EXPERIENCED TRUCK DRIVERS needed to drive the Midwest. Driver friendly company with good pay and benefits. Call (507)437-9905 www.mcfgtl. com (MCN)
HAYNEEDLE, INC. in Omaha, NE seeks a Rich Internet Applications Developer (#DEV118). Please fax resume to (402)7153487 quoting job #. DIRECTV is currently recruiting for the following position in Omaha: OPERATIONS MANAGER. If you are not able to access our website, DIRECTV.com, mail your resume and salary requirements to: DIRECTV, Attn: Talent Acquisition, 161 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, CO 80112. To apply online, visit: www. directv.com/careers. EOE. HOTSHOT DELIVIERIES Delivery Specialist. Go to OmahaJobs.com for info. WESTAR FOODS Shift Leader and Crew Member. Go to OmahaJobs.com for information.
USA PARKING SYSTEM Valet Parking Attendants. Contact Valleri Hruska at vhruska@usaparkingsystem.com or (402)5522708. Go to OmahaJobs. com for more information. PURA VIDA VEIN CENTER & WELLNESS SPA Registered Nurse and Surgical Tech. Contact Tina Severson at tinasev4@aol.com or (402)502-5599. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information. RAILSERVE, INC. Rail Switchman. Contact hr@railserve.biz. Go to OmahaJobs.com for info. DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Community Outreach Manager. Contact Kathy Aultz at director@douglascohistory.org. Go to OmahaJobs.com for info.
PRINTCO GRAPHICS Receptionist. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more info. WEST CORPORATION Now Hiring Multiple Positions. Go to OmahaJobs. com for more information. ALEGENT HEALTH Now Hiring Multiple Positions. Go to OmahaJobs. com for more information. THOMPSON, DREESSEN & DORNER, INC. Survey Technician. Go to OmahaJobs.com for info. APOLLO RETAIL SPECIALIST Merchandiser. Contact Tammy Warr at tammy. warr@apolloretail.com or call (813)712-2520. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information. ESU #3 ParaProfessional. Go to OmahaJobs.com for info.
ENCARTELE, INC. Marketing Assistant. Jon Osborne at jon.osborne@ encartele.net or (402)8813948. Go to OmahaJobs. com for more information. WESTERN STATES RECLAMATION Heavy Equipment Operation. Email resume to broe@wsreclamation. com. Go to OmahaJobs. com for more information. INVISIBLE FENCE OF THE HEARTLAND Customer Service. Shelly Fickler at ifheartland@ gmail.com or (402)3305015. Go to OmahaJobs. com for more information. TRANS CONTINENTAL CONSULTANTS Physical Therapist. Contact Kristi Weldon at (402)753-7230. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information.
ALL ITEMS ONLY 99¢ FIND A LOT. SPEND A LITTLE. Reserve99 brings a new twist to the Goodwill shopping experience -- you'll find an eclectic blend of used clothing, accessories and household items all for just 99¢! That's right, everything is under a buck! We've got jeans priced cheaper than a pack of gum. So the next time you're in the downtown area stop by Reserve99.
WWW.GOODWILLOMAHA.ORG 2
AUG. 7 - 13, 2014
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omaha jobs
NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY Accounting Manager. Contact Michele TetreaultMertes at mtetreaultmertes@nehumanesociety.org or (402)444-7800. Go to OmahaJobs.com for more information. AFRICA, BRAZIL WORK/ STUDY! Change the lives of others and create a sustainable future. 1, 6, 9, 18 month programs available. Apply now! www.OneWorldCenter.org (269)591.0518 info@OneWorldCenter. org (AAN CAN) AIRLINE JOBS begin here – Get trained as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Housing and Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance (800)725-1563 (AAN CAN)
#1 HIRING COMPANY APPLY NOW: Production/Packing $9-10 Machine Operators $12$14 Welders- all shifts $15 Entry Level Labor $9 We offer benefits after the 1st week, and all positions are temp-to-hire!! Apply online or call!!! www.remedystaff. com. 402-934-7171
PAID IN ADVANCE! Make $1000 a week mailing brochures from home! Genuine Opportunity! No experience required. Start Immediately! www.localmailers.net (VOID IN SD, WI) (MCN)
Fall quarter begins Sept. 2. Enroll today.
BOTTOMLINE CONCEPTS OF NE Account Representative. Contact John at john@blcgroup.net or at (402)8940486. Go to OmahaJobs. com for more info. $1,000 WEEKLY!! MAILING BROCHURES From Home. Helping home workers since 2001. Genuine Opportunity. No Experience required. Start Immediately www.mailingmembers. com (AAN CAN)
The cost of MCC is probably one of the cheapest in Omaha. I don’t have to have any debt when I graduate. And it’s a great college. Alexis Martinez MCC student
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
Sick Because You Want to Be
I
t sounds cold and harsh, but in all likelihood you’ll die of a disease caused by your own doing. In 1900, most people died of a disease caught from someone else or another source, with respiratory infections, tuberculosis and intestinal infections the leading tickets to the Great Beyond. Heart disease and cancer were way down the list. By 1940, that had all changed and by 1990, the top three killer diseases in the United States were all mostly preventable. For the first time in human history, we don’t die primarily from communicable diseases but from diseases caused by lifestyle choice. The major diseases that are killing us now start with heart disease and cancer then include Alzheimer’s, complications from diabetes, chronic liver disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, metabolic syndrome, chronic renal failure, osteoporosis, stroke, depression and obesity. Each one of these can often be either eliminated or extensively lessened by lifestyle changes. Eating death. The American diet has changed radically in the past 60 years. Americans are leaders in per capita meat consumption. We ate 450 percent more meat in 2007 than we did in 1909. We eat more junk food than any other country. And our diet is the primary lifestyle change that can affect our health. By eliminating processed foods, balancing the types of foods we eat by emphasizing a plant-based diet and avoiding bureaucratic guidance, we stand a much better chance of living in health rather than surviving with disease. It’s a familiar refrain, but the link between diet and death is well established. If you want to step outside the norm and avoid causing your own illness, take simple steps. Lose the processed foods. A first step to break the chain would be to swear off processed foods — all of them. The entire commercial food environment has gotten far too centralized, far too impersonal and far too polluted with questionable additives and ingredients. If you can’t process your favorite food in your own kitchen or access from a trusted source, do without until then. It goes without saying, nearly every time you eat out, anywhere, you’re taking a leap of faith. Dump the meat-centric diet. History has shown that a vegetarian diet is in general the most healthful. It’s also obvious that 90 percent of Americans won’t take that step. At least learn to take meat — of any kind — off the top billing for meals. Practice little things like “Meatless Mondays” or such, where you
consciously avoid meat. Making plant-based meals a norm will get your diet back in balance. Unfortunately, things like pasta fall into the “processed” category so you’ll have to learn better ways to eat that homecanned spicy tomato sauce you learned to make. Try it over rice. Think for yourself. Look, doctors, government agencies, institutionally trained dietitians even, tout a company line and nutritional advice that keeps changing to suit whoever is writing the textbooks or funding the research. We could list a hundred “guidelines” published over the past 75 years that have been misguidance, incorrect, contradictory or downright dangerous. They change every six months! Reach a point where common sense and intuition joined with your own experience guides your food choices. Convenience, price, even hyped up “flavor” should not inform your dietary choices. Learn to read your body. Any restaurant can make a good tasting meal. But how do you feel eight hours later? Or the next day? How did you sleep that night? Same goes with homecooked meals. If the food you eat is making you sick, change what you’re eating! Other lifestyle changes, too. Obviously, diet isn’t the only choice that impacts health. Prescription drugs, alcohol, inactivity, smoking and more are some negative aspects one has to examine for cause. On the proactive side of things, stress is a huge killer so learning a real meditation technique is crucial, maybe even the single most important change one can make for health. It seems all other good choices come more easily after we tune up our decision-making engine known as the mind. There is no better way to tune it than with true meditation. Plus, it is a good idea to keep the intellectual part of the mind active along with the body. Exercising the intellect is proven to keep mental decline at bay just as exercising the body enhances metabolism and the immune system. I’m not the expert here. You are. I’m just reporting observations. It’s understandable that we’ve fallen prey to the misguidance of corporate entities and governmental chicanery but it’s completely within our power to make changes that save money in the long run, save our health and improve our quality of life. It’s human nature to attempt to reverse the law of cause and effect. We always want to blame something outside ourselves as the reason for our predicament. In actuality, we have utter control over our choices. Making the right lifestyle choices can be easy, and make our lives easier, too. Be well. ,
VISIONS FROM FIVE MINUTES INTO THE FUTURE • AUGUST 7, 2014 • By 2014, white people will be the minority in America. One of the first changes we will see is a subtle shift in history books, which will replace the story of European men settling this country with a more diverse narrative of many people from throughout the
world, and a bottom-up look at history in which the experiences of slaves and migrant workers are given as much priority as that of presidents and millionaires. Some will complain, but, then, the complainers will generally be in the minority.
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.
heartland healing
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D O G DAYS : A DELIGHTFUL ASSAULT ON ALL YOUR SENSES B Y TA M S E N BU T L E R
Extend your summer with a new Triumph purchase today. Choose a new Modern Classic or Cruiser and have your pick between one of two limited-time offers; either a special financing package for qualified buyers or up to $1,000 in Triumph vouchers to use in-store or online. Please visit your local Triumph dealer for all program details. This offer may be used in combination with the New Rider Training program.
W
hen you walk into B&B Classic Dogs in Bellevue you’re going to have to make a decision as to where you will allow your attention to be pulled. Will you want to stop and savor the smell of the food? Will you want to allow your gaze to wander over to the menu on the wall, or will you instead get caught up in the bright lights and loud noises of the arcade in the back of the restaurant? Will you be able to disregard all these sensory events and boldly stride to the counter, confidently ordering a hot dog?
Calm down. It’s not meant to be stressful.
mato, pickle and peppers on a poppy seed bun. It was tasty; the hot dog was big and juicy and the toppings were fresh. My fries were good too, and I could tell they had just been cooked. You get to choose the size of your hot dog. I had the 1/4 lb hot dog, but from what I understand there’s a 2-foot option. Now I don’t know what’s going on in your life if you need to attack a 2-foot hot dog, but I’m not judging. There are plenty of other options too. If you don’t like hot dogs, order one of the menu items with something else like chicken or a Portobello mushroom. The next time I visit, I think I’ll try one of their hot dogs
Opened last year, B&B Classic Dogs can be summed up in one word: fun. I mean, hot dogs are fun and arcades are fun, so put them both together in one place, and it’s a fun explosion. There’s a lot more to this place than that, though. The food is actually good, even though most places with arcades can get away with less than stellar food since kids still want to go there to play games.
