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S E P T E M B E R / O C TO B E R 2 0 1 8 INSPIREDLIVINGOMAHA.COM
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Chris Christen 402-444-1094 | chris.christen@owh.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Heidi Hoffman 402-444-1351 | hhoffman@owh.com ASSISTANT EDITOR Marjie Ducey 402-444-1034 | marjie.ducey@owh.com
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PHOTO IMAGING SPECIALIST Patricia “Murphy” Benoit CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS Kurt A. Keeler, Jeffrey Bebee, Elizabeth Bauman, Lenli Corbett, Nancy Gaarder, Chad Lebo, Kevin Warneke, Rebecca Gratz, Annelise Christen, Kruger Images CUSTOM PUBLISHING SALES MANAGER Lauren Kruger | 402-444-1261 | lauren.kruger@owh.com ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Emily Martin | 402-444-1411 | emily.martin@owh.com Marilyn Martin | 402-444-1405 | marilyn.martin@owh.com Michael Medrano | 402-444-1209 | michael.medrano@owh.com EVENTS Tam Webb | 402-444-3125 | tam.webb@owh.com Emily Gerhardt | 402-444-1161 | emily.gerhardt@owh.com
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Inspired Living Omaha (ISSN 23795948) is a publication of the Omaha World-Herald. ©2018, Omaha World-Herald, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the specific written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed by those interviewed are their own. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information, no responsibility can be accepted by the publisher for content, opinions or practices, or how the information herein is used. All materials submitted, including but not limited to images, logos and text that appear, are assumed to be the original work of the provider, and the publisher is not responsible for unintentional copyright infringement.
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inspiredlivingomaha.com 7
contents HOMESPIRATION 12
ALADDIN'S CAVE
DESIGN DONE RIGHT 18
DAVID BOWIE MEETS LOUIS XIV
GOOD QUESTION 23
26
18
REMODEL NEBRASKA
BEFORE & AFTER 24
THREE EXTERIOR REDOS
GET TO KNOW 26
STEWARDS OF THE PRAIRIE
AU COURANT 28 29 31
40
Q & A: STEVEN STOLMAN Q & A: MILES REDD BOTANICALS & ANTIQUES
DESTINATION 32 35 38 40 36 44
ALASKA: LAND, SEA & SKY
12
ALASKA: DENALI EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS GRINNELL, IOWA WASHINGTON, D.C. SOUTH AFRICA
HIDDEN PANTRY 46
LEFTOVER RICE
EXPERIENCE LOCAL 48
LUXURY HOMES
8  S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
46
32
One place. One purpose.
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inspiredlivingomaha.com  9
TECHNOLOGY
EDITOR'S NOTE
NEW FRONTIER THE QUESTION CAME UP
out a newly opened boutique hotel with a
at my brother’s house at Christmas: Where
schoolhouse theme. Hotel Grinnell and the
shall we go for our fifth Christen family
college town were a huge surprise, page 40.
vacation?
CHRIS CHRISTEN editor-in-chief
This annual travel issue also takes you
My nephew, Hans, 25, suggested an
to the Ozarks’ Eureka Springs, page 38,
Alaska cruise. Miraculously, we found a
and to South Africa for a personalized
week in July that worked for all nine of us.
adventure, page 44.
We typically handle our own travel
A reader’s text message really was a fire
BONUS CONTENT
arrangements. But ship reservations
drill. “We’re planning on doing a burn
Visit us online for my insider tips on packing for an Alaska cruise. I watched dozens of YouTube videos on the topic and I can tell you much of the advice is off-base. Traveling smart is a must, especially with the regional jets you'll fly from Omaha and the cabin space you'll have aboard ship.
– something new to me – would best
tonight. Come on down!” A quick dash to
be handled by someone with cruising
Malvern, Iowa, had me dodging flames and
expertise. In our case, Mary Ann
craving s’mores, page 26.
NEXT UP The Holiday Issue
HAVE A STORY IDEA? Visit inspiredlivingomaha.com, click “Submit” on the navigation bar and share a few details. Or call us at 402-444-1094.
CONNECT WITH US @inspiredlivingomaha @inspiredomaha chris.christen@owh.com
10 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
Strasheim of Custom Cruises & Travel. The story of our family’s maiden
In the category of homes, check out an art-loving couple’s Aladdin’s cave, page 12;
voyage begins on page 32. It’s paired
an empty-nester’s home makeover, page
with a synopsis of freelance writer Kevin
18, and a trio of Before & After curb-appeal
Warneke’s own Alaskan adventure by
projects, page 24.
panoramic train and motor coach, page 35. A fun coincidence: Our trips were 10 days
Safe travels,
apart. A silver lunch box as a press kit sold me on a trip to Grinnell, Iowa, to check The gang's all here: Our #BakedAlaska cruise group. Matching shirts were a conversation piece and proved to be a swell way to spot each other in a crowd!
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HOMESPIRATION
AN ALADDIN'S CAVE
Omaha couple's home is a treasure trove of unusual and unexpected things
TEXT MARJIE DUCEY PHOTOGRAPHY JEFFREY BEBEE
12  S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
THE ELEVATOR DOOR slides open, and a first-time visitor almost reels back, assaulted by sensory overload. Gone is the generic look of the apartment building’s ground floor. This landing is an Aladdin’s cave of paintings and sculptures – a taste of the treasures within the home of Monte and Duane Thompson. The Thompsons live in the Blackstone area. They bought into the co-op in 1996, and their 1,500-square-foot apartment is a mix of five efficiency units, snaking across the north side of the building.
ALL SIZES AND SHAPES It would take hours to fully appreciate every piece in the condo. “We just have to have one-dimensional as well as three-dimensional (pieces),’’ Monte says. “We’ve got to have all of it.’’
It's filled with works by beloved Nebraska artists, but there are also unexpected treats from trips abroad. The Thompsons owned a garden center, the Greenery, from 1973 to 1996 and for 10 of those years took about a month off in the winter to sail the Caribbean. They’re water people, Monte says, which, yes, is possible in Nebraska. Duane gets his sailing fix at Branched Oak Lake near Lincoln, where they lease a fiberglass sailboat once known as the Monte J. It was their boat 30 years ago! “It’s windier down there than the British Virgin Islands,’’ Monte says of Branched Oak. “We’ve had worse storms in Nebraska.’’
CERAMICS Ceramics are the basis of their collection. They also love color.
Monte often goes along on Duane's twice-weekly sailing jaunts, but prefers to spend her time gardening at property they own near their former garden center. They both love working in the soil (despite fighting off Japanese beetles), although Duane is more into vegetables and Monte prefers flowers. In her mid-70s, she still works, acting as a factotum, she proudly says, to an area businessman. She once took care of his plants and now does everything from organizing a kitchen remodel to helping to crew a 54-foot tugboat from Alaska to Vancouver.
OFFICE Monte's office is tucked away in the corner of the master suite. i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 13
THE STOVE The stove was a gift from Monte's parents, who took note of how much she had loved a similar one at a farm sale. The dishes on the cooktop are from Provence, where Monte once took a cooking class.
THE KITCHEN Gardening and cooking are her favorite things to do. “I enjoy food a lot,’’ says Monte. She knows how to plate a good-looking dish, too. Her background includes food styling.
14 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
st 2018 1 place
st 2018 1 place
ART GALLERY
ART RETAIL
Omaha.com
Omaha.com
The Thompsons, sailing in the Caribbean.
If she’s not working, gardening or sailing, she cooks.
how many pieces are in their collection. “Anywhere from dozens to hundreds.’’ They
“I enjoy food a lot,’’ says Monte, a food
have different tastes, so it all has to coex-
stylist for many years. “My idea of the per-
ist. It doesn't get dusted either, they say,
fect meal is everything fresh and local.’’
because that’s how to break art.
The couple's love of food kick-started a collection of functional ceramics. They also love color and variety. So while
Many pieces are from Bemis Center for their pottery was created by former teacher and friend Lloyd Graham Wood. He and
Hamlett Dobbins over the sofa in what they
Duane taught together at Omaha Burke High
call their library, there are wire swimmers
School years ago, and Wood would sell his
floating over their dining room table and a
pottery at yard sales. “My God, it was so exciting,’’ Monte says.
Blue Man Ray resting in a chair. A ceramic
Their latest acquisition was created by
bald fellow named Patrick sits in a hallway,
Nebraska artist Bob Culver. An Ervin Dixon
surrounded by paintings, as he contemplates
pot that Monte fills with roses and hydran-
their bedroom. There are lots of bunnies,
geas when they entertain was inspiration for
too.
a three-dimensional basket of flowers. It was
It would take hours to fully appreciate every piece. “We just have to have one-dimensional as
a surprise birthday present from Duane. Life is good. "Of course, there are down times,’’ Monte
well as three-dimensional (pieces),’’ Monte
says. “But I’m an optimist. My bucket is
says. “We’ve got to have all of it.’’
always half-full. Never half-empty.’’
