July/August 2013 Omaha Magazine by Omaha Magazine

July/August • 2013

omaha’s LIVESTOCK LEGACY

Bob Buscher, Sr. of John Roth & Son

Omaha’s

topDENTISTS™ Campaign 2014

Best of Omaha® Summer Fun

in Omaha

$3,000,000

Spectacular 1.5 story backing to trees and common area. 3 story spiral staircase, radiant heat flrs in kit. & mstr bath. Control 4 throughout, infrared air purifier, new pool and waterfall. 2 covered decks, sec. cameras, lrg patio with fireplace. Wine cellar, wet bar, office, 2nd kit. for outdoor entertaining. Double oven, cabinets w/pullouts, expresso maker.

The Lichter Team • 402.680.2875

17610 N Reflection Circle

$1,399,000

Tom Helligso • 402.740.5300

$789,000

Open Gourmet kitchen. FR area w/stone fireplaces. Two offices. 5 bedrooms on 2nd floor each has bath access. Lower level w/separate media room, rec room w/wet bar, bedroom w/3/4 bath, huge storage area & ½ bath. Large Trex deck and stamped patio w/fireplace Pella doors & windows.

The Good Life Group • 402.731.5008

$735,000

This impressive 1 ½ story has 2 true master suites, 2 story entry, 3 fireplaces, gorgeous wood floors & impressive designer details in every room! Enjoy the special moldings, fixtures & lightings. Amazing main floor master addition w/enclosed deck. Exercise room, sunroom, finished walkout with 2nd kitchen, theater room & rec room.

The Jansen Team • 402.330.5954 march/april • 2011

36335 Mahoney Road, Louisville

$1,279,000

Overlooks one of the two ponds. Two large outbuildings. Recreational land at it’s best with deer and turkey roaming around the timber, grasslands and water features. Inside the home you will find big, open rooms and lots of windows to soak up all the beautiful surrounding. Rare, private & unmatched in the metro.

Realtor Rob • 402.598.3335

1403 N 188th Street

$1,999,950

Situated on almost 90 acres in the heart of the Loess Hills only 45 mins from the Metro. Unbelievable hunting, fishing, views and money making potential. 64 acres are croppable and the cattle are also for sale. Open floor plan, main floor laundry, large master suite, kitchen with island and pantry.

Cassidee Broadwater Reeve • 402.706.2901

Scenic views with infinity pool, beach, hot tub, fire pits, covered deck, front courtyard and professional landscaping. Interior has all the upgrades w/granite, dark & light cherry wood, high-end appliances, boxed ceilings, built-in flat panel TV’s, theater room and much more!

11333 N 78th Street

23975 Rains Avenue, Tabor, IA

9629 S Harney Parkway

$749,950

This gorgeous residence is located in one of Omaha’s most sought after areas, close to schools, shopping, Lake, and Tennis Club! Updates include state of the art kitchen, unique 4 season Sun Room, spectacular Master Bath with heated floors, HVAC and windows, Trek decking, This home is a “step above the rest.”

Sharon Marvin and Jody Fike • 402.689.2380

328 Oak Ridge View, Council Bluffs

$490,000

View, woods and privacy! Great find in the city. Large lot with room for a pool. Expandable attic for a 5th bedroom or storage. Main floor den. This home has a main floor laundry and a drop zone just inside the rear door. Home offers a large designer kitchen with high end finishes.

Patti Wiggins • 402.707.8066

1403 Farnam Street #1100

$1,400,000

Stunning Penthouse in the Paxton Building at 14th & Dodge St. 3 side exposure, over 4100 sq ft plus a unique private rooftop w/ private access, enormous 14’ ceiling heights, private deck, 3 underground - heated parking stalls, unbelievable amenities & close to the Orpheum Theater, Holland Center, Old Market & TD Ameritrade & Century Link Center.

Grant Stine • 402.850.7171

138 N 66 Street

I.F.C

22814 Hascall Street

$850,000

Classic Fairacres brick and stucco two-story home with rare 3 car garage! Amazing curb appeal and grounds. Tremendous space and potential throughout. Wood floors under most carpet. Fantastic main-floor family room with fireplace. Large eat-in kitchen with breathtaking view of park.

Jeff Rensch • 402.391.5333

980 County Road W S-106, Fremont

$639,500

Beautiful two story lake home on Woodcliff’s Lake Ski-Di. Situated on 1 1/2 lots. Location is the best of both worlds as it sits on a cove with fantastic main lake views! A grand open floor plan with In-law suite. Perfect for full time or part time lake living! Spectacular outdoor living with walk in beach. A must see property!

Susan Hancock • 402.215.7700

23788 McPherson, Council Bluffs

$475,000

Professionally designed and decorated. Setting on 3 acre lot overlooking Bent Tree Golf Course. Completely remodeled 2009 with attention to detail in every respect. Professional kitchen appliances. Granite island, wood & tile floors. 3 ½ car garage. Huge master suite, heated floor. Wrap around deck, mature trees. 1 1/2 acre apple orchard

Sharon Stokes • 402.659.9506

V i r t u a l to u r s a n d M o r e at npdodge.com

www.OmahaPublications.com

The New harrah’s CasiNo is Now opeN The original casino is now the newest casino in the area! If you’re looking for fun, come check out the all-new Harrah’s Council Bluffs. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-BETS-OFF (In Iowa) or 1-800-522-4700 (National). ©2013, Caesars License Company, LLC.

july/august • 2013

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2013 • july/august

Editor’s letter

Summer Nights s I write this letter, I’m enjoying a little break in my afternoon of yard work…

finishing planters for my patio, splitting overgrown perennials, pulling weeds. Sure, it’s hot. Yep, it’s humid. And the gnats are swarming. But no matter, it’s June in Omaha, and it’s to be expected. At least there aren’t any tornado warnings or watches out. Besides, I know the work I’m doing in my yard now is prepping a pretty stage for where I’ll spend many, many wonderful evenings in the months to come. For me, summer ushers in a much more relaxed schedule, where playtime becomes equal partner with work in the daily scheme of things. My trip home from the office quite often entails a quick stop at my favorite corner farm stand for some corn-on-the-cob or green peppers for the grill. Once home, I’ll cool down with a glass of chilled wine or sangria in the shade of our backyard pergola while I get an earful from the kids about the day’s sports camps, the dogs’ crazy antics, or their fun day at the pool. All the while, my husband is typically in his “summer home,” standing grill-side cooking up chops, chicken, or flat iron steak. After cutting up some fresh fruit and pulling out a deli salad or two, dinner is served. And there’s no hurry. If we eat by 7:30 p.m., it’s an early night. After dinner comes talk about plans for the next day’s or week’s activities. Usually on the summer docket: a jaunt downtown to take in a First Friday Art Walk; the neighbor’s annual potluck; Shakespeare on the Green; a Storm Chasers game or two; a firepit night with old friends; a daytrip to the SAC Museum; and the list goes on. Some nights, those talks meander into other, more serious topics, like where my daughter might like to go to college or just what my son thinks exists on other planets…I LIVE for those evenings!

Linda Persigehl

I feel truly blessed to live this life. To live in a city where I can afford a comfortable home with a yard for my kids. To have the great family entertainment and cultural arts we do in Omaha, most of them quite affordable and some even free. And to have friends and neighbors—spirited, generous, caring people—to share that life with. So join me…Pull up a lawn chair, sip a cool one, and savor these summer evenings and all the food, friendship, and fun that comes with them. After all, Labor Day is not far away!

Linda Persigehl Omaha Publications Editor

ongrats, team! In June,

Omaha Magazine took home four awards at the 2013 Omaha Press Club Excellence in Journalism Competition: Best Print Feature Story and Best Magazine Cover (both for “Iraq War Vet Jacob Hausman Battles PTSD and Finds Peace,” November/December 2012); Best Layout and Design (“Lakeside Luxury,” Omaha Home, May/June 2012); and most notably, Best in Show (also for “Iraq War Vet

Jacob Hausman”).Voting was done by a panel from a sister press club in Cleveland, Ohio. I want to take this opportunity to thank freelance writer Leo Adam Biga, art director John Gawley, photographer Bill Sitzmann, and assistant editor Bailey Hemphill for their contributions to these stories. And thank you also to OPC for the recognition. If you missed these stories, you can now find them at OmahaMagazine.com or flip through our digital magazines at ReadOnlineNow.com.

(L-R) Leo Adam Biga; Daisy Hutzell-Rodman, OPC president-elect; Linda Persigehl; John Gawley. Photo provided by Gary Willis, Omaha Press Club.

Connect with Omaha Magazine for more behind-thescenes photos! @omahamagazine

july/august • 2013

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July 8 -14 2013ussenioropen.com

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2013 U. S. Senior Open | Omaha Country Club

Liv e from Lincoln No r th Sta r High School

MONDAY, JULY 22 6 p.m. CT All-Star Girls’ Basketball 8 p.m. CT All-Star Boys’ Basketball TUESDAY, JULY 23 7 p.m. CT All Star Volleyball

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Contents july/august 2013 features

table of

Obsessed With the Dress

Style and Substance— Omaha Fashion Week

Omaha Home for Boys’ Bike Rebuild

contents 58

2013 Maha Music Festival

c over

Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival

www.BestOfOmaha.com

138

Our Livestock Legacy

2013 • july/august 9

Contents july/august 2013 departments 12

For Starters

special sections 60PLUS In Omaha

Calendar of Events

Greater Nebraska Happenings

Active Living: Sharon Ongert, 66

A rt: Two Perspectives, Nancy Lepo & Corey Broman

Feature: Joe Wherry

Cover Feature: Let’s Dance!

Faces: Storm Chasers’ Mighty Mascot, Kevin Lake

S10

Feature: Seniors & Computers

Gen O: Dan Susman

S11

Gwen’s Tips: Full-service Gas Stations

Gen O: Corianna Kubasta

S12

Health: Shingles

Best of Omaha® Campaign 2014

S13

Column: Feeling the Heat

Omaha Home

S14

bill sitzmann

147

topDENTISTS™

Style: Making Summer Fashion Decisions

senior graphic designer

159

Summer Fun In Omaha

july/august 2013 Editorial & Creative omaha publications editor

linda persigehl

assistant editor

web content editor

bailey hemphill

assistant editor

bailey hemphill

editorial intern

peter setter (#28)

creative director

john gawley

director of photography

interactive media

katie anderson

junior graphic designer

paul lukes

graphic design intern

libby schlosser (#29)

dining out

125

Gala

152

Dining Feature: Railcar Modern American Kitchen

127

Cover Story: American Cancer Society

154

Beer & Food: Beer Festivals

132

The Inside Scoop

156

R estaurant R eview: Stokes West

134

Galas Calendar

164

Dining Guide

135

Gala Events

176

Omaha Happy Hours

editorial advisors

rick carey • david scott

contributing writers

suzanne smith arney • leo adam biga kim carpenter • kyle eustice allison janda • paul kavulak patrick kinney • casey lemke mandy mowers • carol crissey nigrelli traci osuna • niz proskocil meghan townley • kara schweiss mary anne vaccaro

contributing photographers

chip duden • zach hollowell ken merchant • daniel muller jim scholz

the new

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business. entertainment. family. food & drink. health. home. lifestyle. style.

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD

july/august • 2013

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volume 30, issue 3 Accounts & Operations publisher

todd lemke publisher’s assistant

omaha home

contributing editor

sandy matson

sales associate

publisher’s assistant

jessica linhart

JUNE 14–JULY 21

AUG. 16–SEPT. 15

vice president

greg bruns

vice president of operations

tyler lemke

6915 CASS STREET | (402) 553-0800 | WWW.OMAHAPLAYHOUSE.ORG

executive vice president sales

sponsor:

media sponsor:

sponsors:

Anne Rismiller

marketing

gil cohen

IO ISS

sales associate

alicia smith hollins

senior sales executive

60p lu s i n

omaha contributing editor

D EA

gwen lemke

executive sales associate

vicki voet

RENOIR TO CHAGALL PARIS AND THE ALLURE OF

account executive

Color

paige edwards

accountant

jim heitz

Through September 1

distribution manager

This exhibition was organized by Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis

mike brewer Comments? Send your letter to the editor to: letters@omahapublications.com 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.

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MAJOR SPONSORS: First National Bank, Valmont; CONTRIBUTING SPONSOR: Peter Kiewit Sons; SUPPORTING SPONSORS: Fran and Rich Juro, Mutual of Omaha, Omaha World-Herald, Robert H. Storz Foundation; Special Thanks: Adah and Leon Millard Foundation, Lenore Polack, Nebraska Arts Council and Nebraska Cultural Endowment IMAGE: Pierre Bonnard (French, 1867-1947), Woman Picking Flowers, ca. 1915-16, oil on panel, Collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Bequest of Mr. and Mrs. Hugo N. Dixon, 1975.9

(402) 342-3300 | 24th & Dodge www.joslyn.org | Omaha, NE 2013 • july/august

2013 july & august Compiled by Peter Setter

This is omaha

Photo provided by Rick Anderson

Omaha Triathlon Cunningham Lake July 21

Fitness gurus descend on Cunningham Lake once again for this year’s Omaha Triathlon, a three-event race that challenges participants to run, bike, and swim the Olympic distance of 50.5 kilometers: a 1.5K swim, 40K bike ride, and 10K run. The Olympic distance is the main course for the event and features individual and team competitions. If the distance seems daunting for some athletes, the event offers a sprint, a concurrent race that spans half the distance of the Olympic competition. For youth wishing to participate, a USAT-sanctioned event is available for ages 15-18 and involves a 250-meter swim, 10K bike ride, and 2.5K run. A Kids Triathlon will be held on July 20 for ages 6-14. This year, the Omaha Triathlon has been chosen to host the 2013 USA Triathlon Midwest Regional Championship, as well as the 2013 Paratriathlon Midwest Regional Championship, and the Best of the U.S. Amateur Triathlete Competition. Early registration is required and closes on July 19. 8660 Lake Cunningham Rd. 6am. $98-119. 402-548-4258 – raceomaha.com

july/august • 2013

Photo provided by Omaha Performing Arts

“Weird Al” Yankovic: The Alpocalypse Tour Orpheum Theater July 25

“Weird Al” Yankovic brings his storied four-decade career to Omaha as part of his Alpocalypse Tour, promoting his latest and highest chart-topping album to date, Alpocalypse. The album peaked at #9 on the Billboard charts and features the Lady Gaga parody “Perform This Way.” Best known for hits like “Eat It,” “Smells Like Nirvana,” and “White & Nerdy,” Yankovic is the best-selling comedy recording artist of all time, having sold over 12 million albums and winning three Grammy® awards. His latest show, described as “a high-energy rock and comedy multi-media extravaganza,” brings his original formula of combining pop parodies with his own creations to life. These pop parodies skewer pop culture with social commentary while spoofing specific songs, recording artists, and entire genres. The show combines the parodies featured on Alpocalypse with his classic hits and original tunes. The show is set to feature Yankovic’s four-piece band, dozens of costume changes, and a high-energy performance from the 53-yearold. Fans of pop culture will delight in this comedic extravaganza. 409 S. 16th St. 7:30pm. $30-40. 402-345-0606 – omahaperformingarts.com

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for starters

Photo provided by Doni Belau and Joslyn Art Museum

Sirens Omaha Community Playhouse August 16

Sirens is the latest play to premiere on the Howard Drew Theatre at the Omaha Community Playhouse. Written by award-winning playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer, the play was a breakout hit at the 34th Humana Festival of New American Plays in 2010. Sirens combines romance, music, and Greek mythology to tell the story of one-hit-wonder songwriter Sam Abrams. When Sam first fell in love with his wife, Rose, he wrote her a song that went on to be a global sensation. However, Sam’s obsessive hunt for a similar hit stifled their 25-year marriage. While on an anniversary cruise, he hears the most beautiful music ever heard, jumps overboard, and encounters a siren. While trapped on the siren’s island, he struggles against the seductions of the siren, the terrors of middle age, and the tortures of creative failure, all while realizing Rose is, and always has been, the love of his life. The quirky play is full of witty banter along with a few choice words that make it for mature audiences only. The Playhouse states that the play really doesn’t contain offensive content, “but those f-bombs warrant a disclaimer, ya know?” 6915 Cass St. Th-Sat/7:30pm; Sun/2pm. $35 adults, $21 students. 402-553-0800 – omahaplayhouse.com

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Secrets of Paris: Art, Food, Culture & What’s Hot Joslyn Art Museum August 29

Travelers looking to get away for the fall will have the opportunity to learn more about the City of Light during Joslyn Art Museum’s end of summer public lecture, “Secrets of Paris: Art, Food, Culture & What’s Hot.” Presented by Doni Belau, founder of Girls’ Guide to Paris (.com) and homeowner in France, this lecture focuses on Paris from an insider’s perspective. The lecture acts as a companion to the Joslyn’s latest exhibit, Renoir to Chagall: Paris and the Allure of Color, as Belau will give participants an in-depth look at the various districts of Paris and which artists historically frequented this neighborhoods. Through this, Belau will juxtapose the Paris of the exhibit with today’s Paris. Participants will walk away with a tip sheet on her favorite bistros, lesser-known museums, hotels, and more as Belau shares her expertise on how to do Paris right. After the lecture, participants will enjoy exhibition viewing and a wine and cheese reception in the Storz Fountain Court. Price of admission includes one free wine ticket with a cash bar available after the first drink. Advance registration is required for this inside look at Paris. 2200 Dodge St. 6pm. $35 general admission. 402-661-3862 – joslyn.org

2013 • july/august

2013 july & august

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Calendar of Events ONGOING EVENTS Nancy Lepo/Corey Broman at the Fred Simon Gallery. Through July 12 at Fred Simon Gallery, 1004 Farnam St. The contemporary Nebraska visual artists exhibition features the drawings of Nancy Lepo and blown glass of Corey Broman. M-F/8am-5pm. Free admission. 402-595-2142 – nebraskaartscouncil.org Monday Night Movies in the Park. Through July 22 at Turner Park in Midtown Crossing, 31st to 33rd & Farnam to Dodge St. Presented by Marcus Midtown Cinema and the Omaha World-Herald, this eight-week movie series features movies chosen by the audience. Crowds gather at dusk with blankets, chairs, and popcorn. Free admission. 402-346-6900 – midtowncrossing.org Brewery Tour. Through July 27 at Lucky Bucket Brewery, 11941 Centennial Rd. Tour the Lucky Bucket Brewery and try five year-round beers in addition to some limited editions not available in stores. W-F/5:30pm; Sat/12-2pm. 402-763-8868 – luckybucketbrewing.com Raul Colon: Tall Tales and Huge Hearts. Through July 28 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Explore Raul Colon’s watercolor illustrations of Dr. Jill Biden’s Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops and Frank McCourt’s Angela and the Baby Jesus. Tu-W/10am4pm; Th/10am-8pm; F-Sat/10am-4pm; Sun/12-4pm. 402-342-3300 – joslyn.org

Tiempo de Danzon by Cristina Kahlo. Through August 24 at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. This special contemporary photography exhibition by great-niece of Frida Kahlo, Cristina Kahlo, displays “DanzÓn,” the official genre and dance of Cuba. M,W,F/10am-5pm; Tu,Th/1-5pm; Sat/10am-2pm. M, W, F/10am-5pm; Tu, Th/1-5pm; Sat/10am-2pm. $5 adults, $4 students, $3.50 seniors & ages K-12, free for members. 402-731-1137 – elmuseolatino.org

River City Star Sunday Public Sightseeing Cruise. Through August 25 at River City Star Riverboat, 151 Freedom Park Rd. Spend your Sunday afternoon relaxing on the water, enjoying the sights and sounds of Omaha’s riverfront. Sun/1-2pm & 2:30-3:30pm. 402-342-7827 – rivercitystar.com

Rockbrook Village Friday Concerts. Through August 30 Local musicians entertain families every Friday night throughout the summer. F/7-8pm. Free admission. 402-390-0890 – rockbrookvillage.com Sounds of Summer Concert Series. Through August 30 at Shadow Lake Towne Center, 72nd St. & Hwy. 370 Live bands include a mix of jazz, blues, classic rock, country, and funk. F/6:30-8:30pm. Free admission. 402-537-0046 – shadowlakeshopping.com The Vibes at Village Point Summer Concert Series. Through August 31 at Village Pointe, 168th & W. Dodge Rd. Hot live music, dancing, and refreshments. Free admission. 402-505-9773 – villagepointeshopping.com

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Florence Mill Farmers Market. Through September 29 at Florence Mill, 9102 N. 30th St. A local farmers market featuring fresh, local produce, artisans, and live music every Sunday afternoon. Sun/10am-3pm. Free admission. 402-5511233 – historicflorence.org Baseball at Boys Town Through September 30 at Boys Town, 14100 Crawford St. Highlights the history of baseball from 1917 to today at Boys Town and features autographed baseballs and memorabilia from Hall of Fame players Babe Ruth, Ozzie Smith, and Hank Aaron. Daily/10am-4pm. Free admission. 402-498-1186 – boystown.org JULY EVENTS Featured artists Baines, Luth, Smith, and Wroblewski. July 2-28 at Artists’ Cooperative Gallery Ltd, 405 S. 11th St. New works from fused glass artist Jesse Baines, painter and weaver N. Byram Luth, photographer Alan R. Smith, and sculptor Pete Wroblewski. Tu-Th/11am-5pm; F-Sat/11am-10pm; Sun/12-6pm. Free admission. 402-342-9617 – artistsco-opgallery.com

HAVANA GARAGE CIGAR LOUNGE Birthplace of the signature Havana Garage Cocktail. If James Joyce and Che Guevara fixed a drink for Ernest Hemingway, this would be it. 1008 Howard Street / The Old Market / Omaha / TheHavanaGarage.com

TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby and 29th Annual Omaha World-Herald Independence Day Fireworks. July 3 at TD Ameritrade Park, 1200 Mike Fahey St. Watch college baseball’s premier power hitters show off their skills during the home run derby and stay for the fireworks show conclusion. 7:30pm. $35 Family Four Packs, $12 adults, $8 kids. 1-800-745-3000 – collegehomerunderby.com First Friday Old Market. July 5 at Old Market, 13th to 10th & Farnam to Leavenworth St. Stroll the Old Market’s brick streets and enjoy live music and art galleries during this celebration of local creativity in Omaha’s most historic neighborhood. 6-9pm. Free admission. firstfridayoldmarket.com

JULY EVENTS continued pg. 16 www.BestOfOmaha.com

2013 • july/august

2013 july & august

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Calendar of Events Omaha Storm Chasers. July 22-29 at Werner Park Omaha, 12356 Ballpark Way. The Omaha Storm Chasers face off against the Oklahoma City RedHawks and the Nashville Sounds in one of the season’s longest home sessions. $6-15.50. 402-738-5100 – omahastormchasers.com River City Star Public Irish Dinner Cruise. July 24 at River City Star Riverboat, 151 Freedom Park Rd. This 90-minute Irish dinner cruise features live entertainment from Dave March along with a two-entree Irish dinner buffet. 6:30-8pm. $45 adults, $43 seniors (65+), $21 children 12 & under. 402-3427827 – rivercitystar.com Downtown Play Streets. July 27 at 13th-19th on Farnam St. This festival transforms the downtown streets into a play space and fills it with activities like rock climbing, bike safety courses, cooking demos, and Zumba. 8am-2pm. Free admission. 402-934-6027 – openstreetsomaha.org

Photo provided by Auto-Focused Automotive Photography by Royce Rumsey River City Star Friday Evening Public Dinner Cruise. July 12 – October 4 at River City Star Riverboat, 151 Freedom Park Rd. Spend an evening on the Missouri River while enjoying live entertainment on this 90-minute, two-entree dinner cruise. F/6:30-8pm. $42 adults, $38 seniors (65+), $21 children 12 & under. 402-342-7827 – rivercitystar.com The Four Seasons Intertwined. July 13-17 at Florence Mill, 9102 N. 30th St. Four Nebraska artists who have been friends for 30 years are exhibiting as a group show for the first time in Omaha. Daily/1-5pm. Free admission. 402-551-1233 – historicflorence.org

july/august • 2013

Joslyn Castle Classic Car Show. July 28 at Joslyn Castle, 3902 Davenport St. A display of vintage cars and motorcycles displayed on Joslyn’s grounds accompanied with a tour of the Castle. 10am-4pm. $10 in advance, $12.50 at the door, $5 military, free for children 12 & under. 402-595-2199 – joslyncastlecarclassic.com

Omaha Kids’ Triathlon. July 20 at Cunningham Lake, 8660 Lake Cunningham Rd. This triathlon, open to children from 6-14 years, emphasizes fitness, fun, and safety while children compete in age-appropriate distances. 8:30am. 402-548-4258 – raceomaha.com Tomato Fight Run. July 20 at CenturyLink Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Join thousands of people in one of the biggest tomato fights of the year at the finish line of this 5K run. 10am. $45. 402-341-1500 – tomatofightrun.com Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers. July 21 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Listen to a new collaboration showcasing new material performed by Martin and Edie Brickell, along with the unique hybrid of bluegrass and comedy of Grammy®-winners Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers. 7pm. $49-110. 402-345-0606 – omahaperformingarts.org www.OmahaMagazine.com

Wild, Wild West Day. July 27 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Enjoy Western-inspired activities like cowboy shootouts and trick roping demonstrations for some old-fashioned Western fun. 10am-3pm. $9 adults, $7 seniors, $6 children ages 3-12, free for members and children 2 & under. 402-444-5071 – durhammuseum.org

Residential • Commercial • Recycling Sales • Service • Rentals

Abe’s Trash Service, Inc. Featured artists Ellington, Schimenti, Shenefelt. July 30 – August 25, Artists’ Cooperative Gallery Ltd, 405 S. 11th St. New works from printmaker Carol Meis Ellington and photographers Margie Schimenti and Dale Shenefelt. Tu-Th/11am-5pm; F-Sat/11am-10pm; Sun/12-6pm. Free admission. 402342-9617 – artistsco-opgallery.com

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Calendar of Events AUGUST EVENTS First Friday Old Market. August 2 at Old Market, 13th to 10th & Farnam to Leavenworth St. Stroll the Old Market’s brick streets and enjoy live music and art galleries during this celebration of local creativity in Omaha’s most historic neighborhood. 6-9pm. Free admission. firstfridayoldmarket.com Family Fun Carnival. August 3 at Strategic Air & Space Museum, 28210 W. Park Hwy. Enjoy bounce houses, face painting, scavenger hunts, and more activities for the whole family. 10am-5pm. $12 adults, $6 ages 4-12, free for members. 402-944-3100 – sasmuseum.com

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Arrows to Aerospace. August 16-17 at Washington Park & Mission Ave. – Bellevue, Neb. Carnival, parade, art in the park, children’s activities, music, and food. Free admission. 402-332-577 – bokiwanis.org Other Desert Cities. August 22 – September 15 at SNAP! Productions, 3225 California St. This Pulitzer Prize-nominated play explores the relationships of a family with differing political views and a tragic family secret that is threatened to be exposed. 402-341-2757 – snapproductions.com End of the Summer Concert Series. August 23 – September 27 at Midtown Crossing, 31st to 33rd & Farnam to Dodge sts. A weekly concert series to end the summer, featuring Billy

