May/June 2016 Omaha Magazine by Omaha Magazine

MAY / JUNE 2016

Flagship Commons An Uncommonly Good Mall Food Experience

AL FRESCO

r o f O m y d aha a eR Cultivating Our Own Food Personality

FEVER A Roundup of Omaha’s Ultimate Restaurant and Bar Patios

Nebraska

Love Chef Kyle Lamb

8361 Mormon Bridge Rd, Omaha

$724,950

16 acres of beautiful countryside with a 4,220 sq ft home. Horses are permitted and the grounds are fenced with fresh water livestock tanks. Property also includes a beautiful guest house with patio along with main house.

Ryan Gibson • 402.598.4615

5502 Webster Street, Omaha

$699,500

Beautiful new floor plan w/lots of hardwood flooring, 2 story family room w/ ceiling grids, 3 story atrium to lower level. True 4 car heated garage. Master complete w/walk in closet, walk in shower/w body sprays, and heated tile floor. Open concept overlooking pond #3. Awesome lower level..

1204 N 187 Street, Elkhorn

$660,000

Kristen Wehner Jacobsen • 402.672.7701

$619,000

Gorgeous 4,600 sq ft home located in private cul-de-sac. Wood floors throughout. Finished basement with wet bar and special wine room. Outside oasis w/ in-ground pool, large deck with outdoor kitchen and 6 ft fence!

Linda & Lisa McGuire • 402.871.9559

19258 Walnut Street, Omaha

$650,000

Absolutely stunning 2 story in premier Pacific Pointe Estates. This home features 5 bedrooms all w/ walk ins and direct access to baths, an open floor plan w/ cooks kitchen featuring double ovens, tons of counter space, and walk in pantry. Walk out lower level with wet bar.

Jayne Smith • 402.203.5847

1330 S 105 Street, Omaha

$596,900

Amazing home with fabulous views of the entire valley of golf course, Arnold Palmer’s signature hole. Open and spacious. Each room with a view. Walnut wood floors. 4 fireplaces. Exquisite master suite. Hidden staircase to all 3 levels. Minutes to country club to golf, swim, or going out for a bite to eat.

The Rensch Group • 402.391.5333

1907 S 220 Avenue, Elkhorn

$580,000

Fabulous new plan in The Prairies by Echelon Homes. This gorgeous 2 story will blow your mind. Featuring 5 bedrooms and 5 baths appointed with high-end appliances plus a finished basement. Complete with a bar and a sunken pit for TV seating.

Zachary Nelson • 402.660.3732

12901 Lake View Dr, Springfield, NE

$540,000

Fabulous lake living- ski, fish, swim - Located on a premier unique lot at the head of a cul-de-sac. .75 acre plot! Soaring ceilings, open floor plan! Gourmet kitchen with Thermador double ovens, SS appliances, custom granite, and gorgeous wood floors.

Susan Hancock • 402.215.7700

$589,500

1.5 story home featuring 4 BR, 4 BA and 2nd floor bonus room. Large kitchen, walk in pantry, mudroom/drop zone. Master suite on main level has 10’ ceiling w/ walk in shower and free standing tub. Walk in closets in all bedrooms. Lots of windows and rear patio pergola.

Julie Arp • 402.250.5850

Denice Coenen • 402.677.7538

1618 S 221 Circle, Elkhorn

$646,300

The finest District 66 homesite for your new dream home. Approx. 1 acre overlooking Happy Hollow Country Club. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths with a gorgeous wooded and private backyard. Once in a lifetime opportunity.

Johnathan O’Gorman • 402.595.8857

7407 N 116 Ave Cir, Omaha

$689,900

View this terrific 2 story on wooded corner lot! Some of the features: walk-out, 4 BR, 6 BA, 4 Car, three fireplaces, covered patio, decorator touches! Chef kitchen overlooks treed backyard w/ gas fireplace, large patio, and professional landscape/lighting.

Rick Adcox • 402.676.7425

Stunning early 20th century storybook home! Over 4,000 sq ft with original woodwork/doors, beautiful moldings, and stunning banisters. Lead glass French doors open into a breathtaking sunroom and cozy den. Exterior features gardens, shade trees and an ornate in-ground pool..

19488 Walnut Circle, Omaha

707 N 189 Street, Omaha

9814 Nottingham Dr, Omaha

$525,000

Luxury Regency Town Home! Gorgeous (Parota) Wood Imported from Mexico, Solid Inlay Ceiling & Curved Wd Doors, Custom Tiles Imported from Saltillo Mexico, Grand Custom Carved Decorative Wood Art Pieces, Rec Rm w/In-Ground Sport Pool, OverSized Garage.

V I R T U A L TO U R S A N D M O R E AT

Deb Ellis • 402.706.1003

CELEBRATE

A NEW WORLD OF DISCOVERY This year, Fontenelle Forest is growing in an extraordinary way with the construction of Raptor Woodland Refuge, a new sanctuary for non-releasable birds of prey. Walk thirty feet above the forest floor among thirteen custom mews housing various species of owls, hawks, falcons and more. Opening late spring/early summer. Each visit is its own unique adventure, its own story, its own memory to share.

fontenelleforest.org

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Luxury like you like it When you’re ready to take a break from the action, reenergize with a visit to one of our five dining destinations, catch a great live act at Amerisports Bar, or retreat to one of our luxury rooms or suites. We can’t wait to welcome you! Reserve your room today at ameristar.com/council-bluffs or call 855.888.7276.

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THE NEW NAME IN OMAHA LUXURY HAS A RICH HISTORY IN CUSTOMER SERVICE

H&H is the new owner of the area’s BMW, Land Rover, Jaguar and Mini dealerships – now known as H&H Premier Automotive. Our first order of business is to ensure you’re getting the best service possible. For more than 80 years, we’ve provided quality service to our customers. Nothing less. Now we’re setting a new standard in the world of luxury automobiles. Because we believe that premium vehicles deserve premium service. And that’s our goal.

PREMIER AUTOMOTIVE

hhpremierautomotive.com

Westroads

716 N. 102nd St Omaha, NE 68114

402.393.9700

May // June • 2016 | 8 | omahamagazine.com

111 3RD STREET

I SIOUX CITY, IA 51101 I HARDROCKCASINOSIOUXCITY.COM | 9 |

Events held at Battery Park are open to all ages. No carry-in food or beverages allowed. Management reserves all rights. If you or someone you know needs gambling treatment, call 800.BETS.OFF. May // June • 2016 bestofomaha.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS PEOPLE 36

Faces Erin Owen

Gen O Matthias Jeske

Sports The Gillaspie Family

164

ARTS & CULTURE

FEATURES

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

From the Editor

Between the Lines

For Starters

Calendar of Events

Poetic Healing Traci Schacht uses words and will to heal Nebraska Art’s Passport to the World Pat Drickey and the 1516 Nebraska Collaborative Divorce Working Together to Solve Sticky Situations Finally—A Resting Place for Veterans Omaha National Cemetery

Film Julia Farrel

Visual Brian Tait

Music BOTH

Visual Chris Hochstettler

GIVING 58

Therapy Through Nature Veteran Outdoor Adventures

Giving Calendar

FOOD 128 Dining

Al Fresco Fever

126 History

Pat Crowe

156 Cover

155 Obviously Omaha

Ready for Omaha

161 Instagram

162 Chef Profile

183 Explore!

164 Mystery Review

Kyle Lamb

Flagship Commons

186 Not Funny OMAHA HOME

168 Dining Guide

60PLUS IN OMAHA

131

May // June • 2016 | 10 | omahamagazine.com

SPECIAL SECTIONS 123 Financial Planners

May // June 2016 VOLUME 33 • ISSUE 2

SAN FRANCISCO WORLD

S A N F R A N C I S C OS A N F R A N C I S C O WORLD WORLD

SPIRITS

COMPETITION

GOLD ME DA L

COMPETITION

DOUBLE GOLD ME DA L

EDITORIAL Editor

ROBERT NELSON Associate Editor

DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Editorial Intern

JARED KENNEDY Contributing Writers

RYAN BORCHERS TAMSEN BUTLER ANTHONY FLOTT RACHEL P. GRACE JUDY HORAN GREG JERRETT SEAN MCCARTHY CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI KIM REINER KARA SCHWEISS MAX SPARBER JAMES VNUK SARAH WENGERT OTIS TWELVE

CREATIVE

SPIRITS SPIRITS

COMPETITION

GOLD ME DA L

S A N F R A N C I S COS A N F R A N C I S CO WORLD WORLD

SPIRITS SPIRITS COMPETITION

S I LV E R ME DA L

SAN FRANCISCO WORLD

SPIRITS

SAN FRANCISCO WORLD

SPIRITS

COMPETITION

DOUBLE GOLD ME DA L

COMPETITION

DOUBLE GOLD ME DA L

S I LV E R ME DA L

A New tr adition Built on strong family values and service to country

free tastings

It’s later than usual at the Flatiron Cafe...

12251 Cary Cir.

. La Vista 68128 . 402.690.3490 . soldiervalleyspirits.com A short drive from downtown Om aha

It’s later thanExtended usual Now Serving Hours at the Evenings Monday-Saturday Flatiron Cafe...

Creative Director

BILL SITZMANN Art Director

KRISTEN HOFFMAN Senior Graphic Designer

RACHEL JOY Graphic Designer

MATTHEW WIECZOREK Junior Graphic Designer

Introducing our

‘After 9 Menu’

DEREK TAUBERT

ourEvenings ThursdayIntroducing – Saturday

Contributing Photography & Illustration

Starting September 11, 2015 Thursday – Saturday Evenings

PAULA MOSER PHOTOGRAPHY KEITH BINDER COLIN CONCES SCOTT DRICKEY SARAH LEMKE LAURIE AND CHARLES PHOTOGRAPHS

‘After 9 Menu’

Starting September 11, 2015

ntic Restaura ma nt Ro

2016 Winner

402.344.3040 17th and Howard thef latironcafe.com 402.344.3040 | | 17th and Howard Two Blocks from the Orpheum Theater 402.344.3040 | 17th Howard TwoOrpheum Blocks from the Orpheum Theater Two and Blocks from-the Theater KETV 7 • Baxter Arena

May // June • 2016 | 11 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Letter From the Editor

HUNGRY FOR OMAHA

AYBE IT WAS the rare lunchtime edit

ASSOCIATE EDITOR DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN

meeting with that journalistic staple of pizza that started it, but a couple of months ago we got the idea to highlight food in this issue. Omaha’s food scene includes interesting, innovative chefs, restaurateurs, and foodies. With the winter winds and wicked weather finally subsiding, we Omahans always come out of hibernation, and often over to outdoor patios and food trucks. The foods we choose have gone from steak and potatoes to more exotic fare such as real ramen (not the dried noodles many of us remember from our college years), sushi, and farm-to-table fare. Even some locals’ lunchtime PB&J has gone from processed peanut butter and grape jelly to fresh almond butter and fig jam. Omaha’s an incredible food town, and we proudly to bring you stories highlighting this fact. You turn to Omaha Magazine for great articles and images, and we can again show you proof. Omaha Magazine recently won a Nichee magazine award for Best Regional Magazine. The team works hard to bring you the best publication possible, and I love that the people I work with can be recognized for their efforts. We want you to know you can feel good about holding this print publication in your hands. Not just because you can see a variety of interesting articles and images, but because we joined an initiative called Print Releaf, which plants the number of trees equal to our printing needs in endangered forests around the world. In the next year alone, we will be responsible for the planting of nearly 1,500 saplings around the globe.

Besides working hard on the print publication, we also keep current with web-based products. Do you notice those little teardrops reading “AR” on select pages? Those are your clues that certain stories offer more for you to view online through augmented reality. This month we spotlight hiphop duo BOTH and urban art collector Hugo Novelo with this cool tool. Exciting things are happening here at Omaha Publications, and we appreciate you coming along for the ride.

May // June • 2016 | 12 | omahamagazine.com

May // June 2016 VOLUME 33 • ISSUE 2

Publisher

TODD LEMKE

ACCOUNTS

Thank you for voting us

FIRST PLACE

for the past 12 years!

Publisher’s Assistant & Omaha Home Contributing Editor

SANDY MATSON Vice President

GREG BRUNS Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing

GIL COHEN Senior Sales Executive & 60Plus in Omaha Contributing Editor

GWEN LEMKE Branding Specialists

KYLE FISHER GEORGE IDELMAN MARY HIATT JOSHUA PETERSON Sales Associates

JESSICA CULLINANE DAWN DENNIS ALICIA SMITH HOLLINS JUSTIN IDELMAN

General, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry

OPERATIONS Vice President of Operations

TYLER LEMKE Accountant

HOLLEY GARCIA-CRUZ

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION TODAY!

Distribution Manager

MIKE BREWER

Steven D. Wegner, DDS 11840 Nicholas St, Suite 210 Omaha, NE 68154 402.498.0400

For Advertising & Subscription Information:

402.884.2000

All versions of Omaha Magazine are published bimonthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha NE 68046-1208. Telephone: 402-884-2000; fax 402-884-2001. Subscription rates: $19.95 for 6 issues (one year), $24.95 for 12 issues (two years). No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted, however no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations. Best of Omaha®™ is a registered tradename of Omaha Magazine.

www.SmilesofOmaha.com May // June • 2016 | 13 | bestofomaha.com

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May // June • 2016 | 14 | omahamagazine.com

Between

THE LINES A LOOK AT THREE OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS

JARED KENNEDY - EDITORIAL INTERN Jared Kennedy is an avid outdoor adventurer. When he isn’t writing, which is also a big part of his life, he can be found cycling, slacklining, rock climbing, kayaking, or hiking. Jared believes firmly in the power of the individual, and in the personal duty each of us has to making the most of our lives. Jared grew up near Pony Creek Lake in Iowa. He credits his time spent in Montana, southern California, Colorado, Panama, and other places with helping him to fully realize the awe-inspiring beauty that is the natural world. Through setting an example and the written word, Jared wants to change the way modern society views the world, and help put the human race on a path to a more sustainable future.

JOSHUA PETERSON - BRANDING SPECIALIST Joshua Niles Peterson moved frequently throughout the Midwest as a youth. At the age of 14 he was transplanted to Omaha and it instantly became his home. The major priorities in Joshua’s life are family, friends, food, and hobbies. He is a trained chef who graduated from the Institute for Culinary Arts at Metropolitan Community College. He has worked for many local and national restaurants, and most recently was the R&D Chef for International Spices in Fremont, Nebraska. Joshua has two strong-willed and loving young boys, and a very forgiving and understanding wife. When Joshua is not with his family or friends you can find him at Viral Crossfit or attempting his new hobby, bow hunting. He is also an advocate of donating time and knowledge to worthy causes throughout the community. Joshua thanks the many people throughout his life that helped get him to where he is now.

TAMSEN BUTLER - FREELANCE WRITER She’s lived in Los Angeles. She’s lived in Eastern Europe. Now Tamsen Butler calls the Omaha area her home. An award-winning author of five (and counting) books, she alternates between non-fiction and fiction to keep things interesting. Butler is also a fitness instructor and has been known to teach an acting class or two in her spare time. She attributes her joie de vivre largely to her two delightfully spirited children and a husband who is known to break into song and dance without provocation or warning.

May // June • 2016 | 15 | bestofomaha.com

THE INTERNATIONAL

SHEILA HICKS: MATERIAL VOICES

A world-class equestrian show jumping and dressage experience. The International combines high-level, intense competition with educational activities that will engage and entertain the whole family. 2016 will be the fifth year Omaha will host this internationally sanctioned competition featuring riders representing different countries and states who have competed in the Olympics, World Cup Championships, and Pan Am games.

Drawing on traditions of weaving, architecture, fashion, and her own personal narrative, Sheila Hicks’ fiber-based works reveal a remarkable understanding of color, line, and texture. The first major presentation of the artist’s work in her home state of Nebraska, this exhibition will feature large hanging installations, free-standing sculptures, and weavings from across Hicks’ prolific career.

CenturyLink Center May 5, 6, and 7

Joslyn Art Museum June 5-September 4

Other opportunities at the International Omaha include equestrian related shopping, youth competitions, and school field trips. A talented high school vocalist, or vocal group, will have the opportunity to perform at the International Omaha on Saturday, May 7, 2016, and receive a $1,000 prize. Don’t forget to take a walk down Mane Street, where you can see exhibits such as the Gallery of Breeds, Pony Club educational display, and even participate in the Mini-Jump Competition. The International Omaha is your premier equestrian experience this summer. International Omaha 455 N 10th Street 402-341-1500 internationalomaha.com

Hicks was born in Hastings, Nebraska, and received her BFA and MFA degrees from Yale University. She received a Fulbright scholarship to paint in Chile and developed her interest in working with fibers while in South America. After working in Morocco and India, as well as founding workshops in Mexico, Chile, and South Africa, she now divides her time between her Paris studio and New York. Hicks’ work is in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art, New York City; The Art Institute of Chicago; Centre Pompidou, Paris, and many other internationally renowned art museums. Joslyn Art Museum 2200 Dodge St. 402-342-3300 / joslyn.org

May // June • 2016 | 16 | omahamagazine.com

SHAKESPEARE ON THE GREEN

OMAHA SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL

Engage. Educate. Entertain. That’s the goal of Nebraska Shakespeare as they kick off their 30th anniversary season and commemorate the fourth centennial of Shakespeare’s death.

The Omaha Summer Arts Festival celebrates its 42nd year this June with 135 exhibitors displaying their work down Farnam Street. Chosen from more than 400 applicants, the festival artists will be showcasing a variety of pieces, including ceramics, drawings, jewelry, paintings, sculptures, photography, mixed media, and more.

Elmwood Park June 23-July 10

Downtown Omaha June 10-12

Each summer, Nebraska Shakespeare produces two plays—typically one tragedy and one comedy—that run for three weeks. This year’s selections include “The Taming of the Shrew” and “Macbeth.” Aside from the performances, take part in one of the workshops or enter yourself in the event’s annual sonnet-writing contest. Kids can enjoy the Shakesperience tent, a bard-inspired, interactive experience for those interested in sword fighting, costumes, and Shakespearean trivia. The idea for an outdoor Shakespeare festival in Omaha was first conceived in the early 1980s at Creighton University. Shakespeare on the Green has gained national recognition for its consistently high-quality productions, the beauty of the Elmwood Park setting, and for steadily growing, enthusiastic audiences. Elmwood Park Free admission with optional donation. nebraskashakespeare.com

The World Music Pavilion, just south of Farnam Street, will be hosting artists from a diverse group of genres, such as jazz, blues, Latin, and folk. A children’s fair will take place in the same vicinity, offering hands-on activities and art projects for kids up to 10 years old. Don’t miss the 20th Annual Young Artist Exhibition in the W. Dale Clark Library, featuring artwork from some of Omaha’s most talented students. Established in 1975, the Omaha Summer Arts Festival has hosted more than 3 million visitors since its inception. Explore the Artists’ Market and enjoy the wide variety of food and entertainment that will be offered at this year’s festival. Downtown Omaha 10th to 15th, Farnam St. 402-345-5401 / summerarts.org

May // June • 2016 | 17 | bestofomaha.com

Expanded Content On Your Digital Device Watch videos, and view photo galleries of select editorial from OmahaHome magazine.

Page H13

LOST BOY FOUND IN WHOLE FOODS

THE PRODUCERS

enlightening story of refugees

most Tony Awards in history

MAY 27–JUNE 26, 2016

MAY 6–JUNE 5, 2016 sponsor: Friend

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sponsor: TD Ameritrade orchestra sponsor: Giger Family Foundation

media sponsor: Omaha World-Herald

media sponsor: WOWT

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OMAHAPLAYHOUSE.COM

4 Page

Welcome to My Secret Garden Omaha Quilter’s Guild Presents 38th Annual Quilt Show 2016

Quilt Display • Vendor Mall Small Auction • 2016 Opportunity Quilt Doll Display • Special Displays June 23rd 5pm-8pm

June 24th 9am-8pm

June 25th 9am-4pm

LaVista Conference Center 12520 Westport Pkwy. LaVista, NE For further information visit: www.omahaquiltersguild.org May // June • 2016 | 18 | omahamagazine.com

1 Download the App

Browse the Apple App Store or shop Google Play for the LayAR app.

2 Look for the icon

You’ll see the ‘ar’ icon on pages with expanded content.

3 Scan the page

After loading the LayAR app on your digital device, hold your phone/tablet over the entire page to load content.

CALENDAR EVENTS of

Sheila Hicks: Material Voices ART AND MUSEUM EXHIBITS

TIME + SPACE: BEGINNINGS Through May 14 at the Bemis Center—724 South 12th St. In this yearlong rotating exhibition, we celebrate 35 years of supporting artists from around the world. Time + Space features artwork from multiple generations of artists-in-residence, and archival materials that reflect the rich history of our location in Omaha’s Old Market. 402-341-7130 -bemiscenter.org

SHEILA HICKS: MATERIAL VOICES June 5-Sept. 4 at the Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Drawing on traditions of weaving, architecture, fashion, and her own personal narrative, Sheila Hicks’ fiber-based works reveal a remarkable understanding of color, line, and texture. Admission $10; free for ages 17 and under, students, and members. 10am-8pm. 402-342-3300 -joslyn.org

PRESERVATION IN THE ARCHIVE

WAR, WEALTH AND STABLE REPAIRS

Through Jan. 1, 2017 at the Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. The Photo Archive at The Durham Museum has spent the past 40 years preserving and displaying the photographic history of Omaha. This exhibit gives visitors a sneak peek at our digitization initiative, explores the history of the archive, and brings to light the museum’s race against time and deterioration to save these iconic images. Admission $10; free for ages 17 and under, students, and members. 10am-5pm. 402-444-5071 -durhammuseum.org

Through June 26 at the Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. When you think of the monarchs of old Europe, you most likely envision someone wielding absolute authority, and making decisions that can alter the course of history. That wasn’t always the case. With the help of the Byron Reed Collection, we attempt to show a more holistic view of the life of monarchs. From dealing with parliaments, to discussing weddings, to approving stable repairs—the life of the king or queen was never dull. 10am-5pm. 402-444-5071 -durhammuseum.org

SAVING PLACES: 50 YEARS OF LANDMARK PRESERVATION Through June 12 at the Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Today, the words “historic preservation” are acted out in many areas of Omaha. The city has a catalog of beautifully restored homes, businesses, and designated historic sites the public frequents daily. Over time, some historic gems have been lost physically—yet survive in the historical record. In partnership with Restoration Exchange Omaha, and through archival photos and architectural salvage, this exhibition celebrates 50 years of historic preservation. 10am-5pm. 402-444-5071 -durhammuseum.org May // June • 2016 | 19 | bestofomaha.com

ODYSSEY’S SHIPWRECK! PIRATES & TREASURE May 28-August 28 at the Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Odyssey’s SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure takes visitors on a voyage through more than 2,000 years of seafaring history. The exhibit contains more than 500 authentic shipwreck artifacts, a variety of interactive games and challenges, and a full-size replica of ZEUS, Odyssey’s eight-ton Remotely Operated Vehicle. 402-444-5071 -durhammuseum.org

Omaha Magazine • Calendar of Events

FAMILY & MORE

DOUG AITKEN: MIGRATION (EMPIRE) June 4-Sept. 4 at the Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. For this spellbinding video, Aitken filmed animals in the incongruous setting of roadside motel rooms, reflecting the migratory patterns of wildlife, and illuminating tensions between the built and natural environments. 402-342-3300 -joslyn.org

DRAWING STORIES: THE PICTURE BOOK ART OF MARLA FRAZEE June 11-Sept. 18 at the Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Explore the art of author-illustrator and Caldecott Honoree Marla Frazee. Watercolor and gouache paintings from All the World, A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, Roller Coaster, Walk on!, and other books will be on view in this Mind’s Eye Exhibition. 402-342-3300 -joslyn.org

OMAHA SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL CINCO DE MAYO PARADE May 7 in Downtown Omaha. This dazzling parade, one of the largest in the Midwest, features floats, marching bands, and other entertainers cheered on by crowds lined up along historic 24th Street. Rain or shine. Free admission. Begins at 10am. -cincodemayoomaha.com

Through May 15 at the Joslyn Art Museum 2200 Dodge St. This exhibition features art by author, illustrator, and Academy Award-winning animated short filmmaker William Joyce. Included are over 70 original ink, graphite, acrylic, and digital illustrations for some of Joyce’s early books—George Shrinks, A day with Wilbur Robinson, Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo, and The leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs. The exhibit also features his recent The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessor and The guardians of Childhood book series, which explores the magical world of characters like the Man in the Moon, Nicholas St. North, Sandman, Toothiana, E. Aster Bunnymund, and Jack Frost. Sample preliminary sketches, a storyboard, concept art for a movie version of a book, and art from Joyce’s childhood will also be on view. 402-342-3300 - joslyn.org

CONCERTS

RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL OF NEBRASKA

JAMES TORMÉ CELEBRATES THE GREATS

May 7-8 at Bellevue Berry & Pumpkin Ranch, 11001 S 48th St., Papillion Step back in time to the days of knights in shining armor, merry maids, jousting, medieval games, magical adventures, and more! Admission is $12 for adults, $7 for children. 11 am-6 pm. 402-331-5500 -bellevueberryfarm.com

May 6 at the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. James Tormé, son of Grammy-winning jazz legend Mel Tormé, is taking the legacy he was born into even further. The charismatic young star’s debut album “Love For Sale” has topped both the iTunes and Amazon Jazz Charts. Admission TBD. 8pm. 402-345-0606 -omahaperformingarts.org

TASTE OF OMAHA

WILLIAM JOYCE: GUARDIAN OF CHILDHOOD

June 10-12 in Downtown Omaha. The Omaha Summer Arts Festival celebrates its 42nd year as Omaha’s premier destination for arts and entertainment. The festival features the nation’s finest visual artists, musical performances, and a hands-on Children’s Fair. 402-345-5401 -summerarts.org

June 3-5 at the Omaha Riverfront. Omaha’s annual summer food event, showcasing outstanding restaurants with exciting live entertainment. Activities daily on three riverfront Parks: the Heartland of America Park, Lewis & Clark Landing, and River’s Edge Park. Free admission. Times vary. 402-346-8003 -showofficeonline.com

SAND IN THE CITY June 5-7 at Baxter Arena, 2425 S. 67th St. Watch master sand sculptors carve a 45-ton sculpture before your eyes. Enjoy an interactive kid zone, live entertainment, and concessions. Fun for the whole family! Free admission. 402-898-7785 -sandinthecityomaha.com

OMAHA BEER FEST June 10-11 at Stinson Park, 67th and Center St. Hundreds of American craft beers, 50 breweries, hourly Beer Academy sessions, live music, a home brewer expo, VIP Lounge, food vendors, and more. Time to get crafty. 402-850-6776 -omahabeerfest.com

May // June • 2016 | 20 | omahamagazine.com

TRIBAL SEEDS May 7 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. From San Diego, California, award winning reggae group Tribal Seeds have become known for their spiritually driven, refreshing rock vibe they have infused with the roots style of reggae music. Tribal Seeds’ unmatched musical talent, and authentic sound, has brought them to the forefront of the reggae rock genre. Their art form has reached people of all ages across the United States, and worldwide. Admission $15 in advance, and $18 at the door. 8:00 pm. 402-884-5353 - waitingroomlounge.com

Four Old Market

Unique holiday décor, ornaments, collectibles and gifts for every season.

Chocolates and fudge made in our own kitchen, plus many other sweet temptations.

oTannenbaum.com • 402-345-9627

OldMarketCandy.com • 402-344-8846

Travel essentials plus downtown’s largest selection of souvenirs and Nebraska-made gifts.

Authentic Italian desserts, coffee, and FlavorBurst TM soft serve ice cream.

