MID-CONTINENT PROPERTIES, INC. Design Marketing Assistant. Contact jpost@mid-continentproperties.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information. BENAISSANCE. Administrative Assistant. Contact cara. seaman@benaissance.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information. TOP CONTRACTOR. Marketing/Sales Officer. Contact topcontractor1@gmail.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.
PIER 1 IMPORTS. Part-time Sales Associate. Contact agdeckert@pier1.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.
HA ADVANTAGE. Inside Sales Executive. Contact abeltran@ halogistics.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.
SECURITAS SECURITY SERVICES, INC. Energy Services Security Officer. Contact Shannon.gernandt@ securitasinc.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.
CONVERGYS. Sales and Service Agents. Go to OmahaJobs.com for info.
PHONE FIX USA. Oak View Kiosk. Contact pfixus@gmail. com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.
CONVERGYS. Customer Care Associates. Go to OmahaJobs. com for more info. CRETE CARRIER CORPORATION. Diesel Mechanic. Contact ecoker@cretecarrier.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.
VERIZON WIRELESS. Sales Representative. Omaha/Council Bluffs. Contact michelle.thurnau@vzw.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information. CRETE CARRIER CORPORATION. Shift Foreman. Contact ecoker@cretecarrier. com. Go to OmahaJobs. com for more information. VON MAUR. Full time Cosmetic Associate. Apply online at www.vonmaurcareers.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.
Project Estimator
Salary, Benefits, Commission and Bonus opportunities.
MARIANNA INDUSTRIES. Production jobs 1st,2nd,3rd shifts. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information. KINGHORN GARDENS. Gardener. Contact dan@kinghorngardens. com. Go to OmahaJobs. com for more info. MUSICPAGE.COM. Artist Relations Representative. Contact dcodr@musicpage.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com. USA PARKING SYSTEM. Valet Parking Attendants. Contact jmeyer@usaparkingsystem. com. Go to OmahaJobs. com for information.
HY-VEE. Many open positions. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information. HELP WANTED! Make extra money in our free ever popular homemailer program, includes valuable guidebook! Start immediately! Genuine! 1-888-292-1120 www.easywork-fromhome.com (AAN CAN) $$$HELP WANTED$$$ Extra Income! Assembling CD cases from Home! No Experience Necessary! Call our Live Operators Now! 1-800405-7619 EXT 2450 http://www.easyworkgreatpay.com (AAN CAN)
AIRLINE CAREERS begin here – Get trained as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Housing and Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 877-492-3059 (AAN CAN) HELP WANTED!!! Make $1000 a week mailing brochures from home! FREE Supplies! Helping Home-Workers since 2001! Genuine Opportunity! No experience required. Start Immediately! www. mailing-usa.com (VOID IN SD) (MCN)
PAID IN ADVANCE! Make $1000 a week mailing brochures from home! Genuine Opportunity! No experience required. Start Immediately! www.mailingcountry.com (VOID IN SD) (MCN) PIER 1 IMPORTS. Part-time Sales Associate. Contact agdeckert@pier1.com. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information. CONVERGYS. Customer Care Associates. Go to OmahaJobs. com for more inf0.
OWN IT OMAHA! A Business Roadshow for Women Entrepreneurs & Business Owners University of Nebraska Omaha at Mammel Hall 6708 Pine Street September 27, 2013 8 AM—6 PM www.ownitventures.com
Join Us & Grab the Keys of Business Success This could lead to a management opportunity. Work in the Fire & Water Restoration industry. Duties are varied and will include site visits to evaluate damage, estimate the cost of repairs and oversee the repair process. Costing and time management are crucial elements of the process. To qualify you must enjoy working with people and solving problems. Qualified candidates will have good math and communication skills. Candidates must have a good driving record and pass an MVR and background check. Educational requirements include having a BS in Sales, Marketing or in a relevant field.
Investors, Media & Retailers- Talk Funding, Distribution & Buzz Certification & Procurement Contracts Is Your Business Fundable? Morning Breakout Sessions Dr. Joel Bessmer, The Heartland’s Dr. Oz
Presented by Melissa Gasnick President, Own It Ventures UNO Alumn
Details & Tickets (908)399-6192 http://goo.gl/OHGZ5B info@ownitventures.com
Sponsored by: Lutz Accounting Firm, Koley Jessen Law Firm, Bartholomew Gasnick Investment Group, Spirit World, The Reader, Univ. of Nebraska Omaha– College of Business, UNeMC
2
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2 , 2013
| THE READER |
omaha jobs
topnews
Keeping Girls Strong
Girls, Inc. Expands and Renovates
STORY AND PHOTO BY CHERIL LEE
“T
his project has been on our radar for the past seven or eight years. We knew we needed a gym and once you start thinking about building a structure like that, then you start thinking about what else you should build up,” said Roberta Wilhelm, Executive Director for Girls, Inc. of Omaha. The plans for Girls, Inc.’s upcoming expansion and renovation actually began with a drawing on a napkin. Wilhelm said once Girls, Inc. talked to the architect about what they wanted, he started sketching some realistic possibilities for what the building might look like and how the land might be used. “The plans have morphed over time as we have really looked at our needs,” she said. Girls, Inc. will add a full gym with bleachers, a locker room, a fitness center and an exercise room onto the existing building. Other additions will include two teen rooms, a media room for girls to make videos or PSAs and a clinic space. The girls were consulted when the organization was drafting their plans. “The teen girls let us know they didn’t like being in same building as the 5-year olds. I think that’s understandable that they don’t want to be in the same space with what they consider to be ‘babies.’ We have 16, 17 and 18-year old girls and they should have their own space,” she said. And conversely, she explained that parents of the 5-year olds don’t necessarily want their daughters hanging out with the teens either. Wilhelm called it a “win-win” for all involved. Health professionals from the community will partner with Girls, Inc. in its new clinic space. At this point, Wilhelm said they are still talking to potential partners to decide who will be the best in terms of delivering the services the girls need. “We are thinking the clinic will be a place where the girls and neighbors of Girls, Inc. can get kindergarten shots and sports physicals as well as be tested for STDs. This will also help us assist the girls who age out of the foster care system to find a medical home as they get older,” explained Wilhelm The current building will also undergo some changes. Right now, the Girls, Inc. gym doubles as a cafeteria. With the addition of the new fitness center,
the space will be turned into an education kitchen. Girls will learn about healthy eating as well as being able to exercise. She said the girls cannot really play basketball or do any large motor skill activities when they are setting up for dinner every night “We are also going to have a rooftop garden and will be to grow healthy foods,” Wilhelm said. She said Girls, Inc. is looking at the renovation and addition as a sort of health and wellness initiative that is needed for girls to be strong, smart and bold. Wilhelm explained the strong part means being healthy in mind and body. And because some of the girls have expressed a strong interest in running, Wilhelm said they are considering adding an elevated track to the fitness center. The new exercise areas will allow girls to keep fit even when it’s too cold outside to get on the field or play in the playground. According to Wilhelm, that space is needed for the girls to be physically active in a safe environment. “So there is a component with yoga that’s meditation and reflection and there’s walking and running. There will be dances where we will bring in other teens from the community to participate with our girls,” said Wilhelm. The concept for the renovation and expansion has grown and been refined over time and the fundraising has gone the same way. Wilhelm explained that as the plans developed over the last several years with major donors, Girls, Inc. has kept them abreast of the organization’s plans, thoughts and dreams. Girls, Inc. stayed in touch with major donors about ongoing operations and programs they have with the girls. They talked about the day-to-day challenges as well as the successes. The foundations and corporations that have contributed to the renovation and expansion so far are corporations and organizations that know and love Girls, Inc. To date, Girls, Inc. has raised a little over $13.5 million. The goal for the project is $15 million. “Health and wellness is one piece of a holistic approach with the girls. Education, literacy and STEM are all important subjects we cover with the girls. We also help them with career preparation as well as pair girls with mentors. And we help girls navigate the financial system. All these programs should be available to the girls so they can become healthy, educated and independent women; able to be contributing members of our community,” said Wilhelm. ,
VISIONS FROM FIVE MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE • SEPTEMBER 26, 2013 • The next development in textiles will, essentially, be live plants. Clothes will be made out of fabrics that incorporate living plants cells capable of photosynthesis and laces with small batteries. As a result, every time the fabric is exposed to light, it will
generate and store electricity. This electricity can then be used to charge smart phones and other portable electronics. We will never need to worry about dead batteries in our cell phones again -- instead, we can rely on natures oldest energy source.
Sept. 28 / 10:30 a.m. / FREE Dundee Day Parade with Tom Kerr Sept. 28 / 10 a.m. / $35 Brunch Cooking with Garren Gammon Oct. 5 / 10 a.m. / $35 Aerosol Painting with Gerard Pefung Oct. 5 / 2 p.m. / $10 Genealogy with Kathy Buhrman For more information: OmahaCreativeInstitute.org Rebecca@OmahaCreativeInstitute.org 785.218.3061
Information on the Girls, Inc. renovation and expansion is available at www.girlsincomaha.org.
news
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT.2, 2013
3
heartlandhealing N E W A G E H E A LT H A N D W E L L N E S S B Y M I C H A E L B R AU N S T E I N
Guaranteed to Turn Your Stomach
F
ood is the pathway to health. If what we eat is below par, that’s how we’ll feel. Health is more than simply the absence of disease. Health is the process of meeting the maximum potential of our existence. Eating real food is a major step to optimizing our physical performance and well-being. It’s embarrassing what the Standard American Diet (SAD) has morphed into and what the corporate food industry has foisted on the American public. Not without guilt is the Federal government and its food and drug related agencies like the USDA, FDA and complicit legislators. The government spends billions subsidizing the very food crops and industries that drive the food-related diseases of heart disease, cancer and diabetes, to name only the Big Three. Our lives are threatened by a food chain that is designed by national and international corporations that forge the links between food and disease just to maximize profit. Also culpable are we very Americans who fail to take the interest and initiative to become more skeptical, more self-reliant and more informed about our food supply. We reap what we sow: food that makes us sick. “Salt, Sugar, Fat”: Those three are not only mainstays of the Standard American Diet but the phrase is also the title of a 2013 best-selling book by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Michael Moss. Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us takes us inside the labs where food scientists use cutting-edge technology to calculate the “bliss point” of sugary beverages or enhance the “mouthfeel” of junk foods by using fat and manipulating its chemical structure. Moss describes marketing campaigns designed to redirect concerns about the health risks of food products: Dial back on one ingredient, pump up the other two, and tout the new line as “fat-free” or “low-salt.” It’s a technique perfected by tobacco companies. It’s no mere coincidence that processed food has become as deadly in its own way as cigarettes. Tobacco profits plummeted in the late ‘80s because the smoke and mirrors used by Big Tobacco could no longer hide the skeleton in closet. Undaunted, the creators of the Marlboro Man, “More Doctors Smoke Camels,” “light tar” and “low nicotine” ciggies found another way to profit from addiction. They bought food companies. Philip Morris Tobacco became the largest food corporation in the world. That’s right. The company that
made its mark dealing Marlboros, Virginia Slims, Parliaments, Benson & Hedges, L&M’s, Chesterfields and other coffin nails further fattened its coffers by selling the likes of Tang, Kool-Aid, Kraft Lunchables, Cool Whip, Miracle Whip, Lifesavers, Altoids, Toblerone, Raisin Bran, Shredded Wheat, DiGiorno’s Pizza, Miller Beer, Oscar Meyer wieners. The list goes on and on. You thought Kraft Food was big? Hell, Philip Morris bought Kraft Food. And many other food companies. Big food companies had already figured out how to hook Americans on junk food with a clever balance of salt, sugar and fat — all now known to be addictive. And they hooked Americans on a new drug: convenience. That drug is the worst of all. We have come to sacrifice quality in nearly every walk of life for the “C Word.” Think of it. Ever have a dropped call on a landline? No. But we’ll live with dropped calls and “No Service” for the convenience of having a cell phone in our pocket. Is there a chance in hell that an MP3 sounds anywhere near as good as a CD or, God forbid, vinyl? No. For those of you who have never heard music from anything but an MP3, let me assure you, compared to almost any other format, MP3s sound like crap. But we forgo quality for the convenience of carrying our entire music collection in our pocket. Same goes for food. Salt, sugar, fat and convenience have us eating crap that is killing us. The food companies know that but they keep inventing new ways to keep us hooked. Moss does an amazing job making the humdrum life of a food engineer read like a Bond novel. These whitecoated lab rats know exactly how to tweak a formula to take us to the bliss point while shaving the quality of ingredients to max out the bottom line. And they were doing it before Big Tobacco got involved. Big Tobacco just elevated the game. Moss’ book will open your eyes to real food and close your mouth to the industrial version. Read it. Thought you were vegetarian? Are you squeamish and don’t like fish bladders in your wine? Did you know it’s common (and has been for centuries) to clarify wine by adding a fish bladder to the cask? Of course, in the 21st century it’s a more sophisticated process but most wines contain fish bladder protein called isinglass. It’s used in beer, too. GMO ice cream: Worse, a gene from the blood of an arctic fish is added to low-fat ice cream to make it creamier. No lie. The gene is a sort of antifreeze for the pout fish. Yuck. Be well. ,
HEARTLAND HEALING is a New Age polemic describing alternatives to conventional methods of healing the body, mind and planet. It is provided as information and entertainment, certainly not medical advice. It is not an endorsement of any particular therapy, either by the writer or The Reader. Visit HeartlandHealing.com for more information.
