The Reader12/16/10

dec. 16 - 22, 2010 VOL.17

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news 7

Finding Fraud

dish 18

Sampler Platter

art 23

Wood Works

music 29 Reindeer Games

OMAHA JOBS 2

holiday

wishes

an exceptional bunch of Omahans relate their own seasonal wishes cover story - Page 13

Weird 44

MOjo 46

FUNNIES 49

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ENGLISH/HUMANITIES The Goodrich Scholarship Program, an academic department of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, has humanities (English) position for a tenure-track assistant professor, beginning 2011/2012 academic year.(See the program’s websitehttp://goodrich.unApply omaha.edu/). for the position at www.unomaha.edu Go to omahajobs.com for details.

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COX COMMUNICATIONS Technical Support Representatives Apply at www.cox.com/coxcareer SALES/MARKETING MANAGER Anytime Fitness Laura. binetti@anytimefitness.com

INFINITY DATA SOLUTIONS Part-time Warehouse and Production support thenning@infinitydatasolutions.com check out Omahajobs.com website for more details.

DANCERS & WAIT STAFF Good Fellas Dance Club 623 S. 16th St (corner of 16th & Jones) Omaha, NE 68102 Apply in person.

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HUMBOLDT SPECIALTY Metal worker - Omaha Dmccarty@humboldtspecialty.com Check out O ma h a j o b s. c o m for more details.

OMAHA STORM CHASERS Front office assistant robc@ Papillion. o m a h a s t o r m c h a s e r s. c o m

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NEBRASKA TITLE COMPANY Escrow Closer – Omaha kjohnson@ nebtitlelincoln.com check out Omahajobs.com website for more details.

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TIP TOP TUX Customer Service Reps & Assistant Manager Omaha and Lincoln Sharon@tttux.com check out Omahajobs.com website for more details.

ACTUARY Contributes to the growth and financial soundness of the Society by assisting actuarial functions that support various Woodmen insurance products.

Compiles data with acceptable levels of accuracy and efficiency that is used in financial solutions. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

APPLICATION ENGINEER If you have experience working for a fluid power manufacturer or distributor, we can give you an objective view of the conditions in the industry that can irectly affect your income and lifestyle! For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

CUSTOMER SERVICE Representative Qualified candidates will have strong customer service skills, be detail oriented, able to analyze information and produce a professional, quality product to meet company and customer guidelines. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

DEC. 16 - 22 , 2010

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HOSPITAL-BASED CTR We are seeking an experienced Cancer Registrar for full-time employment working in a hospital setting.

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ENDODONTICS Position responsibilities include instructing both postgraduate endodontic residents and undergraduate dental students, as well as conducting and publishing original research. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER Works with staff, business partners, vendors and senior management to define IT strategies and methods for deploying and maintaining technology solutions in support of strategic corporate goals. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

PHARMACEUTICAL SALES Your unique talents and perspective can make a vital contribution to innovative products that improve the lives of people everywhere. Career opportunities within our companies may provide you with an ideal setting to build your leadership experience, express your passion, and touch the world. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

ESCROW CLOSER The primary function of this position is to attend closings and obtain all necessary signatures on real estate and loan closing documents. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM FACULTY Teach courses in areas of expertise; establish and maintain clinical sites for student rotations; participate in skills instruction, clinical assessment, student admissions, and academic advising; participate in scholarly activity and in University service committees and activities. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

BILINGUAL RECOVERY SPECIALIST Use your competitive drive and excellent problem-solving skills to negotiate payments on medical bills over the phone. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

MARKETING & UTILIZATION PROGRAM LEADER Serve as forest service program Leader, providing strong leadership in forest products marketing & utilization, forest & tree inventory, project & properties management. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

NEPHROLOGY FACULTY Full-time faculty positions at the Assistant/Associate Professor level to be part of a dynamic nephrology division involved in all aspects of nephrology, including providing renal expertise to one of the largest liver and small bowel transplant centers in the world, For more information visit OmahaJobs.com

PHARMACEUTICAL SALES Representatives are responsible for coordinating samples and promotional and educational materials to maximize sales within company, regulatory, and ethical guidelines. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

DIRECTOR OF SALES The ideal candidate must have a proven hospitality sales background, we demonstrated results in meeting individual and departmental sales goals (occupancy, ADR, and revenue).

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

ASSIST. PROF/PROGRAM DIRECTOR, CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION This position is responsible for serving as an effective educator, mentor and role model for students and adjunct faculty in the College of Professional Studies for the undergraduate program. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

PHARMACEUTICAL SALES Generate product sales by successfully interacting with physicians and other healthcare professionals, using resources and implementing company sales and marketing programs in a targeted and cost effective manner. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

PHARMACEUTICAL SALES ENTRY LEVELS Seeking eager professionals for outside business-tobusiness pharmaceutical sales positions. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

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PHARMACEUTICAL SALES REPRESENTATIVE Ability to obtain information, resources, and support within BMS to maximize business opportunities and respond to customer needs.

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

PRINCIPAL PROCESS ENGINEER Defines, develops and commercializes new, improved processing technologies to support new product introductions, reduce cost and/or improve quality.

For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

SALES REPRESENTATIVE A distributor of natural stone slabs with its headquarters in Omaha is seeking an Inside/Outside Sales Representative with office and warehouse basic knowledge. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

REMOTE CODING CONSULTANT The successful candidate will be flexible, detail-oriented, have the ability to work independently, quality conscious and be able to adapt well to change. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

NATIONAL PRODUCT SALES MANAGER Responsible for sales, sales presentations, documentation and closing of all sales leads nationally. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

SR. COPYWRITER Concept, research and write copy for initiative and strategy-based projects, as well as various PR, Advertising, Training and Communication initiatives For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

CODING MANAGER The Coding Manager supervises the coding staff and manages the coding functions for our national clients. For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

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PRINCIPAL PROCESS ENGINEER Defines, develops and commercializes new, improved processing technologies to support new product introductions, reduce cost and/or improve quality.

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PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGER Develop product positioning and messaging that differentiates the products/services in the market.For more information visit OmahaJobs.com.

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dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

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Letters to the Editor: letters@thereader.com

EDITORIAL

Publisher/Editor: John Heaston Content Director: Eric Stoakes, erics@threader.com Managing Editor: Sarah Wengert, sarahw@thereader.com Contributing News Editor: Andrew Norman, andrewn@thereader.com Listings Editor: Paul Clark, listings@thereader.com Copy Editor: Ed Howard Contributing Editors: Ryan Syrek, Lainey Seyler Senior Editorial Contributors: Leo Biga, Michael Braunstein, Warren Francke, B.J. Huchtemann, Michael Pryor, Jesse D. Stanek, Kyle Tonniges Editorial Contributors: Brian S. Allen, Chris Aponick, Avishay Artsy, Mike Babcock, Sarah Baker Hansen, Nicole Blauw, Wayne Brekke, Steve Brewer, Chalis Bristol, Jill Bruckner, Jeremy Buckley, Jesse Claeys, Paul Clark, Ben Coffman, Brent Crampton, Sally Deskins, Kyle Eustice, Jarrett Fontaine, Adam Froemming, Layne Gabriel, Phil Jarrett, Tessa Jeffers, Camille Kelly, Michael J. Krainak, Jason Krivanek, Casey Logan, Sarah Lorsung Tvrdik, Jasmine Maharisi, Sean McCarthy, Rob McLean, Neal Obermeyer, Adam Payson, Hal Senal, Justin Senkbile, Patricia Sindelar, Darian Stout, Carson Vaughan, Brandon Vogel, Brady Vredenburg, John Wenz, David Williams Photography Contributors: Neal Duffy, Bryce Bridges, Adam Brubaker, Justin Barnes, Fletch, Eric Francis, Dale Heise, Bill Sitzmann, Paparazzi by Appointment, Sean Welch, Marlon A. Wright

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heartland healing

12 Holiday Healing: ———————————————

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010 VOL.17 n o . 4 3

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cover story

30 Omahahype Returns ————————————————

Holiday Wishes:

hoodoo

An exceptional bunch of Omahans to relate their own holiday wishes, whether personal or for the community. ~ Page 13

31 Holiday To-Dos ————————————————

film

dish

39 High Seas Drifters 39 Cutting Room: Film News 40 Two-Weak Vacation 40 Report Card: Film Grades 42 Femi-Nun Side ————————————————

18 Sampler Platters 18 Crumbs: Food News ————————————————

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P.O. Box 7360 Omaha, NE 68107 Phone 402.341.7323 Fax 402.341.6967 www.thereader.com OUR STAFF

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contents

| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22, 2010

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this year, our Celebrate the Holiday Lights Festival and help Shine the Light on Hunger.

ConAgra Foods Ice Rink

TOUCHSCREENS are gift-wrapped in savings.

Friday, Dec. 10–Friday, Dec. 31 Sunday–Thursday: 1–10 pm Friday & Saturday: 1 pm–Midnight Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve: 1–5 pm Closed Christmas ConAgra Foods Campus, 10th & Harney A $5 fee will cover admission and skate rental.

All proceeds and non-perishable food items collected from the ice rink will be donated to Food Bank for the Heartland as part of the Shine the Light on Hunger Campaign.

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New Year’s Eve, 7 pm Gene Leahy Mall, 14th & Farnam

First National Bank is proud to present the region’s largest New Year’s Eve fireworks display!

For prime viewing, go to the Gene Leahy Mall.

Bring your radio and tune to Star 104.5 for choreographed music.

Visit www.holidaylightsfestival.org and our Facebook page! produced by:

presented by:

Mayor Jim Suttle and Downtown Omaha Inc. Foundation media sponsors :

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DEC. 16 - 22 , 2010

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notableevents

Q South 24th St. Walking Tour: Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 18-19, 24th and N. Holiday-themed tour of Omaha’s vibrant S. 24th Street. south24thomahatour.com Q UNO Commencement: Friday, Dec. 17, Omaha Civic Auditorium, 1804 Capitol Ave. Winter commencement ceremony for UNO graduates. unomaha.edu Q 2012: Time for Change: Wednesday, Dec. 22, Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple St. Evolver Omaha screening of the film 2012: Time for Change, presenting an optimistic alternative to apocalyptic doom and gloom. evolver.net

No clear precedent in cases of recall challenges

by Brandon Vogel

W

hat, exactly, Mayor Jim Suttle must prove to convince a Douglas County judge that fraud helped opponents garner the 26,643 signatures necessary to force an election to recall him is a question without an easy answer.

But he’ll get his shot Dec. 20 when District 4 Judge Peter Bataillon hears evidence from Suttle’s legal team and the Mayor Suttle Recall Committee at a hearing likely to determine if Omaha will hold its second-ever mayoral recall election. If Bataillon rules the election can proceed, the City Council likely will set Jan. 25 as the date.

Neal Erickson, Nebraska’s assistant secretary of state for elections, says precedents for cases involving election fraud vary widely.

“There are court cases Juan Baca, Jr. all over on it,” he says. “It’s typically determined on a case-by-case basis.”

In some cases, proof of widespread fraud might be enough to throw out entire results, Erickson says. More often, however, the court must evaluate and eliminate individual signatures.

In 2006, the district court of Milwaukee found clear evidence of “widespread fraud” in an effort to recall city alderman Michael McGee Jr. A petitioner in the case provided a sworn affidavit saying she intentionally mislead voters about what they were signing. The court disqualified an additional 150 signatures based on its finding, but the recall group still produced enough sig-

natures to force a special election, which McGee eventually won.

The magic number in Omaha could be 2,077.

That’s the cushion left for the recall committee after the Douglas County Election Commission certified 28,720 of its 37,596 submitted signatures. Douglas County Election Commissioner Dave Phipps says most of the 9,594 rejected signatures came from voters either not registered or who lived outside Omaha.

Like in the Milwaukee case, Suttle has sworn testimony on his side — from 20-year-old recall petitioner Juan Baca, Jr. Baca stated in a Dec. 3 deposition to Suttle attorney Vince Powers that a supervisor told him he would be paid by the signature — a violation of state law. According to anti-recall group Forward Omaha, it was one of many violations.

“We took a holistic approach to our review of the process,” says Noelle Obermeyer, the group’s cotreasurer. “From day one, we started seeing problems with the petitioners and the circulators.

“Restaurants were leaving the petitions unattended — all signatures are supposed to be witnessed. Handwriting didn’t match up. It looks like maybe moms and dads were signing for their children. If [a recall] is what the city wanted, [recall proponents] wouldn’t have needed to resort to fraud.”

Forward Omaha has released five videos showing what they say are petitioners and circulators violating additional state laws.

One video allegedly shows a circulator skipping portions of the mayor’s mandatory defense

e d i t e d

3 Chances that an American believes that Jesus Christ will return to earth by 2050: 2 in 5 3 Chance that a U.S. Protestant knows who Martin Luther is: 1 in 2 3 Percentage of Americans who believe that Stephen King wrote Moby-Dick: 4 3 Percentage change since 2008 in the number of Jewish Americans who identify themselves as Republican: +77

a n d r e w

n o r m a n

How Hispanic ‘friendly’ is Nebraska’s congressional delegation?

statement. Others appear to show petitioners misleading people about how the recall election would be funded — one recall committee employee incorrectly claimed federal funds were available — and the amount of the restaurant tax imposed by Suttle in October. A video shows a circulator saying Suttle instituted a 15 percent restaurant tax, rather than the actual 2.5 percent.

Forward Omaha hired a handwriting expert to determine if some signatures were forged. The group also sent response cards to every signee to confirm their validity. The group expects to present its findings in court.

Recall committee spokesman Jeremy Aspen maintains the allegations will prove empty.

“Their allegations, I think, are that the committee has fraud inside its organization, but they have yet to find anything, and they won’t find anything,” Aspen says.

John Chatelain, attorney and treasurer for the recall group, asked Baca during cross examination if he could have misinterpreted an effort to motivate him as a pay-per-signature offer.

“No, it was not like that at all,” Baca said in the deposition. “It was by the signature.”

Aspen says his group has financial statements to prove Baca’s pay rate never varied.

“When [Suttle’s supporters] see the pay stubs, they’re going to see that wasn’t the case,” he says. “Ten signatures might be an objective, but it doesn’t mean if he’d gotten 50 signatures in an hour he would have gotten paid $50.”

As the city waits to see if it will hold its first recall vote since the removal of Mayor Mike Boyle in 1987, Phipps says his office is already preparing for an election that he says could cost up to $900,000.

“The election is going forward as far as we’re concerned,” he says. “We verified our results, and state law says you have to call an election. Until a judge rules otherwise, we think it’s going forward.” ,

harper’sindex

Jesus, martin and moby:

B y

upfront

Finding Fraud

topnews Sen. Ben Nelson broke party rank in late November

to announce he would oppose the DREAM Act. The bill offering a path to citizenship for children brought into the country as undocumented immigrants could come before the Senate this week.

The move landed Nelson on a GOP Latino voting advocacy group’s list of 2012 congressional candidates who are “unfriendly to Hispanics.” The Somos Republicans formed this year in Arizona in the wake of the state’s controversial immigration law and has offered pointed criticism to members of both parties who tout tougher immigration restrictions. So far, Nelson is the only name on the group’s “unfriendly” list.

Yet, when an amended version of the DREAM Act came before the House on Dec. 8, none of Nebraska’s three representatives – all Republicans – voted to pass the act. The bill passed anyway, on a 216-198 vote.

Based on Nelson’s inclusion, Somos Republicans could probably add some Nebraska names to its list.

Sen. Mike Johanns has been a staunch opponent of the DREAM Act since taking office in 2008. And as a candidate, he outlined a plan to tighten border security, provide no so-called “amnesty” for undocumented immigrants, a comprehensive employee verification system and stricter deportation standards.

Johanns has since voted to deploy U.S. troops and add 700 miles of reinforced fencing to the U.S.-Mexico border. So did Nelson, who has always leaned conservative on immigration issues.

In the last four years, Nebraska congressman Adrian Smith, Jeff Fortenberry and Lee Terry have voted in lockstep on every key immigration vote that’s come before them. Smith’s largest statement via immigration vote came with the DREAM Act, but both Fortenberry and Terry voted for the Border Security Bill in 2005, which granted more power to the Department of Homeland Security and more resources to the fight illegal immigration.

Whether the delegation’s votes on immigration make them unfriendly toward Latinos, or simply representative of their predominately conservative constituency depends on whom you ask.

Loree Bykerk, political science professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, says each side will see it their own way, but Nelson’s decision on the DREAM Act might be unique.

“It’s more a matter of trying to avoid any more criticism from the right and trying not to stand out as being any more liberal,” she says. “[Voting for the act is] probably not a vote he’s willing to make because he would be the only one from Nebraska to go that way.”

— Brandon Vogel

theysaidit they TO LIE FOR COUNTRY: “It’s time we change this policy because it values, even requires, lying and deceit throughout the ranks.” — Sen. Ben Nelson on his website about the failed attempt to repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy Dec. 9. The Senate voted 57-40 in favor of the repeal — three votes short of the 60 needed to bypass a promised GOP filibuster.

news

| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

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thenewshound

P O L I T i C O | law and order | B usiness and D evelopment Black History Museum gets new leader

Major: Minor:

Geology Working my way up

?hei^ pk jas daecdpo ]p

For the second time this year, the Great Plains Black History Museum has undergone a major power shift. Vice-chairman Jim Calloway has resigned from the board of directors and Omaha-based business consultant James R. Beatty has been elected as the new board chair.

These actions follow the August resignation of John McClain as chair. Other board members left after their call for Calloway to resign was rejected.

This most recent changeover may mark the most significant turn in the troubled organization’s governance since founder Bertha Calloway resigned more than a decade and installed her son, Jim, as executive director. The museum site, at 2213 Lake St., has been closed since the early 2000s, when the City of Omaha deemed the structure unsafe.

Jim Calloway has been a lightning rod figure for the museum’s travails during his tenure.

But Beatty, a Chicago native and 1970 Doane College graduate, brings extensive experience in organizational leadership. After a 12-year marketing career with Northwestern Bell, he formed his own Omaha-based consulting company, NCS International, in 1982. He provides economic development and corporate site selection services nationally and globally.

The former chairman of the Urban League of Nebraska and the Durham Western Heritage Museum, he was vice chairman of the Omaha Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Nebraska Economic Development Authority. — Leo A. Biga

Anomalies along pipeline investigated TransCanada is digging up the original Keystone pipeline in 10 spots, including three in Nebraska, to examine anomalies in the line.

A spokesperson for the Canadian company says the digs were part of a federally mandated audit — one of 55 already conducted — to determine if the pipeline had grown beyond limits established by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

A second, proposed Keystone XL pipeline — a 1,000mile extension to the original line that would cross through

the Sandhills and the Ogallala Aquifer — awaits final approval by the U.S. State Department. Twenty-eight members of Congress wrote to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Dec. 3, urging her to take a closer look at its environmental impact.

A decision could come early next year.

Two members left off foster care board Gov. Dave Heineman will not reappoint two members of the state’s Foster Care Review Board next year. Board chairman Alfredo Ramirez and Ron Albin will see their terms expire on Jan. 1.

Heineman’s spokesperson says the governor routinely makes changes to board appointments to involve more people.

Last year Nebraska began to privatize its child welfare system, hiring independent contractors to handle the majority of foster care services. Since then, three of the five agencies hired to provide those services have terminated their contracts with the state over financial difficulties.

Iowa considers tougher abortion law Late-term abortion provider LeRoy Carhart was forced to take his practice elsewhere after a controversial Nebraska law banned abortions after 20 weeks. Now Iowa, too, is saying “not in our state.�

Nebraska’s new law — based on the idea that fetuses can feel pain at 20 weeks — challenges the findings of Roe v.

Wade. The The law led the Bellevue doctor to announce in early November that he would open new clinics in Council Bluffs and Maryland.

The Council Bluffs City Council blocked Carhart’s first attempt at a new clinic by placing a deed restriction on the property he was considering. And now state politicians are pledging to consider changing Iowa’s law in the coming year. “I’m taking on the fight of Dr. LeRoy Carhart to keep him out of my state,� Rep. Matt Windschitl told the Des Moines Register.

Iowa’s current law prohibits abortions later than 24 weeks.

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dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

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news

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numberscruncher they moving on: 3 Nebraska’s rank among the Top 10 states people are leaving: 4th 3 Number of people projected to leave the state this year: 5,900 3 Percentage of the population projected to leave: 0.33 3 Number of plains states in the Top 10: 5 (NE, IA, SD, ND, KS) Source: Moody’s

Analytics

NPPD purchases more wind power A new Nebraska Public Power District contract is helping to revive the state’s first wind farm.

The Springview Wind Facility in central Nebraska — built as a demonstration plant in 1997 and retired in 2007 — is scheduled to operate again in the middle of next year, following a purchase agreement from the NPPD. The Omaha Public Power District is slated to share some of the plant’s energy production.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory ranked Nebraska third in wind resource potential last February. The state ranks 24th in actual output, according to 2009 numbers from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Officer reinstated in planted evidence case Omaha police officer Steve Kult is back on the job nearly seven months after reporting two fellow officers for a suspected plan to plant evidence.

