November/December 2017 Omaha Magazine

NATIVE FILM FESTIVAL // SKEET'S BBQ // SPECIAL VETERANS SECTION // OLYMPIC CURLING NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017

B E ST O F O MA H A FE S T I VA L

FREE Tickets Inside

9978 Fieldcrest Drive, Omaha

$ 670,000

A s tunning, spacious townhouse that provides over 6, 3 0 0 fsf of carefree living! This home has combined t wo unit s into one impressive design with many 9 ’ ceilings. There is access from ever y room to decks that overlook a beautiful yard.

Marvin & Fike • 402.689.2380, 402.699.3851

1101 Jackson Street, Omaha

$ 630,000

The ultimate loft experience in this custom unit. Building is converted warehouse with exposed brick. High ceilings and large expansive windows fill this unit with natural light. 2 bedroom, 2 bath. Secure, indoor 2-car side by side garage parking included. Large, open living space.

Deanne Fairfield • 402.212.1343

1200 Lakeview Circle, Ashland

$ 569,000

Nestled above the lake! Remarkable home with unique floor plan built for the views. Double fireplace from dining to master suite. Den & guest room on main level.

Lower level family room with wet bar, 3 bedrooms and theater room. Oversized garage and covered deck.

Mary Chapman • 402.658.8315

11610 County Rd 34, Blair

5203 Burt Street, Omaha

$ 649,900

Fabulously updated & restored Dundee Classic. Granite, subway tile, huge walk-in pantry, wine fridge & access to private deck. Gorgeous wood flrs and woodwork. Incredible Master suite w/large sitting room & updated spa bath w/heated floors. Secret garden and fountain.

The Rensch Group • 402.391.5333

1518 N 190 Street, Omaha

$ 625,000

Fabulous 2 story walk-out on corner lot w/5 bedrooms, 6 baths, 3 fireplaces, split staircase and fine craftsmanship.

4 car garage, iron fence and backs to common area!

Hardwoods on main, every bedroom with own bath, LL bar, fireplace and bedroom. Storage Galore!

Jayne Smith • 402.203.5847

347 Steven Road, Council Bluffs, IA

$550,000

A ver y special and unique home located in the cit y on 3.35 acres. Ver y private wooded yard and nature trails in the woods. Indoor pool, sunken living room with fireplace, a dark room, circular stairway, and main floor laundry. $10,000 kitchen allowance

$ 529,500

Your Home Team • 402.426.5619

4710 Lake Forest Drive, Papillion

$520,000

Wonderful 2 story with full view of the lake plus setting sun. Wood floors throughout main level, kitchen w/ walk in pantry. The master closet is custom design. Large covered deck /porch. 3+ garage/shop area with interior drain. Sprinkler and sec system.

Marylou Bell • 402.681.6478

$ 649,000

Outstanding home on beautiful 1.16 acre lot backing to dbl fairway. Stacked stone fireplace and pillars. New roof, siding, gutters ‘13. Inside paint & main carpet ‘17. Covered trex deck. Master has tile snail shower large closet. 2nd bedroom like 2nd master suite.

Nancy Kehrli • 402.690.1099

980 County Rd W S-48, Fremont

$ 619,000

Wow, this fantastic lake home is a dream come true!

Live the life of luxur y in this 3 bedroom, 3 bath 1.5 stor y with over 3, 4 0 0 fsf. Includes 3 family room areas and t wo garage spaces.

Kori Krause • 402.679.0007

1706 N 197 Street, Omaha

$ 535,000

Stunning 6 BR, 5 BA home in popular Elk Ridge!

Packed full of upgrades incl floor to ceiling stone fireplace in living room. Over the top kitchen. Master suite with walk-in shower. E x terior gas line for grill & fire pit. Finished basement with 9 ft ceilings.

Pogge Team • 402.639.5473

Jason Anderson • 402.616.0578

Beautiful walkout ranch on 2.49 acres with 4 BR, 3 BA, and 3,200+ fsf. Fabulous walkout basement! Great sunroom with swim spa. BB court and heated in ground pool!

2 outbuildings: 30x24’ & 64x36’ outbldg with concrete floor and power.

10506 S 168 Avenue, Omaha

1623 S 208th Street, Elkhorn

$ 519,900

Royal Homes new 1 1/2 story plan with main floor master and flex room, 2 story ceiling in family room, walk-in ceramic master shower, walkout basement, Cambria quar tz counter tops, Elkhorn South, Cer tified high performance home. Bosch appliances.

John Greguska • 402.612.0594

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contents THE USUAL SUSPECTS 6

From the Editor

8

Between the Lines

11

Calendar of Events

153 Obviously Omaha

New Year’s Eve Parties

177 Explore!

181 Instagram 182 Not Funny

Some Free Advice

ARTS + CULTURE

34

20

Cinema Lady G

22

Poetry Shanketta Newsom

26

Music Blood Cow

62

Painting Mike Hagel

PROFILES FEATURES

34 48 52

66

DREAMERS IN THE HEARTLAND “My blood is Mexican, but my heart is American.”

HISTORY

42

Sports Steve Jaixen

46

Gen O Ellie Morrison

154 People

Lindy Hoyer

GIVING

Lenore Benolken: Omaha’s Ghosted Painter

78

Feature New Century Art Guild

ADVENTURE

84

Calendar

OMAHA HOME

How to Plan an American Motorcycle Road Trip

THE FINAL MISSION

H89 Omaha Home Opener H92 DIY

Mantel Makeover

An Enduring Commitment to Honoring Veterans

H94 Spaces

Holiday Over the Old Market

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 4 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

H89

AUGMENTED REALITY On Your Digital Device

H102 Neighborhoods

160 Review

H107 Feature

164 Profile

H114 Feature

166 Dining Guide

Sunset Hills

Watch videos and view photo galleries of select stories from this issue of Omaha Magazine for FREE.

Skeet’s Barbecue

ASID Awards

Jose Dionicio

Downsizing Home Cameos

Featured AR

SPECIAL SECTIONS

H120 Architecture

The Wigert Residence

H126 Harvest

Frozen Aronia Berry Wine

58

2017 Holiday Gift Guide

74

HonOURing Veterans

Page 35

H128 Omaha Home City Market

H130 Transformations

One Year, Big Life Changes

60PLUS IN OMAHA

ABOUT THE COVER An homage to Banksy’s iconic Girl with Balloon, the photo illustration shows an Omaha DACA recipient letting go of a Nebraska balloon at the U.S.-Mexico border. The image is a metaphor for so-called “dreamers” losing grasp of their hopes for legal residency status. Nebraska is home to roughly 3,300 DACA recipients—young adults who grew up in Nebraska and consider the state to be home.

The red balloons over the horizon also reference the release of red balloons at the start of Nebraska Cornhusker football games.

139

139 60PLUS Opener 140 Active Living

Dr. Bruce Johansen Keeps Moving

142 Curiosity

Omaha’s Fire-Eating Santa

146 Rural Roots Edgar Hicks

148 Family

Colleen Ramsey

150 Health

Medicaid and Medicare Reform

DINING 156 Feature

0

100

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300

400

500

737 trees have been reforested due to the printing of our last round of publications.

Learn more at printreleaf.com

Fancy Food in Historic Buildings

156

See also:

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Letter

FROM THE EDITOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR DOUG MEIGS

AMERICAN HEROES & DREAMERS huck Hagel supported the war. His brother hated it. And in the jungles of Vietnam each was destined to save the other’s life.” The text blurb appears on the front cover of a new book by Daniel P. Bolger, Our Year of War: Two Brothers, Vietnam, and a Nation Divided.

C

An advance copy arrived in the mail while Omaha Magazine was deep in production on our November/December issue. A note from the publishing house explained that the book would be published on Nov. 7, in time for Veterans Day (Nov. 11).

Veterans Day was also the motivation for several military and veteran-themed stories in the full city edition* of our latest issue. One of those stories is an artist profile about one of the Hagel brothers. But we didn’t write about the two highlighted in Bolger’s new book.

In 1968, Tom and Chuck Hagel fought the Tet Offensive, battled snipers in Saigon, and chased the enemy through the jungle.

Years later, Tom became a law professor at the University of Dayton in Ohio. Chuck went on to represent Nebraska in the U.S. Senate for 12 years before serving as U.S. Defense Secretary from 2013 until 2015 under President Barrack Obama.

Their younger brother, Mike Hagel, was too young to serve in Vietnam. He would grow up to be a successful artist working in advertising and fine art. A portrait that he painted of his older brother now hangs in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Our latest issue features Mike’s story, titled “Nebraska’s Painter in the Pentagon.”

Another military-focused article about local art is the story of the New Century Art Guild.

The nonprofit is dedicated to helping veterans cope with post-traumatic stress disorder through artwork. The guild has a gallery displaying artworks at City Hall, organizes veteran art exhibitions around town, and also hosts workshops and classes. Twice a month, they even offer art classes to incarcerated vets suffering from PTSD. Joyce Winfield, Ph.D., writes about the philanthropic work of Bill and Evonne Williams.

The Williamses coordinated 11 honor flights from Nebraska (taking 3,235 veterans to the nation’s capital), culminating in The Final Mission. Joyce had previously written the cover story of Omaha Magazine’s May/June issue (excerpted from her book, Forever Heroes: A Collection of World War II Stories from Nebraska Veterans). Her husband, Doug, served in Vietnam and participated in The Final Mission. Her in-depth article in this issue explores the trip from the vantage of other Omaha-area Vietnam vets, and she explains the next phase of the Williamses’ efforts to memorialize members of the U.S. Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives in the years and wars following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

The story of DACA recipients relates back to Chuck Hagel’s time in the U.S. Senate. He was the first Republican co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, a bipartisan bill that addressed the status of undocumented youths who grew up in the U.S. (aka “dreamers”). The DREAM Act never became law, which led to the policy of “deferred action” under Obama, and current uncertainty facing the youths in the wake of President Donald Trump’s announcement to terminate DACA.

*Note: the hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover, and it does not include all of the editorial content featured in the magazine’s full city edition. Subscribe to the full magazine at omahamagazine.com/subscribe.

Aside from these military stories, the November/December issue’s other major article addresses Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals from the perspective of the local youths. University of Nebraska-Omaha professor Thomas Sanchez, Ph.D., interviewed 10 anonymous DACA recipients, and Omaha Magazine reached out to five additional current, former, and would-be DACA recipients (who volunteered to support the story with their faces, names, and video interviews).

Don’t forget to join the Best of Omaha Festival on Nov. 5 at Baxter Arena (1-5 p.m.)! Two free tickets for the festival are included in the cover flap of the full city edition of Omaha Magazine that is available to subscribers and sold at select locations around town.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 6 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER 2017 VOLUME 35 // ISSUE 5 Publisher

TODD LEMKE

EDITORIAL Executive Editor

DOUG MEIGS

Managing Editor: B2B Omaha, Family Guide, special projects

DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Managing Editor: Encounter

ERIC STOAKES Editor-at-Large

TARA SPENCER Editorial Assistant

LINDSAY WILSON Interns

KATHERINE HARTNER · SYDNEY SHELDRICK · LIZ STEVENS Contributing Writers

J.D. AVANT · TAMSEN BUTLER · ROBERT KLEIN ENGLER GREG JERRETT · RL LEMKE · LISA LUKECART · SEAN MCCARTHY ALEC MCMULLEN · CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI · KIM REINER SEAN ROBINSON · THOMAS SANCHEZ, PH.D. · GARRETT SASS OTIS TWELVE · JOYCE H. WINFIELD, PH.D.

Visit Santa

CREATIVE

November 24th – Christmas Eve

Creative Director

BILL SITZMANN

See holiday shopping hours, times to visit Santa & more magical events at RegencyCourtOmaha.com

Art Director

MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer

DEREK JOY

Graphic Designer

MADY BESCH

120 Regency Parkway | Omaha

Graphic Designer

KATIUSKA NUÑEZ Contributing Photographers

KEITH BINDER · COLIN CONCES · SCOTT DRICKEY SARAH LEMKE · AMY LYNN STRAUB · MICHAEL LANGFELDT Contributing Videographers

CHRISTOPHER MARSHALL · CAMERON MCCLARTY

ACCOUNTS Publisher’s Assistant & Omaha Home Contributing Editor

SANDY MATSON Vice President

GREG BRUNS Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing

GIL COHEN

Senior Sales Executive & 60Plus in Omaha Contributing Editor

GWEN LEMKE

Senior Sales Manager

ALICIA HOLLINS

Branding Specialists

KYLE FISHER · GEORGE IDELMAN MARY HIATT · JOSHUA PETERSON Sales Assistants

DAWN DENNIS · SHERRY LORENCE · STACY TILLS Marketing Interns

JAMES HILL · MARK MCGAUGH

OPERATIONS Vice President of Operations

TYLER LEMKE Accountant

HOLLEY GARCIA-CRUZ Distribution Manager

MIKE BREWER

All versions of Omaha Magazine are published bimonthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha NE 68046-1208. Telephone: 402-884-2000; fax: 402-884-2001. Subscription rates: $19.95 for 6 issues (one year), $24.95 for 12 issues (two years). No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted, however no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations. Best of Omaha®™ is a registered tradename of Omaha Magazine.

November 24, 2017January 7, 2018 Come celebrate one of the region’s most cherished traditions, Christmas at Union Station! The holidays are always a magical time at The Durham Museum. From the area’s largest indoor Christmas tree, holiday concerts and Santa himself, you won’t want to miss all of the festive family fun.

NOVEMBER

// DECEMBER • 2017 / 7 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

AT

PRESENTED BY

Visit DurhamMuseum.org for event details including times when Santa will visit the museum.

Between A LOOK AT FOUR LATEST OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS KATHERINE HARTNER - Editorial Intern Katherine’s latest literary obsessions include alternative history and vintage sci-fi. Taking inspiration from authors Scott Westerfeld and Cherie Priest, she is working on a genre-bending political thriller set in an urban, steampunk, fantasy world. When Katherine is not busy plundering Victorian culture for her latest contribution to National Novel Writing Month (Nov. 1-30), the University of Nebraska-Omaha senior journalism student is gardening, volunteering at Fontenelle Forest, designing costumes/fashion, testing new recipes, and contributing to UNO’s student newspaper, The Gateway.

ALEC MARSHALL MCMULLEN - Contributing Writer Alec is an Iowa-born freelance writer and editor who has published fiction and nonfiction writing since 2014. He holds undergraduate degrees in philosophy and Latin from the University of Iowa and a master’s in English (with a focus on composition and rhetoric) from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Alec taught English composition at UNO during his graduate studies, and he continues to work at college writing centers throughout the greater Omaha area. He has a passion for education and is a staunch advocate for mental health. Some of his favorite things include cats, comic books, and video games.

THOMAS SANCHEZ, PH.D. - Contributing Writer Thomas is an associate professor in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology and a faculty member with the Office of Latino and Latin American Studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. The professor conducts research on ethnic identity formation and the incorporation of Latino immigrants to new destinations, such as Schuyler, Nebraska. His main teaching interests include Chicano and Latino studies, sociological theory, and race and ethnic relations—but he really just loves engaging students and teaching them how to learn. He says, “I have had numerous role models in my life who have instilled in me a love of learning, and I simply want to give that gift to others.”

LIZ STEVENS - Editorial Intern A bookworm and writer at heart, Liz studies journalism and media communication at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where she fell in love with the storytelling process. To her, nothing is more exciting than meeting new people and having the opportunity to tell their stories. Whether writing or arranging flowers at her part-time job, Liz is always looking for new ways unleash her creative energy. When she isn’t studying, she can easily be found relaxing at local coffee shops, working on photography, or playing with her schnauzer, Buddy. In the future, she hopes to combine her creativity and writing skills to make a difference in her community.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 8 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Performances that

MOVE you!

Spectrum Dance Theater: A Rap on Race

Jessica Lang Dance

SUBSCRIBE for as low as $21 per show!

Spectrum Dance Theater: A Rap on Race January 9, 2018 | 7:30 PM Orpheum Theater | Slosburg Hall

Che Malambo March 22, 2018 | 7:30 PM Orpheum Theater | Slosburg Hall

Jessica Lang Dance May 10, 2018 | 7:30 PM Orpheum Theater | Slosburg Hall

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

OmahaPerformingArts.org/SeasonTickets | 402.345.0606

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C A L E N D A R 8

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BRIDGES: SHARING OUR PAST TO ENRICH THE FUTURE

Nov. 24-Jan. 7 at The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. This exhibit is the outcome of a photo call asking amateur and professional photographers across Nebraska’s 93 counties to capture historical sites and other photos that help to tell the story of Nebraska. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for children under 3 and members. 402-444-5071.

—durhammuseum.org

of

EVENTS

ART AND MUSEUM EXHIBITS SVENJA DEININGER

Through Jan. 7 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. This exhibit features the work of Austrian artist Svenja Deininger. Her abstract paintings are an intense and intimate exploration of color, form, and feeling. Admission: free. 402-342-3300.

—joslyn.org

TRAVELS WITH BRIAN FLOCA

Through Jan. 14 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. See Caldecott Medal-winner Brian Floca’s numerous illustrations from more than 20 popular children’s books including Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo, Lightship, The Racecar Alphabet, and Locomotive. Admission: free. 402-342-3300.

—joslyn.org

LET’S GO TO TOWN FOR BOYS TOWN! 100 YEARS OF SAVING CHILDREN, HEALING FAMILIES

FOREVER FOREST

LIGHT

LORI ELLIOTT-BARTLE, MARCIA JOFFE-BOUSKA, AND TOM QUEST GALLERY RECEPTION

MONARCHS: BROWN AND NATIVE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS IN THE PATH OF THE BUTTERFLY

Through April 15 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. The national tour of Forever Forest begins right here in Omaha. Exploring the realities of forests through play, families will learn about sustainability, selective harvesting, transportation needs, and everyday products that are made from trees. Admission: $12 adults and children (2+), $11 seniors (60+), free for members and children under 2. 402-342-6164.

—ocm.org

Nov. 3 at Michael Phipps Gallery, W. Dale Clark Library, 215 S. 15th St. This exhibit, entitled Rivers, Roads, Remains, is a collaborative effort from three local artists. They use old maps of Omaha as well as the design of the Bob Kerrey bridge to explore the relationship between nature and manufactured structures. 4-6 p.m. Admission: free. 402-444-4800.

—omahapubliclibrary.org

Jan.

21

Through Jan. 21 at The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Founded in 1917 in Omaha by an Irish immigrant, the Rev. Edward J. Flanagan, Boys Town today is a worldwide leader in child care. This exhibition will explore the organization’s history from its inauspicious beginnings in a rundown mansion at 25th and Dodge streets to now, when it provides assistance to over 2 million children and families each year. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for children under 3 and members. 402-444-5071.

—durhammuseum.org

Dec. 1, 2017-March 31, 2018, at K ANEKO, 1111 Jones St. This exhibition will reinvigorate mystique and wonder into this ancient energy through conceptual explorations and creative endeavors. Artists will employ glass, sculpture, and light itself to showcase the beauty that light evokes aesthetically and thematically. Admission: free. 402-341-3800.

—thekaneko.org

Dec. 7, 2017–Feb. 24, 2018, at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. This exhibit uses the yearly migration path of the monarch butterf ly as a metaphor for considering themes of place, home, immigration, and movement. The exhibition considers the aesthetic forms in which objects and images reveal their identities through mediums such as basket weaving, ceramics, dressmaking, plaster, and more. Admission: free. 402-341-7130.

—bemiscenter.org

CAMILLE HAWBAKER

Nov. 4-Dec. 29 at Fred Simon Gallery, 1004 Farnam St. This exhibit features the work from local up-and-coming artist Camille Hawbaker. Her work is an eclectic blend of printmaking, weaving, dyeing, and bookmaking. Admission: free. 402-595-2122.

—artscouncil.nebraska.gov

PUSHING BOUNDARIES: HDR AT 100

Nov. 24-Feb. 25 at The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. This exhibit is an homage to HDR founders and their innovations in engineering. Their work began in the Omaha area and has since developed a number of global projects that have impacted people around the world.

Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for children under 3 and members. 402-444-5071.

—durhammuseum.org

NOVEMBER

Performing Arts STUPID F@#%ING BIRD

Through Nov. 12 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. This “sort-of adaptation” of The Seagull by Anton Chekhov tells a story in which an aspiring young director battles against the art created by his mother’s generation. A young actress competes with an aging Hollywood star for the affections of a renowned novelist and everyone discovers just how complicated life, art, and success can be. Tickets: $24. 402-553-0800.

-ticketomaha.com

// DECEMBER • 2017 / 11 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

POINT A TO POINT B

CARMINA BURANA

TCHAIKOVSKY’S NUTCRACKER SUITE

TOSCA

CHRISTMAS WITH THE CRAWFORDS

PJ MASKS LIVE

FESTIVAL OF SOUTH AFRICAN DANCE

THE 39 STEPS

Through Nov. 12 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. Point A to Point B is a unique nonverbal show in which two coworkers working in a lab of fun found objects have to get a ball from “point A” to “point B” without using the same path twice. With a bit of theater magic, they fill their work day exploring the excitement of the journey. Show times vary. Best for preschool- to second-grade students. Tickets: $12. 402-345-4849.

—rosetheater.org

Nov. 3 and 5 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Love, lust, religion, and politics fatally collide in Giacomo Puccini’s beloved masterpiece. The lecherous chief of police, Scarpia, will stop at nothing to possess the beautiful singer, Floria Tosca, who must give the ultimate performance in a desperate attempt to save the man she loves. Performed in Italian with English supertitles. Tickets: $19-$99. 402-345-0606 —ticketomaha.com

Nov. 5 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The festival celebrates expressive dance styles created during the Apartheid era. Two companies featuring more than 20 dancers and musicians share their culture in high-energy performances. 8 p.m. Tickets: $15-$30. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

Nov. 12 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Hear “O Fortuna” the music that adds thrills to movie blockbusters as an epic chorus of 500 elite singers from regional high schools join with professional soloists and the Omaha Symphony to perform Carl Orff ’s choral masterwork. 2 p.m. Tickets: $19-$72. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

Nov. 16-Dec. 10 at SNAP! Productions, 3225 California St. The campy comedy deemed “the Christmas Carol of the 21st century” is back. This nostalgic tribute to one of America’s favorite dysfunctional families highlights beautiful, funny musical numbers.

Tickets: $20 adults, and $15 students, seniors (55+), TAG members, or military personnel. 402-341-2757.

—snapproductions.com

Nov. 19 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Along with this holiday favorite, the performance includes Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 and Holloway’s “Europa and the Bull.” Tchaikovsky’s suite from The Nutcracker brings to musical life the Sugar Plum Fairy and “The Waltz of the Flowers.” 2 p.m. Tickets: $33 general admission, $27 Joslyn members. 402-342-3300.

—joslyn.org

Nov. 20 at Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. Time to Be a Hero is a brand new live show, featuring the heroic trio from the cartoon series PJ Masks. Watch Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko as they try to save the day from their sneaky foes—Romeo, Night Ninja, and Luna Girl. 6-8 p.m. Tickets: $25-$45. 402-934-9966.

—ralstonarena.com

YESTERDAY AND TODAY

Nov. 24-Dec. 31 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Billy McGuigan and his brothers are back for the Nov. 24-Dec. 17 at The Bluebarn Theatre, 1106 10th consecutive year. This all-request Beatles tribute show S. 10th St. The original cast returns in this retro will have you dancing in the aisles and singing along to every award-winning f lashback. Mix a 1930s Hitchcock song. Showtimes vary. Tickets: $40. 402-553-0800. masterpiece with a juicy film noir and a dash of —omahaplayhouse.com Monty Python for an unforgettable evening of pure pleasure. Packed with nonstop laughs, Nov. more than 150 characters, an on-stage plane crash, and romance, The 39 Steps is a riotous MJ LIVE blend of virtuoso performances and wildly Nov. 25 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. inventive stagecraft that’s guaranteed to thrill.

This Michael Jackson tribute concert returns Times vary. Tickets: $30 adults, $25 students, to Omaha. The concert features all of Jackseniors (65+), or TAG members. 402-345-1576. son’s biggest hits, including “Bad,” “Billie Jean,” —bluebarn.org and “Beat It,” performed by the MJ LIVE band and dancers. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $35-$150. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

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A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

Nov. 18 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. A Charlie Brown Christmas comes to life on stage featuring beloved characters and Vince Guaraldi’s famous score.

1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets: $20-$56. 402-553-0800.

—ticketomaha.com

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

VAN GOGH & ME

Nov. 3-12 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. This show is written by Omaha’s own Matthew Gutschick.

Based on actual events, the story follows painter Vincent van Gogh (creator of such iconic works as The Starry Night and Sunflowers) as he retreats to a French town and befriends a curious girl named Adeline. Appropriate for ages: 10+. Showtimes vary. Tickets: $20. 402-345-4849.

—rosetheater.org

Nov. 17-Dec. 23 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. It just isn’t Christmas without A Christmas Carol. Experience one of Omaha’s favorite holiday traditions as Ebenezer Scrooge takes on a life-changing journey filled with beautiful costumes, exquisite music, perfectly crafted sets, and special effects second to none. Showtimes vary. Tickets: $38 and up for adults, $25 and up for students with ID. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

Nov. 25-26 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Experience the first of the eight films as The Harry Potter Film Concert Series launches in Omaha.

John Williams’ score is performed live as the entire motion picture is projected on the big screen. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $19-$79. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

SHOPKINS LIVE! SHOP IT UP!

Nov. 27 at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. All of Shopville is in abuzz as preparations get underway for the annual “Funtastic Food and Fashion Fair.” But no event is complete without a few hiccups. The Shopkins and Shoppies need your help—the show must go on. 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $25-$100. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

CIRQUE MUSICA HOLIDAY PRESENTS BELIEVE

Nov. 30 at CenturyLink Center, 455 N. 10th St. Cirque Musica combines music, acrobatics, and beloved holiday music. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $35-$95. 402-341-1500 —centurylinkcenteromaha.com

DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID

Nov. 7-12 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Re-experience the classic Disney animated feature film as a live-action production, featuring favorite characters and songs. The show has been described by The Chicago Tribune as “the most innovative production of the season.”

Showtimes vary. Tickets: $35-$110. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE

THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL

Nov. 18 and 22 at Filmstreams, 1340 Mike Fahey St. The Exterminating Angel has its Met premiere this season, conducted by the composer, Thomas Adès. Showtimes: 11:55 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets: $24 general admission, $20 members of Opera Omaha, Met Opera, and Filmstreams, $10 students with ID. 402-933-0259.

—filmstreams.org

NOVEMBER

// DECEMBER • 2017 / 12 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

THE NUTCRACKER

Dec. 2-3 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. This family favorite features a uniquely breathtaking “Waltz of the Flowers” scene and includes a cast of 130 professional and student dancers, lavish sets, and more than 250 beautiful costumes. 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $27-$87. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

JOYFUL NOISE

Dec. 3 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Omaha’s Grammy-nominated Salem Baptist Church features the soaring voices of more than 70 members. The concert includes special guest artists, theatrical performances, and choreography. 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets: $15. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

THE HIP HOP NUTCRACKER

Dec. 9 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The Hip Hop Nutcracker reimagines the classic through explosive hip hop choreography. A dozen dancers, a DJ, and an electric violinist bring the traditional story to life in modern-day New York City. A holiday mash-up for the entire family, this performance is a contemporary reimagination of Tchaikovsky’s timeless music. 8 p.m. Tickets: $20-60. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

HOLIDAY AT HOGWARTS

Dec. 9, 14-16, and 21-23 at The Apollon, 1801 Vinton St. During this festive and immersive foray into the wizarding world attendees will be sorted into houses and then join professors Flitwick, Snape, Sprout, and McGonagall for a few final lessons. After class there will be a grand celebratory feast. 7 p.m. Tickets: $35 (includes dinner). 402-884-0135.

—apollonomaha.com

SYMPHONY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION 2017

Dec. 9-17 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Ernest Richardson and the Omaha Symphony celebrate the magic of Christmas with Broadway singers and tap-dancing Santas performing Christmas classics and contemporary favorites. Times vary. Tickets: $19-$79. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

WAITRESS

Dec. 12-17 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Waitress tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie maker, who uses her skills to try to start a new life far away from her loveless marriage and the small town where she grew up. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m.

Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $35-$100. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

JOHN WATERS CHRISTMAS SHOW

Dec. 16 at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Legendary f ilmmaker and raconteur John Waters (Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, A Dirty Shame) puts the X in Xmas with rapid-fire monologue, sharing his compulsive desire to give and receive perverted gifts, a religious fanaticism for Santa Claus, and an unhealthy love of true crime holiday horror stories. 8 p.m. Admission: $35 in advance, $40 day of show. 402-345-7569.

—theslowdown.com

NOVEMBER

// DECEMBER • 2017 / 13 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

CONCERTS R EAL ESTATE

Nov. 1 at Slowdow n, 729 N. 14t h St . Re a l E state’s four t h a lbum, In Mind , reta ins much of t heir mel lif luou s, yet melod ic, ind ie-rock sou nd. Fa ns w i l l note t hat fou nd ing g u it a rist Matt Monda nile ha s lef t, a nd t he ba nd ha s undergone some big lineup cha nges. 8 p.m. $20 in adva nc e, $23 d ay of show. 402-345 -7569.

—t heslowdown.com

JACK BROADBENT

MOGWAI

CHRIS STAPLETON

WHITNEY

THE DESLONDES

LINDSEY STIRLING

Nov. 16 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The English singer-songwriter was deemed “the new master of the slide guitar” by the Montreux Jazz Festival. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $25. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

Nov. 30 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. This Scottish post-rock band will be in Omaha one night only. 8 p.m. Tickets: $23 in advance, $26 day of show. 402-884-5353.

—wa it i ng room lou nge.c om

THE WR ECKS

Nov. 1 a t R e ve rb L ou n g e , 6121 M i l it a r y Ave . He av i ly i n f lu e nc e d by We e z e r, T he Pi x ie s, T he St roke s, a nd Va mpire Weekend, t h i s f i ve -pie c e e n s e mble f rom L o s A n g e le s i s k now n for c atc hy c hor u se s w it h biti ng ly hone st ly r ic s. 8 p.m. Tic ket s: $13 i n a dv a nc e , $15 d ay of s how. 4 02 - 88 4 -5707.

—reverblounge.com

BR EAK ING BENJA MIN UNPLUGGED

Nov. 2 at S okol Aud itoriu m, 223 4 S . 13t h St . Fou nded i n Pen n s ylva n ia i n 1999, t h i s ha rd-rock ba nd ha s since relea sed f ive stud io a lbu ms a nd a re current ly touring t he United States. Tickets: sold-out. 8 p.m. 402-346 -9802.

—facebook.com/sokolauditoriumandunderground

THE URGE W/ CLEVER AND MANDOWN

Nov. 4 at T he Wa it i ng Room, 6212 Maple St. Formed in 1987, The Urge spa ns mu ltiple genres a nd generations with their hard-rock a nd meta l music. Tickets: $25. 8 p.m. 402-884-5353.

—wa itingroomlounge.com

THE DRUMS

Nov. 7 at T he Wa it i ng Room, 6212 Maple St . Ind ie-pop d a rling T he Dr u ms is on tou r a g a i n to c e lebr ate a f ou r t h a lbu m, Ab y sm al Thoughts. T h i s one-m a n ba nd c on si sti ng of Joh n ny Pierc e del iver s a c atc hy sadsu r fer s ou nd . 8 p.m. $15. 4 02 - 88 4 -5353.

—wa itingroomlounge.com

Nov. 18 at CenturyLink Center, 455 N. 10th St. This Grammy-winning artist brings his “All American Road Show” to Omaha to celebrate the release of his latest album From A Room: Volume 1. 7 p.m. Tickets: $35.75-$70.75. 402-341-1500.

—centurylinkcenteromaha.com

Nov. 20 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. The Deslondes are coming to Omaha to promote their new album, Hurry Home. The band’s sophomore release departs from the country-folk sound of their first release into one of psychedelic soul, with a stronger emphasis on organ and electric guitar.

8 p.m. Tickets: $15. 402-884-5707.

—reverblounge.com

Nov.

COLD SPECKS

10

Nov. 10 a t R e ve rb L ou n g e , 6121 M i l it a r y Ave . Toronto -ba sed si nger- son g w r iter C old Sp e c k s ( L a d a n Hu s sei n) i s on tou r for t he rele a se of h e r l a t e s t a l b u m , F o o l ’ s P a r a d i s e. He r mu s ic h a s b e e n d e s c r ib e d a s do om-sou l. 9 p.m. $10. 4 02 - 88 4 -5707.