Good food, good times
Breeze Cycle
5545 Center Street Omaha, NE 68106 • (402) 992-5500
www.breezecycle.com
This place doesn’t try to pass off mediocre hot dogs. Instead, all their hot dogs are all-beef Nathan’s hot dogs and come in a wide variety that makes both kids and adults happy. I visited with my kids, and although it took me a while to get them to walk away from the arcade, when they did finally sit down and eat they were happy with their plain hot dogs and French fries. “Be really discerning,” I told them. “Is this hot dog better than other hot dogs you’ve eaten?” “Uh-huh,” my son answered. “Can I have more quarters for the arcade now?” If you’ve never spent any time with an eight year old, then you probably don’t realize that this is indeed a shining endorsement of the food.
Some traditional, some strange To be truthful, I kind of wanted to order the “PBB,” which features peanut butter and bacon, but that was only so I could say I’d eaten it. So I instead went with the Chicago Dog, which has a pretty traditional set of toppings including mustard, green relish, onion, to-
crumbs
■ NOSH’S NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF Nosh Wine Lounge on 10th and Dodge has a new executive chef. With former executive chef of two years Isaiah Renner leaving to pursue other business ventures, Rocco Caniglia is stepping in to take over the kitchen. noshwine.com ■ SMILES - AND LOCAL FOOD Even more local foods are showing up on the shelves at a couple of Hy-Vee stores, including the 132nd & Dodge and the 156th & Maple locations. Check out their new offerings from Branch Oaked Farm, Davey Road Ranch and Dutch Girl Creamery, all of which are located within Nebraska. hy-vee.com ■ SALT 88 ACCOLADES Salt 88 was selected for the Wine Spectator’s 2014 Award of Excellence. This
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featuring cream cheese because I like cream cheese, I like hot dogs, and therefore it’s a logical next step to try the two together.
A friendly place There’s a friendly atmosphere at B&B Classic Dogs. I could tell that many of the people who visit this place do so frequently, as they all seem to know Diane, who is one of the owners. When I briefly chatted with Diane she told me that opening the restaurant was a real dream come true. I could tell she was having a good time as she went from table to table checking on everyone. Simply put, this is a fun, casual place that serves good food. Just be sure to bring some money for the arcade if you’re bringing kids. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. , B&B Classic Dogs, 1020 Lincoln Road, Suite B (Just west of the Bellevue Library) Sunday-Thursday: 11 a.m to 9 p.m. FridaySaturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. www.bbclassicdogs.com award goes to restaurants offering diverse, interesting wine lists that nicely complement their food menu items. Salt 88 was also recognized for having an inexpensive wine list, which most people can certainly appreciate. salt88.com ■ POTBELLY SANDWICH SHOP The first Potbelly Sandwich Shop in Nebraska is set to open Nov. 1 in the North Park Shopping Center near 120th & Blondo. Nebraska natives Craig and Kendall Frantz will run the restaurant, and they promise a community-driven shop with sandwiches, shakes and live, local musicians. potbelly.com — Tamsen Butler Crumbs is about indulging in food and celebrating its many forms. Send information about area food and drink businesses to crumbs@ thereader.com.
O M A H A P E RF OR ME R RE CALLS H ER FRIEN DSH IP WITH JO HN N Y CAS H
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ith impresario Gordon Cantiello’s new tribute show The Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash at The Waiting Room, it’s only natural to consider what makes the singer-songwriter of the title so enduring. The king of hard-scrabble, honky-tonk infused with gospel, country, folk, blues and rock, became a living legend with his Man in Black and Folsom Prison Blues persona. His soulful music fit his wayfaring life. In his last decade Cash enjoyed a renaissance among artists and fans across the musical spectrum. The Reader solicited local musicians and music lovers to reflect on his work and found many admirers, but only Brenda Allen, aka Brenda Allacher, counted him as a friend. She also jammed with Cash and played on the same bill as the late star. As a young vocalist-guitarist Allen was befriended by Cash, whose generosity she fondly remembers. Their memorable first meeting happened in 1958 when she auditioned for a guest spot on ABC-TV’s Ozark Jubilee at the Jewell Theatre in Springfield, Mo. She was 18 with some modest credits. Cash was 26 and already an established star. “I did my audition and they said I could stay and see the show, which was starting in about an hour. My girlfriend and I were looking at three guys sitting in front of us. They weren’t regulars on the show.” A dark-featured man in a black shirt caught Allen’s eye. “I said, ‘God, he’s good looking,’ and my girlfriend said, ‘All three of them are good looking.’ Yeah, I wonder who that is?”’ In the meantime the Jubilee’s version of a Hee-Haw couple, Uncle Cyp and Aunt Sap Brasfield, were rehearsing. A live elephant was part of the act. The animal did some tricks. Then the beast decided to pee. “It sprayed 20 rows out. All the performers BRENDA ALLEN were in their costumes already. Everybody got hit. We were soaked,” Allen recalls. “We dived under the seats and I saw these long legs go running over top and I said, ‘Is he done yet?’ And this deep male voice said, ‘No, you better stay down there,’ and he went on by me. Finally I peeked up and they were putting saw dust all over the place, wiping seats down and I heard that same voice say, ‘Well, how high is the
CASHBACK water, mama?’ I said, ‘It’s two feet high and rising.’ It was Johnny Cash. “I popped up and said, ‘Are you staying across the street?’ ‘Yeah,” he said. ‘We’re staying there, too, you want me to bring you a shirt?’ ‘Hell, yes,’ and he gave me the key to his room and I got him a clean shirt. “We sat and played guitars that night and talked about country music. That’s what started it. He was a perfect gentleman.” After returning to her home in Lincoln, Neb. Allen stayed in touch with Cash. “I wrote him a letter and I got a letter back. I set him a picture of myself with my Fender Telecaster and he sent me his first song book. Without me even knowing it he sent my picture to Fender. That’s the kind of guy he was. Fender offered me a contract to model.” She never signed. Instead, she landed with Marty Martin, who gained fame as Boxcar Willie. In 1962 the Marty Martin Show Featuring Brenda Allen opened for Cash at Lincoln’s Pershing Auditorium and Omaha’s Civic Auditorium. Later,
as part of the Taylor Sisters, she was on the same program with Cash at a 1964 Wichita, Kansas show also featuring June Carter, Minnie Pearl, the Statler Brothers and Lefty Frizzell. “I’d say we were in damn good company.” “Wonderful,” is how she describes sharing the stage with Cash. “He had such a charisma about him. You just felt there was something special about this guy.” His interest in her career continued. “I told him I was looking to join a band and he said, ‘Why not get your own band together?’ He told me, ‘You’ve got a damn good voice.’ He and his lead guitar player Luther Perkins sat me down and said, ‘Brenda, stick with country music, you’re going to make it.’” The elephant anecdote always connected Allen and Cash. As for his troubled personal life, she says, “Around the time June Carter entered the picture I started noticing things about John from when I first met him. I knew of the wildness.” Depression and addiction took their toll in “the bad years.” Allen’s been there. At 74 the recovering alcoholic is a karaoke regular. She sings some Cash tunes. His melancholy, redemptive ballads work well with female interpreters. Just ask Erika Hall, who performs Cash standards in Ring of Fire. “He was real, he was gritty, he was flawed, he
music
BY LEO ADAM BIGA
spoke for all of us who make mistakes, who feel pain, and he had a very unique gift of being able to tell that story through music,” Hall says. “He gives us something to grab onto when we feel like we are alone in our pain. I find it interesting how well some of those songs do transfer to a female singer. It just shows you how much emotion was present in that music.” Hall, who essayed Patsy Cline in a recent Cantiello-produced show, says the Cash canon lives on because “he was able to speak to multiple generations in the same way.” She adds, “Pain is pain, joy is joy – those emotions don’t change from generation to generation and Johnny Cash was able to send those emotions through his music in a way every human can identify with. He spoke to us. That’s his legacy.” That legacy cuts across boundaries performer Billy McGuigan (Rave On) says. “There are very few artists who ascend above the labels used to classify artists. We love to say Elvis is the King of Rock, Michael Jackson is the King of Pop, Hank Williams and Waylon Jennings are undeniably country. But The Man in Black? He’s above all that. He started as an early rock artist, became a country icon, a television personality and influenced the undertones of rap music. “There’s something about that voice. That deep baritone resonates the soul and goes beyond his just singing a song. Add in the driving rhythm of the Tennessee Three and you’ve got a magical formula.” “The legacy of Johnny Cash stretches across seven decades,” Pacific Street Blues host Rick Galusha says. “His influence was felt at the onset of rock and roll at Sun Studios and into the new century with his historic American recordings with Rick Rubin. Any artist able to stay-on-top while maintaining a high level of artistic integrity is bound to be influential.” “Who hasn’t been inspired by Mister Cash?” asks Rainbow Recording studio owner and Paddy O Furniture band leader Nils Anders Erickson, “He wrote and sang about what he knew and you believed him. It wasn’t just a song, it was the truth. Love the man, love the music.” , The Ring of Fire cast also includes Sue Gillespie Booton, D. Kevin Williams, Thomas Gjere and Zach Little. Cantiello directs with musical direction by Mark Kurtz and Vince Krysl. The show’s remaining play dates are Saturday, August 9 at 1, 5 and 8 p.m. and Sunday, August 10 at 1 and 5 p.m. The Waiting Room is at 6212 Maple Street. For tickets, call 402706-0778. For details, visit performingartistsrepertorytheatre.org. Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at leoadambiga.wordpress.com.
