Jan/Feb 09 - The Encounter Magazine

Old Market • Downtown • Riverfront

Downtown Dining: Ahmad’s

Feature:

Big Brain Productions

Downtown Art: Therman Statom

Howard Swain

Omaha Press Club Director

www.oldmarket.com

January/February 2009

Omaha magazine • 5921 S. 118th CirCle • Omaha, ne 68137 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID OMAHA MAGAZINE LTD

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the encounter | january/february 2009 3

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4 january/february 2009 | the encounter

contents N ow check out e NcouNter M aga ziNe oNliNe . u siNg flipbook techNology to give you a whole New Maga ziNe re adiNg e xperieNce .

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11

Learn to love Rush Hour.

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6 Feature: Iowa West Public Art Initiative .............................. 8 History: Omaha’s Illicit Past .......................................... 11 Downtown Art: Therman Statom ................................ 14 Cover Story: Howard Swain ......................................... 16 Downtown Story: Siena/Francis House........................18 Downtown Feature: Big Brain Productions ................. 20 Condo Life: Eileen Sawyers ......................................... 22 Old Market Map........................................................... 24 Calendar .......................................................................27 Downtown Dining: Ahmad’s .........................................

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downtown dInIng

“ S ” I am a

Ahmad’s Persian Cuisine Gold-Standard food fit for a Prince

slave to

my own name.

6 january/february 2009 | the encounter

story by Melissa McElroy

photos by minorwhitestudios.com

tepping foot inside Ahmad’s, you’re immediately aware that you’re in for a dining experience unlike any other.

The vibrant blue walls and large Middle Eastern art instantly grab your attention.

The smell of kabobs fills the air. Ten tables nestled together inside the space of a studio apartment, aglow with flickering candles, makes for a cozy atmosphere.

On any given night you will catch the restaurant’s owner, Ahmad Nazar, fluttering about the restaurant. He goes from table to table, chatting with patrons and waiving to people passing by on the street. His personality is about as vibrant as the walls of his restaurant. His congenial manner will only turn serious when he sees someone eating one of his dishes incorrectly. He will insist that you eat the Jujeh Khoresht with a little bit of tomato, chicken and rice in one bite, much like a teacher would insist students quiet down. It is not that he is a culinary fascist. He just wants you to experience the full flavor of the dish as it was intended.

He first learned to cook at the age of 14. His mother dragged the reluctant teenager into the kitchen to teach him how to make their family recipes that have been passed down for generations. When he resisted the idea, his mother quipped, “Do you want to eat tonight?”

Each working with their own pot, his mother had him copy her step by step until they both had a pot of the same dish.

His second culinary experience happened a week later when his mother told him to make the same dish from memory. When he made the dish, he could tell that it did not turn out exactly the same. He kept making the dish over and over until he had it “perfect.”

Perfectionist is a word that accurately describes Ahmad. He oversees all aspects of his restaurant, making all the dishes from scratch himself. Even the salad dressing is made in his kitchen. He doesn’t believe in store-bought items. No detail is too small to escape his attention, down to the candleholders on the tables, which were designed by him.

When described as a perfectionist, he smiles, nods his head and says, “I am a Virgo.” Then adds, “I am a slave to my own name” and points at the Ahmad’s sign. He works every day, some days for up to 18 hours.

It is this attention to detail that has made his restaurant thrive for 18 years. Most of his patrons are repeat customers. There are even people from out of town who plan their visit to Omaha around visiting his restaurant. He has had high-profile guests such as Iran’s former crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, and Olympic gold medalist, Michael Phelps.

“Michael Phelps was sitting right over there,” says Ahmad, as he gestures to a nearby table.

“He ate and ate,” he laughs, noting Phelps’ notorious Olympic-size appetite. “We drank a glass of wine together and talked. He was very nice.”

So whether you are an Olympian, a former prince, or just an average Joe, Ahmad’s is the restaurant of choice to dine for an exceptional experience.

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feAture Council Bluffs’ Public Art revolution!

The Iowa West Public Art Initiative

by Heather Akerberg | rendering courtesy of the Orpheum Theater

A

mazement and wonder fall over people’s faces as they exit Famous Dave’s near Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs. They become almost awestruck as they gaze at the giant aluminum figure before them. It’s Molecule Man, one of three sculptures of its kind in the world, by artist Jonathan Brofosky. The other two sculptures are in Los Angeles and Berlin. So, now, you might be wondering, “Why Council Bluffs?”

“Quality of life is quality of place.” That’s the belief driving an ambitious public art program in Council Bluffs. Iowa West Public Art (IWPA) is an initiative of the Iowa West Foundation, a non-profit whose goal is to improve lives and strengthen communities. In 2004, the Foundation gathered a steering committee, comprised of foundation and governmental representatives and citizens, to discuss possibilities for economic development. What emerged was a public art master plan.

“The big civic improvements, such as streetscapes, landscaping and corridor improvements, that we had been doing were very well-received by the community. I asked if anyone had ever thought about public art as a compliment to that,” said Todd Graham, executive director and CEO of the Iowa West Foundation.

The foundation agreed with Graham that public art could not only change the landscape in Council Bluffs but would also enhance the lives of its citizens. With a background in urban plan-

8 january/february 2009 | the encounter

ning, Grapham knew that creating a master plan for the city would ensure long-term vision. The committee began compiling a list of the top 50 potential sites for public art. The sites are spread throughout the city, in hopes that art becomes an integral part of daily life.

After having identified Bayliss Park in downtown Council Bluffs as their number one site, but with the plan still unfinished, the committee was faced with a decision. The old fountain in the park failed, and the city was unsure of whether they would repair it or close it all together.

The committee saw this as an opportunity to partner with the city and turn their plan into reality. “It was kind of risky,� said Graham. “Is it smart to start off with the most important site in the city? If we fail, the program is over. We were nervous, but it ended up well.�

The selection panel, which consists of members of the community and persons with curatorial and public art expertise, then began its process to find the right artist. Starting with a pool of 15 artists, the panel soon realized that there was a clear choice: Brower Hatcher, an artist recognized as one of the best in the public art world. “Brower was a unanimous selection,� Todd said.

Hatcher created a new fountain, Wellspring, which stands more than 30 feet tall, and Oculus, a performance pavilion, as well as new seating, landscaping and a children’s area that features six cast bronze black squirrels. Brower’s work was unveiled during the rededication of Bayliss Park in the spring of 2007. “The best proof of its success is utilization of the park,� said Graham.

With the success of their first project under their belt, the committee then began work on the next project and the next and the next. To date, six projects are complete, two are nearing completion, and still others are in the planning stages.

Besides work by Hatcher, the public art collection includes three sculptures, Haymarket Rabbits, by Deborah Masouka on Pearl Street and three sculptures, Interstate, Circus, and Sunrise, by William King near the Mid-America Center. Currently, two additional projects are nearing completion at the Mid-America Center. One is an expansive sculpture garden, which sits on 22,000 square feet of granite and will showcase 21 works by Omaha’s own Jun Kaneko. The other is Molecule Man, a 50-foot-tall, 33,000-pound aluminum plate sculpture by Borofsky. The next project to begin construction is four massive sculptures by artist Albert Paley, who is renowned for his abstract gateways. The mixed metal pieces will rise 50 to 70 feet in the air from the four corners of the 24th Street Bridge, which crosses Interstate 80. This western gateway to the State of Iowa will change the interstate landscape and is sure to become a distinctive, talked-about landmark.

This innovative community-based public art program has accomplished a great deal in its first phase. The public art collection is a key element, but their efforts don’t end there. IWPA’s website offers information on each of the artists, an interactive map, photos of the collection, webcams, and resources for educators, including posters for each of the projects complete with curriculum on the back. The Iowa West Foundation has also partnered with Artspace, a Minneapolis-based non-profit, to create affordable housing for artists and their families.

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This project is currently under construction in downtown Council Bluffs (www.artspace.org).

The goal is to make art part of daily life in Council Bluffs. Want to see what’s happening on the east side of the river? Visit the website at www.iowawestpublicart.org or use this mini-guide to create your own Council Bluffs art tour.

Bayliss Park and haymarket rabbits Directions from Omaha: Take Dodge Street to the I-480 onramp.

Follow Hwy 6 East to Council Bluffs, which turns into Broadway. Continue on Broadway until you cross the viaduct. Once over the viaduct, stay on Broadway by veering right and drive a few blocks until you reach Pearl Street. Turn right onto Pearl Street.

Bayliss Park will be on your right after a few blocks. To see Haymarket Rabbits, continue on Pearl Street for a few more blocks, and the sculptures will be on your left.

Explore the area: Visit Rock Speaks Studio (open by appointment only), 109 Pearl Street, to see the work of local artist Margaret LaBounty or stop by the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, 200 Pearl Street.