In May, Kult said he overheard a telephone conversation between his partner, Frank Platt, and Kara Hindman — fellow gang unit officer and Platt’s girlfriend — describing a plan to plant marijuana in the trash of a suspect. Platt has since retired, and Hindman remains on paid administrative leave.

The investigation is ongoing.

Teacher arrested for sexual assault An Omaha Public Schools teacher was arrested on sexual assault charges after turning himself in on Dec. 10.

Nicholas McKeone, 26, a teacher at Ashland ParkRobbins Elementary, has been on paid leave since Nov. 19 when allegations emerged that he inappropriately touched an 11-year-old student on numerous occasions since May 1.

The investigation is ongoing.

Two killed, 1 arrested in South Omaha crash Victor Rodriguez, 27, was apprehended after fleeing the scene of a two-car accident that killed two passengers and wounded five others near 42nd and H on Dec. 12.

Rodriguez lost control of his Nissan Pathfinder Sunday night and collided head-on with a GMC Yukon carrying five people. Manuel Santos-Gomez, 24, a passenger in Rodriguez’ vehicle, and Danny Alcantara, 22, a passenger in the Yukon, both died at the Nebraska Medical Center from their injuries. Four other passengers were transported to the hospital and were expected to survive.

Police found Rodriguez at his house and apprehended him after a short foot chase. He was treated for injuries at the Creighton University Medical Center and booked on two counts of criminal homicide. Investigators suspect speed and alcohol were factors in the accident.

Bellevue explores sex offender limits The Bellevue City Council held a first reading Dec. 13 on an ordinance restricting where registered sex offenders can live.

The ordinance, proposed by council president Carol Blood, would prohibit sex offenders from living within 500 feet of schools or child care facilities. State law limits the restriction to 500 feet and contains a grandfather clause for people already residing in the city.

The Nebraska State Patrol lists 80 known sex offenders living in Bellevue.

Report: Nebraska has third-highest drunk driving rate A new study released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Dec. 9 shows one in five Nebraskans has driven while under the influence of alcohol in the past year — the third-highest rate in the country.

At 21.5 percent, Nebraska trails only Wisconsin (23.7 percent) and North Dakota (22.4 percent) nationally. The national average is 13 percent. — Brandon Vogel CORRECTION: Our Dec. 9 story on Kansas Sec. of State Kris Kobach incorrectly identified the amount Fremont expects to spend defending its immigration ordinance as $1.25 million. The city has budgeted $750,000 for legal fees next year. We regret the error.

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| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

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| THE READER |

For audio archives of the Voices:

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| THE READER |

DEC. 16 - 22 , 2010

11

heartlandhealing

n e w

a g e

h e a l t h

a n d

w e l l n e s s

Holiday Healing: gifts with lasting benefits

P 1976

maha -2010 O g n i v Celebrating 34 Years of Ser

m a r k e t s Real answers to real questions.

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Two locaTions:

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rocrastinators, take heart! If you’ve waited until the last minute to fill Christmas stockings or pump up the pile under the tree, here are some easy things to choose just in time for the holiday. Any one of them will bring a smile and have the added benefit of enriching the life of the recipient.

Some of these suggestions involve a gift certificate so you can purchase them quickly, easily and at the last minute if you wish. The emphasis is on offering something for the mind, body and spirit.

Rubber neck: Give her (or him) a gift certificate for a therapeutic massage. The next best thing to doing it yourself is having a pro do it for you.

And let’s face it: They are probably better at it. For a good, affordable opportunity, there are local massage school clinics offering full massages at a great price. Universal College of Healing Arts is one I recommend. The clinic is a great setting with spacious and comfortable private rooms. A single session can run as low as $30 with a student or $50 for a licensed graduate. UCHA also offers yoga classes. Gift certificates are available for both.

Puppy Love: Research has found that when humans pet a dog our brain produces the natural hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is the “feel good” hormone released when we fall in love or experience a deep emotional moment — the love drug. It causes us to feel blissful and content. It also lowers blood pressure and stress, adding to our good health. So it seems the classic Christmas gift of a puppy or dog benefits them and us. Animal shelters and rescue groups are a good place to find a last minute doggie gift. Puppies are at a premium so consider an adult dog. Many rescue groups are breed-specific so just Google for your favorite. It is particularly rewarding to find a pet that has special needs or is in a hospice situation.

Shopping is good: For all the bad rap consumerism gets, it turns out that a good shopping spree releases endorphins, more “feel good” hormones that can act as natural pain killers and mood enhancers. Shopping takes on a special meaning when the gift certificate is to a place like Next Millennium Books and Gifts (3141 N. 93rd St.) Loaded with metaphysical, spiritual and healing related gifts and books, this store is among the most unique in the Metro area. I like it because it’s an easy place to shop — open and bright. And if a gift certificate isn’t in the cards for you, it’s a great place to put a personal stamp on a holiday gift by finding something you may not find in other area stores.

Word: Take this holiday season as an opportunity to say “adios” to an old friend. Pageturners Used

Heartland Healing

B y

m i c h a e l

b r a u n s t e i n

Books at 5004 Dodge St. is in the closing chapter of its 18-year old story. It’s a sad story but true. Pageturners is the ultimate “green” business. Rather than add to landfills with books and other media, they get recycled the best way possible: by reusing them. For the next few weeks (and certainly in time for Christmas,) the deep discounts on books of all genre, videos and even some audio CDs that you see at Pageturners will be even deeper, no doubt, as closeouts happen.

Give it up: Here is a gift you can give yourself by giving it away: Donate some time or some things to a charitable organization. The feeling of fulfillment that comes along with giving to others is something that lasts all year long. And getting rid of “stuff ” you don’t need can be good for your health. According to the teaching of the ancient art of feng shui, clutter can clog your energy and keep you from your important goals of health and prosperity. Look around the apartment or house. If it’s still useful but just not to you, get it to someone who can use it. For the record, May 14, 2011 is Give Your Stuff Away Day. The Crown Jewel: For the true E Ticket under the tinsel, consider sending your special friend (and yourself, of course,) for a stay at The Raj, the fourstar spa and health center in Fairfield, Iowa. This gift isn’t for everyone, only those willing and openminded enough to experience one of the most ancient healing arts while enjoying a stay in a luxurious French-country-styled mansion in a rural setting in Iowa. The Raj is a true medical spa with staff physicians trained in the traditional ayurvedic therapies.

You and your guest would be pampered in a peaceful setting while practicing yoga twice daily (if desired,) enjoying world-class epicurean vegetarian cuisine and luxuriating in the Five Steps of Panchakarma.

Starting with an evaluation of your basic needs, a dietary plan is designed specifically for your stay.

Massage oil used for your therapeutic treatments is custom blended by the technicians using special herbs, then stored in a large container with your name. It is used for massages, bodywork and the famous shiradara treatment, a relaxing, meditative session in which the warmed oil is drizzled slowly over the forehead and through the scalp as the head is massaged. Abhyanga and pizzacilli are two more exotic forms of ayurvedic massage. Abhyanga is often performed by two massage therapists working in unison as each mirrors movements in concert.

Pizzacilli heats the large reservoir of custom oil as it is pumped over the body on a special table that collects the oil overflow. To maintain temperature balance, a swath of cloth containing a peppermint oil emulsion is placed on the crown chakra. A visit to The Raj will leave a guest rejuvenated, purified and energized to start the New Year. See theraj.com for more information.

Be well. ,

by Michael Braunstein examines various alternative forms of healing. It is provided as a source of information, not as medical advice. It is not an endorsement of any particular therapy, either by the writer or The Reader. Access past columns at HeartlandHealing.com

12

dec. 16 - 22, 2010

| THE READER |

heartland healing

coverstory

I

holiday wishes

t could be Santa, Yahweh or the Universe that makes wishes come true, but I like to think it’s simply the power of the wisher. Ultimately the awesome strength of a positive selffulfilling prophecy can make dreams, wishes and visions into reality. Oprah says “pray on it,” we say wish on it — and it’s really the same thing. We asked an exceptional bunch of Omahans to relate their own holiday wishes, whether personal or for the community. Our request yielded inspiring, thought-provoking and admirable answers. So read on, get inspired, make your own wish. In the meantime, we at The Reader wish you happy holidays, and hope all of your wishes come true.

— Sarah Wengert, Managing Editor

“[I wish] that the city’s spirit of progressiveness, embracement of diversity and its strong culture of civic engagement become a beacon for other Nebraska communities to appreciate and celebrate our common humanity.”

— Lourdes Gouveia, Ph.D., Director Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS)

ART/ DESIGN/ FILM

“My wish for Omaha in 2011 is that we make good decisions — valuing inclusivity, cultural vibrancy and social justice through collaboration and cooperation. We must in order to continue the wonderful progress we’ve made in the last decade.”

— Rachel Jacobson, Founder/Director Film Streams

MEDIA “My wish for Omaha is that we start taking serious steps to collaboratively address the violence and disparity in North Omaha. The issues affecting North Omaha need to stop being looked at as a North Omaha thing. The crime, violence and hopelessness is not a ‘North Omaha’ issue, it is an ‘Omaha’ issue. Turning a blind eye to what takes place in North Omaha does nothing for the outward perception and forward progress of our entire city. We can start today with conversations between those who want to work together as one community towards a city united.”

— Jeff Slobotski, Founder & Chief Community Builder, Silicon Prairie News “We wish Omaha Bars were open until 2 a.m. … oh, they already did that? Then we wish the Qwest would bring Men at Work to Omaha.”

— Brothers Matt and Ben Tompkins, Twister 93.3

LITERARY/ EDUCATION “I wish for previously un-thought ideas every day and enough time and tenacity to write them. I wish for tulips on my 32nd birthday. I wish for my family: sleepful nights decorated with Technicolor dreams. I wish for my sister: 5000 more bike rides so the wind in her face can remind her how to fly. I wish the queer citizenry of Omaha will finally secure legal protection of our right to employment; we are not a city of bigots, and it

behooves no one to continue to behave as if we were. I wish [that] the clouds continue to catch in the treetops and rain their fullness upon us. I wish you peace, peace, peace and only peace.”

— Katie F-S, wordsmith/slam poet “My wish for Omaha is that we continue to offer a supportive, nurturing environment for local artists, writers, musicians, comedians, designers and more. To be a well-rounded city, we must embrace the creativity within our own city limits, and celebrate the variety of culture these individuals and their works continually yield.

Their progress makes Omaha a richer, more vibrant place to call home.”

— Wendy Townley, author, Nerdy Thirty

cover story

“Regardless of whether any of my wishes come true, I predict 2011 will be a great year. But, a little icing on the cake would be: a closer IKEA so that I don’t have to fight blizzards to get there in the winter, that ‘Gossip Girl’ would stop sucking, a subscription to the resurrected Domino magazine, happy hour sushi most days of the week, people to write ‘sneak peek’ correctly (I cannot secretly view the top of a mountain) and that we would continue to have the opportunity to work with amazing artists and wonderful clients.”

— Jessica McKay, owner Birdhouse Interior Design Consulting “I have many wishes for the physical spaces and places of Omaha in 2011; the city as we all experience it each day and interact within. I wish for even more vibrancy than all that happened in 2010. I wish for the edges of the city to be ringed with so many small farms that North, South, East and West Omaha won’t know what to do with all the food. I wish that every boarded up storefront

| THE READER |

continued on page 15 y

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

13

w o N en!

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| THE READER |

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Call (402) 592-5900 for private appointment.

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coverstory

y continued from page 13

would be lit and inhabited with innovation. I wish for an irresistible transportation option to go both north/south AND east/west to the edges of the city without a car. I wish for a complete citywide trail system. I wish for parks and streets that celebrate storm water rather than quickly whisk it away. I wish for a flood of bikes on the streets. I wish for a profound increase of trees on the streets. I wish for more performances in public spaces. I wish that by the end of 2011 every other city in the nation would look upon Omaha with awe.”

— Anne Trumble, Director, Emerging Terrain “I wish that every person in Omaha visits the Joslyn Art Museum at least once next year.”

— Jack Becker, Ph.D., Executive Director/CEO, Joslyn Art Museum “[I wish that] Dodge Street dedicates a lane to bicycle riders, Hummers are illegal to drive in city limits and the city recycles glass curbside.”

— Jean Imray, owner Dundee Gallery “My Christmas wish for Omaha is for everyone to support their friends and neighbors by patronizing local businesses, and that we all remember the less fortunate by supporting our awesome community charities. The holidays always remind me have gratitude and spread good will and no matter what you believe or celebrate, I hope you take time to consider and appreciate your blessings.”

— Megan Hunt, designer, Princess Lasertron “My wish for Omaha this year is that the collective efforts of the creative community takes it largest step yet forward in a cohesive effort to take this city to the next level both locally and nationally. I would love to see the amazing efforts of Big Omaha, Fashion Week, Omaha Film Festival, MAHA Music Festival and all the other creative wave-makers find a way to work together in a manner that helps solidify us as an epicenter of culture.”

— Shane Bainbridge, Creative/Principal, The New BLK “I have two wishes for Omaha: the continued and inspired development of our arts and culture community, and concerted effort to be open and accepting to all residents no matter their background, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, or gender. Each plays a role within the other, driving an open environment where everyone is considered, celebrated and encouraged to contribute. “ — Anne Meysenburg, Executive Director, Kent Bellows Studio & Center for Visual Arts

DINING

derstanding of others’ positions. I also wish for Omaha citizens to support our leaders and work to provide them with the resources and cooperation to do an effective job, rather than spending our time criticizing.”

— Sarah Johnson, Manager, Greater Omaha Young Professionals

“Wish for Omaha: peace and love (oops … got stuck in the ’60s for a moment there). Actually, that’s a pretty good goal. Hurt no one, and help as many as you can.”

— Greg Lindberg, owner Absolutely Fresh/Shucks

MUSIC “My wish is for the Replacements to reunite at MAHA 2011, but I’d settle for sunny skies and no east coast hurricanes day of show. And a puppy.”

— Tre Brashear, co-organizer, MAHA Music Festival

holiday wishes

“That we will continue to flourish as a community that cares for the helpless, the hopeless and the hungry.”

— Thomas Wilkins, Music Director, Omaha Symphony “Less Tea Party and more Holiday parties!”

— Jim Goeken, Knight of the Groundhog

POLITICS/ CIVICS/ SPORTS/ BUSINESS “I wish Omaha unity, collaboration, peace and humility.”

— Trev Alberts, Director of Athletics, UNO “My 2011 wish for Omaha is that it continues to grow its vibrant arts and music scenes and its burgeoning fashion scene. It would be great if Omaha became a place where talented young people could stay and realize their dreams without feeling compelled to search for opportunity elsewhere. I also wish that the city council would pass employment and housing discrimination

“My wish for Nebraska is that we elect and encourage leaders who value our state’s resources — more than their party affiliation — so we can grow our state and keep young people living and working in Nebraska. We have the third highest potential to produce wind energy, yet for years clock in at 36th in the United States for actual wind energy production. We have the ability to serve our kids’ healthy school lunches from our local farms and yet are still serving our kids mass-produced corn dogs and chicken nuggets.

We have the ability to fuel our cars and houses with “Nebraska made” energy, yet do not invest in the infrastructure needed to make biofuels and energy efficiency viable. So my wish is that we elect and support leaders who invest in our state and not their political careers.”

— Jane Kleeb, Editor, BOLD Nebraska “A mild winter season.”

— Garry Gernandt, City Council President

protections for our gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender neighbors. This fight is not over.”

— Timothy Butz, Asst. Director Fair Housing Center of Nebraska-Iowa “I wish that we [were] able to discuss all issues facing our city’s government in a civil, professional and polite manner, keeping in mind that we are a large, diverse community with a wide variety of issues and concerns.”

— Thomas Mulligan, City Councilmember, District 7 “That individuals and groups and organizations will give thanks for all the blessings that they have, and put more energy and money into helping people, animals and the whole environment instead of indulging themselves in lots of stuff they don’t need.”

— Elaine Wells, Founder, Black White Dialogues “Economic recovery.”

— Franklin Thompson, City Councilmember, District 6 “My wish for Omaha this year is that we join as a community and work together. I believe that most problems can be solved if people are willing to communicate and accept a general un-

cover story

“My wish for Omaha is that we recapture our sense of public and private sector optimism that’s made our city great and that we continue to work together to create jobs and prevent violence in our community.”

— Pete Festersen, City Councilmember, District 1 “Across the state, Nebraskans are overwhelmingly concerned about two things: reducing our nation’s debt and growing our economy. When a more balanced Congress returns to Washington in 2011, it is my hope that there will be greater cooperation to get our fiscal house in order and support our job creators so they can put Americans and Nebraskans back to work.”

— Sen. Mike Johanns “Ever since humans evolved enough to figure it out, they’ve celebrated the return of the sun around the winter solstice. December 25th was the birthday of Mithra, son of the sun, until Christians took it over. Now there is an alternative.

Secular humanists observe the solstice with the Human Light festival, devoid of superstition but embracing the holiday spirit. We wish good cheer to rationalists, Jews, Buddhists, atheists and all non-Christians. You are not alone.”

— Jim Bechtel, founder of REASON ,

| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

15

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| THE READER |

12/6/10 4:36 PM

Give the Gift of Art Give A Joslyn MeMbership

Give a memorable gift that lasts 12 months Memberships just $35-$50

❆ Peaceful hikes ❆ Forest adventures ❆ Programs for all ages

Fontenelle Forest Nature Center, Bellevue, NE Facility and trails Open daily 8am-5pm Neale Woods, Omaha Facility open seasonally, trails open year round www.fontenelleforest.org 402.731.3140

When you give your friends, family, and co-workers the gift of a Joslyn Art Museum membership, you give them a year’s worth of world-class art, fun programs, and exciting special events.

Glass Eye Ornaments available in the Hitchcock Museum Shop. Member discount applies.

www.joslyn.org | (402) 342-3300 2200 Dodge St. | Omaha, NE 68102

Congratulations to Our Winner!

Amanda Byers won the iPad for voting in this year’s Thanks for voting Amanda and Congratulations! | THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

17

Sampler Platters

Anthony’s Steakhouse/The Ozone Club For more than 38 years, Anthony’s has been known for its steaks, using premium black angus beef aged on premises.

Anthony’s is dedicated to bringing customers a truly special dining event every visit.

7220 F St. • 331.7575 anthonyssteakhouse.com Bailey’s Best breakfast in town. “King of Eggs Benedict.”

1 block south of 120th & Pacific • 932-5577 absolutelyfresh.com Attic Bar & Grill Great food and great drinks with live music.

3231 Harney St. • 932.5387 atticbarandgrill.com Blue Planet Natural Grill Healthy People. Healthy Planet.

6307 Center St. • 218.4555 blueplanetnaturalgrill.com Cascio’s Steakhouse Established 1946, 63 years of selling great steaks.

1620 S. 10th St. • 345-8313 casciossteakhouse.com Dundee Dell Omaha’s Finest Neighborhood Restaurant & Pub 5007 Underwood Ave. • 553.9501 dundeedell.com Hector’s Boasting the only Baja-style Mexican cuisine in the city, Hector’s serves fresh food with panache from Baja California and northwest Mexico.

Two Locations: 1201 S. 157th St. • 884.2272 3007 S. 83rd Plz. • 391.2923 hectorsomaha.com La Casa Pizzeria Fine Italian Dining Since 1953. Located on historic Leavenworth street in midtown Omaha, La Casa has the freshest pizza in town.

4432 Leavenworth St. • 556.6464 lacasapizzaria.net La Mesa An authentic Mexican experience, from mouthwatering enchiladas to fabulous fajitas. Top it off with one of La Mesa’s famous margaritas. Voted # 1 Mexican Restaurant seven years in a row.

Locations: 156th and Q • 763.2555 110th & Maple • 496-1101 Ft. Crook Rd. and 370 (Bellevue) • 733.8754 84th and Tara Plaza (Papillion) • 593.0983 Lake Manawa Exit (Council Bluffs) • 712.256.2762 la-mesa.com Matsu Sushi Downtown’s Original Sushi Restaurant 1009 Farnam St. • 346-3988 matsusushi.wordpress.com

Shucks Fish House & Oyster Bar Great Seafood. Great Prices.

Southwest corner of 168th & Center 1218 S 119 St. • 827.4376 absolutelyfresh.com Ted & Wally’s Premium Ice Cream Voted best ice cream in Omaha!

1120 Jackson St. • 341.5827

18

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

From sushi to steak, CRAVE goes for it all

by Darian Stout

L

et’s say it’s Friday, and the sun has gone down. A wearisome set of days and a skipped lunch have you communicating with words like “I don’t know, what sounds good to you?” If this has or will hit somewhere close to your gut, you might consider adding the eclectic CRAVE to your mental register of last-minute haunts.

CRAVE is situated in the center of Midtown Crossing’s ambitious cul-de-sac of small chain and start-up eateries. The glass V-adorned door opens to pleasant gold and red hues that descend steeply off a chandelier into the lounge below. One brilliant booth, beneath the entry, and plenty of bar tables are situated about the center for libations. Lofty windows offer a glimpse at the festive glow that wraps the trees of Midtown Crossing’s green space.