4
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
| THE READER |
heartland healing
I
n the heart of Aksarben Village, just a short walk from Jones Bros. Cupcakes and Aksarben Cinema, is another village. Surrounded by the Scott Technology Center’s solid architecture and top-of-the-line security, a pack of entrepreneurs has been housed for nearly 90 days. These 13 men, who make up seven companies and represent five states and two continents, have come together for a shot at the American Dream. Holding his own bottle of the American Dream, Mark Hasebrook – founder of Dundee Venture Capital and arguably Omaha’s most successful startup entrepreneur – hopes his new project, Straight Shot, will give them just that. When Hasebrook first started out, he had a hard time finding people to invest in his startups. “It was hard to find people who wanted to write a check,” he said. “In the back of my mind I always said someday I want to be able to do that.” Earlier this year, Hasebrook launched Straight Shot, a 90-day program, often called an accelerator because of its fast-paced process that pairs e-commerce and web-based startups with investors and mentors. The program’s curriculum is built solely on mentorship – strategic mentors (successful CEOs and entrepreneurs), expert mentors (marketing and public relation gurus) and professional mentors (lawyers and accountants). Straight Shot has more than 200 mentors and includes big names such has Bill Fisher, partner at Treetop Ventures, Doug Wilwerding, CEO of Optimas Group and Bruce Hoberman, chairman of Proxibid. Startups meet with mentors at least 20 hours a week during the 90-day process. A series of workshops are also hosted each week, including “pitch sessions” where the entrepreneurs get to practice selling their idea to investors. Each month, Straight Shot features a monthly speaker at their mentor
dinners. Tracy Britt, financial assistant to the chairman at Berkshire Hathaway, headlined at the mentor dinner for the month of August. On Oct. 3, at the end of the 90-day accelerator, Straight Shot will fly in investors from all over the country for Demo Day – an event very similar to ABC’s Shark Tank with Mark Cuban. Demo Day, which will feature a cocktail party and mini-documentary of the 90-day journey, will give startups an opportunity to pitch to investors, media and community members. Four hundred people are expected to attend Demo Day at Aksarben Cinema. In the last ten years, hundreds of accelerator programs have surfaced throughout the United States and Europe. But for Omaha, Straight Shot is the first of its kind. “The idea is to bring companies to Omaha,” said Faith Larson, Straight Shot program director. “We want to have 100 companies in 10 years. Offering only one program a year, Straight Shot kicked off the city’s first accelerator in July. After evaluating nearly 400 startups, seven were chosen – HuntForce, Cosmic Cart, CardioSys, Cympel, Crateful, Business Exchange and BuyNow. All but one of these companies are relocating to Omaha. “We take companies at all stages,” Larson said. “We wanted a company that’s unique, solves a problem, has a market and has a team of quality people.” Once accepted, applicants agree to relocate to Omaha for 90 days and to give Straight Shot six percent of their business. In exchange, Straight Shot not only pairs startups with investors and mentors, but also gives the businesses $20,000 for housing and living expenses. Of the seven companies chosen, three of them are from Omaha. The other four are from Louisville, Ky; Durham, NC; Minneapolis and San Francisco. continued on page 6 y
cover story
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
5
y continued from page 5
All 13 men, whether having traveled across town or across the country, are banking on a program without a track record. Best friends and Croatian natives Zlatko Turkalj, 35, and Toni Milovan, 40, are two of those men. Both hail from Pula, Croatia – a city right on the sea. And though they are best friends now, it didn’t start out that way. The two met at a local Croatian college in the 1990s. Zlatko entered college as a high school rowing champion and as part of Bosnia’s 1995 national rowing championship team.
MARK HASEBROOK
Milovan, several years older than Turkalj, was entering his senior year at the college after being forced to stay home after a war broke out in Croatia in 1991. While countries like the United States and others were discovering new ways to use technology in the 1990s and early 2000s, Croatia was behind in all things involving the Internet. This gave way for computer gurus Turkalj and Milovan, who had not yet met, to start web-based businesses. The two started out as competitors, each offering custommade web solutions, until 2003 when they met at a computer lab at the college. That same year, the once-competitors merged their businesses to offer web-based solutions to businesses throughout Europe. In 2007, they started the first IT cluster for government agencies in Croatia, Turkalj said. The hope was to create an online space for businesses to exchange information. From that merger came Business Exchange – a B2B software-as-a-service model that provides transparency to customer/supplier relationships. Turkalj is the Managing Director of Business Exchange. Milovan is the lead developer. They make up one-third of the company, and are the two bold businessmen who were tasked with moving to Omaha for 90 days. Business Exchange got the attention of U.S. businessmen after being the only eastern European business invited to “Geeks on a Plane” – an invite-only tour for startups, investors and executives to learn about burgeoning technology markets worldwide, according to the Geeks on a Plane website. After participating, Business Exchange was invited to test their product in the United States in 2010. That same year, Business Exchange grew from a dream in Croatia to an official business based in San Francisco. Turkalj
6
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
| THE READER |
and Milovan linked up with a fellow Croatian native living in San Francisco. In December 2012, Turkalj moved to San Francisco to help get the business off the ground. While the two manned the company in San Francisco, the development team, made up of four people including Milovan, stayed back in Croatia. Just a few months into his first trip to the United States, Turkalj talked to Hasebrook about coming to Omaha. “I wasn’t sure about the Midwest or Omaha,” Turkalj said. “I took a chance.” Turkalj moved to Omaha in July and with him was Milovan, who had never been to the United States. They were greeted with office space and a 90day business plan. “This has been a roller coaster,” Turkalj said. “You learn, build, measure and do it again… over and over.” Most days, including weekends, they work 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Over the course of their time in Omaha, fun has consisted of attending mentor dinners, the men said. “Think of a normal business as jogging,” Milovan said. “And think of this (Straight Shot) as sprinting, but for six miles.” “This is entrepreneurship on steroids,” Turkalj said. And with the sacrifices he has made, he is glad it is working out. When Turkalj moved to the United States in December, he left behind his wife and 5-year-old daughter in Croatia. He has not seen them since February, but is hopeful he will see them in a few months. Since moving to Omaha, Turkalj has decided to make Omaha his home. His wife and daughter, who have never been to the United States, will be moving here with him. Turkalj thinks his wife, who is originally from Germany, will like Omaha. “I liked San Francisco because it reminded me of most parts of Europe,” he said. “But I think my wife will like Omaha because Aksarben Village looks just like Germany.” For Milovan, who admitted he has enjoyed eating like an American, when his 90 days is up he plans to return to Croatia to continue running the four-man development team. “This is an international product, so the plan is to have teams on both continents,” he said. “We’ll have sales and operations in the U.S. and development in Croatia.” They have a great plan in place, but if they have learned anything through this process, it’s the need for capital. Right now both Turkalj and Milovan still have to work side gigs to fund Business Exchange. They hope Turkalj’s move to Omaha and building on the connections they made over their time here will be enough to fuel funding. In the meantime, they can look to Jim and Ryan White for inspiration. Jim, 58, and Ryan, 27, are father and son, and co-owners of HuntForce, one of the seven businesses chosen. HuntForce is a software company for hunters that allows them to manage their property by tracking and collecting data about the game that lives on it. Unlike the six other companies who await their funding fate at the end of the 90 days, Jim and Ryan have already received more than $400,000 from investors and are oversubscribed. Their pitch on Demo Day won’t carry the same bur-
cover story
den as the other six companies, but for Jim the night won’t be an easy one either. Jim, Ryan’s father, is still working on coming out of his box. His biggest challenge thus far has been that and speaking in public, he said. But his journey here has been motivating. Jim and Ryan sold their homes, quit their jobs and drove 10 hours from Louisville, Ky, to Omaha for the accelerator. Before ever venturing to Omaha, the two decided that if they came for 90 days, they might as well come for good. Ryan had been an entrepreneur graduating high school. Shortly after his graduation he opened a car detailing business. He gave college a try, but dropped out after his freshman year. “I could barely make it through the second semester,” Ryan said. “I wasn’t satisfied with the corporate grind.” However, Jim was not an entrepreneur at heart. Having spent nearly 35 years in manufacturing, all he knew was the daily grind. But in 2008, at a time when the economy was awful, Jim was worried about losing his retirement. Jim and Ryan sought startup ideas. The only thing Jim knew more about than manufacturing was hunting. His hunting expertise dates back generations and generations, Jim said. In 2008, Jim and Ryan took a shot at starting a business, but failed. They attempted to start one again in 2010, but failed once more. “Our investors lost faith,” Jim said. “We didn’t have anything – no money, no business.” Instead of quitting, they gave it one last try. They met with hunters throughout Louisville and got advice from mentors. After meeting with a number of hunters, the Whites decided to create HuntForce. “We kept asking people about hunting issues and trial cameras kept coming up,” Jim said. “Hunters couldn’t get good pictures.” With an idea in mind, Jim and Ryan applied to six accelerators. They were hoping to get accepted by an accelerator in Kentucky, but Straight Shot accepted them. Once accepted, Jim did something he hadn’t done in 34 years. He quit his job. “In that business (manufacturing) you don’t quit, so I had never quit a job,” Jim said. “But if felt good and they were all supportive.” Ryan gave his detail business to a family member. And both Jim and Ryan’s wives quit their jobs. The men have seen great success, but it too has not come without sacrifice. Since moving to Omaha in July, Jim’s wife has spent most of that time in New York caring for an ill family member. Just one month into Ryan and his wife’s stay, his father-in-law passed away. Still, the men are thirsty and will stake out at their office in the Scott Technology Center just as everyone else. They know what it is like to have failed, having failed twice before coming to Omaha. But they are the frontrunners. They are proof of what can happen in a city like Omaha, with a man like Hasebrook, with a program like Straight Shot and with a couple of entrepreneurs willing to risk it all. “You don’t get these connections any other way,” Ryan said. “We’re a real company now.” As Jim and Ryan sit at the table in the open office space at the Scott Technology Center plotting out where their alreadyinvested money will go, Turkalj, Milovan and the other 9 businessmen continue to work on their pitch in anticipation of Demo Day. ,
at
AK-SAR-BEN’S RIVER CITY RODEO & STOCK SHOW september 26-29, 2013 | centurylink center omaha WWW.TICKETMASTER.COM/RIVERCITYRODEO
$10 off friday & saturday tickets excluding $19 tickets
enter code: READER
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
7
n On Thursday, Sept. 26, Project Harmony is hosting the ninth annual Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day benefit to support those who have been affected by child abuse. This casual event is being held at Anthony’s Steakhouse’s grand ballroom and patio, 7220 F St., and will offer green beer and Irish food. Also, enjoy live music with Dicey Riley playing indoors while singer/ songwriter Brian Vranicar plays the patio.The first 300 attendees will receive a free T-shirt at the door and there will be other door prizes offered throughout the evening plus a photo booth to capture everyone’s fun time. This event cost $50 and runs from 6 to 10 p.m. All proceeds will go to Project Harmony. Visit www.projectharmony. com for more information. n The 12th annual Oktoberfest at the Crescent Moon and Huber-Haus, 36th and Farnam, is being held this weekend to celebrate German beer and all things German. Come and join the fun at this huge outdoor event that begins Friday, Sept. 27, at 4 p.m. The party picks up Saturday, Sept. 28, at noon and continues throughout the night. Admission to this two-day event is free and family friendly. Enjoy live German music from The Barry Boyce Band each night at 5:30 p.m., while Bobby Z and Polka Joy will play on Saturday at 1 p.m. Many German beers will be offered with a ceremonial keg tapping each day. Also, plan on filling your German bellies with brats, schnitzel, pretzels and other German fare. Visit www.beercornerusa.com for more information. n If you are near Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Campus, 5300 N. 30th St., this Saturday, Sept. 28, stop by the 22nd annual Intertribal Powwow. This event celebrates the traditions of Native American cultures through music, crafts and oral history. There will also be food available from various tribes across Nebraska and our surroundings areas, as well as from the Institute of Culinary Arts Tri Omega Chapter at MCC. Admission is free and open to the public. The Powwow begins at 10 a.m. and runs until 7:30 p.m. Not to be missed, the Powwow participants will partake in a gourd dance, which is a Native American celebration dance and ceremony that will begin promptly at noon. — Krista O’Malley Crumbs is about indulging in food and celebrating its many forms. Send information about area food and drink businesses to crumbs@thereader.com.
