Omaha Magazine July/August 2025 - The Arts & Culture Issue

JULY/AUGUST

EDITORIAL

Associate Editor & Staff Writer

NATALIE VELOSO

Assignment Editor & Staff Writer

ISAAC NIELSEN

Editorial Interns

JACIE LEIBFRIED · LUCY MASON

Contributing Editor JEN LITTON

Contributing Writers

PAUL B. ALLEN IV · BEAUFIELD BERRY · TAMSEN BUTLER

KIM CARPENTER · KEVIN COFFEY · MARIA CORPUZ

GREG ECHLIN · KYLE EUSTICE · DAWAUNE LAMONT HAYES

SARA LOCKE · LISA LUKECART ·CHRISTOPHER MCLUCAS

NATALIE MCGOVERN · DOUG MEIGS · JONATHAN OROZCO

LINDA PERSIGEHL · HAL SENAL · MIKE'L SEVERE

OTIS TWELVE

CREATIVE

Creative Director

RACHEL BIRDSALL

Senior Graphic Designer

RENEÉ LUDWICK

Graphic Designer II

NICKIE ROBINSON

Graphic Designer I

JOEY WINTON

Chief Photographer

SARAH LEMKE

SALES DEPARTMENT

Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing

GIL COHEN

Marketing & Growth Strategist

MICHELLE SCHRAGE

Branding & Digital Specialists

GREG BRUNS · DAWN DENNIS

FRANCINE FLEGG · GEORGE IDELMAN (POSTHUMOUS)

SANDY MATSON · TIM McCORMACK

KRISTEN SPRINGER

Digital Advertising Sales Specialist

TRAVIS FISHER

Senior Sales Coordinator

ALICIA HOLLINS

Sales Coordinator

SANDI M cCORMACK

OPERATIONS

Business Manager

KYLE FISHER

Ad Traffic Manager

DAVID TROUBA

Digital Manager

LUIS DE LA TOBA

Distribution Manager

DAMIAN INGERSOLL

EXECUTIVE

Executive Publisher

TODD LEMKE

CEO

BILL SITZMANN

The Heart of Omaha Magazine

Omaha Magazine has existed in Omaha since 1890, according to publisher Todd Lemke. Lemke himself entered the Omaha publishing scene in March 1983 with the first issue of City Slicker. That newsprint publication was the precursor to his Omaha Magazine, which launched its first issue in 1989.

Today, Omaha Magazine Ltd. is the parent company of Omaha Publications, which produces other community-focused magazines such as FACES of Omaha, B2B Magazine, Family Guide, and many custom publishing products.

The magazines would not be possible without the people behind them whether that's the people in between the covers or those behind the scenes.

Lemke and his Omaha Publications staff take immense pride in presenting Omahans with the best stories in the city and the company is always looking to improve the products. That sometimes means switching some features and departments to give the denizens of Omaha what they crave. In this edition, a new, mini-dining story gives people a taste of a food trend or seasonal flavor.

At its heart, the Omaha Magazine team is one that works hard for its community.

DIVE IN, OMAHA: THIS SUMMER IS ALL ABOUT THE ARTS

There’s no such thing as a quiet summer in Omaha’s arts scene. This season hums with potential as century-old institutions make new memories and emerging voices reshape what culture can mean here in the Midwest. As always, this annual arts & culture issue is our love letter to the performers, poets, filmmakers, and dreamers who keep Omaha’s creative spirit alive and evolving.

This issue features a look back and forward at Maha Music Festival, which has grown from a grassroots gathering into a powerhouse celebration of indie music, local food, and community. You’ll meet Victoria Bogatz, Nebraska’s new Youth Poet Laureate, whose lyrical voice is resonating across the state. And as the beloved Dundee Theater marks its 100th year, the neighborhood celebrates with the “Dundee Hundee,” a milestone event honoring one of Omaha’s most iconic cinematic landmarks.

We’re also shining a spotlight on the Nebraskans who’ve made their mark far beyond the Cornhusker State. Through Nebraska Coast Connections and its monthly Hollywood Salon, we explore how a community of artists, actors, and filmmakers from Nebraska is keeping their roots strong, even while working in the heart of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles.

And don’t forget it’s time to vote for Best of Omaha 2026! Since 1992, our readers have helped spotlight their favorite local businesses across every category imaginable from tattoo parlors to taco joints. Voting opens July 1 and runs through Aug. 20, and it’s all online at omahamagazine.com/best-of-omaha. Be sure to check out the special campaign section in this issue to see how you can support your favorites and help them earn a coveted Best of Omaha win.

We hope these pages inspire you to take in a show, visit a gallery, cast your Best of Omaha votes and maybe even create something of your own. Let this issue be your guide to the people and places making our city an arts destination worth celebrating. The arts await!

Natalie Veloso Associate Editor Omaha Magazine natalie@omahapublications.com

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We make big things happen through real estate - success, purpose, good people doing great things together day after day. Make it possible with NP Dodge. Learn more at npdodge.com

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

002 The Heart of Omaha Magazine

003 From the Editor

This Summer is All About the Arts

023 Calendar of Events

051 Obviously Omaha

Six Omaha Open Mics

070 History

100 Years of the Dundee Theater

096 Adventure

Museum of Nebraska Art

101 Explore!

104 Not Funny ENTERTAINMENT

012 A+C Visual Arts

Jada Messick

014 A+C Music

Parfait

016 A+C Theater Wai Yim

020 A+C Photography

Buck Christensen

048 Sports

Josh Trout

PEOPLE

054 Profile

Therman Statom

064 Gen O

Victoria Bogatz

GIVING

066 Giving Calendar 068 Giving Spotlight BluesEd

60PLUS

060 Active Living Julian Adair

046 Profile

Colleen Quinn

DINING

062 Chef Profile

Randall Gruber

076 Tasty Bites

Omaha's Intersection of Flavor and Imagination

080 Feature

Table Grace

086 Review

Barnato

090 Dining Guide SPECIAL

028

Wai Yim

Listen to the entire issue here. Open the camera on your smart device and hover over the QR code. Produced by Radio Talking Book

Brenton Gomez aka “Conny Franko” at Lynch Park with the backdrop of downtown Omaha. The kids holding the flag are a couple local skaters and the flag was made by the art department.

read current and previous issues online at omahamagazine.com

Backlund Plumbing

Henry Doorly Zoo

Catering Creations

Children's Nebraska

Cutchall Management Group

FNBO

Kiewit Luminarium

Lauritzen Gardens

M.U.D.

Omaha Performing Arts Society

Primo's Modern Mexican Restaurant

Scott Conference Center

The Dentists

Barnato

Therman Statom

For expanded content, open the camera on your smart device and hover over the QR code.

From left: TJ Twit, Tre Brashear, Tyler Owen, Mike Toohey, Mike App

THE RETURN OF

Story by Kevin Coffey // Photography by Sarah Lemke // Design by Rachel Birdsall

Maha Festival is back. And so are its founders.

Mike App, Tre Brashear, Tyler Owen, and Mike Toohey are the four Omaha businessmen who got together more than 15 years ago and hatched an idea for a nonprofit music festival that would bring the people of Omaha together. Their emotional and physical and monetary investment to birth Maha was their gift to the city.

They were also the ones who, after 10 years of Maha, went and created the for-profit Outlandia music festival.

But after Maha stumbled in 2024, the festival and its founders are back together and humming right along.

“It was always a good idea and always good for the community,” Owen said. “There are so many people who are proud of Omaha because of this. I just feel happy it can survive.”

Indie rock legends The Pixies will headline Maha Festival alongside an undercard that features indie rock luminaries Silversun Pickups, Waxahatchee, Band of Horses, and others. The festival returns to its original home on the Omaha RiverFront on Aug. 2.

The four founders returned to guide the festival after it took a year off.

It’s a long way off from 2009, when the foursome stood on a balcony outside a riverfront restaurant and announced their plans.

App, Brashear, Owen, and Toohey told gathered reporters this one included that they were launching a music festival. Nobody knew a thing about it before an email landed in inboxes the previous week. And here it was, coming that August with a few notable indie/alternative bands.

In the first years of the festival, the quartet did everything they could to put on the festival.

Everything.

Fold towels. Assemble packages for VIP ticket holders. Shop for groceries. Raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. Arrange flights for artists. And write checks, too.

The formation of Maha goes back nearly 20 years. Brashear and App wondered why Omaha then one of the country’s biggest indie rock hotspots didn’t have its own big festival. It seemed like a no-brainer. App, Brashear, Owen, and Toohey eventually came together to form the festival’s initial board. They incorporated as a nonprofit in 2008 and began organizing the first festival, which took place about a year later.

“There wasn’t all the opportunity,” Brashear said. “There was nothing really for younger people of this type. I wanted there to be something that became part of summer… part of the rhythm of life. I wanted to do something that mattered to people and Omaha got to feel good.”

Attendance in the first year of the festi- val, when Dashboard Confessional and Big Head Todd & the Monsters headlined the now-gone expansive concrete patio at Omaha’s Lewis & Clark Landing, was a mere 1,900 (those “official” numbers may have been inflated).

Expenses were $250,000. The festival lost money. The founders wrote checks personal checks to cover the loss.

But

they kept going. Attendance at Maha steadily grew. So did sponsor- ships. So did no offense to Dashboard or Big Head Todd the caliber of the artists. Maha also moved to a larger, more comfortable venue in the heart of Omaha.

In later years, they scored some huge head- liners. Weezer. Spoon. Death Cab For Cutie. Run the Jewels after their biggest album ever was released. Lizzo just as she exploded onto the scene.

The way the four founders designed Maha was to build it for the community. It was a nonprofit. There was a rotating board. And while they were always intimately involved Brashear was the festival’s first president they also intended to hand it over.

And so they did.

After several years, a succession of presidents took over. New board members rotated in while others rotated out. Full-time staff was hired. Of course, App, Brashear, Owen, and Toohey still maintained founder status. But that meant mostly giving advice, helping out occasionally, and standing on stage at the end of the festival to be recognized by the Maha staff, volunteers, board, and the assembled thousands.

But that changed, too.

Owen hosted Vice President Mike Pence at an Omaha event prior to the 2020 election. That caused a social media firestorm, and Maha eventually released a statement regard- ing “the political event hosted by a Maha co-founder.” The one-sentence statement about “hosting diverse lineups and a safe and inclusive environment for all” didn’t mention Owen by name, but his name was removed from the site as a founder.

Owen decided he was done with Maha, so he went off and made his own festival, the for-profit Outlandia.

Owen recruited friends and investors. He brought in 1% Productions, Maha’s longtime talent booker and production group that had been replaced by an out-of-town agency. He found a gorgeous festival site in the verdant Falconwood Park.

And Outlandia landed what some the Maha founders included would consider dream lineups. The concert posters and the festival stage were topped by indie rock legends such as Wilco, The National, Band of Horses, Modest Mouse, Lord Huron, Jimmy Eat World, Flaming Lips, The Head and the Heart.

And the crowds came, too.

Summer evenings at Outlandia were filled with people and supremely good music that poured out over the green, tree-lined festi- val lawn. It was a music festival dream, if you’re the kind of person who dreams of such things.

Meanwhile, Maha persisted, but not with- out some bumps. After a break in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, production costs went up, too. Additionally, no subsequent Maha artist was nearly as popular as Weezer or Lizzo.

Maha’s executive directors left. Ticket sales were way down in 2023, “very much in the ditch,” Maha board president TJ Twit said. And an additional difficult factor: recent Maha lineups attracted younger audiences. Whether because they’re not of age, consume alcohol less, or prefer imbibing THC, younger audiences tend to not drink as much, which means less revenue for the festival.

Then, in 2024, the festival outright canceled. Released several months before the planned event, an official statement cited “a need to rework Maha's operating model combined with industry-wide increases in costs for talent, transportation, labor, security, and insurance.”

Meanwhile, Outlandia continued on. Year two was a fantastic success. Year three was much harder.

Both Maha and Outlandia were always difficult to pull off. Organizers of both festivals admitted that while the festivals always marketed themselves as a success, they were extremely difficult to get to break even. Years that were massive successes were offset by years that were total failures at least financially speaking.

“It’s just a fiction that these things make money,” Brashear said.

“Festivals close left and right. And Omaha is awash in good music opportunities. There’s a finite number of dollars.”

Both Maha and Outlandia ended with down years. C3 Presents, which puts on Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, and other festivals, then offered to buy Maha.

“Lock, stock and barrel,” Twit said.

But the talk of a sale never went anywhere. Seeing an outside group want to take this very Omaha thing made everyone involved all the more determined to resurrect it.

“When we made the decision not to sell it, it reignited everybody’s interest in having it be locally run,” Twit said.

“I think it’s because so many people in Omaha think it’s so important, and it’s something we created and did together,” Toohey added.

There was hope. Nobody wanted to see Maha die. Twit met with Owen. The topic: How can we save Maha? How can we keep it alive?

First was combining forces. Outlandia was done, and the four founders came back to Maha as advisers.

“If these guys don’t get back involved, there’s just no way this happens,” Twit said. “I knew it would be a ton of work and time that would be required without having paid staff to do a lot of the heavy lifting, but it wasn’t a huge leap of faith. If these guys are in, we’re going to be okay.”

The four are now listed as both the festival’s founders and as an advisory committee. App, for his part, is back on the board as treasurer.

The next decision was to scale Maha back to what’s most important.

“Let’s get back to the core thing, which is a one-day music festival,” Toohey said.

Then came organizing the festival: 1% Productions was brought back as booker and production company, and the lineup always a difficult beast to wrangle solidified with The Pixies at the top of the card.

So far, so good.

After the announcement of this year’s lineup, tickets sold. Fast.

The first week of ticket sales in 2025 were equivalent to months of ticket sales from some previous years, Maha organizers said.

“We’ve had the best ticket sales in one week that we’ve ever had,” Owen said.

But most important on the group’s mind: After 15 years of Maha, how do they ensure it continues well into the future? How does it become sustainable? How does this thing this wonderful, beautiful, bright festival that brings so many people together every summer keep going?

“It’s off to a good start,” Owen said. “But we’ve said this for 15 years. It’s got to sustain itself.”

“Having it come back is fantastic, and we need to figure out how to make it last,” Toohey added.

Ticket sales don’t cover the cost of putting on the event. It has to come from sales of food, booze, and merch, but most importantly, donations and sponsorships.

The group has been hard at work ensuring Maha has enough to not just happen in 2025, but to keep going well into the future.

“You can’t be at the church and pass the hat every Sunday,” Owen said. “You need sponsors and donors who sign multi-year commitments.”

“It was always a good idea and always good for the community. There are so many people who are proud of Omaha because of this. I just feel happy it can survive.” — Tyler Owen

“Sponsors aren’t going to give you money unless you prove that you’re repeatable. So, this year has to validate that it can be done,” Brashear added.

The community response to Maha’s return has validated their hard work. Every donation. Every ticket sold. Every positive social media comment.

“The rewarding part about Maha for me is those validations,” Twit said.

And the festival itself, of course.

“When we’re there and watching the crowd, that moment will sink in,” Twit said. “I actually always get a little sad. Right when the headliner starts…I think, ‘In an hour, this whole thing is gonna be over.’”

For more information, visit mahafestival.com.

n an immaculate studio at Omaha's Hot Shops Art Center, Jada Messick transforms anxiety into beauty through layers of acrylic paint and textures. Her exhibition trilogy—“I Should Probably Find A Th erapist,” “I Still Haven't Found a Th erapist,” and “Th is is My Th erapy”— reveals how art became her lifeline when words failed. “When I leave the story on the canvas,” Messick said, “it feels as if I can process it from the outside and not feel attached to it.” Th rough vibrant abstractions that balance chaos and precision, this Omaha artist invites viewers to see the visual language of her internal landscape, one brushstroke of healin g at a time.

Growing up, Messick’s school notebooks were scattered with different shapes and lines, but it wasn’t until she attended the University of Nebraska’s BFA program where she tapped into her own distinctive style: large-scale abstractions combining acrylic paint, textured mediums, and found objects. Through this style, she found a therapeutic nature in her art practice that inspired the first collection of the trilogy. “My art serves as a therapeutic process to me because it brings a sense of self-awareness that I can't bring out in words,” sa id Messick.

She created one of the pieces currently hung in her studio in 2020 after attending protests downtown, specifically after James Scurlock, a 22-year-old Black male protester, was fatally shot by a 38-year-old bar owner. Messick captured elements of her surroundings in photographs: shattered glass, a homemade poster that said, “Save Black Lives,” and buildings from downtown Omaha. Feeling both empty and sad at the state of the world, Messick took to what she knew best. She collaged the photos together and drew inspiration for a new painting, incorporating the images she had captured and her love of texture, color, and form. By layering fast-drying acrylic paint, this particular piece—and many others—captures a sense of emotional urgency. “I really enjoy the fast application of acrylic paint, because I work in layers and with mixed-media materials. My work is very chaotic and is expressed by balancing color, texture, and mark-making elements,” sa id Messick.

Th e fi rst exhibit of the trilogy, “I Should Probably Find A Th erapist,” captured the same anxious feelings. Messick used recurring motifs mixed with a multitude of colors clashing to create visual manifestations of anxiety. Squiggles and other forms present in this collection have a deep history for Messick, as she would draw these shapes as a coping mechanism during her childhood. “If you dig deep into the little elements of my work, you will always see a repetition of shapes, lines, and forms. It's a visual of the constant state of anxiety I'm feeling,” said Messick. For her second exhibition, ‘I Still Haven’t Found A Th erapist,” her work shifted from colors colliding to monochromatic pieces with various textures. Th is series represented depression contrasted with the more chaotic, colorful works that represented her anxiety.

Messick has found a profound purpose working as a mixed-media mentor at the Kent Bellows Mentoring Program. Teenagers participate in her classes to learn how to draft artist statements, create portfolios, and showcase their work. One of Messick’s favorite parts of this is helping teens fi nd their own unique style and teaching them about art history. Messick has also collaborated with the Joslyn Art Museum and Completely Kids to expose Omaha’s youth to the world of art. “The teen mentees keep me in my place and remind me to have fun. I used to be very against showing my artistic process, but seeing what these kids create from being inspired by what I do is so rewarding,” sa id Messick.

Over the last few years, Messick has done what many other artists have—fi nding another job to supplement her art career. She started working as a residential painter and a wood fi nisher, which she sees as an art form, the diff erence being practicality, functionality, and the emotionally subjective experience. Th rough this work, she’s able to take techniques such as brushing and rolling to the canvas. “My personal work and residential work have benefited each other. Within my personal work, I tend to get chaotic and messy, and in residential work, you need to be clean and precise,” said Messick. However, being a

woman in this trade isn't for the faint of heart, and Messick is ready to change that. She is currently forming her own business in the fi eld and hopes to eventually mentor young women who are looking to get into the trade.

Th ree of Messick’s pieces were recently chosen to be showcased in the Young Adult section of the Downtown Public Library. One was created with her mother, grandmother, and brother in mind, and the second is about the houses she grew up in. Th e third is about the dissociative techniques she developed during her childhood. All three of them were based on her life as a young adult, and she hopes that the young adults who see it will feel inspired while picking out their next book.

My art serves as a therapeutic process to me because it brings a sense of self-awareness that I can't bring out in words.

JADA MESSICK

After the last three exhibitions, Messick found herself a bit depleted. Now moved into her new studio in Hot Shops, she is ready to explore her evolving art focus toward political and social issues, particularly relating to Black women. She’s ready to get back to the fun of making art, but understands that her strongest pieces are the emotionally hard ones to make. “I’m good at expressing emotions through color. I hope that when people view it, they may be open to having their mind changed,” she said. Messick hopes to bridge political and social divides while continuing her two careers of painting—from both an emotional and pract ical side.

Jada Messick’s Therapeutic Art

Story by Maria Corpuz | Photography by Sarah Lemke | Design by Joey Winton

The Best of Both Worlds

STORY BY Natalie McGovern | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Sarah Lemke | DESIGN BY Nickie Robinson

Abustling Old Market serendipitously paved the way to success for local musical trio Parfait. Originally comprised of Jordan The Ninja (Jordan Smith), Jimmy Cuadros, and Alex Schmer, the eclectic cover band packs a robust sound that has been making waves in the Omaha metro. On the heels of their Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards win, Parfait has rapidly evolved into a local live music favorite, burgeoning with loads of personality and charisma. Much like the layered delight, the band is known for its dynamic layering of brass sounds with trumpet, tuba, keys, melodica, drums, and rich sou lful vocals.

Collaboration is what brought the band together. Alex knew a good and competent trumpet player by the name of Jimmy Cuadros,

The name came about on a whim. The trio was looking for a way to epitomize something that meant “the best of everything, with a lot of good fl avors.” Jimmy originally suggested the word, “parfait,” but Jordan wasn’t 100% sold until it came back around. He was cast as Donkey in "Shrek" at the Omaha Community Playhouse, and one of his lines in the show was, “everybody loves parfait.” Somehow, it stuck with him, and “Parfait” was born. Later on, they learned the moniker’s French origins meant “perfect.”

Frontman Jordan, a lover of vintage fashion, can often be seen sporting thrifted '70s attire with a red and black boater hat accented with black and grosgrain ribbon from Fine and Dandy in New York. Undoubtedly, he’s one of the coolest cats around town. A multi-talented performer and instrumentalist, Jordan’s no stranger to the stage. Recently in New York for an invitation to audition for TRC (formerly Tara Rubin Casting)—an agency that casts talent for iconic Broadway productions such as “SIX,” “The Producers,” and “Oklahoma!”—Jordan has his roots in performing on stage. He started out playing music with his equally talented brother, Isaiah, and the two were frequently cast together in Omaha Community Playhouse productions. For years, Jordan has been making strides to put himself out there to seize more opportunities that c ome his way.