The bridge between lounge and dining room showcases a floorto-ceiling wine “cellar” that won a 2010 Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator. Made of glass, this fancy encasement houses a conservative sweep from Pinot to Pinot, late 20s to few hundreds in price.

Upon sitting down, one takes quick notice of a backlit geode that casts a wonderful sunset shade of amber from behind the sushi bar. The adjacent kitchen offers guests a quick glimpse of steaks being fired in pans, and pizzas being popped into a gorgeously fronted, wood-burning oven. That’s right, CRAVE sets itself up to deliver cuisines from different corners of the culinary world.

A first course of baked crab and artichoke dip offered a slight creaminess to go with the touch of shellfish underneath. The accompanying flatbread was delicately sprinkled with paprika, and ranged from chewy to crunchy. If this dip sounds too tame, there are plenty more adventuresome appetizers like miso glazed chicken nuggets and kimchee topped tacos to choose from.

And don’t forget the sushi. Order a boat of it for your meal, or let it be coursed nicely before your

| THE READER |

dish

soup and salad. Nothing beats a sushi break, especially when it’s proceeded by a hot towel to wipe your worries — or previous crumbs — away. The Keilani’s roll was an interesting way to open the taste buds, working almost as an aperitif. The brightness of the fresh water eel underneath the crunch of tempura shrimp is only made better by a topping dot of Sriracha style sauce.

We followed the sushi with a seasonal soup of mushroom leek. Balanced in both creaminess and richness, the soup allowed a mild earthliness to come forward. A dinner salad of greens was topped with pine nuts, a bright vinaigrette and a mislabeled — yet still delicious — “local” goat cheese.

Diligent service and proper timing lead to the main course, a place where any variety of hunger is sure to be cared for. Be it steak, fish, pasta, pizza or poultry CRAVE has you pegged. We ordered the nori crusted New York Strip, an instance where the eye may have fooled the stomach as to what it could take.

The few inch thick slab of 100 percent certified Angus beef — a fact that would be easier forgotten if it weren’t shamelessly printed on each oversized steak knife — was fashionably propped over charred green beans and a silky sweet potato mash. The nori, a type of seaweed used more commonly to wrap sushi, in certain bites added an exotic complexity to the tender beef. In others, the delicateness of the nori gave a taste of burn rather than sear. The best pairing on this dish was the tangy ponzu sauce that ran into the mash — the delicious duo of sweet and sour could compliment any cut of meat.

A second main course of butternut squash ravioli hinted at some of the Mediterranean flavors CRAVE infuses into its pastas. While the exterior of the ravioli is a bit chewy, its accompanying Sicilian influenced sauce provided an underlying layer of succulent morsels. This thick mix of eggplant and raisin gave off deep autumn notes like cinnamon to wake up the blandness of the ravioli filling. We’ll need to make a second visit to try the less humble lobster macaroni.

But the sweet tooth conquers all. Almost Christmas, we opted for the seasonal choice of gingerbread cake. A decadent, orange-zest cream adam brubaker

84th Street Café Serving delicious cost-conscious food.

8013 S. 83rd Ave. • 597-5003 www.facebook.com/84thstcafe

n Even though spring’s a long way off, you can get a jump on locally sourced produce by signing up for a weekly delivery of fresh veggies from Gretna’s Clementine’s Produce & Provisions for $7.50 per person, per week. And no, you don’t have to commit to 10 pounds of cabbage if you can’t stand the stuff — just let them know and you’ll never have to see that in your box. The boxes will be available for 22 weeks, from May to September, and the cutoff for subscriptions is Feb. 15. For more information and/or details, go to clementinesproduceandprovisions.blogspot. com or email them at clementinespandp@gmail. com to learn more. n Looking for a specific wine or liqueur or just feel like giving that special someone something boozy this year? The folks at Sprit World are there to help. The wine and spirits store at 75th and Pacific, normally open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m., will also be open Sundays noon-5 p.m. through Christmas.

crumbs

dish

grub matters Do you have a miniature Alice Waters on your Christmas list? Consider giving her a copy of Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma for Kids: The Secrets Behind What You Eat, a slightly abridged version of Pollan’s bestselling polemic detailing what goes into those chicken nuggets and animal welfare. — Kyle Tonniges

— Kyle Tonniges n The Grey Plume, which opened Dec. 10 at Midtown Crossing, was recently awarded three stars in sustainable building by the Green Restaurant Association, the organization’s highest honor. In fact, The Grey Plume is the first restaurant in the country to receive such a rating.

The restaurant is considered the greenest and most sustainable in the country and is the first in the world to meet SustainaBuild standards set out by the Green Restaurant Association. It’s interior was built and furnished with repurposed and recycled materials, including salvaged wood and post-consumer recycled materials. It also recycles glass, paper, aluminum and plastic and uses recyclable and/or compostable materials for to-go items. Visit greyplume.com for more information.

— Lainey Seyler Comments? Questions? Want more? Check out our Booked blog online at thereader.com. Or email us at booked@thereader.com.

cheese frosting was certainly the perfect icing on an intensely gingery, not-too-sweet cake.

At first look, it may appear that CRAVE is approaching cuisine from too many angles. That trying to appease a roomful of appetites could wipe away any individuality. But as the seats continue to fill up, it appears that CRAVE is intent on offering a taste all its own. Sushi and pizza, why not? , CRAVE, 200 S. 31st Ave. #4103, in Midtown Crossing, is open Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.midnight and Sun. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Call 345.9999 or visit craveamerica.com.

| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

19

8 days Dec. 16

Rad Kadillac Holiday Event w/ Somasphere, Mitch Gettman Band and SFS Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. 9 p.m., FREE, radkadillac.com

’Tis the season to be rocking and giving! Rad Kadillac Productions is feeling festive this holiday season and has decided to give the Omaha community the gift of music. This Thursday, at The Waiting Room, the Rad Kad gang will stuffing your stocking with their annual free night of local music mayhem with up-and-comers Mitch Gettman Band and the hard riffing SFS from Lincoln. Headlining is Somasphere just off playing a holiday show to a capacity crowd at the Granada in Lawrence, Kan. In the spirit of giving, Rad Kad hopes the money you save from a free night of entertainment will inspire you to donate nonperishable food items and/or cash for the Omaha Food Bank. Be sure to wear your best obnoxious Christmas sweater because there will be a “family photo” at this event. As Rad Kad says, “Even if the weather outside is frightful, the vibes inside will be delightful!”

— James Derrick Schott

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dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

t h e r e a de r ’ s enterta i nment p i c k s dec . 1 6 - 2 2 , 2 0 1 0

FRIDAY17

SOMASPHERE

Dec. 17

Southpaw Bluegrass Band 1020, 5013 Underwood Ave. 9 p.m., FREE, 991.1020 1020omaha.com

Omaha’s Nebraska-grass ambassadors Southpaw Bluegrass Band (SpBB) will celebrate eight years of picking first-rate original bluegrass music Friday night. High Lonesome sounds will ring through the Dundee area as the band plays in honor of its eighth anniversary and guitarist/vocalist David Fleming’s 34th birthday. The show will be one of SpBB’s last shows before taking a brief holiday hiatus and resuming live shows in February 2011. SpBB’s two sets will also be one of your last chances to enjoy The 1020’s comfy vibe before the restaurant/bar shutters its doors for good at the end of December.

— Jesse D. Stanek

SATURDAY18

Dec. 18

Dec. 18

Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. 8 p.m., $8, theslowdown.com

Clever w/ Straight Outta Junior High & The Jes Winter Band

Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. 9 p.m., $10, onepercentproductions.com A late-’90s Omaha favorite, Clever rocked places like the Ranch Bowl where the band drew sweaty, moshing crowds full of adulating fans. But quicker than you can say “grasshopper takeover,” the group decided to head for greener pastures down in St. Louis for a gig opening for The Urge. Clever is a hybrid of past Omaha outfits: vocalist Bruce Coddington hails from Blue Moon Ghetto while bassist Clint Thomas and drummer Paul Weaklend were in Secret Skin. So it’s a sort of homecoming for everyone this Saturday, and you can expect these guys to play tight, funk-rock riffs similar to some old 311, or maybe The Offspring on a good day.

— Jarrett Fontaine

| THE READER |

picks

The Jazzwholes and Friends w/ DJ W.E.R.D.

Break-up? What break-up? Forget about that. The Jazzwholes are back for another round of experimental jazz along with special guest DJ W.E.R.D. Although their official demise was back in 2008, the five-piece outfit has been reuniting more often as of late. According to the Jazzwholes’ Facebook page, the boys will hit Omaha’s ARC Studios this summer to work on a brand new album. Drummer Matt Arbeiter, keyboardist Nick Semrad, guitarist Andrew Bailie, bassist Seth Ondracek and saxophonist James Cuato decided the holidays were an ideal time to deck Slowdown’s halls with their smooth, soul-infused jazz. Since 2003, their loyal, local fan base has exponentially increased thanks to their old gigs at the former Goofy Foot Lodge. Their reputation as a solid musical act proceeds them.

— Kyle Eustice

MONDAY20 Dec. 20

Hot From Far w/ Artillery Funk, Shoedog, Cymbal Rush and Standbye Sokol Underground, 2234 S. 13th St. 7 p.m., $7, myspace.com/hotfromfar

Before you head home for the holidays and battle with your uncle over who gets the last fifth of eggnog, check out the 5th annual “A Very Hot From Far Christmas Show.” Pop-punk goes Yuletide jam as these party rockers led by front man Joe Champion take over Sokol Underground with their Christmas cheer. So bring your mittens and ugly sweaters and party with Hot From Far, or be left out in the cold.

— Jarrett Fontaine

t h e

r e a d e r ’ s

Dec. 20

Night of Music w/ Claran Nagle and Tara Novak Bemis Center, 724 S. 12th St. 7 p.m., $7/$5 members 341.7130, bemiscenter.org

Musical collaborations can spring from unexpected sources. Irish tenor Claran Nagle is rooted in the traditions of his native Old Sod. He trained at prestigious schools there, he performed with the National Chamber Choir of Ireland and Opera Ireland and he was Riverdance’s male lead singer.

Violinist-composer-vocalist Tara Novak, originally from Omaha and now dividing her time between New York City and Ireland, boasts a repertoire of classical, jazz, rock, pop, Broadway show tunes, experimental theater music and traditional Celtic sounds. She is lead violinist for Three Irish Tenors and Druid, two touring ensembles founded by Nagle that feature her compositions. She performs on an acoustic violin and a five-string, metallic blue Violectra. The pair head the Celtic Rock group Ishna, a melding of classical, Irish and rock.

— Leo Adam Biga

e n t e rta i n m e n t the 50 biggest selling musical acts of all time, with more than 35 million albums sold. Even Scrooge would tell you to make this show.

— Andy Roberts

Dec. 22

MAKE Issue 10 Release Party

Jake’s Cigars and Spirits, 6206 Maple St. 7-9 p.m., reading at 7:45 p.m. $5 suggested donation, makemag.com Don’t worry, Omaha can take some credit for MAKE: A Chicago Literary Magazine, a nonprofit publication featuring fiction, nonfiction, poetry and art telling the story of our times. Five years ago, co-founder and Omaha native Sarah Dodson instigated this impressive phenomena showcasing established and emerging talent from around the globe, integrating arts events to educate on litera-

p i c k s

d e c .

ture as well. Celebrating the 10th Issue, “At Play,” which highlights work about youth, sports, performance and sex, five creative minds will read for a real-live look-and-listen at the talent that makes MAKE in all forms. Nebraska-born author Scott Allison will read an original piece, as will award-winning Nebraska poet Steve Langan. Associate MAKE editor and Duchesne writing teacher Kate Sommer will read from a story in Issue 10. Daniel Wuebben comes from NYC, a scientific mind as well as literary, reading from his PhD dissertation on power lines and the mind. Award winning author Timothy Schaffert, founder/director of the (downtown) Omaha Lit Fest, a partner with MAKE events in the past, might just write and read something inspired by the very evening. Issue 10 will also be on hand for discounted purchase. Complimentary buckets of Lucky Bucket beer and snacks while they last.

— Sally Deskins

MANNEHIM STEAMROLLER

WEDNESDAY22

16

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2 2 ,

2 010

Dec. 16

Drink ’N Draw

New BLK Gallery, 1213 Jones St. 8-10p.m., 19+, $5, thenewblk.com

If you were expecting this event to be an opportunity to draw a penis on the face of your passed out friend, you’ve been mistaken. The New BLK Gallery presents the adult alternative, Drink ’N Draw, a dynamic and refreshing take on the model art class. Whether you’re a cartoonist or painter, artists over the age of 19 are welcome to bring their supplies and drinks to bring “an alternative approach to a classic creative activity,” explains the gallery’s Shane Bainbridge.

In conjunction with their current interactive exhibit, Mind & Body, the event displays two live nude models, one male and one female, from the artists’ perception, which should be interesting given the unconventional and BYOB setting. Co-coordinator Sally Deskins (a Reader contributor), a figure model herself, explains “drawing the human form in its essence is very inspiring, so we hope the event is just as much.” Supplies and drinks will be provided, and donations are accepted to keep novelty art events like this alive and thriving.

— Chalis Bristo

Dec. 22

Dec. 22-23

Gunk’s Murray Christmas! w/ Kobrakyle and $pencelove

Mannheim Steamroller

Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. 7:30 p.m., $37-$77, 345.0606 ticketomaha.com

Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. 9 p.m., $5/FREE for 21+ before 10:30 p.m. waitingroomlounge.com

Tickets have been on sale since Aug. 19, but at last word a few still remained for both performances.

This is the real local act made good, Grammy winner Chip Davis’s Mannheim Steamroller. It was 26 years ago that Davis released Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, launching the group he created, with Renaissance instruments and rock beats.

Hard to believe, but this is Mannheim’s 25th Christmas tour, making the group a genuine local holiday tradition. But they are loved worldwide.

Mannheim Steamroller stands as the biggest selling Christmas music artist in history and one of

I know you have been itching to dress up as your favorite Bill Murray character, so here’s your chance! Gunk, besides being that stuff under your fingernails, is also a frequent excuse to get your dance on in Omaha. This year’s Christmas party is a tribute to the legendary thespian who has starred in hits like Groundhog Day, Caddyshack and uh, Garfield. DJs Kobrakyle and $pencelove are bringing the beats for this Murray-licious Christmas, so prepare to have your bells jingled.

— Jarrett Fontaine

picks

| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

21

So Much To See And Do... www.oldmarket.com

402.342.2885

12th & Jackson Old Market 341-5827

Ice Cream made the Old-Fashioned way using Rock Salt & Ice

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dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

Best Ice Cream Shop

| THE READER |

old market

bigbrainomaha.com

Compartments doesn’t confine Miller to traditional woodcraft

by Michael J. Krainak

I

f there was one thing proved by Out of the Woods, an interesting Hot Shops group exhibit last summer, it is that wood sculpture can be more than craft or hobby for its artists.

Not that there wasn’t fine craftsmanship in this show as seen in the representational design of Herm Rauth’s doorway and coffin. And Robert Dewaele’s highly polished and sensual “driftwood” did border on the familiar and the figurative.

Yet aside from this pleasing work, one artist, Robert Miller, eschewed the traditional in form and concept, creating a few pieces that transcended their substance. In other words, “Temple Within,” “Split and Friends” and “Friendship” were sculpture no matter whether made of wood, clay, marble or glass.

Miller’s latest examples of quirky, blocky and geometric sculpture are reflected in his current show, Compartments at Gallery 616 in the Old Market. The artist continues his conceptual and largely abstract approach to the medium, and most, though not all of the 12 pieces in Compartments live up to his vision and POV in the exhibit.

Compartments makes its case in an articulate artist and show statement that describes the work as emblematic of “the known and unknown spaces in our daily lives. In building an object I am taking away its skin to expose the inner compartments and inner landscapes of our being.

This work is about the architecture of space.”

Some of these sculptures resemble familiar scale models of towers, domiciles and globes. The visual effect varies from an architectural display, a dollhouse and even a cutaway ant farm. In many of these 3D imaginative cityscapes the emotional impact is a sense of order bordering on or bursting with chaos.

Other pieces are more natural or formal in their treatment of wood, but virtually all are layered or filled with wood, paper and metal filings, as well as other found objects, that much resemble the bric-a-brac that clutters our existence physically and mentally. Yet, Miller’s process manages to keep a certain aesthetic detachment, most of the time, which prevents his work from being obvious or self-consciously symbolic.

“I cut, sand, polish, scuff, drill, route, mar and oil as the piece develops,” he says, but “there is always the unforeseen that happens and is always welcome.”

Also welcome is the sophisticated 616 Gallery, which lends full advantage to Compartments with its own ambiance of low-beamed ceilings, timbered columns and white-washed brick walls. Each of the dozen sculptures enjoys a corner, pedestal or wall treatment of its own. The only improvement would be to give the show’s signature piece, the spherical “Lure (Roll Me),” center stage in the venue allowing for a more 360-degree walk-around view.

What viewers will see with this piece as well as most of the others is an understated design

and elegance with work that is simple yet complex. The geometric forms are recognizable and reassuring, their inner maze of filled compartments less so. This push/pull sensibility is consistent with Miller’s intent “to show how full and complicated our lives are.”

It’s a paradox not even the artist can escape.

Put simply, his vision implies that though our endeavors fulfill us, they threaten to entrap or isolate us. Our domiciles — read identities — that we have carved out and invested in risk being ivory towers or caves of discontent built upon our dreams and success as well as fear, prejudices and wretched excess. Miller’s sculptures stand as monuments to either.

Ironically, the artist is most successful with his more positive, formal pieces than his chaotic or organic ones. Both extremes require a certain unity and pleasing aesthetic and at times the latter do not. For instance, “House of Waste Not,” a tower of tier after tier of wood, dowel, paint and newspaper collage threatens to tip over with its top-heavy design. It teeters at this very moment.

Perhaps this is Miller’s intent, but leave that to the viewer’s imagination. As is, it looks unwieldy and poorly constructed.

Also, “Compartment for Time” and “70 Years Ago,” companion pieces of wall sculptures made of plywood and found wood, wire, metal, paper and paint, though more harmonious, flirt with the decorative. The addition of natural branches looks either contrived or an afterthought. Conversely, “Half Moon” is just messy with its abundance of tin and steel shavings that overwhelm an otherwise pleasing design. continued on page 24 y

art

n Last weekend’s KANEKO block party drew a large crowd to check out (and bid on) 50 or so works by local artists. Much of the work took the creative assignment literally, and many pieces were piles of various sized square blocks that somehow fit together. Rob Gilmer’s block pile focused on health care, while a series of blocks created by an anonymous artist were covered with maps. Some artists created wall pieces: Caleb Coppock’s encaustic wall piece got a lot of action during the bidding, and Leslie Iwai’s set of playing cards was popular with viewers. Fletcher Benton’s large-scale alphabet sculptures filled the KANEKO bow truss space, and the art sat along edges of the gallery. About halfway through the evening the Prairie Cats started playing their unique brand of swing, and lots of enthusiastic art lovers took to the dance floor. Check Mixed Media next week for results of the auction and official word on the event’s success. n Nebraskans for the Arts recently named Marjorie M. Maas its new director. Maas is president of the Nebraska Shakespeare Community Board and has served on the Bluffs Arts Council and the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards board. Maas will be the state’s advocacy captain affiliate for Americans for the Arts, serve on the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network and run the day-to-day administrative duties of the organization including marketing, membership and board organization.

mixedmedia

Wood Works

culture

n Lauritzen Gardens offers free admission each Sunday throughout December. Visitors can view the Poinsettia show, the latest art exhibit by Diane Murphy, the museum shop and café, and attend any special events at the gardens free of charge.

Sunday, Dec. 19, members of the St. Columbkille choir will perform holiday music with Candy Connery on piano from 2-4 p.m.

— Sarah Baker Hansen Mixed Media is a column about art. Get local art updates at weekfiftytwo.com. Send ideas to mixedmedia@thereader.com.

| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

23

art

y continued from page 23

More effective as an image of a world on the edge of chaos is Miller’s globe, “Lure,” an alluring orb of wood, sheet rock, rubber and found objects that invites viewers to wrap their arms around it as well as their heads. In its multiple, organic layers and pleasing mathematical design, it resembles the dual nature of Bart Vargas’ work, particularly his own sculptural sphere, “Rhombicuboctahedron,” from an earlier show this year at Anderson O’Brien.

Miller also exhibits a probable unconscious connection to the glass sculpture of Therman Statom with his own two pleasing, compartmentalized dwellings, the towering “High Rise” and its blockier, horizontal version, “Open House.”

Each is composed of wood, steel shavings, found objects, netting, metal and paint in an uncluttered setting. They appear to be cross sections of an urban lifestyle or even dollhouses for adults and the only thing missing are the everyman miniatures of Jamie Burmeister, which he calls his “Vermin.”

Miller’s most surprising conceptual work here is his abstract wall frieze, “Venice,” composed of wood, found concrete, wire, glass, twine and paint. Aptly titled, this is a very iconic, sophisticated blend of art, artifice and nature that portrays any richly complex civilization past its prime, in the midst of cultural and natural decay.

