ENCOUNTER Encounte r Omaha . com
J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6
V I S UA L D I A LO G U E Multimedia Artist Sarah Rowe
JULY/AUGUST 2016
T R U E CO LO R S Chanell Jaramillo Heals With Holistic Passion THE MCBRIDES Row Home Residents In the Heart of Downtown JOHN HARGISS Creator of Music, Craft, and Theater
oldmarket.com
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Contents 4
FA C E S : Josh Soto Local Musician Trades California for Omaha
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C O V E R : Sarah Rowe Visual Dialogue
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M U S I C : Josh Hoyer Colossal Heart & Soul
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P E R F O R M A N C E : Nils Haaland His Blue Period
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F E AT U R E : Chanell Jaramillo Healing With Holistic Passion
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D I N I N G : Fauxmaha Hot Dogs of the Future
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FA S H I O N : Rugged Summer Looks
FA C E S : Mike Fratt A Life of Music
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L I V I N G : The McBrides Row Home Residents in the Heart of Downtown
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F E AT U R E : John Hargiss Creator of Music, Craft, and Theater
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H I S T O R Y: Mount Vernon Gardens A Virginia Landmark in Omaha
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Downtown Omaha Map
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Merchants & Attractions
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Calendar of Events
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J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 Publisher Todd Lemke Executive Editor Doug Meigs Associate Editor Daisy Hutzell-Rodman
Best Paao in the Old Market! 11th & Harney
Editorial Assistant Jared Kennedy Editorial Intern Michael Nichols Contributing Writers Leo Adam Biga • Ryan Borchers • Judy Horan Sean McCarthy • Kara Schweiss • Max Sparber James Walmsley • Sarah Wengert Creative Director Bill Sitzmann Art Director Kristen Hoffman Senior Graphic Designer Rachel Joy Graphic Designer Matthew Wieczorek Junior Graphic Designer Derek Taubert Branding Specialists Greg Bruns • Gil Cohen • Kyle Fisher • Mary Hiatt George Idelman • Gwen Lemke • Joshua Peterson Assistant to the Publisher Sandy Matson Account Assistants Jessica Cullinane • Alicia Smith Hollins Dawn Dennis Operations Tyler Lemke Accounting Holley Garcia-Cruz Warehouse Distribution Manager Mike Brewer Events Intern Alesha Olson For Advertising Information: 402.884.2000 omahamagazine.com Owned and Managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD. All versions of Encounter are published bimonthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD P.O. Box 461208, Omaha, NE 68046-1208. Telephone: 402.884.2000; fax: 402.884.2001. No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted; however, no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations.
Old Market
Now Open in Benson
1120 Jackson Street • 402.341.5827 6023 Maple Street • 402.551.4420 tedandwallys.com J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 3
9 Years In A Row
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FA C E S
Local Musician Trades California for Omaha T H E G U I TA R G U R U AT BLACKSTONE'S GROUND FLOOR by Jared Kennedy photography by Bill Sitzmann
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ENICE, CALIFORNIA, TEMPTS many people— with sandy beaches and year-round sunshine, it is obvious why folks from around the world flock to the destination. Josh Soto has lived there, and he moved on. He now calls Omaha home.
For the sake of Omaha’s music scene, Soto traded Southern California’s serene climate for volatile weather and bitter winters. He relocated five years ago, and he has been a fixture ever since. Almost immediately after coming to Omaha, he started playing bass for a local band called The Scene, and he worked at Guitar Center. “I played in the Scene for about five years, and just from working there (at Guitar Center) I got to meet everyone and kind of integrate myself into the Omaha music scene,” Soto says. Soto says Omaha feels so much like home it sometimes seems funny to think he came from a completely different place. “It’s been a slow build, and it’s kind of funny how many people think I am from here,” Soto says. “I am a total gear junkie, so it kind of helped when people would come to me for advice, or just pick my brain about different things as a Guitar Center guy.” After more than five years working at the shop near Oak View Mall, Soto is now the general manager of Ground Floor Guitars in the Blackstone District. He says Guitar Center customers often complained about the long commute to West Omaha. Ground Floor is a solution to their problem. “I was approached by Phil (Schaffart, Ground Floor’s owner). He wanted to do a guitar shop in Blackstone, and it just made total sense,” Soto says.
it is going to allow me to better serve my friends in the music community right here in the neighborhood,” he says. He recognizes how meaningful it is for a good guitar shop to have caring and attentive employees who build relationships with customers. For Soto, the notion even carries a hint of nostalgia. “I knew a guy named Josh that worked in Guitar Center back in Hollywood, and he always took care of me, from when I was a 15-year-old idiot kid who had no money to when I actually started being in bands and playing shows,” Soto says. Soto says he wants to be that person for other guitarists: the guy who always takes care of you, your “man on the inside.” Soto wants people to know they can count on him to take care of their needs. “It’s sweet that the people of Omaha have trusted me and kind of adopted me,” Soto says with a laugh. “I get a lot of personal satisfaction in being able to help people. I love talking about gear, and I am very fortunate that I can do what I love for a living.” Just like his employment at Guitar Center, Soto’s band, The Scene, was bound for change, too. “We did a lot of really cool stuff. We toured a lot, we played Maha in 2012, and we played the opening ceremonies for the College World Series two years ago,” Soto says. “That band just recently ended.” Soto briefly played with several local bands before joining his current group, High Up. Soto says his first rehearsal with High Up carried a very surreal realization.
According to Soto, Ground Floor won’t be the shop that has everything, but they will have the basics.
“I’m playing with all stars,” Soto says. “That was one of those pinch me moments where I thought, ‘I’m playing with these guys?’” The rest of the band consists of Christine and Orenda Fink (vocals), Greg Elsasser (keyboard), and Eric Ohlsson (drums).
“We are going to have the essentials, so if you need a new pack of picks, or strings, an amp, or a new guitar, it’s all going to be right here,” Soto says.
High Up got together just over a year ago and the band is sure to remain in the Omaha music scene for some time—much like their bassist, Josh Soto. Encounter
Soto has a lot of love for the Omaha music scene, and he sees this new adventure with Ground Floor as a way to give back. “I think
Visit highup1.bandcamp.com for more information.
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Visual DIALOGUE M U LT I M E D I A A R T I S T SARAH ROWE by Kara Schweiss photography by Bill Sitzmann
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HE WORK OF multimedia artist Sarah Rowe is often described as having a “sense of playfulness and a hint of sarcasm,” and Rowe herself says that art sometimes speaks in a way that is provocative and challenging more than serving as a thing of beauty.
“I’m just a firm believer in not questioning what it is that you’re called to do. I’m not trying to please anyone, not even myself necessarily,” she says. Native American themes from symbology to history are prevalent in many of Rowe’s works; she is of Lakota and Ponca descent and is an enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. “I was brought up with Lakota ceremony and tradition,” she says. “I identify with both, but I would say my spiritual ties are definitely Lakota.” Through her art, she has confronted issues from self-identity to the history of exploitation of Native Americans as well as honored the traditions of her ancestors. “It’s been an interesting journey, certainly, as an urban Native. And there’s been a lot of discouragement there, but in a way it’s inspired me to carry on and use that part of me and that voice. I almost feel like I have a responsibility,” she says. “Using art as a platform is such a great way to raise awareness and have a dialogue…I want people to feel comfortable to approach me, and share my ideas and history, and connect as human beings that way.” Her calling has led her to explore a wide spectrum of media, from metal to photography to performance art including traditional flute and dance.
Rowe is not only a visual and performing artist, but also a practitioner of the healing arts, or as she succinctly puts it: “Very hands-on.” She works as a licensed esthetician at Curb Appeal Salon and Spa in the Old Market, where she’s been able to integrate her heritage by practicing holistic, multisensory body treatments with aspects of Lakota healing ceremonies. Rowe says she believes sharing knowledge of these healing ceremonies “enriches connections to ourselves and the earth, promoting well-being and balance of mind and body.” She also enjoys connecting to nature through hiking and exploring with her 11-year-old daughter, who’s already showing her own artistic talents as a writer and illustrator. Rowe has exhibited through numerous galleries and arts organizations including the four-year project Sweatshop Gallery in Benson (which she co-founded), RNG Gallery in Council Bluffs, The Union for Contemporary Art, and Joslyn Art Museum’s Art Seen. She is currently represented by Darger HQ Gallery, an international artist collective based in Omaha. Some of her pieces are commercially available at Hutch, a furniture and home accents retailer in Midtown Crossing, and samples of her artworks can also be seen on her website, saroart.net (the name winks at her lifelong experience of people running her first and last name together as “Saro”). “You can never learn it all, and I think that’s part of the fun,” Rowe says. ENcounter Visit saroart.net for more information.
“I went to art school as a sculptor but I was so interested in learning all of these new techniques that I left with a studio degree,” she explains. Rowe received a bachelor’s degree in studio art from Webster University after studying in both St. Louis, Missouri, and Vienna, Austria. “I kind of just gave everything a try.”
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“I’m just a firm believer in not questioning what it is that you’re called to do. I’m not trying to please anyone, not even myself necessarily.”