OldMarketSundries.com • 402-345-7646

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Omaha Magazine • Calendar of Events

Luke Bryan

Under The Streetlamp THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE

Engelbert Humperdinck ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK May 12 at the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Engelbert Humperdinck, the charismatic and consummate entertainer, will lavish audiences with music spanning his career. He has garnered Grammy nominations, a Golden Globe, countless gold and platinum albums, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Admission TBD. 7:30pm. 402-345-0606 -omahaperformingarts.org

LUKE BRYAN (FT. DUSTIN LYNCH AND LITTLE BIG TOWN)

the Year, will embark on a brand new tour in early 2016, “Kill The Lights Tour.” 7:30pm. 402-341-1500 -centurylinkcenteromaha.com

NADA SURF May 14 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. While the band has always had a surplus of horsepower for velocity rockers, and an astounding level of confidence live, they’ve been gaining the discipline and fitnesses to change gears, more so with each release. Admission $20. 9pm. 402-884-5353 - waitingroomlounge.com

May 12 at Century Link Center, 455 N. 10th St. Luke Bryan, the reigning two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year and two-time ACM Entertainer of

May // June • 2016 | 22 | omahamagazine.com

May 15 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. The Brian Jonestown Massacre is an American neo-psychedelia band formed in San Francisco in 1988. The band’s output spans psychedelic rock, folk rock, and shoegaze. After their debut and sophomore albums, the group quickly turned to a broader style of psychedelic rock incorporating folk rock and, later, electronica influences. The name “Brian Jonestown Massacre” is a portmanteau of The Rolling Stones’ founder and guitarist Brian Jones and the infamous mass cult suicide in Jonestown, Guyana. Admission $16 in advance and $18 at the door. 9pm. 402-884-5353 - waitingroomlounge.com

UNDER THE STREETLAMP May 19 at the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The boys are back! After two top PBS specials, Under the Streetlamp is bringing The American Radio Songbook of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s to a whole new audience. Admission TBD. 7:30pm. 402-345-0606 -omahaperformingarts.org

SHEILA HICKS

material voices June 5 – September 4, 2016

See it first and see it free. Become a member today! Members-only preview day and reception on June 4. Opens to the general public on June 5.

Drawing on traditions of weaving, architecture, fashion, and her own personal narrative, Sheila Hicks’s fiber-based works reveal a remarkable understanding of color, line, and texture. The most significant presentation of the artist’s work in her home state of Nebraska, this exhibition will feature large hanging installations and elaborate weavings from across Hicks’s prolific career. Material Voices is a ticketed exhibition. IMAGE: Sheila Hicks: Foray into Chromatic zones. 2015. Photo by Cristobal Zanartu.

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May 20 at the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Since concluding his 15-year run as Musical Director of the Tonight Show Band With Jay Leno, acclaimed guitarist Kevin Eubanks has continued to explore his own unique musical vision. Admission TBD. 8pm. 402-345-0606 -omahaperformingarts.org

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Omaha Magazine • Calendar of Events TWINSMITH May 20 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Each diverse track is imbued with an individual voice and style and ranges form propulsive, melodic rock, to buoyantly playful pop, from soaring, sing-along retro pop, to sumptuous, evocative new wave. From shimmery, summery pop, to moody, slow-burning ballads. There’s a youthful sense of longing and exploration that permeates the new album, which reflects on the highs and lows, advantages and disadvantages, hopes and fears of 20-something life with crafty, unassuming depth. Not just any band can examine anxiety, uncertainty, and commitment through tales of homicidal girlfriends and zombie apocalypses with such aplomb. Admission $5 in advance, and $10 at the door. 9pm. 402-345-7569 -theslowdown.com

BEETHOVEN’S FIRST SYMPHONY May 22 at Omaha Symphony, Joslyn Art Museum 2200 Dodge St. Beethoven’s youthful symphony caps a program that includes the charming duet-concertino of Richard Strauss. Featuring Thomas Wilkins, conductor, James Compton, bassoon, and Carmelo Galante, clarinet. Admission $33. 2pm. 402-345-0606 -omahasymphony.org

SCHEHERAZADE June 3 and 4. at the Holland Performing Arts Center. 1200 Douglas St. The seductive storyteller of One Thousand and One Nights charms the sultan with tales of adventure and daring. Here, Scheherazade is portrayed musically by the Omaha Symphony’s concertmaster in a dazzling showcase for violin amid the richly varied colors of Rimsky-Korsakov’s exotic orchestrations. Suites from Barber’s nostalgic ballet and Strauss’s comic opera are and added delight. Admission TBA. 7:30pm. 402-345-0606 -omahasymphony.org

SAM BEAM (OF IRON AND WINE) AND JESCA HOOP June, 8 at the Slowdown, 729 N 14th St. Love Letter for Fire is the name of the collaborative record from songwriters Sam Beam and Jesca Hoop. It’s collection of songs steeped in the tradition of the male/female duet where love—requited and unrequited—takes center stage. The two have carved out something that feels wholly original and should have no trouble appealing to fans of their previous work. Admission $28. 402-345-7569 -theslowdown.com

NEBRASKA WIND SYMPHONY

PERFORMING ARTS

LOST BOY FOUND IN WHOLE FOODS May 6-June 5 at the Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Gabriel, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, has started a new life in America. While working in Whole Foods he meets Christine, a middle-aged, single mother. Their connection, and Christine’s quest to help him, changes both of their lives. 402-553-0800 -omahaplayhouse.com

HEATHERS - THE MUSICAL BY LAURENCE O’KEEFE AND KEVIN MURPHY May 19-June 19 at the Blue Barn Theatre, 1106 S. 10th St. The darkly delicious story of Veronica Sawyer, the brainy and beautiful misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful clique at school: the Heathers. Recurring weekly Thurs.-Sunday at 6 pm. Admission $30 adults, $25 students and seniors. 402-345-1576 -bluebarn.org

THE BOOK OF MORMON May 31-June 5 at the Orpheum Theater 409 S. 16th St. Winner of nine Tony Awards, and hailed by the New York Times as “the best musical of this century,” this outrageous musical comedy follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries sent halfway across the world to spread the good word. Admission TBD. Times vary. 402-345-0606 -omahaperformingarts.org

DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID June 3-19 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. Dive “Under the Sea” for a swimmingly good time as one of Disney’s all-time favorites splashes to life in this Broadway musical adaptation. Best for ages 5 and up. Admission $30 main floor, $25 balcony. Recurring weekly Friday-Sunday at 2pm. 402-345-4849 -rosetheater.org

THE CHRISTIANS Through April 17 at Blue Barn Theatre, 1106 S. 10th St. Twenty years ago, Pastor Paul’s church was nothing more than a modest storefront. Now he presides over a congregation of thousands, with classrooms for Sunday School, a coffee shop in the lobby, and a baptismal font as big as a swimming pool. Today should be a day of celebration, but Paul is about to preach a sermon that will shake the foundations of his church’s beliefs. A big-little play about faith in America—and the trouble with changing your mind. Admission TBA. 402-345-1576 -bluebarn.org

June 26 at Stinson Park, Aksarben Village The Nebraska Wind Symphony and NWS Swingtones present a Summer concert in the park. Bring a blanket, chairs, and family for a pleasant evening of uniquely American music. Free admission. 6pm. 402-216-0325 -nebraskawindsymphony.com

May // June • 2016 | 24 | omahamagazine.com

CALENDAR GIRLS April 15-May 8 at the Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Sisterhood and side-splitting laughs are at the heart of this bare-all play. After Anne’s husband dies of leukemia, she vows to keep his memory alive through a memorial. She and her friends “of a certain age” drop their trousers, and discover their courage, as they pose for a nude (but tasteful) calendar to raise funds. 402-553-0800 -omahaplayhouse.com

THE PRODUCERS May 27-June 26 at the Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Winner of 12 Tony Awards, The Producers is the hilarious, lively, and absurd Mel Brooks comedy following producers Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom on their quest to become filthy rich. They have created a perfect plan and a Broadway scam—produce a complete theatrical failure with a terrible script and the worst director in town. Packed full of dancing Nazis, storm troopers and showgirls, their musical Springtime for Hitler is a sure bet to bomb. Now they just need to sit back and let the dough roll in. 402-553-0800 -omahaplayhouse.com

RAVE ON: THE BUDDY HOLLY EXPERIENCE June 10-26 at Omaha Community Playhouse. 6915 Cass St. Rave On: The Buddy Holly Experience reinvents the ordinary tribute show with an electrifying high-energy, rock n’ roll extravaganza featuring America’s premier Buddy Holly interpreter, Billy McGuigan! - omahaplayhouse.com

SHAKESPEARE ON THE GREEN: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW June 23-26, July 6, 8, and 10 at Elmwood Park, S. 60th St. Renowned as Shakespeare’s most boisterous comedy, The Taming of the Shrew is the tale of two young men; the hopeful Lucentio, and the worldly Petruchio, and the two sisters they meet in Padua. 402-444-5955 -nebraskashakespeare.com

SHAKESPEARE ON THE GREEN: THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH June 30, July 1-3, 5, 7, and 9 at Elmwood park, S. 60th St. Macbeth, a duke of Scotland, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition, and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself. 402-444-5955 -nebraskashakespeare.com

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Omaha Magazine • Arts + Culture | Film

Actress Julia Farrell Gets Gruesome in Indie Horror Flick Endor STORY BY SARAH WENGERT PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

May // June • 2016 | 26 | omahamagazine.com

May // June • 2016 | 27 | bestofomaha.com

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Omaha Magazine • Arts + Culture | Film

LASSIC HORROR CONVENTIONS

abound in the frightening local flick Endor: The car runs out of gas in the middle of nowhere, no one but creepy country locals for miles, blood spurts dramatically from the wounds of the slaughtered, and the terror-stricken lead, played by Julia Farrell, runs for her life through lush cornfields. Russ (Dustin Smith) and Farrell’s character Kiera are sweethearts traveling through Nebraska on a road trip when the gas tank goes empty and all hell breaks loose in the tiny heartland township of Endor. “The filmmakers wanted to make a movie that fed into all the common universal horror movie clichés and small town stereotypes, but that also had this unique religious undertone,” says Farrell. IndyRed.com rated Endor four out of five stars, calling it a “solid slasher with one hell of a surprise ending.” Dread Central praised its strong lead character development, saying it inspires viewers to “root for them all the way.” Farrell, originally from Colorado, always loved acting. As a child, she gathered the neighborhood kids together to put on plays—which she’d then write, star in, and direct. “I’ve always been a storyteller with a wild imagination,” says Farrell. “I love that storytelling aspect, the ability to become whatever you want and live in that world for a while.”

Farrell earned her journalism degree and theater minor from University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she met her husband, Jim. The couple relocated to Arizona, where she got a master’s in elementary education and rekindled her love of film work with a small part in Jolene with Jessica Chastain before moving to Omaha in 2008. Although it’s not exclusively her genre, there’s a strong horror presence in Farrell’s filmography page, including titles like Cheerleader Camp: To the Death, Demon Dolls, and Silent Night, Bloody Night 2. She’s currently filming The Amityville Legacy. “I’m a huge fan of horror,” says Farrell. “I love everything from slasher/grindhouse

to psychological thrillers, so I do tend to pick those roles, but I’ve also found that horror movies are pretty popular projects in the Midwest.” Aksarben Cinema screened Endor throughout February, and Farrell says filmmakers Aaron Gum and Faustus McGreeves made final tweaks ahead of future showings. “Endor is horror, but not cheesy B horror. It’s meant to make you think and disturb you,” says Farrell. “There’s depth to it, and the cinematography has some nice, artsy touches— mixed with plenty of gore, of course.” Farrell appreciated that the role helped expand her skills.

“I had to go places I hadn’t taken myself before, but as an actor challenge is always good,” she says. “Some people scoff at horror, but it’s tough to put yourself in that state of extreme emotion on demand. To be believable, you really have to go to some dark places.” Farrell hopes to continue growing her acting chops. “For me, it’s not necessarily about making a O acting and independent blockbuster, I just love films,” she says. Visit facebook.com/endorfilm for more information.

Omaha Magazine • Feature

HE POET LONGFELLOW famously wrote, “Into each life some rain must fall.” By that logic, Omaha poet Traci Schacht has survived a series of torrential downpours. At age 12, Schacht’s mentally ill mother left her negligent father, forcing Schacht to care for herself. That same year, she would turn her first trick and enter her first foster home.

“It was an easy way to make money, but I was too young to know what it all meant,” she says. “To me, it just meant food—chicken versus corn flakes. The cops picked me up and that’s when ‘home’ changed from home to group homes to foster homes.” Though they’ve since reconciled, Schacht vividly recalls being rejected by her mother, who swiftly remarried and took in her siblings but told a troubled 13-year-old Schacht that she wasn’t welcome. “My family didn’t want me. That’s when I changed, stopped caring, became violent,” says Schacht, who also escalated her experimentation with drugs. “I so badly wanted my mom to rescue me, to come hug me, tell me everything would be okay. I was so scared and alone.” She was headed to lockup when Boys Town accepted her, moving Schacht in a better direction. After graduating she attended Nebraska Wesleyan, earning a theater degree. Next, Schacht moved around a lot—Chicago, Houston, San Francisco—but the places she’s been emotionally and intellectually are the most compelling parts of her story. For example, she traveled vast distances politically, from serving as V.P. of the college Young Republicans in Nebraska to fighting against the death penalty with “a bunch of Marxists” in San Francisco. In 2007, back in Omaha, the storm continued. Schacht survived a horrible car wreck that crushed her legs, arm, and part of her neck. Her legs were saved but she had trouble

walking. In 2010, Schacht requested and received a right leg below-knee amputation, hoping to resume some favorite activities like kayaking as a result. After a subsequent total knee replacement went wrong and infection set in, the leg was amputated above-knee. “I just bawled. I didn’t want to be an aboveknee amputee because it’s harder to walk and you can’t do everything. But eventually I got this cool, computerized leg,” Schacht says, hiking up a pant leg to proudly display the high-tech limb she got in 2013. “Now I’m walking, after years in a wheelchair. I’m so thankful.”

“OMAHA SAVED MY LIFE. LITERALLY. THE COMMUNITY HERE SAVED MY LIFE.” Schacht’s also grateful for a fateful meeting with a medical van driver who, in the course of transporting her home from the hospital, changed her life. “He offered to read me a poem he’d written,” says Schacht. “I thought, ‘Oh no, this is gonna be some cheesy poetry.’ But it was this awesome, political slam poetry I hadn’t heard before, and I loved it.” Schacht befriended the driver, who convinced her to try writing poetry. He saw skill in her work and encouraged her to perform the piece at Verbal Gumbo, a monthly open mic welcoming “various artistic expressions.” “[My poem] was met with such wonderful warmth, and they said I should do another,” says Schacht. “So I did another, and then another, and another, and have continued since.” Schacht’s discovery of her talent at performing rhythmic, defiant, evocative slam poetry added great joy to her life, but she still wrestled with personal demons. Schacht, a Gemini, says she has two sides, one wanting to perform and another bent on withdrawal. She

May // June • 2016 | 30 | omahamagazine.com

plotted suicide and eventually had a PTSD break—a bottom from which to rise. “It all hit me at once and I just broke, and actually, that was a wonderful thing. I took the chance to finally stop and assess everything I’d experienced,” says Schacht, who credits good friends for crucial support. “Omaha saved my life. Literally. The community here saved my life,” she says. That life-saving support inspired Schacht to help others. She coaches Bryan and Northwest High Schools’ teams for the youth poetry festival “Louder Than a Bomb” and has worked with Poetry Out Loud Nebraska and Project Everlast, a group for former foster youth. She’s training to be an amputee peer support counselor and mental health first responder. Schacht is also finishing a book of poetry, tentatively titled Tequila, Twerking, and Other Things a One-legged Poet Should Never Do, and establishing a healing through poetry group. “I’m blessed to use poetry for healing and to share that with others,” says Schacht. “I needed to heal myself from everything I’ve experienced in my life.” Routinely taunted in childhood as “ugly girl,” Schacht performs lots of body-positive poetry. “I worked really hard for this body and so did a lot of other people, so I want to be really proud of it,” she says. Through her poetry and service to others, Schacht has found confidence and value in her accomplishments. She’s finally discovered that, as Longfellow also wrote, “Behind the clouds is the sun still shining.” “It’s meaningful when people come up in tears telling me my words helped them. It’s a gift. When that healing happens and you can share that with others it’s amazing, and that’s what I’m about now,” she says. “I’m learning to let that help center O myself and to realize that is success.”

Poetic Healing Traci Schacht uses words and will to heal herself and others. STORY BY SARAH WENGERT PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

May // June • 2016 | 31 | bestofomaha.com

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Omaha Magazine • Arts + Culture | Visual

Brian Tait STORY BY KARA SCHWEISS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

OME 20 OR 25 years ago, Brian Tait would probably

have been dismissed as a graffiti vandal and skateboard punk. Today, the established artist and family man is much harder to classify. “I’ve been called a ‘Renaissance man,’” he says. At 40, Tait is a working multimedia artist/artist/craftsman who has mastered numerous complex mediums demanding refined techniques and the use of specialized tools. His works—from traditional wall-mounted and tabletop pieces to furniture and sculpture—can be found in galleries, restaurants, salons, businesses, and private homes locally and beyond. He’s created multimedia installations for various exhibitions. He’s also a performance artist and musician, blending his talents in unexpected ways. “I have a lot of skill sets, so I typically try to push,” he says. “At the end of the day, the art of it comes down when you touch pencil to paper and initialize a concept. Everything else after that is technique.”

MultiMedia Artist

His work often integrates an echo of his tagger origins, and it was his mastery of lettering that opened the door to his initial paid work, which was in the sign craft. A stint working for a custom furniture and cabinetry business expanded his repertoire of skills even further. And for the last 14 years, he’s been on his own with Tait Studios.

May // June • 2016 | 33 | bestofomaha.com

Arts + Culture | Visual It’s challenging to make a living as an artist, Tait says, so he’s generous with his time and talent in an effort to formally and informally incubate up-and-comers and help them become working artists. He’s just picked up a new studio, a north Omaha house he intends to use for a residency exchange with artists from Omaha’s sister cities around the globe. The Florida-born Tait came to Nebraska via the Air Force. He stayed on after the birth of his oldest child (he has a teenage daughter, a toddler daughter, and now a son on the way), but he says he enjoys his adopted city. “I like this town,” he says. “I’m appreciative for what Omaha’s done for me and the people here.” His work can be seen at places like Halo Studios in midtown, Billy Frogg’s in the Old Market, and Over Easy in west Omaha. Although his art supports him, Tait says he’s not about heavy salesmanship. “It’s very taxing to do it that way,” he says. “You feel uninspired.”

“IT’S ALL REALLY QUITE BEAUTIFUL TO ME. YET THERE’S AN ENNUI TO IT— THERE’S AN EMOTIONAL PULL” -Stephen Dinsmore

So the business side of Tait’s studio is as broad as his artistic repertoire. When he tours as a musician, he takes some of his art with him for sale. He has a page on Saatchi Art, a leading online art gallery. Other works are sold through word-of-mouth or by connecting with buyers who see work like his February First Friday installation, a provocative—even disturbing—video piece he produced on gun violence. Some of his creations are displayed in galleries, but he’s also had work turned away from galleries for being challenging. That’s okay, Tait says, because the point is to spark an emotional response. “To inspire people is one of the things I like to do the most,” O he says. “And to get a perspective shift.” Visit briantait.us/tag/tait-studios to learn more.

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May // June • 2016 | 34 | omahamagazine.com

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Life as a

MAVERICK Erin Owen’s Up-Close View of History STORY BY JUDY HORAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

Omaha Magazine • Faces

RIN OWEN IS an enthusiastic supporter of the

Mavericks—the academic and athletic symbol of the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she now serves as executive director of the Office of University Communications. The word “maverick” also means an independent thinker. That description fits Owen. And she has always worked for mavericks—such as her first boss, then-U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey. She first met him at neighborhood block parties in the Cathedral neighborhood of Omaha where she grew up. Being hired as a receptionist in Kerrey’s Washington office in 1994 was her big break. During her six years there, she moved up to assistant communications director and creator-producer of the senator’s cable show. “Bob Kerrey is a maverick because he is an innovative thinker. He has the ability to be frank,” Owen says. “He had the courage to speak out and be honest with his observations.” Kerrey says: “Whatever capacity and courage I have to think independently and acquire a reputation of being a maverick was enabled by other mavericks like Erin.” Owen, while still in high school, entered the political sphere as an unpaid volunteer for Kerrey’s 1988 senate campaign. She has never seen age—or anything, for that matter—as a hurdle that can’t be overcome. “I don’t see barriers when I’m trying to accomplish something; if there is a will, there is a way. And I won’t stop trying.” Her next boss was Tim Russert, bureau chief of NBC's Washington bureau and moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press before his death in 2008. She became the show's producer.

a critical mind. Tim was able to take the most complicated topic and boil it down so everyone understood.” Her five years producing Meet the Press, the longest-running news show in television history, came during an exciting time in history. She remembers the presidential election coverage in 2000 when the race between Al Gore and George W. Bush came down to a handful of votes. “Tim and Tom Brokaw never got up from the anchor desk for 11 hours. It was one of the most exhilarating nights of my life.” Owen and her husband, Rob, returned to Omaha from Washington, D.C., in 2009 after their daughter, Ava, was born. She grew up in a family of mavericks. “My dad (writer and journalist Jim Fogarty) has always been an independent thinker, and he has encouraged independent thinking.” She describes her husband as a “quiet maverick.” Rob Owen is general counsel for the La Vista laboratory-products company Streck. Her passion is to share with UNO students what being a Maverick means. She cites the university’s marketing mantra: “We are independent thinkers. Explorers. Risk takers. We are willing to go against the grain; ask the hard questions; and look at challenges in a different way. We collaborate. We serve. We represent. We grow. We are doing things that people said would never happen. We are loud. We are proud. We O are Mavericks!” Visit unomaha.edu to learn more.

“Tim was the quintessential maverick,” Owen says. “He didn’t think in a conventional way. He was a lawyer with

May // June • 2016 | 37 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Gen O

ATTHIAS

Jeske Waxxing Mid-Century Life STORY BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT DRICKEY

May // June • 2016 | 39 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Gen O

ATTHIAS JESKE SITS at a red leather booth in

The Diner in downtown Omaha looking like he belongs there. It’s his leather jacket, plastic-framed glasses, and plaid shirt that probably came off the rack of a Woolworth’s 50 years ago. On him, the shirt still looks so fresh, so cool. “I’m a Cold War boy with a Buddy Holly style,” Jeske quips. The 25-year old refers to things as “groovy” and “swell.” He owns numerous vintage furnishings, from a custom-made 1962 sectional sofa by designer Milo Baughman to a stereo console. You might even call him Mister 1960. Listeners at MavRadio did. The recent UNO graduate spent the last four years spinning music of the early 1960s on his show, “The Waxx Museum by Mister 1960.” It was this music that started his love of all things vintage. Jeske says, “My mom (Liz Jeske) would play Patsy Cline in the kitchen while she was making dinner. Then I fell in love with the cars in high school.” His beloved ride is a 1960 Chevy Impala he named Black Betty. He evoked Danny Zucko in high school, sporting a pompadour while wearing dark jeans and a leather bomber jacket. As he graduated from high school in 2009, he graduated from the post-war ideals of the 1950s into polished chrome and futuristic patterns. He began to favor tailored suits and skinny ties. “I traded my pompadour for a side part. I fell more in love with the atomic era,” Jeske says. “The atomic era applies more to my every day life.”

A friendship with the general manager at MavRadio led to the opportunity to create his radio show in fall 2011, spinning the pre-1966 music he loves so well and joking around with his listeners. Professor Jodeen Brownlee entered his radio show into the Broadcasting Education Association Awards. In April 2014 he won Media Personality of the Year and flew to Las Vegas for the ceremony. He came back to Omaha, spun more pre-1966 records, and flew back to Las Vegas to pick up the same award in April 2015. He picked up a theater minor at UNO and graduated from spinning records behind a booth to performing onstage. Even with the theater it’s been his love of retro that brought him to award-winning roles. “I’d never done a show at the (Omaha Community) Playhouse before, but being a nerd, I’d always loved Monty Python.” Jeske says. He landed seven supporting roles in Spamalot and won awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical from the Theater Arts Guild, Omaha Community Playhouse awards, and Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards. “I felt like I was just running around being a goof, but the voters must have loved it,” Jeske says. He also held the supporting role of John Burt in Frost vs. Nixon at the Blue Barn Theatre. “The two theater parts I have played this year have been satisfying,” Jeske waxes. “At first I thought, ‘theater is great fun,' but I have been pleasantly surprised by how great the O theater community has been.”

May // June • 2016 | 40 | omahamagazine.com

"I'M A COLD WAR BOY WITH A BUDDY HOLLY STYLE."

Omaha Magazine • Sports

THE

GILLASPIE FAMILY

In a League of Their Own STORY BY CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

Mark Gillaspie

May // June • 2016 | 42 | omahamagazine.com

HE SATELLITE DISH outside Mark and

Dianne Gillaspie’s west Omaha home beams in more than movies; it lets them dial up their sons’ latest swings, scoops, and slides on the baseball diamond, a scenario many people dream about but rarely experience. The couple multiplies by two the thrills and agonies of watching their children play professional ball. Their older son, Conor, 28, has returned to the San Francisco Giants, while Casey, 23, advances through the minor league levels of the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Talk about beating the odds: According to an NCAA study, the chances of a high school player making the big leagues is one in 6,600. But then, the Gillaspie (pronounced Gillespie) family has beaten the odds before. Conor and Casey’s base path to success mirrors their father’s. “I was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 1981, my senior year at Mississippi State,” says Mark, an All-American right fielder who taught himself to switch hit on the sandlots of Omaha. “I played ball with my friends all the time, from morning ’til night,” he recalls of his “good” childhood, when summers also meant sitting in the old Rosenblatt Stadium watching the College World Series. “My senior year we were able to make it to the CWS, winning our first game. “I miss Rosenblatt. I think most baseball fans do,” he says. Before Mark reported to rookie ball in Walla Walla, Washington, he became engaged to a pretty softball player studying physical therapy at MSU. He and Dianne bridged the time apart the old fashioned way. “He wrote me a letter every single day,” says Dianne, smiling. “There were no cell phones back then.”

Mark’s letters, no doubt, filled Dianne in about his teammates drafted in the same class, names now part of baseball lore: AllStar outfielder/first baseman-turned-ESPN analyst John Kruk (Mark’s roommate), and the man who would become “Mr. Padre,” the late, great Tony Gwynn. Mark still chuckles when he remembers the first day of practice. “We’re in our ugly Padres uniforms, hanging around the batting cage, snickering at this really large kid from Los Angeles who didn’t look like an athlete at all. Well, our first game, he hits four balls off the wall. Two weeks later, he was called up to the next level.” In fact, within a year, Tony Gwynn would make it to the Show. Mark reached his ceiling at Triple-A. The Padres, so rich in talent during the ’80s, never had a place for him. Accepting reality, especially since he now had Conor, Mark pursued his second interest—law enforcement. An Omaha police officer for almost 20 years, Mark currently serves as the school resource officer at his alma mater, Central High School. He has no regrets. “I’ve met the best people in my life,” he says of his fellow officers. “These are my brothers. I would do anything for them.” Mark and Dianne never prodded or pushed their children into a life of sports, even though the natural athletic skills of all three, including daughter Makenzie, rose to the surface early. “Makenzie is the best athlete in the family, “ says her proud dad. “She won all-state honors in softball and soccer at Elkhorn.” She’s now a soccer coach in Kansas City. Luckily for her brothers, she didn’t compete in baseball.