Get a bite to eat: Consider getting take-out and enjoying it at one of Bayliss Park’s many picnic tables, weather permitting. Try Main Street Café, a local favorite famous for their Meat Lovers Omelet, located at

102 Main Street. After viewing Haymarket Rabbits, stop by La Carreta Rosa at 622 South Main Street. They offer authentic Mexican cuisine, including Cocktail, a traditional Mexican dish made with octopus and shrimp simmered in a tomato sauce. mid-america Center Directions from Omaha: Take I-80 East into Iowa and exit onto South 24th Street. Turn left on to South 24th Street and drive over the bridge. Just past the bridge you will see King’s Interstate on the left, this is Mid-America Drive. Turn left onto Mid-America Drive and follow it until you reach Convention Center Blvd. Turn left and drive until you reach the Convention Center. Park in the parking lot on the left, and you will be in walking distance to Sunrise and Circus, Jun Kaneko’s Sculpture Garden, and Molecule Man. Explore the area: The Mid-America Center offers a variety of events, including public ice skating in the winter (www.midamericacenter. com). Also nearby is Horseshoe Casino and Bass Pro Shops, which has several displays of taxidermy that are worth a view even if you’re not an outdoorsman.

Get a bite to eat: If you’re looking for something extremely close, try Famous Dave’s. Other restaurants in the area include Ruby Tuesdays and Quaker Steak & Lube.

“Quality of life is quality of place.”

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10 january/february 2009 | the encounter

departments

downtown hIstory

?

“

All the brothels are gone; all the good bars are gone; all the opium dens are gone.

”

omaha Confidential durham Museum staff lay out a brief look at early omaha’s illicit past

by Chris Aponick | Photos courtesy of The Durham

T

here are plenty of people who can tell the true tales of Omaha’s political boss, prostitution and gambling during the first part of the 20th Century, but most of them do so on the Q-T, very hush-hush.

But Molly Gruber and Bill Gonzalez of the Durham Museum are two anxious to share the sordid past of Omaha — back in the days between the Wild West and the Union Pacific Railroad’s boom years — on the record.

“This town was wide open for years and years and years,” said Gonzalez, one of the Museum’s photo archives associates.

Most of Omaha’s underworld history is told with a wink and a nod, Gruber said. So when Gruber, the museum’s assistant director of education, talks about most of her research, it is couched in the most diplomatic of terminology. Mostly, that’s because not much was ever legally proven about some of the prominent movers and shakers of early Omaha.

Another big reason is that Omaha remains a close-knit community, and some of those early stories feel like family secrets, especially since some of those families still live here.

“Everything is rumored,” Gruber said. “You don’t talk about them. You don’t mention them.” the encounter | january/february 2009 11

Still, Gruber takes those curious about Omaha’s underworld element around to the sites of some of Omaha’s most prominent criminal and carnal locations. These Gritty City tours happen during the summer. Unfortunately, it’s no longer possible for Gruber to show off the original hotels, brothels, bars and other landmarks of the era.

“Most of them are gone, that’s the bad part,” she said. “All the brothels are gone; all the good bars are gone; all the opium dens are gone.”

But some of what was once sits in the cradle of downtown Omaha, Gruber said. Anna Wilson’s brothel sat in what is now the parking lot of the Courtyard Marriott. Ada and Minna Lester operated their brothel at 12th and Jackson around 1895, before opening a second during the 1898 Trans Mississippi Exposition and then making tracks to Chicago to open the Everleigh Club.

North 10th Street was known as the Tenderloin or Sporting District and was dotted mainly with brothels. Bell Hotel, dens of elicit

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activity, sat at 111 South 15th St. Gruber said the Bell, in addition to offering “men-only upstairs rooms”, was reportedly a hub of both gambling and numbers running.

“The Bell did way more business in the back door than it ever did in the front door,” Gruber said.

Mae Hogan operated a brothel at 710 S. 17th St, near where the Douglas County Correctional Facility now sits, during the 1920s and 30s. Meanwhile, the Flatiron building was rumored to be a safe spot of out-of-state mobsters looking to avoid some heat.

To the northeast, the Gayety Theatre, 15th and Harney, offered what it termed artistic arts. The burlesque house boasted a noontime special.

Even today, homeowners in Little Italy often stumble upon basements with secret compartments, where bootleg liquor was made during Prohibition.

Anna Wilson and her three-story mansion represented the high end of Omaha’s prostitution trade. When Wilson died in 1910, the building was deeded to the city and turned into an emergency hospital.

What is known is that most of the activity was run by Tom Den-

departments nison, a political – not a mob – boss. Still, Gruber said for nearly three decades, Dennison had his finger on the pulse of any illegal activity happening in the city limits. Neighborhoods reported to him and politicians sought his approval when seeking public office.

“Omaha never had the Mafia,” Gruber said.

Dennison’s machine was eventually swept out by the reform movement after one of the chief voices for reform in the city, Harry Lapidus, was shot to death in an apparent hit.

Reformers and the city’s underworld element weren’t clearly delineated adversaries though.

Sarah Joslyn, who crusaded against prostitution and crime, received anonymous donations for her orphanages that were reportedly from Anna Wilson. In the years after Wilson’s death, a yellow rose would appear regularly on her concrete-encased gravesite.

What finally forced the city, which was originally 300 blocks or

so mapped out by the Missouri River, to grow up was its designation as the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad. That brought in packinghouses and spurred tremendous growth. “(The city) literally sprang up over night,” Gonzalez said. “In a way, it brought unity.”

Gonzalez himself got to know a bit of Omaha’s latter day criminality during the era of Nathaniel “Lightning” Johnson, who ran a series of illicit bars along Q Street in the 1950s. As a kid, Gonzalez would pick up five or ten bucks running envelopes for Johnson to places around the city.

“I was old enough to understand what I was doing,” he said.

Omaha’s illegal history may still not be ready for the light of day, but Gruber said she knows that the activity makes for a bustling and intriguing portrait of early Omaha.

“This was a dirty little town,” Gruber said. “God, I was born too late.”

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(402) 344-0219 the encounter | january/february 2009 13

downtown Art

“

I’m not pretending to be an

”

illustrator.

14 january/february 2009 | the encounter

therman statom In High Production Mode

by Molly Garriott | photos by minorwhitestudios.com

W

hen artist Therman Statom left California to come to Omaha, he was looking for a more cost-effective environment in which to create. He found that, and more — what he describes as “a sense of community” his west coast residence lacked.

Statom has settled in nicely. His studio sits on the fringe of downtown. It’s a nondescript, warehouse-looking building which blends into its industrial surroundings. The artist has settled in personally speaking as well, having developed friendships within Omaha’s thriving art community. He counts well-known ceramicist Jun Kaneko and Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Executive Director Mark Masuoka as friends. This past summer, Statom exhibited his work at the Bemis Center in an exhibition entitled “Nascita.”

Statom describes “Nascita” as a compilation of pieces, some previously shown, that became new again when grouped together.

But typically, Statom does not exhibit where he currently resides. He is an eminent

departments sculptor, glass artist and painter whose works dot the globe.

He has pieces in the Louvre’s Musse des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, and in U.S. embassies in Mozambique and Australia. Statom has exhibited at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., the Dorothy Weiss Gallery in San Francisco, and many cities in between.

Statom’s current project is a glass installation work for the Orlando Art Museum entitled “Stories of the New World.” It is an idealization of the discovery that the world isn’t flat, explains Statom. “I’m really interested in how Western Europe changed with the discovery of the New World,” Statom continues. Not only did people determine the world was a sphere and not a plane, but the discovery of the Americas by European explorers ushered in massive shifts in the political world. People’s sense of faith was altered. Societal frameworks changed with the settlement of the New World, as commoners realized they had more options than Europe’s constricted class system.

Statom explores all these notions in his installation.

The Orlando exhibit is comprised of three installations — a 14-foot throne of mirrored glass, a mirror maze, and a glass building — taking up roughly 5,000 square feet of space. It will take three semi trucks to transport the glass paintings, construction items and raw materials for the exhibit. The primary focal point of the exhibit is the glass installation building.

Standing an imposing 16-by-16-foot square, it is emblematic of Statom’s style of work. He uses unorthodox materials like glass and aluminum as the canvas for his painting. Says Statom: “I like to paint on materials that are harder than canvas.” His paintings are not framed in the traditional sense. Rather, he encases them in glass boxes, sometimes adding small, blown glass sculptures or found objects to the work.

Each wall of the building is actually comprised of several glass “boxes” that can be reconfigured or disassembled into individual works after the exhibit. Statom describes the paintings that make up the building’s walls as “seed ideas” rooted in historical American icons. He created, for instance, an orange silhouette of a shadow of a lynching. These depictions tend toward the abstract. As Statom admits, “I’m not pretending to be an illustrator.” Like some of his individual pieces, he inserts blown glass works as well as found objects. The result is a structure that looks much like a shadow box building.

After he completes “Stories of the New World,” Statom will continue work on other projects. His extensive track record of solo and group exhibitions, lectures and commissions is a clear indication that Therman Statom is always in high production mode.

For more information about Therman Statom, visit his website at www.thermanstantom.com.