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Colossal Heart & Soul JOSH HOYER by Ryan Borchers photography contributed by Josh Hoyer
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MUSIC
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MUSIC
People used to call James Brown “the hardest working man in show business,” and Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal are no slouches either. They released their first record with Silver Street in 2014 and have since released a live album and two more studio albums, including the April 2016 release Running from Love. In addition, the band toured 32 states last year, playing 150 shows and traveling nearly 60,000 miles. They’re on pace to do that again this year. Some shows have 10 or 15 people in the audience; factoring in travel costs means that the tours aren’t necessarily financially lucrative. “There’s a lot of parts that have to come together to have a successful show in a new city as a new band. And it’s very difficult to get your name out there, get people to recognize that when they look at the paper, and go, ‘Oh, I’ll go check out this Josh Hoyer dude.’ Why would you do that?” The band recorded Running from Love in Nashville at the Sound Emporium with Ken Coomer, a Grammy-nominated drummer and producer. They hired a publicist to promote the record. They’ve also posted some videos on YouTube (as of this writing, the video for their song “Parts of a Man” has more than 65,000 views). “Our goal, working with some of these higher-profile people and the higher-profile studio, was to hopefully get our foot in the door in…more of the national scene,” Hoyer says. However, despite some fantastic reviews, the breakthrough success hasn’t quite arrived. “I’m still proud of the art, I’m proud of what we did, but as far as the mass marketing or whatever, it didn’t really pull through yet at this point.” Hoyer has a wife and two daughters (ages 7 and 2). Everyone in the band makes sacrifices to be on the road, and Hoyer says missing his kids is the hardest part for him. He would be willing to eventually scale back and only play locally for his family’s benefit.
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OSH HOYER, 39, isn’t afraid to speak candidly. With a heavy touring schedule and family at home in Lincoln, the lead singer and keyboardist for Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal knows full well the sacrifices musicians have to make. The fivepiece band describes itself online as a “combination of soul, funk, and R&B,” and Hoyer counts Otis Redding, James Brown, and Curtis Mayfield as major influences. He says “throwback soul” is something of a trend right now.
“I think that the soul resurgence is something that’s happening naturally because people are looking for something that’s more authentic these days in the music that they listen to,” Hoyer says. “But we’re not trying to follow in that trend at this point. We’re not just trying to just be a throwback soul band.”
So, why press on for now? “I ask myself that all the time, brother,” he says. “I love it. There’s nothing like connecting with an audience or a listener or a lover of music. When something magical or spiritual may happen in a room when they’re listening and we’re playing, there’s nothing like that. “My experience is I have had just enough of that, where someone in the crowd will come up after the show and say, ‘Man, you really touched me. Thank you for your music; it empowers me.’ Just enough of that where you feel like you’re doing something that has merit to the world.” ENcounter Visit joshhoyer.com for more information.
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Omaha’s Only
Authentic German Restaurant
Locally Owned Since 1976
Oktoberfest
September 9th and 10th! LIVE MUSIC, GERMAN FOOD & DRINKS:
Baked Chicken, Ham Hocks, Strudel Full bakery, Fresh Bread, Donuts, and Cakes! 4:00 PM UNTIL THE BEER RUNS OUT
10 min from downtown Omaha
5180 Leavenworth
402-553-6774
www.gerdasgermanrestaurant.com
The end of bottled water. ilovemycooler.net
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Nils Haaland HIS BLUE PERIOD by Sean McCarthy photography by Bill Sitzmann
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TAGE AND VOICE actor Nils Haaland has assembled an array of roles. He's played Pupcake, the precocious, rambunctious, and lovable puppy companion of Strawberry Shortcake. He's also played infamous Nebraskan serial killer Charles Starkweather.
Haaland is a founding member of the Blue Barn Theatre. He studied acting at the State University of New York (SUNY) with fellow Blue Barn founders Kevin Lawler and Hughston Walkinshaw. Sitting down at a large table at the Blue Barn, Haaland said his acting career started around age four, when he performed in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. He also remembers portraying one of the children killed in the play Medea. "I was not a very good slaughtered child," Haaland says. "In a very somber moment, the audience sort of erupted in laughter because I was kind of fidgeting around." At SUNY Haaland studied under acting coach George Morrison, whose pupils include Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman, Edie Falco, and Stanley Tucci. After Haaland graduated from SUNY, he lived in Staten Island with Hughston Walkinshaw. Kevin Lawler called Haaland and asked if he would be interesting in starting a theatre company in Omaha. Haaland weighed the options: starting a theatre company in a city with a noticeably cheaper cost of living, or continue to plug away in New York. "It's really beneficial to be there (in New York), but you're really at the mercy of so many factors," Haaland says. "To be able to determine your own art ... that sounded well worth the journey."
Since the late 1980s, Haaland has acted at both the Blue Barn and the Omaha Community Playhouse. He also was a voice actor for DIC Entertainment, whose animated shows include Inspector Gadget, The Real Ghostbusters, and Strawberry Shortcake. When it came to voice auditions, Haaland said following one's first impulses was key to landing a role. "To try to do a horse whinny, or a mountain lion roar, or a dinosaur roar...with a British accent...who might be a little morose." Haaland's work has gone beyond acting into screenwriting. He currently is working with writer Amy Biancolli, helping her develop a sitcom tentatively titled Other Peoples' Dogs. Haaland has also been known to come up with a name or two, such as the Blue Barn Theatre. While at SUNY, Haaland was supposed to present an acting piece to the class. He was totally unprepared. He gave an on-the spot monologue in front of the class. When he finished, the professor asked him about the piece. Haaland said it was called the "Blue Barn" play. Susan Clement-Toberer, who is now producing artistic director of the Blue Barn, was in class at the time. "I knew he was lying," Clement-Toberer says over the phone as she was in the middle of rehearsals for the play Heathers. Hence, when there came a time to pull an acting miracle out of thin air, it was known as "Blue Barning" to the founding members. But Clement-Toberer said the name also reflected the general spirit and Haaland's contributions to the Blue Barn. "It's kind of a way of creating a spur of the moment, organic experience," Clement-Toberer says.   ENcounter Visit bluebarn.org for more information.
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PERFORMANCE
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True Colors CHANELL JARAMILLO HEALS WITH H O L I S T I C PA S S I O N A N D P U R P O S E by Sarah Wengert photography by Bill Sitzmann
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HANELL JARAMILLO HELPS people discover their true colors—just as she once sought to divine her own.
Before Jaramillo could heal others, she had to find her own path to healing and happiness.
Gifted with vision and intuition that transcended her childhood in a hardscrabble neighborhood of Yuma, Arizona, she later revived those abilities to make another great escape. She transformed herself from an ill, overworked executive to a healer, surrounding herself in the safe, centered haven of her ultimate truth.
Years ago, while navigating 70-hour workweeks as an executive for a large Southern California resort and winery, Jaramillo became extremely ill. A chorus of doctors chimed in with various theories, yet none could explain why she was sick.
“Life experiences are teachings,” says Jaramillo. “You can look at them as challenges and get stuck in your circumstance, or, you can see them as lessons and allow them to take you to a place of wisdom.” Jaramillo is a solution-focused holistic health practitioner with a Ph.D. in transpersonal psychology, a school of psychology that integrates the spiritual and transcendent aspects of the human experience within the framework of modern psychology. She employs that philosophy in guiding her clients toward their own personal truth and optimum path. Working primarily as a transformational life coach from her Omaha Healing Arts Center office, Jaramillo skillfully walks the line between analysis and intuition, academic knowledge and life-learned wisdom, fact-based theory and gut-based truth. Jaramillo first adjudicates clients with her Biopulsar, a biomedical measuring device that’s one of just 300 in the U.S. It reads energy from the hand’s 49 reflex zones—each correlating to an organ or gland in the body—to produce a uniquely kaleidoscopic aura scan portrait, bursting with colors from the chakras, or spirit centers in the body. Jaramillo interprets these colors, from red for basic trust to violet for spirituality, to determine distressed bodily areas. Someone needing more white in her life may need to unblock the heart center. A client needing more turquoise can use something as simple as a coffee cup to visually help open the lines of communication between the heart and the spoken word. Jaramillo then provides clients a customized healing regimen, which can include lifestyle and diet changes, yoga, energy work, massage, and other forms of therapy. “In real time, [the Biopulsar] measures your consciousness—what you’re feeling and thinking,” says Jaramillo, adding that thoughts have relationships throughout the body that are able to create holding patterns and can cause physical problems. “It’s used medically for preventative health in Europe and Asia because it shows if a thought has manifested yet at a physical level or if it’s still within your auric field.”
“I started balancing my work/life better and changed my entire outlook,” says Jaramillo, who, on the heels of a profound awakening, found herself intuitively guided toward lifestyle adjustments that ultimately healed her where prescription medicine had failed. Striving to make sense of her experience led Jaramillo down a path resulting in a vocational calling to return to husband Chris Basilevac's native Omaha and work as a holistic healer. “I kept having dreams guiding me back to Omaha to work in the spiritual field. At first I thought, ‘Uh, Universe, I think you have your coordinates wrong,’” says Jaramillo. But the call persisted, so she decided to “just trust and follow the breadcrumbs.”