May // June • 2016 | 43 | bestofomaha.com

“Conor told me when he was four years old he was going to be in the big leagues,” Dianne recalls. He stayed true to his word. Conor and Casey willingly and happily put the backyard batting cage to use when they wanted to practice their swings, with dad often throwing pitches. They played in Little League. They both went to Millard North High School and Wichita State. Each caught the eye of scouts their junior year, earning first-round draft pick honors. The similarity ends with their personalities. At 6 feet 5 inches and 240 pounds, Casey “is our teddy bear—a big, lovable kid, real easy going,” says his mom. Adds Mark, “Somebody that big who can hit the ball out of the park from both sides of the plate attracts a lot of interest.” Disciplined, strong-willed, and hardworking characterize Conor, who slugged his way to a big league call-up that eluded his father. He won a World Series ring in 2012 as a parttime third baseman with the Giants, only to be traded to the White Sox the next year. “He had a good first year with the Sox, but the second year his production trailed off,” says Mark. “He’s now back with the team that drafted him.” Mark, who spent eight years in the minors, knows all too well that, “baseball is a game of failure. You’re going to screw up.” That’s why he and Dianne don’t pay attention to what fans say or write about either son. They just call the kids on the phone and talk about “normal family stuff.” For the Gillaspies, family is what really matters. O

Omaha Magazine • Arts + Culture | Music

Scan the page with the LayAR app to view more photos of Sam Herron’s work.

BO May // June • 2016 | 44 | omahamagazine.com

OT H Popular Musicians Dog Themselves STORY BY GREG JERRETT PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

May // June • 2016 | 45 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Arts + Culture | Music

Scky Rei (“Sky Ray”)

ELF-DEPRECATING RAPPERS IMPRESS at SXSW.

Omaha artists tend to violate stereotypes by being sincere, humble, and approachable. We don’t coast and we don’t mistake braggadocio for talent. But if local artists should be bragged about, try BOTH. BOTH are Make Believe Studios hip-hop recording artists Scky Rei aka Skylar Marcell Reed, and INFNTLP aka Nate Asad. In the last two years, the rappers and OEAA Album and Artist of the Year winners have been shaking the clubs, MAHA, and SXSW. The duo from “North of Downtown,” is fond of lyrics like “Here I go…lost my soul a long, long, time ago…music is the only thing, left up in my soul,” featured on their song Drug Abuse.

Gigs at the Nebraska Exposed showcase and a Front Gate Tickets private party worked out well. “The experience was surreal. SXSW was a great time, playing in front of a new audience,” says MC/rapper/singer/songwriter/ videographer Scky Rei. Scky Rei raps about life in the Big O and “provides a sonic connection to everyone in the same world at the same moment.” “We’re just expressing social experiences through weird ways of explaining everyday life,” says Scky Rei. “We didn’t play in front of thousands like I thought, but watching people coming from the street to fill the upstairs of Cheers Shot Bar made me feel like we’re doing something right. Just being surrounded by creativity and people that love the same thing you do gave me a breath of fresh air.”

May // June • 2016 | 46 | omahamagazine.com

“Everyone was someone, somewhere, and that was cool to be a part of,“ says DJ/backup singer/producer/pianist/Dragon Ball Z enthusiast INFNTLP, who paints SXSW as “the Internet on wheels.” Working on new music full time is BOTH’S goal for this year if manager John Schmidt hits his mark. Schmidt was a fan who met Scky Rei in a coffee shop last spring and offered to help out. “We’ve accomplished a lot in the past year,” says Schmidt, who also represents psych rockers JAGAJA. “SXSW was a great experience. Staying relevant is a grind even for superstars, so we will continue to put in the work. As long as these guys are in front of a crowd, they will succeed.”

INFNTLP (“Infinite Loop”)

Don’t just take BOTH’s word for it. Michelle Troxclair, director of Nebraska Writer’s Collective, says she finds BOTH “a transformational group of musicians.” “BOTH has been able to reflect all that is part of the cultural art form that is African American oral tradition,” says Troxclair, whose Verbal Gumbo can be said to do the same. “The great thing about BOTH is that they are the anti-rap group. Nothing is stereotypical about them at all,” says Dominique Morgan, fellow OEA Award winning R&B singer and activist. “Scky Rei shoots all the videos, makes their posters. INFNTLP will go from deep club beats to playing classical piano in a set. It was only right they won Album and Artist of the Year.”

For now, BOTH will be pushing the EP “BOTHSUCKS,” releasing videos, writing and increasing the love. “Most of our fans came out to past shows bringing new people into our world. It’s awesome,” says INFNTLP. “I don’t see fans, only extended family,” says O but at the end, we Scky Rei. “Money is nice, do this for the love.” Visit bothsucks.com to learn more.

May // June • 2016 | 47 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Arts + Culture | Visual

HRIS HOCHSTETLER’S SUCCESSES

in life are many, though for the new executive director at KANEKO, success is elusive to define. With age and experience, he’s grown to see that satisfaction and accomplishment are more than a rising career or a certain pay grade. It’s about making a difference in the world. About being a part of the community. After two decades serving in the Army—earning the rank of sergeant major, the highest an enlisted soldier could achieve—he went to work serving the community: raising money for the American Lung Association, the Missionary Society of St. Columban, and now, KANEKO. Fundraising has become his means to make a difference. And he’s successful at it. For all his successes, military or philanthropic, he can name those who helped: foster parents, social workers, Army officials, friends. According to Hochstetler, success doesn’t happen without the support of others. He learned that lesson early. Hochstetler was the second of three children born to a single mother in Grand Island. Life was hard, and when he speaks of his past, it is not without some reluctance. Childhood nights were spent sleeping in a car. Three square meals were not guaranteed. In the winter, his mom took him to the library to keep warm. There, young Chris found comfort in the books on the shelves and the art on the walls. “You could really lose yourself in a place like that,” he recalls. Not realizing how dire things were, he didn’t expect what happened next: foster care. It was a truly difficult time for him, especially as a preteen. “You don’t think about the fact that you can’t eat,” he recalls. “You think about

being taken from your mom for no other reason than for being poor.” He’s quick to emphasize his foster parents were wonderful. Along with his social workers, they became key players in his successful life. After graduating from high school, Hochstetler enlisted, seeing the military as his chance to get an education and break the cycle of poverty. The opportunity to have his education paid by taxpayers is something for which he’s grateful. He served for 20 years, deploying to the Persian Gulf and elsewhere. It was a pensive time that helped him to develop a passion for poetry. It was also when he met his wife, Kelly—then a nurse in the Reserves—while he worked as an Army special ops recruiter at the Mall of the Bluffs. They married in 1994 and raised two children: Hayley, 21, and Tanner, 18. Returning to civilian life, Hochstetler used his master’s degree in nonprofit management to begin his quest to give back. His first job was with the American Lung Association as senior vice president of resource development for a nine-state region in the South. He then returned to Nebraska to fundraise for the Missionary Society of St. Columban. As U.S. director of fund development, he honed an expertise and joy for connecting donors to a cause that was important to them. “It’s fulfilling not only for the donor, but for the development officer.” The travel required for that position wore on Hochstetler and his family. So he listened when a friend told him he should look into the position at KANEKO. After a months-long interview process, Hochstetler got the job, thanks to his unique background and development credentials. Jun Kaneko acknowledged Hochstetler’s background was different from the other candidates, and that there was some worry that he wouldn’t understand the arts. But when he met Hochstetler in person, he knew Hochstetler could lead KANEKO.

May // June • 2016 | 48 | omahamagazine.com

“He has a very strong drive,” Kaneko says. Hochstetler is tasked to maintain the vision of KANEKO: Making the center a worldclass creative facility. “And I take those two words, ‘world’ and ‘class,’ to heart,” Hochstetler says. He believes KANEKO is approaching that level, and his mission is to protect the quality and increase the quantity of what’s offered there. Kaneko’s wife, Ree, says Hochstetler is a born leader. “He’s been able to invigorate that staff,” she says, including the board of directors. “We couldn’t be happier.”

“YOU DON’T THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU CAN’T EAT,” HE RECALLS. “YOU THINK ABOUT BEING TAKEN FROM YOUR MOM FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN FOR BEING POOR.” Hochstetler’s drive extends beyond his career. Hochstetler is a competitive runner and cycler. Rising at 3:30 a.m. on a weekday, he’ll hoof up to 13 miles before heading into work; weekends are for longer distances. He allows his work and worries to disappear while running and cycling. “I can let everything go. I’m not thinking about work, kids, the next fundraising appointment.” Once he’s returned from the trails, he’s focused back on his roles and his mission. “I would like my children to understand that they can change the world if they try hard enough, and they can’t do it by themselves. I hope that O the work I do is an example for them.” Visit thekaneko.org for more information.

Chris

HOCHSTETLER KANEKO’s New Director Tells All STORY BY KIM REINER PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT DRICKEY

Omaha Magazine • Feature

Nebraska

Arts' PASSPORT TO

THE WORLD May // June • 2016 | 50 | omahamagazine.com

Pat Drickey and the 1516 STORY BY JAMES VNUK PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

May // June • 2016 | 51 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Feature

HE 1516 GALLERY is gorgeous. Newly

renovated, the building is a lean, elegant structure that would be at home in the hottest districts of Vienna or Paris. The interior is deceptively spacious, but perhaps just as compelling is the luxurious guesthouse: 100 percent furnished with Nebraskan art, history, and sensibilities, suited for guests from the far corners of the world. It would be difficult to profile Pat Drickey without first introducing the gallery, as the two are inextricably linked. The 1516 stands as the culmination of his lifelong dedication to local art. “I see it as a world-class platform for Nebraska artists, showing the good work coming from Nebraska and hopefully launching them to a bigger stage,” he says. Drickey believes the 1516 will fill a niche between “underground” galleries and “blockbuster” exhibitions at Joslyn. “I want it to become an institution like the Joslyn, or MONA in Kearney,” he explains. He envisions the 1516 bridging the gulf between Nebraska’s urban east and rural west, through partnerships like the MONA2Omaha landscape exhibit that started in late March. At the same time, the gallery feels like a touchstone between the history of Omaha, Nebraskan art, and the greater world, made possible by Drickey’s dual nature as a deeprooted native and world traveler. “Though I’d be happy to never set foot on a plane again,” he quips. A tour of the premises yielded a history lesson on the building and its generations of forms and purposes, as well as on the area, the nearby buildings, their owners, and their own genealogies— all effortlessly plucked from Drickey’s memory. If the gallery is a window to the world for Nebraska artists, it is supported by a deep foundation in Omaha soil.

Pat Drickey May // June • 2016 | 52 | omahamagazine.com

Drickey’s own life is similarly rich. Not just a figure in the Omaha cultural world for decades (and close friends with the late Kent Bellows), he’s also a successful professional photographer. As a major name in golf course panoramas and printmaking, he’s proud of his work and deservedly so: “You know ‘Dogs Playing Poker’? Everyone does. It sold 350,000 prints. I have a print that sold 850,000.”

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His work has taken him around the globe, but he has never lost sight of his love of Nebraska and Nebraskan art. “I’d go all over the world and hear about the work places like Bemis and KANEKO were doing. The good reputation they have is also good for Omaha.” With the right amount of attention, he sees little reason Nebraska artists cannot flourish on the world stage: “If you can get artists interested in staying here, there is a community ready to support them. You don’t have to wait for change; you can become the change you want.” But what keeps pulling Drickey back to Nebraska? “The sky here, the variety of art, and the people. There’s something about people who actually touch the Earth that makes them admirable. With the way the gallery feels, it could be anywhere in the world. O But I want it here.”

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May // June • 2016 | 53 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Feature

NEBRASKA COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE Working Together to Solve Sticky Situations STORY BY SEAN MCCARTHY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

IVORCE IS UGLY. The concept of a

"clean divorce" may be as elusive as the concept of a "perfect childhood.” It’s also costly—both economically and with the toll it takes on everyone involved. However, one group of Omaha professionals is trying to spread the word about collaborative divorce, a legal process where the attorneys for both spouses work together to settle disputes without a courtroom, and without litigation. The practice of collaborative divorce, or collaborative law, is relatively new. It was established in 1990 by Minnesota lawyer Stu Webb. Omaha attorney Jodie McGill, of McGill Law, has practiced collaborative law for four years. She is one of more than a dozen unaffiliated attorneys who are part of the non-profit group Nebraska Collaborative Divorce. "In Nebraska, we are able to complete the divorce process without anyone ever going into a courtroom," McGill says. During a collaborative divorce, each spouse hires his/her own lawyer. The process is different from mediation, where one neutral party works with both spouses to reach an agreement. McGill says all attorneys at Nebraska Collaborative Divorce are trained in family law mediation, and go through an accredited collaborative law training program. In Nebraska, couples going through a collaborative divorce sign a document stating that everyone involved agrees not to pursue litigation, and pledges to work to end the marriage without going to court. Each spouse is assigned a coach, who could also be a therapist. All coaches for Nebraska Collaborative Divorce are licensed mental health practitioners. An optional, independent financial specialist may also be brought in to help.

If children are involved, a child specialist is also assigned to the case. The child specialist acts as a neutral third party, representing the needs and wants of the children involved in the divorce. "In a typical, litigated divorce, the children might meet with a judge...but they don't really get to have input like they do in the collaborative process," McGill says. According to an August 19, 2013, article in U.S. News and World Report, the average cost of a traditional divorce ranged from $15,000 to $30,000. Despite employing coaches, financial specialists, and child experts, McGill says the average cost of a collaborative divorce was a third of the cost of a traditional divorce. The attorney fees, or retainer, paid by each spouse cover the cost of the coaches and specialists. McGill stresses that collaborative divorce wasn't the same as an "amicable divorce." If a couple is fighting, they still can benefit from pursuing a collaborative divorce. "We're not exclusive to couples who are able to communicate well, or get along," McGill says. There are still situations where a collaborative divorce is not recommended. McGill says she would not recommend a collaborative divorce if spousal abuse was involved. In an article about non-litigation divorces published in the April 24, 2014 online edition of Forbes, Jeff Landers, founder of the divorce firm Bedrock Divorce Advisors, cautioned against the collaborative method if either spouse suffered from drug or alcohol addiction. The number of couples who go through a collaborative divorce remains relatively small. When asked how many collaborative divorces her firm has handled, McGill says "not as many as we'd like" with a laugh. "It's not a good enough percentage of the divorces in Nebraska," McGill says. May // June • 2016 | 54 | omahamagazine.com

"I think that's because we haven't done a good job of educating the general public. The numbers aren't reflective of the benefits." One way McGill and other attorneys are trying to educate people about collaborative divorce is by holding seminars. On the second Saturday of each month, representatives from Nebraska Collaborative Divorce speak at W. Clarke Swanson Library. The library talks are part of a grassroots movement to increase awareness about collaborative divorce, McGill says. At the seminars, McGill and other attorneys speak about the benefits of collaborative divorce. Aside from the lower costs, McGill also touts the overall success rates. In 2015, Nebraska Collaborative Divorce did a study of 100 divorces (that used the collaborative method). Of those 100 divorces, 98 were successfully resolved. One reason for the high rate was the stakes for all parties involved. If the process fails, both spouses will have to get new attorneys,and start the divorce proceedings over again. During the most heated confrontations, McGill says the attorneys for each side rely heavily on the divorce coaches to help resolve disputes. Marleen Evans has worked as both a divorce coach and a child specialist in collaborative divorces for more than 10 years. One thing that keeps attorneys and coaches working toward a resolution during the toughest parts of a divorce is the agreement that everyone agreed to sign at the beginning of the divorce. "The thought of starting all over, and retaining new attorneys ... all that sounds way too overwhelming," Evans says. "Our motto is 'Why O break what can be untied,’” Evans says. For more information, visit www.collaborativedivorcene.com.

GOING GREEN

Help Omaha Magazine Fight Deforestation OMAHA MAGAZINE HAS JOINED AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM TO COMBAT DEFORESTATION. AND WE NEED YOUR HELP. The initiative, called Print Relief, plants the number of trees equal to our printing needs by calculating the trees consumed by the printing of our magazine. They plant the number of trees equal to our tree usage in endangered forests around the world.

IN THE NEXT YEAR ALONE, THIS INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM WILL ALLOW US TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLANTING OF ALMOST 1,500 SAPLINGS IN BIOMES AROUND THE GLOBE THAT HAVE BEEN RAVAGED BY DEFORESTATION. Just so you know: Omaha Magazine doesn’t clearcut the rain forest to get its paper stock. For the most part, the wood used to make the pulp for our paper is scrap wood, salvaged wood, or wood from trees that were planted like any renewable crop. It would be a lie to say the production and distribution of that paper doesn’t have an environmental impact, but it is much smaller than widely believed. Now, with the help of our printing company and an international reforestation program, we’re going to help make our carbon footprint even smaller.

HERE’S WHERE YOU COME IN: We’d like readers to help us choose where our trees should go. We will create a survey on our Omaha Magazine Facebook page. You can choose to help reforest Brazil, Mexico, Madagascar, the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, or Ethiopia. We will determine the top vote-getter and pass your wishes on to the folks at PrintReleaf. Then, together, we can help battle one of the greatest threats to the health of this planet.

May // June • 2016 | 55 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Feature

FINALLY—A FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR VETERANS Omaha National Cemetery STORY BY ANTHONY FLOTT PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

T’S A LONG way from the early days of post-communist Ukraine to the silent, rolling hills of Sarpy County.

Today, Cindy Van Bibber is back in her native state, creating the Omaha National Cemetery southeast of where Highways 50 and 370 intersect. It’s just the second Department of Veterans Affairs national cemetery in Nebraska, a 236-acre tract that will serve the burial needs of area veterans and their families for the next 100 years.

She left Nebraska in 1983, a year after graduating from Grand Island High School. Plans to study for a career in the medical field fizzled, so she joined the Army and wound up serving for more than 10 years.

It’s historic.

She began with the Cold War at its height. Part of her stint included an assignment with General John Shalikashvili, who later would become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Van Bibber was part of a two-person communications team that would set up secure lines wherever Shalikashvili went. Like a hotel in the Ukraine.

And in Van Bibber, the cemetery has a director who’s seen—and made—plenty of history herself.

“It was a pretty exciting job to be able to travel worldwide with him,” Van Bibber says. “Wouldn’t change it for the world.”

May // June • 2016 | 56 | omahamagazine.com

But change it did. After discharge she moved back to the U.S., to Virginia, and after taking one more stab at the medical field, landed her first job in a cemetery career. That was in Richmond, where she helped open a new state veterans’ cemetery. Van Bibber was there from its first burial in 1997 until 2006. She then joined the Department of Veteran’s Affairs and worked at four VA cemeteries, including Riverside National Cemetery in California. Not until last year did she come back home, becoming director of the yet-to-be-created Omaha National Cemetery. Peter Young, who mentored Van Bibber at Riverside National Cemetery, has full confidence in his one-time protege. “She is a great cemetery director always trying to improve herself and her cemetery so they can provide the best possible service to our veterans and their families,” Young says. For now, the can-do attitude is coming in most handy. Work at the cemetery began last fall. That’s mostly involved “lots of moving the earth,” Van Bibber says. Her office is a trailer but some of the footings for the four main buildings have been poured. She’s also building the staff, hiring a program specialist and foreman. Nearly a dozen staff will work at the cemetery when it’s at full strength. They project to have 500 burials a year once it opens. The first should come this September. Van Bibber says she plans to have a dedication ceremony followed by burials for someone from each service branch. A vet herself, Van Bibber is where she seems to belong. “Even when I was in Europe I visited all of the cemeteries to pay my respects for those lost in the great conflicts,” she says. “It was something to do on weekends, never once thinking I’d come back and work at a national cemetery.” Here she is, though, far from home no more. O

May // June • 2016 | 57 | bestofomaha.com

Carl Bicksei

Omaha Magazine • Giving Feature

THERAPY THROUGH

NATURE Veteran Outdoor Adventures STORY BY RYAN BORCHERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

May // June • 2016 | 59 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Giving Feature

ARL BICSKEI, 52, a major in the

Army Reserve in his 32nd year in service, is a big believer in the importance of being outdoors. “I’ve enjoyed the outdoors since I was a kid,” he says. “Some people just don’t have the chance, or don’t make the time, to get outdoors and enjoy it. And it can be as simple as going to sit by a lake and watching ducks.” But in 2012, when Bicskei became the company commander for the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Bragg, he began to see firsthand the therapeutic effect that nature can have on a veteran. “That’s when I first got exposed to the benefits of getting soldiers and their families outdoors to relieve some stress in their lives,” he says. Even a change of scenery and taking a break from the daily grind can benefit a soldier returning from combat. This experience was the impetus for Veterans Outdoor Adventures (VOA), a nonprofit that Bicskei established in 2014. The focus, he says, is on helping veterans—especially disabled veterans—through outdoor activities like fishing trips, deer hunts, and pheasant hunts. The challenge for many veterans, Bicskei says, is that they are often forced to leave the military after years of service and reorient themselves very suddenly to civilian life. Like any other group of tightly knit people with common experiences, veterans have had life experiences that not everyone can relate to. VOA allows groups of veterans to get together in a fun, therapeutic environment. “Just being around other vets and talking, swapping stories, and jokes, and so forth, and having a good old time, it’s beneficial,” Bicskei says. “If you’re in that like-group of

individuals, it’s easier to talk about those things, because people understand.” Bicskei has hosted three events and already sees the beneficial effects that being outdoors (and in good company) can have on a person. “You can sense and you can see a reduced stress level,” he says. “Some folks haven’t been outside their house for months.” Naturally, there are challenges related to lodging and transportation, especially with disabled veterans. Hosting a large group outing costs money. “The goal is that the veteran pays zero,” Bicskei says. Being a nonprofit, VAO relies on donations from the public. He wants veterans to enjoy their outings for free. “My ultimate goal is to be able to have at least one event every month all year long. Eventually I’ll get there. But for now, I do what I can.” Bicskei hosted a turkey hunt in April and a golf fundraiser in May. And, of course, Bicskei doesn’t do everything himself. The most surprising thing about running VAO, he says, is the generosity of the volunteers. “It’s been refreshing to see that people just volunteer their time and energy, and not expect anything,” he says. “I think that’s significant. People just doing it out of the goodness of their heart, whichOis, I think, getting more and more rare.” Visit veteranoutdooradventures.org for more information.

May // June • 2016 | 60 | omahamagazine.com

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SAVE THE DATE! September 15, 2016

Embassy Suites Omaha-LaVista – 5:30 to 9 p.m. Hal and Mary Daub, Event Chairs

Keynote Speaker

Coach Ken Carter Ken “Coach” Carter is the man behind the movie, Coach Carter, starring Samuel L. Jackson. Coach Carter sent a powerful message when he locked his undefeated, state-playoff-bound team out of the gym and forced them to hit the books and stop counting on athletic potential as their ticket out of a tough, inner-city life.

Fundraising Gala

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Omaha Magazine • Giving | Calendar

GIVING

CALENDAR MAY / JUNE 2016

Fetured Exhibit: Omaha Gives! March 2

May 10

May 19

May 23

Completely KIDS Hilton Omaha

The Salvation Army CenturyLink Center Omaha givesalvationarmy.org

Ambassador Real Estate Ambassador Real Estate bhhsamb.com

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Champions Run childrensclassic.com

COMPLETELY KIDS AUTHOR LUNCHEON -completelykids.org

May 3

CAN DO LUNCHEON

Kids Can Community Center CenturyLink Center Omaha kidscanomaha.org May 4

YES GOLF OUTING

D.J.’S HEROES AWARDS LUNCHEON

May 14

WEAR YELLOW RIDE & WALK

Wear Yellow Nebraska Strategic Air & Space Museum wearyellownebraska.org May 14

Youth Emergency Services, Inc. Shadow Ridge Country Club yesomaha.org

CABARET 2016

May 6

May 16

BROWNELL-TALBOT GALA

Brownell-Talbot School Brownell-Talbot School brownell.edu

Child Saving Institute Embassy Suites Conference Center childsaving.org

SUNSHINE KIDS FUNDRAISER EVENT

May 20

MIDWEST TEAM HOOMAN CHARITY BALL Midwest TeamHooman Dc Centre ball room teamhooman.com May 21

K9 BARK AND WALK FOR BRAIN CANCER Leap-For-A-Cure Chalco Hills leapforacure.org May 23

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May // June • 2016 | 62 | omahamagazine.com

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May // June • 2016 | 63 | bestofomaha.com

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Omaha Magazine • Giving | Calendar June 8

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May/June 2016 VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 3

EDITORIAL

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Contributing Writers TAMSEN BUTLER • BEV CARLSON • JUDY HORAN GREG JERRETT • MEAGAN MORRIS COURTNEY OTTE, ALLIED ASID SEAN ROBINSON • KARA SCHWEISS

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/ H4 /

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/ H5 /

May/June 2016 Volume 6 • ISSUE 3

Publisher TODD LEMKE

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All versions of OmahaHome are published bimonthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha NE 68046-1208. Telephone: (402) 884-2000; fax (402) 884-2001. Subscription rates: $12.95 for 6 issues (one year), $19.95 for 12 issues (two years). No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted, however no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations. Best of Omaha®™ is a registered tradename of Omaha Magazine. OWNED AND MANAGED BY OMAHA MAGAZINE, LTD

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

Table of Contents

H30

H36 FEATURES H30

THEIR OWN PRIVATE SANCTUARY

H40 DEPARTMENTS H9

“OUR FOREVER HOME”

in Nebraska!

H10

A Mid-town Condominium

H40

A FUNCTIONAL LAKE HOUSE

H20

H12

Hugo Novelo’s Apartment

AT HOME WITH THE KUTASHES

ARCHITECTURAL STYLES Contemporary Home Styles

H26

NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILE Field Club Historic District

SPACES

The Albers’ Ranch Home in Valley

H16

H22

STATEMENTS Creating Magazine-Worthy Yards

SANDY’S MAKEOVER Cowboy Up!

Welcome to Springtime

A Woodlands Home in West Omaha

H36

FROM THE EDITORS

H44

TRANSFORMATIONS From Bachelor Pad to Modern Elegance

Finding Quality in the Midwest

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

/ H7 /

RV Dealer

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/ H8 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

Winner of Best of Omaha for 7 Years in a Row!

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from the Editor

"You are as Welcome as the Flowers in May!" — Charles Macklin

ELCOME TO SPRINGTIME in Nebraska!

In my head, it’s not spring since we are knee deep in this May/June issue! What an issue we have for you! We’re featuring a variety of fun articles, from a ranch home in Valley to the home of California transplants who chose to use designer Julie Hockney based on an article they saw in Omaha Home. I’m particularly excited about an article in which we feature landscape designer Marti Neely, because I’m happy to see green outside, aren’t you? We get so spoiled with these days reaching temperatures of 70 degrees or more.

The trick with this publication, for me, is timing. Since I love to garden, I normally do my makeover project with flowers. I’m writing this letter at the end of March; consequently, picking the perfect time to pot flowers and trying to get a great day outside for photography can be difficult. But it’s a challenge I’ll gladly take on. By the way, the change in photo for this issue was taken during our photo shoot. The area was the perfect backdrop for a spring issue. Since I grew up on a farm in Iowa, it was also a fun way to pay homage to my roots. Sandy Matson

Springtime is the perfect time to take stock in sprucing up. Bright colors add a bolt of energy and joy to the inside and outside of your home—the perfect cocktail to the new season. Don’t be afraid to try something new, one small change in color can start a snowball effect in a bright and fun way. If you have any great ideas or you have a hidden talent! Let us know. You very well might be our next spotlight. Spring…the sweetest time of year!