Five years ago, one of those opportunities walked up to him when he was performing downtown with Isaiah. Fellow musician Alex Schmer approached them when they were out busking one day. Interested in what Jordan and Isaiah were playing, he expressed an interest in joining them. Isaiah was a bit hesitant for someone else to take a cut, so they exchanged information that day and parted ways. A year later, Jordan and Alex connected and met up for their fi rst jam session.

Collaboration is what brought the band together. Alex knew a good and competent trumpet player by the name of Jimmy Cuadros, and the rest was history.

“Our fi rst rehearsal was when we decided to form the band,” Jordan recalled. “We said, ‘It sounds really good; we should start a band. We should start a band right now!’”

The three musicians set out to perfect their craft. At fi rst, Parfait played a lot of relatable and recognizable video game tunes—music from Super Mario and Animal Crossing. The trio would learn a medley of tunes that Jordan already knew and could put together on the fly. Busking in the Old Market and playing at the Farmer’s Market became commonplace until they were able to land an official gig. The Collins, a restaurant and bar that has since closed, was the first venue to book them. While most live music faced setbacks during 2020, the pandemic helped to propel the band forward. Parfait was able to play at outside venues on patios when social distancing was at the forefront, providing much-needed entertainment for folks leaving their homes for the fi rst time since stay-at-home ordinances. Fast forward a few years, and they regularly book gigs at large local venues such as Barnato in Village Pointe or the newly reopened jazz bar, The Jewell on Capitol.

In 2024, Alex moved to Chicago, and Nidhal Keddah stepped in to fill big shoes. He played keys, so the melodica—a cross between a keyboard and accordion—was added to the group.

The 2024 Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards proved to be an exciting turn of events, with Parfait being nominated for Best Outstanding Cover Band and winning the coveted accolade. Th is wasn’t their fi rst nomination—in past years, they had received Best New Artist honors. They were selected as one of the bands to play the awards show t hat evening.

and the rest was history.

Jimmy was awestruck by the moment. “It felt surreal to have won the nomination; I was speechless. It was even a tremendous honor to be included as the entertainment for the night!” he said.

Nidhal agreed. “It felt great to win. It was a wonderful night, and I felt honored to be a part of the house band to help celebrate Omaha’s amazing arts communit y,” he said.

“It was a very emotional night of everyone getting to be around each other again. The old squad,” Jordan recalled. “It was also really nice sentimentally, because Alex came back from Chicago to be with the band.”

While Omaha may be home, Parfait has their sights set on big things. In the future, they’d love to play in other neighboring cities such as Kansas City, a hub for the arts. They have already booked shows in Sioux Falls. For now, creating original music is the sole focus. With about four original tunes under their belt, Parfait wants to write more songs that they can play to their growing audience, moving eventually in the direction of recording an album.

Nidhal is pumped about “experimenting with more road gigs and writing more original music.” Jimmy is optimistic about what the future brings. “I’m looking forward to bringing our unique sound to new places as well as creating new music,” he said.

Jordan knows it will take effort, but it will pay off in the end. “It’ll take work to put out an album. We’re currently working on new music. We’re fi nally starting to play original music at our shows and we’re building that library,” he said.

As they look to the horizon, Jordan, Jimmy, and Nidhal won’t forget to stay grounded. They know that the power of longevity and hard work pays off.

JordantheNinja (Jordan Smith), Jimmy Cuadros (trumpet), and Nidhal Ke ddah (keys).

STORY BY DOUG MEIGS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH LEMKE // DESIGN BY RENEE LUDWICK

Opening night has arrived at the Bluebarn Theatre. Director Wai Yim hovers backstage, equal parts focused and fatigued. After weeks of evening rehearsals and the crunch of tech week, the performance is fi nally ready. Jazz music blares through the speakers during sound check as the brass section tunes up. Nearby, performers scurry into place in stockings and suspenders, adjusting microphones and stage makeup.

Watching the scene unfold, Yim takes a breath. “It’s always a tough week,” he said. “With musicals, everything needs to come together: the band, the lights, the mics, choreography—each detail ha s to click.”

The show, “The Wild Party,” channels the decadence and disillusionment of 1920s vaudeville. For Yim, directing it feels like a homecoming. Nearly three decades have passed since he fi rst moved to Omaha from Hong Kong, and now he returns—not as a student or aspiring actor, but as an accomplished director setting the stage for a new generation of local performers.

“I always come back,” he said. “Omaha gave me my start. Theater here saved my life.”

From Kowloon to Millard

Born in colonial-era Hong Kong, Yim grew up in a crowded one-bedroom fl at fi lled with extended family. His childhood memories include peeling walls, shared bathrooms, and cockroaches on the kitchen floor. Yet he recalls a sense of freedom and curiosity. As a boy, he wandered barefoot through the streets, took solo adventures across Victoria Harbor, and played make-believe like he was on TV. He always dreamed of becoming a pop star. Then, at age 16, he was invited to audition for the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

But there was a plot twist.

It was 1996, just before the British handover of Hong Kong back to China. Yim’s parents were making plans to join relatives who had already immigrated to Nebraska. Their family had already experienced hardship amidst geopolitical turmoil. His father survived the Cultural Revolution and escaped to the former British colony. His mother fled Saigon during the Vietnam War and found refuge in Hong Kong.

The youngster had a choice: try to survive alone while chasing his dream, or move to an unknown city in the middle of America. “But I could not possibly live in Hong Kong by myself, so I decided to move. And it was such a sad moment—to have my whole vision of who I want to be come crashing dow n,” he said.

Yim found the transition jarring. Skyscrapers gave way to strip malls on the edge of cornfields. Busy streets and subway stations became suburban avenues, impassible without a car. In Hong Kong, he had been a carefree teenager with loads of friends who spoke his native Cantonese. In Omaha, he suddenly found himself responsible for translating government forms for the family, managing bills, and driving his parents to work.

From Choir to Curtain Call

Music remained his anchor. A passion for karaoke nights in Hong Kong turned into choir at Millard South High School. When the music department encouraged students to audition for the school musical, “Oklahoma!,” Yim saw an opportunity to make friends and improve his spoken English. Theater, he discovered, offered something more profound.

“Th at show pulled me out of a dark place,” he said. “I felt lost after the move. Musical theater gave me community and helped me fi nd my voice—literally and figuratively.”

Yim enrolled at the University of Nebraska at Omaha as a vocal performance major, but found the curriculum heavy on opera. After switching majors to theater, he immersed himself in local productions. He worked retail jobs during the day, took dance classes at night, and auditioned for community productions.

Two of his early mentors at UNO, Cindy Phaneuf and Susann Suprenant, helped shape his evolution from actor to director. Phaneuf taught acting fundamentals and encouraged him to explore Shakespeare and contemporary drama. He joined the Nebraska Theatre Caravan, touring with “A Christmas Carol,” and he spent a few years as choreographer and artistic director with the experimental group ætherplough, which Suprenant had co-founded.

Those lessons proved invaluable later in Chicago, when Nebraska-born director Mary Zimmerman cast him in “The White Snake,” a stage adaptation of a beloved Chinese folktale.

“Mary changed my life,” Yim said. “She took a chance on me when I was ready to give up.”

From Rejection to Reinvention

Before that break, Yim had tried to make it in New York. He auditioned for the fi rst Broadway revival of “The King and I” and was met with a hard truth. Despite years of

training, he was no match for the polished triple-threat performers who had been preparing since early childhood.

“The dancers were tumbling, fl ipping, doing circus tricks,” he said. “I realized I couldn’t compete at that level. It crushed me.”

Th at rejection led to an unexpected detour. After buying a plane ticket online, he noticed a pop-up ad asking if he was interested in becoming a fl ight attendant. United Airlines was expanding its Asia routes and looking for multilingual applicants. He clicked yes.

Yim joined United in 2007 and spent a year traveling the world—Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong. The job provided fi nancial stability and a fresh perspective. Eventually, Chicago became his base. When theater called again, he began auditioning arou nd the city.

Zimmerman’s “The White Snake” appeared during a difficult period in his personal life.

Yim had recently left a toxic relationship and returned to Omaha, unsure whether he would continue acting. When he saw the Goodman Theatre’s casting notice, he called on his former teachers for help. They coached him through the audition, and he landed a key role in a three-city tour, performing in Princeton, Chicago, and San Diego.

“That show saved me,” he said. “It pulled me back into the art I loved. It also reminded me why Omaha mattered. So many people helped me along the way. I wanted to return the favor.”

Giving Back

Over the past several years, Yim has returned frequently to Omaha to direct productions at Bluebarn and Great Plains Theatre Commons. His work includes “The Chinese Lady,” a historical play about Afong Moy—the fi rst Chinese woman in the U.S.—and “The Great Leap,” a basketball drama set during the era of ping pong diplomacy. Both plays featured Asian American casts and earned critical acclaim.

“It felt like closing a circle,” he said. “I started in Omaha as one of only a few Asian performers. Now, I get to cast shows that reflect who we are and tell stories that resonate.”

Yim believes in challenging assumptions about Asian Americans on stage. His

productions seek to humanize rather than fl atten. He hopes audiences leave the theater with questions—and curiosity. “If someone goes home and googles Afong Moy or ping pong diplomacy, I’ve done my job,” he said.

For the past five years or so in Chicago, Yim has worked as managing director at Token Theatre, a professional theater aiming “to change the narrative and shatter the false constructs about Asian Americans.” He takes that philosophy with him everywhere he goes—including Omaha—where he cast multi-generational Asian American and Omaha resident Jimmy Nguyen in key roles in both “The Chinese Lady” and “The Great Leap.”

“Now, Jimmy is in New York, trying to break into the business,” Yim said. “Oh, I see so much of myself in Jimmy. And Jimmy is trying to make it. I'm very happy about that.”

A Life Shared

Following the death of his father during the COVID-19 pandemic, Yim invited his mother to move in with him. She now travels with him for productions and sits quietly in the back of rehearsal rooms, observing the creative process. Theaters now budget her into h is contract.

“She’s part of the deal,” Yim said with a laugh. “I don’t go anywhere w ithout her.”

Although his parents once expressed concern about his pursuit of the arts, Yim believes his mother now feels reassured. Not only has he built a sustainable career, but she also sees how loved he is by colleagues and communities. During rehearsals for “Wild Party,” she witnessed scenes involving fighting, seduction, and drug use without fl inching. She had already seen it all during tech week.

“She tells me she’s proud,” he said. “But more importantly, she feels at peace. She knows I have support. Th at means everything.”

L ooking Ahead

In addition to his work as an actor and director, Yim continues to explore storytelling through playwriting. His fi rst script, “The Emperor and the Fool,” paid tribute to his father and was workshopped at Bluebarn. His next play, “The Great Race,” will premiere at The Rose Theater during the upcoming season. The production, inspired by the Chinese zodiac, features puppetry and will be directed by Sesame Street’s A lan Muraoka.

Flight attendant shifts still fit into his schedule when needed. Tarot readings remain part of his spiritual practice, and a YouTube channel created during the pandemic continues to attract followers. In every part of his life, from theater to travel, Yim fi nds ways to connect tradition, memory, and emotion.

“Every story I tell has roots in where I’ve been,” he said. “And Omaha is part of all of it.”

As the audience fi les into the theater on opening night, Mama Yim settles into her seat near the front. Her son, sitting beside her, listens for the fi rst lines of dialogue. Then the music swells, the lights come up, and the story begins.

“The Wild Party” ran May 22-June 22 at the Bluebarn Theatre.

By

By

Vanishin g Landscapes

Story

By Dawaune

Lamont Hayes

Photography

Sarah Lemke | Design

Nic kie Robinson

The Art of Buck Christensen

Buck Christensen isn’t just a nature photographer—he’s an archivist, documentarian, and preservationist who captures the essence of places that people often forget about.

“When I fi rst started doing photography, I kind of had this idea that ‘real photography’ happens with oceans, mountains, and dense metropolitan areas, because that’s what you see as popular,” he said.

After he and his wife had a child, Christensen started looking at his own surroundings, fi nding himself at Lake Manawa in Council Bluff s, Iowa, where he was able to develop his own style and approach.

“I found so much value that was way beyond photography,” he said, “and it made me really appreciate the Midwest and want to preserve what I love about it.”

“I like to remind people of the things that were around when they were children,” he said.

His love for nature began in the remote areas of the Black Hills in South Dakota, his family taking trips when he was 5 and through his teen years. He recalls the cabins and resources being quite rustic. “Th at area still doesn’t have cell service or Wi-Fi, which I like,” Christensen said. Those simpler times shaped much of his relationship to t he outdoors.

He describes the power of presence with a keen passion. “In the morning, it is really beautiful, and you have that peace. A bunch of bird songs happening, mist on the water, and this very natural experience that you don’t get all the time—I get a chance to show people that,” he said. “There’s something about that silence. When you slow down and let nature get back to business.”

“It’s important to remind people of the natural and cultural heritage of the place they grew up in,” Christensen said. He now shares his perspective and love of nature with his 13-year-old daughter, who he said changed his whole perspective on the world when she was born.

“When you become a parent, you realize you are just borrowing the planet from your children,” he said.

Th at ethos informs his work even more today, as rapid urban development devours the etheric landscapes often reflected in his images of fields and flowers in the Loess Hills, wild birds and animals, and changing scenes of the Missouri River along the Iowa-Nebraska border.

“There are a bunch of alarm bells going off for me about preservation of nature,” said the 51-year-old. “Just watching the OmahaCouncil Bluff s area and all these green spaces be converted into monetizable space, now it's this desperate attempt to hold on to that and advocate for it. There’s this panic mission to see if you can advocate in a way that gets people to c are for it.”

The City of Council Bluff s is considering a plan to redevelop Dodge Riverside Golf Club, a gift of 230 acres of land by the Grenville M. Dodge Family, into new housing and commercial space.

Currently a large golf course adjacent to Harrah’s Casino, city representatives and developers are exploring how the public space could be turned into a mixed use housing development.

Christensen said he would like to see it preserved and restored as a native prairie that is still open to visitors, especially since the area is known for flooding, and he’s got the photos to prove it.

“I made an art show countering this idea that the river just stays in its banks and cooperates with you. A lot of [the images] are from flooding and the consequences of flooding,” he said. Entitled "PUNCH," a group show including Dustin Lutz and Annie Brugenhemke opened April 18, 2025, at Bad Goods, a shared studio space in Council Bluff s. Christensen has his solo studio at the Hoff Center.

Hundred-year flood events on the Missouri are becoming more frequent as climate change intensifies. Christensen said he thinks putting housing and more impermeable surfaces on a flood plain could potentially put people in harm’s way.

Council Bluff s Mayor Matt Walsh says the area has been studied and there are levees. In a 14-minute video posted on the city’s website, Mayor Walsh discusses the housing shortage in Council Bluff s as a major reason to develop Dodge Park: “By producing more housing inventory, we can slow down that climb [of rent]. We think that Dodge Park has the best chance of doing that.” He cites the new developments at Hanafan Park, First Avenue, and connections to downtown Omaha that make the area “attractive.”

“Change is hard, but change is necessary,” Walsh said, after apologizing to golfers who protest paving over the golf course.

“Every step toward development is a step away from the natural things people had in their own childhood, that sense of joy,” Christensen said. “Th at gets stripped away, and at the end, all you have left are a bunch of privately owned, nature-free, very sterile versions of that type of place.”

“It’s this documentary-type relationship I have with it, showing what came before and what came after, this visual history,” he continued. Christensen said he gets to show people what they’re going to miss if we replace it all with buildings and parking lots.

The rules of the land gift stipulate that the acreage must remain available for public use. In order for Dodge Park to be developed, the city council will have to vote to convert the zoning to a “transitional preserve.” The process is ongoing, yet to be official, and the city says golfi ng will remain open at least through the 2026 season. Details are on the Council Bluff s city website.

“Just think about the implications of this new development. It might look good on paper, and it might look good for their sense of ‘opportunity,’ but it’s such a short-term satisfaction,” Christensen said.

“You can’t look at community the way you look at business,” he said, drawing a parallel between urban and organic growth. “There are checks and balances for homeostasis. When there is a massive shift, there’s a consequence for that shift. If you grow too quickly, there seems to be this inherent balance to the natural world that compensates for that in some way.”

Christensen sees art as a way to help strike that balance. “Art and culture really fi ll that void, at least for me, where you get that satisfaction of building, you get this sense of purpose that you don’t get in normal, everyday life,” he said.

The phrase “art is activism” came up for him, especially in an era where protections for public lands are being reduced and increase in industry is the norm. “Arts and creativity is the last stronghold,” he said. Christensen said he just wants to share his vision and advocate for things he cares about at the same time.

“If I can show this thing that lets people see their habitat in a new light and also be able to share something I spent time on, and feel satisfied by, that’s what I want,” he said.

Buck hopes to bring people out of their bubbles and into the real world, where time is slower, and to make the mundane more beautiful. “Relax, appreciate what you have, we can thrive within here, we can call this home and we can visit those other place s,” he said.

He wants to encourage people to go out in natural spaces alone. “I think for the majority of people, if they really paused and thought about what they’re losing,” Christensen said, “I think they would change their mind about being so aggressive with development.”

exhibitions

A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL

Th rough Jul. 5 at Great Plains Black History Museum, 2221 N 24th St. Explore the way Black baseball players carved their own paths in the face of racial discrimination in this exhibit. 402.932.7077 gpblackhistorymuseum.org

NEVER TOO LATE

Jul. 5 - 27 at Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St. Celebrating 50 years of Matt Higgins’ work, featuring pieces from the beginning of his creation journey in 1963. 402.342.6452 | hotshopsartcenter.org

A NIGHT AT THE DREAMLAND BALLROOM: THE HISTORY OF JAZZ IN OMAHA

Jul. 9 - Aug. 16 at Great Plains Black History Museum, 2221 N 24th St. The jazz scene in Omaha was swinging from the ’30s to the ’50s. Come see what it would have been like among the jazz stars. 402.932.7077 | gpblackhistorymuseum.org

KENT BELLOWS

Th rough Aug. 3 at Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth St. An exhibit featuring the work of local artists alongside realist Kent Bellows. 531.375.6643 gallery1516.org

NATURE’S WRATH: THE 1975 TORNADO

Th rough Aug. 3 at Th e Durham Museum, 801 S 10th St. Th is photo collection shows the damage to the Omaha area after a tornado ripped through, but also the community connection that came from it. 402.444.5071 | durhammuseum.org

DOWNSIZING

Aug. 15 - Sept. 14 at Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth St. Art collectors from all over Nebraska will be selling pieces from their collections for the duration of the month. 531.375.6643 gallery1516.org

THE FLOATING WORLD AND BEYOND: 200 YEARS OF JAPANESE PRINTS

Th rough Aug. 24 at Th e Joslyn, 2200 Dodge St. Th is exhibit features printmaking and dives into how the art form informs the history and culture of Japan. 402.342.3300 | joslyn.org

BILL VIOLA: THE RAFT

Th rough Aug. 24 at Th e Joslyn, 2200 Dodge St. Nature versus man and the crises this confl ict can create are explored through Viola’s visual art. 402.342.3300 | joslyn.org

ANIMATION ACADEMY: FROM PENCILS TO PIXELS

Through Aug. 31 at Durham Museum, 801 S 10th St. Explore the world of cartoons and animated fi lms through this exhibit’s informative and hands-on activities. 402.444.5071 | durhammuseum.org

SUCHITRA MATTAI: THE FALL

Th rough Sept. 2 at Th e Joslyn, 2200 Dodge St. Migration forced by colonization is the theme Mattai exhibits here through the mediums of clothing and glass. 402.342.3300 | joslyn.org

HENRY PAYER: APPLIQUE SUR LE TERRAIN

Th rough Sept. 4 at Th e Joslyn, 2200 Dodge St. The rich history and culture of Native Americans in Nebraska takes form in this ribbonwork art installation. 402.342.3300 | joslyn.org

WILD CREATIVITY

Th rough Sept. 21 at Kiewit Luminarium, 345 Riverfront Dr. The animal kingdom is ready to be investigated, ready for fantastic learning discoveries. 402.502.3366 | kiewitluminarium.org

MADE IN THE PLAINS

Th rough Sept. 21 at the Joslyn Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota artists are displaying their art and showcasing the variety that comes out of the Plains. 402.342.3300 | joslyn.org

Concerts

BLUES TRAVELER & GIN BLOSSOMS

Jul. 6 at Th e Astro, 8302 City Centre Dr. With special guest Spin Doctors, these rock groups are shredding their way to Omaha. 531.283.5212 theastrotheater.com

ROBERT AIKI AUBREY LOWE

Jul. 10 at Bemis Center, 724 S. 12th St. Lowe combines synthesizer and voice sounds to create a unique blend of music meant to make you feel. 402.341.7130 | bemiscenter.org

REDFERRIN

Jul. 10 at Th e Slowdown, 729 N 14th St. Th is country music artist is ready to set the stage on fi re with sounds. 402.345.7569 | theslowdown.com

TRACE ADKINS

Jul. 11 at Th e Astro, 8302 City Centre Dr. The country music legend is prepared to blow audiences away with this mix of traditional and modern country sounds. 531.283.5212 | theastrotheater.com

TYLER CHILDERS: ON THE ROAD

Jul. 11 at CHI Health Center, 455 N 10th St. Childers will be joined by special guest Medium Build, and aims to raise money for the Hickman Holler Appalachian Relief Fund. 402.341.1500 chihealthcenteromaha.com

89.7 TH E RIVER’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW

July 12 at River’s Edge Park, 209 Pearl St. Omaha’s own 311 headlines an all-day music festival celebrating 89.7 The River’s three decades on the air. Joining them are ska-punk legends Sublime, alt-rock favorites Blue October, and more. 897theriver.com

LAUREN DAIGLE

Jul. 15-16 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S 16th St. Singer of hit song “You Say,” Daigle brings the music and colorful expression from her self-titled album. 402.345.0202 orpheumtheateromaha.com

Classes, workshops, and camps for all ages and experience levels coming soon!