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TOPTV JERSEY BELLE
Monday, 9 p.m. (Bravo)
At first glance, “Jersey Belle” comes on like one of those housewife reality series everyone loves to hate. Jaime is a brash Jersey girl with an Italian/Jewish heritage who follows her husband to a high-society suburb in Alabama. You brace yourself for the usual inanities, but Jaime proves an unusually interesting subject. She’s smart and perceptive — a rarity in this genre — and offers a running commentary on the strange little subculture she finds herself in. The Southern belles don’t know what to make of this straight-shooting outsider who can see right through their Stepford Wives routine. “I know that beneath the permanent smiles on all these chicks’ faces, they have real issues just like everybody else,” Jaime says. Naturally, you expect catfights — the raison d’être of this kind of show. But Jaime surprises you by befriending her new neighbors and sticking up for them with Jersey-style ferocity. “Jaime on your side is the most amazing ally in the world,” says one woman. You can criticize me all you want for loving “Jersey Belle.” I don’t care — I know Jaime will have my back. — Dean Robbins
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 AU G . 7 - 1 3 , 2 014
THURSDAY7
FRIDAY8
LACHLAN PATTERSON
Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 7-10
Friday, Aug. 8
Funnybone Comedy Club and Restaurant 17305 Davenport St, Suite 201 Village Pointe Shopping Center $15-$20, THU: 7:30 p.m. FRI: 7:30 & 9:45 p.m. SAT: 7 & 9:30 p.m. SUN: 7 p.m. (402) 493-8036, funnyboneomaha.com
North 30th Street Corridor (start at MCC’s Fort Omaha Campus Mule Barn, Bldg. 21 and go North at select venues (see entire list below) 6-9 p.m., Free
LACHLAN PATTERSON
At an early age, Lachlan Patterson knew that he would have to use his sense of humor to get him through tough situations. At the age of 19 he performed his first show at an amateur night in his hometown of Vancouver, B.C. After several years spent learning the art of standup comedy, Patterson started to find his stride and began touring throughout Canada, landing him at festivals like Montreal’s Just for Laughs, the Halifax Comedy Festival and the Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival. His television appearances include “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham,” “Tosh.O.,” the FX comedy “Legit” and VH1’s “Sexiest Artists.” Patterson’s debut album Jokes to Make Love To made Rooftop Comedy’s top 10 in its first year and continues to be a major seller on Amazon and iTunes. In his free time, Patterson co-host’s his weekly podcast “The Kooks of Komedy,” with fellow comedian Joe Praino, where they discuss surfing, comedy and their personal lives. Lachlan is a finalist on this season’s “Last Comic Standing” appearing on each and every episode through Aug. 14, when the winner is announced live. The comic says appearing on LCS has already impacted his career in a big way. “For the first time in my life, people have been coming to my show because they want to see me as opposed to just see a comedy show,” Patterson says. “It’s always been a dream of mine to have people who know and understand my point of view in the audience and now, when my name is announced, I can tell by the applause that the audience actually knows who I am. It feels great. I feel more of a connection with the audience right away and it allows me the comfort to explore more on stage. And I get more money, which is cool.” Don’t miss your chance to connect with Patterson this weekend at Funnybone and check out my full interview with him at www. thereader.com. — Nicole Chizek
ARTS CRAWL
Through Sept. 1
SURFACE TENSION: PAINTINGS BY NOLAN TREDWAY Fuse Coworking 800 P St., Lincoln fusecoworking.com.
Nolan Tredway, Lincoln, Neb.’s “golden boy,” is easily one of the region’s more recognizable young artists. His work over the last 10 years or so has been nothing but consistent as he pushes himself to further develop what seems to be one enormous body of work. Tredway’s nearly 20 new paintings feature a mix of characters, some familiar, some completely new, some a combination of both that can for the most part be broken down into two narratives: watching someone else’s dream and portraits of the creatures they meet in them. The former is to be expected in a Nolan Tredway show. It’s what he’s known for: large format panoramas set in a desolate other place featuring one or two people, usually women, gently interacting with a space that seems foreign to them. The latter feels very new and refreshing: small to medium-format and exquisitely rendered portraits of the characters that either live in or are visiting the artist’s dreamland, a comfort zone of his imagination they all call home. Time and space won’t permit describing every single painting in the show — you should go see it for yourself. — Joel Damon
picks
Established visual and performing artists are joined by emerging artists for this annual event concluding North Omaha Summer Arts (NOSA). North Omaha resident, advocate and artist Pamela Jo Berry saw a need for more arts engagement in her underserved area and she created NOSA in 2011 as a response. The free festival, which included a women’s writing workshop and a gospel concert earlier this summer, culminates in the Arts Crawl. Stroll or drive a short stretch of venues along and near North 30th Street to sample diverse art as well as free food and beverages at each stop. The participating venues are: Metropolitan Community College, Fort Omaha Campus: Mule Barn (Building 21), Church of the Resurrection, 3004 Belvedere Blvd., Trinity Lutheran Church, 6340 N. 30th St., Parkside Baptist Church, 3008 Newport Ave.; and Heartland Family Service, 6720 N. 30th St. The Arts Crawl and North Omaha Summer Arts are reviving North O’s arts-culture landscape in the same way the Carver, the Union, Loves Jazz and the Great Plains Black History Museum are. — Leo Adam Biga ART BY NOLAN TREDWAY
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eventcalendar For more information about these events and more, go online to:
www.thereader.com/events
Upload your events online at thereader.com/events Questions: listings@thereader.com
ONGOINGART Richard Charter: PLAY! - 1:00 pm | Free Smiling Turtle Art Spot August 1-31, Enter the bright, colorful and whimsical world of Richard Charter whose use of vibrant colors is complimented by his skill in the process of batik. Visions of Lewis and Clark - All Day | Free The Kaneko Visions of Lewis and Clark is a unique historical art exhibit consisting of thirty kites commemorating Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery expedition. Truck-A-Tecture - All Day | Free The Kaneko Truck-A-Tecture examines architecture as redefined by mobility and technical expansion. Around the World and Home Again All Day | University of Nebraska at Omaha Display of paintings and sculptures by Katy Haberman. Flock House Project - All Day | Free Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts What if migratory homes with autonomous systems for rainwater collection and food production were the building blocks of the city of the future? Yard/Zone - All Day | Free University of Nebraska-Lincoln An exhibition of stitched sculptural forms by Sarah Wagner of Detroit. Courtney Porto - All Day | Connect Gallery Emerging artist’s exhibit. Mixed Media & Musical Instruments - All Day | Fred Simon Gallery The art of Michael Giron and Riccardo Marchio in the Mixed Media & Musical Instruments exhibit.
Visions of Lewis and Clark Kite Expo - All Day | $3-$7 Lauritzen Gardens Visions of Lewis and Clark is a unique historical art exhibit consisting of thirty kites commemorating Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery expedition. Throughout the summer, these kites will be on view at ten participating locations throughout the metro area. Urban Design Lab - All Day | Free Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Chlo Bass and Teal Gardner, two of the Bemis Center’s Artists-in-Residence, are collaborating with 20 local researchers to shed new light on the nature of our urban landscape. Kids Rock Kindness - 10:00 am | Free Sarpy County Museum CritterKin Kindness Quilts, storytelling and drawing at event for kids to celebrate Bellevue 3rd Graders’ project that is part of Sarpy County Museum exhibit. Visit by author/illustrator Jena Ball (a.k.a. Ms. Jenaia) via Google HangOut part of the multi-media experience. Fabric quilt and paper quilt, with embeds of kids’ videos, are in exhibit of more than 100 quilts: Depression to Digital: Celebrating 80 Years of Quilting. Bellevue project part of national campaign to teach and engage kids with kindness, a respect for differences and that animals (critters) are family (kin). Exhibit on view till Aug. 16.
THURSDAYAUG 7 ›››MUSIC››› Jazz on the Green - 7:30 pm | Free Turner Park at Midtown Crossing Bringing traditional and contemporary sounds
of Big Bands will be Sing, Sing, Swing Orchestraon. Free swing dance lessons will begin at 6:45 p.m. Third Thursdays with Thornburg 8:00 pm | Free The Side Door Lounge Jazz group. Reggae Night - 8:00 pm | Free The Hive Lounge Join us every Thursday night for some great live reggae. Against Me! - 8:00 pm | $18 The Bourbon Theatre Lincoln. Kevin Gates - 8:00 pm | $15 The Slowdown Omaha The school of hard knocks has been breeding grounds for many of the most talented musicians in history. Reformed Baton Rouge hard head Kevin Gates is one of these extraordinary entertainers. The Talbott Brothers Band - 9:00 pm | Barley Street Tavern The Talbott Brothers Band w/ Maxwell Hughes (former Lumineers guitarist) and John Larsen
›››MISC››› Structured Chaos - 12:00 am | Backline Improv Theatre 1618 Harney St. Omaha, NE 68102 A full night of long-form improv at it’s finest, jam-packed with many of Backline’s best teams. If you love forms, this night is for you. Thu Aug 7, 2014 First Thursday Art Talk - 7:00 pm | Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Join us for our newly formatted Art Talk program when we open up space for interactive dialogues between the Artistsin-Residence and you, the audience. Comedy Stiles Open Mic - 10:00 pm | Free Hosted by Preston Tompkins.
FRIDAYAUG 8 ›››MUSIC››› The 402 - 8:00 pm | Free Ameristar Casino Honeyboy Turner - 8:00 pm | Free McKenna’s Blues Booze and BBQ Honey Island Swamp Band - 8:00 pm The Hive Lounge Firehouse Concert - 8:00 pm | $20-$30 Ralston Arena The American metal band that skyrocketed to stardom during the boom of the music video era with such hits as ‘Love of a Lifetime’ and ‘When I Look Into Your Eyes’, will perform Friday, August 8th at the Ralston Arena with special guest The Randall Zwarte’ Band. Taxi Driver - 9:00 pm | Free Ozone Lounge Jolie Holland - 9:00 pm | $12+ The Slowdown Omaha Over the span of her career, Jolie Holland has knotted together a century of American songjazz, blues, soul, rock and roll into some stew that is impossible to categorize with any conventional critical terminology. Sevendust - 9:00 pm | $22-$26 The Bourbon Theatre Matt Cox Band Album Release Show with Sarah Benck, The Filter Kings & The Electroliners 9:00 pm | $7+ The Waiting Room Lounge Alive To Dream w/ Megaton and The Author & The Illustrator 9:00 pm | Barley Street Tavern Alive To Dream w/ Megaton and The Author & The Illustrator
›››MISC››› “Interrogated” - 10:00 pm | Backline Improv Theatre Our weekly show featuring a rotating cast of Backline’s finest players. Audience members volunteer to come up on stage and confess something they’ve gotten away with in their life, then we send them back and perform scenes based on that information. Arena: Champions vs. Challengers - 11:00 pm | Backline Improv Theatre Champions vs Challengers! Each teams gets 20 minutes to win your vote to come back next week!
SATURDAYAUG 9 ›››MUSIC››› Session 7 - 8:00 pm | Free Ameristar Casino Join us in the Amerisports Bar for some of the best live entertainment. Actual time may vary. Sue Murray - 8:00 pm | Free McKenna’s Blues Booze and BBQ Mama Lenny - 8:00 pm | The Hive Lounge Hi-Fi Hangover - 9:00 pm | Free Ozone Lounge Renowned for insane guitar, thunderous percussion, pile driving bass riffs, off the hook vocals and a live show that is second to none. Sailing in Soup - 9:00 pm | Free Havana Garage The Revivalists - 9:00 pm | $10-$12 The Bourbon Theatre The formation of The Revivalists was all about chance, but everything since then has
backbeat
Buy Tickets: Ralston Arena Box Office
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been a combination of hard work, awesome music, and friendship. The septet has been playing nonstop since 2007, crafting a genre-hopping sound that rounds out traditional rock instrumentation with horns and pedal steel guitar and mixes the divergent backgrounds of its individual members with the humid, funky undercurrents of the bands New Orleans home.