Sandy If you have any ideas you would like to see us tackle or you yourself have a project you would like to have featured, please contact sandy@omahapublications.com.

Thank you for reading OmahaHome. This stand-alone magazine is also featured as a section of Omaha Magazine. Want to read the entire magazine? Visit: omahamagazine.com/digital-flip-book

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

/ H9 /

Statements story by Meagan Morris / photography by bill sitzmann

CREATING MAGAZINEWORTHY YARDS LANDSCAPE DESIGNER MARTI NEELY

A N Y OF M ARTI Neely's clients

think her home's landscaping looks like something straight out of a magazine. "I often hear things like 'your yard must look incredible'," she says. It's true, to an extent. New flowers—still in their store containers—sit on the front stoop of her northwest Omaha home, just waiting to be planted when the time's right. She considers her yard more of a "laboratory" for experimenting with new plants and design ideas she can then transfer to her work with clients. Neely has made her living as a landscape designer for more than 28 years, first working with major garden centers like Mulhall’s, and more recently as the owner of Marti Neely Design and Associates. Gardening is part of her DNA—she comes from a family filled with green thumbs— but the seeds of a career in the industry weren't planted until she took over a flowerbed project at her church. "People just bought different flowers and planted them without thinking about it," she recalls, "and looked horrible." So, she took it over, first planning the design of the bed on paper before she planted.

/ H10 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

“It's really art, a painter has to graphically sketch out their paintings first, and landscape design is no different” -Marti Neely

"It's really art," she says of landscape design. "A painter has to graphically sketch out their paintings first, and landscape design is no different." She later majored in fine art and sociology in college while continuing to garden, but didn't think of making it her career until "someone said, ‘Wow, you can do that for a living’?” she recalls. "And guess what, you could." Neely extended her education with horticulture courses at Metro Community College, but only a small part of what she does involves greenery. The most important part, she says, is creating a design that fits the space and what her clients envision. Many times clients don't know what they want when they first sit down with her, so she gives them some homework.

"I tell them to look at magazines and pull out photos that they like," she says. "They don't have to be landscape photos—just anything they're comfortable with, like photos of ads, interiors, exteriors, fashion, whatever." Typically, they'll unknowingly pick photos with a common thread throughout, like a certain color scheme or style, that helps guide the design process. "I hardly ever see the photos they picked, but afterward they have a better idea of what they want." Once they have that nailed down, they can pick the flowers, plants, and other greenery to achieve the look.

It's that expertise, she says, that homeowners need when planning how their residential landscaping is going to look even if they don't think a dedicated designer is necessary. "I help my clients make the right design decisions the first time so they don't have to spend even more money to fix mistakes," she says. "It's really a great value in the long run." Think of it like investing in a piece of fine art—because that's exactly what Neely's work is. OmahaHome Visit martineely.com to learn more

"Plants do jobs," she says. "They give shade, color, and style. We determine what the landscaping needs to do—give privacy, create barriers, handle wind—and then we move on to which plants would work best. They're ultimately chosen for their performance and value."

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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Spaces words by Greg Jerrett / photography by bill sitzmann

HUGO NOVELO’S APARTMENT A SPACE FOR OMAHA ARTISTS

HE SOCIO-ECONOMIC FABRIC

of Omaha makes a complicated tapestry of diverse skeins intertwining in various degrees of organic, from architectural masterpieces to workingclass family neighborhoods converging around art from the street to the Bemis. Southwest of the 11-Worth Cafe is an apartment that’s not just a home for one man and his toddler, but also to a healthy cross-section of Omaha artists. Hugo Novelo is an Omaha art lover. For two years, he’s been turning his apartment into a gallery of ever-increasing legitimacy. It began as a barter on the cusp where street artists live. “I started collecting art about eight years ago,” Novelo says from his perch in the kitchen where art is made as often as food. “An artist friend got kicked out of his place after a break-up and asked me to help him move. I gathered up all his stuff, but there was no way I could mail all his art. It would have cost a fortune. So I gave him 70 bucks for about five pieces and we called it even. That's how my collection started. Now, I meet a new artist every week and I've got about 325 pieces of local, Omaha artwork.”

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

Novelo says he began feeling guilty for keeping so much art to himself and decided, in true Omaha style, to collaborate. With the help of his salon full of experienced artists, he began selling a few pieces a week through a Facebook store, lending out art and doing the occasional pop-up. Meanwhile, he encourages young artists, buying supplies in exchange for finished art or part of the profit. It all happened organically. Now when the neighborhood skate kids stop by to look at the art, they meet a weird artist or two, and think about creating. Depending on mood and occasion, 50 to 60 artists live on Novelo’s walls. The majority of works are stored in the basement, which is why Novelo does not advertise the address. One has to know Hugo, contact him through social media or be delivered by a mutual friend to see what he has in the kitchen and around the enormous mural by artists Stephen Kavanaugh as well as norm4eva and Andy Garlock, the muralists responsible for the makeover of Leo’s Diner. Other noted Omaha talents represented are Randi Hunter, Très Johnson, and Anthony Brown. >

Hugo Novelo

Scan the page with the LayAR app to view a virtual tour of the Novelo Apartment.

May/June 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com

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spaces

“Novelo is a passionate and active local art collector snatching up works from many of the areas, unknown, outsider, and up-and-coming street artists.” -Bart Vargas

< Novelo’s face lights up talking about art because for him it's not just about commerce or a pretty picture. Hugo’s pieces are vibrant, personal and plentiful, but they are—more often than not—made by his friends. Bart Vargas, respected painter and UNO art educator, reviewed Novelo’s collection recently and, after touring the vaunted basement, says: “Novelo is a passionate and active local art collector snatching up works from many of the areas, unknown, outsider, and up-and-coming street artists,” Vargas says. “I was surprised to find early gems from regional artists Stephen Kavanaugh, Reginald LeFlore, OaKley, Joel Elia Damon, and Gerard Pefung. I predict it will be interesting to watch this collection develop, as these artist’s careers evolve and develop. Who exactly knows what hidden gems Hugo has in his collection?” OmahaHome

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

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May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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At Home story by Bev Carlson / photography by Bill Sitzmann

THE KUTASHES FINDING QUALITY IN THE MIDWEST

ABE KUTASH, 10, loves playing basketball in

his driveway. He often plays in his big yard, rides his bike around the cul-de-sac with his brother, and walks to school with his siblings. Gabe really likes living in Omaha. “There’s so much room to play outside!” he says, throwing his arms into the air. “It’s great!” Gabe and his parents, Jeff and Jessica Kutash, moved into their Baywood home almost three years ago. It’s very different from the 1200-square-foot, 1920s-era home they once owned in Oakland, California. “It was just above a mid-range home for Oakland,” Jessica says. “I was so shocked when we were able to move here and get over four times as much space for a far lower mortgage—even including the renovations we did. It’s awesome.”

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

Left to Right: Gabe, 10; Holden, 8; Mom Jessica; and Thea, 9

For Kutash, it wasn’t the size of the house, but the quality of the high school that was the f irst priority in choosing their neighborhood. Millard won. Jeff and Jessica’s three children will one day attend Millard West High. “Outstanding schools, so much parental involvement, so encouraging and supportive,” she says. “And it is a public school. We were looking at three private school educations had we stayed in Oakland.” They loved the layout and location of their new home. The bigger challenge was bringing it up to date, and creating a living space that fit their tastes and lifestyle. Oh, and actually having enough furniture. Kutash estimates her existing furniture filled only about 25 percent of her new house. Rather than tackling multi-colored cabinets, and cotton candy pink spaces on her own, Jeff and Jessica enlisted the services of designer Julie Hockney.

“I saw her work in Omaha Magazine, actually. I loved one of her featured makeovers. So I gave her a call,” Kutash says. “She’s amazing. When we walked through the house, she had great ideas. She listened to us and really ‘got’ us. I came to trust her so much that she picked out most of the accessories without me.” The main level of the home f lows easily from room to room with few walls, so the first priority was to create elements of color and design that gently stitched the rooms together seamlessly. The first challenge was the kitchen. The previous owners favored a Tuscan look: burnt orange walls, light oak f looring, and ornate fixtures. The upper cabinets were white, the lower cabinets stained—a tiled backsplash with yellow undertones just below. Kutash was skeptical that Hockney could soften the yellow tones in the polished granite countertops. There are a lot of countertops—both the standard “L” plus a large island. “It was overwhelming. I really didn’t want to have the expense of replacing those countertops. It was one of those times I had to trust Julie.” >

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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at home

Jeff and Jessica Kutash < Hockney did her magic. All white cabinets, a new backsplash, all new handles and knobs, and voila! She managed to take away the yellow tones and the orange walls. She picked a light greyish blue as the field color for most of the rooms. Inconsistent wood colors throughout the lower level were painted a deep, rich brown. The fireplaces got new brickwork, and the staircases, which were once the same light oak as the ocean of f looring, were painted to complement the room: white, with dark brown steps. Overstuffed or overly traditional elements gave way to a fresher, uncluttered, and modern look. One thing that remained consistent was the deep and charming plantation blinds along the north side of the house. While the main living areas are beautiful, Kutash’s favorite room is the main f loor master bedroom. “The suite feels as big as our whole house was in Oakland,” She says. The walls are “new gray” with a wide horizontal navy stripe behind the headboard. “It’s the room that takes my breath away every time. I just love it.” Upstairs, each child has his or her own space. The boys share a bathroom, and the cotton candy-colored walls are gone. “Gabe can actually leave his Lego projects on the f loor overnight,” Kutash says. “There was never room for that before, or a swing set. I giggled when we were able to finally buy a swing set for the children.” / H18 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

In asking the children their favorite part of the house,—the basement wins—hands down. A playroom with a mirrored wall offers the young gymnast a way to check posture on the portable balance beam, or for her brothers to blow off steam with the arsenal of Nerf guns. The basement’s guest room and entertainment space houses much of the California furniture. “We made a number of trips to Nebraska Furniture Mart with Julie,” Kutash says. “We were able to find things on clearance too!” Jessica and Jeff are thrilled with their decision to move to Omaha. They love the culture, the arts, and the philanthropic nature of the city. This aspect is especially significant to Jeff, who leads the Peter Kiewit Foundation. Most of all, they love the sense of community. “It’s so amazing how much people care. They care about their schools. They care about their city. They care about each other. This is where we belong.” OmahaHome

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Sandy's Makeover story by Sandy Matson / photography by bill sitzmann

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OmahaHome â&#x20AC;˘ May/June 2016

COWBOY UP!

RETRO COLOR MEETS COUNTRY CHIC

ORMALLY I LIKE to do something with

f lowers in this issue, typically my own Mother's day tradition of potting my f lowers. This year I decided to take an old piece of furniture and give it a pop of color for spring. I tend to shy away from bright colors, but I decided to step out of my comfort zone. Bright colors are popular in spring. I chose a chartreuse paint, which gives punch to any backdrop. In this case it was a great little old shed that sits on a farm I drive past every day. It also happens to be the same spot where I had my youngest daughter’s senior pictures taken. I loved it then, and love it now. I found some old cowboy boots in a thrift store, but I never wear them. They do, however, make a great place to plant f lowers. This really just requires a long weekend. Tip: If you try stuffing them with dirt and then try to place the f lowers and ivy standing up, the boots are shaky and can fall over. Think of your entryway or porch as an extension of your house and have fun with it! OmahaHome

Items Needed: • Wooden bench, or an old chair. If you can find a pair and put a little table in the middle that would also be a great look for a porch. • Sandpaper • Primer, if you are working over another color of paint • Paint. I used latex, and then sealed it. • Sealer • Boots of any type. Colorful rain boots would look especially cute.

directions: • Make sure you aren’t going to use them again. Once you make that decision, drill holes in the bottom to allow the water to drain out. • If the boots have zippers, unzip them. • Place the boots on their sides, and fill them with dirt. • With the boots sideways, start placing plants and some ivy. • Zip them up if needed, then stand them up when they are finished.

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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Architectural Styles story by Judy Horan / photography by bill sitzmann

CONTEMPORARY HOME STYLES FITTING NEIGHBORHOODS AND TODAY’S LIFESTYLES

H, THOSE BE AUTIFUL homes of yesteryear.

The sprawling mansions shown in the movies, and the creaky staircases and windows one can read about in books, bring romantic visions of homes that seem out of reach for many people. However, with a bit of planning, many of these home styles can fit a modern lifestyle.

When architect Steven Ginn planned a new home for Omaha’s tony Fairacres neighborhood, he faced a challenge. His clients wanted their house to blend into a neighborhood where some of the homes go back a century. Ginn’s solution was to use the elegant English country house style. Fitting into a neighborhood motivates some people to turn to ageless styles for new construction. Others go retro because they are sentimental. Attempting to achieve a specific architectural style while also introducing new elements can create a mismatching affect. Ginn calls the resulting style of combining traditional and contemporary “transitional” or “hybrid.”

“Hybrids are evocative of traditional, but with a more open f loor plan and a more unique character,” Ginn says. “There’s sometimes no sense of scale or proportion, and inappropriate use of materials.” Hybrids often meet their match when the plans have to go through a subdivision review board. Subdivision authorities can be a barrier to those seeking to build a small home. “Builders have to have a 2,400-square-foot minimum to go into some subdivisions,” Ginn says. “There are a lot of factors working for the McMansions and against the small homes.” According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average square footage of a home in the Midwest in 2014 was 2,574. Even the trend to build “green” doesn’t stop the building of large mansions. “People here are pragmatic. They’d rather put extra money into the home,” he says. “We’re still a consumer-based society and people need a place to put all their stuff.” continued on page 25 >

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

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Architectural Styles

MOST POPULAR HOME STYLES IN AMERICA

1. Craftsman: Early 20th century Arts and Crafts movement. 2. Country: Colonial style updated. 3. Traditional: Country style updated. 4. European: France, Italy, England influence. 5. Ranch: single-story home. 6. Farmhouse: Newly popular. Love those large porches. 7. Cottage: Small house, simpler than the Craftsman. 8. Modern: Clean lines popular in the 1950s, 1960s.

< continued from page 22

9. Southern: Porches, shades, shutters ready for hot weather.

A home’s exterior style may be classic, but owners demand interiors with features befitting today’s lifestyles. For example, people tend to prefer f loor plans with the kitchen, dining, and family area f lowing together.

10. Mediterranean: Spain, France, Italy influences. Verandas extend house outdoors.

“They want a great room because it’s very comfortable, and tends to blend in. We rarely do formal dining rooms today,” Ginn says. Clients want large master suite areas with bedrooms, walk-in closets, and walk-in showers in one place. “Contemporary” refers to today’s styles that blend designs. The style has clean simple lines, minimum decoration, lots of glass, and open f loor spaces. Contemporary marries indoors and outdoors with a great deal of natural light. “In Nebraska, modern homes are more open,” Ginn says. “Look at Mid-Century Modern, a style from the ‘50s and ‘60s when they first used an open f loor plan and large windows throughout. Plans took the home from inside to outside—extending the house.” Ginn says when given a choice, designers do something more contemporary that blends the clients’ needs with a design that roots the house in its place and attempts to stir the homeowners’ souls. OmahaHome

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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Neighborhoods story by Sean Robinson / photography by Bill Sitzmann

FIELD CLUB HISTORIC DISTRICT

MIDTOWN OMAHA’S MEMORY LANE

"When we moved in, several people stopped by to introduce themselves and see if we needed anything. After living in the Bronx a few years, that was alarming at first." -Dr. Ashley Hall

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

INED WITH STATELY manors and

trees planted nearly a century ago, the boulevards of the Field Club Historic District evoke the kind of old-fashioned, small-town charm that would have Bing Crosby and Bob Hope singing in the streets. Seven decades ago, that very thing happened. After performing at the Omaha Field Club in 1945, the iconic crooner and accompanying comedian took their show on the road to perform for children living in the adjacent neighborhood. In the time since, television has replaced front porch views as evening entertainment, and homeowners rarely cut their grass with push mowers. The traditions and architecture of an era-past are preserved in Omaha’s most storied neighborhood. “It’s a multi-generational area with more than 100 years of families and history,” says Elaine Buescher, membership chair and board member of the Field Club Homeowners League. “The neighborhood is unique in that you have people who have lived there their whole lives, raised their kids, and then their children come back and do the same thing.”

Encompassing Pacific to Center streets, and 32nd to 36th streets, the 16-block neighborhood lies just southwest of downtown. It’s the location of dozens of older homes that have been protected from deterioration, making it one of the few historic neighborhoods in the Midtown area to proudly show its age in favor of modern upheaval. If walls could talk, the homes of Field Club would have nearly 125 years of stories. The Field Club Historic District developed in the late 19th century as a well-to-do suburb of Omaha connected to downtown by the new trolley system. The oldest homes were constructed in a large Queen Anne style, perched upon a hill overlooking Hanscom Park. In 1898, a smashing-goodtime county club opened just west of the first homes, which gave the neighborhood its name. Impressively designed houses continued to develop in the district until 1962. Over the years the area has seen noted happenings such as the birth of Gerald R. Ford, and it has hosted distinguished guests like Theodore Roosevelt.

In 2000, the Field Club District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, following the research and support of Ed Quinn, a local historian and businessman. “It’s this historic aspect that attracts residents to the area,” Quinn says. After relocating back to Omaha from Los Angeles in 1996, Quinn moved into the neighborhood, just blocks away from the house where his grandparents lived and raised his father. The history of the Field Club is further preserved by its multitude of annual events and traditions. Luminary night, which occurs every December, asks neighbors to celebrate community by placing small candles in white paper bags along the sidewalks and driveways. The residents also hold a progressive dinner each year in which neighbors advance to one another’s homes for successive courses. It’s during holiday celebrations where no expense is spared. For 30 years, a Valentine’s Day ladies brunch has been hosted by resident Pam Johnson. On Halloween, more than 900 trick-or-treaters cram the neighborhood to fill pillowcases full of sweets and marvel at houses adorned with festive décor. Life-sized replicas of dragons and gargantuan spider webs can be seen on this occasion. Independence Day is also celebrated with a bang as neighbors parade down the streets with homemade f loats each July Fourth. Dr. Ashley Hall and his wife moved from New York City to the area in 2008. The couple was looking for a place in the heart of Omaha that had a deep, rich history, as well as a sense of community. “When we moved in, several people stopped by to introduce themselves and see if we needed anything. After living in the Bronx a few years, that was alarming at first,” Hall says. >

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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Neighborhoods

< If it’s the history that persuades people to buy homes in the district, then credit the connections to other neighbors that keep many residents staying here for 20-plus years. “It’s a true neighborhood where people get to know one another and establish these relationships that become lifelong friendships,” Buescher says. “I have a wonderful long list of babysitters within walking distance.” Residents enjoy catching a breath of fresh air at Hanscom Park, Omaha’s first green space; teeing off at the Field Club, the oldest country club west of the Mississippi River; or attending service at Westminster Presbyterian Church, one of only two nonresidential properties in the district. If they are looking for something more modern, the neighborhood is just blocks away from Midtown Crossing, or a short drive to downtown’s bustling Old Market.

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

“The geographic location further gives this place value, even though Field Club really remains solely a neighborhood, and not a business-residential mix,” Quinn says. In this storied midtown district, children still cavort on lawns shaded by Colonial and Tudor style homes, while neighbors sip lemonade together on one another’s porches. It’s just as Crosby sings in his rendition of “In the Good Old Summertime”—“No trouble annoying, each one is enjoying, the good old summertime, strolling through a shady lane.” “It’s a 20th century neighborhood that represents almost every type of architecture from the 1880s to the 1950s,” Quinn says. “We’re our own small town in a big city.” OmahaHome

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Feature story by Kara Schweiss / photography by Bill Sitzmann

THEIR OWN PRIVATE SANCTUARY A WOODLANDS HOME IN WEST OMAHA

OM AND DANIA Schleff’s beautiful, mission-inspired

home in Elkhorn’s The Sanctuary is sprawling. At approximately 5,000 square feet, with four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms, the house is well set up for the couple’s visitors. They even welcome some regular visitors who show up uninvited, bring a lot of friends, scavenge for food, and never express the least bit of gratitude for the hospitality. “We’ve seen as many as 23 deer right in the backyard, and we see turkeys and foxes and skunks and owls,” Tom Schleff says. “We have a lot of wildlife.” After all, The Sanctuary is a sprawling development surrounded by the Elkhorn River, and a mature forested area. The neighborhood also contains several large preserved common areas, and natural water features. With a wall of large, south-facing windows, and a screened three-season porch perfect for morning coffee or evening cocktails, the Schleffs relish their year-round views of wildlife and nature. Tom says he enjoys the environment so much he doesn’t mind mowing the large lot (he uses a push mower, unlike most of the neighbors). “We love the trees. We’re on the outer edge of town, so we’re away from the hustle and bustle,” Tom Schleff says. >

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

May/June 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com

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Feature

< “And with that, the beautiful sky, whether you see the moonrise or sunset,” Dania Schleff adds. She says The Sanctuary, located near 190th and West Center Road, is far enough from the city to be free from most light pollution. “On a clear night, when you look straight up, the sky is full of stars,” Tom says. The interior of the house reflects the Schleffs’ love of nature as well. Houseplants bring a touch of green to many of its rooms. Accents and art commonly represent themes relating to the great outdoors. The three-season room—one of Dania’s favorite spaces—has wood-paneled walls and comfortable wicker furniture. The house is decorated in warm, earthy tones with wood trim. Much of the house is furnished with pieces from Stickley, a furniture manufacturer known for simple designs, natural materials, and colorations that emphasize the beauty of wood. “It’s not ornate or curvy,” Tom Schleff says, adding that the organic look of the furnishings nicely complements the home’s incredible site.

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

The away-from-it-all locale of the Schleff house is reminiscent of Tom Schleff’s upbringing in the Nebraska town of Morrill near the Wyoming border. By contrast, it’s a far cry from his wife’s early life. Dania Schleff, formerly Dania Inguanzo, arrived on American shores from Cuba on July 4, 1962. “The Fourth of July is a very special day for us,” she says. Her mother, three siblings, and the rest of the family relocated to Burwell, Nebraska, in January 1963. “There we encountered snow for the first time…it was quite the shock,” Dania says. “The Nebraska people were very welcoming, and we were immersed in the culture and the language. Here we are years later.” Nebraska proved to be a wonderful place for the family to start a new life. Dania followed in her mother’s footsteps to become a teacher. She taught elementary-level Spanish for many years, and is now retired. Higher education was an important goal instilled in her by her mother, and Dania and her siblings all earned advanced degrees, she explains. Higher education also led to another major life event: she met her future husband while both were attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (the Schleffs continue to enthusiastically follow Husker football today). >

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Thank you for reading Omaha Home. This stand-alone magazine is also featured as a section of Omaha Magazine. Want to read the entire magazine? Visit omahamagazine.com/digital-flip-book JANUARY

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Tom and Dania Schleff May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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Feature

< In 1981, Tom co-founded Professional Research Consultants, an Omaha-based healthcare research and marketing firm where he now serves as principal/senior vice president. “I work in west Omaha, and it’s very easy for me commute to work,” he says, pointing out yet another advantage of living on the outskirts of town. The Schleffs’ spacious home was designed with entertainment and visitors in mind. They especially enjoy hosting their family—daughter Jana and son-in-law Dustin Rose; and daughter Kendra, son-in-law Mark Kleinschmidt, and granddaughter Easton Emilia (whose middle name honors her Cuban great-grandmother). The house is welcoming and child-friendly, it also harbors one special feature especially appealing to young visitors. “Behind a bookcase in the hall, we have a hidden staircase that leads to the upstairs level,” Diana says. “Right now we use it as a guest bedroom suite with a living room, but someday we'll turn it into a grandkids’ fun space.” The upstairs is a quiet area with the great room purposely set up without a television. The designated space for entertaining is in the home’s lower level, which features amenities including the TV and a bar. The home also includes a small workshop for Tom, which Dania jokingly refers to as his ‘man cave.’ The Schleffs are quick to credit the various professionals who helped them bring their ideas to life before and during the 2011 build. “We couldn’t have done it without them,” Tom says. “A lot of people say that building a home is stressful, but it was the first home that we built, so maybe we were just naïve. It was very easy.” Dania agrees, saying there was no stress or arguing involved. “It was pretty much a smooth process,” she says. OmahaHome

/ H34 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

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OmahaHome â&#x20AC;˘ May/June 2016

Feature story by Tamsen Butler / photography by Bill Sitzmann

“OUR FOREVER HOME” A MID-TOWN CONDOMINIUM

HE DESIGNING OF this condo was 40

years in the making. The homeowners became friends with designer Marilyn Hansen in 1976, and began relying on her for advice on everything from furniture selection to roof shingle color for their home. In 2014, the homeowners decided it was time to downsize to a condominium. They turned to Hansen to not only help select the condo, but also to make it a place they would want to live for the rest of their lives. The task fell on Hansen to integrate the “old” with the “new.” This meant figuring out how to fit the homeowners’ favorite pieces from their home into the condo without making everything feel crowded, which was not easy.

Luckily for Hansen, the homeowners valued clever storage solutions and embraced her space-saving ideas such as an office tucked away behind what appears to be a hall linen closet. No space is wasted within this condo, allowing the homeowners to keep some of their favorite pieces from the previous home without giving the condo a cramped feeling. The condo exemplifies its design by having an open feel to it. Intricately laid floor tiles gently navigate the path from the foyer into the kitchen, and then right into the living room—which has carefully selected shades that allow a peek at the impressive view even when they are pulled down. The tile work was done by Hansen’s son, Peter. He also created the fireplace and was responsible for the tile work on the balcony. The balcony itself happens to be one of the homeowners’ favorite aspects of the renovation. The balcony tiles are laid in an unexpected, non-symmetrical way that suggests an artist was responsible. >

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

/ H37 /

Feature

< “Marilyn can get it done right the first time,” the homeowners say, adding that Hansen also has an innate ability to select colors. Both homeowners admit being particular in their tastes, and appreciate Hansen’s ability to transform the condo into a place they’re happy to call home. Neither homeowner wanted anything “trendy” within the condo, so Hansen was careful to stick with classic pieces that draw attention without being up-to-the-minute. Hansen intentionally designed the lighting within the condo to be highly customizable. This way the homeowners would be satisfied whether they wanted an evening with soft lighting, a brightened ambiance, or something in-between. Along with the neutral color schemes, this gives the condo an overall welcoming feel.

