SEPTEMBER 2022 Hotel Edition GATHERASPIRATIONSINOMAHA SCALING HYDROPONIC GROWTH MUSICIAN EVAN BARTELS • PHOTOGRAPHERS HEATHER & JAMESON HOOTEN • AFRICAN CUISINE • THE WOODCLIFF RESTAURANT
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402.290.6296 KAREN JENNINGS 2022 Winner Realtor Agent Best of Omaha Winner 10 YEARS in a Row! STANDING TALL FOR YOU! Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate: TOP TEN NATIONALLY Number of Units Sold Mid Size Team - 2020 Oracle Award for Large Team Producer – 2020 Pinnacle Award for Top Large Team Number of Transactions – 2020 Summit Award for Team Productivity (#7) – 2020
A new form of news now fills the void in a variety of ways: nonprofit journalism is largely printed online, funded by donors instead of advertisers, and committed to the type of passionate, driven stories once available in those daily papers. The main story in this month’s issue is about the rise of nonprofit journalism as produced by three entities here in Omaha.
The second feature speaks to a big topic happening worldwide: the Ukraine and what is happening to people who are leaving their homeland. Kelly Lytle has visited the Ukraine and is now helping others by taking them into her home.
NONPROFITJOURNALISM,WORK FROM THE EDITOR // LETTER BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN S eptember I SS ue H elp S I
The Dining Review takes readers to Fremont and The Woodcliff Restaurant. While the reviewer has many reasons for reviewing restaurants in Omaha whether someplace is new to try or an old favorite this restaurant was chosen as being a “W,” the letter of the alphabet next in line for the A-Z Food Tour group.
Another Ukraine story is the History article, which is about Assumption Ukrainian Catholic Church here in Omaha. This Byzantine Catholic church started in the 1950s with the first wave of Ukrainian immigrants and is going strong today.
*Note: The hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover and does not include all of the editorial content included in the magazine’s full city edition. For more information on our city edition, visit OmahaMagazine.com.
NONPROFIT
Gene Leahy Mall reopened July 1 with a plethora of activities, includ ing a free Omaha Symphony concert with Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth and a multimedia presentation. This beloved entity of Omaha is the subject of the Nostalgia article this issue, and writer James Vnuk recounted his memories as well as those of people such as Brian Leahy, son of the mall’s namesake, Mayor Gene Leahy.
The A+C Music article this round is about Nebraska native Evan Bartels, who played in Omaha clubs but has since made his way to Nashville, Tennessee, and a record deal, in a relatively short timeframe.
On a personal note, this is my last issue of Omaha Magazine. Starting in late July, I am transitioning to nonprofit communications. The past seven years at Omaha Publications have been some of the best of my life, and I leave behind a work family, and publications, unlike any I have experienced in my 20-year career. It has been a pleasure to serve you, the readers, through the stories of this amazing city in which we all live. The new editor will take over this column in October. There are many great stories in this issue. I hope you enjoy them all
There’s a lot of articles that, like the main feature and history article, touch on nonprofits. The September issue also highlights the Big Give. These native advertising pieces provide information about many nonprofits around the area.
SEPTEMBER // 3 // 2022 walked to the local grocery store on Nov. 4, 2020, and picked up two editions of the Omaha World-Herald: the previous day’s paper showing the pre-election info, and that day’s paper, showing post-election coverage. The two papers together felt sadly thin, as print newspapers around the country have dwindled due to rising costs.
122 THE USUAL SUSPECTS 003 From the Editor Nonprofit Journalism, Nonprofit Work–September Issue Helps 006 Between the Lines 008 Calendar of Events 121 Obviously Omaha Omaha Public Library 138 Explore! 143 Instagram 144 Not Funny Things I’m Afraid Of ARTS + CULTURE 014 Music Evan Bartels 018 Theater Thomas Gjere 010 Visual C+C Mini Factory 022 Photography Heather & Jameson Hooten DINING 122 Feature Gather - Omaha & Gather Urban Farm 126 Profile Chef Jamil Bah-Traore 129 Review The Woodcliff Restaurant 132 Dining Guide TABLE of CONTENTS 022014 // 4 // SEPTEMBER 2022 * Note: The hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover and does not include all of the editorial content included in the magazine’s full city edition. For more information on our city edition, visit OmahaMagazine.com. read current and previous issues online at omahamagazine.com QR QR
DISCOVER VIDEOS AND ONLINE EXTRAS for select content in this issue. Use your smart device to go deeper into select stories from this issue of Omaha Magazine for FREE. LOCATE A QR CODE PRINTED IN THIS ISSUE. Make sure you have internet access. OPEN THE CAMERA APP IN YOUR SMART DEVICE. Newer smartphones/tablets come with capability to scan QR codes. POINT AT THE QR CODE. A link will appear. Click on it. Step Step Step *Note: the hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover, and it does not include all of the editorial content featured in the magazine’s full city edition. Subscribe to the full magazine at omahamagazine.com/subscribe. ENJOY YOUR EXPERIENCE. Watch, click, shop, explore! Step
McGee is an attorney and self-taught naturalist born and raised in Omaha. His interests include public service, hiking, fishing (mostly catch-and-release), foraging, and anything that involves exploring the outdoors and getting dirty. He enjoys writing pieces on sustainable living and environmental conservation because he enjoys the priv ilege of working with, and learning from, professionals in niche environmental disciplines, many of whom do not have the audience in which to spread their important messages about sustainability. His pieces have appeared in Omaha Magazine, Omaha Home, B2B , and, formerly, in Encounter
. His legal writing is frequently featured in Nebraska’s state and federal courts, where he practices litigation in the publ ic interest.
SEPTEMBER 2022 VOLUME 40 // ISSUE 5 EDITORIAL Managing Editor DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor NICK MOORE Associate Editor LINDA PERSIGEHL Associate Editor JULIUS FREDRICK Editorial Intern SOPHIE ROSSITTO Contributing Writers LEO ADAM BIGA · TAMSEN BUTLER · EMILY GETZSCHMAN DWAIN HEBDA · HANNAH HESER · TERRY JENSEN ANDREA KSZYSTYNIAK · SARA LOCKE · JOSEFINA LOZA SEAN McCARTHY · NATALIE MCGOVERN · ANDREW J. NELSON JONATHAN OROZCO · SOPHIE ROSSITTO · KARA SCHWEISS JAMES VNUK · DOUGLAS “OTIS TWELVE” WESSELMANN CREATIVE Creative Director MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer DEREK JOY Graphic Designer II MADY BESCH Graphic Designer I RENEÉ LUDWICK Contributing Photographers JUSTIN BARNES · KEITH BINDER · COLIN CONCES SCOTT DRICKEY · JOSHUA FOO · WILLIAM HESS · SARAH LEMKE SALES DEPARTMENT Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing GIL COHEN Branding Specialists DAWN DENNIS · GEORGE IDELMAN Contributing Branding Specialists GREG BRUNS · JILLIAN DUNN · MARY HIATT · TIM McCORMACK Publisher’s Assistant & OmahaHome Contributing Editor SANDY MATSON Senior Sales Coordinator ALICIA HOLLINS Sales Coordinator SANDI M cCORMACK Appointment Setter HEIDI SLAUGHTERY OPERATIONS Business Manager KYLE FISHER Ad Traffic Manager DAVID TROUBA Digital Manager MEGAN BARTHOLOMEW Distribution Manager DAMIAN INGERSOLL EXECUTIVE Executive Publisher TODD LEMKE Associate Publisher BILL SITZMANN For Advertising & Subscription Information : 402.884.2000 Omaha Magazine Vol 40 Issue V, publishes monthly except February, April, August, December, totaling 8 issues by Omaha Magazine, LTD, 5921 S. 118 Circle, Omaha, NE 68137. Periodical postage at Omaha, NE, and additional offices and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Omaha Magazine, 5921 S. 118 Circle, Omaha, NE 68137 A LOOK AT THREE OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS THE LINESBetween // 6 // SEPTEMBER 2022
PATRICK M c GEE Freelance Writer
JAMES VNUK Freelance Writer
Outside of a brief experience living and working in China’s “Beer City” of Qingdao, Vnuk has been a lifelong Nebraskan–born in Kearney and educated in Lincoln before settling in Omaha. Today he works full time as an English instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, teaching courses in composition, English as a second language, classical literature, and even science fiction. He’s been a contributor to Omaha Magazine since 2015. But, it took time working as a telemarketer, a bookseller, and a financial services representative before getting to today. Current projects include supporting his wife’s nature conservation efforts, editing an upcoming department textbook, essaying on media and culture, and being a guinea pig dad. He also enjoys cooking and tinkering with vintage computers and video game consoles. Vnuk said he’s a prou d union man.
NATALIE M c GOVERN Freelance Writer McGovern is a freelance writer and regularly contributes theater and music reviews to The Reader. Her work has been featured in BroadwayWorld.com, Simply KC, and Ask the Crown . In addition to writing, McGovern is an avid performer and enjoys participating in theater locally and performing acoustic music in the folk duo Ember & Oak. McGovern has a bachelor’s in communication from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and holds the Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing.
SEPTEMBER 2022 // 7 // Worldwide selection. Local expertise. 7651 Towne Center Parkway Papillion 12977 West Center Ro oad Omaha Scan to Join Wall to Wall Rewards. 3000+ VARIETIESWINE 2000+ SPIRITS 1500+ BEERS SELTZERS&
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MAYA DUNIETZ: ROOT OF TWO Through Sept. 18 at Bemis Center, 724 S. 12th St. Th is solo exhibition by Maya Dunietz engages the physicality of sound through a series of installations encompassing the entirety of Bemis Center’s 13,000-square-foot gallery space. The works become an ensemble, connecting with each other through the viewer’s experience. Admission: free. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. —bemiscenter.org402.341.7130.
—bffomaha.org EXPRESSIONS IN FIBER ART Sept. 2-25 at HotShops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St. Th is exhibit will feature works by nearly 30 artists in the fiber arts community. Hot Shops will also host a number of workshops throughout the month and an open studio night as part of this event. Admission: free. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. —hotshopsartcenter.org402.342.6452.
// 8 // SEPTEMBER 2022
Starting Sept. 2 at Petshop, 2725 N. 62nd St. Th is exhibit has been guest curated by Whitney Stephens from Chicago and will feature works by regional artist Julie Hess and Denver-based artist Elena Gunderson. 402.813.7530.
ENDLESS JOURNEY Sept. 2-25 at Artists Cooperative Gallery Omaha, 405 S. 11th St. Th is exhibit will showcase abstract paintings created with cold wax and oil paint by member artist Dottie Seymour, as well as abstract acrylic paintings by member artist Glenda Musilek. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. —artistscoopomaha.com402.342.9617.
JULIE HESS, ELENA GUNDERSON, ET AL.
EVENTS
» Exhibits « DINOSAUR REVOLUTION Through Sept. 4 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Th is exhibit combines learning and play to challenge visitors’ knowledge about dinosaurs, display cutting-edge discoveries, and debunk popular myths. Visitors can engage in reptilian role-play activities, mimic dinosaur behavior, and explore three Mesozoic Missions spanning 150 million years. Admission: $13 adults, $10 seniors (62+) and military/veteran, $7 children (3-12), free for members and children 2 and under. Noon-4 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, closed Mondays. —durhammuseum.org402.444.5071.
CARNE Y ARENA (VIRTUALLY PRESENT, PHYSICALLY INVISIBLE) Through Sept. 10 at KANEKO, 1111 Jones St. Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Academy Award®-winning virtual reality experience explores the human condition of immigrants and refugees. The 20-minute solo experience is based on true accounts. The exhibit blurs lines between subject and bystander as visitors walk in a vast, sand-fi lled space and witness a fragment of a refugee’s personal journey. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $40. 402.341.3800. —thekaneko.org
EN LINEA/IN LINE: DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANCISCO MATA ROSAS Through Dec. 31 at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. Francisco Mata Rosas' photographs that make up this series emerge directly from the world of arched appearances and twisted identities, crossed by the long and sinuous scar of the border. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. Advanced timed tickets required: $5 general, $4 college students with ID, $3.50 students (K-12) and seniors (55+), free to members and children under 5. 402.731.1137.
—elmuseolatino.org MOON TO MARS Through Jan. 8, 2023 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Children can learn about the current and future possibilities of space travel in this exhibit, which was designed with help from NASA’s Deep Space Exploration Systems at Johnson Space Center. Admission: Free to members and children under 24 months, $15 children 2-15 and adults, $14 seniors (60+). 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. —ocm.org402.342.6164.
MEMORY SERVES: DRAWING OTHERS CLOSE Through Sept. 26 at Weber Fine Arts UNO Art Gallery, 6505 University Drive South. Th is exhibit will display portraits created by UNO art professor Dr. Mark Gilbert, as well as drawings by Gilbert’s late father portraying the end of life. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays or by appointment. Admission: free. 402.554.3857. —unomaha.edu FULL BLOOM Through Sept. 30 at Modern Arts Midtown, 3615 Dodge St. Th is show features new work by Iggy Sumnik, Jennifer Homan, Al HarrisFernandez and over 40 other artists. 11-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, by appointment. Admission: free. —modernartsmidtown.com/events402.502.8737.