Tour de Zoo at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. August 8 at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, 3701 S. 10th St. Bring your bike and ride during Tour de Zoo, featuring dinner, snacks, refreshments, and special animal encounters all evening long. 6:30-8:30pm. $20 with regular paid zoo admission, free for children 2 & under. 402-738-2038 – omahazoo. com Ron Parks at the Fred Simon Gallery. August 12 – September 20 at Fred Simon Gallery, 1004 Farnam St. Sculptor Ron Parks showcases this craftsmanship in this exhibition of contemporary Nebraska visual artists. M-F/8am-5pm. Free admission. 402-595-2142 – nebraskaartscouncil.org Maha Music Festival. August 17 at Aksarben Village, 67th St. & W. Center Rd. Omaha’s homegrown, nonprofit music festival returns for its fifth year, with headliners The Flaming Lips and Matt & Kim. 12pm-12am. $45 in advance, $55 day-of. mahamusicfestival.com

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July/August

sarpy County offers a bounty of summertime events for every age and taste! American Heroes Park in Bellevue will host RiverFest (July 19-21), featuring the Nebraska BBQ Championships, KidZone, fireworks, and more. Shadow Lake Towne Center will host the Great Nebraska Beer Fest (Aug. 24), while Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch will welcome the 6th Annual Midlands Pirate Festival JuLY events Independence Day Celebration. July 4 at stuhr Museum – grand Island, neb. Enjoy a parade down the center of Railroad Town, a patriotic program, pie eating contest, and more allAmerican family fun. 9am-5pm. $8-10. 308-385-5316 – stuhrmuseum.org Fort kearney state historical Park’s Fourth of July weekend. July 4 & 6-7 at Fort kearney state Park – Kearney, Neb. Living history demonstrations and cannon firing. 9am5pm. $1-2 park permit required. 308-8655305 – outdoornebraska.ne.gov annual Celebration in nebraska’s Official Fourth of July City. July 4 – seward, Neb. City-wide, award-winning family event featuring a grand parade, car show, food alley, live entertainment, craft show, fireworks, and more. 7am-10pm. Free admission. 402643-4189 – julyfourthseward.com Big Bang Boom. July 6 at skyview Park – Norfolk, neb. This fireworks and laser show display is choreographed to music. All-day events include live music, food, and an inflatable midway. 1-11pm. Free admission. 402-841-200 – bigbangboom.org madison County Fair and rodeo. July 9-14 at Madison County Fairgrounds – Madison, Neb. Enjoy four nights of rodeo, concerts, carnival, exhibits, food, and fun for the entire family. $7-50. 402-454-2144 – madisoncountyfair.org 33rd Annual Wayne Chicken show. July 12-14 – Wayne, Neb. "Egg"citing activities for all including the National Cluck-Off, World's Largest Chicken Dance, children's games, omelet feed, fireworks, and live entertainment. 7:30am. 402-375-2240 – chickenshow.com annual Beat Breast Cancer mud volleyball tournament. July 13 – Prague, Neb. Live bands and DJ music, games such as giant ladder ball and mud slide. 9am. Donations encouraged. 402-560-1578 – beatbreastcancermudvolleyball.com www.BestOfOmaha.com

republican river tank Float. July 13 at Republican River – Red Cloud, neb. Race down five miles of river in a steel stock tank with teams of four to six people. 12-6pm. $10. 402-7463238 –redcloudnebraska.com Omaha Big Band. July 13 at Red Cloud Opera House – Red Cloud, Neb. This 18-piece ensemble performs a variety of big band styles from classic swing and standards to contemporary jump swing and Latin. 7pm. $20. 402-746-265 – willacather.org germanFest. July 13 at Downtown syracuse – syracuse, neb. Celebrate German heritage with German dancers and singers, wiener dog races, ribfest, two-block beer garden, and more. 402-269-7489 – GoSyracuseNe.com Funk Festival of Cupcakes. July 14 at Funk school Community Center – Funk, Neb. Professionals, amateurs, and talented kids showcase their baking skills in the Cupcake Capitol of Nebraska. Festivities include cupcake decorating, homemade ice cream, judging, and prizes. 2-4pm. Donations encouraged. 308-991-2895. 2013 Mayor’s triathlon. July 14 at Walnut Creek lake – Papillion, neb. An athletic event for all ages, featuring swimming, running, and biking events. 7:30am. $45 individual, $60 late registration. 402-597-2041 – papillionraceseries.com state 4-H Horse show. July 15-18 at Fonner Park – grand Island, neb. Qualifiers from across the state compete for the honor of winning best in the state in their class. 402-4726414 – 4h.unl.edu

(Aug. 24-25). Live music will be featured weekly at Sumtur Amphitheater, Shadow Lake, and Soaring Wings Vineyard. And don’t forget Gretna Days (July 19-21), the Sarpy County Fair (July 31-Aug. 4), and Bellevue’s Arrows to Aerospace parade (Aug. 16-17). For a complete listing of events, visit www.gosarpy.com.

of live music and the Nebraska State BBQ Championship. 402-489-300 – bellevuenebraska.com

week features a new skill, open to all ages. W/6-9pm. $5 session. 402-471-5547 – outdoornebraska.org/education

landslide & Killer Queen. July 19-21 at Brownville Concert Hall – Brownville Neb. Tributes to Fleetwood Mac and Queen. 402-8253331 – brownvilleconcertseries.com

kool-aid Days. August 9-11 – Kearney, Neb. This city-wide celebration features the world’s largest Kool-Aid stand, live entertainment, giant inflatables, cardboard boat races, classic car rally, disc golf, fireworks display, and more. 402-461-8405 –koolaiddays.com

Cornhusker state games. July 19-28 at various venues – Omaha and Lincoln, neb. Multisport athletic festival with competition in 65 sports. Event includes a state-wide torch run and Olympic-style opening ceremonies. 402-471-2544 – cornhuskerstategames.com Cowboy Night. July 20 at stuhr Museum – grand Island, neb. Stuhr's popular evening of ropin', brandin', and big-time cowboy fun returns. Make s'mores on an open fire, play cowboy games, and more. 6-9pm. $8-$10. 308-385-531 – stuhrmuseum.org haymarket Park Beerfest. July 27 at Haymarket District – Lincoln, neb. Enjoy live music by The Breezeway Band and Lincoln Saltdogs Baseball while sampling local, regional, and national beers, along with special summer styles of beer. 5pm. $20-35. haymarketparkbeerfest.com august events Lemon Days. August 1-4 – Nebraska City, neb. This city-wide festival includes lemonade stand competitions featuring a variety of lemon products. Bring a pal for bargain hunting and sample fine lemon treats. Free admission. 402-873-6654 – nebraskacity.com

3rd Annual silver Dollar nationals. July 18-20 at I-80 speedway – greenwood, Neb. The best of the best return to be part of the nine-race Crown Jewel Cup of Lucas Oil. 402-342345 i-80speedway.com

48th Annual Neihardt Day Celebration. august 4 at neihardt historic site – Bancroft, Neb. Celebration of the life and work of Nebraska's Poet Laureate. Celebration includes readings, presentations, and exhibits. 1:30pm. Free admission. 402-648-338 – neihardtcenter.org

riverFest. July 19-20 at Kramer site – Bellevue, neb. Good food and BBQ, good times, and great music! Two nights

Beyond Bow (Becoming an Outdoors woman) archery. Aug 7, 14, 21, 28 at Platte River state Park – louisville, Neb. Each

seven Cities Century Bike ride. August 10 -11 – Norfolk, neb. Enjoy a 100-mile bike ride through all of the seven cities of Madison County, Nebraska. 402-454-3568 – 7citiescentury.com Columbus Days – Discover the music, the Food, the Fun! August 15 -18 at Downtown Columbus – Columbus, Neb. The biggest and best block party in Nebraska. Stage entertainment, car shows, ribfest, dachshund dog races, foam dance party, and much more. Free admission. 402564-2769 –thecolumbuspage.com sunday Afternoon with tom and huck Fishing event. August 18 at stuhr Museum – grand Island, neb. Stuhr's Hornady Family Arbor is the site of this summer celebration including fishing in the pond, wooden boat race, watermelon seed spitting, and old-fashioned summer fun. 12-4pm, $8-10. 308-385-5316 – stuhrmuseum.org nebraska state Fair. August 23-september 2 at Heartland Events Center – grand Island, neb. Experience this 11-day event, built on 143 years of tradition. 308382-1620 – statefair.org nebraska’s Original mud run. August 24 at lancaster Event Center – lincoln, Neb. A spectatorfriendly event with 5k, 10k, and one-mile mud run courses with obstacles and mud pits. Tethered team division, costume contest, and post-race party. 10am-2pm. $30. 402-471-2544 – nscevents.com/mudrun

2013 • july/august

Omaha art Story by Suzanne Smith Arney • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

Drawing is a means of looking at something again for the first time. -Nancy Lepo

july/august • 2013

Two Perspectives

ancy Lepo and Corey Broman are expert draftsmen. Both use the tools of their medium to create precise markings which address color, the movement of light, a sense of direction and shape, and the nuance of mystery, depth, and genesis. She carries her tools in a canvas lunch sack; his require a studio. Lepo uses traditional pen and ink on paper; Broman draws with a diamond wheel on glass. Both artists’ work will be on view in a dual exhibition at the Nebraska Arts Council’s Fred Simon Gallery this summer. NAC staff, who determine the exhibition schedule, found the work of both applicants compelling and promising interplay. Broman has been blowing glass for about 15 years, following a spark lit when he was a child on vacation, “watching an old man crafting a glowing ball of molten glass.” That spark was reignited by an exhibition of Chihuly glass at Joslyn Art Museum. Finding a glass studio in the phone book, he went immediately to Crystal Forge (hotshopsartcenter.com/crystal) and knew with certainty that “that’s what I want to do.” For months he watched, took classes, and assisted. Owner Ed Fennell encouraged him. “He referred me to Hastings College,” says www.OmahaMagazine.com

Nancy Lepo and Corey Broman

That’s what I want to do...He gave me hope. -Corey Broman

www.BestOfOmaha.com

Broman. “He gave me hope.” Today, Broman is a full-time glassblower with a growing online business, Corey Broman Glass. In contrast to most studios, where a master works with a team of specialized assistants, he works solo, adapting and improvising his unique system of handling glass heated to 2,000°F. Molten glass is a thick, viscous material, constantly changing temperature and plasticity. This calls for a calculated choreography of gathering, blowing, rolling, and swinging a blob of hot glass on a 7- to 10-pound rod. He also does all his own cold work—the design and finishing of cooled glass—switching the emphasis from the physicality of sculpture to the precision of surface detail. Lepo’s attention seems always to be on a small scale, but one can find infinity in her intimate landscapes. There is the expanse of a Southwest sky, opening over the canyon to our view just as surprisingly as it did to hers. Or sensing in the density of a spinning planet the cold vacuum of the surrounding void. “Drawing,” she says, “is a means of looking at something again for the first time.” And how better to really see than to map a landscape with tiny dots of ink, >> 2013 • july/august

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<< to define a tree branch or the trace of wind across sand by the proximity of one dot to another? Lepo’s unconscious apprenticeship as a pen and ink artist began with her exposure to a variety of cultures during her childhood, her curiosity, her wondering. Later, as an engineering technology student, she understood the power of a drawing to convey information. “Looking again” is her impetus to move such utilitarian drawing to a deeper level of engagement. With the simplest of equipment—sketchbook, India ink, pens (the nibs rattling around in a small tea tin), water dish, pencils, an eraser—the self-described “nature-centric” artist can create a sketch whenever her wandering says “pay attention.” Finishing, then inking the drawing in her studio, Lepo employs pointillist techniques to describe form, light, and movement in detail, using only black ink and the white of the paper. The tonal gradation she achieves via stippling, hatching and cross-hatching, and layering is extraordinary—a picture may take up to 100 hours to complete. Working in her spacious north-facing studio at Hot Shops, her attention articulates the relationship betweenherself and a particular moment and place (whether real or imaginary). Surrounding that focal point, the world expands in scale and scope: Wind and falcon’s cry become the voice of the North Rim, the persona of the Grand Canyon, the panorama of the Southwest. Lepo’s anchor is a tree silhouetted by sunset. Broman’s studio is an efficiently organized >> www.OmahaMagazine.com

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Omaha feature Story by Meghan Townley • Photos by Bill Sitzmann Michele Strom, Winning Crown’s owner and Obsessed reality TV star.

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july/august • 2013

isten up, drama queens…A

new TV reality show, Obsessed With the Dress, airs this summer and takes place right here in Omaha. The location for the show, Winning Crown Boutique in Rockbrook Village, is a dress shop that specializes in pageant wear. This show will not be just another Say Yes to the Dress, show promoters say. Viewers can anticipate seeing the inner workings of the boutique and learn the background stories and successes of clients, as the show follows each girl through to the end of her pageant. But don’t fear—the show will undoubtedly serve up a heavy dose of drama, much like its bridal show predecessor. Michele Strom, Mrs. Nebraska 2007 and owner of the boutique, got the idea for Winning Crown while preparing to compete in the Mrs. America pageant. When she couldn’t find a local venue to buy a dress, the entrepreneur-at-heart recognized a retail niche that needed filling and started a dress business out of her home in 2007. She moved the business to the Rockbrook location in early 2009. Strom says she has no formal background in design. “I just have a unique eye for being creative and an ability to visualize what will look good [on a client]. I missed my calling at an early age, but it’s snowballed into this amazing opportunity to find something later in life that I am really passionate about.” The business has been such a success that Pie Town Productions in North Hollywood contacted Strom about her store being the location for Obsessed With the Dress, which airs nationally this summer on WE Networks. “Our development team reached out to dozens of such shops across the country,” says Jennifer Davidson, an executive producer at Pie Town Productions. “But when we found Michele Strom and her team at The Winning Crown in Omaha, it was obvious that we had a show here.” >> www.OmahaMagazine.com

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<< There are two types of drama that unfold on Obsessed With the Dress, Davidson says. “The girls and women shopping for gowns are relentlessly competitive and fascinating. But the staff gets into even more crazy drama. There is a villain at the shop, and he is gunning for the manager’s job. These office politics are off the hook!” Strom’s staff includes Beau Olson, manager, who has a keen eye for fashion; Frances Nefsky, a graphic designer and creative mind; and Sarah Summers, an expert on all things pageant. “When it comes to pageants, we dress girls to win. I drill that into the minds of my staff and clients. I am not here to get [them] second place,” says Strom. “Because we have an hour per episode to tell our stories, we get to take a deeper look at the personalities behind the scenes at the shop, who are equally as fascinating as Michele’s customers,” adds Davidson. “Most of Michele’s salespeople are pageant winners themselves, [while] some are not and have their own agendas. Let’s just say that old pageant rivalries never die!” Strom promises that the girls in the show are the real deal. “These girls come into [the store] for their dresses…They are all our clients and not manufactured [characters].” Strom wants to bring awareness to not only what her store does, but also to debunk the negative pageant image. “There have been some shows in the past that have been negative, and I want people to see the positive side of these women. These girls are really smart and do a lot for our community. And it’s not just about the dress; it is about making my clients the best they can be.” OMAG Winning Crown accepts drop-ins, but coaching and one-on-one time with Strom requires an appointment. Check out this unique business right here in Rockbrook Village, and tune into the Obsessed With the Dress premiere Aug. 2. Check www.wetv.com for show air-times. 46

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Omaha feature Story by Kim Carpenter • Photos by Bill Sitzmann (L-R) Joi Katskee, Hollie Hanash, David Scott, Rick Carey, and Elda Doamekpo

Style and Substance Omaha Fashion Week

hen Nick Hudson

first helped found Omaha Fashion Week (OFW) back in 2008, he says some people thought it was a bit of a joke. Six years later, no one’s laughing. During the first year, about 2,000 people attended the event to see creations by 12 designers; by the end of this year, 51 designers will have shown their work, with an estimated 8,000 people attending—and the event just keeps getting bigger and better.

www.BestOfOmaha.com

Unlike fashion weeks in New York, London, and Paris, OFW isn’t just about all things sartorial. It serves as a platform for up-and-coming designers to learn about the fashion industry and introduce their creations to the public, all without having to pay a fee to participate. “A lot of designers come from wealthy backgrounds,” says Hudson. “[Making it in this industry] requires resources. The vast majority of our designers, though, come from limited means and challenging economic backgrounds. [With OFW], there’s no financial barrier.” To this end, Hudson founded the Fashion Institute Midwest, a program that helps >> 2013 • july/august 47

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<< designers learn about all aspects of the fashion industry from developing their lines to getting them to the public. Designers apply online, specifying what they’d like to focus on and what they hope to get out of the program. Some want to enhance their opportunities for getting into top design schools; others hope to build their businesses. Typically, 70-90 designers apply annually, with 40-50 making the cut. The designers are all from the Midwest, coming from states like Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. Ages range from as young as 13 to those in their early 30s. A selection panel consisting of nine fashion industry experts interviews the applicants. “Mainly, people audition to be a part of the show,” Hudson explains. Brook Hudson (Nick’s wife), who manages OFW’s day-to-day operations, adds, “The cool thing about the interviews is that the panel doesn’t just decide. We give the designers feedback on how to sharpen their focus and ideas. It’s a conversation.” From there, designers work with OFW’s team of volunteer mentors to learn about the fashion industry. They receive expert advice on subjects such as where to get fabric, how best to show off designs, and how to pitch and promote their lines. They also participate in workshops or roundtable discussions focusing on topics like doing consumer research and how to broaden their appeal for retail markets. This forms the core of the program. “What people don’t realize,” Hudson points out, “is that there is constant mentoring and support taking place throughout the year behind the scenes.” Rick Carey and David Scott (“The Style Guys”), Omaha fashion stylists and hair and makeup legends who have worked at fashion shows in New York, Paris, and Miami and at international photo shoots, became involved as panelists and designer mentors this past February. “The mentoring program is amazing. We help the designers get their collections together so [they] look fantastic,” explains Carey. “As Tim Gunn of Project Runway fame says, our job is to help the designers ‘make it work.’” Scott adds, “From those original sketches on a piece of paper, no one realizes where designers go from there. You have to find the perfect seamstress who can sew that perfect zipper or perfect hook, someone who knows how to work with a specific type of www.OmahaMagazine.com

Katskee upcycles items into new rock-n-roll pieces.

fabric. We’re very much into the total look.” Another critical component is finding the perfect models to showcase the collections. Alyssa Dilts, director of Develop Model Management, does the casting calls for OFW and works with designers to select models. “I compile the list, and the designers have a week to select [their models],” says Dilts, who has done some professional modeling herself. “I then finagle the schedule for them to coordinate and make sure the models are available.” Equally important are all the other volunteers who make OFW possible. “The public has no clue about what’s involved,” says Scott. “They really don’t realize how many people it takes to put it on.” www.BestOfOmaha.com

Doamekpo’s Elle brand is inspired by the movement of water.

Indeed, volunteers do everything from setting up and tearing down the catwalks, marketing the event, distributing press passes and VIP bags, coordinating the action backstage, and greeting and seating guests. Makeup artists and hairstylists similarly volunteer their time and talent. “We’ve got a great community of people involved who all donate their time and expertise,” says Hudson. “It’s unheard of. It’s a huge part of why we’ve been able to grow so fast. That’s why we’re able to keep building... Because of the community.” What’s new and exciting for OFW this August? The six-night event will take place downtown in the Capitol District (10th & Capitol streets area) in a 30,000-square-foot space

Hanash designs upscale children’s clothes.

composed of one tent flanked by two smaller ones and after-party courtyards featuring DJs and live bands. Designers/artists Dan Richters and Buf Reynolds are collaborating to create a largescale art installation through which people will enter the event. “It’s the first time we’re doing it. We’re graduating to a different level,” notes Hudson. Given all this, it’s no wonder that in just six years, OFW has emerged as one of the top fashion weeks in the Midwest, one that attracts experts and designers from around the country. “It’s more than an event,” Brook proudly points out. “We’re on the verge of creating a new industry for Omaha. OMAG

Omaha Fashion Week takes place August 19-24. Tickets range from $30 to $70; Saturday Finale VIP tables (for 10) can be reserved for $1,000. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit: omahafashionweek.com. Stay updated at Facebook.com/omahafashionweek. OFW Schedule : • Monday 8/19: Children’s Wear • Tuesday 8/20: Avant-Garde • Wednesday 8/21: Ready To Wear • Thursday 8/22: Evening Wear • Friday 8/23: Men’s & Swimwear • Saturday 8/24: Grand Finale Gala 2013 • july/august 49

Omaha feature Story by Leo Adam Biga • Photos by Ken Merchant

Lessons in Transforming Lives Omaha Home for Boys’ Bike Rebuild

july/august • 2013

hen a group of

Omaha Home for Boys and Jacob’s Place residents helped put the finishing touches on a customized 1999 Harley Davidson motorcycle this May, they accomplished something bigger than themselves. As participants in OHB’s Horsepower Bike Rebuild Program, the youth worked four months under the supervision of adults to outfit a bare-bones bike with all custom features. That bike, dubbed Mish Mash, is being raffled off this fall and will be awarded to a winner at Omaha Home for Boys’ Sept. 26 fundraiser, Restoring Hearts with Bike Parts. Fittingly, the motivational speaker for the 6 p.m. Hilton Omaha event is actor-producer-director-author Henry Winkler, who earned fame playing the motorcycle-riding

character The Fonz on the 1970s TV mega-hit, Happy Days. Leading up to the event, the bike is being showcased at parades and shows to help boost raffle sales and raise awareness about Omaha Home for Boys’ and Jacob’s Place’s mission, serving youth. Founded in 1920, OHB is a residential program that provides at-risk boys and young men ages 10-18 with family structure, positive reinforcement, and educational support to help them become successful, independent adults. It’s sister program, Jacob’s Place, has a similar mission serving both young men and women ages 17-21. OHB events manager Trish Haniszewski says the bike rebuild program, which originates out of Mitchell, S.D., is intended to empower youth through structured, hands-on work rebuilding old or damaged bikes. She says the work the Omaha youth put into salvaging their bike “is symbolic of ‘refurbish a youth, refurbish a life.’” The person she recruited to be the program’s bike mechanic >> www.OmahaMagazine.com

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<< facilitator, Jeremy Colchin of Black Rose Machine Shop, found the experience more meaningful than he expected. “The joy I had after the first night of working with the kids was like nothing I ever experienced before,” says Colchin. “I didn’t expect to get attached to these kids.” His father, Black Rose owner Mike Colchin, also mentored the youth. Jeremy says the connection with some youth was immediate and with others, gradual. “You gotta pull them in…We seemed to pull them in in a good way, and that’s what matters. They were having fun when they were here,” says Colchin, who met with the youth Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Howe Garage on campus. “Every single one of them has been extremely polite and fun to be around and easy to work with. It’s promising. “I learned it’s not so much about getting this bike done, it’s about using [the process] as a tool for kids. In the big scheme of things, the bike’s the side note. The time with the kids and teaching them something and working as a team and the pride in this they feel as a group is what’s important.” Colchin says the experience reminded him of when he began working under his father at age 16. Getting the bike tricked out offered many teachable moments. “I thought it was a real interesting way to use what I know to work with these kids and teach them not just about motorcycles, but about how life works,” Colchin says. “That not everything is straightforward. You have to learn to work around problems, work with other people, and have fun doing it. If I can help someone [teaching them] that, that’s a great thing.” The initial plan was to rebuild a beat-up bike. But when a junker couldn’t be found, the new emphasis became customizing a used one. Learning opportunities still presented themselves. “When you customize a bike, you run into issues and problems you need to work through and take care of, and we’ve really done a good job accomplishing that,” says Colchin. Ten to 12 youth participated each week in the bike build, including several girls. Besides taking ratchets, wrenches, and soldering irons to the bike, they came up with a new paint design. Flames on the gas tank include personalized names and sayings from the youth. www.OmahaMagazine.com

Jeremy Colchin of Black Rose Machine Shop shares his expertise with bike-rebuild students.

Program participant Tony, a Jacob’s Place transitional living resident, says, “It’s been a lot of fun. This was the first time I’ve actually worked on a motorcycle. I’ve always loved taking stuff apart and putting it together just for the heck of it—figuring out what makes stuff work. It’s been a very cool experience.” Tony, 18 and soon to enter the U.S. Marine www.BestOfOmaha.com

Corps, says he and his teammates take pride in the work they did. Of the lucky person who will win the bike in the raffle, Colchin says, “They’re going to be in possession of a Harley that’s customized in a way most guys wish they could afford to do.” OMAG

Raffle tickets for the motorcycle will be sold June 28-Sept. 26 and are available by calling Trish Haniszewski at 402-457-7000 or online at omahahomeforboys.org. Tickets to the Restoring Hearts fundraiser can also be purchased on the organizations’s website. Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at leoadambiga.wordpress.com. 2013 • july/august

Omaha faces Story by Allison Janda • Photos by Bill Sitzmann Lake, as Stormy, gives high-fives to a crowd of kids at a spring Chasers game. Being a good mascot requires commitment to the character. For this reason, Lake agreed to be photographed in full costume only.

Storm Chasers’

july/august • 2013

www.OmahaMagazine.com

H Mighty Mascot Kevin Lake

www.BestOfOmaha.com

aving a job that you love

is the ideal. Luckily for Kevin Lake, he stumbled into his dream job five years ago at a job fair, and he’s never looked back. The interview process wasn’t what one might refer to as typical. Lake had to audition by dressing up in costume and interacting with people along 13th Street from Rosenblatt Stadium all the way down to the zoo. Lake is a mascot for the Omaha Storm Chasers. Depending on the day and event, Lake has been known to play all three Omaha Storm Chasers’ mascots, including Stormy, Vortex, and Casey. No matter which mascot he plays, however, Lake has no trouble coming up with various antics to entertain the crowd, from initiating a mascot dance-off during a rain delay to leading fans in the latest dance craze from atop the bar in the Jim Beam Club. Another crowd favorite: “I try to do a flip in the Stormy costume on top of the dugout. He’s a little bigger guy, so the crowd enjoys watching that,” Lake shares. And while he doesn’t always visit a specific section, Lake makes a point of circulating the crowd and stepping into the suites during games. Lake says he especially enjoys Friday and >> 2013 • july/august 55

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<< Saturday nights at Werner Park (home to the Storm Chasers since 2011) because there are typically more fans in attendance to entertain. Additionally, Bark in the Park is an event where fans are invited to bring their furry friends to enjoy a game. “It’s fun watching a dog’s reaction [to me in costume]. You have to move in slowly and be cautious so you don’t get bit,” Lake says. Lake doesn’t just dress up for games. He also wears the costumes to outside benefit appearances, at which he’s made some of his favorite memories. Being a mascot has given him opportunities to get up close and personal with some local celebrities including Warren Buffett, whose hand Lake got to shake at a game. “He may have all the money in the world, but he was nice enough to shake my hand and have a conversation with people,” Lake remembers. One of the greatest challenges of being a mascot is navigating in-costume, Lake says. The tunnel vision the costumes create has caused Lake to accidentally step on children or run into people because he’s unable to see side-to-side or up-anddown. Additionally, the heat can be nearly unbearable on summer days, especially with all of the physical activity that comes with the job. Still, the pros far outweigh the cons, and even physical activity in a heavy costume under the blazing-hot sun has its benefits, he says. “I gained 5-10 pounds in the off-season and got out of shape. It’s nice to get back into the routine of the season so I can shed the pounds,” Lake confesses. OMAG www.OmahaMagazine.com

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Omaha feature Story by Kyle Eustice • Photos by Daniel Muller, Zach Hollowell, and Chip Duden

july/august • 2013

www.OmahaMagazine.com

Crowd at night at Maha Music Festival 2012. Photo by Daniel Muller.