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the encounter | january/february 2009 15

Cover story

“

we sing,

howard swain

we dance,

Press Club Director

we level some

”

shots.

16 january/february 2009 | the encounter

by Heather Heier Lane | photos by minorwhitestudios.com

H

oward T. Swain is a busy guy — and as director of the annual Omaha Press Club show, he’s bound to get a lot busier as he prepares for this year’s event March 28th. Always an exciting night, this year’s show promises to once again be filled with laughs at the expense of area newsmakers. If you are an elected official, head of a company, or a well-known Omahan who happened to do anything silly or even remotely stupid, you can rest assured that you will be gently reminded of it come show time. Ok, maybe not so gently. “All for fun, not fun for all … depending on what you may have done,” Swain says with a laugh.

The Omaha Press Club show is an event that can best be described as a satirical review.

“We sing, we dance, we level some shots,” Swain says. He points out that this year when the show takes place, they will have the names of the candidates running for mayor. This, in addition to coming off an election year, promises to make things extra entertaining. Swain explains that the show has a bit of an edge to it. But no matter what is said, he points out that everyone has a sense of humor about it all. According to Swain, there are no hurt feelings

and everyone seems to like playing along. Perhaps the reason everyone is so willing to be pounced on and parodied is the fact that the show is done in the name of fun—and fundraising.

Each year, the Omaha Press Club raises $50,000 for journalism scholarships.

An Omaha native, Swain is proud to help raise funds for the residents of the city he calls home. In addition to his work with the Press Club, Swain is also a board member of the Diamond Foundation of Nebraska. The foundation’s mission is to make a difference through music and education, and it focuses its time and volunteer energy on raising funds for Camp Kindle. Funds are used to cover 100 percent of the costs of attending the summer camp, designed especially for kids affected by HIV/AIDS. This busy fundraiser is also a born performer who got his start on the stage, not behind the scenes. Yet Swain had trimmed his schedule a bit in recent years, not committing to many acting roles in order to spend quality time with his parents, Edmae and Howard Swain Sr. An only child, Swain says he lucked out when it came to parents. When they started to get older, he quietly realized it was his time to take care of them. Swain is grateful he took that time. When his father passed away in June 2007, then his mother last September, he knew he had truly celebrated his parents and shown them his appreciation and love.

Swain’s mother was a groundbreaking woman of great achievement. Edmae Swain was the first black female principal of a school in Nebraska, and the first black principal of an allwhite school in Omaha. When she accepted the principal position at Jackson School in Central Omaha back in the late 1960s, even her janitors were white. Remarkably, Swain cannot remember even a moment of doubt or tension regarding his mother’s decision to take the job, and if any negative comments were tossed her way, she never spoke of them.

Swain says he always remembers his mother saying, “If you live and work and draw a salary from a community, you must always find time to give back to that community in some fashion.” And Edmae did, for more than 33 years. She was clearly a strong woman with a deep appreciation for educators, says Swain, and so it was no surprise to him when at her funeral he saw most of her surviving fellow teachers from Jackson School.

They were there to celebrate her life and her accomplishments as an administrator. Edmae proved that the best person for any job is “the right one,” regardless of gender or race.

Perhaps it was his mother’s moxie that paved the way for Swain to be comfortable in his role skewering the locals. No matter what spawned that spunk, Swain clearly relishes Omaha and pouring his creative juices into directing the Press Club show. His family provided him with a love of life, cultural events and philanthropy—and Omaha is lucky to have residents like Swain who are so committed to their families and the communities they live in.

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downtown story

“

there’s this whole network of dairies, bakeries, grocery stores, meatpackers, feed companies, farmers.

”

18 january/february 2009 | the encounter

omaha steps up to help feed the homeless

by Leo Adam Biga photos by minorwhitestudios.com

E

ach year the Siena/Francis House serves more than 300,000 meals to people in need. That means the homeless shelter at 1702 Nicholas St. must have a constant stream of donated food items coming to its dock. The hungry and homeless count on free square meals. Boom or bust, stormy or calm, the shelter must deliver.

Siena/Francis officials estimate the value of meals serve there at $600,000. “That’s a lot of meals, isn’t it?” said Executive Director Mike Saklar. “This place in the past few years has housed at times more than 70 percent of all the homeless in shelters in our community.

That’s a lot of homeless people.”

Getting enough food products to feed residents, transients and neighbors requires a 24/7 procurement operation. Securing commitments for food is one thing. Then there’s loading, unloading, sorting, storing. Preparing/serving food is a whole other matter. Bulk food is stored in refrigerators, walk-in freezers and pantries. The entire high-volume effort depends on donors and volunteers.

“We have a huge network of providers,” said Saklar. “There’s this whole network of dairies, bakeries, grocery stores, meatpackers, feed companies, farmers,” and others that give regularly to the shelter.

Shelter personnel make pick-ups. “We’re out and about every day,” Saklar said. “We have

departments

routes that we go and hit. We fill up our pickup truck and vans.” One stop is the Hy-Vee supermarket at Peony Park. Store director Martin Stokes said, “We provide all of our damaged dry goods” to the shelter. He said donated items “unfit for sale” --- due to dents, dings, punctures, tears in the handling process -- “are still perfectly good and safe to eat.” The boxes full of canned goods and the carts full of day-old baked goods equal $500 in donated goods per trip.

A weekly pit stop is the buffet at Harrah’s Horseshoe Casino in Council Bluffs, where the shelter picks up unused prepared dishes and other items. The partnership is less than a year old, yet already 50,000-plus pounds of food valued at $42,000 had been donated by the end of October.

Roberts Dairy is another major supplier on the shelter’s rounds. Roberts’ corporate marketing manager Al Streeter said on average, the dairy donates 1,000 to 30,000 units of product per month to Siena/Francis. “This includes everything from 4-ounce apple juice to gallon milk.

The products donated depend on product availability.”

“We get so much milk and milk product from them, we provide to all the other homeless shelters and probably 40 to 45 other programs in our community,” Saklar said. Siena procurement manager David Kjeldgaard said the shelter is often referred to as “a mini food bank.”

Other donors deliver up to semi-sized loads of food to the Siena dock, although most

shipments arrive by pickup or box truck.

Then there are special food drives that benefit the shelter. Saklar said in 2007, the Creighton University Medical Center collected 20,000 pounds of canned and dry goods, valued at $29,000. The items were delivered in several trips by Creighton volunteers, who worked with shelter personnel to unload, sort and store the bounty. The center did another drive last fall. And the effort goes beyond food collection and delivery. Some church groups

prepare meals on site in the men’s facility’s large commercial kitchen. Volunteers from across the metro dish out meals to clients.

Special food donations are also made.

Some area restaurants and supermarkets donate prepared meals. Werner Enterprises gives more than 100 turkeys at Thanksgiving. Various donors purchase steers, get them slaughtered and then deliver the dressed meat. Some organizations prepare special seasonal meals, including traditional ethnic dishes.

All those who give say they’re responding to a serious need. As Hy-Vee’s Martin Stokes puts it, “It’s a great way to do some good for people and to do it with products that would otherwise be thrown away.”

Saklar appreciates the generosity that makes feeding the hungry and homeless possible. The need will only grow once the Siena’s new day shelter opens this year.

He’s sure the need will be met. “Omaha does a great job. The community just steps up to it. There’s a lot of love out of this place,” Saklar said.

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downtown feAture

“

even as a kid I always tried to stand next to the people

”

with tattoos.

20 january/february 2009 | the encounter

Big Brain Productions

by Tony Endelman | photography by minorwhitestudios.com

B

ig Brain occupies an impressive 4,000-square-foot space in the Old Market that, from the outside, blends neatly into the surrounding brick and mortar. But through the front door exists a uniquely charming and sophisticated venue, comforting to even the most apprehensive customer. The waiting room gives way to five open-air tattoo booths, accented by a 200-square-foot waterfall and a 200-gallon salt water fish tank. And, showcased prominently on 10 flat screen TVs throughout the studio are the unbeatable and unmistakable Big Brain artist portfolios.

The store’s owner, Smitty, has a narrative as remarkable as his operation. Now a nationally recognized business, Big Brain materialized, as so many American institutions do, from a simple, inescapable, child-like wonderment. “Even as a kid,” explains Smitty, “I always tried to stand next to the people with tattoos. I’m intrigued by their social implications.

Eventually, I let my curiosity take over.”

Raised in Orlando, Smitty finally succumbed to his inherent fascination in 1992, during his time in the Marine Corps. He and good friend, Chris Bliston, now owner of Big Brain 2 in South Florida, combined their resources and ordered a Kaplan tattoo machine from the back of a magazine. Over the next four years, Smitty and Chris would hone their craft, notching the Corps logo onto the vacant flesh of fellow Marines. Someone, of course, had to bravely consent to be their very first client. Consequently, one lucky woman has the indecipherable image of a cherry permanently engraved into her chest.

departments In 1996, after leaving the Marine Corps, Smitty returned to Orlando and sought out Mike Carrico, owner of Bad Dog Productions. “Bad Dog lived up to every bad expectation of a tattoo parlor,” describes Smitty. “But it was there that I learned how to build a career.” Knowing the kind of business he wanted to develop, Smitty hired a woman to conduct an extensive demographic research on locations that might be conducive to success. “I was willing to throw a dart at the map,” he

store is a well-oiled machine, and every person has their purpose.” Not only does each Big Brain employee have a specialty, but each has a widely valued reputation within the tattoo industry.