/ H38 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

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“It’s all very livable,” the lady of the home says. “I like the easy maintenance.” Hansen and the homeowners were very forward-thinking in their planning, because the homeowners have no intention of moving again. Now that all the major renovation work is complete, only a few small tasks remain. The couple can reminisce and chuckle about the small bumps along the way. For instance, they almost bought a grey couch that Hansen found so appalling she affectionately dubbed it “Mouse.” For now, the homeowners lounge on their non-grey couch and watch the sunset from their picturesque views from their forever home. OmahaHome

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/ H39 /

Feature story by Kara Schweiss / photography by Bill Sitzmann

A FUNCTIONAL LAKE HOUSE THE ALBERS’ RANCH HOME IN VALLEY

Erin Albers / H40 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

RIN A ND STEVE Albers always envisioned

building a lake house “someday,” and three years after making that dream a reality—they say their Valley home has proven to be everything they hoped for. “Living on a lake has been a blast. It’s like a vacation every day,” Erin says. The couple, who are originally from Harlan, Iowa (Erin), and Beaver Lake, Nebraska (Steve), say they enjoy the small town feel of their Mallard Landing neighborhood. It’s a manageable commute for Steve, who works downtown at Union Pacific, and an easy drive for Erin to her west Omaha workplace, Home Instead Senior Care. Their home boasts five bedrooms and four bathrooms in 3,078 finished square feet, but the family actually downsized when they moved. Erin Albers says with son Luke, now 10, and daughter Piper, now 8, getting older the toys they play with change. This means changes in the need for space. “All their toys go away, and all they have are these little electronics. We don’t need all that space.” Erin Albers says the house they have now is not very large, and the family is extremely minimalistic. The Albers use the space they have in the most effective way possible. > May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

/ H41 /

Feature

< “We use every inch of it. So everywhere is very functional,” Erin Albers said. “We wanted to create a space where we could all be together. The four of us, and our dog Bella, are always together in the same space, and this house is perfect for that.” She says visitors describe the home as open and happy, adding that it reflects the family’s outgoing nature and fun vibe. The interior colors are neutral, but the furnishings and décor incorporate bright hues. This is intended to create a “coastal” feel enhanced by white car siding on the vaulted ceiling. “I wanted it to look a little cottage-ish,” Albers says. “It’s all grays and whites, but it has lots of orange and turquoise and lime. Lots of color.” The home features unexpected accents throughout such as a lively piece of custom art by local artist Sam Vetter, vividly colored damask accent chairs, limegreen metal bar stools, a versatile Junkstock piece that serves as a sometimes-bar in the lower level, and even a one-of-a-kind reclaimed-wood table made by a retired shop teacher in Kearney who had to painstakingly remove hundreds of nails by hand. “It’s a 10-foot long, custom-made table from old barnwood. It is gorgeous,” Albers says. “It has two long benches, and you can fit like 12 people at the table.” Lake living hasn’t been without its challenges, however. Wood floors proved to be no match for the site’s environmental moisture and had to be replaced with tile. The family also had to consider how to keep sand at bay, and find storage for their recreational items. “We did have to figure in what we call a ‘lake room’ under the house,” Albers says. Complete with an outdoor shower and year-round storage space, the transition area helps keep the house up to acceptably tidy standards for the self-confessed “complete neat freak.” “Our house is perfect for us,” Albers says. OmahaHome

/ H42 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

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/ H43 /

Transformations story by Courtney Otte, allied ASID / photography by Paula Moser Photography

MEET THE DESIGNER

Courtney Otte, Allied ASID The Modern Hive Design Studio Transformations is a regular feature of Omaha Home that spotlights a recent project by a local ASID interior designer. The story and photos are provided by the designer. Homeowners’ names may be withheld for privacy.

FROM BACHELOR PAD TO MODERN ELEGANCE A SPACE FIT FOR A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL COUPLE

OU MIGHT CALL Aaron Hochstein and Megan

Bengtson a dynamic duo. The newlywed couple make a great team as Hochstein has owned and operated Highrock Design. Build. Remodel for 11 years and Bengtson has been selling real estate as a Residential Realtor for 11 years. The couple met through business networking and quickly found that they shared the same passion about real estate, home design, and style. But there was one problem. When Hochstein built a home for himself in 2007 he built it with the ultimate bachelor pad design in mind. Enter Bengtson and her two Shih Tzu pups, Riley and Cooper. The couple knew that the space needed a drastic change that would fit their new lifestyle together. The young professional couple had a vision in mind but enlisted the help of The Modern Hive to pull it all together.

/ H44 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

With the expertise of Hochsteinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contracting skills and Bengtsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love of contemporary design, the bachelor pad was completely transformed to a space of modern elegance. A perfect fit for a young professional couple that loves to entertain. Upon entering the home, eyes are quickly drawn from the entryway to the open floor plan. A contemporary living room boasts monochromatic tones of grey and white with pops of deep blues. Carpet was removed from the living room and wood flooring, sanded and re-stained in a dark coffee color, and was added to connect the open plan throughout. A fireplace anchors the living room, featuring floor to ceiling molding and a wavy light blue tile that outlines the fireplace. continued on page 47 > May/June 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com

/ H45 /

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Transformations < continued from page 45 Connected to the living room is the kitchen. The couple needed a functional space that allowed them to easily and comfortably prepare meals at the end of the day. The center island was re-configured from a raised bar height boomerang shape to a simple, clean lined rectangular counter height shape. The cabinets were painted in a bright white finish and glass display cabinets with crown molding were added to the upper cabinets to close the gap between the cabinet and ceiling. A new glass backsplash and hood vent were installed to complete the look. The couple desired a space where they could relax and sip on a cocktail at the end of a busy day. The basement was noted as the perfect spot for that. With a bar already built in, the basement was transformed by making a few notable changes. One design challenge was figuring out how to connect the brown tones of the basement to the light and airy color pallet of the main level. This was easily achieved by giving the bar a facelift and incorporating a white glass backsplash and white quartz counters that resembled the look of Carrera marble. Metallic tones in accent furniture, a white marble coffee table, two modern white chairs, and a luxurious blue and silver rug were also incorporated into the seating area to tie the space together. Pops of dark blue were added to the space with pillows and accessories, similar to the main level. Groupings of pillows, added to the long sectional sofa, gave new life and a new appreciation to the piece. The journey to transform this bachelor pad to an elegant space resulted in a finished design that both Hochstein and Bengtson are proud to call their home. OmahaHome

May/June 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com

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Omaha Magazine • Wealth Advisors

E.J. Militti, Jr., Portfolio Manager, Financial Advisor

THE MILITTI GROUP AT MORGAN STANLEY Wealth advisors

HOW DO YOU PROVIDE ADDED VALUE TO YOUR CLIENTELE? Empowering high net worth individuals and families to achieve their personal and philanthropic goals is the fundamental principle that drives us at the Militti Group. For more than 50-years * we have been helping families, foundations, and endowments manage their wealth more effectively and more cost efficiently. We are proud to have earned the reputation of truly understanding our clients—their lives, their plans, their interests—so they may accomplish their goals and leave the legacy they desire. At the Militti Group, we bring together a unique set of skills, knowledge, and experience that is often difficult to find in a boutique setting today. Founded in 1976, our group is recognized as the oldest Morgan Stanley family practice based in Omaha. An established father-daughter-son team, we understand what it takes to achieve personal and professional goals while leaving the legacy that financially supports the people and causes our clients care most about. We know the hardships you must face; the decisions you must make. Our loyal

Not pictured: Carroll Militti-Hacker, Portfolio Manager, Financial Advisor, Edward J. Militti, Sr., Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor

service to our local community and to our clients across the country demonstrates our dedicated commitment to providing customized estate planning and philanthropic strategies for people who seek a “total client experience.” HOW DOES YOUR TEAM DIFFERENTIATE ITSELF? We believe our difference is our personal commitment. Our clients believe, as we do, in the importance of building long-term relationships. They have grown to appreciate our ability to truly listen to them, so that we may clearly articulate their goals and create a customized roadmap that helps ensure financial success, often over multiple generations. And, above all, they rely on our personal style—which is both respectful and comforting—to help manage their expectations about risk and reward in today’s complex marketplace. We strive to be a client’s confidential and dedicated financial advisor, working alongside other trusted advisors—such as ones estate attorney and CPA—to provide timely and unbiased advice so to make a difference in the client’s life and the lives of others. May // June • 2016 | 122 | omahamagazine.com

In short, we are committed to earning your trust and helping you grow and protect your assets, while inspiring a level of confidence that enables you to spend less time worrying O time enjoying about your finances and more your life and your family. Morgan Stanley and its Financial Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals should seek advice based on their particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. ©2016 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Member SIPC. *Edward J. Militti, Sr., 40 years; Carroll Militti-Hacker, 12 years; E.J. Militti, Jr., 8 years CRC1445469 05/16

THE MILITTI GROUP AT MORGAN STANLEY 13625 CALIFORNIA ST., STE. 400 OMAHA, NE 68154 402-399-1513 MORGANSTANLEYFA.COM/MILITTIGROUP

Omaha Magazine • Wealth Advisors

FINANCIAL PLANNERS

Making Omahans Economically Successful STORY BY RYAN BORCHERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

T’S SOMETIMES SAID that Omaha has more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the country. That claim may not be 100 percent accurate; nevertheless, quite a few millionaires call Omaha home.

Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway are responsible for a lot of that, of course. Once upon a time, if you invested with Berkshire, that investment paid off handsomely. According to Dr. Ernest Goss, professor of economics at Creighton University, buying five or six shares of Berkshire stock back when it was first offered translates into being a millionaire now.

May // June • 2016 | 123 | bestofomaha.com

UT OTHER CITIES have their billionaires and smart investors, too. So what is it about Omaha that makes it such a successful city? A big reason, says Dr. Anthony Hendrickson, dean of the Heider College of Business at Creighton and professor of business intelligence and analytics, is something called “value investing.” “In some ways, we’re a community of tortoises rather than hares, because we’re willing to be tried and true and steady,” he says. “In our investment philosophy, rather than racing out there and trying to get rich quick, we’ve been diligent.” Basically, the strategy of value investing—one followed by Buffett—constitutes investing in good, solid companies and holding onto them as they appreciate in value. It’s about long-term planning rather than investing in get-rich-quick schemes. Being smart and patient may sound obvious, but it’s an Omahan philosophy that isn’t necessarily shared in other, bigger cities. “Individuals want to earn their first million before they’ve made their first thousand,” says Goss. He is originally from Atlanta, which he says, tends to be a much glitzier, more ostentatious city. Omaha favors the more modest, conservative approach to investing and financial planning of value investing. Omahans, Hendrickson says, are more likely to set aside a little more of each paycheck and forego a fancy house or car. “That’s the kind of ethos you see in Omaha.” Tim Harrison, head of Harrison Financial Services planning and wealth management firm, attributes part of Omaha’s success to the proliferation of Fortune 500 companies. He says, “We have enjoyed a higher per capita group of large corporations that have led to a wealth effect along with many privately held companies that are very successful. We have Kiewit, Union Pacific Railroad, ConAgra, Berkshire Hathaway, Mutual of Omaha, and many other large companies in town, along with many of the household names of successful family owned corporations.”

Omaha Magazine • Wealth Advisors Of course, Omaha’s variety of industries has helped, too. In addition to creating wider opportunities for individuals to become wealthy, a diverse economy is much steadier than the ones found in other cities. “We’re not a boom and bust economy,” Hendrickson says. “When times go down, we don’t tend to have the drop.” A city like Detroit, which relies heavily on one industry, is prone to hardship when its preferred industry struggles. But Omaha’s variety of industries, from such fields as agriculture to insurance to the railroad to telecommunications, helps keep it stable. There are several other factors that contribute to Omaha’s economy. There’s a lot to be said for shorter commute times, cheaper real estate, and lower cost of living, at least compared to some other big financial centers. A supposed lack of entertainment options was once something that was reported to work against Omaha, but that trend has reversed itself dramatically in recent years. Even something like Offutt Air Force Base and its recession-proof government contracts, Hendrickson points out, is a factor that works in the town’s favor. Harrison and Hendrickson also cite Omahans’ work ethic, which Hendrickson calls a desire to “get up early and make hay when the sun shines.” Investors want to do business with honest companies that have good values and good morals, and ethical companies are in abundance here in Omaha. In the end, though, perhaps much of the city’s financial success is due to its atypical commitment to one simple concept: community. Much of the wealth has trickled down from the wealthiest people in Omaha, and much of that has to do with local business staying local. “There is an unwritten but deeply ingrained philosophy of giving back in this community, and I believe it is unique to most any community of our size,” Harrison says. “Having lived in several much larger cities, it is refreshing to have a community so involved in trying to offer a hand up to those who need help.”

May // June • 2016 | 124 | omahamagazine.com

There are a large number of savvy local investors who have chosen to reinvest in the community. Business owners with successful companies, Goss says, have often had the chance to sell their companies and make a great deal of money. Instead, they’ve frequently chosen to stay in Omaha. “They’re committed to the community,” he O says. “And I think that commitment shows up in the income here.”

FINANCIAL PLANNERS Who is Right for You? When it comes to paying taxes, many people trust a certified public accountant, or CPA. But do you know who to go to for major investments? What if you mostly invest in mutual funds? We have compiled a list of types of planners, and how they are different from one another. Certified employee benefit specialist (CEBS) CEBS focus on selling and administering employee benefit plans. They’ve passed a curriculum of eight courses on insurance, retirement, pension, regulatory issues and other topics. Certified financial planner™ (CFP®) CFPs have real-world experience in advising people on money. They have undergone a 10-hour exam and have at least three years of experience in the financial planning industry or a two-year CFP. Certified fund specialist (CFS) These are mutual fund experts, who might advise you on which funds to invest in. CFS designees receive training on a variety of topics related to mutual funds, like dollar-cost averaging and annuities, and they need to fulfill continuing education requirements to stay current.

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Certified public accountant (CPA) This is the oldest financial credential in America, for accountants. A CPA understands accounting, auditing, and taxes. They will not be able to help with investing. Chartered financial analyst (CFA) CFAs are true investing experts. This is one of the most prestigious designations out there, as it requires three years of coursework, an extremely difficult board exam and four years of professional work experience before you can qualify.

America First is an investment manager from the Old School. We serve discerning clients who value sound advice, clear explanations, and a willingness to say what we can and cannot do for them. Would you like to be the next one we help? America First Investment Advisors, LLC 10050 Regency Circle, Suite 515 Omaha, NE 402.991.3388 www.am1st.com

Chartered life underwriter (CLU) and chartered financial consultant (ChFC) CLUs and ChFCs are specialists in life insurance and estate planning. The main difference is that the CLU focuses most closely on life insurance, whereas the ChFC designation embraces more general financial planning principles. Chartered mutual fund counselor (CMFC) Another type of mutual fund advisor. The chartered mutual fund counselor designation is administered by the College for Financial Planning and requires designees to take a yearlong course and pass a proctored exam. Enrolled agent (EA) This is a tax designation that is perfectly legitimate for tax preparation and is overseen by an exam administered by the IRS. Unlike CPAs, EAs don’t have expertise in accounting, auditing, or bookkeeping.

No Cost Introductory Consultation: Kelley Schaecher or Tia Berend 15514 Spaulding Plaza Ste. D02, Omaha NE 68116 402.505.8488 | kelley.schaecher@lpl.com | tia.berend@lpl.com www.schaecherwealth.com Securities and advisory services offered through LPL Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC

May // June • 2016 | 125 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • History

PAT CROWE Guilty or Not?

STORY BY MAX SPARBER PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

HERE ARE TWO stories about kidnapper Pat Crowe.

The short version goes like this: In 1900, Crowe kidnapped the son of packing house owner Edward Cudahy and threatened to blind him. Cudahy paid up, his son was returned, and Crowe disappeared. In 1906 Crowe turned himself in. After a spectacular trial he was found not guilty despite having 40 witnesses against him. He then took to the road, writing books about his life of crime and speaking in front of crowds, eventually dying in Harlem in 1938. There is a longer story as well, and it’s considerably more complicated but no less spectacular. The long version includes wonderful details that must be overlooked or nodded at. Crowe had been a career criminal before the kidnapping, which he details in a book titled Spreading Evil: Pat Crowe’s Autobiography. He also had a long and sometimes friendly relationship with Cudahy, even though Crowe had once owned a rival butcher shop that Cudahy had put out of business, and even though Crowe had worked for Cudahy he was fired for stealing. Crowe also may have had a relationship with Cudahy’s son, Eddie Jr. Crowe briefly claimed that Cudahy's son had put him up to the kidnapping and split the money with him, and it’s possible that this happened. Crowe kept Eddie Cudahy shackled and blindfolded in a house in South Omaha waiting for the ransom. When Eddie was

released, he brought police directly to the house, claiming he knew where it was by the sound of the whistle from the nearby Cudahy packing plant. But the plant wasn’t especially close. Not so much that you could find your way right back to the house. Years later, when Eddie married, Crowe sent him a strangely familiar telegraph wishing Eddie a happy marriage and asking him to remember his former kidnapper. There are some stories that Crowe told about his life on the lam, and it’s hard to tell whether they are true or fabricated. He claimed to have gone to South Africa to participate in the Second Boer War. He claimed to have hidden in Wyoming with the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, an outlaw gang that has remained famous thanks to its association with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. There are a lot of questions about why Crowe wasn’t convicted. Labor relations in Omaha may have influenced Crowe’s verdict, as there had recently been a failed strike against the packing industry. But Omaha was also a rough-and-tumble town back then, and jurors may have liked Crowe’s style. Crowe did go on speaking tours after he was exonerated, but he did so as a reformer. He renounced crime and sided with Father Flanagan of Boys Town, arguing that poverty and lack of opportunity breed crime in the young. Crowe’s first books were less autobiography than jeremiads about the social conditions of crime. Despite Crowe’s reform, the rest of his life was hard. He may have had an unaddressed mental illness, he certainly suffered alcoholism, and he experienced poverty and occasional arrests. He died broke in 1938 and was buried in a pauper’s grave. But Crowe’s notoriety remained such that his passing was national Onews 38 years after the crime that made him famous.

May // June • 2016 | 126 | omahamagazine.com

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Siou Lab

Omaha Magazine • Dining

AL FRESCO FEVER

A Roundup of Omaha’s Ultimate Restaurant and Bar Patios STORY BY SARAH WENGERT PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

HE STARS AND seasons have aligned,

giving you free time on a beautiful day. Birds chirp, parks bustle, flowers bloom. Eager to enjoy a cage-free couple of hours, you urgently text friends from your desk: “Get thee to a patio!” The clock strikes 5 and you’re off quicker than a cardigan on a sunny, 80-degree day. But where to? Omahans have access to many fine restaurant and bar patios, but here are some standout gems you’ll want to bookmark for those most patio-perfect days. Marks Bistro, voted 2016 Best of Omaha Outdoor Patio (alongside Salt 88 and 1912), is a superb option for everything from sharing an intimate, open-air meal with a first date to unwinding with an old friend over a bottle of wine. As you summit the steps from Underwood Avenue you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into a lush, romantic secret garden of sorts. However, Marks’ quality menu, wine list, and unmatched atmosphere is no secret. Tucked behind the second level of a stately 1906 Dundee home, Marks’ patio is elegant without putting on airs, and peaceful even when packed with diners clinking glasses. “Most of us spend the majority of our workweek inside,” says co-owner Mark Pluhacek. “Sometimes nothing’s more relaxing than dining al fresco and enjoying some good conversation.” Each spring, Pluhacek and his wife Kristin personally choose and plant the many colorful flowers that, alongside beautiful trees and ivy-covered fences, provide Marks’ trademark garden feel. Pluhacek says Marks is currently developing an additional street-level patio to allow guests a choice between the original garden patio and a more active, people-watching space along Underwood. But in both spaces, Pluhacek promises, “lots of flowers.”

Speaking of people-watching, La Buvette offers an excellent vantage point for taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling Old Market while simultaneously transporting patrons to France. Since 1991, this Europeanstyle cafe, wine bar, and market has been a popular spot to meet friends for a leisurely afternoon of wine, cheese, and chatting. The ever-changing menu is both basic and epicurean, with divine, fresh, house-baked bread perhaps the sole daily guarantee. The vibe here is “don’t worry, don’t hurry,” so come prepared to adapt to the pace and daily offerings. If you can’t nab a spot on the popular patio proper, don’t fret. When the weather’s right, La Buvette throws open wide doors on either side of its main entrance allowing a flood of sunshine and fresh air inside. El Aguila has an under-the-radar patio with high brick walls, colorful plants, and a Spanish colonial courtyard vibe. Lovers of Mexican food and jumbo margaritas will have no problemo finding patio paradise here— occasionally made even more magical by a roving Mariachi band. Nicola’s offers quaint romance, the Surfside rustic riverside atmosphere, and 1912 a rooftop option. More great al fresco dining options include Benson Brewery, Jimi D’s, Tracks Lounge, Salt 88, Corkscrew Wine & Cheese Blackstone, Upstream Old Market, Brix Midtown, Dante Pizzeria, and Varsity Sports Cafe & Roman Coin Pizza on the lake at 145th and F streets. On the bar side of things, O’Leaver’s Beer Garden is Omaha’s outdoor space rookie of the year. Open since September 2015, the high-fenced, spacious outdoor area is a true oasis. O’Leaver’s already had a modest front patio, with a delightfully oddball Friendsthemed fence (bearing the names Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey, and Phoebe) and new ownership over the past few years has made several upgrades to the indoor space including the addition of a tiki bar area. May // June • 2016 | 128 | omahamagazine.com

“We wanted to create a whole new vibe outdoors and offer our customers the same special experience, but one that’s very different from the inside of the pub,” says co-owner Ted Stevens. Indeed, the dimly lit pub contrasts with the bright beer garden, which has a full-service bar on Friday and Saturday nights. Varied seating lets patrons choose between laid-back Adirondacks, barstools, wooden banquettes and benches, small tables, and long, communal picnic tables under an attached pergola. Nature is a key design element, with built-in flower boxes lining the seating area, a miniature weeping willow tree, small pond, and other nice natural touches. Strings of lights hang overhead, twinkling at night with a just-right light. O’Leaver’s is known for hosting live music inside, and Stevens says they hope to add outdoor movie nights and weekend brunch cocktail parties in 2016, also possibly opening the beer garden bar occasionally for weeknight shows. Mister Toad’s Pub is a classic with cozy woodwork, stained glass, and book-lined walls, but in warmer months, it’s all about Mr. Toad’s Courtyard. Flower boxes stud the patio and wooden tables interlock around trees, offering the opportunity for privacy or neighborliness at your discretion. The passing action of the Old Market provides plenty to see. The Rose & Crown patio is a divey delight with large trees—some even decorated with woodsy faces. Other solid bar patio options include Dundee Cork & Bottle, Krug Park, Marylebone, Havana Garage, and LIV Lounge. Whatever beer garden, courtyard, or veranda you land on, raise a glass to the patio season and enjoy greater Omaha’s great urban outO of-doors.

May // June • 2016 | 129 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Section

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Omaha Scrabble Club

Memories, Tradition, and Families

Different Celebrations, One Holiday

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60PLUS

SPRING IS HERE! I

LOVE SEEING THE LEAVES start to appear after the rain— and all of the flowers that pop up! This is my favorite time of the year. The area where I live has many redbud trees that line the driveways and appear among the wooded yards. I consider seeing them bud the first sign of spring. This brings memories of my father. Well into his 80s and 90s he continued to have a large garden of vegetables and flowers in his backyard. When he was 80 he became a Master Gardener. Each Memorial Day, he and I cut peonies from his yard and went to the cemetery in Lincoln to decorate the graves of my mother, my sister, and my brother. My father was a kind, loving man who lived to be 102 years old. Judy Horan writes about three families with different Memorial Day traditions in this issue. You’ll also find a listing of some local festivals and events you won’t want to miss this summer. Clara Sue Arnsdorff fell into volunteering at Bellevue Little Theater through her kids, and continues to this day. It is so important to keep the brain active, and a group of senior Scrabble players do just that through their favorite game each week. The way they create words is astounding. Speaking of keeping your brain active, it is important to stay sharp while driving, and you can read about the special classes AARP hosts to help seniors stay safe on the roads. I hope you enjoy these stories and all the others in this issue. Me…I am going to head out for the yard.

Gwen

Gwen Lemke Contributing Editor, 60PLUS In Omaha

CONTENTS

volume 4 • issue 2 HOBBIES That’s a Word? Bingo! Omaha Scrabble Club............................... S4

FEATURE Staying Safe on the Road AARP Driver Safety Courses......................S6

ACTIVE LIVING A Whirling Dervish Named Jane Riding RAGBRAI......................................S10

FEATURE Memories, Tradition, and Families Different Celebrations, One Holiday.........S14

FEATURE Independent Living Choosing Your Own Lifestyle in Omaha...S16

HEALTH Congestion, Headaches, and Sneezing You’re Never Too Old for Allergies............S18

NOSTALGIA Omaha’s Summer Festivals A Historial Guide to Seasonal Fun............S20

FACES Clara Sue Arnsdorff Bellevue Little Theater............................S22

may/june 2016 | 60PLUS

60PLUS FEATURE

story by daisy hutzell-rodman | photography by bill sitzmann

THAT’S A WORD? omaha scrabble club

S4 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

IRK TROUTMAN AND JIM Goeken, both age 67, sit across from each other on a Thursday afternoon at A.P. Swanson Library. A rotating Scrabble board lays between them on a table. This Scrabble board is one of 150 million that have been sold world-wide, making it the best-selling board game in the world. The game, invented in 1938, is played like a crossword puzzle. Players place tiles on the board vertically or horizontally to create words. This may all be old news for you, being that more than one-third of all U.S. households own a Scrabble game. What you may not know, however, is how Troutman and Goeken come up with their words. The term ZA sits on the board. It is a slang term for pizza, and a relatively new addition to the official Scrabble dictionary. Troutman sets down QAID for 27, also gaining points for ED from a previously-played E. On his next play, he sets down EXPO next to the term ROOK, ending against the word BUCK. This creates the terms RE, OX, OP, and BUCKO along with the play of EXPO. It’s BUCKO that causes his partner to stop and think. Not to think of BUCKO as a word, but whether or not it is an acceptable play. Acceptable, that is, according to the official Scrabble rules. He writes it on the corner of his score sheet, but does not contest it. These players memorize words, specifically word patterns. There are 106 two-letter formations acceptable according to the official Scrabble rules, and the competitive players have memorized them all. They have also memorized three letter words, four letter words, etc. Ask them to define QAID, and most of them won’t be able to, but they will be able to tell you it is one of the acceptable Q words that do not need to be followed by a U. In addition to the Thursday gatherings, the two are members of the Omaha Scrabble Club, which meets twice a month on Tuesday nights. The club has lately grown so large that, in mid-April, they moved to the Ralston library for the third Tuesday of the month.

The group is currently looking for a place to play. Troutman is the organizer of the club where people of all ages and all skill levels gather to play their favorite game. Some players obtain an average living-room player’s score of around 200-250 points, but others may score into competition levels of more than 300 points.

Bev Chaney, age 68, is a retired insurance compliance analyst and administrative worker playing at the library on this Thursday. She started playing three years ago with Goeken, whom she knew through mutual friend Jim Bechtal. “I just play for fun,” she says nonchalantly, smiling. She studies word lists sometimes, but she doesn’t make a habit of it. She comes to be among friends, and play a game she has loved for a long time. Her partner at this time is Brian Zdan, 62. If only that wasn’t a proper name. It would garner 13 points without any double or triple spots on the board. Zdan began playing with the club in November 2014 because he read about the small group meeting in the Dundee Memorial Park newsletter and thought, “why not?” Back at Troutman and Goeken’s table, Troutman plays NIGHT down from OPE, creating OPEN and hitting a coveted tripleword score for 37 points. A pyramid of words sits so tightly on the top right side of the board the pharaohs would keep dry for thousands of years…or maybe just the 60 minutes of play.

