Omaha Magazine - January/February 2021 - Hotel Edition

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FROM THE EDITOR // LETTER BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN, MANAGING EDITOR

A HEALTHY YEAR

medical issue informs and ent erta i n s

I

think most people are happy that 2021 is here. A pandemic, murder hornets, a slow economy—most people thought 2020 was not their best year.

Health was certainly a part of 2020. Every newscast from March on devoted at least a part of their show to a health-related issue.

We at Omaha Magazine are excited for this new year, and we know health will continue to be a part of it. That’s one reason why we devote our January/February edition to health and wellness.

One feature talks about telehealth. I used a telehealth visit for the first time this year in spring for a call to renew a prescription. Some hospitals and doctors’ offices in the area saw their telehealth visits rise by over 1000% over the last year. It’s a trend that projects to continue growing as technology advances.

Another feature talks about Celiac disease. It’s a disease that has come to the forefront of conversations in recent years, especially as people have started following lower-carbohydrate diets. This article distinguishes between Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, and what happens when someone has Celiac disease, which is, in reality, only 1% of the world’s population.

Omaha Magazine has long partnered with March of Dimes for their Nurse of the Year Awards. Photographer Bill Sitzmann and I agree that this is one of our favorite events of the year. Our friends at March of Dimes go all out to honor these medical professionals, many of whom are hardworking, humble, and truly honored to win an award, and the dinner and awards show is impressive. This year’s awards show went virtual, but they still rolled ahead with a number of fantastic awards, from “Academic Educator” to “Women’s Health.” The winners of these awards are presented in this magazine.

Speaking of nurses, our adventure article is about nurse Steve Stang, who started a new career in 2019 as a traveling nurse. He has already been on a couple of fantastic adventures, and hopes this venture allows him to travel further. The 60-Plus feature is about the Nurses Honor Guard, a group that gathers for funerals of their fallen comrades.

Losing weight and/or eating healthy is a major goal each year for many Americans. Restaurateur Michael Schall lost a significant amount of weight and used that as inspiration to launch his restaurant Greenbelly.

His story is the dining profile this month. Those who want additional options for eating healthier while picking up takeout can find some in this issue. Omaha Magazine reviews Foodies, which focuses on fresh food, and features Heirloom Fine Foods meal prep and catering.

Each article in this issue touches the health and medical worlds, whether it is an arts and culture story about a doctor who wrote a book or a pharmacist who collects antique medical bottles. I hope you enjoy them all. * 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.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

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2021

TAB L E of CON T E N T S THE USUAL SUSPECTS 003 From the Editor A Healthy Year

006 Between the Lines 008 Calendar of Events 026 Adventure

A Natural Nurse

081 Obviously Omaha Healthy Altruism

099 Instagram 100 Explore!

104 Not Funny

Mens Sana in Corpore Sano

A R T S + C U LT U R E 014 Author

Sasha Shillcutt

016 Visual

Dany Reyes

020 Music

Cole Eisenmenger

022 Illustration Bob Donlan

SPECIAL SECTION 042 Premier Doctors

F E AT U R E S

028 036 // 4 //

036

GOING FROM 5 MPH TO 60 Telehealth Jumpstarted During Pandemic

GLUTEN-FREE FOR LIFE Controlling the Autoimmune Cascade of Celiac Disease

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

060 Nurse of the Year PE O P L E 032 Gen O

Mahika Kanchanam

034 Profile

Iqbal Ahmad

GIVING 064 Feature

COVID-19 Health Disparities in Minority Communities

066 Calendar

66 trees have been reforested

due to the printing of our last round of publications.

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Into the Future Telehealth Rises

60PLUS IN OMAHA

016

A B O U T T HE COV ER The future is now. Telehealth visits in 2020 increased by up to 1,900%. This month’s issue is all about health—from doctors who find groundbreaking research to nurses who travel to cancer survivors.

070 Active Living Ken Hites

074 Profile

Ronn Johnson

076 Feature

Nurses Honor Guard

078 Nostalgia

Keith Hetzten’s Medicine Bottles

080 Prime Time

William and Jeanne Penry

DINING 082 Review Foodies

086 Feature

Heirloom Fine Foods

090 Profile

Michael Schall

092 Dining Guide 102 Profile

Munchy Boys

082

read online at omahamagazine.com

Between

THE LINES A LOOK AT FOUR OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS

GREG JERRETT—Contributing Writer Jerrett received his B.S. in sociology and English from Iowa State University in Ames long ago. He drinks on the job as a bar reviewer, and his hobbies include dehydrating kale and lacto-fermenting pickles. Jerrett is an old-school newspaperman who likes to brag way too much about being old school. Famous, brilliant, powerful, and scary people he’s interviewed include Tori Amos, Seymour Hersh, Paul Begala, Dennis Miller, Richard Simmons, and Steve King. He has a small slew of awards, and one of his favorites is The Great Plains Journalism award he won in 2017 for Best Magazine News Writing for “Dying for Opiates in Omaha” published in Omaha Magazine.

SUSAN MEYERS—Contributing Writer There’s only one thing Meyers likes better than practicing health and wellness, and that’s writing about it. A freelance writer and marketing consultant for more than 25 years, Meyers has been educating the public about how to make healthy choices through a variety of local and national magazines and digital platforms. When she’s not writing, you can usually find Susan doing one of her many favorite things—walking, hiking, running, rollerblading, swimming, weight lifting, yoga, group classes, or pickleball, to name a few. A mother of two children, four stepchildren, and a special grand puppy named Benji, Meyers and her husband, Bill Stock, also enjoy spending relaxing weekends at their lake house outside of Ashland, Nebraska, with family and friends.

KENT SIEVERS—Contributing Photographer Sievers, an Omahan since 1990, is a photographer on the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s strategic communications team. He has worked as an editorial/commercial photographer for more than 40 years, making the move to UNMC after 18 years at the Omaha World-Herald.

When he’s not working on campus, Sievers often wanders around Omaha, cameras in hand as he pursues his passion for street photography. Married with two grown children, Sievers’ artistic pursuits go beyond his work with a camera. He is also a published author with two novels to his credit and a third still in progress. Visit kentsievers.com for more info.

JANET BESSEY TILDEN—Contributing Writer Tilden is a full-time writer and editor who was born and raised in Fremont, Nebraska. Janet met Tom Tilden at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and married him a year after graduation. The couple raised two sons together and lived in Chicago and Fremont before moving to the Benson neighborhood in Omaha in 2003. Janet was employed by Nelson-Hall, Scott Foresman, and Harper Collins publishing companies before starting her own business. As the sole proprietor of Executive Rewrites (exec-rewrites.com), she provides writing and editorial services to clients throughout the United States, including several companies in Omaha.

// 6 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 VOLUME 38 // ISSUE 8

A beautifully heartbreaking musical that retraces the rise and fall of a five-year romantic relationship.

EDITORIAL Managing Editor

DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor

TARA SPENCER Associate Editor

LINDA PERSIGEHL Contributing Writers

KAMRIN BAKER · LEO ADAM BIGA · CHRIS BOWLING TAMSEN BUTLER · VIRGINIA GALLNER · GREG JERRETT KATY SPRATTE JOYCE · JEFF LACEY · SARA LOCKE KATRINA MARKEL · SUSAN MEYERS · NICHOLAS MOORE KARA SCHWEISS · JOEL STEVENS · LIZ STEVENS SCOTT STEWART · JANET TILDEN DOUGLAS “OTIS TWELVE” WESSELMANN

CREATIVE

Feb. 26 – March 21

Creative Director

MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer

DEREK JOY

Visit omahaplayhouse.com for up-to-date ticketing options.

Graphic Designer II

MADY BESCH Contributing Photographers

JUSTIN BARNES · KEITH BINDER · COLIN CONCES SCOTT DRICKEY · JOSHUA FOO · WILLIAM HESS · SARAH LEMKE

SALES Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing

GIL COHEN

6915 Cass St. | (402) 553-0800 | OmahaPlayhouse.com Hawks Mainstage Series Sponsor:

Director of Sales

ED COCHRAN Senior Branding Specialist

MARY HIATT Publisher’s Assistant & OmahaHome Contributing Editor

SANDY MATSON Senior Sales Coordinator

ALICIA HOLLINS Branding Specialists

DAWN DENNIS · GEORGE IDELMAN

OPERATIONS Operations Officer & Local Stubs Ticketing Representative

JOSHUA PETERSON Ad Traffic Manager

DAVID TROUBA Distribution Manager

DREW PERSIGEHL Accounting Associate

KENDRA HILL

EXECUTIVE

Make your reservation today! Free timed tickets and masks required. Visitor guidelines, exhibition information, and current hours can be found at bit.ly/JoslynVisitorInfo

Executive Publisher

TODD LEMKE Vice President

GREG BRUNS Associate Publisher

BILL SITZMANN For Advertising & Subscription Information:

402.884.2000 Omaha Magazine Vol 38 Issue VIII, publishes monthly except February, April, August, November, 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

IMAGE: Thomas Lawrence (British, 1769–1830), Portrait of Sir Samuel Shepherd (detail), 1796, oil on canvas, Joslyn Art Museum, Gift, through purchase, of Helen and Ted Kolderie, 2005.28. Photograph © Bruce M. White, 2019

2200 Dodge St. | Omaha, NE (402) 342-3300 | www.joslyn.org

@joslynartmuseum

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

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15

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EVENTS

» Exhibitions « AMPLIFY ARTS

Located at 1419 South 13th St., Suite 103.

Amplify Arts promotes unity, innovation, and progress in the arts. Their shows are always by local artists, and they span ideas ranging from political to progressive. Admission: Free. 402.996-1092.

—amplifyarts.org

ANDERSON O’BRIEN FINE ART GALLERY

Located at 3201 Farnam St., Suite 6109. New

works (sculptures, paintings, pottery, blown glass, jewelry, etc.) from Midwest regional artists are continuously on display. 402.884.0911.

—aobfineart.com

GERALD R. FORD BIRTHSITE AND GARDENS

Located at 3202 Woolworth Ave. The ornate

Victorian house was one of the finest homes in Omaha. The three-story, fourteen-room house reflected the status of its wealthy occupants, the King family. 402.444.5955.

—nebraskahistory.org/conserve/brthsite.htm

LANDLOCK GALLERY

Located at 4011 Farnam St. Th is is Omaha’s

newest art experience centered in the Blackstone District, and it features artwork that encourages interaction by new and emerging local artists.

402.658.1332.

—landlockgallery.com

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

MAPLE ST. CONSTRUCT

Located at 5912 Maple St. Th is Benson-area

gallery that looks to bridge the discourse between artists from Los Angeles and the Midwest through local and West Coast exhibitions. 402.525.0330.

—maplestconstruct.com

MALCOLM X BIRTHSITE

Located at 3448 Evans St. One of the most piv-

otal figures in Civil Rights history was born in this North Omaha location, which includes stunning gardens and a greenhouse. 402.881.8118.

—malcolmxfoundation.org

MUSEUM OF SHADOWS

Located at 1110 Douglas St. This museum was

recently voted one of the most haunted in the world and has been seen on the Travel Channel. The museum houses over 3,000 verified haunted artifacts, donated from across the United States and multiple countries. Admission: $15.

402.885.7557.

—museumofshadows.com

PANOPTICON

Through Jan. 12 at Garden of the Zodiac, 1042 1/2 Howard St. Anchored in feminism, Nancy

Friedemann-Sánchez’s art is informed by North and South American cultural forms that fuse and cross-pollinate. She draws on historical iconography women would paint, such as flowers, lace, and birds. This exhibit is a collaboration with Charley Friedman. 402.341.1877.

—gardenofthezodiacgallery.com

TRADITIONAL TEXTILES

Through Feb. 27 at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. This exhibition presents a selection of tex-

tiles created by the indigenous people of Mexico.

The traditions have survived and are maintained through their culture, dress, and indigenous languages. Tickets: $5 adults, $4 students, $3.50 seniors and students K-12, free for children under 5. 402.731.1137.