8
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
I
knew exactly what I was getting myself into when I visited Sinful Burger. I had heard rumors from my friends that this place wasn’t joking when it comes to delivering burgers that aren’t typical. Folks don’t go to Sinful Burger when they’re watching their waistlines. No, they come to this place to impress their friends with the volume of food they can throw back, and Sinful Burger does an excellent job of offering a menu of burgers that are perfect for bragging rights along the lines of, “Dude, you’ll never guess what I just ate.” The burgers featured on the menu are fashioned after the seven deadly sins, hence, the name Sinful Burger. So when you have burgers that are tributes to things like gluttony, sloth and lust, there’s an excellent chance that the burgers are going to throw caution to the wind when it comes to fat content. If you’re looking for a big, greasy burger, you’re going to love this place. The Gluttony Burger has two –yes, two- grilled cheese sandwiches instead of buns. The Greed Burger has mozzarella sticks stuck in the burger. The Sloth Burger has three burger patties, three kinds of cheese, and a double order of bacon stuck in there for good measure. Because
| THE READER |
dish
sometimes, really, one order of bacon added to three patties just isn’t enough. I asked my server Scott what kind of burger I could eat that would just give me a sense of what their burgers are like. He suggested the Sinful Burger, which features a half pound patty. The menu says the burger is cooked to medium and will have some pink, so I asked if they wouldn’t mind cooking it just a little more, and he said that yes, they did mind. Actually, what he said was that this particular burger is cooked with the cheese inside the patty, so cooking it too long would make the cheese burn off. I sat surveying the Epic Failure Wall while I waited for my food; this is the wall of photos of people who attempted the Goliath Challenge and failed. This challenge gives you one hour to eat five pounds of food including a four pound burger and some fries, and you have to “keep it all down” for ten minutes after you finish eating. The burger looks good when it arrives at my table. The fries look really greasy and overcooked, and when I take a bite a little squirt of grease pops out of the fry. I asked Scott if this is how the fries are typically cooked and he says “yes,” doing a very good job of not looking at me like
I’m a difficult customer although I’m pretty sure he was thinking something along the lines of, “Why don’t you go eat some carrot sticks or something, lady?” The burger patty had a nice flavor, although I have to admit I had a difficult time getting past the pink. After my first bite the pocket of cheese in the middle started oozing out and it kind of looked like the burger was sticking its tongue out at me as if to mock my disdain for its not-so-well-done nature. As for the fries, I pretty much left those alone because they were just too greasy for me to handle. Sinful Burger has a fun, casual atmosphere. If you’re the type of person who loves a greasy burger and has little regard for your cholesterol levels (I’m not judging), Sinful Burger will probably get a huge thumbs up from you. It just wasn’t my cup of tea – or rather, I should say, it wasn’t my huge hunk of undercooked meat. , Sinful Burger is located at 4005 Twin Creek Drive, Bellevue. 402-933-8727. www.sinfulburger.com. Hours are Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tequila Corner
Y
ou might already know that the world’s most expensive liquor bottle ever sold was a bottle of tequila that cost $255,000. I’m not sure if the proud owner then busted open the bottle and had some friends over to enjoy the tequila with some chips and salsa, but my guess is that the bottle remains unopened because really, when you drop that much cash on a bottle of tequila, it’s not really about the tequila, is it? Of course there’s a chance I could be wrong, but considering the bottle was made from platinum and white gold, I think it’s a pretty fair assumption that the bottle itself swayed the cost of the tequila significantly. In fact, plenty of tequila makers try to come up with the most eye-catching bottles possible in an attempt to catch the attention of potential customers while also justifying a wee bit of a markup on the price of the tequila. All this might leave you wondering if paying a higher price for higher quality tequila even matters. Are you paying for better tequila, or are you paying extra because the tequila is poured from a clever-looking bottle? First off, let me assure you that it is absolutely, positively worth it to pay more when it comes to tequila if you’re paying more because you want better tequila. I don’t know about you, but I care much less about how ornate a bottle is and more about how the tequila poured out of it is actually going to taste. But what makes one tequila “better” than another? Brace yourself, because this question isn’t quickly answered in a few words. Since everyone at La Mesa knows just about everything about tequila, I sat down with regional manager Jose Salazar to find out why some tequilas cost more than others. As I suspected, not all tequilas are created equal. Two of the most important factors that decide how much tequila costs are what’s in it, and how it’s made. Basically, the purer the tequila and the longer the process it takes to make it, the more you can expect to shell out to buy it. Some tequilas –not any that you’re going to find at La Mesa- come fraught with impurities and are produced in the blink of an eye compared to others. Jose tells me that some of the cheaper tequilas out there are aged for only a few weeks while the best tequilas –the more expensive tequilas- can be aged
for over a year. These super anenjos are the most flavorful tequilas, and as such, generally come with a higher price tag. Something else Jose told me that I didn’t realize is that the art of making tequila even includes the barrels the tequila sits in while it ages. Some tequila makers use new barrels while others use old barrels, and according to Jose, “Some companies use different barrel combinations. A new barrel will give color while using old whiskey barrels changes the flavor.” Tequila makers who care enough about the production process to turn barrel selection into an art form make tequilas that can justifiably command a higher price because they’re putting more effort into creating something amazing. Suppose you go into another restaurant and order a house margarita. There’s an excellent chance that the tequila you’re getting is not very high quality. Why? To be called tequila it only has to have 51% agave and the rest are sugars. Now suppose that you head to La Mesa and order their famous house margarita. You’re getting a tequila that features 100% agave and has a smooth taste – one that doesn’t have to be masked by the added sugars. Best of all, you don’t pay extra for the premium quality. Ultimately, the “best” tequila is the one that speaks to you and makes your taste buds sing. Try a few different types, and when in doubt, ask your La Mesa server for some recommendations. When it comes to tequila, those folks know it all. Speaking of which, La Mesa will be hosting a special tequila tasting event November 12. Stay tuned for all the delicious information in the next Tequila Corner article. —Tamsen Butler
LEGACY The Emily Fisher Landau Collection SEPTEMBER 28, 2013–JANUARY 5, 2014
This exhibition is organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
Jasper Johns (b. 1930), Painting with Two Balls, 1971, from the series Painting with Two Balls, color screenprint, sheet (sight, irregular): 37 1/8 x 30 13/16 in., Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; promised gift of Emily Fisher Landau P.2010.122, photograph by Tim Nighswander/Imaging4Art, Art © Jasper Johns / Licensed by VAGA, NY
This exhibition features a selection of paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from a historic gift pledged to the Whitney in 2010 by Emily Fisher Landau, a preeminent collector of postwar art in the United States. Legacy reflects primary themes that have driven American artists since the 1960s – including the relevance of representation in the aftermath of Minimalism; gender and racial politics; and the “culture wars” of the 1980s. This exhibition features work by some of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, among them Andy Warhol, Glenn Ligon, Sherrie Levine, Agnes Martin, Felix GonzalezTorres, John Baldessari, Kiki Smith, and Ed Ruscha.
Presenting sPonsor:
Major sPonsors: Douglas County Annette and Paul Smith Contributing sPonsor: Eve and Fred Simon suPPorting sPonsors: Joan Gibson and Don Wurster Kathy and Marc LeBaron Lincoln Financial Foundation, Inc. Additional support provided by KPMG LLP
joslynartmuseum www.joslyn.org | (402) 342-3300 | 2200 Dodge Street | Omaha, NE
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
9
8
T H E R E A D E R ’ S E N T E RTA I N M E N T P I C K S S E P T. 2 6 - O C T. 2 , 2 01 3
DAYS TOPTV “Breaking Bad” Series Finale
Sunday, 8 p.m. (AMC)
“The Sopranos” tarnished its reputation as TV’s greatest crime drama by botching the finale in 2007. That gives “Breaking Bad” a chance to pull into the No. 1 slot with its own finale this week. Judging from the last few episodes (oh my God oh my God oh my God), I’m confident we’ll get a suitable conclusion to the saga of high school teacher turned meth kingpin Walter White. The question is, what does “suitable” even mean in this case? We have a reason to root for Walt as he heads back to Albuquerque to settle scores. But we can’t root for redemption because he’s, you know, evil. I plan to reread Aristotle’s definition of “tragedy” before Sunday night. The ancient Greeks never heard of methamphetamine, but they did know a thing or two about catharsis. And that’s what we all expect from this muchanticipated TV event. — Dean Robbins
10
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
THURSDAY26
THE GROWLERS
Sept. 26
RAW: Natural Born Artists
Sokol Auditorium, 2234 S 13th St. 7 p.m., 18+, $15 advance, $20 at the door www.rawartists.org RAW: Natural Born Artists presents Translations Thursday at Sokol Auditorium. As is typical with BRITTANY WAHL RAW, 40 artists from all creative disciplines will be represented. Katie Seymour is a featured photographer who says she prefers to make people think with her pictures rather than give everybody a comfortable image. Her stuff is gritty and full of expression with lighting. Meanwhile, fine artist Brittany Wahl uses shading and color mixing to portray emotion. One of her pieces depicts a person pulled forward in throes as they melt away into a purple drip. David Hernandez prefers drawing and painting over any other art form. His works illustrate urban settings with loose form leaving room for interpretation. RAW will also feature film, poetry, hair, fashion, accessories, makeup and more. –Paul Heft Sept. 26
Under Water Dream Machine *Tour Kick-Off Party* w/ CANDY ATTACK & Michael Hulstein Barley Street Tavern, 2735 N. 62nd St. 8 p.m., $5 at the door, www.barleystreet.com
It’s been said that there is a fine line between genious and insanity. Wait, rewind that. Perhaps I should start with a classic Hunter S. Thompson quote taken out of context. “The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over.” I’m pretty sure that the man behind Under Water Dream Machine, Bret Vovk, has gone well past the edge in a good way. His music is a conglomerate of sounds that range from The Flaming Lips, Bright Eyes and a general cacophony that works oh-so-well together. I think he might just be my favorite
| THE READER |
picks
local lyricist as well. Vovk tackles digital to acoustic and everything in between, even taking time to punch a few piano keys along the way. At the very least, you will be entertained and, perhaps, taken over that edge. –James Derrick Schott Sept. 26
The Growlers w/ Cosmonauts, Gap Dream & Pangea Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. 8 p.m., $13 at the door www.theslowdown.com
FRIDAY27 Sept. 27
The Decatures w/ Two Shakes & Ground Tyrants
Shamrock’s Pub & Grill, 5338 N 103rd St. 9 p.m., $5 www.shamrockspubandgrill.com
Say what you want about today’s youth, the boys in The Decatures have all of their bases covered, loaded Tucked in shirts. Shiny penny loafers. Candle lit din- and ready to knock you out of their park and drive it ners. None of these things describe the The Growlers. home. The diaper dandies from Lincoln take their cues In fact, the above is pretty much their exact opposite. from yesteryear’s rock’n’roll forefathers, bridging the A better way to have begun this writeup would have generational gap between Led Zepellin/Jimi Hendrix and The Black Keys/Wolfmother. Their sound may be been to take that opening line, extruded it a tip of the cap to the guys who were there first, but the through a gangrene infected meat grinder end product is a battering ram of titillating rock music and oozed it out onto a surfboard with a that pushes the boundaries of what should be socially shark bite taken out of it and you may exceptable of a group that is still in have read something more like this. its formative years. But honestly, Booze, sex, late night munchies and a who gives two rats when you get served flare for surfer-transe rock ’n’ roll. Yeah, a master meal that leaves your grandmother that’s more like it. With shades of Link weaping in the corner while grandpa suddenly Wray meshed with The Black Lips and remembers what it’s like to feel young touch of Dick Dale, The Growlers breathe a again and reaches for that 20-yearhot breath down your sweaty neck that shivold bottle of Jack. I’d join that ers your timbers and takes you on a casual party any day. psychedelic foray of pain for pleasure. –James Derrick Schott THE DECATURES –James Derrick Schott
Au c t i on Eve nt
MIDTOWN CROSSING 7 pM FREE CONCERTS. FREE pARKING.
NEBRASKA CITY
Join us at the picturesque Arbor Lodge State Historical Park on Saturday, September 28 for a celebration of trees, community, and 71 sculptures created by professional artists and area youth.
SEPTEMBER 27
THE SUGAR THIEVES
w w w. e n c h a n t e d a r b o r e t u m . o r g Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updated event information. Promotional support in part from The Reader and the Otoe County Visitors Committee. Lodging information available at www.visitotoecounty.com.
| THE READER |
SEPT. 19 - 25, 2013
11
n After much anticipation, Les Misérables is finally on its feet at the Omaha Community Playhouse. If you are one of the few people who haven’t gotten a ticket to see it, better do so quickly. While the whole show is fantastic, the stunning vocal work by the entire cast (led by Timothy Shew) is worth the price of admission alone. It’s some of the best you’ll hear anywhere. Special mention also goes to Georgiann Regan’s costume and Darin Kuehler’s prop designs. n This week, attention turns to The BLUEBARN Theatre as they prepare to open the first show of their 25th anniversary season, God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza. The Tony-Award winner for Best Play in 2009, God of Carnage follows two high-strung couples trying to maintain civility when discussing the consequences of their children’s playground fight. As the evening (and booze) rolls along, all political correctness flies out the window and both couples engage in hilarious verbal bashing. One big reason to see this show is the all-star cast of four that Artistic Director Susan Clement-Toberer has assembled. Jill Anderson, Jerry Longe, Ablan Roblin and Theresa Sindelar are all well-known for their performances across many Omaha stages, and this play looks to showcase each actor at the top of their game. Roblin managed to pull double duty, rehearsing Carnage while in the middle of the run for Sirens and OCP. Tack on all of that after the marathon that was The 39 Steps and Roblin no doubt has deserved a break after this run is finished. The BLUEBARN also announced that fundraising for the $7 million capital campaign has surpassed the halfway point and that they are well on their way to reaching their goal for new space in Little Italy and endowment for the future of the theatre. A competition is underway to design the green park space that will lie on the northwest corner of the new BLUEBARN development, headed up by Green in the City-Omaha and Omaha by Design. The winning design team will receive $200,000 to complete the project that, when finished, will be owned and maintained by the BLUEBARN. Designers can submit a Request for Qualifications to www.greeninthecityomaha.com Tickets for God of Carnage can be purchased by phone at (402) 345-1576. For more information, visit www.bluebarn.org. —Bill Grennan Cold Cream looks at theater in the metro area. Email information to mixedmedia@thereader.com
GODS OF CARNAGE
12
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
T
he Works, the current exhibit at the RNG Gallery may look a lot different from the outside. At first glance, it looks as if somebody assembled a bunch of farm tools and slapped them on the wall. If you look in the window, it becomes apparent that an artist was behind this and that somebody thought this out very carefully. Stepping inside, it’s evident this took intense time and thought. Artist Paul Konchagulian seems to have used just about every tool you’d find on a farm. For example, the section of “saws” seems to imply that Konchagulian took a collection of saws, disassembled them then welded them back together matching different pieces up. “Dead Totem Saw” features very jagged edges and sports a Tim Burton meets Cinco de Mayo look. “C-Saw” looks like somebody is shooting a gun. Maybe Konchagulian meant no deep meaning, but several of his works such as “CSaw” seem to hint on more than face value. The next set of tools Konchagulian used were rakes. In “Pitch Perfect” Konchagulian stuck a rake right to the bottom of a wood podium. The rake is stuck in a vertical drift for the rest of its life, but something about the way Konchagulian has it displayed makes it feel like the rake is almost…..stuck, waiting for animation.
| THE READER |
culture
In another work, Konchagulian took off the rake part from the wood and connected three rakes together at the tip of the handle. They spanned out in three directions. He did not change the paint, but it almost felt like motion was implied. Maybe being “stuck” could be a recurring theme in his work. It could make sense because his mediums all come from farms, which are in the middle of nowhere and could beg for some direction to the nearest big town, which in the Midwest is about eight hours to….Chicago. However, there are doors hanging from the ceiling. A lot were painted white, but many had cracking paint and looked vintage. Most had just the frames with a lot of the door left open, possibly symbolizing opportunity and freedom? Regardless, they added a nice touch that hopefully everybody noticed! Everybody needs to be reminded to look “up” at this show. Konchagulian’s next take was using old trays. Many were silver, some were tarnished and others were very retro looking because they were decorated with old, curly flowers around the edge. It looks like he took us from the old days where a Civil War meal may have been eaten to today. Next we have pots that were vibrantly painted with bright colors. The artist must
have done a lot of hunting to find a variety of shapes, sizes and designs. He took out the bottom of the pots and created cutouts such as the creepy top-hat man that was a repeating theme in his works as well! Konchagulian found a wood table but replaced one of the front legs with a wheel. Is he asking us to question traditional uses for objects and hoping we think outside the box? Or did he just think the table needed some new parts? His shovels definitely gave feelings of everything along the spectrum from foreboding to playful. The metal is cut so well! “Dead Bunny Shovel” is playful despite its name. Konchagulian changed the blades on all of his shovels to fit some image, character or description. The bunny has the same cartoon-like style, but doesn’t make you feel scared. So, basically instead of a full-panel blade, he carved and cut the shape of a bunny with many open spaces to interact and put your hand through. However, this exhibit is probably best done hands-off, but you almost do want to touch his intricate work., The Works continues through September at RNG Gallery in Council Bluffs, 157 West Broadway, next to Dixie Quicks Café. For further details go to dixiequicks.com.