F O O D F E AT U R E S C H E F P R O F I L E S R E S TA U R A N T R E V I E W S O M A H A M AGA Z I N E .C O M HUNGRY? hello@omahaeventgroup com 402 819 8792 omahaeventgroup com Omaha Design Center The Downtown Club | Empire Room | Omaha Palazzo Anderson O Brien Fine Art Gallery Five venues, five unique celebration experiences Hosting events for 100 1,000 guests, Omaha Event Group boasts 15 years of experience with over 300 events each year, including Omaha Fashion Week Schedule a consultation with our team of experts today OUR LADY OF CHURCHLOURDES 2100 South 32 nd Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 OUR LADY OF LOURDES ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL Sunday, September 25th from 12:00 – 9:00 p.m. Live music, beer gardens, silent auction, enchiladas, games, rides, and much more. Don’t miss this traditional Omaha festival –it’s fun for the whole family. SEPTEMBER 2022 // 9 //
Starting Sept. 16 at Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth St. Th is exhibition will display original artwork by faculty members from the UNO art department. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. Admission: free. —gallery1516.org531.375.6643.
» Stage Performances « THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE Through Sept. 18 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Th is comedy follows an unemployed Elvis impersonator who fi nds a hidden talent after a drag queen convinces him to fi ll in for one of her shows on stage. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $36-$44. —omahaplayhouse.com402.553.0800.
Starting Sept. 16 at Fred Simon Gallery, 1004 Farnam St. Th is Omaha-based photographer often captures images of strangers on the street. In 2011, he made a photographic documentary called “Crossroads,” which has since become one of the world’s largest photography projects. Mondays-Thursdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Fridays 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., by appointment only. 402.595.2122.
RODNEY CARRINGTON Sept. 8 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Th is comedian, actor, singer, and writer has performed in shows across the world and has been one of the highest-grossing touring comedians over the past two decades. 7 p.m. Ages 16+.
THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL Through Sept. 18 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. Audiences can join SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy and the rest of the Krusty Krew through this adventure centered around friendship, overcoming differences, and the end of the world. With Mount Humongous about to erupt, a simple sponge tries to save the day. 7 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays.
SARAH HESTER ROSS Sept. 14 at Funny Bone, 71305 Davenport St. Ross has combined her comedy talents, singing chops, and piano-playing skills to create one-ofa-kind stage performances. She has also gained over 1.8 million TikTok followers by releasing comedy tunes on the platform. 7:30 p.m. Ages 21+. Tickets: $25. —omaha.funnybone.com402.493.8036.
Starting Sept. 22 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Th is costume exhibition showcases fashion from one of the world’s most widely watched television dramas, “Downton Abbey.” Visitors can see original costumes worn by the stars of “Downton Abbey” that depict fashions of the British aristocracy in the early 20th century. Noon-4 p.m. Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, closed Mondays. Admission: $13 adults, $10 seniors (62+) and military/veteran, $7 children (3-12), free for members and children 2 and under. —durhammuseum.org402.444.5071.
DINNER, DRINKS AND DRAG! Sept. 15 at Funny Bone, 71305 Davenport St. Attendees can experience an evening of LGBTQ+ entertainment as drag performers lip sync and dance to popular songs. 7:30 p.m. Ages 21+. Tickets: $20. —omaha.funnybone.com402.493.8036. SCHOOL OF ROCK Sept. 16-Oct. 16 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Based on the hit movie, this musical follows a middle-aged, wannabe rock star who becomes a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school, where he helps a group of straight-A students start their own rock band. 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $25-$57. —omahaplayhouse.com402.553.0800.
DRESSING THE ABBEY
NEXT TO NORMAL
Starting Sept. 28 at Creighton University Lied Education Center for the Arts, 2500 California Plaza. Th is contemporary musical centers around a suburban family trying to cope with crisis and a mother’s unpredictable and worsening bipolar disorder. 7 p.m. Tickets: $18 general admission, $15 seniors (65+), $5 students. 402.280.1448.
BIG DAMN DOOR FESTIVAL Sept. 1-4 at Bluebarn Theatre, 1106 S 10th St. Th is festival features the world premieres of three new theatre works. Bluebarn has supported 12 different artists to help them develop these works over the course of a season. 402.345.1576. —bluebarn.org OMAHA COMEDY FEST Sept. 1-4 at Benson Theatre, The Backline Comedy Theatre, and The Jewell. Th is festival is headlined by comedians Amber Ruffi n and Kevin McDonald. The event will include a variety of shows ranging from stand-up to musical acts, as well as workshops focused on free styling, social media, and —omahacomedyfest.commore.
Tickets: $49.50$199.50. —ticketomaha.com402.345.0606.
// 10 // SEPTEMBER 2022
Tickets: $25-$40. —omaha.funnybone.com402.493.8036.
—creighton.edu ATIIM JONES
Starting Sept. 29 at UNO Weber Fine Arts Building, 6505 University Drive South. Th is satirical play by Larissa FastHorse follows a group of teaching artists who try to create an elementary school pageant that celebrates both Th anksgiving and Native American Heritage Month. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $16 general admission, free for UNO students. —unotheatre.com402.554.7529.
MASTERCHEF JUNIOR Sept. 20 at Orpheum Theater. 409 S. 16th St. Th is production will bring back contestants from season eight of the hit show, as young chefs go head-to-head in cooking demonstrations and challenges. 7 p.m. Tickets: $24.50-$54.50, $50 VIP add-on. —ticketomaha.com402.345.0606. HODGETWINS Sept. 25 at Funny Bone, 71305 Davenport St. Th is duo found success through posting comedy videos on YouTube. The pair is known for their unfi ltered and edgy entertainment. 7 p.m. Ages 21+. Tickets: $40. —omaha.funnybone.com402.493.8036.
TRAE CROWDER Sept. 7 at Funny Bone, 71305 Davenport St. Crowder is known for releasing a series of viral “Liberal Redneck” videos, which has garnered over 70 million online views. 7:30 p.m. Ages 21+.
—artscouncil.nebraska.gov
—creighton.edu THE THANKSGIVING PLAY
| EVENTS
JEFF HANSON: CHANGING THE WORLD THROUGH ART PAINTING
OMAHA MAGAZINE CALENDAR
Starting Sept. 6 at Creighton University Lied Art Gallery, 2500 California Plaza. Th is exhibit will display works by Overland Park, Kansas, native Jeff Hanson, whose paintings are known for their colorful and textured style. Admission: free. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 402.280.2290.
Tickets: $25 for non-members, free for members (4 tickets each). —rosetheater.org402.345.4849.
UNO FACULTY ARTIST
BAGELS AND SOMETIMES BACH Starting Sept. 4 at Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth St. Th is music series will feature performances by Nebraska musicians each week. Attendees can also enjoy bagels, coffee, and other refreshments. 11:30 a.m. Sundays. Admission: free. —gallery1516.org531.375.6643.
Sept. 7 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Th is five-member band has performed their punk-pop music in tours across the U.S. and other countries over the past 20 years. 8 p.m. Tickets: $35 advanced/$40 day of show. 402.345.7569.
MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR
OM WITH ZOMBI Sept. 10 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Om is a doom metal band that has explored imaginative and expansive musical possibilities in its songs. 8 p.m. Tickets: $20 advanced/$25 day of show.
—theslowdown.com402.345.7569.
—theslowdown.com ARTS FISHING CLUB Sept. 8 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Th is five-member, alternative band is led by Wisconsin native Christopher Kessenich, who incorporates his folk/rock-inspired songwriting into the group’s music. 8 p.m. Tickets: $12 advanced/$15 day of show. —theslowdown.com402.345.7569.
SMILE EMPTY SOUL AND TANTRIC Sept. 2 at Barnato, 225 N. 170th St., Suite 95. Hard rock band Smile Empty Soul formed in the late 1990s in Los Angeles and have gone on to release many EPs and albums under various music labels. Rock group Tantric formed in 1998 and are known for combining modern rock with alternative metal and post-grunge sounds. 8 p.m. Ages 21+. Tickets: $20-$300. 402.964.2021.
—barnato.bar SHADOW RIDGE MUSIC FESTIVAL Sept. 9 at Shadow Ridge, 188th and Pacific St. Multiplatinum and Omaha-based band 311 will headline this annual event. Eve 6 and LIT will also perform, and acclaimed actor and standup comedian Steve Rannazzisi will host. 6 p.m. Tickets: $65. —shadowridgecountryclub.com/musicfestival402.333.4020.
DAN TEDESCO WITH MATT WHIPKEY AND FAREWELL TRANSMISSION Sept. 10 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Th is Iowa-based singer/songwriter is known for his alternative-folk rock musical style. 8 p.m. Tickets: $12 advanced/$17 day of show. 402.884.5707.
—chihealthcenteromaha.com402.341.1500.
KEVIN GATES Sept. 6 at Baxter Arena, 2425 S. 67th St. Th is rapper from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has earned multiple gold, platinum, and multiplatinum certifications for his music. He has also earned Top 5 spots on the Billboard Top 200 charts four times and has performed on sold-out headline tours. 8 p.m. Tickets: $41-$265.50. 402.554.6200.
COURTNEY MARIE ANDREWS Sept. 1 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Andrews is a singer-songwriter, musician, and poet from Phoenix, Arizona. Her latest album, “Old Flowers,” was nominated for ‘Best Americana Album’ by the Recording Academy’s Grammy Awards. 8 p.m. Tickets: $16. 402.884.5707. —reverblounge.com
OMAHA SAM MORRIL Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at Funny Bone, 71305 Davenport St. Th is stand-up comedian and joke writer appeared regularly on the Comedy Central show, “Th is Week at the Comedy Cellar.” He has also performed stand-up sets on “Conan,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and more. 7:45 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Saturday. Ages 21+. Tickets: $25. —omaha.funnybone.com402.493.8036.
FOREIGNER Sept. 2 at Stir Concert Cove, 1 Harrah’s Blvd., Council Bluffs. Th is rock band has released 10 multi-platinum albums and has continued to perform at shows on sold-out tours. Foreigner will take the stage to play some of their famous hits such as “Juke Box Hero” and “I Want to Know What Love Is.” 8 p.m. Tickets: $49.50-$253. —caesars.com/harrahs-council-bluff712.329.6000. s/shows
ASHLEY MCBRYDE Sept. 2 at The Admiral, 2234 S. 13th St. McBryde is a country singer who has incorporated rock ’n’ roll and bluegrass influences into her music. In 2021, McBryde received Grammy and American Country Music award nominations for her music. 8 p.m. Tickets: $29.50 advanced/$35 day of show/$60 premiere balcony. —admiralomaha.com
—reverblounge.com
—baxterarena.com
—reverblounge.com GIOVANNIE & THE HIRED GUNS Sept. 8 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Th is band is known for fusing rock ’n’ roll and country genres in their music to create a gritty, energetic sound. 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 advanced/$20 day of show. 402.884.5353.
SEPTEMBER 2022 // 11 //
—waitingroomlounge.com
» Concerts « BUCKCHERRY Sept. 1 at Barnato, 225 N. 170th St., Suite 95. Th is band formed in the mid 1990s and quickly became known for their confident, grunge-rock sound. 8 p.m. Ages 21+. Tickets: $65-375. —barnato.bar402.964.2021.
—barnato.bar
CRYWANK AND CHASTITY Sept. 8 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Crywank is a music group influenced by American folk punk and anti-folk genres. Chastity is a music project started by Brandon Williams, a songwriter from Ontario who writes about themes such as isolation and resilience. 8 p.m. Tickets: $13 advanced/$15 day of show. 402.884.5707.
BAND OF HEATHENS WITH DALTON DOMINO Sept. 8 at Barnato, 225 N. 170th St., Suite 95. Band of Heathens is a five-member rock band that has released ten albums in the past two decades and has toured the world multiple times. 8 p.m. Ages 21+. Tickets: $25-$400. 402.964.2021.
—waitingroomlounge.com
DEFNOTES AND ICKY THUMP Sept. 3 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Defnotes is an Iowa-based group that performs tributes to the band Deftones by recreating their unique sounds and the energy of their live shows. Icky Thump is a White Stripes tribute band. 8 p.m. Tickets: $10 advanced/$15 day of show. —theslowdown.com402.345.7569.
RUSSELL DICKERSON WITH BRELAND Sept. 9 at Barnato, 225 N. 170th St., Suite 95. Dickerson is a multiplatinum country artist known for his old-fashioned concerts and spirited songwriting. 7 p.m. Tickets: $25-$100. —barnato.bar402.964.2021.
POST MALONE WITH RODDY RICCH Sept. 10 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Post Malone is a Grammy Award-nominated rapper and singer/songwriter who incorporates emotional lyrics, unique vocals, and hip-hop sounds into his music. Post Malone will take the stage in Omaha to kick off his Twelve Carat Tour. 8 p.m. Tickets: $56-$2,898.
MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK
GARY NUMAN WITH I SPEAK MACHINE Sept. 10 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Since the 1970s, Numan has influenced many artists through his evolving style of dystopian electronic rock music. Numan rose to fame as leader of the band Tubeway Army, who released a gold-selling, chart-topping album called “Replicas” in the U.K in 1979. 8 p.m. Tickets: $30 advanced/$35 day of show. 402.884.5353.
SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE WITH THE APPLESEED CAST Sept. 14 at The Admiral, 2234 S. 13th St. Sunny Day Real Estate is a rock band that formed in 1992. Their music is known for its raw emotion and blend of indie rock with emo influences. 8 p.m. Tickets: $32 advanced/$35 day of show/$75 premier —admiralomaha.combalcony.
THE MELVINS Sept. 19 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Th is rock band released their debut EP in 1986 and adopted a style that bridged punk and metal music. 8 p.m. Tickets: $25 advanced/$30 day of show. —waitingroomlounge.com402.884.5353.
DEHD Sept. 22 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Alternative rock band Dehd has infused the music from their latest album, “Blue Skies,” with power, synth sounds, and sharp writing. 8 p.m. Tickets: $20 advanced/$25 day of show. 402.345.7569.
AGENT ORANGE Sept. 25 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Th is trio from Southern California has been active since the early days of the punk scene on the West Coast. These musical rebels were among the fi rst to blend the frenetic energy of punk with the California surf guitar sound. 8 p.m. Tickets: $18 advanced/$22 day of show. 402.884.5707.
LESS THAN JAKE AND BOWLING FOR SOUP WITH KEEP FLYING Sept. 16 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Skarock band Less Th an Jake has performed at a variety of venues, ranging from music festivals to club shows, over the past two decades. Rock band Bowling for Soup has found success through their cheeky approach to alt-pop and pop-punk music. 7 p.m. Tickets: $30 advanced/$35 day of show. —theslowdown.com402.345.7569.
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AMERICAN AQUARIUM Sept. 20 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Th is alt-country band from North Carolina rose to prominence during the late 2000s by combining grit, twang, and straightforward rock ’n' roll sounds. 8 p.m. Tickets: $22 advanced/$25 day of show. —waitingroomlounge.com402.884.5353.
DINOSAUR JR. Sept. 25 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Th is rock trio released their fi fth studio album, “Sweep It Into Space,” in 2021. The group’s music features rock riff s, powerful ballads, and driving rhythms. 8 p.m. Tickets: $27 advanced/$30 day of show. 402.884.5353.
THE CLAUDETTES Sept. 19 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Th is band combines soul, earthy blues, pop, and punk genres to create a unique “garage cabaret” sound. 5 p.m. Tickets: $17 advanced/$22 day of show. —reverblounge.com402.884.5707.
THE STRUTS Sept. 22 at Stir Concert Cove, 1 Harrah’s Boulevard. Th is rock band has opened for The Rolling Stones, The Who, Guns N’ Roses, and more. They released their most recent album, “Strange Days,” in 2020. 8 p.m. Tickets: $29.50-$149. —caesars.com/harrahs-council-bluff712.329.6000.
—caesars.com/harrahs-council-bluff712.329.6000.s/shows
LARRY FLEET Sept. 15 at Barnato, 225 N. 170th St., Suite 95. Th is country artist from Tennessee has found success with his expressive vocals and has performed with artists such as Willie Nelson. 8 p.m. Ages 21+. Tickets: $45. 402.964.2021. —barnato.bar
DESCENDENTS WITH H20 AND SURFBORT Sept. 15 at The Admiral, 2234 S. 13th St. Th is punk band started in 1978 in Los Angeles and established themselves as important fi gures in Southern California’s punk movement. 8 p.m. Tickets: $35 advanced/$40 day of show/$75 premier —admiralomaha.combalcony.
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LUDACRIS Sept. 23 at Stir Cove, 1 Harrah’s Blvd., Council Bluffs. Th is rapper gained popularity as part of the Dirty South music movement, and has gone on to fi nd success in the realm of fi lm and television, as well. 8 p.m. Tickets: $49.50-$153.
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// 12 // SEPTEMBER 2022
—reverblounge.com SATCHEL GRANDE Sept. 17 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Th is Omaha-based funk and party band has cultivated a unique sound inspired by the music of George Clinton and Steely Dan. The group’s music also incorporates fiery guitar parts and sing-along lyrics. 8 p.m. Tickets: $8 advanced/$10 day of show. —theslowdown.com402.345.7569.
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JEREMY MCCOMB Sept. 17 and 18 at Barnato, 225 N. 170th St., Suite 95. Th is country-rock artist has drawn inspiration from musicians such as Tom Petty and Jim Croce to create his own music featuring thoughtful storytelling and frontier-rock sounds. 8 p.m. Ages 21+. Tickets: $15-$250. 402.964.2021.
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS WITH SETH ANDERSON Sept. 16 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Th is Minneapolis-based band formed in 2002 and is known for their melodic, punk rock sound. 9 p.m. Tickets: $12 advanced. 402.884.5707.
OMAHA
HANNAH WICKLUND & THE STEPPIN STONES Sept. 12 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Th is South Carolina native has brought her soulful rock sound to over 2,600 performances. 7 p.m. Tickets: $16 advanced/$18 day of show. —reverblounge.com402.884.5707.
MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR
TWO FEET Sept. 25 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Two Feet is a New York-based, alternative musician who is known for his mellow, hazy sound. His music has been influenced by electronic, blues, indie, and R&B genres. 8 p.m. Tickets: $25 early bird/$27.50 advanced/$30 day of show. 402.345.7569.
KIP MOORE WITH BOY NAMED BANJO Sept. 16 at The Admiral, 2234 S. 13th St. Th is multiplatinum country singer/songwriter has brought his Southern rock-influenced musical style to sold-out shows around the world. 8 p.m. Tickets: $36 early bird/$40.50 advanced/$46 day of show/$100.50 premier balcony.
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RICKY MONTGOMERY WITH DELANEY BAILEY Sept. 13 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Montgomery is a Los Angeles native whose indie-pop music contains warm melodies and lyrics listeners can relate to. 8 p.m. Tickets: $20 advanced/$25 day of show. 402.345.7569.
SATSANG WITH GRAHAM GOOD Sept. 23 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Alternative band Satsang released their newest album, “All. Right. Now.,” in 2021. Frontman Drew McManus explored a new array of sounds and textures and revisited his Montana roots for this album, while pulling from classic country and modern Americana influences. 8 p.m. Tickets: $20. —waitingroomlounge.com402.884.5353.
WILLIAM ELLIOT WHITMORE WITH THE LOCAL HONEYS Sept. 14 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Whitmore has used his banjo-playing skills and powerful vocals to honor the folk music tradition, while incorporating blues, soul, and punk rock genres into his music. 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 advanced/$18 day of show. 402.884.5707.
TERENCE BLANCHARD WITH THE E-COLLECTIVE AND TURTLE ISLAND QUARTET Sept. 30 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Blanchard is a trumpeter and composer who has received two Oscar nominations for his work in fi lm scoring. Blanchard has also won six Grammy awards and has been a consistent force for crafting musical statements related to key moments in American culture. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: TBD. —ticketomaha.com402.345.0606.
HUTCHFEST 2022 Sept. 4 at 11th and Nicholas Sts. Attendees can purchase items from over 150 artisans and vintage dealers, enjoy street-style brunch food, drink gourmet cocktails, play oversized lawn games, listen to live music, and more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $5 early bird, $10 general admission (cash only), free for children 12 and under. 402.926.6747.
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LEASHES AT LAURITZEN Sept. 5 and 12 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Canines can explore the grounds and enjoy treats and water located at stations throughout the garden. Adults can bring up to two dogs and walk around Lauritzen’s 100 acres and miles of trails with their four-legged friends. 5-8 p.m.
Event times and details are correct as of presstime, but are subject to change. Omaha Magazine encourages readers to visit venues' websites and/or calling ahead before attending an event or visiting a museum. NOVO AMOR Sept. 26 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Alternative artist Ali John Meredith-Lacey, also known as Novo Amor, sings about longing and hope in his second album, “Cannot Be, Whatsoever.” 8 p.m. Tickets: $25 advanced/$30 day of show.
SEPTEMBERFEST Sept. 2-5 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Th is “Salute to Labor” festival runs through Labor Day weekend and provides musical acts, educational and artistic displays, a carnival, Omaha’s largest parade, a beer garden, and food. Times vary. Admission: $7 per person per day, children 5 and under free. —septemberfestomaha.org402-278-2951.
AUTHORITY ZERO Sept. 29 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Th is punk band released their album, “Ollie Ollie Oxen Free,” in 2021 to encourage people to celebrate life and fi nd positivity. The album features energetic drumming and uplifting lyrics. 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 advanced/$18 day of show. —reverblounge.com402.884.5707.
Tickets: $10 for non-members, $5 for dogs, free for members. —lauritzengardens.org402-346-4002.
BROADWAY BALL Sept. 9 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Th is fundraiser will have a Disney’s Frozen theme and will feature a dinner, cocktails, and special performance to raise money for O-pa’s education programs. Participants will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Nebraska High School Theater Academy, a statewide education program. 6 p.m. Admission: $250 per individual reservation. 402.661.8501. o-pa.org ONE COMMUNITY CULTURAL FESTIVAL Sept. 10 at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village. Th is 2nd annual event presented by the Nebraska Chinese Association will feature performing arts, foods, games, and more from cultures across the globe. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Admission: free. —onecommunityculturalfestival.com402.819.3868.
FIELDS OF FLIGHT Sept. 9 at Ditmar’s Orchard & Vineyard, 19475 225th St., Council Bluffs. Th is event will kick off with live music by the band, Fender Bender. Attendees can watch hot air balloons lift into the sky above the apple orchard. 5:30-9:30 p.m.
OUT OF THE DARKNESS OMAHA WALK Sept. 10 at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village. Th is community walk is a fundraiser to raise awareness about metal health and suicide. 1 p.m. —supporting.afsp.org531.389.4481.
SEPTEMBER 2022 // 13 //
OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR
Tickets: $30 plus fees. —ditmarsorchard.com712.256.7053.
ROCKBROOK VILLAGE ART FAIR Sept. 10 and 11 at Rockbrook Village, 108th and Center St. Th is 51st annual outdoor event will feature booths showcasing the creativity and talents of artists in the community. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: free. —rockbrookvillageartfair.com402.541.7142.
AFRO FEST OMAHA Sept. 3 at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village. Attendees can listen to live music, buy from vendors selling African or African-inspired products, enjoy arts and crafts, and more. 2-10 p.m. Admission: $10 early bird tickets, $75 VIP tickets, free for children 12 and under. 402.957.4145.
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EARTH AND ICEAGE Sept. 30 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Rock band Earth has developed their sound from drone metal to more stripped-down yet purposeful over the past 30 years. Alternative band Iceage formed in Copenhagen in 2008 and explored new and expansive sounds in their 2021 album, “Seek Shelter.” 8 p.m. Tickets: $22 advanced/$25 day of show. —theslowdown.com402.345.7569.
—theslowdown.com402.345.7569.
Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch (3935 NE-133): Opens Sept. 9 Bellevue Berry Farm and Pumpkin Ranch (11001 S. 48th St.): Opens Sept. 17 Harvest Moon Pumpkin Patch (1410 U.S. 77): Opens Sept. 17 Vala’s Pumpkin Patch (12102 S. 180th St.): Fall festival opens Sept. 23 BFF FIRST FRIDAY Sept. 2 at Military Avenue and 62nd St. Th is monthly street event will include two artist markets, over 50 vendors and community partners, live music, performers, and more. 5-10 p.m. —bff402.813.7530.omaha.org
» Family & More « PUMPKIN PATCHES Many pumpkins and other in-season fruits and vegetables are ready to be harvested. The following pumpkin patches, orchards, and berry farms plan to welcome visitors for the fall season.
DREW HOLCOMB & THE NEIGHBORS WITH THE NATIONAL PARKS Sept. 29 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. The Americana Act, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, originally formed in Nashville. Holcomb has earned a place in the Americana music landscape by drawing from influences such as Tom Petty and Bob Dylan. Holcomb and his band have toured and performed alongside Willie Nelson, Amos Lee, and more. 8 p.m. Tickets: $25 advanced/$30 day of show. 402.884.5353.
—hutchfestomaha.com
Nashville’sOmahaConnection EVAN BARTELS STORY BY HANNAH HESER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY DEREK JOY MUSICA+C
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“I LIKE PEOPLEOFASPECTEVERYSHOWTOWHATGOTHROUGHANDIFYOUCANCAPTURETHATINASONG,ITHINKTHAT’STHEPOINT.” Evan Bartels
A+C MUSIC
Bartels writes songs that connect people; if he can relate to the human experience, he’s content with the creation. “I’ve always played music for fun. It’s one of those things, you know, ‘why does anybody do anything?’ I started doing it because I loved it,” he admitted. “It’s a funny thing about life if you start something, you’re obviously going to keep doing it. So, I started asking myself, ‘let’s see what happens next’ and kept going.”
