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CANAAN SMITH 8.1 | ANTHEM
ERIC BURDON & THE ANIMALS 8.22 | ANTHEM
DEEP PURPLE
WITH BLACK OAK ARKANSAS
8.7 | BATTERY PARK
ACE FREHLEY 9.10 | ANTHEM
GARY ALLAN WITH JOE NICHOLS JAY PHAROAH 8.14 | BATTERY PARK 8.19 | ANTHEM
MOLLY HATCHET 9.11 | ANTHEM
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KELSEA BALLERINI & MICHAEL RAY 9.18 | ANTHEM
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Must be 21 or older to attend events at Anthem. Events held at Battery Park are open to all ages. No carry-in food or beverages allowed. Management reserves all rights. If you or someone you know needs gambling treatment call 800.BETS OFF.
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AUGUST 2015
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Hiring Disabled Persons
I
f you have 15 or more employees, you should familiarize yourself with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This set of laws may require you to make certain decisions. First of all, you may get a tax benefit if you employ people with disabilities. You will want to consult a tax professional. Also, the ADA could affect your hiring and recruiting process. If you’re new to this, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission can get you started. If you understand these laws, it will help you avoid discrimination and help keep you from lawsuits. Diversity hires enrich your workforce by adding new ideas, viewpoints and solutions. Just make sure you adhere to ADA requirements.
And More Workplace Issues
Why Should It Be You?
Document Behavior Problems
As a job seeker, you may be asked, “Why should I hire you?” It’s a direct, yet simple question that can trip up even the best-prepared interviewee. Have a concise summary for “why me” ready before the interview. Start with your focus on results. Employers want to hear not only that you intend to exceed expectations, but the reasons you will do so. Don’t shy away from highlighting your accomplishments. You worked for these qualifications, now put them to work for you. Tie everything to the job description so the employer knows you read the posting and intend to deliver what they seek.
An employee with bad behavior could cause trouble – and not just by breaking rules. The most important thing to do is to document problematic behavior from the start. But the documentation of problems has its own code of conduct. All personnel files, including those documenting disciplinary matters, are confidential. It doesn’t matter if they are electronic or hard copy, they are protected. Make sure you discuss the bad behavior with the employee. Make notes about the conversation, including what led to it. Finally, provide solutions. Don’t just point out what’s wrong, make sure your employee knows how to fix the problem and that you expect him or her to do so.
BUSINESS Linkedin Corp. has openings in our Omaha, NE location for Business Systems Analyst (6597.1375) Build in-depth understanding of the global support team processes & system workflows within Global Customer Operations (GCO). Please email resume to: 6597@linkedin.com. Must ref. job code above when applying.
EARN $500 A DAY As Airbrush Makeup Artist. For: Ads. TV. Film. Fashion. HD. Digital. 35% OFF TUITION - One Week Course. Taught by top makeup artist & photographer. Train & Build Portfolio. Models Provided. Accredited. A+ Rated. AwardMakeupSchool.com (818)980-2119 (AAN CAN) ASSOCIATE/PR. MANAGER/ESTIMATOR We serve the Omaha/Council Bluffs Metro areas and possess a stellar reputation for quality service and customer care. You will be providing solutions that go beyond restoring homes and businesses. Whether it is residential, institutional or commercial, you will scope, estimate and deliver quality results to customers experiencing water, smoke, wind, hail and mold damage to their home or business. AIRLINE CAREERS begin here – Get started by training as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance (800)725-1563 (AAN CAN)
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AUGUST 2015
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omaha jobs
Religious Diversity in the Workplace
This topic can make even calmest professional squirm. In this country we are free to worship as we choose. This rarely clashes with the workplace, but when it does, it can be divisive. As an employer, you must treat your staff equally, regardless of their religion or lack of it. You also must provide a friendly environment for all religions. And you might have to make certain accommodations for employees because of their beliefs. Failure to do any of these, or to discriminate against someone because of their religion, could land you in legal trouble. If you have questions, seek professional legal help to make sure you are clear of these pitfalls. The next Job Fair is Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015, at the Comfort Inn, 7007 Grover Street, Omaha, NE 68106, from 1 to 5 p.m. Visit www.omahajobs.com for more information.
one nigHt only!
Mr. Joy
Holland Performing arts Center
Daniel Beaty
“By the end I was on my feet shouting like someone in church – I was so moved.” - Ruby Dee
10 $ 5
includes all taxes & fees
$
tickets only each
Photo Credit: Nathan Yungerberg: www.njyphoto.com
Written and performed by
Thursday, augusT 27 7:00pm
for
groups
of 10 or more
Daniel Beaty, award-winning writer & performer of Emergency, is back with his signature blend of comedy, poetry, music and multi-character transformation! Holland Performing arts Center tickets $10 each, $5 for groups of 10 or more Recommended for ages 13 and older
Tickets Available Now! www.TicketOmaha.com 402-345-0606 supported by:
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AUGUST 2015
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Mauritius (drew) Aug. 14–Sept. 13, 2015 Man of La Mancha (hawks) Sept. 18–Oct. 18, 2015
Beertown (drew) Oct. 16–Nov. 15, 2015
MAURITIUS
A Christmas Carol (hawks) Nov. 20–Dec. 23, 2015
Yesterday And Today (drew)
AUG. 14–SEPT. 13, 2015
Nov. 27–Dec. 31, 2015
By Theresa Rebeck
Love, Loss and What I Wore (hawks)
Absorbing and suspenseful, Mauritius is a fast-paced dark comedy of the thrilling world of philately (stamp collecting). When two half-sisters inherit a potentially valuable stamp collection upon their mother’s death, differing views on what to do with the stamps lead them to risky situations with nefarious characters. Propelled by a tight plot and quick dialogue, Mauritius will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Jan. 22–Feb. 14, 2016
Caroline, or Change (drew) Feb. 12–March 20, 2016
City of Angels (hawks) March 4–April 3, 2016
Contains strong language and violence.
Calendar Girls (hawks) April 15–May 8, 2016
Lost Boy Found in Whole Foods (drew) May 6–June 5, 2016
The Producers (hawks) May 27–June 26, 2016
Rave On (drew) June 10–26, 2016
6915 CASS STREET | OMAHA | NE | 68132 | WWW.OMAHAPLAYHOUSE.COM sponsors:
Carter & Vernie Jones
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AUGUST 2015
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media sponsor:
AUGUST2015VOLUME22NUMBER5 08 HEARTLAND HEALING POWER OF ONE 10 ART MUSEUM QUALITY SHOW 13 CULTURE NORTH OMAHA CHANGE 17 PICKS COOL STUFF TO DO IN AUGUST 19 SPECIAL BEST OF THE BIG O 44 EAT MARKET HOUSE REVIEW 46 MUSIC THE GOOD LIFE 50 MUSIC FESTIVAL PREVIEW 54 FILM FLICKS YOU NEVER HEARD OF 58 HOODOO BLUES SPOT 60 OVER THE EDGE MAHA MANIA 62 MYSTERIAN DOCTOR IS IN
Publisher John Heaston john@thereader.com Creative Director Eric Stoakes eric@thereader.com Assistant Editor Mara Wilson mara@thereader.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS heartland healing: Michael Braunstein info@heartlandhealing.com arts/visual: Mike Krainak mixedmedia@thereader.com dish: Sarah Locke crumbs@thereader.com film: Ryan Syrek cuttingroom@thereader.com hoodoo: B.J. Huchtemann bjhuchtemann@gmail.com music: Wayne Brekke backbeat@thereader.com over the edge: Tim McMahan tim.mcmahan@gmail.com theater: William Grennan coldcream@thereader.com SALES & MARKETING Dinah Gomez dinah@thereader.com Kati Falk kati@thereader.com DISTRIBUTION/DIGITAL
Clay Seaman clay@thereader.com OPERATIONS
Kerry Olson kerry@thereader.com INTERNS Tara Spencer | Courtney Bierman | Ashley Bles PHOTO BY DEBRA S. KAPLAN
MOREINFO:WWW.THEREADER.COM
contents
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AUGUST 2015
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‘POWERofONE
Singularity is the next step BY MICHAEL BRAUNSTEIN
T
heartlandhealing
he 1970s was the decade of the digital revolution. Computers existed long before that penultimate chapter of changing history but they came to the fore during the Age of Disco and the “Me Generation.” It was the 1970s when the world began to quantize the universe into a series of ones and zeroes. I was in Los Angeles at the time and perhaps no field popularized the acceptance of digital reality more than the field of recording popular music. For the first century of recorded music, recorded sound existed in the same way that it exists in nature: as a continuously variable energy wave, an analog sound wave. The pulses of sound in air were actually waves of air molecules impacting an eardrum or a microphone diaphragm and being transmuted into electrical energy in either case, traveling along nerves or traveling along wires. But in 1929, Harrold Nyquist of Bell Labs described how digital audio would work. It was 50 years later, almost to the day, that I engineered the first digital multitrack recording of a popular artist, Stephen Stills, to demonstrate the new 3M digital machine. Digital audio reduces a curvy wave of sound to a stair-step shaped estimation of the area under that curve and converts those infinite numbers into ones and zeroes because computers are in fact much simpler than Nature. But when viewed with an eye toward the metaphysics digital computation mirrors, we can see how our human science actually becomes an analog of reality. The “Pyramid of Power”
In the ‘80s, I used to teach my UCLA students about what I called the “Pyramid of Power.” It was a loosely structured reminder that as systems simplify they become more powerful and I used it to describe the power of our new, digital world. The fact that nearly everything in our experience can now be reduced to binary digits enables us to manipulate information and accomplish tasks that defied malleability only a couple of decades ago. At the bottom of my illustrative pyramid of power is the science of biology. Using biology, someone could shape their world by perhaps breeding two cows together, for example. Biology was pretty powerful by making hybrids and so on. But it was time-consuming and kind of rough. One stratum up is the science of chemistry, somewhat more powerful than biology. If we reduce elements to their chemical bases we can manipulate them even more and achieve more dramatic results than with biology. Breaking
HEARTLAND HEALING is a metaphysically-based polemic describing alternatives to conventional methods of healing the body, mind and planet by MICHAEL BRAUNSTEIN. It is provided as information and entertainment, certainly not medical advice. Important to remember and pass on to others: for a weekly dose of Heartland Healing, visit HeartlandHealing.com. .
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heartland healing
things down to amino acid chains and the chemistry of life can result in pretty powerful manipulation. Another step up the pyramid is the science of physics. Reducing a system to both matter and energy as physics does, even more powerful tools are enabled. And a step above physics is the science of mathematics. Math gets really powerful. Reducing any event in the universe to numbers gives an almost infinite power to manipulate. Mathematicians can solve and create theoretical realities that lead to all sorts of innovation. But that wasn’t the tip of the power pyramid. Next level up was the science of digital mathematics. Now our manipulative skills were refined to the use of integers including only zero and one. Only two numbers are involved rather than an infinite amount. Once our experience is reduced to a 1 or a 0 in a digital byte, we enter the world of Tron, where virtual reality blends with physical form. The blur becomes real. Duality is served by a plus or minus, an even or odd, a black or white. Digitizing information is the most powerful level we have reached so far. But it’s not the apex of the physical sciences. Beyond duality is singularity
So what could lie beyond the power of the binary system we call digital? If the power of “2” is so dramatic, how about the power of “1”? Einstein was all about energy. At the base of Albert Einstein’s mathematical theories was what we call the Unified Field. He hunted it for years. Having defined the energetic sources in our reality as four basics, he sought to find the singular link where they all met up and shared characteristics that made them act as one. He never found it in his lifetime though he was able to demonstrate the nexus of three of them. We are teetering on the edge of that discovery but just as our digital world teaches us, you’re either “on the bus or off the bus,” “with us or against us,” “part of the problem or part of the solution,” “love or fear,” we’re either duality or unity and it’s not unity yet. We haven’t reached it but that apex of power is unity, oneness. We are so close. How can we not extrapolate that the next obvious step is what Einstein was trying to find? Removing the “them or us” quotient, the separation factor, and seeing the oneness in all areas is the final step to true transformation and the extension of our true power. Acting as separated individuals doesn’t work on any level. Living and acting with others in singularity is far more powerful than separation. Be well. ,
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art
PeterCales: Ark, 2009, walnut, ash, mahogany, cabriuva, cherry, pad uak, canary wood, cocobolo, and cold-press watercolor paper, 60 x 40 x 50 in., Collection of Tim Guthrie and Beth Broderick; Photo credit: Colin Conces
JamesBockelman: (American, b. 1965), Crossing, 2012, oil on paper, 24 x 24 in., Courtesy the artist and Modern Arts Midtown, Omaha; Photo credit: Colin Conces
museumqualityshow
Joslyn raises the curtain, bar for 37 local artists in juried exhibition, ‘Art Seen’
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SheaWilkinson: (American, b. 1986), Frutex-cariosus, 2014, cotton, polyester thread, wire, 20 x 20 x 3 in., courtesy the artist.
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long time coming, 15 years to be exact, but Joslyn Art Museum is once again featuring regional Art Seen on a grand scale. The last such exhibition of sort was the Midlands Invitational 2000: Works on Paper, organized by then-curator Janet Farber and Joslyn director John Schloder, and which included Nebraska artists Karen Kunc and Paul Otero. Joslyn’s popular Invitationals covered a sevenstate region. Art Seen, juried by Karin Campbell, Phil Willson Curator of Contemporary Art, and Bill Arning, director of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, has a much narrower focus. Subtitled A Juried Exhibition of Artists from Omaha to Lincoln, 200 or so submitted their work for consideration and 37 made the cut, 21 from Omaha, 16 from Lincoln; 20 are men and 17 are women; a sampling, as it were, working in nearly all traditional and new media. For that is what Art Seen is; less a survey and more a sample—a worthy one at that—of work from some of the more interesting artists in the 50 mile corridor between Nebraska’s largest, most cosmopolitan cities. Campbell said selection was based upon: technical skill within the medium; a willingness to grow/experiment; a development of skills and concepts over time; an ability
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to articulate about the work and its inspirations; how one’s work fit into a larger context. “We were also thinking about whether or not artists were ‘ready’ to be in such an exhibition,” she added. “What was the depth of their body of work…how would they respond to Joslyn Art Museum as a context?” After the artist selection process, Campbell worked with the artists to choose individual art for the exhibit. Art Seen then is a collaboration of submission pieces (i.e., from Sarah Berkeley), additional work from an artist’s oeuvre, new ones made specifically for the show (Rich Mansfield, Angela Drakeford and Holly Kranker) and site-specific art to some degree (Ying Zhu and Mary Zicafoose). The result is an exhibition that is representative but hardly exhaustive, of the “best” artists in Omaha and Lincoln. Certainly it has the requisite, most recognizable artists, such as Jun Kaneko, Keith Jacobshagen and Therman Statom. And it features several other familiar names in this region, including Catherine Ferguson, Charley Friedman, Littleton Alston, Watie White and Marjorie Mikasen. But Art Seen also recognizes a nice mix of midcareer and emerging artist. Among them are Nancy Friedemann-Sanchez, James Bockelman, Jess Benjamin, Jamie Burmeister, Kim Darling and Sarah Rowe. Yet the exhibit is also noteworthy for who is not seen. Where are the Tim Guthries, Steve Roberts, Vera Mercers, Kristin Pluhaceks, Susan Knights, Joe Broghammers, Troy Mullers, Larry Rootses, Bill Hoovers, Christina Narwiczes, Nolan Tredways, Jar Scheperses, Fredy Rincons and Weston Thompsons? I’m sure you could add a list of your own. Maybe the above were cut or chose not to submit. A different jury or different venue might well reveal a very different who’s who. The point is, a single exhibit cannot include everyone of merit. These 37 artists met Joslyn’s criteria at this time and place.
BY MICHAEL J. KRAINAK
Which is fine if one has future “samplings” to look forward to, if Art Seen were the rebirth of future Joslyn juried exhibits or invitationals featuring local and regional art as it did for decades. But, by all accounts, that doesn’t appear to be on Joslyn’s horizon, at least on a regular basis. “There are no current plans to organize another such exhibition,” Campbell said. “This is not to say that it will never happen again, but we do not have anything scheduled for the near future.” Because Joslyn’s mission is based on the diversity of its exhibitions and audience, the curator explains that “should it be appropriate to feature the work of local and/or regional artists as we strive to achieve those objectives, we will do so.” While not very promising, that of course is the expected reply. Notwithstanding, Art Seen holistically accomplishes several things. It introduces both familiar and unfamiliar artists to a wider museum audience. It raises especially the street cred of emerging artists to be seen in close proximity with their more established peers. And last, don’t underestimate the boost in community credibility enjoyed by a major Metro arts venue such as Joslyn, Kaneko or Bemis when it exhibits local artists. And yet, ironically, if this is Joslyn’s “gift” to Metro arts lovers, why then a $10 ticket admission to Art Seen in an otherwise free museum? If Art Seen is indeed a one-off, let’s enjoy it for what it is worth. Though some of the work here underwhelms, this is “a museum-quality show” that sits comfortably in close proximity to Joslyn’s permanent collection of contemporary art. The exhibit makes an immediate first impression in the first gallery with three of the strongest selections in Art Seen. A monumental tapestry, “History, 2015” from Zicafoose, colorfully combines her signature use of geometric and metaphysical symbols
in a striking pattern that takes great advantage of its lighting and sightline. Not so for Zhu’s ephemeral and chameleon wall installation of thread, pins and tape, “Reading the movement of thoughts (a confluence of culture and identities),” a recurring theme in her oeuvre. This is a stunning site-specific installation of spinning, iridescent filigree and red-gold palette. This installation is the most accomplished work from Zhu in some time, but because it shares the same harsh overhead spotlight with the show’s statement and signage, it risks being washed out while competing for attention. The third “piece” in the room is a series of nine graphic abstracts from James Bockelman. A study in “cool abstraction”—each one unique without conflict or competition—the series demonstrates Bockelman’s skill at creating something stylistically greater than the sum of its parts. The strong initial impression continues into the next main gallery as one turns the corner and enters what one might call the A-list, that is, a group of the region’s best known artists and others aspiring to be. Kaneko, Jacobshagen and Statom share the same space with White, Benjamin and Kranker, among others and none of them disappoint. For this critic, two works dominate this gallery. The first is Statom’s “Untitled” mixed media and glass-–encased wall sculpture that also contains additional iconic glass figurines and shards. This process-heavy piece eschews the decorative or functional while embracing the conceptual, all the while remaining austere and elegant to the eye. The second piece, also 3D, is Benjamin’s two totemic “Hoover Dam Inlet Towers” of ceramic and steel rebar. Though outside the region, these majestic, captivating interpretations of decaying concrete continue her creative exploration of Nebraska’s famed and threatened Ogallala aquifer and the struggle for water rights. In sharp and playful contrast to this is Kranker’s “Here and Now,” a monumental paean to another mainstay of the Plains, an ear of corn. Though these tufted rows of kernels of corn claim to comment on the future of this staple, i.e., industrial farms and pesticide-resistant crops, its ghost-white façade of polyethylene also references a mythical and former time as the lifeblood of another civilization, Native American maize. Perhaps the most surprising work in this space is the vitrine of “Untitled” small glazed ceramics by Kaneko. Given the artist’s international reputation, one might have expected a large scale Dango or Tanuki. Instead, Kaneko’s contribution here of sculptural and geometric forms demonstrates his mentoring and influence on other area artists such as Iggy Sumnik and Richard Chung. As for influences, there probably isn’t a Nebraska landscape artist who doesn’t owe a debt to the iconic paintings of Jacobshagen. His two offerings here are “Edge of the Valley (Dog Days End)” and “Toward the Flood Plain,” which bears a striking resemblance to his former ambitious exhibit at the Bemis Center, A Golden Year. This show featured 365 days as miniatures on copper that revealed the
artist’s skill as an accomplished mark maker and lover of big sky country and the not-so-Plains. One can’t leave this gallery without noting White’s woodcut print, the best of his pieces here, “Homage to Van Gogh’s Homage to Hiroshige’s ‘The Flowering Plum’”. This remarkable work is another in the artists’ ongoing series of “homages” that riff on past artworks. To those who might ask, “Why bother?”, consider that the most creative homages are not mere remakes but interpretations of similar scenarios and narratives filtered through a new set of cultural and stylistic references that either extend the mythic undertone or satirize it. White manages to do both with precise detail and dynamic composition, i.e., his inclusion here of domestic and wild animals coexisting in a civilized yet tension-filled environment.