“Life experiences are teachings,” says Jaramillo. “You can look at them as challenges and get stuck in your circumstance, or, you can see them as lessons and allow them to take you to a place of wisdom.” The leap paid off, and Jaramillo now embodies the tradition of her great-grandmother, a curandera, which means “healer” in Spanish. “I’ve always admired the idea of the crone, the wise old woman, which isn’t honored in our society today,” she says. “I want to be that wise old crone someday, who people can look to knowing that I speak from the experience of living life, learning from mistakes, and growing. Maybe that’s how I ended up doing this work, trying to return to a tradition our culture’s lost.” ENcounter Visit thlpros.com for more information.
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Hot Dogs of the Future FA U X M A H A by James Walmsley photography by Bill Sitzmann
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HERE'S A SLIGHT cognitive disconnect when one first encounters Mick Ridgway's vegan hot dog cart. It's not his plant-based frankfurters, which reject those sacrosanct animal ingredients—including snouts, lips, and buttholes of pigs—that are encased in American tradition. It's the proprietor himself. Ridgway, 25, isn't the prototypical animal activist. He's not a pamphlet-waving militant, nor does he exude an odor of patchouli from a sea of tie-dye. He's just a regular dude, he says, who likes sports, motorcycles, and playing the drums.
“I want to show people that being vegan isn’t weird at all—that’s the idea behind it,” says Ridgway, who abstains from consuming and wearing animal products. “And a hot dog is a great starting point for that discussion.” For meat-loving denizens of Omaha and vegetarian outliers alike, Ridgway's vegan-next-door diplomacy and "right man for the job" attitude has helped transform his enterprise, Fauxmaha Hot Dogs, into less of a hipster novelty and more of a foodie destination in the short year it's been open for business. Of course, Ridgway's tastes-like-the-real-thingmaybe-even-better franks probably have something to do with his success, too. "Hot dogs are already fake, so they're easier to replicate—even ordinary, store-bought hot dogs can have a soy filler in them," he explains. "So hot dogs are a very good stepping stone to get people to try new things." A Fauxmaha hot dog is a quarter pound of seitan, or "wheat meat," and resembles a bratwurst in both size and color. The smoky, salty from-scratch links
achieve a textural symbiosis between their pillowy middles and chewy, naturally developed casings that provide an ample amount of snap to each bite. The only thing missing is the cholesterol. Ridgway jokes that he makes up for that deficiency with about 25 grams of protein per link. “My hot dogs don't leave a lot to the imagination," he admits. "They're pretty straight up." Still, even with all the traditional hot dog fixings that can compliment Fauxmaha's classic hot dog taste, and specialty franks that include a slightly sweet, subtly spicy bánh mi dog, Ridgway says there are some who can't help but flash a look of bewilderment or disgust when confronted with his "cruelty-free" comfort food. “I chalk it up to tradition and the vegan stereotypes that I see in movies and on TV as vegans being weird, being weak, being frail," he says. “(Vegans) are not portrayed as strong, capable types, and that definitely trickles down into how people view vegan food.” Ridgway also says he isn't about to play the martyr when he's slinging pups outside of Soggy Paws in the Old Market or grilling franks in Modern Love's Midtown parking lot during the spring, summer, and fall. Besides, he's got "the hot dog cart of the future," he says, and that's enough to make some people feel uncomfortable. “It’s different—it hasn’t, to my knowledge, been done before,” he says. "But I think there’re enough people who maybe aren’t vegan or vegetarian who appreciate what I'm trying to do.” Encounter Visit facebook .com/fauxmahahotdogs for more information.
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FA S H I O N
rugged summer looks photography by Bill Sitzmann hair and makeup: Chevy Kozisek | styling: Nicholas Wasserberger | wardrobe: stylist's own | model: Walker Greene
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Homer’s Manager Mike Fratt A LIFE OF MUSIC
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by Judy Horan photography by Bill Sitzmann
WALKED INTO THE oldest business in the Old Market looking for Mike Fratt. My search for the general manager of Homer’s Music was blocked by towering racks of vinyl records and CDs.
Then I heard his voice. The voice that hosted a three-hour radio show called “Sunday Morning” for 10 years on 89.7 The River—until he got tired of getting up at 5 a.m. every Sunday. The radio show on the campus of Iowa Western was 16th in the ratings when he began. Several years later, ratings had zoomed to third place. A bassist, Fratt has played in local bands for 30-plus years, touring to concerts in cities such as San Francisco and New York. (He harbors a special love for western swing and bluegrass.) He also has written about music for various publications. Fratt has worked in the retail side of the music biz since his high school days in 1975, when he worked at Musicland at Crossroads Mall and the Record Shop at Westroads Mall. The Omaha native has worked at Homer’s for 38 years. One of the few independent music stores still standing in the nation, Homers once had as many as 11 locations in Omaha and Lincoln. Now all that remains is the glass-front store in the Old Market boasting album covers and local shows. “The ‘Walmarting’ of music, followed by the digital revolution, pushed independent music stores out of business,” says Fratt. The recent resurgence of the popularity of vinyl records and their warmer sound have brought buyers back into the store. Record Store Day, a worldwide event held the third Saturday in April that was co-founded by the Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), also has created enthusiasm. As a CIMS board member, Fratt helped organize Record Store Day. He is currently CIMS chairman. It’s an exciting day for vinyl record fans. A line forms down Howard Street and around the corner, with people hoping to get a limited edition item. Some fans arrive at 3 a.m. The store doesn’t open until 10 a.m. This year, an estimated 500 people stood in line.
The scene is duplicated around the world. “In some cities, people start lining up the night before,” Fratt says. In 1985, a fire in an adjacent building destroyed the space Homer’s occupied at 1210 Howard Street. Homer’s moved to 1114 Howard after the fire, where the store did business for 25 years. Homer’s returned to 1210 Howard in 2010, one of five locations the Old Market store has occupied in its 45-year history. From a small shop in the middle of the country, Mike Fratt has made a nationwide impact. The Wall Street Journal featured him on its cover in November 2014 when he led a battle against moving Record Release Day from Tuesday to Friday. “People already shop weekends,” says Fratt, who at the time served on the Music Business Association board of directors. He lost that battle, but won another after organizing retailers to file an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the right to sell used goods. “Justice Breyer noted part of our brief in his decision,” he says. “That was a career highlight for me.” Fratt also served on the board of directors of the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards. He organized the first multi-venue showcase in the Benson area, where he and his wife, Sarah, live. About three to five percent of Homer’s sales happens online. Tourism is a healthy contributor to the bottom line, he adds. “From April through October, one-third of our business is from tourists. They don’t have a store like this in their city, whether New York, Kansas City, or Chicago.” Encounter Visit homersmusic.com for more information.
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FA C E S
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Left to right: M.J. and Caroline McBride E N C O U N T E R O M A H A . C O M   28
LIVING
The McBrides ROW HOME RESIDENTS IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN by Daisy Hutzell-Rodman photography by Bill Sitzmann
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AROLINE MCBRIDE SOBBED as she left midtown Omaha with her partner, M.J., and the last load of their belongings from their midtown home. She was so happy there.
The tears quickly subsided as they arrived at their new home.
“It’s pretty easy when you are greeted with strangers bearing champagne,” M.J. says. The couple now live in The Rows at SoMa, a group of rowhouses along Leavenworth between 11th and 13th streets. Bluestone Development approached them about moving. Bluestone owner Christian Christiansen was looking for buyers of his new development off the Old Market, and a mutual friend suggested he contact the ladies. “When we bought down here, it was dirt and not much else. We really had to trust and go on a wing and a prayer,” M.J. says. “Everything they promised has come true.” Christiansen promised great people (in the neighborhood) and quality workmanship (in the building). The couple appreciate the diversity of The Rows’ residents. Their neighbors range from millennials to folks in their 60s, from single people to married couples. Caroline and M.J. welcome all the new friends. Caroline has even joined the board of the homeowner association, which hosts wine nights on Wednesdays. “They’re great,” Jerre Tritsch, current HOA president and a retired lawyer, says of the couple. “They’re fun people. Very positive. We love having them here.” “There’s always an eclectic group of people and dogs,” Caroline says. Walking around the neighborhood, Caroline greets everyone by name, and they smile and say hello back. In fact, the only complaints that the couple receive follow M.J. starting her Harley-Davidson motorcycle before 7 a.m. > J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 29
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In 2009, they acquired one of The Rows’ eight 2,500-square-foot homes with three beds and 3 1/2 baths. They liked the floor plan, which is longer and includes more windows. “One of the first questions people ask is about windows,” M.J. says. “Are you covering them? Are you leaving them uncovered? What about the kitchen?” The creative couple, who established and operate Rebel Interactive agency, found an appropriately creative solution—sheer panels with black squiggly details running down them. The contemporary design fits well with their home, which includes brightly colored artwork and furniture throughout.