RUSINOVA - 3-D MIXED MEDIA
JURGENSMIER - METAL
PAPEK - PHOTOGRAPHY
ARTSARBEN
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
13
ARTsarben Returns September 28-29 Features Art Marketplace, Entertainers, KidZone, Food, Beverages & More
T
ARTsarben, a free fall arts festival presented by First National Bank, returns for its second year on Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. ARTsarben events take place in and around Stinson Park at Aksarben Village, 67th and Center Streets. ARTsarben is a sister event of
14
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
the Omaha Summer Arts Festival, which has enjoyed 39 successful years. ARTsarben is again expected to bring thousands of people to Aksarben Village, one of Omaha’s most appealing and diverse newer developments. ARTsarben will showcase traditional fine art plus offbeat, creative and stylish works created by 80 artists from throughout the United States. This high-
| THE READER |
ARTSARBEN
quality, juried art show will feature an extensive art marketplace for all budgets, street performers, a handson activity area for children and a variety of food and drink.
Sherwood Foundation, 101.9 the Big O, Q98-Five, Nebraska Arts Council, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, The Reader and Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation.
Sponsors
For More Information
ARTsarben is presented by First National Bank and sponsored by Aksarben Village, WOWT Channel 6, University of Nebraska at Omaha,
For additional information about ARTsarben, visit www.artsarben.org, become a fan on Facebook, follow the event on Twitter.
KidZone Family Fun
Art activities, bounce houses & more
K
idZone is presented by the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Kids of all ages will be able to explore their budding artistic talent through hands-on art activities, marvel at a solar bubble-blowing tower and burn off extra energy in four bounce houses (Including an obstacle course and gladiator joust). Art activities and bounce houses will require one to three tickets for materials or participation; tickets can be purchased for 50 cents each at the KidZone Information Booth in Stinson Park. Activities include a ring toss game, maskmaking, a cat pelt “petting
zoo”, temporary tattoos, bag and bracelet decorating, picture frame decorating, face-painting and more. Participating organizations include: • The ArtRoom • Girls Incorporated • Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo Aquarium • Peapod Face Painting • Project Interfaith • The Salvation Army Kroc Center • YMCA of Greater Omaha • University of Nebraska Omaha Hy-Vee will provide a selection of pumpkins (priced at $3 or less) for purchase in conjunction with a First National Bank pumpkin-decorating activity.
ARTSARBEN
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
15
2013 ARTSARBEN JOHNSON - CERAMICS
DRAKE - PHOTOGRAPHY
LUBBERS - GLASS
SADIO - PHOTOGRAPHY
CRAHEN - GLASS
DRAKE - PHOTOGRAPHY
DANBOM - DRAWING
MESSINA - FIBER
NAPIER - PHOTOGRAPHY
16
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
| THE READER |
www.artsarben.org ARTSARBEN
WINDLE
N JURIED ARTISTS A
ER - GLASS
MCNUTT - FIBER
BLOYD - GLASS
KUBIK - GLASS
MEYER - CERAMICS
rt collectors and enthusiasts will be able to purchase works directly from artists in numerous media including jewelry, sculpture, photography, painting, fiber, glass, metal and wood. Visitors will be able to browse original artwork created by 80 artists across the country with more than 25 percent from Nebraska. Artists determine their own sales transaction terms and some will accept checks or credit cards. An ATM will be available on site. Many artists are willing to hold larger pieces after purchase until pick-up arrangements can be made. The Art Marketplace will also offer a student art exhibition featuring talent from The Creative Center, an Omaha art college specializing in design, illustration and computer graphics.
OHNSTAD - FIBER
ARTSARBEN
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
17
Lots of Entertainment
V
isitors will be able to enjoy up-close, unique and family-friendly entertainment on both event days from various performers including musicians, singers, jugglers, magicians and more. Performers include: • Alex Clark – One-of-a-kind variety performer offering comedy, magic tricks & harmonica • Amy Fae – Twirling, whirling, hula-hoop dancing • Backline Improv – On-the-spot performances with equal parts clever and silly • Capoeira Angola – Traditional folk-sport with elements of self-de-
OMAHA STREET PERCUSSION
fense, music, acrobatics and dance • Edem Kegey/Derek & Bridget – African drum and song plus hoop and belly dance • Luke & Molly – Cooperative live performance painter/artists • Omaha Street Percussion – Street percussion using everyday objects to create nontraditional instruments • Roundhouse Band – Old-time songs and fiddle tunes along with classic and contemporary bluegrass • Rubix Crew – Hip-hop dance • UNO Symphonic Wind Ensemble – Members of the larger ensemble representing some of the most outstanding musicians on campus.
CAPOEIRA ANGOLA
ROUNDHOUSE BAND
ALEX CLARK
Food & Beverage
A 18
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
| THE READER |
ARTSARBEN
RTsarben will feature food and refreshments to please all tastes including pizza, seafood, roasted nuts, frozen snacks, Mexican fare, Mediterranean and popcorn treats. Vendors will include: • Maria Bonita Mexican Cuisine food truck • Shuck’s Fish House & Oyster Bar • Godfather’s Pizza, Inc. • Prairie Fire Pizza • Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream • Lauren Beth’s Popcorn • Lazeez • The Nut Hutte • Hy-Vee
Parking, Access and Farmers Market
T
he entrance to Aksarben Village at 67th and Center Streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from 9 a.m. Friday, September 27, through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 29. During event hours on Saturday and Sunday, ARTsarben can be accessed via 67th Street from the north, Mercy Road from the west, and 64th Avenue from the east. Free parking will be available in the parking garage east of Aksarben Village (at 64th Avenue) and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska
parking and surface lots off Aksarben Drive northwest of the event site. The University of NebraskaOmaha will offer parking north of Aksarben Village in Lot 14 south of the Scott Conference Center at 64th and Pine Streets. On Sunday only, the Scott Conference Center parking lot (Lot 9) will also be available.
will relocate during ARTsarben. The temporary location will be in the parking lot just north of the Aksarben Village parking garage and south of the DLR Group building at 64th Avenue and Frances Street. A full array of 76 vendors offering produce, baked goods, meat products, crafts and more will be at the temporary site, and all customary services will Omaha Farmers Market be available. The Sunday Omaha Farmers For more information on the Market, which normally takes place Sunday Omaha Farmers Market 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Aksarben Village at Aksarben Village, contact Heidi along 67th Street and Mercy Road, Walz at hwalz@vgagroup.com.
64TH AVENUE
67TH STREET
AKSARBEN CINEMA
September 28 & 29
FRANCES STREET
www.ARTsarben.org
Performer Area
SHOPS OF AKSARBEN VILLAGE
54 53 52 51
EN ARB
AKS
5
DRI VE
G CK
CK
CK
TRU
E
TRU
E
ME
RCY
F
D
NT DE STU TISTS AR
71
TRU
72
C
B
7
86
96
6 70
6 66
3
6 64
0
73
74
6
7 75
8 769 768 767
62
81
61
6 7
FREE PARKING GARAGE 9
Performer Area
60 5
4
38
8 82
Performer Area
Kid Zone Presented by UNO
A
AD RO Pumpkin Decorating
Bubble Bounce
Restrooms
SUNDAY FARMERS MARKET
ARTIST LOUNGE
8 9 10 11 12 13
50 49 48 47 46
ATM SOUVENIRS INFORMATION VOLUNTEER CHECK IN
SHOPS OF AKSARBEN VILLAGE
1 2 3 4 5
58 57 56 55
Kid Bounce Zone
45 44 43 42 41
14 15 16 17 18 19
40 39 38 37 36 35
20 21 22 23 24 25
34 33 32 31 30
SHOPS OF AKSARBEN VILLAGE 26 27 28 29
Nuts
Performer Area
CENTER STREET
Bounce
Aksarben
Village
ARTSARBEN
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
19
2nd
ua ann l
A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Sponsored By:
Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation Contributors: COLLEGE OF INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Supported by: Boy Scout Troop #331 | Colliers International | The Creative Center | Curzon Promotional Graphics | DLR Group - Vanessa Q. Schutte | Festival Mules Robert & AJ | Huerter Orthodontics | Johnsen Sign Company | Kevin Christensen, Nebraska Machinery Company | Lois Ernce – Nebraska Dept. of Revenue | Noddle Companies - Lisa Bockman | Omaha Farmers Market | Todd & Mimi Boswell, fatbabydesign.com Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Inc./ ARTsarben Board of Directors: President - Brenda Hermanek, First National Bank Vice President – Jennifer Harrahill, CenturyLink Secretary - Pat Dytrych, Target Stores Treasurer - Danielle Penke, Deloitte & Touche, LLP Todd Boswell, First National Bank Mike Boyle, Jr., Community Volunteer Sandi Bruns, Artist Michael Godek, Artist Joe Gudenrath, Downtown Improvement District Wendy Hamilton, Great Plains Girl Scouts Council Kim Noddle, The ArtRoom Carrie Ratcliff, Ervin & Smith Advertising Amy Reiner, Blue Barn Theater Vic Richards, WOWT Channel 6 Lea Schuster, RDG Planning & Design
20
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
| THE READER |
Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Inc / ARTsarben Event Management Festival Management Vic Gutman – Executive Director Elizabeth Balazs – Senior Festival Manager Heidi Walz – Operations Manager Emily Peklo – Festival Manager Kara Schweiss – Marketing Manager Kylie Feilmeier – Intern
Festival Staff Wendy Bredensteiner - Info/Store Co-Manager Mindy Cotner - Artist Services Lt. Steve King - Director of Security Managed by: Vicki Pfeifer - Info/Store Co-Manager Jim Schlotfeld - Maintenance Co-Manager Michelle Seiter - Event Assistant Evelyn Winther - Event Assistant Jodi Winther - Event Assistant Pennie Martindale – Event Bookkeeper Special Thanks to:
ARTSARBEN
ARTsarben Returns September 28-29 Features Art Marketplace, Entertainers, KidZone, Food, Beverages & More
T
ARTsarben, a free fall arts festival presented by First National Bank, returns for its second year on Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. ARTsarben events take place in and around Stinson Park at Aksarben Village, 67th and Center Streets. ARTsarben is a sister event of
14
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
the Omaha Summer Arts Festival, which has enjoyed 39 successful years. ARTsarben is again expected to bring thousands of people to Aksarben Village, one of Omaha’s most appealing and diverse newer developments. ARTsarben will showcase traditional fine art plus offbeat, creative and stylish works created by 80 artists from throughout the United States. This high-
| THE READER |
ARTSARBEN
quality, juried art show will feature an extensive art marketplace for all budgets, street performers, a handson activity area for children and a variety of food and drink.
Sherwood Foundation, 101.9 the Big O, Q98-Five, Nebraska Arts Council, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, The Reader and Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation.
Sponsors
For More Information
ARTsarben is presented by First National Bank and sponsored by Aksarben Village, WOWT Channel 6, University of Nebraska at Omaha,
For additional information about ARTsarben, visit www.artsarben.org, become a fan on Facebook, follow the event on Twitter.
KidZone Family Fun
Art activities, bounce houses & more
K
idZone is presented by the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Kids of all ages will be able to explore their budding artistic talent through hands-on art activities, marvel at a solar bubble-blowing tower and burn off extra energy in four bounce houses (Including an obstacle course and gladiator joust). Art activities and bounce houses will require one to three tickets for materials or participation; tickets can be purchased for 50 cents each at the KidZone Information Booth in Stinson Park. Activities include a ring toss game, maskmaking, a cat pelt “petting
zoo”, temporary tattoos, bag and bracelet decorating, picture frame decorating, face-painting and more. Participating organizations include: • The ArtRoom • Girls Incorporated • Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo Aquarium • Peapod Face Painting • Project Interfaith • The Salvation Army Kroc Center • YMCA of Greater Omaha • University of Nebraska Omaha Hy-Vee will provide a selection of pumpkins (priced at $3 or less) for purchase in conjunction with a First National Bank pumpkin-decorating activity.
ARTSARBEN
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
15
Image area 21 x 10.25 2013 ARTSARBEN JOHNSON - CERAMICS
DRAKE - PHOTOGRAPHY
LUBBERS - GLASS
SADIO - PHOTOGRAPHY
WINDLER - GLASS
JURIED ARTISTS A MCNUTT - FIBER
BLOYD - GLASS
KUBIK - GLASS
MEYER - CERAMICS
CRAHEN - GLASS
DRAKE - PHOTOGRAPHY
DANBOM - DRAWING
rt collectors and enthusiasts will be able to purchase works directly from artists in numerous media including jewelry, sculpture, photography, painting, fiber, glass, metal and wood. Visitors will be able to browse original artwork created by 80 artists across the country with more than 25 percent from Nebraska. Artists determine their own sales transaction terms and some will accept checks or credit cards. An ATM will be available on site. Many artists are willing to hold larger pieces after purchase until pick-up arrangements can be made. The Art Marketplace will also offer a student art exhibition featuring talent from The Creative Center, an Omaha art college specializing in design, illustration and computer graphics.
MESSINA - FIBER
NAPIER - PHOTOGRAPHY
16
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
| THE READER |
www.artsarben.org ARTSARBEN
OHNSTAD - FIBER
ARTSARBEN
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
17
Lots of Entertainment
V
isitors will be able to enjoy up-close, unique and family-friendly entertainment on both event days from various performers including musicians, singers, jugglers, magicians and more. Performers include: • Alex Clark – One-of-a-kind variety performer offering comedy, magic tricks & harmonica • Amy Fae – Twirling, whirling, hula-hoop dancing • Backline Improv – On-the-spot performances with equal parts clever and silly • Capoeira Angola – Traditional folk-sport with elements of self-de-
OMAHA STREET PERCUSSION
fense, music, acrobatics and dance • Edem Kegey/Derek & Bridget – African drum and song plus hoop and belly dance • Luke & Molly – Cooperative live performance painter/artists • Omaha Street Percussion – Street percussion using everyday objects to create nontraditional instruments • Roundhouse Band – Old-time songs and fiddle tunes along with classic and contemporary bluegrass • Rubix Crew – Hip-hop dance • UNO Symphonic Wind Ensemble – Members of the larger ensemble representing some of the most outstanding musicians on campus.