SEPTEMBER 2022 // 17 //
Evan Bartels grew up in a town with a population of 100 people. Tobias, Nebraska, is 60 miles southwest of Lincoln and 41 miles northwest of Beatrice, Nebraska. It has two churches and a bar, but groceries are bought in the nearby towns of Western or Bruning. Th at lack of resources offers a freedom to imagine, to think, and to play music. His website states: “It was here the sentiment behind his work was forged.” His interest began when his father played a folk song called “The Cuckoo." Since then, the artist’s musical inspiration has skyrocketed. Bartels grew up playing the guitar and piano, and, at 14 years old, wrote his fi rst song, “Sinners and Saints.” He knew this was a real cut the minute he f inished it. “I played it the same way every time,” he revealed. In 2017, he released a project, The Devil, God & Me. These 11 songs take listeners on a journey through his struggles with substances in the past. His raspy voice and smooth guitar skills help make the project stand out. “The only thing I’ve been hardcore hooked on has been tobacco,” Bartels told Omaha Magazine at that time. “Everything else I kinda skirted the line and was able to make it out."
Bartels keeps Nebraska close to his heart, and makes an effort to return home and play at least two to three ti mes a year. “I play at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln and at Buck's Bar and Grill in Venice,” he said. “Buck’s Bar and Grill is honestly one of the best venues around. They bring in a lot of honky-tonk country bands, rock ’n’ roll [bands], and singer-songwriters. It’s a really special place to play.”
MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AT A YOUNG AGE; ONE EXCEPTION TO THAT RULE IS NEBRASKA NATIVE EVAN BARTELS. HE STARTED PLAYING MUSIC AS A CHILD AND DEVELOPED A PASSION FOR IT.
“I don’t classify music as a genre. I am a fan of songwriting, regardless of the genre,” he said. “Anything I can relate to the human experience is worth more than the style of the Bartelsgenre.”added, “I prefer something that nobody has seen before. Something you want to see within yourself or within the world. I like to show every aspect of what people go through and if you can capture that in a song, I think that’s the point.”
“I lived in Omaha for three years and in Lincoln for six years. Nashville has a similar vibe with a lot of independent artists doing the same thing as me,” Bartels said. “The biggest difference is that there is a lot more in Nashville, in terms of music opportunities in the business world.” One of those opportunities is called a Writers Round, in which three or four songwriters are invited to play their music on a stage at once. The concept enables the songwriting community to connect, and, can be their tickets to bigger gigs. Bartels was already familiar with the concept when he arrived in Music City, having performed at Whiskey Jam at Winners Bar and Grill in 2018, and continued playing Writers Rounds after moving. In 2019, Intelligent Noise manager Rico Csabai showed up to watch him play at Big Machine Distillery on Broadway. Csabai was impressed with Bartels’ talent and signed him on the spot. “Evan is truly one of the most exceptional talents,” Csabai admitted. “The reason I signed him is that he is of that caliber due to his hard work and creativity. He is also extremely courageous and vulnerable wit h his art.”
Th ree years ago, Bartels packed his belongings and made his way to Nashville to chase a dream. There are several opportunities to play music in Nebraska, but he wanted to branch out into the business side of the music industry.
Bartels and his team are planning to tour across the U.S. this fall and he's working on another project he believes may release in early 2023. “I am working on the new album currently. In the past year, I put out my last fulllength album and released a collection of alternate takes of those,” he said. “I am always working on new music and new projects.” Visit evanbartels.com for more information.
18 A+C R “M� parent� tell m� th e� kne� th � momen� i� happened, becaus� � ha� th i� big, dramati � scen� an� big, dramati � exit. Everyon� ap plauded.” Th oma� Gjer�
Omaha Community Playhouse Artistic Director Stephen Santa, who is directing this season-ending musical, said Gjere is the right fit for the challenging role.
Visit omahaplayhouse.com for more information.
“I wanted to be an actor as a kid,” he said. “Ever since I saw Home Alone.” Gjere didn’t become the next Macaulay Culkin, but he did start acting in local theater productions—and he was hooked.
As Dewey Finn in the upcoming Omaha Community Playhouse production of School of Rock, Gjere will lead a cast of 30 that includes 14 young performers and musicians. In the 2003 hit fi lm, Jack Black played the character of Finn, who cons his way into substitute teaching at a private school and turns his pupils into a youth rock ensemble, hoping they will win a battle of the bands so he can pocket the prize money.
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“Th at’s where I’m happiest,” he explained. “Acting forces you to look at things from a new perspective and really examine that different perspective. If you’re paying attention and allowing yourself to be open, it’s going to affect you and it’s going to change how you approach a lot of things."
The young musicians in the cast include two guitar players, a drummer, a keyboardist, and a bass player.
“What’s so exciting about School of Rock onstage is that you actually get to see these kids playing their instruments live. It certainly does pay homage to the movie, and all of those iconic lines and moments that you remember from the movie are going to be inserted into the musical. But it’s presented in a fresh perspective and with updated comedy elements,” Santa said. “We really hope this is going to inspire future Includingmusicians.”theactor/musicians, the youth actors in the cast, ages 10-14, all sing and dance as part of their roles. Although Gjere also performed onstage at a young age, he’s impressed by his young castmates. “They’re so inspired, it blows my mind,” he said. “I can’t wait to see what they do.”
“My parents tell me they knew the moment it happened because I had this big, dramatic scene and big, dramatic exit. Everyone applauded,” Gjere said. “My parents were in the crowd that night and it was, ‘Well, there he goes!’”
“The thing that makes Dewey work— because let’s be real, there are a lot of things about him that people might fi nd irritating—and what makes us root for him, is his passion, and his genuine love of the music. For him, it’s rock ‘n’ roll, and he wants people to love it just as much as he does,” Gjere said. “He and I share that particular trait, that genuineness and that joy. I want everyone to have a blast with School of Rock. It’s a great show and it’s so much fun.”
“Th is character is almost like running a marathon every night; they’re onstage for pretty much the entire two-hour show and they sing 11 songs and play the guitar live onstage. You need to fi nd that person who can do it all—who understands the comedy of the role, and can play the guitar, and can sing, and act,” Santa explained. “Thomas is that special performer who has all of those skills and is going to be able to successfully bring them to the stage in a new and exciting way. [The role of Dewey Finn is] iconically Jack Black. You don’t want to see someone doing an impression of Jack Black. Thomas is making it his own and putting his own fresh spin on it.”
Gjere himself earned a minor in theater in college, majoring in education with the goal of becoming a teacher. After graduation, however, he ultimately returned to performing.
“It’s changed who I am as a person in incredibly positive ways. I’m more confident in who I am, in my abilities,” Gjere said. “I used to be so reserved that I was almost invisible.”
Thomas Gjere laughed when he described what inspired his interest in acting.
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Today he's appearing in an array of roles that have run the gamut. In recent productions at Omaha Community Playhouse, Gjere has portrayed Robert Kincaid in The Bridges of Madison County, Jamie in The Last Five Years, and the bank manager in Once. He has also acted at BlueBarn Theatre, portraying The Duke of Cornwall in King Lear, and Justin in Heroes of the Fourth Turning.
“I wouldn’t necessarily want to be remembered for a particular role. I would rather be more recognized for my dedication and my work ethic,” he said. “I hope to continue performing as I have. I’ve had a lot of really wonderful opportunities and I’m grateful for every one I’ve had the chance to take on. So if that continues the way it has, I’d be pretty happy w ith that.”
SEPTEMBER 2022 // 19 //
Quinn Metal Corbin, half of the duo of the insta-famous C+C Mini Factory, hates being asked this question: “Do you make everything?” She always gives a succinct response, saying, “we’re not miniaturists —we’re photographers, we're artists. If you take a photo of a person, would you say you made the person?”
Quinn Metal Corbin Duo Quinn Metal Corbin & Chelsea Cates make miniature environments
Originally from Dundee, Corbin studied theater in Pittsburgh and London, but eventually settled back in her hometown. Like most creatives in Omaha, Corbin left for reportedly greener pastures and found herself in New York City. “I knew I wanted to do more visually. I was working in high-pressure, intensive theater places on the administrative side. I really wanted to do something creative. I was constantly surrounded by creative things but never engaged in it,” C orbin said. Corbin met Chelsea Cates, an installation artist and graphic designer, around 2007, and the two formed C+C Mini Factory in 2012.
C + C FactoryMini: S m a l l S c a l e , B ig Impa c t // 20 // SEPTEMBER 2022
Around the mid-2010s the group blew up on Instagram. Corbin vividly remembers the moment, saying the group only had around 300 followers one day and 40,000 the next. After Instagram decided to feature the duo, their professional careers took off.
Corbin recalled getting a call from an agency asking if they'd be interested in working with a coffee house based in Seattle. The agency did not mention the company’s name, but Corbin knew right away they were representing the coffee giant Starbucks. She said, “They were sort of like, 'we can't tell you who but it's a giant Seattle coffee company…'”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN • DESIGN BY DEREK JOY
A+C VISUAL • STORY BY JONATHAN OROZCO
Other C+C Mini Factory ventures include: holiday stationery, such as Valentine’s Day Cards and yearly calendars, and hopefully a television series adaptation mixing the Muppets and Pee-wee Herman.
Cates, like most New Yorkers, struggled to fi nd enough studio space for large-scale projects, so Corbin suggested they team up and use Corbin’s miniature collection to make small-scale installations. The objects they use may be small, but Corbin’s massive inventory includes such delightful items as skeletons, menorahs and dreidels, roulette tables and slot machines, and 20th century modernist furniture. They work together, and, at times, independently, to curate interiors, natural landscapes, and even spaced-themed stories, all with miniature animals. Like most artists, Corbin and Cates retained full-time jobs and practiced art on the side.
Th is didn’t stop the group, and they are developing an adaptation of their book at The Rose Theater with the help of Jackie Kappes, the education director and a teaching artist at t he theater.
Still riding the media high, C+C Mini Factory was nominated in the Best Instagrammer category at the Seventh Annual Shorty Awards in New York City. Th is was no easy feat, since the group was in competition with celebrities such as actress Mindy Kaling, singer Justin Beiber, and fashion designer Kate Spade. Not expecting to win, Corbin and Cates weren't planning on attending the award ceremony at The Times Center. C+C Mini Factory won, and the duo ended up attending in person. After their period of media success, the group began to shop around for a publisher for their next project: a children’s book of their photographs. “We always intended our work to be nostalgic. We didn’t intend the work to be for children, but we wouldn’t be offended by that outcome,” C orbin said.
Corbin is now in Omaha and Cates is living on the West Coast, which has made collaborating on their work more challenging.
A Night at the Farm came out in February 2021, a time when so many schools and libraries were closed. In a way, the book existed in a void.
Commission requests came in from brands such as Starbucks, Refi nery 29, Mozilla Firefox, and florist Putnam and Putnam, among many others, for cutesy little scenes by the duo.
Cates said, “Our moves have forced us to develop ways to carve out dedicated time to work together so I'm excited to be applying for residencies or retreats that will allow us to come together and work intensely on specific projects.”
Visit @ccminifactory on Instagram to learn more.
21
Joy
Heather & James Hoot ose who attend any omaha fashion Week are likely to see heather and jameson Hooton posted near the runway, cameras flashing to capture every look as the models strut by. the hootons have been the house photographers and videographers for ofW since 2015. it’s one of a bevy of projects and clients the married couple has taken on through their photography business,—hooton images—and their fashion photography business, heather and jameson.
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In 2015, the pair’s work really took off. They took on Develop Model Management, Inspired Living, and, of course, Omaha Fashion Week as clients, all of which the couple continue to work with today.
“We had no idea what we were doing,” Heather said. “We were just very excitable.”
Central to much of the Hootons’ work is attempting to capture joy—a fleeting moment of beauty or the essence of someone’s personality. Whether a fi fth date or a model’s fi rst runway walk, each photo is a celebration of life, captured for eternity. Visit heatherandjameson.com for more information. e it headshots, commercial, fashion, or business campaigns, the Hootons have honed a signature style and approach to their craft. In 2020, Billboard named The Hooton's woodsy portrait of local musician Conor Oberst one of the top 100 Billboard photographs of the year. Hooton images have appeared on book covers and in campaigns for the national retail store, The Buckle. Their art often takes them to unexpected locations and new techniques; a February 2020 Omaha Fashion Week promotional fi lm features models in white flowing gowns, ornate trenches, and embroidered pants, shoveling dirt and posing gracefully on a farm. Models play with a kitten and act deceivingly natural, the background peppered with cows and ba les of hay.
“I think that Heather's personality and her skills with people is our secret superpower,” Jameson said. “Because there are a lot of people who can take photos, but nobody can interact with people like Heather can.”
// 24 // SEPTEMBER 2022 MODEL ANAIALYNNE WILSON OF DEVELOP MODEL MANAGEMENT IN REPOSE AT THE BLACKSTONE PLAZA
will turn out great,'” Foreman said. “And if you're looking weird, it's cool in the fashion Foreman’sindustry.”experience was so good, she ended up asking the Hootons to shoot her graduation photos, a back-to-their-roots experience for the photographers.