On Fire Flaming Lips Headline 2013 Maha Music Festival

t’s hard to believe the Maha

Music Festival will celebrate its fifth anniversary this year. First held in 2009 at the Lewis & Clark Landing in Downtown Omaha, the all-day outdoor indie rock festival moved to Stinson Park at Aksarben Village in 2011, where it remains today. Each year, the event expands and evolves into a bigger musical machine than it was the year before. Even more surprisingly, Maha is a nonprofit endeavor, run strictly by volunteers and supported by a host of generous corporate sponsors, including Centris Federal Credit Union, Weitz Investment Management, Schnackel Engineers, and 20 other local and national companies. The event is built on a love for the Omaha community and a passion for music. But that doesn’t mean it’s an easy feat. Maha Board President Tre Brashear admits he didn’t exactly know what he was getting into when it first began. “I jokingly say if we knew how much work [Maha] was going to be, we probably would have never done it in the first place,” Brashear says. “But once it gets in your blood a little bit, you want to make it better and better so it keeps going. It was hard to explain to our families that we weren’t making any money [laughs].” This year’s music lineup announcement >>

www.BestOfOmaha.com

2013 • july/august 59

Omaha feature << sent shockwaves through Behind the stage of Guided By Voices Josh DiLorenzo and son Mick enjoy Josh continue on, even if it rains the Omaha community playing at Maha Music Festival 2011. Rouse during Maha Music Festival 2012. or nobody likes the headlinwhen people got word the Photo by Zach Hollowell. Photo by Chip Duden. ers. We are slowly getting Flaming Lips were headthere, but it’s not to the point lining the August 17 event. we can distribute anything Lips’ frontman Wayne [to nonprofits] yet.” Coyne and his wild, grayDespite the challenges, streaked Afro are all over Maha always has an eye on television lately, with Coyne the future. Hip-Hop has serving as the spokesperson been noticeably absent over for Virgin Mobile. Not only the years, and the festival also are the Flaming Lips huge seems a bit confined with right now, they’re also the just one day of performances. most expensive act Maha “Our vision for Maha is has ever booked. The orgato have multiple days on a nizers spent 25 percent more weekend,” Brashear explains. on talent this year than last, “We want to be able to Brashear shares. expand to different genres. The initial Maha concept We still want to be true to was to generate enough profit all of our indie fans that have from the event to donate to grown up with us, but we’re various nonprofit organizations around the (Sugar) rounding out the bill, Brashear is not trying to only be this indie music festival. community; so far, that hasn’t happened. hopeful this is the year. We want to go beyond that.” OMAG But the Maha committee is determined to “We thought we’d come out gangbusters Tickets for the Maha Music Festival are available make that goal a reality. With the Flaming out of the gate, but we didn’t do that,” he for purchase online at www.mahamusicfestival.com. Lips headlining and prolific artists such as says. “We’re trying to get enough money to Advanced general admission tickets are $45, and She & Him, The Thermals, and Bob Mould put aside so we know Maha is safe and will Day-of general admission tickets are $55.

july/august • 2013

www.OmahaMagazine.com

Omaha feature Story by Peter Setter • Photos provided by Mid-America Expositions

Light Up Your Summer 7th Annual Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival

ebraska may not be ste-

reotypical wine country (hello, California), nor does it play host to the world’s largest hot air balloon festival (that’s reserved for Albuquerque, N.M.). However, that hasn’t stopped Mike and Joe Mancuso from hosting a unique summer’s end event that combines the two in a family-friendly way. On the fringes of Omaha, wine is poured and balloons soar at the Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival. Attracting thousands of people each year, this is the event’s seventh anniversary. Happening August 9 and 10 at the Coventry Campus, just south of 204th and Q streets, this year promises an expanded event, with more wines to taste and enjoy and more family fun. The festival begins at 5 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday. General admission adult tickets can be purchased at the entrance for $7 and children 12 and under tickets are $5. >> www.BestofOmaha.com

2013 • july/august

Omaha feature

Nebraska is known for having great soil and producing great crops. Why not grapes and making great wine? -Mike Mancuso

<< “Part of the success that we’ve seen with the Taste of Omaha event is the high interest in doing an event in the western part of the city,” says Mike Mancuso, president of MidAmerica Expositions, the producer of both the balloon festival and foodie event. “We thought the best atmosphere would be with hot air balloons, which turned out to be a positive and enjoyable part of the event.” Half the festival’s namesake focuses on wine and the ever-growing popularity of wine tastings. Wine connoisseurs, wine lovers, and those interested in trying something new interact with chefs while sampling the various Cornhusker state wines throughout the duration of the festival. A special wine and food presentation will be given at 6 p.m. each 62

july/august • 2013

night. Tickets can be purchased prior for $12, and includes five wines to taste and a souvenir wine glass, or they can be purchased at the festival for $15. “This is the one time we can put all the Nebraska wineries together at one place. Nebraska is known for having great soil and producing great crops. Why not grapes and making great wine?” Mancuso says. Mac’s Creek Winery & Vineyards, out of Lexington, Neb., has been participating in the festival since day one, seven years ago. Joining as a way to reach the Omaha wine market, the high attendance and exceptional running of the event kept the vineyard coming back, says Seth McFarland, owner and vineyard manager.

“We have vastly different wines [from California]. We have different grapes, which gives us a different starting point in terms of behavior growth,” says McFarland. “We’re also Nebraskans, so we’re not afraid of hard work. That, combined with the unpredictable weather, promotes exceptional flavors.” With more than six million spectators attending hot air balloon festivals each year nationwide, Nebraska is throwing its hat into the ring as a premier hot air balloon destination. At the festival, guests can take a hot air balloon ride, as well as see the balloons dance to the musical beat of live performances and witness a balloon light show. The balloons launch at 7 p.m., with the “Balloon Glow” light show beginning at 9 p.m. Veteran balloonist Mark Enholm will conduct these balloon rides and light shows. Returning this year to serve as balloonmeister, Enholm has been with the festival since its inception. “My job is to coordinate the different balloonists and balloon events,” he says. “All of them are commercial pilots, meaning they’re licensed to carry two or three guests per flight. The first year, we had five balloons participate. This year, we’ll have nine or 10; most are local, though we’ve added one from Des Moines and another from Missouri.” Enholm credits Mother Nature for contributing to the festival’s growth over the years. www.OmahaMagazine.com

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“We’ve been very lucky with the weather,” he said. “You never know what you’re going to get—rain, tornadoes, hail…In six years, we’ve been very successful in both our flights and the glows.” He says the professionalism of the balloonists is also a factor. “The pilots go out of their way to make the rides fun and enjoyable. We don’t want riders white-knuckling it. The safety of our passengers is paramount.” New to this year’s event is the Vintners’ Lunch. This special lunch, from noon until 2 p.m. on Saturday, focuses on supporting local businesses. Fresh, local foods will be paired with Nebraska wines by Omaha’s best chefs to provide a homegrown food experience for luncheon guests. “Our VIP food and wine tastings have been so popular…we wanted to add another opportunity to add the wine to the food,” Mancuso says. “We thought since the vintners were staying with us overnight, it would be great for them to do a lunch before the last day of the event.” That’s something Omahans can raise their glasses to. OMAG

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Omaha gen o Story by Kyle Eustice • Photo by Bill Sitzmann

Dan Susman Helping Grow the Urban Farming Trend, Frame by Frame

july/august • 2013

ehind the glass doors

and up the stairs at 2626 Harney St., Dan Susman sits tucked away from the world with just his computer equipment, morning coffee, and a big smile slapped on his face. The ambitious 25-year-old is at work on a dream project that emerged from a fascination with urban farming, and he’s hoping his work will inform and drive others to the trend. Susman graduated from Central High School in 2006, then headed off to the prestigious Dartmouth College in New Hampshire where he earned a bachelor’s degree with dual majors: biology and environmental studies. After spending some time working on an urban farm in Portland, Ore., Susman’s passion for the farming practice and sustainable agriculture grew. Upon returning to Omaha

in 2010, Susman got together with childhood friend Andrew Monbouquette and decided to make a documentary about the trend. Growing Cities has been over two years in the making. It’s taken the crew from Boston to Seattle and 19 other cities in between. “I got the idea that I wanted to visit urban farms across the country, and Andrew was really more of the film guy at the time,” Susman explains. “He had made some short films and I just kind of proposed it to him.” That was it. With Monbouquette on board, Susman felt confident moving forward with the idea. The partners raised $39,000 for documentary research and production expenses using Kickstarter, a funding platform for creative projects, and got to work. “We took a giant road trip for about two months,” he continues. “On our trip, we visited everything from rooftop farmers to people with goats, bees, and chickens in their backyards. We have a scene in the film where a guy is walking across the street with his goat in Berkeley [Calif.],” he says with a laugh. Susman is not alone in his interest in www.OmahaMagazine.com

the ecology trend. Urban farming—the practice of growing, processing, and distributing food all within a city—has exploded in popularity in recent years due to a downsized economy, a local food movement, and a greater push toward healthier eating. According to the USDA, urban farming is taking off with around 15 percent of the world’s food now being grown in urban areas. The reasons for the documentary film are several, Susman says. When he came home to Omaha, he noticed several giant billboards that said Omaha was one of the fattest cities in the country. He felt it was his obligation to do something about it. “We wanted to see how other cities were growing food, and we were really looking for positive examples across the country,” he says. “We wanted to take those models and potentially apply them here. We wanted to show what you could do with very little space, such as your backyard or a window.” Susman’s side project, Truck Farm Omaha, sprouted from the road trip the crew took while filming Growing Cities. Throughout his travels, he routinely discovered truck farms, which are little gardens planted in the flatbed of a truck. Once he was back in Omaha, he acquired a 1975 Chevy pickup truck, then planted a truckbed garden, and was soon visiting local schools. The purpose—to educate young people about where food comes from and the benefits of eating locally. “If you don’t have space or time or tools or know-how to grow food, we want to say, ‘Here are some easy steps you can take.’ You don’t have to have a huge garden in your backyard,” he explains. “You could have a little pot and just have some basil or a tomato in there. “We’re trying to educate people on the steps they can take to grow their own. That will make the biggest difference.” OMAG Susman plans to finish post-production on Growing Cities in the near future and will be submitting the project to film festivals later this year. For more details on the film and it’s release, visit GrowingCitiesMovie.com www.BestofOmaha.com

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Omaha gen o Story by Casey Lemke • Photo by Bill Sitzmann

Corianna Kubasta

e co n d - y e a r C r e i g h t o n University Law

student Corianna Kubasta may not be a bonafide attorney just yet, but she’s already got a cause she’s fighting for—the Wounded Warrior Project and its mission to honor and empower those who’ve served and sacrificed for our country. After graduating from University of North Dakota, Kubasta decided on Creighton Law because of the school’s focus on “the student as a whole.” She says the sense of community offered by the university and Omaha made her decision to move here an easy one. According to Kubasta, student law groups at Creighton have a longstanding tradition of charity and service. As a member of 66

july/august • 2013

On a Mission to Help Injured Vets CU’s newly founded Military Law Society, Kubasta is involved with an innovative group of students that seeks to support military affiliates within the Creighton and Greater Omaha communities. In beginning their effort, the Law Society has become a registered sponsor of the Wounded Warrior Project. Founded in 2002, the nonprofit WWP states its purpose as three-fold: to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members; to help injured service members aid and assist each other; and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members. As a proud

supporter of the WWP, the student group is focused on raising awareness and funds for the organization. Most students involved with CU’s Military Law Society have been active military members themselves (although there are family and friends of military who join, too). Kubasta is herself a veteran, having served a yearlong tour in Iraq with an Army National Guard unit from North Dakota in 2008. While on active duty, she trained with the military police, as well as worked in prisons. Kubasta said her tour overseas further strengthened and guided her passion for justice. “It was interesting to see how [Iraqis] dealt with criminals without a structured system. There is just not as much due process over there.” Witnessing many injustices during her tour simply reinforced her desire to go into law, she says. In April, the Military Law Society hosted their first big WWP fundraiser, a poker tournament. The event “couldn’t have been made possible without Connor McCarthy’s time and energy,” says Kubasta, praising her fellow CU student and MLS’s founder. Although the tournament was a monetary success, Kubasta says the bigger achievement was in helping attendees develop a deeper appreciation for what soldiers have sacrificed. The Military Law Society has already agreed to host another tournament next year and will be inviting both old and new friends. The group is looking at other ways to aid the organization as well. “We really want to reach out to vets in the Omaha community,” Kubasta says. “It’s nice to know you have someone to go to [for help].” It seems Kubasta and fellow CU students are happy to offer that helping hand, and Omaha will be a better community for it. OMAG To learn more about the Wounded Warrior Project and what you can do to help, vsit woundedwarriorproject.org www.OmahaMagazine.com

maha Maga zi ne ’s Best of Omaha® contest

is a pure, popular vote and the most recognizable and prestigious “Best” contest in the Omaha metro. It started in the early ’80s with the Omaha Magazine staff voting who was the best in a dozen or so categories. Then, in the early ’90s, the public was asked to vote for their favorites. Last year, over 30,000 voters cast more than 725,000 votes (a new record) in the Best of Omaha® contest. This year, Best of Omaha® welcomes back media partner KETV 7, as well as welcomes newcomer Q98-Five. Their participation not only expands our audience but also increases the number of votes cast. It truly is a community contest. Best of Omaha® voting is all done online. Only one ballot per email address is accepted,

Piz

O M A nnu A

Time to Vote

Voting Starts July 1, 2013

E’

2014

What Makes Us Special

99 2

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Go Vote 2014!

NEW this year! VOTE in Best of Omaha and be entered for a chance to win a $2,500 GRAND PRIZE! BOOST your ODDS of winning by voting in MORE categories, and by SHARING your Best of Omaha votes on SOCIAL MEDIA!

and at least 20 votes on the ballot must be completed for it to be counted. The contest is audited by Goracke & Associates, assuring fairness and accuracy. Best of Omaha® categories vary from year to year. Those receiving few votes are dropped, while suggestions for new ones are always welcome. Some categories are very popular, with the results anxiously awaited. (Think “Best Steakhouse”!) Many businesses vigorously campaign for Best of Omaha® votes, handing out “Go Vote!” cards to customers and posting “Go Vote!” signs in their storefronts and on their websites. Once voting results are compiled, the top three winners in each category are awarded Best of Omaha® Winner’s Circle status for the year. Winners are encouraged to proudly display the Winner’s Circle logo anywhere they wish—on print advertisements, in

store windows, on billboards, on menus and brochures….and why not? Best of Omaha® Winners earned it! Really, what’s better than being recognized by those who matter the most—your customers? Voting in Best of Omaha® 2014 begins July 1 and runs through Sept. 30, with voting results published in the January/February 2014 issue of Omaha Magazine. Make sure you receive this issue by subscribing or renewing your subscription now. In addition, an Omaha Magazine subscription makes a great gift for anyone, especially new residents! It’s a handy reference to the most preferred restaurants, specialty stores, hair salons, home remodelers, and many other buisnesses. We encourage you to support your favorite Omaha businesses by voting in our Best of Omaha® contest. Cast your ballot at BestOfOmaha.com.

Voted #1 Best Pizza in 2013

Serving the freshest New York style pizza, pasta, calzones, appetizers, & salads since 1985. Zio’s items are made from scratch; The dough is made fresh by Zio every morning, the meats prepared from scratch daily to give you the FRESHEST PIZZA in Omaha. Zio’s pizzas & calzones are hand stretched as ordered. The chicken is all natural, free of antibiotics & growth hormones, & our beef is 100% Angus beef – always cooked fresh & never frozen. You can choose from several combos or custom make your pizza slices, pizza or calzone by choosing from any of our 40 freshest toppings. RECIPIENT OF 34 “BEST PIZZA” AWARDS! www.ziospizzeria.com • Visit us at any 3 locations for dine-in & takeout: 12997 W. Center Road 7834 W. Dodge Road 1109 Howard (Old Market) 330-1444 391-1881 344-2222 •Weekday Lunch Specials • Beer & Wine • Limited Delivery Downtown

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PIZZERIA SM

Freshest, Hand Stretched New York Style Pizza 2013 • july/august 67

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What Makes Us Special

2014

Voting Starts July 1, 2013

Vote us number #1 for the third year in a row. We appreciate your vote.

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ChristiClarkColor.com · 402-321-9410 www.OmahaMagazine.com

Draperies & Blinds | Furniture & Accessories | Color Consultation Remodeling & Rearrangement | Home Staging | Tile, Carpet & More... Best of Omaha 2006•2007•2008

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A Must-See Boutique

Best of Omaha for 5 years...

Let’s make it 6!

CMY

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FASHION FILLED DAY! th 7 Anniv. Bash Saturday, July 13th 9AM to 5PM Mimosas & Wine Tasting courtesy of Bob Bolden, Winestyles

We appreciate your vote for the

4th year in a row as Best Spa!

Receive a $10 discount after voting [must present voting certificate] 5709 South 108th Street (2 blocks south of 108th and Q Street) 402.502.1850 www.glosssalon.com

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Hair Styling Demos courtesy of Jessica Hansen

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Downtown Papillion Open Mon-Sat at 10am 2013 • july/august 69

We Would Appreciate Your Vote For Best Home Remodeler! Repairs Basement Waterproofing Basement Structural Basement Radon Mitigation Basement Finishing ...and Nasty Crawl Spaces too!

Basement Please vote for us as bestRep Waterproofing and air!

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PLEASE VOTE US BEST SANDWICH Stop by for authentic, cooked-to-order Philly Cheesesteaks and sliced-to-order cold subs.

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NJ&Co would appreciate your vote for best women’s boutique best home&furnishings A big thank you to all of our loyal customers. We are proud to style you and your home!

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Please Vote Best Fried Chicken and Best Family Restaurant “Serving The Best Fried Chicken in Town Since 1997” 13325 Millard Ave. • 402-891-9292

www.millardroadhouse.com 70

july/august • 2013

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Please Vote New Dawn Nutrition as Best Nutrition and Vitamin Store!

Please VOTE

Best Home Remodeler and Home Builder!

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2014

Voting Starts July 1, 2013

Where Craftsmanship is at its Finest! We Would Appreciate Your Vote for Best Residential Roofing. All types of Roofing, Guttering, Siding, & Windows Hail Damage Specialists Locally Owned & Operated Since 1993 Insurance Claims are Our Specialty

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July/August 2013

Always Local, Always Beautiful

At Home in Sterling Ridge The Yannones' High-Tech Dream House in Omaha

Architect Q&A Homes for Heroes

OLD

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2013 • july/august

Trend-setting designs and more than 100 to choose from.

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CKF COUNTERTOP GALLERY 3434 S. 114th St, (Oakview Hollow) Omaha, NE 68144 402-331-0500

July/August 2013 VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 4

E d i t o r i a l & C r e at i v e omaha publications editor

linda persigehl omaha home contributing editor

sandy matson assistant editors

bailey hemphill chris wolfgang editorial intern

peter setter (#28) creative director

john gawley director of photography

interactive media

bill sitzmann senior graphic designer

katie anderson junior graphic designer

paul lukes

Simplify your life by selling your less needed items.

Knowledge... Compassion... Follow Through!

graphic design intern

libby schlosser (#29) contributing photographers

kent behrens jim scholz

• tom kessler

• angel stottle

editorial advisors

rick carey

• david scott

contributing writers

mike becker wyatt deweese doug duchan jenna gabrial gallagher susan mcmannama, asid meghan townley

40 Years of Experience!

Posh Peacock

Consignment Gallery Furniture & Home Decor

Duane Sullivan

402.333.6565

duane.sullivan@cbshome.com

Omaha Home Magazine appears as its own magazine and as a section within Omaha Magazine. To view the full version of Omaha Magazine, or to subscribe, go to omahamagazine.com/subscribe

ph: 402.933.9666 poshpeacock.net

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july/august • 2013

www.OmahaMagazine.com

www.BestOfOmaha.com

july/august • 2013 H5

Your Complete Design Specialist...

July/August 2013 VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 4

Acc o u n t s & O p e r at i o n s publisher

todd lemke publisher’s assistant

From Con

sandy matson

sultation to Comple

sales associates

publisher’s assistant

jessica linhart

Draperies & Blinds | Furniture & Accessories | Color Consultation Remodeling & Rearrangement | Home Staging | Tile, Carpet & More...

Best of Omaha 2006•2007•2008

vice president

greg bruns

vice president of operations

tyler lemke

executive vice president

A+ Rating

sales

marketing

Office: 402.964.0762 Mobile: 402.670.7566 • www.GloriasElegantInteriors.com

gil cohen

We’re not just about fences

sales associate

alicia smith hollins

senior sales executive

gwen lemke

executive sales associate

vicki voet

account executive

paige edwards

accountant

jim heitz

distribution manager

mike brewer

Whether You Want Security, Privacy Or Elegance, S&W Fence Has The Fence Or Railing For You!

Comments? Send your letter to the editor to: letters@omahapublications.com All versions of Omaha Magazine are published bimonthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha NE 680461208. 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.

15803 PACIFIC STREET • OMAHA, NE • 402.333.5722 • WWW.SW-FENCE.COM H6

july/august • 2013

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD

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july/august • 2013 H7

Omaha Home:

BUSINESS. ENTERTAINMENT. FAMILY. FOOD & DRINK. HEALTH. HOME. LIFESTYLE. STYLE.

Story by TKTKTK • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

the new

july/august • 2013

ART. AT HOME. AUTO. BEAUTY. BEER, COCKTAILS & WINE. BEFORE & AFTER. BEST OF B2B® . BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA ® . BEST OF OMAHA ® . BUSINESS PROFILES. CALENDAR OF EVENTS. CHEFS. COFFEE & TEA. DIY PROJECT. DOWNTOWN. EDUCATION. ENTREPRENEURS. ETHICS. FAMILY ACTIVITIES. FASHION. FINANCE & REAL ESTATE. FITNESS. GALAS. GALLERIES & MUSEUMS. HOME HAPPENINGS. HOME IMPROVEMENT. HOT PRODUCTS. IN THE OFFICE. LEADERS. MUSIC. NEIGHBORHOODS. NEW HOME BUSINESSES. NEWS. NIGHTLIFE. NONPROFITS. NUTRITION. OPINION. OMAHA’S BEST DOCTORS ® . PARENTING. PEOPLE. PEOPLE ON THE RISE. PETS. PLACES. PREMIER WEALTH ADVISORS. Q&A SPOTLIGHT. RECREATION. RESTAURANTS. RETIREMENT. REVIEWS. SOCIAL MEDIA. SPORTS. STYLISTS. TEEN VOICES. THEATRE. TOP DENTISTS™. YOUNG HERO. www.OmahaMagazine.com

Omaha Home: contents in this issue

july/august 2013

features

H21

Feature: Homes for Heroes Program

H24

Neighborhood Profile: Waterford

H38

At Home:

The Best of All Worlds, the Yannone’s High-tech Dream Home

H46

Transformations: Balance & Harmony, Susan McMannama, ASID

www.BestOfOmaha.com

july/august • 2013 H9

Win an iPad Mini! And a $500 iTunes Gift Card.

Starting in July, visit Omaha Magazine's NEW mobile-friendly website and enter to win a prize. For more chances to win, enter monthly contests. Monthly prizes valued at $1,000.

CuStom DeSign · Home Theater · Lighting · Control Home Automation · Motorized Shading

402.334.4900 4315 S. 120th Street

www.echosystemsomaha.com H10

july/august • 2013

www.OmahaMagazine.com

Omaha Home: contents in this issue

july/august 2013

Thank You Omaha!

departments

H13

Letter from the Editor

50 YEARS

OF GREAT SERVICE 1963-2013

H14

Architect Q&A: Jared Gerber, Gerber Architecture, PC

H17

Design Q&A: Jason Decker, Elite Landscaping

H30

H32

New on the Block: Bareknuckle Bazaar, Lee Douglas Interiors, and The Light Palace/A Well Dressed Window

DIY Project: The Giving Tree Mural

H34

Sandy’s Makeover:

Home Theater & Music Systems Call us for a free consultation! 402.391.3842 Rockbrook Village

11021 Elm St. Omaha, NE 68144 www.soundenvironment.com

Metal-frame Chalkboard

H36

Hot Products: Picnic Essentials

H50

Staff Picks: Sentimental Planting

columns H18 H20 H29 www.BestOfOmaha.com

Real Estate Column: Making an Offer Landscaping Column: Diagnosing Troubled Trees Home Décor Column: Motorized Shades

Designers Workroom & Upholstery, Inc. Custom Drapery Bedspreads Window Treatments Blinds Upholstery

Greg Pazderka 402.734.5128 2317 F St. Omaha, NE july/august • 2013 H11

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Our heavy glass shower doors are custom fit to any opening. Offering clear or obscured glass, framed or frameless options, we’ll help you select the perfect one for your home. You’ll be pleased with the reasonable cost of built-in custom closets designed by Marco Custom Closets of Omaha. Best of all, we offer free measuring, free planning, free design work. Visit our showroom and factory located in Papillion and see for yourself the absolute quality of the materials and design choices offered by Marco Closets of Omaha.