›››MISC››› Saturday Night Show - 9:00 pm | Backline Improv Theatre Come watch a Sketch/Standup show by some of Nebraska’s top stand-up comedians. The Shidiots - 9:00 pm | Barley Street Tavern The Shidiots w/ Millions of Boys, Free Cake for Every Creature and Once a Pawn Sweet Corn Festival - All Day | $3-$7 Lauritzen Gardens Guests can enjoy a variety of activities, entertainment and plenty of delicious, locally grown sweet corn. They can hop on the hayrack ride, cool off with free samples of ‘Nebraska Sweet Corn’ ice cream from Ted & Wally’s Premium Homemade Ice Cream, purchase freshly popped kettle corn and learn about corn (and other New World foods) through fun, educational activities.
SUNDAYAUG 10 ›››MUSIC››› Sunday Night Trivia - 7:00 pm | Two Fine Irishmen Join us every Sunday for League Trivia and Nachos! Omaha Jewish Film Festival: Film 1 of 4 - 7 pm | Jewish Community Center ‘Fill the Void’ Eighteen year-old Shira is about to be wed when her older sister dies while giving birth. Shira’s wedding is placed on hold and her mother proposes that Shira marry her sister’s husband in keeping with Hassidic traditions. Shira has to choose between her heart’s desire and her family duty. (Israel, 2013, Hebrew with English subtitles, 90 minutes).
Mike Gurciullo and His Las Vegas Big Band - 8:00 pm | Free Ozone Lounge 17 Piece big band extravaganza! Pub Quiz - 9:00 pm | Free The Slowdown Omaha Gather up a team of 5 or less people and get ready to have your wits tested with 40 questions from the Quiz Masters. Always a nice prize!
TUESDAYAUG 12 ›››MISC››› Storm Chasers vs Salt Lake Bees - 7:00 pm Werner Park Come cheer on the Omaha Storm Chasers as they make another run at the Pacific Coast League crown! The Roux - 7:00 pm | Wanda Ewing Gallery A powerful youth spoken word poetry open mic that allows young people the freedom to express themselves in a safe place with community love and support. Time: Doors open at 7pm Cost: $1-Snacks included Family & Community Friendly, as well as, Necessary. Tips by local artist/poet & guest performance. A Verbal Gumbo & The Union of Contemporary Art Presentation, organized by Withlove,Felicia Missing Kitten Comedy Show - 8:00 pm | Free The Pizza Shoppe Collective Monthly standup comedy show hosted by Omaha comics Jack Comstock & Dusty Stehl.
›››MUSIC››› Asking Alexandria - 8:00 pm | $25-$30 The Bourbon Theatre. Ingrid Michaelson - 8:00 pm | $20-$25 Sokol Auditorium In the past two years, Ingrid Michaelson has vaulted from overachieving indie-pop sweetheart to a bona-fide pop star. Her last release, Human Again, debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard album chart (plus No.1 on iTunes). Open Mic Night - 9:00 pm | Free Venue 51
WEDNESDAYAUG 13 ›››MISC›››
›››MISC››› Music in the Park - 6:30 pm | Free Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park Free and open to the public. Music concerts each Sunday night starting at 6:30 p.m. Bring your blanket or lawnchair. The Luke Polipnick Trio - 8:00 pm | The Side Door Lounge Luigi, Inc. - 9:00 pm | Free Mr. Toad’s Pub Omaha
MONDAYAUG 11 ›››MISC››› Samurai of the Spoken Word - 8:00 pm | Free The Pizza Shoppe Collective Come on out for a night of live entertainment. Warning, adult content. Open Mic - 9:00 pm | Barley Street Tavern Singer-songwriter open mic every Monday night at 9pm. Sign up at the bar after 7pm.
n The Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards’ Summer Showcase will once again take over downtown Benson for its summer music showcase. The event presents several dozen local bands in bars and venues along Maple Street. This year’s showcase is set forfor Friday, Aug. 22, and Saturday, Aug. 23. The Waiting Room Lounge, The Sydney, the Barley Street Tavern, Burke’s Pub, the P.S. Collective, the 402 Collective are hosting bands. For a list of bands and other details, go to www.oea-awards.com. n Saddle Creek Records artists and former Omahan Jake Bellows debuted a four-song Daytrotter session at the end of July. The set is available online at Daytrotter.com and features selections from his 2013 solo record New Ocean.
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Gallery Walk - 5:00 pm | Old Market Artists Gallery Gallery Walks are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month (May-Dec) from 5-8pm. Come Spice Up your midweek with GREAT art and GREAT food. Omaha Storm Chasers vs Salt Lake Bees - 7 pm | Werner Park Comedy Open Mic - 10:00 pm | Barley Street Tavern Comedy
›››MUSIC››› Lionel Young - 7:00 pm | $5 McKenna’s Blues Booze and BBQ Open Mic Night - 8:00 pm | The Side Door Lounge Join Aly Peeler as she hosts our weekly open mic series. Stanley and The Search - 8:00 pm | $5-$7 The Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln The five-piece indie/punk band hailes from Los Angeles. Nostalgia Wednesdays - 9:00 pm | Free Ozone Lounge Live music.
n Bands hoping to include a mid-March trip down to Austin as part of their spring break plans better get started on their online applications for 2015’s South By Southwest Music Conference and Festival. The applications to play a showcase at the yearly gathering of bands, labels, industry professionals and music fans is now live at SXSW.com. Music week at SXSW runs from March 17 through March 22. Applying is one of the ways to get picked for the event and basically the only way if a band doesn’t already have a publicist or booking agent hosting a showcase in Austin during the week. The application deadline for the 2015 event is Oct, 10. — Chris Aponick Backbeat looks at music in the metro area. Email information to backbeat@thereader.com
BEST SOUP WINNER Broccoli Cheese at J.Coco: One must be diligent to find themselves lucky enough to encounter the famous J.Coco broccoli cheese soup. A rare soup special, it draws a crowd with its creamy, yet light texture. There will be no hiding your veggies once you taste the stillbright broccoli in this fresh take on a soup standard! Follow J.Coco on Facebook to stay on top of the ever-changing specials.
Tomato Cashew at McFoster’s: Surprisingly smoky, this pleasant soup will leave you wanting for nothing. French Onion at Marks Bistro: Presented in a rustic crock with a crust of rich gruyere, this perfectly seasoned soup will warm you through even on Omaha’s coldest of winter days.
Duck Noodle Soup at Saigon Surface: The Duck Noodle Soup, or Mi Vit Tiem, is elegantly prepared with roasted duck breast, egg noodle, bok choy, pickled papaya, and shiitake mushrooms.
Tom-Kah at Bangkok Cuisine: Take a spicy coconut milk base and add mushrooms, tomatoes, lemon grass and a host of other ingredients and you have the best tom-kah in town. Chicken Florentine at Sgt Peffers: You have to visit on a Friday if you want to order this hearty, award-winning soup. BROCCOLI CHEESE AT J.COCO
Clam Chowder at Shuck’s: The freshest of seafood becomes a hearty meal in this rich and creamy dish, which would please even your most skeptical of East Coast critics!
DESCRIPTIONS BY TAMSEN BUTLER & SARA LOCKE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTIN BARNES
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BEST SALAD
BEST SANDWICH
WINNER
WINNER
Seafood Provisions: The ever-humble iceberg gets a much needed makeover with this brilliantly bright salad! Applewood smoked bacon adds depth to the one-dimensional greenery while avocado, grape tomatoes, and cucumbers contribute lightness and fun. Blue cheese crumbles and creamy dressing create a rich finish to the succulent lobster’s canvas. Salad is no longer for the finicky fork pusher, but a hearty meal for a sophisticated palate.
A culinary adventure on toasted wild yeast bread! Start with a moist seared chicken breast, followed by an unctuous confit of leg salad. Crispy skin adds more texture and dimension before going nearly overboard with a sticky, delicious, fried egg. Take your time with the first bite to appreciate the artistry of putting these beautiful, locally sourced ingredients all in one dish, and then just go for it!
Lobster Wedge Salad at Plank
Wilted Red Kale Salad at Blatt Beer & Table: You might not think that “shaved fennel” sounds all that appetizing, but when you add it to a delicious mix of apples, raisins, almonds, coriander and vinaigrette, you’re going to change your mind.
Squid Salad at Hiro 88: An elegant Japanese vinaigrette finishes off this signature salad that still manages to taste fresh even though it’s made of squid.
Farm Greens at Dante Pizzeria: If you think this delicious salad tastes fresh, it’s because all of these crisp, fragrant, and only lightly dressed greens had a short trip from farm to fork, as they are all locally sourced. Coconut Chicken Salad at Jams: Perfectly cooked chicken complimented by ripe avocado, artichoke hearts, fresh made croutons, red onions, raspberry sauce, and a delicious, creamy herb dressing make this salad an unarguable local favorite! Warm Duck Salad at M’s Pub:
The Whole Bird at Kitchen Table:
LOBSTER WEDGE SALAD AT PLANK SEAFOOD PROVISIONS
BEST APPETIZER WINNER
Ricotta Bread and Jam at Dante Pizzeria: The perfect start to any dish and the perfect end to any day- the ricotta and peach jam is both sweet enough to send you for a second bite and tangy enough to keep it firmly out of the dessert category. This appetizer is just the right size to get your appetite really revved up for the main course. The Deviled Eggs at Kitchen Table: These are nothing like the warm deviled eggs you’ve endured at family picnics – these beauties feature dill and smoked paprika and are served at the perfect temperature. Gnocchi Bites at Jimi D’s: You get to choose from three dipping sauces when you order these seared potato dumplings, or you can be a rebel and use all three sauces at once.
A truly satisfying salad, your fresh spinach meets flavor and texture with blue cheese, walnuts, red onions, ripe roma tomatoes, bacon dressing, and warm, delicious pulled duck.
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Potstickers at Jams: A generous portion of ginger pork potstickers served with hoisin barbeque sauce is perfectly complimented by a side of spicy coleslaw.
Salt & Pepper Calamari at Salt88: Sometimes the simplest approach is the best- lightly breaded and minimally seasoned, served with marinara and lacking absolutely nothing. Steak and Lobster Duo at J’s on Jackson: There is absolutely no reason to not order this amazing appetizer, especially considering it features Havarti and a basil pesto that will haunt your dreams. Dario’s Mussel Platter at Dario’s: A decadent treatment of the classic, served in ale & leek cream sauce, prosciutto, sorrel, and parmesan. Sampler Platter at Marakech: No need to be fluent in Morrocan/Mediterranean fusion, Marakech offers a generous sampling of each of their signature dishes.
Mo’ Rockin’ Salad at McFoster’s: Treating each ingredient with the same respect they give their clients, McFoster’s hits the nail on the head with a salad containing well-seasoned falafel croquettes, hummus, marinated artichokes, Kalamata olives, pickled onions, and sprouts.