His minimalist composition, subtle textures and craftsmanship in this piece transform wood into marble while avoiding the ornate and decorative. If this marks Miller’s new direction, it’s a welcomed one, free of the compartments normally occupied by those who create with wood. , Compartments: New Work by Robert Miller continues through Dec. 30, at Gallery 616, 616 S. 11th St. Call 214.3061.

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dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

| THE READER |

art

theater Ensemble is powerful in JBT’s For Colored Girls

by Warren Francke

S

even African-American women portray the title’s “Colored Girls” in Ntozake Shange’s poetic play at the John Beasley Theater, but the diversity of their personas and performances doesn’t allow for easy summary.

In the beginning, some voices were muffled by a sound track that added to the impact of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf when it didn’t cut into clarity. That problem didn’t entirely disappear, but most of the 20 separate pieces came across well enough.

The seven took us on a heartwrenching journey through the troubling experience of being both “colored,” as they often put it, and a woman, then lifted the audience as they came together in song. The Lady in Red (Dani Cleveland) declared, “I found God in me, and I love Her,” and the others, all identified by the colors they wore, joined in to repeat that hopeful discovery.

And we needed to hear affirmation. They told of abuse in all its forms, of dashed dreams and mistreatment. Ms. Cleveland delivers the most dramatic moment when she tells of Crystal’s troubles with Beau Willie, her good-for-nothing man who tries to sweet-talk his way back into her life, then threatens to drop their two children from a fifthfloor window.

Felicia Webster as the Lady in Green draws on her Slam Poet experience to make the most effective use of repetition when she takes the front and center of the Beasley stage to complain, “Somebody went off with all my stuff.” And we learn

that “all my stuff ” meant more than property; it included her very self.

Then Marcia Dunn Holley, a slim Lady in Blue, took up her complaint against men who cheat and then say, “I’m sorry.” She warns the man who would call and apologize not to bother, but go apologize to someone else.

Soon all seven women are mocking those feeble “I’m sorry” refrains. While much of the performance consists of these separate soliloquies or monologues, director Tyrone Beasley finds oc-

casions to bring them together in song, dance or sisterly embraces.

Another Holley, Ms. Marci Holley, brought the cast bios to life for this reviewer when a young girl in front of me turned around in her seat to announce, “She’s my grandmother,” adding later, “We go to Paradise Baptist Church.”

Sure enough, the bio paragraph pointed out that the woman, making her Beasley debut as the Lady in Purple, was the mother of nine and “Nani (grandma) of seven.” And that she’d written, directed and acted in plays at Paradise Baptist.

TammyRa, on the other hand, made the Lady in Yellow another of her many fine performances in this and other venues. Among her characters, she played a new graduate who had her dreams deferred when a man “talked to me like I was a woman.”

As her frowning friend put it, “So you gave it up to him in a Buick?”

One of the happier characters, played by Patricia West as the Lady in Orange, tries to dance her troubles away. But a man brings her to conclude, “You hurt me more than I could dance out of.”

As the Lady in Brown, Zedeka Poindexter, a published member of the Omaha Slam Team, opens and closes the play with a calming, grounded presence.

Don’t come to this play, however, for comfort. Language that doesn’t usually make me flinch was harder to hear with young boys and girls in the preview night audience.

The upside is that they heard from women who weren’t defeated by life and fought for their dignity. , For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf runs Dec. 9-19, Jan. 6-16, Thurs.-Sat. 7:30 p.m. and Sun. 3 p.m. in the John Beasley Theater at the LaFern Williams Center, 30th and Q. Tickets are $27, $22 students and seniors, $16 Thurs. Call 502.5767 or visit johnbeasleytheater.org.

theater

coldcream

True Colors

n The wind swept snow past the window as I took a phone call canceling the event we planned to attend Saturday evening.

Thoughts turned to a young man I’d seen earlier in the week, sweeping artificial snow flakes from the stage of the Omaha Community Playhouse before another performance of A Christmas Carol.

Maybe the volunteers who keep our theaters going came to mind because I was backstage that evening for a story about a volunteer who’ll soon step aside.

Read about him in the next Reader.

But the biting cold and whistling wind played a part: The phone call meant I didn’t have to brave the storm. Would the stagesweeper, dressers, ushers and box office helpers face the wind for tonight’s show?

I tried calling the Playhouse before normal hours, expecting a recorded message. No answer.

The weather was mild Thursday for TAG (Theatre Arts Guild) Night at the preview of For Colored Girls (see review on this page). And, for the first time in many visits to the John Beasley Theater at 30th and Q, the parking lot was full at the LaFern Williams Center.

The families of cast members helped fill the theater with a crowd that included some who knew the woman pictured on the program with the dedication, “In the loving memory of Pasionetta Prince and all victims of domestic violence.” The theater community also knows her story too well: She performed in the earlier production of this play dealing with abuse and became a victim of its reality.

There weren’t many TAG members in the audience, but one of the most distinguished, Elaine Jabenis, attended with Pegi Georgeson, an actor and retired drama teacher. And Jim Martin, retired from the Playhouse box office, manned the TAG donations container as a volunteer does each TAG night.

Whether it’s the typical theater operation in Omaha with no fulltime employees, or the Playhouse with its large professional staff, none of it would happen without the volunteers. All who enjoy the talent on our many stages are blessed by the generosity of these helpers whose only pay comes from the satisfaction of serving the art they love.

I called the Playhouse again a little later and a cheerful voice said, “Yes, the show will go on.” n This Friday at 9:30 p.m. is your one and only chance to see the Witching Hour Rumpus at the Nomad Lounge for just $5 to fund their upcoming show, Bitch. Rob Baker will emcee a cast of several.

— Warren Francke Cold Cream looks at theater in the metro area. Email information to coldcream@thereader.com.

| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22, 2010

25

art

OpeningS

BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY GALLERY, Hitchcock Humanities Center, 1000 Galvin Road. S., 293.2048, Bellevue.edu. BOXES AND RELIEF: Marc Manriquez. HOLLYWOOD TIMES: Mervi Pakaste.

Both shows through Jan. 11.

EISENTRAGER-HOWARD GALLERY, Richards Hall, Stadium Drive and T, Lincoln, 472.5025, unl.edu/art/facilities_eisentrager-howard.shtml. BFA CAPSTONE EXHIBITION: Group show, through Dec. 17, reception Dec. 17, 5 p.m.

EL MUSEO LATINO, 4701 S. 25th St., elmuseolatino.org. HOLIDAY FAMILY DAY: Opens Dec. 18, 10 a.m.

IMAGEWERKS COLLECTIVE, 5723 S. 137th St, 880.6294. WINTER HOLIDAY RECEPTION: Group show, opens Dec. 19, 7 p.m.

INTERNATIONAL QUILT STUDY CENTER AND MUSEUM, 1523 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, 472.7232, quiltstudy.org. REVISITING THE ART QUILT: Opens Dec. 17-Apr. 3, gallery talk Apr. 3, 3 p.m.

PARRISH STUDIOS, 1416 O St., Lincoln. HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Opens Dec. 16, 5 p.m.

UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD MUSEUM, 200 Pearl St., Council Bluffs, 501.3841, uprrmuseum.org. MODEL TRAIN DISPLAY: Opens Dec. 18-31.

ONGOING

THE 815, 815 O. St., Suite 1, Lincoln, 261.4905, the815.org.

NEW WORK: Gonca Yengin, through Dec. 9 MUSES STUDIO, 2713 N 48th St., Lincoln. NEW WORK: Dr. Barbara Tracy, through Dec. A TO Z PRINTING, 8320 Cody Dr., Lincoln, 477.0815, atozprint. com. COMMUNITY OPEN STUDIO: Group Show, through Dec. ANDERSON O’BRIEN FINE ART COUNTRYSIDE VILLAGE, 8724 Pacific St., 390.0717, aobfineart.com. NEW WORKS EXHIBITION: Group show featuring regional artists, through Dec. 31.

ANDERSON O’BRIEN FINE ART OLD MARKET, 1108 Jackson St., 884.0911, aobfineart.com. NEW WORKS EXHIBITION: Group show featuring regional artists, through Dec. 31.

ART FRIENDS GIFT GALLERY, 14738 Grover St. UNIQUE GIFTS: Local artists, through Dec. ARTISTS’ COOPERATIVE GALLERY, 405 S. 11th St., artistscoopgallery.com. CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON: All member show, through Dec. 26.

BEMIS UNDERGROUND, 724 S. 12th St., 341.7130, bemiscenter.org. EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION: Group show, through Dec. 17.

BENSON GRIND, 6107 Maple St., octopusesgarden.org. NEW WORK: Paula Phillip, through Dec. BIRDHOUSE COLLECTIBLE, 1111 N. 13th St., Suite 123, 577.0711, biz@birdhouseinteriors.com. INTERRUPT: Adam Nielsen, through Dec. BLUE POMEGRANATE GALLERY, 6570 Maple St., 502.9901, bluepom.com. PHOTOS OF ORNAMENTS: Sandra Gerber, Heidi Riha and Anne Nye, through Dec. BURKHOLDER PROJECT, 719 P St., Lincoln, 477.3305, burkholderproject.com. CELEBRATE THE SEASON: Group show. NEW WORK: Max Miller. Both shows through Dec. 23.

CATHEDRAL CULTURAL CENTER, 3900 Webster St., 551.4888, cathedralartsproject.org. NEW WORK: Regional Latino artists, through Feb. 4.

DRIFT STATION GALLERY, 1745 N St., Lincoln, driftstation.org.

CTRL/ALT/ESC: TECHNOLOGY AND THE LANDSCAPE: Through Dec. 17.

DURHAM WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM, 801 S. 10th St., 444.5071, durhammuseum.org. 100 YARDS OF GLORY: Omaha’s football history, through Jan. 2, 2011. DIG IT! THE SECRETS OF SOIL: Through Dec. 26. ETHNIC HOLIDAY TREES EXHIBIT: Through Jan. 2.

EISENTRAGER-HOWARD GALLERY, Richards Hall, Stadium Drive and T, Lincoln, 472.5025, unl.edu/art/facilities_eisentragerhoward.shtml. EX LIBRIS HOKES ARCHIVES: Beauvais Lyons.

OUR PRINTED WORLD/COLLECTION AND RESPONSES: Group show. Both shows through Dec. 3.

ELDER GALLERY, 51st and Huntington, Nebraska Wesleyan University, nebrwesleyan.edu. BRIDGE 2010B: Juried exhibit featuring work by Nebraska high school students, through Dec. 17.

FRED SIMON GALLERY, Burlington Building, 1004 Farnam St., nebraskaartscouncil.org. NAC IAF VISUAL ARTS SHOW: Group show, through Feb. 25.

GALLERY 616, 616 S. 11th St, 301.9713. NEW WORK: Robert Miller, through Dec.

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dec. 16 - 22, 2010

GALLERY 9, 124 S 9th St., Lincoln, 477.2822, gallerynine.com.

ALL MEMBER HOLIDAY SHOW: Through Dec. GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE EXHIBITION, 1425 H St., Lincoln, nebraskaartscouncil.org. NEW WORK: Sue Thelen, through Jan. 3.

GRAND MANSE GALLERY, 129 N. 10th St., Lincoln, grandmanse.com. BLUE CAT: David Christiansen, through Jan. 21.

HAYDON CENTER, 335 N. 8th St., Lincoln, 475.5421, haydonartcenter.org. SMALL TREASURES: Juried artist member exhibition, through Dec. 24.

HILLMER ART GALLERY, College of St. Mary, 7000 Mercy Rd., 399.2400, csm.edu. UNO PRINT COLLECTION: Group show, through Dec. 18.

HOT SHOPS ARTS CENTER, 1301 Nicholas St., 342.6452, RECOLLECTIONS AND REFLECTIONS: NEBRASKA WOMEN’S CAUCUS FOR ART: Group show. BEST OF THE BEST 2010: Juried photography show. Both shows through Dec. 29.

INTERNATIONAL QUILT STUDY CENTER AND MUSEUM, 1523 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, 472.7232, quiltstudy.org. CHILDHOOD TREASURES: Doll quilts from the Ghormley Collection, through Dec. 12. MARSEILLE: WHITE CORDED QUILTING: Through May 8.

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER, 333 S. 132nd St., 572.8486, jccomaha.org. SOME OF ALL KNOWLEDGE: Tom Swanson, through Dec. 31.

JOSLYN ART MUSEUM, 2200 Dodge St., 342.3300, joslyn.org.

BEYOND REALISM: THE WORKS OF KENT BELLOWS 19702005: Through Jan. 16. SEASONS OF JOY: Currier and Ives Holiday Prints from the ConAgra Collection, through Jan. 23.

GOLDEN KITE, GOLDEN DREAMS: The SCBWI Awards, through Jan. 16.

KANEKO, 1111 Jones St., 341.3800, thekaneko.org. FREE. FOLDED SQUARE ALPHABETS & NUMERICALS: Sculpture exhibit by Fletcher Benton, through Feb. KENT BELLOWS STUDIO, 3303 Leavenworth St., 505.7161, kentbellows.org. WE WALK VERTICALLY: Student art work, through Dec. 17.

KIMMEL HARDING NELSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 801 3rd Corso, Nebraska City, 874.9600, khncenterforthearts.org. INTO THE ASHES: Marlene Mueller, through Dec. 16.

KRUGER COLLECTION, UNL Architecture Hall, 10th and R, Lincoln, 472.3560, krugercollection.unl.edu. THINK GREEN: Interior/green design and miniatures, through Mar. 18, 2011.

LA CASA’S PIZZARIA, 4432 Leaveworth St., omahaartistsinc. com. 2010 FALL ART SHOW: Group show, through Jan. 3.

LAURITZEN GARDENS, 100 Bancroft St., 346.4002, omahabotanicalgardens.org. HOLIDAY POINSETTIA SHOW: Through Jan. 9.

THE LICHEN, 2810 N. 48th St., Lincoln, thelichen.com. FORCED RESULTS: Samuel B. Rapien, through Dec. 24. 0 < ART < 100: Group show, all art priced below $100, through Dec. LUX CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 48th and Baldwin, Lincoln, 434.2787, luxcenter.org. VIS-A-VIS: Group show, through Mar. 1. GIFTS FROM THE HEART: Group show, through Dec. 24.

GARDEN: Susan Stark, through Dec. MODERN ARTS MIDWEST, 800 P St., Lincoln, 477.2828, modernartsmidwest.com. RED DOT: 8th Anniversary celebration, through Dec. 31.

MUSEUM OF NEBRASKA ART (MONA), 2401 Central Ave., Kearney, 308.865.8559, monet.unk.edu/mona. POSTMASTER INTERACTIVE GALLERY: Group show, through Jan. 10, 2011.

THE ANIMAL KINGDOM: Through Jun. 5, 2011. SATURDAY EVENING POST: Holiday images, through Jan. 10. NEBRASKA NOW: Renee A. Ledesma, oepns Through Jan. 2. A GREATER SPECTRUM: African American artists of Nebraska, 1912-2010, through Apr. 3.

THE NEW BLK, 1213 Jones St., 403.5619, thenewblk.com.

MIND AND BODY: Through Dec. 23.

NOMAD LOUNGE GALLERY, 1013 Jones St., 884.1231, nomadlounge.com. REPURPOSED: Matt Jones, through Dec. NORFOLK ARTS CENTER, 305 N. 5th St., Norfolk, 371.7199, norfolkartscenter.org. NEW WORK: Inna Kulagina, through Dec. NOYES GALLERY, 119 S. 9th St., Lincoln, 486.3866, noyesartgallery.com. FOCUS GALLERY: Group show. MAIN GALLERY: Mike Fluent, Janna Harsch and Marin Hacker. GOLD ROOM: Marla Blush and Julia Noyes. All shows through Dec. OLD MARKET ARTISTS, 1034 Howard St., Lower Level of Old Market Passageway, oldmarketartists.com. GROUP SHOW: All member show, through Dec.

| THE READER |

art/theater listings

check event listings online!

OLSON-LARSEN GALLERY, 203 5th St., Des Moines, IA, 515.277.6734, olsonlarsen.com. SMALL WORKS SHOW: Group show, through Jan. 15. NEW WORK: Group show, through Jan. 15.

OMAHA’S CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, 500 S. 20th St., 342.6163. ocm.org. BIG BACKYARD: Through Apr. 10.

PARALLAX SPACE, 1745 N St., Lincoln, parallaxspace.com.

TWEEN: Anne and Michael Burton, through Jan. 31.

PASSAGEWAY GALLERY, 417 South 11th St, passagewaygallery.com. THROUGH THE KEYHOLE: Group show, through Dec. RNG GALLERY, 1915 Leavenworth St., 214.3061. FLYING PEOPLE SERIES: Larry Sosso. LEFT: Rob Gilmer. Both shows through Dec. SCREEN INK, 416 S. 16th St., Lincoln, screenink.com. YEAR END EXHIBIT: Steve Ryan, John Widerspan, through Dec. 23 SHELDON ART GALLERY, 12th and R, UNL, Lincoln, sheldonartgallery.org. BETTER HALF, BETTER TWELFTH: Women artists in the collection, through Apr. 1, 2011. ORLAN & MIND OVER MATTER: Through Jan. 30. NEW MATERIAL WORD: RETHREADING TECHNOLOGY: Through Jan. 2. A WINTER GEM: Through Dec. 31.

STRATEGIC AIR & SPACE MUSEUM, 28210 W. Park Highway, Ashland, 944.3100, strategicairandspace.com. ANAKIN SKYWALKER’S PODRACE: Through Jan. 2. THE SECRET LIFE OF HOWARD HUGHES: Through Jan. 2.

TUGBOAT GALLERY, 14th and O, 2nd floor, Lincoln, tugboatgallery.com. PLEASE POST: Denny Schmickle, Joey Lynch, Bonnie O’Connell, Fred Hosman and Justin Kemerling, through Dec. 31.

UNL HILLESTAD TEXTILES GALLERY, 35th & Holdrege, 2nd Floor, Home Econims Bldg., Lincoln, textilegallery.unl.edu. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION GARMENTS, BECAUSE TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS: New work by Erica White, through Dec. 22.

UNL ROTUNDA GALLERY, Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, 472.8279. OF FLYING & FALLING: Stephanie Tompsett & Kryn Connelly, through Dec. 17.

UNO ART GALLERY, Weber Fine Arts Bldg., 6001 Dodge St., 554.2796. BFA THESIS AND BA IN STUDIO ARTS: Group show, through Dec. 17.

UNO CRISS GALLERY, 6001 Dodge St., 554.2640, library.unomaha.edu. A SENATOR’S WALLS: Photographs and artifacts from the offices of Senator Chuck Hagel, through Dec. 19.

WESTERN HISTORIC TRAILS CENTER, 3434 Richard Downing Ave., Council Bluffs, 515.281.3858, iowahistory.org. OVER HERE, OVER THERE: Iowa and WWI, through Fall 2010. ART IN DAILY LIFE: The art of Native Americans, through Jan. 2011.

WORKSPACE GALLERY, Sawmill Building, 440 N. 8th St., Lincoln, sites.google.com/site/workspacegallery. EARTH CUTS: Jonathon Wells, through Jan. 5.

theater opening

THE NUTCRACKER, Lied Center, 12th & R St., Lincoln, 472.4747, liedcenter.org. Opens Dec. 18, 2 p.m. & 6 p.m., Dec. 19, 2 p.m., $25-$45, $15-$32/students.

THE WITCHING HOUR CHRISTMAS RUMPUS, Nomad Lounge, 1013 Jones St., facebook.com/bbwitchinghour, 651.6795. Opens Dec. 17, 8:30 p.m., $5.

ongoing

13, Youth Actors Academy, Savannah Pines Theatre, 3900 Pine Lake Rd., Lincoln, youthactorsacademy.org.

Through Dec. 18, $8, $5/students.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., 553.0800, omahaplayhouse.com. Through Dec. 23, Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m., $35, $24/students.

ANNIE, Lincoln Community Playhouse, 2500 S. 56th St., Lincoln, 489.7529. Through Dec. 19, Thu.-Fri., 7 p.m., Sat., 2 p.m. & 7 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m., $20, $10/students.

THE FARNDALE AVENUE H.E.T.G. PRESENTS “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”, Circle Theatre, 55th and Leavenworth, 553.4715, dlmarr@cox.net. Through Dec. 19, Thu.-Sat., 7 p.m., $13, $23/dinner and show.

FOR COLORED GIRLS, John Beasley Theater, 3010 R St., Omaha, johnbeasleytheater.org. Through Dec. 19, Thu.Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 3 p.m., $27, $22/students.

JACOB MARLEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL, Blue Barn at The Downtown Space, 614 S. 11th St., 345.1576, bluebarn. org. Through Dec. 18, Thu.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 6 p.m., $25, $20/students & seniors.

PETER PAN, Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St., 345.4849, rosetheater.org. Through Dec. 19, Thu.-Fri., 7 p.m., Sat.Sun., 2 p.m., $16. Based on the classic story.

YESTERDAY AND TODAY, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St., 553.0800, omahaplayhouse.com, through Dec. 31, Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m. $38.

poetry/comedy thursday 16

AS THE WORM TURNS, The Bookworm, 87th and Pacific, 6:30 p.m., 392.2877, bookwormomaha.com. (3rd Thursday.)