Check o-pa.org/Tenaska for updates!

MADE IN THE PLAINS

THROUGH SEP 21

Joslyn Art Museum

2200 Dodge Street Omaha, NE 68102 (402) 342-3300 joslyn.org

Free general admission to all, always. 5,000 years of human creativity across three buildings. Cafe, shop, sculpture gardens. Open Tuesday through Sunday.

Featuring new and recent work by twenty artists, this exhibition celebrates the vibrant and diverse artistic communities of the Plains—Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota.

Featured artists (pictured left to right, top to bottom): Wesaam Al-Badry (Lincoln, NE), Jess Benjamin (Omaha, NE), Larry Buller (Lincoln, NE), Andrew Casto (Iowa City, IA), Rachel Cox (Iowa City, IA), T.J. Dedeaux-Norris (Iowa City, IA), Nancy Friedemann-Sánchez (Lincoln, NE), Neil Griess (Omaha, NE), Becky Grismer (Spearfi sh, SD), Shabnam Jannesari (Hastings, NE), Larassa Kabel (Des Moines, IA), Sarah Rowe (Omaha, NE), Nathaniel Ruleaux (Rapid City, SD), Lee Emma Running (Omaha, NE), Angie Seykora (Omaha, NE), Lauren Simpson (Omaha, NE), Francisco Souto (Lincoln, NE), Christine Stormberg (Omaha, NE), Mallory Wetherell (Kearney, NE), Jave Yoshimoto (Omaha, NE).

Made in the Plains is a ticketed exhibition.

SUPPORTING SPONSORS: Polina & Robert Schlott

MAJOR SPONSORS: Annette & Paul Smith, Stacy S. Simon

Concerts

EARTH, WIND & FIRE

Jul. 16 at Th e Astro, 8302 City Centre Dr. Th is iconic group is coming to Omaha a little before the 21st night of September, bringing their blend of rhythm, blues, pop, and R&B with them. 531.283.5212 | theastrotheater.com

TRAVIS TRITT

Jul. 17 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S 16th St. Tritt’s newest album, “Country Chapel,” is an exploration into gospel and country never seen from him before. 402.345.0202 orpheumtheateromaha.com

THE GOOD LIFE FESTIVAL

Jul. 18-19 at Th e Slowdown, 729 N 14th St. Th irteen acts are performing over this two-day music bonanza presented by Good Life Records. 402.345.7569 theslowdown.com

AIR SUPPLY

Jul. 19 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S 16th St. Th is rock duo has been releasing music since the ’70s and are bringing their history and experience with “The Lost In Love Experience.” 402.345.0202 orpheumtheateromaha.com

THIS WILL DESTROY YOU

Jul. 22 at Th e Slowdown, 729 N 14th St. Celebrate 20 years of making rockin’ music with Th is Will Destroy You with special guest Ghostlike. 402.345.7569 theslowdown.com

AX AND THE HATCHETMEN

Aug. 1 at Th e Slowdown, 729 N 14th St. Th is rock-and-roll band of six is making a name for themselves while they tour with Fitz and the Tantrums. 402.345.7569 theslowdown.com

MAHA FESTIVAL

August 2 at Th e RiverFront, 13th & Farnam St. Omaha’s beloved nonprofit music festival returns downtown with a powerhouse lineup. Catch legendary alt-rock icons Pixies, Grammy-nominated Waxahatchee, Band of Horses, Silversun Pickups, Magdalena Bay, and local favorites Little Brazil. mahafestival.com

JOJO SIWA LIVE TOUR

Aug. 2 at Steelhouse, 1100 Dodge St. Dream guest at Steelhouse Omaha? Defi nitely JoJo Siwa, singer of hits like “Karma” and supporter of all things rhinestone. 402.345.0606 | steelhouseomaha.com

LAURA JANE GRACE & BAND

Aug. 2 at Th e Slowdown, 729 N 14th St. The punk rocker is performing in Omaha just after the release of her newest album, “Adventure Club.” 402.345.7569 theslowdown.com

Would you like weekly event recommendations delivered right to your inbox? Open the camera on your smart device and hover over the QR code (left) to subscribe to Omaha Magazine’s Weekend Entertainment Guide online.

GHOST: SKELETOUR WORLD TOUR 2025

Aug. 3 at CHI Health Center, 455 N 10th St. The Swedish rock band is returning, bringing all the theatrics they’re known for with their new album, “Skeletá.” 402.341.1500 chihealthcenteromaha.com

GLASS ANIMALS

Aug. 5 at Steelhouse, 1100 Dodge St. With guest Orla Gartland, jam with the “Heatwave” artists as they tour their newest album, “I Love You So F***ing Much.”

402.345.0606 steelhouseomaha.com

JAKE SCOTT

Aug. 5 at Th e Slowdown, 729 N 14th St. Scott’s pop sound is coming to Omaha in full force following the release of his latest single, “How To Be Lonely.” 402.345.7569 theslowdown.com

KAT HASTY

Aug. 9 at Th e Slowdown, 729 N 14th St. Kat Hasty’s West Texas Tour is bringing her unique country sound right here to downtown Omaha.

402.345.7569 theslowdown.com

CHEVELLE

Aug. 12 at Steelhouse, 1100 Dodge St. The rock trio is bringing their music back to the main stage with the release of their latest single, “Rabbit Hole.”

402.345.0606 steelhouseomaha.com

OMAR AHMAD

Aug. 14 at Bemis Center, 724 S. 12th St. Th e Palestinian-American artist is driving his electronic sounds into art and resistance. 402.341.7130 bemiscenter.org

GOO GOO DOLLS

Aug. 19 at Th e Astro, 8302 City Centre Dr. A rock band for the ages, the founding duo is proving once again that their music is never out of style. 531.283.5212 theastrotheater.com

AIR SUPPLY

Aug. 19 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S 16th St. Seasoned duo Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell are bringing their frequencies back to Omaha for their 50th Anniversary Tour. 402.345.0202 orpheumtheateromaha.com

KELSEY WALDON

Aug. 20 at Th e Slowdown, 729 N 14th St. The Every Ghost Tour is coming to haunt Omaha through Waldon’s country sound. 402.345.7569 theslowdown.com

POSTMODERN JUKEBOX

Aug. 24 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The “Magic & Moonlight” tour is casting its light on the jazz scene of Omaha. 402.345.0202 | o-pa.org

THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS

Aug. 24 at Steelhouse, 1100 Dodge St. Bill Medley and Bucky Heard perform their classic rock and roll masterpieces like “You’ve Lost Th at Lovin’ Feelin.” 402.345.0606 steelhouseomaha.com

ALICE COOPER

Aug. 27 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S 16th St. A rock legend since the 70s, Cooper brings his signature style with album “Th e Revenge of Alice Cooper.” 402.345.0202 orpheumtheateromaha.com

LINKIN PARK

Aug. 29 at CHI Health Center, 455 N 10th St. Rock out with the band that brought hits like “In the End” and “Numb,” with special guest Jean Dawson. 402.341.1500 chihealthcenteromaha.com

RAY LAMONTAGNE

Aug. 29 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. For the “Trouble 20th Anniversary Tour,” join this Grammy winner in celebrating the start of his career. 402.345.0202 o-pa.org

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD

Aug. 29 at Steelhouse, 1100 Dodge St. Rockin’ since the ‘60s, this band is ready to celebrate 54 years of history with an Omaha audience. 402.345.0606

steelhouseomaha.com

Stage performances

JAKE SHANE

Jul. 13 at Steelhouse, 1100 Dodge St. An influencer and comedian, Shane fi rst got his start by reviewing octopus, and is now on his second national tour. 402.345.0606

steelhouseomaha.com

OMAHA DAYS ALL-STAR COMEDY JAM

Jul. 31 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S 16th St. Featuring four of Omaha’s funniest, this evening of laughter is sure to have your stomach aching. 402.345.0202

orpheumtheateromaha.com

PENN & TELLER

Aug. 14 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S 16th St. These magicians are at the top of their craft, and are celebrating their 50th year of performing together with this tour. 402.345.0202 orpheumtheateromaha.com

THE RIVER BRIDE

Aug. 15 - Sept. 14 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. The river in their village mesmerizes two sisters as they fi nd themselves and each other. 402.553.0800 omahaplayhouse.com

W TIME TO VOTE

elcome back to another year of Best of Omaha! Since 1992, our Best of Omaha contest has been a local favorite. Best of Omaha was established to be a true award businesses cannot buy their way into this contest.

Through the years, the contest has grown, and with it, so too has the number of voters. Best of Omaha is highly competitive with tens of thousands of votes counted each year, and voter participation remains pivotal to the outcome.

In order to become a “Best of Omaha,” restaurants, retailers, and businesses depend on your vote. You can feel good about voting in Best of Omaha, because we are the city’s legitimate “best of” contest.

Like the local businesses you love, our voting system is fair, convenient, and free from manipulation. We use a verified email system for all voters. We only accept one ballot per verified email to avoid vote-stuffing. The ballots are free of advertising and sponsorships. It doesn’t take much time to vote, and, although there are lots of fun categories from which people can choose “Household” and “Dining” are among the favorites around here the minimum number of votes is five. We also leave the category fields blank so voters are not steered toward certain businesses.

To encourage voting and say thank you, many local businesses offer discounts that the public can obtain simply by showing their proof-of-voting certificate. Anyone who completes the Best of Omaha voting ballot will receive the certificate and discounts that come with it. Who you vote for does not show or affect your ability to receive the discounts.

Please take a few minutes and vote July 1 through Aug. 20 at bestofomaha.com. Results will be published with our annual Best of Omaha Results Guide on Nov. 1. The following pages are campaign ads requesting your vote. When you see a yellow QR code, it will take you directly to their voting category.

Thank you for your participation in the Best of Omaha,

TODD LEMKE

Executive Publisher Omaha Publications

KETV is proud to be a part of Omaha Magazine ’s Best of Omaha. Thank you to everyone who voted and congratulations to the winners and nominees! As Omaha’s News Leader, we love working with local businesses who make our city a great place to live and work.

ALLISON SMITH

President and General Manager

KETV NewsWatch 7

alnut Media is honored to once again partner with Omaha Magazine as a media sponsor of the Best of Omaha campaign! As the area’s only locally owned and operated broadcast company, we recognize how important the connection to local consumers is!

Being recognized by consumers as the top businesses in their category is a great accomplishment! We are excited to spread the word to our listeners and continue to encourage active participation in the voting process.

We happily support Best of Omaha on our radio stations, which include: Boomer Radio, playing the hits from the ’60s and ’70s; KCRO 660AM, The Heartland's Christian Voice; and through our digital divisions, Performance Digital, and Performance Podcasts!

Omaha Magazine continues to do an outstanding job of making the Best of Omaha the premier program in the country.

We encourage you to support the businesses and sponsors throughout the coming year.

PATRICK COMBS President/CEO Walnut Media

STORY BY KIM CARPENTER

riving around Omaha, you can’t help but notice them the bright, round, gold emblems that proudly proclaim a business has won a prestigious “Best of Omaha” award. These eye-catching signs indicate clients and customers have been so impressed with a product or service, they took time to share their positive experiences with other members of the public.

Their votes matter, and so, too, does yours. Just ask local business owners.

Kim Ahlers, owner of Kajoma's Boutique in Papillion, displays her Best of Omaha win in the “Women’s Boutique” category prominently on her website. “Being voted Best of Omaha for the past 16 years in a row has really driven new clients to our shop,” Ahlers shared. “Thank you for putting a spotlight on Kajoma’s and other recipients!”

When The Home Company took the top spot five years ago, they were similarly thrilled. “Home Company clients and fans, thank you for your loyalty and appreciation! You gave us another great year of building homes in 2020! In addition you voted us FIRST place in the custom home builder category for Best of Omaha! You’ve voted

us Omaha’s best six years in a row, we love building homes for such a fantastic group of people! Thank you!!!” Two years later, they won again and said: “We’re so proud to announce that The Home Company is a first-place winner in the Best of Omaha 2022 Awards, sponsored by Omaha Magazine! ” They said. “The company took home ‘Best Home Builder’ and has been a Best of Omaha award-winner for the past seven years! We’re so thankful to our customers, prospects, trade partners, and team.”

Certified Transmission was also appreciative when they nabbed Best of Omaha for transmission repair and service in 2024. A website post stated: “Certified Transmission would like to thank those of you in the greater Omaha Nebraska area who have voted for and recognized

our transmission shops…it is our goal and pledge to continue to offer our customers the same quality of service and repair that has enabled us to earn this recognition year after year. Thank you!”

When UNICO was named the Best of Omaha for independent insurance agencies, the win was so important, they issued a press release in November 2023. “UNICO Group, a client-focused insurance broker headquartered in Nebraska, is thrilled to announce that it has been named one of the Best of Omaha winners in the Independent Insurance Agency category. This prestigious recognition is a testament to UNICO’s commitment to excellence and dedication to providing exceptional services to its clients,” stated the company.

“The Best of Omaha awards, conducted annually by Omaha Magazine since 1992, aim to identify and celebrate the best local businesses across hundreds of categories. With over 28,986 unique businesses in the Omaha metropolitan area, winning a Best of Omaha title is a remarkable achievement. Out of the 393 categories in Best of Omaha 2023, less than 3 percent of businesses are selected as winners.”

Blue Moon Fitness, which operates four locations in the Omaha area and focuses on community and comfort to serve everyday people has a website page devoted to its Best of Omaha wins. The company said of their 2024 win in the “Fitness” category: “Blue Moon Fitness is a 29-time winner of this prestigious award.”

Legacy School, founded in 2008 as an independent private school offering preschool through 5th-grade education, felt the same of its recent win. “Every year, Omaha Magazine asks local residents,‘Who are the best companies in town?’ There are several categories from restaurants to services to retail,” it said on its website. “This year, Legacy School and Camp Legacy were recognized as the best in three categories: Preschool (Our 5th win); Private Elementary School (Our 2nd win); [and] Youth Summer Camp (Our 10th win). We love what we do and are grateful it shines through for others to see. Thank you to everyone who voted for us. We will continue to make you proud.”

These testimonials underscore just how meaningful Best of Omaha recognition is to local businesses. It means the world to them when voters like you take the time to recognize the work they do. It’s about community members supporting community members, and it’s what makes Omaha “home.”

This year, we’ve made voting even easier, quicker, and more convenient. From July 1 through Aug. 20, you can cast your “Best Of” ballot on bestofomaha.com. Results will be announced in our annual Best of Omaha Results Guide , which pub lishes in November.

Thank you to all the Best of Omaha voters, who support local businesses!

BEST OF OMAHA: SHARE THE LOVE

or over three decades, Omaha Magazine’s Best of Omaha contest has been the best way for consumers to demonstrate their love for local businesses.

And that love is real!

“Nicole at Creative Hair Design kept my length and took me to my natural gray. So unbelievable—no 1-2-year grow out!,” wrote “Voter #61914” in 2024. “Soaring Wings is a delightful spot to relax, listen to live music, and catch up with friends over some delicious wines!” enthused “Voter #353497.” And “Voter 36522” stated: “Village Pointe Oral Surgery go above and beyond to care for their patients. Very easy to get in and quick as well.”

There are even more examples that showcase just how much voters' voices matter. "Hello Garage did an amazing job on my ultimate 'She Shed,'" averred "Voter #32785." "They were great to work with and fantastic at helping me with my vision." When it came to their love of their favorite restaurant, "Voter #19931" was eager to share their opinion: "Guaca Maya. Fantastic Mexican buffet! Authentic 'Grandma' cooking. Handmade flour or corn tortillas. Great staff. Very reasonable prices." "Chef Alfaro is incredible. Get sauced, baby!" wrote "Voter # 36720," invoking the restaurant's famous catchphrase. "Barocco Wine Bar is a gorgeous space unlike anything in Omaha," stated "Voter # 36109." "it's dark, romantic, quiet, no TVs, excellent bartenders, and amazing wine list and cocktails!"

These voters demonstrate just how much they love their local businesses. When you cast a vote, you share your experiences and feedback and make a difference for local businesses in categories as far-ranging as dining, health, beauty, home, retail, automotive services, and more. Omaha Magazine’s annual “Best Of” publication then serves as a guide for our readers to rely on and use all year long to find the best of the best in the city. It’s a valuable consumer resource that you’ll turn to time and again.

There is only one “Best Of” contest in Omaha, and we are proud to present the longest standing—and most trusted—voting event of this kind, not only in the city, but also the country. Voting begins July 1 and runs through August 20 on bestofomaha.com. Every vote matters, and we encourage you to vote for your favorite Best of Omaha categories every year. It’s quick, easy, and convenient.

Thank you, let the voting begin, and share the love!

Kim Carpenter

Omaha Publications

OUR THANK YOU FOR MAKING BEST OF OMAHA THE BEST OF THE BEST

With Omaha Magazine ’s annual Best of Omaha contest, readers know that they can rely on a publication that will serve as their definitive annual guide for finding the best of what they’re looking for in the metro whether that involves pinpointing the best place in town to order the perfect Bloody Mary or deciding on the best orthodontist for a new set of braces.

Reliable, trusted, accurate that’s what the Best of Omaha contest delivers year after year. And that’s thanks to voters like you, who take the time to recognize their favorite local businesses. Without you, for example, we wouldn’t know where to find Omaha’s most dependable home service providers. The Best of Omaha takes the stress out of finding a plumber, electrician, or home builder all the listings are at your fingertips.

Voting starts July 1 and runs through Aug. 20 on bestofomaha.com. Every vote is unique. Every vote counts. Every vote matters.

As our way to thank voters for taking the time to share their top business recommendations with the community, we are gifting a complimentary subscription of six free issues of Omaha Magazine ( FREE! ), which will include the Best of Omaha Results Guide You won’t miss a single story about the people who make Omaha a spectacular place to live, work, and play and you’ll also receive the most comprehensive resource available for finding the best businesses that make all that possible.

Julian Adair

Creativity in Motion

60+ Active Living

Story by Tamsen Butler || Photography by Bill Sitzmann || Design By Joey Winton

“I've been making a living as an artist literally since the day I graduated from college,” she said, “and even before that.”

Julian Adair is the type of woman who knows what she wants and won’t accept anything to the contrary.

By the age of 3, she was in an active tugof-war with her mom; Adair desperately wanted to start training as a dancer, but her mom made her wait until she was 7 years old. She began training with Omaha’s Polly Pennington, who once performed in vaudeville.

After that, Adair’s fate was sealed.

She knew that she wanted to pursue a career as a creative dancing, writing, directing, creating art and that she wanted to do it in Omaha. “A lot of people say that you have to go to New York or L.A. or Vegas to make it, and it’s just like, no,” Adair said with a laugh.

Though she’s quick to mention that she’s been fortunate in building her creative career in the Omaha area, she’s also willing to admit she worked hard to achieve the success she now enjoys. Whether she’s pulling together a stage production, teaching dance to University of Nebraska at Omaha students as an adjunct professor, snapping photographs, or writing another book, Adair has infused her talents into the Omaha art scene in lasting ways.

Born and raised in Omaha, Adair graduated from Burke High School and later went on to earn a BFA in dance from Creighton University. Though she traveled with a dance company out of Missouri for some time, she always used Omaha as her home base and eventually returned to marry and raise her family.

As a freelance choreographer, she’s well-known for guiding performers into telling a story through movement. Earlier in her career, she produced modern dance concerts, which she still asserts is an “under-utilized art form.” Nowadays, she can boast involvement in more than 200 productions throughout the span of her career (thus far).

Adair founded Adair Dance Academy in 1993 and later created Ever After Productions, still serving as Artistic Director. Her annual production of “Nutcracker Delights” remains an Omaha tradition and has continued to grow each year. The show is a retelling of the classic “Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” written by E.T.A. Hoffman and featuring the music of Tchaikovsky.

Adair put the show together after doing extensive research of the original production. "I wrote a script to it from the perspective of Clara's great-great-granddaughter, who finds a journal in the attic,” she revealed, adding that audiences seem to enjoy the 90-minute format of her show when compared to the two-and-ahalf hours of the original production’s run time.

Year after year, “Nutcracker Delights” cultivates the talents of dancers throughout the Metro area. Adair allows dancers from all dance schools throughout the Omaha area to audition, and frequently boasts a cast representative of multiple schools. The show ran for around 15 years at the Bellevue Little Theatre, but moved around a bit after outgrowing the space and eventually landed at its current home, the Anderson Performing Arts Center at Marian High School, with a higher seating capacity.

When special opportunities arise, such as her latest dance concert at the Shelterbelt Theatre for their “Branching Out” series, Adair doesn’t hold dancer auditions she doesn’t need to. With a roster of talented dancers within her circle, she merely reaches out to those who she thinks will best suit the production. Her dancers have trained around the globe and are always quick and eager to get involved with whatever Adair is doing next.

“There's work that's living in my brain that I need to put on bodies,” she said. As a choreographer and dancer herself, Adair has great respect for talented dancers. "When you're a dancer, you are an athlete, a musician, and an actor all at once,” she said much like how she is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, author, photographer, and businesswoman all at once. One might say that Adair appreciates the multifaceted roles that can be held in concert with one another.

At age 60, she still performs, though she acknowledges that her body likely won’t allow her to perform certain pieces much longer. Adair often thinks about her grandmother, who lived to the age of 103 and only retired in her late 80s because she simply decided to, and not necessarily because her body wouldn’t allow her to continue her nursing career. “I often hear people who live a long time say, ‘If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself,’” she said. Even though longevity is obviously in her blood, Adair still acknowledges that there will come a time when performing isn’t feasible but that time has not yet come.

Continued on pg. 53

“For me, it’s fun nostalgia— the love of card collecting and art.”