Edamame at Hiro 88: Salty, warm, and simple, you always know you’ve made an excellent start to your meal as you crunch through your crisp and fresh appetizer.
RICOTTA BREAD AND JAM AT DANTE PIZZERIA
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Fresh Spring Rolls at Laos Thai: Referred to as “fresh” for a reason, these light rolls hit every high note, right down to the sweet chili sauce and peanuts.
THE WHOLE BIRD AT KITCHEN TABLE
The Lux at Block 16: This sandwich features duck –and lots of it- along with ham, cheese and other fixings, and since it comes from Block 16 you know it’s fresh and from locally-sourced ingredients. French Dip at Danny’s: No longer offered at Danny’s, the meaty au jus and generous serving of shaved beef made this your ultimate French Dip. Turkey Sandwich at Jams: Not your standard post-Thanksgiving nosh, this classic is dressed to the nines with melted swiss, avocado, bacon, a tangy tarragon mustard sauce, and sweet balsamic onion marmalade. Brisket BBQ Sandwich at Hartland Bar-B-Que: Loved for more than the generous portion, this sweet and smoky sandwich is a classic for a reason. Veggie Melt at McFoster’s: An entire garden, sliced up and rubbed with garlic before being charbroiled to smoky perfection and piled 4 inches high, topped with fresh basil and your choice of dairy or vegan cheddar.
Mai Thai: Two Delicious Locations T here are changes afoot for the Mai Thai menu. Don’t panic – the delicious food you’ve come to know and love from Mai Thai isn’t changing. You’ll still see all the same amazing options available when you sit down at either location. Whether you prefer to experience Mai Thai at the Harvey Oaks location or the Aksarben location, you can still order the infamous Chicken Mango, or the Chicken Curry, or the Crispy Basil Duck, or anything else you’ve become accustomed to ordering at Mai Thai. No, Chef Preeda Joynoosaeng hasn’t decided to run amok and change everything on the Mai Thai menu. This is certainly good news for everyone who has ever experienced dining at either location. Frankly, he hasn’t decided to change anything when it comes to the food on the menu, so you can breathe a sigh of relief that there won’t be any food changes as far as the menu goes.
What’s changing?
To alleviate any of your other possible fears, it’s important to also state that the impressive drink specials at both locations won’t change either. You’ll still be able to indulge in a $5 Mai Tai or $5 Margarita every single day, which are both spectacular drink specials for the price you pay. In fact, you may have at one point or another worried that these drink specials were just too great to last, but fear not – they’re still around.
Bangkok noodle ( garlic noodle ), yellow curry chicken, panang beef and mango crab rangoon So really, what’s changing?
By now you’re likely at a loss as to what menu changes are afoot. The food is staying the same, and the drink specials are staying the same, so what in the world is left to change?
The prices.
Believe it or not, the prices for menu items at both locations are actually on their way down. This is undoubtedly great news for fans of Mai Thai, because now they can get the same food they love at a lower cost. It’s a decision that came after much deliberation. “We’ve been discussing this for a long time,” says Chef Joynoosaeng. “We have the same menu and everything, but the prices will be lower.” These changes apply to both the Harvey Oaks location and the Aksarben Village location.
Specials coming!
That’s not the only good news, although most people will admit that the news of the menu prices dropping for both Mai Thai locations is pretty good news indeed. Chef Joynoosaeng also has plans for some new specials specific to the Harvey Oaks location. “The specials will be for specific days,” he hints. Keep an eye out for these specials, which will allow Harvey Oaks customers to get even more food for their money
while dining at Mai Thai. It’s an interesting move for a restaurant that has a steady stream of customers at both locations. Instead of assuming that their popularity means they can raise their menu prices, they decided that it was time to make the food even more affordable. This is certainly a sign of a restaurant that appreciates their customers.
The Mai Thai Experience
Lower menu prices don’t translate into a different Mai Thai experience. You’ll still enjoy flavorful, authentic Thai fare at Mai Thai. You’ll still experience excellent customer service in an appealing atmosphere. You’ll just pay less for it all. If you haven’t yet experienced Mai Thai, this is a great time to give it a try. If you’re a fan of Thai food and have yet to dine at Mai Thai, you should truly be perplexed as to why you have not yet gone and enjoyed this authentic cuisine. And if you’re a fan but haven’t been in a while, be sure to stop by the Harvey Oaks location to check out the renovations that were recently completed. You might even spy Chef Joynoosaeng in the kitchen, personally overseeing everything that goes on in there. Visit either Mai Thai location when you’re ready for some exotic flavors and expertly mixed drinks, all at reasonable prices.
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Cold Fried Chicken Sandwich at Big Mama’s Sandwich Shop: Knowing that chicken makes a better sandwich on day two, Big Mama serves it up cold with lettuce, tomato, onion, and her secret sauce.
and spinach and see what keeps them at the top of Omaha’s comfort food pyramid.
Chicken & Waffles at Blatt Beer & Table: This isn’t your typical chicken & waffles; the waffles are made from jalapeno cornbread and the chicken is Dixie-fried, and it’s all served with honey-orange butter and cracked black pepper gravy.
Falafel at El Basha: Served over mixed greens and topped with tahini, the unique blend of beans and spices is balanced perfectly with cooling hint of mint, parsley, and scallions.
Biscuits and Gravy at Over Easy: Top two herbed biscuits smothered in veggie gravy and accompanied by two sunnyside up eggs combine to make one of the ultimate comfort foods in the Omaha area.
Dundee Melt at Dundee Dell: Hot turkey and ham with grilled onions would be enough to entice you into a second bite, but The Dell maintains their cult following by always going one step further than delicious, adding 3 cheeses and a secret sauce to their toasted garlic sourdough.
AL PASTOR AT MARIA BONITA
Cheeseburger at Louie M’s: Burger Lust becomes the 8th deadly sin in this intensely crave-able classic. Swiss Mushroom Burger at Dinkers: Fresh (not canned, not pickled) mushrooms are sautéed to sticky deliciousness and set atop melting swiss cheese and your cooked-to-order burger on a Kaiser bun.
BEST BURGER
Sinful Burger at Sinful Burger:
WINNER
Lamb Burger at Mantra: When it came time to reinvent the burger, the brilliant minds at Mantra decided that they would throw out the rule book and start from scratch. Lettuce, tomato, and onion are all that’s left of the standard in this creative retelling. The base is a house blend of both lamb and pork, seasoned and grilled before being served on a pretzel bun. Instead of the basic ketchup and mustard, a garlic lemon aioli dresses this sophisticated take on Americana. Perfection.
Block Burger at Block 16: If you’re going to indulge in a burger, you can take comfort in knowing that this 1/4 lb. patty with swiss cheese and all the fixings is made with natural, locally sourced ingredients.
Beet Burger at Wilson and Washburn: This is a delightfully unusual burger featuring a seasoned beet patty, smoked peanut butter and pickled jalapeno.
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Portobello Burger at Ingredient: As meaty as vegetarian gets, this hearty burger will satisfy even your most carnivorous craving and is served with eggplant, roasted red peppers, and brie topped with cabernet vinaigrette, and spicy sprouts on grilled ciabatta.
If you’re looking for an indulgence, this signature burger will do nicely as it comes stuffed with cheese inside a 1/2 lb. patty.
BEST TACO WINNER
Al Pastor at Maria Bonita: There’s a reason why the Maria Bonita food truck is consistently sought-after by Omahans – the flavors are vibrant and the ingredients are fresh. The al pastor taco is made from marinated pork and served on either a corn or flour tortilla. It’s one of the most popular items on Maria Bonita’s menu, and rightfully so.
Chicken Taco at California Taco: Offered in soft flour, hard crunchy, or ‘puffy’ California shells with an array of condiments to choose from including fresh cilantro, lime juice, and Pico de Gallo.
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Bean and Queso Fresco Taqueria at La Mesa: The authority on Tex-Mex in Omaha brings you slightly further south with their Taqueria menu, adding a touch of authenticity to the fresh bean and cheese taco. Taco Pastor at El Taqueria El Rey Food Truck: It’s the fresh-tasting meat and flavorful spices that makes this taco one of the favorites in the Omaha area. Taco Pastor at Ixtapa Mexican Grill: Known for their distinctive spices, Ixtapa’s Taco Pastor is substantial and fresh.
Avocado Taco at Voodoo Taco: Deep fried avocado makes for a fun, vegetarian option that is both fresh and flavorful. Soft Taco at Sam’s Leon: These soft tacos are so good that this eatery limits how many tacos a person can order to go on Taco Wednesdays.
BEST CASUAL/ COMFORT DISH
Enchilada Float at Julio’s Tex Mex Grill: Julio’s is already known as making some of the best enchiladas in town, but when you really want to have an enchilada flavor explosion experience, order the Enchilada Float. Choose between chicken or beef, and you’ll get a plate filled to the brim with two impressively large enchiladas smothered in cheese, onion, Tex Mex sauce and queso. If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming in a sea of enchiladas, this is probably the closest you’ll ever get. .
Hot Turkey at Summer Kitchen Café: Just like homemade, without the lumpy gravy!
Bean and Cheese Burrito at Abelardo’s: A portion large enough to share, but a taste so good you won’t be able to.
Johnny’s Big Plate at Stokes: Take a chicken and cheese relleno, add to that a steak and mushroom enchilada, and add to that the signature Sharon’s enchilada, and you have some bona fide comfort food. Meatloaf at Jams: The quintessential comfort food is upgraded in flavor as well as atmosphere.
WINNER
Macaroni & Cheese at Mark’s Bistro: Okay, so maybe it’s made with Cavatappi pasta instead of by-the-book macaroni, but blue boxes don’t win awards, do they? The corkscrew shape of this al-dente pasta is the perfect vehicle for transporting creamy cheese sauce and crunchy panko to your eager taste buds. Feeling adventurous? Opt for one of the clever add-ins, including bacon, red peppers, scallions,
MACARONI & CHEESE AT MARK’S BISTRO
Fungi at Dante Pizzeria: So much more than a mushroom pizza, the meatiness of cremini mushrooms is brightened up with the burst of bell pepper and the richness of gorgonzola.
Sausage Trio at Mama’s: When one type of sausage just isn’t enough, head to Mama’s and enjoy this pizza made with pork sausage, Italian sausage and spicy sausage.
The Cubana at The Pizza Shoppe: When you want pizza, but you’re feeling adventurous, try this inspired concoction consisting of an alfredo and mustard base, topped with peperoni, Canadian bacon, diced pickle, and pepperjack cheese.
BEST PASTA DISH
THE SPECIAL AT FRANK’S PIZZERIA
BEST PIZZA WINNER
The Special at Frank’s Pizzeria: Known as one of the very few true New York style pizzerias in the Omaha area, Frank’s is generous with the toppings and even more generous with the portions. The Special has sausage, peppers, onions, pepperoni, meatballs, black olives, anchovies and a smattering of extra cheese. Order it as a “Big Joe” and you can feed a small army.