—reverblounge.com

HOLLY WOOD UNDEAD W/ BUTCHER BABIES AND DEMR ICK

Nov. 10 a t S ok ol A u d it or iu m , 2 2 3 4 S .

13t h St . On tou r promot i n g t hei r ne we s t a lbu m , FI V E , t his rap -rock ba nd w i l l be in Oma ha one night only. Tickets: $35 adva nce, $ 4 0 d ay of s how. 7 p.m . 4 02 -3 4 6 -98 02 .

—facebook.com/sokolauditoriumandunderground

NEW FOUND GLORY W/ THE ATAR IS

Nov. 15 at Sokol Auditorium, 2234 S. 13t h St. On tour celebrating “20 Years of Pop-Punk,” the ba nd founded in 1997 is promoting their newest a lbum, Makes Me Sick. Tickets: $24 adva nce, $27 d ay of show. 7:30 p.m. 4 02 -3 4 6 -9802 .

—facebook.com/sokolauditoriumandunderground

Dec. 1 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Indie-rock newbies Whitney are making waves with their debut album Light Upon The Lake. The band’s songs vary from somber love songs to get-up-anddance jams. 9 p.m. Tickets: $15. 402-884-5353.

—wa it i ng room lou nge.c om

Dec. 4 at Orpheum Theater, 409. S. 16th St. Lindsey Stirling dreams big. Since the release of her 2012 self-titled debut, the electronic music impresario (also a classically trained violinist, dancer, and artist) has become one of the 21st century’s most innovative stars by clinging to her groundbreaking vision of cinematic, violin-driven, electronic music. 8 p.m. Tickets: $39.50-$269. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

GRIEVES

Nov. 20 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Better know by his stage name, Grieves just released his latest album, Running Wild. Tickets: $14 in advance, $16 day of show. 8 p.m. 402-884-5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

THE ENGLISH BEAT

Nov. 24 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Founded back in 1979 in Birmingham, England, The English Beat continues with vocalist/guitarist Dave Wakeling keeping the beat going after almost 30 years. Tickets: $25. 9 p.m. 402-884-5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

KATY PERRY

Nov. 28 at CenturyLink Center, 455 N. 10th St. One of the biggest stars of the Twenty-tweens comes to Omaha on tour to celebrate her fifth studio album, Witness. 7 p.m. Tickets: $30.50-$135.50. 402-341-1500.

—centurylinkcenteromaha.com

NOVEMBER

STRAIGHT NO CHASER

Dec. 6 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Straight No Chaser is the captivating sound of nine voices coming together to make extraordinary music. Formed while attending Indiana University, the group has emerged as a phenomenon with a massive fan base and numerous TV appearances. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $29-$74. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

// DECEMBER • 2017 / 14 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

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NOVEMBER

// DECEMBER • 2017 / 15 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

AQUEOUS

Dec. 6 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. This groove-rock band has built a name for themselves touring and performing high-profile sets at major festivals. Aqueous mixes original songs like “Kitty Chaser” with covers of songs like Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy.”

9 p.m. Tickets: $10 in advance. 402-884-5707.

—reverblounge.com

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS Interactive Beatles Experience Featuring Billy McGuigan ©2007

By Rave On Productions

Dec. 22-23 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Mannheim Steamroller Christmas has been America’s favorite holiday tradition for the past 30 years. Grammy-award-winner Chip Davis has created a show that features the beloved Christmas music along with dazzling multimedia effects performed in an intimate setting. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $38.25-$78.25. 402-345-0606.

—ticketomaha.com

STRING THEORY: NYE 2018

Dec. 31 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. String Theory will be on hand to ring in the new year with performances from other local bands (TBA). 9 p.m. $7 in advance, $10 day of show. 402-884-5707.

—reverblounge.com

Nov. 17 – Dec. 23, 2017 sponsor:

orchestra sponsor:

Family & More

Nov. 24 – Dec. 31, 2017 media sponsor:

show sponsor:

REINERT-ALUMNI LIBRARY WWI LECTURE SERIES

medoa sponsor:

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Marks of

GENIUS

UNO NATIVE FILM FESTIVAL

100 EXTRAORDINARY DRAWINGS from the Minneapolis Institute of Art

Through January 7, 2018

Drawings and watercolors dating from the Renaissance to the present day reveal the distinct hand and inspired touch of the most important artists from the past six centuries.

Examples from Guercino, Tiepolo, Delacroix, Degas, Kollwitz, Nolde, Hopper, and Ruscha, among others, provide extraordinary views into the creative process. Organized by the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Contributing Sponsors:

Nov. 2 i n He id e r H a l l a t C r e i g ht on Un iv e r s i t y, 2 5 0 0 C a l i f o r n i a P l a c e . Tw o Nebra sk a aut hors d i sc u s s t hei r book s related to e vent s du r i n g W W I i n Nebr a sk a . K a ren G e t t e r t Sho e m a k e r, aut hor of T h e Me a n in g of Na m e s , a nd Te d W he e ler, aut hor of K in g s of B r ok e n Thin g s, w i l l re a d f rom a nd d i s c u s s t hei r b o ok s . 7 p.m . 4 02 -2 8 0 - 4756 .

— hu ma n it ie snebra sk a .org

Additional support provided by

IMAGE: Guercino (Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (Italian, Bologna, 1591–1666), Hercules, 1641–1642, pen and brown ink, 7 1/4 x 6 3/4 in., Minneapolis Institute of Art General Museum admission is free. Marks of Genius is a ticketed exhibition. Tickets are FREE for Joslyn members. $10 for general public adults; $5 for college students with valid ID (tickets for those with a UNMC student ID are free); youth ages 17 and younger are free.

Special Thursday pricing (4-8 pm): $5 for general public adults.

Nov. 4-5 at Roskens Hall, 6005 University Drive North.

T he f i f t h a n nu a l U NO Nat ive Fi l m Fe s t iv a l h i g h l i g ht s f i l m s b y Na t i v e A m e r i c a n d i rec tor s, produc er s, a nd ac tor s. A mong t he f i l m s to be scre ene d i s R umbl e: The In d ian s Who R ocke d The Worl d , a ne w doc u ment a r y a b out Nat i ve A me r ic a n s i n p opu l a r mu sic h i s t o r y. S c r e e n i n g t i m e s T B D. A d m i s sion: f ree. 4 02 -554 -2248.

— u n om a h a .e d u /s t u d e nt-l i f e / Nov. inclu sion /mu lt icu lt u ra l-a f fa irs

2018 US OLYMPIC CURLING TRIALS

11

Nov. 11-18 a t B a x t e r A r e n a , 2425 S. 67th St. Oma ha will host the Olympic Curling Tria ls for the f irst time. Athletes will compete for the chance to attend the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Tickets: $70 -$10 0 for a ll sessions, $30 -$45 for t he cha mpionships on ly. 402-554 - 620 0.

—ba xterarena.com

TEEN POETRY WORKSHOP, FEATURING LOUDER THAN A BOMB ARTISTS

Nov. 11 at t he S out h Oma ha L ibr a r y, 2 8 0 8 Q St . T he se work shops for bot h nov ic e a nd se a soned sla m poet s w i l l be held by Nebra sk a Wr iter s C ol le c t ive ’s L ouder T h a n A B omb c o a c he s a nd ot her e x p er t s . T he e ve nt w i l l bu i ld up to t he Teen Poet r y Ba sh i n Dec ember. 1:30 p.m. Ad mission: f ree. 402- 4 4 4 - 4850.

— oma hapubl icl ibra r y.org

2200 Dodge St. | Omaha, NE | (402) 342-3300 | www.joslyn.org NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 16 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

JUNKTOBERFEST HOLIDAY EDITION

N o v. 18 -19 a t S o u t h r o a d s M a l l , 10 01 F o r t C r o ok R o a d Nor t h , B e l le v u e . T h i s v i nt a g e a nd a r t i s a n m a rk e t f e at u re s c ol le c t ible s , g i f t s , h a ndm a d e or r e pu r p o s e d f u r n it u r e , a nd home d é c or.

9 a . m .-5 p. m . S a t u r d a y, 10 a . m .- 4 p. m . S u nd a y.

A d m i s s i o n : $5 f o r b o t h d a y s . 4 0 2 - 6 69 - 69 75.

— f a c e b o o k .c om /ju n k t o b e r f e s t

HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL NRG ENERGY ICE RINK

Nov. 21-Feb. 14 at 10th St. and Capitol Ave. Portion of proceeds will go toward the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign which supports the Food Bank for the Heartland. Bring the whole family and create memories while supporting the community this holiday season.

Admission: $8 (includes skate rental). 402-341-3700.

—holidaylightsfestival.com

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THANKSGIVING LIGHTING CEREMONY AND MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT CONCERT

Nov. 23 at Gene Leahy Mall, 14th and Farnam streets. This community-wide celebration held in Gene Leahy Mall culminates with the illumination of the 2017 holiday lights. The lighting display will blanket the Mall and surrounding area with more than 1 million white lights. Following the ceremony, head over to the Holland Center for Making Spirits Bright Holiday with Drew Duncan and the Nebraska Wind Symphony. 6 p.m. lighting ceremony, 7 p.m. concert. Admission: free. 402-345-5401.

—holidaylightsfestival.org

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Why Helix is Better Most machines work front-to-back.

Why Helix Istradition Better The Helix turns on its side— Why Helix Is Better literally.

Withwork lateral (or side-to-side) Most machines front-to-

HOLIDAY POINSETTIA SHOW

Nov. 24-Ja n. 4 at Lauritzen Ga rdens, 100 Ba ncrof t St. This f lora l display features a 20 -footta ll poinsettia tree, model trains, and other nosta lgic decorations. On select dates (Nov. 24-25; Dec. 2, 3, 9, 10, 15-23, and 26 -30; and Jan. 2-3) Lauritzen Gardens will be open until 8 p.m. and the gardens will be enha nced with lights in the evening. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Ad mission: $10 adu lts, $5 ch i ld ren (6 -12), f ree to L au rit z en g a rden members a nd children under 6. 402-346 - 4002.

—lauritzengardens.org

movement, you usetradition more muscles, which MostThe machines work front-toback.

Helix turns on means you burn more fat than during back.

The Helix turnsWith tradition its side— literally. lateralon a traditional workout—in the same its side-to-side) side— literally.

With lateral ( or movement, you amount of time. ( or side-to-side) movement, you use more muscles, which means use which means youmore burn muscles, more fat than during a THANK YOU you burn more fat than during a traditional workout– in the same OMAHA! traditional workout– in the same amount of time. amount of time.

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NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 17

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

CHRISTMAS AT UNION STATION’S TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

Nov. 24 at T he Du rha m Mu seu m, 801 S .

10 t h St . K ick of f t he holid ay sea son w it h cook ie decorat ing a nd holid ay cra f t s wh i le listening to live music. Sa nta Claus w ill be on ha nd to help turn on t he lights on Omaha’s largest Christmas tree. 4-8 p.m., with the tree lighting at 7 p.m. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (60+), $7 children (3 -12), free for children under 3 and members. 402- 444-5071.

— durhammuseum.org

Four Old Market

LIGHTS OF AKSARBEN

Unique holiday décor, ornaments, collectibles and gifts for every season.

Chocolates and fudge made in our own kitchen, plus many other sweet temptations.

oTannenbaum.com • 402-345-9627

OldMarketCandy.com • 402-344-8846

Nov. 24 a nd Dec. 1, 8, 15 at A k sa rben Village, 67th a nd Center streets. Enjoy complimenta r y cof fee, hot cocoa, a nd cook ies, a nd vie w a l l of t he lig ht s t hroug hout t he pa rk .

Event s include mu sic, fac e pa int ing , horse a nd ca rriage rides, a nd visits from Sa nta a nd Mrs. Claus. Countdown to the lighting begins at 6 p.m. A d m i s sion: f ree. 4 02 - 496 -1616.

— a ksarbenvillage.com

ETHNIC HOLIDAY FESTIVAL

Dec. 1 at The Durha m Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Learn how the world celebrates this joy ful time of year. More than 20 loca l cultura l organizations display cra f ts a nd traditiona l dress, while musicians and dancers perform throughout the evening. 5-9 p.m. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (60+), $7 children (3 -12), free for children under 3 and members. 402- 444-5071.

— durhammuseum.org

WIZARD’S YULE BALL 2017

Dec. 2 at Oma ha Comfort Inn & Suites Cent ra l, 70 07 Grover St. A wiza rding event for the whole fa mily. Dress up a s a Ha rr y Potter cha rac ter a nd enjoy mu sic, food, d a ncing , prizes, live owls, a nd more. 6 p.m. Tickets: $15 adults, $5 children (4-10). 402-934- 4900.

—britishfest.com

Travel essentials plus downtown’s largest selection of souvenirs and Nebraska-made gifts.

Authentic Italian desserts, coffee, and FlavorBurst TM soft serve ice cream.

OldMarketSundries.com • 402-345-7646

DolciOldMarket.com • 402-345-8198

All located at 10th & Howard

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 18 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

SEVEN THINGS I’VE LEARNED: AN EVENING WITH IRA GLASS

Dec. 2 at Holla nd Per forming A r t s Center, 1200 Dougla s St. Creator, producer, and host of NPR’s This A merica n Life, Ira Gla ss ta lk s about his life and the stories he’s collected over almost 40 years of working for NPR . During his presentation, Glass will mix stories live onstage and help his audience better follow his creative process. 8 p.m. Tickets: $20-$48. 402-345-0606.

—ticketoma ha.com

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

HOLIDAY MARKET

De c . 2 -3 at A k sa rben V i l la g e , 67t h a nd Center streets. This German-inspired outdoor ma rket features more t ha n 55 loca l a rtisa ns, who will of fer sea sona l goods a nd activities.

Santa will come to the market on Sunday from 2- 4 p.m. Plea se leave pet s at home du ring t h i s e vent. 10 a .m.-5 p.m. 4 02 -3 45 -54 01.

— oma hafarmersmarket.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

Dec. 31 at Gene Leahy Mall, 14th and Farnam streets. One of Omaha’s favorite New Year’s traditions, the f ireworks are choreographed to open on cue to a musical score developed specif ically for this event. Spectators are encouraged to tune in to Star 104.5 for the full effect. 7 p.m. Admission: free. 402-345-5401.

—holidaylightsfestival.org

HOLIDAY LIGHTS FUN RUN

Dec. 10 in downtown Omaha. View Dec. the holiday lights in this four-mile fun run. The event starts at 10th and Harney streets, and participants are encouraged to wear jingle bells and other festive clothing. Hot cocoa and cookies will be served after the run.

A ll paces welcome. 6 p.m. Admission: free.

—omaharun.org

10

Event times and details may change.

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

PENGUINS AND PANCAKES

Dec. 26-30 at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, 3701 S. 10th St. Eat breakfast with some lovable “tuxedo-clad” animals during this annual event, which includes pancakes from The Pancake Man, crafts, and visits from the African penguins.

The cost includes a breakfast, a plush penguin toy, and admission to the zoo. Reservations required.

9 a.m. Admission: $25 for adults, $20 for children (ages 3-11), and free to children 2 and under.

Members receive a $5 discount. 402-733-8401.

—omahazoo.com

NOON YEAR’S EVE

Dec. 30 at The Durha m Museum, 801 S. 10th St. This Noon Year’s part y includes live music, specia l craf ts, and activities, culminating in a celebrator y bubble wrap stomp and balloon drop at noon in the Suzanne and Wa lter Scott Great Ha ll. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3 -12), free for children under 3 and members. 402- 444-5071.

— durhammuseum.org

Realize Recognize Respond Get education on sex trafficking by visiting

NOON YEAR’S EVE

Dec. 31 at Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, 3701 S. 10th St. Join the zoo animals at this event, which includes activities, entertainment, and a beach ball drop at noon. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission: $14.95 adults (ages 12 and over), $9.95 children (ages 3-11), and free to children (2 and under). $1 discount to seniors (65+), members of the military, and children of military members. 402-733-8401.

—omahazoo.com

our website. Then, start a conversation about this very real threat in your own backyard. Easy conversation? No. One that must be had? Yes.

NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH

Dec. 30 at Oma ha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Families can ring in the new year with kid-friendly activities at Oma ha Children’s Museum. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tickets will be available for purchase closer to the event. 402-342- 6164.

— ocm.org

Learn More NoTrafficking.org

Get Help National Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 19 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // CINEMA STORY BY ALEC MCMULLEN // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Gretchen Carroll at UNO Native Film Festival and Intertribal Beats RETCHEN CARROLL HAS helped plan

the UNO Native Film Festival since the very beginning. Her input has only increased with the festival entering its fifth year showcasing Native American films for local Omaha audiences.

“I’m comfortable dealing with the talent and the budget,” Carroll says. “I handle a lot of the marketing, and I’ve developed great relationships with the talent we bring in.”

Actors who made appearances have included Graham Greene (Oscar-nominated for his supporting role in Dances With Wolves) and Gary Farmer (who played the absent father in Smoke Signals, the acclaimed indie film based on Sherman Alexie’s award-winning book, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven).

Carroll, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, was born in Boston and moved to Omaha in 1989.

Along with her film festival involvement, she is also a radio producer and DJ who goes by the on-air name “Lady G.” She never set out to become a radio personality. Although she had spoken on some local podcasts, her first radio airtime came about one year ago. As president of UNO’s Intertribal Student Council, she went on 89.3 KZUM’s The Drum—a two-hour show featuring traditional Native music—to promote an upcoming powwow. She was a natural radio personality, and before she knew it, she was filling in as co-host. A month later, she was running the show.

The Drum has since evolved into Intertribal Beats, a three-hour program airing on 89.3 KZUM on Sunday nights from 7-10 p.m. (broadcast from the station in Lincoln) and hosted by Carroll and John “Johnny G” Garnica.

“We still have a lot of traditional Native music,” Carroll explains, “but now we do all genres of music by Native artists.” And the show is about more than just music: “I wanted to make a connection between Omaha and Lincoln Native communities,” she continues. “So I do a lot of announcements for Native community events going on in both Omaha and Lincoln.”

“It’s all about taking what I know and turning around and sharing that with others,” she says.

Carroll is also a poet and was recently invited to share her poetry at the Reconnecting Struggles Workshop at the Attenborough Arts Centre in Leicester, England. She says her poetry started coming out when she sobered up almost four years ago: “I’m trying to break stereotypes within in my culture, too, so I’m really proud that my grandchildren will not see me ever take a drink, and they see that other option.”

“I WANTED TO MAKE A CONNEC TION BETWEEN OMAHA AND LINCOLN NATIVE COMMUNITIES, SO I DO A LOT OF ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR NATIVE COMMUNITY EVENTS GOING ON IN BOTH OMAHA AND LINCOLN.” She doesn’t consider herself an activist, but Carroll’s work goes beyond radio production. “When Standing Rock happened [with protesters camping in opposition to the Dakota Access pipeline], I just got this calling that I needed to go up there,” she says. “I would come back and update everybody on Standing Rock issues, spread the word about all the things that are happening, and connect people with other people to bring supplies up.”

Carroll is currently enrolled at UNO and works as a staff assistant in the Native American studies department. She decided to return to school during an honoring ceremony for graduates of the program. “I saw non-Natives knowing and talking about my history, and I had no clue,” she explains.

“So I was like, I need to go to school.” Since then, she’s made an effort to teach others about Native issues through her work both on and off the radio.

Carroll encourages Native and non-Native readers to attend events like the UNO Native American Film Festival on Nov. 4-5 and the Wamblii Sapa Memorial Pow Wow in the spring. “Just get involved with those things, because if you know those things are happening, then you start asking other questions, and you get to meet other Native people in the community, and then you start learning some stuff—that we’re still here.”

Visit unomaha.edu/student-life/inclusion/ multicultural-affairs/native-american-support.php for more information about Native American cultural programs at UNO (including the UNO Native Film Festival and Wamblii Sapa Memorial Pow Wow).

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 20 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

behind the scenes

Scan the page with the LayAR app to hear Shanketta perform.

OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // POETRY

STORY BY J.D. AVANT // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

NATIONAL POETRY SLAM

Shanketta DEBUT

Newsom’s NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 23 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // POETRY

After securing her spot on the national team, Newsom set about preparing for the competition, practicing daily in front of a mirror and a glass of fine wine.

SHANKETTA NEWSOM DESCRIBES

the National Poetry Slam, she speaks of intense bouts in front of a panel of judges and a lively crowd.

In my mind, her passionate description conveys a scene akin to a gritty rap-battle competition, set in some abandoned building full of poets with stained sweaters reeking of their mom’s spaghetti (a la Eminem).

“It is nothing like that at all,” Newsom replies after hearing my absurd description. “The entire experience was beautiful, and the atmosphere was positive…I’d have to say that the poetry slam was one of the best experiences I’ve had in a long time!”

There goes my 8 Mile analogy.

Newsom is relatively new to the local spoken-word scene, a transplant with hometown roots in Sardis, Mississippi. Recruited by Union Pacific Railroad from alma mater Jackson State University in 2011, she eventually relocated to Omaha from Portland, Oregon, in 2014 to continue her career in marketing and sales.

She found herself drawn to local poetry showcases such as Verbal Gumbo at the Omaha Rockets Kanteen.

Eventually, a friend’s encouragement coerced her to take the stage. She was hesitant at first, but the receptive audience inspired the performer within her.

As former captain of the Prancing J-Settes at Jackson State (the dance team that inspired Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” choreography), Newsom knows how to work a crowd.

“It was an awesome feeling and kind of therapeutic,” Newsom says, reminiscing on her first public foray into spoken-word poetry. “The local community is full of support, and I fell in love with the whole scene. I found myself coming back every month!”

Zedeka Poindexter is an established poet who holds the honor of being the first woman crowned Omaha “city champion” at the National Poetry Slam. As a slam master and organizer, she insists that Newsom’s voice is greatly needed for Omaha’s slam poetry team.

“Shanketta did incredibly well from the very beginning,” Poindexter says. “She was both a consistent performer and placed highly, so there was no question that she would make the team in April.”

She decided to use her most popular poems for the slam—a personal composition titled “This is Why” and a poem about life’s trials and tribulations titled “The Cycle.”

Sozos Coffee Shop in the Old Market would serve as her team’s preferred meeting place, where they could rent out space and let their creativity f low in the agreeable atmosphere.

The National Poetry Slam took place over the course of five days in early August, a beautiful time to be in Denver, Colorado. In addition to many poetry-inspired activities and workshops, each night’s competition took place at different venues throughout the city, providing participants a chance to soak up the city’s culture.

“It didn’t feel like a competition,” Newsom explains.

“It was like performing in front of family, with everyone snapping and clapping. Even our competition showed us support.”

Newsom’s team would score a respectable second and fourth place in their preliminary bouts. Ultimately, they did not qualify for the semi-finals.

“We got a great crowd reaction,” she says. “There were a lot of good teams. It made me look at myself and realize that I’m good, but there is lots of room for improvement.”

With this year’s National Poetry Slam in the books, Newsom is excited to get ready for next year’s competition.

In the meantime, she auditioned for American Idol when the show stopped through Omaha in August.

“Auditioning was a childhood dream, and I will definitely try out again,” Newsom says.

Positive response from judges inspired her participation in the #BodakYellowChallenge online. Her freestyle rap video for the challenge went viral, with more than 270,000 views and counting.

Between now and the next National Poetry Slam, she plans to continue performing at local spoken word showcases, running her “I Heartbeat Dance, LLC” majorette camp (that she started in January 2017), and working with the Nebraska Writers Collective to provide after-school creative writing programs for high school students.

Visit newriters.org for more information about the Nebraska Writers Collective. Learn more about local spoken-word poetry events by following @VerbalGumbo on Facebook and Twitter.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 24 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

It was an awesome feeling and kind of therapeutic,�

Newsom says, reminiscing on her first public foray into spoken-word poetry. “The local community is full of support, and I fell in love with the whole scene. I found myself coming back every month!

OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // MUSIC

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 26 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Behaving Badly Never Sounded So Good STORY BY SEAN ROBINSON // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 27 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // MUSIC

Ozzy Osbourne bites heads oFf bats.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers perform in the buff. Bloodcow gets kicked out of small, sleepy towns.

Although they’re a local act, this five-member band isn’t afraid to rock out and party like the pros. So much so, they were once escorted by police out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin—and forbidden to ever return.

“We went to a motel after a show, partied all night like usual, but this time things got real weird real quick,” says vocalist Matt Owen. “By 6 a.m., we had police at our door.”

But is a rock band even a rock band if they haven’t been kicked out of at least one town? Hijinks and antics aside, this group has worked for their right to a good time.

Over the course of Bloodcow’s 17-year history, the band has won three Omaha Arts and Entertainment Awards and released four full-length albums.

“One thing that has always rang true with us is that we were never looking to make a career out of music,” Owen says. “We were more into the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle than making money.”

Flash back to 2000, a time when metal rock began to teeter away from focusing on fun and music toward somber theatrics. Bloodcow formed as the antithesis of acts like Slipknot and Korn, a figurative middle finger intended to take the genre back to the partying ways of yesteryear. The original members had one goal: to make people uncomfortable. Performing live donning just underwear and writing music that opposed the Bush administration followed.

“What drew me to the band was their raw energy during live shows,” Collins says. “I was jealous of that intensity and attitude. When they asked if I wanted to be a part of it, I couldn’t say no.”

With the shuff le of members, the band’s sound has developed into “a jambalaya of pop, rock, and [psychedelic] music,” according to Lamb. The production value of each album has increased in quality, and their latest LP—Crystals & Lasers, released in 2015—acts as a thematic cocktail of social satire and sci-fi mixed with a healthy dose of humor.

Due to their unique sound and even more unique subject matter, Bloodcow has found both local and regional success touring. Performing at venues such as The Waiting Room and Slowdown has built their credibility in the metro, while tours across America have resulted in firework fights in Alabama, countless moonshine shots consumed, and many nights sleeping in their van or strangers’ homes.

“Anytime we’re together, it’s a blast,” Bonar says. “So is performing live and seeing the reactions from firsttime listeners.”

While the band is enjoying a hiatus from active gigging, they still play occasional shows around town, and they continue getting together for regular jam sessions—if for no other reason than to party like the rock stars they are.

“Success for us is all about being able to play kick-ass music while remaining the closest of friends,” McDowell says.

Visit bloodcow.com for more information.

While Owen and guitarist Josh Lamb are the only original members left, all current musicians have a shared history of attending Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs. Their current lineup comprises Owen, Lamb, guitarist J.J. Bonar, bassist Josh McDowell, and drummer David Collins.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 28 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Bloodcow formed as the antithesis of acts like Slipknot and Korn, a figurative middle finger intended to take the genre back to the partying ways of yesteryear. The original members had one goal: to make people uncomfortable.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 29 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | FEATURE STORY BY THOMAS SANCHEZ, PH.D. // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

In The Heartland

Asterisks (*) designate pseudonyms. Portrait subjects photographed for this article were approached by Omaha Magazine independently from the research conducted by professor Thomas Sanchez. These current, former, and would-be DACA recipients consider Omaha to be their home; they volunteered to share their stories and thoughts about the termination of DACA. NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 34 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

“

M Y BLOOD IS ME X ICA N, BU T MY HE A R T IS A MERICA N.

”

-Lourdes*

Scan this page with the LayAR app to watch interviews with Omaha “dreamers.”

“I actually had made a deal with my mom and said, ‘Well, we’re only going to go there for six months,’ because I didn’t want to come. I was so little. I really didn’t understand the situation or why she was making that decision. So, she agreed to six months, and now it’s going to be 18 years.”

—Luisa Trujillo Estrada, 28, CHI Health Human Resources staffer (Originally from Mexico, Trujillo is a current DACA recipient engaged to a U.S. citizen.)

D

OMAHA MAGAZINE | FEATURE

RIVING THROUGH RURAL Nebraska,

I noticed the battery gauge dropping slowly toward zero. Soon after turning from Highway 30 onto Highway 15, the engine stopped. I pulled to the side of the road. Thinking about my options, I looked in the rearview mirror and saw a sign that read “Batteries for Sale.” I scurried the quarter mile to the farmhouse and knocked on the door. An elderly gentleman answered, and we quickly proceeded to a barn filled with hay. There was an array of car batteries arranged on shelves; I chose the cheapest.

We got into his pickup, drove to my car, and installed the battery. Then I drove back to the farmhouse to pay.

When he looked at my check, he said, “Sanchez, you speak pretty good English.” I thought to myself, “Here we go,” but answered calmly, “I better speak pretty good English, it’s the only language I speak” (which was not completely true. I grew up speaking only English and, like many third-generation U.S. citizens, learned Spanish in college). He replied, “No, I know you speak good English, but where are you from?” I answered, “I am from Scottsbluff, way out in the western part of the state.”

He said, “No, but where were you born?” I said, “I was born in Scottsbluff.” He persisted, “But where was your father born?” I replied, “My father was born in Texas.”

He followed up with, “Where was his father born?” and I answered, “My grandfather was from Mexico.” He did not say anything but he gave me a sigh of satisfaction as if to say, “See, I knew you were from somewhere else.”

I am a light-skinned Mexican-American with a Ph.D. who speaks English with no hint of a Spanish accent. I was born and raised in the middle of the United States. I am also a tenured associate professor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. I am the quintessential “American,” but personal experiences have demonstrated to me that many in the United States think Latinos are qualitatively different from them—that Latinos are “from somewhere else.” I do not have an immigrant experience, and I do not pretend to understand the immigrant identity. But my light skin color coupled with my upbringing in the Mexican barrio of southeast Scottsbluff has always made me fascinated with issues of ethnic and cultural identity, issues I teach about in all my classes (especially “Race and Ethnicity” for the Sociology department and others in Latino Studies).

My personal and professional interest in identity made me wonder: how do young people, who are “American” in every aspect except legal, negotiate and deal with their identity? How do they make sense of their lives when their personal history and the vast majority of their experiences have taken place in and around Omaha, Nebraska, yet the governmental authorities and the media present them as foreigners?

Throughout my career, most of my research has been conducted with immigrant communities in Nebraska. But my poor Spanish always made it difficult to conduct interviews (much of the consternation was mine, being embarrassed at how bad my Spanish is at times). Interviewing recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (a federal program created by President Barack Obama’s executive memorandum in 2012) offered relief from my occasional language hiccups.

Nebraska has about 3,000 recipients, and there are approximately 800,000 nationwide.

“When people [say], “Oh, you know they’re here just leaching and taking U.S. citizens’ benefits,” I just want to tell them to please do their research, because it’s nothing like that. We’re just here working hard, and all we’re asking for is an opportunity to continue to be blessed in the greatest country in the world.”

—Armando Becerril, 24, Audit associate at KPMG (Becerril is originally from Mexico.)

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 36 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

The catalyst for my DACA research was an announce- Each of the 10 interviewees articulated a ment at a faculty meeting of the Office of Latino and Latin profound love and appreciation for what the American Studies at UNO; United States and Omaha have allowed them private scholarship money was being designated for DACA to do, the opportunities that the education recipients. I immediately system has allowed them to pursue. thought that I could continue my research on “immigrants” without worrying about my inability to comOf the 10 DACA recipients interviewed, many of municate well because most DACA recipients them were politically active and know that being are in college (71.5 percent of them), and to get prohibited from voting does not take away their coninto college one must speak, read, and write stitutional rights to engage in political activities. A English. A new research avenue was born. couple of them were timid individuals and specifically stated that agreeing to be interviewed was a The following semester, I was readying my political act. One admitted to being shy, saying that application for a faculty development fellowtheir condition of being in the U.S. without authoship (formerly referred to as a sabbatical) from rization made them eschew attention and want to the College of Arts and Sciences. A colleague blend in with others around them. suggested that I get a letter of support from potential interview subjects. It was late on a In many ways, the experiences of the Nebraska Friday afternoon, but I called the Heartland DACA recipients I interviewed are similar to what Workers Center and was referred to the Young academic and other research has revealed to be Nebraskans in Action (previously known as the experiences nationwide.

Dreamers Project Coalition). The next week I met with two leaders of the group. Each agreed to write a letter of support to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

My DACA interviews began with three in December 2015. I conducted seven more interviews in January 2017 after receiving the fellowship. All of my interview subjects were born in Latin America: seven in Mexico, two in Guatemala, and one in El Salvador. At the time of their interviews, the ages of these DACA recipients ranged from 19 to 26. Although not born in Omaha, they were all raised here or in surrounding areas. Nearly all speak English perfectly (without any trace of accent). At the time of the interviews, nine were enrolled in college and receiving above-average marks in their coursework. One had recently graduated.

None of them have criminal records.