“We’ve got artists from Oregon, Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania” says a proud Smitty, “and we heard about them through word of mouth.”

After eight years, Smitty admits that his talent lies in management, and attributes Big Brain’s unarguable success

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acknowledges. It turned out that Omaha, which boasts a high median income and a large female student population, seemed prime for Smitty to set up shop.

Big Brain opened in June 2000, and has since become a paradigm not just for tattoo studios, but for all customerdriven businesses. Smitty manages his store with the utmost professionalism and greatest regard for the client, offering only clean, safe, high quality services.

“There are cheaper places,” says Smitty, “but not better places.”

What truly sets Big Brain apart from other tattoo shops is the distinctive combination of artists with a palpable enthusiasm for their craft. “I put a group of people together whose work complimented my philosophy and the work of their colleagues,” describes Smitty. “The

to the seven artists that work for him. In exchange for their exceptional work, Big Brain employees receive a handsome salary, the opportunity to contribute to a 401k, health insurance, and paid vacation. Additionally, Smitty knows that Omaha has played no small role in Big Brain’s growth. “The tattoo scene was healthy when we got here,” offers Smitty.

“Others paved the way for us.” Currently, Big Brain does about 200 tattoos and 400 piercings a week, often boasting a waiting list of 1,000 names during the summer.

Continuing to flourish, Big Brain will soon release a book, featuring a stunningly beautiful layout and a glimpse into the life of a tattoo artist.

For more information on Big Brain, visit bigbrainomaha.com

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relaxation, deep tissue, ayurvedic therapies, reiki OMaha Healing Arts Center 1216 Howard St. Old Market www.omahahealingarts.com the encounter | january/february 2009 21

Condo lIfe

“

this crowd

is always

A second home at soMa Eileen Sawyers

ready to

by Tina King | photography by minorwhitestudios.com

go eat and

ileen Sawyers wasn’t sure living in downtown Omaha would be for her, but a friend convinced her to look into it.

Sawyers did, and a year and half later she’s enjoying city views and an active downtown social life. She’s settled in at the still-new Rows of SoMa condominiums, a spot she discovered while driving around the Old Market.

“It just ended up being the one I liked the most,” she says.

Now, Sawyers, a statewide sales representative for IBM, divides her time between SoMa and her cottage on Fremont’s Lake Summer Haven. Having another home allowed her to take her time choosing the final custom finishes at the condo.

“I think you make better decisions when you live in a place a while,” she says of her decision not to rush the process.

A big selling feature that drew Sawyers to SoMa was the attached garage, which provides an always available and secure parking spot removed from winter weather.

Right away, visitors get a sense that the homeowner’s life is full of art, friends and family.

She and her son, Nick, a recent industrial design graduate, collaborated on the contemporary gray and red lines of a foyer painting. Across from it hang three artfully matted black and white photographs depicting Sawyers and two friends on a wedding trip to India.

The powder room art offers a nostalgic glimpse at Nick’s artful beginnings. His work as a seventh-grader — a framed still art piece of a bicycle and a trike — adorns the wall, a testament to the Omaha art classes to which his mother used to chauffeur him.

The fact that this is a row house isn’t lost on visitors, as they face climbing steep steps to

have fun and go to

”

some concerts.

22 january/february 2009 | the encounter

E

departments

each of the home’s three floors plus the roof. This is not a home for lovers of a ranch-style floor plan.

Warm terra cotta-colored walls set off Sawyers’ orange and red artwork and accessories. The wall color works well with the partial views of SoMa’s exteriors — red brick and box-ribbed metal panels.

In the small kitchen, Sawyers faced a challenge with her extra-deep counters. Instead of installing her one-inch orange and red glass tiles directly to the backsplash, she mounted them on wood panels. The panels installed easily on the backsplash, and when the time comes to redecorate, the tiles will be easily removed as a couple pieces rather than several hundred.

Sawyers chose large, neutral, hand-painted glass panels to hang above the sink and on the side of the refrigerator facing the dining area. Keeping her creative flow going, she bypassed oft-chosen granite countertops and opted for Silestone instead.

The scratch and stain-resistant surface is made from quartz and requires no sealing.

Storage and flexibility were key issues when Sawyers planned her dining room.

Instead of installing an island bar, she chose to custom order a tall dining table/bar with storage cabinetry beneath. The table can be moved easily to fit her entertaining needs and allows seating for up to 10 people.

Of course, when you live in the Old Market, guests often want to try the local restaurants. SoMa residents frequently see each other out on their decks and plan impromptu outings, Sawyers says.

“This crowd is always ready to go eat and have fun and go to some concerts,” she says.

The camaraderie and easy socializing remind her a bit of college life.

When the night is winding down, Sawyers’ rooftop deck is a great spot to enjoy a glass of wine. Composite decking pro-

vides easy maintenance, and an overhang provides a niche away from wind and rain.

From here, guests can see Omaha’s uppermost skyline, as well as a portion of the newly lit pedestrian bridge linking Nebraska and Iowa.

When the evening’s over, the third floor’s two bedrooms offer a restful spot to watch as the city also goes to sleep. The master bath offers two thoughtful touches Sawyers thought of herself. A makeup cabinet is built into the wall’s framing, providing hidden yet convenient storage. And a small, mounted television allows for leisurely bath time viewing at the day’s end, or of the morning news at the day’s beginning.

Although she still loves her Fremont cottage, Sawyers is pleased with her second home in the city and the many dining choices it provides.

“You never have to go to the same place twice,” she says. the encounter | january/february 2009 23

10TH To 14TH STreeTS BeTween LeavenworTH & Farnam, omaHa 1

2

3

4

5

6

www.OldMarket.com 7

8

9

10

A

A

B

B

C

C

D

D

E

E

F

F

G

G

H

H

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I

J

J

K

K

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L

1

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24 january/february 2009 | the encounter

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Merchants Attractions Old MArket / dOwntOwn / riverfrOnt

Antiques

Antiques & Fine Art...(16th St). ......... 341.9942 Fairmont Antique Mall...H4 .............. 345.1778 Joe’s Collectibles...H5 ..................... 612.1543 Retro Recycle...E5 ............................ 341.1969 Second Chance...G5 ........................ 346.4930

Book stores

Jackson Street Booksellers...H5 .....341.2664 New Realities Books & Gifts...E7 ..... 342.1863 Soul Desires Books & Coffee...G7 ...898.7600

Clothing & ACCessories

Lotus ...F4 .........................................346.8080 Namaste...E7 .................................... 341.7069 Nebraska Clothing Co...E8............... 346.6114 Nouvelle Eve...E6 .............................. 345.4811 Overland Outfitters...E8 ................... 345.2900 Paper Dolls...E7 (Passageway) ........ 763.8812 Retro Recycle ...E5 ........................... 341.1969 The Souq Ltd...E7 ............................. 342.2972 Trocadéro...E4 ..................................934.8389

Downtown hotels

Courtyard by Marriott...(10th & Douglas) .......

346.2200 DoubleTree Hotel...(16th & Dodge)...346.7600 Embassy Suites Hotel...F9 ...............346.9000 Hilton Convention Center Hotel .......998.3400 Hilton Garden Inn...(10th & Dodge) .. 341.4400 Redick Plaza Hotel...(15th & Harney) ..............

342.1500 Magnolia Hotel...(16th & Howard) ... 342.2222

home Furnishings

Crawdad’s...E5 ................................. 341.3930 Kraft DC ...(16th & Leavenworth)......342.2790 Niche ...F6 ......................................... 344.4399 Room...E7 ......................................... 342.7666 Zongkers Custom Woods ................ 344.7784

gAlleries

1301 Gallery...(13th & Nicholas) .......342.6452 Artists’ Cooperative Gallery...D7 ..... 342.9617 Bella’s Place Gallery...E4 ................. 342.4242 Bemis Ctr. for Contemporary Arts...K4 ..........

341.7130 Sirens at the Loft...F6 .......................933.3333 Everything Them...F6 ....................... 341.1156 Garden Of The Zodiac...E7 .............. 341.1877 Hot Shops...13th & Nicholas ............342.6452 Images of Nature...D5 ......................341.8460 Jackson Artworks...G6 ..................... 341.1832 Nebraska Showcase Gallery...A8 .... 595.2122 Omaha ClayWorks...H5 ....................346.0560 Passageway Gallery...E7 .................. 341.1910 White Crane Gallery...E7 .................. 345.1066

heAlth serviCes

Acupuncture Libba Harmon, LAc .......................... 214.6265 Massage Therapy Sandy Aquila LMT...E3 .....................345.5078 Lisa Christensen LMT...E3 ............... 850.6651 Barb Rost LMT (19th & Douglas)...... 345.7500 Medical Dr. John Bartholet, DC...E3 .............. 342.2216 Downtown Chiropractic (2111 Douglas) .........