The Mia at Pitch: A Pitch mainstay, the fennel sausage sets this slice apart and keeps it an Omaha favorite.
100% Natural Cheese Pizza at Zio’s Pizza: If you’re looking for the best cheese pizza in town, here it is – unbleached dough topped with sauce and gobs of real cheese.
WINNER
Ravioli con Gamberi at Avoli Osteria: The definition of opulence, you’ll spend the rest of your evening reliving the experience. A black squid ink ravioli, rich with shrimp. Instead of a basic marinara or alfredo, your pasta is allowed to speak for itself, served only in hint of fennel and tomato broth. Cooked to a perfect al dente, you
Lobster Mac & Cheese at Plank Seafood Provisions: Bringing a touch of decadence to your childhood favorite, this rich dish manages to be sophisticated without a hint of pretention.
Portobello Ravioli at Nicola’s: Served in a lavish garlic cream sauce and finished with asiago cheese and parsley. Shrimp Diabolo at Louie’s Wine Dive: Garlic shrimp in Sriracha gives a real kick to penne pasta with a fresh lime cream sauce. Spaghetti and Meatballs at Pasta Amore: A classic dish done right, al dente pasta and Italian seasoned meatballs topped with the restaurant’s flawless sauce. Carbonara at Vivace:
Hamburger at La Casa Food Truck: This Omaha staple doesn’t miss a beat, bringing its signature Neapolitan pizza into the Food Truck Revolution.
are able to choose a portion fitting your appetite with both small and full meals.
RAVIOLI CON GAMBERI AT AVOLI OSTERIA
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Grilled chicken breast joins black pepper conchiglie, pancetta, red onion, peas and egg yolk to create a delicious and indulgent dish that you can order for either a half or full portion.
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HERITAGE PORK AT GREY PLUME
BEST ENTRÉE WINNER
Tender chicken is sautéed in a bright, citrusy lemon caper butter sauce and served with linguine.
Heritage Pork at Grey Plume:
Halibut at Boiler Room:
You’ll notice the words “Heritage” and “Heirloom” all over the Grey Plume menu. With a new generation drawing more and more attention to the importance of knowing where your food comes from, Grey Plume embraces local sourcing and ethical practices, while coaxing out maximum essence and quality from each dish. The flavor of the Heritage Pork (Niche Farms) is enhanced by the apple finish, kale, carrot, and a surprising burst of orange.
Alaskan Halibut is served tender and flaky in a fun and inviting atmosphere.
Chicken Franco at Vincenzo’s: Available at lunch, the chicken Franco boasts a boneless chicken breast with a light parmigiana crust served with a white wine lemon butter sauce.
Molcajete Stone Dish at Ixtapa
Southern Chicken at Thai Spice: The Southern Chicken (or Guey TiewKalee) is an easy favorite, simply prepared with chicken, bean sprouts, green onions, and potato all served on stir fried flat noodles with a yellow curry sauce. Chicken Piccata at Jimi D’s:
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so expertly display their impressive array of options, but if you’re a fan of coffee flavor then there’s no question as to what you should order. This big-enough-fortwo-or-three-people serving of cake features chocolate cappuccino mousse on the inside and a delicious, rich chocolate
Chicken at Jack & Mary’s Restaurant: The fried chicken here has been an Omaha favorite for more than 30 years and is served with mashed potatoes and an additional side.
A.A.C Roll at Okinawa Sushi: Avocado, Asparagus, and Cucumber- simplicity at its finest!
Mexican grill: If the kitchen sink could be grilled and seasoned, it’s likely you would find it in this enticing dish of steak, chicken, shrimp, chorizo, and grilled cactus.
BEST DESSERT WINNER
Cappuccino Bombe at Delice: Making a decision on a pastry can be difficult when you visit Delice because they
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CAPPUCCINO BOMBE AT DELICE
cake outer layer. It’s a chocolate coffee lover’s dream.
Tiramisu at Spezia: Leave room for this extravagant dessert, which will end your always-excellent meal on a truly elegant note.
Chocolate Malt at Ted and Wally’s: Create a cool memory on a warm day with this timeless classic!
truly delectable, cream sauce. Served with mashed potatoes, satisfaction is inevitable.
Ginger, macadamia nuts, and a rich crème anglais add texture and fun, making this carrot cake just like (you wish) your mama made.
Filet at Farmer Browns: Choose either large or petite and decide if you want this U.S.D.A top choice cut wrapped in bacon or not.
Red Velvet Cupcake at Jones Bros Cupcakes: Unable to find an unlikeable cupcake in the entire building makes it difficult to settle on just one, but when you do, make it this moist, decadent, creamy confection!
Steak for Two at Le Bouillon: A tender ribeye served in a sumptuous anchovy butter on watercress, this dish is for lovers, friends, or you and your alter ego to share (as long as they’re at least as hungry as you are).
Pecan Rolls at Summer Kitchen Café:
Omaha Strip Steak at Johnny’s: Known as Omaha’s Steakhouse since 1922, Johnny’s strip steak finds itself regularly on favorite lists without pretention or fussiness.
Carrot Cake at Jams:
Sweet and just the right amount of messy, the soft roll is never stingy with the crunch of pecan.
Coconut Sorbet at eCreamery: Dairy free and flavorful, every spoonful tastes like vacation.
J
PEPPER STEAK AT DIXIE QUICKS
BEST STEAK WINNER
Pepper Steak at Dixie Quicks: Texas Chile Pepper Steak is more than a step outside the Tex-Mex box, it’s a step above! With chiles that are smokier than spicy and perfectly complimentary bell peppers, Dixie Quicks could have stopped there for an excellent score. Does excellent sound good enough? Apparently not, as they continued to delight with a thick, and
Julio’s Gives Back
Drunken Steak at Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse: Spiked with Sam Adams, this is a steak mature enough to handle its lager. Whiskey Steak at The Drover: The smokiness of the secret whiskey sauce is coaxed out perfectly by the open flame on which your steak is cooked to your specification.
Filet at Piccolo’s: This long established family favorite will remind you why Nebraska is known for its steak.
ulio’s is well known for their delicious Tex-Mex food and perhaps even more so for having staying power. After all, they’ve been in business for more than 35 years. There’s another element to Julio’s that helps define them, and it’s one that helps further set this restaurant apart from the others: enthusiastic community involvement. “We’ve very proud of the fact that we are able to give back to our community,” says Rick Fox, owner of Julio’s. “We support a variety of charities in the Omaha area, most of which are usually directly connected to a customer.” Rick isn’t the kind of guy to just scribble out a check to a charity and then move on. Instead, he’s hosted fundraisers and supported causes like Dine Out for Nebraska Donors. He’s helped a local mentoring program with which one of his customers is very active. “He does a mentoring and basketball program for inner-city youth, so we help him offset some of the costs for the tutoring he does with kids,” says Rick. “Another customer has a daughter with severe disabilities who lives in a group home, so we bought things for the group home ten or twelve times over the years,” says Rick. These aren’t just charities Julio’s
menu of menus
supports – these are charities with direct ties to the regular customers who have helped Julio’s thrive. Rick presents all this information in a very matter-of-fact way. It’s not like he’s bragging; he just presents the information in a way that demonstrates that this is simply what he feels like Julio’s should do. “We’ve been serving the community for 37 years,” he says. “They’ve been good to us, so hopefully we’ve been good to them.” He says it’s easy to give back. “I don’t want to say we never say no, but we help whenever possible.” So when you eat at Julio’s, you’re doing a few things. First and foremost, you’re getting some really great food. There’s really two ways about it on this one – the food is delicious and authentic. And if all you’re looking for is a meal that will make your taste buds dance, then your mission will be accomplished at Julio’s. But it doesn’t stop there. You’re also helping support a local business, and in turn, you’re also allowing one of the most philanthropic eateries in town to continue to do their good work. Basically, you’re giving back to your local community by eating delicious food, and that’s definitely a win-win situation.
| THE READER |
AUG. 7 - 13, 2014
15
EXOTIC DISH
BEST CRAFT COCKTAIL
WINNER
Lalibela Exclusive at Lalibela Ethiopian:
WINNER
A delicious crash course in Ethiopian cuisine, this dish has it all, including a glossary at the bottom of the menu so you know what you’re ordering. The hard part is deciding which dish is your favorite, but Lalibela removes that obstacle with a generous portion of each of their top dishes. A sampling of several kinds of beef and chicken stews, lentils, vegetables, and potatoes are all served on an authentic, spongy injera.
Dark & Stormy at Side Door Lounge: Known for their utter lack of fear in putting together interesting and daring drink combinations, Side Door Lounge offers this drink that, as legend has it, is the strongest drink on their menu. Though traditionally made with ginger beer, Side Door makes it with ginger syrup made in-house and then adds Jamaican rum and bitters of your choice. The last step is pouring some soda water on top of it all and then it’s down the hatch.
North and South at J. Coco: Sweet and just a little spicy, maple-infused rye is joined by a pear rosemary syrup, lemon and jalapenos. Blood Orange Martini at Mark’s Bistro: The sophistication of a martini made fun and refreshing with a citrusy splash of Blood Orange.
Manhattan at Krug Park: The Kerkhoff Manhattan features Templeton Rye, Carpano Antica Vermouth and Angostura Bitters, which all blend nicely to create a very sophisticated cocktail.
Witch Doctor at Berry and Rye: A spiced rub cocktail with just enough pineapple, this sinful sip will put a spell on you.
Hypnotiq at Hiro 88: This house martini has pineapple vodka and pineapple juice expertly mixed to create a delicious cocktail. Martinis at Blue: A fun atmosphere and affordable happy hour are only accents to the extensive and expertly concocted Martini menu.
Bulldog Rye at French Bulldog: A shaken favorite, this drink gets its distinctive taste from the old overholt rye, honey ginger syrup, lemon and bitters. Frenchman at I.O. Speak: Heading to a place called Indian Oven to enjoy a drink called The Frenchman may seem a little odd, but when you taste this expertly crafted drink it will all make sense. Margarita at La Mesa: Top shelf tequila made of pure agave escalates cocktail hour in one refreshing sip.
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Beef Cheek at El Taqueria El Rey Food Truck: Served not only with the standard lettuce, tomato, avocado, and hot sauce, you’ll also find mayo on your tender and flavorful beef cheek torta. Lamb Kasmiri at Mother India: The flavors will leave you feeling satisfied, the generous portion will leave you stuffed, and the unique blend of spices will keep you coming back for more!