< The wine nights take place in the community garden, which features two crescent-moon shaped benches on a paver patio. The garden includes 14 planting beds, available by a lottery system. The landscaping and gardens are all organic. It’s also beautiful, in part, thanks to Keep SoMa Beautiful, a group started by the community that walks through the streets to make sure the sidewalks are intact and mess-free. “Overall we’re looking to encourage an attitude of participation in the community,” says Tritsch. “Don’t wait for a contractor or management company to do something. Pitch in and help, because that helps to build relationships within the community.” The first row house the couple lived in was a twobed, 2-1/2-bath townhouse in the middle of the development. The 2,200-square-foot home looked out over the community garden. Sitting on one of the benches in the garden, a visitor would hardly know the heart of the Old Market lies a quick stroll down the street. “There’s a sense of openness by the total privacy that’s built in,” Caroline says. The couple specifically wanted to live in one of the homes facing Leavenworth Street and the Old Market.
E N C O U N T E R O M A H A . C O M 30
The couple appreciate that art is a part of SoMa. The garden features a sculpture commissioned by Bluestone for the area. The community also features an art gallery that doubles as a commons room and is available to residents at SoMa. Caroline and M.J., who have been together since 1997, used the gallery to celebrate with their friends and neighbors following their marriage in Iowa in September of 2013. This urban-living development embraces people (and pets) of all types. Amenities such as snow removal and lawn care help residents leave home with peace of mind. “A lot of people are attracted to SoMa because they travel quite a bit,” says Tritsch. The McBrides count themselves among those travelers. They spend many weekends at Lake Okoboji with their black cat, Reo, and Boston terrier, Bella. They also travel to Key West, Florida, once a year to stay at their time share, and to Arizona to visit M.J.’s mom. Their travels always end back at their row home in Omaha. “We love being close to Bemis and KANEKO,” Caroline says. “It’s nice being right across the street from world-class creativity.” M.J. smiles brightly as she thinks about her downtown life. “I’ve enjoyed living other places, but I love living here,” M.J. says. Encounter Visit omahadowntown.org for more information.
The Orig inal Old Market Irish Bar Nightly Specials Live Irish Music Weekends Open 12 p.m.
1205 Harney St. 342-5887
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Bringing Italy to Omaha Since 1919
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402.345.3438 621 Pacific St, Omaha NE orsibakery.com J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 â&#x20AC;&#x192; 31
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F E AT U R E
John Hargiss C R E AT O R O F M U S I C , C R A F T, A N D T H E AT E R by Leo Adam Biga photography by Bill Sitzmann
M
ASTER CRAFTSMAN AND stringed instrument maker John Hargiss learned the luthier skills he plies at his North Omaha shop from his late father, Verl. In the hardscrabble DIY culture coming from their roots in the southern Missouri hills and river bottoms, people made things by hand.
"I think the lower on the food chain you are, the more creative you become. I think you have to," Hargiss says. He observed his late father fashion tables and ax handles with ancestral tools and convert station wagons into El Caminos with nothing more than a lawnmower blade and a glue pot. Father and son once forged a guitar from a tree they felled, cut, and shaped together. These days, the son's hands are sure and nimble enough to earn him a tidy living at his own business, Hargiss Stringed Instruments. His shop is filled with precision tools—jigs, clamps—many of vintage variety. Some specialized tools are similar to what dentists use. "I do almost the same thing—polish, grind, fill, recreate, redesign, restructure." Assorted wood, metal, and found objects are destined for repurposing.
In addition to instrument-making, he's a silversmith, leatherworker, and welder. A travel guitar he designed, the Minstrel, has sold to renowned artists, yet he still views himself an apprentice indebted to his father. "He was a craftsman. Everything I know how to create probably came from him. Everything I watched him do, I thought, 'My hands were designed to do exactly what he's doing.' On his tombstone I had put, 'A man who lived life through his hands.'" Hargiss also absorbed rich musical influences. “(I was) constantly around what we don't see in the Midwest—banjo players, violin players, ukulele players, dulcimer players. There are a lot of musicians in that part of the world down there. Bluegrass. Rockabilly. Folkabilly. That would be our entertainment in the evenings—music, family, friends. Neighbors would show up with instruments and start playing. Growing up, that was our recreation." He feels a deep kinship to that music, and his father had a hand in his musical development. "My daddy was a good musician, and he taught me to play music when I was about 9. By 11, I was already playing in little country and bluegrass bands. I can play a mandolin, a guitar, a banjo, a ukulele, but I'm pretty much a guitar player. And I sing and write music." >
"I have an incredible way of looking at something and going, 'I can use that.' Everything you see will be sold or used one way or the other."
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F E AT U R E
< Hargiss once made his livelihood performing. "I like playing music so much. It's dangerous business because it will completely overpower you. I knew I needed to make a living, raise my children, and have a life, so playing music became my hobby. I worked corporate jobs, but I kept being pulled back. It didn't matter how hard I tried. I'd no more get the tie and suit off than I'd be out in the garage making something else."
Preservation is nothing new to Hargiss, who reclaimed historic buildings in Benson, where his business was previously located. He was delighted to find the theater at the North O site, but knew it meant major work. "I've always had this passion for old things. When we found the theater, I remember saying, ‘This is going to be a big one.’"
It turned into his business. Hargiss directly traces what he does to his father. "I watched him repair a guitar he bought me at a yard sale. The strings were probably three inches off the finger board. I remember my daddy taking a cup of hot coffee and pouring it in the joint of that neck and him wobbling that neck off, and the next I knew he'd restrung that guitar. I think that's when I knew that's what I'm going to do." The memory of them making a guitar is still clear.
“I was constantly around what we don't see in the Midwest—banjo players, violin players, ukulele players, dulcimer players. There are a lot of musicians in that part of the world down there. Bluegrass. Rockabilly. Folkabilly. That would be our entertainment in the evenings—music, family, friends. Neighbors would show up with instruments and start playing. "
"The first guitar I built, me and my daddy cut a walnut tree, chopped it up, and we carved us a dreadnought—a traditional Martin-style guitar. I gave that to him and he played that up to the day he died." Aesthetics hold great appeal for Hargiss. "I'm fascinated by architectural design in what I create and in what I make. I study it." He called on every ounce of his heritage to lovingly restore a vaudeville-house-turned-movie theater. It came attached to the North Omaha buildings off Hamilton and 40th streets that he purchased five years ago. The theater lay dormant and unseen for 65 years, like a time capsule, obscured by walls and ceilings added by property owners, before he and his girlfriend, Mary Thorsteinson, rediscovered it largely intact. The pair, who share an apartment behind the auditorium, restored the building themselves.
Motivating the by-hand, laborof-love project was the space's "potential to be anything you want it to be." He's reopened the 40th Street Theatre as a live performance spot. Hargiss is perpetually busy between instrument repairs and builds—he has a new commission to make a harp guitar—and keeping up his properties. Someone's always coming in wanting to know how to do something, and he's eager to pay forward what was passed on to him. The thought of working for someone else is unthinkable.
"I get one hundred percent control of my creativity. I'm not stuck. I'm not governed by, ‘Well, you can't do it this way.’ Of course I can because the sound this is going to produce is mine. When you get to control it, then you're the CEO, the boss, the luthier, the repairman, the refinisher, the construction, the engineer, the architect. You're all of these things at one time." Besides, he can't help making things. "There's a drive down in me someplace. Whatever I'm working on, I first of all have to see myself doing it. Then I go through this whole crazy secondguessing. And then the next thing I know it's been created. Days later I'll see it and go, 'When did I do that?' because it takes over me, and it completely consumes every thought I have. I just let everything else go." Encounter Visit hargissstrings.com for more information.
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Cubby’s Old Market Grocery 601 S. 13th St.
HISTORY
A Virginia Landmark in Omaha MOUNT VERNON GARDENS by Max Sparber photography contributed by Douglas County Historical Society
G
EORGE WASHINGTON LOOMS large in history. Even if he hadn’t been elected our first president, he made his mark as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, and as the man who presided over the convention that drafted our Constitution. He was also a phenomenally wealthy plantation owner—estimated to have been our wealthiest president. Washington’s family plantation was called Mount Vernon, named for English naval officer Edward Vernon. Washington’s elder brother served under Vernon in the marvelously titled "War of Jenkins' Ear," a British and Spanish conflict named after the ear cut off of a British smuggler.
Washington looms so large in American history that people have named at least 32 pieces of land after him, including at least 30 cities, one District of Columbia, and a state. Patriotically minded Americans have also taken to naming things after Mount Vernon, or recreating it—Wikipedia lists at least six full-sized replicas of his mansion built over the course of American history, as well as a particular interest in the plantation’s famous gardens. These gardens are even replicated in Omaha, which will surprise nobody who has heard its name: Mount Vernon Gardens, a half-scale replica of Washington’s estate located on a bluff in South Omaha. The idea for the replica first made an appearance in 1927. A national ladies association, appropriately known as the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, originally sent Omaha’s city engineer to the Virginia plantation to look it over. Inspired by this, he
and Park Commissioner Joseph B. Hummel decided they could build a local duplicate. It was, of course, impossible to exactly mirror Washington’s gardens in Omaha—“we cannot have the beautiful magnolia trees and boxwood for hedges does not do so well here,” Hood told the Omaha World-Herald. But they would reproduce the place’s beauty, if not its exact collection of trees, flowers, and plants. To show off their intentions, in 1929, the city invited students of Technical High School to create a miniature version of the proposed park, which was then displayed at a spring flower show. In 1930, the city started construction. Trees and shrubs were added to the site at a cost of $3,500, although some of that was immediately damaged by motorists who sped along River Drive in April, stripping trees of their flowers. Nonetheless, by May of that year, the garden was ready for visitors, including a reproduction of the sun dial that reportedly stood at the original plantation during Washington’s time. The park included a Masonic maze exactly the size and shape planted by Washington near a Martha Washington garden. And where Martha once planted vegetables, this Mount Vernon offered more flowers, arranged according to the time of day they best represented. The local site has long been a favorite for visitors and events, particularly weddings. The popularity of the gardens helped encourage a restoration that added accessible walkways in the 1990s. Encounter Visit backtotheriver.org/mt_vernon.htm for more information.