CAPOEIRA ANGOLA
ROUNDHOUSE BAND
ALEX CLARK
Food & Beverage
A 18
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
| THE READER |
ARTSARBEN
RTsarben will feature food and refreshments to please all tastes including pizza, seafood, roasted nuts, frozen snacks, Mexican fare, Mediterranean and popcorn treats. Vendors will include: • Maria Bonita Mexican Cuisine food truck • Shuck’s Fish House & Oyster Bar • Godfather’s Pizza, Inc. • Prairie Fire Pizza • Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream • Lauren Beth’s Popcorn • Lazeez • The Nut Hutte • Hy-Vee
Parking, Access and Farmers Market
T
he entrance to Aksarben Village at 67th and Center Streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from 9 a.m. Friday, September 27, through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 29. During event hours on Saturday and Sunday, ARTsarben can be accessed via 67th Street from the north, Mercy Road from the west, and 64th Avenue from the east. Free parking will be available in the parking garage east of Aksarben Village (at 64th Avenue) and the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska
parking and surface lots off Aksarben Drive northwest of the event site. The University of NebraskaOmaha will offer parking north of Aksarben Village in Lot 14 south of the Scott Conference Center at 64th and Pine Streets. On Sunday only, the Scott Conference Center parking lot (Lot 9) will also be available.
will relocate during ARTsarben. The temporary location will be in the parking lot just north of the Aksarben Village parking garage and south of the DLR Group building at 64th Avenue and Frances Street. A full array of 76 vendors offering produce, baked goods, meat products, crafts and more will be at the temporary site, and all customary services will Omaha Farmers Market be available. The Sunday Omaha Farmers For more information on the Market, which normally takes place Sunday Omaha Farmers Market 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Aksarben Village at Aksarben Village, contact Heidi along 67th Street and Mercy Road, Walz at hwalz@vgagroup.com.
64TH AVENUE
67TH STREET
AKSARBEN CINEMA
September 28 & 29
FRANCES STREET
www.ARTsarben.org
Performer Area
SHOPS OF AKSARBEN VILLAGE
54 53 52 51
EN ARB
AKS
5
DRI VE
G CK
CK
CK
TRU
E
TRU
E
ME
RCY
F
D
NT DE STU TISTS AR
71
TRU
72
C
B
7
86
96
6 70
6 66
3
6 64
0
73
74
6
7 75
8 769 768 767
62
81
61
6 7
FREE PARKING GARAGE 9
Performer Area
60 5
4
38
8 82
Performer Area
Kid Zone Presented by UNO
A
AD RO Pumpkin Decorating
Bubble Bounce
Restrooms
SUNDAY FARMERS MARKET
ARTIST LOUNGE
8 9 10 11 12 13
50 49 48 47 46
ATM SOUVENIRS INFORMATION VOLUNTEER CHECK IN
SHOPS OF AKSARBEN VILLAGE
1 2 3 4 5
58 57 56 55
Kid Bounce Zone
45 44 43 42 41
14 15 16 17 18 19
40 39 38 37 36 35
20 21 22 23 24 25
34 33 32 31 30
SHOPS OF AKSARBEN VILLAGE 26 27 28 29
Nuts
Performer Area
CENTER STREET
Bounce
Aksarben
Village
ARTSARBEN
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
19
2nd
ua ann l
A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Sponsored By:
Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation Contributors: COLLEGE OF INFORMATION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Supported by: Boy Scout Troop #331 | Colliers International | The Creative Center | Curzon Promotional Graphics | DLR Group - Vanessa Q. Schutte | Festival Mules Robert & AJ | Huerter Orthodontics | Johnsen Sign Company | Kevin Christensen, Nebraska Machinery Company | Lois Ernce – Nebraska Dept. of Revenue | Noddle Companies - Lisa Bockman | Omaha Farmers Market | Todd & Mimi Boswell, fatbabydesign.com Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Inc./ ARTsarben Board of Directors: President - Brenda Hermanek, First National Bank Vice President – Jennifer Harrahill, CenturyLink Secretary - Pat Dytrych, Target Stores Treasurer - Danielle Penke, Deloitte & Touche, LLP Todd Boswell, First National Bank Mike Boyle, Jr., Community Volunteer Sandi Bruns, Artist Michael Godek, Artist Joe Gudenrath, Downtown Improvement District Wendy Hamilton, Great Plains Girl Scouts Council Kim Noddle, The ArtRoom Carrie Ratcliff, Ervin & Smith Advertising Amy Reiner, Blue Barn Theater Vic Richards, WOWT Channel 6 Lea Schuster, RDG Planning & Design
20
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
| THE READER |
Omaha Summer Arts Festival, Inc / ARTsarben Event Management Festival Management Vic Gutman – Executive Director Elizabeth Balazs – Senior Festival Manager Heidi Walz – Operations Manager Emily Peklo – Festival Manager Kara Schweiss – Marketing Manager Kylie Feilmeier – Intern
Festival Staff Wendy Bredensteiner - Info/Store Co-Manager Mindy Cotner - Artist Services Lt. Steve King - Director of Security Managed by: Vicki Pfeifer - Info/Store Co-Manager Jim Schlotfeld - Maintenance Co-Manager Michelle Seiter - Event Assistant Evelyn Winther - Event Assistant Jodi Winther - Event Assistant Pennie Martindale – Event Bookkeeper Special Thanks to:
ARTSARBEN
overtheedge
COLUMN BY TIM MCMAHAN
UNKN OW N P L E A S U R E : A REVIEW O F G ROWIN G SEASON BY T HE GARDE NHE ADS
I
still get music in the mail. Oh, it’s not like the old days when more than a dozen manila envelopes per week stuffed with CDs and assorted junk would end up stacked atop my in-box. I opened every one of them. And if they came from bands or record labels I was familiar with, they got the full treatment. If they were completely unknown but the packaging and one-sheet were interesting, they might get a cursory play and more if the music was good. If they looked cheap and homemade or the art was poorly done (or in bad taste) they wound up stacked in the out-box, where they sat unlistened to. These days, almost all music submitted for review comes in the form of digital downloads delivered via email with a passcode. No bells and whistles. No doo-dads enclosed. Just music files and a patient, sometimes yearning letter asking for an hour of time to download and listen and consider. Most encoded downloads do get a listen. However, links to SoundCloud or Bandcamp or YouTube videos from unknown bands on unknown labels (and I get lots of those) generally don’t. No one has the time or interest to check out every unknown home-made music video crowding up YouTube and Vimeo. Needless to say, a lot of diamonds are getting lost in the mammoth digital pile of internet coal dust. Still, on rare occasions, a manila envelope arrives at my doorstep via the United States Postal Service. Some are rather large. Some are cardboard boxes that contain good old-fashioned vinyl records. When those arrive, I feel obligated to listen to their contents because vinyl ain’t cheap (and sending vinyl ain’t cheap, either). If a band invested that kind of money (not to mention time) to send me -- a perfect stranger -- a piece of expensive plastic that incorporates their life’s dreams, I have an absolute moral imperative to listen to it. A few weeks ago, such a package arrived containing a copy of the new album by The Gardenheads called Growing Season. First thought: Gardenheads -- lousy band name. The hand-drawn
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
artwork on the LP cover was of flowering vines, each flower bud containing a small human skull. Weird. Probably a jam band, I figured. On back, a drawing of a sparrow on a naked tree branch smoking... something. Hippies? The label was Wee Rock Records of Springfield, Missouri. Never heard of it. Never heard of the band. Look, I didn’t expect much. But... hey, they spent the time and money to get it to me, why not give it a spin? Maybe it was because I’d just seen the Big Star movie, Nothing Can Hurt Me, but the band’s music immediately recalled Chilton, Bell and Co. The Beatles also came to mind, as did Matthew Sweet and The dBs and Wilco and the finer pop moments from the Titan! label. On the surface, The Gardenheads are your basic midwestern fourpiece playing traditional straight-ahead rock. I guess you could call it Americana. A lot of bands try to do Americana. A lot of bands are boring. And some might say The Gardenheads’ music is “by the numbers,” but there’s something more here, something infectious in its simplicity. The opening track, “Headin’ Out,” summarizes everything good about this record. Stomping guitar riffs, hand claps, sunset harmonies, cow bell. “I always thought I was in the clear / I always thought that we
This week! Ain’t Them Bodies Saints First-Run (R) Dir. David Lowery. Through Thursday, September 26 Last chance!
could disappear / I always thought that I’d be fine if I held on tight.” Nice. Track two is a race-car of an anthem called “We Are Fucked Up Kids,” (charmingly using the abbreviation “F’d up” on the album sleeve so as not to offend, I suppose). Track three, “The Dishwashers Union,” betrays the band’s love for early Beatles. It’s followed by “Starlings & Sparrows” -- two
Middle class doldrums of middle class lives. You get a sense these guys are just trying to get by, until the next band practice. That desperation is encapsulated in the album’s centerpiece, “Adderall,” which is as close to Big Star as you’re going to get in these modern times. Acoustic guitar opens with the lines, “‘I’m full-grown mad / I’m getting crazier / And crazier by the pitfall / And all my friends are on Adderall / To stay awake / To stay awake for the duration.” And then the band comes in. Boom. The record ends with a 15-minute-long love song masquerading as an environmental opus called “Silent Spring.” I’ve got a feeling it’s their set closer. A Neil Young jam song it isn’t. Instead, it’s 15 minutes of full-throttle dark rural rock bound by a series of blistering riffs. Here’s the kicker -- while the record was playing the wife came in and asked who it was and if she could get a copy to play in her truck. That never happens. Stan Fick, lead vocals, guitar; Aaron Hamilton, guitar, vocals; Cory King, bass, vocals; Chris Bivens, drums. A bunch of nobodies (just like me). They don’t even have a proper website. Their Facebook page has 361 likes. They have 61 fans on their ReverbNation page. In their band photo they look like they just rolled out of bed after a long night drinking whatever they drink in Springfield, Missouri; each wearing a different color of wrinkled flannel. Bad hair, bad posture. As if they don’t give a damn. I have a feeling they don’t know how good they are. One the best records I’ve heard this year. Certainly one of my favorites. I don’t know why you sent it to me (or even how you got my address), but thanks, fellas. ,
blazing guitars and a cowbell and a vocal melody that Matthew Sweet would kill for. Lyrically, the album is honest drawings of dreary everyday existence, voiced without complaint.
Over The Edge is a weekly column by Reader senior contributing writer Tim McMahan focused on culture, society, the media and the arts. Email Tim at tim.mcmahan@gmail.com.
Salinger First-Run (PG-13) Dir. Shane Salerno. Through Thursday, October 3 Enough Said First-Run (PG-13) Dir. Nicole Holofcener. Starts Friday, September 27
With Julia Louis-Dreyfus and, Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara star in his last starring role, the as an outlaw couple in 1970s Texas. late James Gandolfini. In a World . . . First-Run (R) Dir. Lake Bell. Through Thursday, October 3
Coming Soon
A comedy set in the competitive world of movie-trailer voice-overs.
Museum Hours First-Run 2013 Local Filmmakers Showcase Blue is the Warmest Color (NC-17) Nebraska First-Run (R)
Forever Young Family & Children’s Series Admission just $2.50 for kids 12 and under!
Bollywood & Beyond
Dir. Fred M. Wilcox.
Patang 2011 Dir. Prashant Bhargava. September 26 Last chance!
The camp classic starring Leslie Nielsen. And robots!
Monsoon Wedding 2001 (R) Dir. Mira Nair. September 28 & 29
Forbidden Planet 1956 September 26 Last chance!
Alloy Orchestra plays live score to
He Who Gets Slapped October 5 | 7 pm | tickets at filmstreams.org
over the edge
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
21
22
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2 , 2013
| THE READER |
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2 , 2013
23
livemusiccalendar
SEND CALENDAR INFORMATION — including addresses, dates, times, costs and phone numbers — to The Reader’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 26
THE KINSEY REPORT, (Blues) 5:30 pm, 21st Saloon, $12.
READER RECOMMENDS
UNDER WATER DREAM MACHINE *TOUR KICK-OFF PARTY* W/ MICHAEL HULSTEIN, (Indie) 8 pm, Barley Street Tavern, $5. DIZZY WRIGHT, (Hip-Hop/Rap) 8 pm, Bourbon Theater, $15: Advance || $17: Day of Show || $30: VIP. MAX CHILL SHOW W/ SEAN O’CONNER, (Punk) 8 pm, Brothers Lounge, Free .
READER RECOMMENDS
THE VIBRATORS W/ BULLET PROOF HEARTS & OFFICIALLY TERMENATED, (Punk) 9 pm, Brothers Lounge, $5. BLEU EDMONDSON, (Country) 8 pm, Coyote Willy’s, $10. NEW MOON SONGWRITERS NIGHT, (Folk/Singer Songwriter) 7 pm, Crescent Moon Coffee, FREE. BACK PARKING LOT SHOW FEAT. THE KILLIGANS, BLOODCOW, DJ RELIC, (Rock) 8 pm, Duffy’s Tavern, $5. TIM JAVORSKY PERFORMS, 7 pm, Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, Free. SPONGECAKE AND THE FLUFF RAMBLERS W/ NORMAL BEAN BAND, (Rock) 8 pm, Louis Bar and Grill, $6. TOUCH PEOPLE CASSETTE RELEASE W/UNIVERSE CONTEST/ MÜSHMOUTH, (Rock) 9:30 pm, O’Leaver’s Pub, $5. BARRY BOYCE BAND, 8 pm, OzoNE Lounge at Anthony’s Steakhouse, Free. THA JOKER, YOUNG RICH, YOUNG DUECE, SHISHI SAKARI, AND TAGGIZ, (Hip-Hop/Rap) 9 pm, Shamrock’s Pub & Grill, Contact Shamrock’s for cover charges.
READER RECOMMENDS
THE GROWLERS W/ COSMONAUTS, GAP DREAM, PANGEA, (Rock) 8 pm, Slowdown, $13. ACOUSTIC MUSIC THURSDAYS!, 8 pm, Two Fine Irishmen, Contact Two Fine Irishmen for cover charge. MIDWEST ELITE CONCERTS PRESENTS: THURSDAY NIGHT TITANS, (Rock) 8 pm, Waiting Room, Free. PAA KOW’S BY ALL MEANS BAND (AFROFUSION FROM DENVER) W/ SON DEL LLANO TRIO, (Rock) 9 pm, Zoo Bar, $8.