— Josh Trout

Masterpieces Major League

STORY BY Greg Echlin | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Bill Sitzmann | DESIGN BY Nickie Robinson

How Josh Trout Found His Art Niche

Josh Trout, who lives in western Omaha, always knew he liked to draw. His passion dates back to the age of 3, when he impressed his mom with a watercolor painting of a house. On Saturdays during Trout’s childhood, he either watched sports or a PBS episode of “The Joy of Painting” with Bob Ross.

Now, at 45, both art and sports still play a role in Trout’s side gig as an artist for the Topps Cards & Collectibles company.

His full-time job is in the WoodmenLife marketing department from home, with a former storage room converted to function as an office and art working area.

“There’s lots of kids that like drawing, but I didn’t really recognize that there’s a talent until I got pushed in junior high,” said Trout, who credits the now-retired Becky Kinloch at Papillion Junior High for urging him to challenge the boundaries of art.

“She was probably my biggest influenc e,” he said.

“If you saw Josh Trout’s scratchboards when he was in seventh grade, you’d think that he was 25,” said Kinloch, who has continued to follow Trout’s work since those junior high days. “It didn’t matter

what media it was, or what skill it was. I could up it to high school or college-level without him knowing it, and I told him that this was something that he could do. He could do absolutely anything I put in front of him.”

When Trout reached high school, unsure how he could make a living in fi ne art, he turned his interests toward graphic design. After high school, Trout enrolled at The Creative Center, which has been closed since 2023, and earned a two-year associate degree.

But while growing up, there was a vigor at the same time toward collecting baseball cards thanks to the influence of his late father, RC, who passed away in 2024.

Trout’s story strikes an ironic parallel to the classic 1988 baseball movie “Bull Durham.” In it, the fi lm’s main character, Nuke LaLoosh, played by Tim Robbins, had a gifted pitching arm but took a while to utilize his God-given talents. Prodding LaLoosh was his catcher, Crash Davis, played by Kev in Costner.

Kinloch played the role of Crash Davis in Trout’s life, but the process of his development as an artist spanned several years beyond the normal three-year average, according to Major League Baseball data, of a budding young minor leag ue player.

SP RTS

Like a pitcher who develops secondary pitches to go with a fastball, Trout as an artist is highly skilled in five different mediums— watercolor, colored pencil, marker, acrylic paint, and airbrush paint (also using acrylic).

At The Creative Center, Trout increased his skill in different mediums and, using chalk pastel for the fi rst time, completed a portrait of basketball great Michael Jordan from his upper shoulders in a Chicago Bulls jersey. Th at framed portrait hangs on the wall in his art room.

But after Trout got his degree in 2000, he didn’t make any art for 15 years, except for a painting as a wedding gift.

His reason? “[I was] young, going out, wanting to party,” he said. Trout’s lifestyle resembled LaLoosh during the early years of a fictional minor league baseball career.

Two things changed Trout’s life direction: fi rst, he was honest with himself. “I was telling myself I was wasting a talent,” he said. Second, through social media, he had access to other artists to whom Trout could compare himself. With enough confidence in his own skill set, Trout believed he could either match or surpass the quality of ot her artists.

From a friend who attended the 2015 MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati, Trout got the idea of painting images of big-league ballplayers on a baseball with acrylic paint and airbrushed backgrounds. After creating his own social media page, Trout not only sold his work, but got noticed by someone from a trading card company called Fanatics Collect (which also owns Topps).

Trout agreed to paint baseballs and hockey pucks for Fanatics, which spawned more business and eventually led to his work for Topps.

“To say you’re affi liated with Topps, that holds some weight in conversations and helps solidify you as an artist, especially in the hobby world,” Trout said.

The Topps Museum Collection, a higher-end set because of the quality of work, is the fi rst Topps set he was asked to worked on.

“It’s probably the best set to work on the baseball side because of the quality of the stock. It’s really thick. It can take a lot of mediums,” Trout said. “I got lucky with that.”

It’s a set Trout hopes to work on annually, including this year with the hours he’s invested on the side.

“For me, it’s fun nostalgia—the love of card collecting and art,” he said.

Six Omaha Open Mics That Want to Hear You Not Just Shower Material:

OBVIOUSLY OMAHA | COMPILED BY

NATALIE VELOSO | DESIGN BY RACHEL BIRDSALL

The Down Under Lounge: Every Wednesday

530 Leavenworth St., Omaha, NE 68105 | facebook.com/downunderopenmic

A staple in the local music scene, the popular DU Open Mic kicks off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday nights. This Leavenworth dive bar keeps things welcoming for musicians, poets, comedians, puppeteers, live painters, and plenty of other performers. Long run by local singer-songwriter Aly Peeler, the night is now hosted by fellow musician Mad Darling. Just show up to sign up! No cover, plus drink specials—it's one of the longest-running open mics in town for a reason.

North Omaha Music and Arts: Every Monday and Wednesday

2510 N 24th St., Omaha, NE 68110 | northomahamusic.org

NOMA is a creative playground for music and art education. Twice weekly, it hosts live shows followed by free open jam sessions—Mondays lean jazz-heavy; Wednesdays spotlight Omaha’s underground. These nights are a chance to collaborate with other talented musicians, and for those brave enough to test the waters, NOMA encourages improvisation and experimentation.

The Nifty Bar: Every Wednesday

4721 NW Radial Hwy., Omaha, NE 68104 | theniftybar.com

Around since the 1930s, The Nifty considers itself “Benson before Benson was Benson.” Every Wednesday, the colorful cocktail bar hosts a rotating open mic led by local artists, inviting performances of all kinds. The setting’s cozy, the crowd is warm, and the margaritas are dangerously good. Sign-ups happen in person, so show up early and grab a slot.

Still got that joke,

poem, or song gathering dust in your notes app? Here’s your chance to bring it to life. Step into almost any open mic in Omaha, and you’re in for the kind of night that sticks with you. These six spots around town keep the energy high and the doors open for anyone who wants in. Show up, sign up, and see what unfolds.

Shakedown Street Tavern: Dates Vary

2735 N 62nd St., Omaha, NE 68104 facebook.com/shakedownstreettavern

In downtown Benson, Shakedown Street Tavern continues Barley Street Tavern’s legacy as a hotspot for live music, offering a few open mic nights each month. Hosted by passionate members of the local music scene, these events create space for musicians of all kinds to share their original sounds. Keep an eye on their socials for exact dates, then head down to make some noise.

13th Street Coffee & Tea (Broccoli Creative Collective): Monthly 1806 Vinton St., Omaha, NE 68108 | rbrg.org

Once a month, 13th Street Coffee & Tea flips from a cozy coffeehouse to a buzzing showcase hosted by Broccoli Creative Collective. Each lineup ranges from punchy stand-up to vulnerable poetry, with an eager crowd as engaged as the performers. The space is shaped by whoever takes the mic and whatever art hangs on the walls that month. Open mic dates vary, but they’re worth finding—Broccoli’s Instagram is your best bet to catch the next one.

Dubliner Pub: Every Monday (Comedy) and Wednesday

1205 Harney St., Omaha, NE 68102 | dublinerpubomaha.com

This Old Market pub packs in two open mic nights every week. On Mondays, it’s all about comedy—tight five-minute sets, a pre-show writing workshop, and a supportive crowd ready for laughs. Wednesdays shift the focus to music, giving singer-songwriters and bands the chance to test new material or jam with regulars. Either night, the Guinness flows freely and the stage is yours. 1 2 3 5 6 4

WHETHER YOU’RE IN IT FOR THE KORN FERRY TOUR GOLF, THE CONCESSIONS, THE GOOD CAUSE OR ALL THE ACTION IN BETWEEN — OMAHA’S BIGGEST TOURNAMENT IS FOR THE GOLF FAN IN ALL OF US. AUG. 4-10, 2025 | THE CLUB AT INDIAN CREEK |

Continued from pg. 47

Luckily for Adair, she has plenty of other creative pursuits to keep her busy. In addition to choreographing “Jesus Christ Superstar” at UNO, she’s considering publishing another book to add to her library of the two she’s published already. She might produce another dance concert or maybe get involved with another gallery exhibition of her photography. She’s already exhibited her photography at Creighton, Star Deli, P.S. Collective, the JCC Gallery, UNO, and other locations.

She might indulge in some travel with Steve, her husband of 33 years. Adair acknowledges that, even despite her best efforts, moments that should be relaxing (such as lounging in the sun on a beach) inevitably have the potential to spark something that leads to a new creative pursuit, since her creativity never takes a vacation and certainly doesn’t retire.

Adair asserted that creatives don’t ever retire; they simply become more selective. Anyone expecting Adair to completely retire from her many creative pursuits is likely in for disappointment. Staying active in the creativity space is an aspect of her plan for extending not only her lifespan, but also her playspan—the span of time she’s able to play—long into her golden years.

She also said that pursuing one’s passions is important for longevity. “Find things that nourish you emotionally, spiritually, and physically, and run with it,” Adair said.

As for Adair, her passion remains dance, and all things dance-adjacent. Dance holds a special place within her heart as a transient art form. "You're performing something that only exists in the present. Once it's over, it evaporates into thin air,” she said.

It’s unlikely that Adair’s profound influence on the Omaha arts scene will “evaporate into thin air” anytime soon. Much like her centenarian grandmother, who was reluctant to stop doing the things she loved, Adair still has a sharp mind and an able body and has no reason to start thinking about full-blown retirement. There are simply too many creative ideas bouncing around in her brain to stop now.

“As long as I'm having fun, I'll keep going,” she said. And with longevity and creativity coursing through her veins, she’ll probably keep going for many years to come.

Therman Statom is not afraid to admit that when he first moved to Omaha, he really didn’t want to stay long. In fact, he was hoping to be in and out in less than a year after having one of the first exhibitions at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in the Old Market. But he stayed.

Now, Statom is one of the few internationally famous artists working in Omaha, with a relatively subtle, but not hidden, fingerprint across the city.

But his way here charts a lifetime across the United States and the world. Born in 1953 in Winter Haven, a landlocked city in Florida, to a father who was a physician, Statom spent his formative years in Washington, D.C., immersing himself in the city’s museums and visual culture.

“The Smithsonian was like a home to me,” Statom said in a 2015 Omaha Magazine interview. “It was like an extra room in my house. It’s where I found myself. I was there so much, I got befriended by a curator, and he got me a job mixing clay.”

Statom's fascination with art was inspired by a childhood friendship with his neighbor, Cady Noland, whose father was Kenneth Noland, a canonical American abstract painter. Cady went on to become a famed sculptor in her own right, and Joslyn Art Museum holds a painting of Kenneth’s, currently on public view.

These two foundational figures prompted Statom to pursue a career in art. In 1972, Statom went on to study glassblowing at Pilchuck Glass School in Washington, later earning a bachelor’s degree at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design in 1974, and finishing off his education in 1978 with an MFA at Pratt Institute of Art & Design in New York.

His education was how he found glass to be a suitable material for his work. “I like to paint on translucent surfaces,” he said in 2015. “I consider myself a painter, and I think of glass as a canvas. If I had it my way, I’d paint on air.”

Statom’s sculptures are distinctly his own— imagine a glass house filled with spheres and other glass vases, printed images of people, and all covered in abstract brush strokes. Some of his other works are far larger, and look like ladders or collaged windows.

At KANEKO, an arts center in the Old Market, Statom has multiple houses placed around the building’s galleries as donation jars alongside a large-scale glass wall acting

as a portal from one room to another. This wall epitomizes his style: glass boxes stacked on top of each other like a game of Tetris in progress, each one filled with jars, paintings of people, or mirrors.

Prior to his move to Omaha, Statom was in Baja California, Mexico. Only after being tapped by Ree and Jun Kaneko, founders of Bemis Center and KANEKO, to host an exhibition at Bemis, did he move to Omaha. Since then, Statom became embedded into the fabric of Omaha’s art history, having an exhibition at Bemis Center in 1998 and 2008.

His friendship with Jun still endures to this day, and he has collaborated with KANEKO yearly since 2020 on a special exhibition co-organized by Erin Lundsford, the founder of Arts for ME. This nonprofit housed at KANEKO aims to provide arts education to children with special needs. Started at Westside High School, the program has spread to Millard and now Omaha Public Schools, with Statom acting as the primary art teacher.

“I'm part of their education team—and it doesn't necessarily function on traditional modes,” Statom said in a 2024 interview with the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards. “And basically, we create freedom in the classroom. Sometimes, success is being able to hold a tool for the first time for these kids. What success is, is being given license to work on something as you see it, and not as somebody else sees it.”

KANEKO hosted “Arts for ME!” for its fourth year from May 8 to June 8, featuring student-made art from Westside High School, Westside Middle School, and Millard North Middle School. This exhibition places students at the center, giving them the ability to come into their own artistic style.

In late April, Statom and Arts for ME held a workshop at Lauritzen Gardens with over 80 students. The artwork made in this exhibition displayed during the run of the exhibition at KANEKO.

Elsewhere in Omaha, you can find a work by Statom at the Joslyn Art Museum. It was acquired after the 2019 “30 Americans” exhibition, a show that travelled to over 22 museums across the United States from 2009 to 2022. The exhibition presented canonical artwork by Black American artists.

Executive Director and CEO of Joslyn Art Museum Jack Becker spoke to Artdaily about the acquisition at the time. “We have planned for these acquisitions for some time

now, and they reflect Joslyn’s commitment to diversifying the Museum’s holdings of works by women and artists of color. Many visitors were recently introduced to the work of Johnson, Thomas, Walker, and Wiley, as all four of these artists had work in 30 Americans. Therman Statom is a renowned sculptor, glass artist, and painter, working right here in Omaha. Each of these works is an incredible addition to the collection on its own. Together, they signal a fresh approach to collecting at Joslyn,” Becker said.

Statom’s teaching has not only been based in Omaha. He has traveled the world, working in places like Denmark, Turkey, and multiple African countries, teaching local children through the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies program, often having to be strategic about materials and teaching in a language the kids don’t know.

In his studio, he recalled one experience in Mozambique where everyone spoke Portuguese and regional dialects, and only speaking English, Statom had to improvise, pointing, playing games, and even dancing.

What started out as a class with 65 kids one day turned into over 325 kids showing up for an art lesson the next day. It was under-resourced, and after quickly running out of materials, Therman thought fast, used paper plates and cardboard, and even taught students how to make their own paint brushes. Clay and dyes became the paint. And in the end, it was a resounding success.

What was supposed to be a two-day class became a three-day lesson—with the art becoming shoes for the kids the next day.

Statom is still plugging away and sculpting in his studio, which is a huge industrial building that almost looks like a cross between a Home Depot and a warehouse. There are sheets upon sheets of glass and multiple works in progress spread across tables. His cat, with one ear snipped off, followed us along as we walked through the space, jumping onto his art. Statom didn’t mind.

Now, he’s experimenting with round sheets of glass that almost look like vinyl records. They’re still works in progress, and some early pieces lay broken on tables as experiments. Other rooms are filled with clay materials, one with hundreds of golf balls.

One work in progress is a collaboration with Omaha artist Steven Tamayo from the Sicangu Lakota tribe. On a sheet of glass is a reproduction of a painted buffalo hide, which depicts a celestial map of the cosmos.

Story by Jonathan Orozco

Photography by Sarah Lemke Design by Joey Winton

Shattering Boundaries

The Genius of Therman Statom Profile

For expanded content, open the camera on your smart device and hover over the QR code.

inding yourself in North Omaha and entering the Union for Contemporary Art feels like stepping into another world. Walking through the large glass doors, you are greeted with architecture and design reminiscent of international contemporary spaces like the Tate Modern in London. From its inception in 2011, the Union immediately took its place in the art community of the Omaha metro, becoming one of the premier art centers in the city. Founder Brigitte McQueen had the vision to create an access point for the community of North Omaha to not only peer into the international art world, but be a part of it. Th e Union is for North Omaha what the Bemis is for Downtown, with fellowships, gallery exhibitions, and community workspaces. Just like other major institutions, the Union hosts workshops representing several art disciplines, art instruction for children, spaces for community use, and even a stateof-the-art theater space. In 2017, the Union moved to its permanent home, the corner of 24th and Lake streets in North Omaha, an area the locals call, “Th e Deuce,” considered to be the most important corner of Black Nebraska. It was built from the bones of the historic Blue Lion building, bringing a worldclass art institution into a place where the rich history of the African American community has always been on full display. Amongst historical buildings that reach back decades in time, this futuristic mind-expanding space stands like a portal to the world and to the future for the artists of North Omaha.

Over the past few months, the Union has been embroiled in controversy with what new Executive Director Lakesha Green is calling a “restructuring.” Some employees lost their positions while others resigned in protest. Labor board complaints were filed, and a pressure campaign was launched by a group of former employees calling themselves the “Union Union.” A whole city of creatives has taken sides on the issue. Green is challenged with entrenching the organization in the community in which it resides, the Union’s original mission, while moving the organization into the future amid this latest c ontroversy.

A diverse array of creatives from other parts of the city have expressed feeling welcomed into this safe North Omaha space, taking full advantage of what the Union off ers. Unfortunately, the organization has had a tough time connecting with some in the surrounding Black community, especially in the early years. Sherman Wells, born and raised on the north side of Omaha, asserted, “I didn’t feel welcome there. I didn’t feel like it was for us. Th ere was no direct communication from the organization.” Some did not embrace McQueen or the institution, feeling as if the acquisition of the building was the latest off ense in what seemed to be the gentrifi cation, or what some have called the colonization, of the whole area.

An incident in 2019 exemplifi es this disconnect. Members of the surrounding community protested and vandalized the front glass of the building over a decision to display words connected to a work of art where a slur was used and was seen easily form the street. Bricks were thrown and threats of violence were made. According to McQueen, she suff ered threats to her life and threats of being run out of town, along with extensive name-calling and harassment. She felt unsafe in the space she created, and although the situation eventually died down, the team at the Union and the surrounding community was forev er aff ected.

In the years that followed, McQueen and her team continued eff orts to make the Union a safe, inclusive space for everyone. Th e Union thrived with steady programming, abundant funding, and connections to the international art world. Along with fellows from abroad, the Union also selected local artists for fellowships and exhibitions, many of them from the local Black community. Th e board and staff of the Union would continue eff orts to fulfi ll one of the core values they display on the website, serving North Omaha. Th e website states, “Founded with purpose in North Omaha, we love our community and are committed to creating impact with our neighbors. Although we collaborate with partners across Omaha, our mission and work connect back to this vibrant and resilient community we call home.” Th e sentiment was there, but the work took its toll. After years of triumphs and struggles, McQueen decided to step down as executive director in Janu ary of 2024.

Right before McQueen’s exit, the fi ring of Th eater Director Denise Chapman, a prominent playwright, producer, and director, sparked public outrage. Some in the Black community as well as in the theater community wanted answers as to why this prominent Black woman was let go. At the time, Chapman was silent about the incident, and along with McQueen not divulging information on internal actions, the community felt they never got the answers they were lo oking for.

Th e timing of these incidents and McQueen’s decision to step away meant that choosing a new executive director would be challenging. Th e new leader would need to be a carefully considered choice. Th e Union needed someone with real experience, a connection to the community, and the capacity to take the institution into t he future.

The Founde r Steps Down

In her “Letter from the Founder” posted on the Union site on January 11, 2024, McQueen wrote, “I informed my board of directors and staff that I felt the time was coming for me to transition from my role as the Executive Director of Th e Union.” She continued, “We are honored to be working with Arts Consulting Group in the search for a new Executive Director.” Th e nationwide search resulted in the hiring of Lakesha Green, a highly experienced organizer with a theater background and years of experience leading organizations all around the country. She was hired on June 1, 2024. McQueen stepped down, and Green began gathering the information she needed for what she would come to call the “res tructuring.”

The R estructuring

In an interview with the news group 1st Sky Omaha, Green discussed coming into her new position at a tumultuous time, not just within the organization, but within the nation. She came in during an election year, “where changes are happening with all nonprofits and a lot of EDs are making hard decisions that have to be made,” she said. “But you have to think about the bigger picture, which is always the community and always your mission and making sure that it’s going to be sustained.” In October of 2024, Green brought in a consultant that had previously worked with McQueen, and together they activated a job analysis where staff were interviewed with the intent of fi nding out where things stood operationally, and what impact the Union was having on the community. What was found included the understanding that Th e Union was not making the impact in the Black community in which it resides. “Th ese conversations have been going because there is a cultural disconnect, and I have to acknowledge that as a Black woman,” Green said. According to Green, this disconnect was apparent as soon as she stepped into the position. “When I meet people that look like me and say, ‘Hey, I’m Lakesha, I’m the executive director of the Union,’ they say, ‘Oh, that’s not for us.’ It hits me hard ,” she said.

Although impact was an issue, what really caused this latest controversy is what Green did with the operational fi ndings from the studies. According to Green and the consultant, there was overlap, redundancies, and changes in programming that didn’t require certain positions. “Some job descriptions were not what they were doing because they outgrew them,” Green said. In February of 2025, with the suggestions from the consulting fi rm and the guidance of the Union board, Green eliminated four positions with a fi fth let go for internal reasons. Th ose aff ected felt the action was unfair and immediately b ecame vocal.

The Union Union

Some staff members, along with the former employees, formed a group called "Th e Union Union." Th ey announced that they were organizing a labor union in partnership with Communication Workers of America, Denver Newspaper Guild Local 37074. A website was set up and an Instagram page was launched. A massive marketing campaign went out to the city calling for support and the resignation of Green. Messages to the Union Union group for a statement have gone unanswered.

Instagram posts from the Union Union page claim that on February 25, the group delivered a letter of “voluntary recognition” to Green, and on the same day, the staff were fi red. Also, that day, some of the employees walked out in protest of what they viewed as “retaliatory fi rings.” According to posts, in anticipation of the all-staff meeting scheduled for the next day, Green sent an email

I, along with others, can't speak publicly about the matter while legal proceedings continue.