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Historical Tour Union Station, 1931 Windsor Hotel, 1885-1887 H3 Omaha Fire House, 1903-1904 H4 Omaha Bemis Bag Company, 1887-1902 H5 Anheuser-Busch Beer Depot, 1887 H6 Skinner Macaroni Building, 1914-1915 H7 Aquila Court, 1923 H8 J.P. Cook Buildings, 1885-1889 H9 The Overland Hotel, 1903-1904 H10 Morse Coe Building, 1892-1893 H11 Hotel Howard, 1909 H12 Millard Block, 1880-1881 H13 Baum Iron Company Building, 1880 H14 Poppleton Block, 1880 H15 Burlington Building, 1879 H1
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Merchants Attractions
OLD MARKET · DOWNTOWN · RIVERFRONT Plank Seafood Provisions [E-15].............402-507-4480 OLD MARKET Roja Old Market [E-14]............................402-346-9190 A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T Spaghetti Works [F-15]...........................402-422-0770 Stokes Bar & Grill [E-15]......................... 402-408-9000 ART GALLERIES & MUSEUMS The Diner [E-14]......................................402-341-9870 Bemis Center for Trini’s Mexican Restaurant Contemporary Arts [E-18]........................402-341-7130 [F-15 in The Passageway]...................... 402-346-8400 Joslyn Art Museum [2200 Dodge St.]....402-342-3300 Twisted Fork Grill & Bar [F-15]................402-932-9600 KANEKO [F-17].......................................402-341-3800 Upstream Brewing Company [F-16]...... 402-344-0200 Omaha Children’s Museum [500 S. 20th St.] ....................................402-342-6164 F A S T- C A S U A L D I N I N G The Durham Museum PepperJax Grill [D-15]..............................402-315-1196 [801 S. 10th St.].................................... 402-444-5071 Wheatfields Express [E-15].....................402-991-0917 T H E AT E R & P E R F O R M I N G A R T S
American National Bank [C-14]........... 402-457-1070 Bozell [G-18]........................................... 402-965-4300 Clark Creative Advertising [D-16]........... 402-345-5800 Cullan & Cullan [F-14]............................. 402-397-7600 First National Bank [E-15].......................402-341-0500 J. P. Cooke Rubber Stamp Co. [D-15]..... 402-342-7175 Klein Law Office [E-16]............................402-391-1871 Market Media [E-14].............................. 402-346-4000 Security National Bank [F-15].................402-344-7300 Stinson Leonard Street [D-14]................ 402-342-1700 Sutera & Sutera Law Office [F-15]..........402-342-3100
S P E C I A LT Y F O O D
Cubby’s Old Market [D-16].....................402-341-2900 La Buvette Wine & Grocery [F-15]......... 402-344-8627
NIGHTLIFE BARS
Bar 415 [D-15]........................................402-346-7455 Barry O’s Old Market Tavern [G-15]........402-341-8032 Billy Frogg’s Grill & Bar [E-15].................402-341-4427 Eat the Worm [E-15]................................402-614-4240 Havana Garage Cigar Bar [G-15].............402-614-3800 J D Tucker’s [G-15].................................402-934-5190 Mr. Toad’s Pub [G-15]............................ 402-345-4488 Parliament Pub [E-14].............................402-934-3301 DINING The Hive [E-14]....................................... 402-504-4929 The Stadium Club BAKERIES & SWEET SHOPS Sports Bar & Grill [G-15].........................402-359-1290 Bliss Bakery [F-17]..................................402-934-7450 The Tavern [G-16]................................... 402-341-0191 Cupcake Omaha [F-15].......................... 402-346-6808 Dolci Old Market [G-15]..........................402-345-8198 C R A F T C O C K TA I L S / Hollywood Candy [E-16]..........................402-346-9746 M I C R O B R E W E R I E S Juice Stop [E-15].....................................402-715-4326 Brickway Brewery & Distillery [E-15].......402-933-2613 Old Market Candy Shop [G-15].............. 402-344-8846 The Berry & Rye [F-15]........................... 402-613-1333 Ted & Wally’s Ice Cream [E-16]...............402-341-5827 The Boiler Room [F-17]........................... 402-916-9274 Wheatfields Express [E-15].....................402-991-0917 Upstream Brewing Company [F-16]...... 402-344-0200 COFFEE & TEA
13th Street Coffee Co. [D-16].................402-345-2883 Aromas Coffeehouse [F-17]....................402-614-7009 Beansmith [E-14].................................... 402-614-1805 OM Center [D-15]....................................402-345-5078 Scooter’s [E-15]......................................402-991-9868 The Tea Smith [E-15]..............................402-932-3933 Urban Abbey/Soul Desires [G-16]...........402-898-7600
LOUNGES
Bricks & Mortar Bar & Bistro [F-17]....... 402-934-0005 Omaha Lounge [C-14].............................402-709-6815 Sake Bombers @ Blue [E-15]................ 402-408-5566 Waters Edge Lounge at Embassy Suites [G-15]....................... 402-346-9000 PUBS
Big Brain Productions [E-17]...................402-342-2885 WELLNESS
Courtyard by Marriott [G-11]...................402-346-2200 DoubleTree Hotel [A-11]..........................402-346-7600 Embassy Suites Old Market [555 S. 10 St.]....................................... 402-346-9000 Fairfield Inn and Suites [1501 Nicholas St.]...................................402-280-1516 Hampton Inn [1212 Cuming St.] ............ 402-345-5500 Hilton Garden Inn [G-11] .........................402-341-4400 Hilton Omaha [10th & Cass St.]............. 402-998-3400 Holiday Inn [1420 Cuming St.] ............... 402-341-0124 Homewood Suites [1314 Cuming St.].....402-345-5100 Hotel DECO XV [B-14, 15th & Harney]....402-991-4981 Hyatt Place [E-16]...................................402-513-5500 Magnolia Hotel Omaha [A-15].................402-341-2500 Residence Inn by Marriott [B-12]............402-342-4770
Unique décor, ornaments and collectibles for every season. oTannenbaum.com • 402-345-9627
Fresh chocolates and fudge made in our own kitchen. OldMarketCandy.com • 402-344-8846
MOVING & STORAGE The Storage Loft [E-18]...........................402-807-2537 U-Haul [D-18]......................................... 402-346-9322 Urban Storage [D-18]..............................402-342-4449
PRAISE & WORHIP The Market Church [D-17]..........TheMarketChurch.com Urban Abbey Worship Service [G-16].....402-898-7600
R E A L E S TAT E R E A LT O R S
America First Companies [G-13].............402-444-1630 Berkshire Hathaway Real Estate [13th & California].................................. 402-493-4663 Blackthorne Real Estate Development... 402-884-6200 Bluestone Development [B-17].............. 402-505-9999 Grubb & Ellis/Pacific Realty.................... 402-345-5866 Investors Realty, Inc................................ 402-330-8000 Mercer Management Co. [F-15]............ 402-346-4445 NP Dodge Condo Sales...........................402-255-5099 NuStyle Development Corporation...........712-647-2041 Old Market Life [D-16]............................402-305-8106 Sandi Downing Real Estate [E-15].......... 402-502-7477 Shamrock Development, Inc. [D-13].......402-934-7711
Dubliner Pub [E-14].................................402-342-5887 O’Connors Irish Pub [D-15].....................402-934-9790 Ahmad’s Persian Cuisine [G-15]............. 402-341-9616 Omaha Tap House [C-13]........................402-932-5131 S H O P P I N G Blue Sushi Sake Grill [E-15].................... 402-408-5566 Stiles Pub [E-15]......................................402-991-9911 Bricks & Mortar Bar & Bistro [F-17]....... 402-934-0005 T. Henery’s Pub [F-14]............................402-345-3651 A N T I Q U E S Falling Water Grille [G-15] ..................... 402-346-9000 Antique Annex [E-16]..............................402-932-3229 Himalaya’s [G-15]................................... 402-884-5977 W I N E Fairmont Antiques & Mercantile [E-16]402-346-9746 J’s On Jackson [F-16]..............................402-991-1188 Bricks & Mortar Bar & Bistro [F-17]....... 402-934-0005 Flying Worm Vintage [E-16]....................402-932-3229 Jackson Street Tavern [E-16]..................402-991-5637 La Buvette Wine & Grocery [F-15]......... 402-344-8627 Joe’s Collectibles (E-16 Alley]................. 402-612-1543 Jams Bar & Grill [F-14]......................... 402-399-8300 Nosh Restaurant & Wine Lounge[G-11].. 402-614-2121 Julio’s Old Market [D-15]....................... 402-345-6921 Reserve Goodwill [D-15].........................402-342-4102 M’s Pub [F-15]........................................402-342-2550 H E A LT H & B E A U T Y Second Chance Antiques [C-14]............ 402-346-4930 Matsu Sushi [G-13]................................ 402-346-3988 The Imaginarium [D-15]..........................402-594-7061 S A L O N S & S PA S Michael’s Cantina at the Market [F-14]...402-346-1205 Nicola’s Italian Wine & Faire [D-16]........ 402-345-8466 Curb Appeal Salon & Spa [G-16]........... 402-345-0404 A R T G A L L E R I E S Old Chicago [F-14]...................................402-341-1616 RARE [D-15]............................................402-706-9673 Anderson O’Brien Fine Art [F-16]...........402-884-0911 Omaha Tap House [C-13]........................402-932-5131 The Hair Market Salon [F-15]................. 402-345-3692 Artists’ Cooperative Gallery [F-14]..........402-342-9617 CASUAL DINING