DARK & STORMY AT SIDE DOOR LOUNGE
BEST SPICY DISH WINNER
Enchiladas Diablo at Riveras: You already know what you’re getting yourself into when you order something with “Diablo” in the title. Take steak, jack cheese, and green onions, wrap them in tortillas and then douse it all with habanero sauce, and you have one of the spiciest dishes around. It’s so tear-inducing that the menu clearly states that there will be no refunds for this dish, presumably because some people just can’t handle this kind of heat. Vegetable Curry at Mother India: A hint of spice and rich sauce keep this high on every Omahan’s “best-of” list. Hot Wings at Crescent Moon: There’s a reason why they call these Inferno Wings – the accompanying dill ranch or blue cheese help cool them off a bit, but not much.
LALIBELA EXCLUSIVE AT LALIBELA ETHIOPIAN
Fessen Jun at Ahmad’s Persian Cuisine: Fesenjan, or chicken cooked in a walnut pomegranate sauce, keeps you on your toes with hints of turmeric and cinnamon, maintaining warmth and heartiness in a playfully sweet dish.
Paella at Espana: A (delicious) taste of Spain, you will not find an argument that Espana is the authority on Paella in Omaha, offering a choice between the Paella Sacramento and the Paella Vegetal served for two.
Camarones al Diablo at Ixtapa Mexican Grill: Let’s face it; if you’re going to order something that loosely translates into “Shrimp of the Devil,” you know it’s going to be a really, really spicy dish. Spicy Turkey Melt at DJ’s Dugout: Order the turkey melt off the menu and ask them to “make it spicy,” which means they’ll add pepperjack, onions, jalapenos and chipotle sauce.
| THE READER |
menu of menus
ENCHILADAS DIABLO AT RIVERAS
Ploughman’s Sandwich at French Bulldog: Granny Smith apples and white cheddar cheese make for a sophisticated pairing when they sit atop sourdough bread accompanied by piccalilli and candied walnuts. Chicken Curry at Mai Tai: With five choices of curry, Red, Yellow, Panang, Hassaman, and Pineapple, your take out go-to becomes a culinary adventure with every visit.
BY B.J. HUCHTEMANN
Cox CD, Candye & Laura
O
maha’s own Matt Cox hits The Waiting Room Friday, Aug. 8, 9 p.m. for a CD release party for his latest recording, Nishnabotna. The disc features studio recordings of some of the new songs Cox has had in his set list over the past year as well as some newer tracks. Cox is one of the local acts we are fortunate to have on our scene who performs and writes at an outstanding, national level. Cox is a five-time Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards winner who has taken home the Country/Americana Award in 2010-2013 and the Best Blues Award in 2009. Also performing are The Electroliners, Filter Kings and Sarah Benck. See mattcoxmusic.net. ZOO BAR If you are reading this on Wednesday, Aug. 6, remember Curtis Salgado gigs at Lincoln’s Zoo Bar, tonight, Aug. 6, 6-9 p.m. The Zoo has lots of great shows coming up in the next week alone. The legendary Guitar Shorty plugs in for the 5 p.m. show Friday, Aug. 8. Chicago’s Sidewalk Chalk is back Saturday, Aug. 9, 9 p.m. The worldrenowned Dirty Dozen Brass Band brings New Orleans to the Zoo Tuesday, Aug. 12, 6-9 p.m. The star-studded Royal Southern Brotherhood (RSB) hits the Zoo Wednesday, Aug. 13, 6-9 p.m.
hoodoo
This looks like Mike Zito’s last tour with RSB, the band’s booking agent, Tina Terry, last week released news that Zito will be replaced by Bart Walker effective with the band’s performances on the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise in October. Walker is the 2012 International Blues Challenge winner of the Best Guitarist Award. HOT NOTES The Dirty Dozen Brass Band also play Omaha’s Jazz on the Green Thursday, Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m. The 21st Saloon hosts the marvelous Candye Kane and Laura Chavez Thursday, Aug. 7, 6-9 p.m. Guitarist Matthew Curry is up Thursday, Aug. 14. Jolie Holland brings her haunting vocal style to Slowdown Friday, Aug. 8, 9 p.m. with Shy Hunters. Excellent acoustic guitarist Maxwell Hughes, formerly of The Lumineers, plays Barley Street Thursday, Aug. 7, 9 p.m. with The Talbott Brothers Band and John Larsen. Early warning reminder that Jon Dee Graham and three-fourths of his Austin band The Fighting Cocks, plug in at The Zoo Bar in less than two weeks, Monday, Aug. 18, 7-10 p.m. Another Austin guitar star, Eric Johnson, is at Waiting Room Wednesday, Aug. 13, 8 p.m. The first of three preliminary rounds of the 2014-15 Nebraska Blues Challenge is Sunday, Aug. 10, 3-8 p.m. See facebook.com/BluesSocietyOfOmaha. ,
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.
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hoodoo
| THE READER |
AUG. 7 - 13, 2014
17
overtheedge LIFESTYLE COLUMN BY TIM MCMAHAN
Random Notes on Mula, Zucchini, Maha, Guardians and Chubby Cyclists
H
ere’s what’s on my mind this week... Mula — We checked out new “Mexican kitchen & tequileria” last week, located at 40th and Farnam streets. The restaurant offers a broad selection of traditional and not-so-traditional dishes with origins south of the border served in a cozy, laidback, well-lit space in the heart of New Midtown. Dining at the bar (which has become our table of choice these days), we ordered a couple Mula Margaritas, a pair of salsas (the charred pineapple; the roasted tomato, both sublime though the pineapple was a bit too sweet for my taste) and a side of guacamole. Along with a mountain of fried flour tortilla chips that would be enough food for any normal couple, but we went ahead and ordered the Al Pastor (chile guajillo pork) and Carnitas (cerveza-marinated steak) tacos for full bloat effect. The tacos reminded me of the traditional bite-sized (well, three bites, anyway) tacos served in the best authentic Mexican diners on South 24th Street, thanks to the house-made tortillas and delicious marinated meats. I skipped trying a Fresa Margarita (with the houseinfused strawberry tequila) since someone had to drive. Next time, because there will, indeed, be a “next time.”
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The bottom line: Mula is a strong addition to Omaha’s Mexican food landscape. Zucchini — I, like many of you, have a small garden in my back yard. My selected plantings: Roma tomatoes (doing poorly); cucumbers (doing well); sweet corn (an experiment that may or may not pay off ), peas (ravaged by rabbits), and last-but-not-least, zucchini. Going unnoticed among the zucs’ broad, umbrellalike leaves was one squash that somehow remained hidden, a squash the size of an 18-month-old baby. Massive. Heavy. A half-foot wide. Based on the number of photos I’ve seen floating around Facebook of people carrying their own giant zucchini like unexploded WWII ordinances, I have a feeling I’m not the only one with this burning question: What do I do with this f***ing monster? It’s too big to slice up into fried zucchini or add to a soup. In fact the only thing I can think of doing with this mammoth mellon is grind it up and use it in zucchini bread, but really, how much zucchini bread does one man need? That’s where you come in. Send me your recipes for giant zucchini dishes. I’ll try as many as possible and post the best one(s) here in the column. Email them to tim.mcmahan@gmail. com. Come on, let’s hear from all you burgeoning Masterchefs before these giant zucs begin to rot. And while you’re at it, go ahead and post photos of your giant zucchini on The Reader’s Facebook page (facebook.com/thereaderomaha). Share in your pride (and horror).
| THE READER |
over the edge
Maha Music Festival — A reminder for those of you hiding out in a cave without electricity or the internet: The Maha Music Festival is a week from Saturday at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village, and you may want to consider getting your tickets now. The $50 ride pass gets you a day’s worth of some of the best indie music going, headlined by Death Cab for Cutie and including Local Natives, The Head and the Heart, Doomtree and The Both, a new combo featuring Aimee Mann and Ted Leo (whose wisdom will be shared in an interview by yours truly in next week’s issue of The Reader). Add to that arguably the best local stage line-up in Maha history — M34n Str33t, Twinsmith, Icky Blossoms, Matt Whipkey, The Envy Corps, Radkey and the legendary Domestica (get there at noon or you’ll miss them) — and you’ve got all the makings of one of the best concerts of the year. Seriously, I’ve been going to Maha since it started way back when and it’s never been anything but fun. Get your tickets at mahamusicfestival.com. Guardians of the Galaxy — This is the funnest scifi movie I’ve seen since, well, the original Star Wars, which I screened at the long, lost Indian Hills Theater way back in 1977. It’s a rare combination of action, adventure, humor and nostalgia. And yes, the myriad of alien culture references can get confusing for non-Marvel comic book readers, but the basic plot is easy to navigate — don’t let the bad guy get the shiny metal ball. Along the way you’ll meet a talking raccoon and a dancing tree that will STEAL YOUR HEART. Believe the hype.
Chubbie Cyclists — Finally, I’ve developed some sort of strange nerve pain in my left foot, which I’m going to have looked at by Benson foot doctor to the stars Dr. Patrick York, this afternoon. The worst case scenario: It could mean the end of my jogging career. I’ve been running 5k every other day for the past three years or so, competing in three Corporate Cups and the inaugural Indie 5k, and along the way lost close to 40 pounds. Unfortunately, I fear my running regimen is what’s causing the stabbing, unexpected, agonizing electric pain that shoots through the toes of my left foot seemingly out of the blue. A trip to my regular MD could not find the cause of this strange malady. If jogging no longer is in the picture, my only option will be to replace running with cycling. I already ride my bike a few hundred miles a year on the Keystone Trail, maybe 20 miles a week. That mileage would rise substantially, but here’s the thing: I know a number of people who cycle thousands of miles per year — literally riding “centuries” over any given weekend — who sport big ol’ bellies. You’d think cycling that many hours per week would make them as slim as a Tour de France mountain climber. But instead, they’re chubs. How is that possible? Come to think of it, I can cycle for well over 90 minutes and never feel nearly as wiped out as when I finish my usual run, which takes about 30 minutes. Is cycling really a substitute for running where fitness is concerned? Unless my foot doctor can come up with a solution, I’m about to find out. ,
OVER THE EDGE is a weekly column by Reader senior contributing writer Tim McMahan focused on culture, society, music, the media and the arts. Email Tim at tim.mcmahan@gmail.com. And be sure to check out his blog at Lazy-i.com
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| THE READER |
AUG. 7 - 13, 2014 7/28/14
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3:47 PM
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
Cat Nanny
F
acial recognition software, increasingly important to global anti-terrorism operations, is being brought to ... cats. Taiwanese developer Mu-Chi Sung announced in July plans for marketing the software as part of a cat health device so that owners, especially those with multiple cats, can better monitor their cats’ eating habits. Sung first had to overcome the problem of how to get the cat to stick its head through a slot in the feeder so the software can start to work. The device, with mobile apps for remote monitoring by the owner, may sell for about $250.