BASILE, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7:30 p.m.

fridAY 17

BASILE, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7:30 p.m., 9:45 p.m.

saturday 18

GYPSY FREAKSHOW, Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple St., pscollective.com. A quasi-be-in with a two-round poetry slam.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, Dundee Theatre, 4852 Dodge St., 551.3595, Midnight.)

BASILE, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7 p.m, 9:30 p.m.

sunday 19

8TH ANNUAL WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION, Creative Spirit Studio, 105 S. 49th St., pairie.sky@gmail.com, 2 p.m., canned food donation.

POETRY NIGHT, 357 Club, 2404 Ames Ave., 6 p.m., poetry, prose, real-to-life, skits and interpretive dance. (Every Sun.) SUNDAY SCIENTIST, NU State Museum, 14th & Vine St., 1:30 p.m. “Critters of the Plains” led by Dennis Ferraro.

BASILE, Funny Bone, Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St., funnnyboneomaha.com, 493.8036, 7 p.m.

monday 20

DUFFY’S COMEDY WORKSHOP, 1412 O St., Lincoln, 474.3543, myspace.com/duffystavern, 9 p.m. (every Mon.) POETRY AT THE MOON, Crescent Moon Coffee, SE Corner of 8th & P St., Lower Level, Lincoln, crescentmoon@inebraska. com, 7 p.m. Open mic and featured readers. (every Mon.)

tuesday 21

SHOOT YOUR MOUTH OFF, The Hideout, 320 S. 72nd St., 9 p.m. sign-up, 9:30 start, 504.4434, myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff, spoken word, comedy and music (every Tues.)

Wednesday 22

88 IMPROV, PS Collective, 6056 Maple St., 556.9090, pscollective.com, 8 p.m., $5.

ACOUSTIC OPEN MIC FOR MUSICIANS & POETS, Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso, 1624 S. St., Lincoln, 8 p.m., 477.2007. Hosted by Spencer. (every Wed.) MAKE: A LITERARY MAGAZINE RELEASE PARTY, Jake’s, 6206 Maple St., 7 p.m., $5.

MIDWEST POETRY VIBE, KENO Kings/Royal Crown Lounge, 6553 Ames Ave., 9 p.m. (Every Wed.) THE NEBRASKA AUTHORS READING CLUB, The Bookworm, 87th and Pacific, 6:30 p.m., 392.2877, bookwormomaha. com. (4th Wednesday.)

PEOPLE’S FILM FESTIVAL: CONTROL ROOM, McFoster’s Natural Kind Cafe, 38th and Farnam, 7 p.m., FREE. A documentary about Al-Jazeera’s coverage of the U.S.-led Iraqi war. (every Wed.)

Give a personal shopping spree Attend an upcoming “Come Create It” Workshop: 12.18 10 a.m. POP-UP CARDS with Yinghua Zhu 12.18 2 p.m. BEGINNING UKULELE with Mark Gutierrez

12.20 – 1.01

No workshops . . . enjoy the holiday season!

Register & Locations: visit omahacreativeinstitute.org or call 402.917.8452

the Village Pointe® gift Card is the perfect holiday gift for everyone on your list.

It is accepted throughout the center, and the lucky recipient can shop the incredible after-Christmas sales for great buys on fabulous fashions, accessories, home furnishings, electronics, dining and much more.

Purchase gift cards at the Management Office or villagepointeshopping.com.

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dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

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| THE READER |

12/13/10 7:13 PM

Christmas with the Symphony is sacred and secular spectacle

S

by Patricia Sindelar

“It is the show with the largest number of moving parts,” Richardson says. “In order for that to all work, we start working on it in January or February. I’ll start working on the next Christmas show in January or February coming up.”

The process starts with choosing “central roles,” such as directors and choreographers. Soon after, Richardson heads to New York City and joins the directors to audition a pre-selected group of 2030 singers.

“We move from a classical presentation to standard holiday songs to a jazzy presentation to a Broadway presentation,” Richardson says. “It takes a tremendous flexibility in singing.”

In the spring, the cast is finalized and the show is built around it, but also specially tailored to

ome people put on a Bing Crosby album and drink a little eggnog to get into the spirit this time of year. The Omaha Symphony chooses an all-out, full-frontal, everythingChristmas blitz. Christmas with the Symphony includes an audience sing-along, Broadway style singing and dancing, chamber music, local TV personality Dave Webber, live reindeer outside the Holland Center and of course, a kick line entirely of Santas. Rockettes, eat your hearts out. christmas with the symphony With such a smorgasbord of holiday features, it can be difficult to keep all the moving parts aligned. Co-director Vince Pesce is up to the challenge.

“The trick to this is, you have to actually create a flow, even if it’s just song to song,” Pesce says. “It’s a big musical review. You have to craft the evening so there [are] highs and lows. When do we want to bring the singers out, when do we want dance energy, when do we want to add Dave. The challenge is making it seamless and making it make sense. You want the audience to go on a journey with you. You have the Omaha audience.

“We’re the resident orchestra here,” Richto kind of shape it. The joy also is that you get to ardson says of the Omaha Symphony. “We are able pack in as many Christmas songs as you can.”

Pesce admits he’s been listening to Christmas to craft programs that really fit our community as albums since summer in preparation for the Omaha opposed to another organization that comes in and Symphony’s production, and he’s relieved the time’s does a show here.”

Richardson says that by September, the arrived that he’s not the only person playing seasonshow is pretty much put together, with a few modial standards.

“We’ve been talking about this for months,” he fications still to be made for the Omaha audience. says. “It’s August and we’re talking about Christmas The directors and choreographers start working songs, and I’m listening to Christmas album after on those details in the fall, and finally, in early DeChristmas album. You feel like everybody is on the cember, rehearsals start in New York then move to same wavelength now. I don’t feel crazy as opposed Omaha. Even though it’s been 11 months in the making, there’s not a lot of extra time in the planto listening to Christmas songs in August.”

Omaha Symphony Resident Conductor Ernest ning process for Christmas with the Symphony.

“There’s really no room for errors, especially Richardson fesses up to listening to Christmas music in the off-season, but points out the long plan- by the time everyone is working in Omaha,” Richning process is necessary to make a show with so ardson says. “Everyone has to be ready to go. It’s about implementing.” many components work.

Returning this year to Richardson’s cast is Broadway veteran Peter Lockyer, who first participated in Christmas with the Symphony last year.

Despite the nearly Arctic temperatures and snowfall of late 2009, Lockyer had an overwhelmingly positive experience in the show.

“The show is so thematically consistent,” he says. “It is about the Christmas spirit and family.

It’s not about being a star on stage. You have the ensemble feeling. We all felt there wasn’t an individual spotlight or pressure. You just feel the spirit and go with it. That’s what draws me back.”

Last year, Lockyer performed “Ave Maria” in Latin, with his part doubled on the violin. This year, he takes on “Gesu Bambino” in Italian.

“Oftentimes, you sing in another language and you don’t feel as though it’s accessible for the audience,“ he says. “Everyone in Omaha was responsive to ‘Ave Maria’ in Latin.”

“Gesu Bambino” is Lockyer’s primary solo performance, for which he’s backed by a chorus, as he was last year.

“They (the Omaha Symphony) hire an enormous chorus there. It was so great to hear last year. I will be singing with them. In the spirit of the season, singing a seasonal song like that will be fantastic.”

The lineup includes some fun, catchy, sometimes overlooked songs, too. This year’s program includes a tune that was once a hit for Bing Crosby and has been remade by everyone from the Rat Pack to the Cheetah Girls.

“Then we do some fun numbers, like ‘Marshmallow World,’” Lockyer says.” Some numbers will feel like fully operatic singing, then we move on to some swing. Their program is evenly distributed.

We end up singing a lot of quartet stuff and some jazzy numbers.”

Even though the cast is working, Christmas with the Symphony is so powerful, the performers get caught up in the season, just like the audience.

“I got in the Christmas spirit so easily there just by seeing everyone dressed up and smiling,” Lokcyer says. “And the live reindeer — how cool is that?

How can you not get in the Christmas spirit?” , Christmas with the Symphony is Dec. 17-19, at the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St. Show times are Fri. at 8 p.m., Sat. at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sun. at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $10-$15, and available via 345.0606 or omahasymphony.org.

music

n The flurry of benefit shows, radio programs and other events comprising Lash LaRue’s Toy Drive are finished for the year, but you can still contribute by buying a copy of Christmas for Pine Ridge Volume III: Live at The Waiting Room. Lucky you, because the disc carries the torch of mostly original Christmas songs by local talents, and as LaRue reminds, “this is not your grandmother’s Christmas music.” Matt Cox’s stripped-down opener “Christmas Time at Pine Ridge” sets a proper tone. All Young Girls Are Machine Guns is ever the standout with the wistful “Winter Song.”

Mariachi San Juan’s “Noche De Paz (Silent Night)” is a treat and adds another texture to the mix, as does Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship’s “One Through Seven.”

Brad Hoshaw’s vocals are as warm as spiked coffee on “Christmas Eve, Oh Christmas Eve.” Platte River Rain’s playful “Christmas Song” had me doing a Darktown House Band double-take.

The ultimate star topping the tree here is Korey Anderson’s “Christmas Lights.” Its well-crafted melody and emotive lyrics will have a place on all the compilations of my Christmas future. The album is $15 at Garage Guitar, 4967 Dodge St., or at lashlaruetoydrive.com — where you can also purchase Volumes I and II, for $10 each. n Kyle Harvey’s “Merry Christmas From Outer Space,” his offering on Pine Ridge Vol. III, spurred an entire holiday record from him by that name. In addition to the eponymous track are songs like “Crop Circle Christmas,” “Happy Birthday Baby Jesus, Merry Christmas Alf,” and “Baby, It’s Cold In Space.” Harvey also notes via email that the disc includes his official hip-hop debut, “All I Want For Christmas is a Spacesuit.”

Harvey will host a CD release party Tuesday, Dec. 21, at Benson’s Barley Street Tavern.

Attendees can get in for free by dressing as “aliens, space babes, astronauts, men in black … Santa Clause or elfs, or wearing tinfoil hats.”

Sounds like a fair trade. n Holiday Throwdown at Slowdown is Friday, Dec. 17, featuring music from Conduits, All Young Girls Are Machine Guns, Bear Country and more, plus it’s a celebration of the Mynabirds’ 7” All I Want Is Truth (for Christmas) and the relaunch of omahype.com (see Lazy-I pg. 30 for more on that). You can even pair your partying with some last-minute shopping as Autopilot Art, Princess Lasertron, Buf Reynolds and others will be on hand with unique, local wares for sale. So don’t stress, you can have your Christmas cake and eat it too.

— Sarah Wengert

backbeat

Reindeer Games

music

Backbeat takes you behind the scenes of the local music scene.

Send tips, comments and questions to backbeat@thereader.com.

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dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

29

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lazy-i

ometime in March 2009, a quiet sadness swept over the Internet when Andrew Bowen and Ian Atwood grasped firmly and pulled the plug on one of Omaha’s more original websites — omahype.com.

Omahype enthusiastically chronicled the local music scene through Bowen and Atwood’s acerbic music news bits, live reviews and leaked mp3 files that one assumes had to be illegal. The website had a wonderfully subversive streak, and carried on an outsider’s tradition, giving voice to Hotel Frank, Slumber Party Records artists and the Antiquarium record store, powered by the duo’s uncanny good taste in music. Over a couple years, Bowen and Atwood managed to make a small but significant mark, providing a fresh, young perspective that this scene was — and is — sorely in need of.

Almost two years later, omahype.com is returning, but without Bowen and Atwood at the helm. Instead, the Internet domain was acquired by two other local music insiders, Will Simons and Laura Burhenn. Simons, who sings and plays guitar in local indie band Thunder Power, has been in the music news business for years as a writer and editor for the now-defunct Omaha City Weekly. Washington, D.C., transplant Burhenn is the singer-songwriter behind Saddle Creek Records band The Mynabirds.

The duo acquired omahype.com through local “youth branding agency” Secret Penguin, whose clients include skateboarders, The Faint and Jim Suttle. “(Bowen) gave those guys the domain name,” Simons says. “It was Laura’s idea to get the whole thing rolling. She asked me earlier in the spring if I wanted to help with it, while Secret Penguin built the site.”

Burhenn had considered the idea of a local arts and music website for well over a year. “I got the idea from a friend in D.C. who runs a website called brightestyoungthings.com,” Burhenn says. “It’s a curated events calendar where you can find anything you might want to know about what’s going on in D.C.” Omaha, she says, had nothing like it.

Like brightestyoungthings.com, omahype.com will cover more than just local music. “It’ll include everything from lectures to art shows to indie films,” Burhenn says. “Any event that would be interesting to the youth culture.”

But what exactly is youth culture? Burhenn says it’s anything that’s inspiring about living where you live. “‘Youth’ is anybody from a teenager to who knows how old,” she says. “It’s not an age thing at all.

It’s the creative, adventurous minds in Omaha.”

Simons and Burhenn say they’ll begin by scouring other online calendars for events to include in Omahype, along with (they hope) reader submissions. “We’ll start with events and editor’s picks, and

s c e n e

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it’ll grow,” Burhenn says. “We also want to be a blog aggregator, a jumping-off point for people to find out who’s doing things around town.”

Their site will join an already crowded webspace for local online event calendars that includes the new, improved Reader website at thereader.com; the music-focused hearnebraska.org, which launches Jan. 24; towncommons.com, which provides a “personalized guide to events in Omaha;” the lilting underground-omaha.com; Omaha World-Herald’s omaha.com; the bar-focused omahanightlife.com; local news/events website omaha.net, and, of course, good ol’ slamomaha.com, which has been in the art/music events calendar business for more than a decade. And don’t forget the ubiquitous role of Facebook in keeping people up to speed with what’s happening around town.

Simons knows they’re entering a crowded room.

“We don’t want to compete with other websites, we want to collaborate with them,” he says. “We all have the same goals in mind.” It’s a noble thought, but seems to ignore the fact that those other websites also have the goal of being Omaha’s “one-stop shop” — at least that’s what they’re telling potential advertisers and donors. Simons says somewhere down the road Omahype also will sell advertising space, but “our intention isn’t to make money; it’s to support the community.”

Burhenn says partnering with artists, musicians and “progressive thinkers” to “put a new spin on an old story” is what will differentiate Omahype from the rest of the online herd. That new spin might include an artist creating a photo essay that explores the city from a different angle. “We want to be irreverent in nature,” Burhenn says. “We want people to join in the conversation and be honest with how they feel, but we want them to be positive. At the end of the day, I just want everyone to be nice.”

They acknowledged the legacy of the original omahype.com. “Omahype was great for what it was, a music blog,” Simons says. “We’re taking its spirit and expanding it to all the arts and creative communities.

We’re not taking a hard-nosed journalistic approach.

We want to have a fresh, youthful take on things.”

And while they will curate the site’s content, “I don’t want to be the person who says ‘This is what’s cool and this is what’s not,’” Burhenn says. “I’m interested in hearing from other people what they think is cool, and sharing it.”

Omahype.com’s launch is being celebrated as part of the Holiday Throwdown at Slowdown Friday, Dec. 17. The free event, which starts at 9 p.m., will feature performances by members of Bear Country, Conduits, Flowers Forever, Honeybee, Talking Mountain, UUVVWWZ and, of course, The Mynabirds, who also will celebrate the release of their new 7-inch single. Local artists and designers also will have their goods for sale, just in time for Christmas. ,

Lazy-i is a weekly column by long-time Reader senior contributing writer Tim McMahan focused on the Omaha music scene. Check out Tim’s daily music news updates at his website, lazy-i.com, or email him at lazy-i@thereader.com.

hoodoo Reasons to experience Reasons to experience

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B y

B . J .

h u c h t e m a n n

Holiday To-Dos

record number of events. The generosity of the community and the many artists and venues who donate must-see show for guitar fans takes place time and talent to the events means that children on at The New Lift Lounge Thursday, Dec. 16, the reservation will have gifts for a happier Christmas. when Texas guitar star Buddy Whitting- Funds will also go to keep the clinic heated and operatton joins popular songwriter Randy McAllister at ing and also to provide heating for the elderly. In ad5:30 p.m. Whittington took Coco Montoya’s place dition, toys will go to children from the Omaha and with John Mayall’s band for 15 years when Montoya Winnebago tribes. Christmas for Pine Ridge: Vol. III Live went solo in 1993. Mayall obviously has smart taste at The Waiting Room, this year’s benefit CD featuring 15 in guitar players, having been influential in the early local artists, can still be purchased at Garage Guitar, careers of guitarists from Eric Clapton, Peter Green 50th and Dodge. Watch lashlaruetoydrive.com for phoand Walter Trout to Montoya. Whittington is in high- tos to be posted of the children with their gifts.

In the end the messages of the toy drive are sevcaliber company.

It’s been a few years since engaging singer-song- eral. The toys and gifts for the children bring them writer Randy McAllister played local stages, where real hope and joy in a season where we often take he was a real audience favorite. With seven CDs to these blessings for granted, and hope is powerful his credit, the fifth-generation Texan is a fine song- medicine. LaRue always tells the story of the child writer-performer. He mixes the usual blues subject who had been warned by his parents that he probably wouldn’t get anything for matter with sometimes offbeat, realChristmas, smiling with his gift life character studies that are told and saying “See Mom, I told you through his creative observations Santa wouldn’t forget me.” and word play. One critic wrote, “If The toy drive always illustrates Mark Twain had envisioned a 21st to me that one person can make a century roots musician, he might difference wherever they choose have created a character like Randy to, just by starting where they are McAllister, with an easy-going perand taking the first steps. So if sona and a wry, and an observant you’re feeling helpless or hopeless wit … McAllister’s songwriting apyourself, remember that you do proach is particularly skillful, able have power - to change your cirto be both truthful and funny.” cumstances and to create positive The Lift’s 5:30 p.m. Thursday change in your circle of friends and show schedule continues this month randy mcallister your community. You just have to with the return of the red hot Brad take the first step.

Cordle Band Dec. 23. Audience favorites The Bel Airs get their boogie groove going Thursday, Dec. 30.

Hot Notes The Lift has booked blues-rock band Devon Havana Garage cigar bar in the Old Market presents Allman’s Honeytribe for New Year’s Eve. And yes, the Kris Lager Band acoustic Thursday, Dec. 16.

Devon is the son of Gregg Allman. Check out Honey- Friday and Saturday, Dec. 17 and 18, hear the Brad tribe’s music at thetribalcommunity.com.

Cordle Band at the Garage. McKenna’s has Levi William Saturday, Dec. 18.

Friday, Dec. 17 at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar, Son of 76 Outta This World Kyle Harvey celebrates the release of his new CD & The Watchmen open for Brad Hoshaw & The Merry Christmas From Outer Space at Barley Street Seven Deadlies. Son of 76 is led by occasional Reader Tavern on Tuesday, Dec. 21. The haunting song of the contributor Josh Hoyer.

Slowdown’s Frostival 2010 Wednesday, Dec. same name appears on this year’s Christmas for Pine Ridge: Vol. III Live at The Waiting Room and inspired 22, benefits the Omaha Food Bank with a variety of Harvey to record a disc of new material. Harvey says music including Kris Lager Band, Funk Trek, Blue on Facebook that those attending in “galactic or holi- Martian Tribe, Midland Band and The Weeping Figs. See theslowdown.com. day-themed gear” get free admission.

The FolkHouse presents Stacey Earle and Mark Stewart Sunday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Their Santa’s Tattooed Helper As The Reader hits the streets, Lash LaRue will be acoustic songs, harmonies and stories have made loading his truck with toys and making the trek to the them extremely popular on the national circuit. StaPine Ridge Reservation. Saturday, Dec. 18, LaRue cey is also the sister of performer Steve Earle. Call will join Lakota medicine man David Swallow Jr. in 932.8551 or email folkhouse@cox.net to RSVP and the toy-giving party held for the children and families for details. The FolkHouse concert series is held in the on the reservation. This year’s Toy Drive featured a Jerome Brich home. ,

#74 No commercials. ! l a e R t e G Reasons to experience

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Hoodoo is a weekly column focusing on blues, roots, Americana and occasional other music styles with an emphasis on live music performances. Hoodoo columnist B.J. Huchtemann is a Reader senior contributing writer and veteran music journalist who has covered the local music scene for nearly 20 years.

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LIVE THEATRE

DECEMBER 31 9PM to 1AM

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DON’T MISS THE MIDNIGHT CHAMPAGNE TOAST!

Lots of Omaha actors are McDreamy!

Must be 21 or older to attend shows. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-BETSOFF (In Iowa) or 1-800-522-4700. ©2010, Caesars License Company, LLC.

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| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010 12/13/10

31

7:29 PM

live music calendar

SEND CALENDAR INFORMATION â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including addresses, dates, times, costs and phone numbers â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to The Readerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s calendar editor. Mail to or drop off information at P.O. Box 7360 Omaha, NE 68107; email to listings@thereader.com; fax to (402) 341.6967.