And maybe that’s why they can’t tell you
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i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 17
DESIGN DONE RIGHT
OBJET D'ART
David Bowie meets Louis XIV in a rad Omaha townhome makeover TEXT
CHRIS CHRISTEN
THE FOYER PROVIDES the first clue that this isn’t an average townhome renovation. The wallpaper, for starters, features
PHOTOGRAPHY
REBECCA GRATZ
playful twist. Versailles, with a touch of Modern Baroque. But what’s that across the way, on a
friends to help her create a living space that marked a change of lifestyle, from single mom to emptynester.
an elegant Art Nouveau-meets-psyche-
table in the living room? A tree branch
The homeowner, who asked to be
delia print, hand-screened on silver
arcing ever so elegantly in a glass vase.
anonymous, is fiftysomething and the
mylar.
Welcome to the art of high-low deco-
mother of a recent college graduate.
rating and the Dorothy Draper dictum,
She works full time in education and
dances off the panels of a multifaceted
“If it looks right, it is right,” from the
has a dog, a gregarious personality and
mirror crowning an original console
team of Maison MxM, or Mark and
eclectic interests. Among them: rock
from the “House of Tomorrow,” a sen-
Mikal Eckstrom.
’n’ roll, all things Parisian, gourmet
The pattern in the wallcovering
sation at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. In a corner, a colorful tower by Omaha artist Justin Beller provides a
18 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
But this isn’t a story about them.
cooking, pop culture, cinematography
“It’s about me, mostly,” says the
and fine art. She has a plethora of
homeowner, who hired her longtime
friends, whom she enjoys having over
PATIO (BELOW) The courtyard, designed by Kinghorn Gardens, features an L-shaped pergola with a bench and accent lighting. Spikey plugs of ornamental grasses are loosely reminiscent of the tumbling blocks pattern inside the home. The paver pattern is a nod to the Palace of Versailles in France
for cocktails and dinner. But she also
transformations to accommodate the
able to move into a different room and
embraces her downtime. Her home is
homeowner’s lifestyle.
look like it belongs there,” says Mark.
her sanctuary.
“This is a place where I can come and go easily,” the homeowner says.
THE PROJECT The Eckstroms were enlisted as
The footprint of the single-level
“Sometimes surprising combinations result in the process.” Knowing their client well gave the
townhome is manageable for one
duo a jump on decorating for her per-
project managers and designers for
person; association fees cover snow
sonality. “The décor mixes bling, Pari-
the townhome makeover. Work began
removal, window washing, gutter
sian salon, rock ’n’ roll and Nouveau to
in September 2017 and wrapped
cleaning, yardwork and other general
Deco influences,” says Mark.
up 18 months later, in time for the
maintenance.
homeowner to host Easter dinner. The entire unit was gutted, but the kitchen, great room and walk-out patio underwent the most significant
Walls painted in a “very French” custom gray provide a neutral back-
THE DESIGN The Eckstroms have a distinct philosophy. “Everything should be
drop for a regal palette inspired by a blue peacock that strutted across the front yard in the trio’s early design CONTINUED ON PAGE 21
i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 19
20  S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19
discussions. “It was an omen,” the homeowner says. On the heels of that sighting, the townhome was dubbed Le Paon, French for peacock. The wall paint – Maison Gray – shifts in intensity as natural light spills into the living area from windows to the courtyard. Teal greets you at the door and is used as accent throughout the studied interior. A tumbling blocks pattern meets itself coming and going in each space as well. Surrealism, cubism and the female form dominate art and photography. Furnishings and accessories are meticulously arranged. “Every tableau tells a story,” says Mikal. In one example, a black cowhide Louis XIV bergère chair is nested against a folding screen that Maison MxM customized with wallpaper in a multicolored prism design called “Circus” by Cole & Son. In the living room, symmetry prevails in conversation areas created with pairs of back-to-back velvet sofas with chrome nail heads inspired by those in Coco Chanel’s salon, vintage
DINING ROOM (LEFT) The columns are original to the townhome, but the built-in bar space was gutted and re-imagined. The hearth tile, repeated from the kitchen, was measured and cut with a laser for a precise fit. Vintage dining chairs by Dan Johnson are upholstered in a cube design that’s repeated throughout the home. The rug is from CB2.
FLOORING The dining room flooring is cerused oak, popular in French décor. The chalky look of the wood is achieved with a plaster top coat and a wire brush.
Murano glass lamps, teal leather club chairs, papier-mâché drums from artisans in Haiti, custom upholstered poufs and vintage coffee tables. And then there’s that unexpected tabletop accent, the branch in the tall vase. The courtyard, with access from the living room, is an extension of the home. “This is my sanctuary, my point of view,” the empty-nester says. “It was fun to start over and to go slow and be thoughtful about how I would use my new space. I’m loving it.”
i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 21
KITCHEN The kitchen is the heart of the home. The island doubles as a table. Open shelves and counters are peppered with vintage rock ’n’ roll-themed collector plates. Terra cotta pots hold herbs for cooking.
FAVORITE SPOT
BACKSPLASH
A bistro table by the bay window is where the homeowner starts each day and regroups after work. “I really fought it, but I use that table six times a day," she says. The window seat provides a comfy spot to recharge. “The dog naps with me on the bench. It’s our jam.”
"Fan Club" by Artistic Tile from Sunderland Brothers Co.
22 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
GOOD QUESTION! A S PO NS O RED FEATU RE
Q
JACK REDIGER OWNER AND LICENSED CONTRACTOR, REMODEL NEBRASKA, LLC
Sunroom or deck: What are the top three considerations for each?
ANSWER When it comes to sunrooms, No. 1 for most homeowners is energy efficiency. If you spend the money on a new or remodeled sunroom, you want it to be for year-round use, not just three seasons. No. 2 is aesthetics. The addition needs to blend in with the house. Gone are the years when a sunroom roof was different from the main roof to save a few bucks. Clients want a consistent, clean look across the exterior of their home. No. 3 is maintenance. Homeowners want something with little to no upkeep that they can enjoy for years to come. Almost everyone who wants a sunroom wants a deck, too. The No. 1 deck consideration is cost. Lower-cost decks are a great option, but they will need some work after a few years. Composite decks cost more but require practically no maintenance — which is the No. 2 consideration. Decks are for relaxing, and that is how homeowners want to keep it. No. 3 is the look of the deck. A sturdy deck with some flair is what most people are after. And that's what we deliver.
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i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m   23
BEFORE & AFTER
AMY AND JUDD LYONS
Northern Douglas County THE TRANSFORMATION: Amy liked a lot of elements inside but says their 3,000-square-foot 1960 midcentury modern ranch looked like a trailer. With its new roof, which went from a pitch of 2:12 to 6:12, it has more of a craftsman appearance. Amy loved this quote from a neighbor: “I don’t know what you paid for that roof, but it looks like a million bucks.’’
EXTERIOR MAKEOVERS TEXT MARJIE DUCEY PHOTOGRAPHY HEIDI HOFFMAN & KURT A. KEELER
AMY LYONS WAS TIRED of the trailer look. Renay Robison-Scheer's house was too dark, and Gay Liddell wanted to add pizzazz to her split-entry home. There were hiccups along the way, but now that they are done (or almost done), the homeowners couldn't be happier with their finished projects.
TRENDING VIEW MORE ONLINE READ THE FULL STORY AND SEE THE INSIDE OF AMY AND JUDD LYONS' HOME AT inspiredlivingomaha.com
BEFORE
24 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: "I looked at a lot of magazines and talked to the architect, Mick McGuire at Straightline Design. We came up with a vision, and he added the porch.'' BIGGEST CHALLENGE: The couple had to wait until their three sons were out of the house to start saving money for the new roof. Then they had to find a contractor who understood Amy’s vision and could do all the complicated work involved. Bearded Builders, not the cheapest or most expensive, got the job. “I liked them immediately,'' Amy says. "I just felt a connection.'' WHAT’S NEXT: The driveway will be redone, and the pool deck needs help. ADVICE: Do as much research as you can before turning the job over to the professionals. “I like to know what I’m going to pay for and what I want,’’ Amy says.
Check out the dramatic transformations.
!
WHAT THEY LOVE MOST: Insulation added as part of the roof work has made a huge improvement in their utility bills. Even though they have a geothermal system, it had been impossible to regulate the temperature in their great room. “The insulation factor was No. 1. As an aside, we got a beautiful home,’’ Amy says.
THE FINISHED PROJECT: Thrilled is a good verb, Amy says. "Every time we drive up we can't believe it's our house.''
AFTER
GAY AND RICK LIDDELL
Tara Heights/Hickory Hills, Papillion
RENAY ROBISON-SCHEER AND KENDALL SCHEER
Near 72nd Street and Northern Hills Drive
THE TRANSFORMATION: The Liddells gave their ho-hum 1970s split-entry home of 18 years some craftsman flair. The barn red color is gone, replaced with gray and more natural colors.
THE TRANSFORMATION: The Scheers painted their ranch-style home's deep burgundy brick with a white wash and added cedar-stained shutters, columns and architectural garage doors.
WHAT ELSE WAS DONE: They started last October, and have fixed the gutters, put in new steps, replaced the garage doors and expanded the driveway. New shutters and painted brick are next. There's a new water feature next to the stairs and a patio under a linden tree in the front yard, part of a landscaping overhaul by nephew Todd Kessler.