For fall 2022 Fashion Week, Heather and Jameson worked with models at the Orpheum Theater, using the venue’s ornate interior and magnificent lighting to frame models dressed head to heel in high fashion. Heather tried to capture a joyful, yet mischievous, tone: a group of young people sneaking into the theater after hours to celebrate. The models used the full space, sprinting up and down the aisles and dancing on the stage.
Models who have worked with the couple echo this sentiment. Elisa Foreman, 22, had her fi rst modeling shoot with Heather and Jameson. She was signed to Develop Model Management and right away, began practicing modeling basics with the Hootons; how to move behind the camera in different lighting, mastering certain poses and other essentials. She was 15 years old, and nervous. But the Hootons broke through the tension with their welcoming attitudes and ample feedback. “They really ingrained in my brain, 'don't care about what you look like, everything
Hooton Images started as two students in love, documenting their time together on dates by trading shots on an old fi lm camera owned by Heather’s father, instructing each other to pose wherever they landed; spontaneity forever a key ingredient in their relationship and art.
After their wedding in 2010, they continued the practice with modern equipment. Armed with a new digital camera, the couple rang in their marriage by documenting the honeymoon. They would take pictures by their family cabin in the Colorado mountains and then to a nearby town with internet access to edit, upload, and pick up a new photography tip or two online. By the time they returned to Omaha, their friends had seen their posts—and they were interested in having photo shoots of their own: engagement photos, family photos, and more. “And so we were like, 'oh, I guess we do this now,’” Heather said with a laugh. At that time, the Hootons considered themselves hobbyists. They had neither taken a photography class nor experienced any part of the photography business.
They took some free classes and practiced their skills with friends. As the business developed, the couple began to hone in on their individual skill sets: Heather on photography and Jameson on lighting and technical aspects of setting up a shot.
Students in need of academic assistance can connect with live, online tutors to help them with their studies from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily on tutor.com. They can also take practice tests for the ACT and SAT, high school AP exams, and find online study guides on a variety of subjects any time of day.
hese days, public libraries offer a plethora of resources that go well beyond books. Omaha Public Library members can access items and services that enlighten, entertain, or offer assistance in all sorts of endeavors, from gardening to learning an instrument. This list can help readers learn how to get more out of their loc al branch.
FIND HOMEWORK HELP
Some of Omaha’s best venues offer free admission to OPL members through the Partnership Pass Program. Members can show their OPL card and check out a day pass for Fontenelle Forest, Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha Children’s Museum, The Durham Museum, or Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium (available at limited times). Or, they can also check out a pass for Heartland Bike Share. Quantities are limited.
VIEW FOREIGN FILMS
OPL added Kanopy, a streaming video service, to its offerings in April 2022. Members can stream international and independent films, documentaries, and other educational video entertainment from Kanopy’s wide variety of titles. Each patron is allowed 10 credits per month to spend as they wish.
GET A FREE PASS
DOWNLOAD FREE TUNES
BEYOND BOOKS // OBVIOUSLY OMAHA // STORY BY LINDA PERSIGEHL AND EMILY GETZSCHMAN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK SIX RESOURCES AT YOUR OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY T SEPTEMBER 2022 // 121 // 2 3 4 5 6
OPL’s Common Soil Seed Library features a collection of openpollinated and heirloom seeds that members can take and plant in their home gardens. There are also DVDs on gardening avail able for checkout, and online gardening classes offered through local branches.
1
STUDY GENEALOGY
OPL’s W. Dale Clark Library in Downtown Omaha has a large collection of government documents dating back to the 1800s, as well as 7,000 microfilms and microfiches featuring local newspaper articles, periodicals, and history and census records. It also houses a dedicated genealogy room and a Nebraska Reference Collection that are useful for finding one’s roots.
OPL offers unlimited music streaming through Freegal Music, which gives access to 15 million-plus songs from 200 genres, in cluding Sony Music’s catalog of artists. Members can also down load four songs every week for free. New music is added daily.
GROW A GARDEN
Scaling Hydroponic Growth DINING FEATURE // STORY BY JULIUS FREDRICK Aspirations Gather in Omaha KoreanmarinatedPrimestriploin withbone marrow fried rice, swee t s oy, cucumber pineapple salad, roastedblackseaweed,andsesameseeds. // 122 // SEPTEMBER 2022
Having spent seven years fielding two suc cessful farm-to-table eateries in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, including the debut Gather res taurant, Gather in Jackson, Graeme selected Omaha as the site of his grandest experiment yet. He pictured a hybridized, self-sufficient establishment one part full-service restau rant, one part cutting-edge vertical farm and found its bones in the historic 11th and Howard Streets building shared by M’s Pub. “When we took over, this building was com pletely barren. For five years, nothing,” Swain said. “Plus it got flooded after the fire, so we came in and thought, ‘well, let’s beautify this space,’ so we added every wall element other than the authentic brick, which we love, and we made this beautiful farm in the basement.
“I actually did my internship here,” said farm manager Julie Helzer, a student of MCC’s Horticulture, Land Systems, and Management program. “When I first started going to school, I didn’t know they were going to have this in the basement, it’s been a great learning experience.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH LEMKE // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK F
Pan-seared miso salmon with Sea Island p eas , Yuzu vinaigrette, sour cherries, pineapple, Fresno peppers, and Gather Urban Far m grown bok choy and mustard greens.
“It’s this small, niche market in Omaha, and it’s kind of a dream job for me,” she said. “It all just kind of fell into place.” Helzer certainly has her work cut out for her. Like any fragile ecosystem, the Gather Urban Farm requires careful oversight and a steady flow of data, especially with yield percentages to consider. Foregoing ground water or even soil for that matter the farm’s state-of-the-art irrigation system is central to the environment; water funneled into reservoirs of spun rock, in preparation of a calibrated and precisely scheduled rain dance
We took advantage of an old building that had no life in it and we’ve, literally, put life into it.”
SEPTEMBER 2022 // 123 //
Though briefly stunned by pandemic whiplash, Swain’s patience and dedication was rewarded when Gather in Omaha, and the adjoining Gather Urban Farm, opened to the public on May 1, 2021. For those who’ve peered through the farm-facing window downstairs, it’s clear there’s nothing supercilious about Swain’s boast. Just as he’d said, life in this Old Market catacomb, had indeed, found a way. Stepping over vine-thick electrical cords, past clusters of lumen-swarmed LEDs, and toward the steady hum of more than 60 hydroponic towers each draped in vibrant greens, from fluttering parsley to sprigs of rosemary the future appears startlingly, stunningly, present. A break in the techno-foliage reveals a young woman, shears in hand.
our years ago, ensconced by firs, poplars, and pines, time passed easily for Graeme Swain and his long-time friend and col league, Penny McBride. As dusk settled over Idaho’s vast woodlands, Swain stoked a camp fire. Its glow signaled a break from daytime distractions, and their focus narrowed to a single, flickering point. As in ages past, people gathered around the light and spoke openly; thoughts and ideas forming on tongues of flame, popping and sizzling, before coiling off However,overhead.well after the others dissipated, one concept in particular remained smoldering between them. Small, but dense with possibility, Swain deter mined that night to nurture that concept a choice, that years later, would take The Old Market’s already dynamic culinary scene in an unexpected direction: vertical.
“All we were doing was having a couple of beers around the campfire,” Swain, founder and coowner of Gather Restaurant Group, recalled. “And the idea bloomed when talking to Penny, who’s into hydroponics,…and I thought, ‘why don’t we try this?’ ‘Let me try this,’ and we jumped off, you know? I always say an idea is only as good as its execution, and oh yeah, this one came to fruition.”
Beck’s leadership style is likely influenced by his humble industry beginnings. “I’ve been in the industry, you know, since I was 16 or 17, started out bussing tables and stuff like that,” he recalled. “And then I started culinary school around 2011 at Metro here in town, and I took a job at 7M Grill as like, a prep cook, and that’s where I met Graeme, and I’ve worked my way up from there.”
Though 7M’s closing brought Becker’s time there to an end, he and Swain stayed in con tact. This later proved a boon for both parties when Swain reached out in 2020 in need of a chef. Becker started at Gather in Jackson, before being asked to return to Omaha. “He had told me ‘If you love Jackson Hole you can stay, but we’d love for you to come back to Omaha and open the restaurant there,’ so that’s what I chose to do,” Becker explained.
Swain couldn’t agree more.
“There’s 63 towers in here, each five feet tall, with 100 ports on each one,” Swain said. “The farm produces 1,000 ounces of produce a month, so probably right now, about two and a half turns per tower, watering every 45 minutes, and they [water] it for five minutes. We get our water through the City of Omaha, but it goes through reverse-osmosis, and so it neutralizes the pH from all three water sources…just pure water there, the minerals, the light, everything needed to grow life from seed to harvest.”
“This arugula right here will blow your socks off." Visit gather-omaha.com for more information.
“I brought in one of colleagues that I worked with, Johnny Gonzalez, an extraordinary guy that I worked with in Costa Rica, and had been at the Pentagon for 10 years doing analyt ics,” Swain said. “He’s lent himself really well to just the analyzing of ‘how does this work?’ ‘How do we maximize our yields?’ ‘How do we have a better panel of produce?’ It’s extraor dinary, the software that we built just for this. You know, you’re stepping out onto a ledge… it’s a lot of trial and error.” Whatever mistakes have been made, tangible progress has Swain seeing green. “We’ve even quantified the lettuce,” he con tinued, “and that lettuce serves 953 salads a month, right? It’s a huge bounty.”
For Becker, one frequent question trumps even cross-state leaps and dinner-time rushes in terms of difficulty: “What should I order?”
“Oh man… I really dig our elk bolognese, it’s like a two-day sauce,” he confessed, “but I really enjoy our handmade pork buns as well, we take a lot of time making those, with a crispy natural pork belly, kimchi, and pickled Fresno peppers…whenever somebody comes in that I know, they ask me the same thing and I’m like, ‘this is good, this is good, and this is good,’ and that’s pretty rare to be able to say, especially with a menu diverse as ours. I take pride in that.”
A steeled kitchen veteran and a proven leader, Becker is permitted a degree of freedom in Gather’s menu selections, though he typically employs a more democratic approach. “So we’ll run a special and kind of tweak it here or there as we fit,” Becker explained, “and then if it does really well, we’ll do surveys with everybody that eats it and ask them what they liked about it? What they didn’t like? And, you know, we’ll take all that and kind of decide, is this menu ready?”
“If we laid this farm out on a grid, it would cover acres and acres, and here we have 2,500 square feet of space a small footprint,” he added. While the advances of horizontal farming have been cultivated from the outset of the Neolithic Revolution (about 12,000 years), the technologies and techniques involved in vertical farming are rapidly evolving demanding a strong focus on R&D to stay current. Luckily for Swain, a trusted business associate, confidante, and now acting COO of the Gather Restaurant Group, aims an inquir ing eye toward internal breakthroughs and emerging industry trends.
DINING FEATURE // GATHER OMAHA
Though it’s easy to fall spell to the novelty of Gather in Omaha’s roots, it’s above-ground where the miracles engineered below are given space to bloom. For those struggling to see the forest for the trees, it’s important to step back and appreciate the symbiosis at play between the farm, and Executive Chef Alex Becker’s domain, the restaurant.
“We have a lot of interaction with the farm,” Becker said of himself and his kitchen staff, “I’m down there every day, talking to them about what we’ve got and like using, the quality of it, and was down there yesterday ordering some new seeds and some new stuff we want to try.”
An eye-catching nod to the much larger “vertical” hydroponic farming downstairs, glows and grows softly in the kitchen.
“Our food travels five feet, right? Five feet. [The produce] gets cut from there and then put on your plate,” he said. “Everything has some thing from the farm, in our food, in our cock tails, you’re getting 100% of the nutrients.”
“Love visiting Jackson Hole, but I wanted to come back home and open this.”
// 124 // SEPTEMBER 2022
He pictured a hybridized, self-sufficient establishment—one part full-service restaurant, one part cutting-edge vertical farm—and found its bones in the historic 11th and Howard streets building shared by M’s Pub. Jon’sNaturalsPorkshankover carrotpurée and red rice & lentils, served with t e quila jalapeño jam, and tortilla. SEPTEMBER 2022 // 125 //
hisCookingworld A WORLD AWAY FROM HOME For expanded content, open the camera on your smart device and hover over the QR code above.
CHEF PROFILE | STORY josefina loza | PHOTOGRAPHY bill sitzmann | DESIGN matt wieczorek
Bah-Traore worked nights as a taxi driver and attended classes at Metro Community College’s Institute of Culinary Arts during the day. The then-young family did what they could to make certain Bah-Traore was seeing his dream to completion.