Deadline is 5 p.m. the Thursday prior to issue date.

thursday 16

Nocturnal

Bunnies Side Car 69 Chad Lee Band Horseshoe Idol

GREK K, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. JESSICA ERRET, EDGE OF ARBOR, (singer-songwriter/

rock) 9 p.m., Barley St. Tavern, $5.

LUKE JOHNSON, (singer-songwriter) 8 p.m., Firewater

Grille, FREE. THE BISHOPS, (rock) 8 p.m., Foundation, FREE. NASHVILLE REJECT, (cover) 8:30 p.m., Grove, $5.

KRIS LAGER, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Havanna Garage, FREE. NOVAK & HAAR, (jazz) 6 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen.

PERFECT STRANGERS, TOPPER GO!, DUDE WONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T DIE,

(rock) 9 p.m., Knickerbockers.

SUSIE THORNE & JAZZ BAND, (jazz) 9 p.m., Myth, FREE. RANDY MCALLISTER, BUDDY WITTINGTON, (blues) 5:30

p.m., New Lift Lounge, $10.

JIM BRICKMAN, ANNE COCHRAN, TRACY SILVERMAN,

(holiday) 7:30 p.m., Orpheum Theater, $32-$100.

CYMBOLTON, (jazz) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. KYLE KNAPP, (indie) 7 p.m., Pizza Shoppe Collective, $5.

SWAMPJAM, (blues) 8 p.m., Pour House, FREE. JR HOSS, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Two Fine Irishmen, FREE. BREAKAWAY, (country) 9 p.m., Uncle Ronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, FREE. CHRIS SAUB, (acoustic) 9 p.m., VIP Lounge, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS SOMASPHERE, MITCH GETTMAN BAND, SFS, (rock) 9

p.m., Waiting Room, FREE. NOCTURNAL BUNNIES, (cover) 8 p.m., Whiskey

Roadhouse, FREE. THE BLUES MESSENGERS, (blues) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $5.

Session 7 Shur Thing

FRIDAY 17

Mr. Hand Pixies, Pearl Jam

and Led Zeppelin

Tribute Bands

Down to Here

Audition Night

Must be 21 years or older to gamble. Know When to Stop Before You StartŽ. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-BETS-OFF(Iowa) or 1-800-522-4700(National). Š2010, Caesars Entertainment.

32

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

BLACK 7, KAZTE, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, $5.

SOUTHPAW BLUEGRASS BAND, 9 p.m., 1020, FREE. WICKED FUN, (cover) 9 p.m., Arena, FREE. IDEAL CLEANERS, HER FLYAWAY MANNER,

TECHLEPATHY, (rock) 8 p.m., Bourbon, $5.

MILES FROM DUBLIN, (celtic) 9 p.m., Brazen Head.

ON THE FRITZ, (cover) 9 p.m., Brewskyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Park Drive, FREE. COWBOY UP, (country/cover) 9 p.m., Bushwackers, FREE. CHESHIRE GRIN, (cover) 9 p.m., Chrome, FREE. PAUL SCOTT HOAGBIN TRIO, (holiday) 7 p.m., Crane

Coffee 60th & Center, FREE. DB REDUCTION, (acoustic/cover) 9 p.m., Cruiserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, FREE. THE KILLIGNS, STRAIGHT OUTTA JUNIOR HIGH, (punk/

celtic) 9 p.m., Duffyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

CLASSIC FLAMENCO, 6:30 p.m., Espana, FREE. CHRIS SHELTON, (singer-songwriter) 8 p.m., Firewater

Grille, FREE. K9 SUITE, ALMOST 7, (cover) 9 p.m., Grove, $5.

BRAD CORDLE & FRIENDS, (acoustic/blues) 9 p.m.,

Havanna Garage, FREE. CHRISTMAS WITH THE SYMPHONY, (symphony) 8 p.m.,

Holland Center, $15-$80.

STREET RAILWAY COMPANY DIXIELAND QUARTET, (jazz)

7 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen.

CURSED BY MOONLIGHT, CANNONISTA, AS EMPIRES

BURN, (rock/metal) 9 p.m., Knickerbockers.

FISH HEADS, (cover) 9:30 p.m., Loose Moose, FREE. WHISKEY PISTOLS, (blues) 9 p.m., McKennaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, FREE. JAZZ JAM NIGHT W/ THE JAZZ EXPLOSION, 8 p.m., Pizza

Shoppe Collective, $5.

READER RECOMMENDS ROCK PAPER DYNAMITE, THE FERGESONS, LIGHTNING

BUG, (rock) 9:30 p.m., Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Leaverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, $5.

UNDER THE MISTLETOE WITH MULBERRY LANE, (holiday)

8 p.m., Orpheum Theater, $28.50-$48.50.

LEMON FRESH DAY, (cover) 9 p.m., Ozone, FREE. ROUGH CUT, (cover) 10 p.m., red9, FREE. HIGH HEEL GIRLFRIEND, (cover) 10 p.m., The Reef, FREE.

| THE READER |

music listings

HEIDI JOY, (holiday) 8 p.m., Scottish Rite Historical

Theatre, $26.50-$32.50.

ZACH BEIEMAN, RYAN REDDING, (jam) 10 p.m., Side

Door, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS HOLIDAY THROWDOWN W/ MYNABIRDS & FRIENDS,

(rock) 9 p.m., Slowdown, FREE. GALVANIZED TRON, SAG 7, DJ E BABBS, (hip-hop) 10

p.m., T Henryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, $2.

SOUL DAWG, (cover) 9 p.m., Tropics, FREE. THE VYBE, CHARM SCHOOL, (cover) 8 p.m., Two Fine

Irishmen, FREE. BREAKAWAY, (country) 9 p.m., Uncle Ronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, FREE. THE NADAS, THE BORING DAYLIGHTS, VAGO, (rock) 9

p.m., Waiting Room, $12/adv, $15/dos.

SIDECAR 69, (cover) 9 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, FREE. THE FABTONES, (blues/rock) 5 p.m., Zoo Bar, $4.

BRAD HOSHAW & THE SEVEN DEADLIES, SON OF 76 AND

THE WATCHMEN, (folk/rock) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $6.

SATURDAY 18

PALINDROSEFF, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, $5.

READER RECOMMENDS WEEPING FIGS, (acoustic) 9 p.m., 1020, FREE. SIDECAR 69, (cover) 9 p.m., Arena, FREE. GARFAN, MALNACK, TENDERNESS WILDERNESS, (rock) 9

p.m., Barley St. Tavern, $5.

TAG FEAT. TRES, BRETT SMITH AKA INFLECT, DR.

ZHIVAGO, (DJ) 9 p.m., Bourbon, $3, $5/under 21.

MILES FROM DUBLIN, (celtic) 9 p.m., Brazen Head.

COWBOY UP, (country/cover) 9 p.m., Bushwackers, FREE. CHESHIRE GRIN, (cover) 9 p.m., Chrome, FREE. HOLIDAY CONCERT SERIES, Durham Museum, $7.

GALVANIZED TRON, (hip-hop) 10 p.m., Elite, $5.

CLASSIC FLAMENCO, 6:30 p.m., Espana, FREE. DEREK VENTURA, (cover) 6:30 p.m., Goratâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, FREE. DFUNK, (cover) 9 p.m., Grove, $5, $10/under 21.

BRAD CORDLE & FRIENDS, (acoustic/blues) 9 p.m.,

Havanna Garage, FREE. CHRISTMAS WITH THE SYMPHONY, (symphony) 2 p.m., 8

p.m., Holland Center, $15-$80.

THE NITE SHIFT, (cover) 9 p.m., Islands, FREE. NIGHT SHAKERS TRIO, (jazz) 7 p.m., Jazz Louisiana

Kitchen.

BOTTLEROCKET, LAST SLICE, HOT FROM FAR, (rock) 9

p.m., Knickerbockers.

FISH HEADS, (cover) 9:30 p.m., Loose Moose, FREE. BATTLE OF THE MIDWEST BANDS W/ RED VIBE, THE

TRAGIC FALL, VITOSUS, SUPPRESS THE

AFFLICTION, (rock) 7:30 p.m., Louis, $8.

TANQUERAY LOCC, DJ KWICKSTARR, DAT FIYA, NO

G.U.D., CHRISTINA B., LOKEE, (hip-hop) 9:30 p.m.,

Louis.

LEVI WILLIAM, (blues) 9 p.m., McKennaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, FREE. DRUNKEN INTENTIONS, (cover) 6 p.m., The Monkey, FREE. KENNY G, (saxophone) 8 p.m., Orpheum Theater, $48-$78.

CHRIS SAUB, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Oscarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pizza, FREE. FINEST HOUR, (cover) 9 p.m., Ozone, FREE. ACADEMY OF ROCK, (rock) 12 p.m., red9, $8/adv, $10/dos.

THE SLANGS, (cover) 9 p.m., red9, $5.

HIGH HEEL GIRLFRIEND, (cover) 10 p.m., The Reef, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS BILL HOOVER, JAMES MAAKESTAD, MCCARTHY

TRENCHING, (rock) 7 p.m., Side Door.

JAZZWHOLES, DJ W.E.R.D, (rock/DJ) 9 p.m., Slowdown,

$8 HOPEFORTHEFALLEN, KAKAROT, SENSELESS BEAUTY,

ENSLAVED SANITY, VERENDUS, (rock/metal) 6:30

p.m., Sokol Underground, $8.

GUNSHOT ITCH, (cover) 9 p.m., Stir Live, $5.

BREAKAWAY, (country) 9 p.m., Uncle Ronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, FREE. CHASING DAY LIGHT, THE PAT O SHOW, (cover) 8 p.m.,

Two Fine Irishmen, FREE. CLEVER, STRAIGHT OUTTA JUNIOR HIGH, THE JES

WINTER BAND, (rock) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $10.

CHAD LEE, (country) 9 p.m., Whiskey Roadhouse, FREE.

SUNDAY 19

SUNDAY GOLD W/ GREG K, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. â&#x20AC;&#x2122;80S NIGHT W/ OLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; MOANINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CORPSE, (DJ) 8 p.m.,

Bricktop, FREE. APPROACHING NOTHING, MURAKAMI, THE SWEET

DIRTIES, (rock) 6 p.m., Duffyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

THE VINGINS, ONCE A PAWN, (rock) 9 p.m., Duffyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

HOLIDAY CONCERT SERIES, (seasonal) Durham, $7.

STACEY EARLE & MARK STEWART, (folk) 7:30 p.m.,

FolkHouse, $15.

READER RECOMMENDS CHRISTMAS WITH THE SYMPHONY, (symphony) 2 p.m., 7

p.m., Holland Center, $15-$80.

THE SOUNDING JOY W/ BENJAMIN HARLAN, (holiday) 9

a.m., Hope Presbyterian Church, FREE. MIDWEST POSSE, (R&B) 6:30 p.m., Side Door, FREE. THE QUINN CHAPEL AME GOSPEL CHOIR, 3 p.m., Zoo Bar.

MONDAY 20

RICK SPURGIN, (acoustic) 9 p.m., 1020, FREE. SOUP AND SONG W/ KYLE & ANDY, (singer-songwriter) 8

p.m., Barley St. Tavern, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS AN EVENING OF SONG & ENCHANTMENT W/ CIRAN

NAGLE & TARA NOVAK, (violin/vocal) 7 p.m., Bemis

Center, $7.

MIKE GURCIULLO AND HIS LAS VEGAS LAB BAND, (jazz)

6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. TIM HALPERIN, DAMON DOTSON, (singer-songwriter) 9

p.m., Slowdown, $10.

HOT FROM FAR, ARTILLERY FUNK, SHOEDOG, CYMBAL

RUSH, STANDBYE, (rock) 7:30 p.m., Sokol

Underground, $7.

SATURN MOTH, THE LYMPHNODE MANIACS, THE

BENNINGTONS, THE DADS, (rock) 9 p.m., Waiting

Room, $5.

TUESDAY 21

VIC NASTY, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. MIDWEST DILEMMA, (acoustic) 9 p.m., 1020, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS KYLE HARVEY XMAS CD RELEASE, 9 p.m., Barley.

MR. DEEDLES, (indie/experimental) 10 p.m., Duffyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

SOUTH OF LINCOLN, JEFF SCHNEIDER, GREAT PLAINS

MASSACRE, (rock/acoustic) 9 p.m., Knickerbockers.

TIM KOEHN ACOUSTIC JAM, (blues) 7 p.m., Louis, FREE. EYRA, (acoustic) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE. CHRIS SAUB, (acoustic) 8 p.m., The Phoenix, FREE. MARK â&#x20AC;&#x153;SHARKYâ&#x20AC;? SANFORD, (piano) 6:30 p.m., The Reef,

FREE. DAVE POLSON, (singer-songwriter) 10 p.m., Side Door,

FREE. TARA VAUGHAN, KELSEY NORD, (singer-songwriter) 9

p.m., Sydney.

WASTOID, FLESH EATING SKIN DISEASE, DUNDEE

STRANGLER, HOMINOID, FERAL HANDS, (metal/

rock) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $5.

JAZZOCRACY, (jazz) 6 p.m., Zoo Bar, FREE. TROUBADOUR TUESDAY W/ DAN JENKINS, SWEET BASIL

MCJAGGER, BRIAN JOHNSON, ORION WALSH, LEE

BOSE, (singer-songwriter) 9 p.m., Zoo Bar, $4.

Wednesday 22

CITIZENS, (DJ) 9 p.m., 415, FREE. ERYA, (acoustic) 9 p.m., 1020, FREE. THE TURFMEN, (celtic) 7 p.m., Brazen Head.

H.E.M.P., (jam/rock) 9 p.m., Duffyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

STEVE LOVETT, (blues) 6 p.m., Jazz Louisiana Kitchen.

UGLY SWEATER SHOW W/ BLAKE KEMPTON, BETHANY

HAMM, (singer-songwriter) 9 p.m., Knickerbockers.

CHRIS GLOVER, (rock/jam) 8 p.m., Lit Lounge, FREE.

0

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER, (holiday) 7:30 p.m., Orpheum

Theater, $37-$77.

THE LINKS, (oldies) 6:30 p.m., Ozone, FREE.

READER RECOMMENDS FROSTIVAL 2010 W/ BLUE MARTIAN TRIBE, KRIS LAGER

BAND, FUNK TREK, MIDLAND BAND, THE WEEPING

FIGS, SFS, (various) 7 p.m., Slowdown, $10/adv,

$12/dos.

KELSEY NORD, JESSICA ERRETT, (acoustic) 9 p.m., Two

Fine Irishmen, FREE. GUNK’S MURRAY XMAS W/ KOBRAKYLE, $PENCELOVE,

(DJ) 9 p.m., Waiting Room, $5.

THE BLUES MESSENGERS, (blues) 6 p.m., Zoo Bar, $5.

THE HANGING COWBOYS, THE WHIPKEY TREE, ALL

YOUNG GIRLS ARE MACHINE GUNS, (acoustic/rock)

9 p.m., Zoo Bar.

VENUES

Ameristar Casino, 2200 River Rd., Council Bluffs, ameristar.com Arena Bar & Grill, 3809 N. 90th St., 571.2310, arenaomaha.com BarFly, 707 N. 114th St., 504.4811 Barley Street Tavern, 2735 N. 62nd St., 554.5834, barleystreet.com Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O St., Lincoln, 730.5695 Downtown Blues, 1512 Howard St., 345.0180 Duffy’s Tavern, 1412 O St., Lincoln, 474.3453, myspace.com/duffystavern The Hideout, 302 S. 72nd St. Knickerbocker’s, 901 O St., Lincoln, 476.6865, knickerbockers.net LIV Lounge, 2279 S. 67th St., 884.5410, livlounge.com Louis Bar and Grill, 5702 NW Radial Hwy., 551.5993 McKenna’s Blues, Booze & BBQ, 7425 Pacific St., 393.7427, mckennasbbq.com New Lift Lounge, 4737 S. 96th St., 339.7170 O’Leaver’s Pub, 1322 S. Saddle Creek Rd., 556.1238, myspace.com/oleaverspub Ozone Lounge at Anthony’s Steakhouse, 72nd and F, 331.7575, ozoneclubomaha.com.

Pizza Shoppe Collective, 6056 Maple St., 556.9090, pscollective.com Qwest, 455 N. 10th St., qwestcenteromaha. com Side Door, 3530 Leavenworth St., 504.3444.

Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St., 345.7569, theslowdown.com Sokol Hall, 2234 S. 13th St., 346.9802, sokolundergound.com The Sydney, 5918 Maple St., 932.9262, thesydneybenson.com Stir, 1 Harrahs Blvd., Council Bluffs, harrahs. com Venue 162, 162 W. Broadway, Council Bluffs, 712.256.7768, myspace.com/venue162 Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St., 884.5353, waitingroomlounge.com Whiskey Roadhouse, Horseshoe Casino, 2701 32nd Ave., Council Bluffs, whiskeyroadhouse.com Zoo Bar, 136 N.14th St., Lincoln, zoobar.com

UPCOMING SHOWS

Clever’s been one of Omaha’s top-drawing rock bands since it was formed in late ‘97. Blue Moon Ghetto, matched up with former Secret Skin bassist Clint Thomas and drummer Paul Weaklend. The band’s trademark sound is excruciatingly tight funk rock in the vein of 311 or the Urge, but much, much heavier.

saTurday, 12/18/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing rooM

CLEVER

w/ Straight Outta Junior High & The Jes Winter Band

SPOtlIGHt SHOW

Thursday, 12/16/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing rooM

Friday, 12/17/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing rooM

Monday, 12/20/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing rooM

w/ SFS & Mitch Gettman NO COVER CHARGE!!!

w/ The Boring Daylights & Vago

w/ The LymphNode Maniacs, The Benningtons, & The Dads

Tuesday, 12/21/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing rooM

Wednesday, 12/22/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing rooM

Thursday, 12/23/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing rooM

w/ Kobrakyle & $pencelove

w/ Old Money

SOMASPHERE

THE NADAS

SATURN MOTH

WASTOID

GUNK’s MURRAY XMAS!

Thursday, 12/23/10 9:00PM @ sloWdoWn

saTurday, 12/25/10 8:00PM @ The WaiTing rooM

sunday, 12/26/10 9:00PM @ The WaiTing rooM

w/ Polecat

w/ Reggaejunkiejew, The Beat Seakers, MC Gringo, & Eastern Turkish

w/ Conduits, The Filter Kings, & All Young Girls Are Machine Guns

w/ Flesh Eating Skin Disease, Dundee Strangler, Hominoid, & Feral Hands

SLOWDOWN VIRGINIA

BANJO LOCO

12/27/10 Ladyfinger 12/28/10 Benefit for amBer WiLkins 12/29/10 mousetrap 12/30/10 tHe end in red 12/31/10 seCret Weapon neW years!

1/01/10 CoWBoy moutH 1/07/10 anniversaire

SATCHEL GRANDE

LITTLE BRAZIL

1/08/10 Broken CroWn 1/29/10 reBeLution 2/12/10 Best Coast 2/13/10 umpHrey’s mCgee 2/19/10 deerHoof 2/24/10 tapes ’n tapes 4/30/10 mogWai

More Information and Tickets Available at

WWW.ONEPERCENTPRODUCTIONS.COM

music listings

| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

33

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dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

| THE READER |

gift guide

The Fruit Infusion Pitcher creates refreshing natural-fruit drinks. Fill the 2.5 quart pitcher with water, iced tea or other liquids, slice up a handful of lemons, limes, berries or other fruits. Insert the fruit into the infusion rod, which screws tight, and enjoy!

Category One Rockbrook Village 10922 Prairie Brook Rd. 390-9684 www.categoryonegifts.com Made in the USA, Tervis Tumblers are a double-walled insulated tumbler that keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for hours.

All Tervis Tumblers come with a life-time guarantee and they are dish-washer and microwave safe. Get yours today a Category One Gifts & Gourmet!

Category One Rockbrook Village 10922 Prairie Brook Rd. 390-9684 www.categoryonegifts.com

DESIGNER BEADS & CHARMS is your own local full-service bead store located at 120th & Blondo in Omaha, Nebraska. We invite you to stop in and design your own custom jewelry piece from our wide variety of genuine gem stones and unique beads. Our friendly and helpful sales staff will be happy to assist you in finding the right beads and materials for your individual project.

Located at 1806 N. 120th St., Omaha, NE 68154. (402) 315-3400. www.designerbeadsandcharms.com

ROOTS & WINGS is a locally owned specialty boutique for young women who dare to be different. Full of fun fashions you won’t find anywhere else in Omaha, Roots & Wings serves confident women who aren’t afraid to express their individuality. Here’s a few fun gifts sure to please holiday fashionistas. You can’t go wrong with this awesome party dress from DD DaKota or this comfy sweater jacket also from DD DaKota. Even more TOMS shoes (One for One™) make a perfect holiday gift with philanthropy in mind. With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. Check out these items and more at Roots & Wings at its new location in Countryside Village (8712 Pacific St.). (402) 504-4700.

Cupcakes and cakes make tasty gifts. Here are some great choices that are available at Books make wonderful gifts for all ages.