The following notes and excerpts from my 2015 and 2017 interviews provide a glimpse at the reality of DACA recipients’ existence in Nebraska using their own stories, their own words.

Each of the 10 interviewees articulated a profound love and appreciation for what the United States and Omaha have allowed them to do, the opportunities that the education system has allowed them to pursue.

Most of them expressed the view that— if forced to leave their adopted city and country—they are not afraid of returning to their country of birth or to take their talents elsewhere in the world.

“There are a lot of customs in Colombia that I am no longer familiar with. I am an Omahan. I am part of the city, and I want to see it succeed…If I were to go back to Colombia and start my life over there, I don’t even know where to begin.”

—Daniela Rojas, 24, Admissions counselor at College of Saint Mary (Rojas applied for DACA and was rejected due to her U.S. arrival date. She has lived in Omaha for 10 years and is now a legal resident.)

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 37 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | FEATURE

Lourdes* came to Omaha when she was 6 years old. Now a community organizer in her mid-20s, she had this to say when asked which country she belongs to: “I tell people that my blood is Mexican, but my They have internalized the heart is American, because the two work Nebraskan and Midwestern with each other and they would not be able to exist without one another. So, culture, especially in terms of that’s the best way that I can answer that question, just because, like I work ethic. Not only driven by said, I was raised in the U.S., with the work ethic of those around U.S. principles and morals, but my culture is Mexicana and they work them, they feel obligated to prove together to create who I am.”

themselves to society at large.

All 10 of my DACA sources speak English and Spanish. Each speaks English well, and only one did not speak Spanish well. Most of them speak Spanish with parents and elder family members but English with others, including younger siblings. Only one of the sources claimed their parents could speak English well.

They have internalized the Nebraskan and Midwestern culture, especially in terms of work ethic. Not only driven by the work ethic of those around them, they felt obligated to prove (to themselves, to family and friends, and to society at large) that they will be successful. They work hard at jobs, school, and in their community. While they all claimed cultural connections to their country of birth, their inability to travel outside the United States makes those connections appear to be mostly imagined.

They are connected culturally in ways

that a second- or third-generation MexicanAmerican might be connected to their ancestors’ nation of origin. Their “Latino” culture is largely a U.S. Latino culture.

The vast majority of their personal experiences have been positive in Nebraska.

Aracely* says: “In one of my classes in high school, I was told that Nebraska was one of the most racist states in the United States, and I thought that was pretty funny because I myself never really…saw myself being discriminated against for being Latino or for having Hispanic descent; however, when I found out that Nebraska was the only state left that didn’t give drivers’ licenses to DACA students…I realized that there’s just, like, so much indirect racism.”

“DACA, to me, meant an opportunity to become a full human being in the American society…because, before that, I was just a person hiding in the shadows. Through DACA, I was able to do simple things like get a driver’s license and drive— obviously, once that was also available through our legislature.”

—Yanira Garcia, 28, (Originally from Mexico, Garcia is a former DACA recipient who became a legal U.S. permanent resident in March.)

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 38 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

All of the interviewees shared a positive image of Omaha, and almost all of the sources had mixed feelings about the conservative politics of the state. Nelson* (who says he migrated from El Salvador when he was “1 year old, maybe less”) was active in getting legislation passed such as LB 623 (which gave them the opportunity to get a driver’s license).

“I know there are a lot of Republican senators who really care about us, but then I believe everything is just politics,” Nelson says. “Maybe they do care about us. But their constituents, they’re very hard-line anti-immigration, and because of that we’re not getting the support that we really deserve in the government. But, in that sense, I understand. But then again, I don’t think the Democrats are doing enough for us either, and so it’s really difficult, and right now I just have a very negative attitude about what the government is doing for immigrants, especially with the rhetoric that Donald Trump has been spewing all throughout his campaign and continues to do so. It just makes things worse [for everybody] and it doesn’t do anything for immigrants.”

Interviewees reported few, if any, incidents of discrimination or overt prejudice in their everyday experiences in Omaha; however, several of them shared anecdotes of close friends—citizens who happened to be darker-skinned Latinos—having more overt discriminatory experiences than they as DACA recipients did.

Some of the 10 DACA recipients had arrived in the United States a bit later in life and always knew they were not authorized to be here (the age of arrival ranges from 10 years to three months with the average being 5 years old); others had no idea of their undocumented status until later in life.

Interview subjects mentioned “shame” when discussing their parent’s feelings about being in the United States without authorization and “stigma” when discussing their own feelings; the same words were used by Leisy Abrego (a University of California-Los Angeles professor who was herself part of the wave of Salvadorian immigration to L.A. in the early 1980s) in her groundbreaking research on DACA recipients in California.

Some did not find out they were unauthorized—or they did not realize how it would affect them—until their junior or senior year in high school, when they began to fill out college and scholarship applications and were asked for a social security number.

All of them learned of the severity of what it really meant to be unauthorized when they could not get a driver’s license, even after they received DACA. All feel, to one degree or another, they missed out on that and other rituals associated with being a kid or “growing up.”

As young children and teenagers, they were unaware of the consequences: both the social stigma and the legal pitfalls. They had been protected from the vagaries of their undocumented legal status—by teachers, counselors, churches, and other well-meaning adults and institutions.

Many of my interview subjects used terms like “coming out” for disclosing their unauthorized status. The phrasing seems to contradict previous assertions of “no shame.” But it could be that their general feelings simply changed from when they were younger and they did not see the effects as readily. As they grew older, the negative consequences of the same undocumented status became more acute and meaningful in their lives. The driver’s license issue is just one glaring example (one for which Nebraska gained notoriety in nationwide immigrant advocate and anti-immigration circles).

“Omaha is my home. I’ve been here for a while—16 years—went to high school and college, and I don’t really know any other place that I can say, ‘I know this place.’ This is my home. I know where everything’s at. If I have a problem, I know where to go to…I’m afraid of what’s going to happen. What’s next for us?”

—David Islas Ramirez, 30, Works in the health care industry (Originally from Mexico, Isla is a current DACA recipient, a graduate of Benson High School and Bellevue University.)

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 39 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | FEATURE

Due to a fear of immigration and law enforcement authorities, none of the people I interviewed had traveled much, if at all, outside the Omaha area. Some of them had been to Lincoln Although born in (on recruitment visits to UNL) a few had traveled once or foreign countries, their and twice to Iowa or Wisconsin to hearts and souls are visit family. Many admit that love Omaha, they love firmly rooted in the they Nebraska (even though they United States, a country had not been anywhere in Nebraska outside of Omaha), that officially rejects and that they desire and plan stay in the Midwest region but tolerates them. to of the country. Most want to stay in Nebraska and/or the Midwest in order to pay back those communities for the opportunities that they have been able to access.

In terms of social connections, about half of the inter view subjects reported having mostly white friends or friends who are a mix of different races and ethnicities; the other half have friends who are mostly Latino. More than one of them mentioned the diff iculty of meeting new people, especially in the romantic realm, and not knowing what or when to tell them about their immigration status. One respondent stated that they were afraid to tell a new dating partner about their status for fear that the other person would wonder if they were just dating them so they could marr y and get their immigration papers f ixed. A nother spoke of being in a long-term relationship with a person who still does not know that they do not have government authorization to be in the United States.

W hen I began these inter views, I was interested in the question of criminalization. How did undocumented youths see their own “criminalization” in light of what labels have been placed upon them by some elements of society?

The research question turned out to be of little concern to my sources, with eight respondents emphatically stating “no” when asked whether or not they felt like criminals. Two others were not sure or had felt like criminals at some point in their life but changed their mind as they had matured. Almost all had mixed family statuses with little brothers and sisters who were citizens and parents who were unauthorized. At least two had fathers who had been deported.

Although born in foreign countries, their hearts and souls are firmly rooted in the United States, a countr y that off icially rejects but tolerates them. L ourdes, the communit y orga nizer, says: “I do plan on staying in Nebraska...my skin and bones are still getting used to this weather, but beyond that, absolutely. I love Nebraska, and the fact that we are helping change the political landscape and [making] it be a place that welcomes is ver y enriching, and I’m beyond glad that I’m able to be a part of that with dedicated individuals.

So as hard as it is knowing that we are going to be at the forefront of what’s happening and the change for our future families and friends…

It’s of c ou r s e [wor t h it]…a nd I love Ne br a s k a a nd O m a h a i n g e ne r a l…I don’t e ver t a ke for gra nted what I do.

A nd I feel like that journey wouldn’t have been possible had I not had the [immigration] status that I did. So it just enables me, helps me appreciate and really understand the signif icance of what I’m doing for myself and for my community.”

I came away from the interviews with a sense of awe.

As I inter viewed each of the 10 young people, I had the sense that each person will not only be successful; they will be high-achieving contributors to the nation’s society and economy.

Rather than being afraid for themselves, their worries over whelmingly focused on the future well-being of their parents, siblings, friends, other family members, and people in situations like theirs who may have not had the tools, skills, or maybe just the proper connections to navigate the educational system.

I often wonder why anti-immigration advocates seem determined to cast out those who would otherwise be helping to pay for Social Security.

In the end, it is not about their contributions to the economy, it is about what kind of society we choose for ourselves and the people we welcome into that society.

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A S THE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

D A C A

recipients remained in limbo.

issue of Omaha Magazine went to press, the fate of DACA

An acronym for “Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals,” President Barack Obama created the federal program by executive memorandum in 2012 to grant work permits and deportation relief for two years on a renewable basis to foreign-born, undocumented youths who came to the U.S. as children.

President Donald Trump formally announced an end to DACA on the morning of Sept. 5. The transcript of his termination statement began with an explanation of his duty to “defend the American people and the Constitution of the United States of America,” followed by an admission, “I do not favor punishing children, most of whom are now adults, for the actions of their parents,” and an appeal “that we are nation of opportunity because we are a nation of laws.” Future policy action and debate then fell to the discretion of the U.S. Congress.

DECODED

Creighton University immigration law professor Charles “Shane” Ellison explains the nuts and bolts of DACA and what the program’s termination means for the future. Ellison is the legal director of the Nebraska chapter of Justice For Our Neighbors-Nebraska (a nonprofit legal advocacy funded in part by the Great Plains United Methodist Conference), and he offers free legal advice to immigrants and refugees at Creighton’s Milton R. Abrahamson Legal Clinic.

STORY BY DOUG MEIGS

Omaha Magazine: What is the background of DACA? Prof. Ellison: Deferred action, or what used to be called “nonpriority status,” is the term used to classify noncitizens who, though legally removable from the U.S., are not an immigration enforcement priority to the federal government. There are approximately 11 million undocumented noncitizens within the U.S. Congress has given resources to the Department of Homeland Security to remove an estimated 400,000 noncitizens a year. Thus, Homeland Security must decide how to utilize its limited resources to enforce the Immigration and Nationality Act. It could, for example, enforce the law against the first 400,000 removable noncitizens it encounters in a given year, it could do so randomly, or it could do so by setting and adhering to priorities. Deferred action is a tool used to help set those priorities.

The DACA program, created in June of 2012, is one iteration of the government’s longstanding practice of using deferred action as an enforcement tool. It reflected a judgment by the Obama administration that “dreamers”—young immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, who have grown up here, gone to school here, and have clean records—should not be at the top of the list of individuals the government is seeking to deport.

The term “dreamers” refers to potential beneficiaries of the DREAM Act (short for the “Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act”). Variations of the bill were introduced in Congress several times since 2001, but none have become law.

While the DACA program was created in 2012, the practice of using deferred action as a law-enforcement tool is far older. Indeed, the practice of granting deferred action has existed for more than

four decades. Since at least 1981, deferred action (as a low-priority designation) has been referenced within federal regulations.

Even the U.S. Supreme Court has acknowledged that deferred action falls within the purview of Homeland Security’s discretionary enforcement authority. DACA is simply a subset of that larger enforcement priority tool, called deferred action.

Who was eligible for DACA? One could have requested DACA if he or she: • Was under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012 • Came to the United States prior to reaching his or her 16th birthday • Had continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007 • Was physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making his or her request for deferred action • Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012 • Was at least 15 years old (with only a few exceptions) • Was in school, had graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, had obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or was an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States • Had not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and did not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety What is changing for DACA recipients?

Individuals whose DACA was set to expire between Sept. 5, 2017, and March 5, 2018, were allowed to seek renewal prior to Oct. 5, 2017. Apart from those who had already filed, everyone else lost their ability to seek

renewal as of Sept. 5. Additionally, all individuals who would have become eligible to apply after Sept. 5 (e.g., all the kids who met the requirements but were not yet 15) are no longer eligible to apply. As early as March 6, 2018, DACA youth will begin losing their work authorization and protection from removal.

How might ending DACA impact the city, state, and national economy?

According to the Center for American Progress, eliminating DACA will cost $433.4 billion in lost GDP over the next 10 years and will reduce contributions to Social Security and Medicare by $24.6 billion over the same period. And that is to say nothing of the loss of moral authority that comes with targeting young people for actions over which they had no control. The economic loss to Nebraska is estimated at over $150 million. Omaha is where most DACA youth reside, so it will be hit the hardest by these losses.

What action do you suggest?

The most important thing we can do is contact our elected federal representatives and urge them to support the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act is the best legislative proposal to protect DACA youth/dreamers.

For DACA youth affected by this decision, Justice For Our Neighbors-Nebraska is committed—along with many other services providers in the metro—to offering legal assistance. We are encouraging those affected to contact the Nebraska Immigration Legal Assistance Hotline to seek help.

Visit nilah.org for more information.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | SPORTS

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STORY BY CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

I n v i g o rat e

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | SPORTS

“To me, curling is more like golf, you’re aiming for a target that’s in the distance, and it takes precision and a perfect touch.”

-Steve Jaixen curling anyone?

People remember holding me at the rink as a baby. My entire family has played at some point,” he says.

The winter sport often described as “shuff leboard on ice” still gets pegged as a Canadian import. In Husker-hungry Nebraska, the broom-swept sport remains something of an oddity.

“We had our own building until 2000 in the old Aksarben Fairgrounds,” explains Steve Taylor, current president of the 59-year-old club. “We had a barn that we’d use every winter. Then, in the summer, the city used it as a pig barn during the fair.

So the club was kind of born in a barn.”

That’s about to change.

The 2018 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Curling sweep into Omaha Nov. 10-18 at the 7,800-seat Baxter Arena. Curling enthusiasts from all over the country will join the uninitiated in viewing a competition to determine which American teams will vie for curling gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Why Omaha? Competitive curlers like Steve Jaixen represent part of the answer.

“Not many people know that Omaha has a very active curling club,” says Jaixen (pronounced Jackson), an Omaha native who became a local fixture of the sport at a young age. “My mom and dad both played at the Aksarben Curling Club.

Jaixen, 38, played in that pig barn growing up and learned to love this game requiring both skill and athleticism.

While on the juniors team of the Aksarben club, they won at nationals four years running in the late ’90s. The team traveled to Sweden one year to compete in the World Junior Championships, where they lost to Switzerland in the semifinals. He now heads the juniors program at the local curling club.

It also takes a lot of squatting, crouching, bending, sliding, sweeping, and overall f lexibility to propel and rotate a 42-pound circular granite rock across a sheet of ice.

Two teams—each with four members— compete to get their rock closest to the “button,” or the middle of the target area (also known as the “house”). A player can make the rock “curl” (i.e., turn) more or less as it slides down the sheet.

The brooms create friction that heats up the ice a little bit, enabling the rock to glide farther and straighter.

“One of the things I love about curling is the sportsmanship,” says Jaixen, a father of four who works for a financial company.

“Touching the stone with a broom is a violation, but it’s up to the sweeper to be honest and say, ‘Yea, I burned it.’”

“To me, curling is more like golf,” Jaixen says. “You’re aiming for a target that’s in the distance, and it takes precision and a perfect touch.”

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Since the U.S. Olympic Trials announcement, coupled with the recent taping by NBC Sports Network of “Curling Night in America” at Baxter Arena, interest in curling has spiked in Omaha. Steve Taylor expects membership at Aksarben Curling Club, which now calls Baxter Arena home, to reach 240 this season.

Teams from the University of Nebraska system (UNL, UNO, and UNMC), Wayne State College, and Creighton University play under the Aksarben Curling Club umbrella.

Who knows? Maybe curling terms like “bonspiel,” “hack,” “slider foot,” “broom stacking,” “pebble,” and “skip” will become part of Nebraska’s sports vocabulary after all.

Visit curlaksarben.com to learn more about the Aksarben Curling Club.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | GEN-O

“I love going out into the field and doing research, observing and recording what’s happening,” Morrison says. “It’s really cool discovering things [beyond] what’s already known.”

STORY BY SARAH WENGERT // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Zoo Be Zoo Be Zoo Ellie Morrison’s Wild Education

L

IKE MOST TEENAGERS, Ellie

Morrison has made many new friends during her high school career. But what makes her experience unique is that, in addition to classmates and teachers, some of Ellie’s friends include emperor scorpions, African penguins, gibbons, lions, and other resident creatures of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo. The 17-year-old Papillion-La Vista High School senior is enrolled in her second year of Zoo Academy, a partnership between Henry Doorly Zoo and several local school districts, through which more than 90 high school juniors and seniors during the 2017/2018 academic year will study advanced zoology classes at the zoo, complete high school, receive college credit, and explore animal-related career paths.

The program launched in 1995.

“My favorite part of Zoo Academy is— surprisingly enough—not the animals, but the people,” Morrison says. “The teachers especially are amazing and always do whatever they can to help you.”

Morrison starts her days at her home high school with band, choir, and chemistry classes. After third hour, she heads to the zoo, has lunch with friends, then resumes classes there at 11:45 a.m. Zoo Academy offers typical core classes—such as English and sociology—alongside zoo research, vet science, anatomy, and zoology, all taught by school district instructors. Some students attend all day, others part of the day, like Morrison.

Morrison has also volunteered at Henry Doorly Zoo for the past eight years, beginning with the XYZ (eXplore Your Zoo) volunteer program for grades 4-6, continuing into Junior Crew for junior high school volunteers, and culminating in Zoo Crew, the volunteer program for grades 9-12.

Zoo Crew volunteers do guest education and interaction throughout the zoo, help with special events, animal enrichment, outreach programs, and (in some cases) work with keepers. While she’s a lifelong animal lover, Morrison says she was a bit shy and not a total people person when she began volunteering. Her experiences at the zoo helped her gain confidence, people skills, and knowledge, which she now fosters in younger volunteers.

“The best part is knowing that I made the same transition myself, and that I’ve helped them become the people that I now know them to be,” she says.

Morrison also enjoys educating zoo-goers about conservation and the animal kingdom.

“Sometimes, the best part of my week is watching children and adults alike learn something new about the world,” Morrison says. “It’s always really nice to be able to teach something and have them walk away with a little bit more than they came in with.”

The animal interaction is a definite perk of the program. In her junior year zoology class, she helped clean, feed, and care for a trio of emperor scorpions, affectionately called “Larry, Moe, and Curly” after The Three Stooges.

“I like the African penguins a lot,” Morrison says. “They’re super funny and always come up to say hello. There’s a penguin named Lucius who will follow you around and sit on your feet if he likes you.”

Before Zoo Academy, Morrison considered a veterinary career, but through her work and education at the zoo, she’s now leaning toward a more research-based wildlife career.

“I love going out into the field and doing research, observing and recording what’s happening,” Morrison says. “It’s really cool discovering things [beyond] what’s already known.”

From volunteer work to academics, Morrison says her time with the zoo has been a “game-changer on so many levels,” and it will be a part of her life forever.

“It’s a completely unique experience that you won’t find anywhere else,” Morrison says. “At a top-rated zoo in the world, there are definitely some things that are one of a kind: the keepers, the animals, just the atmosphere itself is completely unique.”

Visit omahazoo.com/education/volunteer/ youth to learn more about youth volunteer and educational opportunities at the Henry Doorly Zoo.

“I’ve never been that close to a scorpion before, and it’s a little terrifying at first.

But getting to know them, they all had different personalities. Like, one of them always ate all the food,” Morrison says.

She’s come to know many of the animals’ unique personalities and idiosyncrasies.

For example, a certain roar from Mr. Big—a beloved lion who passed away in 2015—meant that someone was in his favorite spot. Morrison also came to learn that happy chatter from the gibbons in the morning could set a pleasant tone throughout the zoo for the day.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | HISTORY STORY BY ROBERT KLEIN ENGLER // PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY DURHAM MUSEUM // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

LenorE BenolKen ghosted painter of long lost omaha celebrities

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Lenore Benolken NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 49 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | HISTORY

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T

he

f i r s t o n e -m a n s h o w to be exhibited at Joslyn Memorial by a woman is that of Lenore Benolken , who paints more l i k e a m a n t h a n a w o m a n ,” wrote one local reporter .

The backhanded praise for the first solo exhibition by a woman at the venue (now known as Joslyn Art Museum) seems sexist by contemporary standards.

Such gendered phrasing has faded from popular discourse—just like the artist herself.

Not much is known these days about the artist acclaimed for her “vigor, physical energy, and force” in the same Omaha World-Herald article published on Oct. 10, 1937.

Lenore (Ethel Williams) Benolken was born in Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1896. She moved to Omaha with her parents at age 3, when her father, the Rev. Arthur Llewellyn Williams, became coadjutor-bishop of the Omaha Episcopal Diocese. She attended Brownell Hall (now Brownell-Talbot School) and studied under the famous Irish-born Omaha painter J. Laurie Wallace.

In 1918, Lenore married Irving W. Benolken (who had studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, served overseas in the military during World War I, and taught at the American University in France). Settling into married life in Omaha, they both became notable influencers in the local arts scene.

After Lenore painted an 18-by-4-foot mural showcasing modes of modern transportation for the walls of the Milwaukee Road train ticketing office in Omaha, a patronizing 1929 World-Herald article mentions that the mural was a Christmas surprise for her husband “to earn her own Christmas money that year.” The reporter goes on to write that Lenore credited her husband as her “unconscious” instructor and her inspiration as she juggled “duties of being wife to an artist, and mother to an energetic and not very artistic 8-year-old boy.”

(That boy, Arthur Benolken, would grow up to be a priest like Lenore’s bishop father.)

Both spouses kept studios in their home at 5415 Western Ave. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom house built in 1826 still stands today. Her obituary eventually described the home as a “center of interest for art lovers.” Her husband worked for 33 years at the Klopp Printing and Lithograph Company, ending his career as the company’s vice president. Irving also served as an elected trustee of the Society of Liberal Arts, which controlled the Joslyn Memorial.

On multiple occasions, Lenore was chosen by the Joslyn Memorial committee to be among the artists representing Nebraska at Rockefeller Center’s All-American exhibit of paintings in New York City. She had received the honor twice by 1937, when she became the first artist to have her work exhibited as a one-woman show at Joslyn Memorial.

Besides being a portrait and landscape painter, Lenore was a noted art teacher. She taught at the Bellevue vocational school, offered classes to soldiers at Joslyn, and lectured at Omaha University. She also organized the Brush and Pencil Club, a sort of salon for art students and professionals.

Lenore often painted portraits of friends and well-known Omahans. Unfortunately, many of these historically important portraits have vanished.

Her depiction of Dr. William H. Betz, after whom Betz Elementary School and Betz Road are named, once hung in a Bellevue public building. Another of Lenore’s popular paintings was “Devce [maiden] of Czechoslovakia.” It’s a portrait of Omaha pianist Miss Elsie M. Ptak, who became a music teacher at Omaha University.

Lenore completed a portrait of Mrs. Jane Sullivan in 1941, and it hung in the Joslyn Memorial before being sent to her son and daughter, Dr. M. M. Sullivan and Miss Hannah Sullivan, in Spalding, Nebraska. Painted with the aid of tintypes and authentic costumes of the period, the portrait supposedly shows Mrs. Sullivan as a young woman in her Sunday best. Phone calls to Spalding (a town of 487 people) did not yield any leads on the whereabouts of the Sullivans or the painting.

Lenore’s father, Bishop Williams, worked closely with Monsignor Bernard Sinne (pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Church from 1904 to 1961). Lenore painted the monsignor’s portrait, another of her notable portrayals of famous Omahans. It once hung in the Joslyn Memorial.

But like these others, it has since disappeared.

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The location of one important portrait is known.

Lenore’s painting of Omaha businessman John Sullivan now hangs in the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney. This was a gift to the museum

by Mary Ellen Mulcahy, who serves on MONA’s board of directors.

The more we learn about Lenore, the more we realize that so many of her portraits and paintings have been forgotten. A catalog of her known works and their location would help in restoring her place in Omaha’s art history.

Lenore’s work also traveled through Nebraska.

The Nebraska State Journal on Oct. 30, 1939, mentions two of her paintings displayed at Morrill Hall on the campus of the University of NebraskaLincoln. Their titles were Deserted Quarry (Near Louisville) and River Scows (A Flat-Bottomed Boat).

The next year, she had a show of 21 paintings in the Treasure House at Coryell Park in Lincoln.

And her painting Interior of a Nebraska Kitchen was displayed at the 51st annual show of the Nebraska Arts Association in Lincoln (mentioned in a review by the Lincoln Sunday Journal and Star on March, 2, 1941).

Lenore died from pneumonia around the age of 47. Six months after her death, a memorial featuring 33 of her paintings went on display at the Joslyn Memorial. The whereabouts of the show’s paintings—as well as those displayed in the Coryvell Park show—remain a mystery.

A World-Herald article from April 9, 1944, about her final Joslyn exhibition explains that the show consisted of canvases left in her studio when she stopped painting, “and her last finished picture is among them, a portrait called My Husband.”

John Sullivan’s portrait by Lenore Benolken, courtesy of the Museum of Nebraska Art

In a twist of artistic irony, Lenore’s husband remarried in the year following her death. Nancy Powel Hulst became Nancy Benolken in 1944. A prominent figure in the Omaha arts scene, Nancy remained involved in planning concerts, musicals, and working on committees at the Joslyn from the 1940s through the 1980s.

After Irving Benolken died in 1954, a fund at the Joslyn Memorial purchased artworks in his memory. Paintings included Robert Henri’s Portrait of Fi in 1957 (Henri was the famous creator of the Ashcan School of painting, and his father founded the Nebraska town of Cozad).

Today, many of the purchased tributes to Irving still hang in the Joslyn; however, the museum does not display a single painting by Lenore. Joslyn staff informed Omaha Magazine that the only artwork of hers in their collection is an undated oil painting titled Indian Princess.

In a letter to the World-Herald ’s “Public Pulse” soon after her death, the Nebraska artist Walter Buckingham Swan wrote: “Mrs. Benolken, an artist of rare ability, will always be remembered by her legion of friends and many pupils…

We have suffered an irreparable loss. Omaha needed her. She had scarcely reached middle life when the hand of death took her from us. How to find a competent successor to carry on her work we do not know.”

At the turn of the 21st century, references to the artist gradually fade into oblivion. The last mention of her name in the public record seems to have been in 2011—an obituary for Pauline Lenore Buckley; she had lived in Council Bluffs, attended the “Lenore Benolken Art School” before the University of Omaha, and died in Walla Walla, Washington.

We know something of what Lenore looked like from photographs of her in the Omaha World-Herald. Like all newspaper photographs of the time, they are black-and-white and grainy.

Unfortunately, the woman who painted so many portraits of others does not have any known portrait remaining to memorialize her for the ages.

A self-portrait of the artist appears to have been included among the works shown in her posthumous Joslyn exhibition (printed in the newspaper’s full-page coverage of the tribute in 1944), but its whereabouts are unknown. It very well may be lost.

If readers have knowledge of any long-lost paintings by Lenore Benolken, please contact Omaha Magazine at editor@omahamagazine.com or reach us on social media (@OmahaMagazine) at Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | ADVENTURE STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY R.L. LEMKE // DESIGN & ILLUSTRATIONS BY DEREK JOY

an n a l P o t How

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | ADVENTURE

Go with the (Weather) Flow

I

n search of the perfect motorcycle ride, I have coordinated several epic trips with family and friends over recent decades.

Our routes have ranged across the U.S., from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Pacific Coast, in between, and beyond. I hope the following snippets of advice prove helpful to anyone chasing their own “perfect” ride.

The Best Coast As motorcyclists travel from East to West, they find fellow motorists becoming more motorcycle friendly. East of the Mississippi River, folks on four wheels seem to expect motorcyclists to stay in line with every other vehicle—not to pass—and they often endeavor to prohibit a motorcycle from passing. On the West Coast, motorists better understand the motivation for riding: the sheer joy that comes from barreling down a twisty road. Most motorists pull over, even off the road, to allow motorcyclists to pass by and continue at their own pace. Lane sharing in California allows motorcyclists to pass through traffic between stopped and slow vehicles on multi-lane roads. Most riders in the West pull through stopped traffic at lights to get to the head of the line. The Western attitude toward motorcyclists makes riding there much more enjoyable.

In the West, coastal summers remain in the 60s through the day; meanwhile, dry heat from the 70s to 100s awaits over the other side of the coastal mountains. Elevation changes in the Cascades or Sierras offer warm riding in the valley and cold riding only a few miles uphill.

Thus, if you don’t enjoy the weather one place, change your direction, and within minutes you are in a completely different climate.

California Back Road Dreaming Back road routes are a passion of mine. I scout these small, paved byways before every ride. In most states, the back roads are unpaved. This forces motorcyclists to ride with the tourist and commuter traffic. Some states offer endless miles of paved back roads with little to no traffic—roads that wind through mountains and valleys with breathtaking scenic vistas.

Roads empty of traffic allow stopping in the middle of the lanes to take photos. Of the many states I have traveled, California has the most miles of paved back roads. Many of them cut through national forests, and I suspect their paving has to do with accessibility for addressing forest fires. These arteries of pavement serve as a means to avoid congested tourist areas and cities.

So, taking into account how motorcyclists are treated, the variety of weather, and the opportunity to explore endless miles of back roads in breathtaking scenic countryside, California is the destination I return to year after year.

Choose YourOwn Adventure; Bring a Camera Many riders find enjoyment in hitting the open road without a plan, selecting their route as they travel. Whimsy determines which way they go, which road to travel upon, as they stumble upon great vistas and twisty adventures.

Other motorcyclists find joy in meeting up with friends at a specific destination (consider the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in the Black Hills of South Dakota), a social affair built around a ride.

I approach each motorcycle ride as if the adventure has priceless value—something to be planned for—so that each rider can experience the ride to the max. I take great pleasure preparing for the route before departure. Afterward, organizing the photos, videos, and GPS files adds further enjoyment—an opportunity to savor the once-in-a-lifetime experience again.

Gather Your Crew Everyone knows that life is fullest when we are committed to the moment, setting aside all worries of past and future. Motorcycling forces one to live in each and every moment.

Spending those moments with good friends and family only strengthens the bonds of our relationships.

My crew usually consists of five to 10 bikers, including my brothers Todd (Omaha Magazine’s publisher) and Tyler Lemke (the magazine’s vice president of operations).

All of us riding these adventures have limited time away from work. Time is too precious for us to seek fun by happenstance. No, solid planning makes certain that each ride is one for the record books. A lifetime memory.

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Ready, Set, Go! Don't Feed the Vultures Wild animals are a hazard to motorists everywhere, especially motorcyclists. When we are riding in California, there is a huge bird that Our riders have come from Nebraska, Kentucky, offers a unique challenge. The vultures in Iowa, Canada, Texas, and even California to California appear to coordinate their efforts enjoy the well-planned rides. Sometimes riders when lingering on the road in front of motoriron-butt more than 1,000 miles over 24 hours cycle riders, leaping up and taking flight the just to participate. last instant before impact. It is as if they expect to intimidate the rider into an avoidance crash, It takes a special kind of rider to enjoy our gru- making for a large meal to share. This has eling pace. On our adventures, at the end of happened countless times, which affirms each day’s ride, all we can do is eat and then my conclusion. collapse into slumber. In fact, these rides are so intense, with so much “fun” concentrated into the daylight hours, that the return to work offers a welcome chance to recover (physically as well as mentally).

Anticipate Physical/ Mental Exhaustion

What sets a motorcycle adventure apart from the normal motoring vacation is the direct interaction with the moment. While riding a motorcycle, even olfactory experiences are instant and powerful. Smells assault you with full force, from skunk roadkill to blooming flowers along the road, from someone smoking cigarettes in their yard to the salt spray from the ocean.

Intense and concentrated motorcycling is fun, I promise. Long days test each of us physically and mentally, while camaraderie builds passion for the sport. This is what motivates each of us as we chase bliss in the moment, here and now..