345.7500 Derek Fender, DDS...D4 ...................342.3901

Dr. Mark Goodman, MD...L1 ............280.5500 Dr. Stephen Peterson MD...L1..........280.5500 Dr. James Polerecky DDS (19th & Farnam) ....

341.7576 Dr. Ritch Miller DC (2111 Douglas) ... 345.7500 Heartland Pathology (310 S. 16th) ... 346.0195 Physical Therapy East & West Physical Therapy...E3 ..345.5078 Psychotherapy, EMDR, Hypnotherapy Jannette Davis, MS, CST .................341.2230 Cynthia Duggin, MSW, LCSW ..........345.5078 Jeff Stormberg, PhD (Psychotherapist).........

393.0642 Tim Swisher, MHR, LMHP, LADC ....341.2230 Pharmacy Depot Drug (1416 Dodge) ................. 544.DRUG

museums & AttrACtions

Omaha Children’s Museum...(500 S. 20th) ..........

342.6164 The Durham...J9 ...............................444.5071 InPlay...(16th & Cuming) ...................991.7400 Joslyn Art Museum...(24th & Dodge) ..............

342.3300 Lauritzen Gardens...(100 Bancroft)..346.4002 Henry Doorly Zoo...(3701 So 10th St) .............

733.8401 Qwest Center Omaha (10th & Capitol)............

341.1500

olD mArket ProPerties

Brandeis Building .............................934.1224 Farnam 1600 Building ......................342.1616 Grubb/Ellis Pacific Realty ................345.5866 The Lofts at Soma...K5..................... 895.7662 Old Market Lofts...J7 ........................345.8000 Riverfront Place ................................397.4837 Shamrock Development/Paxton Building ......

934.7711 Skinner Macaroni Apartments...H1 .346.2346 The Greenhouse Apts...A9 ...............342.3100 TipTop Building...(16th & Cuming)....345.8000

PuBs & tAverns

Bar 415...E3 .......................................346.7455 Barry O’s ...E8 ..................................341.8032 Billy Frogg’s Grille & Bar...E5 ...........341.4427 Dubliner Pub...D4 .............................342.5887 J.D. Tucker’s Bar...E8 .......................934.5190 Julio’s...F2 .........................................345.6921 La Buvette Wine & Grocery...F7.......344.8627 M’s Pub...E6 ......................................342.2550 Mr. Toad’s...E8 ..................................345.4488 Myth Lounge...F6..............................884.6985 Nomad Lounge...(J8) ........................884-1231 O’Connor’s Irish Pub...F3 .................934.9790 Old Market Tavern...F8 .....................341.0191 The Stadium Club Sports Bar & Grill...E8.......

359.1290 T Henery’s Pub...C6 .........................345.3651 The Underground...F7 ......................341.3547 Upstream Brewing Co...G6 .............344.0200 Urban Wine Company...J7 ...............934.0005 Waters Edge Lounge @ Embassy Suites...F9 .....

346.9000

restAurAnts

Farrells Bar...(902 Dodge) ................884.9947 Ahmad’s...E8.....................................341.9616

the encounter | january/february 2009 25

Merchants Attractions Old MArket / dOwntOwn / riverfrOnt

NEW MENU With 100 Sushi Roll Choices

Billy Frogg’s Grille & Bar...E5 ...........341.4427 Delice European Bakery...E4 ...........342.2276 Falling Water Grille @ Embassy Suites...F9 ........

346.9000 Famous Dave’s...D6 .........................614.9333 Flatiron Café...(17th & Howard) ........344.3040 House of Lee...F4 .............................991.9330 Indian Oven...E7 ...............................342.4856 Joe Banana’s ....................................346.7227 Julio’s...F3 .........................................345.6921 La Buvette Wine & Grocery...F7.......344.8627 Liberty Tavern (10th & Davenport) ...998.4321 Little King...H21 ................................344.2264 Lucky’s 10-0-One (10th & Pacific) ...991.1001 M’s Pub...E6 ......................................342.2550 Matsu Sushi...B8 ..............................346.3988 Michael’s at the Market...C6 ............346.1205 Nicola’s...G3 .....................................345.8466 O Dining...A8..................................... 502.7888 Old Chicago...D6 ..............................341.1616 Omaha Prime...E7.............................341.7040 Passport Restaurant...H6 ................344.3200 Rick’s Cafe Boatyard........................345.4545 Sam & Louie’s Pizza...H6 .................884.5757 Spaghetti Works...F6 ........................422.0770 Stokes Bar & Grill...(E5) ................... 408-9000 Subway...E4 ......................................341.8814 Sullivan’s Steakhouse (222 S. 15th St.) ..........

342.4432 The Diner...D5 ...................................341.9870 The French Café...F7 ........................341.3547 The Paxton Chop House...B1 ..........341.1222 Trini’s...E7..........................................346.8400 Twisted Fork...E7 ..............................932.9600 Upstream Brewing Co....G6 .............344.0200 V. Mertz...E7......................................345.8980 Vincenzo’s Ristorante...D4 ...............342.4010 Vivace...E6 ........................................342.2050 Zio’s Pizzeria...F4 .............................344.2222

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13th Street Coffee C0....G3 ..............345.2883 Aromas...I8........................................614.7009 Cubby’s Old Market Grocery...H3 ...341.2900 Delice European Bakery...E4 ...........342.2276 Hollywood Candy...F3 ......................884.7688 La Buvette Wine & Grocery...F7.......344.8627 Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream...H21 .......933.5280 MJ Java...B3 & F7 .............................342.5282 Old Market Candy Shop...F8 ...........344.8846 Patrick’s Market...(E1).......................884-1600 Soul Desires Books & Coffee...G7 ...898.7600 Ted & Wally’s Ice Cream...G5 ........... 341.5827

sPeCiAlty shoPs

Anarchy Comics & Games...E4 ........493.4955 Ashley Collectibles...E3....................934.3100 Big Brain Productions...H5 ..............342.2885 Chameleon...E7 ................................342.4444 Cibola of Omaha...F7 (509 S 11th) ...342.1200 City Limits...E3..................................345.3570 Cornerstone Gem & Bead Co....G3 . 346.4367 Drastic Plastic...F4 ........................... 346.8843 DSR Power Sports...E3 ....................991.1383 Etc. Gifts...F7 ....................................342.2846 Garden Flowers...F7 ......................... 614.5661 Garden Of The Zodiac...E7 .............. 341.1877 Goldsmith Silversmith...F7 ...............342.1737

Homer’s Records...E5 ......................346.0264 Iron Decor & More...G5 ....................346.6123 Jay Welter Cigars...(18th & Jackson)345.1965 Kessler’s...H5 (1125 Jackson) ..........715.5888 Mairzy Doatz...F6.............................. 934.4815 Namaste...E7 .................................... 341.7069 New Realities Books & Gifts...E7 ..... 342.1863 Niche...F6 .......................................... 344.4399 Old Market Habitat Floral...E6 ......... 342.0044 Old Market Sundries...F8 ................. 345.8198 OM Gifts & Imports...E3 ................... 345.5078 Overland Outfitters...F8 ................... 345.2972 Perspective Jewelry...D4.................. 934.4416 Red Square...E7................................ 342.8878 SG Roi Tobacconist...F7 .................. 341.9264 Souq Ltd...E7 .................................... 342.2972 Tannenbaum Christmas Shop...F8 .. 345.9627 The Toy Chest...E7 (Passageway).... 341.0774 Trocadéro...E4 ................................. 934-8389

serviCes

At the Loft Spa...F6...........................505.4100 Michael Boyle, Attorney...E7 ............359.1000 Centris Federal Credit Union...C3 ...334.2000 Commercial Optical...G3 .................. 344.0219 Dietz United Methodist Church ....... 346.9115 Don Fiedler Law Offices...F7 ........... 346.6263 First National Bank...(F5) ..................885-2574 Fringes Salon & Spa...G8 ................. 345.0404 Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce...D2 346.5000 Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau...B8 ....

444.4660 Hair Market Salon...E7 ..................... 345.3692 J P Cooke Rubber Stamps...F2 ....... 342.7175 Klein Law Offices...H3 ...................... 391.1871 Magical Journeys Carriage Service...E7 ........

453.6745 Movers Not Shakers ......................... 614.9770 Old Market Car Wash...J2 ................ 393.2819 Old Market Encounter ......................884.2000 Old Market Mini Storage .................. 342.0022 Old Market Web Site .....www.oldmarket.com Omaha Healing Arts Center...E4 ......345.5078 Omaha Public Library...(15th & Farnam) .........