Find these titles and more at THE BOOK- JONES BROS. CUPCAKES, located in WORM, located in Countryside Village. Aksarben Village (2121 S. 67th St., www. jonesbroscupcakes.com). Enjoy these Dust Devil cupcake flavors: S&W $17.99 (Ages 5-9) VANILLA - Madagascar bourbon vanilla An original folktale starring an extraor- cake with vanilla buttercream frosting. dinary gal who is as feisty as she is funny RED VELVET - Classic red velvet cake with and as courageous as she is kind. cream cheese frosting.

BLACK & WHITE - Valrhona chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream with godiva white chocolate liqueur CHOCOLATE - French valrhona chocolate cake with callebaut chocolate frosting.

LEMON - Lemon cake with lemon curd infused buttercream CINNAMON & SUGAR - Spiced buttermilk cake with a cinnamon and sugar topping

The Fantastic 5&10¢ Store S&W $17.99 (Age 4-9) Filled with irresistible picture puzzles that will entice kids to read on their own.

And don’t forget about hese delicious cakes to choose from: RED VELVET - Classic red velvet cake with layers of cream cheese frosting CELEBRATION - White cake with layers of raspberry and lemon curd topped with amaretto meringue.

come visit our new store at

countryside village & check out our new arrivals

15% OFF

visit our website

Expires 12/31/10 Excludes, All-Clad, Wusthof, Le Creuset and small electrics.

Must have coupon. Not valid with any other offer.

for the latest info of fun fashions you won’t find

TOTAL PURCHASE

& join us on facebook

anywhere else in omaha!

Omaha’s locally owned & operated gourmet kitchen store.

Stop in today!

New Location

8712 pacific street, 68114. omaha

www.rootsandwingsomaha.com

Rockbrook Village

10922 Prairie Brook Road 390-9684 www.categor yonegifts.com

gift guide

| THE READER |

DEC. 16 - 22 , 2010

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Great Gift Ideas

www.oldmarket.com A gift basket of product and gift card for a color and cut is the perfect gift for anyone on your list! Fringes Salon & Spa invites everyone to experience EDGEWORTHY™ — it will make you laugh and sometimes cry. We’re edgy, yet worthy and will always invite you to go beyond the fringe. www.fringessalon. com (402) 345-0404

This delightful Old Market Co-op Gallery offers original fine art in different media by local artists.

At the Passageway Gallery you will find original works in: Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Pastel, Pencil, Scratchboard, Photography, Stained Glass, Sculpture, Pottery, Cast Paper, Copper Sculpture, and more. www.passagewaygallery.com Moksha specializes in Indian Jewelry, Marble Art, Paintings, Wooden Icons, Tunics/Kurtis, Designer Bags & Purses, Silk & Pashmina Stoles and Scarves, Handicrafts, Silk & Wool Rugs, Cushion Covers and Incense Sticks and Candles. Located in the Lower Passageway. (402) 871-0920

The Old Market Artists Gallery (OMA) consists of thirteen professional local area artists. The gallery features a diverse collection of work, including original paintings, photography, collage and folk art, fine woodworking, functional ceramics, sculpture, fused glass and jewelry. The gallery is located in the lower level of the Passageway across the hall from Trini’s Restaurant. www.oldmarketartists.com (402) 346-6569

Happy Holiday’s - Give the gift of HEALTH $50 value 1/2 price personal training session with world champion LAURA BINETTI. 24 Hour co-ed fitness center, training, thousands of locations. Anytime Fitness 1027 Jones Street Old Market Lofts www.anytimefitness.com (402) 991.2333

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The Casbah is an oasis in Omaha, Nebraska that invites you to take a trip on the Mediterranean basin through its artifacts. The Casbah is located in the Lower Passageway. www.thecasbahomaha.com

Trocadéro is a lifestyle and accessories emporium located in the heart of Omaha’s Old Market historic district.

Trocadero’s shelves and tables are filled with an edited array of designer handbags, shoes and jewelry as well as gifts for the home, bridal or baby shower. www.shoptrocadero. com (402) 934-8389

| THE READER |

gift guide

Unearth Exhilaration! At Urbane Salon and Day Spa we carry the full Aveda line of products for all your hair, body and skin care needs. Our Holiday Gift Sets are pre-arranged for easy holiday shopping. Try our “Unearth Exhilaration” set featuring Aveda’s full size Rosemary Mint Shampoo, Conditioner and Rosemary Mint Body Lotion. Gift sets can also be customized to create your own special gift. 1007 Farman on The Mall (402) 934-2909 $35 set

Soul Desires is a full service bookstore specializing in books for your spiritual journey from the world’s major religious traditions. Soul Desires hospitality provides a quiet environment in which to relax and meet friends while you enjoy a cappuccino, coffee, tea, or soft drink. www.soul-desires.com (402) 898-7600 Tannebaum offers the largest selection of Jim Shore holiday crafts in Omaha. 25 Years of Celebrating Christmas in the Old Market!! Throughout the year, we carry decorative items that will become traditions for your enjoyment of this most joyous holiday. www.otannenbaum.com (402) 345-9627

The Old Market’s Original Candy Shop, Since 1977. Every day we sell fresh fudge made with real cream and butter made in our own kitchen. www.oldmarketcandy. com (402) 341-7151

The Souq offers a truly eclectic array of goods. Contemporary, soft dressing and ethnic inspired clothing, accessories galore, fun and fabulous jewelry, home decor and gift items from the elegant to the absurd.

(402) 342-2972

Hello East. Meet America. Blue Sushi gives traditional sushi an American attitude. Do you like your sashimi, nigiri and maki straight up?

No problem. Want something a little different? We’ll entertain your palate with something unexpected, such as yamagobo or sea salt. Whatever your tastes, get ready for one innovative meal at Blue Sushi. www.bluesushisakegrill.com (402) 408-5566

Great Gift Ideas

Great Gift Ideas

www.oldmarket.com

The Artists’ Cooperative Gallery is a non-profit, tax-exempt gallery, located in Omaha’s historic Old Market area. We strive for personal artistic growth and professionalism in presentation. The co-op is an artist run gallery.

We offer the unique opportunity for you to actually meet the creator of the art, because the person at the desk is one of the artists. www.artistsco-opgallery.com (402) 342-9617

Give your loved ones the gift of pampering this holiday season. From gift baskets to spa packages, Sirens at the Loft offers a unique salon & spa experience right in the heart of the Old Market. www.sirensatl. com (402) 933-9333

Cibola of Omaha invites you to “come discover your treasure”… embrace the best of the Southwest in Jewelry and Indian Art. Feel free to visit their location in Omaha at the Old Market . You’ll find legendary Native American designs along with contemporary Southwest designer jewelry pieces in gold and silver. www.cibolasouthwest.com 402-342-1200

Artists’ Cooperative Gallery connecting local art & worldly wanderers since 1975

405 S. 11th Street in Omaha’s Old Market 402.342.9617

www.artistsco-opgallery.com

Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.Tuesday through Thursday (open until 10 p.m. Thursdays Dec. 2, 9,16 and 23) 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday noon to 6 p.m. Sunday

Handmade Cornhusk Dolls from local Dundee artist make great gifts for the Husker fan in your life.

Old Market Sundries offers Heartland Apparel, Nebraska-made Gifts, and Husker Items. www.oldmarketsundries.com (402) 345-8198

Colorful glass artwork by local artists. “Elegance with a sense of Whimsy.” The White Crane Gallery features works by local and regional artists. Located in the Lower Passageway.

(402) 346-1066

gift guide

Who wouldn’t want a gift certificate to Zio’s for Christmas?? Omaha’s original Handstretched New York Style Pizza. Serving Omaha and the surrounding area for 25 years and now with 3 locations Midtown, Downtown & West Omaha.

Recipient of more than 25 best pizza awards!! www.ziospizzeria.com (402)344-2222

| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

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THE HOLIDAYS ARE

For “Wow-where-did-you-findthat?” items, you have to see The Afternoon. This treasured local retailer has distinguished itself with a wide selection of eclectic gift ware, artwork and accessories for home and office.

Extended browsing is not only allowed; it’s encouraged! www.theafternoon.com

Stock up on food for any feast at Wohlner’s Neighborhood Grocery & Deli. Wohlner’s offers a full selection of affordably-priced groceries, fresh meat and produce, and an upscale wine/beer/ spirits department. Busy work schedule?

Need a break from the kitchen? Pop in for breakfast or lunch or grab one of Wohlner’s private label , heat-and-eat entrées. Need a caterer? Wohlner’s can help! www.wohlners.com

Raise the temperature this winter with Cantina Laredo and its authentic Mexican fare. The atmosphere is sophisticated; the menu exciting. Cantina Laredo offers daily fish specials as well as grilled chicken and steaks with signature sauces like chipotle-wine with Portobello mushrooms or sauteed artichoke hearts and roasted red bell peppers. www.cantinalaredo.com

Toast the holidays and the new year at Loft 610, an urban styled, upscale restaurant and lounge. The food is prepared fresh in-house everyday, and the mixologist bartenders make the most innovative cocktails in town. www.loft610.com

Dazzle your holiday company by serving baked delights from Délice European Bakery. A long-time Omaha favorite, Délice tantalizes with authentic European pastries, cookies and desserts made from scratch with the finest ingredients. www.deliceeuropeanbakery.com

Work off those holiday meals at Prairie Life Fitness. One of the nation’s leading operators of upscale health and fitness clubs, Prairie Life is “Fitness for the Entire Family”. They not only have adopted that as their slogan, but are strongly committed to providing services for and actively engaging their members in programs and activities for all ages and ability levels. www.prairielife.com PARLIAMENT PUB We call him Santa; at Parliament Pub, he’s Father Christmas. The holidays will rock at this English-themed pub which features live music, specialty cocktails, an extensive wine list, and a 140-seat patio overlooking beautiful Turner Park. Come for the atmosphere. Stay for the fun! www.parliamentpubomaha.com

Need a quick but quality bite between shopping and other errands? Ingredient is a fast casual restaurant with a gourmet flair. As the name suggests, all of the eatery’s salads, pizzas, hamburgers, desserts and more are made with only the freshest ingredients. www.ingredientrestaurant.com

Three Dog Bakery is the original, revolutionary bakery for dogs, the place for chef-inspired, oven-baked dog treats and dog food made with 100% all-natural, human-quality ingredients. The Midtown Crossing store also offers a wide variety of pet accessories including all-natural grooming products, bed, toys and pet clothing. Spaw services, too. www.threedogomaha.com

This holiday season everybody needs a unique style. Find the phone that suits your characteristic and tout the new look.

Hip. Cool. Classy. Trendy. From new phones to hip accessories Z Wireless has it all. www.gozwireless.com TRU SALON & SPA Perhaps you’re in the mood for a fresh hairstyle for the holidays or maybe you’re craving some time on the massage table. Whatever your need, the team at Tru Salon & Spa is set to exceed your expectations and provide an exceptional beauty experience. The salon floor boasts the area’s freshest talent, and when it’s time to relax, Tru’s massage, skin and nail care specialists are ready to rejuvenate. wwwtrusalonomaha.com

HERE! You don’t simply watch the latest holiday blockbuster at Marcus Midtown Cinema.

You experience it. Midtown Crossing’s five-screen theater boasts stadium seating; stateof-the-art digital projection and sound; and Omaha’s exclusive CineDine food-and-beverage service from the comfort of your theater seat. www.marcustheatres.com

After the movie, bring on the Glo! As in the classic cocktail lounge on the second floor at Midtown Cinema. Literally gloing with vibrant energy and light, this comfortably hip bar and lounge features comfy leather sofas and chairs, floor-toceiling etched glass panels, and a sleek video wall with flat screens. Specialty drinks, micro-brews, appetizers, live music too. www.glomidtown.com

The Grey Plume is an innovative restaurant that focuses on seasonallydriven contemporary American fare with an emphasis on locally-grown produce and livestock. Led by local culinary sensation Clayton Chapman, The Grey Plume emulates a farm-totable approach. www.thegreyplume.com

Have joy with the comfort of a sound financial plan for your loved ones with Callahan Financial Planning. Give a gift card that builds wealth - a prepaid financial plan from Omaha’s unique planning process free of sales people.

402.341.2000. wwww.callahanfp.com

Clean green.

Gather with friends and family at a restaurant where the cuisine, atmosphere and energy are second-to-none. CRAVE delivers on one simple promise to serve fresh and innovative cuisine along with an impeccable wine selection in a chic, casual and vibrant setting. www.craveamerica.com

Your holiday guests will thank you for booking them into the new Element Hotel by Westin. The hotel’s environmentally-friendly design and amenities promote balance, stimulate the senses and soothe the spirit. (You might even want to book a night for yourself.) www.elementomaha.com

Get your holiday finest looking its finest at Fashion Cleaners. Voted Omaha’s best dry cleaner for five consecutive years, Fashion Cleaners is dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and superior, environmentally-friendly cleaning and finishing with meticulous attention to detail. www.fashioncleaners.com

Some clothing gifts are destined to be returned. Not if they’re from ROC. A shopping experience like none other, ROC carries a wide range of premium brand apparel and accessories for men, women and children. www.rocintheweb.com

31st Ave and Farnam Street | 402.934.8860 | www.midtowncrossing.com Guide.indd 16 - 221 , 2010 38Full Page GiftDEC.

| THE READER |

gift guide

12/6/10 11:43:38 AM

tvtalk

“Million Dollar Money Drop” (Mondays, 7 p.m., Fox). This game show hosted by Kevin Pollack distinguishes

itself from the pack by handing contestants a million dollars at the outset. They don’t have to win the money; they have to keep from losing it by answering multiple-choice questions. Since most Americans have seen their own piles of money disappear in the recession, “Million Dollar Money Drop” can’t help but touch a nerve. Is there any way for President Obama and Congress to prevent the contestants from losing their money?

— Dean Robbins

e d i t e d

An outsider’s trip to Narnia

by Justin Senkbile

I

ship, “The Dawn Treader.” Onboard are Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund Pevensie (Skandar Keynes), their grumbling cousin Eustace (Will Poulter), King Caspian (Ben Barnes) and the noble little mouse Reepicheep (voiced by Simon Pegg), among others.

This is episodic, high-seas adventure in the most classic sense. While searching for the seven

’ve never read the books myself, but people seem to love C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia like I love a wacky, wonderful Tom Cruise perfor- the chronicles of narnia: the Voyage of the Dawn Treader mance: unconditionally. Narnia is, much like Star Wars, the sort of thing people grow up with, which makes it sort of untouchable. So, for an outsider like me to dribble off my two cents on the latest film installment seems, if not unfair, at least poised to provide a lessthan-complete picture of the movie’s potential full effect.

Of Lewis’ seven Narnia novels, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is adapted from the third, which follows a group of adventurers as they voyage across Narnia’s treacherous Eastern Ocean. For the uninitiated, there’s enough exposition to intuit some plot and character information, but I’d imagine Narnia fans could only be pleased with how quickly this picture gets moving.

Before you know it, we’ve traveled from WWII-era Oxford, England to the deck of a Narnian

Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater 14th & Mike Fahey Street (formerly Webster Street) More info & showtimes 402.933.0259 · filmstreams.org Facebook & Twitter: /filmstreams

lost Lords of Narnia, the crew visits many small islands and encounters various dangers. Ultimately, they battle a giant sea serpent in order to expel a mysterious green mist that has the power to make people vanish. They also want to summon the ghost of Tilda Swinton (who reprises her role as The White Witch).

Though it is fun, I felt a bit like the priggish Eustace at times, exasperated by all the gung-ho heroics and weirded out by the talking animals. No matter what Lewis wrote in 1952, this movie feels distinctly Disney-fied (although this one wasn’t actually distributed by Disney).

And it certainly lacks the majestic sense of importance that emanated from Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings adaptations, another fantasy series that I wasn’t familiar with and didn’t see in the proper sequence.

I left the film with the same vague urge to read Lewis’ books and the same vague disinterest in the previous two films that I’ve always had. But as an adventure film and a holiday-season family attraction, The Dawn Treader is exciting enough. And it looks pretty good in 3D, too. ,

GRADE: C-

New This Week Black Swan First-Run (R) Directed by Darren Aronofsky Starts Friday, December 17 - only at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater!

Golden Globe Nominee: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Natalie Portman), Best Supporting Actress (Mila Kunis) “Visceral and real even while it’s one delirious, phantasmagoric freakout.”

—Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

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n STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING! Unless you’re reading this in the bathroom. Then, you know, finish … but hurry. Why? Because Thursday, Dec. 16, is the last day in the Kickstarter Campaign for director Dan Mirvish’s Between Us, a dark comedy based on an Off-Broadway play. The film is scheduled to be partially shot in Omaha.

Mirvish directed Omaha (the movie), so it’s only right we return his continued love with some financial “Why-thank-you”s.

That’s right, the film needs our donations to move from “good idea” to “Hey, that movie rocked.” Head to bit.ly/bSQc9j, where you can find out a boatload of information about the flick and where you can donate money to help it happen. For even more information on the whole shootin’ match, check out filmthreat.com/features/28294 for a great interview. There’s no time to waste, so get to clickin’ and donatin’. And just think, you’ll be doing more to help movies get made in Nebraska than any legislative body in the state ever has! n Three cheers, or more like 25,000 cheers, for Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater (filmstreams.org)! The National Endowment of the Arts just announced the theater will receive $25,000 in grants to continue their exhibition of repertory film and special programs. Not only is the grant a proud feather in the cap of the non-profit movie house, it will help ensure that important events, such as the LGBT-themed “Out in Film” series and the exploration of Latino, Latin American and Spanish cinema “Cinemateca II” series, continue to enlighten and expand our community discussions. Way to get your grant on, guys.

— Ryan Syrek

cuttingroom

High-Seas Drifters

film

Cutting Room provides breaking local and national movie news … complete with added sarcasm. Send any relevant information to film@thereader.com. Check out Ryan on the radio on CD 105.9 (Fridays at around 7:30 a.m.), on his blog at thereader.com/film/ C19 and on Twitter (twitter.com/thereaderfilm).

Last Chance Vision - From the Life of Hildegard von Bingen First-Run Directed by Margarethe von Trotta Starts Friday, December 17

“A gorgeously filmed, surprisingly tough-minded portrait of the 12thcentury Benedictine nun, scholar, mystic, and composer.” —Village Voice

Carlos

First-Run (NR) Directed by Olivier Assayas Ends Thursday, December 16

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest First-Run (R) Directed by Daniel Alfredson Ends Thursday, December 16

Great Directors: Chaplin

Monsieur Verdoux 1947

Ends Thursday, December 16

Info & advance tickets at filmstreams.org.

film

| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

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Too-Weak Vacation: The Tourist takes a trip, falls

by Ryan Syrek

A

s thrilling as a slow-speed boat ride and as death-defying as a jump from a first-floor balcony, The Tourist needs you to find Angelina Jolie the most sex-tastic collection of pronounced collar bone and countable vertebrae in order to hold your attention.

For those who don’t think exposed wrist sinew and “size: skeleton” dresses are the height of attraction, here’s hoping you like a bored-looking the tourist Johnny Depp wearing patchy, pubic facial hair.

No? Then move along, people, there’s nothing to see here.

Screenwriters Christopher McQuarrie and Julian Fellowes, along with writer/director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, confuse cleverness for smug simplicity from the first grating seconds of The Tourist. Elise Clifton-Ward (Jolie) is in Paris waiting for a letter from estranged lover and international fugitive Alexander Pierce, who is on the lam for stealing $2 billion from a British gangster (Steven Berkoff ), who surrounds himself with Russian cronies because the writers thought that would be funny. Despite living in an age where nearly every object in the world takes pictures, nobody but Elise knows what Alexander looks like; thus, Elise is given a letter that tells her to board a train bound for Italy and to convince the agents following her that some random stranger is Alexander.

The random stranger is Frank Tupelo (Depp), a raging idiot. Socially unskilled and mostly repulsive, Frank finds himself chased by mobsters

reportcard 127 Hours ABoyle’s film is so good, it deserves more than the sound of one hand clapping.

Cyrus (on DVD) AYou’d have oedipal hangups too if your mom was Marisa Tomei.

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and the determined inspector John Acheson, who is played by Paul Bettany. Bettany has the most authentic performance in the film, in that he seems really pissed to be in it. What follows is a series of chase sequences boring enough to swap for sheep counting, culminating in one of the most dishonest, unearned “twist” endings in recent memory.

With Depp phoning it in and Jolie giving another consistently wooden, wretchedly haughty performance, the short running time becomes a test of endurance. Considering that von Donnersmarck, McQuarrie and Fellowes are each Oscar winners for different films, this is proof

that combining good things doesn’t necessarily produce another good thing; yeah, The Tourist is like bratwurst cheesecake.

The Tourist should have been a throwback, a free-spirited romp invoking the heyday of Carey Grant or Audrey Hepburn. But when your Grant stand-in would rather be sleeping one off and your Hepburn substitute is a glorified lip gloss model, you’re left thinking “Well, at least Venice is pretty.” The Tourist isn’t the year’s worst film, but it may be the best Ambien substitute. ,

GRADE: D Exit Through the Gift Shop (on DVD) AThought-provoking filmmaking that you can take to the Banksy.