Visit rllemke.smugmug.com to view more photos from R.L. Lemke’s adventures

At the end of our spring 2017 ride through coastal California/Oregon, riders commented that they were utterly exhausted. I know that Risk management should be an important con- I was. Roads on our route featured so many sideration for any motorcycle adventure plan. In corners that rare straight sections of pavement our gang of (middle-aged and white-collar) riders, offered relief. But we wouldn’t have it any other we wear top-of-the-line protective gear. way. The whole point of the ride was to test ourselves, to see sights few others do, to expand We also have bike-to-bike radios to facilitate our motorcycling capabilities. communication while engines are roaring.

Whether there’s sand on the roadway, deer, or People often ask what it is like to ride as we an angry pickup driver, we can warn one another do. For those who downhill ski, it could be of potential dangers. We work as a team to keep comparable to flying down one another safe. black diamond moguls for miles and miles. The Slippery road surfaces can be a matter of grave back-and-forth effort, the concern. When driving a car, I’m not interested exhilaration of not only in sand or gravel on the road, but on a motorcycle surviving the unexpected it can lead to crashing and certain injury. but excelling at it offers more than just an adrenaWhen it rains, cars can just turn on the wipers; line rush. That same physion a motorcycle, it is a matter of adding a layer cal back-and-forth motion of rainproof gear or getting soaking wet. If it is is akin to cornering on a hot, we deal with the heat. If below 60, we add an mountain bike, but hour electric vest. Even with safety precautions, riding after hour, day after day. a motorcycle ties you directly to the moment—to Completely exhausting, life in the right now. but completely worth it.

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NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 55 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | SECTION

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | SPONSORED CONTENT

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NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 58 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

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NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 60 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // PAINTING STORY BY LISA LUKECART // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

NEBR ASK A’S PAINTER IN THE PENTAGON

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 62 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

HEN MIKE HAGEL landed at Chicago O’Hare Airport back in 1970, he didn’t know what to expect.

“Get out and start life,” his mother Betty told her sons.

So Mike, then 20 years old, walked out into the Windy City with the gray Samsonite suitcases his mother had given him as a graduation gift, his art portfolio, and a dream.

“The YMCA,” Mike told the cab driver.

“North or South?” he asked.

“South,” Mike replied.

The cabby dropped him in a rough neighborhood.

Every 15 minutes his room shook from the L train roaring past. That first night, there were two shootings with police officers showing up late into the night.

But this young man from the small Nebraska town of Columbus remained undeterred. The next day, he moved into a dingy apartment complex.

“I felt like I should have had a shotgun,” his brother Tom says. “It was such a tiny place I could almost reach out the window and touch the other building.”

It was freezing, so Mike slept with his clothes on and saw icy puffs of his own breath in the mornings.

During the day, he hunted for illustrator jobs.

“I wasn’t going to accept no,” Mike says.

Mike had known what he wanted to do since his freshman year of high school. His brother, Tom, remembers Mike’s cartoon sketches were as “good as any in the newspaper and he was just this little kid.”

His art teacher at Columbus High encouraged Mike to further hone his craft. He spent countless hours creating, designing, and imagining projects under the basement stairs at his workbench. A block of wood transformed into an automobile with a quality paint job. And it earned him some scholarship money from General Motors.

Despite his love of cars, Mike was still drawn to the realistic Norman Rockwell ads. He attended the Colorado Institute of Art, taking classes during the summer to finish in two years. After Tom and his other brother Chuck returned from Vietnam, Mike knew it was time to draw his own history.

The cabby dropped him in a rough neighborhood. Every 15 minutes his room shook from the L train roaring past. That first night, there were two shootings with police officers showing up late into the night.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 63 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // PAINTING

Simpson Harbor used to hang in the office of Gen. Colin Powell at the Pentagon. Secretary of Defense James Mattis liked the painting so much that it now hangs in his office.

And it hung outside the office when Chuck, the eldest Hagel brother, held the defense secretary position from 2013 to 2015. Mike jokes he was in the Pentagon years before Chuck.

Mike started the process by taking 76 photos from different angles and poses. From there, he drew a number of color and pencil sketches.

Chuck picked the final one he liked the best.

After about a week of searching, Mike landed an apprentice job for $50 a week with a graphic arts firm, Feldkamp-Malloy.

But Tom, a retired law professor from the University of Dayton School of Law, says Mike is uncommonly talented.

The Department of Defense unveiled the portrait at the Pentagon in May 2017.

“I was just so pumped to get into the business,” Mike recalls. “It’s a very tough industry to get into for a young person.”

The younger Hagel brother is widely known for his aviation paintings, some of which hang in the Pentagon. His favorite is of a World War II battle titled Simpson Harbor. Mike knew the man who led the mission, and he calls Lieutenant General John Henebry “the finest man I ever knew.”

Accompanied by some smooth jazz and a cigarette, Mike would work late into the night.

His bosses were akin to those in the show Mad Men, complete with liquid lunches.

Mike rarely bombed a job. His tenacity and creativity earned him a spot as staff illustrator for the board plus a pay increase of $100.

By 1973, he was making $12,000 a year and thought he had the “world by the tail.”

He was soon landing bigger clients, such as Kellogg’s and Miller, and went on to work 47 years in the business (spending 24 years at ad agencies on Michigan Avenue in Chicago).

Now with a studio in Omaha, Mike points toward a lampshade purchased at an antique store. Mike told the owner he painted the Miller High Life Lady on the Moon, but she never believed him. He bought his own art for about $50.

He’s grown accustomed to seeing his work appear unexpectedly, for example: one of his portraits of lawyer Clarence Darrow on an episode of L.A. Law. His works have also been featured in the Strategic Air and Space Museum and the Pentagon. He is represented locally by the gallery Regency Parkway Art. Mike works as an adjunct professor at Metropolitan Community College, where he teaches graphic design.

“Everyone can learn to draw if they have the desire to learn,” he believes. “The talent comes from the desire to learn.”

Mike calls himself an old dinosaur who still draws and paints without the assistance of CGI or computer tools commonly used today.

The painting depicts B-25 bombers in action over the blue waters of the South Pacific, attacking Japanese warships. Billows of smoke drift in blue skies and explosions are the backdrop. Henebry seems to fly out of the chillingly accurate portrayal, guns a-blazin’. He proudly shows off the signatures at the bottom of the painting, from the men who fought in the battle. Kathy, his wife of 10 years, calls his process “intense” and “inspired.” Mike did extensive research, read mission reports, and conducted interviews to ensure everything about the day was historically relevant right down to the altitude, atmosphere, and time of day.

Mike donated Simpson Harbor to the Air Force in 1990. It wasn’t his first artwork donation. In fact, he donated nearly a dozen aviation-themed paintings to the Air Force between 1977 and 1993.

Simpson Harbor used to hang in the office of Gen. Colin Powell at the Pentagon. Secretary of Defense James Mattis liked the painting so much that it now hangs in his office. And it hung outside the office when Chuck, the eldest Hagel brother, held the defense secretary position from 2013 to 2015. Mike jokes he was in the Pentagon years before Chuck.

Mike has spent years drawing caricatures of his brother Chuck, the former Republican senator from Nebraska, who finally asked for an official portrait.

“It’s extremely accurate and realistic,” Chuck says. “I’m a big fan.”

Mike noticed other portraits of former secretaries had something of their service incorporated in the background. Chuck thought what set his apart was the Combat Infantry Badge in the left-hand corner of the portrait.

“It will be something around long after I’m gone, which is a nice feeling,” Mike says.

It was the first official portrait of a secretary not paid for by the United States government.

Mike and Chuck worked out a price.

“Two cases of PBR [Pabst Blue Ribbon] and 12 frozen DiGiorno’s pizzas,” Mike says, joking.

Mike, 68, isn’t resting on his laurels. In his free time, he likes collecting motorcycles, drinking beer, and shooting pool. Or spending time with his wife and three grown children. As a commercial artist, he was given a problem to solve, but now he uses his imagination. He starts with a blank canvas, a cup of coffee, then heads down to his studio in the mornings.

The studio showcases a melting pot of styles. A huge life-like Henry Fonda from the Grapes of Wrath sits in the center of the room, while an abstract Highway 20 Revisited is reminiscent of an impressionist painting with cool blues, dark greens, and bright yellow and oranges streaking next to a hot red highway.

Mike reclines in his paint-spattered leather chair, having traded corporate business attire for the comfort of jeans and a polo shirt.

Next to him is a combination of realistic and abstract works: a cow with long horns and a surreal background. Mike has been playing with mixing new mediums.

“Tom, Chuck, and I—all three of us—have left a mark that we were here,” Mike says. “I can’t ask for more than that.”

Visit regencyparkwayart.com for the Omaha gallery representing Mike Hagel.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 64 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 65 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | FEATURE STORY BY JOYCE H. WINFIELD, PH.D. // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

B

ILL AND EVONNE Williams of

Omaha frequently use the words “honor” and “privilege” when talking about 11 honor flights they organized from May 2008 to May 2017.

The Williamses, co-founders of Patriotic Productions, embraced the nonprofit Honor Flight Network’s nationwide mission “to transport America’s veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit those memorials dedicated to honor the service and sacrifices of themselves and their friends.”

Bill admits the money “trickled in very, very slowly” for that first flight. But a Valentine’s Day phone call in 2008 resulted in a donation that jump-started subsequent contributions.

Cara Whitney, wife of Dan Whitney (aka Larry the Cable Guy), asked Bill what it was going to cost to send the first plane of veterans.

The response was $70,000 just for the plane; Cara said, “Done.”

“So there you go,” Bill says, explaining that 1,483 World War II veterans from 200 Nebraska towns were on seven flights from May 2008 to April 2009.

An impressive number of Nebraskans —3,235— who are World War II, Korea, and Vietnam veterans participated in the flights. Patriotic Productions raised $3,100,000 to cover expenses for everything from planes to name tags.

Two flights for Korean War veterans from Nebraska followed. In October 2013, the Korean War Combat Veterans Honor Flight carried 135 veterans. In March 2014, the Korean War Honor Flight loaded three planes with 462 aboard.

The first Heartland Honor Flight departed Omaha carrying 102 World War II veterans on May 21, 2008. It became a reality after the Williamses read a magazine article about honor flights in fall 2007. Their reaction was, “Why not Nebraska?”

Evonne mentions the March 2014 flight as one of her most memorable. It had snowed in Washington, D.C., and the veterans were at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, which

features 19 stainless steel statues. The statues are each about 7 feet tall and represent members of the Army, Marines, Navy, and Air Force. All are wearing ponchos that cover their weapons and equipment.

“Our veterans that day were all wearing ponchos because of the snow, which was wet, heavy snow almost like rain. And cold,” Evonne says. “Here they were as young men in the statues, and here they are 50 years later as old men.”

Two years after the second Korean War Honor Flight, the first Vietnam veterans left for Washington, D.C., in June 2016. The Vietnam Combat Veterans Flight consisted of three charter jets with 502 on board from Nebraska.

May 1, 2017, was called The Final Mission; 653 Vietnam veterans rode on four planes for their day in the nation’s capital. These Nebraskans have the distinction of being the largest group of Vietnam veterans from one state to collectively gather at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

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Reflecting on the 11 honor flights, Evonne says: “I think we thought it was going to be one flight and we would be done. Bill is infamous for saying, ‘This is going to be the last one.’”

Continually raising necessary funds was a major issue that sometimes caused sleepless nights for the Williamses. “It’s tough,” Bill says. “This last one was a $600,000 deal. Four planes and each plane was $87,500. Figure in 15 buses on this end and 15 buses on that end. You just can’t keep going to the well trying to find this amount of money.”

Trying to find volunteers was not an issue. The Williamses readily acknowledge their “committed volunteers” who assisted during different phases of the honor flights. Evonne mentions neighbors, church friends, and friends of their children among the volunteers. Bill estimates 300 people served as guardians, whose duties included physically assisting the veterans at the airports, during the flights, and at the memorials.

“The volunteers were incredible. Just such a good team and a core group of about a dozen to 20 who would always step up,” Evonne says.

“We called them the dream team, the dozen who helped with most flights,” Bill adds.

It has been estimated that 7,000 people waited at Lincoln Airport the evening of May 1 to welcome home the Vietnam veterans on The Final Mission. Referring to that number, Evonne says, “It was wonderful, and that was such a good way for those who brought children to teach patriotism. This is how we honor our veterans.”

She stresses the most valuable part of the last three or four flights was the welcome-home receptions the veterans received at the airport.

“If people didn’t get off their couches and stand in line for hours, it wouldn’t have been what it was. So, it really was a community event that made it so powerful.”

In turn, Bill acknowledges the welcome the veterans received upon arrival in Washington, D.C. The planes flew to either Washington Dulles International Airport or Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. He says most of the veterans knew there would be a homecoming upon returning to Nebraska, but they didn’t expect what happened when they arrived in Washington, D.C. “We notified the airports so they knew we were coming. They got the water cannon salute over the planes. Walking inside, passengers stopped and cheered the veterans. They were really touched by that,” Bill says.

LOCAL VIETNAM VETS ON THE FINAL MISSION Omahans Bill “Doc” Caster, Kurt L. Geschwender, and Roddy R. Moore definitely were touched by the expressions of thanks at both the Washington, D.C., and Lincoln airports. The Vietnam veterans flew on The Final Mission and commented specifically about the Lincoln homecoming.

Moore summarizes his emotions as both shocked and embarrassed. “I never considered myself as a hero, and hearing people call me that was embarrassing. But at the same time, it was an honor to see that many people who came out to wish us well.”

Saying he was completely in awe, Caster notes it was not just fellow veterans who were there. “The younger crowd—from the kids, young adults, and some millennials. I finally felt we got the respect we should have had for serving our country.”

just young kids back then, as all of us were. To see that first name and all of a sudden remember his face, remember the way he walked and talked. They’re all together on The Wall now.

At The Wall, you start remembering things you tried to forget, and I did. I tried to suppress it for a number of years.”

Geschwender enlisted in the Marine Corps (1st Division, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines) in July 1967 when he was 18. Trained as an ammunition technician in demolitions, he was responsible for munitions, management, disposition, and disbursement to the various units. He recognized several names on The Wall and quickly clarifies that he “really didn’t know them. We went over as replacements. It’s always a loss but it’s a far greater loss when it’s somebody who you lived with, slept with, trained with.

I can imagine how much more grievous that would be.” He explains, as replacements, the men were sent to Vietnam in groups. They may have trained together but were dispersed among units that needed personnel with specific skills.

“The younger crowd-from the kids, young adults, and some millennials. I finally felt we got the respect we should have had for serving our country.” -Bill Caster

Geschwender says it was a humbling experience.

“I was saluted by a two-star general as well as several staff officers. I snapped my snappiest salute back to them. Senior officers generally don’t initiate a salute to one of the troops.”

Equally moving for these three men was being at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

Moore calls it the most memorable aspect of the flight. “I appreciate and thank Bill and Evonne for the opportunity to see The Wall and pay my respects to those who didn’t come home. I found nine names of friends.”

Moore was 19 in December 1965 when he was drafted into the Army (4th Infantry Division).

His unit had been in Vietnam about three weeks when he was injured. “We had been on Operation Cedar Falls. If I remember correctly, it was in Tay Ninh Province by the Cambodian border,” he says. Incoming fire came across a rice paddy. “They estimated there was about 50 of them, and there was 16 of us. We had six killed. I think three got out without being hit. Everybody else was either killed or wounded.” Moore sustained injuries to his right arm and right leg, in addition to a shrapnel wound on his right side.

Standing at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial 50 years later, Moore remembers the six young men who were killed on Jan. 5, 1967. “It was extremely emotional because I remember them as they were—19, 20 years old and they were

Caster was drafted into the Marine Corps (3rd Division, 1st Battalion, 12th Marines).

At age 24, he was called the “Old Man.” He refers to his “very unique experience” over a three-month period in 1968. He graduated in February from National College of Chiropractic in Illinois. “I got a draft notice in March, and in April I was in the service.”

Like Geschwender, Caster was a replacement trained in fire support coordination. His training was “for coordinating and plotting fire missions for the artillery in relation to enemy troop movements and our troop movements.”

In Vietnam, Caster was assigned to the Target Information Center.

He also knew men whose names are on The Wall. “I didn’t look them up. I was a replacement, so everybody I trained with was scattered throughout the whole country. I don’t know today even how many were killed or how many made it back.”

Caster was stationed at a combat base and says there were rocket attacks all the time. “You could hear them coming in, and then you would head for the trenches. When they go off, you hear the shrapnel going off through the hooches [huts]. Fortunately, I was not injured and got out OK.”

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 67 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | FEATURE

Roddy Moore served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He participated in The Final Mission in May 2017.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 68 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Kurt Geschwender served in the Marines during the Vietnam War. He also participated in The Final Mission.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 69 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

The Remembering Our Fallen Tribute Towers were unveiled in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 7, 2017.

Geschwender also remembers the shrapnel.

Once he was walking into a bunker when he heard a very distinctive noise. “It’s kind of like a whistle and a buzz. When you heard that, you were OK because that meant the rockets went over you,” he says. Inside the bunker, smoke and dust was in the air. “My nose was bleeding and I could hear a fire burning. I thought we took a direct hit.” Climbing out of the bunker, he fell forward into a trench. “Right where I had been standing was where that rocket had impacted. Shrapnel is hot and razor sharp, and I went down on it on all fours. Unbelievable the devastation from a little, old 120mm rocket.”

Arriving back at Lincoln Airport on May 1 and receiving heroes’ welcomes was quite different from their experiences of arriving in the United States from Vietnam. Moore—whose service ended in December 1967—remembers shortly after his homecoming: “I was in San Francisco. Outside a restaurant there was a bunch of hippies. I’m dressed in my Class A uniform, and there was a little confrontation.

It wasn’t a pleasant experience.”

Geschwender remembers just trying to fit in after his service ended in August 1969. “No matter how hard you try, you can’t go back.

You can’t erase the last two years of your life.

I was always in fear that somebody would say, ‘Well, he just got back from Vietnam.’ I didn’t want anybody to know. You just wanted to try and blend back in.”

Saying he always enjoyed drawing, Moore used the GI Bill at Central Community College in Hastings to become a draftsman. In 1984, he started his own company in Omaha—Moore and Associates PC—that specialized in the criminal justice field. He designed, for example, county jails, state prisons, and juvenile detention centers. Moore retired in 2014.

Caster flew to Chicago O’Hare in February 1970 and was met by his girlfriend. “I didn’t really have any bad experiences,” he says. “We picked up my bag, got in the car, and went home.”

Caster, Geschwender, and Moore didn’t know each other during their active-duty years but they are best friends now. “We met riding,” Caster says. Geschwender provides details. “Rod and I were Harley riders. Two guys introduced us. Doc is my neighbor and chiropractor.” Caster rides a Yamaha and calls it a “YamaHarley.” “He’s got one that is just as good as a Harley but doesn’t cost as much,” Geschwender adds, laughing.

It had been two years since Caster earned his chiropractic degree in 1968. “By the time I got things squared away and got my head straight, I decided I needed some refresher courses.” He was able to use the GI Bill education benefits and has been a chiropractor for 44 years.

Geschwender used the GI Bill for about three semesters of courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, although he didn’t earn a degree. In 1970, he obtained a real estate license and has been employed in real estate for 42 years.

Each man pauses and reflects before answering if they had any regrets about serving in the military during the Vietnam War. “I’ve often said if I was to go back and do it again, if I could be with the same guys that I was with over there, I’d be honored to serve with them again,” Moore replies.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | FEATURE

Geschwender then immediately says: “I totally agree. There were times I wished I was in college instead of Vietnam, but I’d do it tomorrow if I had to.”

Caster adds: “[Being] drafted into the Marine Corps was unheard of. In fact, we were one of the last draftees that the Marine Corps had. But, I wouldn’t give it up for nothing. I was proud to be in the Marines and serve my country.”

Moore concludes, “I took an oath when I went into the Army and there isn’t an expiration date on it.”

THE NEXT MISSION: REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN TRIBUTE TOWERS There’s also no expiration date on the commitment Bill and Evonne Williams feel toward the military. The first sentence on the homepage at their Patriotic Productions website states, “We are dedicated to honoring our military and bringing back old-fashioned patriotism to Americans.” The Final Mission on May 1 only means they won’t be coordinating subsequent honor flights.

They will continue to honor the military by dedicating their attention, time, and fundraising efforts on the national Remembering Our Fallen Tribute Towers. Unveiling occurred at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 7. New York City will host the display on Nov. 11 for Veterans Day. In September 2010, the Williamses read an article in the newspaper that described a father’s ongoing grief four years after his son, Sgt. Joshua Ford, had died in Iraq. The father, Lonnie Ford, was afraid his son had been forgotten. The article led the Williamses to think “we have to do something,” and the result was the creation of the nation’s first Remembering Our Fallen state memorial in Nebraska during November that year.

The display honors 87 Nebraskans who have died in the War on Terror since Sept. 11, 2001. Both military and personal photos are included in the memorial that has traveled across Nebraska since January 2011.

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The Patriotic Productions website summarizes the idea behind Remembering Our Fallen: “to honor the memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, to provide comfort to friends and family of the fallen, and to remind others of the tremendous cost paid by some.”

Shortly after completion of the Nebraska memorial, the Williamses expanded their efforts to coordinate other state memorials. “Now we have 19 state-specific memorials, including Nebraska, that travel around their state,” Evonne says.

Even before The Final Mission planes landed in Lincoln on May 1, the Williamses had been working on the Remembering Our Fallen Tribute Towers. “At this point, we haven’t determined to do more state memorials. The national one is so prominent, and it includes all the states, and it is so beautiful,” Evonne says.

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That beauty includes 25 tribute towers featuring three double-sided banners with photos of the fallen. Created at Renze Display in Omaha, each of the banners is 10 feet high and 5 feet wide with 200 individuals represented on each tower. The memorial includes photos of more than 4,500 service members; upon completion, 40 tribute towers will display photos of more than 7,000. The entire display would fill an area the size of a basketball court. And, unlike the state memorials, the tribute towers can be kept outdoors because they can withstand inclement weather conditions.

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“Eventually all of our nation’s fallen will be included. Right now we have about 65-70 percent of them. We are still trying to reach families and hoping that they will hear about it and contact us because it’s just hard to find them all,” Evonne says.

She elaborates about specifically designated towers: “We have a separate tribute tower for those who died stateside while serving. Training accidents, parachutes that didn’t deploy, whatever it might be.” Another tower is dedicating to those who had been deployed to the war zone, struggled with post-traumatic stress, and died from suicide after returning home. “Many struggled for years, and then all of a sudden, they just couldn’t do it anymore. Those are the hard ones. I just sit here with my head in my hands.

It’s difficult.”

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Recognizing the tears-of-happiness moments associated with the honor flights, the Williamses also have experienced tears-of-sadness moments with the Remembering Our Fallen state memorials and tribute towers. Referring to Evonne, Bill relates, “She spends hundreds and hundreds of hours looking at those young faces.”

Evonne talks about her moments of tears. “Every time I get discouraged or frustrated I think, ‘It could be our son.’” Bill and Evonne are the parents of four sons. One is on active duty in the Army. A second son served in the Army, and two served in the Marines.

Dismissing all the tears and amount of time spent on the honor flights, Remembering Our Fallen state memorials and tribute towers, there is a bottom line for the Williamses. “It’s the least we can do, and it’s an honor if we can spend our days here trying to honor these men and women who died for us,” Evonne says.

Citing Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies as examples, she notes how many veterans attend. “Where are the rest of us? It’s not the veterans’ job to thank the veterans. It’s the civilians’ job. By looking at these photos on the memorials, maybe it helps teach children an appreciation for country and our military. It’s important to know that our freedom comes at a very costly price.”

Visit patrioticproductions.org for more information.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | SPONSORED CONTENT

Omaha is one of the most military-friendly towns in the nation. In fact, one of the

largest employers in the area is nearby Offutt Air Force Base, with more than 10,000 base jobs and more than 4,500 indirect jobs generated through the base, according to Offutt’s Economic Impact Analysis in 2015.

The city is not simply home to active-duty military, but to many veterans and retirees.

The same analysis stated that Omaha is home to nearly 9,000 military dependents.

More than 43,000 retirees live within 150 miles of Offutt.

That’s why Omaha is home to so many veteran-friendly companies, whether they are veteran-owned, veteran-friendly, or offer discounts to veterans who work with their business.

The following businesses are telling their story of how they “HonOUR” veterans, just as we at Omaha Magazine “HonOUR” veterans—today and every day.

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WOUNDED WARRIORS FAMILY SUPPORT Supporting Families of Soldiers Wounded, Injured or Killed in Combat wwfs.org

Jesus ‘Chuy’ Vasquez was only 17 when he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2001. During his time with 2nd Force Reconnaissance he deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit in 2003 to Iraq, and then again in 2005. He was awarded two Combat Action Ribbons, the Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the National Defense Medal among others.

He also became a jumpmaster.

In 2006, his career as a Marine came to a screeching halt when he had an accident during a free fall parachute training exercise in North Carolina that resulted in a severely broken leg and required a plate with 12 screws in his leg. This accident was also the cause of his traumatic brain injury. His leg was not healing with the plate and screws so after several attempts to salvage his leg, involving over 20 surgeries, doctors recommended that his leg be amputated. On Oct. 1, 2010, his medical team amputated his leg.

Seven months later, after lots of rehabilitation at the Center For the Intrepid, he was able to come back home for good.

Chuy, his wife Penny, and their three daughters were guests of Wounded Warriors at their Bahama Bay retreat in Florida. This was especially important because Chuy had appointments at a prosthetic clinic in the Orlando area. This made his life, and his family’s, much easier. These Bahama Bay retreats are an important program that is made possible generous donations.

Wounded Warriors Family Support’s mission is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured, or killed during combat operations. Rated a four-star nonprofit by Charity Navigator, WWFS supports veterans and their families, even after physical needs are met, to help them heal, recover, and reconnect. WWFS provides the following services free of charge to veterans and their families:

• Family Programs that give wounded veterans a chance to heal and reconnect with their loved ones in a peaceful, non-stress environment, strengthening the bonds of their families and making lasting memories.

• Veterans Welding Training Program, a partnership with UAW-Ford, provides veterans with skills to pursue in-demand careers in welding. The program prepares veterans to pursue apprenticeships and entry-level positions in welding.

• Native American Veterans Support, Transition and Respite (NAVSTaR) Program, provides vehicles to Native American tribes to assists in getting veterans to and from VA hospitals. Many tribes are hundreds of miles from the nearest facility and are in need of safe, reliable transportation.

• Caregiver Respite Services to ensure that family members who are thrust into caregiver roles are provided with the support they need to keep their families intact while keeping themselves healthy.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | SPONSORED CONTENT

CUSTOM DIESEL DRIVERS TRAINING, INC. 14615 Cornhusker Rd., Omaha, NE 68138 402.894.1400 besttruckdriverstraining.com

James Walker bleeds red, white, and blue. As

“It was awfully hard for me to come out of the military and have someone stand over my shoulder and tell me what to do,” Walker says.

a young man, Walker served under the military occupation code 63F, Army Recovery Specialist, from 1979-1982. In the years just post-Vietnam, this position was especially important to the military. Walker performed operator maintenance on all types of wreckers, recovery vehicles, and associated equipment.

Instead, he turned to a profession with a natural fit for his skill set, and his mind set. One in which he could be his own boss. As a truck driver, Walter served his country by moving supplies from place to place. He had learned to drive a truck years before from “the guy across the street.” The guy was Denzil Edwards, Bonnie’s father.

“We used an M-88 tank and got other tanks and brought them back,” Walker says. “We had a 28-wheel tractor-trailer, that was my specialty.”

In 2003, he dropped off a resume at Custom Diesel Drivers’ Training. At that point, he was tired of driving and wanted to try a new profession. Five years later, then-director Walt Craft called Walker and wanted to speak with him.

Walker and his unit spent three years recovering vehicles and sending them back to his base at Fort Riley, Kansas. It was three proud years for Walker—three that helped guide the course of his life.

“I probably would have made a career out of the military, if I hadn’t not gotten married,” Walker says.

Walker came back to the Midwest and began a life with his now-wife of 37 years, Bonnie.

Transitioning from military service to civilian life was not easy.

Walker accepted a position as an instructor for one year before then-president Roger Alger asked Walker if he was interested in buying the business.

Walker was not, but Alger told Craft that Walker should look into all the company files and learn as much as he could about the business. One year later Walker bought the company, with some financial help from Alger.

Under Walker’s ownership, the business has grown from 41 students in his first year to more than 300 students annually. Many of those students are veterans. Walker and his employees work hand-in-hand with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to obtain funding for veterans interested in studying to get a commercial driver’s license.

They also maintain relationships with other trucking companies and serve as an unofficial unemployment office for their students, since they have knowledge of who is hiring in the industry.

Walker says most trucking companies are veteranfriendly, and trucking is a good way for someone coming out of the military to earn a decent income and be their own boss.

They also created a commemorative truck, featuring an image of a soldier on the cab and an image of an American flag on the trailer. The company displays this truck as a symbol of gratitude at veteran-friendly events, such as those with the First Responders Foundation, whenever requested.

“I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in if people hadn’t helped me out,” Walker says. “So I try to help out as many people as I can.”

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VETERAN’S LEGAL SUPPORT NETWORK P.O. Box 34247 Omaha, NE 68134 402.765.8387 vlsn.org

Most people have heard the story—a service member deploys and doesn’t come back the same. It is true; rarely does anyone deploy and not come back changed. Many of these service members however, come back injured.

An injury that cannot be seen or even recognized when others talk to them. This is called post-traumatic stress disorder. It is real and it will continue to cause damage far from the battlefield where it was inflicted.

A disproportionate share of these injured veterans turn to drugs and alcohol to “self-medicate” their problems.

They have been taught to be resilient and help others— not be helped—but they break down. They get DUI’s or have confrontations with family and friends that can turn physical.

This is where Veterans Legal Support Network assists. The organization works within the jails and veterans treatment courts to get veterans the legal support they need and services they deserve. Because the organization leaders are veterans themselves, veterans learn they can trust these leaders. Veterans Legal Support Network serves them all because they all served for us.

Veterans eat at no cost, Veterans Day 11/11/17 THANK YOU for your service!

Locations Miracle Hills 725 N 114th Aksarben Village 67th & Center Nebraska Crossing Outlets v o o d o o t a c o . c o m

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“ From the government’s point of view, if they treat you medically and send you off with all the right pills, they’ve done their job as far as they’re concerned. But what’s not taken care of is how they [veterans] fill their time and their sense of purpose” - jim o’Keefe

OMAHA MAGAZINE | GIVING FEATURE STORY BY SEAN MCCARTHY // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN & ILLUSTRATIONS BY MATT WIECZOREK

TWICE A MONTH, Troy Muller visits the Douglas County Correctional Center to run an art class for incarcerated veterans.

Tattoos are the theme of Muller’s first class in September. He lays out elaborate drawings of dragons, skulls, crosses, and tribal designs for the 20 or so participants. The assignment is for inmates to trace a design then add their own embellishments.

U.S. Army veteran and inmate Isaac Whitney plans on tracing a cross, drawing some dog tags over it, and adding “R.I.P. Sgt. Beste” engraved on a tag.

Bradley Beste was killed by an improvised explosive device in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006. Whitney says Beste and other sergeants helped show him the ropes when he first deployed to Iraq.

“I’d only been a soldier for five months, and now I’m in the worst place in Iraq,” Whitney recalls. “Those guys really understood.”

In Ramadi, Whitney says he was caught in a few IED explosions. A few people in his platoon were killed. When Whitney returned home in 2007 after his second tour, he knew something was wrong. He was angry. He didn’t want to go to sleep. And he constantly wanted to go back to Iraq.

“It just starts to wear on the mind. I started drinking pretty heavily. Then, when I got out of the Army, that’s when I turned to drugs, and I started to get into trouble,” Whitney says.

With his short hair and his fast-but-measured method of speaking (his father, Rory, is a pastor), you could mistake Whitney for a motivational speaker or a marketing associate. But he’s not. He’s in jail, awaiting trial. If convicted, he could face more than 20 years for repeated drug and burglary charges.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | GIVING FEATURE

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Pictured here are military veterans and inmates at the Douglas County Correctional Center. New Century Art Guild classes are free to veterans in jail and in the community at large.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | GIVING FEATURE

These art classes, taught through New Century Art Guild, help him cope with his post-traumatic stress disorder. Whitney says the nonprofit organization has opened his eyes to the arts and helped him sleep. It has also reacquainted him with other veterans.

“To do this with other veterans, first and foremost, it builds that bond again,” Whitney says.

Jim O’Keefe, president of New Century Art Guild, explains that many incarcerated veterans have stories similar to Whitney’s.