—elmuseolatino.org

INTIMATE ACTIONS

Through February 27 at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. Curated together

under the rubric of Intimate Actions, these three solo exhibitions are centered on the theme of intimacy and how it enters into representations of the body, one’s connection to space and surroundings, and our relationships. Joey Fauerso: Inside the Spider’s Body interweaves personal experiences in relation to our own humanity through concepts related to gender, family, and contemporary culture. Paul Mpagi Sepuya: Drop Scene is rooted in an atypical type of studio portraiture, combining elements of storytelling through the use of camera placement, mirrors, curtains, studio workprints, and person to person contact. Maria Antelman: Soft Interface focuses on the human experience, with this exhibition focusing on our relationship to the past and our connection to the natural environment. Together, the three artists call to mind the expansiveness that is humanity, and through a variety of lenses, offer intimate views of strength and fragility. Admission: Free. 402.341.7130.

—bemiscenter.org

COMMUNITY

OMAHA’S

Through March 1 at K ANEKO, 1111 Jones St.

As people have sheltered with their closest community, they discovered what it means to be removed from the outside world. Many depended on technology to connect with others. People found comfort and sometimes discomfort in their limited surroundings. This exhibit includes artwork by Watie White, Pamela Conyers-Hinson, and Therman Statom. Admission: Free. 402.341.3800.

—thekaneko.org

MAGAZINE

REVISITING AMERICA: THE PRINTS OF CURRIER & IVES

Through April 11 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. In 2016, Conagra Brands donated

nearly 600 Currier & Ives lithographs to Joslyn Art Museum. This exhibition sheds new light on the famous firm’s artistic and commercial practices, revealing the complex social relationships and surprising modernity of its lavish prints, which found their way into the homes of tens of thousands of Americans in the 19th century. Admission: $10 adults, free for students with ID, Joslyn members, and children under 17. 402.342.3300.

—joslyn.org

THE

FUTURE

OF BUSINESS OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM/PAGES/SUBSCRIBE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

// 9 //

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

Four Old Market

Unique décor, ornaments and collectibles for every season. oTannenbaum.com • 402-345-9627

BUG SQUAD

ORIGINS

children will explore the science behind each bug’s unique abilities and traits while realizing their own superpowers. Families will encounter real bugs and huge animatronic bugs. 402.342.6164.

—ocm.org

variety of art, from the paintings and assemblages of Graceann Warn to the photographs of Jason Papenfuss to the textile works of Michael James.

Admission: Free. 402.502.8737 —modernartsmidtown.com

Through April 11 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. In this immersive world of insects,

Fresh chocolates and fudge made in our own kitchen.

OldMarketCandy.com • 402-344-8846

Jan. 3-Feb. 28 at Modern Arts Midtown, 3615 Dodge St. This mixed, modern-art show features a

THE NITTY GRITTY ON A STREETCAR CITY

ART FACULTY BIENNIAL

Jan. 19-Feb. 18 in Weber Fine Arts Building at UNO, 6000 Dodge St. The works of both students

Through April at General Crook House Museum, 5730 N. 30th St. The exhibit is about

Travel essentials plus souvenirs and Nebraska-made gifts.

OldMarketSundries.com • 402-345-7646

VIRTUAL TOUR

Ongoing online, created by Boystown Hall of History, 14100 Crawford St. Anyone

can view the sights of the iconic Boystown from the comfort of their own home. The Hall of History virtual tour includes stops such as Relics of the Past, Art and Symbolism, and The Dream Continues. Admission: Free. 531-355-1111.

—boystown.org

MONA2OMAHA FRED OTNES: A COLLAGE Authentic Italian desserts, coffee, and FlavorBurst TMice cream.

DolciOldMarket.com • 402-345-8198

All located at 10th & Howard // 10 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

and faculty will be shown in this twice-yearly exhibition held in the art gallery at UNO. The art faculty will show works in the main gallery while the art club will show works in the Hexagon gallery. Admission: Free. 402.554.2796.

—unomaha.edu

Omaha’s streetcar system, operating from 1868 to 1955, and includes artifacts from the cars, a streetcar seat, replica uniforms, and route maps.

402.455.9990.

—DouglasCoHistory.org

Beginning in January at Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth St. Fred Otnes’s collage works have

appeared on magazine covers, movie posters, and postage stamps. Born in Junction City, Kansas in 1925, the family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska when Otnes was still a child. After working as an artist at The Lincoln Journal, Otnes later became an illustrator for national magazines including The Saturday Evening Post and Collier’s. Admission: free. 402.305.1510.

—gallery1516.org

Feb.

06

GUITAR —THE INSTRUMENT THAT ROCKED THE WORLD

Beginning Feb. 6 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. More than 60 guitars and nearly

100 historical artifacts will be on display to immerse viewers in the heart of music. This exhibit allows people to experience the rush of the world’s most recognized musical instrument through the powerful lens of science. Visitors can play a Guinness Record-breaking 43.5 foot long guitar and discover how the selection of different materials and strings, fused with electromagnetism and amplification, create an elaborate device that has revolutionized music. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for children under 2 and members. 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

BRITTNEY FOSTER & NANCY LEPO

PAUL SIMON SONGBOOK

SCHUBERT, UNFINISHED

Foster and pen-and-ink pointillism artist Nancy Lepo are shown together in this exhibition. Admission: free. 402.595.2122.

—artscouncil.nebraska.gov

the craft of songwriting, from his years with Simon and Garfunkel through his fourteen solo albums.

Simon has won 12 Grammy® Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Award) and is a two-time inductee into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Experience his classic songs, including “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard,” “The Sound of Silence,” “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” and “Graceland.” Times and tickets vary. 402.345.0606 —ticketomaha.com

private birthday gift for his wife, Cosima, became known as a work of uncommon beauty after finally getting published. Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite is a perfect foil, each work using the delicate lines of individual instruments to build gentle colors and impressions. “Unfinished” though it may be, Schubert’s Eighth Symphony is both stirring and romantic, a favorite of the symphonic repertoire.

Bartók’s Dance Suite will finish the concert with an incredible burst of energy, a series of exuberant movements for a full orchestra. Times and Tickets TBD. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

Beginning Feb. 19 at Fred Simon Gallery, 1004 Farnam St. Mixed-media/abstract artist Brittney

» Concerts « RECAPTURED

Jan. 9 at Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St.

ReCaptured is a melting pot of musicians from the Midwest that came together to pay tribute to one the greatest bands in the history of rock music. A band that they all grew to love—Journey. Tickets: $15-$25. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

DWORAK’S SYMPHONY NO. 8 WITH ANDRÉ WATTS

Jan. 15-16 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1300 Douglas St. Omaha is thrilled to welcome

back the world-renowned André Watts, performing Ravel’s masterpiece Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. Written for a soldier who lost his right arm in World War I, the work seems to make two hands superfluous, fusing gorgeous melodies and seemingly impossible technique for the soloist.

Maestro Wilkins closes with Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8, a work he considers part of his conducting DNA. Times and tickets vary. 402.345.0606 —ticket omaha.com

Jan. 30-31 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1300 Douglas St. Paul Simon forever transformed

RANKY TANKY

Feb. 5 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1300 Douglas St. Translated loosely as “Work It,” or

“Get Funky!” Grammy Award-winning Ranky Tanky performs timeless music born from the Gullah culture with mixtures of gospel, funk, R&B, and jazz. Their debut album was featured on NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross and the TODAY show. It also soared to the No. One position on the Billboard, Amazon, and iTunes Jazz Charts.

The group features singer Quiana Parler, singer/ guitarist Clay Ross, trumpeter/singer Charlton Singleton, bassist Kevin Hamilton, and drummer Quentin Baxter, These accomplished artists have come together to revive a “Heartland of American Music” born in their own backyard 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: TBD. —ticketomaha.com

Feb. 7 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1300 Douglas St. Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, intended as a

BAHL CONDUCTS MENDELSSOHN

Feb. 12-13 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1300 Douglas St. Strauss’ ode to one of legend’s

most notorious philanderers, Don Juan, is just as adventurous in its storytelling as it is in execution for the orchestra, with blazing technique meeting soaring melodies across the ensemble. New to Omaha, violinist Angelo Xiang Yu, “unfazed by every challenge […] a tone of absolute purity and intense beauty” (The Spokesman), makes his debut with Chausson’s exquisite Poème. The “Prelude und Liebestod” from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, is an epic filled with magic, betrayal, and insurmountable love. Times and tickets TBD. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

HOTEL DESPERADO

Jan. 22 at Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. A thoroughly authentic tribute to The Eagles

founded by veteran musicians with a drive to create the purest homage possible. Hotel Desperado delivers the ultimate Eagles experience with a profound dedication and purity that is unmatched.

8:30 p.m. Tickets: $15-$25. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

// 11 //

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO

Feb. 26, 28 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.

On the eve of his wedding to the lovely Susanna, Figaro must outwit his master, Count Almaviva, who has amorous designs on the bride-to-be. Conductor Steven White and director Dean Anthony team up to delight audiences, leading a stellar cast in this satire of the aristocracy, bringing back the characters from The Barber of Seville as they skillfully maneuver around each other in this lively and romantic comedy. Feb. 26 at 7 p.m., Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. Tickets vary. 402.346.7372.

—operaomaha.org

» Family & More « WINTER WONDERLAND

Through Jan. 3 at Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N. Fontenelle Forest’s Great Hall has

JASON MORAN AND THE BANDWAGON

Feb. 18 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1300 Douglas St. A leading force in new

jazz, composer-pianist Jason Moran plays with an unmistakable sense of funk, fluidity, and freedom. Together with his group The Bandwagon, bassist Tarus Mateen and drummer Nasheet Waits, deliver an explosive combination of classical and contemporary jazz styles. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: TBD. —ticketomaha.com

» Stage Performances « MODULATION, PRESENTED

BY OPERA OMAHA

Jan. 8 (Available to stream through Jan. 16), online. As society continues in a form of sus-

pended animation, people look to art. Modulation is a digital, self-guided exploration of the times created by 13 of the most provocative and diverse voices in the contemporary music idiom. Traveling through themes of isolation, identity and fear, with the connection of breath, an electrifying auditory and visual journey of new creations awaits. Tickets: $25. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

THE LAST FIVE YEARS

Jan. 15-Feb. 7 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Th is is an intimate look

at a five-year relationship. The story is presented in chronological order by Jamie, the man, and in reverse by Cathy, the woman, with the two versions of the story meeting only once—at their wedding in the middle. Times and tickets vary.

402.553.0800.

—omahaplayhouse.com

// 12 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

HOW TO BUILD AN ARK Jan.

22

Jan. 22-Feb. 21 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. In this all-original onstage adventure, a young girl named Vita sets off on a magical journey to find National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore through his photos. For years, the real-life Sartore has devoted his time and talent to bringing attention to endangered species before they disappear. Tickets: $20. 402.345.4849.

—rosetheater.org

FELIPE ESPARZA

Jan. 29-31 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Felipe Esparza is a comedian and actor,

known for his stand-up specials, “They’re Not Gonna Laugh at You”, “Translate This”, and his latest dual-release on Netflix, “Bad Decisions/ Malas Decisiones” (two different performances in two languages), his recurring appearances on Netfl ix’s Gentefied, NBC’s Superstore and Adultswim’s The Eric Andre Show, as well as winning Last Comic Standing (2010), and his popular podcast called What’s Up Fool?. Felipe is also developing a sitcom along with actor Omar Chaparro, producer Eric Tannenbaum and 3Pas (Eugenio Derbez’ production company). Felipe continues to sell out live stand-up shows in comedy clubs and theaters around the country. Times vary. Tickets: $27.50 in advance, $30 day of show. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL

Feb. 12-March 14 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. A pair of aspiring

playwrights audition their newest work—a big, splashy musical about the inventor of the printing press—for an audience of potential investors. This two-man musical spoof offers an unending supply of enthusiasm and laughs. Times and tickets vary.

402.553.0800.

—omahaplayhouse.com

become a Winter Wonderland for all to enjoy.