Four Old Market
TAT T O O PA R L O R S
Alegent Creighton Clinic [C-18]...............402-280-5500 Anytime Fitness [F-17]............................402-991-2333 Commercial Optical Co. [D-16]...............402-344-0219 Natural Therapy [D-18]...........................402-995-9874 Zio’s Pizzeria [F-15].................................402-344-2222 Old Market Massage [D-15]................... 402-850-6651 OM Center [D-15]....................................402-345-5078 FINE DINING Omaha Dental Spa [F-15].......................402-505-4424 801 Chophouse at the Paxton [C-13]......402-341-1222 Omaha Yoga School [F-15].....................402-346-7813 Le Bouillon [F-15]....................................402-502-6816 Wonder Foot Spa [E-14]..........................402-618-7595 Omaha Prime [F-15]................................ 402-341-7040 The Boiler Room [F-17]........................... 402-916-9274 O L D M A R K E T L O D G I N G V. Mertz [F-15 in The Passageway]........ 402-345-8980 D O W N T O W N H O T E L S
Blue Barn Theatre [1106 S. 10th St.]......402-345-1576 Brigit Saint Brigit Theatre [1002 Dodge St.].....................................402-502-4910 Holland Performing Arts Center [1200 Douglas St.]................................. 402-345-0606 OM Center [13th & Howard St]...............402-345-5078 Omaha Symphony [1605 Howard St.]....402-342-3560 Opera Omaha [1850 Farnam St.].......... 402-346-4398 F A S T F O O D Orpheum Theater [409 S. 16th St.]....... 402-345-0606 Little King [E-15]......................................402-344-2264 The Rose Theater [2001 Farnam St.].... 402-345-4849 Subway [D-15]........................................ 402-341-8814 Ticket Omaha [13th & Douglas St.]........ 402-345-0606
BANKING | LEGAL | BUSINESS SERVICES
The Nail Shop [H-12].............................. 402-595-8805 Urbane Salon & Day Spa [G-13]..............402-934-2909 Victor Victoria Salon & Spa [F-15]......... 402-933-9333 Wonder Foot Spa [E-14]..........................402-618-7595
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Travel essentials plus souvenirs and Nebraska-made gifts. OldMarketSundries.com • 402-345-7646
Authentic Italian desserts, coffee, and FlavorBurst TMice cream. DolciOldMarket.com • 402-345-8198
All located at 10th & Howard
Downtown Omaha Map N O R T H / S O U T H N U M B E R S 1 - 9 ( N U M B E R S 1 0 - 1 9 O N PA G E 3 9 ) 0
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N O R T H / S O U T H N U M B E R S 1 - 9 ( N U M B E R S 1 0 - 1 9 O N PA G E 3 9 )
Restaurants Pubs, Taverns & Lounges
Parking
Farrah Grant Photography [F-15].................... 402-312-8262 The Tea Smith [E-15]......................................402-932-3933 Hiro 88 [D-16, 13th & Jackson]...................... 402-933-5168 Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen [B-13]....................402-342-3662 ART GALLERIES [CONT’D] HOME FURNISHING & DECOR King Fong Cafe [B-14]..................................... 402-341-3433 Garden of the Zodiac Iron Decor and More [E-16].............................402-346-6123 Liberty Tavern [G-6]........................................402-998-4321 [F-15 in The Passageway)................................402-341-1877 Niche [F-15]....................................................402-344-4399 Mula [CC-22].................................................. 402-315-9051 Mangelsen-Images of Nature Urban By Design [D-15]...................................970-214-7608 Nosh Wine Lounge [G-11]................................402-614-2121 Omaha Press Club [A-11]................................402-345-8008 Gallery [E-14].................................................. 402-341-8460 Orsi’s Italian Bakery & Pizzeria [7th & Pacific].402-345-3438 Old Market Artists Gallery [F-15].....................402-346-6569 J E W E L R Y Omaha Clayworks [D-16]................................402-346-0560 Cibola of Omaha [F-15]....................................402-342-1200 Siagon Surface [C-14].....................................402-614-4496 Passageway Gallery Cornerstone Gem & Bead Co. [D-16].............402-346-4367 Wilson & Washburn [C-14]..............................402-991-6950 [F-15 in The Passageway]................................ 402-341-1910 Goldsmith/Silversmith [F-15]...........................402-342-1737 COFFEE & TEA Visions Custom Framing Perspective Jewelry Design Studio [E-14]......402-934-4416 [E-18 @ Bemis Center]...................................402-342-0020 Archetype Coffee [CC-22].............................. 402-934-1489 SMOKE SHOP White Crane Gallery Blue Line Coffee [D-4]....................................402-932-4463 [F-15 inThe Passageway]................................ 402-345-1066 Havana Garage Cigar Bar [G-15].....................402-614-3800 FA S T F O O D Hooka Ran’s [E-15].........................................402-934-3100 BOOKS SG Roi Tobacconist [F-15]............................... 402-341-9264 Zesto Ice Cream [5-E].....................................402-932-4420 Jackson Street Booksellers [E-16].................. 402-341-2664 FA S T C A S U A L Soul Desires/Urban Abbey [G-16]..................402-898-7600 NEARBY Block 16 [A-13]................................................402-342-1220 CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T Kitchen Table [B-13]........................................ 402-933-2810 Panda House Downtown [A-13].......................402-348-1818 All About Me Boutique [F-15]..........................402-505-6000 A R T G A L L E R I E S & M U S E U M S Table Grace [17th & Farnam]...........................402-708-7815 Curbside Clothing [F-15] Hot Shops Art Center [D-1].............................402-342-6452 Drastic Plastic [E-15].......................................402-346-8843 Flying Worm Vintage [E-16]............................402-932-3229 Modern Arts Midtown [GG-210].....................402-502-8737 F I N E D I N I N G
Nite Owl [CC-22]............................................. 402-991-6767 Oasis Hookah Bar and TaZa Nightclub [B-13].402-502-9893 Scriptown [CC-22]..........................................402-991-0506 Sullivan’s Bar [CC-22].....................................402-933-7004 MUSIC • DANCE
Capitol Lounge & Supper Club [G-11].............402-934-5999 Slowdown [C-4]..............................................402-345-7569 The Max [C-16]................................................402-346-4110 Whiskey Tango [B-13]..................................... 402-934-4874 WINE
Corkscrew Wine & Cheese [CC-22]............... 402-933-3150 Nosh Wine Lounge [G-11]................................402-614-2121
SHOPPING CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
Kleveland Clothing [CC-22]..............................402-401-6147 Lids Locker Room [E-5]..................................402-334-0183 Urban Outfitters [D-3]......................................402-280-1936 G I F T & S P E C I A LT Y S H O P S