Born of Malí descent, Bah-Traore was raised in the African country of Togo. At a young age, the sweet and savory smells from his mother’s kitchen inspired Bah-Traore to learn the culinary art. In his 40-some years, he moved to the United States, earned a business degree, and worked several bluecollar and office jobs. Yet, his interest in food hadn’t diminished. Making his boyhood dream a reality meant defying stereotypes, advocating for equal representation, fusing gastronomic innova tion and tradition, and cooking up a culi nary education that brought awareness to the merriment of food and culture. “If you know your roots, you’ll understand life better,” Bah-Traore said during an hourlong interview at Okra African Grill, near 72nd and Jones streets. He often frequents African restaurants in his effort to show solidarity a nd support. Knowing oneself is a sentiment that his wife, Aicha, echoed when Bah-Traore contemplated applying for Metropolitan Community College’s Institute for the Culinary Ar ts in 2012. Bah-Traore comes from a seasoned lineage of professional chefs. It’s in his blood. It’s a tradition that his great-grandfather passed down to all his sons, and his grandfather Adamou Akpo shared with this mother who, taught Great-grandfatherhim. Idriss Akpo was the Chief of the Kotokoli in Lomé, Togo. He was born in the Akpo Royal family in Kadamabara in Central Togo. He was a young man when he went to study German and distinguish him self. As an adult, he worked as a chauffeur, aid, and cook. After the French took over at the end of World War I, Bah-Traore said his great-grandfather worked at Chemin de Fer du Togo (the national railway) and remained as a cook for French c olonialists. Under his great-grandfather’s influence, all his sons learned to cook in what was a heavily patriarch al society. “The promise was made to teach all his male descendants the art of cooking,” Bah-Traore said. “His blood is what guides my hands.
"Chef Jamil is an incredible chef. Not only because his meals are so delicious and unique, but because he is incredibly generous with his knowledge about ingre dients, dishes, and cultural cuisine. His food is tasty, fresh, local, and spirited," said Luper Akough, a local entrepreneur who has attended his pop -up events.
“Chef Jamil Bah is passionate about the promotion of the African Culinary Heritage. This is evident is his menu offer ings of amazing and succulent Afro-fusion dishes. House of Bah is definitely worth a try if you haven’t already,” said Fidele Mienso, a Midlands African Chamber Board member who continually uses the House of Bah catering services for Cham ber Bah-Traoreevents. opened his eyes to realize that he wasn’t dreaming anymore. He’s hosted fine dining popups at the Switch, Blackstone, Flat Iron, Millwork Commons and competed and won a $10,000 pitch competition hosted by the Midlands African Chamber. He sits on the board of directors for City Sprouts and the African Restaurant A ssociation.
erhaps it was a boyhood dream to become a chef: someday, summoning spices and flavors; plating with purpose; preparing the finest in foo d offerings.
SEPTEMBER 2022 // 127 //
“HIS BLOOD IS WHAT GUIDES MY HANDS. I REALIZE NOW THAT HIS SPIRIT IS WHY I CANNOT GIVE UP COOKING NO MATTER HOW MANY DEGREES AND MANAGERIAL ROLES I TOOK TO STAY AWAY FROM THE CRAFT.” —CHEF BAH-TRAORE p
It was an idea he'd peppered in conversations for far too long. It was time to make a move, Jamil Bah-Traore thought. Anyone who knows Bah-Traore knows he can throw down in the kitchen. He earned his title as a kid helping his mother, Sahadat, in the kitchen of their Togolese home feeding his la rge family.
“Omaha is a foodie town. The city is open and welcoming. We need to give African heritage its place. We must teach the next generation,” Bah-Traore said. That summer day, his eldest son sat next to him at the Okra African Grill restau rant, nodding in agreement. Bah-Traore’s legacy continues. Visit houseofbah.com for more information.
I realize now that his spirit is why I cannot give up cooking no matter how many degrees and managerial roles I took to stay away from the craft.”
It's clear that Bah-Traore is on track to make the world a better place through his boy hood passion. He continues to push his way past the Eurocentric traditions absorbed by many in culinary school. He is reflect ing Africa and its diaspora in his kitchen, using techniques from Malia and Togo at the House of Bah, his catering company which features upscale Afri can cuisine.
JAMIL BAH-TRAORE CONNECTS TO HIS ROOTS
The House of Bah held his first Afro-fusion year-end gala in 2015. He was frequently featured at the former House of Loom, a lounge, dance club, and event venue hybrid located at the entrance of Li ttle Italy. His vision to shed new and diverse light over the richness of African culinary heritage has led him to found nonprofit Eat ’N’ Talk Africa. The organization educates the metro area about African culture while providing healthy and innovative food–centered on a fusion of emergent African cuisines and modern techniques.
DINING STORY____________REVIEW tamsen butler PHOTOGRAPHY bill sitzmann DESIGN matt wieczorek Walleyesandwichwithpickledredonionsevokestheflavors ofthe lakeside setting.
Amazing Onion Rings,
The Great A-Z Food Tour Group Visits theRestaurantWoodcliff
he Great A-Z Food Tour group began as a way for a group of friends to stay connected while support ing local restaurants as COVID-19 began to wane. Most of the members already knew each other through various sports teams their children were on together those youngsters are all adults now. Other members came along when they were invited by an exist ing member. They call themselves an “everexpanding” group, led by Karen Sykora, who reluctantly admits to leading the group while also claim ing that the group leads itself. When she pulls out her red notebook and starts asking the group to decide what their next restaurant will be, one of the members leans over to me and whispers, “She’s not the leader she’s the instigator .”
I joined the Great A-Z Food Tour group on their “W” trip. This expe dition took us out to The Woodcliff Restaurant in Fremont, a lodge-type restaurant nestled within a lake-side community. We went on a Thursday night, which is Woodcliff’s “Burger and Beer” night. On the way to The Woodcliff Restaurant, the other group mem bers told me stories of their culinary adventures. It’s nearly an hour drive to there, so there was ample time to get a feel for how this group operates. There seem to be a few rules by which this g roup abides: They follow the A-Z protocol of visiting restaurants in alpha bet icalTheorder.restaurant must be locally owned and within driving dis tance, but they’re willing to cross state lines for a fun experience. An “unspoken rule” they told me about is the restaurant must serve alcohol. And though they chuckled at the idea of speak ing this “unspoken” rule, they all agreed it was important
T 1 2 3 Zesty Burgers SEPTEMBER 2022 // 129 //
The Great A-Z Food Tour members admit that their idea isn’t unique. “There are plenty of food groups doing the same thing as us,” one member said. “But they don’t have matching t-shirts like we do!”
DINING ____________REVIEW S
I tried the Crab Rangoons, which weren’t bad, but the Portobello Mushroom Fries were a savory treat. The Jalapeño Popper Dip, served with corn tortilla chips, was a favorite of the group; and those who ordered the Woodcliff Wedge salad enjoyed the taste and Nearlypresentation.everyonein the group ordered the special for the entree: a burger featuring jalapeño peppers that isn’t always on the menu. While some people in the group thought the jalapeños were too much and
After my time with this fun group, they visited Yummy Crab for “Y” and have plans to visit Zaika Indian Cuisine to finish up the alphabet and then they start ba ck at “A.”
All in all, the Great A-Z Food Tour group gave The Woodcliff Restaurant a big thumbs up. As they gathered the wait staff and the chef for photos after the meal (a group tra dition), the members gushed to Chef Sam Trahan about the quality o f the food. I’m inclined to agree that Trahan is a tal ented chef who obviously cares about his craft, and who isn’t adverse to coming out after the meal to mingle w ith patrons.
Visit thewoodcliffrestaurant.com for more information.
ykora estimated the group has around 17 members, though this number fluctu ates. Not everyone makes it to every dining experience, and she said there are typically around 10-12 people each time they go. The night we went to The Woodcliff, there were 11 diners in attendance. Nearly every appetizer on the menu was ordered and passed around the table. Of particular interest was the order of onion rings. Sara Zivney is the group’s resident onion ring expert, tasting them everywhere they go. When the onion rings arrived at the table, the plate was passed to Zivney, who surveyed the pile before taking a bite, then happily announced to the group that the rings were tasty. After that proclama tion, everyone else grabbed a handful for themselves.
One member who ordered the ribeye steak raved about the flavor. I ordered the walleye sandwich, solely because we were seated in a room overlooking the lake, and order ing fish seemed appropriate. The sandwich was good, the fish filet not too greasy, the pickled red onions adding a unique flavor to an often banal dish. I was pleased with my meal, though it’s not one I would willingly drive nearly an hour to repeat.
The desserts really got the members excited; we ordered one of everything and passed it around so everyone could indulge. The star was the berry cheesecake, which fea tured a Cap’n Crunch crust and looked like something from a child’s daydream. Everyone who sampled it raved about the taste, one member declaring: “It tastes fresh, l ike summer.”
pulled them off the burger, others heeded the waitress’ advice that the chef would not want anyone ordering the jalapeño burger without the chilis and kept them on to retain the integrity of t he sandwich.
// 130 // SEPTEMBER 2022
Blueberr y cheesec a ke w i t h a Cap’ n Cr unch cr ust was a whimsical crowd pleasing dessert
FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE OVERALL THE WOODCLIF F RESTAURANT5STARSPOSSIBLE The Woody Burger, a menu staple, with portobello mushroom fries, seasoned sour cream, and the infamous onion rings. The thewithwassandwichgood,thefishfiletnottoogreasyandpickledredonionsaddingauniqueflavortotherestofthesandwich.
// 132 // SEPTEMBER 2022 - Sponsored ContentAMERICAN BARREL & VINE- $$ 1311 South 203rd St., Omaha, NE 68130 - 402.504.1777 Barrel and Vine’s restaurant is an elevated food experience that is made from scratch daily with love in our kitchen. Our menu combines a mixture of Chef driven creative dishes, crave-able comfort meals and premium Nebraska steaks. Barrel & Vine also doubles as a live music venue and offers a rooftop bar, outdoor patio with firepits, and dozens of high end bourbons, scotch, and over 100 wine selections. Come check out an experience that is like nothing else in Nebraska. Open 7 days a week. —bvomaha.com DJ’S DUGOUT SPORTS BAR - $ Seven Metro Area Locations: Bellevue - 10308 S. 23rd St.Miracle402.292.9096Hills - 777 N. 114th St.Downtown402.498.8855-1003 Capitol Ave.Aksarben402.763.9974-2102 S. 67th St.Millard402.933.3533-17666 Welch PlazaElkhorn402.933.8844-19020 Evans St.Plattsmouth402.315.1985- 2405 Oak Hill Rd. - 402.298.4166 Voted Omaha’s #1 Sports Bar, DJ’s Dugout is locally and Vietnam Veteran owned. DJ’s Dugout features delicious burgers, wings, wraps, salads, sandwiches and an impressive drink menu. Plus, DJ’s has huge media walls full of HD TVs and projector screens. Catch all the action at DJ’s seven Omaha-area Diglocations.In...At The —djsdugout.comDugout! JAMS- $$ 7814 Dodge St. - 402.399.8300 17070 Wright Plz, Ste. 100 - 402.810.9600 1101 Harney St. in the OldMarket - 402.614.9333 Jams is an Omaha restaurant legacy, an “American Grill” that offers a melting pot of different styles and varieties. The dishes are made with high-quality ingredients that pair well with award-winning wines or creative cocktails. —jamseats.com LE PEEP - $ 69th & Pacific - 402.933.2776 177th and Center St. - 402.934.9914 156th St. & W. Dodge Rd. - 402.408.1728 120th and Blondo St. - 402.991.8222 Le Peep puts a wholesome perspective on your favorite neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot. Fresh. Simple. Elegant. Inviting. We put the emphasis on people, both patrons and staff. We focus on providing each of our guests the fresh food and friendly service that they have come to expect. Open daily 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. —lepeepomaha.co m DINING GUIDE Omaha DINING GUIDE LEGEND $=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ STELLA’S - $ 106 S. Galvin Road, Bellevue - 402.291.6088 Since 1936, we’ve been making our world-famous Stella’s hamburgers the same way. The family secrets have been handed down to each owner, ensuring that your burger is the same as the one you fell in love with the first time you tried Stella’s. And if it’s your first time, we know you’ll be back! Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., closed Sunday. — stellasbarandgrill.com T ED AND WALLY’S - $ 1120 Jackson St. - 402.341.5827 Come experience the true taste of homemade ice cream in the Old Market. Since 1986, we’ve created gourmet ice cream flavors in small batches using rock salt and ice. We offer your favorites, plus unique flavors like margarita, green tea, Guinness, and French toast. Special orders available. Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.- Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday. Noon-10 —tedandwallys.comp.m. 7 OMAHA METRO AREA LOCATIONS | DJSDUGOUT.COM | 2022 1s Place2022 1 t Place SPORTS BAR 2022 W NNER2022 W NNER WINGS WATCH FOOTBALL HERE!