“They’re brittle. They shatter easily. They jump at noises. They’re like a stem on a wine glass. You squeeze it a little too hard, and all of a sudden, it breaks in your hand,” O’Keefe says.

The Douglas County Correctional Center classes are just part of the guild’s many community initiatives. Some of the program’s most acclaimed artists have experienced similar difficulty acclimating back to civilian life.

After coming back from a deployment in Iraq that included working at the detention facility Camp Bucca, artist and photographer Roberta “Bert” Leaverton struggled with the idea of going to the Veterans Affairs hospital for help with her PTSD. “I still have two arms and two legs, but I’m jacked up here,” Leaverton says as she points to her temple.

It took choking a coworker in 2004 to change that.

She was in tight quarters (by a copy machine).

A coworker walked past her unexpectedly.

Papers went flying.

“I wasn’t even in the moment. I just remember putting my hands around his neck, and trying to take him down. And then I stood there, and I cried,” Leaverton says. “And he’s like ‘God, I know I’m ugly, but I didn’t think I was that ugly.’”

No charges were filed against Leaverton for the incident. Since then, Leaverton has been treated for PTSD. She’s also developed a panache for detailing miniature military figures and photographing them. Her work has been showcased in San Francisco as well as the Bemis Center in Omaha. In August, her work was displayed at the Mule Barn at Metropolitan Community College as part of an exhibit that featured artists from the New Century Art Guild.

The nonprofit’s mission is to train veterans in art as well as business. A vital aspect of the guild’s services is to help veterans cope with PTSD through art. This is done through classes, peer-to-peer training, and by visiting inmates who have served in the military.

A naval commander who served in Vietnam, O’Keefe was a nuclear safety and security officer before retiring in 1994 to start up a few software companies. With his silverish hair, trim mustache, and an affinity for sailor talk, O’Keefe is a near ideal vision of how you’d picture a Navy admiral. In 2013, he decided to sit in on a class taught by Troy Muller, the guild’s art director.

“It was a particularly lame one,” O’Keefe says referring to the class, which included not only veterans but children and bored teenagers.

The group was a powder keg of tension.

Muller set out about 60 drums. The first ones to jump in on the action were the little kids. Then the teenagers started to participate.

Eventually, some of the veterans started to get in on the drumming.

“The shit level in that room just dropped right down to the floor,” O’Keefe says. “I looked around and said, ‘There is something to this.’”

The art classes offered by New Century Art Guild are free to veterans. The guild also hosts exhibitions and workshops. As a Better Business Bureau-accredited charity, the guild offers free business advice to veterans who are hoping to turn their art into a career.

Participants in the guild are divided into three levels. The first level are the hundreds of veterans who go to the art classes. The second level is the instructors who can teach or run workshops. Finally, the third level is a small group of professional-level artists.

Whether using art or other means, the need to address veterans’ mental health concerns has become a pressing social concern. A report by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs found that in 2014, an average of 20 veterans die by suicide each day. About 65 percent of those committing suicide were above the age of 50.

“From the government’s point of view, if they treat you medically and send you off with all the right pills, they’ve done their job as far as they’re concerned. But what’s not taken care of is how they [veterans] fill their time and their sense of purpose,” O’Keefe says.

O’Keefe says he’s seen veterans rearrange their schedules to come to classes.

“We kind of think there’s enough juice in your head to do one of two things. You can do art, or you can kill yourself. But there’s not enough to do both,” O’Keefe says.

Back at the their exhibition at Metro Community College, O’Keefe takes a moment to sit down on the floor, resting briefly. He then nonchalantly pulls out both of his hearing aids—a cost of being on a naval carrier for years. In late 2016, O’Keefe was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Despite the diagnosis, he still presides as president of the guild, and accepts no money for the position.

“I’m done with chemo. My graduation picture didn’t turn out so good,” O’Keefe says, before getting up to continue looking at the paintings produced by veterans his guild has helped.

Visit newcenturyartguild.org for more information about the New Century Art Guild.

Left: A wall inside the Douglas County Correctional Center NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 83 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

GIVING

CALENDAR NOVEMBER / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7

Nov. 19-25 (hours vary)

FEZTIVAL OF TREES Tangier Shrine Center

tangiershrine.wildapricot.org

View trees decorated by local businesses, organizations, and affiliates of the Tangier Shrine.

Purchase raffle tickets for chances to win prizes and a free tree (each tree features prizes valued at $500 or more). Admission is $2 per person; children under 12 enter free with adult.

Nov. 1 (starts at 8:30 a.m.)

2017 NONPROFIT SUMMIT OF THE MIDLANDS Benefiting: Nonprofit Association of the Midlands Location: La Vista Conference Center —nonprofitam.org

Nov. 2 (10 a.m.-8 p.m.)

CHRISTMAS CARAVAN 2017

Benefiting: Assistance League of Omaha Location: Various homes in Omaha

Nov. 3 (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)

Nov. 3 (5:30-8 p.m.)

Nov. 9 (6-9 p.m.)

Benefiting: Youth Emergency Services Location: Scott Conference Center

Benefiting: American Red Cross Location: Regency Lodge

Benefiting: Merrymakers Location: Omaha Design Center

BREAKING THE CYCLE LUNCHEON

—yesomaha.org

Nov. 3 (6-9:30 p.m.)

RALLY FOR KIDS

Benefiting: Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Inc. Location: Hilton Omaha —lfsneb.org

AN EVENING OF APPRECIATION —redcross.org

TOAST TO HAL DAUB —merrymakers.org

Nov. 5 (11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.)

Nov. 10-12 (times vary)

Benefiting: Roncalli Catholic High School Location: Roncalli Catholic High School

Benefiting: Joslyn Castle Location: Various locations

RONCALLI CATHOLIC HIGH TEA

—roncallicatholic.org

HISTORIC HOME TOUR & BOUTIQUE —joslyncastle.com

Nov. 5 (noon-4 p.m.)

HONEY SUNDAY

—alomaha.org

Benefiting: Ollie Webb Center Inc. Location: Throughout Omaha

Nov. 2 (5:30-9 p.m.)

MILAGRO DINNER

—olliewebbinc.org

Benefiting: OneWorld Community Health Centers Location: Hilton Omaha

Nov. 9 (5-9 p.m.)

NURSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

—oneworldomaha.org

Nov. 3 (6-8:30 p.m.)

Benefiting: March of Dimes Location: Hilton Omaha

—nurseoftheyear.marchofdimes.org

LET’S GROW HERE GALA

Benefiting: Big Muddy Urban Farm Location: University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Sorrell Center —bigmuddyurbanfarm.org

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EMPOWERMENT 4 LIFE YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

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Benefiting: Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition Location: NorthStar

Thanks Omaha for 30 Years!

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Nov. 10 (9 a.m.-2 p.m.)

Oma ha ’s

OMAHA MAGAZINE | GIVING CALENDAR

—somsne.com

2016 Winner

Nov. 11 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

HOOPS 4 LIFE 3 ON 3 YOUTH BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT Benefiting: Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition Location: NorthStar —somsne.com

Nov. 11 (time TBD)

BIG RED BLOCK PARTY

A+ Rating 20 Consecutive Years

8 Consecutive Years

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Benefiting: Junior League of Omaha Location: Scott Conference Center —jlomaha.org

Nov. 11 (3-5 p.m.)

HONORS ORCHESTRA CONCERT

Benefiting: Omaha Area Youth Orchestras Location: OPS TAC Auditorium —oayo.org

Nov. 11 (6-10 p.m.)

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER GALA Benefiting: Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Foundation Location: CenturyLink Center —childrensfoundationomaha.org

USE THEM. DON’T LOSE THEM!

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Nov. 11 (7-11:30 p.m.)

ROCK TO RAISE

Benefiting: The John Atkinson Lung Cancer Foundation Location: St. Nicholas Community Center —johnatkinsonfoundation.org

Nov. 13-Dec. 11

EMPOWERING WOMEN FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING Benefiting: Open Door Mission Location: Open Door Mission —opendoormission.org

Dr, Marsha Kubica, Dr. Kristen Johnson & Dr. Corey Langford 402.330.3000 14607 West Center Road | OmahaEyeCare.com

Nov. 14 (Noon-1 p.m.)

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE MIDLANDS MATCHMAKER LUNCHEON Benefiting: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands Location: UNO Thompson Alumni Center —bbbsomaha.org

Nov. 15 (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)

ANNUAL MEETING & LUNCHEON Benefiting: Project Harmony Location: Happy Hollow Club —projectharmony.com

Serving 140 senior facilities throughout Nebraska and Iowa.

Nov. 16 (5 a.m.-6 p.m.)

HOPE FOR HUNGRY RADIOTHON Benefiting: Open Door Mission Location: KFAB 1110 AM —opendoormission.org

Merrymakers is a charity serving the elderly in their senior care and residential facilities. We bring monthly professional musical entertainment to improve seniors’ quality of life.

402-697-0205 | merrymakers.org | 12020 Shamrock Plz Ste. 200, Omaha, NE 68154 NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 85 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | GIVING CALENDAR Nov. 16 (5:30-9:30 p.m.)

STOCK MARKET CHAMPIONSHIP 2017

Benefiting: Boys and Girls Clubs of the Midlands Location: Hilton Omaha —http://bgcomaha.org

Nov. 16 (6-9 p.m.)

SALUTE TO FAMILIES

Benefiting: Heartland Family Service Location: Happy Hollow Club —http://heartlandfamilyservice.org

Nov. 17 (6-9 p.m.)

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY

Benefiting: The Durham Museum Location: The Durham Museum —durhammuseum.org

Now Offering Grooming!

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Boarding • Daycare • Grooming 13706 C St. Omaha, NE 68144 402.933.4007 BarkAvenueOmaha.com

Nov. 18 (1-3 p.m.)

MEET & GREET AT THE GREEN SPOT Benefiting: Pug Partners of Nebraska Location: The Green Spot —pugpartners.com

Nov. 23 (8:45-11 a.m.)

2017 TURKEY TROT

Benefiting: Make-a-Wish Nebraska Location: Lewis & Clark Landing —nebraska.wish.org

Feztival

Nov. 23 (9 a.m.)

TURKEY TROT 5K RUN/WALK

of Trees

$2 per person (Age 13 & Up)

$1 RAFFLE TICKETS available for purchase all week.

Benefiting: Joslyn Castle Location: Turner Park in Midtown Crossing —joslyncastle.com

Dec. 1 (6-9 p.m.)

NUTCRACKER GALA

Benefiting: Ballet Nebraska Location: Orpheum Theater —balletnebraska.org

Visit TANGIER SHRINE and walk through a winter wonderland of trees.

Every decorated, artificial tree, fully loaded with gifts, will be raffled on Saturday,

November 25 at 9pm * Yo u d o n o t h a v e t o b e p r e s e n t t o w i n *

DATES & TIMES

Sun, Nov 19 12:00pm-6:00pm Mon, Nov 20 10:00am-9:00pm Tue, Nov 21 10:00am-9:00pm Wed, Nov 22 10:00am-9:00pm Thu, Nov 23 (Thanksgiving) Closed Fri, Nov 24 9:00am-9:00pm Sat, Nov 25 9:00am-9:00pm

TIME WITH SANTA

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2823 S 84th St. / Omaha, NE 68124 / 402.392.0404 NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 86 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | GIVING CALENDAR Dec. 4-8

PROJECT ELF HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE

Benefiting: Nebraska Children’s Home Society Location: Nebraska Children’s Home Society —nchs.org

Dec. 6 (5:30-9 p.m.)

REEL TO REAL SUSTAINABILITY FILM FESTIVAL Benefiting: The Green Omaha Coalition Location: Aksarben Cinema

Give today, and we’ll sweeten the gift.

—greenomaha.org

Open a new charitable giving account by December 29, and we’ll match 10% of your initial contribution.* You want to make a difference in the community. And right now your generosity can go even further thanks to a matching grant from the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation.

Dec. 7 (1:30-3 p.m.)

CHRISTMAS IN OUR HEARTS CONCERT Benefiting: Community 360° Location: Kroc Center

To learn more, call us at 402-342-3458 or visit omahafoundation.org/incentive *While funds last. $1,000 match maximum.

—community-360.org

Dec. 9 (7:30 a.m.-noon)

2017 NEBRASKA JINGLE BELL RUN

Benefiting: Arthritis Foundation Nebraska Location: Strategic Air and Space Museum and Mahoney State Park —jbr.org

Dec. 10 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.)

RUTH SOLOKOF CHRISTMAS PARTY

Benefiting: Nebraska Foundation for Visually Impaired Children Location: Westroads Mall —nfvic.org

Dec. 27 (6-11 p.m.)

OMAHA SYMPHONY DEBUTANTE BALL Benefiting: Omaha Symphony Location: Embassy Suites La Vista —omahasymphony.org

Event times and details may change.

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

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OMAHA HOME opener

ALWAYS LOCAL, ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor, OmahaHome

E

VEN WITH THE best-laid plans, there’s always so much to do! This is the final installment of my yearlong room makeover before the grand reveal in the January/ February issue.

Have you noticed the theme in my DIY photoshoots? Gravel roads, cornfields, old wooden S an d barns, and anything y' s ch il d h o reflecting a country od h o me setting (or the outdoors) makes a great backdrop for photos.

Having grown up in rural Iowa, these locations also bring personal meaning to each project.

As they say, “You can take the girl off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the girl.”

Need some holiday inspiration? Look no further than this issue. Granted, we don’t all live in a historic condo that overlooks the Holiday Lights Festival at Gene Leahy Mall, but Mary Jochim’s home will surely inspire you to put up holiday decorations.

Everyone has their own tastes. I enjoy pulling out a string of white lights and cutting fresh greens to make the house look elegant and smell like Christmas. I also like to collect items throughout the year while thrifting and shopping for sales.

Unwrapping and hanging these decorations for the first time is like giving a small gift to yourself.

Here’s another gift: This will be my first Christmas as a grandma. It’s hard to believe—it seems like only yesterday that I was sitting on my own grandmother’s lap at family get-togethers.

This little boy (named River) has been a blessing to our family, and I look to memories of Grandma Ruth for inspiration.

Whatever you celebrate this holiday season, we wish you a wonderful, tradition-filled holiday.

HOLIDAY OVER THE OLD MARKET

Sandy OmahaHome

“The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing others’ loads, and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holidays.”

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November/December 2017

Publisher TODD LEMKE

EDITORIAL Executive Editor DOUG MEIGS Managing Editor: B2B Omaha, FamilyGuide DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Managing Editor: Encounter ERIC STOAKES

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OmahaHome • November/December 2017

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November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

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ITEMS NEEDED • Wood mantel • White semigloss paint in White Dove (Benjamin Moore) • Two cans Painter’s Touch 2x Ultra Cover Primer in f lat white • Sponge roller • Sandpaper • Fireplace screen (for added realistic charm) • Table saw • Lumber 3/4- to 1-inch thick (I used two 4-foot long pieces.)

Mantel Makeover ADDING UNCONVENTIONAL ELEGANCE

DIY story by Sandy Matson

here’s something inviting and whimsical about a fireplace— faux or real. I love the way it adds an artistic element to a wall. Even more, it’s a perfect fit for this holiday issue. Who doesn’t like to decorate a mantel this time of year?

It’s not the first time I have implemented this clever idea in a room of my house that did not have an actual working fireplace. I have previously added a mantel in place of a headboard in two prior bedrooms. After moving from these houses, each new owner wanted the mantels to stay.

Instructions It’s easiest to work on this type of project upright, so I leaned it up against the wall in the garage with newspaper around and under it.

Step 1: Remove any and all nails if you purchased this used.

Step 2: Sand down any rough areas or parts that may come through after painting, or if it has high gloss.

Step 3: Prime the mantel with spray primer, and use a sponge hand applicator to get into hard-to-access areas. I did several coats of spray, then went back over with the sponge roller for a smooth finish.

Step 4: Use top-coat in the color of choice. Seal if desired.

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

It’s not the first time I have implemented this clever idea in a room of my house that did not have an actual working fireplace.

I found my used surround on Craigslist for $25. Someone was remodeling and simply wanted to get rid of it. If you’re not so lucky, you can buy a new one from a fireplace shop (sometimes they have close-out models). Or check salvage/antique shops and auctions.

Maybe you could just build one yourself? I ran across several tutorials on building faux fireplace surrounds online.

So, I’m starting over with this mantel makeover project. Thanks to the internet, it’s easy to find tutorials for putting together a mantel and the accompanying surround, which would provide elegant ambiance and interest to the room.

Regardless of how you find your mantel, make it your own. It will provide a real focal point in the room. OmahaHome

How to Mount on Wall This part of my project required me to recruit my husband. After doing a little research, I decided the easiest way to mount the mantel without using any screws or nails was to use what is called a “French cleat.” You’ll find lots of tutorials on this procedure on the internet. The concept is simple: two pieces of wood are cut with a 45-degree angle and then interlock. One piece is mounted to the wall and the other to the back of the mantel.

As far as anything on the inside (normally where your fireplace would be), you can get creative depending on how permanent you want to make it.

I had an extra mirror left over from a bathroom redo. It fit perfectly on the inside and the ref lection makes it more interesting. This hard surface, where the hearth would have been, provided a f lat space for arranging candles and decorative items.

Step 1: Take one piece of lumber (3/4- to 1-inch thick), then use a table saw set at a 45-degree angle to split that piece of wood in half. These two pieces of wood now match together.

Now decorate away! Think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to try different and unexpected things. And don’t forget that the grand reveal of my yearlong project will appear in the next issue.

OmahaHome

Step 2: Take the lower piece and mount to the wall with chiseled face pointing up and out.

Step 3: Mount the other piece to the mantel and then interlock the two pieces.

Sandy’s yearlong DIY remodeling series began with an introduction to the room in the January/February issue. The first of five projects, a hanging cof fee filter lamp, debuted in the March/April issue. Rustic wall vases followed in the May/June issue. Vintage classic chairs were in the July/August issue. A dresser redo appeared in September/October. Visit readonlinenow.com to review back issues.

Step 4: Hang on the wall. Keep in mind, you will want to either remove or notch out your trim boards, where the fireplace legs are, so the mantel sits f lat against the wall.

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

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The design scheme is amazing, too: Egyptian-inf luenced, with 25-foot-tall ceilings, and an art collection that includes works from regional artists Hal Holoun, Steve Joy, Wendy Bantam, and Susan Brasch displayed on the walls.

Spaces story by Kara Schweiss

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

Holiday Over The Old Market MARY JOCHIM’S SEASONAL CONDO DÉCOR

M

ary Jochim’s penthouse-level condominium in the A.K. Riley Building at 10th and Douglas streets boasts exceptional views of the Gene Leahy Mall and Old Market to the south and an unmatched eastern view of the riverfront, Heartland of America Park, and many notable historic buildings. The design scheme is amazing, too: Egyptian-inf luenced, with 25-foot-tall ceilings, and an art collection that includes works from regional artists Hal Holoun, Steve Joy, Wendy Bantam, and Susan Brasch displayed on the walls.

But during the Christmas holiday period, the home of Jochim (and her 4-pound teacup poodle, Mini-Me) transforms into a wonderland.

“I quite often joke that Jesus and I were born on the same day, different year. So Christmas is a special holiday, which it would be with or without my birthday,” Jochim says. “I never want to forget that Christmas is a sacred, religious holiday for Christians. It is a serious and joyous holiday.” >

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

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SPACES < Jochim, a “very visual person” who “draws energ y from my surroundings,” blends an energizing color palette into her holiday decorating. She festoons her living space with exquisite glass ornaments, wreaths and other greenery, ribbons, twinkling lights, and both small tabletop trees and their fullsize counterparts.

The décor spans the 3,100 square feet of living space that includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study, and a library, along with a large open-concept kitchen and dining area, living room, and formal dining room. It’s fortunate that Jochim has ample on-site storage space, because the decorating process takes up to three weeks even with the help of a volunteer or two.

“Christmas has evolved as my tastes have changed; I have added some each year as well as retired some decorations,” she says. “Because of my new home I’ve made quite a few more changes this year, many because of the beautiful view of the [Holiday Lights Festival at Gene Leahy Mall] Christmas lights from my two southern windows.”

The Riley building was erected in 1879 and a major renovation commenced a century later. The current owner is Pinnacle Bank.

“Certainly a lot of credit goes to Thomas Briccetti, former conductor of Omaha Symphony, and his wife, Billie Lee Mommer, who was an interior designer, for redeveloping this building,” Jochim says. “It takes a lot of good people, preservation-minded organizations, and business to prevent the demise of historic buildings.”

Jochim adds that she’s turned to two ASID-certified designers over the years to craft the look of both her home and office spaces: “I have depended on Julia Russell of Julia Russell Designs to modify and expand on the late Ruth Ann Davis’ work in my new home and office. Julia has done an amazing job.” >

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“Christmas has evolved as my tastes have changed; I have added some each year as well as retired some decorations.”

— Mary

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

Jochim

SPACES

“Entertaining brings me great joy,” Jochim says.

Clockwise from left: Desiree Sanders, Julia Russell, Mary Jochim

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OmahaHome • November/December 2017

She has resided in the Riley building for less than two years, but Jochimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home seamlessly accommodates her holiday hospitality.

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OmahaHome â&#x20AC;˘ November/December 2017

SPACES < She has resided in the R iley building for less than two years, but Jochim’s home seamlessly accommodates her holiday hospitality.

“The expansiveness of the space allows me to do more than I could in a traditional home.

With this space, the tall ceilings, exposed brick, and old beams make for a great space without doing a thing, or any credit due me. So with decorations and the holiday lights up and down the Leahy Mall, it can be jawdropping,” she says.

Jochim, who owns the investment advisory firm Sterling Financial Advisors, certainly enjoys the festive atmosphere from her home-based office during the workweek, but the atmosphere enthralls friends and family.

“Entertaining brings me great joy,” Jochim says. “Yes, I like to hear that people are a bit ‘wowed,’ but my goal is to set a mood for my guests to feel special, to feel the joy of the season. And yes, provide some of the wonderment we all probably had as kids.” OmahaHome

BUILD MORE THAN MUSCLE

When you join the Y, you’re committing to more than simply becoming healthier.

You are supporting the values & programs that strengthen your community. At the Y, children learn what they can achieve, families spend quality time together, & we all build relationships that deepen our sense of belonging.

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA • www.metroymca.org November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

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Neighborhoods story by Hannah Gill

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

SUNSET HILLS Once-Upon-A-Time Suburban Fringe, Still an Enclave of Tranquility

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OmahaHome â&#x20AC;¢ November/December 2017

W

hat do the Meat Puppets and Omaha have in common? Sunset Hills and local millionaire Carl Renstrom.

Renstrom, who died in November of 1981, left behind two grandchildren— Curtis and Christopher Kirkwood—who founded the Meat Puppets with drummer Derrick Bostrom.

While the Meat Puppets have gone on to punk-rock fame, the Renstrom Farm behind Sunset Hills was sold and developed into One Pacific Place. Many residents still fondly remember the farm.

Joyce Green, a resident since 1979, can recall when they could see horses from the backyard. “We felt we were on the west edge of Omaha,” she says. “It was all agriculture.”

Green has even heard stories told by older residents of the Renstrom girls, either Vera or Lisa, selling farm vegetables from their chauffeur-driven car.

Bordered by 90th Street, Pacific Street, and Big Papio Creek, Sunset Hills is hilly with lush old trees, no through-streets, and little traffic.

Steve Sorensen

Betty Salistean, now in her 90s, moved to Sunset Hills during the early 1950s. She relocated from the barracks at Fort Omaha when Pierce Street was still a gravel road. The city limits moved from 60th to 72nd Street

in the early 20th century, and Salistean watched Omaha creep westward from her thennew home.

“It is hard to believe how fast the city has grown,” she says.

Sunset Hills’ neighborhood grew, too. An inf lux of young families caused District 66 to operate a temporary elementary from two houses on South 93rd Avenue.

Finished in 1956, the Sunset Elementary School was built in the California-pod style— featuring sectioned rooms not connected by indoor hallways— favored for speed of construction.

“It was a kind of unique school; it actually doesn’t really belong in Nebraska,” says Steve Sorensen, who grew up in the neighborhood.

“You were immediately outside when you step out the door [of the classrooms].”

In the early 1960s, hallways were added for security and practicality in Nebraska’s inclement weather, and the beloved Sunset Hills Elementary sign was constructed with beams from the original entryway.

A new renovation of the school was underway during this past summer. On Aug. 31, construction workers were busy erecting a canopy entrance for the new building. According to the school’s principal, Michelle Patterson, the local firm TACKarchitects interviewed students about memorable features. These conversations led to incorporating the sign, a canopy entrance modeled

THE CITY LIMITS MOVED FROM 60TH TO 72ND STREET IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, AND SALISTEAN WATCHED OMAHA CREEP WESTWARD FROM HER THENNEW HOME. after the original entrance, glass block windows, and a beloved piece of concrete play equipment, dubbed “The Cheese,” into the new building.

It helped to have a lead architect on the project, TACKarchitects’ Christopher Houston, living in Sunset Hills.

“For how small the school is, we had lots of community support,” Patterson says, “which is kind of a theme around here.”

The design process included 15 meetings with an advisor y committee of community members and informational meetings that f illed the elementar y school’s g ym. This communication informed the school’s redesign— the low building height protected neighborhood views, and plentiful green space surrounded the educational edif ice. Much of the surrounding greener y came from Sunset Valley Golf Course. >

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

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NEIGHBORHOODs

and “nice.” Jack and Joyce Green, both from small towns, have hosted 37 block parties in an annual tradition stretching over 40 years.

“Omaha is made up of a lot of small-town people, and our neighborhood always had that feel,” Joyce Green says, adding that some of Sunset Hills’ newest young families are familiar faces. “That is really a compliment to the neighborhood, that kids want to come back and raise their kids here. They feel like they are coming home to raise their families.”

< Some of “I’VE LIVED IN the greenery, DUNDEE, AND THERE however, could be ARE SOME GREAT disappearing.

THINGS ABOUT LIVING Members THERE. I’VE LIVED IN voted on June 13 to sell the COUNTRY CLUB, AND 46 acres of Sunset Valley THERE ARE SOME Golf Course GREAT THING ABOUT to NP Dodge.

LIVING THERE. BUT Speaking with Magazine in I FEEL HAPPIEST lateOmaha August, company LIVING HERE.” president Nate Dodge

­— Steve Sorensen

says they began a 90-day “due diligence” examination of soil to “test theory if development is possible in an area from an engineering and f inancial standpoint.”

NP Dodge may request a second 90-day period and anticipates developing 15 acres due to the Big Papio Creek’s flood zone.

The company is considering some single-family lots and multifamily buildings, keeping green space and possibly some golf holes as amenities.

“We would love to develop this in a way that would reflect the neighborhood and district,” Dodge says. “We wanted to take in the concerns of people who would be neighbors of the development.”

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OmahaHome • November/December 2017

NP Dodge held three public meetings attended by roughly 180 people, as well as meeting with individuals.

According to the company's president, they have made “meaningful changes because of the input and interaction of the neighborhood.”

“I live seven blocks from there.

Not only have I played that golf course but biked that trail,” Dodge says. “I love that neighborhood and think it could be a great development.”

Dodge is not the only person who thinks Sunset Hills is “on the upswing.” According to Bob Zagoda, chief financial officer for District 66, the district expects growth in the area, and the new elementary building will increase to two sections. This continues a strong concentration of neighborhood students, 83 percent of the total population.

“There were gobs of kids,” Sorensen says of his childhood in Sunset Hills. “There were so many friendships you could have, and the whole neighborhood was your playground.”

Residents describe the community as if it were a small Nebraskan town: “safe”

Sorensen is one of those kids, born in 1959, back since 2007. His family frequently visited Sunset Hills during the interim years. In fact, he considered moving into his mother’s house after her passing but instead opted to purchase a home a few blocks away.

The Sorensens now reside in a beautiful old house he has admired since childhood.

As a kid, he enjoyed hot chocolate on Halloween with the previous resident.

He also recalls accidentally hitting the former mailbox while showing off in his beige 1970s Pinto one winter vacation home from college.

“I’ve lived in Dundee, and there are some great things about living there. I’ve lived in Country Club, and there are some great thing about living there,” Sorensen says.

“But I feel happiest living here.”

OmahaHome Visit sunsethills.westside66.org for more information about the elementary school at the heart of Sunset Hills.

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November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

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e Issue

KNOW OF A BEAUTIFUL HOME IN OMAHA? LET US KNOW AT

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OmahaHome • November/December 2017

ASID AWARDS | text and photography provided by ASID

2017 impactFULL Awards GOLD AND SILVER WINNERS Great interior design can turn any home into a showcase. Whether a person’s tastes run traditional or contemporary, whether a person prefers bright colors or a neutral palette, professional interior designers can turn ideas into reality. The Nebraska/Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers recently announced the winners of their annual design contest. Here are the Gold and Silver winners.

1

GOLD

DESIGN IMPACT WINNER DESIGNER: BECKY REA, ASID FIRM: FRITZ AND LLOYD PHOTOGRAPHER: LISA GUERRA The client desired a modern interior—executed with finishes of white walls, white acrylic cabinetry, and polished salt-and-pepper concrete floors. Large windows were a must-have. With strategic placement and sizing, some windows bring views of interior art walls to exterior spaces; other placements allow for privacy while providing ample natural light.

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

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ASID AWARDS

2

GOLD

DESIGNERS: COLBY WASHBURN, ASID, & NANCY PESAVENTO, ASID FIRM: INTERIORS BY JOAN PHOTOGRAPHER: TOM KESSLER Two large islands—creatively designed to fit within the constraints of this kitchen—provide ample counter space and comfortably accommodate the lifestyle of this growing family. Unique materials were chosen for ease of maintenance and to create a dramatic, contemporary kitchen.

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OmahaHome • November/December 2017

3

GOLD

DESIGNERS: JULIE ODERMATT, ASID, AND RACHEL COSTELLO, ALLIED ASID FIRM: D3 INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHER: AMOURA PRODUCTIONS A retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation was created through the use of natural elements, a soft color palette resembling a sandy beach, a steam shower with built–in speakers, and windows allowing the outdoors to become a part of the “spa” experience. Removing the hall closet to expand the space allowed for a private water closet, which was an important element in this design.

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

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4

SILVER

DESIGNER: COURTNEY OTTE, ALLIED ASID FIRM: THE MODERN HIVE PHOTOGRAPHER: PAULA MOSER The challenge for this “bachelor pad” was working with existing finishes while producing an updated environment. The client required spaces for working from home, relaxing, and entertaining.

Contemporary furniture, fabrics, and finishes— using a neutral color palette—complement the existing materials and create an environment that is pleasing to all guests.

5

SILVER

DESIGNER: JOAN SORENSEN, ASID FIRM: INTERIORS BY JOAN PHOTOGRAPHER: TOM KESSLER This major renovation was the path to generating a transitional/contemporary design with European influences.

Upholstered wall panels, mirrors, and a calming color palette were used to create a more spacious and airy look.

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OmahaHome • November/December 2017

ASID AWARDS

6

SILVER

DESIGNER: BRIANNE WILHELM, ALLIED ASID FIRM: D3 INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHER: AMOURA PRODUCTIONS Designing a sophisticated and modern bedroom with industrial influences for a teenage boy’s small 11-by-11-foot bedroom was a challenge. A low platform bed was centered on the longest wall.

Open storage shelves with closed door storage at the bottom fit snuggly on either side of the headboard.

Adjustable task lamps were clipped to each corner of the headboard and an oversized pendant provided general lighting and drama to the room. Accessories included three metal oil drums, reclaimed wood, and bronze metal items.

7

SILVER

DESIGNER: KRIS PATTON, ASID FIRM: INTERIORS BY JOAN PHOTOGRAPHER: TOM KESSLER Upon entering this home, the first thing a guest will see is the room with the player piano—which the family enjoys sharing with friends. The room was redesigned bringing the fireplace into scale and flanking it with an antiqued mirror, space for a large piece of art, and a massive carved wood panel with textured wall covering behind it. Furniture and window treatments completed the room, achieving a new level of functionality.

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

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ASID AWARDS

8 SILVER

DESIGNER: MICHELE HYBNER FIRM: FALCONE HYBNER DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHER: AMOURA PRODUCTIONS This new home boasts a minimalist look with a neutral palette and contemporary design.

Generously sized closets help to minimize clutter and maintain a clean, open appearance.

The busy professional couple, with three active children, required a highly functional home.