New media, particularly installation and video, are well represented in Art Seen, beginning with Berkeley’s combo of an “Untitled” inkjet print of a muddied pair of high heeled red pumps and a video, “I Just Work Here.” The two images in tandem comment effectively on gender stereotypes and diminished identities in the work-a-day environment. Michael Burton’s painted animation, “On a Knife’s Edge,” is a five-minute excerpt adapted from an original work by Gary Dull Knife, Jr. The result is a personal video narrative of remarkable fluidity, gesture and grace whose POV shifts dramatically from impressionistic landscapes to explosive, expressionistic drama. Also noteworthy in this medium is Mo Neal’s enjoyable, clever and nostalgic installation comprised of an MP4 video, assisted by Anthony Marx, and
MarjorieMikasen: (American, b. 1959), Self Recognitio`n 5, 2013, acrylic on canvas, 42 x 42 in., The Larry and Judy Roots Collection; Photo credit:
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CFS 2015-2016 Presents
Rev Eric Elnes PhD
National Book Tour Kick-Off Thursday Sept 10 at 7 PM Welcome to the Dark Wood. In a journey through the unknown, feelings of temptation, being lost, and uncertainty are inevitable. Though commonly feared and avoided, these feelings of uncertainty can be our greatest assets on this journey because it is in uncertainty that we probe, question, and discover. According to the ancients, it is not just saints or spiritual masters who can experience profound awakening ... Special Guest Reflection : Father Tom Greisen Servant Minister of the Omaha Archdiocese
Countryside Community Church 8787 Pacific Street For advanced tickets ($10/ $5 students) 402-391-0350
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kellyk@countrysideucc.org
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a twirling, actual communion dress titled “Swinger” that references the content of the video, a young girl’s first communion as she leaves the house for church. The work is part ritual, part dance, a memorable scenario of initiation-maturation akin to so many other rites of passage. This last gallery represents an eclectic mix of the edgiest art in the show (Neal, Dylan Lilla and Friedemann-Sanchez), the serious (Ferguson, Alston and Rowe) and the playfully unusual (Jamie Burmeister, Rich Mansfield). Arguably, the latter two drew the most attention with, respectively, an interactive 3D cabinet animation, “Chicken Dance,” and a pair of motorized battering rams called, ironically, “Brothers.” As popular as these pieces are, they provide a sort of comic relief from the more serious study of Rowe’s “Stake and Claim, Father Sky” and “Vertical Integration,” acrylic on wood and mixed media on canvas. As the artist self-identifies as Lakota, this is Rowe’s most sophisticated and creative “vision quest” to date. The two works contrast nicely the traditional talisman and shaman figure with ByronAnway: the iconography (American, b. 1982), King of the Hill, of an all-seeing 2014, oil on linen, streetwise skull, 10 x 12 in., Courtesy etc., popularized the artist; Photo by Basquiat and credit: Colin Conces which has influenced local artists of several generations from James Freeman to Rowe and the aforementioned Rincon. This gallery also features significant sculpture from Alston and Ferguson whose work here has been showcased at area galleries. The former’s Hannibal series of 3D works, all titled “Helmet,” are a stunning departure from his better known public art pieces that grace the Metro. The same can be said for the latter, another well-known sculptor of public and studio art whose three elegant black figurines of bronze share the stage with the equally imposing photos of James Scholz that depict the above in glass form, later to be cast in bronze. The most unusual piece in this gallery is the beautifully understated “Self-Portrait with Papaya”, a mixed media installation of stark white on black austerity. Rooted in multiculturalism, this work features a delicate, filigreed light fixture made of fresh water pearls mirrored on a piano-black surface— a fitting symbol of her own American-Columbian heritage. Art Seen is also notable for another study in contrast—sharing the same wall—Mikasen’s graphic and precise geometric abstraction in her “Self-Recognition,” and the more or-
ganic, minimal, faintly figurative patterns of Avery Mazor that ebb and flow in virtual 3D. Less successful are offerings from Kim Darling, Friedman and Drakeford. Darling, the persona of Kim Reid Kuhn, has created some of the more provocative imagery in the Metro in the past half dozen years or so in exhibitions from the former Bemis Underground and Benson First Friday shows to the RNG Gallery. Yet, while “Effluvia,” shown here, continues her now-familiar mixed media of intertwining and organic iconography in pink, blue and black, it is overwhelmed by its density and inertness. A more liberal use of white space (as seen in other work of hers), a less-is-more POV, would help this piece breathe and communicate. So too for another influential area artist,
Lincoln’s Friedman, whose attempt at insight and humor, a series of text and graphic color-pencil images on Lenox acid free paper would benefit from an edit. With 50 samples on view, the corner installation on two walls is a labored study or exercise in repetition that belies its roots in Pop and minimalism. It’s not so simply overdone. Drakeford’s “She Came to Me and Brought Me a New Me,” in fabric, sequins and beads, outshines, literally and figuratively, in its fetching rose and pink palette, the messy, haphazard floor piece “Rising” that is, nevertheless, lifeless in fabric and gold sequins. Neither work quite lives up to the promise seen in her recent triumph of self-identity in the State of the Art exhibition at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Obviously, there is much more to enjoy in Art Seen than space permits even here. Which only points out the need for the Metro’s three major arts venues to offer the opportunity to the area’s best artists to be seen…and seen again, on a grander stage that only they can provide. , Art Seen can be through Oct. 11, 2015 at the Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St., Omaha, NE. For details, go to Joslyn.org
changeinnorth0maha It’s been a long time coming for northeast Omaha: African-American residents weigh in on old-new challenges, opportunities, approaches to revitalize the area S TO RY
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uality-of-life metrics assessing the state of AfricanAmerican northeast Omaha paint a stark picture. Pockets experience some of America’s worst poverty and gun violence. Disparities contradict Omaha’s high best-place-to-live rankings. Riot-scarred landscapes remain untouched decades later. Urban renewal brought distrust and dislocation. Combined with education, employment, income, home-business ownership gaps, it’s a stuck-in-time place. Stalled economic growth and limited opportunity drive many away. Others stay out of conviction or concession. While North Omaha is the focus of unprecedented education initiatives and redevelopment efforts driven by major public-private coalitions, key markers show little’s changed where people’s lives are concerned. With ex-pats back for the biennial Native Omaha Days, there’s much nostalgia and lament. Seven community-engaged residents trying to remedy the challenges recently shared their take on the situation. After being away, Omaha native Michelle Troxclair, 46, Nebraska Writers Collective deputy director, says upon returning she noted “North Omaha and the people who live there were stagnate in many ways.” “They became comfortable with nothingness. Our leadership appeared, for the most part, to be spinning their wheels and more concerned with the scraps they were getting than a place at the table. Then they began fighting for those scraps amongst themselves. I thought I could make a difference, and I did, but in a very different community. Yeah, we got a Walmart and Aldi’s. North (High) is getting a new stadium. They tore down the Hilltop projects. I see some new housing. Again — scraps.” When Angel Martin, 31, moved to Omaha from Milwaukee she saw abandoned, boarded-up properties here as seeds of potential. Now she views them as emblems of lost opportunity. “If people see that every day you’re unfortunately going to believe it’s the norm,” says Martin, who directs the Katherine Fletcher Center at Girls Inc. “We should have took on that mindset of taking back our community. It starts with the
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homes. We should have pooled our resources together to buy these houses.” Preston Love Jr., 73, hails from a North O legacy family led by his late father, musician Preston Love Sr. He left for a while — to work for IBM and to manage political campaigns. He says when he came back home, “my community was in shambles. I got motivated to get involved because of what I found.” He’s since been on a “soap box” about this once great community being brought down by “residual negatives.” “When I was growing up, North Omaha was rich in culture, rich in commerce, rich in religion and church. We had
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our own everything. We had each other. We had neighborhoods. We had love for your neighbors and spankings if you didn’t act right. We had all that.” Discrimination and racism still ruled, however. “We didn’t have the ability to go places, we didn’t have the ability to go downtown to see a movie, we couldn’t swim at Peony Park, we couldn’t go inside Joe Tess. We didn’t have this, we didn’t have that, and some of it was a little deeper than some carp.” Love believes blacks “made a catastrophic mistake” choosing integration over desegregation. “If you integrate you lose half the things you did have because you begin to water down your culture. When you integrate Walmart into this culture, mom and pops close. We should have affirmed all the things we had and fought for desegregation to get what we didn’t have.” Sundiata Menelik, 57, has returned after decades as a developer and real estate magnate in Minnesota. He recalls as a kid the flourishing North 24th Street business district: “It was alive.” By the time he went away, however, it died. Job prospects for blacks dried up. “Everybody from my generation was trying to escape this the way you escaped apartheid South Africa or any place that is hell on Earth. For us, that’s what it was.” In Menelik’s opinion, “nothing’s happened” to reverse the black brain drain and narrow opportunities. He deems this stalemated community “backwards” compared to more progressive sister communities. “This is a reservation right here and the same ills on the reservation are here, it’s just not in your face. A lot of this is institutional.” Menelik also says North O is a separate world from the majority of the world. Some blacks can freely step in and out of both worlds. Others can’t. “When you can’t escape, there’s nothing, What you see is bleak.” “People feel oppressed,” Martin says. “I think poverty is what comes from being oppressed. If you don’t have continued on page 14 y
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MICHELLE TROXCLAIR
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opportunities to get good paying jobs, then it’s difficult to rise above.” Ean Garrett, 29, came up in North O’s poverty zone. “Three to four generations growing up in poverty have come to believe poverty is their place in life as opposed to understanding they should be able to work hard and gain the fruits of this system,” Garrett says. Menelik says inclusion is an illusion here for many. “We’re the best place for startups, the best place to raise a family, but it don’t have nothing to do with black people. Nebraska’s as segregated and racist as anywhere in the United States.” He asserts blacks here are “not looked at as full citizens.” Garrett says it’s not just blacks getting the shaft in North O. ‘There’s still a lot of white people living here and they’re being given the short end of the stick as well.” “What we have left is an impoverished community,” Love says. “That doesn’t mean everybody in it. When you have serious poverty like it is here you have a (drug-gang) subculture that’s figured out there’s no future in the (mainstream) community. So they created their own community and it’s thriving. Money’s flowing, big time. Everything’s working just fine. They may have to die but that’s OK because they’re not expected to live and all that logic. That subculture is created by poverty and breeds total disconnect from lawfulness.” Menelik has lost loved ones to gun violence, He’s doing prevention work as local Mad Dads chapter president. He is also on the board of the Bryant Center Association that serves at-risk young people.
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He sees an urgent need to intervene in the hopelessness. “The game is over, man. The kids, they’re hollering out silently. If it was a movie you’d see a bunch of black hands reaching up and saying, ‘Where are you and when are you coming?’ “We’re taking it upon ourselves to do for ourselves and to do it right now. It’s crucial.” “The only major solution is economic inclusion, economic health for this community,” Love says. “If you lay on the table jobs and alternatives a lot more will take it than people realize. Do we need better education? Yes, we’ve got educational gaps that need filling. We’ve got a high drop-out rate that needs improving. We need to reduce STDs. All of those are more factors than potential solutions.” He says North O should demand more autonomy and accountability from the nonprofit social sector set up to address its myriad needs. “We have a lot of people pimping the community. They don’t live in the community, they work in the community receiving what benefits there are coming into a poverty-infected area and then they escape out of it, taking the benefits of the drops, the crumbs.” Menelik says after ignoring North O the power elites “understand they’ve got to do something because we’re right on the doorstep of North Downtown development. They want to come off [as] multicultural.” Whatever happens, he says “we want to see results, we want performance-based, sustainable, social-economic development.” Garrett says, “You have an entire middle class that lives outside the North Omaha community that benefit by way of employment from programs addressing the issues in North Omaha. So if the issues in North Omaha go away, then a lot of those jobs go away as well. Our destiny is intertwined with the destiny of those that have the resources. What happens if the philanthropic dollars dry up? “The philanthropic industry here in Nebraska is not sustainable--throwing money into a community and 10, 15, 20 years later not seeing any outcomes. Let’s takes those funds and use them towards outcome-based investments and address these issues from a private sector approach. That is the type of mindset and vigor we need.” Garrett’s Infinite 8 Institute poses social impact models. He says too often nonprofits don’t produce the social good their grant applications promise and that he favors outcome-based models. “If you give them the money up front and you don’t make them work for it, there’s no incentive to get the outcome.” Garrett’s partner Aledia Kartchner, 36, says they find innovative ways to handle “the huge lack in North Omaha.” One is via non-cognitive life skills and work force development classes they teach at Bryant Center. However, programming costs money and resources are scarce. “If you’re only giving us enough funds to keep the lights on then we can’t bring resources and people in to prepare these young people,” Garrett says. “We have to be able to
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close the deal. That means people at the top being willing to open up the doors of opportunity in a way that’s sincere and not just talk.” Kartchner says they’re seeking investments “in human capital.” Garrett says North O’s human resources get overlooked. “These kids have been through so many traumatic experiences they are better prepared than many who live in the outer community. As an employer I don’t want somebody who hasn’t dealt with a tough problem before. These kids are having to solve tough problems on a daily basis. Those skills are transferrable in this new knowledge-based economy, where soft skills--the ability to adapt and to be resilient--are things employers applaud. “If you just look at it at face value, you see thugs with impoverished, destitute, sad stories. But if you turn that around you see potential human capital that can really add value.” He says the skills he teaches “are all the intangibles that made the difference between myself and those peers who maybe fell victim to unfortunate circumstances.” “We’re working with kids from early childhood through 12th grade. Local elders volunteer, so it’s very intergenerational. We have a pipeline all within that one structure to measure long-term outcomes.” He says another key thing taught is “mindfulness meditation to ensure kids focus on peace of mind when they go back to their chaotic environment and the negative energy around them--you can’t control what’s happening around you but you can control how you react.” Infinite 8 seeks to raise $1.5 million for a social impact bond for violence prevention. “As an organization one of the things we focus on is creating social impact financing,” says Garrett, who sees it as a litmus test for how serious Omaha is in finding fresh ways to tackle persistent issues. “Omaha has so much wealth and prosperity but then you wonder why is it not circulating into northeast Omaha. There PRESTON LOVE JR
ALEDIA KARTCHNER
EAN GARRETT
are people in the city who singlehandedly could eradicate poverty here. It’s a question of whether or not the powers that be actually want that to happen. If you’re trying to do something like turn around the most deadly place to be black in America and integrate that with one of America’s most highly acclaimed places, then I think you have to look at what resources are necessary in order to accomplish that.” The public sector also has a role to play. “If we’re not electing elected officials willing to fight those battles for equal distribution of tax revenues and other funding streams, we lose. We’ve paralyzed most of our elected officials because of where they’re financed to get elected, so they’re not willing to stand up and try to act like Ernie,” Love says, referring to firebrand Neb. state senator Ernie Chambers. “They’re nice people but they’re not independent. When it comes time to fight for the community, we ain’t got nobody there. “The net effect is we’ve become a community on the receiving end and almost on the beg. So you’ve got a community that has to sit down. There’s only a few of us that stand up. That’s a problem. The community doesn’t have enough leverage to fight these battles.” Garrett agrees. “It’s time for North Omaha to become independent. For North Omaha to be able to do for people in North Omaha we need our own resources. If you want to see us do better, than empower us but don’t beholden us. We have to recognize what’s in our own community and that we have what it takes. We do believe there are people willing to do the right thing and we want to work with them.”
Kevin Lytle Jr. with the Leadership Institute for Urban Education in Omaha, says, “I believe our biggest resource in North Omaha is the people who live and struggle there. We have not found an effective way to develop, foster and encourage true community and camaraderie amongst African-Americans in Omaha.” Menelik says “It’s like we’re waiting for somebody to come in out of the sky to save us, when sometimes you’ve got to go within yourself.” Troxclair says “In the arts community many are coming together and their voices are starting to be heard. In every other major city’s revitalization effort, there is a concentration on arts investment. Omaha did not do that. We are connecting with each other and artist-allies who know we need to work together. Omaha’s leadership is still focused on housing and jobs. We get that, but every artist has created his-her own job and is an entrepreneur. White folks get it. How many people do the Holland, Joslyn, Bemis, Kaneko, Omaha Community Playhouse, Rose employ? We let the John Beasley Theatre go to waste. We let our stagnate leadership dictate the artist landscape and they have ignored our young people completely.” Meanwhile, Angel Martin has noted a “halt” in the movement by young African Americans to get involved. “A lot of young people (including herself) ran for the school board or the city council. There were a lot of new faces and voices with a lot to say. That was a prime time to tap into that energy. A lot of those people have since said,
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‘I’m out of here,” and that energy’s kind of gone I sense. That’s a concern. Where are we going next? “Some people are choosing to move on to where things are thriving more and it’s more progressive.” Everyone concedes North O loses many of its best and brightest. Martin doesn’t begrudge “the defectors.” “I can definitely see why people do not choose to stay here. Some of those who do choose to stay are looking for ways out. Some elders have told me, ‘You might want to look to move on.’” She’s seriously considered it. “We don’t have affirmative action. A lot of employers don’t look for faces that look like mine.” Martin expresses another concern many share. “I think there’s a lot of outsiders dictating which direction North Omaha should go. There’s a lot stirring. My concern is who’s doing the stirring and what are they mixing up. Was everybody invited to sit at this table? A lot of deals have been made relating to North Omaha’s future. My only hope is my great aunt in North Omaha was kept in mind when they talked about redevelopment. I hope as a people we understand it’s our right to question, to ask for details.” “We have to stand up together and fight. We’ve gotta put your foot down and say we’re not taking this lack of economic inclusion anymore and be willing to take the heat,” Love says. Love recently put himself on the line by advocating minority contractors get a share of the $2.3 billion in waste water and sewer separation construction happening. He pressed the mayor and others hard on it. He expected the corporate backlash he got but not the flak from his own community. “They don’t want you messing with ‘Mr. Charlie.’” Too, often, black advocates are left standing alone. Garrett feels the millennial generation offers new hope. “They’re a lot more informed. Millinials, regardless of color or shade, believe in social good and they’ll put their money behind products and services that have a positive impact on the community and the environment. I believe there needs to be more courage from the outer community to stand up and do what really needs to be done and to do it in a way that sits well with the indigenous people in North Omaha.” He says Infinite 8 has piloted programs in Kansas City, Mo. and other cities but runs into “a barrier to entry” here he attributes to decision-makers “not being open to new paradigms, ideas, best practices.” He’s not waiting for approval. Bryant Center kids are introduced to Bitcoin, drone technology, green sustainability, 3D printing and mobile Web programming. “We’re really focusing on what sectors have the most promising outlooks. We’re preparing young people with these skills so when they go into the workforce they actually have a leg up.” Troxclair is all for creative approaches. continued on page 16 y
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and paths laid by current symbolic individuals and will dedicate their efforts towards going against the grain and truly establishing community and ownership.” Martin feels the same. “We have a long way to go but I’m hopeful because I do think our people get it and we have a genuine love for each other and for North Omaha. I’m just hoping it’s not a day late and a dollar short.” She says even Native Omaha Days might be a catalyst for “capitalizing on connections, sharing ideas, holding roundtables, digging in and getting things moving. It takes all us all working together — those currently living here and those who used to live here.” Love says The Days are not the pure fun they once were due to the specter of violence. The festival’s still a good time, “but when the dust settles we are still left with the new pure--poverty.” Sundiata Menelik says all the community gatherings and dialogues are no substitute for “bootstrapping” grassroots action. Despite much to be pessimistic about, Ean Garrett says, “We’re optimistic. We know there are people who are tired of the situation as it stands. I think there’s good people out there who do want to change some things and to do so in ways that empower people in the community to do it themselves.” Visit www.infinite8institute.com/byinfinite8institute, www. bryantcenteromaha.org/ and nativeomahaclub.org. ,
KEVIN LYTLE
Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at leoadambiga.com.
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“Rote methods are outdated and we all know the world of technology has changed the landscape. Young people don’t want to be bothered with minutia. Applicability, immediacy are what they’re looking for. The arts must be used to stimulate interest and academic motivation.” Lytle says, “A huge factor not being deeply addressed is how our children are being taught and who is teaching our children.” He wonders “how effective are the educational lessons being transmitted in relation to the culture AfricanAmerican students” interact with. Garrett and Co. decry how elements of this civil society demonize and dismiss a segment of the city they have no direct experience with. “Is it civil to deny opportunity to your own citizens? Are we uncivil because we have violence going on in our community? Is a person who sits back and watches the violence and does nothing more civil?” Aledia Kartchner echoes others in saying she’s tired of her people being depicted as “just savages killing each other – there’s many positive things going on but they don’t focus on that.” North O’s good people, neighborhoods, anchors, programs and events get obscured by the actions of a few knuckleheads.
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Martin says, “It’s an unfair perception that’s very disheartening. If you never highlight the positive things going on you’ll never know. If you’re not in the area, you won’t know. When we take back our community as a people we’ll take back those perceptions.” Troxclair takes exception to media depictions of “us as nincompoops holding candlelight vigils waiting on Jesus.” She says, “When a murder occurs, a murder occurs. Report that a murder occurred. Report who the suspects according to the facts. Do we really need to know the criminal record of the entire family?” Where controlling the message is concerned, Melenik says North O could benefit from more black-owned media outlets and Martin suggests more blacks are needed in newsrooms. Lytle, 32, repeats a mantra many sound--leaders are doing what they can with what they have. But he says, “We are not getting the job done. The role of leadership is to warn a people of potential dangers and opportunities, educate a people on how to navigate through that and create avenues in which a people can effectively execute and implement the steps that will best serve them.” Yet, he adds, “I am hopeful for the future of blacks in Omaha and for the area of North Omaha because I believe the up and coming leadership is learning from the choices
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SUNDIATA MENELIK
Monday, August 3 WALK THE MOON WITH COIN Sumtur Amphitheater, 11691 South 108th Street 7:00 p.m. www.sumtur.org Taking over video, radio, and my daughter’s music feed, Cincinnati based indie-pop band Walk the Moon has recently celebrated their second album release “Talking is Hard,” crowned with the hit “Shut up and Dance,” a hit that charted at 26 on Billboard charts in its first week of release. Taylor Swift even gave her stamp of approval recently as she brought members of the band up on stage at a recent show in Boston. Fun, danceable, and with songs that find themselves heavy on a teen’s playlist, Walk the Moon hits the Omaha stage at the Sumtur Amphitheater. — Wayne Brekke Wednesday, August 5-8 EMERGING ARTISTS Connect Gallery, 3901 Leavenworth Street Opening Reception: Friday, Aug. 7, 5:30-9:00 p.m. Gallery Hours: Wed.-Sat. 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. www.connectgallery.net Two young artists are highlighted in Connect Gallery’s shortened August show. Lila Ferber will show both sculptures and oil paintings in the exhibit. Ferber uses nature as a jumping off place in her work, which is generally non-representational. A current student for two years at Kansas City Art Institute, she began her visual explorations during high school at the Kent Bellows Studio, ending up spending several days a week at the venue. Ferber calls the Bellows years “the best education in the world.” She plans to travel (Europe) and continue with museum work after graduation. Le (pronounced “Lay”) Drake will show plein-aire oil paintings in this show. “Hazy Day”, is part of her work done on location. Drake cites her mentorship with painter J.K. Thorsen as a boost to her college work. She has traveled to Vietnam, India and China as part of a mission tour, which one would hope might somehow appear in her artwork. — Eddith Buis
WALK THE MOON
Friday August 7 PRIMUS WITH DINOSAUR JR. Sumtur Amphitheater, 11691 South 108th Street 7:00 p.m. (Doors at 6:00 p.m.), $35 ADV/$40 DOS www.sumtur.org
Saturday August 8 DOMESTICA, WAGON BLASTERS, THE LUPINES Spigot, 1624 O Street (Lincoln) 9:00 p.m.