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H12

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www.OmahaMagazine.com

Omaha Home: from the editor

Re • pur • pose

Thank you for voting us Best of Omaha 3 years!

hose of you who know me know I have a

fondness for (some have even told me, a real knack for) home DIY projects. I love shopping yard sales, estate sales, and Goodwill looking for my next craft-it/build-it/ make-it-over home décor weekend obsession. Repurposing home décor is certainly one of my favorite DIY strategies. We all have many old, unused, or even unwanted items in our home…taking up space in our cupboards, closets, storage rooms, and attics. And while it feels good to do a clean sweep every few years and shed those unwanted items, I beg you—WAIT and take another look. You might just have something wonderful right under your nose, clamoring for a new life with the help of a clever reinvention. With a little ingenuity, time, and a few supplies, you might just turn that little do-nothing piece into something entirely useful, uniquely decorative, or even a great conversation piece (while keeping it out of the landfill). And oftentimes, you'll spend a fraction of the cost to repurpose it as you would to replace it. Think you're not crafty enough? Not the creative type? Don't have time? Think again. Beside the obvious—Pinterest, which is flooded daily with great, new home DIY project ideas—there are plenty of websites and magazines devoted to the topic. Here are a couple of my favorites to get you started: popcosmo.com, houzz.com, and buzzfeed.com. And for directions and photos of two of my own DIY repurposed home décor projects, see pages H34-35. Good luck!

www.moveflatrate.com (402) 709-0970

Sandy

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor, Omaha Home If you have a clever idea for a home décor makeover project, we' d love for you to share! Please email me a picture of your project ('before' and 'after' photos are ideal) along with a brief description of the makeover process to sandy.besch@omahapublications.com and we may include your project in a future issue of Omaha Home!

Rachel Skradski, CBS Home Realtor, after placement of cosmetic veneers. Photo by Kim Roudabush, Kim Photography.

12123 Pacific St. • 334-4422 www.classicdentistry.com Extraordinary Care... Exceptional Results! Best of Omaha Winner 4 Years in a Row! www.BestOfOmaha.com

july/august • 2013 H13

Omaha Home: architect q&a Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by Bill Sitzmann and provided by Kent Behrens and Tom Kessler

Q&A: Jared Gerber Gerber Architecture, PC

nspired by design from a young

age, Jared Gerber knew early on he was destined to go into architecture. Today, he makes his living helping homeowners design custom living spaces that not only reflect their personalities, but also fit their natural environment.

H14

july/august • 2013

Q: Tell us a bit about your background. How did you first come to discover your love of building design?

Q: Where did you receive your education and training in architecture? How did you end up in Omaha?

A: I think the architecture seed was first planted while I was growing up in Virginia. We would take school field trips to Colonial Williamsburg, and I found myself more interested in the architecture of historic buildings than anything else. I really enjoyed studying the aspects that make a building unique—the setting, the form, the details…and trying to discern the things I liked and disliked about a particular building. These experiences also gave me an appreciation for historic preservation.

A: My family eventually moved to Nebraska, and I went to high school in Fairbury. After receiving my bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, I decided to take a break and found a job working at an architectural firm specializing in churches in Charlotte, N.C. I loved being two hours from both the beach and the mountains, but I missed the four seasons and my family, so after a couple of years I decided to move back to get my master’s from UNL. Immediately after www.OmahaMagazine.com

Please Vote Us Best Home Accessories Store in Omaha.

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graduation, I found a job in Omaha. I’ve been here ever since. Q: Tell us a bit about your firm. Do you specialize in any niche of architecture or price range? What do you enjoy most about what you do?

A: I founded Gerber Architecture, PC in 2005. I started as a commercial architect but gravitated to the residential side after designing my first house project. I soon discovered that residential design is very rewarding because it has such a direct, personal effect on a client’s everyday life. Today, about 90 percent of my work is residential. I’ve designed a wide range of projects, from simple room remodels to multi-million-dollar additions and remodels to new-construction homes. I enjoy the design phase the most, as that’s the time when the creativity is flowing and there’s a lot of enthusiasm and energy with a project. I also enjoy the beauty of working >> www.BestOfOmaha.com

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Omaha Home: architect q&a Fairacres, Omaha

Lockwood, Omaha

Regency, Omaha

<< with different clients. Each homeowner collaboration—discussing their wants, needs, and ideas—creates a house that is truly distinctive, and each offers different problems and solutions. And although most of the drawings are done on the computer now, I still enjoy doing the initial schematic drawings by hand. Q: Tell us about one of your favorite projects. What challenges and rewards did it offer?

A: One of my favorites was a new house that I designed on a beautiful 40-acre lot south of town that was full of bur oak trees and teeming with wildlife. With a large acreage, you not only design the residence…the creativity extends to the broader view of the site, the approach of the house. Siting the house can be the most difficult task…the H16

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Plattsmouth, NE

vegetation, views, sun patterns, and topography are all factors the homeowner will live with every day. In this case, there was an open, flat area that initially appeared the best placement option. However, after further analysis, pushing [the residence] back to a spot nestled within some trees gave the house a feeling like it belonged…as if it grew out of the site. The finished house is not huge—less than 3,000 finished square feet—but it’s the siting of the house, the quality of the spaces, and the craftsmanship of the details that reflect the homeowners’ personality and make it a great project. The house was featured on the AIA [American Institute of Architects] Omaha Home Tour a couple years ago, and I’m still getting feedback from attendees on how much they appreciated the house.

Q: Tell us a bit about you personally. Family, associations, and interests outside of work?

My wife, Kristine, and I have been married for almost 24 years. We have two boys— Creighton, a sophomore at Augustana in Sioux Falls, S.D., studying archeology, and Drew, a junior at Westside High School. We enjoy traveling, touring houses, and trying out new restaurants. I’m currently on the board for AIA Omaha and help organize various events for our membership. Interacting with my fellow architects helps keep me updated on changes going on both locally and nationally. I’m also a bit of a beer aficionado and enjoy some of the local and regional craft beers and the monthly home brewer’s club at the German-American Society. I’m a former athlete and a huge football fan and often take in a Husker game with my boys. www.OmahaMagazine.com

Omaha Home: design q&a Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by Bill Sitzmann and provided by Elite Landscaping

Q&A: Jason Decker Elite Landscaping

s a kid, Omahan Jason Decker

was known as the neighborhood yard boy. Today, as owner of Elite Landscaping, he still spends most of his days working outdoors, creating and installing beautiful landscapes and outdoor entertaining spaces for homeowners. “I can’t picture myself doing anything other than this.”

www.BestOfOmaha.com

Q: When did you first discover your love for working in the outdoors? How did you get your start in landscaping?

A: Growing up in Armbrust Acres, I mowed 15 yards a week all through grade school and made good money for a young kid. At 15, I started working for a local lawn and landscape contractor. While I worked for my old boss, I read many books on landscaping and learned trial by fire. My parents were always my guinea pigs. They were my first pond, patio, landscape design, fire pit, lighting job, etc. School was never my thing. I just loved being outside, the hard work, seeing the fruits of my labor, and interacting with people.

Q: What education and training do you have in landscape design? Who were your mentors?

A: I graduated from Millard North High School in 2001 and then attended Metro Community College for one-and-a-half years, taking classes in advanced landscape design and plant knowledge. For the most part, I am self-taught. My mentors were definitely my father, Bob, and mother, Rose, who instilled in me great ethics and morals and taught me at a young age that hard work pays off. My mom continues to support me in my business as the company’s office manager. Q: What kind of projects does Elite Landscaping take on? Who >> july/august • 2013 H17

Real Estate: making an offer Mike Becker, Bank of the West

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potential buyers need to make their offer stand out. To help beef up your offer, here are five questions you should ask: 1. Do I have a strong pre-approval letter? Get pre-approved for a loan from a trusted lender. This letter is evidence of how much you can borrow and shows that a lender has done a credit check and verified income and assets, so your ultimate mortgage approval can go more smoothly. 1. Do I know what the seller wants? Working with a reputable real estate agent, you should determine the seller’s motivations. In some cases, sellers want to close quickly. Other times, they may be waiting to relocate and a speedy closing is less important. 1. Can I avoid contingencies? Sellers who do want to close quickly may get antsy about contingent offers—such as when the buyer needs to sell a current residence. Try to avoid contingencies if possible. 1. Is my offer price strong? A good real estate agent should be able to advise you on comparable sales and listings in the neighborhood you want. This information can help you strengthen your offer. 1. Do I have the cash to close? It's helpful to have your cash amassed in a liquid account to cover the down payment, closing costs, and other expenses. If you answer "yes" to all or most of these questions, then you’ll be on stronger footing when it comes to making an offer on a home.

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Mike Becker is a mortgage banking regional sales manager for Bank of the West – Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. Becker lives and works in Omaha and can be reached at mike. becker@bankofthewest.com. H18

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Omaha Home: design q&a West Shores, Omaha

Linden Estates, Omaha

<< are your customers?

A: Our main area of work is in outdoor patio and pool projects. We are the main installer for Lumberman’s high-end clients, and Bell Pools and New Wave Pools are great companies we work well with, referring business to each other. I do all my own landscape project work—meeting with each client, designing and bidding each job, then watching over the job site through completion. We only do around 15-20 projects a summer, and we continually keep in touch with clients, keeping their properties in peak shape with maintenance annuals, potting, and service work, etc. My customers are generally very hardworking professionals—small business owners, doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, executives for local businesses. They love their homes and yards and want them to be www.BestOfOmaha.com

one-of-a-kind retreats where they can spend time relaxing and getting away from the rigors of work and enjoying family time. Ninety percent of my work is referral-based, while a few jobs are generated by my website and my exhibit at the Omaha Home Show. Q: What part of landscaping do you enjoy the most? What inspires your designs?

A: The most creative and enjoyable part is the design process—I’ve come up with some very unique and challenging designs, and I have a great team of guys who are very skilled and able to execute our designs well. Traveling is what inspires me! I travel about every six weeks, and at least once a year out of the country—Rio de Janeiro, Thailand, Mexico, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Miami, Las Vegas… It

Springfield, NE

West Shores, Omaha

gives me something to look forward to, and it refreshes the mind and body. Q: How do you enjoy your spare time?

Spending it with my girlfriend, Christie. She is the first woman who’s ever been able to get me away from work in the summer, our busiest time of year. We enjoy going to movies, sitting on the outdoor patio with friends for drinks, and dining out at Pitch Pizzeria, J’s on Jackson, M’s Pub, Roja, among others. We also like going downtown, and the Benson area is always fun. I also like to golf or just hang out with my bulldog, Diesel, and watch sporting events. For a photo gallery of past projects or more info on Elite Landscaping, visit elitelandscapingomaha.com july/august • 2013 H19

Landscaping: trees

Your outdoor retreat

By Wyatt DeWeese, Certified Arborist, Terry Hughes Tree Service

on staff

EstatE GardEnErs, Inc. design

hen diagnosing a troubled tree, there are many vari-

ables that come into play. What species of tree are we dealing with? When and where was it planted? What problematic symptoms does it exhibit? One should look at the surroundings of the plant. Construction and soil compaction can play a huge role in a tree’s longevity. Weather is also a big factor. Storm damage, such as hail, can wreak havoc on a tree’s well-being. The biggest issue we see is poor initial planting. Many trees are planted too deep or too high in the soil. A tree can survive in these stressful conditions for approximately 4-5 years before showing signs of decline. Watering can be a big issue, too. Most trees need 1” of water each week. Not enough or too much water can be detrimental to the tree’s growth. When treating a diseased tree, the right diagnosis is key. Only a certified arborist will know which fungicide is required to treat a fungal problem, or which insecticide will best treat a tree infested with pests. Using the proper treatment application method is also essential and may depend on the severity of tree damage. When you see a tree exhibiting signs of trouble, it’s best to call a professional arborist right away. Likely, the tree has been in distress for some time. Better yet, employ a regular tree service to service and treat your trees year-round, before the trouble starts.

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Omaha Home: feature Story by Linda Persigehl • Photo by Bill Sitzmann

Stephanie Poltack, first-time home owner and teacher with Millard Public Schools.

Homes for Heroes

Program rewards those who serve with savings on their home purchase.

www.BestOfOmaha.com

hen mortgage loan officer Michael Petrovich

with The Private Mortgage Group in Omaha was offered the chance to work with the national Homes for Heroes program, he says it seemed like a perfect opportunity to show his thanks to those we depend on. The program—which uses the tagline ‘Service Deserves Its Rewards’—offers discounts on real estate-related services to active and retired military, police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other civil servants that serve our communities and our country. “My dad was a fireman for years with the Omaha Fire Department, and a good friend of mine’s dad is a retired Omaha police officer,” Petrovich says. “I also have a lot of friends in the military. [The program] sounded like an opportunity to help out a lot of friends and family, and this was an area I felt I could >> july/august • 2013 H21

Omaha Home: feature

Mike Petrovich with The Private Mortgage Group

Being a first-year teacher and a first-time homeowner, I’m very appreciative of all the help we received…It meant everything to us. -Stephanie Poltack

Steve Minino, a Realtor with NP Dodge Real Estate

<< really make a difference…saving them some money when buying a home.” Petrovich says as a Homes for Heroes affiliate member, he offers “hero” homebuyers free home appraisals, which are often required for home purchases and refinances handled by his firm. Waiving the fee saves the homebuyer $400. Fellow Private Mortgage Group employees Pete Coen and Jeremy Wilhelm are also affiliate members. “We can offer the discounts to any qualifying client in the Omaha/Fremont territory we cover. All they need to do is sign up on the Homes for Heroes website, and it directs them to all the affiliates in the area,” Petrovich explains. Real estate agents make up a large number of HFH affliliate members nationally. Locally, H22

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Prudential Ambassador Real Estate agents Michelle Gustafson, Gary Gernhart, Mamie Jackson, and Matt Anderson are affiliates. “We know the agents [at Prudential] and we’ve worked together to offer clients the HFH discounts. It’s been a team effort,” Petrovich adds. The Homes for Heroes program was first created in 2002 by a group of lenders and Realtors in Minneapolis in response to the tragic events of 9/11. Petrovich was among the first Homes for Heroes affiliate members in Nebraska, joining in November 2012 when the program first launched in Omaha. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit, comprised of Realtors, lenders, and other real estate-related service providers, now has approximately 750 affiliates nationwide serving homeowners in 44 states.

Steve Minino, a Realtor with NP Dodge Real Estate, is another Homes for Heroes affliate in Omaha. Along with Realtors Deb and Mark Hopkins (all part of the Hopkins Home Team), Minino got involved when he learned about the program on the local news. "We saw the advantages right away and jumped on board...being able to help our local heroes while getting some great exposure for us," he says. "It was definitely a winwin situation." "My family also has a long tradition of members serving in the Marine Corps. We liked the idea of helping out family and friends who serve and who could really benefit." As an affiliate, Minino says he offers 25 percent of his sales commission back toward the purchase process for Homes for Heroes www.OmahaMagazine.com

Better Quality. Better Service. Affordable Prices. clients. "This money is typically applied toward the closing costs being paid by the homebuyer," he says. "If the buyer is not responsible for closing costs, then the money is donated to a charity of their choice." Minino also donates another five percent of his commission directly back to the Homes for Heroes organization, which they use to fund other projects, including the rehabing of homes to accommodate injured veterans. "We're currently working with several Heroes clients, and we hope to grow that number in the next six months or so." Millard Public Schools teacher Stephanie Poltack and her fiancé, Aaron Mackel, recently purchased a home together in West Omaha and took advantage of discounts offered by several local Homes for Heroes affliliates. “My Realtor, Judy Kramer with Prudential, told me about [Homes for Heroes] and referred me,” Poltack says. “Through the program, we received closingcost assistance and got a discounted home inspection, and The Private Mortgage Group gave us a free home appraisal. I believe we saved $1,325 in all. “Being a first-year teacher and a first-time homeowner, I’m very appreciative of all the help we received…It meant everything to us,” Poltack adds. “We were able to use the money saved to go out and buy a washer and dryer. It’s a great program, and I think if more people were aware of it, more would take advantage of it.” Nationally, several media outlets and Hollywood celebrities have helped publicize the good works being done by Homes for Heroes’ affiliates nationwide, including Sean Hannity with Fox News, actor Gary Sinise, and the Orlando Magic basketball franchise. However, the nonprofit has grown primarily through word of mouth via the internet and news media. Petrovich says one of the goals of the Omaha-area affiliates is to raise awareness of the Homes for Heroes program in Nebraska and encourage participation by our local heroes. “We’re getting together to discuss ways to advertise,” he said. "We’ve placed ads in the Fremont paper, hung posters in firehouses and around town…We want our civil servants and military to know we support them and say thank you for serving our country and our community.”

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Omaha Home: neighborhood profile Story by Meghan Townley • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

A family enjoys an early summer ride along the Waterford Trail, which starts at the clubhouse and winds around the neighborhood lake.

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www.OmahaMagazine.com

Waterford

A Peaceful Escape from the City Without Compromising Modern Conveniences

eautiful landscaping, nature at your doorstep, a state-of-the-art clubhouse and fitness center overlooking the serene pool...Sounds more like a dreamy vacation destination than a permanent residence. Waterford is a cozy neighborhood tucked away at the corner of 156th and Ida streets in northwest Omaha. “It is a quiet neighborhood with a lot of families and is a place where you really get to know your neighbors,” says Jennifer Magilton with CBSHome Real Estate. “It has that small-town sense of community.” Resident Kim Brown attests to Waterford’s tight-knit community. “The neighborhood is friendly, quiet, and the neighbors are very supportive, caring, and gracious. We are all very close and know what each other needs. If you're going to be gone for a week, no problem…Your neighbor will get your mail or mow your yard. And when a neighbor is going through a tough time, we all pull together and do whatever needs to be done," says Brown. The residents of Waterford enjoy throwing holiday parties for the kids. “Traditionally, we have a Halloween >>

www.BestOfOmaha.com

july/august • 2013 H25

Omaha Home: neighborhood profile << party, an Easter Egg Hunt, and Santa comes on a fire truck,” says Brown. “We have people bring cookies for the Christmas event and candy for the Halloween event. A committee gets together to plan and solicit any donations or other items that need to be purchased.” Brown and her family have lived in Waterford for six years and do not plan on moving anytime soon. "In the area where I live [northeast], we are pretty established… there are only a few lots left. So, if you want to buy, hurry!" The subdivision offers three housing options, all with access to the private clubhouse, 24-hour fitness center, two swimming pools, lake, and walking trails: single-family homes, estate lots, and villas/townhomes with lawn and trash services included. “The neighborhood has a variety of architectural [home] designs, from ultra-chic modern to Colorado cabin, as well as traditional homes in a wide range of prices… lots of different styles of homes throughout because of all of the different builders,” says Magilton. Homes sell for $250,000 to $700,000. The winding roads of Waterford are a calming retreat from the city noise and traffic. The streets are lined with neat rose bushes, shrubs, and local prairie grasses. The neighborhood has a private clubhouse equipped with a pool and 24-hour fitness center. A second pool sits on the southeast side of the subdivision. Outdoors enthusiasts enjoy the secluded 30-acre lake stocked with fish and the biking/ jogging trail. “I absolutely love the access we have to nature in terms of green space and walking trails,” says resident Maria Minderman. “You can access Standing Bear [Recreational Area] and many other trails through the trail system.” The clubhouse is an excellent resource for residents. It's a charming space that includes a kitchen and a large, open space plus a sitting area with couches, a television, and fireplace. Several of the Waterford community activities are hosted there. "If you have a small party, I would guess the clubhouse would comfortably hold anywhere from 25-50 people. It would be a great place for a rehearsal dinner, graduation, or birthday party," Brown adds. “It is a very nice treat for residents if they do not want to go into Omaha…There is something right here that they can use. Plus, you don’t have >> H26

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www.OmahaMagazine.com

www.BestOfOmaha.com

july/august • 2013 H27

Omaha Home: neighborhood profile

<< to clean your house!" The neighborhood is unique in that it's located in both the Omaha Public and Bennington Public School districts. Minderman’s children—who just finished kindergarten, second, and fourth grades— go to Saddlebrook Elementary in OPS, just 1.5 miles from her house. “I absolutely love Saddlebrook. The school is brand-new and has a library and a community center. I don’t think you could find a better school in Omaha,” says Minderman. Brown’s two children attend Bennington Public Schools. "We have a lot of different school systems represented in Waterford,” H28

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says Brown. “I know families that attend St. James [Catholic], Lifegate Christian School, and Concordia [Lutheran] School of Omaha.” Brown and her family built their two-story, traditional home and were very pleased with their building options. “We didn't want a cookie-cutter house," says Brown, adding she admires the other unique homes in the area. "A house was just built down the road from us that is absolutely beautiful. It has more of a Colorado feel to it. There are a couple of really unique homes that resemble a Frank Lloyd Wright style.” Waterford offers the proximity to modern conveniences without sacrificing the natural

elements. "We have geese that make their home at the lake most of the year. It is very serene to walk around the lake and see the geese, ducks, and bunnies. I saw a bald eagle the other day," says Brown. At the same time, the subdivision is just a couple miles from the shopping and dining at centers at 144th and 156th and Maple streets. Target, Wal-Mart, and HyVee are just a quick drive away. And if you're a golfer, Stone Creek Golf Course (156th & Ida) is just a stroll across the street.

www.OmahaMagazine.com

Home Décor: shades by Doug Duchan, Echo Systems

Summer’s calling Motorized Shades Control Sunlight Easily

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As we become more con-

scious of our footprint on this planet, we realize that making the most of daylight in our homes simply makes good sense. What’s great is that it’s easier and more affordable than ever to control sunlight. Motorized window treatments are no longer considered a luxury but a necessity by many homeowners. Motorized shading systems offer numerous benefits: • Save Energy. Utilizing a shading system helps regulate your home's temperature and saves money on HVAC costs well beyond what traditional shades offer. • Elegance & Ambiance. Stylish fabric options coupled with innovative technology elegantly transition a space while offering just the right amount of light for any activity. Shades align precisely within 1/16" of each other, creating a balanced, beautiful look on a row of windows anywhere in your home. • Convenience. Shading systems can be controlled using a myriad of keypads, IR (infrared frequency) remote controls, and wireless tabletop controls, or may be set to an astronomic time clock for automatic adjustment. • Safety & Security. A whole-home shading system can be programmed for simultaneous control. Homeowners can set a pre-determined “away” time, then just hit a button when leaving to close all shades and restrict the view inside your home. • Reduce Glare & Protect Furnishings. Shading systems diffuse light and prevent glare from washing out a computer or television screen. They also protect furniture, fine art, rugs, and even wood surfaces from the sun’s damaging UV rays. To learn more about motorized shading systems or request an in-home consultation, call on the professionals at Echo Systems in Omaha at 402-334-4900 or visit echosystemsomaha.com. july/august • 2013 H29

Omaha Home: new on the block Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

(L-R) Lorele Lesoing, owner; Meg Penrod, design assistant; Kelly Grimm, designer; Erin Schager, designer; Clarissa Tuxhorn, designer.

(L-R) Audio and Cameron

Bareknuckle Bazaar Lee Douglas Interiors bareknucklebazaar.etsy.com facebook.com/bareknucklebazaar

artners Cameron and Audio Helkuik are the owners

of Bareknuckle Bazaar, a new online home goods business based in Omaha. The company, “in the business of making art,” launched in May and features pillows, small housewares, and other home décor items, all hand-crafted by the duo. “I have a string of highly creative jobs under my belt: art tutor, costume designer, art gallery manager, arts & crafts instructor, fashion designer…” shares Audio. “Cameron has a resume filled with more traditional business experience but has always wished to do something creative with his hands. We finally decided to join forces and take the plunge. Here we are now with Bareknuckle Bazaar, and we have so much creative energy we can barely stand it.” Audio says the business aims to infuse high-quality, rugged yet refined design into the lives of its customers. “They might be looking to make tiny home improvements here or there, or to do a total overhaul [of their living space], but they’re focused on surrounding themselves with great design that will last.” Included in the store’s initial collection is a line of linen pillows with leather detailing, available in several patterns. All of the products featured on Bareknuckle Bazaar’s Etsy site are priced affordably at $40-$150. Audio hopes to eventually expand the business into upholstery work—vintage furniture makeovers, custom bicycle seats, even auto “hotrod” upholstery. A brick and mortar storefront is not out of the question either. For now, the business is using primarily social media—a blog and Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram—to share photos of new items and market their goods to customers. H30

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12100 W. Center Rd., Suite 1101 402-932-9932 leedouglas.com

ee Douglas Interiors, a full-service design firm based

in Lincoln, Neb., has expanded into Omaha with the opening of a new design studio in Bel Air Plaza. Established in 1989, the business, owned by Lorele Lesoing and Doug Dittoe, services home builders, outside designers, and residential clients. The Omaha studio also serves as a retail storefront, stocking furniture, home accessories, and artwork. “Our design team draws on six decades of experience in the [home design] industry,” says design assistant Meg Penrod. “We’re accomplished in custom home creation, ground-up construction planning, design finish, remodeling, and project management.” Other interior design services include: hourly consultation, wall treatments, window coverings, bedding, upholstery, furniture, and accessories. The business also employs a faux finish team, and offer original artwork and mural design services. “Lee Douglas Interiors has worked with several Omaha clients over the years and felt their store and services offered something unique to the city,” adds Penrod. “We’ve earned a reputation for designing unique, warm, and creative atmospheres exceeding customers’ expectations. Our clients are anyone wanting a clever approach toward aesthetically beautiful yet practical and functional design for their everyday life.” Penrod says the studio has plans to launch Lee Douglas brands and an exciting online store. www.OmahaMagazine.com

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nited Electric, a longtime, family-owned retailer of home lighting and

accessories in Omaha, has expanded into window coverings with the acquisition of another veteran interiors retailer, A Well Dressed Window, formerly in Rockbrook Village. Both businesses now operate out of The Light Palace, UE’s showroom in southwest Omaha, serving both residential and commercial clients. “For years, we’ve helped customers choose their interior and exterior lighting. Now, we can help customers control the natural light that flows into their home,” says Luz Vasques, UE’s marketing director. “Window coverings not only help to prevent sun glare and provide extra privacy but also help maintain the colors of your carpet and furniture and can help with energy efficiency.” And much like lighting, the right window treatments can completely change the look of a room, she adds. “These two businesses greatly complement each other.” At 10,000 sq. ft., The Light Palace is one of the largest home interiors showrooms in the Midwest, featuring chandeliers, bathroom lighting, outdoor lighting, ceiling fans, and home décor, including artwork, cabinetry hardware, electric fireplaces, and more. The Well Dressed Window gallery features a wide selection of designer blinds, shades, and shutters, as well as valances. It is one of just two Hunter Douglas galleries in the Omaha area. Staff can also assist customers with selection of custom draperies, stationary panels, cornices, furniture upholstery, bedding, and pillows. Design consultations are free. “Our experienced, well-trained staff will take into account your unique lifestyle needs as well as your budget,” says Vasques. “We can guide you and take the guesswork out of selecting your lighting products and window coverings. A high level of customer service is our No. 1 goal.”

www.BestOfOmaha.com

the new

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Omaha Home: d•i•y project Story by Linda Persigehl • Photo by Bill Sitzmann

Toddler Logan Hollins, 2 ½, loves his storybook room.