READER RECOMMENDS

The Disappearance of Alice Creed Too good to disappear, this intense indie deserves more than poof and vanish!

m o r e

A

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest D Kicking out quick adaptations is like kicking a hornet’s nest; eventually, you get stung.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 BLet’s not say the magic is fading, let’s say it is time for the final abracadabra.

Love and Other Drugs Even in animated form, Will Ferrell walks the line of

B-

2234 South 13th Street Omaha, NE 68108 346 - 9802 www.sokolundground.com

sun 12/18/2010

mon 12/20/2010

mon 12/27/2010

Tues 12/28/10

wed 12/29/10

Thrs 12/30/2010

*12'(146*'(#..'0 9 -#-#416 5'05'.'55 $'#76; '05.#8'& 5#0+6; #0& 8'4'0&75 *16 (41/ (#4 9 #4+..'4; (70- 5*1'&1) #0& 56#0&$;' #(610 .+8' #46+..'4; (70- 9 8+$'0*#+ +..7/+0#6+ #0& $140 *756.# 4'%14&5 /1 %#+175 9 /% )4+0)1 )#.8#0+<'& 6410 6*' /142*''0&< 6*' 1 0 ' 25;%* $ .#% 56#0&$;' #0& .#-' 57.% 4+&'45 1( 6*' #212%#.;25' 9 5744'#. 6*' /% #0'74;5/ .#$'. /' 4'& #0& # %*1-+0) /'.1&;

AdvAnce TickeTs noT AvAilAble AT venue | THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

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Femi-Nun Side: Vision focuses on lesser-known church history

by Ben Coffman

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reating a film about a medieval nun (especially one without the words “naughty,” “nasty” or “naked” preceding it) is likely a form of cinematic suicide. The 18-25 male demographic would much rather watch one of Angelina Jolie’s gun-toting incarnations — preferably the one that wears hot pants.

German writer/director Margarethe von Trotta has never cared vision much about the aforementioned demographic. Instead, her film Vision, a biopic about 12th century femi-nun Hildegard von Bingen, feels like a labor of love. Sure, the movie is flawed — it’s dry (after all, nuns aren’t known as a funloving bunch), and the dialog is a little stilted.

But her story about an important 1000-yearold writer, philosopher and female voice is beautifully rendered and well acted, not to mention historically significant.

The movie begins with little Hildegard von Bingen being given to the church like so much tuna casserole at a Lutheran potluck. Jutta (Lena Stolze) takes her in, introducing her to her other “daughter” Jutta, who is Hildegard’s age.

The wise matronly nun spends the following years teaching her charges by day and flagellating herself to an early grave by night. It’s a brutal, stark existence, and Jutta’s teachings of love amid this backdrop are a strange juxtaposition.

Years later, Jutta dies, and Hildegard (now played by Barbara Sukowa, a longtime fixture in German theater) replaces her as magistra, or head nun. Soon after, Hildegard reveals that she’s been having visions of a living light, a controver-

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sial revelation that sends ripples through the male-dominated Catholic church.

Von Trotta isn’t concerned with explaining her visions, whether they’re produced by moldy rye bread, her consumption of wormwood wine or old-fashioned hysteria. Instead, the crux of the film’s tension comes from Hildegard’s political dealings with her male counterparts and her interpersonal relationships, including a young nun named Richardis (Hannah Herzsprung). It’s these less historically important moments (the nature of Hildegard and Richardis’s relationship, the envy or scorn of the other nuns within the cloister) when Von Trotta shines.

The film’s external point of view (and vows of silence), effectively keeps the audience out

of the main character’s thoughts. Sukowa plays Hildegard with a curious dichotomy — for most of the film she strides about with an understated assurance, the result of her being chosen by God. But she occasionally pitches a hissy fit, melodramatically prostrating herself on cold stone floors.

Despite its “Masterpiece Theater” feel, Vision is a portrait of an emotionally stunted genius and the oppressive conditions that produced her. ,

GRADE: B-

thejump

n I’ll be in the minority here, but I’m going to miss the Big 12. That wasn’t the fashionable side of the argument over the summer and it’s definitely not now. For most people the shadier aspects of this season — Eric Martin’s suspension, the penalty clubbing the Huskers took at A&M, the trophy snub from the league offices — only reinforced the sagacity of the move.

And I agree. Going to the Big 10 is a great move for the University of Nebraska as a whole. But away from the football field it’s going to sting more than most people think.

Nebraska was and always will be more Dust Bowl than Rust Belt, more Great Plains than Great Lakes. That culture shift will be obscured for a few years with all the exciting new trips to Madison, Iowa City, Chicago and Columbus but eventually we’ll start to see it.

Nebraska used to use the state slogan “Where the West begins.” In the Big 10 we’ll be where it ends. It doesn’t feel like we’ll miss Kansas and Missouri, particularly after the acrimonious end to the Huskers’ run in the Big 12, but we will. Nebraska never had a great rivalry with anyone outside of Oklahoma, but the potential was always there.

Why? Because these states were like us.

That won’t always be the case next year and no matter which way you spin it — we’re getting away from the

omnipresence of Texas, we’re leaving a conference that could be gone in five years, we’re getting more money — that’s a loss.

It looks like Nebraska is out in front of the changing landscape of college football. That’s a good spot to be but that doesn’t mean it will be easy. n On a less reflective note, the Sidetrack Band might be the single best thing about being a Husker fan. I saw the band — now going on 40 years of supporting Husker football with raunchy, pigskin textured covers of country and rock classics — play to a packed house twice while in Dallas for the Big 12 Championship game. It may have been the best part of the weekend.

Here’s all you need to know about Joyce and Paul. They played a Big 12 break-up anthem to the tune of Hank Williams III’s druggie ode “Pills I Took.” How’s that for range and creativity?

— Brandon Vogel

The Jump takes you behind the local headlines. Email jump@thereader.com and look for daily updates at twitter.com/brandonlvogel.

FRIDAY 12/31 vs. BALTIMORE BLAST 2:05PM SUNDAY 1/23 vs. KANSAS CITY COMETS 3:05PM *NOTE: Mexican Nat’l Indoor Team game on 12/12 rescheduled for FEB. ALL HOME GAMES PLAYED AT THE OMAHA CIVIC AUDITORIUM 20TH & CAPITOL

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Creighton vs. Western Illinois

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Creighton vs. North Dakota

u Wednesday, Dec. 22 @ 8:05 p.m.

Creighton vs. Samford

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Creighton vs. Kansas* *Game played at Qwest Center

Men’s basketball home games played at Qwest Center Omaha (10th & Cass St.) Women’s basketball home games played at the Ryan Athletic Center/D.J. Sokol Arena (19th & Webster St.)

Tickets: 280-JAYS

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| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

43

newsoftheweird

t h e w o r l d g o n e f r e a k y b y c h u c k s h e p h e r d w i t h i l l u s t r at i o n s b y to m b r i s c o e

Risky Business

B

ritain’s National Health Service acknowledged in November that, because of a shortage of healthy lungs and other organs available for transplant, it was offering those on waiting lists the option of receiving them from former smokers, drug addicts, cancer patients and the elderly. “You have to say,” said an official with the NHS’s Blood and Transplant unit, “do you get a lung with more risk, or do you get no lung (at all)?”

Compelling Explanations

French farmer Michele Rouyer, who was discovered by police with about 11 pounds of packaged marijuana and a dozen plants, said the weed was not for himself but for the 150 ducks he raises — in that a specialist suggested marijuana is an effective dewormer and fever-preventer. Rouyer did acknowledge that, well, yes, maybe he smoked a little of it himself. In November, a court in Rochefort fined him the equivalent of about $700 — even though he insisted, proudly, that his ducks are, indeed, worm-free.

Human Rights Watch

In November, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that some illegal immigrants are entitled to enroll in the state’s universities at the in-state residents’ rate (saving as much as $23,000 a year) even though U.S. citizens at the same schools may have to pay higher fees as non-California residents.

Though federal law prevents special benefits to illegal immigrants, California’s law grants anyone who has attended the state’s high schools for at least three years, and graduated, to pay resident rates, irrespective of their parents’ legal residency.

— Chadwick St.-OHarra, 59, and Steve Righetti, 59, filed lawsuits in small claims court in San Rafael, Calif., in November against the Seafood Peddler restaurant for “injuries.” Cutting into the escargot at dinner in June, both men were squirted in the face by streams of hot garlic butter.

Still, the men finished the meal and admitted that only later did they grow to resent the restaurant staff ’s insufficient remorse. Said St.-OHarra, “It was the friggin’ rudeness” that provoked them to sue.

Redneck Chronicles

(1) Joe Druce, serving life in prison in Massachusetts for one murder (and who subsequently murdered fellow inmate and former pedophile priest John Geoghan), popped the question recently to Christian minister Shirl Borden, who agreed to marry him in October after five years of being pen pals. Borden said the pair’s relationship turned romantic over their mutual love of NASCAR. (2) Harvey Westmoreland of Lawrenceburg, Ky., maintains that the $250 price he was asking for his tractor was reasonable, but the potential buyer felt cheated and, with a friend, attacked Westmoreland. Said Westmoreland, “They cut my

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| THE READER |

weird news

COPYRIGHT 2010 CHUCK SHEPHERD. Visit Chuck Shepherd daily at NewsoftheWeird.blogspot.com or NewsoftheWeird.com. Send Weird News to WeirdNewsTips@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 18737, Tampa, FL 33679.

Illustrations by Tom Briscoe (smallworldcomics.com).

beard and forced me to eat it.” In November, the two men pleaded guilty to assault.

The Pervo-American Community

A Website for Everything: When a female New York City subway rider recorded video (on her cell phone) of a male exhibitionist flaunting himself at her recently, and posted it to the Internet, the regulars at one specialized website largely defended the man. Some visitors at DickFlash.com (evidently a favorite hangout for flashers) tore into the woman for being too sensitive. (Wrote one, “If she doesn’t want to see it, she can just look away.” And another: “She should be thankful he flashed his dick at her.”) Others merely offered advice for the flasher on technique. Wrote another, “OK, lets (sic) point out his mistakes: Subways or local buses must be done with sweats or some form of elastic band so that when u did (sic) get busted it’s easy to slip back up.”

Least Competent People

(1) Police in Gumperda, Germany, arrested a 64-year-old retired do-it-yourselfer in November after he drilled through a neighbor’s wall in their duplex home. The man spent two days trapped in his own basement, where he laid bricks and mortar for a room but apparently forgot to leave himself an exit. (2) Sheryl Urzedowski, 38, was cited in September for DUI in Orland Park, Ill., after failing a field sobriety test to walk a straight line. According to the officer’s report, Urzedowski put her hands on her hips and strutted to and fro “as if she were a (runway) model,” after which, apprehensive about being arrested, she asked the officer to read her “the Amanda rights.”

Ironies Jamie Riley, 27, was arrested in November for endangering her 3-month-old son by holding him “like a football,” according to police, who had spotted Riley carrying on raucously while “celebrating” her recent “victory” over the state’s Department of Children and Family Services, which had been investigating her for neglect.

— Wrong Place, Wrong Time: In September, a tractor-trailer crashed on Interstate 70 near Terre Haute, Ind., and precipitated a traffic jam when the cargo caught fire. The truck was hauling a load of fire extinguishers.

And in October in Macomb Township, Mich., a 22-year-old man was killed when he accidentally ran into the path of a passing hearse.

The MET Opera Returns Dec. 18

Chicago Symphony Orchestra • Mondays 8 PM Live at the Concertgebouw • Tuesdays 8 PM Modern Classics • Fridays 6pm Midnight Special • Fridays Midnight Metropolitan Opera • Saturdays Noon Classical Guitar Alive • Sundays 10 AM Composer Spotlight • Sundays 11 AM Going Beyond Words • Sundays Noon From The Top • Sundays 5 PM New York Philharmonic • Sundays 6 PM

WWW.KVNO.ORG

A News of the Weird Classic (May 2007)

Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre made News of the Weird in 2004 and 2007 because of continued petty territorial fighting among the six Christian denominations that share management of the church, which is home to some of Christianity’s holiest sites, including that of Jesus’ resurrection. As Easter approached in 2007, three of the groups that control one 10stall rest room could not agree how to divide responsibility for repairing it, leading to inaction and a pervasive stench in the building.

Furthermore, the path of the outflow sewage pipe (which needed enlarging) passes under property of a fourth denomination, which has resisted helping with the problem unless it is granted exclusive control of one of the 10 stalls. ,

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weird news

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| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

45

planetpower w ee k l y

T

h oroscopes

his be the last week of Sagittarius the Archer, and the end of Fall for us all. Sagittarius is the ninth sign, ruling travel, philosophy, gambling, the wild life, generosity, feasting, fun, luck, the joys of running and athletics, the thighs, higher education, publishing, the musical key of A flat and compositions.

Before Sagittarius is over I’d like to invite you to check out some of my Astromusical compositions this Saturday (Inshallah), from my soon-to-be-released CD (one sign at a time), The ZODIAC, via my website. I hope to play a few tunes from it at the Jazzwholes reunion at Slowdown this Saturday, Dec. 18. We’ll see, hopefully?

Remember Mercury is retrograde until Dec. 30, and will conjunct the Full Moon lunar eclipse Solstice next Tuesday, Dec. 21. Wham! Bam! Thank you, Ma’am!

Time to talk/be crazy! See you there?

— MojoPoPlanetPower.com i SAGITTARIUS (11.23-12.21) Uhoh? Something you thought was over feels back, outta whack and not quite back on track — especially for those born this week. Careful how and what you speak. Here comes a backwards Mercury until the virtual New Year’s social peak. Be on a right brain vacation, for the rest of your world will seem to have no actual destination. Please try to relate succinctly, check the facts and figures twice, remember to forgive, keep your sense of humor, take care of at least one old debt and remember to forget. Ahhh, what was I talkin’ ’bout? Method, man … method. j CAPRICORN (12.22-1.20) One more week until it’ll seem it’s your turn to speak. Let’s take a premature peek? First the lunar eclipse has you howling at the Full Moon Tuesday, Dec. 21, at 2:22 a.m. on the Sagittarius/Capricorn cusp conjuncting a retrograding Mercury. Then the Moon enters your opposite sign of Cancer opposing Pluto, and later the Sun enters Capricorn at Sunset and you are born once again. Gear up for your official release Jan. 3-4, on the Capricorn New Moon Solar eclipse, when Jupiter is also conjunct the planet Uranus in late Pisces. Expect an unexpected visit from a relative and gue$$ what? It’$ time to grin. They’ve got the money they’ve owed since who-knows-when! Take care of any loose ends, until then. k AQUARIUS (1.21-2.19) Finish up your last six years dream/journey/quest by March. Until then, don’t let anybody know. Well then, how does the MOJO? You are the Unexpected. Keep it like that. i PISCES (2.20-3.20) Two more weeks of love, luck and the easy life. What did you learn from this last year of Jupiter, the planet of luck and expansion, transiting your sign? Use it after Jan. 1, and you can turn it into money over this coming 2011 transit of Jupiter through your theoretical 2nd House. Good luck! a ARIES (3.21-4.20) Who’s gonna pay for all this? You? Yeah, you, that’s who. Big surprise? ’Tis the season of surprises. More to follow. Mars is ex-

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dec. 16 - 22, 2010

| THE READER |

mojo

b y

mo j opo

alted transiting Capricorn until mid January. Your focus will be primarily economic. Someone’s got to pay for it all? Gather now so you can distribute then as you say goodbye to 2010. Read your year ahead in the Jan. 6 issue of The Reader, and elaborated soon at MOJOPOPlanetPower.com b TAURUS (4.21-5.20) First take a look at yourself from across the pond of the Universe. What effect are you having? What do you look like to others — sisters. brothers and especially lovers? What kind of roommate are you? Who do you love, if not yourself first?

Keep gathering such information until the second week in 2011, as a new philosophy is due to be born and Venus will enter op-ti-mystique Sagittarius. Until then love, partnership, sexuality and Scorpio will show you a vision of yourself. Look and learn. Write a book about it? The truth is the best foundation for all that is to follow? Take a loooong looook. c GEMINI (5.21-6.21) You are the problem! It’s ALL your fault! Sound familiar? It’s hard being the scapegoat but it’s your turn in the barrel, Matey?

But, ’tis the season? You could hide and minimize the damage? I knew that wouldn’t work. You also NEVER LISTEN! Sound familiar? Hey, it’s no use! Just lay way back and play one of Santa’s mischievous little elves. Have fun, pick up the pieces in 2011 and you’ll have a Happy New Year! d CANCER (6.22-7.22) The next two Full Moons are in your sign! The first is next Tuesday, Dec. 21, on the cusp with Gemini — time to think about it? Take next Tuesday off. Astrologer’s orders.

The next is Jan. 19. You’re in the middle. It’s your half birthday for a month. You shall be reborn after the Dec. 21 Full Moon regenerates (opposite Pluto) your energies (Mars opposition) for this lifetime (North Node opposition) with a view of past incarnations (Moon conjunct the South Node)? Should be crazy?

Try for crazy cooool. e LEO (7.23-8.22) Build your fire this last week of Sagittarius. Enjoy your children, your family and any source of your creativity. Make your economic move in two weeks. f VIRGO (8.23-9.22) Please read Gemini. Your confusion shows up at your house. Merry Christmas! g LIBRA (9.23-10.22) Take a look at yourself from your economic standing and point of view. Where do you place your highe$t value$? It’$ not ju$t money?

How much will you pay for what? How far will you go?

Who will you run over — to get over? Moral issues are the real key, that and how much you get by how pretty you can be. How does the MOJO know? h SCORPIO (10.23-11.22) So you thought/think you were/are in love? Maybe it’s actually your true self-seeking release? Maybe you’ve got to learn to love yourself before you can honestly accept another’s love.

Maybe you are in love with love? Maybe you are love?

What’s higher than love? ,

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dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

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UĂ&#x160; iViÂ&#x201C;LiĂ&#x20AC;Ă&#x160;ÂŁĂ&#x2C6;]Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;ä£äĂ&#x160;U 4HE NEXT FEW YEARS WILL SEE A SHIFT IN #HRISTMAS TRADITIONS /UR CUR RENT TRADITION 6ICTORIAN IN STYLE WILL BE REPLACED BY SEASONAL TRADITIONS THAT APPEAR DRAWN FROM 4HE 'REAT $EPRES SION #AROLERS WILL NO LONGER BED DRESSED IN RED SACK SUITS OR BUSTLES BUT INSTEAD

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Visual Arts Nominees

Best Emerging Artist

Best 3-D Artist

H Rebecca Herskovitz The Things I Cannot H Claudia Alvarez Corn Eaters RNG Gallery Say bemisUNDERGROUND H Mary Day Scaffolding Fred Simon Gallery H Josh Powell Mountain of Sex RNG Gallery H Leslie Iwai Holding My Horses and Destroy Rebuild Repeat Found Spaces Florence Mill Art Loft H Tana Quincy SODZO bemisUNDERGROUND H Renee Ledesma The Color H Dana Rose American ByProduct RNG Gallery That it Paints Me Pulp H Adrianne Watson The Tales She Would H Matthew Schrader Fire and Water Tell bemisUNDERGROUND Anderson O’Brien Fine Art H Therman Statom New Work RNG Gallery

Best 2-D Artist

Best New Media Artist

H Claudia Alvarez Corn Eaters RNG Gallery H Robert Gilmer ‘Till Death Do Us Part/A H Jamie Burmeister Book About Death RNG Gallery Cli•mac•ter•ic PUSH Gallery H Josh Powell Mountain of Sex RNG Gallery H Tim Guthrie Flow Metro Community Coland Destroy Rebuild Repeat Found Space lege Gallery and Cli•mac•ter•ic PUSH Gallery H Kim Reid-Kuhn Mute RNG Gallery H Leslie Iwai Holding My Horses H Bart Vargas SUPERNOVA Florence Mill Art Loft Anderson O’Brien Fine Art H Alex Myers Of Youth and Dreams in The H Watie White Slippery Humanist Values Evening of Life bemisUNDERGROUND Jackson Artworks H Therman Statom New Work RNG Gallery

Best Visual Artist

Best Group Show H Labor/Labour Hot Shops Gallery H Omaha Print Guild Last Exhibition Hot Shops Gallery H Out of the Woods Hot Shops Gallery H Panoptic Creighton University Lied Education Center for the Arts H Women Who Weld Bancroft Street Market

Best Solo Show

H Mary Day H Larry Ferguson H Leslie Iwai H Josh Powell H Therman Statom H Bart Vargas

Correction:

In last week’s announcement of Performing H Claudia Alvarez Corn Eaters RNG Gallery Arts Awards nominees, John Gibilisco was H Mary Day Scaffolding Fred Simon Gallery incorrectly credited with Best Sound Design H Renee Ledesma The Color That it for the Omaha Community Playhouse’s All Paints Me Pulp Shook Up. Tim Burkhart was the sound H Michael Scheef Great Jewish Athletes designer for that production and is the Jewish Community Center Gallery nominee in that category. The OEAA extends H Therman Statom New Work RNG Gallery its sincerest apologies for the error.

H Bart Vargas SUPERNOVA Anderson O’Brien Fine Art H Watie White Slippery Humanist Values Jackson Artworks

| THE READER |

dec. 16 - 22 , 2010

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