Two of the most iconic bands of the 90’s combine forces in an effort to blow out eardrums and melt faces on the stage of Sumtur. Les Claypool and company continue to show the world their thrash-funk style still kills the stage supporting their latest release “Primus & the Chocolate Factory with the Fungi Ensemble,” a 2014 studio album re-imagining the soundtrack of the 1971 film “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” To get you primed up, J. Mascis and his band Dinosaur Jr. let you relive your college years while holding on to their title as one of the loudest rockin’ bands in the verse. — Wayne Brekke
You want Midwest Rock? You want cow-twang? You want waves of loud? This show will give it all to you. Domestica, one of Nebraska’s most iconic rock bands, puts headstock to amp with the legendary Gary Dean Davis and his Wagon Blasters. And if that wasn’t enough to curl your ears and put the spit in your boots, the Lupines decided to join the show to shake the dust out of the rafters. Lots of local music veterans will be setting fire to the stage of the Spigot on this night. So if you find yourself in Lincoln, on a quest for pure rock and roll glory, be prepared to bask in some of the best our fair state has to offer. — Wayne Brekke Saturday, August 8 DAVID CODR Mulhall’s 13615 North 120th Street 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Free www.doggoneproblems.net/tag/david-codr/
“CORAL” A SCULPTURE BY LILA FERBER
If you’re having dog issues, David Codr could be just the person you need to talk to. And you have a chance to do so for free this next August. Codr writes a weekly column for the Omaha World-Herald’s Momaha section. He also does one-on-one home sessions to help people better train their dogs, both here in Omaha and in California, where he travels for one week a month for that purpose. According to Codr, it is important that your dog sees you as an authority figure, and that is a big part of what Codr teaches the dog’s owners. He teaches people how to communicate with their dogs in a way they can understand and respect. Codr uses dog psychology, positive
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reinforcement and other methods to help rehabilitate dogs with behavioral issues. He will be teaching these techniques during his upcoming workshops. There is limited space available, so it is asked that you leave your dogs at home. — Tara Spencer Friday August 21 SCI-FI FOR CY SPECTACULAR: A BENEFIT FOR COTA IN HONOR OF ALEXIS STANSBURY AND MEGHAN ZIMMERMAN Featuring All Young Girls Are Machine Guns, Oketo, The Sub-Vectors, and The Superbytes The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple Street 9:00 pm, $8 www.waitingroomlounge.com This Sci-Fi themed show is a benefit supporting Alexis Stansbury and Meghan Zimmerman with proceeds going to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association. It’s
MAURITIUS
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the Indian Ocean. A postage stamp. Two such sold for $4 million bucks in 1993. The Playhouse stages this 2007 item after an admired public reading in 2010. Rebeck has major stage credits: e.g. Dead Accounts and Seminar on Broadway plus lots of other scripts at New York’s Second Stage, Playwrights Horizons and more. She was also a Pulitzer finalist for Omnium Gatherum. TV-wise: L.A. Law, NYPD Blue, Third Watch, Law & Order and Smash. Note this, too: In 2011 she was named one of the “150 Fearless Women in the World” by Newsweek. Don’t be surprised if this woman writing about women takes a stand on female power. — Gordon Spencer
PRIMUS
Through September 13 IN THE BONES SNAP Productions, 3225 California Street. Opens Thursday, Aug. 20 Thurs-Sat. 8:00 p.m., Sun.: 6:00 p.m., Sun. Sept. 13 2:00 p.m., $10-$15 www.snapproductions.com
a fantastic cause with an event put on by some very caring people. Not just your normal rock show, this spectacular event features a Sci-fi theme with a lineup that blends soulful sounds, bombastic surf rock, and yes 8bit chiptune-pop-punk-rock. If you feel the pull of the planets, feel free to get your cosplay on as themed costumes of all things Sci-fi is encouraged. Grab your board and fire up the starship, all for a great cause. Learn more about Alexis and Meghan by visiting cotaforalexiss.com and cotaformeghanz.com. From the band’s event page: “With the cost of a transplant often exceeding $500,000, many transplant families are unable to shoulder the financial burden of such a procedure. The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) is a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-related expenses”. — Wayne Brekke
Through August 28 NEW WORK BY GRACEANN WARN Modern Arts Midtown, 3615 Dodge Street Opens Friday, Aug. 7 6:00-8:00 p.m. Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat. 11:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. www.modernartsmidtown.com Subtle elegance is on parade in August at Modern Arts Midtown with New Work by Graceann Warn along with a small group of others who deal with complex surface
AUGUST 2015
Through October 10 #BEMISPAINTERS, 1982-2015 Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts 724 South 12th Street www.bemiscenter.org The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts is renowned for its international residency program. It is also known for hosting changing exhibitions and community programs by living artists of all stripes. But it is seldom thought of as an organization with its own collection of art. #BemisPainters, 1982-2015, an exhibition that opened on July 16, puts on view 30 works from its wideranging archive of work by artists who were residents from across the entire 35-year history of the organization. The archive consists of a variety of art objects, many donated by residents, as well as other works related to past sales gallery and auction initiatives. Ellina Kevorkian, Bemis’ new Artistic Director for Residency Programs, was intrigued to draw together a selection of paintings by former artists-in-residence, finding in them the diversity of motifs, themes, conceptual and aesthetic considerations that you might anticipate across such an expansive field. Some may also find the opportunity to view paintings as a nice diversion from Bemis’ recent excursions into installation-based social practice art. — Janet L. Farber
Through September 13 MAURITIUS Howard Drew Theatre, Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass Street Opens Friday, Aug. 14 Thurs.-Sat.: 7:30 p.m., Sun.: 2:00 p.m., $18-$36 www.OmahaPlayhouse.org
“THRESHOLD” BY ARTIST GRACEANN WARN
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qualities and nuanced detail, a virtual symphony of quiet beauty for the viewer to enjoy. An encaustic artist, Warn is featured in her “Invisible World” of painting and assemblages in scrumptious color. With a background in architecture and interest in archaeology, she manages to imbue her work with a deep artistic resonance worthy of careful study. Lincoln artist Joe Ruffo’s collage-like encaustic works are thoughtfully arranged spatial designs that nicely fit the description of interesting surfaces. And France’s Jean Gaudaire-Thor’s painted and torn canvas collages beg a closer look—with fine stitching rather than glue or wax to adhere the parts. Artist Steve Mueller divides his time between Chicago and Australia to mix his own pigments in black and ochre, resulting in lovely meditative pieces with more emphasis on the tactile side of the senses. Rick John of Vermillion offers subtle mark making on dimensional surfaces, and Des Moines’ Robert Spellman will show huge pieces sized with poly vinyl, so the subtle grays of the linen canvas can show. This staining effect is highlighted with passages of bolder brushwork. Not an in your face show—quiet, but endearing. — Eddith Buis
Playwright Cody Daigle is back. He returns about 15 months after his In the Bones materialized at the Great Plains Theatre Conference. Follwing the premiere in Queens, NY last November, about which Stage Buddy wrote “A truly moving piece of stagecraft,” SNAP snapped it up for production here. A suicide is at the core; a soldier who fought in Afghanistan fights guilt and depression and, by opposing, ends them. Grief settles over his family and his abandoned partner. But transformation suffuses the people left behind. Daigle pondered suicide before, that of 17-year-old transgender girl Leelah Alcorn whose anticipatory posting attracted international attention. He wrote: “We have to take up a call of action on behalf of the living: don’t kill yourself.” And quotes poet Jennifer Michael Hecht: “None of us can know…how much courage it takes to stay.” Consider the playwright thus far: Nine scripts at New York’s Manhattan Theatre Works, for Playhouse Tulsa and Acadiana Repertory Theatre in his home state of Louisiana including, The Bottom of the Sea, The Survivalists, The Woman’s Part and A Home Across the Ocean. More at http://codydaigle.com/. “Daigle’s artistic voice is crystal clear,” said Indie Theatre Now. Clearly, he chooses to say something about affirming life. — Gordon Spencer
ALEX LUKAS, UNTITLED, ACRYLIC, GOUACHE, SPRAY PAINT & SCREENPRINT ON BOOK PAGE, 2014
You might think that another American buffalo is stamping its feet in new grounds, given Theresa Rebeck’s Mauritius. It’s about an object just as prized as a rare nickel which menacing, foul-mouthed nasty guys want to cop. And, goddamn, one of them is some kind of psychopath. Hold on, Phil, such plans of mice and men may go awry. Two dames who’ve got the item are not as mousy as you might think. The background on this “corkscrew drama of suspense” (NY Times) where double-crosses cross paths, centers on a small piece of sticky paper once designed to send sealed messages across national boundaries from a small island nation in
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DAVID CODR
BEST DINING BEST BAKERY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Wheatfields Readers’ Choice: Farmhouse Cafe, Pettit’s Pastry, Le Quartier Baking Company Readers’ Recommend: Aromas Bliss Bakery Readers’ Refer: Olsen Bake Shop BEST BBQ RESTAURANT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Famous Dave’s Readers’ Choice: Parker’s Smokehouse, Hartland Bar-B-Que, Swine Dining BBQ, Jim’s Rib Haven Readers’ Recommend: Ozark Smoked Meat Co. BEST BUFFETT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Valentino’s Readers’ Choice: China Buffet, Horseshoe Casino, Ameristar Heritage Buffet Readers’ Recommend: Flavors Indian Cuisine, Grand China Buffett
BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Blue Sushi Sake Grill Readers’ Choice: Hiro’s Japanese Cuisine, Kobe Steak House Readers’ Recommend: Ponzu Sushi Grill, Sakura Bana Readers’ Refer: Sushi Japan BEST KID-FRIENDLY (NOT KID-FOCUSED) RESTAURANT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Mama’s Pizza Readers’ Choice: Red Robin, Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill, Spaghetti Works, Valentino’s, Petrow’s BEST LATE NIGHT RESTAURANT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill Readers’ Choice: Upstream Brewing Company, Abelardos’s Mexican Restaurant, Nite Owl, Hiro’s Japanese Cuisine Readers’ Recommend: 7M Grill
BEST NOUVEAU CUISINE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Salt 88 Readers’ Choice: The Grey Plume, J Coco Readers’ Recommend: Le Bouillon BEST PIZZA PARLOR Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Mama’s Pizza Readers’ Choice: La Casa Pizzaria, Zio’s Pizzeria Readers’ Recommend: Baxter’s Readers’ Refer: Marco’s, Spin! BEST RESTAURANT MENU SPECIALS Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Cheddar’s Casual Cafe Readers’ Choice: Kona Grill, Crave, Plank Seafood Provisions Readers’ Recommend: Salt 88 Readers’ Refer: Sushi Japan
BEST RETAIL PRODUCE SELECTION Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee Food Store Readers’ Choice: Whole Foods Market, Bakers Readers’ Recommend: Trader Joe’s, Fareway Readers’ Refer: Natural Grocers, Target BEST RETAIL WINE SELECTION Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee Food Store Readers’ Choice: Brix, Spirit World, Trader Joe’s Readers’ Recommend: Corkscrew Wine & Cheese, Whole Foods Market BEST STEAK HOUSE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Drover Readers’ Choice: Anthony’s Steakhouse, Longhorn Steakhouse Readers’ Recommend: Piccolo Pete’s, Johnny’s Café, Gorat’s Steak House BEST SWEETS SHOP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Old Market Candy Shop Readers’ Choice: Hollywood Candy, Wheatfields, The Cordial Cherry Readers’ Recommend: Candy Wrappers
BEST BURGER JOINT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Stella’s Bar & Grill Readers’ Choice: Dinker’s Bar, Five Guys Burgers & Fries Readers’ Recommend: Culvers Butter Burger, Louie M’s Burger Lust, Danny’s Bar & Grill
BEST TAPAS/ SMALL PORTIONS Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Espana Readers’ Choice: French Bulldog, Mula Readers’ Recommend: Taita Restaurant
BEST CAFE/DINER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Petrow’s Readers’ Choice: 11-Worth Café, Lisa’s Radial Café, Leo’s Diner Readers’ Recommend: Shirley’s Diner Readers’ Refer: The Diner
BEST TEX-MEX Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Fernando’s Readers’ Choice: Cantina Laredo, Romeo’s Mexican Food & Pizza, Julio’s, Stokes Grill & Bar
BEST CATERER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee Food Store Readers’ Choice: Hap Abraham Catering, Upstream Catering, Spirit World Readers’ Refer: Catering Creations, Eddie’s Catering
BEST THAI RESTAURANT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Mai Thai Readers’ Choice: Thai Pepper, Taste of Thailand, Thai Spice, Salween Thai Restaurant Readers’ Recommend: Bangkok Cuisine BEST VALUE RESTAURANT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Cheddar’s Casual Cafe Readers’ Choice: Billy J’s Cafe, La Casa Food Truck Readers’ Recommend: The Food Court Readers’ Refer: Tasty Pastry, 11-Worth Cafe, Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill
BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Three Happiness Express Readers’ Choice: JC Mandarin Chinese Cuisine, China Road, Rice Bowl, China Palace Readers’ Recommend: Hunan Fusion
BEST VEGETARIAN Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Modern Love Readers’ Choice: Amsterdam Falafel & Kabob, Mother India, Saigon Bowl Readers’ Refer: Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant
BEST COFFEESHOP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Scooter’s Coffeehouse Readers’ Choice: Caffeine Dreams, Crane Coffee Readers’ Recommend: Archetype, Aromas Bliss Bakery Readers’ Refer: Harold’s Coffee House
BEST YOGURT SHOP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Orange Leaf Readers’ Choice: TCBY Frozen Yogurt Readers’ Recommend: Yo Yo Berri, Peachwave Readers’ Refer: Red Mango
BEST DOUGHNUT SHOP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Pettit’s Pastry Readers’ Choice: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Dunkin Donuts, LaMar’s Donuts, Donut Stop Readers’ Recommend: Donut Professor BEST GREEK RESTAURANT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Greek Islands Readers’ Choice: Jim & Jennie’s Greek Village, Feta’s, King Kong Readers’ Recommend: Katie’s Greek Restaurant Readers’ Refer: John’s Grecian Delight
BEST LOCAL FOOD-SERVING RESTAURANT Reader’s Choice Best of the Big O: The Grey Plume Readers’ Choice: Block 16, Lot 2 Readers’ Recommend: Kitchen Table, Modern Love
BEST ICE CREAM SHOP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Ted & Wally’s Readers’ Choice: Cold Stone Creamery, eCreamery, Zesto’s Readers’ Recommend: Dairy Queen, Goodrich
BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: La Mesa Mexican Restaurant Readers’ Choice: El Bee’s Mexican Restaurant, El Aguila Restaurant, Rivera’s Readers’ Refer: El Vallarta, OJ’s, Cilantro’s
BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Lo Sole Mio Ristorante Readers’ Choice: Spezia, La Casa Pizzaria, Malara’s Italian Restaurant Readers’ Recommend: Olive Garden, Avoli Osteria
BEST NEW RESTAURANT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Pig & Finch Readers’ Choice: Modern Love, Uncle Maddio’s Pizza, Mula, Mouth of the South Readers’ Refer: Saigon Bowl
BEST GETTING AROUND
BEST RESTAURANT WINE SELECTION Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Brix Readers’ Choice: Spirit World, M’s Pub Readers’ Recommend: V Mertz, Salt 88 Readers’ Refer: 801 Chophouse BEST RETAIL DELI COUNTER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee Food Store Readers’ Choice: Wohlner’s, Spirit World, Bakers Readers’ Recommend: Fareway Readers’ Refer: Whole Foods Market BEST RETAIL MEAT COUNTER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Fareway Readers’ Choice: Hy-Vee Food Store, Just Good Meat, Stoysich House of Sausage Readers’ Recommend: Whole Foods Market, Bakers
BEST AIRLINE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Southwest Airlines Readers’ Choice: Delta Air Lines Inc. Readers’ Recommend: United Air Lines Readers’ Refer: Frontier Air Lines BEST AUTO BODY SHOP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Dingman’s Collision Center Readers’ Choice: CARSTAR Auto Body Repair, Charlie Graham Body & Service, Dave’s Auto Body Readers’ Recommend: B Street Collison Center, Inter-tech Collision Centers
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• Bellevue - 402.934.2300 • Council Bluffs - 712.256.1221 • Eagle Run - 402.779.8600 • Millard - 402.829.1616 20
AUGUST 2015
| THE READER |
SEVEN Salon AD_5" x 5"
BEST AUTO DEALER SERVICE SHOP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Performance Toyota Scion Readers’ Choice: Woodhouse Nissan, Superior Honda of Omaha, Atchley Ford Readers’ Recommend: Performance VW BEST AUTO DEALERSHIP GROUP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Woodhouse Auto Group Readers’ Choice: Performance Auto, Baxter Auto Group Readers’ Recommend: Huber Automotive, Markel Auto Group Readers’ Refer: Gregg Young Chevrolet BEST AUTO GLASS Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Safelite Auto Glass Readers’ Choice: Omaha Glass Pro, ABC Auto Glass, Kryger Glass, Metro Glass Omaha BEST AUTO PARTS Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Auto Zone Readers’ Choice: Advance Auto Parts, O’Reilly Auto Parts Readers’ Refer: NAPA Auto Parts, U Pull It BEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Charlie Graham Body & Service
Readers’ Choice: Walker Tire Readers’ Recommend: Exclusive Honda, Sports Car Garage Readers’ Refer: Havers BEST BIKE SHOP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Bike Rack Readers’ Choice: Trek Bicycle Store of Omaha, Re-Cycle Bike Shop, Greenstreet Cycles, Omaha Bicycle Company, Dundee Bike shop BEST BUY HERE/PAY HERE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Paul Gerber Auto Sales Readers’ Choice: Carhop, Dino’s Auto Sales, Eckley Auto Brokers, Sports & Imports Auto Sales
THANK YOU!
BEST CAR AUDIO Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Stereo West Readers’ Choice: Inphase Car Audio, Metro Audio Dynamics BEST CAR WASH Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Russell Speeder’s Car Wash Readers’ Choice: Dolphins Car Wash, Brentwood Touchless Auto Wash, Cornhusker Auto Wash Readers’ Recommend: Fort Crook Car Wash Readers’ Refer: Gorilla Unlimited Car Wash
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3117 N. 120 ST // OMAHA, NE 68164 a n at i o n a l t i g i e d u cato r s a lo n s i n c e 20 04
readers’s choice
402.934.2177
| THE READER |
www.sevensalon.com
AUGUST 2015
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BEST GAS STATION/CONVENIENCE STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Quik Trip Readers’ Choice: Bucky’s Convenient Stores, Casey’s General Store Readers’ Recommend: Kum N Go Food Store Readers’ Refer: Cubby’s Old Market, Fantasy’s
THANK YOU.
BEST LUXURY AUTO DEALER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Lexus of Omaha Readers’ Choice: Mercedes Benz of Omaha, Infiniti of Omaha, Markel BMW/Mini/Jaguar/Range, Gorges Volvo Inc. Readers’ Recommend: Huber Cadillac BEST NEW AUTO DEALER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Performance Toyota Scion Readers’ Choice: H&H Chevrolet, Atchley Ford Readers’ Recommend: Beardmore Chevrolet Subaru, Performance VW BEST PRE-OWNED CAR DEALER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: CARMAX Readers’ Choice: H&H Chevrolet, Atchley Ford Readers’ Recommend: Metro Auto Sales Readers’ Refer: Sports & Imports Auto Sales BEST TIRE STORE & SERVICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Jensen Tire & Auto Readers’ Choice: Tommy’s Tires & Custom Wheels, Walker Tire Readers’ Recommend: Marion Tire, Midwest Tire Company, Inc. Readers’ Refer: Lyle’s Discount Tires BEST TOWING SERVICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: AAA Readers’ Choice: Neff Towing Services Readers’ Recommend: 24 Hour Towing, Ely’s Towing LLC Readers’ Refer: 3 B’s Towing, Arrow Towing Inc.
BEST TRANSPORTATION/LONG- DISTANCE TRAVEL (NOT AIRLINES) Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Amtrak Readers’ Choice: MegaBus, Arrow Bus Lines
BEST LIVING & HOME SERVICES BEST ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Brookstone Meadows Readers’ Choice: Immanuel Communities, Fountain View Readers’ Recommend: Granville Assisted Living BEST CONCRETE COMPANY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: McGill Restoration Inc. Readers’ Choice: Modern Concrete, JR Barger & Sons, SB Concrete Readers’ Recommend: Schroeder Concrete BEST ELECTRICIAN Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Brase Electrical Contracting Readers’ Choice: D&J Electric, Advantage Electric, Wiggins Electrical Readers’ Refer: Gatchell, Powered Up Electric Inc., Vierregger Electric BEST EXTERMINATOR COMPANY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Orkin Readers’ Choice: Lien Pest Control, ABC TERMITE Readers’ Refer: Omaha Pest Control BEST FURNITURE STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Nebraska Furniture Mart Readers’ Recommend: Hutch Readers’ Refer: Ethan Allen, The Humble Home
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WE’LL SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS.
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402.346.3626 | firstnational.com | Member FDIC
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readers’s choice Approval
DATE / INITIAL
Available 24/7
(402) 331-1233 aksarbenARS.com
Offering Dedicated Service for Every Client
C
riminal Defense Attorney James Martin Davis said people need to understand that liberty is the most precious of America’s ideals. He explained that’s why the founding fathers created the system they did. Davis said they knew it would not be possible to create a system where every single guilty person was punished and each innocent person was set free. And that’s where the lawyers come in. Davis had known since he was in grade school that he wanted to be an attorney. After Davis was admitted to the bar, he was offered the chance to join a large corporate law firm’s litigation section. But he wasn’t interested. In fact, he had decided he wanted to represent individuals not companies. “I would rather protect a person’s liberty than their property rights,” said Davis. As a criminal defense attorney, Davis said he protects the U.S. Constitution, one individual at a time. Davis is admitted to practice law in four states: Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado and Indiana. He is also admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Claims, the U.S. Tax Court and numerous federal, district and circuit courts. Davis has tried more than 150 jury trials in numerous states as well as in Washington, DC over the course of his career. His office represents people in both federal and criminal matters, not just in Omaha but also across the Midwest. Davis has been recognized as the Best Criminal Defense Attorney in The Reader for many years. He was also named Great Plains Super Lawyer and is one of American Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers. Additionally, Davis is on the National Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. “My office primarily handles criminal cases, both state and federal. But I also handle personal injury cases where individuals are hurt as a result of the negligence of others,” said Davis. Davis explained his staff is dedicated to offering personal service for each and every client. There is no feel for the initial consultation, phones are answered 24/7 and Davis also has staff members who speak Spanish. In order to punish all of the guilty individuals out there, Davis said we would have to punish a certain number who were innocent. He explained this is something our Democracy refuses to do. Davis said in America it is much more important to protect the innocent than it is to punish the guilty. “The criminal defense attorney is liberty’s last champion and I am proud of the work I do,” said Davis.
James Martin Davis
DEBRA S. KAPLAN
1623 Farnam St. Suite 500 Omaha, NE 68102 402.341.9900
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Smile
You we smile.
BEST GARDEN CENTER/NURSERY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Mulhall’s Nursery Readers’ Choice: Lanoha Nursery, Earl May Nursery & Garden Center, Indian Creek Nursery Readers’ Refer: Canoyer Garden Center
,
Thank you, Omaha! We’re proud to serve this great community as the Best Orthodontist. 8 years in a row.