–

Caitlin LaVelle

reading, “I want to be clear that we will not be addressing any matters related to some expressed desire for some to join a union [in the meeting].” During the meeting the next day, the group claims Green walked out, cutting the meeting short when staff brought up the illegality of prohibiting employees from talking about unionization during working time. Th ey demanded Green reinstate the fi red staff, and after Green did not meet the group’s demands, the Union Union group fi led an “unfair labor practice” charge with the National Labor Relations Board, seeking an injunction against what Green called the “planned restructuring.” Instagram posts asserted that the eliminated positions were pivotal to the Union and the elimination of them renders the organization non- operational.

Th e only comment from anyone associated with the group came in the form of a message to 1st Sky Omaha. Ex-employee Caitlin LaVelle demanded the news group “get both sides if you’re going to speak on it.” After extending an invite to be interviewed, she said, “I, along with others, can’t speak publicly about the matter while legal proceeding s continue.”

The Press ure Campaign

Other employees who aligned themselves with the Union Union group resigned over the course of the next few months. By March 2025, there were others still employed but aligning themselves with the group, and by April 2025, they had also resigned. In total, eight letters of resignation were put on Green’s desk in solidarity wit h the group.

Th e Union Union group had garnered thousands of supporters with a wide network of artists and individuals across the Omaha Metro carrying the message to support the “wrongfully terminated.” McQueen was also vocal around the support of the group, asking to “make it make sense.” In an Instagram post from March 1, 2025, she asked, “If this were an actual restructuring, WHERE IS THE PLAN?!” Within the fi rst week of March, the Union Union group reported that they had received over 2,500 statements of support “from artists, community members, and friends.”

Individuals associated with the Union Union group took the controversial step of reaching out to funders. Green revealed that some of the Union’s high-level funders contacted her, saying they got letters demanding she step down, and that they should not fund the organization until she resigns.

A recent incident perpetrated by individuals in support of the Union Union group has galvanized some members of the Black community, who have started to rally around Green. On April 15, 2025, a group from outside the community showed up, organized themselves, and proceeded to write messages in chalk up and down both sides of 24th Street in front of the Union and the surrounding businesses. According to Green, birds were fl ipped, racial slurs were hurled, and messages saying, “Lakesha Green resign!” and “Union busting is disgusting!” were written on sidewalks while she and the staff watched. Individuals from the Black community gathered to protect the block, particularly the Black women now feeling unsafe inside their places of work. Individuals from the Black community who had actively protested around the Union back in 2017 were now fully activated to support and protect it under Green’s leadership. One of the individuals involved in the chalking came back the next day to continue the campaign. He was confronted by the protectors and was identifi ed as Joyce Franklin Vondrasek. Vondrasek claims no racial slurs were hurled the day before. In a post made on the “Friends of 1st Sky Omaha” group page on Facebook, Vondrasek wrote, “If Lakesha Green has evidence that racial slurs were said to her, she needs to present that evidence, because no such thing ever happened.” Th e chalk “volunteers” were not found to be ex-employees or members of the Union Union group. Caitlin LaVelle, the ex-employee mentioned earlier, confi rmed this and said, “As far as I know, no former Union employees were a part of this chalk drawing campaign.” Members of the Black community have coordinated with Green on plans for protection, which include working with surrounding businesses and patrollin g the area.

Ultimately, the Union Union group was not able to form an actual labor union, revealed in a letter from the Communication Workers of America, Denver Newspaper Guild Local 37074. Th e petition was withdrawn, the withdrawal was approved, and the scheduled election was canceled. Th ey did not secure a union representative and never became a recognized union. Public records also reveal that the fi rst charge fi led to the National Labor Relations Board wa s declined.

An Instagram post from the Union Union group on April 4 read, “Th e Union Union has begun the process of withdrawing our NLRB petition. We do not rule out the possibility of refi ling in the future. However, as it stands, we do not see a way forward for our union... the Union Union will continue to support our fi ve terminated colleagues as they seek, through an ongoing NLRB investigation as well as through other avenues, to be made whole.”

Because of the Communications Workers’ withdrawal, and the labor board decision, Green feels she has the space to get back to business and continue with the re

A B rand-New Day

Although Green by no means believes this is the end of the confl ict, her plan to move forward has already begun. Th is summer, the Union planned to host the Juneteenth Joyfest and be a part of Native Omaha Day. A new exhibition featuring local artist Nathan Murray, known for the bust he made of Malcolm X for the Nebraska Hall of Fame induction, ran through June. Th eater performances are being written and planned, and this year’s group of talented fellows will be featured extensively. Green recently re-hired Denise Chapman in the position of "producing artistic director." She explained her decision, saying, “She was the most qualifi ed candidate out of all of the candidates that applied, even ones out of town.” And with that, the plans to reactivate the Shirley Tyree Th eatre had begun. Native Omahan and performer Kathy Tyree, daughter of the theater’s namesake, summed up the community’s sentiment.

“Lakesha, thank you for making a decision that not only rights a wrong, but also allows Denise Chapman to continue the work that she started in a tiny black box theater on the corner of 24th & Lake,” she said. “Th at tiny space birthed uncountable Black artists and became a theater home and safe space welcoming all theater makers throughout the community. I am excited to see where we GROW from here.”

Th e tense atmosphere that has permeated the space for the last six months has all but subsided, with the remaining staff moving into new positions, and new instructors and artists coming in with new energy. Green’s restructuring plan is in full motion, and she wants the community to witness the results through observing and participating in current and future programming. Green has maintained support for the sustainability of the organization and is “on mission,” as she puts it, to fulfi ll the Union’s core values. Most importantly, the community that calls that corner “the Deuce” are now involved, knowing the Union is a highly important institution in the neighborhood and that it’s there for them, along with every other creative in the city.

For more information, vis it u-ca.org.

Those who know Randall Gruber know him as a huge

talent with a soft heart, but he earned both of those traits the hard way.

“I was 8 when I lost my dad. Th e day he passed away was the day Superman lost his cape.” Gruber recalled. “He was a phenomenal musician and human. He was so loved. But when he died, I thought my love of music went with him.”

His father’s guitar would sit untouched for decades as Gruber tried to fi ll the silence that had replaced the sound of it strumming.

“I am very blessed with the experiences I’ve had in Omaha kitchens,” now-34-year-old Gruber insisted. “I think everyone has had those ‘cry in the walk-in’ moments, but I’ve been incredibly fortunate.”

“Shawn LaHood at Monarch took a lot of time and really invested in me. On my fi rst day he had me cut chives. I showed him my work and he said ‘No, we’re going to throw those away. Th is is the fi nishing touch on the dish, you see it, taste it, touch it.’ He helped me see how important those details are, and he taught me so much technique. Food is such an impactful thing. It’s survival, but as a chef, you’re making it into a thrilling moment for your diner. I strive for that every dis h,” he said.

But the clamor of the kitchen couldn’t fi ll the void music once occupied. After work, Randy found himself gravitating toward open mic nights, which is where Tyler Tietsort fi rst encountered him about a decade ago.

“I was at Broadway Bar for an open mic night, and he was always there supporting other performers and hanging out, but not participating.” Tietsort recalled. “One day, our mutual friend, Clayton, got Randy up on stage. He had such a beautiful, emotional, voice; he’s such an incredible talent. I started inviting him up to sing on my sets.”

Tietsort said he found Gruber’s raw emotion inspiring.

“To be that vulnerable among your fellow man—it’s one of the biggest promoters of men’s mental health. I got into a dark space after I lost my cousin, and without friends like Randy, I wouldn’t have gotten out. So when he talked to me about his father passing, and that being the reason he was hesitant to learn guitar, it broke my heart. Clay and I started pushing him a little. He has so much talent in just his voice, but we knew if he had a guitar, he would blow us all out of the water,” Tietsort said.

RANDALL GRUBER SERVES AN EMOTIONAL TALE OF LOVE, LOSS, AND LEARNING

Gruber’s culinary education started where most passionate chef stories begin: Grandm a’s kitchen.

“When I was 7 or 8, my grandma asked if I could help her in the kitchen one day,” he recalled. “Instead of giving me busywork, like most people do with kids, she gave me a really technically challenging task. She had me split and scrape vanilla beans to make whipped cream. She told me what to do and then gave me a paring knife and just let me go. I was so happy in that kitchen. After that, I always helped her prepare our fa mily meals.”

Nobody starts their career at the top, and Gruber was more than willing to pay his dues along the way. He found work in kitchens at Sam’s Club Café and Pizza Ranch, then in a smattering of smaller kitchens, before landing a gig for a food trailer owned by Down Under Lounge. Th en Gruber’s roommate, who happened to be a sous chef at Monarch, suggested Gruber come inquire about a position.

On Oct. 25, 2015, Gruber walked into Lidgett Music in Council Bluff s, bought a Washburn acoustic electric guitar, and immediately went home to wr ite a song.

“Th e art scene has impacted me in so many ways.” Gruber said. “I want to leave a positive impact on the world around me and connect with people on an emotional level. I’ve used music to do that, and as a form of therapy, writing and singing those hard emotions out and letti ng them go.”

His natural talent for guitar soon turned the open mic night backup vocalist into a solo singer and songwriter, who showed up one day at Tietsort’s studio to record an album—in a s ingle take.

“I’ve never seen an artist do that. It took me a year to produce it after Randy recorded because I needed to do his work justice,” Tietsort said. “Eleven tracks, absolutely beautiful, in just one take. Nobody does that. Every time I listen to him, my min d is blown.”

With gifts handed down from his grandmother and his father, Randy balances the vocation he loves with the avocation that helps him heal. You can fi nd the talented executive chef running the kitchen at First National Tower, listen to his fi rst album (“Soul Searchin’”) on Apple Music, or follow Randall Gruber Music on Facebook for live music and show updates.

How Victoria Bogatz Uses Poetr y for Change

ictoria Bogatz wore her sleeveless black dress that fl owed to her ankles and threw on a tan cardigan over it. Unlike some of her other Bellevue East High School classmates, Bogatz didn’t dress up for prom. Instead, the junior missed the dance for an opportunity to recite her poem at the Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate fi nal s ceremony.

“Th is was a way bigger deal than prom,” B ogatz said.

The butterfl ies fl ying in the depths of her stomach stemmed not from fear, but electrified excitement. Bogatz stood on the stage as a fi nalist last year, watching another Bellevue native, Miranda Davis, take the title.

Bogatz’s hands covered her face, hoping her name might echo through the room at the Samuel Bak Museum.

“I know poetry. It’s my thing,” Bogatz insisted. “It’s where I feel comfortable.”

Poets submitted fi ve poems and performed most of them that afternoon. A diverse panel of judges, including poet Angelique Palmer, unanimously selected Bogatz’s work, which explores themes like climate concerns and teenage depression, as the winning entry for the fi fth youth poe t laureate.

In “Burning Th rough the Sky,” the confessional-style free verse tells of a “bloody and bruised” girl with “scorching sadness,” but by the end, she’s “dancing in spite of it all.”

Tough topics like these might seem daunting to share with the world, but her parents support her passion for speaking out about worthwh ile causes.

“All art is personal in some way. She’s mature enough to handle it, and we trust her to make those decisions,” said her father, Tim. He serves as the events director for Th e Art of Education University, and his wife, Lynn, teaches social studies at Lewis and Clark Mid dle School.

Bogatz bloomed under her parents’ support of her passion, picking up multiple awards along the way, including her poem, “A Bit of Solace,” set to music by Opera Omaha, and earning a gold key for it in the Nebraska Scholastic Writing Awards in 2022. As the co-editor-in-chief of Th e Tom Tom newspaper, Bogatz earned a state runner-up award for colu mn writing.

“I want to do the type of journalism that will impact the world around me,” she said.

Another poem, “How to Unburn the World,” explores anxiety about the climate, something Bogatz struggled with since third grade after reading “50 Simple Th ings Kids Can Do to Save the Earth.”

“I’ve always been worried about it,” Bogatz said during an interview at Roast Coff eehouse in Aksarb en Village.

She wears a blue sweatshirt with “Democracy Fan Club” emblazoned on the front, paired with black leggings. Recycled cord 4ocean bracelets encircle her slim wrist. Her hazel eyes grow intense behind her glasses as she describes her fervor for environmental causes, something that spilled into her writing with lines like, “I grasp at the ghosts of my poetry/my fi ngers scorching like a prayer/the City of Angels is burning/a dozen thousand miles away/but I feel it here, too,/ in this rainless Nebra ska tundra.”

Bogatz doesn’t just write about it, she lives it. She joined Students for Sustainability, participated in rallies to support the Nebraska Green Amendment, and attended the Nebraska Youth Clim ate Summit.

“I love the fact that she’s including the natural world. Lots of times, especially if we’re talking about younger poets, sometimes it is feeling-based or relationship-based,” said Nebraska Writers Collective co-executive director Zedeka Poindexter. “She’s thinking about the world on a large scale, and how she as a young person is going to survive in this world after our time as leadersh ip is done.”

Bogatz’s year-long journey as poet laureate includes collaborating with a creative and civic mentor to help her as an artist, including a community engagement project of their design. In the past, poets picked a mobile mural, another picked an educational equity website, or others spread the word about murdered indigenous women or victims of domestic violence. Bogatz will receive $1,000, or up to $2,000, for the project, a chapbook published by the NWC Press, and public readings to showcase her talent. It also allows her to apply to become a Midwest Youth Poet Laureate, and if she wins, a chance at the national spotlight.

“I can’t put her in a spaceship, but I can make sure she has the funds,” Poindexter said. “We teach her that art isn’t a free thing. She deserves to be honored for the work that she puts out in the world.”

Bogatz recalls discovering poetry in middle school and wants to see how this experience “shakes out” regarding her writing aspirations. When she writes fiction, the teenager will listen to indie pop, Maggie Rogers, or Taylor Swift. Poetry, though, doesn’t start until a line or image forms. She sits in a silent room in front of her desk late at night, after the day has had time to sit with her and mold itself into poetry. Bogatz reaches for a big tub of pens and scrawls in a small notebook. In her poem, “Why I Write,” she said, “I write like the wind./I write like I’ll die if I don’t./and truth be told,/I probably would.” The later lines reflect her dreams that “even if my words never change the world,/never make me famous,/I want my writing to mean something,/to contain some bundled-up truth.”

For more information, visit ne writers.org.

“I want to do the type of journalism that will impact the world around me.” — Vic toria Bogatz

Story by Lisa Lukecart // Photography by Sarah Lemke // Design by Joey Winton

GIVING CALENDAR

JULY/AUGUST 2025

COMPILED BY JACIE LEIBFRIED

FEATURED EVENT

Aug. 9

BLACKSTONE OPEN

Benefits: Ronald McDonald House

Location: Blackstone District rmhcomaha.org

What could be better than mini golfing? Mini golfing for a great cause, of course! The “golf course” will be set up around different bars and restaurants in the beloved Blackstone District, so there will be plenty of opportunity to test out your putting skills alongside delicious food and drinks. To add another layer of fun, there will be a costume contest, so it is the perfect opportunity to break out that outfit that you never get to wear. With an adventurous agenda and afterparty to last all day and night, don’t miss the opportunity to support the Ronald McDonald House while having a blast.

July 7

BLAND CARES GOLF OUTING

Benefits: Angels Among Us Location: Champions Run Golf Course myangelsamongus.org

July 7

STARS & STRIPES CLASSIC

Benefits: Fellowship of Christian Athletes Location: The Players Club omahafca.org

July 8

CRITTERS IN THE GARDEN LANDSCAPE: FRIEND? FOE? OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN?

Benefits: Nebraska Extension - Douglas-Sarpy Counties

Location: Nebraska Extension - Douglas-Sarpy Counties Central Office events.unl.edu/douglas-county

July 12

NP DODGE REAL ESTATE CAR SHOW

Benefits: Veterans Quilts of Valor, Little Food Pantries of Lincoln

Location:7575 S 57th St. allevents.in/lincoln/np-dodge-lincoln-2025-car-show

July 12

KEEP US ROLLING EVENT SERIES: BOWLING

Benefits: Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue Location: Maplewood Lanes savinggracefoodrescue.org

July 12

20TH ANNUAL MAKE-A-WISH BENEFIT GOLF TOURNAMENT

Benefits: Make-A-Wish Nebraska

Location: Hidden Valley Golf Club wish.org/nebraska

July 12

FUN-PLEX SPIRIT DAY

Benefits: Ava’s Army Location: Fun-Plex allevents.in/omaha/ avas-army-fun-plex/200027984286158

July 14

HOLES FORE HEROES

Benefits: Heart Heroes

Location: Champions Run Golf Course heartheroes.org

July 15

STEM CONNECTING PATHWAYS

Benefits: Omaha STEM Ecosystem

Location: MCL Construction omahastem.com/stem-connect-series

July 15-17

SPOT WASH FOR A CAUSE

Benefits: Taysia Blue Rescue

Location: The Green Spot greenspotomaha.com

July 18

TABLE GRACE GOLF TOURNAMENT

Benefits: Table Grace Cafe

Location: Willow Lakes Golf Course tablegracecafe.com

July 19

OMAHA JAZZ EXPERIENCE

Benefits: Hallins Corporation Location: Stinson Park hallinscorp.com

July 19

HEAD FOR THE CURE 5K

Benefits: Children’s Nebraska Location: Fleet Feet impact.headforthecure.org

July 27

4TH ANNUAL TRAP AND SKEET SHOOT

Benefits: Pink Ladies of Lincoln Location: Lincoln Trap & Skeet Club pinkladiesoflincoln.com

July 27

IRONHAWK JUNIORS TRIATHLON DAY

Benefits: Ironhawk Juniors Location: College of St. Mary ironhawkjuniors.org

July 31

CF FOUNDATION CARES TRIVIA NIGHT

Benefits: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Location: Lucky Bucket Brewery engage.cff.org/cffcarestrivianight

Aug. 2

MAHA MUSIC FESTIVAL

Benefits: Maha

Location: Heartland of America Park mahafestival.com

Aug. 3

CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT

Benefits: Innocence Freed

Location: Heavy Brewing shareomaha.org/events/innocence-freed/ cornhole-tournament

Aug. 7

LUNCH FOR THE GIRLS

Benefits: Girls Inc. of Omaha

Location: CHI Health Center girlsincomaha.org

Aug. 8

EXPOSED: IT’S PERSONAL ANNUAL BENEFIT

Benefits: Project Pink’d Location: Embassy Suites LaVista Conference Center projectpinkd.org

Aug. 8

IREM GOLF OUTING

Benefits: Special Olympics Omaha Location: Tiburon Golf club sone.org

Aug. 9

A NIGHT OF SHINING STARS

Benefits: Madonna Ability Alliance

Location: A View West Shores madonnaschool.org

Aug. 9

5K RUN FOR BEER

Benefits: Girls on the Run

Location: Bearded Brewer Artisan Ales gotrnebraska.org

Aug. 14

SUMMER LEADERSHIP ETHICS LUNCHEON

Benefits: Business Ethics Alliance

Location: Scott Conference Center businessethicsalliance.org

Aug. 15

EVENING OF WISHES GALA

Benefits: Make-A-Wish

Location: Younes Conference Center wish.org/nebraska

Aug. 16

BACK TO SCHOOL SOIREE

Benefits: Papillion La Vista Community Schools

Location: Beardmore Event Center plcsfoundation.org

Aug. 16

HOPE CAR SHOW

Benefits: Omaha Hope Foundation

Location: 13239 Portal Dr. allevents.in/omaha/ hope-car-show-tickets/800027063792657

Aug. 17

BAGS & BREWS CORNHOLE FUNDRAISING TOURNAMENT

Benefits: Outlook Enrichment

Location: Heavy Brewing outlooken.org

Aug. 18

LNA NEIGHBORHOOD PICNIC

Benefits: Leavenworth Neighborhood Association

Location: Dewey Park shareomaha.org/events/leavenworthneighborhood-association/ lna-neighborhood-picnic

Aug. 21-22

LINKS TO A CURE GOLF & GALA

Benefits: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Location: Pacific Springs Gold Course, A View On State events.cff.org/linkstoacure

Aug. 22-23

LAVISHED: AGAPE CONFERENCE

Benefits: Love Church

Location: Love Church lovechurch.org/lavished

Aug. 23

MIKE SUCHA MEMORIAL GOLF CLASSIC

Benefits: BeBrave Child Advocacy Center

Location: Holmes Park Golf Course bravebe.org

Aug. 23-24

50 MILE MARCH

Benefits: Operation Home Base

Location: Nebraska State Capitol to Omaha givebutter.com/OperationHomeBase2025

Aug. 25

GOLF OUTING

Benefits: Youth Emergency Services

Location: The Players Club yesomaha.org/golf-outing

Aug. 24

DUNCAN AVIATION CHARITY CAR SHOW

Benefits: Make-A-Wish Nebraska

Location: 3410 West Mathis St. Lincoln wish.org/nebraska/duncan-aviation-charity-car-show

Aug. 25

CASA CLASSIC

Benefits: Court Appointed Special Advocates For Children

Location: Oak Hills Country Club events.golfstatus.com/event/casa-for-douglas-county

Aug. 26

GOLF CHALLENGE

Benefits: Ataxia Connection

Location: Tiburon Golf Club e.givesmart.com/events/A5l

Aug. 28

MAKING A CASE FOR FUNDING: GRANT WORKSHOP

Benefits: Nonprofit Association of the Midlands

Location: Nonprofit Association of the Midlands nonprofitam.org/events

KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE

BluesEd Shapes the Future of Blues Through Youth Education

The drums hit first—clean, sharp, and steady. A guitar growls in, followed by a horn riff that slices through the heat of a summer evening. On a makeshift stage at a festival or under the bright lights of a city venue, groups of teenage musicians lean into a sound born generations before them: the blues. They may be young, but their sound is anything but inexperienced.