Fontenelle Forest staff invites people to come experience this festive holiday display of decorated trees and wreaths. Beyond Jan. 3, the forest becomes its own Winter Wonderland, with a variety of trails to hike, cross-country ski, or snowshoe.

402.731.3140.

—fontenelleforest.org

DC CENTRE BRIDAL SHOW

Jan. 10, at DC Centre Banquet Facility, 11830 Stonegate Drive. Each year, this show introduces brides to Omaha’s wedding industry businesses. The event includes a scavenger hunt.

12-4 p.m. Tickets: free. 402.393.7431.

—dccentre.com

OMAHA ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS AWARDS

Jan. 17, TBD. Omaha’s premier awards show is

back for a 15th year. With a wide variety of categories in visual arts, music, and performing arts, Omahans are sure to see a favorite artist onstage at some point during this special evening celebrating the local scene.

—oea-awards.org

“I HAVE A CIVIL WAR ANCESTOR, NOW WHAT?”

Jan. 14 online, presented by Omaha Public Library. Civil War soldiers often left a rich gene-

alogical paper trail. Many of these records are tucked away at the National Archives in Washington D.C. Brian Rhinehart will explain what records are available for your ancestors only at the National Archives, what records are online already, and how to access all of them. These records may unlock some of the family stories that have been forgotten over time, as well as break down a brick wall or two. Admission: free.

Registration required. 402.444.4826.

—omahalibrary.org

VIRTUAL CATHEDRAL FLOWER FESTIVAL

PUBLIC ICE SKATING

moving online this year. Instead of fresh arrangements of plants and flowers, the Cathedral Arts Project will feature highlights of previous festivals through their website and social media pages.

402.558.3100.

—cathedralartsproject.org

who want to get out and experience some winter magic can skate at this public skate rink in midtown Omaha. There is a limit of 50 people, and skaters need to call ahead to the rink to reserve a spot, 402-444-7557. Dates and times are available online or by calling the ice rink’s hotline, 402-444-4955.

January, online. This beloved Omaha tradition is

HIBERNATE AND CREATE

Feb. 19-21 at HotShops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St. Guests can participate in this two-day

event of fun and creativity, featuring optional classes, meals, and a dedicated space to create in any medium of their choosing. Registration required. Tickets: $165. 402.342.6452.

—hibernateandcreate.com

MAPPING NEBRASKA

Feb. 21 online, presented by Omaha Public Library. Micah Evans, native Omahan and map

collector, will explore Nebraska history from colonial times to the 1890s through a collection of maps, demonstrating how historical maps can help us uncover the stories of our own families and neighborhoods. 402.444.4826.

—omahalibrary.org

Motto McLean Ice Arena, 5015 S 45th St. Those

» Looking Ahead to March « DIAL M FOR MURDER

March 5-21 at Bellevue Little Theatre, 203 W Mission Ave. Tony Wendice has married his wife, Margot, for her money and now plans to murder her for the same reason. But when she kills the killer, he has a backup plan. Tickets: Adults $20/ Seniors $18/Students $10. 402.292.4391.

—bellevuelittletheatre.weebly.com

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL

March 7 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. This hilarious musical parody set to classic tunes from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles.

7 p.m. Tickets: $45-55.

—ticketomaha.com

DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS

March 19-April 25 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. It’s not easy being The Pigeon—you never get to do anything. But when Bus Driver has a crisis that threatens to make her passengers late, it’s this bird’s time to shine. Tickets: $25.

402.345.4849.

—rosetheater.org

Event times and details are correct as of presstime, but are subject to change. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many events are canceling and/or changing dates/time/ places as needed. Most venues base these decisions on direction by the Douglas County Health Department and Nebraska’s publication of guidance on canceling events and limiting the number of people in public gatherings.

Omaha Magazine encourages readers to visit venues' websites and/or calling ahead before attending an event or visiting a museum.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

// 13 //

B E C O M I N G

BR

AVE E N O U G H

Health Care, Handbags & a Haven for Women Leaders

// 14 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

A+C AUTHOR STORY BY KAMRIN BAKER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

W

OMEN ARE MOTHERS and war heroes, tech giants and family counselors, teachers and CEOs, magazine editors and leaders. Contrary to years of patriarchal belief, women are complex individuals, who need not adhere to any binary, role, or expectation.

Dr. Sasha Shillcutt is her own special combination of titles: cardiac anesthesiologist and director of clinical research in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, founder and CEO of Brave Enough, gender equity researcher, author, podcaster, speaker, handbag designer, mother, and wife.

Although Shillcutt isn’t likely to rank any of these titles in a particular order, founding her company and digital community Brave Enough has allowed her to fully embrace all that she is.

“I believe women are overwhelmed and undervalued,” Shillcutt said. “We are told in academics that we need to stick to the path to promotion, to tenure.

There are times to be on that path, sure, but putting a noose around someone’s creativity defeats the purpose of academia. We need the innovation and ideas of women.”

Writing Between Grit and Grace [published by Health Communications Inc.] was a practice in vulnerability and healing for Shillcutt, who felt the selfhelp genre was lacking a conversation on the fi ne line of being both assertive and feminine.

“Most of us have elements in our jobs and lives that require us to have a lot of grit and a lot of grace,” she said. “We have to expand that margin and teach women that whatever makes you feel power is your femininity. Th at means something different to every woman.”

Brave Enough came to be when Shillcutt was in a rough patch personally and Shillcutt was once told by a group of professionally. After countless hours and male doctors that if she ever wanted dollars spent becoming a doctor, she was to be taken seriously in medicine, she prepared to throw in the towel. She had to be “brave enough” to fi nd “Her work on gender equity and her another way.

Her creative endeavors haven’t stopped there. Shillcutt recently released a Brave Enough handbag, which, despite her feelings of imposter syndrome, sold out in a day. She wanted to make something that women could carry in personal and professional spaces and feel confident. The inside of the black leather tote contains a gold bar inscribed with the affi rmation: “I am enough.”

“Don’t wait for your fairy godmother,” Shillcutt said. “I was waiting for someone to say ‘poof, I’ll help you!’ but I learned that you have to believe in your own ideas to get other people to believe in your ideas. When we’re connected, we have answers.”

Shillcutt’s friend and colleague, Dr. Julie K. Silver, an associate professor and associate chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, understands the value of lifting up women in medicine.

“Dr. Shillcutt is a tenured professor, a level that few women physicians ever achieve,” Silver said. “Her work on gender equity and her support of women in medicine have had support of far-reaching effects. Dr. women in medicine have had far-reach ing effects . Shillcutt has broken Dr. Sh illcutt has broken many glass ceilings and “I was experiencing bias many glass ceilings and and discrimination and actively lifted countactivel y lifted countless women up.” —Julie K . Silver kept overachieving to less women up. She have the same opporhas inspired tens of tunities as men, who thousands of women just…perform,” she said. “Th is led me to should ditch the red high heels. Th is physicians and has been a strong advoextreme burnout. After a year of putting stifl ing of her voice and individuality cate for them.” myself together, I realized I was really added to her drive to create a community lonely. I had isolated myself from other where women could wear whatever shoes Shillcutt has creatively explored and conwomen and had no female friends in they desired—and receive sincere complifronted the world of academia—bedazsimilar spaces. I just started this group ments, not snide remarks. zled lab coat and all—because she needed text and basically sent out a bat signal to to reignite her own fi re, but she has also nine women, saying: ‘Do you want to be “For a long time, I thought to be a serious learned how great an impact women’s my friend?’” doctor or scientist, I had to put away any networking can have on the world. warm-feely words,” Shillcutt said. “Every Th at bat signal soon attracted over sentence of research needs to be sourced “Women are the life-givers of this 12,000 women in medicine. Brave and factual, but writing the book, my world,” Shillcutt said. “So who do you Enough has become a global brand with editors said the fi rst chapter sounded like want to be the most empowered in our three principles: Helping women fi nd I was giving a prescription. They said, societies? Women of every race, every clarity, set boundaries, and connect ‘Sasha, we need your voice.’” ethnicity. You learn how to take care with one another. With digital forums, of yourself as a child from a feminine courses, retreats, style guides, a national Growing up an avid reader and writer, fi gure. Empowering women is the conference, and now Shillcutt’s book, Shillcutt tapped back into her innate most significant thing we can do in Between Grit and Grace, thousands of desire to create, called a friend at our society.” women are learning the art of being Harvard Health Publishing, and made “feminine and formidable.” something new.

Visit becomebraveenough.com more information.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

// 15 //

2020

NO GOING BACK

Finding F reedom in Canvas

REYES’ STYLE CENTERS AROUND PORTRAITS CONTOURED IN A M E S S O F B R I G H T C O L O R S T H AT ’ S R E M I N I S C E N T O F T H E P O P C U LT U R E M O V E M E N T. I T ’ S R O O T E D I N H I S A M E R I C A N E D U C AT I O N T H R O U G H T V A N D ’ 9 0 S P O P C U LT U R E , B U T I T ’ S A L S O T H E E Y E O F A S H Y P E R S O N W H O WA N T S T O S E E T H I N G S F O R W H AT T H E Y C O U L D B E . I T ’ S PA R T O F T H E R E A S O N H E D O E S N ’ T PA I N T S K I N T O N E S N O R M A L LY, O R T R Y T O M A K E H I S W O R K H Y P E R R E A L I S T I C .

I T ’ S A M E S S Y, A U T H E N T I C R E I M A G I N AT I O N O F L I F E .

// 16 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

A+C VISUAL

STORY BY CHRIS BOWLING // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

// 17 //

A+C VISUAL

T

he paint splashes across the canvas.

It’s late at night in the basement of Elva’s gallery on Vinton Street in South Omaha, and Dany Reyes is hard at work.

In pinks, blues, and greens, the 34-yearold traces across the canvas, trying to fi nd something in the faces of pop culture icons and ordinary Omahans alike.

Occasionally the acrylics splatter. A few years ago, he thought only a bad artist made those kind of mistakes. Someone who can’t do this for a career.

Now he embraces them.

“There’s no wrong in there,” Reyes said.

“Especially in the way I paint. I did it that way, and that’s how it stays.

And whoever enjoys my art, appreciates it for what it is. It’s just free.”

Th roughout his life, Reyes said, he rarely felt free.

Always shy, he kept his head low during school.

When he graduated, he couldn’t go to college due to his noncitizen status.

All he could do was work manual labor jobs.

In 2018, he decided to give it up. He wanted to paint.

Since then, he’s built a name for himself, sending commissions across Omaha and the country. But it didn’t come without perseverance and risks—a belief with no safety net that this is what he was meant to do.

“I created my freedom in canvas,” he said.

“ I WA S N ’ T T H E B E S T I N M AT H O R A N Y T H I N G , S O B E I N G G O O D AT T H I S G AV E M E A N E M P O W E R I N G F E E L I N G . L I K E , ‘ H E Y, I ’ M N O T G O O D AT T H E R E S T O F T H E W O R L D , B U T I N T H I S I A M . ’ ” — D A N Y R E Y ES Reyes’ family immigrated to Los Angeles from El Salvador in the early ’90s. He learned about America through classic movies and TV shows such as Th e Simpsons and Step by Step. But when it came to making friends, he was lost.

One day, another fi rst-grade student named Gabriel asked if Reyes wanted to draw. Soon Reyes was drawing all the time, imagining fantastical scenes in marker and pencil or recreating his favorite superheroes. In fi fth grade, a teacher asked him to do a 5-by-5 square-foot illustration of Martin Luther King for a school assembly. Soon everyone started noticing Reyes’ talent.

“My self esteem was really low,” he said.

“I wasn’t great in school. I wasn’t the best in math or anything,” he said. “So being good at this gave me an empowering feeling. Like, ‘Hey, I’m not good at the rest of the world, but in this, I am.’”

When Reyes moved to Omaha in 2000, he kept taking art classes at South High. But after graduation he couldn’t find a direction forward. He wanted to go to college because, to him, it seemed like all good artists did that. But without a social security number, Reyes couldn’t apply for grants or submit college applications.