BEST GUTTER COMPANY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Gutter Company Readers’ Choice: Omaha Leafguard, ABC of Nebraska Readers’ Refer: Monarch Siding & Windows, Z’s Home Improvements BEST HARDWARE STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Westlake Ace Hardware Readers’ Choice: Menards, Center ACE Hardware, Home Depot, Lowe’s Readers’ Refer: Millard Lumber Inc. BEST HEATING & A/C COMPANY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Aksarben ARS Heating Air Conditioning & Plumbing Readers’ Choice: Eyman Plumbing, Burton Plumbing, Thermal Services Inc. Readers’ Recommend: Controlled Comfort Readers’ Refer: Ideal Heating & Air Conditioning, Standard Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. BEST HOME BUILDER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Legacy Homes Readers’ Choice: Celebrity Homes, The Home Company Readers’ Recommend: Regency Homes, Charleston Homes, Advance Design & Construction, Inc. BEST HOME WINDOW COMPANY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Pella Windows Readers’ Choice: Omaha Door & Window, Champion Windows of Omaha, Millard Lumber Inc. Readers’ Recommend: Window World Readers’ Refer: Marvin Windows & Doors
10801 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68154 402.330.1152 igelorthodontics.com
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readers’s choice
BEST HOTEL Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Magnolia Hotel Readers’ Choice: Hilton Omaha, Embassy Suites Readers’ Recommend: Hotel Deco, Element Midtown Crossing BEST HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Merry Maids Readers’ Choice: The Maids, Molly Maid Readers’ Refer: Clean Homes by CHolmes, Mary Ann’s Cleaning Service BEST INSULATION COMPANY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Omaha Door & Window Readers’ Choice: Carlisle Insulation, Seal Rite Insulation, USA Insulation Readers’ Refer: Millard Lumber Inc. BEST INTERIORS STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Millard Lumber Inc. Readers’ Choice: Designers Touch, The Humble Home, Hutch Readers’ Recommend: Lee Douglas Interiors BEST KITCHENWARE STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Williams-Sonoma Readers’ Choice: The Afternoon, Sur La Table Readers’ Refer: Bed Bath & Beyond, Hockenberg’s BEST LANDSCAPER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Mulhall’s Nursery Readers’ Choice: Urban Prairie Land Design Readers’ Recommend: Blooming Prairie Readers’ Refer: Green Wings, Greenlife Gardens, Patera Landscaping BEST LAWN CARE SERVICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Kozy Lawn Care Readers’ Choice: TruGreen Chemlawn Readers’ Recommend: Greenlife Gardens, Absolute Green Readers’ Refer: Dream Green Lawn Solutions, Tuff Turf
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Huber at the Forefront of New In-Car Technology
DEBRA S. KAPLAN
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aining a new customer when they purchase a new or used car or truck is great. Keeping that customer throughout the lifetime of that car or truck is even better. That’s why Huber Chevrolet – winner of the Best Car Dealership for 2015’s “Best of the Big O” – looks at its customers in the long term. “A car sale is pretty quick, maybe a couple of hours out of your life. But keeping those customers through the service department is a long-term relationship,” said Anne McKinney, Customer Service Manager. “We want to keep you as a customers from the time you bought the car all the way through the time you own the car.” It’s an approach that has won Huber Chevrolet a legion of loyal customers. “We treat our customers just like I’d want someone to treat my mom, treat my dad, brothers, sisters. It’s a family owned business and that flows through the entire culture,” McKinney said. “And we take pride in that. We want the Huber name to be spoken well of throughout the city.” Ron Huber started his dealership in 1975. He still goes into work at Huber Chevrolet every day. His son, Bret Huber, now runs the Huber Cadillac business, while his son-in-law, Brian Allen, runs the Huber Chevrolet Sales Department. The entire Huber company is located at 11102 West Dodge Road, where it began in 1975. “We used to be on the outskirts of Omaha, and now we’re considered almost the middle of the city,” McKinney said. “But we’ve grown, too. We had enough land to expand, and we’ve been fortunate to have that.” Huber Chevrolet, along with the rest of the automotive industry, has also had to grow in the area of technology. “We’ve had to keep up with technology and training – fixing modern day cars is like fixing computers, so everybody has to be trained to that extent.” Chevrolet is ahead of many auto brands in that all of its 2016 model cars will have optional in-car Wi-Fi. The entire line will also be compatible with Apple Play and Google Android Auto, both of which connect to a car’s in-dash digital screen display. Basically, they allow you to synch your smartphone to your car. “Car drivers want their cars to be an extension of their home. Everything needs to be mobile and at your fingertips and ready to go,” McKinney said. “It’s no different than having everything on your phone, now they want to have it in their car. “We’re not a society that sits at home anymore. Your running your kids, your traveling to work, you’re doing whatever – your car has become your second residence, and you can do everything from your car now. Our cars are hotspots for your Wi-Fi so your kids can play all their Internet stuff off of your car being the hot spot. Your emails can be pulled up on the navigational screen – it’s just a way of life.” And Huber Chevrolet is at the forefront of this new in-car technology. “If you don’t continue to educate your employees to teach their customers how to use it, then everybody is going to be behind. “ In addition to adding modern tech to their cars, Chevy is also among those offering an electric hybrid. At Huber, the Chevy Volt is one of the plug-in hybrids they sell. They also sell the Cadillac ELR. “We’re equipped here to service all of them, because you have to have special training and special equipment, and we do have a built-in plug-in station here on premises,” McKinney said. “
From left: Ken Gradel, Anne McKinney and Eric Wallace of Huber Cadillac “The (electric car) movement has not hit the Midwest obviously as much as it has on the east and west coasts. It will come. People that have them, love them, swear by them. They totally believe in them. But to get it out in the mainstreams, it hasn’t happened as much here.” At Huber, the best-sellers include the Chevy Equinox, a crossover SUV, and the Chevy Silverado pickup line of trucks. “And then on the Cadillac side, the whole line has exploded,” McKinney said. “They’ve revamped themselves and have made themselves look younger and more hip.” While young entrepreneurs are enjoying their first Cadillac, there are still veteran businesspeople who are buying the latest Cadillac models. Last year, Omaha’s Warren Buffett bought a 2014 Cadillac XTS from Huber Chevrolet.
“His daughter (Buffett’s daughter, Susie Buffett) came in and shopped for him, and she didn’t tell anyone who she or her dad was,” McKinney said. “Our salesperson talked with her and ended up suggesting the CTS for him. It’s great; he loves it. And he still services it here.” Looks like Huber has another long-term customer.
Huber Cadillac
11102 West Dodge Road Omaha, NE 68154 Sales: 866.838.4876 Service: 866.616.2569 hubercadillac.net
readers’s choice
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BEST LOCKSMITH Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Accurate Locksmith Readers’ Choice: Big Red Locksmiths, Keymasters of Greater Omaha Readers’ Recommend: Bust-a-Loc, Luckey Locksmith Readers’ Refer: Carl Jarl Group
BEST STORAGE FACILITY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Dino’s Storage Readers’ Choice: Metro Self Storage, Milt’s Mini Storage Readers’ Refer: A Place to Store, Armor Storage, l St. Storage, Millard Air Park Storage
BEST PAINTING COMPANY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Master’s Touch Readers’ Choice: John Moran Painting, Marquez Painting, G&H Painting Readers’ Refer: Tainted to Repainted
BEST NIGHTLIFE & PLAY
BEST PLUMBING COMPANY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Burton Plumbing Readers’ Choice: Two Men & a Snake, Red-D Plumbing, Eyman Plumbing Readers’ Refer: Southside Plumbing, Tritz Plumbing Inc. BEST REALTY COMPANY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: NP Dodge Readers’ Choice: Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Ambassador Real Estate, Condo Living Omaha, CBSHome Real Estate, Deeb Realty BEST ROOFING COMPANY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Aksarben Roofing Readers’ Choice: Pyramid Roofing Inc. Readers’ Recommend: Home Pride Co Inc., Champion Windows of Omaha, Takoda Green Roofing Readers’ Refer: Duranski Roofing BEST SIDING COMPANY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Omaha Door & Window Readers’ Choice: Midwest Siding Inc., Champion Windows of Omaha, Millard Siding & Window Readers’ Refer: The Home Improvement Store, Monarch Siding & Windows
BEST BAR FOR AN INTERNET DATE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: M’s Pub Readers’ Choice: Corkscrew Wine & Cheese, Homy Inn Readers’ Recommend: Nite Owl, Spielbound Readers’ Refer: Grane BEST BAR FOR CONVERSATION Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Mr. Toads Readers’ Choice: La Buvette, Dundee Cork & Bottle Readers’ Recommend: Brothers Lounge, 1912, The Omaha Lounge BEST BAR FOR HIDING OUT Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Mai Tai Lounge Readers’ Choice: Brothers Lounge, Bud Olson’s Bar, Rose & Crown Pub, Burke’s Pub Readers’ Recommend: C&K’s Lounge BEST BAR FOR SPIRITS SELECTION Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Dundee Dell Readers’ Choice: Brix, Spirit World, Liv Lounge Readers’ Recommend: Berry & Rye Readers’ Refer: Grane BEST BAR FOR STIFFEST POURS Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Green Onion Readers’ Choice: Krug Park, Holiday Lounge Readers’ Recommend: Bud Olson’s Bar, Library Pub
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Summit Rises to Top
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ummit Dental Health is proud to serve the dental needs of our Omaha community. And, although our name has changed, our dedication to providing the best patient care remains stronger than ever. In 2014, Rainbow Dental, Towne Dental, Dundee Family Dental, Indian Hills Dental and Old Market Dental merged to form Summit Dental Health. By joining together, we can now provide better overall patient care, with more office locations, easier-to-schedule appointment times (including same-day appointments), an expanded network of insurance partners, and a larger team of dentists and specialists to serve patients of all ages. At Summit Dental Health, your oral and dental health, and your personal comfort, remain our top priorities. And, if you are a little nervous about dental visits, we offer sedation options that help make your whole experience more comfortable. From routine checkups and cleanings to a wide range of cosmetic dentistry services, Summit Dental Health can help you achieve and maintain the healthy and beautiful smile you’ve always wanted. “Thanks to each of you who voted Summit Dental Health Best of the Big O! We are honored to have earned your trust by providing a one-ofa-kind patient experience. We are proud to be part of such a wonderful community, and grateful to represent Omaha in the Best of the Big O!” — Dr. Terry Lanphier, DDS
Summit Dental Health
10 Omaha Locations summitdentalhealth.net
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readers’s choice
Eyman Plumbing: Trust the Big Red Truck!
T
he grandson of Eyman Plumbing’s founder expressed satisfaction when he learned the company was voted “Best in Omaha” by The Reader Magazine readers. “It makes me very proud to know our hard work has paid off. We ask our employees to be and do the best they can each and every day,” Tom Eyman said. “It’s a tough goal, but we hit the objective often enough to get thumbs up from our customers with this award.” When Bob Eyman launched Eyman Plumbing in 1957, its primary business was to plumbing and drain services. The company now has six divisions and uses new technology like remote visual inspections and customized climate control systems. Tom Eyman said he always tells his employees to treat their customers the same way they’d treat their own mothers. “When you treat a customer fairly and go that extra step, you often win the customer for life.” As a family-built business, Eyman has earned the loyalty of its customers. Eyman customers stretch across Greater Omaha. The sites range from historic homes to new residences and from industrial and commercial developments to large community infrastructure projects. Known as the “fix-it” company, Eyman often gets calls to handle the toughest problems. “It’s because of our experience, reliability and service. But that also means we’re available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Tom Eyman said. “We have to be flexible. We’ll work nights, Sundays and holidays because when you need us, it can’t always be on our terms. “And while our services are not ‘life and death,’ when water pours through the ceiling or bubbles up through the ground, you can’t really wait for normal office hours to fix it. We have to be flexible.” Eyman keeps up with industry advances through the various media available today. “It’s important not to assume you have the magic answer and rest on your laurels,” he said. Eyman is organized into six divisions: Plumbing Service and Drain Cleaning: The backbone and start of Eyman’s growth comes from its neighbors across the city. The family-operated company has served generations of residential customers. “As the company grew into construction and new homes, those new homeowners became our service customers.” On-demand jetting and video inspection equipment come on every Eyman plumbing service truck. Eyman is an industry leader in jetting technology. They thoroughly clear pipes of tree roots at residences as well as blockages at restaurants and industrial plants. Eyman also is one of the few companies to provide Remote Hot Water Service on demand. HVAC & Boiler Service: Trained and licensed to service all makes and models of heating and air-conditioning units, Eyman’s HVAC & Boiler team built on the success of Eyman’s plumbing legacy. Plumbing Construction: Eyman has the team and expertise to serve a wide range of new construction and remodel needs, from residential to commercial to industrial or utility. From blueprints to bidding and managing projects, Eyman maintains direct communication between its field technicians and the owner, architects or engineers involved. The members of Eyman’s team are licensed by the State of Iowa
and such Nebraska cities as Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, LaVista, Plattsmouth, Blair, Fremont, Norfolk and Kearney. In Nebraska, municipalities make their own rules. But Eyman works in any Nebraska counties or cities that don’t do local licensing including Papillion, Springfield and Gretna. HVAC Installation: From zoned comfort and new construction to whole-building automated systems, Eyman designs, installs and services custom climate control systems in both new construction and remodels. Utilities: Eyman tackles some big and tough jobs to bring basic infrastructure to local homes and businesses, as well as to maintain it over generations. And if a customer’s water main breaks, Eyman is there to fix it, whatever the time of day or night. Insulation: Because of this division’s focus on new construction and industrial projects, Eyman wraps insulation pipe for plumbing and for HVAC -- anything that might condensate or require thermal protection. As part of its commitment to safety, Eyman also provides fire stopping. Regardless of the manufacturer warranty, Eyman offers its own 1-year warranty on any product it sells. Honesty with their customers builds trust. Taking responsibility also builds trust. Eyman Plumbing, Heating & Air currently has
its fourth generation of Eyman family members working together. “My grandfather started this business more than 50 years ago, and then my father and mother continued to grow his legacy. It became my brothers’ and my responsibility to assure this company continued to grow and serve the greater Omaha area,” Tom Eyman said. “We’re local, we grew up and live in this community, and we know the value of hard work and strong handshake.”
Eyman Plumbing Heating & Air 8506 S 117th St. La Vista, NE 68128 402.731.2727 trusteyman.com
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Family Owned and Operated
W
ith five area locations, Malbar Vision offers full-scope optometry services. The locations are evenly spread throughout the metro area. Each is in an easyto-access shopping center featuring plenty of convenient parking. Dr. Neal Malashock practices at 78th and Cass streets, while Dr. Larry Malashock sees patients at 132nd Street and West Center Road. Four
other associate doctors round out the practice: Dr. Stephen Felt at the 101st and Maple Streets location, Dr. Don Krysl at the 84th Street and Giles Road location and Dr. John Scodoris and Dr. Kirk Maynard at Malbar Vision’s newest location at 160th and Maple Streets. The company has served Omaha since 1950, said Dan Hallgren, director of operations. “It’s family owned and operated,” Dan said. “Our doctors have a total of better than 125 years of experience.” Malbar has long been known for healthy vision and proper eye care. The staff takes spe-
cial pains to help customers maintain optimal eye health. The Malbar team addresses a wide range of vision issues. These include headaches, eyestrain, double vision and reading difficulties. Malbar also helps with computer vision syndrome, dry eye problems and “floaters.“ In addition, Malbar provides vision analysis; the treatment and management of eye dis-
eases; complete eye exams, acute eye condition and trauma, and fits of hard-to-fit contact lenses. Malbar’s longtime motto is, “The difference is clear. The difference is care.” It’s a motto that still applies, Dan said, to everything they do.
Malbar Vision
Five Omaha Locations malbar.com
BEST BAR WITH LIVE MUSIC Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Waiting Room Readers’ Choice: The Slowdown, Ozone Lounge Readers’ Recommend: The Hive, Brazen Head Readers’ Refer: Barley Street Tavern BEST BEER SELECTION Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Crescent Moon Ale House Readers’ Choice: Krug Park, Old Chicago Readers’ Recommend: Upstream Brewing Company, Nebraska Brewing BEST BIKE TRAIL Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Keystone Trail/ Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Readers’ Choice: Wabash Trace Nature Trail, Lake Zorinsky, West Papio Readers’ Refer: Field Club Trail BEST BILLIARDS BAR Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Big Johns Billiards Readers’ Choice: Upstream Brewing Company, Musette Bar Readers’ Recommend: Cirino’s Cafe & Billiards Readers’ Refer: California Bar, My Way Lounge BEST CASINO FOR SLOTS Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Horseshoe Casino Readers’ Choice: Ameristar, Harrah’s BEST CASINO FOR TABLEGAMES Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Horseshoe Casino Readers’ Choice: Ameristar, Harrah’s BEST CIGAR BAR Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Jake’s Cigars & Spirits Readers’ Choice: Havana Garage, Copa Cabana Readers’ Refer: Safari Cigars & Lounge
BEST COLLEGE BAR Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Crescent Moon Ale House Readers’ Choice: DJ’s Dugout, Billy Froggs, The Blue Jay Bar & Grill BEST DANCE CLUB Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Maxx Readers’ Choice: Bushwackers Saloon & Dance Readers’ Recommend: Rehab Lounge Readers’ Refer: Stage II, Bar 415, House of Loom BEST DARTS BAR Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Fox & Hound Readers’ Choice: Elbow Room, Underwood Bar Readers’ Recommend: The Tavern Readers’ Refer: Bucky Dexter’s, O’Connor’s Irish Pub BEST DJ SERVICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: ShowTime Music Readers’ Refer: Complete Music, Farley, Gman’ 3D Entertainment, Greg Foral, House Kats, Jonny O, Master Djs LLC, Matt Mixan, Midwest Music, Shif-D BEST GOLF COURSE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Indian Creek Readers’ Choice: Champions Run, The Knolls Golf Course, Tara Hills Readers’ Recommend: Johnny Goodman Golf Course, Bay Hills Golf Course BEST HAPPY HOUR BAR Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Kona Grill Readers’ Choice: Pitch Pizzeria, Jimi D’s Readers’ Recommend: Red Lounge Readers’ Refer: Grane, Salt 88 BEST KARAOKE BAR Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Pheasant Tavern & Cigar Store Readers’ Choice: Stoli’s Lounge, The Sydney, Goldeez Readers’ Recommend: Bishops Bar & Grill Readers’ Refer: California Bar
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readers’s choice
Focusing on Energetic and Fun-Loving Service
DEBRA S. KAPLAN
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gel Orthodontics is about happy faces and better oral health. In every sense. Dr. Kort Igel is a third generation Omaha dentist who has practiced for more than 20 years. His reputation for high-quality orthodontics is widely known. This is the eighth time Igel Orthodontics has earned the title “Best Orthodontist” from The Reader magazine’s annual poll. Dr. Igel said he and his team are always humbled by the recognition. “And I am fortunate to love what I do.” The doctor said he focuses on airway-centered orthodontics. “Our whole practice is based on proper airway treatment. People talk about sleep time and breathing concerns at night. But the fact is you need to breathe properly full-time, all the time, 24-7,” Dr. Igel said. “Proper orthodontics open airways several ways. Misaligned teeth and jaws can limit airways.” We want to prevent airway issues and these issues can be addressed at a very young age. Nearly 50 percent of Americans have crooked or misaligned teeth. Each new Igel Orthodontics patient is given a complimentary consultation. Dr. Igel reviews, with digital images and xrays, each patient’s status . He then presents customized solutions, answers questions and outlines an individualized corrective treatment plan. “The bottom line is, we treat each patient uniquely to open the airways to prevent dental & skeletal components that may cause sleep apnea.” Early intervention is critical to creating beautiful & healthy smiles. Centrally and conveniently located at 108th and Pacific, Dr. Igel said he and his team focus on “energetic and fun-loving service” with a variety of treatments. They make state of the art orthodontics comfortable and relaxing. Their office is painted in soothing colors. Music and lighting are designed to help patients relax. The Igel team strives to make each patient comfortable. Igel Orthodontics sees patients of all ages, although about 25 percent of his patients are adults. Treatments are customized and personalized. Many of his teen and adult patients favor Invisalign, a brace that takes a modern approach to straightening teeth. Invisalign uses a series of aligners custom-made for each patient. Aligners gradually and gently shift teeth into place. They are replaced every one-two weeks until treatment is complete. A significant benefit to Invisalign aligners is that patients can remove them. So there are no eating restrictions. And patients can clean and floss their teeth as usual before reinserting them. Invisalign can provide faster results and are less cumbersome It’s a welcome difference from traditional braces. To assure their patients are knowledgeable and informed, Igel invites patients to learn more about orthodontics. The Igel website is filled with information. You’ll find a glossary of dental terms, before-and-after pictures, and hundreds of satisfied patient reviews! Igel Orthodontics is ahead of their competitors with their iTero machines, said Linda Lutmer, the practice’s administrator. Utilizing the ITero scanners lets Dr. Igel digitally scan a patient’s mouth and teeth. With this technology, messy impressions are a thing of the past for our patients.
Dr. kort igel “The iTero is fast and inconspicuous. It makes orthodontics thorough, easy and comfortable,” Lutmer said. “Our patients love it.” Patients are also excited about our office now offering AcceleDent® Aura. AcceleDent® Aura is a simple-to-use, hands-free device designed for faster orthodontic treatment with only 20 minutes daily use. This medical device uses gentle micropulses, called SoftPulse Technology®, where bone remodeling is accelerated, allowing teeth to move up to 50% faster! Our patients love the reduced treatment time and have even commented that it eases discomfort. Igel Orthodontics is service oriented, Linda said. Payment options are reviewed ahead of time offering convenient and flexible options. And our office handles all insurance processing for patients. “What makes us Omaha’s best is our team,” Linda said. “This team is hard-working, talented, , experienced, dedicated
and patient-focused. They do what needs to be done to assure each patient has a great experience throughout their orthodontic journey.” “Appointment options are as flexible and convenient as possible,” she said. We accept new patients and we ensure room in our daily schedule for any emergency that may arise. “We truly want the best possible quality treatment for each patient,” Linda said. “We like to be proud of our results.” Every mouth, every face is unique – and it is our goal to provide a beautiful & healthy smile for life.
Igel Orthodontics
10801 Pacific Street, Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68154 402.330.1152 igelorthodontics.com
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BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Stir Concert Cove Readers’ Choice: The Waiting Room, The Slowdown Readers’ Refer: PS Collective, Reverb Lounge, Sokol Auditorium BEST LOUNGE/ ULTRA LOUNGE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Liv Lounge Readers’ Choice: Reverb Lounge, Nosh Wine Lounge Readers’ Choice: Interlude Cocktail Lounge Readers’ Recommend: Omaha Lounge Readers’ Refer: Vegalou Ultra Bar
Improving Customer Experience
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anking is all about relationships, so when he was asked what made his bank so popular with “Best of the Big O” voters, American National Bank CEO and President Adrian Breen quickly answered: “It’s our people. Across the board, whether it’s on the retail side or the commercial side of the bank, and our operational support people, too, we just have great people,” Breen said. “We obviously have competitive products and services, but I think that banking really is a big people business, and we’ve been able to attract and retain some very talented bankers.” Whatever they’re doing at American National Bank, it’s working. The Nebraska-rooted bank was voted Best Bank by “Best of the Big O” voters in a very competitive field. This “it’s the people” mantra continues into the way American National Bank approaches its customers, too. On the bank’s website, under the “About” section, it reads: “‘About Us’ is really about you — the customer. Everything we do revolves around making the customer experience better; whether it’s saving you time with convenient access to your money or providing competitive loan rates to help you buy your first home. We’re not just bankers. We’re friends and neighbors. We care about the communities we call home. And we’ll always work hard to provide a high level of customer care and service that is second to none. It’s the way we do business. It’s the American Way.” With 500 employees spread across Nebraska and eastern Iowa and well as at American National Bank’s sister bank in Minneapolis, Western Bank: A Division of American National Bank, the bank is heavily involved in the local communities in which they have branches. American National Bank has invested considerable energy and financial resources in pursuit of building stronger relationships within the communities they serve, and it goes far beyond dollars and cents, Breen said. “About a year ago, we rolled out a VTO, a Voluntary Time Off, where each employee gets two full days of pay to take off during the year, no matter where you are in the organization, to be involved in some sort of non-profit or charitable work in the community,” Breen said. “It’s
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time and talent, dollars and our shareholders that do quite a bit in the community, and it’s a big piece of who we are.” American National Bank, which traces its banking heritage back to 1856, has experienced multiple generations of banking during ups and downs of the U.S. economy. Through it all, the bank has remained steadfast and strong. “We are financially very stable and have been very well capitalized over the years, which provides a great deal of security for our customers,” Breen said. “It starts there and then having some good core fundamentals and then sticking to those. We also have some great leadership with our shareholders. It’s been financial responsibility, it’s community oriented and it’s people driven, and that’s a recipe for success.” American National Bank is a full service bank with expertise in commercial real estate, tax credit financing, healthcare and the transportation industry, but it has been especially successful in commercial banking and lending, which has been a significant piece of the company’s growth over the years. “It has been our ability to attract those great commercial bankers that in turn attract great customers,” Breen said. “Most of our commercial customers are small- to medium-sized privately held business owners, and we’ve played a variety of roles with them over the years, from start up to growth and expansion.” Breen says that in the end – while American National Bank has an impressive variety of convenient services and products – it comes down to the bank’s core values, which focus on honesty and integrity and people who are committed to building lasting relationships and doing whatever it takes to provide the best banking experience possible.