SEPTEMBER 2022 // 133 // VARSITY SPORTS CAFE - $$ Ralston - 9735 Q St. - 402.339.1944 Bellevue - 3504 Samson WayMillard402.932.1944-14529 F St. - 402.505.6660 Ralston, Bellevue, Millard and Dundee. We are truly grateful to have been welcomed into each of these communities and welcome you in for good food, a cold drink and a comfy seat to enjoy the sport of your choosing! Determined to bring only the freshest ingredients, homemade dough and our spe cialty sauces to the table, we have worked hard to perfect our craft for you. Our goal is to bring the best food service to the area and show the best sports events that you want to see. Pick up and Delivery availalble. Please check website for hours of —varsityromancoinpizza.comoperation. ITALIAN PASTA AMORE - $$ 11027 Prairie Brook Rd. - 402.391.2585 Pastas are made fresh daily, including tortellini, fettuccine, and capellini. Daily specials and menu items include a variety of fresh seafood and regional Italian dishes, such as linguini amore and calamari steak, penne Florentine, gnocchi, spaghetti puttanesca, and osso buco. Filet mignon is also offered for those who appreciate nationally renowned Nebraska beef. To complement your dining experience, the restaurant offers a full bar and extensive wine list. Be sure to leave room for homemade desserts, like the tiramisu and cannoli. Monday-Thursday 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 10 p.m. Reservations —pastaamore.corecommended.m DINING GUIDE Omaha BESTcustomersthankstoourforvotingustheBURGERINOMAHA “ServingWorldFamousHamburgersSince1936” 106 GALVIN RD., BELLEVUE, NE • 402-291-6088 • OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY, 11 AM - 9 PM 2022 First Place Hamburger DINING GUIDE LEGEND $=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ Catering . Private Party Rooms . Walk-Ins Welcome 3125 South 72 nd Street (Easy access off I-80, take 72 nd Street Exit) 402.391.2950 . Call today to make your reservation Take Out & Patio Dining Available! Saucy.aGetLittle SPEZIA SPECIALTIES WOOD FIRE STEAKS & SEAFOOD INNOVATIVEFRESHPASTA—RISOTTO—GNOCCHISALMONDAILY Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch & Dinner 2022 Winner Italian Dining 2022 Winner Happy Hour 2022 Winner Appetizers SPECIAL FALL DINING FEATURES
2022 Winner Mexican Dining 2022 Winner Chimichanga Nacho Typical Family Restaurant! www.romeosOMAHA.com 4 METRO LOCATIONS! Place Celebrating over 100 Years of Baking CIABATTArotellasbakery.comExcellence! 3578 Farnam St • www.beercornerusa.com402-345-1708 Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben! 2022 First Place Reuben Sandwich Omaha’s largest selection of craft beers. COME FOR THE FLIGHTS... S t a y f o r t h e V i b e s Farnam Hill 25th+ Farnam 402 452 3085 Tiffany Plaza 132nd + Center 531 213 2724 *New* Drive Thru Coming this Fall to One Pacific Place!
SEPTEMBER 2022 // 135 // S PEZIA - $$$ 3125 S. 72nd St. - 402.391.2950 Choose Spezia for lunch or dinner, where you’ll find a casual elegance that’s perfect for business guests, get-togethers, or any special occasion. Exceptional food, wine, and service, with a delectable menu: fresh seafood, certified Angus steaks, innovative pasta, risotto, gnocchi, cioppino, lamb, entrée salads, Mediterranean chicken, flatbreads, and fresh salmon daily. Enjoy a full bar, Italian and California wines, Anniversary/ Lovers’ Booth (call to reserve), private dining rooms, and woodfired grill. Open Monday-Sunday. Cocktail hour 4-6 p.m., when all cocktails, glasses of wine, and beers are half price. Evening reservations —speziarestaurant.comrecommended. MEXICAN FERNANDO’S - $ 7555 Pacific St.380402.339.8006.N.114thSt.-402.330.5707 Featuring Sonoran-style cooking made fresh daily. Catering and party rooms also Monday-Thursdayavailable.11a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.11 p.m., Sunday 4-9 —fernandosomaha.cop.m.m F O O D F E AT U R E S C H E F P R O F I L E S R E S TA U R A N T R E V I E W S O M A H A M AGA Z I N E .C O M HUNGRY? DINING GUIDE LEGEND $=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ DINING GUIDE Omaha 2022 First Place Sunday Brunch 2022 W nner WaitSta & Service Thanks for Voting Us #1 BREAKFAST 14 YEARS in a Row! Drive-Thru Open (Center St. Only) Open Daily 6:30am-2:00pm Serving Breakfast & Lunch All Day! 156th & Dodge • 408-1728 177th & Center • 934-9914 120th & Blondo • 991-8222 69th & Pacific • 933-2776 LEPEEPOMAHA.COM | @LEPEEPOMAHA 2022 First Place Breakfast
// 136 // SEPTEMBER 2022 LA MESA - $$ 158th St. and W. Maple Rd.110th156th402.557.6130andQstreets-402.763.2555St.andW.Maple Rd.Fort402.496.1101CrookRd. and Hwy 37084th402.733.8754St.andTara PlazaLake402.593.0983Manawa Exit - 712.256.2762 Enjoy awesome appetizers, excellent enchilada’s, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouthwatering margaritas and much more at La Mesa! Come see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s#1Mexican Restaurant 19 Years in a Monday-SaturdayRow! 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-9 lamesaomaha.cop.m.m R OMEO’S MEXICAN FOOD AND PIZZA - $ 90th and Blondo streets146th402.391.8870St.andW. Center Rd.Galvin96th402.330.4160andLstreets-402.331.5656andAvery roads29th402.292.2028andFarnam steets - 402.346.1110 Romeo’s is your friendly, family Mexican food and pizza restaurant. We take real pride in serving our guests generous portions of the freshest, most flavorful dishes made with the finest ingredients available. Zesty seasonings and the freshest ingredients combine to ensure the ultimate in flavor. Our savory taco meat is prepared every morning at each location. Make sure to try our chimichangas; they’re the best in —romeosomaha.comtown. DINING GUIDE Omaha SPECIAL DINING CRESCENT MOON ALE HOUSE - $ 3578 Farnam St. - 402.345.1708 Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia—Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best Reuben sandwich, we are a Midtown beer-lover’s destination. Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen —beercornerusa.comidnight.p.m.,Monday-Wednesdayhours:11a.m.-1Thursday-Saturday11a.m.-ClosedSunday.m GREEK ISLANDS - $ 3821 Center St. - 402.346.1528 Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. We are well-known for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests. Carry-out and delivery available. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. —greekislandsomaha.co m ZEN COFFEE COMPANY - $ West - 132nd and Center Downtown - 25th and Farnam One Pacific Place - Opening this Fall! Drive Thru Kiosk next to Trader Joes Zen features over 50 popular drink options including Butter Beer, Honey Bee, Lavender Lady and Sunshine Daydream. Choose from hot or iced lattes, blenders, fruit smoothies and teas! Grab a flight or double cup to try the seasonal features! Delicious pastries and toasts made in house —zencoffeecompany.comdaily. DINING GUIDE LEGEND $=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ 3825 N. 30 TH ST., OMAHA, NE MODERN COCKTAILS MIXED WITH AMERICA’S MUSIC @JOHNNYTSBARANDBLUES HAPPY HOUR: 3-6PM Tues-Fri, All Day Sunday $1 OFF All Tacos and Tortas - $6 Salsa Trio $3.5 Mexican Beers, $6 Margaritas $7 T&T (Tecate + Tequila Shot) 735 N 14th St. Omaha, NE 68102 402.933.4222 | hookandlime.com
SEPTEMBER 2022 // 137 // STEAKHOUSES CASCIO’S - $$ 1620 S. 10th St. - 402-345-8313 Fascio’s is Omaha’s No. 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature steaks, chops, seafood, and Italian specialties. We have seven private party rooms, seating for up to 400 people, and plenty of parking. —casciossteakhouse.co m T HE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$ 2121 S. 73rd St. - 402-391-7440 Famous for the original Whiskey Steak. Truly a one-of-a-kind Midwestern experience. Excellent food, wine, service, and value. Rare...and very well done. Open Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Dinner nightly at 5 —droverrestaurant.comp.m. DINING GUIDE Omaha Family Owned Since 1983 CATERING / PARTY ROOM AVAILABLE HOMEMADE, FRESH FOOD, ALWAYS. 3821 Center St. / GreekIslandsOmaha.com402.346.1528 2022 First Place Greek Dining Home of the Whiskey Steak 2022 First Place Steakhouse @The Drover Restaurant & Lounge | Gift Cards Available 2121 S. 73 St. | (402) 391-7440 | DroverRestaurant.com Open Monday - Friday 11am - 2pm | Dinner nightly from 5pm DINING GUIDE LEGEND $=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+
NORTHWEST NEBRASKA ROCK SWAP, Sept. 2-5 at City Park in Crawford. Rock, fossil, mineral, and gem aficionados gather in Crawford City Park to buy, sell, and trade their unique geological treasures. At 8 a.m. each day, guided field trips to the nearby Agate Gravel Beds are undertaken with intrepid stone enthusiasts invited to meet at the information booth prior. Guest speakers at 2 p.m. and a rock auction 7 p.m. take place Saturday.
NEBRASKA FLATWATER SHAKESPEARE PRESENTS JULIUS CAESAR , Sept. 1-12 at Swan Theater at Wyuka Stables in Lincoln .
MOVIES IN THE PARK, Sept. 9 at Antelope Park in Lincoln. Biographical sports drama American Underdog (2021) screens under the stars in Antelope Park, just in time for football season. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for this movie, which begins between 8:45-9 p.m..
—lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/Parks-402.441.7847.and-Recreation/Calendar-and-Events/Movies-2022
LET’S PLAN A ROAD TRIP! and DAYTRIPS IN NEBRASKA, IOWA, KANSAS, MISSOURI, AND SOUTH DAKOTA
come
—lincolnzencenter.org
NEBRASKA UNWRAPPED: SELECTIONS FROM THE COLLECTION, Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 at Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln. History Nebraska presents nearly 150 archeological and historic artifacts for public intrigue and education, some dating pre-statehood. According their website, the contents of the collection “… reveal our challenges and accomplishments, our heritages, and cultures. They help chart the paths taken and forsaken by the unique and distinctive peoples of Nebraska.” Adult tickets are $5, youth tickets (age 5-18) are $3, and kids under 5 get in free.
2-5SEPT. SEPT.01
// 138 // SEPTEMBER 2022 explore.
—discovernwnebraska.com/crawford-308.432.3006.rock-swap/
—oldtrusty.org BEGINNER’S MEDITATION CLASS, Sept. 12 at Lincoln Zen Center in Lincoln. The Lincoln Zen Center invites those new to meditation to pause, center, and take a deep breath in this free, guided session. Instruction begins at 5:30 p.m., no reservations required.
ART IN THE GARDEN, Sept. 10 at Sunken Gardens in Lincoln. Noyes Art Gallery hosts artists, musicians, and food vendors among the winding trails, dreamy colors, and enchanting scents of the Sunken Gardens for a sensual artcollecting experience. 402.475.1061.
PLATTSMOUTH HARVEST FESTIVAL, Sept. 8-11 in Plattsmouth. Celebrating its 91st year—and once heralded as a corn festival in the 1930s— this four-day festival evolved into a multifaceted harvest extravaganza that now includes carnival rides, talent show, a craft fair Saturday, music and entertainment, contests, and a ‘Grand Parade’ along Plattsmouth’s historic Main Street.
—history.nebraska.gov/visit/nebraska-402.471.4782unwrapped-selections-collections
—plattsmouthharvestfestival.com
—noyesartgallery.com 40TH ANNUAL OLD TRUSTY ANTIQUE AND COLLECTORS SHOW, Sept. 10 in Clay Center. This two-day event exhibits antique tractors, engines, cars, and trucks, revealing a bygone age of industry and engineering gear-heads and history-buffs are certain to appreciate. The event also includes exhibitions on oldtime craftsmanship, such ascandlemaking, weaving, and blacksmithing. The Bobby Lane Orchestra performs Saturday night at 7 p.m., while Navy veteran and Nashville artist Justin Kane strums up excitement Sunday, 11 a.m. with his masterful fret work and melodious voice. Passes are $7 per day for adults, $1 for children over 5. 402.762.3685.
The Flatwater Shakespeare Co. performs a “less-cut” rendition of one of history’s most infamous betrayals—and one of the Bard’s greatest tragedies—with Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Audiences will be transported to ancient Rome and watch with a keen sense of dramatic irony as Julius Caesar’s grip on power is carefully conspired against, fought over, and relinquished in harrowing, poignant fashion.
—flatwatershakespearecompany.org402.413.1586
and EXPLORE CALENDAR
—pinnaclebankarena.com402.904.4444.
—pinewoodbowltheater.com and Mom too! Conveniently located just off the interstate | 402-397-9606
—nebraskacity.com/festival/apple-402.873.6654.jack-festival/
—lukebryan.com INCUBUS, Sept. 23 at Pinewood Bowl Theater in Lincoln. Forming in 1991, Calabasas, California, alternative rock outfit Incubus has sold more than 23 million albums, containing generational classics like “Wish You Were Here,” “Nice to Know You,” “Dig,” and many more. The all-ages show is outdoors between the pines, rain or shine; tickets are available via TicketMaster and at the Pinnacle Bank Arena ticket office Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
CODY JOHNSON WITH SPECIAL GUEST RANDY HOUSER, Sept. 16 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Known for his electrifying stage presence and forecasted by MusicRow as potentially being “the future of real country music,” Nashville sensation and Platinum recording artist Cody Johnson hits the stage at Pinnacle Bank Arena with special guest Randy Houser. Hits like “Til’ I Can’t” will be performed alongside new entries from Johnson’s freshly released, critically acclaimed Human: The Double Album .