FRIDAY 27
THE FOOLS, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Arena Bar & Grill, FREE. EARLYTOWN W/ FINO AND JESSICA ERRETT, (Indie) 8 pm, Barley Street Tavern, $5.
READER RECOMMENDS
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, (Indie) 9 pm, Bourbon Theater, $16: Advance || $18: Day of Show. PHIL VASSAR, (Country) 8 pm, Coyote Willy’s, $10 @ In Advance $15 Day of Show. RANDY Z, 8 pm, Firewater Grille, Contact Firewater Grille for cover charges. KARAOKE THEATRE, 8:30 pm, House Of Loom, Free. LIVE MUSIC PERFORMED BY KAJAM, 7 pm, Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, Free. ENVY, (Cover Band) 11 am, Loose Moose, Contact The Loose Moose for cover charges.
READER RECOMMENDS
SIMON JOYNER & THE GHOSTS/SAMUEL LOCKE WARD & THE GARBAGE BOYS, 9:30 pm, O’Leaver’s Pub, $5. HI-FI HANGOVER, (Cover Band) 8 pm, OzoNE Lounge at Anthony’s Steakhouse, Free.
READER RECOMMENDS BASSNECTAR, KOANSOUND, ADREILIEN “HEYOKA”, (DJ/Electronic) 8 pm, Pershing Center, $35. LIL FLIP, (Hip-Hop/Rap) 9 pm, Red9, $20-$25. TEN CLUB PEARL JAM TRIBUTE, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Waiting Room, $7.
24
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
| THE READER |
music listings
READER RECOMMENDS DECATURES, TWO SHAKES, & GROUND TYRANTS, (Rock) 9 pm, Shamrock’s Pub & Grill, Contact Shamrock’s for cover charges. FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC SERIES: WILDFIRE, 7:30 pm, Soaring Wings Vineyard, $5.
READER RECOMMENDS FILTER KINDS W/ RENO DIVORSE & TBA, (Country) 9 pm, The Sydney, Contact The Sydney for cover charges. HIDDEN AGENDAS 1ST ANNIVERSARY, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Two Fine Irishmen, Contact Two Fine Irishmen for cover charge. GOODING, 9 pm, Zoo Bar, $8.
SATURDAY 28
MONSTERS IN THE BASEMENT, (Cover Band) 9 pm, Arena Bar & Grill, FREE. MOLEHILL W/ KALOKO, (Indie) 8 pm, Barley Street Tavern, $5.
READER RECOMMENDS THE RO HEMPEL BAND, (Reggae/Island) 9 pm, Bourbon Theater, $6: 21 and up | $8: 18 and up. BORDERLINE, (Country) 8 pm, Coyote Willy’s, $5. SUNDAY DANCING WITH TAMI HALL, (Country) 8 pm, Coyote Willy’s, $5. KARAOKE, 8 pm, Firewater Grille, Contact Firewater Grille for cover charges. DIRTY DISCO W/JASON KID (KC), 10 pm, House Of Loom, Free. AN EVENING WITH THE SWAMPBOY BLUES BAND, (Blues) 7 pm, Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, Free. TRANS-NEBRASKA PLAYERS TAKE TO THE KIMBALL STAGE, (Classical) 3 pm, Kimball Recital Hall, $5 Students, $3 Seniors . HIDDEN AGENDA, (Cover Band) 11 am, Loose Moose, Contact The Loose Moose for cover charges. ECKOPHONIC, (Cover Band) 8 pm, OzoNE Lounge at Anthony’s Steakhouse, Free. CIRQUE MUSICA, (Classical) 7 pm, Pershing Center, $23, $38, $53 and a limited number at $68. JOHN LARSEN W/ VIRGINIA TANOUS-GALLNER & TOM WILDE, 7 pm, Pizza Shoppe Collective, $5. 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY - EVE TO ADAM (NY), WITNESS TREE, FIZZ, & RHETORIC, 9 pm, Shamrock’s Pub & Grill, Contact Shamrock’s for cover charges.
READER RECOMMENDS THE LAST DRAFT CD RELEASE SHOW W/ TWO DRAG CLUB, JESSICA ERRETT, (Rock) 9 pm, Slowdown, $5. CELEBRATE HISPANIC CULTURES AT SOUTH OMAHA LIBRARY, 12 pm, South Omaha Public Library, Free. HOOKT, (Rock) 8:30 pm, The Grove, FREE.
READER RECOMMENDS THE FONZARELLIES W/ BEAT SEEKERS & GREG LOFTIS, (Rock) 9 pm, The Sydney, Contact The Sydney for cover charges. RED ELVISES, 9 pm, Zoo Bar, $12adv./$15 dos.
SUNDAY 29
ACOUSTIC SUNDAYS: STEPHEN MONROE, (Folk/Singer Songwriter ) 2:00 pm, Soaring Wings Vineyard. Free. 2ND ANNUAL BAY SHOP VIDEO, 7:00 pm, Bourbon Theater, $7, All Ages. BARGER TO SHOWCASE E-FLAT CLARINET’S AMAZING CAPABILITIES, 7:30 pm, Kimball Recital Hall, Free . THE WEIGHT BOYS BAND, 8:00 pm, Pizza Shoppe Collective, $5.
STEVEN ROTH, (Rock ) 8:00 pm, Louis Bar and Grill, $5. LITTLE MARAIS, ALLI & I, MICHAEL TODD, (Indie) 8:00 pm, Duffy’s Tavern, $5. O’LEAVER’S OPEN MIC NIGHT, 9:00 pm. O’Leaver’s Pub, Free.
MONDAY 30
PIANO HOUR W/ EMILY BASS, 5:00 pm, Zoo Bar, contact the Zoo Bar for cover charge. ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK PRESENTS A DAY TO REMEMBER’S HOUSE PARTY TOUR, 6:45 pm, Pershing Center, $38.50. ZOO BAR HOUSE BAND, 7:00 pm, Zoo Bar, $3. OPEN MIC NIGHT!, 8:00 pm, Red9, Free. MIKE GURCIULLO AND HIS LAS VEGAS LAB BAND, (Cover Band ) 8:00 pm, OzoNE Lounge at Anthony’s Steakhouse, Free.
READER RECOMMENDS OPEN MIC & SONGWRITER SHOWCASE, (Folk/Singer-Song writer ) 9:00 pm, Barley Street Tavern, FREE. FIRST CUT INDUSTRY NIGHT W/DJ KNOWTORIOUS, (DJ/ Electronic ) 9:00 pm, House Of Loom, Contact House of Loom for cover charge.
READER RECOMMENDS JAMAICAN QUEENS W/ WORRIED MOTHERS, BLUES CONTROL, & RAKE KASH, 9:00 pm, Waiting Room, $7.
TUESDAY 1
DA CRABBY BLUES BAND, (Blues) 6:00 pm, Shucks 119th St., FREE.
READER RECOMMENDS JAZZOCRACY, (Jazz) 6:00 pm, Zoo Bar, Free. TROUBADOUR W/ GERADO MEZA, LLOYD MCCARTER, JON DELL, KEN MORTON AND SALT CREEK STRUMMERS, 9:00 pm, Zoo Bar, $4.
READER RECOMMENDS HALL MAKES HIS FACULTY ARTIST PERFORMANCE DEBUT, (Classical) 7:30 pm, Kimball Recital Hall, Contact Kimball Recital Hall for cover charges. DAD’S BEER NIGHT FEAT. JOHNNY KOENIG & BOLZEN BEER BAND!, 8:00 pm, Duffy’s Tavern, $5. JR HOSS, 8:00 pm, OzoNE Lounge at Anthony’s Steak house, Free.
READER RECOMMENDS KARAOKE THEATRE, 8:30 pm, House Of Loom, Free.
WEDNESDAY 2
WARPED WAX W/TURNTABLIST CMB, (DJ/Electronic) 12:00 am, House Of Loom, Free.
READER RECOMMENDS CRASH & BURN BLUES JAM, (Blues) 6:00 pm, Barley Street Tavern, FREE.
READER RECOMMENDS THE KINSEY REPORT, 6:00 pm, Zoo Bar, $10. DICEY RILEYS, 7:00 pm, Brazen Head Irish Pub, Free: 21 and up | $5: 18 and up. SWALLOWS WITH ONE EYE WHITE, (Rock) 8:00 pm, Louis Bar and Grill, $5. TWIN FORKS W/ MATRIMONY, SKYPIPER, (Indie) 8:00 pm, Slowdown, $13 ADV/$15 DOS. BLACK JOE LEWIS, (Rock) 8:00 pm, Bourbon Theater, $12: Advance | $16: Day of Show. THE RIDE IT OUT TOUR: RADICAL SOMETHING W/ DOWN WITH WEBSTER, (Rock) 8:00 pm, Waiting Room, $13 ADV / $30 VIP. WARPED WAX W/TURNTABLIST CMB, (DJ/Electronic) 8:00 pm, House Of Loom, Free. THE RUMBLES, 8:00 pm, OzoNE Lounge at Anthony’s Steakhouse, Free.
READER RECOMMENDS ROCK PAPER DYNAMITE, (Folk/Singer-Songwriter) 8:30 pm, Pizza Shoppe Collective, Free. DJ RELIC, (DJ/Electronic) 9:00 pm, Zoo Bar, FREE. FULL SERVICE (TX) & FADED, 9:00 pm, Shamrock’s Pub & Grill, Contact Shamrock’s for cover charges.
READER RECOMMENDS MARISA ANDERSON/SIMON JOYNER/RAKE KASH, 9:30 pm, O’Leaver’s Pub, $5.
BY B.J. HUCHTEMANN
Shawn Holt, Candye & Laura
S
hawn Holt’s first nationally released recording, Daddy Told Me (Blind Pig Records), hit stores Tuesday, Sept. 24. The CD features Holt, son of the late Magic Slim, with another Lincoln musician, Levi William, and Holt’s father’s Teardrops rhythm section, Chris Biedron (bass) and Brian “B.J.” Jones (drums). Shawn Holt & The Teardrops do a mix of songs including five Shawn Holt originals along with a couple of Magic’s tunes. Former Magic Slim sideman John Primer guests on the disc. Reviewer and blues musician Pierre Lacocque (of Mississippi Heat) wrote that Shawn Holt “only uses a thumb pick for his guitar, with no special effects, and straight into his amplifier. It is indeed a guitar style that is reminiscent of his father’s…Not many quartet blues ensembles today can reproduce the unique and deceptively simple lumps and blues that Magic Slim used to play. This band is unique in that it can… and does! Effortlessly…The passing of the torch from father to son is a success. A new era begins.” For more see facebook.com/shawnholtandtheteardrops. It is worth noting that both Shawn Holt and Levi William are former winners of the Blues Society
hoodoo
of Omaha’s Nebraska Blues Challenge and have represented the BSO at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. (Full disclosure, I am an advisor to the BSO and a member.) Candye Kane: The wondrous Candye Kane is back at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar Wednesday, Oct. 2, 6-9 p.m., and at Omaha’s 21st Saloon Thursday, Oct. 3, 6-9 p.m. Bandleader and vocalist Kane is touring in support of her recent, excellent release Coming Out Swingin’ on her own Sister Cynic label featuring fine, versatile guitarist Laura Chavez. These ladies are a one-two punch of commanding roots musicianship with plenty of swing and jump-blues in this release. Kane is also a cancer survivor who seeks to empower others fighting health issues or adversities. None other than B.B. King has pronounced, “Candye Kane has that big, brassy voice that has authority and sass; the kind of thing men like because it’s seductive and women like because it’s powerful.” See candyekane.com. Hot Notes: Omaha’s 21st Saloon is shifting the time of Thursday blues shows to 6-9 p.m. Up this Thursday, Sept. 26, is The Kinsey Report. Hailing from Gary, Indiana, The Kinsey Report features brothers Donald, Ralph and Kenneth, who carry on in the blues tradition begun by their father Big Daddy Kinsey. They are also at the Zoo Wednesday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m. ,
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. Follow her blog at hoodoorootsblues.blogspot.com.
SEPT. 20–OCT. 27 Featuring Broadway Actor Timothy Shew as Jean Valjean
6915 CASS STREET | (402) 553-0800 | WWW.OMAHAPLAYHOUSE.ORG sponsors:
orchestra sponsor:
media sponsor:
Did you know that Jake’s does Happy Hour? Now you do. Monday thru Friday 4pm - 7pm
62nd & Maple jakescigars.com
hoodoo blues
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
25
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 Movieha!, a weekly half-hour movie podcast (movieha.libsyn.com/rss), catch him on the radio on CD 105.9 (cd1059.com) on Fridays at around 7:30 a.m. and on KVNO 90.7 (kvno.org) at 8:30 a.m. on Fridays and follow him on Twitter (twitter.com/ thereaderfilm).