BEST MOVIE THEATER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Aksarben Cinema Readers’ Choice: Marcus Majestic Cinema of Omaha, Film Streams, Star Cinema Theater Readers’ Recommend:Twin Creek Cinema, AMC Oakview Plaza 24 BEST NEIGHBORHOOD TAVERN Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Homy Inn Readers’ Choice: Dinker’s Bar, Sullivan’s Bar Readers’ Recommend: Perry’s Place, Tracks Lounge Readers’ Refer: Bud Olson’s Bar BEST OUTDOOR FESTIVAL Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Jazz on the Green Readers’ Choice: Maha Music Festival, ArtSarben, Shakespeare on the Green Readers’ Refer: Santa Lucia Festival BEST PATIO AT A BAR Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Kona Grill Readers’ Choice: 1912, Cantina Laredo, Icehouse, Legends Readers’ Recommend: El Aguila Restaurant BEST PERFORMING ARTS THEATER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Orpheum Theater Readers’ Choice: Holland Center, Omaha Community Playhouse Readers’ Recommend: The Rose Theater
BEST SHUFFLEBOARD BAR Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Clancy’s Pub Readers’ Choice: Fox & Hound, Jimi D’s, Sullivan’s Bar, Brownie’s Watering Hole, Musette Bar BEST SPORTS BAR Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: DJ’s Dugout Readers’ Choice: Varsity Sports Café, Saints Pub & Patio, Icehouse Readers’ Recommend: Tiger Tom’s Pub, Tanners Bar & Grill BEST STAYCATION DESTINATION (WITHIN 8 HOUR DRIVE) Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association Readers’ Choice: Okoboji, Mahoney State Park, Arbor Day Lodge Readers’ Refer: The Ozarks BEST TOURIST ATTRACTIONS Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo Readers’ Choice: Old Market Readers’ Recommend: The Durham Museum Readers’ Refer: College World Series, Mormon Trail Center, North Omaha, Omaha Culinary Tours
for voting Boys Town Pediatrics as
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best pediatric practice!
• Same day sick appointments • Extended evening and Saturday hours • 24-hour nurse helpline • 24-hour appointment scheduling • Pediatric specialists • Online patient portal
anbank.com
boystownpediatrics.org
readers’s choice
BEST SHOPPING DISTRICT/MALL Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Village Pointe Readers’ Choice: Shadow Lake Towne Center, Westroads Mall, Old Market, Oakview Mall Readers’ Refer: Aksarben Village
thank you
American National Bank
| THE READER |
BEST SAND VOLLEYBALL Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: O’Leavers Readers’ Choice: The Digz, Big Red Keno, Barrett’s Barleycorn Pub & Grill Readers’ Recommend: Harold’s Bar Readers’ Refer: Sinnott’s Sand Bar
Giving Clients the Personal Attention They Deserve
DEBRA S. KAPLAN
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or the past four-consecutive years, McGill Law, PC, LLO has been voted the “Best of the Big O” in the category of Best Divorce & Personal Injury Attorney. How does Jodie McGill, the firm’s founder and sole lawyer, do it? “We’re a boutique firm, so we are small enough that the clients deal either directly with me or with my paralegal, legal assistant, and office manager all rolled into one: Laura Walmsley,” said McGill. “So it’s her and I who work on the clients’ cases and talk with the clients, and I think it’s that personal connection that people get when they’re working with us to deal with their personal issues that really makes them satisfied with our service. Going through a lawsuit is usually not a happy experience for people, so it’s really important that our clients get actual one-on-one attention from us. In addition to giving our clients the personal attention that they need and deserve, , we have always maintained and strived to have very high ethics. Laura and I make a great team. We’re both hardworking, committed, understanding and trustworthy. We are so honored that our hard work and uncompromising ethics have been recognized by our clients the past four years.” “Sometimes clients request a course of action in their case that we know may be permissible under the law but we don’t think it’s in their best interest to pursue. We aren’t afraid to discuss with our clients the possible negative ramifications of their intended course of action and explain that in the long run, this course of action may not be good for them or their case. We counsel people about what is actually best for them and their case instead of just doing what our clients think that they want. Unfortunately, many others in our community do not follow this approach. At the end of the case, our clients often reflect on the advises that they’ve received and realize that we do give good counsel, and don’t take action or suggest action to rack up our bill or do things to make the experience worse then it has to be.” One of McGill’s specialties is in the area of Collaborative Law in regards to domestic relations. Collaborative Law an alternative to litigation in which both parties agree at the beginning of the legal process, such as divorce, to sign a participation agreement stating that they will not litigate the case or threaten to litigate the case. “It (Collaborative Practice) started in 1990 in Minnesota and it has spread to become an international form of problem solving,” McGill said. “It’s been in Nebraska for 10 years now, and in Nebraska we only use it for domestic relations cases. If we take the threat of taking the matter to the judge to decide out of the negotiations then people are really focusing and striving to reach a fair settlement and they’re not positioning with the use of fear and the unknown. “For domestic cases, both parties usually have the same goals of ending the marriage and being in the best situation that they can be after the marriage for themselves and for their children. That goal oftentimes gets lost in litigation because people turn their focus to wanting to win or wanting to hurt the other party. , In the long run that’s not really in anyone’s best interest.” Of the 6,223 attorneys who were admitted to the Nebraska Bar Association in 2014, only 11 currently are practicing Collaborative Law. McGill is one of the 11. “There are very few, if any, downsides to utilizing this process … there has been international research conducted that shows that people are happier after the use of this process, are much
Jodie McGill and Laura Walmsley of McGill Law PC less likely to re-litigate, they spend less money on the case and the case moves quicker. Collaborative Law participants are less likely to come back to court after the case with problems.” McGill earned her law degree from Creighton University in 2005 and joined the Katskee, Henatsch & Suing law firm right after graduation. She practiced law there until 2011 when she founded McGill Law. Soon thereafter, she started winning Best Divorce Attorney and Best Personal Injury Attorney awards. She won the “Best of the Big O” award in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. McGill is also a recent graduation of the Nebraska State Bar Association’s Leadership Academy aimed at training and preparing the future leaders of the State Bar. “I have also been very involved in the Omaha Law League, Nebraska Women’s Bar Association, Inns of Court, and Friends of Planned Parenthood,” McGill added. “I just think it’s important to give back, help people in need, and spend time bettering the community.”
McGill, whose office is in North Omaha’s Florence neighborhood, is continuing her involvement in the community by recently opening a gift shop in the North Downtown business district with two other female entrepreneurs at 1320 Mike Fahey St. The shop, called True Blue Goods & Gifts, supports local artists by selling their original creations in her store, including visual art, jewelry, pottery, bags, home décor, and more. Visit the store online at truebluegoodsandgifts.com.
Jodie McGill McGill Law, PC
12821 Grebe St. Omaha, NE 68112 402.548.5418 McgillLawOmaha.com
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Omaha’s Own Venetian Day Spa
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ella Dea Day Spa pampers its clients. Centrally located at 108th and West Center, Bella Dea Day Spa was designed with a relaxed Italian theme. Soft Venetian colors – terra cotta, purple and green – help start your spa experience. “We really spend the time needed for each individual client. No one is rushed,” said Owner Pam Roland. Select any treatment you want or need for your hair, skin and nails. And don’t forget your massage. “The facials, for example, are fabulous,” Pam said. “And we have a unique and extensive nail service. Although most spas are closed on Mondays, Bella Day Spa is open six days a week. Also, from Monday through Thursday, it’s open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., longer than other spas. Schedule your appointment to be pampered online at belladea.org.
BEST WINE SHOP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Brix Readers’ Choice: Spirit World, Corkscrew Wine & Cheese Readers’ Recommend: The Winery Readers’ Refer: Vino Mas
BEST PERSONAL SHOPPING & SERVICES BEST BARBER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Sports Clips Readers’ Choice: Scissor & Scotch, Arlan’s Barber Shop, Southside Barbers & Beauty Readers’ Refer: O’Brien’s Hair & Style, Chop Shop, The Beard & Mane BEST BEAUTY SALON Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Garbo’s Salon & Spa Readers’ Choice: Beauty First Readers’ Recommend: Seven Salon, Urbane Salon & Day Spa Readers’ Refer: Reve Salon & Spa, JB’s Salon & Day Spa, Minabella Beauty Resort
Bella Dea Day Spa
Hilltop Plaza, 2941 S. 108th St. (Across from Rockbrook Village) Omaha, NE 68144 402.505.9685 belladea.org
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BEST VINEYARD/WINERY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Soaring Wings Vineyard Readers’ Recommend: Breezy Hills Winery, Sugar Clay Winery, Too Far North Readers’ Refer: Nissen Winery, James Arthur Vineyards
BEST BOOKSTORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Barnes & Noble Readers’ Choice: Half Price Books, The Bookworm Readers’ Recommend: Jackson Street Booksellers Readers’ Refer: Books-A-Million
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BEST CELL PHONE PROVIDER/ CARRIER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Verizon Readers’ Choice: Sprint Readers’ Recommend: ATT, Cricket Readers’ Refer: US Cellular, Boost Mobile BEST CHILD CARE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: La Pettit Academy Readers’ Choice: Creative Learning Center, Jewish Community Center, Montessori Educational Centers Inc. Readers’ Recommend: Morning Star Preschool & Child Care Center BEST CHURCH Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Westside Church Readers’ Choice: Holy Cross Catholic Church, Countryside Community Church Readers’ Recommend: Sacred Heart Parish Church Readers’ Refer: Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, King of Kings Church, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Salem Baptist Church, St. Cecilia’s Cathedral, Saint Columbkille BEST COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: University of Nebraska at Omaha Readers’ Choice: Creighton University, Metropolitan Community College Readers’ Recommend: Bellevue University Readers’ Refer: Iowa Western Community College BEST DANCE STUDIO Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Acapriccio Dance Co. Readers’ Choice: Kitty Lee Dance Studio, Pear Tree Performing Arts Readers’ Recommend: STARS Dance Academy, Shannon Barnhart Dance Studio
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Pella – Best Window Company in Omaha
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ella Omaha has won Best Window Company in Omaha Magazine’s Best of Omaha distinction for three years in a row and The Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O distinction also for three years in a row. It’s an honor that owner Stephen Noel said the company appreciates. “There are a lot of window replacement companies out there, so the fact that our customers think highly enough of us to take the time to vote, speaks volumes about their experience in dealing with us. Being named the Best of Omaha and Best of the Big O are badges of honor,” he said.
• Treat all with dignity and respect. • Wellness and healthy lifestyles are important to our success. • Positive relationships build loyalty. • Profitability ensures survival of the company. • Our commitment to continuous improvement gives us a competitive edge. • Leaders create value.
Pella Omaha’s Drivers:
A few years ago, the leadership at Pella of Omaha & Lincoln sat down as a group to brainstorm ideas. They invited representatives from the different parts of the company (warehouse, pre-finish, installation, customer service and sales) to be a part of the discussion. The result was a list of core beliefs and drivers that are posted throughout the company and help define Pella of Omaha & Lincoln’s effort to strive for excellence. These ideas serve as a guidepost that the staff refer to for what they do each and every day.
• We provide a window and door solution for every opening. • Very satisfied customers lead to high customer satisfaction rates for us and helps ensure our continued success. • We offer our employees the training and development to achieve personal and professional success. • We ensure a safe working environment for all our employees. • Value-add services provide us a competitive advantage. • Productive improvements are a continuous process. • Community involvement and environmental responsibility are important. • We are committed to first time completes.
Pella Omaha’s Core Beliefs:
First time completes explained
Guiding business principles
• Our people and their unique talents are valued. • Honesty and integrity are an essential part of all transactions.
Stephen said when Pella associates are removing old windows and doors, especially on wintry days, it’s important to get their
new windows and doors installed as quickly as possible. “We try to get everything done in one day. We don’t want to have to come back - it’s just more efficient for everyone if we do it right the first time,” said Stephen. The crews on jobs vary by the size of each particular project, but there are usually two to three installers working at every home.
Pella Omaha & Lincoln associates
Stephen explained the key to having a successful business is maintaining a cohesive and consistent workforce. Each year Pella of Omaha & Lincoln recognizes the anniversary dates of its associates. The longest tenured employee right now has been there for 35 years. “If you have constant turnover and lose a lot of people, it’s harder to stay consistent. We definitely like to keep good people,” he said.
Pella Window & Doors of Omaha & Lincoln
9845 S. 142nd St. · Omaha, NE 6891 A St., Suite #118 · Lincoln, NE 402.493.1350 pellaomaha.com
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BEST DAY SPA Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: LovelySkin Spa Readers’ Choice: Faces Spa, Bella Dea Day Spa, JB’s Salon & Day Spa, Gloss Salon & Day Spa Readers’ Recommend: Minabella Beauty Resort BEST DRY CLEANER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Max I Walker Dry Cleaning Readers’ Choice: Fashion Cleaners Readers’ Recommend: $1.99 Any Garment Cleaners, Nu Trend Dry Cleaners Readers’ Refer: Tide Dry Cleaners BEST FITNESS CENTER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Planet Fitness Omaha Readers’ Choice: Prairie Life, Blue Moon Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness Readers’ Refer: Lifetime Fitness, YMCA BEST FLORIST Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Stems at Countryside Readers’ Choice: Janousek Florist, Dundee Florist Readers’ Recommend: Beyond the Vine, Hy-Vee Food Store BEST GROCERY STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee Food Store Readers’ Choice: Bakers Readers’ Recommend: Fareway Readers’ Refer: Daddy’s Neighborhood Fresh Market, Wohlner’s, No Frill’s BEST JEWELRY STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Borsheims Readers’ Choice: Helzberg Diamonds Readers’ Recommend: Goldsmith Silversmith, JR’s Jewelry Readers’ Refer: Perspective Jewelry Design BEST MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Nebraska Academy of Martial Arts Readers’ Choice: Legacy Martial Arts, Omaha Blue Waves Martial Arts, Taijutsu Academy
BEST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Von Maur Readers’ Choice: Jerry Ryan Clothing & Sportswear, Parsow’s, Post & Nickel, Lindley Clothing Co. BEST MEN’S SHOE STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: DSW Readers’ Choice: Von Maur, Haney Shoes Store Readers’ Refer: Comfort Plus, Bucks BEST MUSIC EQUIPMENT STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Dietze Music Readers’ Choice: Guitar Center, Schmitt Music Omaha Readers’ Refer: Lidgett Music, Millard Music House BEST MUSIC LESSONS Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Dietze Music Readers’ Choice: Guitar Center, 402 Arts Collective, Omaha Conservatory of Music Readers’ Refer: Mindy’s Violin Studio BEST NAIL SALON Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Martini Nails & Spa Readers’ Choice: American Nails & Spa, NT Nails Omaha Midtown Crossing, Minabella Beauty Resort Readers’ Recommend: Mohegan Nails, V Nails BEST NUTRITION STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: GNC Readers’ Choice: No Name Nutrition, Akins Natural Foods, Complete Nutrition, Natural Grocers BEST ORGANIC GROCERY STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Whole Foods Market Readers’ Choice: Natural Grocers, Daddy’s Neighborhood Fresh Market Readers’ Recommend: Akins Natural Foods Readers’ Refer: Trader Joe’s
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Staying Small and Selling Big
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ecades of experience, longstanding relationships with suppliers and a great location on Northwest Radial Highway (the perfect street for a tire business) are factors in Marion Tire Pros’ success, but it’s a reputation for truly outstanding customer service and unsurpassed business ethics that truly distinguish Marion Tire from the competition. Simply put, says wife and coowner Sue Archer, “my husband Joe is a very honest man.” Marion Tire has been family owned and operated since 1957 and second-generation owner Joe Archer has been involved in the tire business since he was 17 years old. The business model remains simple: stay small and sell big. The staff, besides the Archers, includes daughter Crystal on the sales and office side and a couple of technicians. Services range from selling and installing virtually any brand of new tires and rims plus standard related main-
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tenance like repair, rotation and balancing. The staff at Marion Tire also has the connections to locate specialty tires like whitewalls for classic cars or enhance the hottest ride with custom wheels. “We can get just about any tire anybody would want,” Archer says. That extra level of service brings customers back year after year, something the Archers have certainly earned but never take for granted. “We appreciate their loyalty,” Archer says.
Marion Tire Pros
5028 NW Radial Highway Omaha, NE 68104 402.553.9393 marionstire.com
Helping Make the Roofing Process Painless son neighborhood and Takoda’s offices are located just blocks away under the watch of office manager Janelle Grieco (known in the neighborhood for also serving as vice chairman of the Benson Farmers Market). Some of the local groups he supports include Omaha Home for Boys, Benson Farmers Market, and Nebraska Youth Rugby. Starkey also coaches youth rugby, and now that daughter Aspen is a year old and his son Takoda (yes, the business was named for him) is almost five years old and enrolled in school, Starkey’s family has begun to get involved with and support St. Bernard School, too. Starkey says he dreamed “my whole life” of owning a busi-
DEBRA S. KAPLAN
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akoda Green Roofing was incorporated in 2011 and has coming personality. Takoda is a Lakota Sioux word meaning operated out of its Benson offices since just 2012, but “friend of everyone” and the name of the business— which was owner Jason Starkey brings 13 years of solid roofing coined by Starkey’s wife, DeAnna—also encapsulates the busiexperience to the table plus a wealth of prior knowledge gained ness owner, who puts the word “friendly” right up front in his from a lifetime in the field of home construction and improve- mission statement “to provide friendly, quality service at quality ment: excavation, landscaping, remodeling and repair, and even prices.” Starkey isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty—literally—by picking up some of the labor himself (especially wood repair flooring and countertops. “I believe people appreciate my knowledge and my back- tasks) and he personally supervises every job that Takoda Green ground and experience. I know a lot about a home’s structure, Roofing undertakes. Starkey’s affable manner also means that landscape, interior and exterior—not just the roof—so when I he has cultivated great connections. “If I can’t do something, I know somebody who can,” Starkey meet with people, I can discuss most aspects of their home with them,” Starkey says. The commercial and residential contractor primarily offers services for roofing installation, removal and repair—but also works with skylights, specialty roofing products, tile and composite roofing, siding repair and replacement, storm damage repair, gutter leaf guard installation and even interior repair related to roof jobs. The company works on new construction projects but also repairs and replacements; its online image gallery (at takodagreenroofing.com) displays projects completed on a wide variety of structures from immense lakeside properties to small bungalows and houses nearing the century mark, along with various commercial projects. Takoda Green Roofing is also licensed for asbestos roof tile removal, a specialty service in demand in older neighborhoods with 1930s through 1970s construction. In addition, the company can install class 4 impactresistant roofing products, something any Nebraskan who’s dealt with hail damage can appreciate. Plus, Takoda Green Roofing is also a Tile Roofing Institute-trained installer and an IKO ShieldPRO plus+ Program certified contractor. Jason Starkey and son of Takoda Green Roofing The “green” in the company name refers to Starkey’s conscientious efforts to “reduce, reuse and recycle” in both his business prac- says. “I’m a source of contacts; I help people all the time by tices and personal household, from coordinating scrap metal knowing electricians and plumbers and other contractors.” His salvage to recycling office paper and using a faucet filter instead suppliers include RCI Roofing Supply Company Inc., whose main of buying bottled water. “If everybody would do a little to be office is in Omaha. Starkey says he’s a big believer in supporting the local economy, and makes a point of hiring local specialists green every day, it would make a difference,” he explains. The array of services provided by Takoda Green Roofing is im- and subcontractors whenever he can. Although Starkey is cerpressive, but Starkey says he aspires to run his business with tainly willing to travel outside the city, due to personal recomstrong principles and a high degree of integrity. Starkey has mendations from pleased customers, the bulk of Takoda Green years of experience handling insurance claims for storm repair Roofing’s work takes place in the greater metro area, with many and is willing to take on jobs that other companies typically pass projects in and around Benson. “I’m just the small guy, and people like to support the comover. Additionally, “We won’t get paid until you are you are community,” he says. “You get back from your community what you pletely satisfied with our workmanship and service,” he says. Customers say the business has earned their loyalty not just put into your community.” And Starkey follows suit in a tangible way. He lives in a Benfor quality work, but also because of Starkey’s warm and wel-
ness, and although he first began working independently as a contractor in 2002, he feels he has finally accomplished his long-held vision with Takoda Green Roofing. “No matter what you do in life, you just don’t ever give up,” Starkey says. “If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish great things.”
Takoda Green Roofing 2905 N. 59th St. Omaha, NE 68104 402.978.3335 takodagreenroofing.com
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BEST PAWN SHOP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Sol’s Jewelry & Loan Readers’ Choice: Mid City Jewelry & Pawn Readers’ Recommend: E-Z Money Jewelry & Loan Readers’ Refer: Four Ace’s Pawn
DEBRA S. KAPLAN
BEST PET GROOMING Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Petsmart Readers’ Choice: Wag, Bark Avenue Grooming & Daycare, Noah’s Bark, The Green Spot Readers’ Refer: Omaha Animal Medical Group
Providing Optimum Service
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hen it comes to a DUI defense, Omaha attorney Glenn Shapiro is the go-to for representation, so it’s no surprise that he won the award as the “Best of the Big O.” Shapiro, a 1989 graduate of the Creighton University School of Law, is a partner at Schaefer Shapiro, LLP, a Limited Liability Partnership in Omaha that provides an entire package of legal services thereby taking its clients from the very beginning of their legal matter through advising on complex issues, dealing with any dispute that may arise and handling efficiently all legal aspects of their client’s needs. However, it’s Shapiro’s seasoned skill as a DUI attorney that won him the award for “Best of the Big O.” Shapiro’s other specialties include Criminal Defense, Criminal Trial, Personal Injury and Civil Litigation. He is a member of the Nebraska State and American Bar Association and Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys, as well as the Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorney Association. All of Schaefer Shapiro’s six partners and three associates are licensed to practice law in all Nebraska State and Federal courts. Schaefer Shapiro has established an enviable reputation as a broad based legal practice with particular emphasis on litigation, both civil and criminal. The attorneys in the firm cover nearly all areas of practice in all state and federal courts, both trials and appeals. Each of the attorneys con-
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centrates in an area of specialized expertise, including DUI Defense, Criminal Law Defense, Personal Injury, Probate, Real Estate, Business Planning, Contracts and Domestic Relations. The civil law field is of ever increasing importance to the law firm. It practices in all related disciplines, such as advising clients on the establishment, structure and use of business entities and trusts and estate planning. The firm’s attorneys are best known for their emphasis on criminal defense, representing many high profile cases in the Omaha area. The firm is widely respected for defending the principles of justice provided by the U.S. Constitution. The experience, strength and breadth of the law firm’s expertise, its network of reputable legal practices and strong links with the community allows for the work that they undertake to be handled quickly and efficiently with the aim of providing the optimum level of legal service to the client at a fair and reasonable cost.