Giving Tree Mural d•i•y painting

h e n T r evo r Holli n s

decided he wanted to

paint a mural in son Logan’s bedroom in their West Omaha home, he found inspiration in a favorite read from his own childhood: Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree. The book’s cover illustration features a young boy catching an apple being dropped by a large, leafy tree. “I liked reading Shel Silverstein books growing up and going back, reading the story as an adult, I became aware of the deeper themes

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of these books—selflessness, the human condition, cherishing the earth…” Hollins says. “Everyone is both the tree and the boy at some time in their life.” To create the mural, Hollins used a technique his mother, an artist, had used to create a mural years ago. “I remember her using a crude image projector, which was basically a box with a mirror that would project whatever image was placed into the box onto a surface,” he says. “I got to thinking, I could have a lot more control over the image if I used a digital projector, so I used a digital camera to take a picture of the cover of the book. Then, using a laptop, I was able to scale and orient the image on the wall. Once I had the image projected, it was simply a matter of tracing over the lines of the image.” No problem for Hollins, an electrical engineer with HDR who works with computer-generated images daily. With the help of his brother, Greg, Hollins traced the outline using paintbrushes and black latex paint, then filled in the apple and the boy’s overalls with red paint to replicate the color illustration. In all, the project cost him and Greg about six hours of their weekend and less than $50 in supplies. One lesson the Hollins brothers learned the hard way was that the right tools make all the difference. “Having the correct brush type for this project is important. My brother and I originally started the project with some old paintbrushes I already had. We realized early on we needed fine brushes to do the job right, and so we spent a good amount of time wandering the aisles of Hobby Lobby searching for the perfect brushes,” he confesses. Since the completion of the mural, Hollins and wife Alicia have decorated the rest of Logan’s room with other storybook themes: Curious George sheets now dress his bed, and an artwork purchased on Etsy creatively displays a whimsical illustration from the Dr. Seuss book And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street. Hollins says he hopes The Giving Tree mural will instill in his son an appreciation for Silverstein’s. “Right now, [to Logan] it’s just a cool picture of a tree handing an apple to the little boy, as it was to me when I was his age. Hopefully, years from now, he will find the message meaningful.”

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Two Locations

West omaha: 168th & Center Downtown: 13th & Center july/august • 2013 H33

Omaha Home: sandy's makeover

after

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july/august • 2013

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Story by Sandy Matson • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

Metal-frame Chalkboard

Home Décor Makeover

ome décor doesn’t need to cost a fortune. In fact, there

are many great ways of repurposing dated or unwanted decorative items that otherwise might end up in a landfill, and quite often, they’re inexpensive projects to boot! And just think what great conversation pieces they’ll make!

before 1. 2. 3. 4.

Take a decorative metal-frame mirror (I found mine at Goodwill) and tape off the mirror with painting tape. Then rough up the frame surface using fine sandpaper. Paint the metal frame with paint designed specifically for metal surfaces. (I used a fun Krylon Ivy Leaf paint to add a pop of color.) Once completely dry, tape off the painted metal frame to expose only the mirror. Apply black chalkboard spray paint to the mirror, giving it several coats and letting each dry thoroughly in between. Remove painting tape from frame. Display your new, fun chalkboard with colored chalk on a table-top stand or hang in your kitchen, office, or anywhere you want to add a little creative touch!

before

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Another tip: Take a group of miscellaneous decorative frames and paint them a uniform color (I used a metallic charcoal paint made for wood surfaces), then display as a collection with all your favorite family photos. july/august • 2013 H35

Omaha Home: hot products Photo by Bill Sitzmann

Picnic Essentials

For Your Summer Outings

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july/august • 2013

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Omaha Home: at home Story by Jenna Gabrial Gallagher • Photos by Bill Sitzmann & Jim Scholz

The Best of All Worlds The Yannone family finds their high-tech dream home in a new development that brings families and faiths together.

Jennifer and Bryan Yannone at home in Sterling Ridge.

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july/august • 2013

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et’s dispense with the refer-

ences to a certain ’70s sitcom right off the bat. Yes, Jennifer and Bryan Yannone are the parents of a blended family of six kids. Yes, Bryan is project director for Lockwood Development and Bloomfield Custom Homes, a position with some surface similarities to the architecture job of his TV dad counterpart. And, yes, the Yannones are a telegenic couple with a warm, relaxed vibe. But their new home, the first in Sterling Ridge at 132nd and Pacific in Omaha, represents more than just the union of two families. It is the convergence of several decidedly 21st-century ideas about diversity, work-life balance, smart-home technology, and the logistics of new urban planning in an already very established part of the city. Sterling Ridge is a mixeduse development of commercial, residential, retail, and religious space. When completed, the 153-acre site will feature more than 700,000 square feet of office space, 30 high-end custom homes, 10 villas, retail, restaurants, an assisted living facility, a hotel, and the Tri-Faith Initiative: a collaboration of Temple Israel, The Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska, and The American Institute of Islamic Studies and Culture. The very location of the site signifies this spirit of inclusiveness. It was once home to the venerable Highland Country Club, established in 1924 as a club where Jewish members would be welcome. (Highland changed hands in the 1990s and the newly >>

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july/august • 2013 H39

Omaha Home: at home

The large, open-concept kitchen-dining-family room features a huge sectional and two islands, allowing ample space for all eight of the Yannone-Gibbons clan to hang out.

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Clean lines, cool colors, and high-end appliances create a contemporary yet functional kitchen.

A decorative backsplash composed of neutral-colored linear mosaic tiles adds a modern, artistic touch.

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Another living area with a gas fireplace and more seating sits adjacent the kitchen. A window, top right, peers into the kitchen area. More windows offer views into the indoor/outdoor room.

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A stone wall and second gas fireplace lend a rustic feel to the indoor/outdoor sitting room.

A wall of windows folds open next to the vented gas grill, allowing access to the backyard.

july/august • 2013 H41

Omaha Home: at home

Daughter Michaela’s room, decorated in shades of taupe and yellow, features inspirational quotes on canvas wall art and decals.

A Husker motif is featured in son Brayden’s room.

<< named Ironwood shuttered and was sold to Lockwood Development at a bank auction in 2010.) In a city that is constantly expanding to points west, north, and south, the central location also acts as an integration point for several parts of town. This was especially important to the Yannones, who had children in two separate school districts. “There was nowhere in Midtown Omaha where you could build a new, custom home without having to knock down an existing home,” says Jennifer, a gifted and talented facilitator for Omaha Public Schools. H42

july/august • 2013

As members of the community and because of their family association with the development company, the Yannones are particularly sensitive to the historical and civic importance of the property. “People were disappointed when Ironwood closed,” Jennifer acknowledges. “Lockwood wanted to make this development worth the sacrifice. For every tree they took down, they planted five more. They spared no expense to provide a community feel.” Inside the seven-bedroom, 5,700-squarefoot Yannone home, that communal sense is most keenly felt in the open kitchen, dining, and seating area that serves as the focal point

of the family’s activities. “We spend most of our time between these three rooms,” says Jennifer of the multi-functional space which features clean lines and cool, neutral colors. “I wanted it to look contemporary, but still homey and livable.” The family worked with Lisa Shrager of LMK Concepts and Megan Bret of Exquisite Finishes on the home’s interiors. “The trick was making the home durable and low-maintenance without compromising style,” says Shrager. She achieved the family’s desired blend of a sleek look and a warm vibe by balancing hard, manmade surfaces like the kitchen backsplash comprised www.OmahaMagazine.com

of multiple metals including stainless steel and bronze, with natural materials like stained rich oak wood on the cabinetry and granite countertops. This harmony reverbates around the room: a mantle of 12x24-inch tile acts as a horizontal counterpoint to the strong vertical presence of the fireplace itself. This is geometrically echoed in light, linear tiling that serves as bridge between the three sections of the main family space and on the flooring and walls throughout the home. The children picked their own colors, themes, and bedding for their rooms: a Husker motif for the youngest, Brayden www.BestOfOmaha.com

Yannone (9); sports for the two middle boys, Baylen Yannone (11) and Drew Gibbons (12); music and guitar for the eldest boy, Luke Gibbons (14); and inspiring quotes for Jennifer’s daughter, Michaela Gibbons (17). Her older daughter, Jessica Gibbons (21,) lives away at college but has claimed a room on the lower level for school breaks. The Mediterranean-inspired exterior of the home, which also serves as a model for Bloomfield Custom Homes, was Bryan’s idea. It's sand-colored stucco and stone ediface, crowned by hipped roofs, envelops an open, road-facing courtyard and would not be out of place among the revival

Baseball wall decals and a neutral décor decorate son Baylen's bedroom.

10.

Basketball wall decals and motivational sports phrase decorate son Drew’s bedroom.

11.

Bold color blocks of red and black are used in son Luke’s room. Album covers serve as artwork.

mansions of Pasadena. “I wanted a home that was a vacation.” Before they could kick back and enjoy, the family had to educate themselves about the various “smart” features of their home, most of which, including cameras, garage doors, lights, and music, can be operated from an iPad. “When you walk out the door, there’s an off button. You can shut off the whole house!” Jennifer says with glee. “Before we moved in, we had to take the kids around, ‘This is how you shut off the lights…’” And while the Yannone-Gibbons clan is clearly having fun with the more dazzling features of their new stomping grounds (such >> july/august • 2013 H43

Omaha Home: at home 12.

The home features a Mediterranean-inspired exterior, with sand-colored stucco, a stone ediface, and hipped roofs.

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13.

Jennifer and Bryan’s master bedroom is neutral and airy. Modern sconces, canned lighting, and a sleek wall-mount TV and fireplace lend a contemporary feel.

14.

The luxurious master bath features a huge walk-in shower with frosted glass doors, a square sunken Jacuzzi tub, and a vanity, which lines the entire length of the generous room.

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15.

Numerous gadgets and high-tech tools control various systems in the “smart” house, offering increased convenience, safety, and comfort for the homeowners.

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<< as the time Michaela called Jennifer from downstairs to tell her it was too warm and Jennifer "fixed it" without leaving the comfort of her sofa), their parents are careful to keep them grounded. “They all think we live in a mansion,” Jennifer laughs. “But we remind them that we’re blessed to have this. When school’s out, we do a lot of volunteering, like at the Open Door Mission.” “With the house came new responsibilities,” says Bryan. “It’s a group effort to keep a house this size, but the children have become very efficient about it.” It’s a synthesis formula that the businesses, other families, and spiritual communities of Sterling Ridge would do well to copy. As Jennifer puts it, “We all pitch in and take care of what we have.” For more information on this unique mixed-use development, visit sterlingridge.com www.BestOfOmaha.com

july/august • 2013 H45

Omaha Home: transformations Story by Susan McMannama, ASID • Photos by Angel Stottle

Transformations is a regular feature of Omaha Home that spotlights a recent project by a local ASID interior designer. The copy and photos are provided by the designer. Homeowners’ names may be withheld for privacy. H46

july/august • 2013

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Balance & Harmony

s an interior designer (and a Libran),

Susan T. McMannama, ASID, has always sought balance and harmony within her projects. In the case of this recent remodel of the lower level of a home in Champions Run, harmony was needed to balance the wife’s desire for a contemporary feel with the husband’s desire for a hideaway fit for a transplanted Texas Longhorn. There were a few must-haves requested by the homeowners: a full-size kitchen for entertaining, plenty of storage, a wine room, a fireplace, and a bedroom for frequent guests. The husband wanted to include a pair of Eames chairs and ottomans. Plus, all of the finish materials should be easy to maintain, and the colors needed to flow from space to space. Space for the guest bedroom area was found by relocating the door to the furnace and storage room, creating a hallway that separated the quiet area from the more active spaces. The new entrance to the furnace/storage room included double doors. A Murphy bed system was implemented within new cabinetry on one wall of the bedroom. Luxurious bedding from The Linen Gallery was used to add softness and a pop of color. The bedroom could double as a home gym. A quartz material was used for the abundant countertops in the kitchen, and a glass tile mosaic, selected >>

meet the designer

Susan T. McMannama, ASID Susan McMannama Interiors

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july/august • 2013 H47

Omaha Home: transformations << by the husband, was used for the backsplash. The custom cabinetry, which was stained and glazed, can store all of the dishes and equipment for any size gathering. Lighting, both underneath and inside glass cabinets, added sparkle and helped illuminate the couple’s glass and bottle collection. The travertine-looking ceramic tile floor flows from the kitchen through to the wine storage room and into the bathroom and hallways. Custom counter stools were upholstered in a woven leather fabric. After relocating the door to the bathroom, the original tub/shower was removed and a new walk-in shower with a floating bench took its place. A sleek, hand held faucet and an oversized showerhead were used to balance the size of the shower. The original vanity received a new quartz counter plus a glass vessel sink. Marble and glass tiles were used to frame the existing mirror. The symmetrical sectionals in the sitting/viewing area flank the pair of Eames chairs and ottomans. A new fireplace and TV were built into a recessed area that formerly held a big-screen TV. Light oak “drinks” tables harmonize with the black leather. A mica wall covering was installed on the fireplace wall and also on the wall with the buffet. To keep marital harmony in the family, a photo of a Texas Longhorn was hung above the buffet. Two more steers soon followed for the sitting area, followed by a fourth in the wine room. The final Longhorn was hung in the hallway to the bedroom, with a treasured antique bench (hers) placed below for balance. H48

july/august • 2013

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Omaha Home: staff picks

My favorite plant would have to be an apple tree. When I was a kid, my family lived in Nebraska City, Neb., home of Arbor Day. Naturally, there were trees everywhere, but we had two apple trees in our yard. Every fall, my dad would bring out the ladder and let my younger sister and I help pick apples. We kept quite a few bags for ourselves, but we also gave some away to family, friends, and neighbors. Bailey Hemphill

e select many plants and trees for our

yards purely for their aesthetics—beautiful color or shape, heavenly scent, or because they pair well with other plants. But sometimes, we choose for sentimental reasons—because they simply remind us a special person in our lives, a fond memory, or a particular place dear to our hearts. We asked Omaha Magazine staffers what some of their favorite yard plantings are what makes them special. Growing up on a farm in Iowa, we had those big, beautiful peony bushes... seemed like we had hundreds, many as big as me. There were different shades of pink, and white ones with pink on them. Their smell reminds me so much of my childhood home and running around, barefoot and carefree. Just this last week, my fiancé and I were doing a major landscaping project at our home, and I thought it would be neat to plant a few of those peony bushes. However, before I got a chance to buy them (and not knowing my fondness for them), he said, “I hate those peony bushes, they always have ants crawling all over them.” I had to chuckle to myself. Guess I’ll just have my wonderful memories and admire them in other people’s yards!

Assitant Editor &

Sandy Matson

Web Content Editor

Contributing Editor

I'm not much of a flower girl, though I do love growing food. This year, I actually planned out my garden and have nice rows with labels. One thing I've had for the last three years is rhubarb. It's made the journey from my grandma's garden, to my parents, and now I have some of it. It's loving the rain and growing like crazy. I have been going through the family cookbook and have found many yummy-sounding desserts to try this summer, and I might even throw some into a smoothie for a little extra kick. The leaves can also be used to make walking stones for a pathway. Gotta love all the uses of rhubarb. Katie Anderson Senior Graphic Designer

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Sentimental Plantings

july/august • 2013

Our second home–the one in which we saw our kids grow from babies to grade schoolers–had a mature Linden tree in the backyard. Our sheepdog mix, Maxie, loved this fullbodied, dense tree for the wonderful shade it offered. Our beloved Maxie has since passed away, and so our family planted a Linden tree in the backyard of our new home in remembrance of her. The kids and I call it the Maxie Tree. Linda Persigehl Managing Editor

I have fond memories from my childhood of playing with snapdragons at my aunt and uncle's house in Glenwood, Iowa. When my wife and I planted our first flowerbed at our new home this spring, we included a row of purple snapdragons—making them snap brings back the kid in me. John Gawley creative director

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Cover Story

gala GALA

Story by Bailey Hemphill. Photos by Bill Sitzmann

(L-R) Joy King, Michelle Belsaas, and Connie Sullivan.

American Cancer Society Celebrating 100 Years of Birthdays

eing “the official sponsor of birthdays” doesn’t mean the American Cancer Society shows up at parties to oversee the unwrapping of presents or the blowing out of candles on the cake. It’s a tougher sponsorship, one that requires copious amounts of fundraising, long-term research, and dedicated volunteers. Because they believe everyone deserves to have a full life without the looming threat of cancer.

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“We are determined to make this cancer’s last century,” says Joy King, regional vice president of ACS in Omaha, who previously worked as a regional executive director in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. “We want to change the stats from two out of three people surviving today in the U.S. to three out of three surviving. As an organization, we have never been more ready to put the American Cancer Society out of business.” >> GALA 2013 • july/august 127

Cover Story

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<< The organization, which is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary, holds 47 Relay for Life events, two galas, and a breast cancer walk each year in Nebraska. Besides the events, ACS also supports several awareness campaigns and collaborative efforts, including Colon Cancer Awareness Month in March and the Great American Smoke Out each November. “We’ve played a role in nearly every cancer research breakthrough in recent history,” adds King. “Each year, we help cancer patients get the help they need when they need it. For example, last year alone, we assisted more than a million people who called us for help providing free services, like a place to stay while traveling for treatment, rides to treatments, emotional support, and so much more.” King knows from years of working with ACS that silence and a sit-back-and-watch attitude don’t finish the fight against cancer—it’s action that accomplishes these breakthroughs. Another person who understands the importance of action is cancer survivor Michelle Belsaas. She was 20 when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. “I thought cancer was an elderly person’s disease,” she says. “It came out of nowhere. There’s no known cause, so no one really knows how I got it. I was just reaching down to start the shower one day, and my neck cramped up…I went to the doctor, and he was like, ‘Oh, there’s a lump.’” Belsaas had two cancerous nodules in her neck, but the doctor told her not to worry. After all, thyroid cancer is one of the lesser evils with about a 96 percent survival rate. “They took my thyroid out the next day, and then they gave me radioactive iodine to kill off the thyroid tissue.” Although Belsaas didn’t need chemotherapy or lose her hair during her treatment, her thyroid cancer reared its ugly head once more about 10 years later while she was getting a check-up. This time, the treatment made her very sick and required her to be quarantined to a room in her home for weeks. “They had me withhold from foods with iodine for six weeks over Thanksgiving, which was really tough. You don’t realize how much food has iodine in it until you can’t eat it.” Today, Belsaas is 100 percent cancer-free. She still goes in for blood tests and ultrasounds every year to make sure her hormone therapy is regulated well—something that she will have to deal with

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for the rest of her life—but otherwise, everything is back to normal. When she lived in Lincoln, Belsaas stumbled across Relay for Life. “I thought, ‘I’m a cancer survivor…let’s go!’” she says with a laugh. But when she did the survivor lap at her first Relay event, it suddenly dawned on her that what she had survived was a big deal. I couldn’t emotionally handle it,” she says. “For once, I wasn’t alone. Knowing that there are people who go through the same thing and know how it feels to continually

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to put the American Cancer Society out of business.” - Joy King wait, it was like finding a family.” That’s when she decided ACS was the organization for her. She started getting more involved with ACS, volunteering her time and chairing events, like ACS’ newest fundraiser, Hope in the Heartland Gala. This year’s Hope in the Heartland Gala takes place on July 19 at Stinson Park at Aksarben Village and is themed “An Evening at the Races.” In its first year, the event raised over $201,000. This year, ACS hopes to raise at least $300,000 through auctions, honorary luminaries, and more. >>

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Cover Story

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<< Connie Sullivan, who is chairing the gala alongside husband Tim and co-chairs Addie and Robert Hollingsworth, hopes to make this event the premier gala in Omaha. She says she can’t think of another charity that affects more people—both those suffering and those who know someone suffering. Sullivan herself can attest to the effect cancer can have, as she lost both her parents to lung cancer in just three years’ time when she was in her early 20s. “I hadn’t ever been involved with anyone personally with cancer,” she says. “I was devastated. It happened so quickly between diagnosis and death.” Just when she thought it couldn’t get any worse, she lost her aunt and her cousin to

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hwy 77 saltillo rd liNColN, Ne 68430 800-753-9158 402-423-3218

july/august • 2013 GALA

cancer as well. Following the overwhelming grief of losing loved ones to cancer, Sullivan got involved with ACS. She and Tim lived in Lincoln at the time, but they helped out with a jazz festival event for ACS. “We just called and said that we’d like to volunteer, and we started going to meetings. I love the cause. It’s hard to say no to a cause that you believe in…I lost four significant people in my life to cancer, so I can’t think of anything else that I’d have more passion for.” Since moving to Omaha, Sullivan and her husband have only gotten more involved with ACS. “ACS does so many good things for people with cancer…Diagnosis is overwhelming. [ACS] is there to help.” The American Cancer Society Omaha will host its annual Hope in the Heartland Gala on July 19 at Stinson Park at Aksarben Village. For more information, visit cancer.org or call 402-393-5800. www.OmahaMagazine.com

BIKE RAFFLE TICKETS:

The Omaha Home for Boys is raffling this beautiful Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail customized by OHB youth and Black Rose Machine Shop, Inc. mechanics.

ea. or

6/ $100

And Join Us September 26, 2013 at the downtown Hilton Omaha

For Our Restoration Celebration! Cocktails & Silent Auction at 6pm, Dinner at 7pm, with inspirational speaker,

Henry Winkler!

EVENT TICKETS: $200 - VIP Meet & Greet w/Henry Winkler, Reception & Dinner $100 - Reception & Dinner

To Buy Raffle and/or Event Tickets contact Trish at (402) 457-7034 or PHaniszewski@omahahomeforboys.org www.omahahomeforboys.org www.BestOfOmaha.com

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Gala’s Inside Scoop 15th Annual Ted E. Bear Hollow 5K Fun Run & Remembrance Walk Outback Steakhouse August 24

Ted E. Bear Hollow, along with New York Life, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, Star 104.5, and the Creighton Men’s Basketball team, brings the 15th Annual 5K Fun Run & Remembrance Walk to Outback Steakhouse on August 24. An untimed competition, the Ted E. Bear Hollow 5K Fun Run & Remembrance Walk is an event created to capture the energy, enthusiasm, and creativity of the teams and individuals involved. With seven event categories, teams and individuals can compete for unique trophies and prizes. Whether competing to win best team name, best team costume, or best individual costume, teams and individuals can get creative while supporting Ted E. Bear Hollow. Two awards will be given to the top team fundraiser and to the top individual fundraiser. Development Coordinator Andrew S. Dungan says, “Our team wanted to develop an event that was suitable for all ages. We knew that an untimed event would free the finances needed to expand in other places. This year, unlike ever before, the event will include more kid-friendly possibilities. We think that families will be very pleasantly surprised.” Ted E. Bear Hollow depends solely upon donations to continue its work. Teams and/or individuals are asked to develop personal webpages to fundraise in memory of their special person. All money raised is used by Ted E. Bear Hollow as it continues to offer free support to grieving children and their families. 7605 Cass St. 8am. For more information, visit tedebearhollow.org or call 402-502-2773.

The Mullenburg family at last year’s event. Photo provided by Ted. E. Bear Hollow.

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Samuel Bryant, left, and 2012 featured guest Mark Herzlich at last year’s event. Photo by Kenny Boush.

Links to a Cure Quarry Oaks Golf Course & Hilton Omaha July 18-19 The Nebraska Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will host the Links to a Cure Dinner Gala & Golf Benefit on Thursday, July 18th at the Hilton in Downtown Omaha, and Friday, July 19th at Quarry Oaks Golf Course. The dinner gala will feature a VIP reception, as well as a social hour and silent auction. The event is set to be a memorable evening hosted by Honorary Chair couple Sue Thaden of CRI and her husband, Rick. The banquet will feature an exciting live auction and an impressive round table of UNL Football oaches, led by Husker Defensive Coordinator, John Papuchis and moderated by Matt Schick of ESPN. The following day participants will enjoy exceptional golf, celebrity playing partners, and a Nike Player’s package when they hit the links at Quarry Oaks Golf Course. Funds raised through Links to a Cure have helped spur dramatic progress in the lives of those who have cystic fibrosis. Fifty years ago, most children with CF did not live long enough to attend elementary school. Today, people with CF are living into their 30s, 40s, and beyond. “We are so excited for the 2013 Links to a Cure event. In past years, we’ve always hosted a single speaker, and this year, we are so pleased to be featuring an interactive Husker football coaches’ panel led by John Papuchis and moderated by ESPN’s Matt Schick,” says Ashli Brehm with the foundation. 16600 Quarry Oaks Dr. (Quarry Oaks Golf Course) and 1001 Cass St. (Omaha Hilton). 6pm. For more information, visit cff.org or call 402-330-6164.

www.OmahaMagazine.com

Galas This July/August

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2013 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes Lewis & Clark Landing August 10 More than 5,000 walkers are expected to attend the 2013 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes. This year’s Walk to Cure Diabetes will be held on Saturday, August 10th at Lewis & Clark Landing. The goal of the Heartland Chapter is to raise $775,000 for research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications. Daron Smith, President of Better Business Equipment Company, is serving as this year’s Corporate Champion. Entire families—from kids to grandparents—can participate in the Walk to Cure Diabetes. The event will have clowns, children’s games, face painting, music, and refreshments. In addition to the Walk, JDRF is excited to bring back the T1D 5K Dash. “We are very excited about this year’s JDRF Walk,” says Chris Richardson, JDRF Board President-Elect. “Some of the new things we are working on this year include a time lapse video of the walk along with more live entertainment before, during, and after the walk. We are also very excited about our T1D 5K Dash…We are hoping to have over 400 runners take part in our run that takes them from Nebraska into Iowa and back to Nebraska.” The Walk to Cure Diabetes is the largest fundraising event for JDRF. Funds are raised through corporate sponsorships, the formation of corporate and family walk teams, and the sales of paper sneakers in retail outlets. In 2012, the national JDRF Walk program raised over $85.5 million to fund T1D research. A registration fee applies for 5K Run participants. 515 N. Riverfront Dr. 5K/7:30am; Walk/9am. For more information, visit jdrf.org or call 402-397-2873.

Better Business Equipment team at last year’s event. Photo provided by JDRF.

www.BestOfOmaha.com

Joslyn Castle Literary Festival Joslyn Castle July 27 – August 10 This year, the Joslyn Castle Classic Weekend has expanded into a full festival! Following the great success of the last two Joslyn Castle Literary Festivals, 2012’s “A Wilde Time at the Castle: The Witty World of Oscar Wilde” and, 2011’s “Romance at the Castle: The Brontes,” Jill Anderson, festival artistic director, and Joslyn Castle partner again to present “Jazz Age at the Castle: F. Scott Fitzgerald,” the 2013 Joslyn Castle Literary Festival. The 1920s will spring to wild and colorful life at Joslyn Castle July 27 to August 10. Travel back in time to celebrate all that made the ’20s roar with an assortment of events featuring F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, and the Jazz Age. Don’t worry! There will still be a car show. On the heels of Baz Luhrmann’s brilliant new film adaptation of The Great Gatsby, the Festival will offer six exciting and innovative events examining the life and times of Fitzgerald, an iconic 1920s writer said by The New York Times to have “invented a generation.” Travel back in time with exhibits at the Castle curated and installed by The Durham Museum, a motion picture viewing on the north lawn, classic cars such as Paul Friskopp’s 1928 Packard 526, a 1920s fashion exploration with UNL professor Barbara Trout, a dynamic dual theatrical evening with Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, a speakeasy with costumes and dance, and selections from the modern opera, The Great Gatsby. 3902 Davenport St. For more information, visit joslyncastlecarclassic.com or call 402-595-2199.402-330-6164.