WHAT ELSE WAS DONE: The front picture window went from a half-round transom to a rectangular transom, which greatly modernized the look and increased the light into the front side of the house. The couple also added a garage with heated floors and a utility bay underneath.
WHAT THEY LOVE MOST: The new steps, done by Omaha Concrete, and the water feature. “We have had so many people stop and comment, ‘What you’ve done here is amazing.’ '’ Gay says. The garage doors are no longer plain Jane, either, with windows and other details. BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Gay played general contractor, which she hopes to never do again. Blame the rain. “That was just tough getting everybody organized,’’ she says. “Everybody depended on the guy before him.’’ WHAT THEY LEARNED: A pond is more work than you might expect. Gay discovered there's lots of prep work for the various seasons, and it's hard work moving those stones to keep the liner intact. “The birds certainly do love it,’’ she says. “I love the sounds of it.’’ THE FINISHED PROJECT: The entryway and curb appeal turned out perfectly, Gay says. “It makes me happy every day I come home.’’
WHAT THEY LOVE MOST: Renay loves the home’s color. Kendall, of course, loves the new shop space. SOURCE OF INSPIRATION: Renay watches a lot of HGTV and spends time browsing Pinterest. The couple also drove around, looking at homes in older parts of town. BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Finishing the entire project. After 18 months, the project is finally nearing completion. A pump system and heated floor in the garage are done, and all that remains is the installation of cabinets and shelving. ADVICE: Set expectations and lock in a construction schedule and deadlines. Nothing ever goes exactly as planned, but with a little coordination, it can all get done in a reasonable amount of time. THE FINISHED PROJECT: “I absolutely love the way it came out,’’ Renay says. “The best thing is how beautiful it looks.’’
BEFORE
BEFORE
AFTER
AFTER
i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 25
GET TO KNOW
FIRING THE PRAIRIE Controlled burn fuels the growth of native grasses and wildflowers
TEXT
CHRIS CHRISTEN
PHOTOGRAPHY
CHRIS CHRISTEN & KURT A. KEELER
ABOUT THE BURN Bonnie and Greg Pierce’s 5 acres of prairie boast big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass and switchgrass, plus coneflower, black-eyed Susan, leadplant, coreopsis, milkweed and blazing star. Springtime burns allow winter cover and seeds for birds and other wildlife. Burning also helps keep the prairie healthy.
BEFORE
AFTER 26 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
IT’S A MID-APRIL evening
control of the weeds and dead timber
in rural Malvern, Iowa. Strong winds
along the creek. I’m hoping this burns
earlier in the day have died down. The
up a bunch of it.”
ground is dry. And the grass is even drier. Conditions are perfect for firing up the prairie.
Controlled burns are critical to praiThe timing of a controlled burn
Two neighbors work together. Cheryl Jones, lighter in hand, walks
landowner’s priorities for the prairie.
the east perimeter of her 3-acre man-
“Burning revitalizes the natives,” says
aged prairie, igniting tufts of native
Bonnie. “Whether you burn in the
grasses every three or four feet.
spring or fall will affect some of the
Bonnie and Greg Pierce are in a golf Creek. As Greg drives, Bonnie starts
one or the other each year.” The Pierces enjoy the winter cover,
a fire line with a succession of lighter flicks.
well as an interesting landscape. “We’ll typically burn off dead
fire to come together and burn itself
grasses every spring, sometimes every
out,” Greg says.
other year,” Cheryl says. “We make it
In a flash, the flames give meaning to the word “wildfire.” The inferno
a fun evening.” The “fun” comes after dark, when
rages for maybe 15 minutes, shooting
the Pierces burn an acre of native
smoke and flames some 30 feet into
grasses about 50 yards from their
the air. Then, poof! The fire is out,
house. The nighttime burn, Bonnie
having exhausted its fuel.
says, is solely for the spectacle of
“It went fast,” Cheryl says.
the blaze. The ritual carries an open
“I’m always amazed,” Bonnie says.
invitation to neighbors and friends to
Anyone driving by the field at the
“come on down and watch the show.”
climax of the burn surely would have
In summer and fall, an additional
been alarmed. “It looks terrible from a
half-acre of managed prairie provides
distance,” Cheryl says.
a soothing backdrop for the couple’s
But it’s more show than go.
Prairie Crossing Guesthouse, which
“A fire burning out of control is
sits near the main house. A mile of
rarely a worry,” says Greg. He and Bonnie have 15 years of
gently curving mowed walking paths takes guests through native grasses,
first-hand experience with controlled
wildflowers and savannah oaks to a
burns on their own 5 acres of native
wooden deck overlooking Silver Creek.
grasses. Bonnie’s introduction came
During the after-dark burn, that
as a technician with the Mills County
deck seems to be in a precarious posi-
Soil & Conservation District. Her
tion as flames surge a few feet away.
job involved advising farmers on soil
But as planned, the fire burns away
conservation practices, including
from the overlook.
managed prairies. Cheryl and husband Greg sought assistance from the conservation district in establishing their native grasses in
Within 30 minutes, the fire has burned itself out. “Man, that was neat,” Greg says. Bonnie is equally awed, along with a
2010, after seeing the Pierces’ success
handful of the evening’s observers in
on land adjacent to their 14 acres.
the side yard. “Greg’s relatives in dry
“I want to plant more wildflowers,” Cheryl says. “First, I have to get
GREG AND BONNIE PIERCE
species. So you’ll get a greater show of
which provides seeds for the birds as
“The goal is to get all sides of the
TRENDING VIEW MORE ONLINE FIND VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM THIS STORY AT inspiredlivingomaha.com
rie management. – spring or fall – depends on the
cart on the west side, paralleling Silver
!
California can’t believe that we can just start and control a fire like that.”
SCENIC SPOT Native grasses are a stone’s throw from Bonnie and Greg Pierce’s Prairie Crossing Guesthouse. Guests have access to a mile of mowed walking paths through tall and short grasses and wildflowers nurtured over 15 years. A deck overlooking Silver Creek and its rapids is the ultimate spot for picnicking, reading or stargazing.
i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 27
AU COURANT
A CHAT WITH STEVEN STOLMAN Serial entertainer dishes on how to be a good host and an ever better guest
S
TEXT
MARJIE DUCEY
teven Stolman has worked in the worlds of fashion and interior design, marketing, fundraising and
journalism. In the past five years, he’s written five books and is working on another. It’s become a passion. "Jack of all trades and master of none,'' he said by phone, laughing. He’ll make his first visit to Omaha to speak at the Lauritzen Gardens Antiques Show, Sept. 20-23 "Confessions of a Serial Entertainer’’ and “The Serial Entertainer’s Passion for Parties” are among the books he’s written, and they are what he’ll talk about at Saturday's luncheon. In an entertaining interview, he calls himself a relentless social climber and party crasher. Be fearless, he plans to tell his Omaha audience. If you want to get invited to parties, you've got to do some inviting yourself. “And here is how to do it, effortlessly, stress-free and without busting the budget.’’
Q
PHOTOGRAPHY
COURTESY OF STEVEN STOLMAN
What's the key to a good party?
A. Good guests who interact with each other and bring something to the party. The gift of gab, an engaged spirit, a natural intellectual curiosity. Sure, plentiful food and drink help. Also, a relaxed and gracious host. There is no bigger buzz kill to a party than a stressed-out host.
Q
How do you avoid being stressed out?
A. By having a game plan. Only doing what I feel comfortable doing. It’s not (about) trying to outdo people or being over-ambitious. It’s playing up to your strengths. If you make the best chocolate chip cookies in the world, have a cookie party.
Q
What has made your best parties special?
A. A venue that was accessible and ever so slightly unexpected. Really nice lighting. I'm blessed with wonderful, wonderful friends, and the party happens by itself. I always have great music, plentiful simple food and a lot of booze.
Q
HOW OFTEN ARE YOU ENTERTAINING, AND DO YOU ENJOY IT?
A. Rich (his husband) and I entertain probably more than most of our friends, even though we live in far more modest homes than any of our friends. We have a two-bedroom apartment in Palm Beach and a studio apartment in New York. And yet, we entertain more frequently than most.
That's why it's easy for me to say I'm a serial entertainer. We enjoy it, and we do it well. I'm a competent cook, and I know how to set up a party whether it’s dinner for four or cocktails for 100. I know what I'm doing. Rich enjoys the process as much as I do, sometimes even more so. No one cleans up better than he does afterward. We are not cheap when it comes to making sure we have enough help. I would rather serve potato chips and onion dip and have a bartender and a couple of other helpers than serve caviar and have nobody to pass it around.
Q
You say there is an art to being a good guest. How so?
A. There are certain rules to being a good guest. You don't stand in one place the whole time. You don't monopolize one person and talk their ear off. You don't overstay. You are not the first person to arrive and last person to leave. You don't walk in with a bunch of flowers and shove them into the hostess’ hand and expect her to arrange them right away. You are not needy. You bring more to the party than you take.” You’ve gotten some tips from Barbara Walters’ book, “How to Talk to Practically Anyone About Practically Anything.” “It's called being interesting and interested. Nobody likes a bore, nobody likes a bigot. You know, it's just common sense. Parties, at their core, are happy occasions. You have to leave your baggage behind. If you can't do that, you should stay home.”