BEST THRIFT STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Goodwill Readers’ Choice: New Life Thrift, Thrift World Readers’ Recommend: Hand Me Ups Readers’ Refer: Lucky’s, Flying Worm Vintage BEST WEDDING VENUE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Joslyn Art Museum Readers’ Choice: Lauritzen Gardens, Magnolia Hotel, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo
BEST PET STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Petco Readers’ Choice: The Green Spot, Petsmart Readers’ Recommend: Pets R Us, Nature Dog
BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: B Yourself Readers’ Choice: Nouvelle Eve, The Ugly Sister Boutiqe, Chico’s Readers’ Refer: Dress Barn
BEST SPORTING GOODS Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Scheels All Sports Readers’ Choice: Cabela’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Canfield’s Sporting Goods
BEST YOGA STUDIO Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Lotus House of Yoga Readers’ Choice: One Tree Yoga, Omaha Yoga & Bodywork, Yoga Med Readers’ Recommend: Karma Yoga
BEST STORE FOR ENGAGEMENT RINGS Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Borsheims Readers’ Choice: Helzberg Diamonds Readers’ Recommend: Goldsmith Silversmith Readers’ Refer: Perspective Jewelry Design
BEST PROFESSIONAL & HEALTH SERVICES
BEST STORE FOR UNIQUE GIFTS Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Afternoon Readers’ Choice: The Imaginarium Readers’ Recommend: Tannenbaum Christmas Shop, Souq Ltd. Readers’ Refer: The Humble Home
BEST ATTORNEY- CRIMINAL Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: James Martin Davis Law Office Readers’ Choice: Whelan Law Office, Pfeffer Law Office Readers’ Refer: Paragas Law Offices, Steve Leffler
BEST TATTOO SHOP Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Big Brain Readers’ Choice: American Tattoo, Villian’s Tattoo, Grinn & Barrett Tattoo Readers’ Recommend: Liquid Courage
BEST ATTORNEY- DIVORCE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Koenig Dunne Divorce Law P.C. LLO Readers’ Choice: Cordell & Cordell, Vacanti Shattuck Attorneys, McGill Law Readers’ Recommend: Marks, Clare & Richards, LLC
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Making life better for generations…
it’s the American Way. Helping families achieve the American dream and reach their goals is a big part of what we do. Whether it’s financing a new home or helping save for college, we take great pride in making life better for everyone we serve. It’s the way we’ve been doing business for generations. It’s the American Way.
Omaha I Council Bluffs I Lincoln
Glenn Shapiro Attorney at Law
1001 Farnam St. Third Floor Omaha, NE 68102 402.341.0700 theomahalawyers.com
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anbank.com • 32 locations in Nebraska and Iowa.
DEBRA S. KAPLAN
Making Your Lawn Thick, Lush and Green
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n 1987 when he was a high school junior, Joe Kozol started his lawn care company. He points out that, “I have the same customers I since the day I started. They’re not only customers. They are friends.” That steady customer base points to reliable, consistent, fair service. “Now I have four children of my own,” Joe said. “And I’m married, happily married.” Kozy Lawn Care has grown to 13 crews and about 26 employees. Do you ever drive by a house that takes your breath away? Perhaps it’s just the thick, lush, green lawn. Maybe it’s beautifully cared-for trees and flowers. Maybe it’s the right edging and woodchips in the flower beds. Maybe all these things set off the house just right. Maybe you could have the better curb appeal for your home. It’s high season for Kozy Lawn Care, a long-time established Omaha landscaping business that is known for capable, responsible work. Kozy offers everything you need. You can still get
the all-important mowing and fertilizing. You can also find everything else from hardscaping and retaining walls to boulder installation. You can get an even more polished, professional look for your own lawn. I’ve been following a neighbor’s home undergo significant landscaping changes. It’s so much fun to watch. What a difference even a few improvements make! Five half-dead shrubs were pulled. Holes were filled in. Other shrubs got a good trimming. Beds were thinned and then rounded with brick edging. Some flowers and grasses were added. Mulch was added. It looks great. It’s a night and day difference. The owners love their changes. The whole neighborhood is delighted. A great yard adds significant value to your property. Any real estate agent will confirm that. In fact, real estate agents regularly encourage home sellers to bump up their marketability by making landscaping changes. Some very simple changes like borders, trees, sod work, or aeration can make your property easier to live with, healthier and more enjoyable.
Joe Kozol’s staff will be happy to help review your yard and offer suggestions. They do it all the time. They do it well. You may even see some of Joe’s children. “My boys and girls are starting to work for me,” Joe said. “They’re appreciating what I do,” Joe said. “They’re learning to work and loving it. They’re great workers.” Check out Kozy Lawn Care’s website. You’ll find with a chart of fair and reliable prices. A calendar of suggested projects can help guide you as you think about landscaping improvements. The website also offers Kozy Dollars for some projects.
Kozy Lawn Care 5701 N. 60th St. Omaha, NE 68104 (402) 455-5296 kozylawns.com
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Helping Sustain Healthy Lives
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Providing Environment that Feels Like Home
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ranville Villa is far more than a basic assisted living facility, says Executive Director Collette Mieres. The La Vista senior living community was designed to cultivate a dynamic environment that enriches the lives of its residents, whose needs range from occasional assistance to hospice care. “Our mission is to provide a lifestyle that fosters independence, actively engages the mind, invigorates the body and nurtures the spirit while offering residents and their loved ones the peace of mind they deserve,” Mieres says. That means trained professional staff is available 24 hours a day, Mieres explains. With a goal of encouraging the greatest degree of autonomy possible and creating a guide for staff to provide the most appropriate daily living support, a highly individualized plan is developed with the resident before move-in. The plan includes input from his or her physician and even the family, if desired, and contains elements such as medication reminders and administration, shower assistance, dressing assistance, and more as needed. Palliative and hospice care is available through outside agencies. “We follow a senior lifestyle philosophy called CHART, which is an acronym for Caring, Honest, Appreciation, Respect and Teamwork,” Mieres says. “The size of the community makes it possible for us to create an environment that feels like home.” Granville Villa opened in 2000 and underwent renovation in 2010; its contemporary design is enhanced by warm and inviting décor. The 40-unit, one-story community features large, open, accessible and comfortable spaces for activity and relaxation. Services and amenities include an exer-
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cise room, a library, a nail spa and aromatherapy room, and even a beauty salon and barbershop. Activities go beyond merely keeping seniors safe and supporting their health needs, too: residents enjoy board games, movies, cards, dominoes, and similar social activities, plus have access to fun classes from Wii Sports to social technology basics. A wide array of fitness classes is also available. Life at Granville Villa is full of extras. The dining program features fresh, home-cooked meals. Residents enjoy laundry service full-service housekeeping. Plus, friends and family are welcome visitors and can even enjoy mealtime together in a private dining room. Throughout the year, Granville Villa hosts holiday gatherings that residents can celebrate with their families, and staff members regularly drive groups to local markets, restaurants and attractions. In addition, “We care about not only the physical and emotional well-being of our residents, but their financial health as well,” Mieres says. She explains that while it’s common practice for assisted living communities to require new residents to put down large, non-refundable payments up-front, Granville Villa offers a simple lease for its units, which range from studios to two- bedroom floor plans. “We offer our residents all the perks of country club living without the expensive buy-in,” she says.
Granville Villa
8507 Granville Parkway La Vista, NE 68128 402.415.0044
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hether it’s anxiety, depression, relationship issues, anger management or sports psychology, Alliance Counseling Center has always believed in the potential for growth and change in an individual. It’s an approach to counseling that has earned the Omaha business the “Best of the Big O” award for Best Counseling Center. Alliance Counseling’s methods include using reflection, communication and humor to help individuals and families nurture their relationships and sustain a healthy life. Alliance Counseling Center is home to five licensed mental health professionals with over 75 years of combined experience. They are experienced in a variety of therapeutic techniques to assist and guide clients in the management of their symptoms. They work with people who are experiencing depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, obsessivecompulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as other life challenges. Alliance Counseling offers many services, including: Abuse, Marital/Divorce/Relationships, Anxiety, Learning Disabilities, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Anger Management, Stress, Sport Psychology, Eating Disorders, ADD/ADHD, Life Coaching, Parenting, School Problems and several other areas. Among the counselors at Alliance Counseling are: ● Mary Brendis, MS, LIMHP. For nearly 20 years, Mary has counseled adults, children, adolescents and families experiencing individual, family, school and work difficulties and transitions. Mary’s approach to counseling is relaxed, comfortable and supportive. While working with clients of all ages on their specific concerns and issues, she focuses on assisting them in the area of relationships – between family members, couples or colleagues. ● Kevin Cahill, Ph.D. In addition to his experience in private practice, Kevin has worked in a variety of inpatient settings, treating a wide range of behavioral, developmental, and emotional disorders as part of an interdisciplinary
team. He has worked with developmentally delayed and learning disabled children as well as with their families, and he has provided treatment for anxious and depressed adults and adolescents ● Lorinda Bates, MS, LIMHP. Lorinda is experienced in marriage and family therapy, helping couples and family members understand each other, and improve their relationship and communication skills. She also works with military families, and understands the challenges that are faced when deployments and relocations occur. Lorinda works with children, adolescents, and adults who have special needs, including autism and other disabilities, helping them improve social and communication skills. ● Todd Kerr, MS, LPC, LMHP. For over 10 years, Todd has worked with the severely mentally ill, individuals with developmental disabilities, families, individuals, couples, and children. He has worked with people from in and around the Omaha metropolitan area, including Sarpy County, Saunders County, and Western Iowa. Todd works with a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, anger management, trauma, selfesteem issues, performance concerns, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, faith and spirituality, and other issues. He is experienced working with individuals with developmental disabilities, conduct disorders with children, parenting skills training, and supporting those with severe mental illness to realize their highest quality of life.
Alliance Counseling Center
11920 Burt St. Suite 190 Omaha, NE 68154 402.965.4004 alliancecounselingomaha.com
s u g n i t o v r o ! f t s n i k o n J a r h e T g r u B t s e B
Great Food! Great Fun!
www.dannysbaromaha.com
ATM on site
Phone: (402) 554-5821 . 2007 North 72nd Street . Omaha, NE 68134
The Pella Promise – our goal to bring you peace of mind throughout every step of your window and door replacement experience. The Right Product for Your Home and Budget. A No-Mess, No-Guess Installation Day. Pella Care Guarantee.
Schedule your FREE in-home consultation: 402-331-9225 PROUDLY SERVING THE OMAHA, LINCOLN AND SURROUNDING AREAS FOR OVER 40 YEARS.
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Visit your local Pella Showroom: OMAHA 9845 SOUTH 142ND STREET
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window & door replacement
7/27/2015 1:55:46 PM
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One-of-a-Kind Environment
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andy and Dane Kucera named their Fort Calhoun wine bar and tasting room “Too Far North” for fun, and outof-town patrons clearly don’t mind driving up for both the libations and one-of-a-kind environment. Too Far North is located Halfway between Blair and Omaha on Highway 75 (the Lewis & Clark Scenic Byway), a tranquil 20 mile drive from the heart of Omaha.
has housed a motorcycle shop, drugstore, butcher shop, doctor’s office and pharmacy, American Legion facility, cabinet maker and apple house, among other things. “There’s so much history in this building… We try to make it an experience,” Kucera says. “You get a little history and a little wine or a little beer.”
BEST ATTORNEY- DUI Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Schaefer Shapiro, LLP Readers’ Choice: Abboud Law Firm, Doran, Lustgarten & Troia PC, LLO, Petersen Law Readers’ Recommend: Nelson Law Office BEST ATTORNEY- PERSONAL INJURY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hauptman, O’Brien, Wolf & Lathrop, P.C. Readers’ Choice: Abboud Law Firm, Cullen & Cullen, Knowles Law Firm, McGill Law Readers’ Refer: Inserra & Kelley BEST BANK Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: First National Bank (First National Bank/Bozell) Readers’ Choice: Pinnacle Bank, American National Bank Readers’ Recommend: Security National Bank, U.S. Bank Readers’ Refer: Great Western Bank BEST CHIROPRACTIC PRACTICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Millard Chiropractic Clinic Readers’ Choice: Body in Harmony, Elsasser Chiropractic Clinic Readers’ Recommend: Omaha Chiropractic Associates, Clark Chiropractic Clinic, First Choice Chiropractic
“We like to be this unique discovery people stumble across,” Sandy Kucera says. For 10 years, Too Far North has showcased Nebraska wines and craft beers as well as its facility’s colorful history. Still bearing a faded advertising for Metz Beer on its south side, the 1904 brick building originated as a Metz Bros. saloon (and unofficially, a brothel) and
Too Far North
111 N. 14th St. (Hwy 75) Fort Calhoun, NE 402.468.9463 toofarnorthwine.com
BEST COSMETIC DENTIST Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Premier Dental Readers’ Choice: Smile Design Studio, Legacy Dental Readers’ Recommend: Omni Dental, The Tooth Doc BEST COSMETIC PRACTICE – NONINVASIVE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Skin Specialists Readers’ Choice: Te Bella Med Spa Readers’ Recommend: Sculpt Omaha Readers’ Refer: Carter Abbot Med Spa, Popp Cosmetic Surgery BEST COSMETIC SURGERY PRACTICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Aesthetic Surgical Images Readers’ Choice: Finkle Cosmetic Surgery Center, Skin Specialists, Popp Cosmetic Surgery Readers’ Recommend: Sculpt Omaha, Imagen Body Sculpting BEST COUNSELING CLINIC Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Arbor Family Counseling Readers’ Choice: Community Alliance, Alliance Counseling Center, Associated Counseling Professionals Readers’ Recommend: Family Enrichment BEST CREDIT UNION Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Centris Federal Credit Union Readers’ Choice: SAC Federal Credit Union Readers’ Recommend: Metro Health Credit Union, Creighton Federal Credit Union
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Readers’ Refer: Mutual 1st Federal, Omaha Federal Credit Union BEST DENTIST OFFICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Dundee Family Dental Readers’ Choice: Summit Dental Health Readers’Recommend:The Tooth Doc,Hillsborough Family Dentistry Readers’ Refer: Paragon Dental, Gradoville Dentristry BEST DERMATOLOGY CLINIC Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Skin Specialists Readers’ Choice: Midwest Dermatology Clinic, PC, Braddock Finnegan Dermatology, Alegent Creighton Dermatology Readers’ Recommend: Dr. Anthony Griess BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR OFFICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Callahan Financial Planning Readers’ Choice: Feltz Wealth Plan, Renaissance Financial Readers’ Recommend: Insurevest Financial Readers’ Refer: Curnes Financial Group, Edward Jones BEST HEALTH CLINIC Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Methodist Physicians Clinic Readers’ Choice: CHI Alegent Creighton Clinics, UNMC Family Physicians, One World Community Health Readers’ Refer: Southwest Family Physicians BEST HOSPITAL Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Nebraska Medical Center Readers’ Choice: Methodist Hospital, Methodist Women’s Hospital, Alegent Lakeside Readers’ Refer: Midlands Hospital BEST INSURANCE AGENCY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: State Farm Readers’ Choice: Chastain Otis Insurance & Financial Services, Pat Lemmers Agency Readers’ Recommend: Insurevest Financial, American Family Insurance BEST LASIK CENTER Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Kugler Vision Readers’ Choice: Omaha Eye & Laser Institute, Nebraska Laser Eye Associates, Brumm Eye & Laser Vision Center Readers’ Refer: Lasik Plus, Midwest Eye Care BEST LONG TERM CARE FACILITY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Brookstone Meadows Readers’ Choice: Hillcrest Health & Rehab Systems, Brighton Gardens of Omaha Readers’ Recommend: Fountain View, Heritage Ridge Readers’ Refer: The Lighthouse
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Offering the Best LASIK technology
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he Omaha Eye & Laser Institute, which serves the entire Midwest, is consistently voted the “Best” in the Omaha area because the business is a “triple threat.” “First off, we’re insanely proud of our standards – we boast the best and newest technology available in bladeless LASIK – we’re on par with the best surgical practices of New York, Beverly Hills, Dubai, Miami, you name it,” said Dr. JoAnna Liu, O.D. of the Omaha Eye & Laser Institute. The Omaha Eye & Laser Institute, which has offices in Omaha and Lincoln as well as numerous satellite locations in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, specializes in Bladeless Customized iLasik (one of the most advanced forms of fully-customized, bladeless Lasik Laser Vision Correction), Laser cataract surgery with the advanced LenSx laser cataract system, and the laser surgical treatment of many other eye diseases. “You don’t have to travel out of state or country to have access to the best LASIK technology in the world, because we’ve brought it here to Omaha,” Dr. Liu continued. “Second, we have
an amazing staff and team. Our doctors and surgeons have been doing this since the first year LASIK was introduced to the world back in 1993, and they haven’t stopped.” The Omaha Eye & Laser Institute’s results and their patient experience ratings are consistently voted the best in Omaha. “Lastly, I love our motivation,” said Dr. Liu. “I’m a firm believer in intraLASIK. I’ve had it done, as have other doctors here, and plenty of our staff, and our goal is to bring it to as many people as we can in Omaha.”
Omaha Eye & Laser Institute
11606 Nicholas St. Omaha, NE 68154 (800) 964-0288 omahaeye.com
85 Years of Collective Experience
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ix of the 11 attorneys at Dornan, Lustgarten & Troia PC LLO— Stuart Dornan, Jason Troia, Josh Weir, Joe Howard, Sean Conway and Mallory Hughes—defend people charged with DUIs, which equates to more than 85 years of collective experience. “Having six attorneys with DUI caseloads increases the knowledgebase exponentially. Our ability to share information and experience better serves clients and sets us apart from other firms,” attorney Jason Troia explains. Offering competitive rates with payment plans, the attorneys emphasize reducing harsh penalties and collateral consequences like increased insurance rates and loss of employment; Troia alone has been able to negotiate reductions—felony to misdemeanor, first offense to reckless driving, etc.—for 173 of 273 DUI clients since 2006. The attorneys also work to improve the individual’s decision-making through education and referrals for help, and most of them volunteer to speak at alcohol
education classes offenders are ordered to attend on probation. Another focus is helping offenders with 15year license revocations return to driving on interlock permits. Improved and more widely accepted technology has resulted in many law changes that have not been uniformly kept up with, and the firm’s attorneys have educated judges on the incompleteness of their sentences so offenders may became eligible to install the interlock.
Dornan, Lustgarten & Troia PC LLO The Paxton Hotel 1403 Farnam St., Suite 232 Omaha, NE 68102 402.884-7044 dltlawyers.com
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BEST MASSAGE THERAPY PRACTICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Massage Envy Readers’ Recommend: Massage Heights, Omaha Blue Waves Massage & Bodywork, Get A Grip Readers’ Refer: Creative Hair Design Salon, Take Five Massage BEST OB/GYN PRACTICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Methodist Women’s Health Readers’ Choice: Mid-City OB/GYN Readers’ Recommend: One World Community Health Readers’ Refer: Metro OB/GYN, Sarpy County OB/ GYN, Olsen Center for Women’s Health BEST OPTICAL STORE (EYEWEAR STORE) Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: America’s Best Readers’ Choice: Spectacles Eyeglass Shop Midwest Eye Care, Malbar Vison Center Readers’ Choice: Stanton Optical Readers’ Refer: Walmart Stores BEST OPTICIAN Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Midwest Eye Care Readers’ Choice: Millard Family Eyecare, Aksarben Eye Care, Malbar Vision Center Readers’ Refer: Invisions Eyecare & Optics, Legacy Eye Care, Shopko Optical BEST ORTHODONTIST OFFICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Igel Orthodontics Readers’ Choice: Huerter Orthodontics Readers’ Recommend: The Orthodontic Group, Clear Choice Orthodontics, P.C. Readers’ Refer: Barnard Orthodontics, Hurd Orthodontics BEST PEDIATRIC PRACTICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Boys Town Pediatrics Readers’ Choice: Children’s Physicians
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as the Best College or University! We’re proud to make Omaha our campus!
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Readers’ Recommend: Village Pointe Pediatrics, Omaha Children’s Clinic Readers’ Refer: West Center Pediatrics BEST PHARMACY Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Walgreens Readers’ Choice: Hy-Vee Food Store, CVS Pharmacy Readers’ Recommend: Kohl’s Pharmacy, Kubat Pharmacy Readers’ Refer: Elmwood Pharmacy BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY/ OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRACTICE Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Makovicka Physical Therapy Readers’ Choice: Community Rehab Physical Therapy, ProCare3, Bellevue Physical Therapy Associates Readers’ Recommend: Home Nursing with Heart Therapy Readers’ Refer: Excel Physical Therapy BEST VETERINARY CLINIC Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Ralston Veterinary Clinic Readers’ Recommend: 24th Street Animal Clinic, Rockbrook Animal Clinic, Northwest Animal Hospital, Mobile Animal Clinic, Omaha Animal Medical Group
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Absolutely Fresh & Shucks Fish House Advanced Home Health Care and Nursing Adam Michael Jewelry Aksarben Cinema Baby Junk Bel Air Fashions Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Better Bodies Fitness & Training Bliss Boutique Body Basics Borsheims Callahan Financial Planning Company Candy Wrappers Canfield’s Comprehensive Financial Services, LLC Curb Appeal Salon & Spa Dee-sign Garden Shop and Landscaping Design with you in mind, llc
Denim Saloon Donaldson Painting and Home Improvement Dundee Bank Dundee Dell Early To Bed eCreamery Elmwood Pharmacy Fat Brain Toys Furniture Place & Kidz Kastle Glamour Up Homer’s House of J It’s Yours Pottery Jaipur Brew House Janousek Florist JobsGuide Inc. Julio’s K 9 Lives Rescue Boutique and Gifts
Le Wonderment Malbar Vision Malibu Gallery Mama’s Pizza MANGELSEN - Images of Nature Gallery Millard Lumber Mystery Rose Nicola’s Italian Wine & Faire Old Market Artists Gallery Omaha Glass Oriental Rug Palace Passageway Gallery Patrick’s Market Personal Threads Boutique Printing Plus population-we LLC Printing Plus Ralston Arena
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Rockbrook Camera RSVP Sarpy County Customs Scout: Dry Goods & Trade Sgt. Peffer’s Spirit World Stickman Graphics & Signs Studio Konchagulian The Bookworm The Imaginarium The Laurel Tree The Reader The Tea Smith Village Needleworks Villains Tattoo White Crane Gallery
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houseparty EDITOR’S NOTE: This month’s feature is by Omaha blogger Sarah Gudeman of SarahEatsOmaha. Sarah is an area food-lover who enjoys sharing her passion for food with her many followers. Follow Sarah at www.saraheatsomaha.com. This post was used with permission.
W ‘markethouse:
eat
The Coddled Egg Spread is served with grilled peasant bread.