BluesEd is a nonprofit music education initiative that immerses young musicians in the blues as they lead rehearsals, play gigs, and evolve together. Behind the scenes, it runs on student leadership and dedicated parent volunteers—including current directors Kevin and Anna Burns, who are wrapping up their final season with the program.

“Our son, Wes, was always interested in blues music,” Kevin said. One YouTube clip of Eric Clapton was all it took to light a lifelong blues spark, Anna added. “Before he was even old enough to join, he wanted to be part of the program.”

In partnership with the Blues Society of Omaha, the program has been shaping young musicians since 2001. The process begins with auditions—each student’s skills are assessed before they are placed into a band, with the expertise of four program clinicians guiding the placements. Student bands participate in clinician-led workshops, rehearse regularly, and perform together throughout the summer.

“Seeing the impact this program has on these young musicians’ lives and musical performances has kept me coming back for the past 20-plus years,” said Carlos Figueroa, a program clinician since 2001. “I try and meet them right where they are.”

“I tend to keep it light and fun during rehearsals,” Glen Smith, another dedicated clinician, said of his own mentoring approach. “I talk about how a working band functions, the role their instrument plays in music, and how to listen to others as they perform.”

Rehearsals are a collaborative experience, with students practicing at home before coming together to refine their performances. For current students like sisters Alex and Whitney Ingvoldstad, the opportunity to dive into the blues genre has opened a new musical world.

Whitney joined first four years ago, auditioning with their older brother after a recommendation from her sister’s saxophone teacher. Alex joined a year later, hooked after watching her siblings perform. Both sisters play in the BluesEd band The Redwoods, Alex on alto saxophone and Whitney on bass.

“It’s definitely a learning process, especially for new people coming in,” Alex said, “but it teaches you how pretty much all genres can be related back to the blues somehow.”

Performances throughout the summer give students the chance to showcase their hard work and experience playing in front of an audience. Bands often have gigs at Turner Park, Stinson Park, and Gene Leahy Mall, and play major events like Jazz on the Green and Playing With Fire. “Wes got to play Jazz on the Green, and I asked him afterwards if that was the biggest crowd he'd ever played for,” Kevin recalled. “He said, ‘I'm not sure, because I was too scared to look!’”

Each season features a clinician-reviewed showcase in June, and culminates in an allband finale performance that gives students the opportunity to celebrate their summer of growth. The transformation each BluesEd band undergoes is clear to those guiding them.

“It is an absolute joy to see students grow in knowledge, confidence, and professionalism,” Smith said. For Whitney, that growth has extended beyond the program—she’s taken additional lessons from Smith for the past two years. “He’s been really mind-opening to the aspects of being a musician,” she said. “He teaches you how to be a good person in music and in life in general.”

Figueroa also points to student Jude O’Keefe, current drummer for Vertigo, who started out as one of the shyest, youngest members of his band. “Now in his fourth season with BluesEd, Jude is a dynamic drummer and band leader,” Figueroa said. “He directs rehearsals for a seven-member band, three of whom are brand new to BluesEd.”

For many students, the program fills a void that school music classes can’t always reach. Whitney, who participates in several school ensembles and the Metropolitan Area Youth Jazz Orchestra (MAYJO), appreciates what BluesEd adds to her music education. Alex, on the other hand, focuses on private lessons and BluesEd exclusively.

“BluesEd is more representative of having a career as a musician,” Alex said. “It’s less about drills and theory, and more about experience. I personally feel like it’s helped me grow a lot in my confidence as a musician.” Whitney agreed, adding that the sheer amount of practice and performance time builds musical maturity quickly—along with a strong network of like-minded young musicians.

As Kevin and Anna wrap up their time as directors, they’re optimistic as new volunteers step in and fresh talent continues to audition. The Burns have seen the program’s impact go far beyond the stage, including a recent audition from a student whose cousin, a BluesEd alum, is getting married this summer. The wedding band? Her BluesEd bandmates.

“I continue to get calls from BluesEd alumni saying the life lessons they learned in the program provided a solid, valuable foundation for their university and life experiences,” Figueroa added. Alex, who’s heading to college this fall, is already looking into ensembles to join. For many, it’s the first step toward a professional career in music. Whitney plans to pursue music in college—either through performance or music engineering.

Regardless of their next steps, students leave the program knowing what it means to be an essential part of a team, Figueroa said. “I am constantly amazed at the growth in their technical ability on their instrument and confidence as musicians, band members, and young human beings.”

For more information, visit bluesed.com.

It’s definitely a learning process, especially for new people coming in, but it teaches you how pretty much all genres can be related back to the blues somehow.

—Alex Ingvoldstad

GIVING SPOTLIGHT

Story by Natalie Veloso || Photography by Sarah Lemke || Design by Joey Winton

Moving Pictures

100 years of the Dundee Theater

STORY BY Christopher McLucas | ILLUSTRATION BY Renee Ludwick | DESIGN BY Nick ie Robinson

In order for something to last 100 years, there must be stewards, and Film Streams has gladly taken up the mantle for one of Omaha’s unique cultural touchstones. In 2017, the Sherwood Foundation gifted the Dundee Theater located on 4952 Dodge Street to Film Streams. In turn, they launched a renovation of the theater, updating the north-side entrance, an expanded lobby to host their partner business, Lola’s Cafe, and added the Linder Microcinema, a 25-seater. Renovations are milestones in the history of the theater. Its first renovation was to remove the stage from the main theater when vaudeville acts became less popular. The next renovation was in 1929 to add speakers when sound technology was added to film. Then, in 1938, the theater had another renovation, the installation of new seats and a new marquee.

Before The Sherwood Foundation cared for the theater, it was purchased by The Cooper Foundation out of Lincoln, Nebraska in 1963. They rebranded it as an art house, showing foreign fi lms for the emerging scene among local cinephiles. By 1974, the Cooper Foundation sold the theater to Edward Cohen and David Frank of Omaha, who offered family-friendly movies catering to the neighborhood the theater shares its name with. Omahan Dennis Moran purchased the theater in 1980 and renovated it. For three decades, Moran operated the theater, showing art fi lms, blockbusters, and a midnight movie series of classic and cult fi lms. Since Dec. 19, 1925, the Dundee Theater has been a rite of passage, an institution, and a great way to spend time with the family, play hooky, or have a date night.

In the marketing material for the Dundee Theater’s 1938 renovation, it was promoting the same renovation we were conducting in 2017. We got to move through history, the Hays Code, the arrival of color, the emergence of international film, the first and second wave of independent film, and blockbusters. We were able to chart not just the history of cinema, but the history of Omaha and the people as well.

Casey Logan

During the yearlong celebration, The Dundee Hundee, 10 one-nightonly events will roll out the red carpet for special screenings throughout the year. Iconic fi lms from each decade of the theater’s history showcase the evolution of cinema and moviegoers.

“The plans were in the works even before I was hired at Film Streams,” Executive Director of Film Streams Maggie Wood said. “Elijah Hoefer was the one who solidified each fi lm we’re showing, combing through the theater’s own programing and newspaper promotions. He was able to curate fi lms that showcase what made the theater last.” Wood and the board of directors saw the centennial as an opportunity to shape the celebration to be in line with Film Streams’ mission of enhancing the culture of the Omaha community through presenting and discu ssing fi lm.

The research it took to create the celebration started in 2016 when Film Streams was given the building. “There were a lot of secondary sources,” Casey Logan, the managing director of Film Streams, said. “Newspaper advertisements, the theater’s own promotional material, and amateur historians of local and theater history. We found one hundred years of community, shared experiences of employment, and movie-watching.”

The kickoff celebration of the Dundee Hundee was a screening of Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis,” which featured the Anvil Orchestra providing their own score. “The content of that fi lm is timeless, not futuristic,” Wood said. “When ‘Metropolis’ was released, it was celebrated, and we are fortunate enough to celebrate the fi lm in the same building it was shown in.” The power of fi lm is translated through the resiliency of the building still standing and still showing movies.

Each movie in the Dundee Hundee series will have new decorations, new candy, and each show has a letterpress ticket designed by Hanscom Park Studio that lists the fi rst time the movie was shown at the theater, and is uniquely designed for each movie. Individuals who have been to every movie in the series will be entered into a giveaway.

Films aren’t the only thing being celebrated—the community who has supported the theater deserves the same honor. Film Streams is currently gathering and sharing testimonials from the community. These select testimonials are showcased on the big screen before screenings, giving a glimpse into the theater’s place in our community and our shared experiences.

“In the marketing material for the Dundee Theater’s 1938 renovation, it was promoting the same renovation we were conducting in 2017,” Logan said. “We got to move through history, the Hays Code, the arrival of color, the emergence of international fi lm, the fi rst and second wave of independent fi lm, and blockbusters. We were able to chart not just the history of cinema, but the history of Omaha and the people as well.”

Film Streams has partnered with several local nonprofits and businesses to give unique experiences to those fi lms. Film Streams’ community collaboration program has been around since the beginning of the

organization, and they’ve worked with hundreds of nonprofits by screening movies that can make an organization’s mission digestible to the public and investors.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised how everyone has embraced this project,” Wood said. “The Omaha Academy of Ballet was more than enthusiastic to partner with us in our screening of ‘The Red Shoes’ for the Dundee Hundee. Omaha does a great job of working together. There’s a layer of competition when it comes to funding, but when we have a chance to highlight the work of another community organization, we jump at the chance to do that.”

The Dundee Theater is a space Omaha can take pride in. It has evolved with the times in its own way. Where some theaters will bring you your popcorn and chicken fi ngers via a faceless crouching, whispering waiter, the space that Film Streams and Lola’s have created within the theater is continuing the tradition of it as a community hub, where you have access to sit, eat, and discuss the fi lm with friends and the staff. There are cities larger and older than Omaha that don’t have access to a venue with yearlong programming and an enthusiastic staff.

“We hope to sustain the success of the community and the theater, to continue experiencing cinema the way it was intended,” Logan said. “To walk out of the theater and hear the murmurs of people’s reactions to the film, and have the opportunity to sit down at Lola’s and talk about it with friends or strangers.”

When the series was put together, Film Streams ensured that these screenings were considered events, no different than a Broadway show or concert tickets. “Only the 300 people in each show will have the memory of that viewing. It’s sacred and beautiful in a lot of ways,” Wood said.

The future of the Dundee Theater, Lola’s, and Film Streams is not only its stake in people, but also with technology. No different than when speakers were added, Film Streams is doing its best to keep up with advances in technology for accessibility in an effort to better include those who are often left out of fi lm discussion. “We’re always going to be responsive to what’s going on outside,” Wood said. “The future for the Dundee Theater and Film Streams is collaborative, and we hope in [2125], they’ll be doing a throwback of our time with t he theater.”

There will be a fair amount to showcase, such as On The Green, free screenings located at 724 North 16th St. in the Builders District; School To Screen, which provides a calendar of school-day movie screenings and guided discussions for visiting classes throughout Nebraska; and The Forever Young Series. Every Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. at Dundee Theater, tickets are just $5. You can host a private screening at either location.

The Heider Family Foundation has been essential to the process of sculpting what Film Streams’ celebration of the Dundee Hundee is presenting. The staff, board of directors, community partners, and most importantly, you, the customer, have not only shaped Omaha, but the Dundee Theater itself.

For more information, visit filmstreams.org.

HOW THE NEBRASKA

BRIDGES IN THE CITY OF STARS

Todd Nelson, who grew up in Holdrege, Nebraska, was active in theater, a drum major in an award-winning band, editor of the school yearbook and newspaper, and a magician with his own local TV show. He graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1984 with a double major in broadcast journalism and theater arts. Nelson was selected by The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for an internship program that brought him to Hollywood, where he was an intern on “Days of Our Lives” and a post-production assistant on the first season of “The Golden Girls.”

Humanity’s first story is about leaving home. The fear it instills and the wonder it can conjure can be assaulting to the traveler. This trepidation can only be soothed by finding other travelers who have left home—by sharing what you’ve left, one can ease the ailment of homesickness.

Nelson sought to alleviate that dread by meeting with his adviser and asking if he could connect him with other graduates. The adviser suggested Johnny Carson, but he didn’t have Johnny Carson’s address. He didn’t have any addresses of alumni; it wasn’t something they kept records of. He went to Hollywood not knowing a soul, and thought to himself, “This has got to change.”

Story by Christopher McLucas

Photography by Anthony Bryce Graham

Design by Joey Winton

In 1992, Nelson founded The Nebraska Coast Connection, a networking alliance of professionals with ties to Nebraska. Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the NCC hosts The Hollywood Salon in Los Angeles on the second Monday of every month with celebrity and industry guests from all areas of entertainment and the arts.

“I would come back home during Christmastime and see my theater professor, Dr. Bill Morgan,” Nelson said. “His students from all over the country would send him Christmas cards. He shared them with me and asked if I knew these particular students who lived in L.A. That became the first list of The Nebraska Coast Connection.”

Nelson got those people together, a few dozen, but enough to host an event in 1992. That event turned into 200 people. After that, it was off and running. The enthusiasm to stay connected was palpable. It started with Halloween parties, beach barbecues, hay rides, anything to simulate a midwestern experience. It became apparent to Nelson and crew that having a regularly scheduled meeting with the same location would be more helpful.

“It allowed us to network, share job ideas, find roommates—there have been marriages because of this group,” Nelson said. “Kirstin Wilder, a University of Nebraska alumni, who at the time was the editor of Variety , sat down with me to create the name The Hollywood Salon to evoke the idea put forth by the ancient Greeks and the French.”

The first event was hosted by David Murdock in his house in Bel Air. That initial meeting led to the group meeting every month since June 1994, even through the COVID-19 pandemic. They have never missed a month. COVID-19 forced the NCC to host their meetings over Zoom, which increased its reach locally and globally. Many were now able to connect from places like London, Kearney, Lincoln, Ireland, and Omaha.

“It’s been a gift,” said Roslin Real, the secretary for The Hollywood Salon. “It’s been a compounding effect. I met a casting director at the meetings, who told me about an audition that helped my acting process, which led me to acting classes, which led me to my current manager. Without NCC, I wouldn’t even know where I’d be.”

It isn’t just professional networking that the Hollywood Salon provides—the emotional support is crucial. It’s no issue to have a cohort look over a script, practice lines with you or go to a show together. During a rough month when you feel your efforts are in vain, and that voice in your head tells you to give up, you'll remember you have people to call on and garner support from. “We see ourselves as a stepping stone and a guiding hand,” Roslin said. “We support one another by being their cheerleader, too, telling each other to keep going, keep doing your thing.”

The Salon works on all levels for people in the industry. It’s not just for people entering the business, it’s also for people who have reached a level of success who want to venture into a new path, which keeps

When people show up to the meeting to talk about our business, to talk about our art, then to make personal connections, it’s beautiful. In my 40 years in the business, the most important thing I’ve learned is that people know you and trust you, and that it goes both ways.

— Todd Nelson

the group connected. “Marc Erickson, he’s part of our leadership team,” Nelson said. “He always grounds the meetings in a place of gratitude. The meetings give everyone the opportunity to talk about what you want and what you need, which doesn’t put people in the mindset of acknowledging what they have to offer.”

Nelson has prepared the field, plowed the soil, and asked, “what are you going to plant?” The Hollywood Salon isn’t just for Nebraskans, but there is a Nebraskan state of mind. It’s all about the connections, like the name suggests.

“The most advantageous thing for you in L.A. is to know people who know about work and what projects are starting,” Roslin said. “You may not get what you need in the first meeting, but with each NCCer being tapped into all areas of production, you’re provided a window into Hollywood.”

Jon Bokenkamp graduated from USC, had written a script, and wasn’t getting traction in the industry. He connected with NCC and asked Nelson to read his script. Nelson told Bokenkamp to submit it into a writing contest. Bokenkamp didn’t have the money to do it, so Nelson lent him the $40 entry fee, and the script won the contest. Bokenkamp then got an agent, then a manager, got his first feature under him, and has gone on to do great things, creating the television show “The Blacklist” on NBC.

“Little things like that come from our group,” Nelson said. “I’ve seen people show up and have a few more weeks of money left and were on the verge of moving back, but they made a connection at the Salon and it got them a job, a couch to crash on—all the things that are natural to Nebraskans. We take care of each other. Why not have that in Hollywood, too?”

“We have the privilege of getting to hear people talk about starting their project to when it actually happens—it’s inspiring,” Roslin said. “It reminds me that we can do this, we can make it happen.”

The Hollywood Salon runs on volunteers. All of the work is done out of a love for the group. The Nebraska Coast Connection is a bridge to those back home—an alliance of dreamers making their dreams come true, a home sweet home in Hollywood. In certain circles, they are referred to as the Nebraska Mafia, because they take care of their own.

“When people show up to the meeting to talk about our business, to talk about our art, then to make personal connections, it’s beautiful,” Nelson said. “In my 40 years in the business, the most important thing I’ve learned is that people know you and trust you, and that it goes both ways.”

For more information, visit nebraskacoast.com.

OMAHA’S INTERSECTION OF FLAVOR AND IMAGINATION

ood and art have always gone ha nd in hand.

Is it really any wonder why?

Isn’t art, after all, a celebration of the senses? It appeals to sight, touch, sound, and often even taste and smell.

Food, meanwhile, is more than sustenance; it is an invitation to explore the boundaries of fl avor and culture, to delight in the textures and colors carefully crafted by culinar y artisans.

So, of course, what better way to accompany one sensory explosion than with another sensory explosion? Together, they create an unparalleled harmony of indulgence and inspiration that captivates audiences acros s the globe.

As it stands, there are several neighborhood-focused locations in the metro area that celebrate the best of both worlds: art and food e xploration.

Such spaces do more than serve meals or host exhibitions; they invite individuals to experience an intersection where creativity thrives, inspiring communities to come together and celebrate their shared heritage and innovation.

One such hotspot, a source of inspiration for art and food, is Benson—more notably, Benson First Friday, which now goes by BFF Omaha

BFF highlights unique partnerships between eateries, galleries, and local artists, creating an ecosystem where food and art coexist and elevate one another. It is not uncommon to fi nd a gallery off ering bites that align with the themes of the exhibits, or a local café featuring murals by emerg ing artists.

Alex Jochim and JD Hardy founded BFF in June 2012, achieving nonprofit status in July 2015 after three years of hosting monthl y art walks.

What began as a modest initiative grew into a cornerstone of the region’s cultural landscape. BFF Omaha has proven itself as a prominent regional authority in the realm of arts and creative culture, consistently drawing visitors from near and far.

Story by Hal Senal

|| Photography by Sarah Lemke

|| Design by Joey Winton

Some notable venues in that area display art during regular business hours, including Star Deli and Edge of the Universe, which also host special activities on Fi rst Fridays.

Founded in 2010 by Chef Jay Muller, Star Deli is much more than a sandwich shop. It serves artisanal creations that are as much culinary masterpieces as they are t asty meals.

In 2012, a second location was opened in Benson, complete with an art gallery to broaden the establishment’s creative footprint.

Edge of the Universe, on the other hand, redefi nes what a c afé can be.

Th is museum café embraces rotating themes inspired by local artists, off ering an entirely immersive dining experience.

Guests can be captivated by the collaboration of dynamic visuals, costumes, and decorations, all while savoring fresh cocktails and aromat ic coffees.

Each theme highlights a nonprofit organization, displaying their contributions to the community, making it not only a place of indulgence, but also one of so cial impact.

Events and one-of-a-kind experiences tailored for diners and art enthusiasts alike make Edge of the Universe a standout venue for those looking to immerse themselves in a world where art and food mer ge together.

Across town, Second Friday on Vinton Street off ers yet another bold, tasty opportunity to engage with the art community, all while savoring culinary treasures.

Much like Benson First Friday, it brings together art and food enthusiasts for what promises to be a wild, interactive evening, as galleries such as Gallery 72 and Project Project beckon visitors with their compellin g exhibits.

Nearby dining options, including authentic Mexican eateries and Louie M’s Burger Lust, create the perfect pairing of artistic inspiration and hearty i ndulgence.

TASTY BITES

By design, art connects with culinary creativity and cuisine, providing a harmonious experience where the imaginative and the indulgent converge in captivating constructive co llaboration.

Th e ird ursday Art Walk in Omaha highlights the city's creative scene, featuring the Garden of the Zodiac in the Old Market passageway.

Nearby, V. Mertz off ers fi ne dining with an intimate ambience, attracting visitors who want to blend culinary experiences with art. Th e event combines history, culture, and gastronomy, letting attendees enjoy sculptures and cu rated menus.

Adding to Omaha's rich tapestry of art and culinary fusion is the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center in Council Bluffs. This center functions as a versatile venue, off ering performances, art exhibitions, and educational programs designed to promote cultural appreciation. Beyond the visual allure, the center's events radiate a sensory feast, with music, aromas, and fl avors intertwining into a kaleidoscope of experiences that appeal to all who seek enrichment through culture and creativity.

The Hoff Center also emphasizes collaboration, hosting culinary events and unforgettable experiences for its visitors. Hoff Fourth Friday is yet another colorful festivity, bringing the arts and community spirit together. The event invites visitors to engage with local artists through workshops and interactive sessions, fostering creativity and connection.

Th ese hands-on experiences provide a deeper appreciation for the processes behind the artwork, allowing attendees to connect not just with the fi nished products, but with the people and stories behind them.

Th e culinary off erings feature carefully curated menus that marry creativity with fl avor.

Culinary enthusiasts and art lovers alike are treated to an extraordinary fusion of taste and visual stimulation. The menus are often designed to reflect the themes of the exhibitions, creating a cohesive narrative that ties together the entire experience.

In a world often dominated by fast-paced routines, these events serve as reminders of the richness found in art and food. The fusion of

art and cuisine in Omaha creates memorable experiences. Whether it's a painting with a dish or a performance with a cocktail, this combination celebrates human creativity.