444.4800 Omaha Yoga School...E7 .................346.7813 Pinnacle Bank...(10th & Douglas) ..... 346.9180 Security National Bank...(11th & Howard) ..........

344.7300 Sirens...F6 ......................................... 933.9333 Stinson, Morrison, Hecker LLP...C3 342.1700 Urbane Salon & Spa...B8 .................934.2909 Susie’s Baskets...D4......................... 341.4650 Sutera Law Offices...E6.................... 342.3100 Visions Framing Studio...K4 .............342.0020

theAtres & entertAinment

Blue Barn Theater...G6 ..................... 345.1576 FilmStreams...(14th & Webster) ........ 933-0259 Holland Performing Arts Center...(12th & Douglas) .............................................345.0606 Omaha Symphony...(16th & Howard)..............

342.3836 Opera Omaha...(17th & Farnam)....... 346.4398 Orpheum Theater...(16th & Farnam).345.0606 The Rose...(20th & Farnam) .............. 345.4849

Downtown and Council Bluffs JANUARY EVENTS 1/2 - 1/4: Sesame Street Live Presents: Elmo’s Green Thumb.

Qwest Center Omaha.

Sunny isn’t just the weather forecast on Sesame Street it’s also the name fo Elmo’s sunflower friend! Join all of your favorite friends on an amazing adventure as they help Elmo find a new home for Sunny when Sesame Street Live “Elmo’s Green Thumb” comes to Qwest Center Omaha.

455 N. 10 St. www. q westcente romaha. com 1/4: Eyewitness: American Originals from the National Archives. The Durham Museum.

Chronicles some of the most dramatic moments in history: the storming of the Bastille in Paris, the explosion of the Hindenburg, and assassination of President Kennedy.

The Durham Museum is one of only six locations in the country to host this exhibition.

801 S. 10 St.. www. durhammuseum.org 1/5 - 4/18: Crossroads of Commerce. The Durham Museum.

801 S. 10 St. www. durhammuseum.org 1/9: Spring Flower Show.

Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center. 100 Bancroft St. www.omahabotanicalgardens.org

1/9: Girl Talk.

Slowdown. 729 N. 14 St. www.theslowdown. com 1/9 - 1/11: Monster Jam. Mid-America Center.

MONSTER JAM returns to the Mid-America Center with four action-packed shows January 9 - 11, 2009.

Don’t miss this family event featuring the best monster trucks in the business. Weighing 10,000 pounds, with 1,500 horsepower – MONSTER JAM stars will battle to be the best in the full throttle racing competition and the audiencescored “freestyle” competition. It’s all the excitement you can handle with high flying fun, car crushing craziness, and hardcore horsepower.

One Arena Way, Council Bluffs. www. m i d a m e r i c a c e n t e r. com 1/10: La Rondine.

Film Streams. Nicolas Joël directs this new production, which stars opera’s charismatic real-life duo Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna, in Puccini’s gorgeously melodic look at love.

Marco Armiliato conducts.

1340 Webster St. www. filmstreams.org 1/10 - 5/17: Union Pacific’s American Vacation: The Sun Valley Story.

The Durham Museum.

801 S. 10 St. www. durhammuseum.org

January/February Calendar of Events

1/11: Fantasy Uncoiled: Prints by CoBrA Artists.

Joslyn Art Museum.

CoBrA, an acronym for the members’ cities of origin, Copenhagen, Brussels, and Amsterdam, is one of the great abstract expressionistic movements of the 20th century. 2200 Dodge St. www.joslyn.org 1/11: The Mastercraftsmen of Palekh Miniatures: Icons to Souvenir Boxes to Icons. Joslyn Art Museum. Visitors to the former Soviet Union and to today’s Russia are confronted in tourist shops with an array of striking handpainted, black lacquer papier-mâché boxes.

Available in countless sizes and prices, what is lost to the casual eye is the extraordinary and venerable tradition of the craftsmanship entailed in producing them — techniques that date back centuries and have been adapted regularly to satisfy popular taste, religious mores, and political directives. This is the first American exhibition to examine these works of art, made in the Russian village of Palekh (pronounced PAWlekh), about 225 miles northeast of Moscow.

2200 Dodge St. www. joslyn.org 1/16: Thomas Kubinek.

Orpheum Theater.

Uproarious absurdity, spontaneous wit and courageous feats of nonsense - all rolled into an incredible one-man show. 409

S. 16 St. www.omahaperformingarts.org 1/16 1/17: Omaha Symphony Masterworks Series: Ravel’s Bolero. Holland Center.

Originally composed as a ballet, Bolero epitomozes Ravel’s preoccupation with restyling and reinventing dance movements.

It has been featured in popular cultural outlets including the movie, “10”, video games, and the Olympics. 1200 Douglas. www.omahaperformingarts.org 1/16 - 1/18: River City Hunting & Fishing Expo.

Mid-America Center. w w w. r i v e r c i t y e x p o . com One Arena Way, Council Bluffs. www. m i d a m e r i c a c e n t e r. com 1/16 – 2/1: Love, Sex and the IRS. Chanticleer Community Theater.

830 Franklin Avenue, Council Bluffs.

1/18: Omaha Symphony Family Series: Symphonic Storytime.

Holland Center.

Come along on the adventure as Maestro Thomas Wilkins and the Omaha Symphony bring music’s timeless tales to life. Come early and try out the Instrument Petting Zoo, and don’t forget to visit the Omaha Children’s Museum to make your very own homemade instrument that you can play on stage after the concert! 1200 Douglas. www.omahaperformingarts.org

1/19 - 2/27: The Fred Simon Gallery: Richard Weigmann. Fred Simon Gallery.

Displaying the paintings of Seward artist Richard Wiegmann.

The gallery is located in the Nebraska Arts Council offices. 1004 Farnam St., Lower Level. www. nebraskaar tscouncil. org 1/21: La Rondine.

Film Streams. Nicolas Joël directs this new production, which stars opera’s charismatic real-life duo Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna, in Puccini’s gorgeously melodic look at love. Marco Armiliato conducts.

1340 Webster St. www. filmstreams.org 1/23: 1200 Club at the Holland: Catie Curtis. Holland Center.

Chicago Hope, Alias, Grey’s Anatomy… these are just a few of the hit television shows that have recently showcased the warm, uplifting musical stylings of Catie Curtis. Armed with vivid, insightful lyrics, this “folk-rock goddess” recently beat out 15,000 other songwriters from 82 countries to claim the grand prize at the 2006 International S o n g w r i t i n g Competition.

1200 Douglas. www.omahaperformingarts.org 1/24: Orfeo ed Euridice.

Film Streams. This hit from the 2006–07 season, directed by Mark Morris, will feature the artistry of Stephanie Blythe and Danielle de

Niese in the title roles.

Music Director James Levine conducts. 1340 Webster St. www. filmstreams.org 1/24: Playing With Fire Winter Series: Greg Koch and the Other Bad Men. Holland Center. Greg Koch album “Live on the Radio” showcases his current working band, Greg Koch & Other Bad Men. With bassist Roscoe Beck (longtime sideman to guitarists Robben Ford and Eric Johnson), drummer Tom Brechtlein (a former member of Ford’s Blueline band and a frequent collaborator with Chick Corea) and the charismatic Austin-based soul singer Malford Milligan (formerly the frontman for Storyville and Double Trouble), Koch unleashes his considerable chops in the context of song forms on this vibrant live set. There is plenty of blistering, mindbending fretboard feats (or in Koch-ese, “plectrum-fueled skullduggery”) for sixstring connoisseurs to savor on--Live on the Radio. He filters his killer influences through his own slightly bent prism that is tinted with grunge and tinged with gristle.

1200 Douglas. www.omahaperformingarts.org 1/22 - 1/25: Midlands International Auto Show. Qwest Center Omaha. All the newest cars, trucks and SUV’s to hit the showrom floor. 455 N. 10 St. www. q wes tce nte ro m a h a. com

the encounter | january/february 2009 27

Downtown and Council Bluffs

Venues

Ameristar Casino

Images of Nature

2200 River Road, Council Bluffs, Iowa.

(712) 328-8888, Ameristar.com

1115 Harney St. (402) 341-8460, mangelsen.com

Artists’ Cooperative Gallery 405 S. 11th Street, Old Market, (402) 342-9617, www.artistco-opgallery.com. Regular hours & admission: Wed&Thur, 11am-5pm; Fri&Sat, 11am10pm, Sun, noon-5pm, free.

Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts & bemisUNDERGROUND 724 S. 12th St., (402) 341-7130, bemiscenter.org.

Regular hours & admission: Tue-Sat, 11am-5pm, free.

Blue Barn Theatre 614 S. 11th St., (402) 345-1576, www.bluebarn.org

Civic Auditorium & Music Hall 18th & Capitol streets, (402) 422-1212

John Beasley Theater & Workshop 3010 Q St. (402) 444-3446. JohnBeasleyTheater.org

Joslyn Art Museum 2200 Dodge Street, (402) 342-3300, joslyn.org.