To achieve this, the mud and laundry rooms were located next to the garage so backpacks and used clothing could be disposed of upon entering the house. These rooms open into the pantry and kitchen, making grocery storage an easy matter. The two bedrooms on the lower level share a built-in-study desk and space for entertaining.

9 SILVER

DESIGNER: SHAWN FALCONE FIRM: FALCONE HYBNER DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHER: AMOURA PRODUCTIONS The love of color and art sets the stage for this custom ranch home. By using neutral tile, cabinetry, flooring, stone, and paint, the space provides the homeowner with the ability to display vibrantly colorful art and accessories (and the potential to rearrange them at will).

/ H112 /

OmahaHome â&#x20AC;¢ November/December 2017

10

SILVER

DESIGNER: LISA MCCOID, ASID, AIA FIRM: D3 INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHER: TOM KESSLER The overall goal of this dining room was to create an elegant, yet casual, upscale feeling for the homeowners to entertain within the home. In order to accomplish their goal, the design focused on built-in details and furnishings. The tone-on-tone color palette of soft grays and warm off-whites, accented with faux finishes and antique mirrors, brings a balance to the space and creates a beautiful dining room.

Â

11

SILVER

DESIGNER: DIANE LUXFORD, ASID FIRM: FALCONE D-LUX INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHER: TOM KESSLER The owner desired a contemporary feeling for their new home on a lake, which gave them an ideal living environment for summertime entertaining of friends, family and grandchildren. The designer was able to give the space a unique design personality with tile, granite, cabinetry, mirrors, lighting, and paint/wall covering selections.

Â?Â? Â? Â? ­Â&#x20AC;Â&#x201A; Â&#x192; Â&#x201E;Â&#x2026; Â&#x20AC;Â? Â&#x2020;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2C6; ­Â&#x20AC;Â&#x201A; Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2020;Â&#x201A;Â&#x152; Â&#x20AC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2C6;­Â&#x2039;Â&#x2020;Â&#x201A;

Feature story by Leo Adam Biga

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

Downsizing

Home Cameos Meet the Local Residential Stars of Alexander Payne’s New Film

The exterior of one of the duplexes where filming occurred

/ H114 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

Omaha figures prominently in the sci-fi dramedy (starring Matt Damon) that played major festivals in Venice, Italy; Telluride, Colorado; and Toronto, Canada. Its first half establishes Damonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character, Paul, as an Omaha Everyman.

November/December 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com

/ H115 /

Feature

w

Two new large homes in Elkhorn’s Five Fountains neighborhood portrayed the for-sale property that Paul and Audrey visit.

hen Oscar-winning filmmaker Alexander Payne prepares a film, he not only auditions actors but locations, too.

The writer-director insists on actual locations whenever possible.

When he films in his hometown of Omaha, he's extra keen to get it right.

Just as local homes brought authenticity to his films Citizen Ruth, Election, and About Schmidt, Omaha homes earned supporting roles for Payne’s new film Downsizing during a mid-April 2016 shoot here.

Omaha figures prominently in the scifi dramedy (starring Matt Damon) that played major festivals in Venice, Italy; Telluride, Colorado; and Toronto, Canada. Its first half establishes Damon’s character, Paul, as an Omaha Everyman. The script called for him to reside in an inner-city duplex and, thus, location scout Jamie Vesay and counterparts in Toronto, where much of the film was made, scoured prospective sites.

Two matching 1920s-era, two-story brick duplexes on Douglas Street (in Payne’s childhood Dundee neighborhood) stood in for Paul’s home.

The story has Paul and wife Audrey (played by Kristen Wiig) visit a suburban McMansion. Vesay scouted that, too.

Two new large homes in Elkhorn’s Five Fountains neighborhood portrayed the for-sale property that Paul and Audrey visit.

Scenes were also shot outside La Casa Pizzaria, Creighton Prep (Payne’s alma mater), Jam’s in the Old Market and at Regency Court, and Omaha Steaks' distribution center.

The story required a duplex with adjoining back decks to underscore the attachment Paul feels to his mother, who lives next door at one point.

Payne loves physical comedy, and the director liked all the business of Paul entering-exiting various doors and navigating steps.

Events fast forward nine years to find Paul’s mother gone. He and Audrey

/ H116 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

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The exterior of the Twohig home where filming occurred

now live in his mom’s old place, and he’s renting out his former unit. It’s a commentary on Paul’s limited horizons before his grand adventure.

Vesay says Payne also liked the Douglas properties for their small, steep front yards. A yard sale unfolds there that comically shows folks struggling with the tight quarters and severe pitch. Sealing the deal was the alley’s conf luence of yards, fences, garages, light poles, wires, and its downtown view.

Carol Redwing lived at one of the two Douglas Street duplexes. The exterior of her residence was used for daytime and nighttime shots with Damon and Wiig. The unoccupied unit next door was leased by the production. The same arrangement was used at the other duplex on Douglas Street, where interiors were shot in a unit doubling for the on-screen duplex. More interiors were doubled in Toronto.

In suburban Five Points, Gretchen and Steven Twohig’s home became the McMansion exterior. The home of Ethan and Erin Evans became the interior. Vesay says the sea of cookie-cutter roofs visible from the development caught Payne’s eye. >

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/ H117 /

During the shoot, Vesay says producers broke protocol and allowed civilians on set. "People got remarkably close," he says. Residents who lent their homes to the cause got up-close-and-personal experiences themselves.

It was eye-opening.

Feature

< Long before the production reached out to residents, their homes were scouted from the street. When first contacted, they were wary. Once assured that the Hollywood scout was not a prankster, Vesay, Payne, and department heads came for closer looks. The locals only knew their places were in the running before receiving final confirmation.

When word leaked about the Downsizing dwellings, reporters and curiosity-seekers appeared.

“It was kind of surreal,” says Redwing, who has since moved.

During the shoot, Vesay says producers broke protocol and allowed civilians on set. "People got remarkably close," he says. Residents who lent their homes to the cause got up-close-and-personal experiences themselves. It was eye-opening.

“There’s a lot of moving pieces and people,” Redwing says. “It was really cool.”

Ethan Evans says he was struck “by how many behind-the-scenes people it takes—it’s quite the production. It was kind of a circus and crazy for a while.”

Holly wood came calling, but as Gretchen Twohig noted, “There’s nothing glamorous or fancy about any of it. It’s just people working really hard to get a project done.

You realize all this hard work and all these tiny moments have to come together to make a movie.” She and her husband have school-age children but opted not to take them out of classes for the f ilming. The Evans' young children watched. Redwing and her son saw ever ything.

Twohig echoed the other residents in saying everyone from Payne to the stars to the grips were “down-to-earth, calm, warm, professional, and gracious."

The Evans’ garage became a staging spot. That’s where the couple hung out with Payne, Damon, and Wiig. / H118 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

Jamie Vesay

The high-ceilinged, spacious home’s entryway, dining room, and kitchen got the shoot’s full attention.

“Besides moving furniture around to make room for lights, screens, and cameras—and taking pictures down— they sort of kept everything the way we had the house decorated,” Evans says, “It only took a few takes.”

The Evans and Twohigs met one another as a result of Holly wood casting their homes. They've compared notes about their Downsizing experiences.

Twohig says after hours of setup at her place, as crew adjusted window blinds and for-sale signs, moved cars in and out of the driveway, and took the family basketball hoop down, put it back up, and took it down again, the actual shoot was over in a f lash.

At Redwing’s old duplex, crew did landscaping and made building touchups but left her recycling bin, tools, and other homey elements intact. She’s confident her old abode made the final cut since it’s such an essential location as the hero’s home. However, the Evans

and Twohigs know their places are more incidental and therefore expendable.

“We'd be disappointed, but we knew going in it could very easily be cut,” Twohig says. “But it would sure be fun if it was there.”

Redwing spoke for everyone regarding anticipation for Downsizing’s December release. “I'm very eager to see it.”

Meanwhile, one of the Douglas duplexes’ exterior has been painted.

Last summer, its empty units were under renovation. A real estate listing read: “Come live where Matt Damon filmed the movie Downsizing!”

Having glimpsed behind the magic curtain, Ethan Evans says, “I sort of watch movies differently now.”

Although he’s certain that he'll forget the mechanics of cameras, mics, booms, and clappers when he finally sees Downsizing.

OmahaHome Leo Adam Biga is the author of Alexander Payne: His Journey in Film. Read more of his work at leoadambiga.com.

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/ H119 /

ARCH ITECTU RE story by Alex Priest

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

O

n a winding drive, in the northwest Omaha neighborhood of Hidden Creek, sits a residential showcase of contemporary green architecture. The newest addition to the neighborhood is Christine and Ben Wigert’s sleek home.

Designed by award-winning Randy Brown, the structure unfolds down a grassy lot cookie-cutter designs of Omaha strategically nestled grove of dense foliage.

architect angularly with the suburban behind a

For seven years prior to building this residence, the Wigerts had been living in a starter home. By 2015, they were ready for a change—“to start the next chapter of our adventures,” Christine says.

Thus began their hunt for the perfect new home. Having green space with a view was a priority, and this quickly took them from looking downtown to Dundee to further and further west. >

Ball House

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OmahaHome • November/December 2017

The Wigert Residence HIDDEN CREEK’S LATEST SURPRISE

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

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ARCH ITECTU RE < One day Ben saw a home that Brown, his friend, had designed in a new neighborhood called Hidden Creek (near 134th Avenue and Fort Street, close to Standing Bear Lake). They had seen images of this neighborhood before and heard it was out of their price range. However, Christine says they reached out to Brown on Facebook, and “he replied almost instantly and was excited to hear of our interest.” The design process began almost immediately. “After a few e-mail exchanges and sharing of prototypes he designed,” she says, “we were hooked on the idea of working with him.”

/ H122 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

After the initial messages, Brown presented several designs with f loorto-ceiling windows for views onto the creek and a rooftop deck. Then one day, Christine says, “Randy surprised us with an entirely new blueprint for a very unique home. He said that after working with us for a few months, he had created a new vision for our home based on getting to know us.” Hidden Creek and their soon-to-be neighbors were also “perfect because the modern eco-living captured both of our favorite design styles and united us around our love for modern architecture.”

DARK WOOD FLOORS WRAP THE SPACE WHILE COMPACT NOOKS, ANGULAR SUPPORTS, AND WALL CUTOUTS ARE SCATTERED THROUGH THE SPACES. THERE ARE FEW, IF ANY, 90-DEGREE ANGLE WALLS—EVEN SOME OF THE FLOORS ARE RAMPED. THE RESIDENCE IS ONE LARGE OPEN FLOOR PLAN WITH THE LIVING ROOM ATTACHED TO BOTH THE KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM. The result is a 4,000-square-foot one-of-a-kind structure clad in vertical charcoal-gray siding. It is not only userspecific, but site-specific. Cantilevered spaces and open-ended decks complement the fusion of outdoor and indoor space.

Strategic views are emphasized with a f lood of indirect and natural light, and a 2,000-square-foot rooftop deck (with space for future gardening boxes) looks onto the wild grasses, forest, and creek adjacent to the building. >

ARCH ITECTU RE

< The interior design matches and extends many of the tropes found on the exterior. Every space in the two-bedroom home is unique, and nothing is left unconsidered. Dark wood f loors wrap the space while compact nooks, angular supports, and wall cutouts are scattered through the spaces. There are few, if any, 90-degree angle walls—even some of the f loors are ramped. The residence is one large open f loor plan with the living room attached to both the kitchen and dining room. The open concept and highlofted ceilings “allow us to share the space at all times,” Christine says.

Although the home is now complete and they have moved in, with Brown’s open-ended design, the Wigerts say that there is still “lots to dream about” on both the interior and exterior of their contemporary home. OmahaHome Visit moderneco-homes.com to learn more about Hidden Creek. / H124 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

T HE WIGERTS SAY THAT THERE IS

STILL “LOTS TO

DREAM ABOUT” ON BOTH THE

INTERIOR AND

E X TERIOR OF THEIR CONTEMPORARY HOME.

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H125 /

HARVEST story by Patrick McGee photography by Bill Sitzmann design by MADY BESCH

HOW TO MAKE

FROZEN ARONIA BERRY WINE

I

f you’re anything of a forager, after summer and fall, you have a freezer full of frozen berries. They can keep for a long time, and it’s easy to pick more than is necessary once you get into the bushes. Foraged berries are great. But when the next year rolls around, you need to make room. It’s time to use up those frozen berries.

firm and tart, a bit like cranberries, and are loaded with antioxidants. Because they are so sturdy, freezing helps to pulp them, lending to a better wine with less effort.

Producing wine can use up quite a few. Frozen berries are easier to ferment because the freezing and thawing breaks down the cell walls of the fruit, making it easier to juice firmer berries. And just about everyone loves wine.

It makes a great gift, and the wine will be done just in time for the holiday (if started far enough in advance in the fall).

Clearing out your freezer will make room for fall berries, winter trout, and other game.

The aronia berry wine is simple and uses the same equipment and basic knowledge discussed in my previous article “Foraging and Fermenting Wild American Grapes,” which can be found in the August 2016 issue of Omaha Magazine online. The same basic equipment used to make grape wine can be used for aronia berries.

Personally, I had a freezer full of aronia berries from Kurt and Tina Geschwender, who live in Ponca Hills, and were gracious enough to let a friend and I pick their excess. The berries are / H126 /

Finished aronia berry wine is crisp and dry with a beautiful dark maroon color. It retains the f lavor of the berry.

It is essential to have a fermentation bucket, fermentation lock, and straining bag—all of which must be sanitized.

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

FROZEN BERRIES ARE EASIER TO FERMENT BECAUSE THE FREEZING & THAWING BREAKS DOWN THE CELL WALLS OF THE FRUIT, MAKING IT EASIER TO JUICE FIRMER BERRIES.

Plenty of berries, sugar, and other items are also necessary.

My recipe is modified from Winemaker’s Recipe Handbook ’s cranberry recipe (the Blackberry recipe is also a solid option). The following makes one gallon of wine—or step up the quantities to make more: • 3 pounds aronia berries • 7 pints water (preferably not tap) • 2.5 pounds sugar • 0.5 teaspoon pectic enzyme • 0.5 teaspoon yeast energizer • 1 Campden tablet (crushed) • 1 package wine yeast (EC-1118 yeast best tolerates the antioxidant-rich aronia berries) Adding half a pint of red grape concentrate is preferable to some, but I like to let the aronia berries shine.

First, place washed, frozen berries in a straining bag in your fermenter. Mash and squeeze the thawing pulp in the fermenter.

This would be difficult

with fresh, firm berries.

Tie the bag and leave it in the fermenter. Stir in all other ingredients except for yeast. Cover the fermenter. Twentyfour hours later, add the yeast and cover. Stir daily.

When fermentation slows to a near standstill (after about five days), remove the straining bag and pulp. After about three more weeks, siphon the wine into a sanitized glass secondary fermenter. A hydrometer is useful for assessing the progress of fermentation. In about two months, if it is clear, bottle it.

A deep, red bottle of aronia berry wine is sure to be a memorable Christmas gift to anyone lucky enough to receive one.

More importantly, there’s room in the freezer for that fall turkey. OmahaHome See omahamagazine.com/ articles/foraging-andfermenting-wild-americangrapes for more information on basic winemaking with wild grapes. Visit fermenterssupply.com for more information.

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H127 /

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Transformations story by Dawn Kanne photography by Dawn Kanne and Digital Memories 4U

ONE YEAR, BIG LIFE CHANGES FROM SINGLE TO MARRIED: HOMEOWNERS REMODEL

before photos

A

fter the honeymoon, married couples often ask themselves, “What were we thinking?”

My clients Bryan and Revé Behrens can relate to the quandary from their newly remodeled home.

Roughly two years ago, Revé contacted me. She was the owner of a local cleaning business that was growing fast.

After working hard all day, she wanted to be able to come home and relax in her downtown Omaha apartment. She decided to take a chance and hire a designer to pull things together for her.

Revé already owned many items that she knew she wanted to keep. We made some additional purchases, but it was important to her that any purchases would easily transition to a house one day.

A fter getting to k now her more, I k new the direction we were headed with the design. The apartment would have a quiet, understated elegance —modern and sophisticated, yet comfortable; colorful, but not loud; full of textures and warmth.

We incorporated everything she wished for, and she loved her apartment.

But life happens: Boy meets girl. Girl and boy fall in love. Before long, wedding plans and a house hunt were underway.

Early in their search, Revé and her fiancé found a house to buy. It backed up to a lake, and I could see their vision for the house becoming a beautiful home.

Bryan and Revé also asked me to design their wedding. So, while we were in the process of remodeling, we were also collaborating on wedding plans.

They started remodeling right away to get as much done as they could before the wedding.

They wanted to avoid living in the home during the bulk of the renovations, and it was easier to make the bigger changes while the house was empty.

EARLY IN THEIR SEARCH, REVÉ AND HER FIANCÉ FOUND A HOUSE TO BUY. IT BACKED UP TO A LAKE, AND I COULD SEE THEIR VISION FOR THE HOUSE BECOMING A BEAUTIFUL HOME.

Our goal was to create a modern, updated home without raising the roof or making structural changes to keep costs down for the soon-to-be newlyweds.

Paint, furniture, accessories, some lighting, etc.—all were important. But there were a few other crucial changes that altered the entire feel and appeal of the home.

The fireplace got a much-needed new look. It is now visually interesting while camouf laging their large television with black stone and a custom mantle.

Removing the dividing walls between the kitchen/dining room and the family room created an open f loor plan.

New kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts were made, and we painted all the cabinets. >

MEET THE DESIGNER

Dawn Kanne

Dawn, the owner of Dawn’s Designs, is a member of Allied ASID and the National Kitchen & Bath Association. She belongs to the Better Business Bureau and has more than 20 years experience in the interior design industry. Dawn works with both commercial and residential design.

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H131 /

Transformations < We kept the granite countertops but changed the backsplash to something more fitting.

A custom pantry door was made with a sandblasted message of love engraved on the glass as a wedding gift from the groom to his new bride.

A section of upper cabinets were removed to accommodate a large window combination with shades in between the glass so they could appreciate that lake view from morning till night.

The master bath was gutted and built to accommodate Revé and Bryan’s tall statures, and the hinged door was replaced with a wider pocket door.

Reclaimed barn wood was used to make the custom his-and-hers vanity, mirrors, trim, and doors. His-and-hers recessed medicine cabinets are hidden behind the sliding mirrors.

The master bedroom closets became one large closet before custom barn doors were installed.

A custom curb-less tile shower was a perfect fit.

The newlyweds now have an updated home designed for them. It’s an eclectic mix that feels current, but lived in—one that doesn’t look like you just walked in and pulled a set off a showroom f loor.

It’s a wonderful place for them to start their lives together, and to one day maybe even start a family.

This ambitious couple went from living independently, to engagement, planning a wedding, getting married, buying a home, and remodeling that home in less than one year. They are seasoned pros now. I’m not sure they would recommend taking on all of that at once, but the final outcome was worth it. OmahaHome Visit dawns-designs.com for more information.

/ H132 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

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OmahaHome • November/December 2017

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60PLUS opener

E

veryone has their favorite memories of past holidays.

Maybe your holiday plans are a continuation of some long-standing family traditions, or maybe you are planning to start a new family tradition this season.

Gwen Lemke Contributing Editor, 60PLUS In Omaha

Either way, there’s no denying it: the holidays are almost here!

I am looking forward to making new memories with my grandchildren.

I recently received word that they will all be home for Christmas. Five of them live in Omaha or Lincoln, and the others are coming from Florida and Texas.

My sons and their spouses will all be here.

It’s been awhile since we were all together.

There will only be one empty chair—this will be the fifth Christmas since my husband passed away, and we will be thinking of him and all the good times.

There’s some great reading in this issue, stories of seniors who are active and living their lives to the fullest.

For the past five months, I’ve been working on a huge photo project for the January/ February issue. The project is very special to me—but it is top secret. Watch for it in the next issue.

In the meantime, enjoy your families during this important time of year.

Happy holidays!

Gwen

CURIOSITY Omaha’s Fire-Eating Santa, Tom Plith NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 139 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

60PLUS | ACTIVE LIVING

Swimming, Cycling,and Dancing Dr. Bruce Johansen

Keeps Moving

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 140 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

60PLUS | ACTIVE LIVING STORY BY TARA SPENCER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

D

EEP IN THE labyrinthian Arts and Sciences Hall at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Dr. Bruce Johansen sits at his desk wearing a rather de rigueur outfit for him—a maroon T-shirt with red and blue basketball shorts. His ever-present jewelry is more subdued than usual. He has several rings on his hands and a simple, steampunk-esque earring in his right ear.

Johansen’s signature style is well-known around UNO. He tells his students the reason he started wearing so much jewelry was to distract from his pronounced stutter, which was also the impetus for his writing career.

“He’s very mentally active…he manages to write two books a year. Who does that?”

- Hugh Reilly

The 69-year-old professor of communications and Native American studies is also familiar for another reason. Tales of seeing him riding his bike down Dodge Street on his way to campus at 5 in the morning are often repeated among his students in an almost folklorelike manner.

While they might think Johansen rides his bike to work every morning because he’s just that into it, that’s not exactly the case. In fact, he says it’s more out of necessity than a simple love of cycling.

In October 2001, he had an epileptic seizure while driving in Indiana and went off the road.

Since then, his wife, Pat, has made it clear she’d rather he not drive. And so, he bikes.

Or walks. Or sometimes in extreme weather, she’ll give him a ride in their Ford Explorer.

While biking to work started out of necessity—he says the parking situation on campus was another big incentive—he still enjoys biking for fun. From time to time, he’ll ride downtown or out to Westroads Mall. He says his longest Omaha ride was about 30 miles round trip. But he’s definitely biked farther.

“One day in Seattle,” he says, while hauling out a map of the city he keeps in his office, “I did a circuit of Lake Washington, which is about 60 miles.” He draws his finger around the map, outlining the route he took.

His desire to always be moving might stem from the fact that he grew up in a Coast Guard family. “You’d be surprised where the United States has Coast Guard bases—Philippine islands, Newfoundland in Canada, Puerto Rico…I grew up all over the world.”

Surprisingly, he says his favorite form of exercise isn’t cycling but swimming. He says not only is it good exercise, but also quite relaxing. According to an article in the summer

issue of UNO Magazine, he was even a high school state swimming medalist in his adopted home state of Washington. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see him swimming laps—while wearing his signature jewelry—on campus at the HPER Building pool.

“They added it up,” he says, “and all of the time I spent in the HPER pool came up to a year…from an hour at a time or so. I had swum half the world’s diameter overall. It adds up over 30 years.”

Professor Hugh Reilly, director of the school of communication, has known Johansen for at least 25 years. In fact, Reilly considers him a mentor. The two share a common interest in Native American studies, and Johansen was instrumental in helping Reilly develop his thesis, which evolved into Reilly’s first book on the subject.

He thinks it’s a bit unusual for someone to be interested in Johansen’s physicality. He says the professor is chiefly known among his colleagues for his mental capacity and prodigious writing.

“He’s very mentally active…he manages to write two books a year. Who does that?” he asks.

Reilly says he’s sure he couldn’t outswim Johansen. “But I can take him in basketball,” he says. Which makes sense. The 6-foot-2-inch Reilly is half a foot taller.

It turns out, Johansen may have found a new hobby. On a recent trip to India, he and other guests were invited on stage to dance with the Kala Darshini dance troupe. When he tried to decline the invitation, saying he hadn’t ever really danced, he was told, “This is India. We dance here.”

As they were dancing, he was engaged by one of their principal dancers. “I really got into it and completely forgot there was a huge audience there.” He says his partner seemed pretty surprised by his energy and endurance, and at the end of the dance, he was hoisted into the air, spun around, and kissed on the cheek while everybody cheered. He said he felt like a rock star.

So maybe dancing will be his new outlet for all that energy?

“I liked it,” he says. “But see, here I have a very well-cultivated image as a stale old fart.”

Visit unomaha.edu for more information.

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60PLUS | CURIOSITY STORY BY LINDSAY WILSON // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 142 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Omaha’s

Fire-Eating

Santa,

Tom Plith NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 143 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

60PLUS | CURIOSITY

T

OM PLITH —the jolly old man

with the snowy white beard—can often be seen breathing fire for a mesmerized audience outside the Imaginarium downtown. During the holiday season, he can be found laughing with a herd of small children and their parents in his elaborately decorated and bubble-filled Santa’s Workshop.

Plith’s unorthodox retirement has been nothing short of magical. Along with his firebreathing Santa skills, he also works as head clown at one of Omaha’s most successful clown companies. (Yes, Omaha has multiple clown companies—at least four.)

Born in Amarillo, Texas, the story of Plith’s career begins in Saigon, South Vietnam.

Though he can’t say much about his military service, Plith will admit that he only carried a weapon twice: “Both times they told me if I had any trouble, they’d bring me some bullets.” After Saigon, he moved to Fort Ritchie, Maryland, where he held a Cosmic security clearance level with the Army Signal Corps.

He insists that all he heard were voice levels during the Paris Peace Accords (they were too busy monitoring signal quality and volume to make sense of actual discussions).

After four years in military telecommunications, Plith got his master’s degree in social work from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and opened Blue Valley, a private treatment center for troubled youth in Valley, Nebraska.

He and his wife, Rose, ran the facility for 12 years before moving to Omaha after their two daughters graduated high school.

With his naturally white beard, Plith was enjoying dinner at a local restaurant when someone approached him to ask if he was Mr. Claus himself. Twenty years later, Plith and his family have made Santa’s Workshop in Countryside Village one of Omaha’s most popular Santa experiences.

This Santa’s background in psychiatric social work sets him apart—Plith is an expert in soothing children and working with families to create not just a photo, but a joyous holiday memory for parents and children alike. Plith works with more than 300 families each season, including several days committed for work with The Autism Society and for military families.

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Plith’s social work experience also helps him to continue staying active in the clown business. Educated at Omaha’s Wild Clowndom, he adopted the clown name RoliPoli. As RoliPoli, he organizes about 15 face painters, stilt walkers, and balloon twisters to run A Company of Fantastic Clowns. The company works with many local charity organizations and youth events to provide safe and hilarious entertainment at Werner Park, Boys Town, and elsewhere throughout the metro.

Omahans not familiar with Plith as Santa, or RoliPoli, may know him as the fire eater in the Old Market. A typical show consists of jokes and magic tricks he performs alongside “Phillip the Tip Bucket” in between mouthfuls of flames.

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The show ends with the old man taking a swig out of a soda bottle and using a burning wand to exhale a dazzling cloud of fire into the night sky. The actual contents of the bottle are a mystery, though many suspect it is not actually full of Mountain Dew.

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Depending on the weather, Plith often finds himself entertaining a crowd of 20 or more people, but he is happy to perform for any passersby. Plith has been performing fireeating shows, sometimes alongside one of his four grandchildren, for two years. One might think he learned the skill from a professional.

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“Oh, [it was] just a fella in the neighborhood,” Plith says. He had been interested in fire eating for years, but “didn’t have the nerve” until he was in his 60s.

When asked the burning question of whether he eats fire in his Santa suit, Plith chuckles and shakes his head. “I have to stop eating fire in early November, because when you eat fire you do singe your mustache. I have to have my full mustache for the Santa season.”

Santa’s Workshop opens in November and is available by appointment, which can be made by phone at 402-201-5804. A Company of Fantastic Clowns can be reached at 402-216-6568.

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NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 145 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

60PLUS | RURAL ROOTS STORY BY TARA SPENCER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

“I never thought about traffic lights as a big deal, until you try to go to Africa and turn left,” he says, noting that the trip made him appreciate the services provided by the U.S. government.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 146 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Planting Seeds of Community: Edgar Hicks Shares His Passion for Agriculture, Stamps up in Louisiana A during the time of segregation, Edgar Hicks says he was more fortunate than most LTHOUGH HE GREW

of his African-American peers. His parents were professionals—his mother was a teacher and his father a physician. This enabled them to better support their children financially, including helping out with college.

“I had a good father, good mother—they took care of me,” Hicks says, adding that in spite of racial segregation, he remembers a stronger sense of community than what he sees available for young people in Omaha. “It caused you to know your neighbor.”

He now works to encourage community bonds among Omaha youths by teaching agricultural skills to the next generation.

Hicks graduated from Pace University in New York City, where he studied finance.

His first job out of college was as a floor clerk at the Chicago Board of Trade in 1971. He subsequently worked with various aspects of agricultural commodities. In 1985 he moved to the middle of Nebraska for a grain merchant job at a Merrick County cooperative (in Clarks, Nebraska), where he was eventually promoted to general manager. Risk management consulting work for a Fortune 500 company (INTL FCStone) brought him to Omaha in 1989.

The 69-year-old Hicks can’t seem to stop working. The part-time director at CFO Systems LLC says his mission now is to pass on his love for, and knowledge of, all things agriculture to those he believes it can benefit—especially young people.

Hicks says he believes that if the city’s young people better understood where their food comes from—and how everything is connected, from water to land—the world overall would be a better place. He says some of the horrible things that are happening in the world are happening because people don’t feel a part of it, and as a mentor, he hopes to help change that.

In order to help youth gain a connection “The only thing they have in Senegal that to their food, he became a charter member we don’t—they eat well,” he says. “They eat of Carver Grange of Omaha in 2011. The fresh food. They eat much better than we do.” organization’s focus is to expand hands-on However, Hicks also discovered that much education in science, technology, engineering, of the West African country lacks essential and mathematics; promoting public services—running leadership skills; and strivwater, dependable elecing to cultivate an interest tricity, post offices, and In the future, Hicks in food (and careers in agritraffic lights. culture). And if this does not suspects Africa keep Hicks busy enough, never thought about will be the answer “I he also serves on the board traffic lights as a big deal, of directors for Friends of to the world’s until you try to go to Extension & 4-H Douglasand turn left,” he rising demand for Africa Sarpy County Foundation says, noting that the trip and 100 Black Men of food. “If there’s made him appreciate the Omaha. He was a founding provided by the ever going to be services member of 100 Black Men of U.S. government.

Omaha, and he is currently a need 100 years mentoring three high school the future, he suspects from now for land, In students through them.

Africa will be the answer to I’m sure we’ll be the world’s rising demand Hicks is also an avid stamp food. “If there’s ever using Africa as a for collector and active member going to be a need 100 of the Omaha Philatelic food base.” years from now for land, Society. Vernon Waldren, I’m sure we’ll be using the executive director of Africa as a food base,” Friends of Extension & 4-H, he says. says he has known Hicks for more than 20 years. The During his interview at two bonded over their love of agriculture Omaha Magazine’s West Omaha office space, and stamps. Even Hicks’ he gestures out a window to the surrounding stamp collection focuses on buildings and says, “As we put more concrete agriculture. up and run out of [land], how are we gonna feed ourselves in the future?”

“He has a passion for getting people to understand where This question seems to be a part of what their food comes from and drives Hicks’s mission to educate youths about how all of it ties together,” agriculture and animal husbandry. He adds Waldren says. “You know, there’s a lot he has wanted to work on but it’s kind of a joke, but it’s hasn’t gotten done. not a joke: Everybody eats, so everybody has an interest “That’s why I gotta go back to work!” he says. in agriculture.”

Not that he ever stopped.

Through the federal USAID Farmerto-Farmer program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Hicks was asked to travel to Africa to help farmers start a co-op in Toubacouta, Senegal. That summer 2016 trip made him think about food, and America.

Visit 4h.unl.edu to learn more about 4-H in Nebraska. The Douglas-Sarpy County 4-H is a community partner for Omaha Magazine’s 2018 Best of Omaha Festival (which takes place at Baxter Arena on Nov. 5, 2017).

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 147 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

60PLUS | FAMILY STORY BY KIM REINER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

The Pamphleteer Colleen Ramsey on Adoption and Grief COLLEEN RAMSEY HAS always written what

she knows: love, adoption, grief, and—more recently—aging.

“I have to feel something,” Ramsey says. “I have to have some emotion connected with it.”

At 85, Ramsey has self-published more than two dozen books. While most are shared with her friends and family, some are recommended reading for adoptive families at Catholic Charities and for grieving adults at Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Cutler Mortuaries.

Ramsey became a writer out of necessity.

She battled depression in her early days of motherhood. Her psychologist prescribed writing. He told her to get up an hour early and write, write anything, even if it was just her name for an hour.

Eventually, she decided her stories needed to be told. She and her husband had five teenagers, all adopted, under their roof, and her first book, We Touch Each Other’s Lives, deals with issues of adoption and family.

Though she was not a natural-born writer, she wrote. On her second day, she started jotting down things that were bugging her—and the words overflowed.

Her kids did not know where they came from because in those days adoption was kept secret.