Government in Action The Environmental Protection Agency is already a News of the Weird favorite (for example, the secret goofing-off “man cave” of one EPA contractor in July 2013 and, two months later, the fabulist EPA executive who skipped agency work for months by claiming falsely to be on secret CIA missions), but the agency’s Denver Regional Office took it to another level in June. In a leaked memo, the Denver deputy director implored employees to end the practice of leaving feces in the office’s hallway. The memo referred to “several” incidents. -- The federal food stamp program, apparently uncontrollably rife with waste, has resorted to giving financial awards to the states that misspend food stamp money the least. In July, the Florida Department of Children and Families, beaming with pride, announced it had won a federal grant of $7 million for having blown only $47 million in food stamp benefits in 2013 (less than 1 percent of its $6 billion in payments). Vermont, the worst-performing state, misspends almost 10 percent of its food stamp benefits. -- The Way the World Works: The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration came down hard in July on West Virginia’s Freedom Industries
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AUG. 7 - 13, 2014
| THE READER |
weird news
for violations of chemical safety standards in January 2014 that resulted in the 10-day contamination of drinking water for 300,000 residents. OSHA issued two fines to the company -- one for $7,000 and the other for $4,000.
That’s Entertainment! Sheriff ’s deputies in Salina, Kansas, arrested Aaron Jansen, 29, but not before he put on quite a show on July 5. Jansen, speeding in a car spray-painted with derogatory comments about law enforcement, refused to pull over and even survived a series of tire-shredding road spikes as he turned into a soybean field, where he revved the engine and drove in circles for 40 minutes. As deputies set up a perimeter, Jansen futilely tossed items from the car (blankets, CDs, anything available) and then (with the car still moving) climbed out the driver’s door and briefly “surfed” on the roof. Finally, as deputies closed in, Jansen shouted a barrage of Bible verses before emerging from the car wearing a cowboy hat, boots and a woman’s dress. -- The surveillance video in evidence in England’s Wolverhampton Crown Court in July captured the entire caper of two young men comically failing to open a parking lot’s automated cash machine five months earlier. Wearing hoods, they tried to batter the secure machine open, then tried to pull it away (but learned that it was rooted to an underground cable). Plan C involved getting in their Peugeot and ramming the machine, which did knock loose the money-dispensing part -- but also shredded part of the car’s body. The dispenser (with the equivalent of $1,500 in coins) fit in the front seat only after some exhaustive pushing and cramming, but finally
COPYRIGHT 2014 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).
the men drove off -- with sparks flying as the weight of the coins made the crippled car scrape the pavement. Police arrived on the scene, and a brief chase ended when the car crashed into a wall. Final score: car totaled, money recovered and Wesley Bristow, 25, sentenced to two years in prison.
Great Art! Ms. Milo Moire, a Swiss performance artist, startled (and puzzled) fairgoers at Germany’s Art Cologne in April by creating a painting while standing on two ladders, nude and expelling “eggs,” filled with paint and ink, from her vagina. Each “PlopEgg” canvas made what she called a powerful feminist statement about women, fertility and creativity. (In June, she attempted to tour Switzerland’s Art Basel fair “wearing” only the names of clothing items written on her nude body, e.g., on her leg, the word “pants.” Officials told her to go get dressed if she wanted to see the show.) -- In July, the large cement “Humpty Dumpty” at the Enchanted Forest in Salem, Oregon, created by Roger Tofte in 1970, was destroyed when two intruders tried to climb the wall Humpty was sitting on. However, the wall crumbled and Humpty suffered a great fall, and Tofte said he doubted he could put Humpty back together again, but would try instead to make a new one. Bad, Bad Samaritan! (1) Roy Ortiz hired a lawyer in March and said he was considering suing the first responders who rescued him during the historic September 2013 flooding around Broomfield, Colorado -because they failed to find him fast enough when his car plunged into raging waters. (2) In March, Houston sheriff ’s deputy Brady Pullen filed a lawsuit against the grieving family of the delusional man he was forced to shoot and kill during a 2012
emergency call -- because Pullen had been injured in the skirmish and believes the family failed to warn him just how dangerous Kemal Yazar was. Also, in Alcona, Ontario, in April, Sharlene Simon, 42, filed a lawsuit against the family of the teenage bicyclist she accidentally ran down, fatally, in 2012 -- claiming that the boy’s dangerous joyriding at 1:30 a.m. initiated the events that left her traumatized.
Names in the News In May, News of the Weird mentioned a Floridian with drug charges named Edward Cocaine. In June, in Lake Wales, Florida, Ms. Crystal Metheney, 36, was arrested on a (BB-)gun charge -- but she also has a drug arrest (marijuana) on her record. In July a northern California wildfire investigation turned up suspect Freddie Smoke III, 27. And for less-mature News of the Weird readers, Ryan Smallwood, 26, was arrested in Rock Hill, South Carolina, for making obnoxious sexual comments in a restaurant. Least Competent Criminals Recurring Themes: (1) Moshood Itabiyi, 22, was arrested in a traffic stop in July shortly after allegedly robbing the Northview Bank in Barnum, Minnesota. His dream of a quick getaway had vanished when he discovered that he had locked his keys in the car, and he was forced eventually to burglarize a nearby house for a hammer to smash a window open and get going. (2) Three teens, ages 13, 14 and 15, were charged with attempted burglary in St. Petersburg, Florida, in July when, as they were serial-testing parked cars’ doors to find an unlocked one, they happened to inattentively open the door of an unmarked police car with a detective inside. ,
weird news
| THE READER |
AUG. 7 - 13, 2014
21
cuttingroom
G U A R D I A N S O F T H E G A L A X Y A N D T H E J OY O F S P E C TA C L E
T
he proliferation of comic book movies has reached its cultural apex, so thoroughly dominating the box office and public consciousness that a backlash was practically invited. While the public plays Oliver Twist, wallets open and begging for more, those who critically engage cinema have begun the “tsk, tsk”-ing and the “poo-poo”-ing. Guardians of the Galaxy is a feast for the former and a rejoinder to the latter. It is unabashedly exuberant and a reminder of the satisfying splendor of spectacle. Also, there’s a talking tree and a murderous raccoon. Writer/director James Gunn’s gleeful and giddy space opera gets right to it, as young Peter Quill is abducted by aliens shortly after watching his mother succumb to cancer. Fast forward and Quill (Chris Pratt) is now an intergalactic scofflaw being hunted by people looking for an artifact he pilfered. Said pilfering earns him a bounty on his head, which the talking raccoon, Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and the semi-talking tree, Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), attempt to claim
Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater 14th & Mike Fahey Street (formerly Webster Street) More info & showtimes 402.933.0259 · filmstreams.org Facebook | Twitter | Instagram: @filmstreams
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AUG. 7 - 13, 2014
by capturing the scoundrel. They arrive at the same time as Gamora (Zoe Saldana), who is also after Quill. The foursome brawl and wind up in jail. Once incarcerated, they are confronted by Drax (Dave Bautista), whose nickname is “the destroyer,” which is pretty much the worst nickname a guy you confront in prison can have. Seeking vengeance against the would-be planet-killer Ronan (Lee Pace), Drax joins the awkward collective in an attempt to find his enemy. Quill’s rag-tag band of green ne’er-do-wells and anthropomorphic lower life forms accidentally find themselves the last thing standing between Ronan and the destruction of the known galaxy. No pressure. Gunn and cowriter Nicole Perlman blatantly rely on a MacGuffin, in this case a powerful stone, to move events along because they understand that the film’s success doesn’t rely on plot intricacies. Instead, the script is slavishly dedicated to its characters, all of whom are either spectacularly original or, in the case of Quill, so flingingflanging charismatic nobody cares. Sure, Gunn and Perl-
First-Run Films A Most Wanted Man First-Run (R)
B Y R YA N S Y R E K
man probably have the gang vocalize their feeling of kinship for each other one or two…dozen times too many. But how do you not feel warm inside watching the bulky Drax keep telling people they are his friends? Guardians is a movie solely concerned with making people feel happy. It’s why the soundtrack is a baller collection of classic tunes and not littered with dubstep. It’s why it skews 70 percent comedy and 30 percent action when that ratio was ditched by summer movies ages ago, when destruction porn and dour superhero pouting began to reign. It’s a love letter to a generation weaned on Star Wars without becoming a pandering nostalgia-fest. If Boyhood is a reminder of film’s potential to be groundbreaking art, Guardians of the Galaxy is a testament to its capacity for inducing pure joy. To elevate one approach over the other is to cut the medium off at the knees. We need Boyhood to challenge us. And we need Guardians to make us feel like a kid again. , GRADE = A
Boyhood First-Run (R)
Dir. Richard Linklater. Starts Friday, August 8
Dir. Anton Corbijn. Through Thursday, August 14
Believe the hype — this is the film event of 2014!
Featuring one of the last performances by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater’s BOYHOOD is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child, who literally grows up on screen before our eyes.
When a half-Chechen, half-Russian, brutally tortured immigrant turns up in Hamburg’s Islamic community, laying claim to his father’s ill-gotten fortune, both German and US security agencies take a close interest.
| THE READER |
film
Coming Soon Rich Hill First-Run Calvary First-Run
n Listen up! Or I suppose I should say escucha! The fourth biennial Cinemateca lineup has been announced. Once again, Film Streams and the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Office on Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) are partnering for a celebration of cultural films. This year, the series will include two director visits, postshow discussions led by OLLAS faculty and guests and six films (Stand Clear of the Closing Doors, Elena, La Camioneta, Keep on Rolling, Meredes Sosa: The Voice of Latin America and Anina). For more information, hit up filmstreams.org. To miss out would be no bueno. If you don’t speak Spanish, that means you wouldn’t have any bueno. n At first blush, it may seem strange that Aksarben Cinema (aksarbencinema.com) is partnering with The Free State Brewing Company for an interactive showing of the upcoming Into the Storm Thursday, Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. Then you think about it and realize that if the biggest storm in the history of the world really did come bearing down on you and it was too big to run from, you’d probably want to have all of the beer handy. And they will have all of the beer handy, as there will be samples of various different ales and IPAs, as well as specials at the bar. My favorite bit is the “interactive” nature — the description specifies “items may be tossed into seats during the storm.” Not only does it give me Gallagher flashbacks, but I think this could result in someone seriously peeing themselves. I volunteer to be a “debris chucker!” n I don’t know why I like seeing director Spike Jonze act, but I do. So I’m excited for the fourth season of HBO’s “Girls,” as the guy whose last movie was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars will now be on a show where somebody died during a Grindr hookup. —Ryan Syrek 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).
Forever Young Supported by Lincoln Financial Foundation. John Hubley Centennial Celebration August 9, 10 & 14 John Hubley began his career working on films that set the standard for animation – SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES, BAMBI – and then spent the rest of his life smashing the mold he helped create. Kids’ tickets just $2.50!
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| THE READER |
AUG. 7 - 13, 2014
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