All he could do, it seemed, was get a work permit. He drew off and on through the years, but never anything serious.

“I didn’t have [any] future,” he said.

“There was nothing for me. I was going to work until I died. And I was never going to do anything other than that.”

His wife, Amanda Finn-Reyes, could see the effect it had on her husband. The couple met in 2013, got married in May 2016, and now are raising four children.

Finn-Reyes said her husband had jobs that helped pay the bills, but he never stayed anywhere long.

“He was never somewhere where he felt like his work was validated,” she said.

In September 2018, Reyes was working as a crane operator at a steel mill, the best job he’d ever had at the time. One day, he decided he’d had enough. If he wanted to accomplish something with his life, it felt like time was running out. He wanted to become an artist.

The decision shocked Finn-Reyes, whose mind went to how the family could pay the bills and buy food if one parent was a struggling artist.

“When he said that, I don’t want to say I was upset,” she said. “I was just worried.

What happens if this doesn’t work? How long do we give you to fi gure this out?”

The couple agreed Reyes could have a few months to see if he could realize his dream.

He started creating paintings and trying to build a clientele. Sometimes he’d stand on the corner in the Old Market hoping someone would buy a painting or share his work.

Soon the word started to spread, commissions started coming in. After a year, Finn-Reyes stopped asking her husband to get a part-time job. Th is past year was even bigger for him. He started working with Elva’s on Vinton Street. At night, or during the day if his wife has a slow day of work, he paints in the basement, working on several commissions a week.

When he was a kid, he used to draw the things he wanted that his family couldn’t afford to buy. Now he has a savings account, and he and his wife bought their fi rst home together.

“I never thought I was going to be that,” he said. “I was always just a paycheck-to-paycheck guy.”

Reyes’ style centers around portraits contoured in a mess of bright colors that’s reminiscent of the pop culture movement.

It’s rooted in his American education through TV and ’90s pop culture, but it’s also the eye of a shy person who wants to see things for what they could be.

It’s part of the reason he doesn’t paint skin tones normally, or try to make his work hyperrealistic. It’s a messy, authentic reimagination of life.

Then COVID-19 happened.

In April, Reyes and his family went to a quinceañera in Grand Island. Not long after, the community became a national COVID-19 hotspot, and Reyes started feeling symptoms. Before long, he was in the hospital.

“I just kept thinking, ‘I can’t die,’” he said. “‘I’m fi nally doing something I love. Th is can’t take it away from me.’ It felt like the end.”

But Reyes recovered. When he left the hospital, he sent back a painting of Superman as a gift for the staff who cared for him.

The experience showed him what he needs to cherish in life—is family and the opportunity to make a living off his passion. But more than anything, it’s reinforced that he can’t lose this freedom.

Because now that he’s tasted it, he can never go back. Toward that end, he is currently able to lawfully work in the U.S. and is in the process of obtaining citizenship.

“Every time I went left or right, I was restricted because I’m not from this country,” he said. “I just became so upset. It was so unfair...There was something about me that nobody really saw. But when I paint nobody tells me, ‘Dany you can’t do it that way. That’s not how it’s done.’”

Visit danyreyes.com for more information.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

// 19 //

“

I’M JUST TRYING TO KEEP MY MUSICAL UNIVERSE FULL, THAT’S WHERE I’M LIVING MY BEST LIFE.

”

-Cole Eisenmenger

From left: Cole Eisenmenger and Kristen Taylor // 20 // JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

A+C MUSIC // Story by Virginia Gallner Photography by Bill Sitzmann // Design by Matt Wieczorek

Music and Memory

C

onnecting with audiences is an essential part of performing. From the festival circuit to intimate bar shows, local musician and multiinstrumentalist Cole Eisenmenger stays musically busy outside of his work as a music therapist.

A brief glance across his music room reveals many pieces of Eisenmenger: the lyrics notebook propped on his piano, the tapestry on the wall, the Mellotron synthesizer in the corner.

“They tell us in school, don’t just notice the person, notice everything around them,” Eisenmenger said, resting his guitar on one knee. “What things are on their wall?

What art and decorations are there?”

This awareness is learned from years of working in the field of music therapy.

Working with people who have special needs, or with people who are experiencing memory loss, Eisenmenger knows the importance of coming back to the present moment.

Eisenmenger first heard about music therapy in high school, when U.S. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords resigned after an assassination attempt left her with a severe brain injury. He was fascinated by the music therapy aspects of her rehabilitation.

At University of Kansas, he started as a music therapy major, taking courses in psychology, anatomy, and field research, followed by a practicum and internship.

His final semester in the program was completed at MusicWorx in San Diego, and he became a board-certified music therapist.

The American Music Therapy Association describes the field as “an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals.” On a senate panel about music therapy research with famed neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks, Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead said that “the rhythmic manipulation of sound can be used for health and healing.”

At the beginning of his career, Eisenmenger saw many misconceptions about music therapy. One of the first companies for whom he contracted brought in a clarinet player, as a volunteer, to play soothing music for patients. He explained there is much more to music therapy than simply playing music, contrary to popular perception. It requires a deep understanding of human psychology, and even anatomy and physiology, and should be individualized to each patient.

Kite, with his wife Kristen Taylor on vocals. Their debut show was in early 2018 for New Music Mondays at The Waiting Room Lounge in Benson. They started as a straightforward folk-rock band with a southern twang. Their original guitar player, Connor Swanson, brought a grittier sound, wielding a slide guitar in the style of Derek Trucks. When Swanson moved to Austin, Eisenmenger and Taylor took the opportunity to explore new musical horizons.

“The choice of music, tempo, dynamic, melody, and mode…really can affect the human brain,” he said.

Over time, they developed a more psychedelic sound. Bringing in Tom Adelman and Jake Reisdorff (from The Midland Band), Eisenmenger moved them in a more progressive direction. Their songs remain grounded in folk and roots, with vocal harmonies inspired by Crosby, Stills, and Nash, as well as ballads drawing on the folk-rock style of Neil Young.

For certified music therapists, it is a very interactive experience, bringing in different instruments for individuals to use. (With the pandemic, Eisenmenger noted there is a need to have minimal contact with objects, so he has modified his processes accordingly.)

In his current position at Endless Journey Hospice, he works with people who have varying forms of dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Music therapy is very effective for individuals who are nonverbal. “Sometimes afterwards, after you hear them sing, they might be able to communicate better.”

Eisenmenger can reach people through different sounds, like an ocean drum. “A certain song or sound can bring back a certain memory. A client will be talking about dancing with his wife or walking on a beach.” He uses these sounds to evoke memories and work past communication barriers, as well as to reduce pain and anxiety.

Many of these skills come to the stage with him. Eisenmenger’s profession enhances his intuition as a performer.

“Whenever you make music for someone or with someone, there is an exchange of energy. On a live stage, maybe the crowd isn’t feeling it too much, so maybe you change your set list a bit. Maybe you notice your stage presence is starting to be a bit obnoxious,” he said with a laugh.

Since November 2017, Eisenmenger’s main project has been Mr. E and the Stringless

Several songs on their 2019 album Siren Songs were characterized by woodwind, strings, and organ sounds on the Mellotron, a synthesizer made popular in the 1970s by bands such as The Moody Blues, The Beatles, and early progressive rock band King Crimson.

Recently, Eisenmenger has started some new projects. Taylor is the primary songwriter for Little Rooms, where Eisenmenger gives instrumental support. He has also started ethereal folk-rock project Wyrmwood, returning to his roots in the Americana world, and hopes to get together his old band The North Fork when time allows.

“I’m just trying to keep my musical universe full,” he said. “That’s where I’m living my best life.”

Right now, Eisenmenger is limiting his live performances to outdoor shows for safety reasons. He remains hopeful for the spring.

“Even if we’re not playing for other people yet, we’ve got to keep creating.”

Visit endlessjourneyhospice.com for more information on music therapy and facebook. com/MESKband for more information on Mr. E and the Stringless Kite.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

// 21 //

C AT C H I N G C H E M O BO B UP WI T H A+C ILLUSTRATION // STORY BY GREG JERRETT // CHEMO BOB BY BOB DONLAN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

THE AN T I H E R O ’S O R E I H AN T

// 22 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

G

“ILLNESSES CAN TAKE AWAY YOUR STRENGTH, AND OBVIOUSLY AFFECT YOUR MOOD AND ABILITY TO WORK, BUT I FOUND FROM EXPERIENCE THAT WORKING WAS THE KEY TO PULLING ME OUT OF DARK PAINFUL PLACES.” —BOB DONLAN

// A+C ILLUSTRATION //

“THE CHARACTER WAS MYSELF, MY ALTER EGO, WHICH WAS REALLY INTERESTING, BECAUSE I HAD DIALOGUE WITH MYSELF. AND BOTH WERE TALKING DIRECTLY TO THE AUDIENCE. SO THE DIALOGUE WHEN WRIT TEN WAS REALLY KIND OF CONFUSED. IT WAS KIND OF CRAZY, BUT WITH THE PUPPET, I COULD PLAY OUT ASPECTS OF THE ILLNESS WITH A DETACHMENT THROUGH THE VOICE OF SOMEBODY ELSE.” —BOB DONLAN

T

here’s nothing funny

about cancer. In fact it’s unfunny enough to have its own saying, “as serious as cancer.” Whether through personal experience or at the side of a friend or relative, few people’s lives have gone completely untouched by the disease. Fighting cancer in the time of Coronavirus can be even more difficult, as COVID-19 is a significant stressor on its own.

“The fi rst thing they tell you when you have cancer is try to remain as positive as you can,” said Bob Donlan. The 57-year-old is a local artist, writer, actor, cartoonist, set designer, and playwright, with an MBA from the University of Kansas. Donlan shared his story in a (very) socially distanced interview on the porch of his Aksarben-area home on an unfortunately chilly day.

Donlan was first diagnosed in 2013 with colon cancer, which has since metastasized and is at stage 4 after two previous remissions. Donlan has been undergoing a new treatment involving DNA therapy, which gives him a reason to be positive. He has his up days and down days, but he is doing his level best to follow doctor’s orders to keep a positive disposition.

“To stay positive, they recommend you do things like watch comedies instead of violent or dark fi lms,” Donlan said.

However, he hasn’t limited himself to simply watching comedy. With his own set of skills, Donlan looks on the bright side of life by taking a walk through its dark and uncomfortable places fi rst.

“I’ve relied a little more on writing and cartooning. Illnesses can take away your strength, and obviously affect your mood and ability to work, but I found from experience that working was the key to pulling me out of dark painful places.”

So begins the origin story of the antihero’s antihero, Chemo Bob. Donlan created Chemo Bob initially as an alter ego puppet for a 25-minute workshop play.

He had, at one point, considered turning his one-man—and to be fair, one-puppet—show into a longer production. // 24 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

“I took a crack at a cancer play originally, but that’s tough. Because for one, the subject matter kind of drives your audience away for the most part. I mean, not a lot of people want to sit and listen for an hour and a half about chemotherapy or something,” Donlan said, acknowledging that his goal is that of any playwright.

“I just wanted to have them be produced and watched at whatever level. I found that one to be a challenge to write and ended up using a puppet to kind of balance out the fear of cancer. It’s hard to be afraid of a puppet.”

The puppet was Donlan, or at least what Donlan thinks of as a version of him, one who can talk and joke about anything, making it more easily digestible.

“The character was myself, my alter ego, which was really interesting, because I had dialogue with myself. And both were talking directly to the audience.

So the dialogue when written was really kind of confused,” he said. “It was kind of crazy, but with the puppet, I could play out aspects of the illness with a detachment through the voice of somebody else. My writing and my paintings have not only been a way for me to personally heal and process, but also hopefully help someone else going through a similar circumstance.”

Chemo Bob lives on as a cartoon published as a zine. Donlan recalled that it all began by reflecting on appointments and difficult conversations with doctors. He said the Chemo Bob comics he started doing were, and continue to be, an important part of his life.

