, friend Lauren and entered Ivanna Cone, the infamous, one and only, homemade ice cream parlor and soda fountain in Lincoln. As a native of the home of the Huskers, I had made a few visits to Ivanna Cone when I was younger. However, I never really thought much about this small business known by all the natives. As a child, I was only interested in enjoying the smooth texture of the premium ice cream. Now, returning to my home town as a first year in college, older and wiser, I was determined to find out what made this small business so special. I realized that this shop was more than just a place to get ice cream, and hidden in the unique atmosphere are symbols and values of our culture.

“Why, yes! We make it all right here!” I read these words written in bright yellow chalk on army green chalkboard as I enter, and realize their significance. Our society loves anything home-made; it gives the product a unique, authentic quality. In a society where convenience is the main concern of businesses, product quality has decreased in importance. Modern day production relies greatly on machines as the ideal way of achieving optimal efficiency. However, the distinct taste of something homemade by hand from scratch, cannot be recreated.

My eyes are drawn to the two large black ice cream mixers to my right that look as if they are genuine old-fashioned mixtures nearly fifty years old with white residue on the exterior. They are separated from me by a silver metal rail. It is as if the railing is symbolizing a barrier to the secrecy of what makes the ice cream so special and unique. Ivanna Cone uses the good old-fashioned ice and salt method to make their premium ice cream flavors, which include sweet cream vanilla, dutch chocolate, pralines and cream, red raspberry, french vanilla, lemon custard, amaretto-peach strawberry, banana, peanut butter chocolate, mint chip, rum raisin, maple grapenut, vanilla ice milk, triple berry sherbert, and lastly mango sherbet. The aroma of the shop is the perfect combination of the wide selection of ice cream flavors. The scent of vanilla and chocolate mix perfectly with the sweet odor of banana to create a smell that makes me suddenly very hungry for a banana split. As I look through this list of “Today’s Flavors” (in the order above) on the large green chalkboard on the pink wall behind the counter, I can’t seem to make up my mind; they all excite my taste buds as I imagine how each flavor would taste on my tongue. Like a child in a candy shop, I long to sample all the varieties.

I am dumb-founded as the tall, dark, and handsome soda jerk in front of me asks “How may I help you?” The critical moment is upon me. The flavors were written in various colors that match the shades of the flavors of ice cream, with white for the varieties of vanilla and bright yellow for lemon custard. The words “Today Flavors” written on the large green chalkboard reminded me that the flavor options would differ the next day, thus I had to make the perfect decision. So to help me make my crucial assessment, I seek the expert advice from Sam the soda jerk. He is an authority figure, wearing a uniform consisting of medium-wash jeans with a few rips that give the pants a sense of authenticity and a red t-shirt with the word “Huskers” in bold, white lettering underneath a white apron. After testing banana, and amaretto-peach strawberry, my tastebuds go crazy as I attempt to decide which one is most appealing. Lauren made her choice and informed Sam saying, in a tone full of hunger, “I’ll take Peanut Butter Chocolate.” My sweet tooth longs for sugar and I dreamily look into Sam’s blue eyes and say “Banana.”

Located in the creamery shop in the historic Haymarket of downtown Lincoln, Ivanna Cone is part of the culture in the capital city. The red “Husker” t-shirt worn by the soda jerk is a representation of another unique aspect of Lincoln.

The capital city is most famous for being the home of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. However, Ivanna Cone, though not as big as Husker football, is an aspect of Lincoln that makes this city different from any other. Residents of Lincoln are proud to be the home of Ivanna Cone. The home-made, supreme ice cream, served in a Styrofoam dish, is as integral a part of the city as the color red. As my standard-sized white Styrofoam bowl containing “Banana” Ice cream was handed to me, I knew that I was in for a treat. The creamy, seemingly airless textured, large off-white scoop of ice cream filled the bowl, even though I ordered a “small” dish.

As I sit in the wire-rimmed chair and place my white dish on the square black table with a white edge, I admire the appealing colors all around me. The pink paint on the walls fills the room with a sense of happiness, along with the stripes of pink, green, and purple paint along the bottom of the counter. The light fixtures hanging from the ceiling above the counter supply the room with white incandescent light and provide the sole air of elegance. As ice cream serves, literally and figuratively, as a form of comfort in America, the bright colors of the shop assist in providing an atmosphere that help in creating a feeling of comfort. The calming mood provided by the little shop, in a joint effort with my dish of Banana ice cream amazingly improved my mood. Ivanna Cone’s delicious ice cream and bright array of colors help to promote a feeling of happiness; a quality highly valued in society today.

Ice cream and music both provide happiness and comfort a sour mood; however, together they have a stronger impact than when separated. As the banana ice cream, multi colored light strands decorating the outer edges of the front window, and soft white incandescent light fixtures all assist in creating my feeling of joy, Jack Johnson’s voice in the background is the cherry on top. “Sitting, Waiting, Wishing” comes on over the speakers and fills the colorful room. The coldness of the rich, velvety, seemingly airless ice cream, along with the soothing quality of Jack Johnson’s voice, calm my throat and mind.

My friend Lauren and I begin to sing along at our secluded table around the corner, as we are the only two people occupying the empty shop. While sitting there, I watch two young African American men enter the purple wooden door with green accents. After the two young men had placed their orders and were sitting at a table about nine feet from us, a young woman with long blond hair and a tall brunette arrive with two handsome, dark haired gentlemen and place their order at the white linoleum counter.