Exploring local arts institutions and museums offers the chance to also indulge in unique dining experiences. Here are some notable venues with delightful din ing options:

Th e Holland Performing Arts Center includes dining options such as Zinc, Ovations, and event-specifi c dining at the Holland Music Club. Each venue features a diverse menu designed to complement the artistic ambience of the center.

Th e Joslyn Art Museum , also in Omaha, features the Durham Cafe. Th is cafe off ers a relaxing atmosphere where guests can take a break from exploring the museum's extensive art collections and have a quick or lei surely nosh.

(1.) V. MERTZ

spring plate.

(2.) LOUIE M'S

Breakfast burrito.

(3.) STAR DELI

Sweet potato + avacado sandwich.

Th e Durham Museum , located in the former Union Station in Omaha, presents a nostalgic experience with its retro soda fountain, reminiscent of the golden age of train travel. Visitors can enjoy classic treats while learning about the historical signifi cance of the station.

Th e vibrant rhythm of Omaha's cultural scene beats through its art galleries and performances, where the lines between artist and audience blur. Th ese gatherings often feature live demonstrations, pop-up exhibits, and collaborative art-making opportunities that invite attendees to become part of the creat ive process.

So, what do food and art have in common as it relates to Omaha? To community?

Answer: Everything!

Duck Duck Goose fries, Block 16

DINING FEATURE

Story By Beaufield Berry

Photography by Sarah Lemke

Design By Rachel Birdsall

n the heart of downtown Omaha, a café built on dignity, music, and mission quietly changed lives—until the story was too powerful to keep off the stage.

Table Grace Café, founded by Simone and Matt Weber, began as a passion project grounded in their shared love of community, faith, and the arts. But over time, it grew into something bigger than either of them imagined: a musical.

From Small-Town Roots to Big-City Dreams

Simone and Matt met as teenagers at a high school music camp in Lincoln. After earning degrees in music education, they followed their dreams to New York City—Simone to perform, Matt to pursue culinary training. “We both grew up in small towns,” Simone said, “but New York gave us this broad perspective. I was singing in churches and cafés, and Matt found his path through food.” It was Matt, after hearing one of Simone’s original songs, who first joked, “This sounds like it could be in a musical.” That offhand comment planted an early seed.

Their time in New York shaped them creatively and spiritually. But they felt “called and compelled” back to their Midwestern roots. This time in their journey also revealed a gap for the couple, who had done some short-term mission work in their college years.

“We’d been to Tanzania, Juarez, the Dominican Republic, and every time we'd come back from one of these missions, we were filled with the sense that something was missing. There’s a level of hospitality that you experience in these other countries, where people have next to nothing. We felt a stark difference of what it meant to be hospitable and in community with each other. We were moved by how those communities came together,” Simone recalled. “Back in Omaha, it felt siloed.”

In this spirit, the Webers started a personal chef service to single-parent households, something no one else was doing at the time. The venture was successful and helped bring their purpose to the forefront, but Simone never stopped dreaming of how they could expand and put her musical experience to use.

A Café with a Calling

After moving back to Nebraska, Simone worked at a local church and Matt in the restaurant industry. Each year, they’d travel to Nashville during Gospel Music Association week, soaking in inspiration, connecting with writers and producers, and exploring how their gifts could serve a larger purpose.

In one pivotal panel discussion, a speaker mentioned that musicians with a gospel mission could benefit from forming a nonprofit—so supporters could give in a way that was both mission-based and tax-deductible. “It was a lightbulb moment,” Simone said. “What would that look like for a chef, a musician, and a shared heart for the community?”

With that, the idea of Table Grace Café was born: a pay-what-youcan restaurant offering nourishing food and live music, rooted in radical hospitality and community transformation. The name “Table Grace” was inspired by Grace Hansen, a generous benefactor who believed in their mission and provided seed funding. “She took a chance on us,” Simone said. “She really believed in what we were doing.”

After learning about a similar model in Denver run by Brad and Libby Birky, the Webers sat down to ask how they can make the model work in Omaha. Simone worked full-time, they had two young children— but the mission couldn’t wait. In 2011, the Webers launched Table Grace Café in partnership with the Omaha Housing Authority. The ethos was simple. Everyone is treated with dignity. You can pay for your meal, or you can donate your time in service of Table Grace. In either case, the currency is respected and appreciated.

“There was so much humanity. I started thinking: what if we told these stories?

What if it became a musical?”

—Simone Weber

COUNSELING CONNECTIONS & ASSOCIATES

Dr. Kristi Tackett-Newburg

Founder/Owner

Salina Anderson, APRN

Geraldine Alexis, LIMHP, PLADC

Julie Bierman, LCSW, LMHP

Chantel Bruha, LIMHP, LADC

Korrie Conners, LMHP, CSAT

Kirby Davis, LMHP

Peggy Deaver, LIMHP, CPC

Davin Dickerson, APRN

Beth Farrell, LCSW, LIMHP

Dumayi Gutierrez, PhD, LMHP

Lucy Hancock, MA

Charlene Hills, LCSW, LIMHP

KG Langdon, APRN

Mary Loftis, LMHP, CPC

Kim Mueller, LIMHP, CPC

Nicole Obrecht, LIMHP

Kara Schneider, BA

Marty Stoltenberg, APRN-BC

Kristi Tackett-Newburg, PhD, LIMHP

Greg Tvrdik, LIMHP, CPC

Sarah Wenzl, LMHP, CPC

Michele Yanney-Wehbi, LIMHP, CPC

* Counseling * Psychotherapy * Medication Management * EMDR Therapy * Online Therapy * Performance / Leadership / Emotional Wellness Coaching

“Experiencing the people that were coming in and how transformative this was in their lives—that respect changed people,” Simone said.

The café also created a jobs program, offering skills training and references for those seeking employment. Over time, many patrons became friends, building the community that Simone and Matt had set out to create for so long.

From Café to Stage

As Simone witnessed transformation after transformation at the café, she began keeping a notebook. “There was so much humanity,” she said. “I started thinking: what if we told these stories? What if it became a musical?”

She penned original songs, including the title track, “Table Grace,” recorded in Nashville and featured on local Christian radio. “The finale song asks, ‘What voices are in my head telling me what I can’t be— and how can Table Grace help dismantle those?’” Simone said. “The answer: by believing in people and walking with them.”

But the project felt massive. “I buried the notebook,” she admitted. “Every now and then, I’d dust it off, but it was overwhelming.”

In 2017, during a fundraiser, the first scene of “Table Grace: The Musical” premiered. With help from longtime friend and co-writer Jay Gish—an actor and playwright from Chicago—the story took shape. They workshopped scenes and music with local poets and performers, culminating in a 2019 staged reading featuring Omaha artist D. Kevin Williams, who would go on to join the Table Grace board and play the character George.

Then came the pandemic. Momentum stalled. Theaters closed. Scheduling conflicts mounted. Several directors came and went. “At one point, we had three venues booked— Creighton Lied, Benson Theatre, and The Loft in Manley,” Simone said. “And then the bottom dropped out. It was devastating.”

Through heartbreak and uncertainty, Simone leaned on faith. “I prayed: open the doors that need to be opened,” she said. In late 2023, a friend mentioned Dr. Laureen Pickle. Simone pitched the project—and finally heard the words she’d been waiting for. “She looked at me and said, ‘Yeah, I think we can do this.’ It was like a dam breaking,” Simone said.

By January 2024, the production team was assembling: Julie Stanfield of Fusion Dance Studio came on as choreographer, Todd Urmacher joined for costume design, and promotion kicked into high gear.

“From a joke about my songs sounding like musical numbers, to a café that feeds the body and soul, to this big, beautiful show—it’s surreal,” Simone reflected. “But it’s also exactly what Table Grace is about: turning dreams into dignity, and strangers into family.”

One of those strangers turned to family was Mary Ziska. Mary was living by the river with her dog and struggling with addiction. She found joy in volunteering at the café and became a regular. After a run-in with the law, Mary served her community service with Table Grace through the Stephen Center. She turned it all around and became a source of inspiration to others. The character of Pearl in “Table Grace: The Musical” was loosely based on Mary’s life, and she auditioned to be in the cast. Unbeknownst to the team, it had been Mary’s lifelong dream to be in a musical. Despite serious health issues, she performed in every show, with her once-estranged family in the audience. Mary passed away the following November, but not before helping to tell her story and living her dream.

The Webers have hopes to continue their musical with more productions, more theaters, and eventually a documentary on their story, with the help of Aaron Zavitz. The soul of Table Grace is one of food, music, community, and the proof that when you choose dignity in the face of struggle, you rewrite what’s possible.

Table Grace Café is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. To learn more, donate, or book music, the Mobile Grace food truck, or catering, visit tablegracecafe.com. More information about the future of the musical is available at tablegracethemusical.com.

We offer scleral and Ortho K lenses which are specialty contact lenses, that can relieve any discomfort or vision issues you are experiencing with soft contact lenses.

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Barnato

Plate

DINING REVIEW

The Unique Burger Spot You Didn’t Know Was in Omaha

What if I told you that there is a high-level cocktail bar/speakeasy/live music venue/top-three burger I have ever had, and the kicker is that it's in Omaha? It takes a sentence that long to answer the question: what is Barnato?

Located in Village Pointe Shopping Center next to the Bentley dealership, Barnato is both a throwback and a futuristic gastropub. The fi rst thing you need to do before making the trip to West Omaha is check out their website. The full menu is only served Thursday through Sunday, starting at 4 p.m. There are a number of private parties and live events scheduled, so after checking the menu, it's also a good idea to c all ahead.

Barnato is made up of essentially three spaces, including the Craft Bar—which should be called "complete with everything.” From well to premium to the ultimate top-shelf, the cocktails are the front door to the establishment. Lead bartender Nate Blake cultivates, and constantly modifies, the drink menu. My wife tried a different cocktail on each of our visits. In fact, it was the fi rst time the bartender had made the Serrano Pineapple Margarita for a guest, as it was new to the drink menu. My wife described it as the right amount of sweet, right amount of spice, and right amount of strong.

The other cocktail, the Flip the Bird, is made with vodka, Aperol, orange, basil, and lemon. The fl avors were layered perfectly, oddly subtle and bold at the same time. She very much enjoyed it, but unfortunately, it is not on the updated drink menu.

The speakeasy is where we dined on our fi rst visit. To enter, you travel through part of the kitchen, into a walk-in cooler, and through a door with an electronic lock. Th e room opens up into a throwback lounge with low lighting, South American decor, small tables, and a true “John Wick” feel. We dined on a Wednesday, so only appetizers were available.

The charcuterie tower, designed to provide food for about three or four, is three levels high as to not take up all the space on the smaller table tops.

The top level features several containers, including pickled onions, cucumbers, candied and spiced nuts with a mustard-based dip, and an orange marmalade. The second level has specialty cured meats, including thinly sliced salami, ham, and mortadella. The three types of cheeses include a port wine, blue cheese-type cheddar, and provolone. The bottom level is made up of several types of crackers. We also had breaded cauliflower, but it is no longer on the menu.

Chef Nick Joubert cut his teeth at Block 16 and was the lead chef at the Hail Varsity Sports Bar. He said his goal with the new menu is to get back to the basics, breathing new life into wellmade and good-looking bar food that is made from scratch. At fi rst glance, the menu appeared limited, but every item exceeded our expectations with fl avor and innovation.

Barnato Burger

charcuteri

We ate at the bar the second night, part of a third area called the lounge, where many of the concerts and private partie s are held.

The onion dip is a new addition to the starters, served with house kettle chips seasoned with sea salt and rosemary. The dip is made up of caramelized sweet onion, cream cheese, and garlic topped with dill. The chilled dip with the warm chips was a pleasa nt surprise.

It was diffi cult to pick a favorite of the two entrees we ordered. The 808 plate featured overnight marinated Korean-style short ribs, served plate lunch-style, with sticky rice, mac salad, and pick led veggies.

Chef Nick said the dish comes from his time in Hawaii, where he enjoyed kalbi lunch plates on a daily basis. The pickled veggies are from a Th ai recipe he fell in love with, featuring pickled cucumber, onion, and spices.

The signature dish is the Barnato burger. It features wagyu beef, Nick's big kahuna sauce, pickle, and onion on a local Bread Monkey bun. The large bun comes from chef Gabriel Bowser, who served it at Barnato when Nick arrived.

We added blue cheese, bacon, and jalapeño to the sandwich, and agreed that it's a top-three burger we have ever had. Chef Nick said he has nothing against the new smash burger craze, but wanted to return to the thick burgers he had growing up.

Another example of elevating the standard bar menu is the Philly. It's made by hand-shaving New York strip and grilling it with fresh onions, adding a little something special to classic bar fare.

Several of the cocktails on the new drink menu are designed to pair well with the food items.

It's hard to put just one label on Barnato, but the sum of all of its parts makes for a truly unique experience. We look forward to putting this special place into our regular rotation, and think you w ill, too.

For more information, visit barnato.bar.

AMERICAN

CHARLESTON’S - $$$

144th and Dodge streets - 402.651.0689

76th and Dodge streets - 402.991.0055

Charleston’s is a casual, upbeat restaurant with a menu filled with dishes prepared from scratch daily. We focus on providing our guests with excellent prices and selecting the highest quality ingredients. Whether you are new to Charleston’s or a long-standing guest, we look forward to seei ng you soon!

charlestons.c om/locations

D J’S DUGOUT SP ORTS BAR - $

Seven Metro Are a Locations:

Bellevue - 10308 S. 23rd St. - 402.292.9096

Miracle Hills - 777 N. 114th St. - 402.498.8855

Downtown - 1003 Capitol Ave. - 402.763.9974

Aksarben - 2102 S. 67th St. - 402.933.3533

Millard - 17666 Welch Plaza - 402.933.8844

Elkhorn - 19020 Evans St. - 402.315.1985

Plattsmouth - 2405 Oak Hill Rd. - 402.298.4166

Voted Omaha’s #1 Sports Bar, DJ’s Dugout is locally and Vietnam Veteran owned. DJ’s Dugout features delicious burgers, wings, wraps, salads, sandwiches and an impressive drink menu. Plus, DJ’s has huge media walls full of HD TVs and projector screens. Catch all the action at DJ’s seven Omaha-area locations. Dig In... At The Dugout! —djsdugout.com

JAMS MODERN AMERICAN- $$

7814 Dodge St. - 402.399.8300

1101 Harney St. in the OldMarket - 402.614.9333

An Omaha staple, our restaurant blends modern American cuisine, craft cocktails, and local beers with elevated service and creates seamless dining, event, and catering experiences. Celebrate life’s moments while embracing the traditions that make us special—where unforgettable meals and memories come together. —jamseats.com

LE PEEP - $

69th & Pacific - 402.933.2776

177th and Center St. - 402.934.9914

156th St. & W. Dodge Rd. - 402.408.1728

120th and 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 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. —lepeepomaha.co m - Sponsored Content -

DINING GUIDE Omaha

LISA’S RADIAL CAFE - $ 817 N. 40th St. - 402-551-2176

American. Cafe. Diner. Vegetarian-friendly. Gluten-free options. This old-school diner serves hearty portions of American comfort classics for breakfast and lunch. Family-owned and operated. This business is a must if you’re in the area. People rave about our chicken-fried steak, stuffed French toast, coffee, and friendly staff. Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m.-2 p.m

PACIFIC EATING HOUSE - $$ 1130 Sterling Ridge Dr. - 531.999.3777

We have developed our menu inspired by all that touches the Pacific Ocean. Starting with fresh fish flown from Honolulu, locally sourced steaks and natural chicken with an Asian flare and pairing our dishes with tiki libations and Pacific coast wines. —pacificeatinghouse.com

PINE & BLACK BISTRO - $$ 248 Olson Dr., Papillion - 531.999.3777

We opened in March of 2023 to bring a family owned bistro to the community, serving local steaks and fresh seafood. We offer a wide variety of Pacific Northwest wines, local beers, and craft cocktails. Pinot Noir translates to Pine & Black, our name originates from our love of wine. —pineandblackbistro.com

SAND POINT - $$$

655 North 114th Street, Omaha - 531-466-1008

ROTELLA

Rise of a National Bakery Leader 1975

After graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1972, Louis Rotella Jr. continued to worked side by side with his father, and in 1975 he became a full partner in the bakery. “We got along so well, my dad and myself. We were true partners,” Louis Jr. said. “By having the same goals and the same ideas – and a willingness to help each other – we were able to do a lot. And it’s not because of me, it’s because of us, whatever was best for the bakery, that’s what we would do.”

Sand Point ‘New England Fare’ brings their favorite and unique dishes from New England to the Omaha food community. Freshest seafood, from seared crab cakes, lobster arancini, whole belly clams, New England clam chowder, lobster bisque to charcuterie boards and Angus beef tips and steak burgers, to be topped off with Boston cream pie, blueberry pie or Lemon canna cotta. Full bar to include, specialty cocktails, extensive wine lists, as well as beer and non-alcoholic drinks. –sandpointomaha.com

SMITTY'S GARAGE - $

7610 Dodge St. - 402-614-4949

Tasty burgers, ice-cold beer, fresh-cut fries, scrumptious tacos, mouthwatering appetizers and more. What else could you want? Besides the delicious food, each location also offers a full bar with an extensive craft beer list and a one-of-a-kind environment with arcade games and plenty of TV’s. Download our new rewards app, Smitty’s Garage, in the app store to start earnin g free grub! eatatt hegarage.com

STELLA’S - $ 106 S. Galvin Road, Bellevue -

Since 1936, we’ve been making our world-famous Stella’s 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 tried Stella’s. And if it’s your first time, we know you’ll be back! Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., closed Sunday. —stellasbarandgrill.com

T ED AND WALLY’S - $

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. Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.- Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday. Noon-10 p.m. —tedandwallys.com

rotellasbakery.com

Louis Rotella Jr.

VARSITY SPORTS CAFE - $$

Ralston - 9735 Q St. - 402.339.1944

Bellevue - 3504 Samson Way - 402.932.1944

Millard - 14529 F St. - 402.505.6660

Ralston, Bellevue and Millard. We are truly grateful to have been welcomed into each of these communities and welcome you in for good food, a cold drink and a comfy seat to enjoy the sport of your choosing! Determined to bring only the freshest ingredients, homemade dough and our specialty sauces to the table, we have worked hard to perfect our craft for you. Our goal is to bring the best food service to the area and show the best sports events that you want to see. Pick up and Delivery availalble. Please check website for hours of operation. —varsityromancoinpizza.com

ITALIAN

LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$

45th and Leavenworth St. - 402.556.6464

La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha its legendary Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta for 60 years. We offer dine-in, carry-out, party facilities, catering, and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states. Open Tuesday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. —lacasapizzaria.ne

PASTA AMORE - $$

11027 Prairie Brook Rd. - 402.391.2585

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 osso buco. 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. Monday-Thursday 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 10 p.m. Reservations recommended. pa staamore.com

PITCH - $$

5021 Underwood Ave. - 402.590.2625 West: 17808 Burke Street. - 402.289.4096

An OpenTable’s Diners’ Choice for 2014 HotSpot Restaurant 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, hand-cut steak, housemade pastas, and burgers 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 libations. Our wine selection is wellthought-out and most impressive. You will enjoy Pitch. Monday & Tuesday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. pitch pizzeria.com

S PEZIA - $$$

3125 S. 72nd St. - 402.391.2950

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 Monday-Sunday. Cocktail hour 4-6 p.m., when all cocktails, glasses of wine, and beers are half price. Evening reservations recommended. —speziarestaurant.com

SPECIAL DINING

CRESCENT MOON A LE HOUSE - $

3578 Farnam St. - 402.345.1708

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: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen hours: Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight. Cl osed Sunday. —beercornerusa.com

GREEK ISLANDS - $

3821 Center St. - 402.346.1528

Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. We are wellknown for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests. Carry-out and delivery available. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. —greekislandsomaha.com

SAGE STUDENT BISTRO INSTITUTE FOR THE CULINARY ARTS - $ 5730 N. 30th St.

Fort Omaha Campus, Building 22

At the Metropolitan Community College Sage Student Bistro, culinary and hospitality students learn hustle, fundamentals, community service and stewardship — all from scratch. Explore dishes from around the world during lunch, or celebrate the contributions of American culinary sages at dinner. For reservations, visit: —mccneb.edu/Bistro

STEAKHOUSES

CASCIO’S - $$

1620 S. 10th St. - 402-345-8313

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

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$= $1-10 • $$= $10-20 • $$$= $ 20-30 • $$$$=

The art of Fine Dining

THE DROVE R RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$

2121 S. 73rd St. - 402-391-7440

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: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.,

DINNER: Monday-Friday 5 p.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 4:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., Sunday 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m.,

LOUNGE: Monday-Friday Cocktails only 2 p.m.-5 p.m. —droverrestaurant.com

TWISTED CORK BISTRO - $$ 10370 Pacific St. - 531.999.3777

We arrived in Nebraska from Washington intent on purchasing from farmers, ranchers & fishmongers who share our commitment for wholesome, sustainable fare. Our recipes use the Earth’s bounty the way it is intended ~ Wild and Natural ~ We compliment our dishes, pairing them with exquisite Pacific Northwest wines.

–twistedcorkbistro.com

MAHOGANY PRIME STEAKHOUSE - $$$$ 225 N. 145th St. - 402.445.4380

In a town known for its great steaks, Mahogany stands above the rest. Conveniently located in the new Heartwood Preserve Center at 145th and Dodge, our Omaha location provides an intimate and classic fine dining atmosphere. Voted Best in Omaha.

DINNER: Monday - Saturday | 5pm - 10pm & Sunday | 5pm - 9pm. –mahoganyprimesteakhouse.com

RUHLMAN'S STEAKHOUSE - $$$ 603 US-6, Ashland, NE 68003

Ruhlman's Steakhouse, established in 2024 and located at 603 US-6, Ashland, NE, offers a refined menu of aged steaks, house-made pastas, and elegant entrées. Featuring locally inspired dishes and premium cuts, the steakhouse emphasizes fresh ingredients and expert preparation. Call (402) 780-8887 to reserve an unforgettable dining experience for parties over seven. Online reservations accepted for parties of two-six.