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ow. It’s been a while since a new restaurant both lived up to and surpassed my expectations. I knew when the pictures from Market House started to flood my social media feeds, I had to get there ASAP. Lucky for me, I ended up visiting on only their fourth day of lunch service. And, though our initial interactions with our server (and trainee) were a bit on the awkward side, the kitchen was clearly firing on all cylinders right out of the gate. Enough time has passed that I’m finally able to call the restaurant by its proper name (as opposed to Market Basket), though the charge on my credit card strangely still read as Vivace. Hmm. The menu is relatively brief (in an appreciable way), and changes from lunch to dinner - the two meals I’ve so far enjoyed here. I was happy to see on my recent dinner visit, another couple with a baby (my new permanent dining companion). It was an unwelcome sight that at least 2 tables lit up cigarettes as the evening wore on... even though there were no ashtrays. If we hadn’t been finished with our meal, this would have been a huge deterrent for me personally. I called Market House to try and figure out if patio smoking is ‘allowed’ per restaurant policy or if this was a rogue occurrence and was told the policy is “no smoking anywhere inside the gated area” that “changes and safeguards will be made” and that it won’t happen again. A very prompt and thoroughly appreciated response. Back to the menu, it’s New American, changes a bit from lunch to dinner, and is organized into categories for Snacks, Spreads, Shared Sides, Small Plates & Large Plates. And even though it’s abbreviated, the menu is robust enough to offer enough options that you’ll likely have trouble deciding (I know I did).
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Blogger on Market House: ‘It was probably one of the most perfect plates I’ve enjoyed recently.’ REVIEW BY SARAH GUDEMAN
For my first visit, luckily, our server convinced me it wouldn’t be TOO excessive to order 2 small plates for myself. We started with the Coddled Egg Spread, one of five spread options, all served with grilled peasant bread. I personally think the more grilled bread I can eat, the better, and this was no exception. A nice char on the bread went a long way to compliment what was already a delicious start to the meal. Next came the plates, all of which were impeccable. The Market Salad with butter lettuce, cherry tomatoes, radish, shallot, gorgonzola, & avocado, was wonderfully fresh and flavorful. Impressive by any standard - not just “for a salad”. Speaking of impressive, my two small plates were kind-of salad-esque. Light on the quantity, but heavy on flavor (and with the pork belly... very filling). Let’s start with the Belly and Melon. Oh so perfectly crisp pork belly, compressed watermelon and honeydew, pickled vegetables and watercress with a very subtle sherry vinaigrette. Sigh. It was probably one of the most perfect plates I’ve enjoyed recently. The other small plate I savored solo was Roasted Beets with grapefruit and orange, arugula, burrata (mozzarella and cream) and Marcona almonds. This came in a close second favorite, but was no less enjoyable. My second visit was for dinner and was even more enjoyable. Food was just as great as the first time and the service was pretty spectacular (while retaining a fun, casual flair) This time we started with the Sunday Gravy spread (which is the same flavors as the Pappardelle pasta large plate)... smoked pork sugo, house-whipped ricotta. Spectacular! Our other starter was the Beet Fries with fermented chili aioli. I for one am so glad that beets are en vogue right now because this interpretation was one of the best yet! So crispy, so soft, so perfectly beety... We also ordered up the Creamed Kale. Pretty simple, with parmesan cream an panko, but again, pretty perfect. Our other plates, Prawns a la Plancha and Short Rib, were equally worthy of wow. And the carrot puree that came with the short rib... superb. I wonder about dessert, the only area of the menu I haven’t started to explore yet... during lunch I was too full, and at dinnertime we paced the meal such that I was satisfied and didn’t want
to push my limits. Another quest for another time. And there will be many more times. Owners Matt Moser and Nick Bartholomew have an extensive history as restaurateurs in the Omaha area. Moser graduated from Western Culinary Institute in Portland in 2005 before moving back to Nebraska. He refined his talents at Omaha’s French Cafe, V Merts, Plank, and Blue Sushi. Throughout this education, he developed a passion for the Farm-to-Fork movement, which he strives to represent in all of his work. He demonstrated his talents at this year’s Beer and Bacon Fest on August 1, competing in the Bacon World Championship in support of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Omaha and the Omaha Jaycees. Bartholomew is well known as, among other things, the owner of Over Easy — a playful, inventive breakfast and lunch eatery in West Omaha. Featuring locally sourced ingredients and an anything-but-boring menu, the restaurant and its owner gained a quick and loyal following. Chef Ben Maides has been nominated for this year’s Producers Choice Chef Award. His work has launched Avoli onto the Best Of Omaha list, while his creativity on the menu at Over Easy keeps the restaurant the city’s go-to breakfast place. Moser, Bartholomew and Maides have each worked diligently to hone their craft and have earned recognition for excellence in their field. There is no limit to what this team of creative, community-focused restaurateurs can accomplish. Market House is located at 1108 Howard St, in the space formerly occupied by Vivace. The owners celebrated the opening in late Spring of this year. It retains the original brickwork, but otherwise features an entirely remodeled interior decorated with original art by David Koenig. The dining area is elevated and includes many large tables and one 6 person dining area which can be reserved for private parties. Much of the seasonal menu is served family style, making this an excellent group destination. To view the entire menu, visit markethouseomaha.com ,
Do you have a food blog you would like to see featured in The Reader? Email Sara Locke at Crumbs@TheReader.Com and you could see your writing on our website and in our monthly print edition! tufts of the fluffy, sweet spun sugar off the paper and laughed as we licked our fingers.
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TONY BONACCI
‘onstage: The Good Life plays at the Maha Music Festival, Saturday, Aug. 15, at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village, 67th & Center streets. Admission is $50. For more information, visit mahamusicfestival.com.
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livinginthemoment
BY TIM MCMAHAN
New album features same rhythmic indie pop fans have come to know and love
T
he Good Life frontman and chief songwriter Tim Kasher said he wasn’t “intending any high concepts” for the band’s new album, Everybody’s Coming Down, out Aug. 14 on Saddle Creek Records. He then proceeded to explain the album’s high concept. “(The songs) are based around these ideas I was juggling about the constant tension of anticipating something,” Kasher said via cell phone while walking to an appointment somewhere in Chicago. “It’s impossible to live in the moment because you’re always living after that moment. We spend our lives either looking back or looking forward, depending on where you are in your life. It’s difficult to experience things in the present. I started thinking about how much
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we anticipate things and how the moment after that thing happens, we feel a let down. We’re always living in the wake of something that was great, and then it’s gone.” Good Life bassist Stefanie DrootinSenseney and guitarist Ryan Fox were less philosophical about their new record’s meaning while chatting via cell phone from a park near Fox’s Portland apartment surrounded by joggers and old people doing Tai chi. “The album seems visceral,” DrootinSenseney said. “There’s not a narrative that runs through the songs,” added Fox, “but there are loose ideas that link them.” Good Life drummer Roger Lewis, the only band member who still lives in Omaha, had a different take altogether when I ran into
him at a recent show at Reverb Lounge. He said Everybody’s Coming Down is simply the best album The Good Life has ever made. Big words considering The Good Life has released some amazing records since the band formed as a side project to Kasher’s other band, Cursive, in 2000. Starting with their debut, 2000’s Novena on a Nocturn (Better Looking Records), The Good Life has been the simpler, more song-focused “other” to Cursive’s more acidic, angular post-punk rock. Follow-up albums, such as 2002’s Black Out and 2004’s Album of the Year, were laid-back and more hummable than anything Cursive ever released; while 2007’s Help Wanted Nights (the band’s previous record) was an acoustic-guitar driven collection of pop songs lyrically centered continued on page 48 y
Seating for up to 100 Catering Kitchen Bridal Ready Room Spacious Parking 42nd & Center-Omaha
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y continued from page 46
around a movie script of the same name, also written by Kasher — talk about your concept albums. By contrast, there’s nary an acoustic instrument to be heard on Everybody’s Coming Down. After a pretty 33-second intro, the 12-song LP roars open with a distorted electric guitar solo that sounds like an outtake from Neil Young’s Rust Never Sleeps. It’s an apt starter for a record that showcases blazing, guitar-flaring numbers like the aforementioned “Everybody,” buzzsaw raver “Holy Shit” and psych-trip numbers “Flotsam Locked into a Groove” and “Ad Nausea,” which features one of the most out-there guitar solos by Fox that the band has ever recorded. So hard-edged are these songs fans might mistake them for Cursive tracks if not for the ‘70s-rock guitar riffs. It ain’t all noise. The album also includes the same rhythmic indie pop The Good Life fans have come to know and love, like the self-referential “The Troubadour’s Green Room” (Kasher again examining his life as a songwriter/musician) and the floating-under-water “Diving Bell” that sports siren-like vocals by Drootin-Senseney. The album’s diverse sound may be a reflection of the distance that separates band members. Despite a long hiatus, the group
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came together rather quickly after DrootinSenseney received an e-mail out of blue from Kasher while she was in Dallas recording with her other band, Big Harp. “I’d been thinking about getting back together but kept it to myself for a couple years, always looking for a window between projects,” Kasher said. “And then it occurred to me that there will always be something going on, and I’d have to create that window myself.” Drootin- Senseney discussed the project with husband, Chris Senseney, who, in addition to playing in Big Harp, shares the chores of raising their two young children. “We all knew it was going to happen eventually,” Drootin-Senseney said. ‘“I was super excited and not that surprised. We all have other things going on, but we miss it when we’re away from it.” “It’s like the cicadas, you miss them when they’re gone,” said Fox, who, among other things, spends his off time running a tape-only record label that will release the next Big Harp recording this
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month. “Playing in The Good Life is like old friends getting back together.” The band reconvened from July to December 2014 to finish writing and started recording in January 2015 with Ben Brodin at Omaha’s ARC Studios. Producer John Congleton, who’s worked with such artists as St. Vincent and Angel Olsen, was brought in for final mixing. The result is an eclectic album that sounds like nothing you’re likely hear on Sirius XMU. Fox and DrootinSenseney said they weren’t sure where the record fits in with today’s music. “I hope it belongs somewhere, that it has an audience,” said Fox, who added he couldn’t even think of a band that would make sense to tour with The Good Life. “No one comes to mind. It’s not like we reinvented the wheel.” “It comes back to the word ‘visceral,’” Drootin-Senseney said. “With the record industry wacky right now, people are letting loose and doing their own thing. We just wrote the record we wanted to write and felt right to us.
“It doesn’t sound like anything else,” Drootin-Senseney added. “For a while, the music scene seemed emotionless. People were angry at rock ‘n’ roll; they were against it. Now I think they’re okay with it again.” Kasher also isn’t sure where The Good Life fits in with today’s music. “We kind of have to wait and see,” he said. “The answer may never reveal itself. I will say I have been interested in doing a really alternative rock band, the kind of band I set out to do back in the ‘80s, and we’ve returned to that MO more with this record than any other.” He pointed to a number of Omaha bands influenced by ‘90s rock, such as Noah’s Ark Was a Spaceship and See Through Dresses. The difference between The Good Life playing “120-Minutes-style” alternative rock versus those bands, Kasher said, is “we’re actually from that era.” “Who does it better?” he asked. “Listening to a band like us play that style of music may be like listening to a bunch of dinosaurs. Maybe the younger generation can make it sound better. What remains to be seen is if people want to hear us do it.” , The Good Life plays at the Maha Music Festival, Saturday, Aug. 15, at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village, 67th & Center streets. Admission is $50. For more information, visit mahamusicfestival.com.
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Southwest Iowa
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Cleopatra Friday, October 2, 7:30 pm • Orpheum Theater Tickets: • www.TicketOmaha.com • 402-345-0606 • Box office: 13th & Douglas Streets
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‘back’beat The Maha Music Festival is back once again in Aksarben Village’s Stinson Park Saturday, Aug. 15. Following is a spotlight on this year’s Maha lineup. For more tickets or more info, go to mahamusicfestival.com
MODEST MOUSE
Headlining the MAHA Music Festival are Washington troubadours Modest Mouse. With a new album in tow called “Strangers to Ourselves” the band showcases the familiar style they’ve developed over the past 2 decades. Headlining MAHA is a welcome stop on their tour which consists of sold out shows in Flagstaff, LA, Lawrence KS, St. Louis, and Chicago just to name a few. If you’ve been a fan of this band’s quirky style, you won’t be disappointed with the new record
THE GOOD LIFE
Named after our old slogan, this band needs no introduction or background story. Kasher and company showcases their signature sound, born of Middle America and the vibrant Omaha music scene. Less balls-out rockin’ than Kasher’s other Saddle Creek based band Cursive, The Good Life provides music that fits everyday life, lush layers of sound and rhythm, toe-tappers that fit the Saddle Creek sound while not being married to any formula. Akin to Kasher’s love of film, the band offers songs with stories, scenes, warm lighting, and relatable characters that stand the test of time.
SPEEDY ORTIZ
This east coast based group has toured as a full band since 2011. Hailed by Pitchfork media as a critically successful “indie alternative” band, Speedy Oritz is currently supporting their new release “Foil Deer” and is making a stop to the MAHA stage to give fans a dose of their edgy, melodic music. Noted by NPR First Listen as “one of rock’s most compelling young voices and lyricists,” singer Sadie Dupuis channels a variety of vocal styles from hints of PJ Harvey to tinges of Karen O. Layered tones and heady lyrics make Speedy Oritz a worthy listen that’s sure to inspire excitement on the MAHA stage.
tled with addiction, toured the world, and have been praised by critics from the likes of Paste Magazine, Pitchfork, Billboard, and Spin. That run-on sentence should be enough to get you excited for this band, but if not, there’s plenty of this band to experience online. No doubt they will bring the noise at MAHA.
THE JAYHAWKS
Alt-country heroes of the Twin Cities, The Jayhawks continue their legacy as a beloved and influential band on our MAHA stage. Throughout their legendary history the band has seen critical acclaim and since the 80’s have plowed the way for Americana music. Though there has been member changes, front man Gary Loruis still shines with his signature vocals and melodic songs that sit neatly alongside tunes from bands like Uncle Tupelo, The Gear Daddies, Sun Volt, and Wilco. In 2014 the band plans to reissue 3 albums recorded after founding member Mark Olson left, featuring bonus tracks, new liner notes, and fresh remastering from original analog sources. Their return to touring thankfully includes Omaha and our MAHA stage. Don’t miss this performance.
EX HEX
Drums, bass, and guitar are the only weapons of rock destruction these three DC girls need to destroy any shoe-gaze monotony you may bring with you to MAHA. Supporting their first release “Rips”
MODEST MOUSE
ALL YOUNG GIRLS ARE MACHINE GUNS
or their live show.
PURITY RING
Electro-duo Purity Ring will take the stage at MAHA with what is sure to be and aural and visual treat for fans. Supporting their latest 2015 release “Another Eternity” the Canadian pair have made the most of their music in the brief 5 years they have been together. Their fall tour takes them into November with a stop in the Big O August 15th. Their curious visual stage show and audience interaction have brought them legions of diehard fans and a performance that lends itself perfectly to a festival environment.
ALVVAYS
Lush and fuzzy, the Toronto-based band Alvvays (no I have no clue how to pronounce the name) is set to take the MAHA stage with their brand of janglepop melodies that harken other female fronted college rock bands of the 90’s. Purposeful or not, the sound is a bit nostalgic with a modern twist that keeps the music fresh and contagiously listenable. Only 5 years old, this band recently released their first record in 2014, and since has hit #1 on the college charts in August 2014 and mentioned as an “Indie pop wonder” in Rolling Stone. For good reason too, the entire album is solid from start to finish. This performance should be equally as satisfying.
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Local uke-slayer Rebecca Lowry and her band All Young Girls Are Machine Guns are no strangers to the Omaha music scene. These OEAA winners will be gracing the MAHA stage and filling it with soulful harmonies, intricate arrangements, and tunes that will keep the audience on their feet. Between a slew of appearances in town, live streaming tunes on Live At O’Leaver’s, and their new record “Tiger,” you have ample chances to see and/or hear this band before the big show at Aksarben Village / Stinson Park.
ATMOSPHERE
Minneapolis hip hop veterans Atmosphere, bring their smooth yet edgy style to the MAHA stage, spinning tight jams from their vast repertoire acquired over 2 decades of constant touring and recording. Their 2014 release “Southsiders” is the group’s eighth studio album and is an introspective look into the duo’s life. Combining hip hop and lyrical flow with live instrumentation, the record pushes the boundaries of the genre, using the group’s vast experience to continue a legacy that has won fans all over the world.
WAVVES
California alt-rockers Wavves just released a couple singles and are dropping a new record on October 2nd 2015. This band has seen late night television, been featured on video games, collaborated with notables like Cloud Nothings, seen members come and go, bat-
music
which dropped in October of 2014, Ex Hex blends edgy rock with a splash of pop, perfectly suited for any stage indoors or out. Praised by Pitchfork and showcased on Late Night with Seth Myers, this band is carving out a solid place in modern rock using only basic tools paired with smart songwriting.
FREAKABOUT
United in Lincoln Nebraska, Freakabout blend bombastic rock riffs, thunder drums, dueling guitars and beautifully melodic vocals. Their songs are driving and unpredictable. If you haven’t caught them in the Capitol City or the Big O, now’s your chance to experience a “Freakabout” on the MAHA stage.
BOTH
No this is not the band featuring Aimee Mann and Ted Leo (known as The Both). oth is a homegrown hip-hop duo that has shared the stage with Omaha bands such as The Seen, Desaparecidos and Neva Dinova. Supporting their 2014 self-titled release that garnered an OEAA nomination for best Hip-Hop/Rap, the group signed to Make Believe Records and are now spreading their smooth rhythmic vibes with regional performances that blend choice beats, intelligent lyrics, and a soulful style that spans music genres. — Wayne Brekke Got a tip? Email it to backbeat@thereader.com.
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Baxter Arena & Aksarben Village, 67th & Center
Oct. 4, 2015 REGISTER NOW komennebraska.org
Same Mission. Same Race. New Place. 52
AUGUST 2015
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ALABAMA SHAKES WITH BELLE ADAIR AUGUST 1
SLIGHTLY STOOPID WITH DIRTY HEADS AND THE EXPENDABLES AUGUST 29
BILLY IDOL SEPTEMBER 10
LITTLE BIG TOWN RESCHEDULED! SEPTEMBER 18
MASTERS OF THE MIC FEATURING: SALT-N-PEPA, NAUGHTY BY NATURE, DOUG E. FRESH, KOOL MOE DEE AND KID ’N PLAY SEPTEMBER 25
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FILM
UPSTREAM COLOR
MISSEDITBYTHATMUCH G
ather ‘round the campfire, children, your Uncle Ryan has a story of terror to tell. Way back in “aught 6,”Omaha didn’t have a way to watch some of the best movies in the world. It’s true! Why, before ole Film Streams came along, we were at the mercy of pirates and thieves to see some of the most acclaimed films! This is before your fancy Netflixes and new-fangled Amazon Primes and “The Hulu.” “On Demand” was basically little more than a warehouse of dirty movies! Remembering the olden days done got me thinking about movies people may have missed. So I give to you some of my favorite movies you might have never before seen! Kicking and Screaming (1995)
No, not the Will Ferrell one. To be fair, the title does seem more applicable to a goofy movie about soccer and not a nuanced comedy about post-college-graduation ennui. Writer/ director Noah Baumbach’s film may be the single most quotable movie of all time. That’s not an exaggeration or hyperbole. To this day, the film’s dialogue is practically a language
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unto itself my friends and I speak. “Go away, cookie man!” or “He’d already rather be bowhunting” are phrases that will still put a smile on our faces. The film is lithe and slight, but in the best ways. Grover (Josh Hamilton), Max (Chris Eigeman), Otis (Carlos Jacott) and Skippy (Jason Wiles) are recent college graduates asking the important questions about life: “How does work? Do we have to start paying our loans back, like, tomorrow?” The core of the movie is the relationship between Grover and Jane (Olivia D’Abo). It’s that universally heartbreaking romance, the one where the two clearly love one another but the transition into the real-world from the protected life of university threatens to destroy them. It holds up! I know the 20 year passage of time has rendered their grungy style and floppy hairdos hilarious, but the content is timeless and the comedy absolutely brilliant. Easily one of my favorite films of all time and a movie few have ever even heard about.
Primer (2004)
There cannot, will not, be a better time travel movie ever made. Period. Writer/director
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film
The best movies you’ve (probably) never seen B Y R YA N S Y R E K
Shane Carruth’s meticulously thought out indie is absolutely bulletproof in its logic. There is a single scene in this movie that may just be the best I’ve ever seen. When Abe (David Sullivan) is ready to show Aaron (Carruth) that what they’ve built in their garage isn’t just some humming mechanical curiosity but the most significant invention in human history, he does so in one of the most simple, jaw-dropping scenes. As Abe reminds his friend that he cares for him and would never manipulate or trick him, Aaron sees something that blows his mind and changes everything. Primer is dense, sure. The first dozen times I watched it, I feel like I would unlock some new piece that not only helped the film make more linear sense but would give it more emotional heft. That’s impossibly good filmmaking. The subplots and time travel tricks require as meticulous viewing as Carruth’s meticulous writing. It is work in a sense, but only in the most blissful sense of the word. Science fiction is often disparaged and thought of only as fodder for big budget blockbusters. Carruth showed that to be a myth, as his work is as moving and artful as it is blisteringly smart. What’s amazing is,
after a ridiculously painful layoff of almost a decade, Carruth would do it again. Upstream Color (2013)
For an agonizing 9 years, it appeared as though Primer would be a singular work of genius from an artist who disappeared into a maze of his own thoughts. For a half decade, fans of Carruth were promised A Topiary. We knew nothing about it, other than that it was coming. Which it didn’t. In fact, there’s a scene in Upstream Color early on where Kris (Amy Seimetz) appears to be editing some footage on her computer; the footage is all we’ll ever see of what Carruth shot for A Topiary. The wait for A Topiary was excruciating, but Upstream Color exploded on to the scene blisteringly fast. No sooner than I heard the film’s name for the first time, a trailer followed and the film dropped weeks later. That unexplained sound you heard in the fall of 2013 was my heart pounding. Upstream Color wasn’t just as good as Primer; I actually think it is better. Employing the same artistic science fiction approach, Carruth uses fantastic elements to tell a haunting, lyrical love story. continued on page 56y
A Poem is a Naked Person 1974
Sights on Sounds Summer 2015
The Decline of Western Cilvization 1981 Sunday, August 2, 7 pm The Decline of Western Civilization Part II Sunday, August 9, 7 pm A Poem is a Naked Person 1974 Sunday, August 16, 7 pm
Shake the Dust First-Run Sunday, August 23, 7 pm Lambert & Stamp First-Run Sunday, August 30, 7 pm Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck Sunday, September 6, 7 pm
313 N. 13TH STREET / LINCOLN, NE
SHOWING IN AUGUST
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure 1985
Forever Young Summer 2015
Willow 1988 (PG) Aug 1, 2 & 6 The Sound of Music 1965 Aug 8, 9, 13, 15, 16 & 20 Annie 1982 Aug 22, 23, 27, 29, 30 & Sept 3 Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure 1985 (PG) Sept 5, 6, 10, 12, 13 & 17
The NeverEnding Story 1984 (PG) Sept 19, 20, 24, 26, 27 & Oct 1 Made possible with the support of
All showings at Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater. Info & tickets at filmstreams.org.