ADAM SANDLER
26
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
I
f you like smiling and aren’t criminally demented, Prisoners is a damn rough watch. Stuffed to the gills with child abduction, overmedicated depression and familial implosions, director Denis Villeneuve’s bloated whodunit is a puppy suicide away from the most joyless way to spend well over two hours. This isn’t to say it’s not an A-level thriller so crackerjack that it jacks all of the crackers. It’s just really hard to heap praise on a bleak condemnation of, like, everything, including the Lord Almighty. A quick note before we get into synopsizing: Bravo to writer Aaron Guzikowski for coming up with the absolute most catastrophically insane character names this side of a YA sci-fi novel. Keller Dover (Hugh Jackman) is so unbelievably American that we meet him as he says the Lord’s Prayer while his son shoots a deer. He’s got a basement full of supplies for any emergency and a goatee. Techni-
REPORTCARD
n Kids these days with their YouTubes and their Vines on their iPhones and iPads, watching clips and things. In my day, you used to watch one movie for a reasonable length of time and you liked it! Maybe me and these whippersnappers can split the difference with the help of Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater. Together with curator Jackson Street Booksellers, Film Streams has unveiled its fourth annual Local Filmmakers Showcase, running Oct 17-24. There are six films by seven filmmakers (Pat Clark, Ryle Smith, Sally Nelson Barrett, Joseph Knapp, Kelly Rush, Jerry Johnston and Pat Aylward) combined in on a 98-minute block. So your Generation Ys or Millennials or whatever can satisfy short attention spans and fans of yesteryear can watch a movie-length feature. For more information, use one of them fancy gizmos to go to filmstreams.org. And get off my lawn! n She’s not done acting, but Cate Blanchett has been so badass in front of the camera, if she chose to drop the mic and walk away, no one could talk smack. But seeking another challenge, the luminous talent is going to turn Herman Koch’s novel “The Dinner” into her first directorial effort. Described as a “psychological thriller,” the film will involve two families that are forced to make a hard decision set in motion by their sons over a tension-filled meal. So, basically it’s what happens at the Syrek household at Thanksgiving when there’s only one piece of dark meat left. n Adam Sandler, tired of producing cancerous movie spam, has agreed to do two grown-up movies that aren’t Grown Up movies. The Cobbler, which is an indie drama from director Thomas McCarthy, and Men, Women & Children, a dark satire from director Jason Reitman, mark what appears to be Sandler “trying” again. Who knows if it will work, but even a slight delay in the inevitable Grown Ups 3 gives us a chance to become better people and reject it when it gets here. —Ryan Syrek
We’re the Millers C Classic comedy misfire: The trailers have all the funny. READER RECOMMENDS
Blue Jasmine B+ A show-stopping performance for Cate Blanchett, who shows no signs of stopping. ON DVD
Fill the Void AOy vey is this marriage plot set in a Hasidic community good!
| THE READER |
film
cally, that last one isn’t exclusively American, but “graying goatee” just screams patriotic survivalist for some reason. At Thanksgiving with his wife (Maria Bello) and their friends, Franklin (Terrence Howard) and Nancy Birch (Viola Davis), Dover’s daughter goes missing along with the Birch’s youngest girl. The immediate suspect is Alex Jones, and not just because he’s played by Paul Dano, but because he was seen in the area lurking in a beat-up RV. Tattooed, twitchy supercop Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) brings him in for questioning, but after interviewing him and his aunt Holly (Melissa Leo), he decides the kid knows nothing and lets him go. This doesn’t sit well with “vigilante in waiting” Mr. Dover. So he does what any caring dad would do: snatches the mentally challenged Alex, chains him to a radiator and tortures the bejeezus out of him. America! ON DVD
The East B+ A thoughtful thriller with Brit Marling, who you love. Trust me. Iron Man 3 ATurns out, if you have a script, you can make a killer superhero movie. World War Z CAdapted from the book, in that they kept the title. And barely that.
Briefly, it looks like the underlying theme of Prisoners is going to be some ham-fisted, ill-intended justification for mutilating and psychologically damaging human beings to get information. It doesn’t quite wind up there, but giving any more away ruins some fairly well-constructed twists and turns. What can be said is that nothing Jackman does to Dano is any worse than what he did to anyone who watched all of Les Miserables. The major problem is Villeneuve’s failure to economically use his time. Slow-playing plot points is fine, but showing scene after scene of people driving to and from places to elongate the separation of question and answer is only irritating. Still, the cast is great, with Gyllenhaal doing some clever and minimal work via awkwardly buttoned shirts and bizarre affectations that bespeak a character never over-defined. And Jackman gives a full-fledged “Gimme an Oscar please!” performance that is well-intended if slightly much. It all comes down to whether or not you have a taste for twisty procedurals laced with sadism and horrifying commentary on humanity’s shortcomings. In other words, whether or not you love “Law and Order: SVU.” Prisoners is a rock solid entry in a slightly icky genre. GRADE: B
sports
Calming Influence Huskers address tackling, prepare for Big Ten
missed tackles, a problem that has plagued the Huskers since the season-opening kickoff. “We tackle in practice. You stress it. You drill it. You do tackling drills,” he said. BY MIKE BABCOCK Yet the problem remains. “I just told our guys, ‘Let’s face it, guys, there has aylor Martinez can do just about anything on a football field, except use a headset. to be a mentality. You have to have a certain kind of “He didn’t even know how to turn it on,” mentality when you take the field.’ I just feel like, Ron Kellogg III said following Nebraska’s 59-20 vic- sometimes, we’re sitting back, taking it,” said Pelini. By “taking it” he didn’t mean the field. tory against South Dakota State. “I’ll give him some “There has to be a sense of urgency,” he said. tips on how to work the headset next time.” Kellogg knows how to work one. He’s done it a “A big part of playing defense is having an attitude. Right now, we don’t have the right attitude. That lot during his Husker career. Whether there will be a next time depends on starts with us as coaches.” Numbers can be mind-numbing, of course, but the health of Martinez, who watched the South Dakota State game from the sideline, out of uniform consider these. Nebraska has allowed, on average, 463.8 yards per game during non-conference play. and with the headset, after figuring it out. Only one team in school history Martinez was held out of has given up more than 400 yards the game because of a turf-toe per game over the course of a seainjury, his quarterback’s job son, the one in 2007 (476.8). capably handled by Kellogg, Ironically, perhaps, Nebrasa fifth-year senior, and Tomka’s offense displayed the quality mie Armstrong, Jr., a redshirt for which Pelini was looking. freshman. “We had an attack mentality, Armstrong got the start, which is kind of the opposite (of ) but the two shared snaps. And what we played defensively,” he after they directed the Husksaid. “We played on our heels and ers to a comfortable lead, indecisive defensively. Ryker Fyfe, a redshirt fresh“A big part of this game is man walk-on, also got an opyour mental approach. It’s a huge portunity. part of this game. I think our ofThe victory provided fensive coaches did a lot better some calm in an otherwise TOMMIE ARMSTRONG job. I think we condensed what turbulent week. Watching a young quarterback, in particular, perform as adver- we were doing. I thought it helped us. I thought we tised during his recruitment will do that to fans. So played fast offensively.” The Huskers, with Armstrong and Kellogg manwill seeing a patient, team-oriented veteran such as aging the offense, finished with over 300 yards both Kellogg finally get an opportunity. Now Nebraska has a bye-week before opening rushing (335) and passing (310), the first time that’s Big Ten play against Illinois at Memorial Stadium. happened, ever. “I’m really happy for those two quarterbacks,” Then the Huskers will go on the road for the first time – six weeks into the season – travel to Purdue, Pelini said. “I thought they did really well. That was take another week off and play at Minnesota before our best rhythm offensively. I thought we came out and got done what we needed to get done.” the heart of the conference schedule. Armstrong directed touchdown drives on his The bye-week comes at a good time for Nebraska’s defense, which gave up 465 yards to a FCS team, first two series, and his first pass at Nebraska was albeit a very good FCS team, featuring an outstand- complete, to I-back Ameer Abdullah, for a 28-yard ing running back in Zach Zenner, who rushed for gain. Martinez served as a mentor, as he has since last 202 yards and two touchdowns, on just 21 carries spring. “He just told me to be patient and stay leveland in three quarters. Zenner didn’t carry in the fourth quarter, after headed and run the offense, don’t try to rush the game, don’t try to win the game by myself, just trust the game was out-of-hand. Why all the numbers? Well, despite the decisive in my teammates and be a leader,” said Armstrong. Kellogg also was a mentor to Armstrong and to victory, Husker coach Bo Pelini had some justified concerns about the defense, some of them funda- Martinez, his roommate, about the headset. “I get to tease him about it later,” Kellogg said., mental – such as tackling, or more to the point,
B
"ffff! BEAUTIFUL." SA M A DA M S, TIM E OU T NE W YOR K
CALL OR CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR MOVIE TIMES AND PRICES
sports
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
27
newsoftheweird
T H E WO 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 LU S T R AT I O N S B Y T O M B R I S C O E
First Amendment Blues
I
n the public libraries of Seattle (as in most public libraries), patrons are not allowed to eat or sleep (or even appear to be sleeping) or be shirtless or barefoot or have bad body odor or talk too loudly -- because other patrons might be disturbed. However, in Seattle, as the Post-Intelligencer reported in September, librarians do permit patrons to watch hard-core pornography on public computers, without apparent restriction, no matter who (adult or child) is walking by or sitting inches away at the next screen (although librarians politely ask porn-watchers to consider their neighbors). Said a library spokesperson: “(P)atrons have a right to view constitutionally protected material no matter where they are in the building, and the library does not censor.” Cultural Diversity Japan and Korea seem to be the birthplaces in the quest for youthful and beautiful skin, with the latest “elixir” (as usual, based on traditional, centuries-old beliefs) being snail mucus -- applied by specially bred live snails that slither across customers’ faces. The Clinical Salon in central Tokyo sells the 60-minute Celebrity Escargot Course session for the equivalent of about $250 and even convinced a London Daily Telegraph reporter to try one in July. (Previously, News of the Weird has informed readers of Asian nightingale-feces facials and live-fish pedicures.) Unclear on the Concept: Among people earnestly devoted to palmistry (the foretelling of the future by “expert” examination of the inner surface of the hand), a few in Japan have resorted to what seems like cheating: altering their palm lines with cosmetic surgery. According to a July Daily Beast dispatch from Tokyo, Dr. Takaaki Matsuoka is a leading practitioner, preferring an electric scalpel over laser surgery in that the latter more often eventually heals over, obviously defeating the purpose. He must be careful to add or move only the lines requested by the patient (e.g., “marriage” line, “romance” line, “money-luck” line, “financial” success line).
28
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
| THE READER |
weird news
Latest Religious Messages Iran’s INSA news service reported in January that officials in Shiraz had acquired a finger-amputation machine to perhaps streamline the gruesome punishment often meted out to convicted thieves. (A masked enforcer turns a guillotine-like wheel to slice off the finger in the manner of a rotary saw.) Iran is already known for its reliance on extreme Islamic Sharia, which prescribes amputations, public lashings and death by stoning, and Middle East commentators believe the government will now step up its amputating of fingers, even for the crime of adultery. Smiting Skeptics: Measles, despite being highly contagious, was virtually eradicated in America until a small number of skeptics, using now-discredited “research,” tied childhood vaccinations with the rise of autism, and now the disease is returning. About half the members of the Eagle Mountain International Church near Dallas have declined to vaccinate their children, and as of late August, at least 20 church members have experienced the disease. The head pastor denied that he preaches against the immunizations (although he did tell NPR, cryptically, “(T)he (medical) facts are facts, but then we know the truth. That always overcomes facts.”). Outraged Jewish leaders complain periodically about Mormons who, in the name of their church, posthumously baptize deceased Jews (even Holocaust victims) -- beneficently, of course, to help them qualify for heaven. Church officials promised to stop, but in 2012 reports still surfaced that not all Mormons got the memo. Thus inspired, a “religious” order called the Satanic Temple conducted a July “pink mass” over the Meridian, Miss., grave of the mother of the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, Rev. Fred Phelps Jr. -- posthumously “turning” her gay. (Westboro infamously stages small, hate-saturated demonstrations denouncing homosexuals and American tolerance.) Ten days later, Meridian prosecutors charged a Satanic Temple official with misdemeanor desecration of a grave. Questionable Judgments Australia’s chief diplomat in Taipei, Taiwan, said in August that he was suing local veterinarian Yang Dong-sheng for fraud because Dr. Yang backed out of euthanizing the
COPYRIGHT 2013 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).
diplomat Kevin Magee’s sick, 10-year-old dog. Instead, Dr. Yang “rescued” the dog, who is now thriving after he patiently treated her. Magee’s lawsuit claims, in essence, that his family vet recommended euthanization, that he had paid for euthanization, and that “Benji” should have been put down. Dr. Yang said the fee Magee paid was for “medical care” and not necessarily euthanization. (Benji, frolicking outside when a reporter visited, was not available for comment.) In August, a prosecutor in Houston filed aggravated rape charges against a 10-year-old girl (“Ashley”) who had been arrested in June and held for four days in a juvenile detention center. A neighbor had seen Ashley touching a 4-year-old boy “in his private area,” according to a KRIV-TV report -- in other words, apparently playing the time-honored, rite-of-passage game of “doctor.” Squirrels Gone Wild Smithsonian magazine detailed in August the exhaustive measures that military officials have taken to finally block relentless Richardson’s ground squirrels from tunneling underneath Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana and interfering with the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles on 24/7 standby. For example, officials had to use trial-and-error to plant underground screens deeper into the ground than the squirrels cared to dig. A day after that report was published, a bus driver in Gothenburg, Sweden, crashed into a tree (with six passengers requiring hospital treatment) after swerving to avoid a squirrel in the road. On the same day, a New York Times reporter disclosed that his own news monitoring for 2013 revealed that squirrels have caused 50 power outages in 24 states in the U.S. since Memorial Day after invading electric company substations. Progressive Governments In July, the Czech Republic approved Lukas Novy’s official government ID photo even though he was wearing a kitchen colander on his head. Novy had successfully explained that his religion required it since he is a “Pastafarian” -- a member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (a prank religion pointing out that all deities’ power and wisdom comes
from followers’ faith rather than from tangible proof of their existence). In August, a judge in Voronezh, Russia, accepted for trial Dmitry Argarkov’s lawsuit against Tinkoff Credit Systems for violating a credit-card contract. Tinkoff had mailed Argarkov its standard fine-print contract, but Argarkov computer-scanned it, changed proTinkoff provisions into pro-Argarkov terms, and signed and returned it, and Tinkoff accepted it without re-reading. At least at this stage of the lawsuit, the judge appeared to say that Argarkov had bested Tinkoff at its own game of oppressive, fine-print mumbo-jumbo. The Pervo-American Community He Had a Different Dream: Barely two months before the 50-year commemoration of the March on Washington, Park Police arrested Christopher H. Cleveland and charged him with shooting “upskirt” photos of unsuspecting women lounging on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. According to the officers, Cleveland (who said he was unaware that the photos were illegal) had a computer in his car that contained at least 150 PowerPoint slide presentations of at least 30 images each of his multitude of female photo victims. A News of the Weird Classic (July 2010) While the morbidly obese struggle with their health (and society’s scorn), those who eroticize massive weight gain are capturing increased attention, according to a July (2010) ABC News report. Commercial and personal websites give full-bellied “gainers,” such as New Jerseyan Donna Simpson, and their admiring “feeders” the opportunity to express themselves. Simpson became a 602-pound media sensation in March (2010), when she began offering pay-per- view video of herself to an audience of horny feeders. Wrote another gainer-blogger, “Lately, I’ve been infatuated with the physics of my belly ... how it moves with me.” When he leans to one side, he wrote, “I feel a roll form around my love handle.” One sex researcher called it a “metaphor of arousal.” In the end, though, as a medical school professor put it, “The fetish may be in our heads, but the plaque is going to be in (their) arteries.” ,
Roth IRA: To convert, or not to convert? Sherman P. Willis, Agent 4915 N 120th St Ste 107 Omaha, NE 68164 Bus: 402-493-1000 www.shermanpwillis.com Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Evenings by appointment
0901204.1
That is the question. With the recent tax law changes, more people can take advantage of a Roth IRA. Let me help you decide. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. CALL ME TODAY. ®
State Farm, Bloomington, IL
weird news
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
29
The 2013-2014 National Performance Seasons presents
Come experience this critically acclaimed, hugely entertaining theatrical production! Includes exciting new arrangements of the classic songs everyone knows and loves.