“They help[ed] me keep my sense of humor and accept stuff that was unacceptable. Cartooning somehow took its power away,” Donlan said while recalling a particularly difficult consultation about a serious procedure. “I remember a doctor coming in and telling me if the next thing we tried didn’t work, we would have to cut me open from the neck to below the belly button and open up my abdominal cavity to dose it with chemotherapy medications and then staple me back up. To me that just seemed like a Frankenstein kind of thing to do.”

Donlan went home and drew a cartoon of his doctor holding a chart explaining the procedure to his character. In the cartoon, the doctor explains the procedure and then says, “What do you think of that?” Chemo Bob, sitting on the exam table replies, “I think you have the wrong chart.”

“The punchline didn’t have to be funny, but it did help defuse the kind of the horror of it,” Donlan said.

The latest issue is called “Chemo Bob vs.

COVID-19 Virus.” As Donlan said of previous works, it is more about easing tensions during the complicated times in which we live than belly laughs. In one, Bob is asked how long he’s been social distancing, to which he replies, “Homecoming 1981.” In another, Bob “fi nds the balance” between narcotic constipation and chemo-induced diarrhea as he sits upon the toilet with his arms outstretched like a gymnast. While too dark for some, anyone who’s experienced a serious medical condition will see the humor in facing illness with a stiff upper lip, or, better yet, a smile.

As a mentor, Donlan also shines. Friend and collaborator Christopher McLucas met Donlan while working at Legend Comics & Coffee. The two hit it off.

They liked each other’s style, and Donlan later did the artwork for McLucas’ children’s book Th e Giggle Farm.

“Bob has been an inspiration and an even better friend,” McLucas said, adding that Donlan’s constant drive to paint or write is motivating. “Th rough all of his ups and downs he’s always at the desk.

Bob is what all artists want to be when they grow up.”

Donlan is still a working artist during his illness. Inquiries about his work or for commissions, contact donlanrobert@yahoo.com

OBVIOUSLY OMAHA // STORY BY TAMSEN BUTLER // PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED

01

HEALTHY ALTRUISM

OMAHA MEDICAL BUILDING NAMESAKES

Certain surnames in Omaha resonate with locals as being of historical importance, and there’s no surprise when these names pop up on medical buildings. But how much do locals know about the people for whom these buildings are named? While more than a few medical buildings are named after donors, some earned their distinction by other means.

01. CLARKSON TOWER Born in Pennsylvania in 1826, the Right Reverend Robert H. Clarkson was the first Episcopal bishop in Nebraska. He’s remembered as a relentless force for good, one of the only religious leaders to not flee Chicago in 1885 when polluted water killed thousands. His dedication to the sick and infirm compelled local women who were running a makeshift hospital to ask him to control the hospital in 1870, thus beginning his Omaha legacy.

02. CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY

MEDICAL CENTER

Brothers John and Edward Creighton, children of Irish immigrants, were astute businessmen and are considered by some to be “the Warren Buffetts of their day” because of their wealth and philanthropy. The hospital currently on the campus of Creighton was founded in 1870 by the Sisters of Mercy as St. Joseph Mercy Hospital.

In 2017, a community health center with a 24-hour emergency room, Creighton University Medical Center-University Campus, was also opened at 24th and Cuming streets.

03. DURHAM OUTPATIENT CENTER Charles Durham was heralded as a “philanthropic giant” by the University of Nebraska Medical Center. At the time of his death in 2008, he was the single largest donor to the university for lifetime giving.

Durham and his wife created the Charles W. and Margre H. Durham Excellence in Medicine Fund for research of prostate cancer, arthritis, and minimally invasive surgery.

04. THE EPPLEY INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH

IN CANCER AND ALLIED DISEASES

Eugene C. “Gene” Eppley, the same man for whom the airport is named, was a hotel tycoon. According to Eppley’s Lincoln Star obituary, he was

given the nickname “Daredevil Eppley” in 1911 for his adventurous antics as a pilot. His generous donations to the University of Nebraska at Omaha were said to have been pivotal in prompting growth for the university. In present day, the campus is dotted with buildings for which he is the namesake, including the cancer research institute.

02

03

05. METHODIST ESTABROOK

CANCER CENTER

John Estabrook enlisted in the Navy during World War II and contracted tuberculosis. He was hospitalized for an extended period and often voiced displeasure about the way things were run. Legend has it that upon leaving the hospital, the person in charge flippantly told Estabrook that he should go into hospital administration since he thought he knew how to run one. So, he did. In 1959, at age 30, he assumed the role of administrator at Nebraska Methodist Hospital. His purchase of a medical linear accelerator for the hospital advanced cancer treatment in Omaha significantly. The Methodist Cancer Center building became the Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center in 2006.

06. MONROE-MYER INSTITUTE As early as 1919, a group of Omahans started an organization with the goal of helping differently abled people. Since that time, the group has grown and changed.

The Hattie B. Munroe Home for Convalescing Crippled Children, an organization started by John Munroe in memory of his wife, opened in 1922. The Meyer Therapy Center was built in 1959 in memory of C. Louis Meyer, with a significant addition to the center in 1973 in memory of his wife, Mary Luman Meyer.

Construction for The Monroe-Meyer Institute began in 2019, a century after the first group formed.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

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2020

04

05

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D I N I N G R E V I E W // S T O R Y

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BY

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STEVENS

THOUG HT

TA K I N G FA S T FO O D TO A H E A LT H Y AN D AESTH ETIC LEVEL

PHOTOGRAPHY // 82 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

BY

BILL

S I T Z M A N N // D E S I G N

BY

M AT T

WIECZOREK

The Strawberry Candied Pecan Salad consists of herb-roasted chicken, candied pecans, bacon, feta cheese, and thinly sliced strawberries, but can be made with vegan options.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

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// 83 //

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// D I N I N G R E V I E W //

FOODIES 351 N 78TH ST. - 402.884.2880 FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE PRICE OVERALL

N/A (takeout only)

$$$ 5 STARS POSSIBLE

T

he word “foodies” spelled out in bright colors against an unassuming beige strip mall off 78th and Cass streets is like a beacon for any self-proclaimed foodie. It's a clear must-stop-in spot.

The bright branding seen from the street matches the colorful interior. The dining area is brought to life by the warm, natural light coming in through the large storefront windows. The middle seating area is filled with tables to accommodate large and small groups, and cozy booths outline one side of the green dining room wall, with combination booths and chair options lining the other. In the back corner of the room are two large, brown armchairs that would be perfect for a longer study session or reading the daily paper.

The restaurant has a comfy, casual feel.

Scanning over the other patrons, some were just sitting down to lunch with friends, while others were studying. The wide-open seating area makes it easy to socially distance.

Foodies is a local spot known for serving fresh food fast and without the heavy calorie commitment. The menu features several gluten-free options and dishes. It can take some hunting to locate the vegetarian options, but the staff is there to help. And it is easy to customize your own.

“Any salad can be done vegan [and] we have vegan wraps on our website menu," said owner and chef Brian Hilger. "You have a choice of shell [flour or wheat tortilla, or paratha wrap] to pick from, sauce to add, and three veggies are included. Plus, you choose your side to go with it." He said they also have vegan pizza, with a gluten-free crust made from cauliflower.

During our visit, we were greeted by the man running the cash register, who promptly took our order. Leading up to the register, they have a menu along the wall so customers can consider their options before ordering.

My friend and I approached the counter and were immediately excited by all our options.

A larger version of the menu is suspended on the wall behind the register, and is separated into categories such as sandwiches, pizza, sides, etc. Next to the register is a prep station where orders are immediately assembled with fresh ingredients.

We ordered the Greek pizza with gluten-free crust—a $1.50 upcharge—the vegetarian peppernata sandwich, sweet potato fries, and the Foodies side salad.

Taking advantage of the last warm-weather days, we decided to sit on the patio. Our food came out about 10 minutes after we sat down.

Sandwiches, such as this Portobello Peppernata one, can be made in a spinach wrap or on ciabatta bread. Inside is roasted portobello mushrooms, roasted red pepper sauce and provolone.

Each dish arrived on the table looking fresh and ready for an Instagram photo shoot. This restaurant is casual enough to arrive in your coziest sweats, but the plates arrive to the table looking high-end.

We started with the side salad, which consisted of mixed greens, feta cheese, almonds, and craisins. It was served with a slightly sweet red wine vinaigrette that we thought tasted of raspberries (patrons can request any of the dressings on their menu). For those who prefer to make salad the main course, the [seasonal] Strawberry Candied Pecan Salad, sampled on a previous visit, was a winner. It consists of herb-roasted chicken, candied pecans, bacon, feta cheese, and thinly sliced strawberries, and is served with the same well-balanced house vinaigrette.

The Greek Pizza is an easy way to fill the day’s quota of vegetables. The thin crust was crispy and topped with a layer of basil pesto sauce.

It was loaded with fresh chicken, mozzarella, bell peppers, black olives, and feta cheese.

The flavors worked together nicely, but the abundance of toppings made the pizza difficult to pick up and eat. The pizza could have used some additional sauce to add more moisture to the dish.

Next, we sampled the Portobello Peppernata Melt, a vegetarian sandwich served on toasted

ciabatta bread with sliced, roasted portobello mushrooms covered with a generous serving of provolone cheese. The interior of the sandwich was cloaked in a rich, red pepper sauce. This item was definitely my friend’s favorite, and the sauce was the shining star of the dish. Needless to say, it didn’t sit long on the plate.

In between each dish, we snacked on sweet potato fries. The fries are coated in a wellbalanced, sweet and salty seasoning mix. Each bite was crispy yet soft on the inside.

When we were finished, someone promptly came to thank us for coming in and cleared our table.

The entire staff was friendly and seemed genuinely glad to be at their jobs serving customers.

My friend and I were able to sample an array of different foods, and we only scratched the surface of what the Foodies team has to offer.

Their menu is packed with sandwiches, salads, pasta, wraps, and a variety of deserts.

The overall experience was positive, with healthy food that left us satisfied but not overly full. The service added to the experience, as the entire team seemed to take pride in serving fresh food fast. All the dishes we sampled were beautifully plated and ready for their Insta closeup.

85

Visit foodiesomaha.com for more information.

From left: Shelley Elson-Roza and Tony Roza

// 86 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

Legacy DINING FEATURE // STORY BY SARA LOCKE

T H E

Starts

Here

Heirloom Fine Foods Continues to be a Major Help for HealthConscious Hungry Hearts Photography by Bill Sitzmann // Design by Matt Wieczorek

T

he story of Heirloom Fine Foods is more than a culinary adventure.

No matter how you slice, dice, or sauté it, this is a love story. The briefest telling would go: Once upon a time, a boy and a girl fell in love. They continued to fall in love again and again, with this city and others. With cooking and feeding others. With travel and planting roots. They fell in love with challenging one another to make life a little sweeter for everyone they encountered, and they encountered as much of the community as they could by starting a business of their own.

// 88 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

Launched originally as MJER Help, the recently rebranded Heirloom Fine Foods may be a relative newcomer to the Omaha catering scene, but its purpose has deep roots in Shelley Elson-Roza and Tony Roza. Having met at Burke High School, the pair didn’t truly find one another until years later, when they were both living and working in Chicago. Since that serendipitous reintroduction, the two have been on a mission to create a meaningful life together, no matter what twists and turns they encounter along the way.

MORE THAN MEAL PREP For some, Heirloom serves as a high-vibe caterer with unique, never-fail recipes.

For others, the team is a meal-prep life saver that takes the drag out of healthful, home-prepared meals. No matter who is calling on the team or why, they’re walking away with more than a full belly.

Roza, COO of Heirloom Fine Foods, credits his wife and business partner for more than her health-conscious approach to food, saying “Shelley has this intuitive knowledge of how food affects people.

She’s really someone to look up to. This whole industry is about caring, going above and beyond…She puts so much thought into every detail, even knowing that our clients probably aren’t noticing them consciously.”

He said customers don’t always realize why their commercial space feels like being in someone’s home. “It just feels that way to them, but it’s because Shelley pays as much attention to the small things as she does to the big, obvious things.”