America is a nation with many traditions. The Pledge of Allegiance, baseball, apple pie, and old-fashioned ice cream shops have withstood the test of time and will always be a part of our culture. Ivanna Cone, with its black-wire chairs, and old-fashioned glass sundae dishes represent how some things never go out of style in American culture. We respect our past because it is a part of who we are and defines us as a country. In a society where technological advances are happening every day, we still prefer the old-fashioned method of making ice cream. The salt and ice combined with the perspiration produced from the manual labor of cranking the silver handle is what makes the ice cream taste so sweet. The enjoyment I felt from the combination of the mellow sound of John Mayer, the Banana flavor of my ice cream, and the authentic ice cream parlor décor was indescribable. I realized that what makes Ivanna Cone so great is the experience. Visitors to the historic creamery building can expect more than just good ice cream. Ivanna Cone’s air combines the happiness and relief that could be found in an genuine ice cream and soda shop that our parents visited as young adults, aided by the unbeatably satisfying taste of old-fashioned homemade ice cream, relaxing music, and social interaction among friends and family; it is almost like being in the fifties, but without sock hops, bobby socks, and poodle skirts.

I wanna hold your hand...

“My hands are small I know, but they’re not yours they are my own.” The hand is a part of the body that we rely on greatly each and every day. To me, hands are a symbol of individuality. Everyone’s hands are different sizes and have different textures. Some may be big and rough, while others are small and smooth. Hands are just another feature that separates one person from everyone else. Hands also represent a sense of comfort and intimacy. It is comforting for a baby to hold his or her mother’s finger after they are born. Holding the mother’s hand, the baby knows that there will always be someone there to provide protection, nurturing, love, and support. However, holding hands can comfort someone of any age, not just those who are young. Whenever something bad happens, holding someone’s hand can help to ease the pain. The connection that is felt when holding hands makes one realize that he or she is not alone. The support given from holding hands makes one feel that he or she has the power to make it through anything. Along with creating a feeling of comfort, the act of holding hands is also viewed as an act of intimacy. The Beatles song “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” represents the deep symbolism hidden beneath the simple act of holding hands. Teenage girls, for instance, dream of holding hands with the boy they like. Holding hands, in one aspect, is seen as an act of romance. It is an outward sign of the bond of love that the two people share. When the love blossoms to the point of marriage, the hand serves as a display case for a symbol of committed love. When the left ring finger is decorated, it means that particular man or woman always has a hand to hold.

music for a deserted island paradise...

If I had to choose between being stuck in a dark, scary, dried up well or lying in the sun on a sandy beach, I would have to go with the beach. I am extremely afraid of dark, small place so I would not be able to handle being trapped in a well. I would prefer to take more than five cassette tapes because I have many favorites; however, five is better than none at all. The five albums I would choose would be: Love, Melt, The Spirit Room, How to Save a Life, and Move Along. My first choice would be Love by The Beatles. I have always enjoyed The Beatles and could listen to them all day. Hearing my boys sing the words “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” makes me melt every time. This brings me to my next album, Melt, by the Rascal Flatts. I was first introduced to the Rascal Flatts by my mom. I enjoy their rich voices and how they bring a unique upbeat to country love songs. Michelle Branch is one of my favorite female singers. I love her unique style and messages. I enjoy listening to her when I am driving in the car on a warm summer day and my sum roof is open. Her voice and words always seem to put me in a good mood. I have been in love with The Fray ever since I first heard “How To Save a Life.” Whenever I get stressed out I listen to “Over my Head” and scream into a pillow. Amazingly, this helps me calm down and not take things so seriously. My final choice Move Along will provide the twist in music I will need in the island to remain entertained. Rocking out to All American Rejects is one of my favorite past times. Listening to “Dirty Little Secret” and dancing around like a crazy person never fails to put a huge smile on my face.

experiencing southpointe....

Malls have become an integral part of American culture. Teenagers, as well as senior citizens, enjoy browsing the store windows and seeing the latest must-haves. Malls have everything from shoes, clothes, and jewelry to the latest technology. However, a mall is no longer just a place where people go shopping. Nowadays, a trip to the mall is an experience. Malls are filled with action, people, clothes, food, and good times. Young people, especially, view the mall as a fun spot to hang out with friends. Malls have become increasingly complex over the recent decades. In addition to department stores, malls now include food courts, arcades, movie theatres, and even amusement parks. Malls have become accommodating to all different kinds of people. A mall is now a place that has a little something that everyone can enjoy. For instance, right here in Lincoln, at SouthPointe Pavilions Mall, there is always something going on. SouthPointe has a wide variety of apparel and accessory stores to satisfy every consumer’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, and other fashion needs. However, with the convenient location of the movie theatre, SouthPointe also has the ability to satisfy the entertainment needs and wants of both shoppers and non-shoppers alike. The vast assortment of eateries conveniently provides the necessary energy that shoppers need to continue on their spending spree. The atmosphere is very energetic and even slightly chaotic at times, especially around the holidays when shoppers are frantically searching for “the perfect gift.” The sights and smells change with the seasons. During the fall, for instance, the Lincoln Arts Festival is put on in the parking lot. With various booths of authentic jewelry, paintings, purses, and delicious-smelling food, this occasion draws a large, diverse crowd. Also, during Christmastime, the smells of candy canes and peppermint fill the stores, contributing to the holiday cheer. There is so much to be seen and heard at SouthPointe and every trip is an adventure that will excite the senses.