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Galas, etc...

July/August

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a two-month look at upcoming fundraisers and other charitable events July 13

OwL Ride: Omaha with Lights Who: Supports Meyer Foundation for Disabilities

What: Late-night bike ride in Downtown Omaha Where: The Mattress Factory, 501 N. 13th St. When: 10pm

For more information, visit owlride.org.

July 15

Lexus Champions for Marian Golf Tournament Who: Supports Marian High School

What: Golf tournament Where: Indian Creek Golf Course, 20100 W. Maple Rd. When: 11am

For more information, visit marianhighschool. net or call 402-659-1567.

July 19

Charity Golf Outing Who: Supports Angels Among Us

What: Annual golf scramble Where: Tiburon Golf Course, 10302 S. 168th St. When: 11am

For more information, visit myangelsamoungus. org or call 402-885-4840.

July 19

Hope in the Heartland Gala Who: Supports American Cancer Society

What: Annual gala themed “An Evening at the Races” Where: Stinson Park at Aksarben Village, 2285 S. 67th St. When: 6pm

For more information, visit cancer. org or call 402-393-5801.

August 5

24th Annual Swing with Pride Who: Supports Roncalli Catholic High School

What: Golf outing with silent auction and dinner Where: The Players Club at Deer Creek, 12101 Deer Creek Dr.

For more information, visit roncallicatholic. org or call 402-571-7670.

August 11

BaconFest Omaha Who: Supports The Salvation Army Kroc Center

What: Bacon-inspired cuisine, entertainment, and family activities Where: Omaha Kroc Center, 2825 Y St. When: 1pm

For more information, visit omahakroc. org or call 402-898-7700.

August 17

7th Annual Summer Bash for Childhood Cancer Who: Supports Metro Area Youth Foundation, Inc.

What: Dinner, auctions, and entertainment Where: Tip Top Ballroom, 1502 Cuming St. When: 5:30pm

For more information, visit summerbashforccc. org or call 402-871-6246.

August 17

Omaha Walk to Defeat ALS Who: Supports The ALS Association

What: Fundraising walk Where: Werner Park, 12356 Ballpark Way When: 9am

For more information, visit webkwc. alsa.org or call 402-991-8788.

July 22

Driving for Excellence Golf Fest Who: Supports Mercy High School

What: Golf event Where: The Players Club at Deer Creek, 12101 Deer Creek Dr.

For more information, visit mercyhigh. org or call 402-553-9424.

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www.OmahaMagazine.com

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George Little, Chairman and CEO of HDR, Inc. and Harold Maurer, M.D., Chancellor of UNMC. Photo by Katie Godbout.

Annette Byman, Dr. Michael Osit, Joy and Gordon Watanabe, Penny Parker, Ann Marie Abboud, and Susie Zindel. Photo provided by Completely KIDS.

42nd Annual Citizen of the Year

12th Annual Author Luncheon

Courtesy of Boy Scouts of America, Mid-America Council

he Boy Scouts of America, Mid-America Council honored Dr. Harold M. Maurer, Chancellor at UNMC, as the 2012 Citizen of the Year in May at the Scott Conference Center. The award is presented annually to an individual who exemplifies the ideals of the Boy Scouts of America and salutes their outstanding leadership and service to the community. HDR, Inc. was also recognized as Corporate Partner of the Year. More than 250 people attended, raising $200,000 for the council. Honorary chairs were John and Lynne Boye; event chairs were Joe and Kacey Lempka.

Courtesy of Completely KIDS Guild

r. Michael Osit, a clinical psychologist from New Jersey and author of Generation Text: Raising Well-Adjusted Kids in an Age of Instant Everything, was the keynote speaker at this year’s Completely KIDS Author Luncheon in April. The luncheon was held at Hilton Omaha and drew nearly 400 people, raising more than $60,000 for Completely KIDS’ mission to help youth and their families. Serving as emcee, KETV’s Brandi Petersen kicked off the event. After a brief update about the organization, Executive Director Penny Parker presented The Men Behind Completely KIDS Award to Dave Erker and Charles E. Lakin.

W. David Scott and Lori Scott. Photo provided by CSI.

Makayla Bell and Mychael Shields share their experiences with speaker Chelsea Clinton. Photo by Steven Banscombe.

21st Annual Cabaret

13th Annual Lunch for the Girls

Courtesy of Child Saving Institute

early 600 guests enjoyed the hilarious political satire of Capitol Steps at Child Saving Institute’s 21st Annual Cabaret fundraiser for at-risk kids in May at Embassy Suites La Vista. The event raised more than $275,000 for the children, youth, and families served by CSI programs. Honorary chairmen were Lori and W. David Scott; Benefit chairmen were Gail and Shane Graeve; and co-chairmen were Carrie and John Jenkins. KETV NewsWatch 7 Senior Anchor Rob McCartney served as the event’s emcee, along with Gail Graeve.

www.BestOfOmaha.com

Courtesy of Girls Inc. Omaha

helsea Clinton was the featured speaker at Girls Inc.’s 13th Annual Lunch for the Girls in May at the CenturyLink Center Omaha. Over 950 guests attended the event, which raised $135,000 for Girls Inc. Omaha. The event also featured addresses by several Girls Inc. members and alumna, including Lauren Swadener, Yadira Cardenas, Autumn Hurst, Aniyah Durham, Elijahiana Parker, Fatuma Mberwa, Victoria Beaugard, Tori Dunston, Chanecia Martin, Destiny Juber, Fatima Ibrahim, Makayla Bell, and Mychael Shields.

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Amy Scott, Ellen Wright, Sandy Parker, and Erin Pogge. Photo by Kristin Hinsley, Bold and Kreative Photography.

Drag performer Macy Riley. Photo provided by Opera Omaha Guild.

Wine, Women & Shoes 2013

Spirits of the Opera

Courtesy of Opera Omaha Guild

Courtesy of Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

n energetic group of 260 women gathered to sip, savor, and shop at the first-ever Wine, Women & Shoes to benefit Children’s Hospital & Medical Center’s Carolyn Scott Rainbow House at Happy Hollow Club. Attendees tasted luxury wines from world-class California vintners while they shopped and enjoyed live and silent auctions, a raffle, and delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts. The event raised $115,000. Honorary chairs were Sandy Parker, Amy Scott, and Karen Dixon. Ellen Wright and Erin Pogge served as the event’s co-chairs. WOWT’s Malorie Maddox was the evening’s emcee.

Kids at Great Strides hold up signs displaying the amount of money raised. Photo by Becky McCarville, Marigold Studio.

round 125 people came out to support Opera Omaha at the Opera Omaha Guild’s Spirits of the Opera event in May at The Max. The drag show raised $10,000 to support Opera Omaha’s programs and crowned Raven Randt as Miss Spirits 2013. Celebrity judges at the event included Dave Wingert, Andrea Hoig, Carter and Vernie Jones, Sheila McNeill, and Jim Esch. Sponsors of the event were Carter and Vernie Jones, Andy Holland, Jason Birnstihl, Courtney Vacantai, Darin and Jennifer Taylor, Lisa Hagstrom, Pat Waters, and Mark Maser.

Mayor Suttle with “Can Do” Junior Award winner Gerard Christian and his family. Photo by Suleiman Bello.

Great Strides 2013

Kids Can Fundraiser Luncheon

Courtesy of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

he Nebraska Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation raised $363,554 at its largest fundraising event, Great Strides, in May at Stinson Park at Aksarben Village. The event included a one-mile healthy walk, kids activities, food, and more. Funds raised through Great Strides have helped spur dramatic progress in the lives of those who have cystic fibrosis. Local sponsors and partners of Great Strides included The Garrett Group, Union Pacific, and Mutual of Omaha.

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Courtesy of Kids Can Community Center

ore than 288 people attended the Kids Can Community Center’s annual Fundraiser Luncheon in May at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Nearly $60,000 was raised for the center’s programs, including preschool, tutoring, mentoring, before and after-school care, full-day childcare, and services for older adults. Mary Heng-Braun accepted the “Can Do” Award on behalf of Nancy Mammel, and 10-year-old Gerard Christian received the “Can Do” Junior Award. Honorary chair was Gallup COO and Executive Vice President Jane Miller.

www.OmahaMagazine.com

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Sean Lynch, Jason Gening, Mike Robino, and Bob Bertch. Photo provided by Omaha Home for Boys.

A crowd walks at Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma. Photo by Hassel & Funk Photography.

Golf Classic

Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma

Courtesy of Omaha Home for Boys

he 2013 Omaha home for Boys Golf Classic proved a great success with fantastic weather and some equally fantastic golfing in May at the Shadow Ridge Country Club. Thirty-two groups of four enjoyed the spring temperatures and fresh lawns for great drives and putts on the greens. All golfers were treated to 18 holes of team-scramble golf with a sit-down dinner/awards banquet afterwards. A new sponsorship with Wells Fargo was secured for $5,000 in addition to several other new sponsorships. Support for this event benefits the various OHB programs, including residential care, transitional living, and independent living.

Courtesy of Scleroderma Foundation, Heartland Chapter

he Scleroderma Foundation, Heartland Chapter saw about 325 people at their Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma event in June, which raised almost $29,000 to support education and research for scleroderma. Ase L’Bert from Singerman Entertainment entertained all of those in attendance with live song and dance. There were three walk routes to choose from, a bounce house, kids activities, hot dog lunch, and 20 silent auction items that included season tickets to Creighton Men’s Basketball and over 100 raffle prizes.

Lori Pinkerton, Jeanette Behrendt, Sue Koenig, and Kathleen Polodna. Photo provided by National MS Society.

Debbie Belt, Kathy Graham, Jean Johnson, and Patty Kankousky. Photo provided by Heartland Family Service.

On the Move Luncheon

Safe Haven Golf Event

Courtesy of National MS Society, Mid-America Chapter

he National MS Society, Mid-America Chapter held its annual On the Move Luncheon in May at the Happy Hollow Country Club. Zoe Koplowitz, award-winning author of The Winning Spirit—Life Lessons Learned In Last Place, noted motivational speaker, and individual living with MS, was keynote speaker. More than 200 attended the event, raising over $25,000 for research and local programs and services. Hal and Mary Daub served as the 2013 Chairs. Jeanette Behrendt, Sue Koenig, Lori Pinkerton, and Kathleen Polodna served as this year’s committee. KETV Channel 7’s John Oakey was the event emcee. www.BestOfOmaha.com

Courtesy of Heartland Family Service Friends Guild

eartland Family Service’s annual Safe Haven Golf Event was held in May at Tiburon Golf Course. The event had 25 teams playing 18 holes, with the first place winners including Dan Gomez, Travis Flodine, Mike Homa, and Drew Antonio of Mutual of Omaha, as well as Kathy Allen, Deb Wilbeck, Sue Palmer, and Carla Anderson of Robert Belt Team #2. The event was sponsored by Arby’s Panda, Inc., Kiewit Building Group, Inc., and Superior Honda and Acura of Omaha. The event raised around $45,000 to help shelter victims of domestic abuse.

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Omaha cover feature Story by Carol Crissey Nigrelli • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

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www.OmahaMagazine.com

o t h i n g screams “feed me!”

like the smell of a thick, juicy steak sizzling on an outdoor grill. The aroma draws friends and neighbors to an informal, laidback rite of summer: the backyard barbecue, now in its peak season. But before you throw a T-bone, cowboy ribeye, New York strip, or sirloin on the “barbie,” give a tip of your chef’s hat to that hunk of meat. After all, beef put Omaha on the map. The cattle industry became the brick and mortar used by pioneering families like the Roths, Buschers, and Simons to build solid businesses; it created hundreds of enterprises related to the meat industry, like the great steakhouses of Little Italy. The packinghouses paid “the best wages in the city,” so young adults like Terry Moore could prosper and start a family. The demand for workers brought

Our Livestock Legacy Omaha’s beef industry took stock of the past to forge a future.

www.BestOfOmaha.com

diverse cultures to Omaha that enriched life here. For more than 80 years, livestock drove Omaha’s economy. “Omaha was the largest livestock center in the world; we’re talking the 1950s and ‘60s,” says Bob Buscher, Sr., whose greatgrandfather, John Roth, a German immigrant, started a small beef-packing outfit, >> 2013 • july/august 139

Omaha cover feature Photos provided by Douglas County Historical Society Aerial stockyards circa 1950

Meat inspectors

Omaha: world’s largest livestock and meat-packing center

<< John Roth & Son, in 1885. “Millions and millions of dollars worth of meat went through the Omaha stockyards to the packers every week. We even beat Chicago.” Chicago first gained Omaha as a spirited rival for livestock supremacy way back in 1883, when a group of prominent Omaha businessmen decided they wanted to corral some of the wealth Chicago had amassed from its stockyards. And why not? they reasoned. Omaha had the lush pastures and the Union Pacific Railroad. Equally important, Omaha provided a more central location for cattle barons and ranchers of the Plains and the West to bring in their steers, hogs, and sheep. According to newspaper clippings of the era, the business syndicate—which included John Creighton, one of the founders of the university that bears his family’s name— bought “2,000 acres of land about four miles due south of the Omaha post office.” They set 140

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aside 200 acres for the animal pens and “split up the rest into building lots.” The Omaha Union Stockyards opened in August 1884 with a shipment of longhorn cattle from Wyoming as the first tenants. By early 1885, a slaughterhouse began operating in the shadow of the yards. Almost overnight, Omaha went from a sleepy frontier town to a hub of agriculture and commerce, thanks to its upstart namesake: South Omaha. As the stockyards expanded throughout the 1890s, the packinghouses and the burgeoning meat industry drew thousands of immigrants with the promise of jobs. Poles, Czechs, Bohemians, Greeks, and Lithuanians joined the Irish and Germans in carving out a better life. The Simon family, the name behind Omaha Steaks, traces its proud heritage to a Latvian immigrant and his young son. “Our family started as butchers and became exclusively wholesalers,” says Todd Simon, a

Wentworth stockyards

fifth-generation owner. In 1898, Todd’s greatgreat-grandfather, J.J. Simon, got off the train in Omaha with his son, B.A., because the landscape reminded J.J. of the Riga farmland he had left behind. “They bought sides of beef from the packinghouses, cut them up into smaller pieces, and sold them to hotels, restaurants, and grocery stores. They basically replicated what they knew in Latvia.” Their new butcher shop, Table Supply Meat Company, began in 1917. The business moved to 12th and Howard streets in Omaha in 1924. No one could have imagined then what fortunes lay ahead for that modest enterprise. By the time the Simons arrived here, South Omaha—a separate jurisdiction— had become the fastest-growing city in the nation. Census records show 8,000 residents by 1889, leading one local journalist to dub it “The Magic City.” “It even had its own newspaper, the Magic www.OmahaMagazine.com

Chicken plant

Stockyards Ak-Sar-Ben judging pens

Stockyards view of the pens, Oct. 10, 1927

City Hoof and Horn,” says Gary Rosenberg, research specialist at the Douglas County Historical Society, which houses a treasure trove of information on the Union Stockyards. With its unprecedented growth—and wealth—South O became a much-coveted acquisition by its neighbor to the north. The city fiercely fended off many annexation attempts before finally conceding to a merger with Greater Omaha in 1915. But the beef industry never conceded its importance to the region’s economy and kept nipping at the heels of Chicago. By the early 1950s, the stockyards stretched from 27th Street on the east to 36th Street on the west between L and Q streets. The majestic, 10-story Livestock Exchange Building, where buyers and sellers completed transactions, rose from the middle of the stockyards on South 30th Street. Tens of thousands of animals came into Omaha every week for processing. www.BestOfOmaha.com

When the markets opened in New York on Monday mornings, the buying and selling frenzy began. “You didn’t want to be caught on L Street on a Sunday evening,” remembers Terry Moore, long-time president of the Omaha Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and a graduate of Omaha South High School. “The trucks carrying the cattle in from the ranches would be lined up all the way past 90th Street to the west, trying to get into the yards.” “The stockyards had to be the most interesting place on earth,” recalls Buscher, who, as a teenager in the ’50s, often accompanied his father, Clarence, when he went to buy cattle for Roth & Son. “My dad would go down the alley with all the pens of cattle, 25 cattle per pen. He’d bid so many cents per pound on this pen and that pen, and he never wrote it down. Never. He remembered everything.” Nor were any contracts involved. After

Trucks backed up to chutes, Oct. 18, 1926

haggling over prices and often cursing at each other, the buyer and commission firm agent would come to an agreement and use a handshake to seal the deal. “A cattleman’s word was his bond,” says Buscher with a hint of reverence. “In all the years I paid the bills, I don’t remember a discrepancy in the number of cattle we bid on or the price.” Anyone who grew up in South O after World War II remembers close-knit ethnic neighborhoods where life revolved around a variety of Catholic and Orthodox churches, and social clubs. They also remember a vibrant city with a bustling commercial strip. “You couldn’t see the sidewalk for all the people shopping on South 24th Street,” recalls South District Councilman Garry Gernandt, who grew up at 20th and Vinton. “We had Phillips Department Store, Buck’s Shoes, TV repair shops, dime stores, restaurants, >> 2013 • july/august 141

Omaha cover feature The Johnny’s Café sisters, (L-R) Sally Kawa and Kari Kawa Harding

<< and lots of ‘mom and pops.’” On November 21, 1955, the Omaha WorldHerald trumpeted the news Omaha had waited decades to hear: It had overtaken Chicago. Bragging rights as the center of the world’s meat industry had finally come to the Midlands. According to the Omaha Daily Journal-Stockman, “Fully one-half of the Omaha labor force is employed in some facet of the livestock industry.” The demand for meat products kept 13 independent packing plants humming alongside the “Big Four” meatpacking companies: Armour, Swift, Wilson, and Cudahy. Each of the large plants employed more than 2,000 people. The Armour plant alone could process 1,360 head of cattle, 4,800 hogs, and 3,600 sheep in an eight-hour period. “I went to work for Swift and Company right out of high school in 1961,” says Terry Moore, following in his father’s footsteps. “I worked in all areas of the packinghouse: the kill floors, the coolers, the hide cellar where we cured hides, the engine room, the sausage room, the specialty-cut room—that’s where 142

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we’d fill the restaurant orders for the day when they wanted the extra-thick cuts of beef or pork.” From the hide to the hooves, no part of the animal went unused. A pinched-off hoof, for example, could stabilize gunpowder. The rest of the foot, when boiled, yielded oil for waterproofing. Generations of families who worked in the stockyards or the packing plants

found themselves constantly surrounded by mud, manure, or blood. And that was fine with them. “On a summer evening when it would rain, my father and I would take a deep breath,” says Moore. “My father would ask, ‘What is that, Son?’ I’d say, ‘It smells, Dad.’ And he’d say, ‘That’s the smell of money, son, the smell of money.’” That’s the same line Sally Kawa’s www.OmahaMagazine.com

Terry Moore, president of the Omaha Federation of Labor AFL-CIO

John Roth & Son’s, Bob Buscher, Sr.

(KAH-vah) father, Jack, fed her when they had to hose down the floors of their restaurant, the iconic Johnny’s Café. “The stockyard workers and cattle haulers would come in for lunch and manure would drop off their boots,” says Sally, who now co-owns Johnny’s with her sister, Kari Kawa Harding. “We had washable linoleum floors then. I’d say, ‘Daddy, this smells,’” at which time Jack would give her the stock reply. www.BestOfOmaha.com

While Italian immigrants, who elected to live between the river and 10th Street, started most of Omaha’s early steakhouses, a Polish immigrant named Frank Kawa invested what little money he had into a bar called Johnny’s at 4702 S. 27th St., next to the stockyards. What started in 1922 as a small, eight-table operation quickly grew into a South Omaha staple. “We’d have a chuck wagon-style lunch, where all the workers would line up at the steamship round [of beef] counter for their sandwiches,” says Sally. “It was a quick way to serve people.” “Back in the day, we’d open at 5:30 in the morning for breakfast and not close until 2 in the morning,” adds Jack Kawa, Frank’s son. Even after the stockyards closed, Johnny’s survived—outlasting once-popular steakhouses that Jack can still reel off: Angie’s,

Sparetime, Mr. C’s, Caniglia’s, Johnny Hrupek’s, Ross’, Marchio’s. “People didn’t forget us,” muses Sally. “We added chicken, fish, and salads to the menu to change with the times, but we still serve old-school favorites like braised ox joints. It’s our biggest seller.” When “the smell of money” started to turn, it hit people in South Omaha like the thud of a fallen steer. By the late ’60s, the tall, multistoried, brown brick packinghouses with the kill rooms on the top floor had become woefully outmoded. Built at the turn of the century, they lacked the latest technology and had succumbed to gravity. Terry Moore remembers, “You could take your pen and slide it in between the bricks, and the mortar would fall out.” At the same time, rural areas like Glenwood and Sioux City, Iowa, and western Nebraska lured packers to relocate to be nearer the product—the cattle, sheep, and hogs. Ranchers >> 2013 • july/august 143

Omaha cover feature Workers package cuts of filets at one of Omaha Steaks’ processing factories in Snyder, Neb.

Omaha Steaks cousins, Todd and Bruce Simon

<< could sell direct and avoid the middleman. One by one, the Big Four packinghouses packed up and moved out, followed by many of the smaller ones. By 1971, Omaha lost its “greatest livestock city in the world” title. The Union Stockyards eventually closed for good in 1999, the same year the Livestock Exchange Building became a historic landmark. Out of the stagnation that followed emerged a new era for Omaha’s beef industry. “We still have three of the largest independent packers in South Omaha,” Councilman Gernandt points out. “Greater Omaha Packing, Nebraska Beef, and XL Four Star Beef [now JBS].” The workforce now consists mainly of Hispanics, Sudanese, Somali, Asians, and some Hmong. “The [melting] pot’s still percolating; it just has different ingredients,” says Gernandt. John Roth & Son, at 5425 S. 43rd St., got out of the slaughter business in 1986. A few years later, it began manufacturing edible dried animal plasma and rotary-dried blood 144

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meal. In 1995, Bob Buscher, Jr., became the fifth generation to work there. Ironically, the Simon family business that never owned a slaughterhouse or sold retail became the nation’s largest direct marketer of premium beef and gourmet products, single-handedly making “Omaha” synonymous with “steak.” “[Momentum] started in the late 1940s,” explains Todd Simon. That’s when his grandfather, Lester—whether by luck or design or a little of both—secured a contract with Union Pacific Railroad to supply beef products for the dining cars. “Customers were impressed with the quality of the food and they would ask the railroad people, ‘Where did you get these steaks?’ And they would tell them, ‘Well, we got them from Omaha Steaks,’ which is how Table Supply marketed them,” says Todd. “And that’s when we started getting calls from around the country for our steaks.” The business soon began shipping products directly to restaurants and customers in waxlined cardboard cartons filled with dry ice.

Workers prep boxes for shipment.

In 1966, capitalizing on its best-known commodity, Table Supply Meat officially changed its name to Omaha Steaks. Today, Todd and his first cousin, Bruce Simon, president and CEO, helm the multimillion-dollar enterprise. Their fathers, Fred and Alan, remain public ambassadors of the company’s philanthropic largesse. Omaha Steaks boasts three million active customers; ships four million coolers of its beef throughout North America each year; employs a permanent workforce of 1,800 Midlanders; uses cutting-edge technology to drive sales, just as it pioneered direct mail, telesales, and the internet as marketing tools; and remains dedicated to Omaha. A labyrinth of alleyways, fences, and pens stretching through acres of muck and mire became the measure of success for Omaha’s beef industry in its first century. Perhaps the prosperity of Omaha Steaks, the resiliency of South Omaha, and the honesty and loyalty of our modern cattlemen will become the hallmark of the next 100 years. OMAG www.OmahaMagazine.com

SUMMER FUN IN BLAIR!

upcoming events:

JULY 26-31 WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Arlington, NE

Optimist Boat Ramp Open

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See History Come Alive! Living History Days at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park

Just this side of Fremont on Hwy 30

JULY 26-31

One of the best fairs in the State! See life as it was in the 1820s in Nebraska

for dates and more info visit: www.fortatkinsononline.org Fort Atkinson State Historical Park is located in Fort Calhoun, NE, just 8 miles north of I-680 on Hwy 75.

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mong other things, Omaha Magazine is known for being an

authority on the best Omaha has to offer. Beyond our annual Best of Omaha® contest, we also periodically provide lists of the best doctors, attorneys, and financial planners in our city. In this issue, we include topDentists™. Like our other lists, topDentists™ is the result of a peer-to-peer survey that asks the question, “If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?” The results, and a list of disclosures and disclaimers about the contest, can be found on the following pages. We hope you find this list valuable when you search for a provider for your dental needs. This list is excerpted from the 2013 topDentists™ list, a database which includes listings for more than 100 dentists and specialists in the Omaha area. The Omaha list is based on thousands of detailed evaluations of dentists and professionals by their peers. OMAG The complete database is available at www.usatopdentists.com. For more information, call 706-364-0853; write PO Box 970, Augusta, GA 30903; email info@ usatopdentists.com or visit www.usatopdentists.com.