From vintage tables and chairs, custom restored by Modlines, to the chandelier from Pax Lighting in Kearney, everything from the lampshades to the curtains are one-of-a-kind finds, some custom-made and others vintage restoration.

“We wanted to give our facility a soul,” owner and executive chef Elson-Roza explained. “Our name, Heirloom, it’s kind of a double entendre. We source heirloom variety foods, some of which were on the brink of extinction just a few years ago. They aren’t the uniform look, texture, and taste like you get from a hothouse. Everything brings its own flavor, as nature intended. Our space is also full of heirlooms. Our silverware and dishes were all passed down to us after we were married. We wanted our place to make you feel like you were part of our family, whether you’re a guest or a vendor. We want everyone to feel like they’re walking into a big familial hug.”

The spatial hug she’s referring to is Heirloom’s commercial kitchen and tasting room, which opened in early August. The facility at 325 N. 72nd St., Suite 200 is where the team prepares to-go boxed meals, creates their catering menu, and hosts events from cooking classes to holiday parties. When the weather allows, a garden seating area offers beautiful outdoor dining and a glimpse at Elson-Roza’s homegrown edible flowers and heirloom vegetation.

// DINING FEATURE //

“Our menu changes based on the yield and what our farmers and artisans can provide for us seasonally,” Elson-Roza said. “We really loved our fall menu. A lot of squash and sage. We were inspired

by Peruvian food because that’s where we went for our honeymoon. French food always makes us think ‘cozy’, and Moroccan and Middle Eastern flavors are always really close to our heart.”

While Roza does his fair share in the kitchen, he isn’t hesitant to admit that his favorite Heirloom offering isn’t his creation.

“Shelley makes this potato latke. It looks just like you’d expect, and I get so excited when someone orders it for the first time.

I love watching their face,” he said. “She has this way of taking foods you love that are really comforting, and then doing something really unexpected with them that doesn’t take away the familiar feeling you wanted from it. No matter what your favorite food is, Shelley has a way of making it special and unforgettable.”

While the pair have dedicated themselves to making delicious foods good for the heart, they have succeeded in making their offerings even better for the soul.

“Our business is catering, but our mission has always been about finding new ways to feed people healthy, from-scratch foods,” Elson-Roza said. “Problemsolving is kind of our thing, trying to find ways to make local sourcing whole and organic foods more accessible. Finding ways to make food security a reality for every community.”

THE YEAR OF THE PIVOT While there was no way to anticipate what 2020 had in store, the couple found new ways to work with it every day. Heirloom was on the brink of several big offerings before COVID-19 adjusted their plans for them.

“We had just signed on as vendors with Joslyn Castle literally the day before quarantine was called,” Elson-Roza said.

“Everything was happening for us, and then just as suddenly, it all stopped. We were hosting 500-person parties, and then we couldn’t.” But they continued serving in any way they could.

“In March, we launched a meal delivery service, which we continued until June,” she said. “We did box events, or we would drop food off for small gatherings with instructions to finish preparing it. We were surprised how many ways there were to keep moving forward, and so proud of our team for being able to roll with whatever new health directives were given.”

Elson-Roza never stopped looking for ways to improve their offerings.

“Every day that we wake up with a purpose and the ability to work, to live our passion and bring joy through our food and our service is a day we are lucky to have,” she said. “We found that when we kept ourselves humble and positive, the opportunities to affect positive change kept making themselves available to us.”

In July, Heirloom was given the opportunity to provide lunches for Brownell Talbot. “We’ve been bringing the kids lunch ever since, which helps keep us focused on all of the good we are still able to provide.

“We’ve leaned really hard on our values during this tough time, to remind us why we do this,” she added. “It gives us so much strength to keep seeking the positive and the opportunities to create it.”

Visit heirloomff.com to learn more about Heirloom Fine Foods

“SHELLEY HAS THIS INTUITIVE KNOWLEDGE OF HOW FOOD AFFECTS PEOPLE. SHE’S REALLY SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO. THIS WHOLE INDUSTRY IS ABOUT CARING, GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND…”

— Tony Roza

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

// 89 //

HERE GREEK MEETS GREENS M

Omaha’s

Expanding Greenbelly

DINING PROFILE // Story by Katy Spratte Joyce

Photography by Bill Sitzmann // Design by Matt Wieczorek

Michael Schall lost 55 pounds eating healthy, whole foods. That weight loss was part of his inspiration to launch Omaha’s Greenbelly restaurant empire.

“I’m Greek…it kinda makes sense to go into food,” Schall laughingly said during a phone interview.

But it really all began in 1988 at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church Camp on Lake Calhoun in Southwest Minneapolis. (The lake is now known by its Dakota-language name, Bde Maka Ska.) It was here that Schall met his best camp friend, Tony Nicklow of the Minnesota restaurateur family. Credited with popularizing Greek food in the Twin Cities, the Nicklows operated several restaurants over the years. (Tony’s Diner in Dinkytown is the only one currently still running.)

Nicklow encouraged Schall’s interest in restaurant operation, even paying for him to attend bartending school in the summers between semesters at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

After graduating with a degree in advertising, Schall became a high-flying advertising executive in New York City, working on products with Microsoft and others. The nowentrepreneur gathered experience that he uses to this day. “That stint in NYC is what launched...Greenbelly,” he said. The venture was inspired by a salad shop around the corner from his office, Café Europa. He loved having quick, healthy options for late nights, burning the midnight oil while tackling new ad campaigns for companies as wide-ranging as Microsoft and the Food Network.

Flash forward a few years, and the native Nebraskan was ready to be closer to home. After moving back to Omaha, Schall worked in pharmaceutical sales for a time, then transitioned into the food realm with The Cooking Club. Partnering with his sister Stephanie Patsalis, together they built the business with take-and-make meals, catering, and cooking classes at their original location at 123rd and Center streets.

But Schall couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to do in this Midwest market.

Thus, Greenbelly was born in 2008. Schall said it was “a risk at the time. Omaha was a meat-and-potatoes town.” Furthermore, his new restaurant featured more expensive eco-friendly packaging before sustainability was a major consumer consideration.

The risk was well worth it. A larger commercial space was needed just a few months into the new venture, resulting in the move to the current 114th Street location in 2009. Greenbelly has been a hit with diners looking for quick, satisfying, healthy options. Salads have remained the key to success, with the coconut chicken salad and the Asian peanut chicken salad reigning as the two top-selling items, according to the owner. And while the eatery first offered soups and salads at lunch, more items, such as healthier pizzas and wraps, helped expand the menu over the years. Schall said they currently hand-cut over 300 pounds of chicken a day and that they “absolutely fly through lettuce.”

The restaurant also feeds and trains (in nutrition, not combat) lots of UFC fighters with their lean, high-quality food. Schall credits this collaboration with helping get the Greenbelly name out there early on. Marketing through social media also helped Omahans learn about the new kid in town.

A longstanding stat of 33% catering business helped Greenbelly thrive. These days, there’s more for a food business to consider as the COVID-19 pandemic drags on. Schall shared that their sales numbers were roughly half of the usual from March to April, with a big pick-up in August.

Greenbelly is a family business in the strongest sense of the word, in a time when such operations are rare. Patsalis not only was his partner in their original catering venture, but is now the director of franchising development, helping expand the Greenbelly concept. His brother-in-law helped him come up with the term "Greenbelly," a whimsical way to signal that there was an eco-friendly aspect to their healthy food offerings.

Additionally, the eatery’s famous Greek dressing is Schall’s mother’s recipe, handed down from his grandparents of Koroni, Greece. (It’s such a hit that the Greenbelly food sales rep orders it by the quart). Nieces and nephews have also contributed, on the corporate side as well as with preparing food and taking orders.

Greenbelly’s long-term success at its 114th Street location has even translated to a new model of franchising. One customer loved the restaurant so much he opened a second location in Elkhorn in 2017. A third closely followed in 2020, with an Aksarben footprint in the premier corner spot location in the new HDR building.

To promote further expansion on a larger scale, Greenbelly corporate has recently signed on with a well-respected national franchise sales company, Accurate Sales.

Additionally, a new-to-market second concept, a drive-thru only Greenbelly Express, will open in the Omaha area in early 2021.

The express option uses an app for less contact, which was “a pre-COVID idea with post-COVID applications” according to Patsalis, who shared that there is a lot of room to grow nationwide, with an equal interest in both models from potential investors and franchisees. Schall expanded, sharing that “Although we have been working on our express units for a few years, I believe that is the direction our industry is progressing.”

It’s clear that the future appears truly bright for Schall and his eco-friendly restaurant, both in “homaha” and beyond. The owner concluded, “With Greenbelly being built and run by family, I look forward to continuing to watch its success grow with future generations.”

Visit thegreenbelly.com for more information.

“With Greenbelly being built and run by family, I look forward to continuing to watch its success grow with future generations.” —Michael Schall JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

// 91 //

- Sponsored Content -

Omaha

DINING GUIDE AMERICAN CHARLESTON’S - $$$

140th and Dodge streets - 402.431.0023 76th and Dodge streets - 402.991.0055 Charleston’s is a casual, upbeat restaurant with a menu filled with dishes prepared from scratch daily. We focus on providing our guests with excellent prices and selecting the highest quality ingredients. Whether you are new to Charleston’s or a long-standing guest, we look forward to seeing you soon!

—charlestons.com/locations

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 streets - 402.934.9914 156th Street & W. Dodge Road - 402.408.1728 120th and Blondo streets - 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.com

LISA’S RADIAL CAFE - $ 817 N. 40th St. - 402-551-2176

American. Cafe. Diner. Vegetarian-friendly.

Gluten-free options. This old-school diner serves hearty portions of American comfort classics for breakfast and lunch. Family-owned and operated. This business is a must if you’re in the area. People rave about our chickenfried steak, stuffed French toast, coffee, and friendly staff. Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m.-2 p.m

OLD MATTRESS FACTORY - $

501 N 13th St. - 402.346.9116

Keepin' it real in a renovated mattress factory built in 1883, remodeled in 2007 within walking distance to Omaha's major entertainment venues. Three private dining rooms for your own events, or stop in before or after any downtown Omaha event. Open daily at 11am-1am.

—themattomaha.com

// 92 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

STELLA’S - $

106 S. Galvin Road, Bellevue 402.291.6088 Since 1936, we’ve been making our worldfamous 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! MondaySaturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., closed Sunday.

—stellasbarandgrill.com

TED 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 p.m. —tedandwallys.com

VARSITY SPORTS CAFE - $$

Ralston - 9735 Q St. - 402.339.1944 Bellevue - 3504 Samson Way - 402.932.1944 Millard - 14529 F St. - 402.505.6660 Dundee - 4900 Dodge St. - 402.934.9439 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 specialty 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 operation.

— varsityromancoinpizza.com

xican Dining Me

ichanga Chim

I TA L I A N LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$

45th and Leavenworth streets 402.556.6464

La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha its legendary Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta for 60 years. We offer dine-in, carry-out, party facilities, catering, and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states. Open Tuesday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

—lacasapizzaria.ne

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

5 METRO Locations!

3 90th & Blondo 402.391.8870 3 146th & Center 402.330.4160 3 96th & L 402.331.5656 3 Galvin & Avery 402.292.2028 3 29th & Farnam 402.346.1110

www.romeosOMAHA.com

Omaha

DINING GUIDE

Get a Little Get Saucy.

LO SOLE MIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO - $$

3001 S. 32nd Ave. - 402.345.5656

a Little Saucy. CHANGE Appetizers

ntic Restaura ma nt Ro

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SPEZIA SPECIALTIES

FRESH SEAFOOD • ANGUS BEEF INNOVATIVE PASTA • RISOTTO SPEZIA SPECIALTIES

PASTA AMORE - $$

11027 Prairie Brook Road - 402.391.2585

WOOD FIRE•STEAKS & SEAFOOD GNOCCHI FRESH SALMON DAILY INNOVATIVE PASTA—RISOTTO—GNOCCHI FRESH SALMON DAILY

SATURDAY LUNCH [11am–4 pm]

Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch & Dinner

$10

OFF ANY TICKET OVER $25 NO CASH VALUE. EXPIRES 12/31/2011 NO CASH VALUE. EXPIRES 2/28/2021 Not Valid with Happy Hour or Any Other Promotions.