Tues-Sat/10am-4pm; Sun/noon-4pm. $7 adults; $5 seniors & college students; $4 ages 5-17; free age 4 and younger; free to general public Sat/10am-noon.

Lewis & Clark Landing/Riverfront 515 N. Riverfront Dr. on the banks of the Missouri River between the new Qwest Arena and the river.

Mid-America Center One Arena Way, Council Bluffs, Iowa, (712) 323-0536.

Millennium Theatre

10th & Farnam Streets

Nebraska Showcase Gallery, Nebraska Council for the Arts, Burlington Building, 1004 Farnam St., (402) 595-2122, midamericacenter.com.

The Durham Museum

Old Market

801 S. 10th St., (402) 444-5071, durhammuseum.org.

Regular hours & admission: Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm; Sun 1-5pm. $6 adults, $5 seniors, $4 ages 3-12, free 2 & under.

Area of 10th to 13th streets, and Leavenworth to Harney streets.

ConAgra Foods Campus

El Museo Latino 4701 S 25th St., (402) 731-1137. www.elmuseolatino.org.

Regular hours & admission: Mon, Wed&Fri/10am-5pm; Tues/1-7pm; Thurs/1-5pm; Sat/10am-2pm. $5 adults; $3.50 students & seniors; $4 college students.

General Crook House

Omaha Children’s Museum 500 S. 20th St., (402) 342-6164, www.ocm.org.

Regular hours & admission: Tues, Wed, Fri&Sat, 10am5pm; Thurs, 10am-8pm; Sun, 1-5pm. $5.50 adults & ages 2-15; $4.50, seniors 60+ & children under 2.

Opera Omaha

30th and Fort streets, (402) 455-9990.

1625 Farnam, (402) 346-4398, ext. 111. www.operaomaha.org

Harrah’s Casino

Orpheum Theater

2701 23rd Ave, Council Bluffs, Iowa. (712) 323-2500, harrahs.com

16th & Harney streets. Ticket box used only for day-of or night-of performance only. See Ticket Omaha for pre-event ticket information.

Henry Doorly Zoo 3701 S 10th St., (402) 733-8401

Hitchcock Nature Center Honey Creek, Iowa, I-29 exit #61A, (712) 545-3283

Holland Performing Arts Center 13th & Douglas Streets, ground level, TicketOmaha.org, (402) 345-0606, or (402) 341-1811 (TTY).

Horseshoe Casino 2701 23rd Ave., (712) 323-2500, horseshoe.com

Hot Shops Art Gallery 1301 Nicholas St., (402) 342-6452, hotshopsartcenter.com

28 january/february 2009 | the encounter

Qwest Center Omaha 455 N. 10th St., (402) 422-1212, qwestcenteromaha.com.

Rose Theater 2201 Farnam Street, (402) 345-4849, rosetheater.org Ticketmaster 402-422-1212 (402-475-1212) or online at ticketmaster.com

Rosenblatt Stadium 1202 Bert Murphy Ave., 738-5100.

Ticket Omaha 13th & Douglas Streets inside the Holland Performing Arts Center, (402) 345-0606, TicketOmaha.org

Sponsored by Pinnacle Bank 1/23 - 1/25: Omaha Symphony Pops Series: Englebert Humperdinck. Holland Center. This well-known pop singer rose to fame in the 1960s after adopting the name of the famous German opera composer.

From his first chart hit, Humperdinck enjoyed continued success throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

1200 Douglas. w w w . o m a h a performingarts.org 1/23 - 1/25: Omaha Symphony: Engelbert Humperdinck. Holland Center. This well-known pop singer rose to fame in the 1960s after adopting the name of the famous German opera composer as his stage name. From his first chart hit, “Release Me (and Let me Love Again)” in 1967, Humperdinck enjoyed continued chart success throughout the 1970s and ‘80s with the hits “The Last Waltz,” “After the Lovin’,” and “When There’s No You,” among others. 1200 Douglas. w w w . o m a h a performingarts.org 1/24 - 5/3: Wood. The Durham Museum. First in a 2009-2010 series of permanent collection exhibitions about printmaking, followed by stone and metal.

801 S. 10 St. www. durhammuseum.org 1/27: Tu B’Shevat.

Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center. Together with Beth El Synagogue, Lauritzen Gardens is hosting a community Tu B’Shevat family event on Sunday, January 27, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the visitor and education center. Tu B’Shevat marks the beginning of a “New Year for Trees” and celebrates the importance of nature preservation.

A variety of festivities will be offered such as story telling, handson activities for both children and adults including planting, arts and crafts, and a film about Israel.

A special program for both adults and

children will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the great hall. Also included will be tours of four stations, representing the four seasons, in the floral display hall. At each station, plants will be on display, a song will be sung, a poem will be read and fruits and nuts of that particular season will be tasted. 100 Bancroft St. www.omahabotanicalgardens.org 1/30: AVP Pro Beach Volleyball.

Qwest Center Omaha.

455 N. 10 St. www. q wes tcente romaha. com 1/31: Omaha Symphony Rocks Series: Michael Cavanaugh. Holland Center.

Michael Cavanaugh captured the New York City spotlight as the star vocalist and pianist in the hit Broadway musical Movin’ Out. Hand-picked by Billy Joel for the show’s starring role, he won the hearts of audiences and critics. Join us to celebrate the greatest legends of rock & roll with this exciting and talented performer.

1200 Douglas. w w w . o m a h a performingarts.org 1/31: Omaha Symphony: Michael Cavanaugh Featuring the Music of Billy Joel & More. Holland Center.

Michael Cavanaugh captured the New York City spotlight as the star vocalist and pianist in the hit Broadway musical Movin’ Out. Handpicked by Billy Joel for the show’s starring role, he won the hearts of audiences and critics night after night during his 1,200 performances.

Join us to celebrate the greatest legends of Rock n’ Roll with this exciting and talented performer.

1200 Douglas. w w w . o m a h a performingarts.org 1/29 - 2/1: Pride Players: Project 10. The Rose Theater. Now in its 10th year, Pride Players uses improvisation to create songs, poetry,

monologues, scenes and skits that explore teenage sexual orientation. In 2006, The National Education Association presented Pride Players with a Human and Civil Rights Award. Directed by Brian Guehring and Tracy Iwerson. 2001 Farnam St. www. rosetheater.org 1/30 - 2/1: Broadway Across America: CATS. Orpheum Theater.

No better way to introduce your family to the wonders of live theater with the magic, the mystery, the memory of Cats.

Winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, Cats features 20 of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s timeless melodies, including the hit song, “Memory.” 409 S. 16 St. www.omahaperformingarts.org 1/31 - 4/26: Chocolate.

The Durham Museum.

Visitors will immerse themselves in the story of one of the world’s most popular edible pleasures during Chocolate, coming to The Durham Museum from the Field Museum in Chicago. Chocolate explores the ancient and modern uses of the cacao bean, whose dense seed pods and bitter taste have been used as food, currency, and more over the past 1,500 years.

801 S. 10 St. www. durhammuseum.org FEBRUARY EVENTS 2/2: Chris Tomlin With Israel Houghton and New Breed.

MidAmerica Center.

One Arena Way, Council Bluffs. www. m i d a m e r i c a c e n t e r. com 2/4: Orfeo ed Euridice.

Film Streams. This hit from the 2006–07 season, directed

by Mark Morris, will feature the artistry of Stephanie Blythe and Danielle de Niese in the title roles.

Music Director James Levine conducts. 1340 Webster St. www. filmstreams.org

2/5 2/28: The Seafarer. Brigit St. Brigit Theatre Company.

“A chilling new play about the sea, Ireland, and the power of myth…No matter what you’re expecting at the halfway mark. You won’t feel cheated when the curtain falls.”

614 S. 11 St. 2/7: Lucia di Lammermoor.

Film Streams.

Mary Zimmerman’s hit production, which opened the 2007–08 season, stars the charismatic Anna Netrebko opposite Rolando Villazón as her lover and Mariusz Kwiecien as her tyrannical brother; Marco Armiliato conducts.

1340 Webster St. www. filmstreams.org 2/7: Omaha Symphony: I Love a Parade. Holland Center. This upbeat program of symphonic marches, including the Colonel Bogey March from Bridge on the River Kwai and Mendelssohn’s Wedding March, is sure to make you sit up in your seat and put a spring in your step. 1200 Douglas. w w w . o m a h a performingarts.org 2/7 - 5/10: Sentimental Journey: The Art of Alfred Jacob Miller.

Joslyn Art Museum.

This exhibition surveys the first artist to travel across the plains and into the heart of the Rocky Mountains.

Approximately 70 sketches, watercolors, painings and collateral materials. 2200 Dodge St. www.joslyn.org 2/12: The Peking Acrobats®. Orpheum Theater.

Gymnasts, jugglers, cyclists and tumblers present an all-ages kaleidoscope of entertainment and wonder. 409 S. 16 St. www.omahaperformingarts.org 2/12 - 2/22: Swing, Swing, Swing!