In her Ralston home, over hot tea, Ramsey recalls what writer Anna Quindlen wrote in a 2007 essay: “Writing is not just a legacy, but therapy. In the end, writers will write mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals.”

“I wanted to give them their story,” she says, even when some of those stories involved seeking out birth parents.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 148 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

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It was an account of adoption from an angle that doesn’t often get told: the adoptive parent’s perspective. Catholic Charities has, with permission, reprinted and distributed We Touch Each Other’s Lives to families for 19 years.

“Colleen is a wonder,” says Sue Malloy, family services program director at Catholic Charities of Omaha. “She gives a voice to so many things that are a part of the adoption journey for people. She has a perspective unlike many other people. She just has this incredible intuition about the adoption journey.”

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When her husband, Bob, passed away in 2005, Ramsey turned to writing again.

This time to process her grief. Those were the hardest books to write, but also the most helpful for her.

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Sharon Zehnder, director of aftercare at Heafey Hoffmann Dworak Cutler Mortuaries, keeps Ramsey’s writing on grief in the mortuary’s support group library and shares passages on the mortuary’s website. Zehnder says Ramsey’s words are extremely relatable to people.

“They can identify with so much that she has written,” Zehnder says.

Her writing has helped others, and for that, she’s grateful. “I like to share what’s helped me,” Ramsey says.

Always Local, Always Beautiful

Since writing We Touch Each Other’s Lives, Ramsey has penned her memories of growing up in the 1930s and through World War II, discussed prayer in her writing, and written books for each of her grandchildren. She types all her books, searches through family photos for illustrations, and then begins the time-consuming process of printing her books at home, placing photos on pages gently with tape, and then binding them herself.

There may be easier ways to do it, but this is the “write” way for Ramsey.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 149 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

60PLUS | HEALTH STORY BY GREG JERRETT // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

From left: Marge and Jenny Koley

“I want them to save Medicaid and to get a full understanding of the consequences of their actions.

Budgets should not be balanced on the backs of people with disabilities who are least able to defend themselves.”

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 150 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Medicaid and Medicare Reform: Caregiver’s Golden Years, Between a Rock and a Hard Place

W

HEN FRANKLIN DELANO Roosevelt

presented America with the Second New Deal, he created a national social safety net to prevent vulnerable senior citizens from dying in poverty.

Social Security came into being with the Social Security Act of 1935. Thirty years later, the federal safety net further expanded with the creation of Medicare and Medicaid during the presidency of Lyndon Johnson.

The system evolved to assist not only the elderly (with Medicare focusing on citizens aged 65 and older), but also the disabled and impoverished of all ages (with Medicaid), to become as self-sustaining and independent as possible.

Fast forward to the 21st century. Ever since 2010, President Barak Obama’s Affordable Care Act (aka “Obamacare”) dramatically widened the nation’s social safety net. In the first year of Donald Trump’s presidency, Republican efforts to undo and repeal the Affordable Care Act sparked concerns that 22 million Americans (according to the Congressional Budget Office) would lose their access to affordable health insurance.

With Republican control of the White House, House of Representatives, and Senate, the federal safety net seemed all but certain to shrink.

She and her husband rely on the earned benefits of Social Security and Medicare, benefits that have made it possible for them to enjoy their golden years without working.

Watching the media spectacle unfold, Koley was most afraid for their 37-year-old daughter, Jenny, who has Down syndrome. Jenny qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance, Medicare and Medicaid for health insurance, and receives support services to live and work independently through Medicaid and Nebraska Health and Human Services.

“What will happen to Jenny after I am not here to care for her? That is my greatest fear.”

“Jenny has always had the dream of having her own apartment and living as independently as possible,” Koley says, speaking with Omaha Magazine in July on the eve of the so-called “skinny repeal,” the last ditch effort to repeal Obamacare by the Senate.

The Congressional Budget Office—tasked with determining how much any given piece of legislation will cost (or save) to implement, including reductions in tax revenue—concluded in a March 13 report that the American Health Care Act of 2017, popularly known as “Trumpcare,” would: “reduce federal deficits by $337 billion over the 2017-2026 period” with the largest savings coming “from reductions in outlays for Medicaid” and from elimination of Affordable Care Act “subsidies for non-group health insurance.”

“What will happen to Jenny after I am not here to care for her?” she says. “That is my greatest fear. She has one sibling in Indiana.

If the proposed caps and cuts in Medicaid are enacted, she could lose the services she needs to live and be part of the community.

Also lost are the years of progress allowing people with disabilities to decide for themselves where they want to live and with whom.

We may have for-profit insurance companies running programs and deciding the fate of our children. Will institutional living return?

Will the waitlists continue to grow and grow?”

While much of the 2017 health care debates have focused on repealing Obamacare, 74-year-old Marge Koley (of Bellevue) exists at the crux of Medicaid and Medicare. Koley is one of the many senior caregivers who attend to younger, disabled relatives.

Jenny moved into her own place in September 2016; meanwhile, Koley still provides most of her transportation needs. Medicaid service providers take care of residential support and job coaching.

“Jenny currently works nine hours a week at the Ollie Webb Center,” Koley says, obviously proud of what her daughter has been able to accomplish with some compassionate assistance. “Jenny loves being responsible for herself, and now cleans her apartment and does her wash on her own without prompting, and has been able to decrease her outside support. Now, she has someone one day a week to help work on cooking, going out into the community.”

The current political environment is a source of anxiety for Koley, who says she has never before seen the American public so polarized.

“This is the most divisive political climate I have ever experienced. Neither side will listen to the other’s views,” Koley says, adding that if she had a chance to talk to lawmakers, her message for them is to save Medicaid. “I want them to save Medicaid and to get a full understanding of the consequences of their actions. Budgets should not be balanced on the backs of people with disabilities who are least able to defend themselves.”

Efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act—for the time being—came to a screeching halt with the pivotal thumbs-down vote from Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who flew to Washington D.C. for the vote shortly after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Months after the failure of the “skinny repeal,” in the week following the failure of another repeal attempt (the Graham-Cassidy Bill), Koley experienced a sense of temporary relief.

“I’m very happy that it did fail, knowing how it would affect Jenny,” she says. “But I know politicians will be revisiting this, and we’ll need to gear up again to defend Medicaid benefits at a later time.”

Visit olliewebbinc.org to learn more about the Medicaid service provider that plays a crucial role in the lives of Marge and Jenny Koley.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 151 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

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NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 152 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OBVIOUSLY OMAHA

01

STORY BY LINDSAY WILSON // PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED // REVERB PHOTO BY JOI KATKSEE

New Year’s Eve Parties Six Ways to Welcome the New Year with a Night on the Town

02

WHERE SHOULD YOU ring in the new year? Local options range from downtown dance par-

ties to kicking it cowboy-style in the suburbs and everything in between. No matter if your preference is champagne and cocktail dresses or margaritas and salsa dancing, one of these suggestions will take you into 2018 with style.

01. THE MAX 1417 Jackson St. 402-346-4110 themaxomaha.com

04. REVERB LOUNGE 6121 Military Ave. 402-884-5707 reverblounge.com/event/string-theorynye-2018/

Omaha’s original gay nightclub will once again host its annual New Year’s Eve bash. Every corner of the club will be decorated with balloons and other festive décor. Bartenders will sling drinks at all five bars, but be sure to arrive to this celebration early.

Party-goers will pack both dance floors, and lines overflowing onto downtown streets are also part of the tradition. The party starts at 9 p.m.

Count down the final hours of 2017 with EDM duo String Theory at Reverb, one of several local bands that will bring the year to a close in the heart of Benson. Dance, drink, and celebrate the connecting powers of music with dazzling performances.

The bash will begin at 9 p.m.

05. BUSHWACKERS DANCE HALL

03 04

AND SALOON

02. GUSTO CUBAN CAFE 7918 Harrison St. 402-614-7800 gustocubancafe.com

7401 Main St., Ralston 402-593-9037 bushwackerssaloonomaha.com If your perfect party includes line dancing, say “howdy” to this Ralston favorite. Two-step into the new year with hip-hop and pop hits thrown into the primarily country-music mix and drink specials from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

City slickers and country folk alike will get a kick out of this celebration.

If your list of resolutions includes more salsa dancing, kick off 2018 at Gusto Cuban Cafe. Shake off the troubles of 2017 while savoring authentic Cuban cuisine. Expect a full house at this popular annual celebration, which starts at 9:30 p.m. and continues with drink specials and dancing into the early hours of the new year.

05

06. NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS

SPECTACULAR, GENE LEAHY MALL

03. VOODOO BAR 304 N. 168th Circle 402-968-0700 facebook.com/voodoo.bar1

14th and Farnam streets holidaylightsfestival.org

Did someone say, “free champagne?”

You heard right—Voodoo Bar will continue its tradition of a free champagne toast for party people this New Year’s Eve. Guests will also be treated to free hors d'oeuvres and a DJ. Dancing, drinks, and music begin at 9 p.m.

While you’re out and about this New Year’s Eve, don’t forget to stop by Gene Leahy Mall. The spectacular fireworks show is expected to draw over 30,000 people—so be sure to arrive early. If crowds aren’t your thing, then head into the park for a quiet stroll with loved ones or simply enjoy the glimmering holiday lights.

Fireworks start at 7 p.m.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 153 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

06

OMAHA MAGAZINE | PROFILE STORY BY SEAN MCCARTHY // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Lindy Hoyer

CO NJ URI N G T H E T I TAN I C, DI NOSAURS, AN D CH I LDREN ’ S WI LDEST DREAMS A GOAL OF any children’s museum is to inspire.

So, it’s no surprise that phrases like “No one is you, and that’s your power” and “Focus on the good” are written on a wall behind the desk of the executive director of Omaha Children’s Museum.

What is surprising is that Lindy Hoyer’s office also has a framed front-page Omaha World-Herald story about the Titanic sinking—hardly the stuff of inspiration.

But for those familiar with the museum’s history, it makes perfect sense.

The Titanic exhibit was one of the first that ran when Hoyer assumed her role as executive director.

The exhibit opened in 2004 (Hoyer became executive director in 2002), and it signaled Hoyer’s plans for the museum. The exhibits would be ambitious, and sometimes not the stuff of standard children’s museum fare. For the Titanic exhibit, Hoyer knew Mark Lach, the designer of the Titanic exhibit. Lach asked Hoyer if she knew a place in Omaha that would be interested in hosting it.

“Before you look at any place, come look at what I got here,” Hoyer says she told him.

Since Hoyer took over in 2002, yearly attendance has steadily increased. Their recent exhibit, Dinosaur Safari, freely encouraged kids to climb up a dehorned Triceratops, mine for fossils in a free-flowing water channel, and climb in a jeep that looks uncannily like the brightly colored one in Jurassic Park. Families who missed the prehistoric fun can expect the giant models to return in the form of a new (different) exhibit in the coming years.

Animatronic dinosaurs span both phases of Hoyer’s time at the museum. An earlier version came to Omaha during her first stint with the museum. A few decades later, under her leadership, the museum owns the extinct beasts—which are available for museums around the country to rent.

Hoyer (originally from Eagle, Nebraska) graduated from Doane University in 1986 with degrees in English and theater. She was offered a job as an administrative assistant at the museum shortly after she graduated. She still has her badge with that title.

Between 1986 and 1994, Hoyer saw the museum move to its current location at 20th Street and St. Mary’s Avenue, and her title went from assistant to manager of exhibits. In 1994, Hoyer was approached

by Marilyn Gorham, then executive director of Lincoln Children’s Museum.

At the time, Hoyer felt her career with Omaha Children’s Museum had reached its growth potential. Gorham offered Hoyer the position of director of operations at Lincoln Children’s Museum. From 1994 to 2002, Hoyer worked on exhibit development and also began doing marketing, grant writing, and project management under Gorham’s watch.

“All along, [Gorham] was grooming me to take over.

There was just a monkey wrench that was thrown into it,” Hoyer says.

That wrench was Hoyer getting married. A year before the wedding, she moved back to Omaha, which required a daily commute to Lincoln. Then in 2002, an irresistible opportunity opened up—a vacancy for the executive director of Omaha Children’s Museum.

“I always loved living in Omaha. I always felt that Omaha Children’s Museum, at that time [in 2002] had not reached its full potential,” Hoyer says. She knew because of the many Omaha visitors who came to Lincoln specifically to go to the children’s museum.

She was determined to make Omaha Children’s Museum a go-to place for locals and out-of-town visitors. Her work seems to have paid off. Last year, the museum reached a record of almost 317,000 visitors.

“Omaha’s community wanted and had a desire to have a good children’s museum, Hoyer says. “And I’m always one who’s up for a challenge. Give me a puzzle to put together, and I’ll work on it until I solve it.”

Visit ocm.org for more information about Omaha Children’s Museum.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 154 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

"OMAHA'S

COMMUNITY WANTED AND HAD A DESIRE TO HAVE A GOOD CHILDREN 'S MUSEUM, AND I 'M ALWAYS ONE WHO 'S UP FOR A CHALLENGE. GIVE ME A PUZZLE TO PUT TOGETHER, AND I 'LL WORK ON IT UNTIL I SOLVE IT."

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 155 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING // FEATURE STORY BY TAMSEN BUTLER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL LANGFELDT // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

FANCY FOOD IN

historic buildings The Perks & Problems for Restaurateurs

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 156 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

The Flatiron Cafe NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 157 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING // FEATURE

Before receiving final approval for renovations, she heard back from the state that city codes had changed again. So, if she wanted to move forward, she was essentially back at stage one.

“The whole process is not made easy. If it were easier, we’d see a lot more businesses around [in historic buildings],” she says.

Though frustrated, Coco and Simmons surely did not want to upset the Dundee neighborhood in which the building is located. “We just hit a wall, so we said let somebody else have their dream here,” she says of the location at 4949 Underwood Ave.

WHEN JENNIFER COCO and business

partner Tom Simmons started thinking about opening a new restaurant somewhere in town, they considered a historic building in Dundee.

After all, the local celebrity chef ’s namesake, J. Coco (at 5203 Leavenworth St.), has f lourished in the charming ambiance of a location rich with local history—for 74 years, the space housed Omaha’s oldest grocery store, Wohlner’s.

“Everybody’s got stories about this building,” Coco says, adding that many customers will reminisce about how they used to get candy on grocery store visits with parents or grandparents in the structure that J. Coco currently occupies alongside Legends Comics.

The concept of the new restaurant was to be quite different from J. Coco, with a more casual, grab-and-go feel. “The loose concept was a late-night lounge with food during bar hours,” Coco explains.

But buildings appearing on the National Register of Historic Places require special consideration as far as what changes can be made to the structure, and the limitations can be daunting to would-be business owners at these locations.

Coco says that she and Simmons were aware of what they were getting themselves into with a historic building. They did their due diligence with research and went through all the proper channels.

“The plans were drawn and submitted, and the state had approved them,” she says. “It was federal where it got hung up.”

At another historic location downtown, Flatiron Cafe manager Joe Jamrozy agrees that historic buildings have their challenges.

But he insists that the charm of a heritagerich space outweighs the drawbacks.

“This building has an extremely fun history,” Jamrozy says. “Tom Dennison opened the Flatiron Hotel and used it as a safe house for mobsters from Chicago and Kansas City who got in trouble. He was never mayor of Omaha, but he had his hands in everything.”

Jamrozy admits that they have to deal with “old building problems” such as plumbing and the upkeep, but without hesitation he says that he would never trade the wedge-shaped edifice for a newer, state-of-the-art facility.

Sarah Wallace, general manager of 801 Chophouse, says that she sees ample benefits to their historical location in The Paxton downtown. “The building itself draws people in,” she says. “It’s a cool place for Omaha to have. Older people come in and remember attending dances in the ballroom when they were younger.”

Because of The Paxton’s historical significance, a board oversees the building and approves or denies any requests for changes to it. Wallace sees this more as a benefit than a hurdle. “If there were not a board in place, the building might lose character quickly because nobody’s looking out for the building.”

She remembers the long process of trying to get additional signage on the exterior of The Paxton for 801 Chophouse—the board was deeply involved and offered ample guidance. “The board must approve everything,” she says, adding that she is grateful for the care they take in making decisions.

A fan of old buildings and art deco architecture, Wallace feels right at home at The Paxton. “We’re lucky to be in a building that people seek out for the nostalgia factor,” she says. “When storms roll through, we all joke that we’re safe in such a strong building.”

801 Chophouse staff and guests claim their ghost is a tall gentleman in a suit, rumored to be a man murdered in the

“THIS BUILDING HAS AN EXTREMELY FUN HISTORY, TOM DENNISON OPENED THE FLATIRON HOTEL AND USED IT AS A SAFE HOUSE FOR MOBSTERS FROM CHICAGO AND KANSAS CITY WHO GOT IN TROUBLE. HE WAS NEVER MAYOR OF OMAHA, BUT HE HAD HIS HANDS IN EVERYTHING.” —JOE JAMROZY Among the issues facing historic buildings are the shadows of the past that never quite seem to disperse. “Anybody who has been here long enough will say we have ghosts.

There is an energy here late at night in the basement; it doesn’t always seem like you’re alone,” he says.

With the building’s colorful mob history, Jamrozy says he sometimes wonders what the basement walls have seen over the years. His voice trails off: “If these walls could talk…”

lobby of the hotel by his mistress. Wallace says the ghost has never been mischievous or caused any problems as far as she knows, so she doesn’t pay the matter much mind.

Like Jamrozy of the Flatiron Cafe, she says that she wouldn’t trade 801 Chophouse’s location for a newer building. “The building itself is a benefit to us,” she says.

Visit J. Coco (jcocoomaha.com), 801 Chophouse (801chophouse.com/omaha), and Flatiron Cafe (theflatironcafe.com) to learn more about the historic dining locations.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 158 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

“EVERYBODY’S GOT STORIES ABOUT THIS BUILDING,” COCO SAYS, ADDING THAT MANY CUSTOMERS WILL REMINISCE ABOUT HOW THEY USED TO GET CANDY ON GROCERY STORE VISITS WITH PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS IN THE BUILDING.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 159 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING // REVIEW REVIEW BY LIZ STEVENS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Skeet's Barbecue good food, no frills

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 160 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 161 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 162 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING // REVIEW

i was convinced that they were out of business.

Skeet’s Barbecue's small internet footprint consisted of several online reviews and an unofficial Facebook page for “Skeet’s Ribs and Chicken.” The listed phone number was disconnected, and their opening hours were a mystery.

The restaurant sticks out like a sore thumb at the intersection of North 24th and Burdette streets. Across the street from the new, bright, and shiny Fair Deal Village MarketPlace, Skeet’s resembles an old shack.

The white paint on the side of the roof is almost completely chipped off, and the rest of the building is in desperate need of a face-lift. A pair of ragged signs proudly proclaims that “Skeet's Carry Out” is “Omaha's Finest Barbecue."

Skeet’s has been a community landmark in North Omaha since 1952. In that time, the restaurant has gained renown for perfecting its sauce recipes and meatsmoking techniques.

They are open for customers when I drop by for lunch with a friend on a recent Wednesday.

Walking inside, we discover a bare-bones establishment. The atmosphere seems a bit like a food truck, but indoors. A sliding glass window separates customers from employees. The menu, printed on crisp white paper, is taped to the glass. Main entrées don't venture outside of pork, ribs, or chicken. Side dishes introduce limited additional options (smoked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, and extra bread).

An older gentleman walks out of the back room, looks at us, turns around, and returns to the back room. Five minutes later, he comes back to take our order.

Immediately after we order, he goes over to the prep station and puts together a half chicken dinner with a side of macaroni salad and a three-bone rib sandwich with a side of potato salad.

He grabs our meat selections out of their respective containers and paints a thick dark red sauce on top, drops the barbecue on two slices of Wonder bread, and sets the orders into white styrofoam to-go boxes.

He tops each sandwich with an extra piece of bread. The macaroni and potato salads also come in white styrofoam containers.

He packages the meals in separate plastic grocery bags and hands them off through the sliding window.

Back at my friend's office, we unpack the bags. It is a magical, barbecue-slathered moment. Opening the take-out containers releases a succulent, smoky aroma that fills the room. We sample the mild and spicy sauces, and the meat easily falls off the bones.

The spicy barbecue sauce cloaks the chicken.

Its flavor is so intense that our taste buds need a moment to regroup after a few bites.

The mild sauce covering the ribs uses a ketchup base, which is subtle enough that the meat taste still comes through.

The potato salad’s strong mustard flavor balances against potatoes, onions, and other ingredients. But the macaroni salad is more palatable to my preference, with a slightly sweet sauce coating the noodles.

Skeet’s offers its customers a great deal on good barbecue. The portions are large, and the cost for our two meals is just over $15.

Overall, Skeet’s staff pour all of their attention in producing good quality barbecue at a reasonable price. Although the service, ambiance, and the appearance of the building are questionable, the food is delicious. At Skeet’s, it is all about good old-fashioned barbecue.

SKEET'S BARBECUE 2201 N. 24TH ST.

At top: David Deal, owner

FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE PRICE OVERALL

$ 5 STARS POSSIBLE

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 163 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING // PROFILE

J

STORY BY GARRETT SASS AND DOUG MEIGS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

JOSE DIONICIO'S YEAR OF CHANGE

Nikkei Cuisine Remixed THE CHEF RESPONSIBLE for some of Benson’s hippest eateries had a tumultuous year in 2017.

Taita closed (February); Ika Ramen and Izakaya relocated to the former site of Taita a few blocks east on Maple Street; Taqueria Chingon took the place of Ika (July); in the fall, the relocated Ika debuted a basement sake bar (called “Kaitei,” which translates to “under the sea” in Japanese).

Jose Dionicio’s decision to close Taita after five years was not easy. “We were doing really well down the street [at Ika]; Taita was doing alright, but we thought it would be a good business move to take the ramen shop to Taita’s bigger and more central location,” Dionicio says.

Fans of Taita’s unique fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine—which the chef calls “Nikkei”—will be happy to learn Dionicio is considering reopening Taita at another location. “It's still in the early stages, but some people are interested,” he says.

The opening of Chingon took inspiration from Dionicio’s girlfriend, originally from Mexico. “We wanted to bring authentic-style Mexican tacos to Benson,” he says, explaining they were motivated by regular trips south of the border to visit family with their son.

Dionicio’s odyssey to becoming an Omaha restaurateur has spanned nearly 20 years and three states. It all started with his long journey from Lima, Peru.

It’s about 4,000 miles from Lima to Omaha.

“My father was the first member of my family to come to the United States 30 years ago.

I was only 5 when he left. When I turned 19, I decided to follow him,” Dionicio says.

With a population close to 10 million, life in Lima is a bit faster than Omaha. “Lima is a really big place,” Dionico says. “I was used to the lifestyle. It’s so fast. Honestly, my plan was to never stay in Omaha, but I just kept coming back.”

In 2004, after a year in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dionicio moved back to Omaha to care for his daughter. But it was during his time spent in Charlotte, exposed to the abundance of sushi joints, that he rekindled his love of Japanese cuisine, a throwback to the Nikkei cuisine of his homeland.

“Based on the immigration of Japanese citizens during World War II in Peru, [Japanese traditions] have a strong influence on the culture of Peru. The dishes that they made are very much a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese, not necessarily Japanese or Peruvian. It's a really good marriage,” he says, adding that the word “Nikkei” refers to someone of Japanese descent who is born in a different country.

“I knew that when I moved back to Omaha, I wanted to work for a Japanese restaurant,” he says. “I ended up getting a job with Kona Grill, and that’s where I met my mentor, Ichi Takei.”

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 164 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

With more than 50 years experience in Japanese cuisine, Takei helped Dionicio learn the business. “I made a lot of really great connections at Kona. Ichi taught me everything I know about sushi,” Dionicio says of the chef who worked with him in Omaha for less than two years. “Then I worked at Kona as the executive sushi chef and things were great. One day, out of the blue, Ichi calls me from Cape Cod. He wanted me to come up and work for him.” So, in 2008, Dionicio headed to Massachusetts to reunite with his mentor and friend.

HAPPY HOURS

7984-2017 UpstreamAd-OmahaMagHH-2.375x2.375

Life on the East Coast was great. Dionicio was able to work with the freshest ingredients–seafood caught the same day. “I loved the vibes up there,” he says. However, the off-season proved challenging. “This was seasonal work,” he says.

“So when the tourists left, things got pretty slow. I needed something more secure to support my family. So I moved back to Omaha.”

“I’ll always be grateful to Paul and Jared for what they taught me,” he says. “We were never content with what we were creating.

We were always pushing the limits with our food. Paul and Jared always motivated me to be the best chef I can be.”

And when it came time for Dionicio to be chef of his own restaurant, fate couldn’t have played a better hand. “I just happened to be driving through Benson, and I noticed a ‘for lease’ sign on what used to be the Today Café [the future home of Taita, now Ika]. It was pretty rough inside.”

The story of Ika’s first venue—now Chingon’s space—came from a similar chance passing.

“Two blocks from Taita, we saw an empty spot next to a barbershop.” So, he dropped into the barbershop to inquire, managed to contact the owner of the empty business space, and soon had another major renovation project underway.

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Dionicio’s final trek back to the heartland would turn out to be his introduction into the Omaha food scene spotlight. It was his experiences as a member of Paul Kulik’s opening staff at The Boiler Room and working alongside Jared Clarke at the now-defunct Blue Agave where Dionicio received the most support.

21

When Dionicio needed them most, all his friends and kitchen connections stepped up to lend a helping hand in getting his new ventures off the ground.

“I just really want everybody to know how much they mean to me, and how grateful I am to them for the support. Barbara [Schlott, an early supporter of Taita], Paul, Jared, my friends, and family—they’ve all helped me reach my goals.”

Visit ikaramenandizakaya.com for more information.

STOP IN FOR HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS “Just a Wink from the Link” 501 N. 13th St. | 402.346.9116 www.themattomaha.com

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

AMERICAN BEYOND GOLF BAR & KITCHEN - $

402-916-4PAR 12040 McDermott Plaza Stop in to Beyond Golf Bar & Kitchen for a craft cocktail or local brew.

Our kitchen features fresh innovative food made from scratch daily.

We offer gourmet salads, smoked brisket, and flatbreads on your choice of bread or lavosh. Specials are served daily including Sunday brunch. Visit beyondgolfomaha.com to view our menu or for information on our party room. beyondgolfomaha.com

DJ’S DUGOUT - $

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7814 Dodge St.(402-399-8300) 1101 Harney St. in the Old Market (402-614-9333) Jams is an Omaha restaurant legacy. An American Grill that offers a melting pot of different styles and varieties of food dishes made with high-quality ingredients that pair well with award-winning wines or creative cocktails. jamseats.com

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177th & Center St. (402-934-9914) 156th & W. Dodge Rd. (402-408-1728) 120th & Blondo St. (402-991-8222) Le Peep puts a wholesome perspective on your favorite neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot. Fresh. Simple. Elegant. Inviting.

We put the emphasis on people, both patrons and staff. We focus on providing each of our guests the fresh food and friendly service that they have come to expect. Open daily 6:30am-2pm. lepeepomaha.com

LOUIE’S WINE DIVE - $ MC, V

402-884-8966 16820 Wright Plz. Creative gourmet comfort food, and a funky, fun atmosphere.

Great wines, many of which come from small vineyards, at a great value. Gourmet comfort food is made fresh, using eco-friendly and local ingredients whenever possible. Mon. 4-10pm, Tue.-Thu. 11am-10pm, Fri./Sat. 11am-11pm, and Sun. 10am-8pm. louieswinedive.com

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CALL FOR RESERVATIONS • 402-391-2950

CENTRAL LOCATION • 3125 SOUTH 72ND STREET • EASY ACCESS OFF I-80 • 72ND STREET EXIT

402-991-9400 7051 Ames Ave. What came first: the chicken or the waffle? Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles has the juiciest, most flavorful fried chicken and the fluffiest, melt-in- your-mouth waffles, which has created an underground soul food revolution–one that’s slowly spreading downright deliciousness across the country. loloschickenandwaffles.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

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NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 166 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Quality

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

IS A FAMILY TRADITION

1 2 9 1 e c n i S RotellasBakery.com

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 167 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

Located “JUST A WINK FROM THE LINK”

MILLARD ROADHOUSE - $ MC, V

your pre-game headquarters for lunch, dinner or your next event!

402-891-9292 13325 Millard Ave. The all-American neighborhood grill Millard Roadhouse is perfect for the whole family, with huge portions, great service, and even better food.

From roasted chicken to fried green tomatoes, there's something for every taste, and trust us, you're not going to leave hungry. Also serving Sunday brunch and the best happy hour in the area. Mon.-Wed. 11-9pm, Thu.-Sat. 11am-10pm, Sun. 10am-9pm. millardroadhouse.com

MY PIE - $$

402-763-4900 2085 N. 120th St. Got six people with six different tastes in pizza, including red sauce vs. garlic sauce? My Pie creates custom pizzas from the sauce up, so everyone can eat what they want. Their house-made pies come in every variety from Pear-fect (pear and gorgonzola) to Very Vegan (vegan cheese and vegetables). Craving a New York ‘Roni? My Pie has that, too. pizzayourway.com

STELLA’S - $ MC, V, AE, DC

402-291-6088 106 S. Galvin Rd., Bellevue Since 1936, we’ve been making our Stella’s world-famous hamburgers the same way. The family secrets have been handed down to each owner, ensuring that your burger is the same as the one you fell in love with the first time you ever tried Stella’s. And if it’s your first time, we know you’ll be back! Mon.–Sat. 11am–9pm., Sun. closed. stellasbarandgrill.com

TIMBER WOOD FIRE BISTRO - $

501 N. 13 St / 402.346.9116 / theMattOmaha.com th

/theoldmattresfactoryomaha

MONDAY - THURSDAY 11:00AM - 9:30PM FRIDAY 11:00AM - CLOSE

@Matt_factory

SATURDAY - SUNDAY 9:00AM - CLOSE SUNDAY BRUNCH: 9:00AM - 2:00PM

402-964-2227 8702 Pacific St. Delicious wood-fire cuisine, with a roaring hearth and warm atmosphere.

You’ll feel at home the moment you walk in. Enjoy our wood oven-baked sour dough bread service with herbed California olive oil or locally whipped butter, or try one of our pissaladière—French style pizzas—wood-fired to perfection. Select from one of our fresh-from-the-fire entrees, including our housemade rigatoni with roasted vegetables, herb crusted bistro steak, and cedar planked steelhead salmon. All of our meals are made-fromscratch. Mon.–Thu. 11am–9:30pm., Fri. 11am–11pm, Sat. 9am–11pm, Sun. 9am–9pm. timberomaha.com

UPSTREAM BREWING COMPANY - $$

402-344-0200 514 S. 11th St. Upstream features an extensive menu of new American pub fare including appetizers, thin-crust pizzas, superb steaks featuring Omaha Steaks, fresh fish, pasta, salads, sandwiches, and a great children’s menu. Fresh, handcrafted beer and root beer on tap. Extensive wine list. Call ahead for group reservations or to be placed on our waiting list. Visit our classic, upscale poolroom located on the second level. upstreambrewing.com

8702 PACIFIC STREET (COUNTRYSIDE VILLAGE) OMAHA, NE 68114 | TIMBEROMAHA.COM

ICE CREAM TED AND WALLY’S - $ MC, V

The Original Whiskey Steak

Voted Best of Omaha 5 years in a row

402-341-5827 1120 Jackson St. Come experience the true taste of homemade ice cream in the Old Market. Since 1986, we’ve created gourmet ice cream flavors in small batches using rock salt and ice. We offer your favorites plus unique flavors like margarita, green tea, Guinness, and French toast. Special orders available. tedandwallys.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

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DroverRestaurant.com

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NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 168 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Thanks for Voting Us

#1 BREAKFAST 9 YEARS in a Row!

177th & Center • 934-9914 156th & Dodge • 408-1728 120th & Blondo • 991-8222 Drive-Thru Open (Center St. Only) Open Daily 6:30am-2:00pm Serving Breakfast & Lunch All Day!

Bringing Italy to Omaha Since 1919

Omaha’s Only

Authentic German Restaurant

Take a Taste of Italy Home Today!