One Per Check.

COCKTAIL HOUR Take Out &

MONDAY – SATURDAY Pickup 4 Curbside – 6 PM ALL COCK TAILS, GL ASS WINE Available!

AND BEERS ARE HALF PRICE

CALL FOR Party RESERVATIONS Catering . Private Rooms•.402-391-2950 Walk-Ins Welcome

3125 South 72

Street

CENTRAL LOCATION • 3125 SOUTH 72ND STREET • nd EASY ACCESS OFF I-80 • 72ND STREET EXIT

(Easy access off I-80, take 72nd Street Exit)

402.391.2950 . Call today to make your reservation

Hamburger

The restaurant is located in a residential neighborhood, surrounded by charming homes. Everyone is greeted with homemade bread, a bowl of fresh tomatoes and basil, a bowl of oven-roasted garlic cloves, specially seasoned olive oil, and (at night) a jug of Chianti! The menu includes a large variety of pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, and even a delicious New York steak. Traditional dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, and eggplant parmigiana are also available. Lunch offerings include panini, salads, and one of the best pizzas in town. Patio seating, full bar, and a great wine list complete the atmosphere. No reservations, except for private rooms. —losolemio.com

thanks to our customers for voting us the

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 FridaySaturday 10 p.m. Reservations recommended.

—pastaamore.com

SPEZIA - $$$

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 wood-fired grill. Open Monday-Sunday.

Cocktail hour 4-6 p.m., when all cocktails, glasses of wine, and beers are half price.

Evening reservations recommended.

—speziarestaurant.com

“BEST BURGER

IN OMAHA “Serving World Famous Hamburgers Since 1936”

106 GALVIN RD., BELLEVUE, NE • 402-291-6088 • OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY, 11 AM - 9 PM

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

// 93 //

A Century of Pride in Every Slice!

rotellasbakery.com

Omaha

DINING GUIDE Breakfast

MEXICAN FERNANDO’S - $

7555 Pacific St. - 402.339.8006.

380 N. 114th St. - 402.330.5707 Featuring Sonoran-style cooking made fresh daily. Catering and party rooms also available.

Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4-9 p.m.

—fernandosomaha.com

156th & Dodge • 408-1728 177th & Center • 934-9914 120th & Blondo • 991-8222 69th & Pacific • 933-2776

Thanks for Voting Us # BREAKFAST YEARS in a Row!

13

1

Drive-Thru Open (Center St. Only) Open Daily 6:30am-2:00pm Serving Breakfast & Lunch All Day!

LEPEEPOMAHA.COM | @LEPEEPOMAHA

LA MESA - $$

158th St. and W. Maple Road - 402.557.6130 156th and Q streets - 402.763.2555 110th St. and W. Maple Road - 402.496.1101 Fort Crook Road and Hwy 370 - 402.733.8754 84th Street and Tara Plaza - 402.593.0983 Lake Manawa Exit - 712.256.2762 Enjoy awesome enchiladas, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouth-watering margaritas, and more at La Mesa. Come see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s No. 1 Mexican restaurant 16 years in a row. SundayThursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. —lamesaomaha.com

ROMEO’S MEXICAN FOOD AND PIZZA - $

90th and Blondo streets - 402.391.8870 146th St. and W. Center Road - 402.330.4160 96th and L streets - 402.331.5656 Galvin and Avery roads - 402.292.2028 29th and Farnam 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 town. —romeosomaha.com

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 beerlover’s destination. Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen hours: MondayWednesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., ThursdaySaturday 11 a.m.-midnight. Closed Sunday.

—beercornerusa.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

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

1620 S. 10th Street

402-345-8313

www.casciossteakhouse.com

Bringing Italy to Omaha Since 1919

Take a Taste of Italy Home Today!

Tues-Thurs: 8:30am-8pm Friday: 8:30am-8:30pm Saturday: 7:30am-8pm Sunday: 7:30am-6pm

An Omaha favorite for over 100 years (1919-2019)

402.345.3438 621 Pacific St, Omaha NE orsibakery.com ek Dining Gre

Family Owned Since 1983 CATERING / PARTY ROOM AVAILABLE HOMEMADE, FRESH FOOD, ALWAYS.

Read About

3821 Center St. / 402.346.1528 GreekIslandsOmaha.com

h Steak ouse

in Omaha Magazine

@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

// 96 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

Omaha

DINING GUIDE FIRST WATCH - $

1222 S. 71st St. - 402.932.5691 2855 S. 168th St. - 402.330.3444 3605 N. 147th St. - 402.965.3444 304 Olson Drive - 402.965.3444 18101 Chicago St. - 402.916.4109 2015 Pratt Ave., Bellevue - 402.991.3448 We begin each morning at the crack of dawn, slicing fresh fruits and vegetables, baking muffins, and whipping up our French toast batter from scratch. Everything is made toorder here at First Watch. We use only the finest ingredients possible for the freshest taste around. —firstwatch.com

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. MondayThursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.

—greekislandsomaha.com

PARADISE BAKERY - $

17305 Davenport St. - 402.934.5757 120 Regency Parkway - 402.991.3000

Take Out & Delivery Available Online Ordering Available at Bellevue, Millard & Dundee Locations

Sports Bar

Please Check Website for Hours of Operation

Paradise Bakery offers freshly prepared baked goods made from scratch every morning with the finest ingredients available. Offering a variety of meals including soups, salads, and sandwiches. Our associates are extremely proud of the reputation Paradise has earned for providing exceptional service and producing the finest-quality products. —paradisebakery.com

STEAKHOUSES CASCIO’S - $$

1620 S. 10th St. - 402-345-8313

402.339.1944

402.505.6660

402.932.1944

402.934.9439

varsityromancoinpizza.com

Cascio’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.com

n Sandwi ube ch Re

THE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$ 2121 S. 73rd St. - 402-391-7440

Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben!

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. Lunch Monday­- Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., cocktail hour 3-6 p.m., dinner nightly 5 p.m. —droverrestaurant.com

Omaha’s largest selection of craft beers. @OmahaMagazine

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

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

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// 98 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

#OMAHAMAGAZINE SHARE YOUR PHOTOS OF OMAHA TO BE FEATURED HERE.

@abiteofchicago

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@fistfull_of_pixels

@lydiakang

instagram.com/omahamagazine

facebook.com/omahamagazine

@jfnlife

twitter.com/omahamagazine

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

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CARDINA L VIRTUES AT TREE ADVENTURES Jan. 23 at Arbor Day

NEBRASK A

BUILD IT! Jan. 16 at Strategic Air

Command & Aerospace Museum. Get a closer look at the “E” in STEM with this one-of-a-kind engineering exhibit. Build It! connects different types of engineering with local careers. Visitors of all ages have the chance to invent, design, analyze, build, and test their skills. 402-944-3100.

—sacmuseum.org

Lodge. Nature-lovers can learn more about this iconic red bird during this event, including their repertoire of songs, and how to attract them to the yard. 402-873-8717.

—arbordayfarm.org

HIBEERNATION WINTER BEER FES T Postponed to 2021 at Kinkaider

Brewing Co., Grand Island. Beer lovers w ill be able to sample beer from 1 2 different Nebraska brewer ies at this festival, which also includes food and live music. 4024 8 0 - 6 4 8 8 . —kinkaiderbrew ing.com

FULL WOLF MOON 5K and 8K Jan. 16 at Two Rivers State Recreation Area, Waterloo. Runners will enjoy a flat, and fast, good time at the third annual Wolf Moon 5K. The event includes hot chocolate, baked goodies, and door prizes. 402-917-7818.

—omaharun.org/events OGA LL A L A GUN SHOW Jan. 16-17 at Keith County Fair & Exhibit, Ogallala. Gun collectors from across the Midwest will gather and share their knowledge on hunting and guns. 308-284-6952.

—keithcountyfair.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

JAN.

16-17

MIK E SUPER: M AGIC AND ILLUSION Jan. 16 at the Lied Center, Lincoln. The winner of NBC’s hit show Phenomenon, a finalist on America’s Got Talent, and featured magician on Penn & Teller’s: Fool Us, Mike Super is bringing the magic to Lincoln. Enjoy this familyfriendly performance filled with illusions, intrigue, danger, anticipation, and excitement. 712-258-9164.

—liedcenter.org

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THE 43RD ARM Y BAND OF THE NEBR ASK A NATIONA L GUARD PRESENT S: “A VE TER AN’S DAY CONCERT” Jan. 31 at Lied Center for

Performing Arts, Lincoln. This free performance was rescheduled from Nov. 15, 2020. This group is made up of Citizen Soldiers who bring a wide variety of skills, talents, and longevity to the unit. 712-258-9164.

—liedcenter.org

MIZ CR ACK ER’S "SHE’S A WOM AN" TOUR Feb. 9 at Bourbon Theatre, 1415

O St, Lincoln. Miz Cracker is a New York City drag queen, writer, and comedienne who launched her drag career in 2011. She went on to compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 10, landing a spot in the top five and becoming a fan favorite.

—bourbontheatre.com

T WO RIVERS VA LENTINE’S DAY 5K

Feb. 13 at Two Rivers. This event is part of the Winter Fitness Series, back for their eighth year. Stick to your resolutions by signing up for this FEB. 5K. 402-917-7818.

—rungurusays.com

13

NEBR ASK A CAT T LEMEN’S CL AS SIC Feb. 13-21 at Buffalo County

Fairgrounds, Kearney. Nebraska is one of the largest beef producers in the nation, and this show features many of the state’s largest cattlemen. Highlights include Battle of the Breeds, a chef’s Best Beef competition, as well as several new events. Youth are encouraged to show and sell cattle. 308-627-6385.

—cattlemens.org

PAUL A POUNDS TONE Feb. 27 at Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln.

Poundstone is a revered panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait. . .Don’t Tell Me. She was the first woman to host the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and is the recipient of an American Comedy Award for Best Female Stand-up Comic.

402-472-4747.

—liedcenter.org IOWA

BARNES BULL RIDING CHA LLENGE

Jan. 23-24 at Tyson Events Center, Sioux City. The late owner of Barnes PRCA Rodeo once told a reporter, ”We are to rodeo—what Cadillac is to cars.” This bull-riding challenge is a family-friendly event that is sure to please those ages 1 to 99. 402-279-4850.

—tysoncenter.com

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

37TH ANNUA L BA LD E AGLE APPRECIATION DAYS Jan. 16-17 in

Keokuk. View bald eagles in their natural habitat at the Mississippi Riverfront and Victory Park & Southside Boat Club. A variety of indoor activities are also available at River City Mall. 319524-5599 —keokukiowatourism.org

41S T ANNUA L UNIVERSIT Y OF OKOBOJI WINTER GA MES Jan.

28-31 at Lake Okoboji. Iowa’s fictional university puts on this annual festival. Activites include broomball, flag football, softball, bags tournament, chili cook-off, chocolate classic, and a polar plunge.

712-332-2107.

—uofowintergames.com

SNOW BOX DERBY Feb. 7 at Mount Crescent, Crescent. Cardboard, glue, paint, and imagination will be used to create a variety of derby vehicles that will slide down the ski hills during this special event. 712-545-3850.

—skicrescent.com DES MOINES HOME AND GARDEN SHOW Feb. 11-14 at Iowa Events Center,

Des Moines. This show features over 400 exhibitors, 1,000 experts, and amazing gardens. 515-244-5456.

—desmoineshomeandgardenshow.com

COLOR THE WIND KITE FES TIVA L

AN E VENING WITH MICHAEL BUBLÉ

Feb. 21 at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. This popular crooner is returning to his hugely successful “An Evening With Michael Bublé” Tour in February and March 2021. Tickets for previously scheduled dates will be honored.