LUKE BRYAN, Sept. 22 at Stock Hay and Grain in Murdock. True to the Farm Tour 2022 ethos, country music superstar and American Idol judge Luke Bryan arrives in small town Nebraska—and with Murdock’s population of 236 citizens, that’s no understatement. Bryan is set to raise the roof at the Stock Hay and Grain farm, fulfilling a promise to attendees that his highly celebrated, multi-national brand of country stardom is home-grown and remains rooted in rural Americana.
APPLEJACK HARVEST FESTIVAL, Sept. 16-18 in Nebraska City. Between 60,000 and 80,000 people converge in this town’s of around 7,000 residents to get to the core of their apple cravings. The festival website touts, “Apple pie, apple cider, apple cider donuts, candy apples, caramel apples, apple fritters, apple salad…pretty much anything you can image made from apples is available at the AppleJack Festival”. The event also includes activities such as extreme bull ridding, water barrel fights, a parade, and a downtown flea market.
SEPT.16 // 140 // SEPTEMBER 2022 Gems • Minerals • Fossils • Jewelry Great things for the whole family,
8487 Frederick St. | CustomGemsOmaha.com
scripteddaunted
—iowaeventscenter.com DAY OUT WITH THOMAS, Sept. 11 at the Scenic Valley Railroad and Museum in Boone. Beloved children’s book and cartoon character Thomas the Tank Engine makes a stop at the Scenic Valley Railroad and Museum in Boone, picking up passengers for a fun and educational ride on the historic tracks of this designated heritage railroad. Tickets are $17 on Friday, and $20 on Saturday and Sunday, with interested parents encouraged to buy them ahead of time. Food is not included with price of admission, though numerous food vendors pepper the —bsvrr.com/wp/events/day-out-site.with-thomas
SEPT.24
JERRY SEINFELD LIVE, Sept. 23 at Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln. World-beloved Seinfeld actor and co-creator Jerry Seinfeld brings his brand of snarky, high-brow comedy to Lied Center for Performing Arts, heralding a night of outrageous humor and gut-busting —liedcenter.org/event/jerry-seinfeld-livelaughter.
IOWA IOWA CITY SUMMER BASH, Sept. 3 on the Pedestrian Mall in Iowa City. To celebrate the first Iowa Hawkeyes football game of the year, this free, all-ages event promises 10 hours of music—with performances by Damn Juhl, DJ Amru, Ketamonster, and more—brought to attendees in “turbosound” by iowa|techno at the Ped Mall Weather Dance Fountain Stage. The bash runs from 1noon-10 p.m. for a full day of outdoor grooving. —allevents.in/iowa R.E.O SPEEDWAGON AND STYX, Sept. 4 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. For the first time in four years, ’70s rock sensations REO Speedwagon and Styx join forces in their co-headlining “Live & UnZoomed” tour to deliver hard rock guitar riffs, enthralling synth percussions, and signature power ballads with special guest Loverboy at Wells Fargo Arena.
NORFOLK OKTOBERFEST FAMILY FESTIVAL, Sept. 23-24 in Norfolk. Having reached a decade of consecutive annual celebrations, this two-day festival continues to bring families together in celebration of German heritage with live music, traditional German cuisine, inflatables, a Husker tailgate, activities and competitions, and of course, a beer garden stocked with a wide variety of German brews. —norfolkareachamber.com
—branchedoakobservatory.com/eventsattendees.
SEPTEMBER 2022 // 141 //
SEPT.3
2022 FALL STARBQ Sept. 24 at the Branched Oak Conservatory in Lincoln. Lincoln’s annual StarBQ returns to the Branched Oak Conservatory for the eighth time, bringing together area stargazers EXPLORE CALENDAR for a night of celestial wonder and lipsmackin’ barbecue. Children’s activities and educational opportunities are held throughout the evening, until darkness settles to reveal the stars. Through the observatories numerous telescopes, and through those of amateur astronomers, planets, nebulas, and even galaxies will fill the lenses— and the imaginations—of
FIREWATER MUSIC FESTIVAL, Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 at Wildwood Outdoor Education Center in Kansas City. In the second rendition of their self-curated event, country rock outfit Whisky Myers invites attendees to enjoy three days of live music, forest camping, and a menagerie of local food vendors. Myers’ curated list of performers includes favorites such as the Old 97s, the Red Southall Band, and Nikki Lane.
—louisburgcidermill.com/ciderfest
GABRIEL “FLUFFY” IGLESIAS, Sept. 11 at Kansas State Fair Grandstand in Hutchinson. Few possess a larger stage presence than beloved comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, who masterfully combines relatable, day-to-day experiences with outrageous, over-the-top humor. Known for coining the term “fluffy” to describe his large-and-in-charge proportions, Iglesias invites audiences to laugh with him, at him, and most importantly, at themselves, bringing levity and joy to Hutchinson’s Kansas State Fair beginning 7:30 p.m. —visithutch.com
44TH ANNUAL CIDERFEST Sept. 24-25 at Louisburg Cider Mill in Louisburg. This free-admission event extols all things apple cider, with tours of the mill in action—from washing to press— allowing attendees a window into the process behind the festival’s crisp, delicious treats before taking a bite (or sip!). Bluegrass and country classic musical performances intermingle with the scent of fresh apples and warm cider, the perfect atmosphere for attendees to enjoy hot or cold ciders, cider doughnuts, caramel apples, and the Louisburg Cider Mill’s home-made Lost Trail Root Beer. Kids will enjoy hayrack rides, corn mazes, and homemade toys for sale.
—firewatermusicfestival.com/ MISSOURI 20TH ANNUAL KANSAS CITY IRISH FEST, Sept. 2-4 at Crown Center Square in Kansas City. Over Labor Day weekend, Kansas City celebrates its 20th annual Irish Fest, offering attendees “the chance to see some of the top Irish entertainment in the world.” The festival includes a medley of Irish musical and dance performers, tradi tional food and drink vendors, Irish whiskey tastings, an educational Irish genealogy showcase, children’s activities, and more.
SOUTH DAKOTA I LOVE THE ’90S TOUR, Sept. 9 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls. Those feeling nostalgic for the rose-colored, buttery-smooth rhymes of the ’90s will find the I Love the ’90s tour is certain to hit that sweet spot, with per formances by Coolio, plus Rob Base, Montell Jordan, and the ever-ubiq uitous music stylings of Vanilla —dennysanfordpremiercenter.com/Ice.events/2022/i-love-the-90s
HARVEST MOON SONG AND DANCE FEST 2022, Sept. 25 at Dan Nagle Walnut Grove Pioneer Village in Longe Grove. For the low price of $6 ($3 for children), festival attendees are entreated to jig, reel, and hoedown to 1800s folk music and early 20th century traditional, ragtime, and jazz; plus some midcentury country tunes by ensemble “Fifth of Country.” Lawn chairs are welcome at this rain or shine event, with local food vendors serving up cool drinks and hot plates. —scottcountyiowa.gov
SIOUX FALLS GERMANFEST, Sept. 10 at Fawick Park in Sioux Falls. The Sister Cities of Sioux Falls presents Ger manfest, a free one-day fundraising event honoring Sioux Falls sister city, Potsdam, Germany, with Bavarian hats and lederhosen abound, plus traditional music and entertainment from 2-10 p.m., a Dachshund Dog Race commencing at 4:30 p.m., a Kinder “Children” area, a wide range of traditional food, and German beer tents organized by Beal —siouxfallssistercities.com/eventDistributing.
—collectaconusa.com/kc
// 142 // SEPTEMBER 2022 29SEPT.+ 16-18SEPT. EXPLORE CALENDAR
DANCEFESTOPIAKANSAS2022, Sept. 6-11 at Emerald City in Lacygne. This explosive, six-day music and camping festival promises attendees a frenetic, heart-pounding blitz of performances by over 150 EDM artists, including genre legends like Seven Lions and deadmau5. Ranked “a Top-5 festival for new festival goers” by EDM.com, this event offers an incredible experience for rave-sceneveterans and curious newcomers alike. Campsites are available in the adjoining Emerald Forest, encouraging intrepid attendees to lose themselves in the various nooks and crannies of natural wonder. —dancefestopia.com
—kcirishfest.com/
COLLECT-A-CON FEATURING VANILLA ICE, Sept. 17-18 at Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City. “Yo VIP, let’s kick it” the opening lyric of Vanilla Ice’s megahit “Ice Ice Baby” is an invitation by the ’90s hip-hop sensation to join him at the Kansas City Convention during Collect-aCon—billed as “the nation’s largest trading card, anime, and pop culture convention”— for a nostalgic, unforgettable performance.
SHAWN MENDES WITH TATE MCRAE, Sept. 26 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Although the Omaha performance was can celed, fans have a chance to see multi-plat inum singer/songwriter, and generational heartthrob Shawn Mendes deliver his silky, wide-ranging vocals to cherished hits like “Señorita,” “Treat You Better,” and “Wonder” at Kansas City’s T-Mobile Center. The show includes special guest Tate —t-mobilecenter.com/events/detail/McRae.shawn-mendes
EVENT TIMES AND DETAILS MAY CHANGE. Visit omahamagazine.com for complete listings. Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.
WORLD FOOD AND MUSIC FESTIVAL 2022, Sept. 16-18 at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines. Taking place at downtown Des Moines’ Western Gateway Park, this three-day festival celebrates all things cosmopolitan, having grown from around two dozen vendors in 2005 to being able to support 90,000 unique visitors today. Produced by the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the festival promises “international cuisine, live music and performing arts, cooking demonstrations, interactive programs, wine and craft beers and much —dsmpartnership.com/worldfoodmore.”andmusicfestival/about-the-festival
SEPTEMBER // 143 // 2022 @oma_spotter_paige @omabri @buckchristensen @huskertiara HASHTAG #OMAHAMAGAZINE ON INSTAGRAM TO BE FEATURED BELOW instagram.com/omahamagazine facebook.com/omahamagazine twitter.com/omahamagazine @alderimages @lolasblest @nickdavis_99 @urbanshutterphotographic @rochford_mw GIVE US FOLLOWA
THINGS I AM AFRAID OF NOT FUNNY // COLUMN BY OTIS TWELVE // PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL SITZMANN
2. Wo rk Meetings. That pretty much covers it, though it should be noted that Things That Mildly Irritate Me is a much longer list. Next time.
Otis Twelve hosts the radio program Morning Classics with Otis Twelve on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. Visit kvno.org for more information.
T SEPTEMBER // 144 // 2022
A List of Things I a m afraid of:
1. Vampires: The Un-Dead have been a major fear of mine since my sister, who was supposed to be babysitting me, schlepped me along on a “secret” date she had with a very creepy jock-type named Dolan - he later got kicked out of a service academy for being “unacceptably obtuse.” Anyway, my parents were off to a fundraiser for Jack Kennedy hosted by Sargent Shriver’s first cousin and were likely to be out late, so sis had the opportunity to abscond undetected with her tiny, innocent, brother (me) and perhaps talk Dolan out of his class ring. The theater we went to was showing a British Hammer flick, Horror of Dracula starring Christopher Lee. There the true trauma to my nascent persona occurred… the Technicolor images on the screen were seared onto my young brain. Rivers of Ehler’s red food coloring mixed with methyl paraben and clear corn syrup running down pale necks and pooling on fake stone floors, blindingly over-whitened fangs tearing flesh, acres of heaving décolletage bound up in a British schoolboy’s concept of lingerie appropriate for graveyards and tombs, clashing harmonics created by a very small string orchestra and a composer who is more famous for being Benjamin Britten’s page turner at recitals, and long passages of tedious exposition worked up by a gin-soaked screenwriter, who I have since discovered ended up penning scripts for BJ and the Bear, – it was all horrifying on a metaphysical level. For years I could not sleep without a strand of garlic on my bedroom doorknob, a cross on my headboard, and an autographed copy of The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structures for Writers by Christopher Vogler on my nightstand. As I grew older I eventually realized how irrational it all was. For instance, how was that crucifix going to help me if the vampire was Jewish, Unitarian, or a 23rd Degree Mason? But, despite the dawn of reason in my developing brain, I frequently found myself absent mindedly whittling wood into sharp stakes that could easily be driven through vampiric hearts well into my Fifties, and I still have a collection of wooden mallets that could be used to hammer the spikes home. Other effects on my life include the fact that I have never purchased a red velvet lined cape, or a pre-paid cemetery plot, bought property in the Carpathians, or trusted a woman dressed up like a gypsy… so far. Oh, and I still have dreams about Gary Ol dman’s hair.
hey say you should face your fears. That’s how true personal growth is achieved, or so I am told. And I read once on a List of Things You Can Do that a good way to do that is to make a list. So her e is a list.
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