"There is no bigger buzz kill to a party than a stressed-out host." - S T E V E N S T O L M A N
28 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
Q
You've won many awards. What MAKES YOU THE MOST PROUD?
A. Making some beautiful homes and happy clients, and making some product that has excited the design world has probably been the most rewarding part of the job.
Q
Do you follow interior design trends or chart your own path?
A. I really don’t pay attention to trends. I just listen to my inner voice and always go with what feels right in my gut.
Q
You're a fan of zebra prints. Why?
A. I do love zebra. It is the most graphic thing in nature.
Q
How would you approach a job in Omaha as compared to NYC?
A. The different thing in each project is the person I am decorating for. Their personal likes and dislikes are the guiding force.
Q
MILES REDD A-list interior designer dismisses trends, goes with 'what feels right in my gut' TEXT MARJIE DUCEY PHOTOGRAPHY PETER MURDOCK
I
nterior designer to the stars Miles Redd is known for his quirky brand of cozy glamour. He utilizes a strong sense of color and fantasy, he says, "taking traditional interiors and making them feel fresh and contemporary.'' He honed his skills working with home furnishings and antique collector-dealer John Rosselli and
his interior designer wife, Bunny Williams. He launched his own decorating firm in 1998, was creative director for Oscar de la Renta Home from 2003 to 2013, and has been named several times to the AD100 list and Elle Decor A-List. Here's a preview of the decorating inspiration he'll share at the Lauritzen Gardens Antiques Show in September.
Where do you look for inspiration?
A. In everything really, but my peers, fashion, the past and the present. I am a great believer that if you borrow from a lot of sources, it is research.
Q
What are some common interior design no-nos?
A. The most common mistakes I see are in paint application and wallpaper application. Knowing when to paint the trim the same color as the walls, when to wallpaper a ceiling and soffit. Those kinds of things.
Q
What is your best advice For someone on a limited budget?
A. I always say plan your budget and buy one good thing. It will bring the quality of everything up in the room. A great mirror and a great piece of art can do a lot for a space
"I do love zebra. It's the most graphic thing in nature." - MILES REDD
i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m   29
Interior design, Miles Redd Zebra print textile, Steven Stolman design
Remodeling • Updates Specializing in Modifying Homes for Total Accessibility
BOTANICALS & ANTIQUES
What's black, white and red all over? Hint: It's not the riddle you might expect TEXT
MARJIE DUCEY
PHOTO
ELIZABETH COSTELLO
SENIOR GARDENER
Peter Volenec-Hamel is part of the team that's dressing Lauritzen Gardens for the 15th annual Lauritzen Gardens Antiques Show. Last year, his floral concepts incorporated blue and white pottery and blue-toned succulents to coincide with guest appearances by London-based floral designer Shane Connolly and celebrity interior designer Mark D. Sikes, whose portfolio is dominated by blue and white. This year's décor theme of black, white and red is a nod to the work of keynote speakers Miles Redd and Steven Stolman. Redd's interior designs and Stolman's textiles and tabletops typically make dramatic use of the palette, which was chosen by show co-chairs Mimi Post and Mary Johnson early this year. Volenec-Hamel's event design calls for Japanese maples and red flowers in terra cotta pots, among other showstoppers. For Redd's presentation, Volenec-Hamel is creating a backdrop inspired by an eclectic apartment designed by Redd. “It will have two big double doors that will be painted with zebra stripes," he says. "The trim will be creamy white, and the wall panels will be red and pink like his apartment.’’ He and his team also are working on a floral representation of the show's new "LG" monogram logo. Preparing for the annual show involves hundred of hours of work, but Volenec-Hamel doesn’t mind. “I love doing it,’’ he says. “Antiques and horticulture are two of my favorite things.”
www.KohllsModSquad.com w
402.895.6025 | 127th & Q AD Division of Kohll’s Pharmacy & Homecare
2109940-01
Elegance ... begins with us.
15th annual fundraiser for Omaha's botanical center. Featuring more than 30 dealers of fine antiques, noted speakers, and mini academies on interior design, gardening, collecting and more. WHEN: Sept. 20 to 23; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday WHERE: Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. ADMISSION: $10 DETAILS: Complete schedule and luncheon reservations can be found at omahaantiqueshow.org
7700 Serum Avenue | Ralston, NE 68127 | 402.331.4708 www.taylormadehomesolutions.com
2109490-01
i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 31
DESTINATION
ALASKA: LAND, SEA & SKY Whale watching on rocky seas, fjords at 3,000 feet, floatplanes on an alpine lake: 'dream' adventures make cruise a hit. TEXT
CHRIS CHRISTEN PHOTOGRAPHY KURT A. KEELER, ANNELISE CHRISTEN + CHRIS CHRISTEN
A
family vote put us on
We embarked in early July from
ald mountains and fjords, the mesmer-
course for our first cruise.
Vancouver, British Columbia (pass-
izing rhythm of the waves, and the
The destination: Alaska.
ports required). The city's glass sky-
graceful ballet of dolphins leaping in
We enlisted Custom Cruis-
line provided a feast for the eyes and
our ship's wake.
es & Travel to book our party of nine on Celebrity's Infinity for an eight-day
the perfect send-off for a week at sea. The beauty and immensity of Alaska
Excellent food, from breakfast to last-night dessert; friendly and atten-
voyage along the Alaska Inside Passage
left a meaningful impression on our
tive staff, first-rate entertainment;
with three ports of call. Our itinerary
tightknit group of nature-loving
even a zany onboard naturalist who
also included three adventuresome
millennials and boomers.
made science fun and understandable .
shore excursions, researched and booked on our own.
32  S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
We will long remember the golden sunrises and sunsets at sea, the emer-
Indeed, there was lots to love about our introduction to cruising — and Alaska.
DAY 1 – VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA
It's 11 a.m. Sunday and we’re headed on foot (with luggage) from our downtown hotel to Canada Place, the cruiseship terminal. It's a beehive of activity but the boarding process is efficient and swift. A few of us do a little jig going up the gangway. Our celebration continues as crew members welcome us aboard with mimosas. We explore the ship, grab a bite to eat in the self-serve cafeteria and watch the activity in the harbor until our late-afternoon sail. The top deck is the place to be as the ship slips away from the pier and the gleaming Vancouver skyline comes into full view, then soon is far behind us. The highlight of the evening is our first supper for nine at Table 224. Our Peruvian head waiter and assistant waiter, and Indonesian sommelier are so attentive and accommodating, we request to have them serve us every night. The hostess makes it happen. By the end of the cruise, we will have broadened our palates and our horizons.
DAY 2 – AT SEA
Our first day of cruising is stunning and invigorating. This night owl is up with the sun at 5:30 a.m. and can’t believe the rewarding view from our stateroom balcony. The sky is awash in purples and pinks, and the water is smooth as glass. I’m nervous about dropping my photo gear seven stories into the deep blue sea. Do I have my sea legs? Yes! It’s enough to make me a morning person for the duration of the cruise. The ship newsletter cues us for things to do, and there is a lot. Four of our millennials try — and enjoy — a ballroom dance class tutored by the ship’s theater troupe; the fifth hits the busy fitness center. A tour of the ship's galley entices many of us, as does a trivia contest. The top draw, though, is California-based naturalist Milos Radakovich, a native of Serbia who makes science fun. In his daily talks, he uses props, graphics, impersonations and puns to enlighten us on Alaska wildlife and ecology, volcanism and glaciation, energy, the solar system and more. That evening after dinner, a silent disco party (where everyone on the dance floor wears neon-lighted headphones) is a riot for millennials and boomers alike. We can't wait for the next one!
DAY 3 – SITKA
Today we're in a new time zone, and sunrise is at 4:22 a.m. It’s rainy, but that comes with the territory. Alaska gets some100 inches of rain a year. Sunny days? An average of just 85. We grab ship-provided umbrellas and transfer to tiny Sitka's town center via motor coach. Our party of nine splits in two, with six heading for the marina to hook up with Paul Davis and his Gallant Adventures for a marine wildlife tour. The remaining three explore the shops, the fishing harbor and Totem Bright State Historical Park. The rain is a soaker, and that prompts a text (cell and Wi-Fi services are good in ports) to my brother, who is on Davis' six-passenger, 20-foot aluminum boat. They're soaked but all is well. “We saw a whale. The tour is great.” When it’s our turn, Davis doesn’t sugar-coat the choppy seas. “It’s the roughest day I’ve seen all season.” He of-
fers to refund our money if we elect to pass. “We might get skunked on whales.” We take a chance. As we head out of the harbor, Davis spies a mature sea lion and gives us a closer look. Searching for whales in 4- to 6-foot swells proves futile, so Davis heads to a rocky inlet where momma sea otters are floating on their backs with babies riding on their bellies. Deeper water is out of the question; the boat is too small to comfortably handle the swells. Davis makes up for the lack of whales and steers us into an emerald green cove. Soon-to-spawn salmon are jumping and bald eagles – too many to count – are eyeing their next meal from treetops and rocks. A nearby fishing boat bobs in rhythm with the waves as a thin veil of fog plays peek-a-boo with the mountains. This is the Alaska we came to see. gallantadventures.com i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 33
DAY 4 – GLACIER
We’re sailing into a fjord to see Hubbard Glacier. It’s cold, rainy and windy. The ship's fog horn sounds and Titanic jokes run rampant as icebergs float by the ship. The color variations in the ice remind us of a rare gemstone with veins of purple, blue and gold. Milos, the naturalist (who has become our friend), tells us that the colors are a reflection of age, water molecules and nutrients.The whales come in summer to feed on the latter. Milos notes that despite the rain, we're getting a better day of viewing than the bridge crew expected. It becomes clear that the ultimate glacier-viewing party is on an enclosed, temperature-controlled excursion vessel that has docked beside the ship. The vessel takes its passengers front-and-center of the glacier. If we had known more earlier, we would have sent at least one of us onboard with a good camera. The three-hour excursion is about $280 per person – a bargain, honestly, for the "money shots" likely to be nabbed. And if it's a rare clear day, OMG.You'd be bragging about the experience for a lifetime. Inquire through the cruise line's excursion office. By early afternoon we are back at sea for the overnight sail to Alaska's capital, where eagles outnumber people.