—iowaeventscenter.com/wells-fargo-arena

BERT K REISCHER’S THE BERT Y BOY TOUR Feb. 28 in Sioux

FEB.

City. Due to the current global health crisis as well as travel and performance restrictions, comedian Bert Kreischer’s The Berty Boy Tour at Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, IA was rescheduled.

—orpheumlive.com

28

K ANSAS

WSU CHILDREN’S DANCE FES TIVA L

Jan. 26 at Wilner Auditorium, Wichita.

This festival brings together performers from across the Midwest to share and showcase their talents. Master classes will be taught by WSU Dance Faculty.

316.978.3530.

—wichita.edu

THE YE TI OBS TACLE COURSE

Jan. 30 at Zip KC, Bonner Springs.

The YETI is a 5K with over 25 fun, challenging obstacles intended to get you up and out of the house. 913-214-9478.

—travelks.com

Feb. 20 at the Seawall, Clear Lake. CBS EDDIE PA LMIERI Feb. 6 at Sunday Morning once referred to Hutchinson Fox Theatre, this as “A kaleidoscope at the end Hutchinson. Known as one of a string.” One of the Midwest’s FEB. of the finest pianists of the largest and most colorful kite past 60 years, Eddie Palmieri festivals, the event features is a bandleader, arranger and everything from inflatables to composer of salsa and Latin jazz. home-made kites. 409-797-3500.

620-663-586.

—colorthewind.org —hutchinsonfox.com

06

WINTERFES T Jan. 23 at Amana Colonies, Amana.This annual festival includes such zany games as ham-throwing and a beard contest. 319-622-7622.

—amanacolonies.com BACKCOUNTRY FILM FES TIVA L

TBA at Indian Creek Nature Center, Cedar Rapids. The 16th annual Backcountry Film Festival will host their first-ever virtual tour through May 2021.

319-362-0664.

—winterwildlands.org

DILLON LECTURE SERIES: COL. M ARK TILLM AN Feb. 23 at Hutchinson

Sports Arena, Hutchinson. The Dillon Lecture Series welcomes Col. Mark Tillman to the 2020 Lecture Series. Col. Mark Tillman served as commander of Air Force One during the two terms of President George W. Bush. 620-665-3505.

—visithutch.com

JAZZ FESTIVAL Feb. 14 at Friends

University, Wichita. This night out features lots of jazz music by the Wichita University Jazz Festival. 316-295-5000. —friends.edu

REBIRTH BR AS S BAND Feb. 26 at Hutchinson Fox Theatre. Formed in 1983 by the Frazier brothers, the Rebirth Brass Band is a true New Orleans institution.

620-663-586. —hutchinsonfox.com WOM AN’S WORLD CONFERENCE Feb. 26-27 at Manhattan Christian College, Manhattan. Woman’s World is a nondenominational event that helps women understand their significance in God’s eyes. It includes practical seminars, a dynamic keynote speaker, buffet meals, times of worship, and lots of other surprises. 785-539-3571. —mccks.edu MISSOURI

K ANSAS CIT Y RES TAUR ANT

Week Jan. 8-17 throughout Kansas City. This annual 10-day dining event that spotlights Kansas City’s hottest restaurants. —kcrestaurantweek.com

K ANSAS CIT Y WINTER WHISK E Y TAS TING FES TIVA L Jan. 23 in

Kansas City. This festival gives whiskey-lovers the opportunity to sample ever ything from Irish whiskey to a blend of bourbon and r ye. There is a limited number of tickets available. —whiskydo.com

ANAT COHEN QUARTE TINHO Feb. 12 at The Folly Theater, Kansas City. Grammy-nominated clarinetistsaxophonist Anat Cohen is performing her unique blend of modern and traditional jazz, classical music, Brazilian choro, Argentine tango, and Afro-Cuban styles. 816-474-4444.

—follytheater.org JOHN PIZZ ARELLI Feb. 13 at The Folly Theater, Kansas City. Pizzarelli recently released his new album, For Centennial Reasons: 100 Year Salute to Nat King Cole. 816-474-4444. —follytheater.org CHOCOL ATE WINE TR AIL Feb. 20 at Hermann Wine Trail, St. Louis. This unique event pairs chocolates with wine along seven stops on the Hermann Wine Trail. 800-932-8687. —visithermann.com Event times and details may change.

Visit omahamagazine.com for complete listings.

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

// 101 //

Bo munchy

DINING PROFILE // STORY BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Eat Their Way Through 2020

From left: Aaron Gum and Tony Bonacci

“I applaud them for being able to think on their feet and figure out how to keep going with their podcast. They are lighthearted, zany, and really plugged into pop culture” // 102 //

Dereck Higgins

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

oys

Podcast Creators Entertain, Help Locals During Pandemic

W

hile most people learned new recipes and ate at home during the majority of 2020, two filmmakers in Omaha ate out as often as ever.

Longtime friends Tony Bonacci and Aaron Gum frequently eat at restaurants. Gum, in fact, doesn’t use his stove for cooking, but rather as a temporary resting place for pieces and parts for his collection of arcade and pinball machines.

“Tony used to call me up and say ‘hey want to go munch?’” Gum said. The bachelor without a stove was always down to chow.

The tech-minded individuals created a trendy media form out of their hobby last year upon suggestion from a guy at the gym where Bonacci exercises. They had been toying around with the idea of a podcast, but in February 2020, the pair decided to go for it.

Their first stop was El Rancho. They tested the waters at a favorite restaurant where they knew the food was good, eating in the restaurant with no idea what was about to happen worldwide.

“That was a different world,” Bonacci said.

“That’s the interesting part of it. We started it with this idea of going to eat somewhere and then go back to Aaron’s and recording.”

Their media experience comes in handy, as the two created zany, humorous characters and, from the first episode, talk about everything from poblanos and burritos to polar bears on-air. They admitted that the podcast was going to evolve as they gained experience, but they did not expect it to evolve drastically three weeks later.

“Our last actual episode dining in a restaurant was at Flavors, and that was a buffet,” Gum said. The arcade collector wasn’t watching the news religiously, but he could tell things were going south fast, as he was being told his orders for parts from China were delayed or out-ofstock. After the third show, he told Bonacci they should go to Tokyo Sushi quickly and get it in the can before the restaurant closed, but they second-guessed themselves and never went.

The Munchy Boys stood six feet apart in a line on March 17 reading a sign that they could not refill their soda cups as they waited for takeout

from Block 16. They took the food back to Gum’s in-home studio and, as Bonacci said, “munched on the mike.”

Between bites of croque monsieur and vegan burritos, Gum and Bonacci’s podcast evolved further. By episode seven, the pair traveled to Tasty Pizza separately and recorded a video episode, complete with visuals of their food and pop culture references.

The entire month of April, the duo feasted on video. They named their final bite the “king bite,” putting way too much food into their mouths in order to clean their plates. They ate at the Dire Lion food truck, where they were able to nosh on fish-and-chips and bacon butty sandwiches from their vehicles and Pim’s Thai Catering & Takeout sponsored a show.

Friends and fans began to call in to the show on an occasional basis, waxing philosophical with Bonacci and Gum about everything from movies to music to food. The April video episodes were some of their most popular to date, but by May, the format switched again.

Perhaps it was watching episode 10 as the friends slopped barbecue sauce and licked their fingers, but more likely it was the time commitment of creating and editing videos for fun when they do this for a living. Their 12th episode was broadcast via Zoom, and they continued that for several episodes.

They said there have been a couple of places that they felt uncomfortable visiting, but it wasn’t so much about food safety as having to touch things like pens to sign receipts.

While they are serious about making sure safety and social distancing is a part of their show, they are more laid back about the podcasts.

Their theme worked beautifully in this topsy-turvy year. “[My girlfriend and I] joke about how there’s food all the time now,” Bonacci said.

As the format changed, a few things stayed consistent, in part thanks to Bonacci’s research.

“I listen to a few podcasts,” Bonacci said. “So I knew we needed an intro, we needed a song.

Aaron did that cool intro video. We did a synth segment as a regular thing. We can definitely do more formatting and planning.”

Bonacci’s quirky sense of humor is combined with Gum’s love of synthesizers to create new music for each episode.

Meanwhile, 2020 happened. Murder hornets made their way to the United States, filmmaker Harvey Weinstein was convicted, the Dow suffered its single worst point-drop in a day, and police-involved killings of Black people sparked protests around the nation. The Munchy Boys kept breaking bread, although they took a season break between May 14 and June 12.

“A lot has changed in our overall subconscious When all the protests were happening, it didn’t make sense for us to do a fun show when the city was hurting,” Gum said. “Then when we came back, we went to Okra and we asked Dereck Higgins to join us. I feel like we were going to do more Black-owned local businesses.

Our intentions were good, but we were probably just lazy.”

“I applaud them for being able to think on their feet and figure out how to keep going with their podcast. They are lighthearted, zany, and really plugged into pop culture,” said Higgins, a musician and friend of the guys. “I think it’s great.”

And while the two used to haunt their favorites, they have branched out and found new places during this time when most people hunkered down and ate at home. In late November, the boys carried out carbs from Orsi’s Pizza, a restaurant never before patronized by Omaha areanative Gum, who ultimately said he liked it.

Their fan base, while not large, has been consistent.

“We just assume it’s not that many [people who listen],” Bonacci said. “When we were at Tim Maides’ popup, a lot of people came up and were like ‘Oh are you doing a Munchy Boys podcast?’ That was kind of crazy.”

“Honestly, it’s just fun to listen to him and Tony hanging out and feeling like I can be there when I can’t,” said friend and fan Chelsea Balzer. “I love their rapport and being able to hear people having just a normal interaction. It makes me feel like I am there. I love that they do whatever they want...It’s so them.”

And though 2021 is a new year with new promise, one thing is certain. Bonacci and Gum will continue their chow down through O town.

Because, as Bonacci said, “Munchy boys gotta munch.”

Visit themunchyboys.libsyn.com to listen to the podcasts.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

// 103 //

NOT FUNNY // COLUMN BY OTIS TWELVE // PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL SITZMANN

MENS SANA IN CO RPO RE SANO

I

f I constantly worry about being a hypochondriac, is that a symptom of hypochondria?

Does an apple a day really keep the doctor away? And if it does, what happens if I eat an apple for lunch and then I need a doctor later that same afternoon?

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Really? I’m always in bed before prime time TV is half over, and I’ve been getting up before the dawn for decades. Yet I have had more than a few major surgeries, unpleasant gastrointestinal tests, painful dental procedures, my knees hurt all the time, and my bank account rarely shows any huge, untraceable deposits. As for wisdom, well, let’s just say, I have depended on the intelligence of the American public way too often over the years, trusted TV weather folks when planning cookouts, and was positive that the Game of Thrones writers would produce a satisfying ending. In other words, wisdom continues to elude me.

Is an ounce of prevention really worth a pound of cure? Is weight the measure we should be using? I mean an ounce of gold is going for more than $1,800, and a pound of ground beef is only $4. And an ounce of a certain herb that helps treat glaucoma can get you a simple citation while a pound (or kilo) might get you a couple years in prison.

“You are what you eat,” people say. That is a particularly disturbing concept. Basically we all eat dead things. Although occasionally crazy California used car dealers eat squirmy bugs in order to sell you a car. Also, I ate some octopus last week and have yet to sprout additional arms, so I doubt this bon mot.

A week without exercise makes you weak? I’ve tried this one both ways. If I exercise, I feel weak and achy after my workout and I want to take a nap. If I don’t exercise, I feel weak and achy and want to take a nap. I don’t see the difference.

What does it mean to “feel under the weather?” Aren’t we “under” the weather all the time…unless we’re going from New York City to Los Angeles via a redeye?

Am I as fit as a fiddle? I don’t know. How healthy is a 300-year-old Stradivarius compared to a six-month-old violin you bought at Musicland?

If you are on the “road to recovery” can I find you on Google Maps?

Stay healthy, my friends.

Otis Twelve hosts the radio program Early Morning Classics with Otis Twelve on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. Visit kvno.org for more information.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

// 104 //

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