l
Friday,
OCT. 11 8:00 pm
Proudly presented by:
Hear original, never-before-heard songs written by the late legendary songwriter, Ron Miller (“For Once In My Life”).
l
Recorded voice overs made exclusively for this show by Sandy Hackett’s father, the late legendary comedian, Buddy Hackett.
l
Omaha East / Council Bluffs
at Horseshoe Casino
Box Office: 712.388.7140
Iowa Western Community College
BUY TICKETS ONLINE: artscenter.iwcc.edu
30
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2, 2013
| THE READER |
planet power
planetpower W E E K L Y
H O R O S C O P E S
“…A
nd now the leaves fall to the ground, as time slips away…” (from the song “Patience,” on my “Zodiac” CD), and we’re granted an analogy from nature. Our (living) days are also shortening. With the autumn comes the resolution/dissolution of our spring seeds — one way or the other — into our most beautiful season of all, fall. No wonder we start this season with the most lovely sign of loving partnerships; Libra. Hey, Romeo! Make your move in a week (the New Moon the 4th), when next we speak. And you, Cleopatra, make up your mind; it’s either love (Mark Anthony) or money (Caesar) — or you can kiss your “asp” goodbye. —MOJOPOPlanetPower.com
g LIBRA (9.22-10.21) Venus is residing/hiding in secretive, enigmatic, enchanting, emphatic, pedantic Scorpio (your 2nd Hou$e of economy) ’til lunchtime on October 7th. Somehow you can expect (your?) $exuality to enter into the bargaining… I feel that you’re going to have to $weeten (lubricate?) the deal to make it real. Rely on your charms now, and be reborn in a week, when next we speak. h SCORPIO (10.22-11.20) Your esoteric ruler Pluto (in Capricorn) is in perfect sextile (a beneficial 60° aspect) to Capricorn’s ruler Saturn in Scorpio, an example of “mutual reception”! Sounds like L.O.V.E. to me, especially during our current Libra transit, in which Saturn is/would be exalted. Meanwhile, Venus is transiting Scorpio ’til October 7th, reiterating your need for — and to feel — love. There must be more than one way to show someone that you love ’em(?) — and when you figure it out, please tell/prove it to me. More on love next week… i SAGITTARIUS (11.21-12.20) How many extra pounds did you sweep under your t-shirt this past month, during Virgo? How does the MOJO know (Jupiter in Cancer is the answer) that you can’t wait ’til your guests split, so you can hit the fridge and gobble like the pre-Thanksgiving turkey you are. Last chance to fast ’til spring… Yeah, I didn’t think you’d hear that. Hey! Wha’cha gonna do with that last Twinkie? Gobble, gobble… j CAPRICORN (12.21-1.18) Please read Scorpio. They’ve got you by the short and curlies. They’ll trade your foundation($) for their (sexual/ occult insightful/magique) “regeneration,” and go back and forth for these next four months ’til your birthday. k AQUARIUS (1.19-2.17) Back in your element. You find the beauty as/when/if you travel; if not in your body, then in your mind. Study and work on
B Y
M O J O P O
your art (without purpose) and your art philosophy, and be prepared to present your art to the world — as Libra’s ruler Venus currently resides in your 10th House of fame and fortune. l PISCES (2.18-3.19) You’ve got a beautiful, moneymaking deal just a week away. Harmony, balance, design and beauty provide the key$ to your economy. [Astrologically] there are 2 kinds of money in this world: yours (the 2nd House) and other people’s (the 8th House). They feed each other like a sister and a brother (Libra). a ARIES (3.20-4.18) A samurai without a king or queen to serve remains a rogue. You’ve got ’til mid-October (Mars in Leo) to trade your sword for your/a reward. Meanwhile (esoterically), study astrology on October 9th and avail yourself of the harmony of the spheres. I’ll explain why next week, after the New Moon in your opposite sign of Libra on October 4th. ’Til then, low profile for a while. b TAURUS (4.19-5.19) From the eyes of your lovers (Venus in Scorpio), both the present and past — somewhere between your first and your last — will come the answers to the questions that you don’t/won’t have to ask. Body language is so much more in“sight”ful than mere words in expressing (some)one’s true feelings. Look in-/on to the eagle’s (Scorpio’s?) eyes for a/your surprise if you can, and show me/yourself a holy woman/ man. Study Tantra. c GEMINI (5.20-6.19) It’s too deep for you, I know; life and death, death (your ruler Mercury in Scorpio) and breath (Gemini). Study the mysteries of life and death before they come knockin’ on your door and study you. Study the occult and/to learn their language beforehand. If there is no magique, then why do we have a name for it? d CANCER (6.20-7.21) Prepare your house for next week, when next we speak. The New Moon in Libra, in your 4th House, is on October 4th. Time to define/use/explore harmony, balance and design. Let the harmony of the spheres enter through your ears. Music may/is/will be in the key of “D.” e LEO (7.22-8.21) Please read Aries, and then hire those most worthy to serve thee. You need them as much as they need you, right? A king or queen without followers/attendants becomes/remains a hermit. Wear red to get ahead and green to remain serene ’til October 15. f VIRGO (8.22-9.21) Oh, no! Get it done by the next Full Moon in Aries on October 18th. Mark down the date of October 29th. It’s gonna be a mother…and you know how you love children! But how does the MOJO know? See you next week, and I’ll show you once mo’! ,
omahabillboard
* *FUN LOCAL SINGLES* Send Messages FREE! Straight 402-341-8000. Gay/ Bi 402-341-4000. Use Free Code 7880,18+ WILD LOCAL CHATLINE Listen to Ads & Reply FREE!! 402-341-8000. Use Free Code 7881,18+ MEET GAY & BI LOCALS Reply to Public Ads FREE! 402-341-4000. Use Free Code 5985, 18+ “GERMANS HAVE MORE FUN!” See how at Oktoberfest in New Ulm. Food, drink, music, dancing, vendors, parade, familyfun activities and more! New Ulm, MN Chamber 1-888463-9856 www.newulm.com www.newulmoktoberfest.com (MCN)
NATIONAL BENEFIT PLANS ARE YOU RECEIVING: Advance commissions paid weekly on all carriers? Fresh telemarketed (double verified) leads weekly? Incentive trip annually? Production bonuses - monthly and annually? If you are serious about your career and want to be part of a team, call for a confidential interview. 1-800-947-3271.
National Benefit Plans (MCN) CUT YOUR STUDENT LOAN payments in HALF or More Even if Late or in Default. Get Relief FAST, Much LOWER Payments. Call Student Hotline at 1-855-387-3305 (MCN
$$$ ACCESS LAWSUIT Cash Now!! Injury Lawsuit Dragging? Need $500$500,000++ within 48/ hours? Low rates Apply Now By Phone! 1-800-568-8321. www.lawcapital.com (MCN) GUARANTEED INCOME for Your Retirement - Avoid Market Risk & Get Guaranteed Income in Retirement! CALL for FREE copy of our SAFE MONEY GUIDE Plus Annuity Quotes from A-Rated Companies! 1-800-599-8308 (MCN) DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT To Heritage For The Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 1-800283-0205 (MCN) FREE AUTO/PERSONAL INSURANCE QUOTES! Call Us Today and Save BIG!!! Why Pay More? 1-888-6098425 (MCN)
END STRESS. Gain confidence. Succeed. What if self-doubt, irrational fears and insecurities no longer held you back in life? Millions have found the answer with Dianetics. 1-800-722-1733 or www.dianeticsbook.com (MCN)
SUPPORT FOR MACs. Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, QuarkXpress, Microsoft Office, Creator, software and hardware conflicts or failures. 15+ years experience. Call Slayton Solutions at 515-360-8100 for contract information and get 3 months FREE with annual support contract...and peace of mind that you have the support you need (MCN) CANADA DRUG CENTER is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 75 percent on all your medication needs. Call today 1-800-263-4059 for $10.00 off your first prescription and free shipping. (MCN) ATTENTION SLEEP APNEA SUFFERERS with Medicare. Get CPAP Replacement Supplies at little or NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 1-888-705-4795 (MCN)
omahadigs APARTMENT FOR RENT One bedroom, Central Air, Services paid, $550/Deposit. 1138 S. 29th St., 402.553.6533. STUDIO APARTMENT Services Paid. $400/Deposit. 1138 S. 29th St, 402.553.6533. COLORADO MOUNTAINS! 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2200 sq. ft. 5 acres wooded mountain hillside; view Pike’s Peak from deck. Zoned for animals, 480 sq. ft. shed. http://394sprucedrive.epropertysites.com. Bernetta Miller 719-272-1275 (MCN)
AIRPLANE: 1966 ALON A2 AIRCOOP. Total Time 2663 hrs.; since major overhaul 1427 hrs.; since total engine overhaul 257 hrs. KX125 Radio, Transponder with Mode C, 196 GPS, New annual in July and more! 1-507-8221223 or 1-507-831-4136 (MCN) WANTED: ALL MOTORCYCLES Before 1980, Running or Not. Japanese, British, American, European. Any Condition Accepted. Top Cash Paid, Free Pick Up. Please Call 1-315-5698094 (MCN)
TRAILER SALE! 8.5’x28’ EX Speedloader Gooseneck, removable fenders, 14,000# Deck extensions, Aluminum wheels, pump box & tool box, $8,147.00; 8.5x24’ +2’ Gooseneck with flip-up ramps, 14,000# $5,019.00; Close-Out on all Aluminum Utility trailers!!! 125 trailers in stock! 1-515-9724554 www.FortDodgeTrailerWorld.com (MCN) CASH FOR CARS: Any Make, Model or Year. We Pay MORE! Running or Not Sell your Car or Truck TODAY Free Towing! Instant Offer: 1-888-420-3805 (MCN) RV, SPORT, REC & GUN Consignment Sale, Sat., Oct. 5, 2013 at 9:00 A.M. Please get gun permits to buy, prior to sale. Consign early by Sept. 23, 2013 for complete advertising. Gilbert’s Sale Yard, LLC, 641-398-2218. 2 Mi. N. of Floyd, IA On Hwy. 218. Tractor House Internet Bidding Available. www. gilbertsaleyard.com (MCN) ROOMMATES.COM Browse hundreds of online listings with photos and maps. www.Roommates. com. (AAN CAN)
WARNING HOT GUYS!
SAFE STEP WALK-IN TUB: Alert for Seniors: Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less than 4” Step-In. Wide Door. Anti-Slip Floors. American Made. Installation Included. Call 888-744-2329 for $750 Off (MCN) $14.99 SATELLITE TV. Includes free installation. High speed internet for less than $.50 a day. Low cost guarantee. Ask about our FREE IPAD with Dish Network. Call today 1-855331-6646 (MCN) DISH TV Only $19.99/mo! Tired of Paying for Cable? TV Simply Costs Less with DISH! Free Premium Channels*! High Speed Internet from $19.99! Call 1-888778-8550 (MCN) SAVE ON Cable TV-Internet-Digital Phone-Satellite. You’ve Got A Choice! Options from ALL major service providers. Call us to learn more! CALL Today. 888583-4941 (MCN)
FREE TO LISTEN & REPLY TO ADS!
Omaha
402.341.4000
Dating Easy made
Omaha
402.341.8000 FREE to listen & reply to ads!
FREE CODE: Omaha Reader For other local numbers call:
1-888-MegaMates
TM
24/7 Customer Care 1(888) 634.2628 18+ ©2013 PC LLC 2562
DIRECTV Over 140 channels only $29.99 a month. Call Now! Triple savings! $636.00 in Savings, Free upgrade to Genie & 2013 NFL Sunday ticket free!! Start saving today! 1-800-991-2418 (MCN)
FREE CODE: Omaha Reader For other local numbers call
1-888-MegaMates
TM
www.MegaMates.com
24/7 Friendly Customer Care 1(888) 634.2628 18+ ©2013 PC LLC
3119
DISH TV RESELLER - SAVE! Starting $19.99/month (for 12 months). FREE Premium Movie Channels. FREE Equipment, Installation & Activation. CALL, COMPARE LOCAL DEALS! 1-800390-3140 (MCN) REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL! Get a whole-home Satellite system installed at NO COST and programming starting at $19.99/mo. FREE HD/DVR Upgrade to new callers, SO CALL NOW 1-855-237-7524 (MCN) MEET SINGLES RIGHT NOW! No paid operators, just real people like you. Browse greetings, exchange messages and connect live. Try it free. Call now: 800-357-4970 (MCN) PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Call Us First! Living expenses, Housing, Medical and continued support afterwards. Choose Adoptive Family of Your Choice. Call 24/7. ADOPT CONNECT 1-866743-9212 (VOID IN IL, IN) (MCN) A UNIQUE ADOPTIONS, LET US HELP! Personalized Adoption Plans. Financial Assistance, Housing, Relocation and More. Giving the Gift of Life? You Deserve the Best. Call Us First! 1-888-6378200. 24HR Hotline. (VOID IN IL) (MCN) ADOPTION: Art Classes to Zoo Trips & Everything in between! First Baby will be our King/Queen. Expenses paid 1-800-598-4594 Shira&Justin (MCN)
billboard
| THE READER |
SEPT. 26 - OCT. 2 , 2013
31
98749.7 | OMAHA READER | 09.26.2013
Thank you for a successful 10th season! See you next year! Schedule and artist subject to change. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-BETS-OFF (In Iowa) or 1-800-522-4700 (National). ©2013, Caesars License Company, LLC.