34 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
DAY 5 – JUNEAU
Alaska’s capital is a shopping mecca for fine jewelry, hand-carved tribal totems and etchings with tribal symbols. We’re here for some whale watching and a look at Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls through Juneau Tours. A bus transfer takes us from port to a small harbor where we board a 40-passenger craft with an upper deck and lower enclosed cabin deck. The bantering Juneau Whale Watch crew finds several humpbacks for us, most at a distance from the boat but thrilling nonetheless. Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Tongass National Forest completes our afternoon. We take in spectacular views of the glacier and thundering Nugget Falls. A tip from our bus driver leads us to a boardwalk overlooking a salmon stream for a chance sighting of a bear. No such luck. Back in Juneau, the Red Dog Saloon with its dirty-oldman pianist banging out tunes and making salty comments is famous and fun. Eagles seem to be everywhere — piers, light posts, treetops — often drying their wings after pursuing fish. shoreexcursionsgroup.com
DAY 6 – KETCHIKAN
Sitka and Juneau have charm as historic and remote villages, each with great adventures. But Ketchikan is our favorite for local flavor, authentic souvenirs and friendly shopkeepers. The Alaska Marine Highway from Juneau to Ketchikan is stunning with inlets and densely forested islands with waterfront villages and exclusive properties, many with private float planes. We hire Island Wings Air Service for a two-hour air tour of Misty Fjords, the crown jewel of southeast Alaska. Completely roadless, the 2.3 million-acre national monument is larger than Yellowstone National Park. Deep, narrow fjords are walled inlets of the sea created by glacial gouging long ago. The rainforest is fed by more than 150 inches of misty precipitation annually. But not today. Our group flies in two DeHavilland Beaver floatplanes. Our lead pilot is Island Wings owner Michelle Masden, an Omaha native who earned her wings and license at the Millard Airport in the late 1970s. She flies us deep into the national park then adds to the thrill with a landing on a pristine alpine lake. Masden is excited; she's never had a single family group this large before. After 10 minutes of photo-taking, we're on our way back to Ketchikan’s harbor. islandwings.com
DAY 7 – AT SEA
We're sailing the Canadian Inside Passage where the waters narrow. Late morning, fog settles in for a couple of hours before the sun burns it off to reveal a bright blue, cloudless sky for our final day at sea. The upper deck is the perfect place for drinking in the sunshine and watching for dolphins (score!). Omahan Billy McGuigan and his Rock Revue are the night's entertainment! The cruise director tells me McGuigan is one of the hottest acts on the cruiseship circuit. “We absolutely love it. It’s a vacation where we get to work for 45 minutes two times," McGuigan tells the audience. "We’ve been embedded with you all week.” A mention of his hometown draws a loud cheer. He asks, “Are you folks from Omaha?” Again we cheer. “Well,” he pans, “the town must be empty.” His musical revue rocks the boat!
DAY 8 – HEADED HOME
The ship pulls into port in Vancouver around 7 a.m. Passengers wanting/needing an assist had placed their luggage outside their cabin doors the night before. Assigned departure times keep the process orderly. Our disembarkation begins at 7:45 a.m.; we’re on shore with our luggage by 8:30. Re-entry to Canada/USA is efficient. The Vancouver skyline glistens in the sun — all of that glass, reflecting in the water. We find our way to the nearby SkyTrain light rail station and are soon on our way to the airport and home.
MORE ONLINE
Bonus photos, videos, packing tips, things to know before you go
i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 35
DESTINATION
ALASKA: DENALI Post-cruise land tour satisfies with prize views of Denali and elusive wildlife, including a grizzly TEXT + PHOTOGRAPHY
M
KEVIN WARNEKE
idway through our
to Alaska. Lee delivers handsomely
National Park and Preserve, Talkeetna
tour of Denali State
on two things we really want to see:
(purportedly the inspiration for the
Park, Alaska bush
mountains and wildlife.
television show “Northern Exposure”)
pilot Don Lee asks if
My wife, Diane, and I had just com-
we're ready to look for bear. Because
peted a seven-day cruise of the Inside
for dog mushing and gold mining. We
we're airborne, we’re game.
Passage. Figuring we might never
let our cruise provider (Princess Cruis-
get another opportunity, we opted to
es) work out most of the details of our
stay three extra days to visit Denali
extended stay. princesscruises.com
Our 45-minute flight turns out to be the highlight of a recent 10-day trip
36 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
and Fairbanks, a community known
OUR ITINERARY DAY 1
6:30 A.M. SATURDAY: While we are sleeping, our Princess Cruises ship docks in Whittier. We efficiently disembark and head to the Alaska Railroad depot for a scenic ride to Talkeetna. We tunnel through Maynard Mountain on our way out of Whittier, on the western edge of Prince William Sound. alaskatrain.com Greg Vancil, our guide for the 200-mile rail excursion, says we can hope to see glaciers, wildlife and Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America. The glaciers are easy to spot from our train car, which has large curved glass windows, and he points out several. The wildlife require patience and a watchful eye. A memorable view of Denali will come later. 8:55 A.M.: Chatter among some passengers ensues. One woman is almost yelling, she’s so excited. Dall sheep have been spotted, and word quickly spreads throughout the train. Nineteen minutes later, a passenger spots a moose. Actually, several. 3:20 P.M.: Shortly after arriving in Talkeetna, we’re airborne, and Don Lee, our pilot, is headed toward a “peek-a-boo.” He wants us to see Denali, but the clouds aren’t cooperating. He sees an opening and heads its way. We get to within 40 miles at 5,000 feet of the mountain formerly known as Mount McKinley. Denali looks good from above. So does a sidekick, Mount Hunter. Then, we’re off for bear and, later, moose. We first see the grizzly, which appears to be on a leisurely jog in a clearing. Then, a moose, which is stationed at a lake’s edge. Before we finish our ride, Lee explains why he loves to fly and train other bush pilots: “My office comes with a great view.” alaskafloats.com 5:15 P.M.: Diane and I discuss our day over dinner at Denali Brewing Company in Talkeetna, which does remind me of “Northern Exposure” – without the tourists. talkeetnachamber.org
DAY 2
4:15 A.M.: It’s light outside, and I am temporarily confused. We averaged three hours of daily darkness during our stay. The clouds cooperate for the next three hours, and we can see Denali – first just its top, then all 20,310 feet. 9:54 A.M.: We’re headed by bus for a day at Denali National Park and Preserve when someone yells “moose.” Our bus driver slows and we watch one cross George Parks Highway. The moose is in no hurry, and neither are we. I also learn that I had slept through an earthquake the night before. “They happen all the time,” I hear someone explain. earthquake.alaska.edu 2:14 P.M.: Take a deep breath. I follow the instruction, and Philip Thorson, our tour guide for a four-hour bus ride, informs us that Denali (the park) ranks No. 1 for air quality among national parks. I also learn from Thorson that Denali covers 6 million acres – roughly the size of Massachusetts, but is still just the third-largest national park in Alaska. I also learn that a 92-mile road, only a portion of which is paved, cuts through Denali. 3:59 P.M.: Thorson pulls the bus over and points to foxes scampering on a hillside. He’s heard the den includes eight kits; we see at least three youngsters and one adult. 5:50 P.M.: Guided tours are great, but it’s time to break from the herd. Diane and I set out on a trail near the Denali visitors center. A sign tells us what to do if we encounter a moose (run away), wolf (shout) or bear (stand your ground). We are encouraged to make noise so any nearby bears know we are around – so Diane claps. It apparently works. None cross our path. 9:42 P.M.: During dinner at King Salmon Restaurant, I notice an odd-looking American flag hanging above the bar. It has 49 stars and was made during the months between Alaska’s admission as a state and Hawaii’s.