Locally Owned Since 1976

Tues-Thurs: 8:30am-8pm Friday: 8:30am-8:30pm Saturday: 7:30am-8pm Sunday: 7:30am-6pm

402.345.3438 621 Pacific St, Omaha NE orsibakery.com

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w w w. g e rd a s g e r m a n re s t a u ra n t . c o m NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 169 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

ITALIAN DON CARMELO'S PIZZERIA - $

402-933-3190 10821 Prairie Brook Rd. Omaha's first and finest New York-style pizza, stromboli, calzones, oventoasted hoagies, Philly cheesesteaks, pasta, salads, beer, and wine. We also feature take-out and delivery and can cater your special event, large or small. Tue.-Thu., 11am-9pm Fri. & Sat., 11am-10pm, Sun., Noon-8pm. doncarmelos.com

LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$ MC, V

402-556-6464 45th & Leavenworth St. La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha its legendary Neapolitanstyle pizza and pasta for 60 years now. We offer dine in, carryout, party facilities, catering, and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states. Open Tues.- Sat. at 11am and Sun. at 4:30pm. lacasapizzaria.net

LO SOLE MIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO - $$

at dundee

pitch west PITCHPIZZERIA.COM @PITCHPIZZERIA

or

off premise custom menu

5021 UNDERWOOD AVE. 402-590-2625

Also, the filet is amazing!!

17808 BURKE ST. 402-289-4096

(and don’t forget the cannolis!!!!)

402-345-5656 3001 S. 32nd Ave. Located in the middle of a neighborhood, surrounded by charming homes.

Everyone is greeted with homemade bread, a bowl of fresh tomatoes and basil, a bowl of oven-roasted garlic cloves, special-seasoned olive oil, and at night, a jug of Chianti! The menu includes a large variety of pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, and even a delicious New York steak.

Traditional dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, and eggplant parmigiana are also available. Lunch also offers panini, salads, and one of the best pizzas in town. Patio seating, full bar, and a great wine list complete the atmosphere. No reservations, except for private rooms. losolemio.com

PASTA AMORE - $$ MC, V, AE

402-391-2585 11027 Prairie Brook Rd. Pastas are made fresh daily, including tortellini, fettuccine, and capellini. Daily specials and menu items include a variety of fresh seafood and regional Italian dishes, such as linguini amore and calamari steak, penne Florentine, gnocchi, spaghetti puttanesca, and ossobuco. Filet mignon is also offered for those who appreciate nationally renowned Nebraska beef. To complement your dining experience, the restaurant offers a full bar and extensive wine list. Be sure to leave room for homemade desserts, like the tiramisu and cannoli. Lunch: 11am-2pm Dinner: 4:30pm Reservations recommended. pastaamore.com

PITCH - $$ MC, V, AE, DC

lunch Tues-Fri: 11AM-2PM Dinner Tues-Sat: 4:30PM-Close

Rockbrook Village (108th & Center) 402.391.2585 www.pastaamore.com

Meals to order prepared by Chef And owner Lillo Fascianella from Sicily. Specializing in seafood and pasta dishes.

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402- 590-2625 5021 Underwood Ave. OpenTable Diners' Choice 2014 HotSpot Restaurants in America. Keeping up with the traditional way the first pizzas in Italy were made, our pizzas are cooked in a coal-fired oven. The menu also features seafood, handcut steak, housemade pastas, and a burger full of flavor! Our goal is to provide you with local, housemade, and imported ingredients. We offer a happy hour menu through the week. Our bar provides an array of in-house concoctions as well as your traditional libation. Our wine selection is well-thought and most impressive. You will enjoy Pitch!

Mon. 3pm-10pm Tue.-Thu. 11am-10pm, Fri.-Sat. 11am-11pm, Sun. 3-10pm. pitchpizzeria.com

SPEZIA - $$$ MC, V

402-391-2950 3125 S. 72nd St. Choose Spezia for lunch or dinner, where you'll find a casual elegance that's perfect for business guests, get-togethers, or any special occasion. Exceptional food, wine, and service, with a delectable menu: fresh seafood, Certified Angus steaks, innovative pasta, risotto, gnocchi, cioppino, lamb, entrée salads, Mediterranean chicken, flatbreads, and fresh salmon daily. Enjoy a full bar, Italian and California wines, Anniversary/ Lovers' Booth (call to reserve), private dining rooms, and wood-fired grill. Open Mon.-Sun. Cocktail hour: 4-6pm, when all cocktails, glass wine, and beers are half price. Evening reservations recommended. speziarestaurant.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

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6 OMAHA AREA LOCATIONS

www.romeosOMAHA.com

DOWNTOWN 10th & Capitol | 402-763-9974

MILLARD 180th & Q | 402-933-8844

AKSARBEN VILLAGE 67th & Center | 402-933-3533

BELLEVUE 23rd & Cornhusker | 402-292-9096

MIRACLE HILLS 114th & Dodge | 402-498-8855

PLATTSMOUTH Hwy 75 & Oak Hill | 402-298-4166

DJSDUGOUT.COM 11664_DJ'sOmahAMag_JulyHalfV2.indd 1

Tradition Meats Deliciousness • Locally owned • Reservation accepted • Private Parties 11732 W Dodge Rd, Omaha, NE 68154 402· 496·0222 | jericosomaha.com NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 171 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

7/19/17 10:01 AM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

ZIO’S PIZZERIA - $$ MC, V

7834 Dodge St. (402-391-1881) 12997 W. Center Rd. (402-330-1444) 1109 Howard St. (402-344-2222) Delivery, dine in, and carry out. Serving New York style pizza by the slice or whole pies, calzones, hoagies, pastas, salads, and garlic breads. Our pies are hand-stretched and baked in old-world ovens. We offer 35 of the freshest toppings; taste the freshest pizza at Zio’s! Family dining, open seven days a week. Lunch specials and beer and wine available. ziospizzeria.com

MEXICAN FERNANDO’S - $ MC, V, AE

7555 Pacific St. (402-339-8006) 380 N. 114th St. (402-330-5707) Featuring Sonoran-style cooking made fresh daily. Catering and party rooms also available. Mon.-Thu., 11am-10pm; Fri.-Sat., 11am-11pm; Sun., 4-9pm. fernandosomaha.com

JULIO’S - $

2820 S. 123rd Ct. 402- 330-2110 Local owned since 1977, Julio’s prides themselves on serving the finest Tex-Mex cuisine and offering top-notch customer service.

Their loyal customers are the reason they have been around for nearly 40 years. They have an extensive menu that has both classic and innovative dishes—giving everyone the opportunity to find something they love. Salivating for Southwestern fare? They have tacos, tostadas, a dozen different enchiladas, and classic fajitas.

And of course— NACHOS! julios.com

LA MESA - $$ MC, V

158th & W. Maple Rd. 156th & Q Sts.(402-763-2555) 110th St. & W. Maple Rd.(402-496-1101) Ft. Crook Rd. & Hwy 370 in Bellevue (402-733-8754) 84th St. & Tara Plaza in Papillion (402-593-0983) Lake Manawa Exit in Council Bluffs (712-256-2762) Enjoy awesome enchiladas, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouthwatering margaritas, and more at La Mesa! Come see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s #1 Mexican restaurant 13 years in a row! Sun.-Thu. 11am-10pm, Fri. & Sat. 11am-10:30pm. lamesaomaha.com

OJ'S CAFE - $$

Omaha’s Premier Indoor Golf Facility, Bar + Kitchen SERVING DAILY SPECIALS INCLUDING: • Moscow Mule Monday • Tuesday Smoked Chicken Wings • Taco & Margarita Wednesday • Therapy Thursday Featuring $10 Bottles Of Select Wines

• NFL Sunday Ticket with Sunday Brunch • Happy Hour Specials $1 Off All

9201 N 30th St (402-451-3266) Next to the Mormon Bridge Family-owned for 41 years. All homemade food, including our signature enchilada dish, homemade salsa, and some of Omaha's best margaritas!

Tue.-Fri. 11am-2pm, Sat. 2pm-9pm, Closed Sun.-Mon. ojscafe.com

MARGARITA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT - $

4915 S. 72nd St. (402-393-7515) Margarita's is a business with more than seven years in the food world. We offer authentic Mexican food where you can enjoy a nice moment with your family. margaritasmenu.com

ROMEO'S MEXICAN FOOD AND PIZZA - $ Romeo's is your friendly, family Mexican Food & Pizza restaurant!

We take real pride in serving our guests generous portions of the freshest, most flavorful dishes made with the finest ingredients available.

Zesty seasonings and the freshest ingredients combine to ensure the ultimate in flavor. Our savory taco meat is prepared every morning at each location. Make sure to try our chimichangas, they're the best in town! romeosomaha.com

Beers And $3 Well Cocktails

402.916.4PAR(4727) beyondgolfomaha.com DIRECTLY OFF OF I-80 EXIT 442 12040 McDermot t Plaza LaVista, NE 68128

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ MC=Master Card • V=Visa AE=American Express • DC=Discover Card

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OMAHA’S ORIGINAL STEAKHOUSE

• Proudly serving visitor & locals for 90 years.

• Featured on CNN.com Best Meat Cities in America • Serving hand cut steaks, aged on premise and slow roasted prime rib with pride.

402-731-4774 www.johnnyscafe.com 27th & ‘L’ St., Kennedy Frwy, ‘L’ St. Exit 8 Minutes from Downtown Omaha.

O’Connor’s Irish Pub 1217 Howard St. • Omaha, NE 68102 402-934-9790 • oconnorsomaha.com Family Owned & Operated Authentic Italian Cuisine Party Rooms Available Carry Out Available

Serving Lunch & Dinner

Mon-Sat

3001 S. 32nd Ave • Omaha, NE 402-345-5656

Best Of Omaha 11 Years Running

WHERE WHERE GOOD GOOD FOOD FOOD AND AND GOOD GOOD SERVICE SERVICE NEVER NEVER GO GO OUT OUT OF OF STYLE. STYLE.

Thanks to our customers for voting us the “Best Burger in Omaha”

7984-2017 UpstreamAd-OmahaMag-5x4.917_FNL.pdf 1 NE 7/14/17 PM Stella’s Bar and Grill “Serving World Famous Hamburgers since 1936” 106 Galvin Rd • Bellevue, • 402-291-60881:43 • Open Monday-Saturday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

9201 N 30th (next to the Mormon Bridge) Omaha, NE 402.451.3266 / 11-2 reopen 4-9 Tues-Fri Winter hours: 4-8 Tues-Thurs / CLOSED Sun & Mon

Mandarin • Hunan Szechuan • Cantonese Shanghai 4040 N 132nd St (132 & Maple) 402.493.277 | GoldenPalaceNE.com NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 173 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

SEAFOOD CHARLIE’S ON THE LAKE - $$

Old Market

402-894-9411 4150 S. 144th St. Charlie’s is the only fresh-fish-daily seafood restaurant in Omaha.

Features a relaxed yet contemporary atmosphere that is fun for all ages. Besides fresh seafood, Charlie’s is the home of the James Bond-style martini (shaken, not stirred) in over 20 varieties in addition to over 60 wines. Mon.-Thu., 11am-10pm; Fri. 11am-11pm Sat., 4:30pm-11pm. charliesonthelake.net

Benson

1120 Jackson Street • 402.341.5827 6023 Maple Street • 402.551.4420 tedandwallys.com

SHUCKS FISH HOUSE & OYSTER BAR - $$ 10 Years In A Row

Fernando’s

402-827-4376 1218 S 119th St. Award-winning, locally owned and operated. Very casual with good food that is reasonably priced. Featuring Po’ Boys, Poke Bowls, Fried Clam Strips, Shrimp and Calamari (thinnest breading in town). Plus Crab Cakes, house-made soups like Clam Chowda and Gumbo, and a wide selection of Salads and daily FRESH FISH specials. Mon.-Thu., 11am-9pm; Fri.-Sat 11am-10pm Sun., 12pm-8pm. shucksfishhouse.com

Cafe and Cantina

Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben!

CRESCENT MOON ALE HOUSE - $ Sonoran Style Cooking Made Fresh Daily.

Omaha’s largest selection of craft beers.

3578 Farnam St • 402-345-1708 www.beercornerusa.com

SPECIAL DINING

Catering and Party Rooms Also Available.

380 N. 114th St. Omaha, NE 68154 402.330.5707

7555 Pacific St. 1600 Washington St. Omaha, NE 68114 Blair, NE 68008 402.339.8006 402.533.4450

fernandosomaha.com

402-345-1708 3578 Farnam St. Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia, Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best Reuben sandwich, we are a midtown beer lover’s destination. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11am-2am. Kitchen hours: Mon.-Wed., 11am-1pm; Thu.-Sat. 11am-midnight. Closed Sun. beercornerusa.com

GERDA’S GERMAN RESTAURANT & BAKERY - $

402-553-6774 5180 Leavenworth St. Omaha’s only authentic German restaurant, a little piece of Germany in the metro. Gerda herself makes homemade spaetzle, schnitzels, and rouladen. Fresh-made soups, red cabbage, sauerkraut, and dumplings are a few other treats. Stay for a dessert of Black Forest cake or grab fresh bakery for breakfast on your way out. Check hours at gerdasgermanrestaurant.com

GREEK ISLANDS - $

5203 Leavenworth st.

Omaha, NE 68106

Lunch Mon-Fri 11-2 Dinner Mon-Sat 5-10

www.jcocoomaha.com

402-346-1528 3821 Center St. Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. Well known for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests. Carry out and delivery available. Mon.-Thu., 11am-9pm; Fri.-Sat., 11am-10pm; Sun., 11am-7pm. greekislandsomaha.com

JAIPUR INDIAN RESTAURANT AND BREWERY - $$$

402-392-7331 10922 Elm St. A casual restaurant in a relaxed atmosphere. Dinner entrees include fresh vegetables, grilled Colorado lamb sirloin, sushigrade ahi, tandoori marinated grilled salmon, and tandoori grilled beef tenderloin to name a few. A wide selection of wines and liquor, as well as on-site brewed beer. Lunch: Thu. and Fri., 11am2pm Dinner: Sun.-Thu., 5pm-9:30pm; Fri and Sat., 5pm-10:30pm. jaipurindianfood.com

J.COCO - $$$ CONNECTING WITH LOCAL FARMERS TO CREATE A FRESH AND SEASONAL MENU LUNCH 11-2PM Tuesday through Saturday BRUNCH 11-2PM on Sundays HAPPY HOUR 5-6PM every evening

(Wednesday and Sundays offering Happy Hour all evening with the addition of half priced wine)

DINNER 5-CL Tuesday through Sunday

402.991.5363 / 4919 Underwood Ave / Omaha, NE 68132 / Parking in the rear

402-884-2626 5203 Leavenworth St. The building that once housed a beloved neighborhood grocery has a new future. Built as a grocery back in 1925, it is now home to J. Coco. Our seasonal menus, rooted in tradition, showcase our natural ingredients. Local, organic, and sustainable when available. We feature craft bar tending, housemade desserts, and pastas. We celebrate the traditional with a modern twist. Lunch (Mon.-Fri. 11am-2pm).

Dinner (Mon.-Sat. 5pm-close). jcocoomaha.com

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LIBRARY PUB - $

402.571.6262 5142 N 90th St. Omaha’s pre-eminent whisky pub! This bar boasts the Midwest’s largest whisky collection, spanning the globe and also features 40 rotating beers on tap. Their selection can satisfy any palate. They also offer private whisky tastings. thelibrarypubomaha.com.

O’CONNOR’S IRISH PUB - $

STEAKS • CHOPS • SEAFOOD ITALIAN SPECIALTIES 7 private party rooms Seating up to 400 Lots of parking

402-934-9790 1217 Howard St. Comfortable, relaxing atmosphere. Great before and after games. We offer pub style food—burgers, Reubens, daily specials, and homemade soups—as well as all the traditional Irish favorite libations: Guinness, Harp, and Irish whiskey. Grill hours: Mon.-Thu., 11am-10pm; Fri.-Sat., 11am-10pm. oconnorsomaha.com

1620 S. 10th Street

402-345-8313

www.casciossteakhouse.com

AHA BAR M O

402-391-7440 2121 S. 73rd St. Famous for the original Whiskey Steak. Truly a one-of-a-kind Midwestern experience. Excellent food, wine, service, and value.

Rare...and very well done. Lunch: Mon.–Fri. 11am– 2pm Cocktail Hour: 3-6pm. Dinner: nightly at 5pm. Reservations accepted. droverrestaurant.com

in

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402-496-0222 11732 W Dodge Rd. Welcome to a local Omaha steakhouse consistently voted Best of Omaha for best prime rib. Since it opened in 1978, Jerico’s has been serving the finest hand cut steaks, choice chicken, and fresh seafood in town. Known for it’s classic decor and old school manners, Jerico’s is not to be missed if you are looking for a true Nebraska steak experience. Private party room available and reservations are accepted. jericosomaha.com

JOHNNY'S CAFÉ - $$$ MC, V, AE

402-731-4774 4702 S. 27th St. Years of quality dining and hospitality make Johnny's Café a restaurant to remember. We serve only the finest beef the Midwest has to offer. Aged steaks and prime rib are the specialties, with homemade bread and pies to complete a meal. An excellent wine list adds to the enjoyment at one of Omaha's original restaurants. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11am-2pm and 5pm-9:30pm. johnnyscafe.com

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JERICO’S RESTAURANT - $$

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THE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$

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402-345-8313 1620 S. 10th St. Cascio's is Omaha's No. 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature steaks, chops, seafood, and Italian specialties. We have seven private party rooms, seating for up to 400 people, and plenty of parking. casciossteakhouse.com

LOCA L

CASCIO'S - $$

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STEAKHOUSES

402.991.9994 4702 S. 108th St. | Omaha, Nebraska @TiredTexanBBQ

twitter.com/tired_texan_bbq

Best Greek

OMAHA MAGAZ INE’S

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

FamilyGuide

Family Owned Since 1983

Catering ~ Party Room Available Homemade, Fresh Food ~ Always 3821 Center St. 402/346-1528

MC=Master Card • V=Visa AE=American Express • DC=Discover Card

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plore, Come ex discover & unwind.

The NEW Raptor Woodland Refuge at Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue

Sarpy County awaits with a wonderful mix of fun things to see and do this fall. Tour a museum or gallery.

Spend a day at a family fun center. From great hotels, brewpubs and wineries to malls, specialty shops and theatres, Sarpy County is the perfect destination for your next getaway. To request the Official Sarpy County Visitor’s Guide or for a complete schedule of area events, call or visit us online today!

E ’S GUID

Y T N U O C Y SARP ICIA THE OFF

ISITOR L 2017 V

PIL LIO TA | PA | L A VIS | GR ET NA BE LL EV UE

GF N | SP RIN

FU T T IEL D | OF

402-332-5771 • GOSARPY.COM

AF B

B E L L E V U E | G R E T N A | L A V I S TA | PA P I L L I O N | S P R I N G F I E L D | O F F U T T A F B | O M A H A M E T R O

STATE OF NEBRASKA

A BROWNVILLE CHRISTMAS CONCERT Nov. 8-10,

NEBRASKA: THOMAS HART BENTON—MONA COLLECTION Through Feb. 25, Museum of Nebraska

Art, 2401 Central Ave., Kearney. Celebrate Nebraska’s 150th statehood anniversary with this MONA exhibit, which will show the only 28-piece set of Benton’s gouache paintings, including the pieces featured in the 1945 book The Oregon Trail. 308-865-8559.

—mona.unk.edu

Brownville Concert Series and Hall, 126 Atlantic St., Brownville. Experience a Brownville Christmas at the Home for the Holidays concert. Performances will feature award-winning musicians and vocalists. 402-825-3331.

—brownvilleconcertseries.com

VETERANS DAY Nov. 11, Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum, 28210 W. Park Highway, Ashland. Honor military veterans at a special program, including the posting of colors and lunch with keynote speaker Major Cory Kuehn, the assistant director of operations in the 740th Missile Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. Veterans are encouraged to come in uniform. 402-944-3100.

—sacmuseum.org

FORT ATKINSON CANDLELIGHT TOUR 2017

Nov. 4, Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, 201 S. Seventh St., Fort Calhoun. Take a guided tour of the fort by candlelight. The evening also includes a mystery, based on actual events. Each stop along the way will reveal another part of the plot. Reservations required. 402-445-0706.

—fortatkinsononline.org

27TH ANNUAL FROST FROLIC HOLIDAY MARKET Nov. 4, Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 56885 PWF Road, Fairbury. Kick off the holiday season early at this 27th annual event. Explore a variety of décor from artisan crafts and goods from popular vendors. 402-300-7146.

—frostfrolic.bonhamtheatre.org

FANTASY OF TREES Nov.

11

Fairgrounds, 3807 Ave. North, Kearney. Guests will see the latest agriculture technology and services at this 49th annual expo, which will feature more than 400 exhibits and free barbecue. 308-234-2717.

—gatewayfarmexpo.org

Nov. 3-4 and 10-11, Lied Lodge and Conference Center, 2700 Sylvan Road, Nebraska City.

Guests will spend the evening sipping apple cider, listening to stories, making s’mores, and taking hayrack rides at Arbor Day farm. Reservations required. 800-546-5433.

—liedlodge.org

Park, 1601 N. Jeffers St., North Platte. Come to Santa’s workshop, drop off a letter for the big guy, and enjoy free carousel and glider rides during this special time at the park. Special events, such as music, movies, or parades, occur throughout the month. 308-535-6700.

—ci.north-platte.ne.us

Nov.

GATEWAY FARM EXPO Nov. 15-16, Buffalo County

HAYRACK RIDES, STORYTELLING AND S’MORES

CHRISTMAS AT CODY PARK Nov. 26-Dec. 30 at Cody

NORTH POLE EXPRESS Nov.

18 and 25, Stuhr Museum, 3133 W. U.S. Highway 34, Grand Island.

Children will enjoy taking a trip to the North Pole through songs, stories, and much more, while on a real train car. Reservations required. 308-385-5316.

—stuhrmuseum.org

24, 2017-Jan. 2, 2018, Stuhr Museum, 3133 W. U.S. Highway 34, Grand Island. View dozens of lavishly decorated trees on display at the various historic buildings at this museum that celebrates Nebraska. 308-385-5316.

—stuhrmuseum.org

HOLIDAY TROLLEY TOUR OF LIGHTS Fridays and

Saturdays in December, Lied Lodge and Conference Center, 2700 Sylvan Road, Nebraska City.

Guests will ride the Arbor Day Farm trolley to tour Nebraska City’s Christmas lights display and listen to classic Christmas stories. 800-546-5433.

—liedlodge.org

NORTH POLE EXPRESS Dec. 1-3, 8-10, and 15-17,

Lincoln Children’s Zoo, 1222 S. 27th St., Lincoln.

Climb aboard the North Pole Express to write a letter to Santa, and visit the man himself. The train will also stop at the Claus’ house to see Mrs. Claus and the elves, and taste some cookies. 402-475-6741.

—lincolnzoo.org

CHRISTMAS AT THE MANSION Nov. 18-Dec. 23, Lied Lodge and Conference Center, 2700 Sylvan Road, Nebraska City. Go back in time and tour the historic 52-room mansion with vintage-inspired decorations and holiday-themed displays. 800-546-5433.

—liedlodge.org

DO DAD AND KIDS need some time out while mom is shopping at Shadow Lake and Nebraska Crossing for the holidays? Visit Schramm Park State Recreation Area, the historic site of the state’s first fish hatchery. Walk the trails, birdwatch, feed the trout, or head inside to the Aksarben Aquarium. The aquarium is open year-round and admission is free.

SPONSORED

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 177 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EXPLORE

SANTA GOES TO SPACE

Dec. 2, Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum, 28210 W. Park Highway, Ashland. Santa and Star Wars characters are teaming up for Space Day. Take photos with the man in red and Stormtroopers from the 501st Legion, and enjoy planetarium showings and holiday activities. 402-944-3100.

—sacmuseum.org

23RD ANNUAL HISTORICAL CHRISTMAS DINNER AND LIGHT UP THE FORT Dec. 2 Fort Robinson State Park, Crawford. Guests can see the historical fort buildings decorated in Christmas lights and enjoy a histor ical Chr istmas dinner. 3 0 8 - 665-2592 .

—highplainshomestead.com

TOMMY EMMANUEL CHRISTMAS CLASSICS TOUR Dec. 5, Rococo Theatre, 140 N. 13th St.,

BOLD . ELEGANT . ALLURING

Professional Jewelry Design, Creation and Repair

Lincoln. Tommy Emmanuel will preform Christmas classics with Pat Bergeson, John Knowles, Annie Sellick, and a live orchestra. 402-476-6540.

—rococotheatre.com

JAY-Z: 4:44 TOUR Dec.

6, Pinnacle Bank Arena, 400 Pinnacle Arena Drive, Lincoln Grammy-award winning hip-hop a r t i s t Jay-Z p er for m s h it s f rom h i s 4:4 4 a lbu m in Lincoln . 4 02- 9 0 4-4 4 4 4 .

—pinnaclebankarena.com

402.935.4367 . 3412 South 144 St. Omaha NE 68144

844.271.6909 NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 178 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EXPLORE!

IOWA THE COLOR PURPLE

Through Nov. 5, Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St., Des Moines.

Experience a re-enactment of Tony Award-winning musical The Color Purple, featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, and blues music. This play explores a woman’s journey living in the South. 515-246-2300.

—desmoinesperformingarts.org

SIOUX CIT Y SYMPHONY ORCHESTR A: DISNEY FANTASIA LIVE IN CONCERT Nov.

18, Orpheum Theater, 528 Pierce St., Sioux City. This show is a mash-up of the original Disney Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 performed with a live score. 712-244-5000.

—orpheumlive.com

ELF THE MUSICAL Nov. 19, Orpheum Theater, 528 Pierce St., Sioux City. This show will feature the 2003 film’s storyline with new and exciting songs. 712-244-5000.

—orpheumlive.com

Nov.

19

SIOUX CIT Y ORCHESTRA: CHRISTMAS WITH THE SYMPHONY Dec. 9, Orpheum Theater, 528 Pierce St., Sioux City. Sit back, listen, and sing along to new and classic Christmas songs preformed by the Sioux City Orchestra. 712-24 4-5000.

—orpheumlive.com

MISSOURI THROUGH THE EYES OF PICASSO Through Apr il 8 , 2018 , Nelson-Akt in s Mu seum of Ar t , 45 25 O ak St . , Kan sa s Cit y.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Ar t is the only United States arts venue to show this exhibit.

Pablo Picasso was an avid collector of nonwestern art, and the collection was constant source of exploration and inspiration. The exhibition will feature 170 works, including more than 60 paintings, sculptures, and ceramics by Picasso alongside more than 20 works of African and Oceanic art that were part of his personal collection. 816-751-1278.

—nelson-atkins.org

DES MOINES HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE Nov

3-5, Iowa Events Center, 730 Third St., Des Moines.

Don’t miss the shopping event of the season.

The holiday boutique will feature over 200 companies and vendors selling apparel, jewelry, holiday décor, and gourmet food. 515-564-8000.

—iowaeventscenter.com

STORIES OF

Adventure

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M AYOR’ S CHRIS T M A S T REE L IGH T ING CEREMON Y Nov. 24 , Crown Center, 2405

Grand Blvd ., Suite 200, Kansas City. Guests will witness the mayor light his 10 0 -foot tall Christmas tree, and be able purchase handcrafted ornaments car ved out of last year ’s tree. A ll or nament purchases w ill benefit the Mayor ’s Chr istmas Tree Fund , which helps the city ’s less for tunate. 816-274-84 4 4 .

—crowncenter.com

HOLIDAY PA RK Nov.

24-Jan . 1 Kr ug Park to Hyde Park , St. Joseph . One of the largest annua l holiday lights displays in nor thwest Missour i , t his event sta r ted in 19 81 , a nd to d ay mor e t h a n 10 0 , 0 0 0 v i s itor s d r ive t h rough each yea r to see t he lav ish display of lighted arches and trees , w inter scenes , and the park 's Ita lianate buildings out l i ne d i n l ight s . At t he sout her n end of t he pa rk w ay, Hyde Pa rk is d a z z l i ngly l it for t he hol id ay sea son . 8 16 -2 7 1- 5 5 0 0 — stjomo.com

C A N D L E L IG H T H O M E S T O U R D e c .

1-3 , throu gh out Weston . Tou r h i s tor ic homes i n t h i s a nteb el lu m cit y a s t he dow ntow n s t re et la mps a re aglow w it h g re ener y a nd lights . The streets leading to t he tour homes w i l l be lined w it h luminar ies . Fat her Chr istma s w i l l be t here , of cou r se . 816 - 6 4 0 -2 9 0 9 .

—wes ton mo.com

2017 NCAA WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Dec. 14-16, Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City. Join the best in collegiate women’s volleyball as they compete for the title of 2017 champion. 816-949-7100.

—sprintcenter.com

CHRISTMAS WITH AMY GRANT AND MICHAEL W. SMITH Dec. 8, Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City. Enjoy classic and new Christmas songs preformed by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. 816-949-7100.

—sprintcenter.com

Event times and details may change.

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

Dec.

8

LADY GAGA: WORLD TOUR Nov.

15, Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City. Energetic artist Lady Gaga will be performing songs from her new World Tour album. 816-949-7100.

—sprintcenter.com

Omaha’s Most Trusted Destination

CHRISTMAS IN THE SKY Nov. 22, 11101 Ray-

For Your Family’s Sunglasses

town Road, Kansas City. Jackson County Parks and Recreation is partnering with a radio station to light the sky with fireworks timed by Christmas songs. This 30th annual event will feature a cast of 100 singers and dancers. 816-503-4800.

—makeyourdayhere.com

CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT TOUR: A PRAIRIE CHRISTMAS Nov. 24-25, 4000 Baltimore,

Kansas City. Visit Kansas City’s oldest residence and enjoy an old-fashioned 1860s Christmas celebration with the Westport Historical Society.

Tour the home of Col. John and Henrietta Harris, and watch realistic 1860 scenarios. 816-561-1821.

—westporthistorical.com

Best Selection of Iconic Eyewear Brands

at inner!

3-peW

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NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 181 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | NOT FUNNY

SOME FREE ADVICE COLUMN BY OTIS TWELVE PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL SITZMANN

T

HERE IS, OF course, an old saying,

“Free advice is worth every penny you spent on it.” But then, I’ve never had enough money to afford any truly valuable advice, so I’ve come to trust in a few nuggets given to me gratis over the years.

Besides, that old saying is in and of itself “free,” isn’t it? Life is full of logic loops.

Oscar Wilde—in a book I paid for, so it was therefore not in the worthless category—once said, “I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself.” With that in mind, I offer you a few gems, no charge.

I had an uncle who left the farm to move to New York City back when Times Square was, shall we say, a bit more “grown up” than the current Calvin Klein version. In fact, he once claimed that while there, he met a heavily armed Kurt Russell trying to escape the island. Anyway, when he returned to his small Iowa hometown years later, he said to me…

“Never trust a naked bus driver.”

It’s a bit of advice that still rings true.

“Marriage is like a track meet. The pistol should be used at the start, not the finish.”

I’m not sure I understand the gun’s role at all, but I have to admit she had more experience than I do.

Most advice that we get in life seems to be about money. Heck, there’s a whole profession full of people called “financial advisers.” Some of them are even licensed. Go figure. I once spoke to one of those folks. I’d avoided them for years, but after the 37th invitation to a “free” steak dinner at a local eatery, I found myself a bit peckish and decided to take these money gurus up on the deal. After the somewhat subpar sirloin was consumed, I found myself cornered by one of these name-tagged hustlers who babbled at me incessantly while I searched vainly for that lint-covered extra-strength Tums I knew I had left in my sports coat pocket a few months earlier.

After he mentioned how my money should work for me, and I explained that my money was as lazy as I was, he brought out the big guns. “You need a plan,” he said, which was no surprise since he was a planner. Suddenly, something my grandmother had told me years earlier popped into my head.

I once had a friend whose home went up in flames, a total loss. When I ran into him a week or so after the conflagration he seemed remarkably sanguine despite the disaster. I asked him how he could be so accepting of the calamity, and he leaned over his third pint of the night and told me…

“Money is like cheese. If you’ve got more than you can eat in a week, invite some folks over.”

“Never own so much that you’ll be secretly pleased to watch your house burn down.”

If someone tries to bait you with free meat, stay in the Barcalounger.

Possessions do evolve into clutter, don’t they?

Otis Twelve hosts the radio program, Early Morning Classics with Otis Twelve, on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Visit kvno.org for more information.

I recently ran into a woman I had dated a few times in high school before she tore out my heart and stomped on it. Every teenage romance is dramatic, don’t you agree? She recounted to me that she had subsequently been married six times and divorced five. “Wow,” I said. “That’s a lot of failed marriages.”

After she finished laughing, she replied, “Failed? Not failures by any stretch. Four were victories and one was a draw.” As for the institution, she advised me…

He wandered off. I went home. I leave you with this last bit of free advice, though I have no “license” to do so…

Scan this page with the LayAR app to hear Otis Twelve read.

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 182 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 183 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

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