“You dog,” Goeken whispers in a combination of “great play” and “damn you!” Goeken plays CAB down to join with ROOK, also creating BROOK, for 24 points. The wood tiles that come with a standard Scrabble set aren’t used here. These players not only use a rotating board, they use special tiles that lock onto the squares of the board. But the real specialty about these tiles isn’t the fact that they lock. The original wood tiles are made with raised letters. These are made so the letters aren’t raised. With the competition-acceptable letters, one can’t feel around in the bag for the two coveted blank tiles. Goeken has recently used a blank as a G, playing SELLIN(G) for 84 points. That’s 34 points for the word and 50 for the bingo, or playing all seven tiles at once. Below that, he has also played the bingo S(T)ANGED for 65 points. Two blank spaces in the bag, two bingos. “When I get a blank I almost always try to get a bingo,” Goeken admits. Troutman plays YIN next to AERIE, also making YE. He waves his hand in a “meh” gesture. “11,” he says. Goeken plays PEH for 11 and shrugs. Huh? Troutman explains that any play in serious Scrabble that garners no more than 10 points per play is considered average. As the hour ends, Goeken has accumulated 348 points. Troutman has accumulated 387 points. BUCKO, incidentally, is an acceptable word. The pair will study the board, figure out where to earn more points, and meet again in a week…same time, same place, same game. Different tiles, different words. Visit meetup.com/Omaha-CompetitiveScrabble-Meetup to learn more.

may/june 2016 | 60PLUS S5

60PLUS FEATURE

story by allison janda | photography by bill sitzmann

STAYING SAFE ON THE ROAD the benefits of AARP driver safety courses

OST DRIVERS HAVE BEEN witness to fellow road warriors behaving badly. Whether they cut you off, didn’t use a blinker, sped around you, or some other dangerous offense— chances are you thought, “learn how to drive!” While some drivers neglect the rules of the road, help is available to keep safe on the streets. A ARP Driver Safety was first launched in 1979. It is designed to meet the needs of older drivers through the use of four educational programs. In fact, the f lagship A ARP Smart Driver course is the nation’s largest classroom and online driver safety course. It was designed for people age 50 and older. Courses are available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. >

S6 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

Lana Fitzgerald, AARP Smart Driver instructor may/june 2016 | 60PLUSâ&#x20AC;&#x192;

60PLUS FEATURE

< Lana Fitzgerald is an instructor of A ARP Smart Driver courses. She says the driving landscape has changed dramatically in the past 30 to 60 years, and it will continue to change. “Keeping pace with the changes is helpful to all drivers,” Fitzgerald says. The A ARP Smart Driver Course is optional. It boasts an award-winning, research-based curriculum. In Nebraska, the entire course takes only four hours if taken in-person. Some participants choose to learn the information at their own pace via the online course. Either way, many participants find themselves eligible for insurance discounts upon completion of the class. Best of all, there are no tests to pass in order to qualify for these discounts.

S8 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

Mary F. Allen, 83, is a course participant who came to Nebraska from Arkansas to spend the winter months with her family. “It’s imperative that drivers avail themselves of state-by-state rules and regulations and traffic law changes,” she says. While Allen originally intended to take an online version of the course, she instead signed up for an in-person class with her daughter, Kim Moss-Allen, 53. “The program online would not have been as beneficial as the personal atmosphere of the classroom,” Allen says. Not a member of A ARP? Not a problem. An A ARP membership is not required to enjoy all of the benefits this refresher course has to offer. While designed for drivers who are over 50, the course has seen participants as young as 14 benefit from the information. Participants engage in a variety of lessons, such as learning research-based safety strategies that can reduce the likelihood of a crash. They also learn how aging, alcohol, and health-related issues affect driving ability. Additionally, it focuses on areas that can use more training, such as roundabouts, pavement markings, stop-sign compliance, and much more. “Over 16,000,000 participants have gone through A A R P Driver Safety classroom and online courses, which have been taught by more than 4,000 A ARP Driver Safety volunteers,” Fitzgerald says. Fitzgerald herself is a second generation A AR P Driver Safety Instructor, and has been teaching the course for more than four years. Her dad taught classes in North Dakota. Fitzgerald teaches in Nebraska at several locations, including CHI Health Midlands and Sunridge Village Retirement Community. The course is available throughout the year, and is taught by volunteer instructors nationwide. Visit aarp.org/findacourse to learn more.

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60PLUS FEATURE story by leo adam biga | photography by bill sitzmann

A WHIRLING DERVISH NAMED JANE riding RAGBRAI W

HEN THE REGISTER’S ANNUAL Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) rolls around in July, Omahan Jane Reuss will saddle up with her Team Angry mates for the 15th consecutive year. Reuss has cycled since childhood. Back then she would traverse the Interstate to Council Bluffs to get her Gitano serviced. Nowadays, she treks 80 miles on a single ride. She and her husband, Jerry, a retired Omaha firefighter, keep a getaway cabin in North Bend, Nebraska. The ride there takes four-and-a-half hours, but Reuss says it’s a breeze. Getting on a bike and going somewhere, anywhere, is her therapy. “I just love it. It’s like my time. Nobody can ask me anything,” Reuss says. “I don’t have to do anything except ride my bike, listen to music, or a book on tape. It’s time off from my normal routine.” Reuss also golfs, swims, skis, and works out at the gym. Jerry joins her on shorter rides, and the pair play sand volleyball together. “There are some mornings when I think I should just sleep in,” she says. “But I don’t know who I am if I can’t be active.” Though she used to run, rollerblade, and even compete in women’s triathlons, she prefers cycling now. >

S10 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

may/june 2016 | 60PLUS S11

60PLUS FEATURE

< “It’s a great, stress-free activity for any age, especially as you get older,” Reuss says. “I’m seriously more comfortable on my bike than anywhere else.” For years she’s commanded the road atop a Greg LeMond road model bicycle she’s affectionately dubbed “Old Blue.” Reuss can’t wait to do the weeklong R AGBR AI again with riders she considers family. “We do feel a real camaraderie. We do a lot of bike rides during the year away from R AGBR AI. We’ve gotten to be good friends,” Reuss says. Then there’s the folks she encounters along the way. “I love meeting people. The townsfolk are great,” Reuss says. “It’s a big party for them. They love us because we spend money.”

S12 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

She and fellow team members stay with host families while completing the 460plus mile route. Beyond the social aspects, Reuss enjoys testing her limits. “I love the physicality of it. I love that I can do that,” Reuss says. “I love the sense of community and accomplishment.” Not everything’s ideal. She’s waited out tornados in barns, slept in tight quarters on hard f loors, and taken communal showers in school gyms. On one ride she took a hard fall that left her with a broken rib and punctured lung. After treatment, Reuss kept riding. Reuss says she relishes challenges. Projects fill her garage and house. “Thank goodness Jerry doesn’t mind,” she says. “He’s very supportive.”

In addition to bicycling, Reuss creates sculptures, often bicycle-themed, and works part-time at the Saddlebrook Branch of the Omaha Public Library. She sells her art at the Garden Gallery in Elkhorn, and even has a new commission to make a metal eagle for Eagle Run Golf Course. In July, Reuss will be all geared up in jersey and gloves with a headband reading, “Not a sagger.” Once again she will ride from sunrise to sundown atop “Old Blue,” passing more than 400 miles of the Grant Wood landscapes called Iowa. “I’m determined to do all the miles.” Visit ragbrai.com to learn more.

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60PLUS FEATURE story by judy horan | photography by bill sitzmann

MEMORIES, TRADITION, AND FAMILIES different celebrations, one holiday

THE NATIONAL MOMENT OF REMEMBRANCE ACT: Signed into law in 2000, the act asks Americans to pause at 3 p.m. local time to honor Americans who died while defending our nation. S14â&#x20AC;&#x192; 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

Myron Roker

ORLD WAR II ENDED 70 years ago, but Myron Roker still feels the pain of battle. He served with 324th Infantry Regiment of the 44th Infantry Division on VE Day. The 93-year-old now lives in Glenwood, Iowa, and still carries shrapnel from a wound sustained in France. His hearing is almost gone, stolen by explosions in war. But the most painful wound he carries is the loss of friends in combat. “Freedom is not free,” says Roker. “We have to pay for it. Those are the heroes. The wounded and the ones that gave their lives.” Memorial Day has a deep, personal meaning for Roker. “I lost a close buddy over in France to one of our own mines. Sometimes I still tear up,” Roker said. He and his wife, Karen, spend Memorial Day at the graves of family members in their hometown of Clatonia, Nebraska.

Thomas Shimerdla, holding flag A FAMILY TRADITION OF SERVICE Thomas Shimerdla’s family has a proud military tradition. When he was fighting in Vietnam, so was his brother. His father served during World War II in the 14th Army Air Force. His grandfather fought in France during World War I. W hen Shimerd la wa s a youngster, Memorial Day meant visits to cemeteries w it h his fat her a nd gra nd fat her to honor veterans. Shimerdla enlisted in the U.S. Navy Seabees when he was 19. He spent two years serving in Vietnam, a war that took more than 58,000 American lives. “I lost classmates in Vietnam. I think about them on Memorial Day,” he says. He fought in the devastating Tet Offensive in 1968 that turned Americans against the war. Many who fought faced danger in Vietnam and disdain in the United States. For Shimerd la, Memoria l Day is about spending time with his children and grandchildren. Before suffering injuries in a motorcycle accident in October, he was part of the American Legion Riders, and rode with them to a cemetery on Memorial Day. “I was proud to be there, honoring soldiers who were killed,” he says. The motorcycle enthusiast also rides with the Patriot Guard Riders, formed to provide shield from harassment at the funerals of “Fallen Heroes.”

Bill and Susan Eustice, with son Sean TRADITION AND FAMILY Susan Eustice says tradition is a big part of her holiday. She agrees that time with family is what Memorial Day is about. For four generations, her family has spent Memorial Day at Lake Okoboji. “My mother was six weeks old when she first spent the holiday at the lake,” Eustice says. Her mother’s paternal grandparents, the Rectors, built a home at the beach. Eustice is also related to the Clarke family, who were among the first families to settle on Okoboji’s Omaha Beach. This year Susan and her husband, attorney Bill Eustice, plan to enjoy fireworks, boating, swimming, sailing, biking, and dinners with family members. He and his band, The Firm, will perform at the Barefoot Bar. They haven’t missed a Memorial Day celebration at Lake Okoboji in three decades. For them, the day is about tradition.

may/june 2016 | 60PLUS S15

60PLUS FEATURE story by daisy hutzell-rodman

INDEPENDENT LIVING choosing your own lifestyle in omaha

ETIREMENT COMMUNITIES STEREOTYPICALLY BRING to mind senior citizens playing shuffleboard and bingo, perhaps eating some form of dry meatloaf and mushy potatoes in the cafeteria. That may have been your grandparents’ retirement community, but it certainly won’t be yours, or your parents’. Independent living communities today offer trendy gluten-free items on the menu, yoga and tai chi in the gym, and even the chance to take in Broadway shows downtown. They are located in trendy midtown as well as quieter west Omaha. Independent living is any housing arrangement designed exclusively for seniors, from apartments to freestanding homes. The housing is generally more compact and offers easier navigation and no maintenance or yard work. People can live their own lives, but they reside in a community with activities and services geared towards seniors.

S16 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

GREAT ACTIVITIES George Bakhit, executive director of Fountain View Senior Living, said that these popular amenities are making family members look at senior living, including independent living, in a different light. “I’m seeing children who are looking at senior living for their folks, and they are intrigued,” Bakhit says. Bakhit says part of the key to being a great retirement living facility is the quality of activities. Fountain View does provides bingo, and many people play bridge, but residents also go to the movies, baseball games, and the theater. The establishment provides live entertainment by popular local entertainers like Johnny Ray Gomez.

Key for Fountain View is maintaining a feeling that residents are at home and have the amenities they need. They have easy access to shopping areas, banks, and the Interstate. The Fountain View community also offers assisted living and care for those with Alzheimers or dementia. The ability to provide a variety of services is something Bakhit stressed people need to look for when choosing a facility. “When looking for a senior living community, one might be conscious to look for a continual care community to make the transition from an independent living to assisted living smoother,” Bakhit says.

Kindness, conversation & care for your loved ones.

GREAT FOOD At Maple Ridge Retirement Community, residents don’t have to wait for a specified mealtime to eat. The community offers a Freedom Dining Program, based on the cruise-line model of dining. They don’t serve mystery meat, either. One dish the executive chef serves is chickenfried steak atop a crispy fried potato cake, over a chive oil drizzled corn soubise. The meal is finished with fried baby spinach and brunoise red peppers. That’s just one meal that was recently served in their fine dining option. Maple Ridge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner… and they extend their lunch for another hour by leaving the soup and salad bar open. Hungry between 3 and 4 p.m.? They offer snacks and sandwiches. “The Freedom Dining, the ability to come and go more to fit with their lifestyles, is something that is totally unique to us,” says DeniseTownsend, a manager at Maple Ridge. While they don’t cater to special diets, such as low-sodium, in the independent living area, they do offer some trendy options, like gluten-free or vegetarian. URBAN LIVING Indulging in trendy PieFive Pizza Co. before catching a movie at Aksarben Cinema might be something for hipsters, but residents at Aksarben Village Retirement Living Community just walk right across the street for a slice. They can also grab some morning coffee at Starbucks.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015

ALWAYS LOCAL, ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL

Always Local, Always Beautiful

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016

ALWAYS LOCAL, ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL

FAIRYTALE WONDER

Regal Residence in Legacy Villas

WOLF IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING

Turning Tradition on its Head in Country Club

DESIGNER ERIC JAMES

SELF-MADE, SELF-TAUGHT, SELF-ASSURED ASID AWARDS See This Year’s STORIES Best of the Best FROM HOME chip davis

NEIGHBORHOODS The Blackstone District

FUNKY-FRESH

Airbnb Space in Lincoln

MANTERIOR

Rustic Barn Becomes Man Cave

NINE AND TWO

MID-CENTURY MODERN MAKEOVER

ALWAYS LOCAL, ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL

PLAINS LIVING

ON A MOUNTAINOUS SCALE

PETER CALES

Building Relationships, Building Furniture

DESIGN WOW! putting the fun in functional

September/October • 2015 | 89 | bestofomaha.com

may/june 2016 | 60PLUS

S17

60PLUS HEALTH story by susan meyers

CONGESTION, HEADACHES, AND SNEEZING you’re never too old for allergies

S18 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

ARILYN MODLIN WAS IN her late 50s when the sniffles, congestion, and headaches began. She never suffered from allergies before, so she waited it out, hoping the symptoms would go away. But instead they got worse. So bad, she had to sleep sitting up. Over the next couple years, Modlin visited several allergy doctors, tried various allergy medications, and had sinus surgery and allergy testing. When symptoms did not subside, Modlin began allergy immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots. Immunotherapy involves the injections of allergenic extracts typically given over a period of about five years to desensitize your body to your allergy triggers. Since starting treatment about three years ago, Modlin says her symptoms have been reduced by about 50 percent. “It’s like night and day difference,” says Modlin. “I’ve reduced my meds in half and I hope to keep cutting out more.” At 63 years old, Modlin thought she was too old for allergies. But the truth is, allergies can occur at any age. Not only that, but as we age, we become more prone to developing a non-allergic condition similar to allergies, called irritant-induced rhinitis. This condition causes a persistent drippy nose due to exposure to irritants like smoke, dust, or chemicals. In addition, “people’s lives often change in their 60s and changes in your environment can trigger new allergic reactions,” says Jill Poole, allergist at Nebraska Medicine. “For instance, you may get a new dog or cat, you may move to a new part of the country, or spend your winters in warm environments where you are exposed to new molds, pollen, dust, or sand.”

Modlin attributes the onset of her symptoms to the Iowa/Nebraska f lood of 2008, which left fields upon fields of dust, and wet, moldy, decaying matter. A resident of Crescent, Iowa, Modlin says she was surrounded by the dust and debris, and shortly thereafter, the allergy symptoms began. “If you develop allergies in your 60s or older, don’t minimize your symptoms,” stresses Poole. “If allergies are impacting your sleep, they need to be addressed and treated aggressively. Sleep problems can lead to a host of other issues like high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and depression. Your doctor also needs to be aware of other medications you may be taking to prevent negative drug interactions or side effects.” So how do you know if those recurring symptoms of congestion, runny nose, and sneezing are allergies or just another cold? Allergies are more persistent, while the common cold will usually dissipate in approximately seven to 10 days, notes Poole. Like the common cold, allergies are associated with congestion and runny nose. But with allergies, you may also experience achy muscles and joints, watery eyes, itchy nose and eyes, a chronic cough, sinus headaches and chronic fatigue. Another clue, if you’ve tried various antibiotics to treat a supposed cold or sinus infection without success, it may be time to see an allergist. “Allergies can have a large impact on your life as you get older,” says Dr. Poole. “An allergist can help guide you in taking the most appropriate medications or nasal sprays or determine whether you are a candidate for immunotherapy.”

may/june 2016 | 60PLUS S19

60PLUS NOSTALGIA story by maggy lemicke

OMAHA’S SUMMER FESTIVALS a historical guide to seasonal fun

OTHING BRINGS BACK FOND memories like festival season, with the incessant summer heat carrying vivid recollections of outdoor parties. No need to reminisce when we can take you back ourselves. Here are some of our favorite festivals that have prevailed over the years:

S20 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

ARBOR DAY

TASTE OF OMAHA

SANTA LUCIA

April 29-May 1, Nebraska City, Nebraska Not every celebration can boast an entire holiday dedicated to the preservation of trees. In 1872, an estimated one million trees were planted in Nebraska, marking the first Arbor Day in American history. But you don’t have to be a tree hugger to enjoy the 260-acre expanse of orchards on the Arbor Day Farm. Though many of the original orchards and estate structures still stand, Arbor Day Farm offers contemporary attractions such as interactive exhibits, hiking trails, and a 50-foot treehouse.

June 3-5, Heartland of America Park and Lewis and Clark Landing Omaha was just beginning to be known for food other than steaks in 1997, when Taste of Omaha began. These days, attendees can discover some of the finest restaurants in the area. They can taste the specialty dishes of local eateries, meet local chefs and enjoy live music performances across the festival’s multiple stages.

June 9-12, Lewis and Clark Landing Most of us weren’t born in noble, Roman families…but we can certainly pretend. With Italian music at our fingertips and a queen coronation to look forward to, Omaha’s Santa Lucia festival has given us a celebration to enjoy time and time again. Whether it’s the annual feast or the image of the Santa Lucia statue that prevails in your mind, this festival is one full of tradition and poignant memories. SHAKESPEARE ON THE GREEN

OMAHA SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL CINCO DE MAYO

May 5-8, 24th and L streets A lively tradition full of community spirit, South Omaha’s Cinco De Mayo celebration dates back to the 1970s. Whether it’s the thrill of the bull races or the harmonious melodies of the Mariachi, memories of Cinco De Mayo are strong recollections that seem to stand the test of time. Sample some delectable food and honor the city’s rich, Mexican heritage, all whilst having fiesta f lashbacks.

June 10-12, Farnam Street from 10th to 15th streets This festival started in 1975 with visual arts lining the streets outside the courthouse. Today, Farnam Street is decorated with national performers and giddy children with painted faces, as well as the 135 juried artists that have gathered from around the globe. An ever-changing landscape that manages to uphold a memorable Omaha tradition, the Summer Arts Festival is not to be missed.

June 23-30, Elmwood Park Marking the fourth centennial of Shakespeare’s death, Shakespeare on the Green’s 30th anniversary continues to engage, educate, and entertain. Though the idea for an outdoor Shakespeare festival in Omaha wasn’t conceived until the early ‘80s, many of us have immersed ourselves in the talented performances and natural beauty of Elmwood Park over the years. Don’t miss this year’s literary workshops or the annual sonnet contest.

may/june 2016 | 60PLUS S21

60PLUS FACES story by greg jerrett | photography by bill sitzmann

S22â&#x20AC;&#x192; 60PLUS | may/june 2016 | omahamagazine.com

CLARA SUE ARNSDORFF

volunteering a lot of time at bellevue little theater

HEN CL ARA SUE ARNSDORFF, 73, moved to Bellevue with her Air Force family (husband Gordon, son John, and daughter Susan) in the late ’70s, many things in what seemed like just another short-term assignment turned out to be key ingredients for a sweet life. “The Air Force sent my husband’s whole unit here in 1977, and we have been here ever since,” Arnsdorff says. “We loved the area. Good schools, kids were settled nicely, so we stayed until my husband retired. Both kids attended Hastings College and got excellent educations. All because we moved here.” It’s funny how helping out becomes habitual for some folks. When the Arnsdorff family was still new to Bellevue, it was the younger members who set the stage for their mom’s backstage life promoting the Bellevue Little Theatre. “I blame that on our kids. When they were 7 and 9, there was an open audition at the Bellevue Little Theater for the first of a series of family shows to be done there, ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,’” Arnsdorff says. “Both kids auditioned, and our daughter was chosen. I had absolutely no idea that some 35 years later I would still be so involved.”

The next year, Arnsdorff’s son John, then age 10, was cast in “Oliver,” then “Cheaper by the Dozen.” “The list continued for some time. I guess I became a familiar face down there. When the publicity person moved on, I was asked to take over the job,” Arnsdorff recalls wistfully about the amount of time and effort that went into spreading the word in the ’80s. “Back then, all the info had to be mailed to the newspapers, radio, and TV stations, and I used our old Apple to type that up, print it, and mail it.” It didn’t take long for Arnsdorff to become a permanent part of the Bellevue Little Theater team. “After a couple of years, I was asked to be on the board of directors, and I have been active there ever since,” Arnsdorff says. “I have been corresponding secretary for about the last 10 years...and I must say that the job actually involves much more than ‘corresponding.’” As co-chair of the play and director selection committee, Arnsdorff is tasked with reading and selecting the plays and musicals to be staged at the Bellevue Little Theater. She even invites the directors for each show.

Arnsdorff says her life in theater has taught her about patience, empathy, and understanding. “As you get older, I think you appreciate more the everyday struggles of families and working moms. Raising kids is a full time job. I was fortunate that I was a stay-at-home mom, but that luxury is fast disappearing,” Arnsdorff says. “Volunteering has helped me to be more empathetic. It reminds me that we have to be patient with volunteers. It’s hard sometimes. Many expect volunteers to be experts at their jobs, but it doesn’t work like that. We have to share ideas, be ready to admit errors, and move on to make things better. We have to listen, but be open…that is hard.” Visit bellevuelittletheatre.com for more info.

may/june 2016 | 60PLUS S23

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OBVIOUSLY OMAHA COMPILED BY JARED KENNEDY

01. CELEBRATE

The Old Mattress Factory Bar (The Matt) is self described as Omaha’s Best Event Bar. The Matt has everything you’re looking for when it comes to lunch, dinner, a night out in Omaha, or in planning your next event.

02. SAVOR

Blatt Beer & Table boasts an attractive food menu, along with a sweeping lineup of beer options. Holding close to its Omaha roots, the Blatt gets its namesake from the old Rosenblatt Stadium, and every Tuesday the Blatt offers half off any beer brewed in Nebraska.

03. VIEW

Founded as a 501c3 nonprofit in 2005, Film Streams is a two-screen cinema committed to screening films based on their creative, artistic, and social merits. Film Streams plays host to the film fanatic and the leisurely movie goer alike.

05. THREADS

Urban Outfitters is known for a vast array of on trend fashion choices, accessories, and homedecor items. Looking to take your aesthetic to the next level? This is your place. Explore the multi level establishment where you will find everything from record players and hipster duds, to coffee mugs.

06. SHOP

True Blue Goods & Gifts True Blue Goods and Gifts strives to highlight national and local artisans as well as unique-to-Omaha merchandise including visual art, jewelry, pottery, bags, children’s goods, home décor,Ocandles, cards, and much more!

04. REST

Homewood Suites Omaha Downtown is a classic, extended stay hotel that sits just across from TD Ameritrade Park. Enjoy restful nights during the hectic College World Series in the traditionally furnished rooms, which come with fully equipped kitchens, dining tables, free WiFi, and flatscreen TVs. A free hot breakfast is provided, as well as a complimentary light dinner and drinks.

May // June • 2016 | 155 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Cover Feature

Ready FOR MAHA

Beyond simply making fantastic food, we’re cultivating our own personality. STORY BY RACHEL P. GRACE PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

May // June • 2016 | 156 | omahamagazine.com

Mula

May // June • 2016 | 157 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Cover Feature

ENTION RAMEN, AND the compari-

Yoshi-Ya

son to cheap packages of the staple college dorm food seems obligatory. Though powder-flavored instant ramen is a poor attempt at the real thing, it’s more likely that your first run-in with a proper bowl of this hot, steamy comfort food was sometime over the last decade, if at all. And yet today in Omaha, real ramen, with its aromatic broth and fresh ingredients, is available at a handful of dedicated spots, with more on the way. A day for Jose Dionicio, chef and owner at Ika Ramen and Izakaya, begins and ends with the broth, which he says came about through years of trial and error. “In our case, ramen is not about rehydrating noodles,” Dionicio points out. “There’s a lot of time, effort, and tears going into making this. It’s a whole meal, something fulfilling. Soul filling, actually.” Housed in what Dionicio calls “a little shack” at 63rd and Maple streets, Ika Ramen and Izakaya is the punctuation mark at the end of any night out in Benson. Slurping up your tonkotsu (rich pork broth) while other tables do the same, it’s evident this is a neighborhood eatery. No tablecloths, no pretension, no frills. In addition to the main types of broths (chicken, pork, and vegetable) and a handful of appetizers, Dionicio and company serve up a few daily specials—a little spicy seafood with kimchi here, a few crispy chicken skins there—and that’s it. Chef A.J. Swanda’s menu at Ugly Duck Ramen is even more finite: there’s just one type of ramen available every week, along with a robust vegetarian version, complemented by a small selection of appetizers and sides, and pastry chef Kate Anderson’s inventive doughnut holes (called dodos), which rotate flavors weekly. Haven't heard of Ugly Duck? It doesn’t actually have its own location—yet. While Swanda would like to open a brick-and-mortar location in the future, his main locale over the past year was borrowed space at the popular bar-andpub-grub spot Nite Owl, his ramen usually sold out within a few hours. Swanda plans to hold popup events in the near future as he works toward owning a storefront.

Of course, it’s not just soup that Omahans are after. Outside the nearby Scriptown Brewing Co., diners can indulge in their nut butter cravings with Peanut Butter Johnny’s. As a food truck offering about a half dozen sandwiches on the menu—from the Tin Can (almond butter, fig jam, goat cheese, honey and bacon) to your basic peanut butter and grape jelly— owner John Jelinek reports that business has been great. If a slightly more refined experience sounds appealing, down in the Old Market chef Paul Kulik has made a menu at Le Bouillon designed around the best processes of European cookery, in particular the Basque region of France. Diners with a hankering for cassoulet, rillettes, fresh oysters, and the like regularly fill the place. But while Kulik would rather serve his interpretation of these classics than fiddle with bythe-book authenticity, he acknowledges that this level of specialization requires a higher degree of thought and determination than at a more generic restaurant—and he’s had experience in both settings. “The notion that Omaha wasn’t ‘ready’ for something was a very pervasive sentiment for a long time, and that’s something that had to be shattered,” Kulik asserts. “Omaha would never just be ‘ready’ for something. You have to present it in a persuasive manner. You have to make good things in an affordable way, in a pleasant setting. You have to win people over one at a time.”

May // June • 2016 | 158 | omahamagazine.com

Omaha didn’t move from choice-of-vegetableand-potato places to a hotbed of chef-driven adventures overnight. Dionicio explains the time was finally right last year to present his noodle-centric menu, but that earlier would have been premature. At his other spot, the Peruvian-inspired seafood restaurant Taita, he first introduced bowls of ramen as late-night fodder for service industry folk in 2012, and later on Sundays as a brunch item. Week by week and bowl by bowl, ramen gained ground among food enthusiasts, hungover hipsters, and everyone in between. But as Brian O’Malley, chef instructor at the Metropolitan Community College Institute for Culinary Arts sees it, this development has historically run slower, citing the decades it took for Omaha to warm up to something like sushi. “For all of my childhood there were zero places to get sushi, and then in high school there was one, in the early 2000s there were two, and then eight, and now I lost count.” O’Malley credits quicker access to information with expediting the whole process—the world getting “smaller” through the Internet and diners having the option of doing their homework on certain types of cuisine. And still, as a whole, we pander to nothing, especially not fleeting trends. “With new foods and new ideas, we’re open, but we’re slow to open,” O’Malley explains. “But once that embrace occurs—once we love something— we love it for real. That is a proud thing about being an Omaha diner.”