DAY 3
10:40 A.M.: We’re headed by bus to Fairbanks and slow down on our way through Healy. Our guide asks if anyone has seen the movie “Into the Wild.” I have, and she points to a green-and-white bus that was used in the town scenes. A second bus, where Christopher McCandless (the focus of the movie) stayed while living in the wild, remains in the wild, deep on the Stampede Trail. 12:03 P.M.: We stop in Nenana, site of the annual Nenana Ice Classic. Locals place a tripod on the frozen Tanana River and wager on the date and time it falls through the ice. Last year: 1:18 p.m. May 1. I also learn Nenana’s train depot was the site for the beginning of the 1,000-mile sled ride to deliver diphtheria serum to Nome – which inspired the Iditarod and was portrayed in the Disney movie “Balto.” 1:30 P.M.: We spend the next part of our day in Fairbanks cruising the Chena River on the sternwheeler Discovery III. I expect this to be just another boat ride, but I am mistaken. Along the way, we are entertained by a bush pilot who lands and takes off near our boat. We also stop at Trail Breaker Kennel for a mushing exhibition of Alaskan Huskies. With no snow, Tekla Monson – daughter of the late Susan Butcher, a four-time Iditarod winner – has her team pull an ATV. She tells us curiosity and excitement are the qualities she looks for in a lead dog. trailbreakerkennel.com We also manage to squeeze in a walk through an antler arch and a visit to an ice museum, which features a short toboggan run made of ice. fairbanksice.wixsite.com/ icemuseum 7:45 P.M.: We end our day with dinner at Gambardella’s Pasta Bella in Fairbanks. We had spent our time in Alaska fittingly eating seafood, so pizza for our final meal means we are headed home. gambardellas.com
9:30 P.M.: We’ve made it to McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge for the evening, where we walk the grounds. The clouds have cooperated, and we get another stunning look at Denali.
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DESTINATION
EUREKA SPRINGS Ripley isn't the only one fascinated with the oddities in this Ozark Mountain town
TEXT KEVIN WARNEKE PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF EUREKA SPRINGS TOURISM
THE LOCALS KNOW
that
roads leading to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, aren’t straight. Neither are the streets once you arrive. “It takes a little longer to get here,” says Kim Dutile, who owns and operates The Lodge in this Ozark Mountain community. “That’s a good thing because it’s a beautiful drive.” Tour guide Christie Braswell tells of Robert Ripley’s study of the town’s streets in the 1920s and ’30s. “He counted 230, and no two streets cross at right angles. At that point, it was too late to change those skinny streets.” We didn’t choose Eureka Springs for a recent weekend getaway because the founder of “Ripley's Believe It or Not!” took a shining to the northwest Arkansas community, or even because of its spring waters, which for the longest time were thought to have healing powers of miraculous proportions. Nor did its crooked roads and streets come into play. Eureka Springs served as a midpoint for our two choice destinations – Little Rock, home to the Clinton Presidential Center, and Bentonville, site of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. In the end, we discovered we had shortchanged Eureka Springs and didn’t even have time to attend “The Great Passion Play.” First things first: The Clinton Presidential Center is the sixth
38 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
presidential library we’ve visited (and none compares to the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum in Austin, Texas). The 4,536 blue boxes containing Bill Clinton's presidential records serve as a backdrop for an engaging display of memorabilia. We especially enjoyed reading letters he received during his presidency (those from comedian Dom DeLuise and TV personality Fred Rogers are particularly memorable) and viewing gifts Clinton received (including a twohandled vase from the King of Morocco and a saxophone from Polish President Lech Walesa). While in Little Rock, we also did a drive-by of the state capitol and a toobrief visit to Central High School, where the Little Rock Nine, a group of black students who enrolled at the all-white high school in 1957, ultimately forced an end to segregation of schools. In Bentonville, we spent our entire time at Crystal Bridges, home to works by powerhouses of American art, such as Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell and Iowa’s Grant Wood. A Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home is on the museum grounds. My favorite was George Segal’s sculpture, “Depression Bread Line,” portraying life during the Great Depression. The artist includes his likeness as one of the five figures waiting in line to receive a free meal. Back to Eureka Springs. Braswell, our
tram tour guide, pointed out that the town's mountainside homes are more vertical than horizontal. Some are five stories tall. The one at Pine and Prospect Streets even has two mailing addresses because the streets line up with different stories of the home. It’s another Ripley’s oddity. She also explained how the town's more affluent residents high up the mountain were nicknamed the Carriage Set while those who lived on the mountain’s midsection were the Silk Stockings, and those who lived lower were the Mohawkers. Then there's the legend of the water quality, deemed second to that of Switzerland at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. The healing qualities of the springs date to 1777 when an Osage chief brought his daughter, who was going blind, to the area. “That was the first documented healing,” according to our guide. The legend grew until “there was a bathhouse on every corner.” These days, visitors can still find examples of the springs (63) that make up Eureka Springs and the more than 1,200 in Carroll County. We also saw several examples of the Ripley legacy. I’ve always compared the draw of a Ripley’s attraction to the warning to never look at the sun during an eclipse. You can’t help yourself. You have to sneak a peek.
LOCAL LODGING Looking for a place to stay with a familiar name takes some work. We counted just a handful with ties to national chains. The remainder came with local names such as the Woods Cabins, Enchanted Forest Resort, Pine Lodge, Sycamore Cottage, Scandia Inn Motel and the Bavarian Inn Lodge & Restaurant. We ended up at the latter – with its understated name but overwhelming customer service. Bed-and-breakfasts seemingly can be found on every street; with historic hotels mostly in downtown Eureka Springs. Most colorful is the Crescent Hotel, made with hand-cut stones and carrying a reputation for being haunted. The Crescent Hotel has a tie to a magician who masqueraded as a cancer doctor in the 1930s and promised cures to those who came to his “sanitarium.” The charlatan ended up in jail, and the Crescent Hotel eventually found new owners.
GOOD EATS
We visited, according to Ripley’s, the only church (St. Elizabeth) where you enter through a bell tower, and Pivot Rock, which resembles “a top balanced on its pointed end.” Mahalie Campbell, while taking a break from her gift shop duties at the 100-acre site, said visitors often are aware of the Ripley’s connection. They also are aware that outlaw Jesse James is said to have used Pivot Rock as a hideout from the law. The best part of our trip may have been our three hikes. The first was in Petit Jean State Park. We walked along
the turtle rocks to Bear Cave, where we met Randy and Marylin Kipley of Brownsville, Tennessee. “We just love the rock outcroppings,” Randy told us. They had seen similar outcroppings in Texas and southern Illinois. “These are just exquisite.” We also walked the trails at Lake Leatherwood Park. The highlight was finding the concrete bridge that spans the spring-fed lake. Fog had yet to clear when we crossed it in the early morning hours. The setting was so fantastic, we made a repeat visit – something we also plan to do with Eureka Springs.
Nothing about our trip to Eureka Springs had a thing to do with healthy eating. On our way to Arkansas, we stopped in Joplin, Missouri, for dinner at Instant Karma. A doughnut cheeseburger was on the menu. “Smash it and eat it,” advised Megan Henry, restaurant manager. I did. In Little Rock, we wanted barbecue and ended up at Whole Hog Cafe. I counted more than 60 trophies from barbecue contests. The beef brisket may be the reason. In Eureka Springs, we ate breakfast at the Mud Street Cafew. I couldn’t pass up its version of the Croque Madame Sandwich, made famous in France. It features ham, provolone cheese and raspberry jam sandwiched between two grilled pancakes and topped with an egg, sunny-side-up. Our best stop was at Rogue’s Manor in Eureka Springs. Dining spaces are scattered throughout the restaurant. Its menu touts the seafood casserole as a favorite since 1993 and, for me, since 2018.
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DESTINATION
HOTEL GRINNELL
A LOWERCASE "g" IS A Grinnell landmark’s logo; it could easily stand for "gee whiz!" Just three hours east of Omaha (and less than an hour east of Des Moines), this central Iowa college town of 9,200 is full of pleasant surprises. It’s apparent from a cruise through the well-cared-for downtown that the city and chamber of commerce have worked with local merchants and entrepreneurs to put their best face forward. The business district has the
Who knew an old schoolhouse could be this cool? Check in, grab your hall pass and find your classroom for the night.
feel of a 1950s movie set. One could envision Marty Mc-
TEXT + PHOTOGRAPHY CHRIS CHRISTEN & KURT A. KEELER
nior high school, built in 1921, renovated and converted
Fly finding his way back to the future on these streets. And things that are old are new again. Really new! Situated a block from the business district is the old juin 1978 to a city building, and in the past four years reworked and reborn in September 2017 as Hotel Grinnell with a cleverly executed school-days theme. The rehab was a collaboration between hotel developer Steve Holtze (who also owns Omaha’s Magnolia Hotel) and owner-operator manager Angela Harrington, who, working with Grinnell’s city manager, found grant money for the $7 million restoration in the alreadydesignated historic district. The result is a boutique hotel experience that’s a destination in itself and a boon to a community that already has a lot of offer an overnight visitor. The hotel lives up to its claim of being “Upscale in style. Laid back in spirit.” The schoolhouse theme is ever-so-subtle, starting with a “Hall Pass” keycard
IF YOU GO
Hotel Grinnell 925 Park St., Grinnell, Iowa hotelgrinnell.com 641-236-9250
40 S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8
COURTESY OF HOTEL GRINNELL
holder, blackboard and red apple in every room.