Endodontics

Thomas John Beeson

Endodontic Specialists

William C. Corcoran

Endodontic Associates Tobin Normin Drake

Endodontic Associates Larry Johnson Ellison

Heartland Endodontic Specialists

Jacob Lee Fimple

Advanced Endodontic Therapy Michael Scott Hermsen

Heartland Endodontic Specialists Jose L. Ibarrola

Creighton University School of Dentistry Corey K. Karimjee

Midwest Endodontics LLC Caci I. Liebentritt

Omaha Endodontists David Anthony Maixner

Midwest Endodontics LLC Stephen P. Pryor

Endodontic Specialists Frank S. Sleder

www.BestOfOmaha.com

2013 • july/august 147

General Dentistry

Scott C. DiLorenzo

40th & Dodge Family Dentistry

Terry Francis Lanphier

Dundee Family Center

Mark J. Panneton

Jamar A. Anderson

Wayne W. Barkmeier

Jeffrey David Dworak

Frank G. Mancuso

Cassandra J. Pietrok

Creighton University School of Dentistry

Capeheart Family Dentistry

Douglas Keith Benn

40th & Dodge Family Dentistry

Theodore Steven Franco

Dobleman Head & Neck Cancer Institute

Benjamin G. Hardy

William J. Bresnahan

Gregory A. Havelka

Richard E. Callaway

Stephen J. Hess

Matthew D. Carter

Paragon Dental

W. Thomas Cavel

Creighton University School of Dentistry Amy T. Chadwell

Chadwell Family Dentistry www.chadwelldentistry.com Ralph M. Corpuz

Creighton University School of Dentistry Dennis R. Higginbotham

Creighton University School of Dentistry

Bradley D. Higginbotham

Marty John Matz

Creighton University School of Dentistry

Corpuz Family Dentistry

Nicholas B. Kentopp

Kathy Lynn DeFord

Christine M. Kozal

Pacific Hills Dental

402-397-8050 The Tooth Doc 2thdoc.org

Thomas R. Schierbrock

Stuart Joseph McNally

Nebraska Institute of Comprehensive Dentistry

Millard Hills Dental Health Center

Bluffs Family Dentistry

Michael R. Sesemann

Christopher A. Stanosheck

Carol Marie Murdock

Creighton University School of Dentistry

The Smile Design Studio 402-884-1607 www.ClearBracesOmaha.com

William T. Naughton

Philip E. Strevey

Creighton University School of Dentistry Jeffrey R. Nielsen

Mary N. Kelsey

Panneton Dental Group

Bel Drive Dental

Strevey Dental

Carolyn L. Taggart-Burns

Millard Oaks Dental Brett Hunter Taylor

William R. Nordstrom

Taylor Dentistry

James Donald O’Meara

Allen Leroy Thomsen

Creighton University School of Dentistry

Thomsen Dental Group

DeFord Family Dental SELECTION PROCESS

then averaged. The numerical average required for inclu-

our polling methodology largely corrects for any biases

“If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist

sion varies depending on the average for all the nominees

and that these lists continue to represent the most reliable,

within the specialty and the geographic area. Borderline

accurate, and useful list of dentists available anywhere.

would you refer them to?” This is the question we’ve asked thousands of dentists to

cases are given careful consideration by the editors. Voting

help us determine who the topDentists™ should be. Dentists

characteristics and comments are taken into consideration

and specialists are asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies and of course physical results. The nomination pool of dentists consists of dentists listed online with the American Dental Association, as well as all dentists listed online with their local dental societies, thus allowing virtually every dentist the opportunity to participate. Dentists are also given the opportunity to nominate other dentists who we have missed that they feel should be included in our list. Respondents are asked to put

while making decisions. Past awards a dentist has received, status in various dental academies (Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Periodontology, etc.) can play a factor in our decision. Once the decisions have been finalized, the included dentists are checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to make sure they have an active license and are in good standing with the board. Then letters of congratulations are sent to all the listed dentists. Of course there are many fine dentists who are not

DISCLAIMER

This list is excerpted from the 2013 topDentists™ list, which includes listings for more than 100 dentists and specialists in the Omaha metropolitan area. For more information call: 706-364-0853 or email: info@usatopDentists™.com or visit: www.usatopDentists™.com topDentists™ has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Copyright 2010-2013 by

aside any personal bias or political motivations and to use

included in this representative list. It is intended as a sam-

only their knowledge of their peer’s work when evaluating

pling of the great body of talent in the field of dentistry in

list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form

the other nominees.

the United States. A dentist’s inclusion on our list is based

without permission. No commercial use of the information

Voters are asked to individually evaluate the practi-

on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow dentists.

in this list may be made without permission of topDentists™.

tioners on their ballot whose work they are familiar with.

While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately

No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of

Once the balloting is completed, the scores are compiled and

reward visibility or popularity, we remain confident that

the information in this list without permission.

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www.OmahaMagazine.com

Brett S. Thomsen

Leon Franklin Davis

Steven D. Wegner

Valmont Pierre Desa John Douglas Engel

Thomsen Dental Group 402-498-0400 smilesofomaha.com

Karry K. Whitten

David S. Marshall

K. Robert Zaiman

Michael P. McDermott

www.brianzdental.com 402-393-4400

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

John D. Andersen

Oral Surgery Associates Corey James Auch

Oral Surgery Associates Stephen Arthur Coffey

Oral Surgery Associates

David E. Williams

James Michael Heit

Oral Surgery Associates

Brian William Zuerlein

Midwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral Surgery Associates

Debra S. West

Whitten Dentistry

Jerome M. Wees

Meghann Longo-Dietz

William H. Bert Wood

Laura Elisabeth Low

Orthodontics

Midwest Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Longo Orthodontics

Clear Choice Orthodontics David T. Mohs

Kelly Richard Conway

Creighton University School of Dentistry

Neil Edward Dunlow

Barbara Jo Ries

James G. Morgan

Dunlow Orthodontics

Afolabi Olufolahan Ogunleye

Thomas J. Huerter

Creighton University School of Dentistry

Alfred T. Longo

Longo Orthodontics

Creighton University School of Dentistry Oral Surgery Associates

Oral Surgery Associates

Wayne A. Labart

Huerter Orthodontics

Greg Stuart Samuelson

Samuelson Dental

Timothy J. Sheehan

Joseph J. Hurd

Robert M. Pfeifle

Kimberley Alden Stafford

Oral Surgery Associates

Kort Andrew Igel

Igel Orthodontics

Rudy Jay Schneider

Oral Surgery Associates

Taera Kim

Metro West Dental Specialty Group

Harold K. Tu

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Stafford Orthodontics Clarke J. Stevens

bracesomaha.com 402-334-7339

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Omaha Wendell R. Stuntz

Southwest Orthodontics Associates Thomas Joseph Weber

Weber Orthodontics Dennis D. Weiss

Clear Choice Orthodontics Michelle S. Wulf

Clarke StevenS, DDS bracesomaha.com

DEDICATED TO PERFECT SMILES 5/15/13 9:29 AM Clarke Stevens logos.indd 1

Voted by his peers as

Southwest Orthodontics Associates Peter A. Ziegler

Pediatric Dentistry

Anne S. Aiello

Creighton University School of Dentistry 5/15/13 9:29 AM

Carmen Larae Dana

402-330-5914 Pedodontics, PC pedodonticspc.com Eric D. Hodges

402.334.7339 | www.bracesomaha.com 14441 Dupont Court Suite 301 | Omaha, NE 68144

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Bryan Hohenstein

Smile Station Pediatric Dentistry Darin L. Kotil

www.OmahaMagazine.com

topDENTISTS

Everything we do is designed to provide you with the highest level of dental care with comfort and integrity.

Nicholas J. Levering

Creighton University School of Dentistry Joseph A. Quattrocchi, Jr.

Children’s Dentistry of Council Bluffs George M. Rakes

402-895-1900 RakesPediatricDentistry.com Lisa F. Strunk

402-330-5914 Pedodontics, PC pedodonticspc.com Mark H. Taylor

Taylor Dentistry Barry William Webber

Walnut Creek Pediatric Dentistry

Does that sound like the dental office for you?

Periodontics

Dennis M. Anderson

William Patrick Kelsey

Kelsey Periodontal Group Timothy P. McVaney

Specialty Dental Care PC

General, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry. Call today for your complimentary consultation. Steven D. Wegner, DDS 11840 Nicholas Street Omaha, NE 68154 402-498-0400

Takanari Miyamoto

Creighton University School of Dentistry Stacy Lynn Moffenbier Scott L. Morrison Martha Elizabeth Nunn

Creighton University School of Dentistry

Prosthodontics

Dennis Elof Nilsson

Find out more at: www.smilesofomaha.com

Creighton University School of Dentistry Paul J. Sheridan

Millard Hills Dental Health Center

Voted #1 Cosmetic Dentist 9 Years in a Row!

Jared H. Smith

Creighton University School of Dentistry Alvin G. Wee

Creighton University School of Dentistry Charles W. Wilcox

Creighton University School of Dentistry

Proud to be one of

402.592.2219

Omaha’s Top Dentists!

8410 South 73rd Plaza, Suite 104 Papillion, NE 68046 www.BestOfOmaha.com

2013 • july/august 151

Omaha dining feature Story by Niz Proskocil • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

Railcar Modern American Kitchen Jared Clarke’s West Omaha diner pays homage to our city’s rail history.

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ared Clarke can just as likely

tell you how to make a great-tasting vinaigrette as he can the science behind why the mixture is called an emulsion and why oil floats on top of vinegar. An experienced restaurant chef, Clarke has degrees in both culinary arts and culinology. The latter field focuses on the science of food, and culinologists are equally familiar with beakers and test tubes as they are with pots and pans. While many culinologists work in food-product development, research, quality control, and other roles in laboratories and government agencies, Clarke chose restaurants because of his passion for food and love of cooking. The 34-year-old Fairbury, Neb., native is chef-owner of Railcar Modern American Kitchen, which opened in December near 144th and Blondo streets. Its name and railcar era-inspired decor is a nod to the railroads that were key to Omaha’s growth and development. Clarke envisioned a restaurant inspired by the dining cars prevalent during the golden age of rail travel. The result is a cozy yet elegant space with wood accents, warm paint colors, vintage chandeliers, and a variety of www.OmahaMagazine.com

train memorabilia. Industrial elements such as open ceilings with exposed ductwork lend a modern touch to the dining room. The restaurant sources several products from local food producers, including Little Red Barn Beef, Jisa Farmstead Cheese, Truebridge Foods, and Le Quartier Baking Company. Railcar’s eclectic menu features fresh takes on classics. “What I try to do is modern comfort food,” Clarke says. “Everything’s from scratch.” Though hearty meat-and-potato entrees like the Woodford Reserve Tenderloin Medallions and Stout Braised Short Ribs are popular, there are several dishes for fans of lighter fare. When creating the menu, Clarke wanted to include options for a wide variety of guests, from vegetarians to gluten-free customers. A vegetarian-friendly cauliflower hash features cauliflower instead of potatoes, which means it’s also suitable for people watching their carbs. Customer satisfaction has been a part of Clarke’s mission since his first restaurant job at Chili’s in 1998. Just six weeks into the job, he was asked to help train new employees how to cook. In 2005, he moved to Chicago and worked as an executive chef for five years. “It was pretty awesome,” he says. “I love Chicago. I’m a huge Cubs fan, and the dining scene is really amazing.” Expecting their second child, he and his wife returned to Nebraska to be closer to family. Clarke was a partner in the locally owned Blue Agave, where he developed the menu and headed up the kitchen. A few months after Blue Agave closed in summer 2012, he launched Railcar. With Omaha home to Union Pacific headquarters, he thought his concept would be a perfect fit. What hasn’t been ideal, however, is a roadwidening project at the intersection near his restaurant. Traffic on portions of Blondo Street has been detoured while crews move utilities and do other work. “It’s hard to say if it’s hurting us,” Clarke said, “but it has slowed down our growth.” Despite inconveniences caused by construction work, which is expected to continue into fall, Clarke plans to keep chugging away and welcoming diners all aboard at Railcar. OMAG Railcar Modern American Kitchen, 1814 N. 144th St., offers lunch and dinner seven days a week as well as Sunday brunch. Information: 402-493-4743. www.BestOfOmaha.com

JULY 3 7:05PM

JULY 13 7:05PM

JULY 27 7:05PM

JULY

INDEPENDENCE FIREWORKS PRES BY FIRST NATIONAL BANK

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CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF OMAHA’S FACES & SPACES!

2013 • july/august 153

Omaha beer & food Story by Paul Kavulak, Nebraska Brewing Company Owner, Nebraska Craft Brewers Guild President • Photo by Bill Sitzmann Benson Beer Fest 2013

Beer Festivals or those not yet indoc-

trinated into the world of craft beer, the term “beer fest” is likely one that evokes images of Munich during Oktoberfest or something else in the realm of drinking for the sake of consumption. In every one of these articles, we’re searching for deeper meaning, however. For our discussion here, we’ll be exploring beer fests in the sense of discovery, education, shared 154

fest tasting four-ounce samples at a rate that would be staggering to most. But those little four-ounce samples—the overall number of which is usually determined by your own tolerance of the day’s fun—are geared to allow you to taste a broad spectrum of breweries, particular styles, and unusual offerings, all under the auspices of fest organizers eager and ready to help you understand the particular pour. They bring along history, anecdotal information, and an introduction to the people and the culture behind the world that has become craft beer. So, are there beer festivals that exist locally that offer such learning opportunities? Absolutely. And the better fests out there actually provide for cab rides home and other people-friendly elements geared to not only get and keep your interest in craft beer, but to ensure you’re fully enjoying yourself and able to return to the next fest! Nearly every single weekend in the Omaha area you’ll find some sort of beer or craft beer-related event. I draw a distinction because beer in general can be anything— imports, macro brands, and macro brands made to look like American-made small-batch craft beer. Both are good but, in my opinion, you’ll find the true culture embedded in the little brewery owner doing his best to get you to notice. Timing is everything, so if you’re up for an afternoon of smiles, check out Sunfest in late July, which is put on by the folks at The Crescent Moon, 36th and Farnam streets. Or check out the Great Nebraska Beer Fest in late August in Papillion. You might also check in with some of your local Hy-Vee Wine and Spirits guys, as they have numerous educational mini-fests running quite often. I think you get the point though…Get out there, sample a few brews, and learn a little! And as always, drink responsibly and designate a driver. OMAG

july/august • 2013

interests, and time spent broadening what the world of craft beer can mean to you. Beer fests of late—those with goals such as those I’ve just mentioned—are built around a four- or five-hour experience where festgoers pay a nominal fee in exchange for a fantastic day spent with brewers, brewery owners, beer zealots, and others just like yourself who are out to learn. Sure, it’s entirely possible to spend your time at a beer

www.OmahaMagazine.com

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Omaha restaurant review Story by Mystery Reviewer • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

Stokes West here are a couple of res-

taurants in the Omaha area that I consider my “go-to” places when I need to make a quick decision of where to take friends or family. These are places that have great food and drinks, reasonable prices, and good service. They’re places that I can go to several times a month (without tiring of them) and always have a consistently good experience. Stokes is one of the restaurants on my very short go-to list. Stokes opened their first location in Omaha in 1998 at 114th and Dodge. After a successful first decade, they opened a second location in the Old Market at 12th and Howard. In November 2012, Stokes moved their West Omaha location to 137th and Dodge—the location formerly occupied by Blue Agave and, before that, Ted’s Montana Grill. I recently visited their new location, and it looks fantastic! The restaurant features Stokes’ trademark copper tabletops and Southwestern art. There are also plenty of ornate wood booths and a 156

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www.OmahaMagazine.com

Omaha faces large bar, which make this a very comfortable and fun atmosphere. The food at Stokes is beyond reproach. Executive Chef John Ursick has all but perfected the style of Southwestern/Tex-Mex cuisine. On a recent visit, my dining partner and I had some of my favorites, starting off with the Black Bean and Sweet Corn Taquitos ($7.95). This scrumptious plate of fried, rolled corn taquitos with corn, black beans, and Cotija cheese are served with two great salsas. Next, we tried the Queso Fundido ($8.95). If you're a fan of queso, it doesn’t get any better than this! Stokes’ recipe features beans, jack cheese, caramelized onions, chorizo sausage, and ancho chile sauce served bubbling-hot with warm tortillas. For an entree, I had my favorite, Sharon’s Chicken Enchiladas ($14.95). These are not your traditional chicken enchiladas and instead feature shredded chicken breast topped with a white sauce, a poblano pesto, and a mountain of melted jack cheese. Trust me, even if you don't like enchiladas, you will like these. My partner ordered the Twisted Garlic Shrimp Pasta ($14.95), which I have also had many times myself. This delicious radiatore pasta dish is made with a tasty Southwestern sauce, fresh tomatoes, avocados, and garlic. The excellent bar at Stokes is another reason I keep coming back. They have some incredible margaritas as well as an excellent wine list and some very imaginative cocktails. They also have some well-regarded beers available… Not to mention that they have great happyhour specials and, on Tuesdays, their entire wine list is half-price. Between the great food, beautiful new location, excellent bar, and friendly service, it’s pretty much a no-brainer dining spot and will remain one of my favorite go-to places for years to come. Cheers! OMAG

Stokes West 13615 California Street 402-498-0804 http://www.restaurantsinc.net/ stokes/ Food & Beverage **** Service *** Ambiance **** Price Great Value Overall **** 5 Stars Possible

www.BestOfOmaha.com

2013 • july/august 157

Celebrate spring with the color of sunshine. Bright golds. Colorful diamonds. Charms, pendants and lockets galore. Our fresh picked favorites are the perfect way to greet the season and are available at the unrivaled Borsheims Price. A one-of-a-kind price you won’t find anywhere else. Visit us today in Regency Court or online at borsheims.com. 1.800.642.GIFT | borsheims.com

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2013 july . august

Summer fun in omaha ONGOING EVENTS Yoga Rocks the Park Through July 14 at Turner Park in Midtown Crossing A weekly live music and yoga gathering offering wellness and enlightenment.

A T.Rex Named Sue Through September 8 at the Durham Museum. One of the Chicago Field Museum's traveling exhibitions, Sue is the largest, most complete, best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton in the world.

Justin Bieber July 6 at CenturyLink Center Omaha. Global superstar Justin Bieber brings his Believe tour to Omaha. Alice Cooper July 3 at Harrah's Stir Cove. American rock singer-songwriter performs for Stir Cove Concert Series.

Renoir to Chagall: Paris and the Allure of Color Through September 1 at the Joslyn Art Museum. Exhibition featuring the works of Degas, Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Cassatt, Matisse, Cezanne, and more.

Dinosaurs Alive! The Lost Valley Through October 13 at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. Travel back 65 million years and meet some of the most fascinating and destructive creatures to roam the earth.

The Avett Brothers July 3 Harrah's Stir Cove. Folk band performs for Stir Cove Concert Series.

Jazz on the Green July 11 – August 15 at Turner Park in Midtown Crossing Sixweek concert series presented by Omaha Performing Arts. U.S. Senior Open July 8-14 at Omaha Country Club. 2013 USGA golf tournament with internationally known golfers Tom Watson, Mark Calcavecchia, Fred Couples, and Mark O'Meara.

JULY EVENTS A Bug's World Through September 8 at Omaha Children's Museum. Get friendly with giant robotic bugs in this largerthan-life exhibit presented by Mutual of Omaha.

Shakespeare on the Green: Titus Andronicus July 2 & 6 at Elmwood Park. Free production of Shakespeare's first tragedy, full of revenge and intrigue. Tempo of Twilight July 2, 16 & 30, August 13 & 27 at Lauritzen Gardens. Family-friendly outdoor concert series with food and beverages available for purchase.

www.BestOfOmaha.com

Shakespeare on the Green: Twelfth Night July 3, 5 & 7 at Elmwood Park. Free production of one of Shakespeare's funniest comedies, featuring contemporary music and a dance party.

2013 • july/august 159

Calendar of Events

May

June

U African American Inventors Exhibit U A Jazzy Day of Giving (May 22nd) U JazzAfter5 - 1st and 3rd Fridays in May

U Urban Artist Collective Exhibit U JazzAfter5 - 1st and 3rd Fridays in June

July

August

U North Omaha Music & Arts Youth Camp U The Power & the Glory: Freedom’s Grace Exhibit U Annie the Musical Presented by LIAC, John Beasley

U Native Omaha Week (July 31st—August 4th) U JazzAfter5 - 1st & 3rd Fridays in August

Theater, and I Am Arts

U JazzAfter5 - 1st and 3rd Fridays in July

For updates on events visit us @ www.lovesjazzartcenter.org exhibits U live music U events Tuesday-Friday 11am-5pm U Saturday 11am-3pm 2510 N. 24th St. U 402.502.5291

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2013 july . august

Summer fun in omaha JULY EVENTS cont. Grace Potter & The Nocturnals July 11 at Harrah's Stir Cove American indie rock band performs for Stir Cove Concert Series. Kenny G July 11 at Ralston Arena. Grammy®winning saxophonist Kenny G performs live. Railroad Days Ju ly 13 -14 at L au r it zen Garden. Explore Omaha and Council Bluffs' rich railroad heritage and experience five cultural venues hosting many activities. Martina McBride July 19 at Ralston Arena. Country artist Martina McBride performs live.

Sheryl Crow July 21 at Harrah's Stir Cove. American singer-songwriter performs for Stir Cove Concert Series. Daughtry & 3 Doors Down July 31 at Harrah's Stir Cove. American rock bands perform for Stir Cove Concert Series. Native Omaha Days July 31– August 5 at various locations. Picnics, vendors, parade, dances, and more. AUGUST EVENTS Riverfront Wine Festival August 3 at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village. Hundreds of wines from around the world, live music, and food.

REMARKABLE HOSPITALITY. INCREDIBLE CUISINE. LOCAL PASSION.

Photo by Nathan Else

PRIVATE DINING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR UP TO 70 LUNCH & DINNER • HAPPY HOUR • LIVE MUSIC NIGHTLY HAND-CUT AGED STEAKS • FRESH SEAFOOD

222 S. 15th Street, Omaha, NE 68102 RESERVATIONS

402.342.0077

sullivans.omaha@dfrg.com WWW.SULLIVANSSTEAKHOUSE.COM

www.BestOfOmaha.com

2013 • july/august 161

2013 july . august

Summer fun in omaha

LOCALMOTIVE is dedicated to serving made-from-scratch food at a fair price, with a menu emphasizing seasonal, locally-sourced products.

Located at 12th & Jackson, Sun. through Thurs.: 10pm-2:30am | Fri & Sat: 10pm-3:00am Every Saturday @ The Downtown Farmer’s Market: 8am-12:30pm Visit Visit localmotivefoodtruck.com Visitlocalmotivefoodtruck.com localmotivefoodtruck.com For For Other Locations And More Info ForOther OtherLocations LocationsAnd AndMore MoreInfo Info

Mai Thai T H A I C UISINE

Mai Thai offers a variety of original dishes as well as Thai classics to satisfy any palate Two Locations in Omaha: 402.884.7888 402.333.0506 2279 S. 67th St. 14618 W. Center Rd. [West Omaha]

AUGUST EVENTS cont. Darius Rucker August 2 at Harrah's Stir Cove. Former lead singer and rhythm guitarist of Hootie & The Blowfish performs for Stir Cove Concert Series. Queens of the Stone Age August 4 at Harrah's Stir Cove. American rock band performs for Stir Cove Concert Series.

Nebraska Balloon & Wine Festival August 9-10 at 204th & Q streets. A unique celebration featuring hot air balloon launches and glows, wine tasting from local wineries, and delicious food. Peter Frampton's Guitar Circus August 17 at Harrah's Stir Cove. English singer-songwriter performs for Stir Cove Concert Series.

Omaha Fashion Week August 19-24 at 10th & Capitol streets. Spring/Summer lines on display courtesy of local designers and Fashion Institute Midwest.

[Aksarben Village]

Amazing Gifts For Curious Children And Dogs!

Designer Jhaus photo by MullerConcesLomneth

Unique products and services that promote problem solving, scientific learning, family time, creativity and imagination as well as a curiosity area for dog-lovers called PupiCurious™.

www.lewonderment.com

402.206.9928 11th & Howard 421 S 11th Street Omaha, NE Ask about ForeverCurious™ Classes!

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THANK YOU OMAHA! ag

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“Taylor Made” for ALL your floral needs since 1950”

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BEST FLORIST

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2 013 • W

402.733.2322

12310 K Plaza, Ste. 108

“Taylor Made” for ALL

www.taylorsflowers24hours.com your floral needs since 1950”

Locally Owned Since 1950

Massages•Facials•Manicures•Pedicures Body Treatments•Hair•Tanning•Waxing and more!

We appreciate your vote RECEIVE A $10 DISCOUNT AFTER VOTING! [must present voting certificate]

Chicago August 30 at Harrah's Stir Cove. American rock band performs for Stir Cove Concert Series.

Voted Best of Omaha® for our Day Spa 3 Years in a Row!

Gift Cards Available Online at www.glosssalon.com 2 blocks south of 108th and Q St. | 402.502.1850

Cox Classic August 19-25 at Champions Run. Tournament for golfers ready to take the next step to the PGA Tour.

Friday & Saturday August 9 th , 5 pm -11 pm August 10 th , 3 pm -11 pm

Coventry CampuS Just South of 204th & Q St

hot Air Balloons Lanch at 7pm hot Air Balloons Glow at 9 pm

Live muSiC

Friday, Pink Kadillac Saturday, Front Ro followed by high heel

marketpLaCe viLLage

Pony Rides and fun for Kids Food & Wine Experience at 6pm & 8pm Carrabba’s Italian Grill on Friday Fleming’s Priome Steakhouse & Wine Bar on Saturday

neW - nebraSka vinterS LunCh Saturday, 12pm at Commfort Inn & Suites

www.showofficeonline.com Photo provided by Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau www.BestOfOmaha.com

2013 • july/august 163

Omaha Magazine's

DiningGuide Legend (average price per entrée)

$1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

MC, V, AE, DC

AMERICAN

Bailey’s breakfast and lunch

402-932-5577 1259 S. 120th St. Comfort food done with flair. For breakfast; all your favorites, featuring Omaha’s finest Eggs Benedict – 6 varieties, (and Crepes, too) topped with Hollandaise made fresh every day. Come try the best bacon you will ever eat! Breakfast served all day. And treat yourself to some of Omaha’s finest Salads, Soups, and Sandwiches, plus Chicken Fried Steak, fresh Angus burgers, and Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas. When is the last time you had really good Egg Salad or Chicken Salad??? Open 7 days a week 7:00 – 2:00.

Get a Little Saucy.

brewsky’s food & spirits two omaha locations

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

SATURDAY LUNCH [11am–4 pm]

$10

OFF ANY TICKET OVER $25 NO CASH EXPIRES 12/31/2011 08/30/13 NO CASH VALUE. VALUE. EXPIRES

COCKTAIL HOUR MONDAY – SATURDAY 4 – 6 PM ALL COCK TAILS, GL ASS WINE AND BEERS ARE HALF PRICE

402-614-2739 153rd & Q Sts.; 201-2739, 84th & Park Drive; Brewsky’s Food & Spirits opened its first restaurant/ bar in Lincoln, NE in 1990. Brewsky’s now boasts six restaurants in Lincoln and Omaha. Our menu (created by Certified Executive Chef Ed Janousek) surprises people that are expecting the normal “bar food” found at most sports bars. The menu consists of steaks, burgers, chicken, wraps and about everything in between. We offer all the sports packages on our banks of TVs as well. The atmosphere created, the quality of the food served and the modest prices charged define Brewsky’s. We’ve been voted Best Sports Bar in Omaha for five consecutive years (Omaha Magazine). Come let us WOW you!