Greenstreet Cycles [D-4]................................402-505-8002 Inclosed Studio [D-4]...................................... 402-321-3442 The Shop Around The Corner McLovin [G-15]...............................................402-915-4002 M O V I E T H E AT E R Spencer’s for Steaks & Chops [G-11].............402-280-8888 [E-15 The Imaginarium]...................................402-609-8046 Overland Outfitters [G-15]...............................402-345-2900 Sullivan’s Steakhouse [B-13]..........................402-342-0077 Reserve Goodwill [D-15]................................. 402-342-4102 Film Streams [D-4]..........................................402-933-0259 The Flatiron Cafe [17th & Howard]..................402-344-3040 H O M E F U R N I S H I N G & D E C O R Simply Fabulous [E-16]....................................402-812-2193 S P O R T S Habitat ReStore [24th & Leavenworth]........... 402-934-1033 S P E C I A LT Y F O O D Silo [E-16]........................................................308-395-8987 Souq, Ltd. [F-15 in The Passageway]............. 402-342-2972 CenturyLink Center Omaha [H/I-5/6]..............402-341-1500 Patrick’s Market [B-15]................................... 402-884-1600 J E W E L R Y The Lotus [E-15]..............................................402-346-8080 TD Ameritrade Park Omaha [E/F-3/4]........... 402-546-1800 Peanut Butter Johnny’s (Food Truck) [CC-22].402-206-7459 Takechi’s Jewelry [17th & Harney].................. 402-341-3044 Wallflower Artisan Collective (1402 S. 13 St.).402-677-9438 Z O O • B O TA N I C A L C E N T E R
MUSIC STORES
Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center Drastic Plastic [E-15].......................................402-346-8843 [100 Bancroft St.]............................................402-346-4002 Homer’s Music & Gifts [E-15]..........................402-346-0264 Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium/IMAX Theater [3701 S. 10th St.]...........................................402-733-8400 FLOWERS
Old Market Habitat [F-15]...............................402-342-0044 G I F T & S P E C I A LT Y S T O R E S
Ashley’s Collectibles [E-15, L. Level]...............402-934-3100 City Limits [F-15].............................................402-345-3570 Le Wonderment [F-15]....................................402-206-9928 Old Market Sundries [G-15]............................402-345-7646 OM Center [D-15]............................................402-345-5078 Souq, Ltd. ]F-15 in The Passageway]............. 402-342-2972 Susie’s Baskets [D-13].................................... 402-341-4650 Tannenbaum Christmas Shop [G-15]..............402-345-9627
SPORTS BAR
MUSIC STORE
BANKING
Burger Theory [B-2]........................................402-933-6959 Saddle Creek Shop [D-4, 721 N. 14th St.].....402-384-8248 DJ’s Dugout Sports Bar/ Blazin’ Pianos [G-10]........................................402-763-9974 Old Mattress Factory Bar & Grill [D-6] ........... 402-346-9116 The Dugout [D-2]............................................402-934-5252
Pinnacle Bank [10th & Douglas]......................402-346-9180
NIGHTLIFE
DINING
LOUNGE
CASUAL DINING
Brothers Lounge [FF-22]................................402-558-4096 The Omaha Lounge [B-13]............................. 402-709-6815
Local Beer, Patio & Kitchen[H-11]................... 402-315-4301 Blatt Beer & Table [E-5].................................. 402-718-8822 Capitol Lounge & Supper Club [G-10].............402-934-5999 Farnam House Brewing Company [HH-22]....402-401-6086 Goodnights Pizza Bar & Patio [D-4].................402-502-2151 Heritage Food & Wine [B-13]..........................402-991-0660
BARS
California Bar [LL-20]......................................402-449-9138 Crescent Moon [HH-22].................................. 402-345-1708 Farnam House Brewing Company [HH-22]....402-401-6086
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VISIT US IN THE HISTORICAL RILEY BUILDING AT 10th & DOUGLAS ON THE MALL 402.346.9180 OR ONLINE AT pinnbank.com
T HE
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July/August calendar of Events
12/10/15 12:50 PM
SPONSORED BY PINNACLE BANK
2016 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials July 1-3 at CenturyLink Center 455 N. 10th St. Omaha was selected as the host of the 2016 trials based upon the overwhelming success of the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Swimming. An estimated 1,500 swimmers are expected to compete in Omaha to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team. 402-341-1500 -centurylinkcenteromaha.com
ART AND MUSEUM EXHIBITS Preservation in the Archive Through Jan. 1, 2017, at the Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. The photo archive at The Durham Museum gives visitors a sneak peek at its digitization initiative, explores the history of the archive, and brings to light the museum’s race against time and deterioration to save these iconic images. Admission $10; free for ages 17 and under, students, and members. 10am-5pm. 402-444-5071 -durhammuseum.org Odyssey’s Shipwreck! Pirates & Treasure Through Aug. 28 at the Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Odyssey’s SHIPWRECK! Pirates & Treasure takes visitors on a voyage through more than 2,000 years of seafaring history. The exhibit contains more than 500 authentic shipwreck artifacts, a variety of interactive games and challenges, and a full-size replica of ZEUS, Odyssey’s eight-ton remotely operated vehicle. 402-444-5071 -durhammuseum.org Sheila Hicks: Material Voices Through Sept. 4 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Drawing on traditions of weaving, architecture, fashion, and her own personal narrative, Sheila Hicks' fiber-based works reveal a remarkable understanding of color, line, and texture. Admission $10; free for ages 17 and under, students, and members. 10am-8pm. 402-342-3300 -joslyn.org
Doug Aitken: Migration (empire) Through Sept. 4 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. For this spellbinding video, Aitken filmed animals in the incongruous setting of roadside motel rooms, reflecting the migratory patterns of wildlife, and illuminating tensions between the built and natural environments. 402-342-3300 -joslyn.org Pirates & Mermaids: Voyage to Creature Cove Through Sept. 4 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Ahoy mateys! Climb aboard and join a pirate adventure. Omaha Children’s Museum will explore what it takes to be a pirate, go “Under the Sea” on a mermaid adventure, and bring visitors face to face with creatures from the deep, all without leaving the museum. 402-342-6164 -ocm.org
Drawing Stories: The Picture Book Art of Marla Frazer Through Sept. 18 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Explore the art of authorillustrator and Caldecott Honoree Marla Frazee. Watercolor and gouache paintings from All the World, A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, Roller Coaster, Walk on!, and other books will be on view in this Mind’s Eye Exhibition. 402-342-3300 -joslyn.org FAMILY EVENTS Monday Nights at the Movies Midtown Crossing—3333 Farnam St. Movies, all rated PG or PG 13, are shown on the lawn at Turner Park, starting at dusk. Free admission. 402-598-9676 -midtowncrossing.com
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Playing with Fire Festival July 2 at Turner Park, 3102 Dodge St. Playing with Fire, an annual summer music festival, sizzles along the edges of incendiary blues, rock, funk, R&B, and soul. Even more, Playing with Fire speaks to the heart of the music community in Omaha. The line-up includes: headliner Sugaray Rayford, Andria Simone and Those Guys, Nick Schnebelen Band, and Far & Wide. Fireworks will conclude the event. 4:30pm. 402-960-1001 -playingwithfire.net Red, White and Zoo! July 2-4 at Henry Doorly Zoo, 3701 S. 10th St. Celebrate Independence Day with the red, white, and blue creatures of Omaha's Zoo. Throughout the holiday weekend, Red, White and Zoo! visitors can "parade" through the zoo on a self-guided tour in search of red, white, and blue animals. How many can you find? There will be entertainment including bounce houses, music, and special animal encounters for all ages. 9am-5pm. 402-773-8401 -omahazoo.com
RESTAURANT AND WINE LOUNGE
OPEN AT 11AM DAILY ... HAPPY HOUR 4 PM - 6 PM ... Late Night Happy Hour Fri. & Sat. 10 PM-12 AM We Appreciate Your Best of Omaha Vote Quick Vote Code: 63331 se Happy Ho ver ur Re
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• Large Selection of Loose Leaf Tea • Unique Accessories • Free Wi-Fi • Fresh Brewed Teas; Hot & Cold • Chai Tea • Bubble Teas