AMENITIES
GUEST ROOMS There are 43 guest rooms, eight suites and one penthouse suite (with a view of Central Park). Each has narrow-plank hardwood floors and soaring ceilings and windows – just like classrooms and study halls back in the day. Two bunkrooms in the former locker room sleep 10 each. “Big families, teens and wedding parties love it,” Harrington says. Harrington worked with an area metal fabricator to design and build the hotel’s signature black steel furniture, some with handsome laser-cut "g" logos. Light fixtures, art prints, upholstery and other accents were sourced through Restoration Hardware, Crate & Barrel, Room and Board and West Elm. Live succulents, organic soaps and white linens contribute to the eco-friendly aesthetic. COMMUNICATION One thing not readily at hand in rooms: a house phone (they’re only available upon request). Guest relations are handled through text messaging and a virtual concierge app. “It’s fun and efficient,” Harrington says. Free Wi-Fi and Google Chromecast allow guests to stream programming to the in-room TV. THE BLACKBOARD But it’s the lowtech blackboards that seem to score highest with guests. “They’ve become giant comment cards,” Harrington says. “Some people have left complex mathematical equations that I have no idea how to solve.” SNACKS A basket of after-school snacks contains some hotel swag available for purchase, including a men’s shaving kit, coffee mugs, T-shirt, ballcap and a “Not Now” tie for hanging outside your door when you don’t want to be disturbed. EXERCISE ROOM There’s an exercise room with free weights and treadmills. And complimentary bikes – on help-yourself racks in a hallway. “The bikes are our most popular amenity for tooling around town,” Harrington says. DRINK LAB The on-site eatery and “drink lab,” The Periodic Table, offers craft beer, fair trade coffee and a select menu of specialty shared plates, flats and sliders. Complimentary breakfast for guests is served here, too. The space has a sports bar feel with a blackand-white checkerboard tile floor and lighted scoreboard. Guests can play Shuffleboard, Tic-Tac-Toe or Scrabble (on an oversized, wall-mounted board). Catch live music on the patio every Friday night, weather permitting, through October. In the winter, the live music will move inside.
BRINGING FOR LEISURE BUILDINGS TRAVELERS BACK TO LIFE Grinnell offers a Hotel Grinnell may even spark a trend. “The goal is to do five of these in towns of 10,000 or more,” says Harrington, an entrepreneur with a marketing and operations background. “I just love old buildings. Bringing the character of the building alive is really fun and makes for an interesting and compelling stay. It resonates with guests."
progressive food scene with a number of restaurants, a cozy wine bar, a lively fine arts and music scene, a scenic bike trail, two golf courses, an overthe-top waterpark, a speedway, an old-fashioned movie theater and the Iowa State Fair just an hour away. And that’s a condensed list. #GetIntoGrinnell. Learn more about the college town at grinnellchamber.org
TAKE A WALK A BIT OF DOWNTOWN HISTORY Grinnell’s downtown is flat and very walkable. For food and spirits, Peach Tree Brewing Co., Peppertree at the Depot Crossing, Prairie Canary, Pagliai’s Pizza and Lonnski’s Pub & Back Alley Deli are hot spots. For ovenfresh pastries (try the macaroons) and cheery conversation, head for Sunrise Bakery and grab a tulip table by the window. For vintage and contemporary home accessories, some locally made, there’s Loralei’s Gift Shoppe.
History buffs will want to see the town’s most significant historic building, Merchants National Bank. It’s one of eight Midwestern “jewel box” bank designs by Louis Sullivan, famed “father of modernism” and mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright. The building dates to 1914. It currently houses the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center.
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DESTINATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. Rental stations are your ticket to a day of sightseeing by bike TEXT + PHOTOGRAPHY NANCY GAARDER
THE NATION'S CAPITAL is a feast for the tourist. And the best way to gorge on more of what it has to offer without wearing yourself out is to travel by bicycle. Rental bicycle, that is. Think of this: Instead of walking a mile from the White House to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, you could bike there in an easy 10 minutes. And the nice thing about a bike ride is that it lets you rest your knees and feet – while leaving you rejuvenated by the time you reach your destination. Of the many great cities that have curbside bike rentals, Washington, D.C., is among the best because of its extensive network of rental stations. As a result, you can breeze through the city, stopping at multiple tourist sites.
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MORE PLUSES
MULTITUDE OF DESTINATIONS. Even if you don't bike, put D.C. on your bucket list. It's an inspiring city, filled with monuments, museums, places of worship, parks, restaurants and institutions of government.You can sightsee to your heart's content, and biking allows you to spend your time on what you want to see, rather than trudging distances to get to attractions. MOSTLY FLAT CITY. A number of streets are wide, and the National Mall has multiple sidewalks. In other words, you can ride safely without too much exertion. Tourist sites that are grouped nearby in a relatively flat area include the White House, Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, Smithsonian museums and Vietnam Veterans Wall. For the daring or experienced bicyclist, there are plenty of reasons to ride into the hillier, busier streets, and that's something for you to discover on your own. EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF BICYCLE RENTAL STATIONS. Capital Bikeshare, the most established bike rental program in D.C., has more than 500
stations scattered across the metro and a total of 4,300 bikes. This makes renting and returning bikes convenient. AFFORDABILITY. Capital Bikeshare charges a minimum of $8 a day or $17 for three days. Additional charges apply if you don't return your bike on time.
HOW IT WORKS
Load the Capital Bikeshare app on your phone and pull up the map to locate a nearby rental (docking) station. At the station, you check out a bike with your credit card.You have 30 minutes to ride before you are due to return the bike to a docking station.You can return it to any docking station. If you return the bike within 30 minutes, no additional fees are levied to your credit card. If you go over, you pay $2 for the next 30 minutes of riding. To keep my costs to a minimum, I'll sometimes pull up to a docking station before my 30 minutes are up and check my bike back out. When I do that, the clock resets, and I have another full 30 minutes. For the most part, 30 minutes is plenty of time to get to your destination.
INSIDER TIPS
• The app is crucial. The map on the app not only shows you where the stations are at, but it also tells you how many bikes are available to rent at each station. • Carry a physical D.C. map. While the app is useful and shows you where the stations are, you'll want an additional map for orienting yourself. • Bike in small groups (or by yourself).You will arrive at some docking stations to find that only one or two bikes are available. • Decide where you plan to dock your bike before you check it out. This way you arrive in plenty of time and aren't scrambling to find it. • Realize that docking stations can be hard to see. Follow the map closely and give yourself time. • Bring a helmet and a fanny pack or backpack to hold possessions and water bottles. The bikes don't have bottle cages, and the baskets are of limited usefulness. Locks aren't needed because the docking station is where you lock up the bike. • Bring a spare phone battery or charging battery.You don't want to lose power while searching the app.
OTHER OPTIONS?
Recently, "dockless" rental bikes have begun appearing in D.C., and those, too, are a popular option.
NIFTY EXCURSIONS If you're like me, you'll fall so in love with the freedom and majesty of cycling through D.C. that you'll have a hard time getting off your bike and visiting museums.
BIKE D.C. AT NIGHT There are fewer people, the air is cool, and the monuments, mostly white and illuminated against the night sky, are gorgeous.
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE Ride the bicycle lane in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue. Be sure you also do this in the direction of the Capitol, so that you can enjoy a view of it.
MERIDIAN HILL PARK Bike (or take a bus) to Meridian Hill Park on a Sunday evening. Take in the popular, eclectic drum circle that occurs weekly.
GEORGETOWN Ride along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Trail near Georgetown. You'll be able to escape the sounds and hubbub of the city for a ride through a narrow band of woods along the Lower Potomac River.
i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 43
DESTINATION
SOUTH AFRICA Personalized 10-day adventure takes Omahan to places that thrill but also open her eyes to needs of the world TEXT + PHOTOGRAPHY LENLI CORBETT
S
tunning landscape and warm and friendly people make South Africa a popular destination any time of year. But go during winter in Nebraska and you'll be in the heart of summer
for a South African adventure of a lifetime. Mine last year took me to the southern-most tip of
Africa for tours of Cape Town, Hoedspruit and Kapama Game Reserve. The weather was beautiful for all 10 days of a customized journey that lived up to its billing as a "transformational experience."
GETTING THERE
Michael Bennett at Nomad Hill crafted my personalized adventure. I discovered the agency in a CondĂŠ Nast article about NFL wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who travels extensively in the offseason. His transformational experiences through Nomad Hill had taken him to more than 90 countries. That style of travel sounded perfect for me.
WHAT TO PACK
I haven't checked a baggage in years. Everything I pack has to work together. For South Africa, I picked up a great travel backpack from Nomatic (nomatic.com) that fit all of my clothes and necessities. I paired that with my trusty North Face backpack from college, which holds my camera, books and other essentials for the plane. Since it was summer, I was able to stick with a number of V-neck shirts, several pairs of shorts, a pair of denim jeans, a swimsuit for shark diving, a rain jacket, a couple of nicer outfits for dinner on safari, flats, and a pair of ankle boots that were great for the dusty reserve. Having everything easily accessible and able to carry provided me with the ease of moving through customs and around the airport. I didn't have to deal with checked baggage and I didn't have to worry about my bag not making it to my final destination. It also makes me really consider what is needed for a trip, which saves me from over-packing,
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SURROUNDING AREAS
BETTY’S BAY PENGUIN COLONY Nearly 10,000 African Penguins call the Stony Point Nature Reserve in Betty’s Bay home. The boardwalk that runs throughout the reserve provides a wonderful viewing platform to see the penguins as they go about their day.