The Rose Theater. Start with Omaha Theater Ballet’s wonderful group of versatile

professional dancers.

Add the talents of award-winning New York director/ choreographer Greg Ganakas. Stir in Omaha’s own swing band, Extra Space Jazz band, led by Chris Acker. Result: an exciting and energetic swing ballet!

2001 Farnam St. www. rosetheater.org 2/13: 1200 Club at the Holland: The Waybacks.

Holland Center.

Refreshing and eclectic, The Waybacks are selfproclaimed and celebrated as purveyors of “acoustic mayhem.” Performing repertoire influenced by Memphis soul, honky-tonk, swing, classical music, pop, and much more, The Waybacks constantly surprise audiences with their sharp witted humor and unpredictable, musically dazzling performances.

1200 Douglas. w w w . o m a h a performingarts.org 2/13 2/14: Omaha Symphony Masterworks Series: Symphonic Dances.

Holland Center. Treat your sweetheart to a program of symphonic dances.

Starting with Bernstein’s unfo rget tab le score to West Side Story and moving to Rachmaninoff’s sweeping Symphonic Dances -- combining energetic rhythmic selections with some of his most lush melodies.

This is sure to make for the perfect date night. 1200 Douglas. w w w . o m a h a performingarts.org 2/13 - 2/14: Omaha Symphony: Symphonic Dances.

Holland Center.

Treat your sweetheart to a program of symphonic dances.

Starting with Bernstein’s unfo rget tab le score to West Side Story, and moving to Rachmaninoff’s sweeping Symphonic Dances – combining energetic rhythmic sections with some of

his most lush melodies – this is sure to make for a perfect date night. 1200 Douglas. w w w . o m a h a performingarts.org 2/14: 1200 Club at the Holland: Bettye LaVette.

Holland Center.

Bettye LaVette is one of the greatest soul singers in American music history, possessed of an incredibly expressive voice that one moment will exude a formidable level of strength and intensity and the next will appear vulnerable, reflective, reeking of heartbreak.

Although LaVette has been recording for over four decades, up until recent years she has remained criminally unknown.

1200 Douglas. w w w . o m a h a performingarts.org 2/14: Valentine’s Day Dinner.

Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center.

Treat your loved one to Valentine’s dinner in the intimate surroundings of the floral display hall on February 14. Your table will be lit with candles, the fireplace will be roaring, and the scent of spring flowers will fill the air. 100 Bancroft St. www.omahabotanicalgardens.org 2/18: Lucia di Lammermoor.

Film Streams.

Mary Zimmerman’s hit production, which opened the 2007–08 season, stars the charismatic Anna Netrebko opposite Rolando Villazón as her lover and Mariusz Kwiecien as her tyrannical brother; Marco Armiliato conducts.

Mary Zimmerman’s hit production, which opened the 2007–08 season, stars the charismatic Anna Netrebko opposite Rolando Villazón as her lover and Mariusz Kwiecien as her tyrannical brother; Marco Armiliato conducts.

1340 Webster St. www. filmstreams.org

J.P. COOKE COMPANY

RUBBER STAMPS PRE-INKED STAMPS INTERIOR SIGNS DESK NAME PLATES NAME BADGES EMBOSSING SEALS

“OLD MARKET”

1311 HOWARD OMAHA, NE 68102 (402) 342-7175 FAX: 402-342-9426

The Original Old Market Irish B ar Nightly Specials Live Irish Music Weekends Open 11a.m.

1205 H arney St. 342-5887

dublinerpubomaha.com the encounter | january/february 2009 29

Sponsored by Pinnacle Bank

A Healthy Life Happens at the Downtown Family YMCA

2/18: Grease.

Orpheum Theater.

409 S. 16 St. www. omahaperformingarts. org 2/21: Blue Note Records 70th Anniversary On Tour. featuring Bill Charlap (music director), Peter Bernstein, Ravi Coltrane, Lewis Nash, Nicholas Payton, Peter Washington & Steve Wilson. Holland Center.

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Blue Note label, this all-star band, featuring some of the finest jazz musicians today, will travel the world. From hot jazz, to swing, to bebop, Blue Note has created an undisputable legacy as the premier label in the history of jazz.

1200 Douglas. www. omahaperformingarts. org

No Joining Fee ($75 value) When you join the Downtown Family YMCA during January 2009.

430 S 20TH ST• OMAHA • 402-341-1600 • METROYMCA.ORG

2/21: Downtown Omaha Inc. Gala.

Embassy Suites Old Market. 2009 winners: Cultural Arts: Matthew Placzek for Illumina and Labor; Economic Development: Qwest Center Omaha; Special Events/Festivals: Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben for River City Roundup; Architectural Planning: Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge; Adaptive Reuse/ Restoration: Kutak Rock for their building renovation; Spirit of the Community: Marc Nichols for Holiday Lights; Visionary: Hal Daub; Pioneer: The Backens Family for Paragon Printing. Event begins at 5:30, dinner at 7 p.m., dancing at 8:30. Tickets, $75.

Contact Paula Presents!

For tickets or more information, call 5105067 or ppresents@aol. com.

2/18 - 2/22: Broadway Across America: GREASE. Holland Center.

1200 Douglas. www. omahaperformingarts. org 2/22: The Many Faces of David Diaz. Joslyn Art Museum. Caldecott Award-winning illustrator David Diaz notes, “Just as monks labored over pages of scripture bringing them to life, I strive to shine light, to make clear to the reader in a

30 january/february 2009 | the encounter

visual form the content, feeling, and meaning of the text. The role of the illustrator is to illuminate.” To that end, Diaz employs myriad materials and dynamic styles to create strikingly rich illustration for expressive children’s books. 2200 Dodge St. www.joslyn.org 2/27: Leahy. Orpheum Theater.

This powerhouse of eight brothers and sisters delivers a volcanic explosion of talent and energy. Their fiddledriven music, dance and song is described as, “fresh, vibrant and engaging..” by the Buffalo News.

409 S. 16 St. www. omahaperformingarts. org 2/27 - 3/1: The Magical Music of Disney.

Holland Center. Get ready to wish upon a star and open the door to the Magic Kingdom with music from your favorite Walt Disney movies & Broadway shows including Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Beauty & the Best, The Lion King, Tarzan, and many more. Performed by “The Little Mermaid” herself, Jody Benson, and a cast of talented vocalists, you’ll want to join us for this musical journey.

1200 Douglas. www. omahaperformingarts. org 2/27 - 3/1: Omaha Golf & Travel Expo. MidAmerica Center. nside the convention center golfers will find up to 90 exhibitor booths featuring discounts on equipment and apparel, as well as information on travel destinations from across the country. In addition to booths, the expo will feature a 100-foot indoor hitting net. In the net, attendees will find free lessons from local PGA professionals, a place to test out new clubs from top club manufacturers, as well as long drive and closest pin contests.

An artificial putting green will also be rolled out for a putting contest. Outside the expo hall is the Golf Digest Registration Pavillion equipped with

computers to register attendees for their free one-year subscription to Golf Digest included with each paid admission. This is also where attendees register for hourly door prize drawings.

One Arena Way, Council Bluffs. www. m i d a m e r i c a c e n t e r. com

! pen O owtreet N S r ntearnam e es C 3 F Sal 333

see it. touch it. experience it.

Midtown Crossing Sales Center Open! Walk right in to the Midtown Crossing at Turner Park Sales and Design Center and experience the development’s luxury condos and contemporary lifestyle. We’re located in the Mutual of Omaha Bank building at 3333 Farnam Street.

Omaha’s most exciting new development offers luxury 1- and 2-bedroom condominiums with sweeping views and state-of-the-art amenities. Shopping, dining, entertainment, personal services and acres of green space await outside your front door.

sales and design center 3333 Farnam St. (402) 351-3333 M-F 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Weekends noon-5 p.m. midtowncrossing.com

This is not an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, real property. Purchasers should review the Federal Property Report prior to signing a contract. No federal or state agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Artists’ renderings are shown for illustrative purposes only. *See sales agent for details.

Dinner well done.

Or medium rare if you prefer.

At Upstream Brewing Company, we proudly serve hand-cut Omaha Steaks™ – filets, rib-eyes, New York strips. Are you getting hungry? We’re a city famous for steak so of course we serve the beef that bears our name. Our new American pub fare menu also includes delicious favorites, hearty sandwiches and burgers and a wide variety of appetizers and thin-crust pizzas. And with generous portions, scrumptious sides and a dessert menu second to none, we promise you’ll never leave hungry.

Old Market 11th & Jackson

402.344.0200

West Omaha

171st & W. Center Rd.

402.778.0100

We’re not called Upstream Brewing Company because of our iced tea.

Our award-winning, hand-crafted beers are brewed fresh on-site in a variety of styles – from our bitter Firehouse ESB to our sweet Honey Raspberry Ale. Stop in today, and find one to call your favorite.

Happy hour specials, hours of operation, full food, beer and wine menus. Find all this and more at UpstreamBrewing.com