Dolce Omaha Magazine • Cover Feature

THE SHARING OF IDEAS TENDS TO BENEFIT THE FINAL PRODUCT IN TANGIBLE AND INTANGIBLE WAYS.

Mouth of the South

The Grey Plume

Salt 88

OMAHA’S CONTEMPORARY RESTAURANTS ARE REMARKABLY MORE GENUINE THAN MOST. WHERE THERE’S A GREAT DISH, AN APPROACHABLE CHEF ISN’T FAR BEHIND.

Over Easy

Mula

Plank Seafood Provisions

Brother Sebastian's

Omaha Magazine • Cover Feature

COLLABORATION FEEDS SUCCESS As the number and breadth of dining options in Omaha continues to expand year over year, the discussion runs deeper than just the sheer number and types of offerings. Generally speaking, Omaha’s leading chefs of today want everyone else to do well. This sentiment runs deeper than one might expect. O’Malley describes it as a collaborative tension, one that spurs both innovation and craftsmanship. In this way, the creative culture borrows from that of Omaha’s music and art scenes; the sharing of ideas tends to benefit the final product in tangible and intangible ways. There’s also the stripped-down truth about a good, old-fashioned work ethic. Says O’Malley: “We have this super-heightened respect for hard work. Everyone is willing to support you when you bust your ass.” Careful not to subscribe to rampant boostering that can foul up a creative scene, Omaha chefs have gotten really good at working together. Kulik asserts it has to do with the friendships cultivated over the past decades, often in slavishly small hot kitchens. Collaborative events help, too: everything from Emerging Terrain’s 2010 Harvest Dinner—a five-course meal prepared by 10 area chefs using ingredients from 40 local farms serving 500 diners—to regularly occurring pairing dinners and chef swaps. It’s common to see name-studded menus advertising the provenance of a particular ingredient: French Bulldog sausage, for example, or Culprit Cafe & Bakery bread.

For Bryce Coulton of The French Bulldog, it’s using food as a way to experience something elsewhere, whether that’s your grandma’s smoked braunschweiger or a Thai summer sausage that takes you to the shores of Bangkok. For Maides, it’s growing up around kitchens, and watching his grandmother gather fresh vegetables from the garden to cook with. At the core of this sincerity is a yearning for the uncomplicated, and the possibility for perfection. When Kulik and his crew make a menu, they first sit down and decide what it is they’re most excited about. Once they have that, the process turns to how they transfer that excitement to the dishes at hand. “If you want to get good at what you do,” advises Kulik, “you have to narrow your focus on the philosophy of the place.” These days, with menus that have mostly gotten over a rough case of identity crisis and executed in a positive environment for the right reasons, Omaha’s O kitchens are headed in the right direction.

Isa Chandra Moskowitz Cedric Fichepain

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME Omaha’s contemporary restaurants are remarkably more genuine than most. Where there’s a great dish, an approachable chef isn’t far behind. In a national climate that pushes franchised fast casual concepts that don’t let you forget that you are dining inside of a concept, it is refreshing to feel connected to the people making your food and the story they’re trying to tell. Growth is done with caution, and for the most part, no one goes into this field to become rich. It’s much more heartfelt than profit; they’re intent on sharing a special something.

Paul Kulik

Clayton Chapman

May // June • 2016 | 160 | omahamagazine.com

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instagram.com/omahamagazine May // June • 2016 | 161 | bestofomaha.com

Chef Kyle Lamb STORY BY TAMSEN BUTLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

May // June • 2016 | 162 | omahamagazine.com

Omaha Magazine • Chef Profile

T’S NOT HARD to track down the origins of Chef Kyle

Lamb’s love of cooking. “In my family, if you cooked you didn’t have to do dishes,” Lamb explains. When you couple this with two grandmothers who not only loved to cook but also encouraged Lamb to cook alongside them, it becomes easy to understand how he ended up taking on head chef duties at V. Mertz.

Born and raised in Lincoln, Lamb still lives there today and commutes to Omaha for work. “The environment that is V. Mertz is the reason I make the sacrifice to commute here,” says Lamb. “There’s a great reputation behind it. Matthew, our general manager, is second to none; he’s the nuts and bolts of V. Mertz. The owner, David Hayes, is the best person you could ever hope to work for. He’s very supportive of everything that Matthew and I do here. It’s rare to find someone who cares so much about everyone who works for him, and that trickles down. I care about all my cooks and want them to be successful.” Throughout Lamb’s life, all roads seemed to lead back to cooking no matter which path he took. At Doane College he majored in criminology and psychology but considered leaving in his sophomore year to pursue a culinary career. He ended up earning his degrees and getting a job in law enforcement but found he lacked a passion for that career. Lamb enrolled in the Art Institute of Jacksonville, Florida, to receive his formal education in culinary arts. “The culinary school really gives you the basics. After that it’s up to you to fine-tune your skills and immerse yourself in the industry.” Lamb is confident that choosing culinary arts was the right decision. “I’ve never second-guessed it. It’s a push forward to see what’s next and what I can improve on, and it never gets old. I’m still as passionate now as I was in the beginning.” He started with some line cook positions while he was still in culinary school, and then his career began to move into high gear when he was hired at Chew Restaurant and later at McCrady’s in South Carolina under Chef Sean Brock, a James Beard award-winning chef. “Chef Brock is one of the foremost chefs in the country and world,” says Lamb, crediting Brock with inspiring passion about food among everyone who worked for him. Lamb places Chef Brock prominently among the list of chefs who inspire him most. Others include Chefs Paul Kahan, Thomas Keller, and Daniel Hines.

It wasn’t long before Lamb’s love for Nebraska compelled him to return. “I wanted to be back around family. It’s always home and I missed it a lot.” Lamb spent a couple of years as the executive chef at Wilderness Ridge in Lincoln before accepting the position at V. Mertz. When asked about his favorite dish to prepare at V. Mertz, he replies that his favorites change with the seasons. “The menu changes often, so whatever is new is the one I love the most. When the produce on one dish is coming to an end, we think about what we can do next. It’s not a matter of what I like best but what we’re doing right now that’s the best.” Lamb’s advice for aspiring chefs is to work hard and never stop learning. “It takes a lot of time and effort to do what we do. Young cooks should go out and see restaurants in other states and experience as much as they can before deciding where they’re going to be for the duration. At some point you need to take the step to become the lead line cook, sous chef, the chef de cuisine, the executive chef. You need to work as hard as you can or it’s going to show on what you put on the plate.” He says 12-hour days are the norm for most chefs, so a chef needs to have a passion for the craft of cooking in order to be successful. Being honored as Chef Par Excellence at the Nebraska Taste of Elegance Competition in 2015 was a career highlight for Lamb, but one of his proudest moments as a chef was the first time one of his dishes was placed on the menu at McCrady’s. “It was smoked sweetbreads and turnips done a couple of different ways.” Lamb’s passion for cooking has not waned over the years, nor has his dislike for doing the dishes. The rule of “I cook, you O clean” still reigns in his house, although he says he’ll help his wife with the dishes sometimes. Visit vmertz.com for more information.

May // June • 2016 | 163 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Dining | Mystery Review

An Uncommonly Good Mall Food Experience STORY BY MYSTERY REVIEWER PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

HEN I AM trying to pick a place to go for a quick

casual meal, the mall is not usually one of my top choices. That changed when Flagship Commons opened at Westroads Mall in January 2016. Now I find myself going to the mall to eat all the time. Judging by the crowds, it appears I’m not alone.

Flagship Commons is an innovative new concept by the Flagship Restaurant Group. These are the same people that brought to Omaha Blue Sushi Sake Grill, Roja Mexican Grill, Blatt Beer & Table, Plank Seafood Provisions, and Amsterdam Falafel & Kabob.

May // June • 2016 | 164 | omahamagazine.com

Omaha Magazine • Dining | Mystery Review

Blatt Beer & Table

Amsterdam Falafel & Kabob

In the comfortable and open Flagship Commons area, you will find eight different fast casual or full service dining concepts, plus a bar, in one food hall. The list includes: Weirdough Pizza Company, Yum Roll Sushi, Yoshi-Ya Ramen, Clever Greens, Juan Taco, Aromas Coffee House, Amsterdam Falafel & Kabob, and Blatt Beer & Table. As you might guess the hardest part about eating at Flagship Commons is deciding which concept to go to. Well, I have tried all of them and I can tell you that they are all good. It just depends what you like and what you are in the mood for.

“WELL, I HAVE TRIED ALL OF THEM AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE ALL GOOD. IT JUST DEPENDS WHAT YOU LIKE AND WHAT YOU ARE IN THE MOOD FOR.” Some of my personal favorites come from Blatt Beer & Table, which has an abbreviated menu of what you will find at the other locations that share its name. Here you will find the best-ever mall burger ($11.50), and some very tasty mac and cheese ($9), as well as a great assortment of craft beers ($5.50 each). Amsterdam Falafel & Kabob is kind of fun in that you first chose a style—flatbread, salad, or plate. Next choose a protein—falafel ($6.25), beef ($7.99), lamb ($7.99) or chicken ($7.50). Then you can doctor it up with assorted sauces and veggies. Juan Taco has a great assortment of authentic tacos ($2$4.50) as well as some very yummy quesadillas ($2.50-$4.25).

Yum Roll Sushi My favorite is the Tonkotsu Deluxe ($11.50). This ramen soup has chicken and pork broth, chashu, ajitama egg, menma, moyashi, negi, corn, pork belly, and rayu chili oil. Yum Roll Sushi has some excellent bowls ($7-$9), sashimi ($5-$7), nigiri ($4.50-$6.50) and of course sushi rolls ($4-$11.50). Weirdough Pizza Company is known for its Roman-style, square-cut pizza, made by hand to order in their custom oven. You can get whole-sized pies ($18-$23) or a large slice ($3.75-$4.50). Many of the concepts serve beer and wine and there is also a full bar at the appropriately named “The Bar.” I should also mention that there is a reverse happy hour Sunday-Thursday from 7:30 p.m. to close. I really like this concept and think that it has some great growth potential. If you have not been over to check it out yet, you really need to do so soon. Cheers!

Over at Clever Greens everything is bursting with freshness. They have some specialty entree salads ($7.50-$13), or you can build your own creation, specifying every single ingredient. The build-your-own option starts at $7.50. As you might have guessed Yoshi-ya Ramen serves up authentic ramen noodles. May // June • 2016 | 166 | omahamagazine.com

FLAGSHIP COMMONS 10000 California St. (Westroads Mall) 402-932-9993 FLAGSHIPCOMMONS.COM FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE PRICE $$ OVERALL 5 STARS POSSIBLE

FLING

I N TO

SPRING

THE SURE THING | $44 O u r 3 - co u r s e p r ix f ixe m e n u Enjoy soup or salad, entrée and dessert. After all, everyone loves a sure thing.

402-342-0077

222 South 15th Street

Omaha, NE

SULLIVANSSTEAKHOUSE.COM

May // June • 2016 | 167 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Dining Guide AMERICAN BLATT BEER & TABLE - $$

610 N 12th St. (402-718-8822) 2835 S. 170th Plz. (402-697-7802) Blatt strives to bring people together. It’s a hub for common folk, those who appreciate craft beer and thoughtful pub food. Meat eaters and vegetarians come together over a menu focused on basic good food. The beer is great and the company is even better. blatbeer.com

CHCAGO DAWG HOUSE - $

3157 Farnam 402-504-1234 Omaha’s ONLY Chicago Style restaurant located in the heart of the city at Midtown Crossing. Chicago style Hot Dogs, Italian Beef and hand cut Fries and Onion Rings. Catering available.

DJ’S DUGOUT - $

636 N 114th St. (402-498-8855) 1003 Capitol Ave. (402-763-9974) 10308 S 23rd St. (402-292-9096) 2102 S 67th St. (402-933-3533) 180th & Q St. (402-292-9096) Hwy 75 & Oak Hill Rd. (402-298-4166) Catch all of the action at four Omaha locations. Featuring burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, appetizers, and an impressive drink menu along with HD TVs and projectors. Home to Blazin’ Pianos, Omaha’s only dueling piano concept. djsdugout.com

FLATIRON CAFE - $$

402-344-3040 1722 St. Mary's Ave Our Classics Endure for a Reason...The Flatiron Cafe staff has been serving well prepared contemporary cuisine, in one of Omaha's most beautiful dining rooms, since 1995. We are committed to old school hospitality, taking care to honor your most special or casual occasions, with all the attention and style that our talented staff can provide. Robustly delicious food, in the historic Hotel Flatiron, close to our exceptional downtown theaters, hotels, and commerce. Tuesday through Saturday evenings from 5pm- reservations suggested at opentable. com or 402-344-3040. www.theflatironcafe.com.

Get a Little Saucy.

JAMS- $$

7814 Dodge Street (402-399-8300) 1101 Harney Street in the Old Market (402-614-9333) Jams is an Omaha restaurant legacy. An American Grill that offers a melting pot of different styles and varieties of food dishes made with high-quality ingredients that pair well with award winning wines or creative cocktails.

LE PEEP® - $

SPEZIA SPECIALTIES

177th & Center St. (402-934-9914) 156th & W. Dodge Rd. (402-408-1728) 120th & Blondo St. (402-991-8222) Le Peep® puts a wholesome perspective on your favorite neighborhood Breakfast & Lunch spot. Fresh. Simple. Elegant. Inviting. We put the emphasis on people, both patrons and staff. We focus on providing each of our guests the fresh food and friendly service that they have come to expect. Open daily 6:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

FRESH SEAFOOD • ANGUS BEEF INNOVATIVE PASTA • RISOTTO GNOCCHI • FRESH SALMON DAILY

SATURDAY NOW OPENLUNCH 7 DAYS A[11am–4 WEEKpm]

$10

COCKTAILHOUR HOUR COCKTAIL

OFF ANY TICKET OVER $25 NOCASH CASH VALUE. VALUE.EXPIRES EXPIRES12/31/2011 6/30/16 NO

LOUIE’S WINE DIVE - $ MC, V

MONDAY – SATURDAY EVERY DAY FROM 4-6PM 4 – 6 PM ALL COCKTAILS, GLASS WINE ALL COCK TAILS, GL ASS WINE AND BEERS ARE HALF PRICE AND BEERS ARE HALF PRICE

16820 Wright Plz. 402-884-8966 Creative gourmet comfort food, and a funky, fun atmosphere. Great wines, many of which come small vineyards, at a great value. Gourmet comfort food is made fresh, using eco-friendly and local ingredients whenever possible. Mon. 4 p.m.-10 p.m., Tue.-Thur. 11a.m.-10p.m., Fri./Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., and 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS • 402-391-2950 CENTRAL LOCATION • 3125 SOUTH 72ND STREET • EASY ACCESS OFF I-80 • 72ND STREET EXIT

March // April • 2016 | 168 | omahamagazine.com

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$+$30+ MC=Master Card • V=Visa AE=American Express • DC=Discover Card

Visit us for a luxury lounge experience with special drink offerings and a full bar. Have a sip while you plan your next trip!

ENJOY THESE HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS MON - SAT | 3- 7 PM

$3 Wells • $3 Beers • $3 off any glass of wine FREE select appetizer when you buy a bottle of wine

Located in The Shops of Legacy 16950 Wright Plaza #151, Omaha, NE March // April • 2016 | 169 traveldesignlounge.com | bestofomaha.com

Like us on

Omaha Magazine • Dining Guide MILLARD ROADHOUSE - $ MC, V

13325 Millard Ave. 402-891-9292 The all American neighborhood grill Millard Roadhouse is perfect for the whole family, with hugh portions, great service and even better food. From broasted chicken to fried green tomatoes, theres something for every taste, and trust us your not going to leave hungry. Also serving Sunday Brunch and the Best Happy Hour in the area. Mon.-Wed. 11:00-9:00pm, Thur.-Sat. 11:00am-10:00pm, Sun. 10:00am-9:00pm.

LO-LO’S CHICKEN & WAFFLES - $

402-991-9400 7051 Ames Avenue What came first? The chicken or the waffle? Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles has the juiciest, most flavorful fried chicken and the fluffiest, melt-in- your-mouth waffles which has created an underground soul food revolution – one that’s slowly spreading downright deliciousness across the country.

PHOENIX FOOD & SPIRITS - $

jamseats.com

402-493-7607 12015 Blondo St. Come experience the Best Burgers on Blondo. Also featuring one of Omaha's best happy hours and reverse happy hour. The Phoenix offers friendly service, a heated patio and numerous televisions so you won't miss a minute of the action. This is the place where Omaha goes for Fun, Food & Spirits.

STELLA’S - $ MC, V, AE, DC

402-291-6088 106 S Galvin Road, Bellevue Since 1936, we’ve been making our Stella’s world famous hamburgers the same way. The family secrets have been handed down to each owner to ensure that your burger is the same one you fell in love with the first time you ever tried Stella’s. And if it’s your first time, we know you’ll be back! Mon.–Sat. 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m., Sun. closed. stellasbarandgrill.com

UNCLE BUCK’S GRILL - $

Serving Nebraska's Great Steaks and American Classics!

712-325-5300 2901 Bass Pro Drive, Council Bluffs Offering their famous fish and chips, along with a wide variety of specialty burgers (including buffalo burgers) hickory fired rotisserie chicken, ribs, salmon, tuna, and salads. Full service bar and restaurant with a unique banquet room seating up to 100. Mon.-Sat. 11am-9pm, Sun. 11am to 7pm. Suggest reservations for large groups.

UPSTREAM BREWING COMPANY - $$

514 S. 11th St. (402-344-0200) 17070 Wright Plz. (402-778-0100) Upstream features an extensive menu of new American pub fare including appetizers, thin-crust pizzas, superb steaks featuring Omaha Steaks, fresh fish, pasta, salads, sandwiches, and a great children’s menu. Fresh, handcrafted beer and root beer on tap. Extensive wine list. Call ahead for group reservations or to be placed on our waiting list. Visit our classic, upscale poolroom located on the second level.

Homemade Ice cream and PIes • 5914 center • Petrows.com • 402.551.0552 Serving the Metro Area for More Than 20 Years! Sports Bar

SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS

2016 Winner

OMAHA.COM

TBL

KETV 7 • Baxter Arena

402.884.8966

16920 Wright Plz. Omaha, NE

louieswinedive.com

WE DELIVER

DUNDEE LOCATION 402.934.9439 4900 Dodge Street Omaha, NE 68132

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

RALSTON LOCATION 402.339.1944 9735 Q Street Omaha, NE 68127

MILLARD LOCATION BELLEVUE LOCATION 402.505.6660 402.932.1944 14529 F Street 3504 Samson Way Omaha, NE 68137 Bellevue, NE 68123

WWW.VARSITYROMANCOINPIZZA.COM

March // April • 2016 | 170 | omahamagazine.com

VARSITY SPORTS CAFE & ROMAN COIN PIZZA - $$

4900 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68132 (402-934-9439) 9735 Q Street, Omaha, NE 68127 (402-339-1944) 14529 F Street, Omaha, NE 68137 (402-505-6660) 3504 Samson Way Bellevue, NE 68123 (402-932-1944) VSC & RCP has been in business for over 20 years with four metro locations—in your neighborhood. From our made-from-scratch dough and signature marinara sauce, to our quality toppings and real cheese, we have perfected the hand-tossed pizza! We have state-of-the-art satellite service so you can watch all the games on our HD televisions. Sun.-Thurs. 11a.m.-1a.m., Fri. & Sat. 11a.m.-2a.m. varsityromancoinpizza.com.

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$+$30+ MC=Master Card • V=Visa AE=American Express • DC=Discover Card

OMAHA’S ORIGINAL STEAKHOUSE

Omaha’s Only

Authentic German Restaurant

Locally Owned Since 1976 • Proudly serving visitor & locals for 90 years. • Featured on CNN.com Best Meat Cities in America • Serving hand cut steaks, aged on premise and slow roasted prime rib with pride. 402-731-4774 www.johnnyscafe.com 27th & ‘L’ St., Kennedy Frwy, ‘L’ St. Exit 8 Minutes from Downtown Omaha.

Best Of Omaha 10 Years Running

WHERE WHERE GOOD GOOD FOOD FOOD AND AND GOOD GOOD SERVICE SERVICE NEVER NEVER GO GO OUT OUT OF OF STYLE. STYLE.

German Beer featuring Wheat, Dunkel, & Lager German strudel, sauerkraut, potato salad, and schnitzel. Wednesday and Thursday Night American Pan Fried Chicken. Full Bakery, Fresh Bread, Donuts, & Cakes.

Reservations Welcome 10 min from downtown Omaha

5180 Leavenworth

402-553-6774

GerdasGermanRestaurant.com

Thanks for Voting Us

#1 BREAKFAST 8 YEARS in a Row!

177th & Center • 934-9914 156th & Dodge • 408-1728 120th & Blondo • 991-8222 Drive-Thru Open (Center St. Only) Open Daily 6:30am-2:00pm Serving Breakfast & Lunch All Day! March // April • 2016 | 171 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Dining Guide

Thank you Omaha for voting us Best Family Restaurant!

“Serving The Best Chicken in Town Since 1997”

13325 Millard Ave. • 402-891-9292 www.millardroadhouse.com

Farm Fresh

Stella’s Bar and Grill

“Serving World Famous Hamburgers since 1936” 106 Galvin Rd • Bellevue, NE • 402-291-6088 • Open Monday-Saturday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

5203 Leavenworth st. Omaha, NE 68106

Lunch Mon-Fri 11-2 Dinner Mon-Sat 5-10

www.jcocoomaha.com March // April • 2016 | 172 | omahamagazine.com

Foods You Love To Eat

3461 S 84th St, Omaha, NE 68124 402.393.0640 . farmhousecafe.com

Omaha Magazine • Dining Guide ICE CREAM TED AND WALLY’S - $ MC, V

402-341-5827 1120 Jackson St. Come experience the true taste of homemade ice cream in the Old Market. Since 1986, we’ve created gourmet ice cream flavors in small batches using rock salt and ice. We offer your favorites plus unique flavors like margarita, green tea, Guinness, and French toast. Special orders available.

ITALIAN DON CARMELO'S PIZZERIA - $

402-933-3190 10821 Prairie Brook Rd. Omaha's first and finest New York-style pizza, stromboli, calzones, oven-toasted hoagies, Philly cheesesteaks, pasta, salads, beer, and wine. We also feature take-out and delivery and can cater your special event, large or small. Tue.-Thur., 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Fri. & Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun., Noon-8 p.m.

LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$ MC, V

402-556-6464 45th & Leavenworth St. La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha it’s legendary Neapolitan Style pizza and pasta for 60 years now. We offer dine in, carryout, party facilities, catering and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states. Open Tues.- Sat. at 11 a.m. and Sun. at 4:30 p.m. lacasapizzaria.net

LO SOLE MIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO - $$

402-345-5656 3001 S. 32nd Ave. Located in the middle of a neighborhood, surrounded by charming homes. Everyone is greeted with homemade bread, a bowl of fresh tomatoes and basil, a bowl of oven-roasted garlic cloves, specialseasoned olive oil, and at night, a jug of Chianti! The menu includes a large variety of pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, and even a delicious New York steak. Traditional dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, and eggplant parmigiana are also available. Lunch also offers panini, salads, and one of the best pizzas in town. Patio seating, full bar, and a great wine list complete the atmosphere. No reservations, except for private rooms.

PASTA AMORE - $$ MC, V, AE

402-391-2585 11027 Prairie Brook Rd. Pastas are made fresh daily, including tortellini, fettuccine, and capellini. Daily specials and menu items include a variety of fresh seafood and regional Italian dishes, such as linguini amore and calamari steak, penne Florentine, gnocchi, spaghetti puttanesca, and ossobuco. Filet mignon is also offered for those who appreciate nationally renowned Nebraska beef. To complement your dining experience, the restaurant offers a full bar and extensive wine list. Be sure to leave room for homemade desserts, like the tiramisu and cannoli. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dinner: 4:30 p.m. Reservations recommended.

EST. 1993 6 OMAHA AREA LOCATIONS!

Downtown - 10th & Capitol - 402-763-9974 Aksarben Village - 67th & Center - 402-933-3533 Miracle Hills - 114th & Dodge - 402-498-8855 Millard - 180th & Q - 402-933-8844 Bellevue - 23rd & Cornhusker - 402-292-9096 Plattsmouth - Hwy 75 & Oak Hill Rd. - 402-298-4166

DJSDUGOUT.COM

PITCH - $$ MC, V, AE, DC

402- 590-2625 5021 Underwood Ave. Open Table Diners Choice 2014 HotSpot Restaurants in America. Keeping up with the traditional way the first pizzas in Italy were made, our pizzas are cooked in a coal-fired oven. The menu also features seafood, handcut steak, housemade pastas, and a burger full of flavor! Our goal is to provide you with local, housemade, and imported ingredients. We offer a Happy Hour menu through the week. And, our bar provides an array of in-house concoctions as well as your traditional libation! Our wine selection is well-thought and most impressive!! You will enjoy Pitch! Mon. 3 p.m.-10 p.m., Tue.-Thur. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m.-10 p.m. pitchpizzeria.com.

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$+$30+ MC=Master Card • V=Visa AE=American Express • DC=Discover Card

March // April • 2016 | 173 | bestofomaha.com

Sports Bar

2016 First Place KETV 7 • Baxter Arena

Omaha Magazine • Dining Guide SPEZIA - $$$ MC, V

402-391-2950 3125 S. 72nd St. Choose Spezia for lunch or dinner, where you ll find a casual elegance that s perfect for business guests, get-togethers, or any special occasion. Exceptional food, wine, and service, with a delectable menu: fresh seafood, Certified Angus steaks, innovative pasta, risotto, gnocchi, cioppino, lamb, entrée salads, Mediterranean chicken, flatbreads, and fresh salmon daily. Enjoy a full bar, Italian and California wines, Anniversary Lovers Booth (call to reserve), private dining rooms, and wood-fired grill. Open Mon.-Sun. Cocktail hour: 4-6 p.m., when all cocktails, glass wine, and beers are half price. Evening reservations recommended.

ZIO’S PIZZERIA - $$ MC, V

7834 Dodge St. (402-391-1881) 12997 W. Center Rd. (402-330-1444) 1109 Howard St. (402-344-2222) Delivery, dine in, and carry out. Serving New York style pizza by the slice or whole pies, calzones, hoagies, pastas, salads, and garlic breads. Our pies are hand-stretched and baked in old-world ovens. We offer 35 of the freshest toppings; taste the freshest pizza at Zio’s! Family dining, open seven days a week. Lunch specials and beer and wine available.

MEXICAN EL ALAMO - $ MC, V, AE, DC

402-731-8969 4917 S. 24th St. Located in the heart of Omaha’s thriving Hispanic community. We provide catering services and a party room. elalamoomaha.com

FERNANDO’S - $ MC, V, AE

7555 Pacific St. (402-339-8006) 380 N. 114th St. (402-330-5707) Featuring Sonoran-style cooking made fresh daily. Catering and party rooms also available. Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun., 4 p.m.-9 p.m.

LA MESA - $$ MC, V

156th & Q St.(402-763-2555) 110th & Maple St.(402-496-1101) Ft. Crook Rd. & 370 (402-733-8754) 84th & Tara Plaza (402-593-0983) Lake Manawa Exit, Council Bluffs, IA (712-256-2762) Come experience an authentic taste experience at La Mesa! From awesome enchiladas to fabulous fajitas, La Mesa has something for every connoisseur of Mexican fare to savor. Get started with one of La Mesa’s famous margaritas! So kick back in our fun-friendly atmosphere and you’ll see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s # 1 Mexican Restaurant 11 Years in a Row! www.la-mesa.com

MARGARITA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT - $

2505 S. 132nd St. (402-991-3555) 4915 S. 72nd St. (402-393-7515) Margaritas is a business with more than 7 years in the food world. We offer authentic food at 2 nice locations in Omaha where you can enjoy a nice moment with your family.