CAPE TOWN
KIRSTENBOSCH NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDEN Located on the slope of Table Mountain, Kirstenbosch is considered one of the great botanical gardens of the world. Walking paths wind through the gardens, allowing visitors to experience a wide variety of plant life in the Cape Flora Kingdom. I enjoyed lunch at the café while other guests picnicked on the grounds. In either case, you're surrounded by lush beauty. ORANJEZICHT MARKET On my first day in Cape Town, my guide and I cycled from the V&A Waterfront to the Oranjezicht City Farm Market on Granger Bay. The Saturday market features fruits, vegetables, sandwiches, specialty coffees, desserts and seafood. I enjoyed fantastic samosas and oysters while looking out over the water. TABLE MOUNTAIN This flat-topped mountain overlooks Cape Town. It is accessible by cable car or foot and offers stunning views of Cape Town. I rode the cable car, which took about 5 minutes to reach the summit. The top of the mountain was fairly foggy, but at times the fog broke just long enough for a sneak peek of the city below. The fog can roll in quickly in Cape Town, so if it’s clear, head for the summit. UTHANDO For me, traveling is also about connecting with the community and learning about the issues of a particular region. While in Cape Town, I worked with Uthando, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for community development projects in South Africa. Uthando prides itself in offering respectful and culturally sensitive philanthropic tours and experiences. With its assistance, I visited four nonprofits in the township of Khayelitsha. More than 2 million people live in this township, most in shacks, with high unemployment. The sites I visited were focused on agriculture, education, job skills and technology. It was a wonderful morning of conversation with individuals who know the issues first-hand.
SHARK CAGE DIVING IN GANSBAAI Two hours by car east from Cape Town, Gansbaai is known for Great White Shark diving. After growing up on the East Coast, I've always been fascinated with the ocean and marine wildlife. So this was an experience I couldn't pass up. Although we did not see a Great White, we did see five Copper sharks, which were majestic and breathtaking. THE WINELANDS The towns of Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Paarl make up The Winelands region, which is an easy drive from Cape Town. Here, you can meander and enjoy a tasting or two. One of my most significant stops in the area was Drakenstein Correctional Centre, formerly Victor Verster Prison, where Nelson Mandela was held before his release after 27 years as a political prisoner. A large statue of Mandela with fist raised stands outside the gates.
KAPAMA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
GAME DRIVES Game drives are held twice each day, from 6 to 9 a.m. and 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. After the morning game drive, guests can enjoy spa treatments and delicious meals at the lodge. Safari sunsets are a feature of the afternoon game drive, followed by dinner with guests sharing your vehicle. My safari companions were from Australia, England and Oman. (I was the first Nebraskan they had met!) Our guide and tracker were both incredibly knowledgeable, and in the five drives I participated in, we were fortunate to see the Big Five of Africa – lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant – plus an array of other wildlife. It had been a dream of mine to see these creatures up close in their native habitat. HOEDSPRUIT ENDANGERED SPECIES CENTRE The center is on the reserve property, so I visited one afternoon to learn more about the conservation and sustainability of rare and vulnerable animals, particularly cheetahs. Being at the center provided the chance to view the animals up close and learn more about the steps being taken to support their long-term survival. CAMP JABULANI ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE Also on the reserve, Camp Jabulani started in 1997 after an elephant named Jabulani was rescued from a dam. He was nursed back to health and after several failed release attempts, found a home with another rescued herd. The herd, which now totals almost a dozen, lives on the reserve and is cared for by keepers. I had the chance to meet four of the elephants, learn more about their family and feed them – an unforgettable morning.
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HIDDEN PANTRY
LEFTOVER RICE A culinary excuse to travel the world TEXT + RECIPES + PHOTOGRAPHY
IN AMERICA, STARCHES
CHAD LEBO
In much of Asia, a meal without rice
New Orleans for a beignet with rice
are the Rodney Dangerfields of the
isn’t considered a meal. It is just a
and fruit. Travel to Japan for street
food world: They get no respect.
snack. And in Madagascar, I have seen
food that isn’t deep-fried or served on
Despite being the bedrocks of cui-
a 5-year-old put away enough rice at a
a stick. And round out the trip with
sines around the globe, they are never
single lunch sitting to keep an Ameri-
Mexican horchata, a recipe as world
seen as the superstars of meals here.
can family of four happy for a week.
traveled as any you will find.
Travel the world, though, and you
This is not to say that we Americans
Persians brought the drink to Spain
will find starches treated with much
don’t eat rice. Most households can
in the Middle Ages, Spanish conquis-
more reverence. I got off a plane in
find takeout cartons of leftover rice in
tadors brought it to Mexico about 500
South America once to be immediately
the fridge.
years ago, and taco trucks, taquerias
greeted in the airport by a 100-foot-
If you do find yourself with left-
and food blogs have brought it here.
wide poster proclaiming, "Welcome to
overs, don’t fret. There are a lot of easy
Peru. Birthplace of the potato.''
and delicious ways to turn that rice
traveling. Don't forget to play around
into something much more than just a
with the recipes and make them your
clump of cold starch.
own.
Ask a grandmother in New Delhi to tell you all the ways to cook beans and settle in for an epic and possibly never-ending response.
CALAS (RICE FRITTERS) WITH BERRIES YIELDS 6-8 FRITTERS These delights are just as good for dessert as they are for breakfast. I always make more than I need, so we can enjoy for a few days. These are made with fresh red currants from the wife’s garden, but almost any berries work well. They're best with fresh berries and not frozen. Other firm fruit could be used, too, such as dices of apples, pears, mangoes, etc. Most calas are deep fried, but to cut down on the mess and the amount of oil, these are shallow-fried and flatter instead of the classic round shape.
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Enjoy the food and the culinary
The calas recipe will take you to the culinary and cultural melting pot of
INSTRUCTIONS 1 large egg ½ cup white flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon nutmeg 2 drops of almond or vanilla extract 1 cup of cooked, cold rice ¾ cup of berries or diced fruit
1. In large bowl, mix egg, white flour, baking powder, nutmeg and almond or vanilla extract. 2. After mixture is smooth, fold in cooked, cold rice and berries or diced fruit. 3. In thick skillet, fill ½ inch deep with oil and heat over medium high heat to about 350 F. 4. For frying, don’t crowd the pan and leave room to easily and safely flip. 5. Spoon in about ¼ cup of the batter per frit-
ter. Fry each side until golden brown. Treat like a thicker, lumpier pancake. 6. Drain on paper towels and coat with granulated or powdered sugar.
HORCHATA WITH CANTALOUPE SEEDS
ONIGIRI (JAPANESE RICE BALLS) WITH SMOKED SALMON YIELDS 6-8 RICE BALLS As common in Japan as hot dogs and hamburgers here, onigiri are simple and delicious rice balls that can be filled with nearly anything. Since they are finger food, they make great appetizers or snacks. They travel well and don’t need heated up, so they are prime for picnics or work lunches.
INSTRUCTIONS 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar 1 tablespoon white or palm sugar ½ teaspoon soy sauce ½ teaspoon sesame oil 1 cup rice 1-2 teaspoons smoked salmon, per ball Dipping sauce
ONIGIRI (RICE BALLS) 1. Best with short-grain rice, but can work with almost any style. If using leftover rice instead of freshly cooked rice, heat in microwave for 30 seconds just before step 3. 2. In large bowl, mix 2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon white or palm sugar, ½ teaspoon soy sauce and ½ teaspoon sesame oil. 3. Add 1 cup rice and mix well. 4. Spoon out about 2-3 tablespoons of rice into your palm and flatten out like a small hamburger patty. Fill with 1-2 teaspoons of smoked salmon or whatever filling you would like. 5. Serve with the dipping sauce. Can keep in refrigerator for 2-3 days. DIPPING SAUCE 1. In bowl, mix all ingredients: 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar and ½ teaspoon each of fish sauce, soy sauce, hot sauce, lime/lemon juice. 2. Feel free to make a much larger batch and store in the fridge for use with fish, shrimp, chicken, etc.
YIELDS 4-6 SERVINGS Horchata is a great broad recipe that can be played with to almost no end. Normally, the drink is made from uncooked rice or dried seeds/nuts, but this version uses leftover cooked rice and the cantaloupe seeds and pith that are normally thrown away. Try with watermelon and seeds, too. Have fun and play with the techniques to make your own versions.
INSTRUCTIONS 1 cup cooked, cold rice 2 cups cold whole milk 1 cup diced cantaloupe Pinch of cinnamon Nutmeg, optional Fresh mint leaves, optional
1. In blender, puree together cooked, cold rice, whole milk, cantaloupe, all the seeds and pith (the stringy stuff around the seeds) from inside the fresh cantaloupe, and a pinch of cinnamon. 2. Strain the pureed mixture through a sieve to remove any harder bits of the seeds. 3. Serve cold with a wedge of cantaloupe, a dusting of cinnamon or nutmeg and fresh mint leaves. 4. Can also be thrown in an ice cream maker for a great frozen dessert.
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