DJ’s Dugout Sports Bar 402-763-9974

1003 Capitol Avenue. Catch all of the action at 3 Omaha locations. Featuring burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, appetizers and an impressive drink menu along with HD TV’s and projectors and home to Blazin’ Piano’s, Omaha’s only dueling piano concept . 114th & Dodge, 10th & Capitol and 23th & Cornhusker in Bellevue. djsdugout.com

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

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DiningGuide Dolce 402-964-2212

Handcrafted,

homemade

hangout. View our full menu, happy hours and more at

Chef Benjamin Maides and owner Gina Sterns are making food news in Northwest Omaha! Ranked #1 in Fine Dining on Urban Spoon, this 50 seat restaurant has become the talk of the restaurant industry. Best food in Omaha, an urbane wine menu , authentic hospitality... what's not to love? 12317 West Maple Road, Omaha, NE 68134, at the corner of 124th and Maple . Tues-Saturday 5pm- close. Reservations recommended, opentable.com Dolceomaha.com

upstreambrewing.com

Old Market 11th & Jackson 402.344.0200

West Omaha 171st & W. Center 402.778.0100

Dundee Dell 402-553-4010

5007 Underwood. 11 AM until 1 AM every day, MondaySunday. Famous for Fish n’ Chips since 1934. Single malt & scotch tastings open to the public four times a month. Private tastings also available. We serve food from 11 AM to Midnight Sunday through Thursday, and from 11AM to 12:45 AM Friday and Saturday. We also serve a fantastic Sunday brunch from 11AM–2 PM on Sundays. $

Jams 402-399-8300

7814 Dodge st. Welcome to the home of Independent food. Jams is a popular locally owned restaurant for a wonderful dinner or a glass of wine and appetizers. An American Grill, Jams menu takes on refined twists on old classics. From the Jumbo Crab Cake Burger to Midtown Meatloaf, Jams can please any palate. www.jamseats.com

Lenny's sub shop 3201 Farnam St

Lenny's sub shop at Midtown Crossing, features awesome half pound subs with premium meats sliced to order. Authentic Philly Cheesesteaks served got off the grill, and our new low calorie menu. Don't forget we cater! 402-218-1745. M-F, 10:30-9pm; Sat and Sun 10:30-8pm.

Legend (average price per entrée)

$1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

MC, V, AE, DC www.BestOfOmaha.com

2013 • july/august 165

From your LEGENDARY PIZZA & PASTA

morning pick-me-up

to your favorite

nightcap…

45th & Leavenworth Closed Monday

• 402-556-6464 LaCasaPizzaria.net

VOTED BEST BREAKFAST IN TOWN! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR BREAKFAST & LUNCH 120th & Pacific • 402-932-5577 Baileys is open Saturdays and Sundays inside Shucks Downtown at 1911 Leavenworth St

DiningGuide Quaker Steak and Lube 712-322-0101 (Council Bluffs, IA)

3320 Mid America Dr. Council Bluffs, IA.”The Lube” serves over 70 million wings annually, has bottled sauces for retail sale and has won the title of “Best Wings USA” Mondays are kids eat free from 5 to 9pm and Tuesdays are all you can eat wings for $12.99 all day. The Metro’s only, Quaker Steak and Lube also offers great steaks, ribs and burgers. Live Music again this fall on Friday nights. www.quakersteakandlube.com.

RAILCAR MODERN AMERICAN KITCHEN 402-493-4743

1814 N 144th St.,Stonehenge Center .Prime Rib dinner Friday and Saturday nights. Casual dining Happy hour 3:30-6:30 everyday. Reverse happy hour 9-12. Mon-Thursday 11-9:30pm, Friday 11-midnight, Sat-11:30-midnight, Sun- 9:30-8pm. Sunday Brunch! All credit cards accepted! www.railcaromaha.com

Rock Bottom Brewery 402-614-9333

THANKS FOR VOTING US BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH! Come in for $2 OFF Sunday Brunch

402.393.5000

1001 N 102nd Street Omaha, NE 68114

SERVIN’ OMAHA’S FRESHEST SEAFOOD! 1218 South 119th Street • 402-827-4376 168th & Center • 402-763-1860 1911 Leavenworth St • 402-614-5544 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR LUNCH & DINNER HAPPY HOUR 7 DAYS A WEEK 2-6pm

1101 Harney St. Rockbottom Restaurant & Brewery, Old Market ( 11th & Harney) - “We’re Serious about our Food, Crazy about our Beer”. rockbottom.com

Upstream Brewing Company two omaha locations

From our Fish House... to your House!

Full service catering available! Call us for details at 402-827-4376

2202 South 20th Street – Omaha

Family Restaurant • Fine Steaks Chicken • Seafood Party Rooms Available

342-9038 • 346-2865 166

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We’re creating something fresh!

514 S 11th St. 402-344-0200, 17070 Wright Plz. 402778-0100. Upstream features an extensive menu of new American pub fare including: appetizers and 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.

www.absolutelyfresh.com www.OmahaMagazine.com

DiningGuide BBQ

Famous Dave’s Barbeque 402-829-1616

Omaha’s Only Authentic German Restaurant Locally Owned Since 1976

Famous Dave’s has been voted Omaha’s favorite barbeque by Omaha Magazine’s readers and the Reader’s Choice. Real hickory smoked ribs, brisket, pork and a great selection made-from-scratch recipes. Open lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Six Omaha-Metro area locations: Bellevue–21st & Cornhusker, Benson–71st & Ames, Eagle Run–130th & Maple, Lakeside–173rd &Center, Millard–120th & L, and Council Bluffs by the MAC. Take out and catering available.

don carmelo’s two locations

Prime Steak Fine Wine Premium Service

ITALIAN

Rockbrook Village (402-933-3190) and 204th & Dodge (402-289-9800) Omaha’s First and Finest NY Style Pizza, Stromboli, Calzone, Oven-Toasted Hoagies, Philly Cheese Steaks, Pasta, Salads, Beer & Wine. We also feature takeout and delivery and can cater your special event large or small. Stop in for daily lunch specials 11am -2 pm!

Lo Sole Mio Ristorante Italiano 402-345-5656

3001 So. 32nd, Ave. Located in the middle of a neighborhood surrounded by charming homes. At the table everyone is greeted with homemade bread, a bowl of fresh tomatoes & basil, a bowl of oven roasted garlic cloves, special seasoned olive oil, & at night, a jug of Chianti! Large variety of pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, & even a delicious New York steak. Traditional dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, & eggplant parmigiana are also available. Lunch also offers panini, salads & one of the best pizza in town. Patio seating, full bar, & a great wine list complete this. No reservations, except for private rooms.

Authentic German Dining Sauerbraten, Schnitzel, Pan-Fried Chicken, Full Bakery, German Beer

Call for custom wedding cakes 5180 Leavenworth 402-553-6774 www.gerdasgermanrestaurant.com 10 minutes from downtown Omaha

Nicola’s 402-345-8466

13th & Jackson. Nicola’s offers a distinctive, tempting menu of upscale Italian dishes, including Lobster Ravioli, Classic Carbonara & Mediterranean Lasagna in an alluring environment. Also enjoy an Extensive Wine List & Full Bar on our Outdoor Garden Patio while you dine. Nicola’s also offers Catering & Desserts To Go for your private party or business gathering.

13665 California Street Omaha, Nebraska 402.445.4380 www.mahoganyprime.com

Pasta Amore 402-391-2585

108th & West Center road (Rockbrook Village). 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 Osso Bucco. Filet mignon 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 cannolis. Lunch: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dinner: 4:30 p.m. Reservations recommended. AE-MC-V. $$

402.502.4400

6922 N. 102nd Circle, Cherry Hills Village

business. entertainment. family. food & drink. health. home.

Legend (average price per entrée)

$1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

MC, V, AE, DC www.BestOfOmaha.com

lifestyle. style.

Top 100 Restaurants in America 2013 • july/august 167

DiningGuide Spezia 402-391-2950

3125 South 72nd Street (3 blocks north of the I-80 interchange). 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, Angus steaks, innovative pasta, risotto, gnocchi, cioppino, lamb, entrée salads. Mediterranean chicken, flatbreads, fresh salmon daily. Enjoy a full bar, Italian & California wines, Anniversary Lovers Booth (call to reserve), private dining rooms, and wood-fired grill. Open Mon-Sat. Cocktail hour: 4-6 pm-all cocktails, glass wine and beers half price. Evening reservations recommended. Call 402-391-2950.

Villagio Pizzeria 402-502-4400

Best pub in Omaha!

6922 N. 102nd Circle, Cherry Hills Village. Dine in, carry out, patio and party room available at this family owned pizzeria. Villagio makes their dough daily for a great thin crust pizza. In addition to pizza, they offer pasta's, sandwiches, salads, and a great selection of appetizers. $

Zio’s Pizzeria three Omaha Locations

Over 750 Single Malts, 230 Beers, & Awesome Food! 50 0 7 U nde r woo d • 4 0 2 - 5 5 3 - 9 5 0 1 • dU n d e e d e l l @ dUnde e de l l .c om

Thanks to our customers for voting us the “Best Burger in Omaha” 7834 Dodge St. (402-391-1881), 12997 W. Center Rd. (402-330-1444), and 1109 Howard St. in the Old Market (402-344-2222). DELIVERY, DINE-IN, and CARRY-OUT. Serving New York style pizza by slice or whole pies, calzones, hoagies, pastas, salads and garlic breads. Zio’s pies are hand-stretched and baked in old-world ovens. Zio’s offers 35 of the freshest toppings. Taste the freshest pizza at Zio’s. Family dining – open seven days a week. Lunch special and beer and wine available. $

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 omaha’s original steakhouse

• Proudly serving visitor & locals for 90 years. • Less than 10 minutes from Downtown. • Featured in Midwest Living Best of the Midwest 2011. • Serving hand cut steaks, aged on premise and slow roasted prime rib with pride. 402-731-4774 27th & ‘L’ St., Kennedy Frwy, ‘L’ St. Exit 8 Minutes from Downtown Omaha.

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LIGHT & EASY

O’Connor’s Irish Pub & Grille 402-934-9790

1217 Howard St. Comfortable, relaxing atmosphere. Great before and after games. O’Connor’s offers pub style food: burgers, reubens, daily specials and homemade soups. The pub offers 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. $

Best Of Omaha 7Years Running

Where good food and good service never go out of style.

Legend (average price per entrée)

$1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

MC, V, AE, DC www.OmahaMagazine.com

DiningGuide

OMAHA’S #1

MEXICAN RESTAURANT

Cantina Laredo 402-345-6000

10 YEARS

MEXICAN

IN A ROW!

120 S. 31st Ave. Cantina Laredo serves modern Mexican food in a sophisticated, vibrant atmosphere. Enjoy the signature margarita, the Casa Rita, made from fresh lime juice and the finest tequila, while savoring guacamole made fresh at your table. Visit Cantina Laredo at Omaha’s Midtown Crossing for lunch, dinner, drinks, and Sunday brunch.

Cilantros 14440 F. Street in southwest Omaha

Great Mexican food every day of the week, great for group lunches, outdoor seating, and take out available. We always have daily specials and a extensive menu that has several selections to please all diners along with our top notch margaritas! Check us out on Facebook. 402895-0384. Hours: Mon-Thurs 11:am-10pm; Friday-Sat 11:am-10:30; Sun 11:am-10pm.

Fernando’s Two Omaha Locations

7555 Pacific St. (402-339-8006), 380 N. 114th St. (402330-5707). Featuring Sonoran-style cooking made fresh daily. Catering and party rooms also available. Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun. 4 p.m.-9 p.m. AE-MC-V. $

La Mesa MULTIPLE LOCATIONS 110th & Maple; 156th & Q; Ft. Crook RD & 370; 84th & Tara Plaza; Lake Manawa Exit (Council Bluffs). Come enjoy an authentic Mexican taste expirence at La Mesa! From mouthwatering enchilada's to fabulous fajitas, La Mesa has something for every connisseur of Mexican fare to savor. Top it off with one of La Mesa's famous margaritas. So, kick back in the fun-friendly atmosphere and you'll see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha's #1 Mexican Restaurant Ten Years in a Row.

@lamesaomaha /LaMesaMexicanRestaurant

la-mesa.com BELLEVUE FT. CROOK RD & 370

OMAHA 110TH & MAPLE

OMAHA 156TH & Q

PAPILLION 84TH & TARA PLZ

COUNCIL BLUFFS LAKE MANAWA EXIT

SEAFOOD

Charlie’s on the Lake 402-894-9411

ROCKSTAR FOOD

S SUNDAYS Y A D R U T SA 10aM 3PM GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE ONLINE 144th and F streets (402-894-9411). Charlie’s is the only fresh-fish daily seafood restaurant in Omaha. Featuring a relaxed, yet contemporary atmosphere that is fun for all ages. Besides fresh seafood, Charlie’s is the home of the James Bond style martini, shaken not stirred, in over 20 varieties, in addition to over 60 wines. Lunch: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dinner: Mon.-Thu. 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 4:30 p.m.-11 p.m.; Sun. 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. $

PITCHPIZZERIA.COM TWITTER.COM/PITCHPIZZERIA

FACEBOOK.COM/PITCHPIZZERIA

PHONE: 402-590-COAL (2625)

5021 UNDERWOOD AVE. OMAHA, NE

www.BestOfOmaha.com

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DiningGuide

Speciality Cakes & Cupcakes Fruit-Filled • Vegan • Sugar-Free • Gluten-Free

shucks fish house & oyster bar Two omaha locations

Greek and American Cuisine Homemade Greek Pastries Takeout & Catering Beer-Wine-Cocktails

CUPCAKE ISLAND 1314 S. 119th St • 402-334-6800 www.CupcakeIsland.com

119 S 40th St • Omaha, NE (40th & Dodge) 402-558-5623 • KatiesGreek.com

1218 S. 119th St, (402-827-4376) and also in the Shops of Legacy, SW corner of 168th & Center (402-763-1860) (just north of Lifetime Fitness). Open 7 days a week. Have you ever been to a fish shack on the coast? You’ll like this! Open 7 days a week. Shrimp or Oyster Po’ Boys, Fried Clam Strips, Shrimp, Walleye, Calamari and Oysters (all VERY lightly breaded). Plus Crab Cakes, Clam Chowder, Gumbo, Salads and Daily Fresh Fish Specials. Featuring a large variety of Oysters on the Half Shell, shucked right in front of you. Killer Happy Hour 2-6, every day.

SPECIAL DINING

Casablanca Moroccan Cafe 402-884-3382

3025 Farnam St./Midtown Crossing. The Chef Hamid has been in the restaurant business for over 20 years. He enjoys making delicious dishes for every occasion. Great Hummus! Open M-Th 11a.m.-11p.m., Fri-Sat 11a.m.-12a.m., Sun 11a.m.-12a.m.

402.345.8466 13th & Jackson St nicolasintheoldmarket.com

CRESCENT MOON 402-345-1708

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

3578 Farnam St. Founded in 1996, the Crescent Moon has 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 draft and Omaha's best Reuben Sandwich the Crescent Moon is a midtown beer lover's destination. Hrs: M-Sat 11a.m.-2a.m.,Closed Sun. Kitchen Hours: M-W 11a.m.-11p.m., Th-Sat 11a.m.midnight. www.beercornerusa.com.

Cupcake Island 402-334-6800

Thanks for Voting Us #1 Breakfast 5 Years in a Row!

1314 S. 119th St. For six years, Cupcake Island has been delightfully serving Omaha brides with their wedding cakes and cupcakes. They offer a variety of cake choices, including but not limited to: vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free, in additional to traditional wedding cake flavors. Monday-Friday 8-5 and Saturday 8-4.

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

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!

Gerda’s German Restaurant & Bakery 402-553-6774

5188 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 dessert of black forest cake or grab fresh bakery for breakfast on your way out. Open Monday-Tuesday 6 a.m.-3 p.m. and Wednesday-Saturday 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

Greek Islands 402-346-1528 PREMIUM HOMEMADE ICE CREAM

Celebrating 25 Years!

Come in for a taste of one of our amazing specials!

Find Us On Facebook

1120 Jackson Street (402) 341-5827 tedandwallys.com

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july/august • 2013

3821 Center St. Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. Well known for our Gyro sandwiches and salads. We do catering 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. AE-DC-MC-V. $

6 Years In A Row

402.391.5047

7425 Dodge St. | Omaha | www.sushiomaha.com

www.OmahaMagazine.com

DiningGuide Horsemen’s Park 402-731-2900

Horsemen’s Park located at 6303 Q Street. Happy Hour Mon-Wed from 5-8 p.m.–$1 pints, $1.75 domestic bottles and $2 well drinks. Tuesday–25¢ wings from 3-8 p.m. Wednesday–$5.95 Steak Night after 5:00 p.m. Thursday–75¢ tacos and $1.75 margaritas after 5:00 p.m. Friday – $7.95 Prime Rib Dinner after 5:00 p.m. Daily specials 7 days a week. Open daily at 10:00 a.m. Check out our website at www.horsemenspark.com.

Jaipur Brewing Company 402-392-7331

10922 Elm St. Rockbrook Village. A casual restaurant in a ralaxed atmosphere. Lunch; Chicken Tikki Naan with Chutney; Tandoori Chicken & Muligatanny soup. Dinner entrees include fresh vegetables dishes, grilled colorado lamb sirloin, Sushi grade Ahi, Tandoori marinated grilled salmon, Tandoor grilled beef tenderloin, to name a few. Wide selection of wines & liquor, on site brewed beer. Lunch: Thurs. & Fr. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dinner: Sun.-Thurs. 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Fri & Sat. 5p.m.-10:30 p.m.

Sip The fineST margariTa

Katie's Greek Restaurant 402-558-5623

119 S 40th St. Katies Greek Restaurant & Taverna is a family run establishment and we value giving great food at a great price. Omaha agrees! Want to eat light? Try our fine vegetarian cuisine! Have a heartier appetite? How about a nice, juicy souvlakia and gyros! If you have a diner who might not feel adventurous enough for Greek food, we also have a nice selection of American items as well. We also have a full bar. We can cater private parties hold it at your location or at ours! Give us a call or find us on facebook for special offers.

KONA GRILL 295 N 170th St,

Kona Grill, Omaha – Located in the Village Pointe Shopping center . Come join us for A quick lunch, romantic dinner date, or to enjoy our unique happy hour. From our award winning sushi to our modern American cuisine, There is something for everyone. 402-779-2900

Experience the modern side of Mexican cuisine Taste guacamole made fresh at your table Savor fresh seafood and steaks with authentic sauces

Lalibela - Ethiopian Restaurant 402-991-5662,

4422 Cass St. Conveniently located at Midtown, this spot boasts authentic Ethiopian food. If you've never tried this ethnic gem, sampler platters offer a bit of every taste. Enjoy authentic dishes or try an old favorite with an Ethiopian twist. Customer reviews rave about he great services. Gluten free options. Hours are 10:00 am to 9:30 pm, Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday. Accepts all credit cards.

Midtown Crossing

120 S. 31st Ave Omaha 402.345.6000 cantinalaredo.com

The Original Whiskey Steak

Legend (average price per entrée)

$1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

MC, V, AE, DC www.BestOfOmaha.com

2121 S. 73 St. Just ½ block South of Doubletree

Open Monday-Friday 11am-2pm Dinner nightly from 5pm DroverRestaurant.com

Reservations Accepted (402) 391-7440

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DiningGuide Nosh Wine Lounge 402-614-2121

1006 Dodge Street. A diverse boutique wine list from around the world, culinary delights using locally grown organic produce and impressive drink menu. Nosh is the place for friends to gather, relax and celebrate good times. Located in The Capitol District in Downtown Omaha. noshwine.com

TED & WALLY’S ICE CREAM 402-341-5827

Come experience the true taste of homemade ice cream at 12th & Jackson in the Old Market. Since 1986, we’ve created gourmet ice cream flavors in small batches using rock salt & ice. We offer your favorites plus unique flavors like Margarita, Green Tea, Guinness, and French Toast. Special orders available.

Father & son in front of Rotella’s Bakery on 24th Street in 1979. Louis Rotella Sr. & Louis Rotella Jr.

STEAKHOUSES

801 Chopouse at the Paxton 402-341-1222

1403 Farnam St. Designed with a 1920’s era New York Chophouse in mind, 801 is the epitome of elegance. You will not forget the crisp white tablecloth fine dining experience. From their USDA prime grade beef and jetfresh seafood from all over the world, 801 Chophouse is truly the best Omaha has to offer. Open 7 nights a week.

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DiningGuide The Drover 402-391-7440

2121 S. 73rd Street (just 1/2 block of Doubletree) 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 11am – 2pm. Cocktail Hour 3-6pm Dinner nightly at 5pm. Reservations accepted. AE,Dc-MC-V

Johnny’s Café 402-731-4774

Pasta amore A C L A S S I C S P OT Thank you Omaha for voting us Best Family Restaurant! lunch Mon-Fri: 11AM-2PM Dinner Mon-Sat:4:30PM-Close

“Serving The Best Chicken in Town Since 1997”

Private Party Rooms Business Luncheons Catering Rockbrook Village • (108th & Center) (402) 391-2585 • Fax: 391-0910

www.pastaamore.net

27th and L streets. Years of quality dining and hospitality make Johnny’s Café a restaurant to remember. Serving only the finest corn-fed beef the Midwest has to offer. Aged steaks and prime rib are the specialties, with homemade bread and pies to complete one’s 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 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. AE-MC-V. $$

Mahogany Prime Steakhouse 402-445-4380

13665 California St. This is a restaurant where steak is the star, using custom aged U.S. Prime Midwestern Beef known for its excellence in marbling, texture, and flavor. We serve it sizzling on a heated plate so that it stays hot throughout your meal. With amazing service in a less intimidating fine dining atmosphere.

Legend (average price per entrée) $1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

MC, V, AE, DC www.BestOfOmaha.com

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

With the most delectable contemporary american cuisine in the Old Market, V.Mertz has something for everyone.

$35, Three-Course Prix Fixe Menu, Tues. - Fri. Artisan Cheese • Award Winning Wine List Old Market Passageway • 1022 Howard St. Reservations Recommended Call 402.345.8980 Reservations Online www.vmertz.com executive chef Jon Seymour sous chef Jacob Newton sommeliers David Eckler, Chris Walter proprietor David Hayes general manager/wine director Matthew Brown

Stop by for authentic, cooked-to-order Philly Cheesesteaks and sliced-to-order cold subs.

NOW OPEN AT MIDTOWN CROSSING!

402.218.1745

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DiningGuide

The Old Market’s

BEST PATIO Serious about our Food. Crazy about our Beer.

11th & HARNEY OLD MARKET

Best Greek

Family Owned Since 1983

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

GreekIslandsOmaha.com

Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben! Omaha’s largest selection of crafts beers. 3578 Farnam St • 402-345-1708 www.beercornerusa.com 174

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DiningGuide Omaha Prime 402-341-7040

Always a Large Selection of Fresh Fish

4150 south 144th street • omaha • 894-9411 415 S. 11th St. (Old Market). Only restaurant featuring complete Prime beef. Open six days a week, Mon.-Sat. 5 p.m.-close. $$-$$$

Piccolo’s Restaurant 402-342-9038

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2202 S. 20th St. One of Omaha’s finest traditions, where quality steaks are served at low prices. Especially designed for a family outing or a business social. The specialty is tasty prime rib, served for the last 60 years under the crystal ball. Daily lunches: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Dinner: Mon.-Thu. 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 4:30 p.m.110:30 p.m. Daily and night specials.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse 402-342-0077

CILANTRO’S MEXICAN BAR & GRILL

A wide array of Mexican and American Classics to satisfy your tastebuds! 402.895.0384 14440 F STREET | OMAHA, NE

2222 S. 15th St. Sullivan’s is a vibrant neighborhood steakhouse featuring hand-cut steaks, fresh seafood and an award-winning wine list – all served up with unparalleled hospitality. Sullivan’s is located just blocks away from Omaha’s Old Market District. The restaurant features a lively bar, intimate dining room and open patio where guests can enjoy live jazz nightly. The beautiful wine cellar is the perfect setting for private dinners and business presentations.

Legend (average price per entrée) $1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

MC, V, AE, DC www.BestOfOmaha.com

RAILCAR MODERN AMERICAN KITCHEN We take you back to the classic American dining experience: Food that blends flavors from so many cultures, from all corners of the melting pot that is the United States.

(402) 493-4743 | www.railcaromaha.com 1814 N 144th St. | Omaha, NE 68154

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Thanks for voting us “Best of Omaha ” Organic Dining! ®

HappyHours

Open 11am-10pm | Tues-Sat Evening Reservations Recommended

HAPPY HOURS HAVANA GARAGE 402-614-3800

12317 West Maple Road Omaha, NE www.dolceomaha.com 402.964.2212

restaurant

Havana Garage, in the historic Old Market, is a place to unwind in comfort and class – where you can strike up a conversation with a kindred spirit, smoke a fine cigar, and savor the peaty notes of an Islay scotch or the perfect balance of flavors in an artfully made mojito.

kona grill 402-779-2900

295 N 170th St Omaha’s best happy hour. Don’t believe us? Come see for yourself. Located in the Village Pointe Shopping Center. M-f 3p-7p mon-sat 10p-12p. sat 1p-5.

MIllard roadhouse 402-891-9292

"Serving The Best Chicken in Town Sinc 1997". 13325 Millard Ave. Online at www.millardroadhouse.com

Race cars and Motorcycles hanging from the ceiling! Corvettes in the dining room! Over 30 T.V.s to watch your favorite games. We have a full menu with Ribs, Salads, Burgers, Sandwiches and of course Steak! We feature Jumbo size Chicken Wings with 18 different types of Award-Winning sauces. Our Atomic hot sauce is so hot that you have to sign a waiver to eat them!

Nosh Restaurant and Wine Lounge 402-614-2121

Nosh Restaurant and Wine Lounge offers a diverse wine list from around the world, an impressive drink menu that includes artisan beers, premium liquors and cocktails and a food menu with culinary delights from small plates to light entrees and house made desserts. Visit us online at www.noshwine.com

3320 Mid America Drive • Council Bluffs, IA 51501 712.322.0101 • www.quakersteakandlube.com

pitch coal fire pizzeria 402-590-coal

Every hour is happy at Pitch...you decide if it's Chef MC's made to order entrees, the Pitch your own Pizza creation, Baron's all natural scratch made cocktails and sangria, or the special Vinos brought in. Pitch is your place.

Spezia 402-391-2950

3125 South 72nd Street (3 blocks north of the I-80 interchange). Enjoy a full bar, Italian & California wines, Open Mon-Sat. Cocktail hour: 4-6 pm-all cocktails, glass wine and beers half price. Evening reservations recommended. Call (402)391-2950.

SULLIVAN'S 402-342-0077

2222 S. 15th St. Swingin' Sully's Every Thursday & Sunday. $6 Signature cocktails, select wines & bar entrees.

ROCK BOTTOM RESTAURANT & BREWERY 402-614-9333

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery has the best patio in the Old Market on the corner of 11th & Howard. Great Happy Hour specials MON-THU from 3pm-6pm, Late Night Happy Hour from 9pm-close MON-THU. Friday and Saturday: 10pm-Close and ALL DAY SUNDAY! We’re serious about our Food, Crazy about our Beer.

Des Moines | oMaha | Kansas City | LeawooD

Legend (average price per entrée) $1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

MC, V, AE, DC

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Cigars...Because no great story starts with a salad.