KETV 7 • Baxter Arena
TWO LOCATIONS IN OMAHA
Old Market
1118 Howard St 402.932.3933
Tower Plaza
345 N 78th Street 402.393.7070
www.theteasmith.com
1006 Dodge St., Omaha 402.614.2121 www.noshwine.com SIP. TASTE. SAVOR.
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OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM
july/august calendar of Events SPONSORED BY PINNACLE BANK
Brew at the Zoo July 16 at Henry Doorly Zoo, 3701 S. 10th St. Join Omaha’s Zoo for a sudssippin’ safari as we host our third annual Brew at the Zoo event. Guests age 21 and over will enjoy a stroll through the zoo and sample unique brews from dozens of local breweries, as well as a selection of locally produced wines. Spend your night with live music from Red Delicious, food, fun games, and, of course, the exotic animals of the zoo. 8pm-11pm. 402-773-8401 -omahazoo.com The Color Run July 16 at CenturyLink Center, 455 N. 10th St. Also known as The Happiest 5K on the Planet, this event involves volunteers chucking paint and making people smile. Less about your 10-minute-mile and more about having the time of your life, The Color Run is a five-kilometer, untimed race in which thousands of participants are doused from head to toe in different colors at each kilometer. 402-341-1500 -thecolorrunomaha.com Railroad Days July 16, various locations All aboard for a fun-filled weekend. Lauritzen Gardens, the Durham Museum, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, the RailsWest Railroad Museum, and the Historic General Dodge House are coming together to celebrate our region’s rich railroad heritage at Railroad Days 2016. Each participating venue will offer a variety of family-friendly activities in addition to the venues’ ongoing programs and exhibits. A $15 family pass allows admission to and transportation between all five locations. A $5 pass is also available for one additional adult with the purchase of a family pass. 402-346-4002 -omaharailroaddays.com Jr. All Star Wacky Olympics July 18-22, 25-29 at Omaha Children’s Museum 500 S. 20th St. It’s not necessary to travel to Rio this summer to earn your Olympic Gold. Jr. Olympians will train and compete in the wackiest of potato-sack relays, a water balloon javelin throw, and a hula hoop obstacle course. Develop Olympic uniforms and create mascots in this stupendous sports spectacle. Everyone’s a winner in the Jr. All Star Wacky Olympics. 402-342-6164 -ocm.org
Joslyn Castle Classic Car Show July 24 at Joslyn Castle, 3902 Davenport St. Come enjoy beautiful classic cars, trucks and motorcycles displayed throughout the 5.57 acre Joslyn Castle estate. 11am4pm. Admission $12.50. 402-595-2199 -joslyncastlecarclassic.com Tour de Zoo July 16 at Henry Doorly Zoo 3701 S. 10th St. Bring your bike and ride during Tour de Zoo. This is a family event that includes dinner, snacks, refreshments, and special animal encounters during the funfilled evening. Admission is $20 for zoo members, $25 dollars for non members. 6:30pm-8:30pm. 402-773-8401 -omahazoo.com Back to School Bash Aug. 6-7 at Henry Doorly Zoo 3701 S. 10th St. Before the bell rings for class this school year, visit Omaha’s Zoo for one last hurrah. Get into the school spirit by hanging out with local mascots while enjoying kid-friendly music from Omaha Street Percussion. Finish summer with a bash! Gifts, provided by Oriental Trading Co., will be given out while supplies last. Event activities are free to zoo members or with regular paid zoo admission. 9am-5pm. 402-773-8401 -omahazoo.com Omaha’s Original Greek Festival Aug. 19-21 at St. Mary Ave. & Park Ave. Remember to say, “Opa!” and head to St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church for Omaha’s Original Greek Festival. Authentic Greek music, culture, food, and alcohol await. Adult entry costs $3, and the event is free for children under age 12, students, military, police, and fire department staff. -www.greekfestomaha.com Corporate Cycling Challenge Aug. 21 at Heartland of America Park, 800 Douglas St. The Corporate Cycling Challenge is Nebraska's largest one-day bicycling event, with a choice of three different routes. Each route varies in length and difficulty, from the 10-mile "Olde River Ride,” to the 25-mile "Riverside Ride,” to the 42-mile "Tour De Fort.” -corporatecycling.com
Omaha Fashion Week Aug. 22 at Omaha Design Center, 1502 Cuming St. Omaha Fashion Week is celebrating nine years in 2016. The nation's fifth largest fashion event supports more independent fashion designers than any other organization in the region. Omaha Fashion Week nurtures the youngest of fashion designers by providing mentoring, educational opportunities, and a professional platform for designers to showcase and sell their work. 402-934-4303 -omahafashionweek.com
Tempo of Twilight at Lauritzen Gardens Through Oct. 4, Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Bring chairs, food, beverages, and the whole family to enjoy musical performances. Weather permitting, concerts are held outdoors. Visit the gift shop or café for barbecued beef sandwiches, lemon bars, freshly popped popcorn, and more. 6-8pm. Garden admission applies and is $10 for adults, $5 for children. 402-346-4003 -lauritzengardens.org
CONCERTS Omaha Under the Radar July 6-9, various locations. A variety of performers and interdisciplinary artists in contemporary and experimental music, dance, theatre, performance art, and other live art forms will take the stages during this three-day fine arts festival. Venues include the Bemis Center, House of Loom, Joslyn Art Museum, KANEKO, Project Project, Milk Run, Slowdown, and W. Dale Clark Library. Full festival passes are $40. Tickets for individual events are $10 at the door. -undertheradaromaha.com
Bridge Beats July 8 and 22, Aug. 5 and 19 at the Bob Kerrey Bridge on the Riverfront. Bridge Beats free summer concerts presented by the City of Omaha Parks and Recreation returns for its fourth season. Concerts will feature local talent under the new shaded outdoor stage, and 3-D interactive chalk drawings throughout the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge Plaza. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, blanket, and a picnic basket—or enjoy drinks from Harney Street Tavern and food from the rotating line-up of food trucks. 402-444-4640 -bridgebeats.com
Jazz on the Green Thursdays July 7-Aug. 11, Midtown Crossing, 3333 Farnam St. Omaha Performing Arts will again present Jazz on the Green. The lawn opens at 5pm. The lineup includes: July 7, Blue House with the Rent to Own Horns; July 14, Esencia Latina; July 21, Cha Wa; July 28, Billy McGuigan and the Omaha Big Band; August 4, Davina and the Vagabonds; and August 11, Kim Waters. 7:30pm. Free admission. 402-345-0606 -jazzonthegreenomaha.com
Femi Kuti and the Positive Force July 14 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Kuti is the oldest son of afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. He grew up playing with his father’s band and, like Fela, has also shown strong commitment to social and political causes. The influential musician has collaborated with such U.S. musicians as Common, Mos Def, and Jaguar Wright. General Admission $25.00 adv./$28.00 day of show. Reserved tickets $45.00. 402-345-7569 -theslowdown.com
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BEER
& WHISKY
1415 Harney Street
- CRAFTED HERE -
Telephone: 402.341.7576 www.cityviewdentalomaha.com
The Convenient Downtown Dentist
We’re Omaha’s first distillery since Prohibition and only combination brewery/distillery. Visit our tasting room for a cold beer and stiff whisky.
1116 JACKSON ST | OMAHA’S OLD MARKET | DRINKBRICKWAY.COM
The Trusted Original Since 1992!
The area’s legitimate “Best of” contest.
We believe our contest should be driven by the voters, not by paid advertisements on the ballot page.
Voting is simple . Locally Owned Since 1970 . . .
Featuring Omaha’s Most Popular Patio The Old Market’s Longest Jazz Gig Live Music Every Sunday 9pm and Wednesday 7pm-10pm Never a Cover Charge 402.345.4488
10th and Howard St. MrToadsPub.com
Register to vote at bestofomaha.com Check your email and click the link Vote for a minimum of 15 categories Click the “I’m Done Voting” button Take advantage of the offers
Discounts For Voters After voting, download your Proof of Voting Certificate to receive discounts.
J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 45
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july/august calendar of Events SPONSORED BY PINNACLE BANK
Omaha Girls Rock Showcase July 16 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. One of two showcases to end a week of camp at Omaha Girls Rock, a nonprofit whose mission is to empower young women to find their unique voice through creativity, music education, and performance. No ticket required, but a $5 donation is suggested. 402-345-7569 -theslowdown.com Chris Botti July 20 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Grammy Award-winner Chris Botti returns to Omaha. With soaring musical imagination, the trumpeter has found a form of expression that begins in jazz and expands beyond any single genre. He’s earned acclaim for his best-selling albums including When I Fall in Love, To Love Again, and his latest, Impressions. Experience a night of pop hits, jazz standards, classical masterpieces, and instant favorites. Tickets $25 to $65. 402-345-0606 -ticketomaha.com Glass Animals July 21 at Sokol Auditorium, 2234 S. 13th St. Glass Animals vocalist and songwriter David Bayley draws influence for both music and artwork from his involvement in the world of medicine and neuroscience (at just 22 years old, he has studied both), creating a sound with its roots spread between the electronic and live instrumentation. The result is the warm, narcotic space between a downbeat, slow-burning groove, and electro-pop catchiness. $25 in advance and $30 at the door. 7pm. 402-346-9802 -sokolunderground.com Miranda Lambert: Keeper of the Flame Tour July 30 at CenturyLink Center, 455 N. 10th St. Miranda Lambert is a country music singer and songwriter who gained fame as a finalist on the 2003 season of Nashville Star, where she finished in third place and later signed to Epic Records. 402-341-1500 -mirandalambert.com
Béla Fleck and Chris Thile July 12 at the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Premiere banjo player Béla Fleck and mandolinist, composer, and vocalist Chris Thile combine forces for what will be a night of musical surprises. Celebrated for their refreshing approaches to bluegrass, jazz, pop, and classical music, both are multiple Grammy Award-winning musicians. 7:30pm. Tickets from $20-$48. 402-345-0606 -ticketomaha.com Diana Ross July 22 at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Diana Ross is one of the most iconic female singers of all time. Her musical repertoire encompasses R&B, soul, pop, disco, and jazz, and includes “Stop! In The Name of Love,” “Where Did Our Love Go,” “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Endless Love,” which remains one of the most successful duets in pop history. Tickets $68.50 to $129.50. 402-345-0606. -ticketomaha.com Journey & The Doobie Brothers Aug. 6 at CenturyLinkCenter, 455 N. 10th St. Don’t miss this power mashup with two of the biggest rock groups of the 20th century. The Doobie Brothers have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide throughout their five decade career. Journey has secured two gold albums, eight multi-platinum albums, and one diamond album. 7:30pm. 402-341-1500 -centurylinkcenteromaha.com Maha Music Festival Aug. 20 at Stinson Park Mark your calendar for the eighth annual Maha Music Festival. Details on tickets and the 2016 lineup are coming soon. 402-314-8516 -mahamusicfestival.com 5 Seconds of Summer: Sounds Live Feels Live Tour Aug. 22 at CenturyLink Center 155 N. 10th St. 5 Seconds of Summer is an Australian rock band from Sydney that formed in 2011. The group initially gained celebrity on YouTube, posting videos of themselves covering songs from various artists during 2011 and early 2012. 402-341-1500 -centurylinkcenteromaha.com
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STOP IN FOR HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS “Just a Wink from the Link” 501 N. 13th St. | 402.346.9116 www.themattomaha.com 9443UBCB2BAd_fnl.pdf
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