PASTA AMORE

lunch Mon-Fri: 11AM-2PM Dinner Mon-Sat: 4:30PM-Close Thank You Omaha for 30 Years of Patronage!

Rockbrook Village (108th & Center)

402.391.2585

www.pastaamore.com Like Us on Facebook March // April • 2016 | 174 | omahamagazine.com

ROJA MEXICAN GRILL - $$

17010 Wright Plz. (402-333-7652) 1212 Harney St. (402-346-9190) Roja Mexican Grill serves it up Tex-Mex style. Fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, chimichangas, and more! All with sizzling smack and an extra helping of Tex flavor. Wash it all down with a Pomegrante Margarita or a tall boy Tecate. Our drink menu boasts more than 80 tequilas. rojagrill.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$+$30+ MC=Master Card • V=Visa AE=American Express • DC=Discover Card

Omaha Magazine • Dining Guide Best Greek

THANK YOU OMAHA FOR VOTING US BEST PIZZA 24 STRAIGHT YEARS! Hand-stretched New York style pizza

Family Owned Since 1983

Catering ~ Party Room Available Homemade, Fresh Food ~ Always 3821 Center St. 402/346-1528

GreekIslandsOmaha.com

CALZONES · PASTA · SALADS · LUNCH SPECIALS APPETIZERS · BEER · WINE · MARGARITAS

391-1881

330-1444

7834 Dodge St.

O’Connor’s Irish Pub 1217 Howard St. • Omaha, NE 68102 402-934-9790 • oconnorsomaha.com

12997 W. Center Rd.

344-2222

1109 Howard St. (Old Market)

HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY FROM 4PM-6PM 0010-2015UpstreamAd-OmahaMag-5x4.917_fnl.pdf

Family Owned & Operated Authentic Italian Cuisine Party Rooms Available Carry Out Available

Serving Lunch & Dinner

Mon-Sat

3001 S. 32nd Ave • Omaha, NE 402-345-5656 NEW HOURS MON-THUR 11AM-10PM FRI-SAT 11AM-11:30PM HAPPY HOUR DAILY 3:30PM-6:30PM REVERSE HAPPY HOUR FRI & SAT 9:30PM-11:30PM CLOSED SUNDAY

3623 N. 129 ST. OMAHA, NE 68164 402.991.9088 | SALT88.COM

March // April • 2016 | 175 | bestofomaha.com

4/7/15

3:51 PM ZIOSPIZZERIA.COM

Omaha Magazine • Dining Guide SEAFOOD CHARLIE’S ON THE LAKE - $$

• • • •

Chicago Style Hot Dogs Chilli Dogs Italian Beef Polish & Italian Sausage

402-894-9411 4150 . 144th St. Charlie’s is the only fresh-fish-daily seafood restaurant in Omaha. Features a relaxed yet contemporary atmosphere that is fun for all ages. Besides fresh seafood, Charlie’s is the home of the James Bondstyle martini (shaken, not stirred) in over 20 varieties in addition to over 60 wines. Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sat., 4:30 p.m.-11 p.m.. • Hand Cut Fries • Onion Rings • Catering Available!

3157 Farnam • Midtown Crossing 402.504.1234 chicagodawghouse.com

GOLDEN PALACE Sonoran Style Cooking Made Fresh Daily. Catering and Party Rooms Also Available. 7555 Pacific St. 399–8006 380 N.114 St. 330–5707 Omaha, Nebraska

Mandarin • Hunan Szechuan • Cantonese Shanghai 4040 N 132nd St (132 & Maple) 402.493.277 | GoldenPalaceNE.com

Bringing Italy to Omaha

n Sandwi ube ch Re

for Over 90 Years

2016 First Place KETV 7 • Baxter Arena

Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben! Orsi’s is famous for our pizza. Our Italian Deli features a variety of meats, homemade sausage, cakes, cannolis, cheese and bread products.

621 Pacific St, Omaha • 402-345-3438 www.orsibakery.com

PLANK SEAFOOD PROVISIONS - $$$

402-507-4480 1205 Howard St. Plank Seafood Provisions is a coastally-inspired oyster bar and seafood grill. Our menu is faithful to the tradition of fresh seafood, high-quality ingredients, and a made-from-scratch mentality. A different oyster variety is offered daily for $1.25 during Happy Hour. plank seafood.com

GOLDEN PALACE

Omaha’s largest selection of craft beers.

3578 Farnam St • 402-345-1708 www.beercornerusa.com

SPECIAL DINING AMSTERDAM FALAFEL & KABOB MIDDLE EASTERN- $

402-504-3223 620 N. 50th St. Casual counter service and a simple menu allows you to explore exotic flavors in a friendly and approachable dining environment. Amsterdam packs the best spices and sauces from around the world into their falafel & kabob menu. Your visit won’t be complete without an order of their famous Curry Fries. eatafk.com

BLUE SUSHI SAKE GRILL- $$

14450 Eagle Run Dr. (402-445-2583) 16939 Wright Plz. (402-547-5959) 416 S. 12th St. (402-408-5566) Fresh and energetic, Blue Sushi Sake Grill offers an inspired mix of creative sushi for purists and adventurers alike. You will enjoy a dining experience infused with flavor and spirited atmosphere. A large maki, sashimi and nigiri menu complements Asian-inspired cold plates, hot plates, entrees, soups, desserts and an extensive premium sake menu. bluesushisakegrill.com.

BUSHWACKERS- $

402-593-9037 7401 Main St., Ralston, NE Live music every Fri. night and DJ on Sat. night. Free dance lessons every Wed. and Thur. night from 7-8pm. Now serving food Wed.-Sun.

CRESCENT MOON ALE HOUSE - $

402-345-1708 3578 Farnam St. Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia, Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best reuben sandwich, we are a midtown beer lover’s destination. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen hours: Mon.-Wed., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat. 11 a.m.-midnight. Closed Sun. www.beercornerusa.com.

NEW LOCATION! NOW OPEN! A Fusion of Moroccan and Mediterranean Flavors 402.502.0739 504 N 33rd St. Omaha, NE marrakechgourmetomaha.com

40th & Dodge • 402.558.5623 (Drive thru at this location) 114th & Dodge • 402.504.4976

Fresh, Greek, Fast! Eat In - Catering

M-Th & Sa: 11a-8:30p Fri: 11a-9p fetasgyros.com

March // April • 2016 | 176 | omahamagazine.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$+$30+ MC=Master Card • V=Visa AE=American Express • DC=Discover Card

Since 1921

Sunny Side Up!

B a u l l n e t ! o R e t i r o v a F r u o nY Hamburger Buns Hot Dog Buns Brat Buns

Gluten-Free Buns Ciabatta Buns Hoagies

www.rotellasbakery.com

March // April • 2016 | 177 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Dining Guide THE CHROME

402-339-8660 8552 Park Dr. Live music every Fri. and Sat. nights. Song writer night on Thur.

FETA'S GYRO & CATERING - $$

743 N. 114th St. (402-504-4976) 119 S. 40th St. (402 558 5623) Fast casual restaurant serving Greek and American foods. Featuring homemade baklava! The 119 S. 40th location has a drive-thru for your convenience.

GERDA’S GERMAN RESTAURANT & BAKERY - $

402-553-6774 5180 Leavenworth St. Omaha’s only authentic German restaurant; a little piece of Germany in Omaha. Gerda herself makes homemade spaetzle, schnitzels, and rouladen Fresh-made soups, red cabbage, sauerkraut, and dumplings are a few other treats. Stay for a dessert of Black Forest cake or grab fresh bakery for breakfast on your way out. Check hours at gerdasgermanrestaurant.com.

HORSEMEN’S PARK- $

402-731-2900 6303 Q St. One-dollar pints, $1.75 domestic bottles, and $2 well drinks for our happy hour Mon.-Wed., 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays are 25-cent wings from 3-8 p.m., Wednesdays are Steak Night after 5 p.m., Thursdays are 75-cent tacos and $1.75 margaritas after 5 p.m., and Fridays are Prime Rib Dinner after 5 p.m. Daily specials seven days a week. Open at 10 a.m. www.horsemenspark.com

JAIPUR INDIAN RESTAURANT AND BREWERY - $$$

402-392-7331 10922 Elm St. A casual restaurant in a relaxed atmosphere. Dinner entrees include fresh vegetables, grilled Colorado lamb sirloin, sushi-grade Ahi, tandoori marinated grilled salmon, and tandoori grilled beef tenderloin to name a few. A wide selection of wines and liquor, as well as on-site brewed beer. Lunch: Thurs. and Fri., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dinner: Sun.-Thurs., 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Fri and Sat., 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m.

J.COCO - $$$

402-504-3711 11226 Chicago Cir. "Grand China Buffet is located 1 block south of 114th St. & Dodge. Our restaurant is dedicated to offering the most memorable dinning experience for you. We provide a party Room & Catering Service for all occasions. A carry out buffet is also available.

402-884-2626 5203 Leavenworth St. The building that once housed a beloved neighborhood grocery has a new future. Built as a grocery back in 1925 it is now home to J. Coco. Our seasonal menus rooted in tradition, showcases our natural ingredients. Local, organic, and sustainable when available. We feature craft bar tending, house made desserts and pastas. We celebrate traditional… With a modern twist. Lunch (M-F 11am-2pm) - Dinner (M-Sat 5-close) jcocoomaha.com

GREEK ISLANDS - $

MARRAKECH GOURMET - $$

GRAND CHINA BUFFET - $$

402-346-1528 3821 Center St. Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. Well known for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests. Carryout and delivery available. Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

GUCKENHEIMER - $

1200 Douglas St. - Holland Performing Arts Center 1400 Douglas St - The Dining Room at Union Pacific Featuring 2 great dining experiences. The Dining Room at Union Pacific features International cuisine with fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients. We are open for breakfast and lunch. The Holland Performing Arts Center features Zinc, a full service upscale dining experience, and Ovations Bar & Lounge. Open before and after performances.

402-502-0739 504 N 33rd St Sit back and prepare for an authentic Moroccan dining experience. Choose from a savory array of traditional entrees such as chicken, lamb, and vegetarian dishes, influenced by a variety of Mediterranean flavors. We invite you to relax and enjoy an evening of fine food and extraordinary hospitality. Visit today! Sunday-Saturday 11am-10pm. marrakechgourmetomaha.com

NOSH RESTAURANT AND WINE LOUNGE - $$

402-614-2121 1006 Dodge St. Located in downtown Omaha blocks away from the CenturyLink Center Omaha, Holland Performing Arts, and the Old Market—Nosh is the perfect place to gather and celebrate good times. Guests are sure to enjoy our comfortable relaxing atmosphere, diverse wine list, impressive cocktails and food that will please any palate. noshwine.com

O’CONNOR’S IRISH PUB - $

402-934-9790 1217 Howard St. Comfortable, relaxing atmosphere. Great before and after games. We offer pub style food—burgers, reubens, daily specials, and homemade soups—as well as all the traditional Irish favorite libations: Guinness, Harp, and Irish whiskey. Grill hours: Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

SALT 88 - $$

402-991-9088 3623 N. 129th St. Brought to you by the owners of Hiro 88, Salt is a New American adventure in cuisine. Its a restaurant supported by a friendly staff, savory appetizers, and, most importantly, free cotton candy at the end of your meal. Guests are sure to notice that not only is the food unique, but its ambiance feels modern and inviting, making your meal not just delicious, but memorable. salt88.com

THE WOODCLIFF RESTAURANT - $$

402-721-2922 980 County Rd. W., Fremont, NE The Woodcliff Restaurant takes lakeside dining to a new level. Our accomplished Chefs deliver a wide selection of traditional favorites and new experimental cuisine. We also offer a refined selection of wine and spirits.

TRAVEL DESIGN LOUNGE - $$

402-548-3280 16950 Wright Plaza Suite 151 Travel Design Lounge is a full service travel agency combined with a full bar and coffee shop. Come in anytime to enjoy drinks with friends over happy hour or let us guide you in planning the vacation of a lifetime. “Get Tripsy” and be inspired to travel!

ZESTO ICE CREAM & GRILL - $

7130 N. 102nd Cr. (402-884-7106) Cherry Hills 8608 N. 30th St. (402-451-0581) Florence Zesto has been an Omaha staple for over 60 years, With our 2 locations being voted among Omaha's best Ice Cream. We pride ourselves on our great customer service and quality products.

STEAKHOUSES 801 CHOPHOUSE - $$$$

402-341-1222 1403 Farnam St. Designed with a 1920s-era New York chophouse in mind, 801 is the epitome of elegance. You will not forget the crisp-white-tablecloth, fine-dining experience. From our USDA prime-grade beef and jet-fresh seafood from all over the world, we are truly the best Omaha has to offer. Open seven nights a week.

BROTHER SEBASTIANS - $$$

402-330-0300 1350 S 119th St Relax in the cozy old world comfort of an early California monastery with friendly “monks” that pamper you in subdued, romantic surroundings, and savor the fresh, full flavors of U.S.D.A. Choice Nebraska Angus Beef seared over an open flame. Brother Sebastian’s Steak House and Winery is locally owned and has been recognized as one of Omaha’s best restaurants for a delicious, romantic dining experience. Join us with your party of two or fifty and we’ll help make your special occasion enjoyable and memorable. Reservations accepted. Lunch: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dinner: MonThur. 5-9 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 5-10 p.m., Sun. 4-9 p.m.

CASCIOS - $$

402-345-8313 1620 S. 10th St. Cascios is Omaha's Number 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature Steaks, Chops, Seafood and Italian Specialties. We Have 7 Private Party Rooms, seating for up to 400 people and plenty of parking.

Full-Service Bar and Restaurant Kid’s Meals $4.99 2901 Bass Pro Drive Council Bluffs, IA 51501 (712) 325-5300 restaurants.basspro.com

Located Inside

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

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March // April • 2016 | 178 | omahamagazine.com

THE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$

402-391-7440 2121 S. 73rd St. Famous for the original Whiskey Steak. Truly a one of a kind Midwestern experience. Excellent food, wine, service and value. Rare...and very well done. Reservations accepted. Lunch: Mon.–Fri. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Cocktail Hour: 3-6 p.m. Dinner: Nightly at 5 p.m. Reservations accepted.

Always a Large Selection of Fresh Fish

JOHNNY'S CAFÉ - $$$ MC, V, AE

402-731-4774 4702 S. 27th St. Years of quality dining and hospitality make Johnny's Café a restaurant to remember. We serve only the finest beef the Midwest has to offer. Aged steaks and prime rib are the specialties, with homemade bread and pies to complete a meal. An excellent wine list adds to the enjoyment at one of Omaha's original restaurants. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

4150 SOUTH 144TH STREET • OMAHA • 894-9411

THE ORIGINAL

Whiskey Steak Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11am-2pm Cocktail Hour: 3pm-5pm Dinner nightly from 5pm Reservations Accepted Gift Cards Available

Voted Best of Omaha 4 years in a row

2121 South 73rd Street | 402-391-7440 | DroverRestaurant.com

brews cafes chef profiles cocktails dining reviews farmers markets recipes taverns treats

FOOD & DRINK

Old Market

Now Open in Benson

1120 Jackson Street 402.341.5827 6023 Maple Street • 402.551.4420 •

tedandwallys.com

9 Years In A Row

STEAKS • CHOPS • SEAFOOD ITALIAN SPECIALTIES 7 private party rooms Seating up to 400 Lots of parking

1620 S. 10th Street

402-345-8313

www.casciossteakhouse.com

March // April • 2016 | 179 | bestofomaha.com

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12/1/14

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happy hour Daily open - 7pm

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3:59pm - 6:59pm & 9:01pm -12:01am

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Happy Hour Specials

Everyday 4PM-6PM Friday & Saturday 10PM-12AM $2 Off any Wine by the Glass | $3 Domestic Beers | $4 Wells $5 Select Martinis | $4 Hummus or Chorizo Nachos $5 Bruschetta or Spinach and Artichoke Dip $6 Margherita Flatbread or Duck Tacos

www.noshwine.com 1006 Dodge St | 402.614.2121

SIP.TASTE.SAVOR.

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Select Appetizers

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120th & Giles | beyondgolfomaha.com March // April • 2016 | 180 | omahamagazine.com

THERE’S SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO WHEN YOU VISIT

SARPY COUNTY!

DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM OPEN HOUSE & AIRSHOW

SUMTUR AMPHITHEATER

B E L L E V U E • G R E T N A • L A V I S TA • PA P I L L I O N • S P R I N G F I E L D • O F F U T T A I R F O R C E B A S E Located just a few minutes south of Omaha, Sarpy County awaits with a wonderful mix of fun things to see and do. Tour a museum or gallery. Dine in an elegant restaurant. Play a round of golf. Spend a day at a family fun center. From parks, lakes, and

FONTENELLE FOREST

VALA’S PUMPKIN PATCH

wineries to malls, specialty shops, and theatres, Sarpy County is the perfect

May 7-8 — Renaissance Festival, Papillion

destination for your next getaway!

May 26-29 — La Vista’s Salute to Summer Festival, La Vista June 10-11 — Springfield Days, Springfield June 15-19 — Papillion Days, Papillion July 15-16 — Riverfest, Bellevue July 29-31 — Gretna Days, Gretna July 30-31 — Offutt Air Show, Offutt AFB

402-332-5771 • GOSARPY.COM

Aug. 3-7 — 80th Annual Sarpy County Fair, Springfield

March // April • 2016 | 181 | bestofomaha.com

NEBRASKA’S FIRST NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED UNDERGROUND RAILROAD HISTORIC SITE

Open May to October

Thursday-Sunday, Noon to 5pm mayhewcabin.org for information

Mayhew Cabin with John Brown’s Cave Museum

402.873.3115 2012 4th Corso Nebraska City, NE

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! NOVEMBER /

DECEMBER 2015

LAUREN GARRISON Surly Lass, British Sass BOBSLEDDING? IN NEBRASKA? Olympic Gold Medalist Curtis Tomasevicz BEST DOCTORS OMAHA 2015-2016

Don’t miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine

omamag.com/save May // June • 2016 | 182 | omahamagazine.com

Rev. John Jenk

FROM OM ins AH

NOTREto DA A ME

MAY LUXURY IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS!

CONNECTING CHAOS EXHIBIT

Through Sept. 11 at Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO This exhibition presents works from the Kemper Museum’s Permanent Collection by artist Frank Stella, illustrating his methods for linking the chaotic ebb and flow of imagery in his mixed-media art. 816-753-5784 -kemperart.org

Slattery Vintage Estates Vineyard has Nebraska’s the first and only glamping (glamour camping) experience. Located halfway between Omaha and Lincoln, it's the place to kick back, watch live music, drink great wine, enjoy the stars, and stay in an antique bed in a tent furnished with all the amenities. The glamping season starts May 1 and runs to November 1. - SVEvineyards.com

MAN-MADE: CONTEMPORARY MALE QUILTERS Through June 19 at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum, Lincoln, NE This exhibit exposes the unique aesthetics and techniques that men bring to a craft long-associated with feminine arts and labor. With backgrounds in contemporary visual art, media, and fashion, the eight artists featured in the exhibition have been identified as significant contributors to the evolution of the quilting medium. 402-472-6549 -quiltstudy.org

NEBRASKA NOW: MARK HARTMAN Through July 3 at the Museum Of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE Mark Hartman, associate professor in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, is a painter, draftsman, mixed media artist, and graphic designer. In his first solo exhibition at MONA, Hartman brings his love of media and the act of creation to works that are both spontaneous in nature as well as methodically executed. 308-865-8559 -mona.unk.edu

MOTHER’S DAY AT THE MUSEUM May

8 at the Strategic Air and Space Museum, Ashland, NE Plan an adventure for your mom this year and treat her to a visit at the Strategic Air & Space Museum! All moms (accompanied by children) enjoy free admission to the museum and activities throughout the day. 9am-5pm. 402-944-3100 -sasmuseum.com

UNCONVENTIONAL CL AY: ENGAGED IN CHANGE Through June 12 at the NelsonAtkins Art Museum, Kansas City, MO How is clay being used today in dynamic, interactive, and innovative ways? This exhibit explores connections between clay, art, social issues, and process. Works by 24 artists range from vessels to large scale installations, with artists responding to contemporary issues while employing innovative approaches to the medium. 816-751-1278 -nelson-atkins.org

May // June • 2016 | 183 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Explore W WE SMACKDOWN May 10 at the Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA Live at Wells Fargo Arena, WWE Smackdown! See your favorite WWE Superstars in action. The lineup this evening includes Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, Bray Wyatt, AJ Styles, New Day, and many more. 515-564-8000 -Iowaeventscenter.com CAPITAL CITY STAMPEDE PRCA RODEO May 14 at Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, NE The professional rodeo will feature some of the nation’s top rodeo athletes, the toughest rodeo stock on the circuit, and seven championship events each night including bareback riding, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, WPRA barrel racing and bull riding. 7:30pm-10pm. 402-904-4444 -pinnaclebankarena.com

TRACKS THROUGH HALL COUNTY EXHIBIT

May 14-August 28 at the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, Grand Island, NE The Dinsdale Gallery in the Stuhr Building will host Stuhr's summer exhibit focusing on the role of the railroad in pioneer town building with an emphasis on the Union Pacific. This exhibit will feature artifacts, photos, and much more. Admission $8 for adults, $6 for children, and free for members. Open daily, times vary. 308-385-5316 -stuhrmuseum.org

JUNE NEBRASK ALAND DAYS June

15-25 at the Wild West Arena, North Platte, NE Nebraskaland Days returns for its 52nd celebration. The festival kicks off with 4 nights of PRCA Buffalo Bill Rodeo (June 15-18), the Junior Rodeo (June 19), Family night (June 20), and close with the US Cellular Summer Jam Concert Series Featuring Sam Hunt and Dierks Bentley (June 24-25). 308-532-7939 -nebraskalanddays.com

FLATWATER MUSIC FESTIVAL

June 24-25 at the Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning, Hastings, NE The 9th annual Flatwater Music Festival offers live performances and activities for all ages. Attendees can browse artist booths, visit food vendors, learn new skills, and enjoy the beer garden. Saturday activities for children and families include music sessions, games, workshops for all ages, and hands-on outdoor activities. Times vary daily. 402-463-0565 -prairieloft.org

RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL STARR BAND

June 26 at the Pinewood Bowl Theater, Lincoln, NE Since beginning his career with The Beatles in the 1960s, Ringo has been one of the world’s brightest musical luminaries. He has enjoyed a successful, dynamic solo career as a singer, songwriter, drummer, collaborator, and producer – releasing 18 solo studio albums to date. 8pm. 402-540-2094 -pinewoodbowl.org

JUNETEENTH EVENT

THE BEACH BOYS May 15 at the Des Moines Civic Center, Des Moines, IA The Beach Boys have sold over 100 million records worldwide and have received more than 33 RIAA Platinum and Gold record awards. With more than five decades of touring under their belts, The Beach Boys have performed more concerts than any major rock band in history. 7:30pm. 515-246-2300 -desmoinesperformingarts.com

June 18 at Mayhew Cabin, Nebraska City, NE The museum will host its 10th annual Juneteenth Celebration (the oldest known holiday that commemorates the end of American slavery) this summer. The event includes historical presentations, musical programs, and Civil War reenactors on the museum grounds. 402-873-3115 -mayhewcabin.org

VICTORIAN FESTIVAL May 27-29 in Superior, NE Known as the Victorian Capital of Nebraska, Superior celebrates its heritage every Memorial Weekend by hosting its annual Victorian Festival. Enjoy the parade, live music, antique car display, children's games, food vendors, face painting, pony rides, and other fun-filled activities for the whole family. Times vary daily. 402-879-3419 -cityofsuperior.org

SUMMER IN SARPY COUNTY Summer in Sarpy County kicks off with LaVista’s Salute to Summer Festival May 2629, 2016. Join LaVista residents at LaVista Central Park for four days featuring a car show, cookout, beer garden, parade and a carnival. As the festival concludes on May 29th, summer officially begins with a free family pool party at LaVista Municipal Pool. Looking for more family events? Werner Park is the place to burn some energy and cheer on the Stormchasers and don’t forget the bounce houses, ballpark peanuts and fireworks.

TALLGRASS PRAIRIE FIDDLE FESTIVAL May 28 at the Homestead National Monument of America, Beatrice, NE The Tallgrass Prairie Fiddle Festival, formerly known as the Monumental Fiddling Championship, has been celebrating music from the homesteading period for over a decade. 10am-5pm Free admission. 402-223-3514 -nps.gov

May // June • 2016 | 184 | omahamagazine.com

The

Live the journey. I-80 Exit 275 | Kearney, Nebraska www.archway.org | 877.511.ARCH

“Travel the trails, rails and highways that built America!”

May // June • 2016 | 185 | bestofomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Not Funny

IN DEFENSE OF BOREDOM Scratching An Itch BY OTIS TWELVE PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

O, I’M TALKING with a friend on a day

when winter seems to have wandered off somewhere. The sky is blue, with just a hint of high cirrus clouds, threadlike doodles above our heads. The sun has found a little spring warmth and we’ve shed our fleece jackets as we sit on a bench in the park, watching a bunch of kids clambering over the playset across the walking path. “I’m bored,” he says. “Yeah, ain’t it great,” I reply. “No. It’s terrible. I’ve got nothing to do. I’ve been sitting around all morning here with you and I haven’t accomplished a thing. A wasted day.” “What’s wrong with that?” I ask as I stretch a bit and scratch my elbow. “I should be doing something,” he says, scratching his own elbow in a subconscious response to my itch. “Look up there,” he points to the azure sky. There’s a white, double lined contrail following a bright, sparkling glint about 30,000 feet above us. “Those people up there, they’re going somewhere.” “West,” I observe.

“Yeah, they’re headed to L.A., or San Francisco, or Tokyo. They’re off on an adventure.”

thought. “Growing up?” I looked at him still staring up into the sky at the westbound jet above. “We’re done growing up I think.”

“Or Spokane,” I interject. “That plane could be headed for Spokane.”

“Do they have bears in Spokane?” he asked.

“Spokane? What’s in Spokane?” “Precisely. They’re strapped into seats two sizes too small, chewing on microwaved meat, breathing dry, virus-laden air, heading for Spokane.” He stops scratching his elbow. “You could have an adventure in Spokane.” “I suppose,” I agree. “But you’d have to take your shoes and belt off at the airport first.” “Didn’t Bing Crosby grow up in Spokane?” “I have no idea.” “I think he did.” My friend shook his finger at me. “Bing Crosby grew up there. Growing up is an adventure.” My other elbow itched. So I scratched it. Amazing thing, the human brain…to first sense an itch on one elbow…scratch it…then sense an itch on the opposite elbow…switch hands and itch it next, with hardly a conscious May // June • 2016 | 186 | omahamagazine.com

“Suppose they might. They’re close to some mountains I think.” My elbow was satisfied. I scratched the back of my head…for no reason. “Maybe that’s why Bing Crosby left there.” “Maybe…” He trailed off, switching his gaze from the jetliner to the kids on the swing set. “What if a giant, enraged grizzly bear were to charge out of the trees over there and head for the kids on the playground?” “I didn’t like that movie,” I replied. His brow furrowed. He was imagining the carnage as the bear proceeded in its bloody, murderous rampage past the jungle gym and on to the bobbing, spring mounted horses. He shook his head to clear away the vision. “Yeah. Bad movie. A real ordeal.” “Still bored?” I asked. “Yes. But nothing wrong with that, I guess.”

O I nodded in agreement. “See you tomorrow?”

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