CALL OR CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR MOVIE TIMES AND PRICES
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y continued from page 54
Kris and Jeff (Carruth) are both victims of a manipulative thief (Thiago Martins) who uses a substance to essentially hypnotize them and bend them to his will. It is mental rape. That’s not callous word choice. Upstream Color, particularly in terms of Kris’s story, is a tale of violation and redemption, asking how a person puts their life back together after having lost a part of themselves to someone’s evil. The couple are drawn together because they hurt in a way only people who have experienced the exact same kind of trauma can understand. Their union is stunningly emotional. There’s so much more here, but you should just see it if you haven’t. Whereas Primer was a treat primarily for the brain, Upstream Color is also gorgeous to watch. Without seemingly having been practicing, the jump Carruth made on a visual level in his decade “off” is palpable. He’s one of those reclusive writer/ directors whose next project may never come. If it doesn’t, his two-movie filmography stands toe to toe with the best. Sound of My Voice (2011)
Considered to be in the same genre as Carruth’s works, let’s call it “arthouse sci-fi,” there’s actually a fairly decent chance nothing of a sci-fi nature is actually at work in Sound of My Voice. It could all be a movie about a delusional or manipulative con woman who has created a cult. That woman, Maggie, is
played by Brit Marling (who also cowrote the film), one of my personal favorite human beings on this planet. The role necessitated that you find her so compelling as to willingly suspend disbelief about her story. If Brit Marling told me she was from the future, as Maggie tells her followers, I would believe her and follow her anywhere. Maggie’s whole story is that she has come back to train a group to survive the future’s challenges. This doesn’t sit well with Peter (Christopher Denham) and Lorna (Nicole Vicius), two documentarians who aim to expose Maggie as a liar. Except, as they descend undercover into the cult’s clutches, they find themselves confused and entranced. You will too. Writer/director Zal Batmanglij gives hints and clues about the “truth,” but the puzzle is yours to solve. In interviews, Batmanglij and Marling have suggested this is actually the first part of a series. I will forever wait for more. Oh, and the pair have a Netflix show that debuts soon. Don’t miss it. Spring Breakers (2012)
Each year, for my birthday party, I host an event where I invite friends over to watch the best movies from the previous year and cook food for them based on the movie themes. When I told folks we’d be watching Spring Breakers, they looked at me like I had lost my mind. I didn’t blame them. Writer/director Harmony Korine’s most memorable creation
! w o h s e h t y o j En
When we tell you,
...we mean it!
“Unlike some other theaters, we don’t believe in gimmicks to get you here. Instead, we focus on the motion picture experience. My family and I love movies, and we hope your event here is enjoyable.”
2110 S. 67th Street 402-502-1914
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AUGUST 2015
| THE READER |
to me was a scene in Gummo were someone ate spaghetti while bathing in a dirty tub. He made a movie called Trash Humpers. He was a joke to me. Holy shit was I wrong. Spring Breakers is a stunning indictment of modern hedonism and the exploitation of women’s bodies. Slyly using former Disney tween and teen stars, Korine basically keeps asking “how far is too far,” pushing the women into ever more vile territory. But then the switch happens. The women fall in with Alien (James Franco), more on him in a minute. Alien is a grille-wearing gangsta who takes the women from bad to dangerous. Gone are the drug-fueled parties, in are machine-gun-toting, face-smashing criminal activities. There’s a scene where two of the women take a gun, point it at Alien and yell “suck my dick.” It’s a deliriously genius commentary on rape culture. Oh, and you would be hard pressed to find a more visually stunning film, with its neon colors and senseoverloading editing. But back to Alien. A riff on Riff Raff, a notorious white rapper, Franco’s performance almost makes Franco’s existence worth it. He devours every scene, committing deeply to a character that should have been a one-note joke. It’s an all-time, hang-his-jersey-fromthe-rafters performance for me. At that party I mentioned, we’d actually stop the film and talk about what it was saying while watching it. By the end, everyone agreed that it was genius, even if they didn’t necessarily enjoy the shit out of it. I did though. I do, actually, as I continue to come back to it over and over again. Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (2013)
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Writer/director David Lowery’s tragic outlaw romance is gorgeous, first and foremost. It’s hard to show rural America and fields of amber waves in a way that hasn’t been shown before, but Lowery manages. Somehow, he makes those places look both inviting and haunted, realistic and impossible. The story here is little more than “a good, bad love.” That is to say that Bob (Casey Affleck) is a no-good desperado, a rambling man and thief who gets Ruth (Rooney Mara) in bad situations. But he loves her so much, so deep, and she him. It’s true love. But it’s the kind of true love that kills.
The crux of the movie is Bob on the run after escaping prison. He was actually serving time for something Ruth did, which likely only made her love him more. The problem is, Ruth was pregnant when Bob went away. She’s now a single mother. And while she would love nothing more than to run off into the sunset with her outlaw love, that’s no way to raise a child. So begins a series of gut-wrenching decisions and exchanges, as Ruth runs away from the man she wants to run to, knowing that if he finds her, only bad things will happen. Ain’t Them Bodies Saints is the type of movie that doesn’t get made often. It’s an impressionist painting of a tragedy, a western-tinted parable of bad love. Affleck’s tiny, weird presence is somehow magnificent and powerful. Mara is luminous and so, so very sad. If you haven’t picked up on it, this isn’t the most uplifting of tales. And yet, I keep returning to it because it is that damn good. Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
Writer/director Benh Zeitlin’s movie is my favorite. That’s right. I’ve been a critic for more than 13 years now. Used to be when I was asked “what’s your favorite movie?” I’d either dance around the question or answer with the best film I’d seen recently. It’s hard for anybody to pick a favorite movie, but when you get paid to talk about movies, you absolutely will be judged for your answer. I invite any criticism or judgment on this one, because I will defend its perfection until I die. Beasts is a story about everything: Your place in the world, losing people you love, becoming the person you will be for the rest of your life, the beauty of the earth, our responsibility to our planet, social inequality, racial equality, tolerance, gender roles, love, death and on and on. The actual plot is simple: Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis) is a young girl living with her father in a shanty town called “The Bathtub,” which is clearly someplace in the swamps and woods near New Orleans. Her daddy, Wink (Dwight Henry), is sick. Her mom ran off and left them years back. Now, floods are coming that threaten to wipe out the Bathtub, just as Wink is dying. The music by Dan Romer and Zeitlin is my all-time favorite score. I still spin it whenever I need to feel moved and motivated. Wallis gave a performance so impossibly good, she was nominated as best actress at 6. And she deserved it. Hell, she deserved to win the performance was so good! There isn’t a wasted scene or line of dialogue, not one imperfect moment the entire time. The movie feels like a miracle to me still. It kind of was, with Wallis anchoring the thing at 6 and Henry not even being a professional actor. Zeitlin found him on the street. I love Beasts of the Southern Wild with all my stupid cinephile heart. The day may come when another film takes its crown and unseats it as my favorite. I just can’t imagine what could ever do that. ,
AUGUST SHOWS AUG 7-9
ARIES SPEARS SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT
Ever since Aries was 14 years old, he has been a force to be reckoned with in the comedy scene. His quick wit, charisma and ferociously aggressive style of comedy have earned him critical acclaim, high accolades, and above all, a busy schedule. From being a regular on Fox’s Mad TV, starring in feature films, appearing on a number of national talk shows, and continually touring the country with his stand-up, Aries’s talents are becoming recognized and appreciated throughout the entertainment industry.
AUG 13-16 JAMIE LISSOW
Jamie decided to abandon his plan of becoming a lawyer, and enter the world of stand-up comedy. A few years later, after working many treacherous road gigs and college shows, Jamie was invited to audition for the prestigious Just for Laugh’s Festival in Montreal. He’s made appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, has a half hour special currently running on Comedy Central, and continues headlining at the nation’s top comedy clubs. Jamie has been called “The best writer since Seinfeld” and “Adam Sandler without the guitar”.
AUG 20-23 MO MANDEL
Mo Mandel is a talented young comedian and actor who regularly appears on the hit show Chelsea Lately and starred opposite Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn in Free Agents on NBC. Mandel has also made appearances on Modern Family, Happy Endings, Conan, Love Bites, Craig Ferguson and in his own highly rated Comedy Central half hour special. Mandel’s first CD, “THE M-WORD” is out on Comedy Central Records. Come see him now before he becomes successful enough to justify having a full blown drug addled meltdown.
AUG 27
OMAHA’S CLASH OF THE COMICS
Local and regional comedian’s give the best 5 they have - winner at the end of the evening gets a one night paid spot in front of a nationally touring headliner right here at the Funny Bone!
SATURDAY AUG 1 Rough Cut
WEDNESDAY AUG 12 The Persuaders
SATURDAY AUG 22 The Mighty Jailbreaker
AUG 28-30 ROD MAN SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT
MONDAY AUG 3 Gooch & his Las Vegas Big Band
THURSDAY AUG 13 The Hegg Brothers
MONDAY AUG 24 Gooch & his Las Vegas Big Band
Best known as the winner of Last Comic Standing Season 8. His unique delivery and voice capture the attention of audiences. Throw in his laid back style, southern charm, wit, and ability to find the funny in everyday life, and you have the ingredients for a future Comedy Star in the making. Rod Man is also an actor and writer, known for his roles in Funny People with Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, The Big Black Comedy Show, Vol. 2 and The Chocolate Sundaes Comedy Show. The world is catching on to what true Rod Man fans already know -- he’s down-to-earth, crazy-funny, and truly a special talent.
SEPT 2
THE PUMP & DUMP SHOW
SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT
A raucous evening of comedy and music, designed for parents to laugh away a kid-filled day while throwing a few back and remembering who we all were before we had children. This highly irreverent, cult-hit show full of comedy, games, prizes, drinking, swearing and parental commiseration. Live musical performances are spread throughout the evening with songs like “Eat Your F-ing Food,” and “When I Die, I Want to Come Back as a Dad.”
TUESDAY AUG 4 Music for Mali WEDNESDAY AUG 5 The Brits
FRIDAY AUG 14 The 402 SATURDAY AUG 15 Eckophonic
THURSDAY AUG 6 Tijuana Gigolos
MONDAY AUG 17 Gooch & his Las Vegas Big Band
FRIDAY AUG 7 The 402
TUESDAY AUG 18 Scott Evans
SATURDAY AUG 8 Finest Hour
WEDNESDAY AUG 19 Pam & the Pearls
MONDAY AUG 10 Gooch & his Las Vegas Big Band
THURSDAY AUG 20 The 9’s
TUESDAY AUG 11 Billy Troy
FRIDAY AUG 21 On the Fritz
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TUESDAY AUG 25 Billy Troy WEDNESDAY AUG 26 Bozak & Morrissey THURSDAY AUG 27 Jules & Joe Band FRIDAY AUG 28 Taxi Driver SATURDAY AUG 29 Hott 2 Trott MONDAY AUG 31 Gooch & his Las Vegas Big Band
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that is getting heard on the national scene at joshhoyerandtheshadowboxers.com.
Josh Hoyer & The Shadowboxers are back in late August after five weeks touring the Western U.S. and Canada.
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HOODOO focuses on blues, roots, Americana and occasional other music styles with an emphasis on live music performances. Hoodoo columnist B.J. Huchtemann is a senior contributing writer and veteran music journalist who received the Blues Foundation’s 2015 Keeping the Blues Alive Award for Journalism. Follow her blog at hoodoorootsblues.blogspot.
he blues is back at The 21st Saloon after a hiatus to allow for fans to attend Thursday Playing With Fire shows. The 21s’s blues shows are Thursdays unless otherwise indicated. Nashville-based Stacy Mitchhart has been seen here previously at The 21st Saloon and on the Playing With Fire stage. He and his band are back Aug. 6. Mitchhart is an accomplished guitarist and entertainer whose latest CD mixes down-home blues with his soulinflected sounds. He and his band tour extensively and also hold down a residency at Nashville’s Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie Bar. See stacymitchhart.com. Tuesday, Aug. 11, Southern California’s harddriving band The 44’s is back. They combine great guitar with soulful harmonica work and a walloping rhythm section. Blues Blast Magazine calls them “one of the most potent blues bands in Southern California...they have a post-war Chicago sound, and they definitely exude a rough and raw old-school rock and blues vibe.” See the44sbluesband.com. Award-winner Johnny Rawls is up Aug. 13. Born and raised in Mississippi, Rawls worked with soulblues greats like Joe Tex, Little Johnny Taylor and O.V. Wright before starting his own band in the mid1980s. Rawls real-deal soul-blues is regularly recognized in the Blues Music Award nominations. See johnnyrawlsblues.com. Rounding out the schedule in coming weeks are guitarist James Armstrong Aug. 20 and Oregon’s Polly O’Keary & The Rhythm Method Sept. 3. There’s a
AUGUST 2015
| THE READER |
The 21st Saloon ramps up rockin’ blues on thursdays plus more great local, regional and national sounds coming our way BY B.J. HUCHTEMANN
special show Sunday, Aug. 27, with the high-octane rockabilly of Ross Kleiner & The Thrill, an excellent band from Minneapolis. Opening is Omaha’s own Lash LaRue & The Hired Guns. All shows are 6-9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Keep an eye on The 21st Saloon on Facebook for schedule updates. Zoo Bar Blues Lincoln’s Zoo Bar has some great shows in August including former Trampled Under Foot vocalist Danielle Nicole and her new band Friday, Aug. 7, 9 p.m. SoCal’s The 44’s are up Wednesday, Aug. 12, 6-9 p.m. Nashville bluesman R.B. Stone follows at 9 p.m. The Bel Airs are back Friday, Aug. 14, 9 p.m. Tony Meza of the Tijuana Gigolos celebrates his birthday with a party-show Saturday, Aug. 22, 6-9 p.m. Watch for the rest of the Wednesday blues matinee announcements at zoobar.com. Gone Shadowboxing Josh Hoyer & The Shadowboxers are hitting the road hard, taking their soul sound from K.C. through Montana, Idaho and British Columbia to the Pacific Northwest and the West Coast from late July through most of August. Catch them locally at The Zoo Bar Friday, Aug. 28, 9 p.m., plus Omaha’s Taste of the Old Market Saturday, Aug. 29, 7 p.m., and the Omaha’s Jewish Community Center’s concert series Sunday, Aug. 30, 7 p.m. Hear tracks from their last disc and see the latest news on this local band
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Hot Notes The public nomination period for the Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards ends Aug. 31, follow the “Vote Note” link at oea-awards.com. Public nominations decide the nominees in all categories, professionals in each arts area determine the OEA winners. Benson First Friday is back Friday, Aug. 28. Watch Facebook.com/BensonFirstFriday for the final schedule and map of art and music. The Harney Street Tavern in the Old Market has been booking some great local and regional blues and jazz shows throughout the week. Check their schedule at harneystreettavern.com. Playing With Fire promoter Jeff Davis presents a free concert, Music for the City, Sunday, Sept. 6, at the River City Star Pavilion. Visit playingwithfireomaha.net for details. Watch the weekly digital-only column for lots of updates and new music announcements, including an expected upcoming concert date for Hoodoo favorite Johnny Boyd. The former Indigo Swing bandleader is putting the finishing touches on a new album and should be hitting the road in September. Via emails he says he is anxious to debut his new material for his Omaha fans. Follow his latest announcements at Facebook.com/JohnnyBoyd. ,
socalblues: California’s rough and ready blues band The 44’s hits local stages this month.
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| THE READER |
AUGUST 20157/16/15
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Where does the music festival go from here? BY TIM MCMAHAN
h my, how far the Maha Music Festival has come. Few remember its inauspicious beginnings in 2009 at Lewis & Clark Landing, because few were there. The day featured has-been emo act Dashboard Confessional and where-are-they-now casino fodder Big Head Todd. From an indie music perspective, the festival’s biggest moments came early in the afternoon when Appleseed Cast and Little Brazil played to fewer than 300 people standing on the hot concrete slab alongside Rick’s Boatyard. Those of us who follow indie music just kind of wrote off the Maha Festival as another vanity project by a group of upwardly mobile young professionals who didn’t know what they were doing but had the money to do it. We thought Maha was a one-anddone boondoggle. We were wrong. Maha’s power team of businessmen Tyler Owen, Mike App, Mike Toohey and Tre Brashear pulled a rabbit out of their collective hat by partnering with local promoter One Percent Productions, who helped book Spoon, Superchunk and The Faint for 2010. From then on, Maha had a string of hits, moving from Lewis & Clark Landing to Stinson Park at Aksarben Village in 2011 where it’s been ever since. Last year’s Maha Music Festival raised the bar to new heights with a plethora of indie stars headlined by Death Cab for Cutie and including The Head and the Heart, The Both (featuring Aimee Mann and Ted Leo) and local heroes Icky Blossoms and Domestica. I remember sitting on the edge of the park’s bowl looking out on the estimated crowd of 7,000 with its arms raised wondering how Maha could ever top it. But with this year’s line-up, it appears they might. Modest Mouse, Alvvays, Speedy Ortiz, Purity Ring, Ex Hex and Wavves are just half of the scheduled performers. For the first time there are rumblings that the festival could actually sell out this year. If it does, will Maha look for a bigger location or expand to multiple days? It’s something new Maha board members are contemplating. While founders Brashear, Owen, App and Toohey are still involved, the board has grown over the past few years, adding among its members current board president Aaron Shaddy and vice president Lauren Schomburg. The injection of new blood was necessary because, well, the board was getting old. “We sacrifice a lot of personal time to put on a festival like this,” said Schomburg. “As people get older, families and jobs take more time. Younger people have more time to give to this.”
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Maybe so, but the current Maha board ain’t exactly spring chickens. Schomburg is the youngest member, at age 29. “Our target audience is younger, and the people doing this don’t line up with that target,” she said, adding that the disconnect could result in stale offerings or a lack of responsiveness to the community. “I don’t think it’s a problem right now because it takes a certain skill set to pull this festival off.” And just because they’re the ones organizing it doesn’t mean they’re not asking for help. “We seek input from people of all ages and backgrounds,” Schomburg said. “This is by far the most diverse line-up ever, and that was the result of feedback.” Feedback that included surveys, and the No. 1 requested band on those surveys was Modest Mouse, this year’s festival headliner. Even before the first vendor tent has been pitched, the Maha board is looking at 2016 and beyond. “A couple years ago (the festival) was a year-by-year and wait-and-see sort of thing,” Schomburg said. “Now we’re becoming sustainable enough that we know we’re going to do a festival next year.” Though Stinson Park already has been booked for the 2016 festival, Schomburg said Maha will need to continue to seek sponsors and fund raise. “We still haven’t reached that 10,000 people mark and the significant dollars that come with it,” she said. Could that happen this year? If not, there’s always the possibility of Maha collaborating in the future with other entities, maybe even the City of Omaha. Schomburg said some have suggested consolidating Maha with other highvisibility local events, such as Big Omaha and Fashion Week. In fact, this year Maha expanded its reach by partnering with Loess Fest in Council Buffs for a “Mini Maha.” Still another question the board has been pondering: Does Maha really want to get bigger? “Could we lose that ‘Maha experience’ if it gets too big,” Schomburg asked. “We don’t take for granted the role the location plays. Part of Maha’s appeal is that it’s an intimate experience. You can get a comfortable spot all day. We don’t have to set up video screens because there’s always a good view. You can walk right up to the stage. That’s part of the appeal.” Omaha native Tim Kasher, who fronts The Good Life, one of the bands playing this year’s Maha Festival, thinks it would be cool if Maha became a two-day event. He said he understands the concern about getting too big. “You want to be careful that you don’t burst that bubble,” he said, “but Omaha could use some bubble bursting. A larger festival could help put Omaha on the map.” For Schomburg, the ultimate dream is for Maha to become something that encompasses the entire community. “I’d love to see restaurants have special menus for Maha and Film Streams host a movie series in conjunction with the festival,” she said. “I’d love to see something happening downtown, in Benson and Dundee, events all through the city that culminate in this festival. Then it would truly become a community event.” , Over The Edge is a monthly 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
| THE READER |
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FORT OMAHA 24TH ANNUAL
INTERTRIBAL
POWWOW 2015 THEME: CARETAKERS OF THE EARTH
Saturday
Sept. 12, 2015 | 1-7:30 p.m. Gourd Dance 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. All veterans welcome.
The Audience Takes Over
Free and open to the public.
The future of theater will be very different from the present. Instead of the quiet temple of performance we now experience, it will be a noisy, active space, with audience members visible and openly interacting with the play. Audiences are now discouraged from doing anything other than applauding at the end of the play, but in future performances they will be able to express disapproval even as the play is going on. Audiences will be able to shout at the stage, talk to actors, use cell phones, and even sit on the stage and talk, and it will all be considered completely normal. This will, in fact, not be a radical new innovation in live performance, but a return to traditions that existed for thousands of years, in which audiences were as much a part of performance as the actors. It will mean that live theater will have to be more flexible and anarchic than current theater, but it will also be more exciting for audiences, and much more popular.
Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha Campus 30th and Fort streets, Omaha, Neb. For more information: bvelazquez@mccneb.edu 402-457-2253 mccneb.edu/intercultural
Our Carless Future
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The world is about to be transformed by self-driving cars. Once these selfdirected vehicles are introduced, they will quickly take over -- road accidents will become intolerable when we discover just how often they happen, how deadly they are, and how frequently they are caused by human error. Expect our roads to be almost entirely free of humandriven vehicles within 15 years. In this new world, there will be no need for enormous amounts of space for parking, and so huge amounts of real estate will open up, often in especially desirable locations. driverless cars can drive closer to each other, and so lanes will get smaller, which means that sidewalks will get wider. This will lead to a lot more street business, including food trucks, buskers, and tabletop salesmen, making the experience of shopping in a town a lot more diverse and interesting, and providing a lot more opportunities for people to go into business for themselves with relatively low overhead. Without so much space set aside for concrete parking lots and paves roads, there will be an increased focus on civil beauty, with an explosion of urban flower and vegetable gardens, as well as public parks. The cities of the future will be better places without the car.
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The Old Gods Are New Again
By 2050, the largest and fastest growing religion in America will be paganism. It will take many forms, including Wicca and Druidism, but will all be marked by respect for nature and a connection to the ancient religions of Europe. These modern pagans will have many holidays in common, all drawn from the pagan past, including the harvest holiday of Samhain at the end of October and the planting festival of Beltane in May. The popularity of paganism will be hard to explain. Some will argue that it is deliberately a rejection of Christianity, which will have developed a reputation for being repressive. Some will argue that years of retraining ourselves to be stewards of the earth will have prepared Americans for religions that preach this sort of stewardship. Whatever the case, we can look forward to a future of animal masks, forest ceremonies, sacred wells, and primordial goddesses.
Spockʼs Brain
In the next few decades we will see the rise of something called the Cult of Spock, consisting of people who have taken the fictional Vulcan philosophy of emotionless logic as their life credo. They will start online forums and public meeting groups to train themselves in pure reason, and to teach themselves techniques to keep their emotions at bay. Their first response to any situation will be to analyze it for its logic and reject anything that seems impulsive or unreasonable. Some will move into politics, where their pragmatism will prove a liability as they blithely make decisions that hurt some to benefit many. But they will rarely get elected, because their campaigns, based on facts and figures, will fare poorly against politicians who are skilled at appealing to emotions. They will also prove to be terrible romantic partners, except for each other, as they will prove to be uncommonly insensitive to their partnerʼs emotional needs. Ultimately, it will be determined that this approach to life is damaging to the person who adopts it, as it requires repeatedly suppressing emotions rather than addressing them, and self-styled Vulcans will have an uncommonly high occurance of mental health breakdowns. Nonetheless, many will find this approach to life appealing enough to attempt it. For more on these predictions and others by Dr. Mysterian visit www.thereader.com.