Monday & Tuesday: CLOSED | Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 11AM-2PM, 4PM-10PM Sunday. Last seating at 6:45PM -ruhlmansteakhouse.com

Adventure

Story by Linda Persigehl

Photography by

Sarah Lemke

Design by Joey Winton

"Groundwater Magic"

is the title of a new installation by Omaha-based artist Susan Knight. Th e large-scale work, composed of paper, plastic, Mylar, and Tyvek, that has been hand-cut, stretched, sculpted, and painted with acrylic ink, exemplifi es Knight’s body of work, which pulls inspiration from structures and cycles found in nature, particularly those involving water.

“As I think about forces and systems in water and the land around it, I am inspired by what is unseen, like groundwater,” Knight said. “I went into the fi eld with a hydrogeologist to observe her testing water…and learned that the more porous the soil, the more groundwater it holds.”

Th e concept of porosity, so artfully demonstrated, represents the literal and fi gurative opening to new possibilities. But if viewers imagine the work’s organic, colorful shapes to represent something else, that’s okay, too.

“Jellyfi sh are what many people imagine the work to be,” Knight said. “I especially like [that], since there may have been jellyfi sh swimming in the area 500 million years ago.”

Th is awe-inspiring installation is displayed not in a large gallery in Chicago, nor in an art venue in Omaha. Rather, it’s hung above the grand staircase of the newly renovated Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, acting as a portal of sorts, drawing visitors’ eyes and feet upstairs to more galleries to explore.

Adventurous art enthusiasts interested in exploring our state’s unique art history and works by contemporary Nebraska artists might fi nd a three-hour road trip to the MONA in order, as many more thought-provoking art pieces await.

For nearly 40 years, the Museum of Nebraska Art has been the only museum in the state dedicated solely to celebrating art about Nebraska and by Nebraskans, both with its permanent collection and temporary exhibits by contempora ry artists.

On May 3, the MONA reopened to the public following a $38.5 million renovation of its historic building (a 1911-built U.S. Post Offi ce) and a 23,000-square-foot expansion designed by BVH Architecture of Omaha. Th e museum today features modern gallery spaces, an interactive gallery, a community studio, fl exible event spaces, and an expanded outdoor sculpture garden. Th ere’s also a new reception space, a retail shop, and main-fl oor restrooms for better ac cessibility.

“Th e scale of what we’re able to do in our new space has changed tremendously,” said museum curator Karissa Johnson. “Th e renovation really transitions the facility to a purpose-built museum. It’s also essentially doubled our storage space. We have room to grow the collection to over 10,0 00 objects.”

Sculptor and furniture artisan Todd McCollister of Omaha recently contributed a work to the museum as well—one that every guest will encounter: the welcome desk i n the lobby.

“Th e desk is incredible, blending functional furniture and an art piece perfectly,” Johnson said. “It was the only commissioned piece for t he project.”

McCollister said he chose the desk’s materials and its design for very specifi c reasons. “Th e wood is ash, a common North American hardwood chosen for its pronounced grain texture. Th e color, the darkest purple I could muster, was chosen for two reasons: fi rst, it’s roughly complementary to the yellow-tan of dry prairie grasses, which dominate the land from October through March; second, I wanted to respond against the wide-open, light space of the entry and the loads of windows and high ceilings…I wanted the desk to be a massive, dark point of gravity to draw you i n,” he said.

Regarding its form, McCollister spoke a bit more romantically. “Th e landscape of central Nebraska rises and breaks gently, like a rolling sea. Th is desk rises and breaks like the rolling land, like a shadow of the prairie grasses and the plains. It’s a vessel on the sea of grass. It’s a Conestoga wagon. It’s a greeting for this place and a marker for myself, that this state is my hom e,” he said.

Th e three-and-a-half-year museum closure allowed Johnson and her staff time to rethink how to present its permanent collection with a greater emphasis on introspection. “It had been organized in chronological order, beginning with the artist-explorers, then early Nebraskans, modern artists, and art of today. Now, it’s been retitled ‘In Search of Ourselves’ and explores works thematically,” she said. “Th is framework allows us to rotate farther into the collection, show diff erent things, and highlight new stories that connect us and help answer questions like, ‘What is Nebraska art? What are we doing here? Why should pe ople care?’”

Visual and performance artist Sarah Rowe of Omaha is helping guide MONA and Johnson in their work sharing Indigenous art by serving on a three-member Native American advisory council. Rowe’s Lakota and Ponca ancestry and her Native artist perspective give her unique insight into how to best display work, and how pieces connect to each other.

Artists shouldn’t have to leave Nebraska to find success and recognition.

“Quite often, [Native] voices are omitted,” Rowe said. “And a lot of times, museums have these generic wall labels, especially around unknown Indigenous artists. But these objects are alive in Indigenous culture. We need to speak to them in a more respectful way, in a living manner, not from a stagnant or dead manner of the past.”

“Th e way we interpret and collect Indigenous art goes well beyond my personal point of reference and expertise as a white woman,” Johnson added. “For instance, I have zero reference to the Native peoples who call this territory home…what Manifest Destiny meant to those people. Assembling this council was an incredibly important thing. Th ey’re a sounding board for us. Th rough their knowledge and experience, they can point out red fl ags, point us in directions, and connect us with other resources.”

For Johnson, who grew up on an alpaca farm outside of Lincoln and once wondered if she could build a career in museum arts in Nebraska, curating MONA is a dream come true. She joined the museum right out of graduate school and a few months before its clos ure in 2021.

“Artists shouldn’t have to leave Nebraska to fi nd success and recognition,” she said. “MONA is a place that celebrates Nebraska art and there’s beauty in this. Every state should have a museum like this—one that’s for them, by them.”

For more information, visit m ona.unk.edu.

MONA is a place that celebrates Nebraska art and there’s beauty in this. Every state should have a museum like this—one that’s for them, by them.

— Kar issa Johnson

It

A real one, not whatever that contraption is.

The Golden Spike Tower offers the world’s best view of the world’s largest railyard. The observation deck gives you a panoramic view of Bailey Yard, but it’s the exhibits and the volunteers that make this a can’t-miss destination for anyone with a love for trains.

That’s why the Golden Spike Tower gets Buffalo Bill’s Buffalo of Approval.

come and

explore.

LET’S PLAN A ROAD TRIP!

COMPILED BY Jacie Leibfried

DAYTRIPS IN NEBRASKA, IOWA, KANSAS, MISSOURI, AND SOUTH DAKOTA

NEBRASKA

UNCLE SAM JAM July 3 at Oak Lake Park, Lincoln. Celebrating America’s Independence Day in the Heartland of America is something special. Join thousands of other Lincoln residents and more to celebrate this momentous day in America’s history. With a fantastic display of fireworks alongside live music, don’t miss out on the opportunity to party for the USA’s 249th year. 402.441.7511 lincoln.ne.gov

BILLY MCGUIGAN: '60S DANCE PARTY July 17 at Merryman Performing Arts Center, Kearney. Billy and his band are ready to give a rock performance for the books. In a tumultuous time for the country, music was used as a way to protest, escape, and unify people. McGuigan is bringing that classic ’ 60s rock to life, along with British Invasion and Motown sounds. 308.698.8297 merrymancenter.org

KILLER QUEEN July 22 at Rococo Theater, Lincoln. The Queen tribute band from the UK has made their way back stateside. Performing in venues like Red Rocks in Colorado, the band has earned their prestige as a truly fantastic Queen tribute group. Join fans of one of the most iconic groups in music history to get a glimpse of what they had been like live. 402.476.6540 rococotheater.com

HALL COUNTY FAIR July 23-27 at Fonner Park, Grand Island. What better way to experience Nebraska than to travel to another county fair? Hall County fair is offering displays of 4-H projects, livestock shows, and a kids’ pedal pull. Live concerts will be held on the 25th and 26th, and trailer race admission is a donation of one canned good per person. 308.398.2404 hallcountyfair.com

RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE Aug. 2 at Pinewood Bowl Theater, Lincoln. The indie rock band released their first record in six years, “Love Hate Music Box,” in 2024. This year, their single “Espionage” is keeping the band fresh. Rainbow Kitten Surprise uses whimsical design and imagery of childhood objects to invoke nostalgia within their music, so reminisce with them as they perform. 402.904.4444 pinnaclebankarena.com

PIPPIN Aug. 8-17 at Lincoln Community Playhouse, Lincoln. The story of a young prince and his father’s adventures and missteps are recounted by a theater troupe is this mysterious and comedic tale. Originally directed by Bob Fosse, this musical explores how to find the meaning of life as a young person battling personal struggles and outside influences. 402.489.7529 lincolnplayhouse.com

FROZEN: THE BROADWAY MUSICAL Aug. 15-24 at Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln. The Disney tale of two sisters who fight against all odds to find each other again is coming to Lincoln. The movie’s release in 2015 has made “Let It Go” a winter classic and cemented itself as beloved by young viewers. Experience the music and inspiring story for all ages. 402.472.4747 liedcenter.org

NEBRASKA STATE FAIR Aug. 22 - Sept. 1 at Fonner Park, Grand Island. If you missed out on the county fairs all summer, but still want the classic corn dog and events you’ve been missing since last year, this is the perfect adventure. Nebraska’s State Fair offers classic fair experiences like live music and agricultural exhibits, with some twists like the State Fair Marathon, which is new this year. 308.382.1620 statefair.org

THE JOURNEY: DOCUMENTS ITEMS/UNDOCUMENTED SOULS Through Aug. 23 at Great Plains Art Museum, Lincoln. There is no better way to understand the path of immigration than through pictures. John Moore has approached this by taking images of the items left behind in the process of immigrating, focusing on the journey from Latin American areas to the United States. Tactile Images is presenting 3D displays and audio recordings for increased accessibility. 402.472.0602 plains.unl.edu/great-plains-art-museum/

IOWA

JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT July 11 at the Orpheum, Sioux City. Performing together since 2009, Jason Isbell and the 400 continue to burst on to the folk and Americana music scenes. His latest album, “Foxes In The Snow,” released earlier this year. The Alabama native has accrued four Grammy Awards in his time and continues to bring the sounds that got him there. 712.279.4850 orpheumlive.com

KINGS OF THE WEST July 11 at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. Artists Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, E-40, Too $hort, Mack 10, DJ Quik, Tha Dogg Pound, Suga Free, and CuhDeeJah are coming to town. These eight performers, presented by Bobby Dee and Wynn Records, are bringing the hip-hop and rap sounds of the West Coast to the Midwest with their West Coast Legacy Live! tour. 515.563.8000 iowaeventscenter.com

GREAT JONES COUNTY FAIR July 16-20 at Great Jones County Fairgrounds, Monticello. Nelly, Hardy, Sam Hunt, and the artists of the Roots & Boots tour are each headlining one night of this county fair experience. Join other fairgoers in congratulating the yearly royalty or in glass blowing demonstrations. With events like horse shows, photo contests, and even a mullet contest, this fair is not one to miss out on. 319.465.3275 greatjonescountyfair.com

THE SPONGEBOB MUSICAL July 25 - Aug. 3 at Stoner Theater, Des Moines. The little yellow sponge that spends his days flipping burgers at the Krusty Krab has a much bigger problem at stake: Bikini Bottom is in danger. With tons of original songs to help them on the way, the Bikini Bottom crew must get to the bottom of the issue and save their home. 515.246.2300 desmoinesperformingarts.org

PARADE July 29 - Aug. 3 at Des Moines Civic Center, Des Moines. Antisemitism had a fast hold in Georgia in the 1910s, and the young couple at the center of this story is not spared. The husband of this Jewish couple was accused of a particularly despicable crime. This musical explores antisemitism, community, marriage, and violence. It is based on a true story. 515.246.2300 desmoinesperformingarts.org

HINTERLAND Aug. 1-3, St. Charles. The music festival that took over the Midwest last year is yet again hosting some of the biggest names in music right now. Tyler, the Creator, Kacey Musgraves, Lana Del Rey, and so many more amazing musicians will be performing. Camp out and see your favorite artists right before your eyes. hinterlandiowa.com

INDIGO GIRLS AND MELISSA ETHERIDGE Aug. 20 at Des Moines Civic Center, Des Moines. The “Yes We Are Tour” is blazing its way through the country. The Indigo Girls duo’s “Look Long,” released in 2020, is an homage to their history and future. Melissa Etheridge adds a rock sound to the Indigo Girls’ alternative melodies. Their tour is raising money for their respective charities. Good music and a good cause! 515.246.2300 desmoinesperformingarts.org

KANSAS

CRAZY FOR YOU July 9-13 at Century II Performing Arts Center, Wichita. Follow the tumult and adventures of Bobby Child as he goes from a “That’s show biz, baby” to a “This is what the theater is all about” type of guy. They say love makes people to crazy things, and this may be some of the craziest of it all. Fall head over heels for the cast of this family-oriented show. 316.303.8000 century2.com

MUMFORD & SONS July 24 at Azura Amphitheater , Bonner Springs . With new album “Rushmere” out, the band is taking the stage once again. The band said they’d been “secretly dreaming” of this album in an Instagram post, so dream with them! The “I Will Wait” group is ready to blow the audience away with their authentic folk rock sound. 913.825.3400 azuraamp.com

OLD DOMINION July 25 at Azura Amphitheater, Bonner Springs. The How Good Is That World Tour is coming just a short drive away. With their new single “Making Good Time” hot on the tail of their 2024 album, “Oldies But Goodies,” the country band is making their way across the US and celebrating their “Vocal Group of the Year” award from the 2024 Country Music Awards. 913.825.3400 azuraamp.com

CYNDI LAUPER: GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN FAREWELL TOUR Aug. 9 at Azura Amphitheater, Bonner Springs. The iconic punk-pop sensation first released the “She’s So Unusual” album in 1983. With hits like “Time After Time,” “She Bop,” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” Lauper began her last tour in 2024. Show your true colors if you’re a fan, new or old, for her final performances. 913.825.3400 azuraamp.com

ZOO BREW CRAFT FEST Aug. 23 at Rolling Hills Zoo, Salina. Join adults 21 and over to experience the zoo like never before. With one ticket, access an unlimited amount of the craft brews that are waiting to be sampled across the park. Plenty of food will also be available, and the vibes will stay high with the live entertainment all evening. 785.827.9488 rollinghillszoo.org

BEATLES VS. STONES Aug. 29 at Mary Jane Teall Theater, Wichita. Tribute bands Abbey Road and Satisfaction face off in a Battle of the Bands like no other. They will be performing accurate, and by default, fantastic, renditions of The Beatles’ and The Rolling Stones’ hits and hidden gems. Come experience some of the most iconic melodies and harmonies in music history. 316.303.8000 century2.com

KANSAS: BATTLEGROUND OF FREEDOM through Oct. 4 at Smoky Hill Museum, Salina. Discover the origin of the nickname “Bleeding Kansas” with this exhibit. It highlights the ways the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 set the stage for the boiling-over of contention between free states and slave-holding states into the Civil War. Learn about the population rush and the violence that came from the decision process of Kansas’s status as a free or slave state. 785.309.5776 smokyhillmuseum.org

MISSOURI

PICKIN’ ON PICKNIC July 10-13 at Lost Hill Lake, St. Clair. Connect with the roots of a classic American genre with this bluegrass festival. Give in to the free-flow lifestyle of other Picknic attendees. With activities for the whole family, live music, art vendors, and even space for the family dog to roam free, celebrate 10 years of this one-of-a-kind festival. 314.270.2233 pickinfestival.com

WIZ KHALIFA & SEAN PAUL July 21 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Maryland Heights. The “Good Vibes Only Tour” is combining rap, reggae, and electronic sounds to bring an electric performance by Wiz Khalifa and Sean Paul. Guest starring DaBaby, only 15 cities are on the list for this special tour. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be part of the “good vibes”! 314.298.9944 hollywoodcasinoampstlouis.com

THE LUMINEERS July 26 at T-Mobile Center , Kansas City. With special guest Hippo Campus, The Lumineers are bringing their alternative folk sound across the world and into Missouri with The Automatic World Tour. The “Ho Hey” and “Ophelia” group released the “Automatic” album in February and will be touring for the first time since 2023. Don’t miss your chance to belt your heart out! 816.949.7100 t-mobilecenter.com

DISNEY DESCENDANTS/ZOMBIES: WORLDS COLLIDE

TOUR Aug. 1 at T-Mobile Center, Kansas City. The newest generation of Disney films features hits like Descendants and Zombies, and the songs have become iconic for fans of all ages. Popping and locking in sync on stage, these family-friendly movie musicals going on tour are bringing the opportunity to connect and have fun for all Disney fans. 816.949.7100 t-mobilecenter.com

TOTO, MEN AT WORK, AND CHRISTOPHER CROSS Aug. 5 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater , Maryland Heights . From the creatives that brought audiences “Africa,” “Down Under,” and “Sailing,” experience the combination of these powerhouses for yourself. Old and new fans alike will be able to enjoy the classic pop and rock combinations of music being brought to the stage by these performers and friends. 314.298.9944 hollywoodcasinoampstlouis.com

AN EVENING WITH JOHN CUSACK Aug. 16 at Stifel Theatre, St. Louis. Join the actor during a private screening of “High Fidelity,” one of the movies he is most well-known for, released in 2000. In addition to the movie, Cusack will be answering questions about his acting career and the creation process of “High Fidelity.” VIP tickets are limited, so snatch them up now. 314.298.9944 hollywoodcasinoampstlouis.com

STYX & KEVIN CRONIN August 22 at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, Maryland Heights. It can’t get more classic rock than this. Along with Don Felder, Styx and Kevin Cronin are bringing “The Brotherhood of Rock Tour” right to St. Louis. With vocals and instrumentals true to the sounds of the ‘80s, give in to the nostalgia and experience the talent of these seasoned rockers right in front of you. 314.298.9944 hollywoodcasinoampstlouis.com

SOUTH DAKOTA

LALLYCOOLER MUSIC FESTIVA l July 11-12 at Great Bear Ski Valley, Sioux Falls. Headliners Pitbull and Sam Hunt will be accompanied by artists like TLC, Redferrin, Uncle Kracker, and more. Food trucks, drinks, and good music are in store all weekend. A unique touch is their collaborative art piece where festival-goers can recycle drink cans into pieces to be proud of instead of overflowing recycling or cleanup services. 605.367.6000 lallycooler.com

BROOKINGS SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL July 12-13 in Pioneer Park, Brookings. This juried art festival is featuring the work of over 175 artists. From woodworking to painting and so much more, the value of handmade goods is more important than ever. Over 30 food options are sure to satisfy the appetites of any age, and live music will float between the booths for the perfect musical touch to a day filled with craftsmanship. 605.692.2708 cityofbrookings-sd.gov

DAYS OF 76 RODEO July 20-26 at Days of 76 Event Complex, Deadwood. Bragging a rodeo pageant, a parade, and all the rodeo events once can dream of, this festival is truly a week-long celebration of the rodeo and its history. Explore the museum filled with carriages and clothing belonging to Deadwood’s pioneers. Rope friends and family into the steer-roping events and much more! 605.578.1876 daysof76.com

HARDY: JIM BOB WORLD TOUR Aug. 15 at Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, Sioux Falls. This country rock blend is delivered with the grit it requires. With a new EP out titled “COUNTRY!”, these songs add the finishing touch to a tour fit for the country-rock genre. Join HARDY, along with the character of Jim Bob on their album cover, for a night to remember. 605.367.7288 dennysanfordpremiercenter.com

KOOL DEADWOOD NITES Aug. 19-24, Downtown Deadwood. Whether the word is retro, vintage, antique, or classic, the pizzazz of the '50s and '60s is coming to Deadwood. Classic cars from 1973 and older will be making their way down the historic streets, accompanied by classic live music and good food. Cruise your way into the past with this beautiful vehicles. 605.578.1876 deadwood.com

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE FAIR Aug. 27 - Sept. 1 at South Dakota State Fairgrounds, Huron. Join the fun of the best the state has to offer. From wine-making to tractor pulling, rodeo events to the Lego contest, this fair has the variety needed to keep the whole family happy and having fun. Don’t miss out on the fun-filled carnival or free music performances. 605.353.7340 sdstatefair.com

PLACE 20 STRAIGHT YEARS!

AN OLD MAN STANDS ON HIS STOOP SHAKING HIS FIST AT THE SKY

There seem to be more and more signs that our civilization is crumbling.

For instance, the guys are here rebuilding my deck. It’s not something my upbringing prepared me for. When I was a kid, we didn’t have decks, except on aircraft carriers, the Staten Island ferry, or, in the case of marked decks, at Tony Civella’s casino in the West Bottoms (shoutout to my old KC pals). Like I said, back in the day, we didn’t have decks, we had porches.

Decks are in the back of the house, private, overlooking the raised bed garden and the water “feature”—another modern innovation I am uncomfortable with (FYI: A “water feature” is best defined as a puddle with some kind of electrical connection). Porches used to be in the front of every house, facing the street where you could sit and keep an eye on what your neighbors were up to, like who bought a new DeSoto, which kids on the block were likely destined to end up as career criminals, which husband was always out way too late, who was locked out again, who needed to shut the bedroom blinds sooner, and who was bad at parallel parking.

It's not a good thing that now we all sit on our backyard decks and stare at the water “feature”—turned inward instead of sitting on the front porch with the real world right there in our face. Decks are one of the reasons we’ve lost that sense of community—that healthy source of local gossip. Now we obsess over the Kardashians—distant, super rich celebrities—instead of real-life couples who live down our own street who fight about issues we can identify with, like rent, child rearing, or restraining orders.

We’ve lost touch—sucked into some sort of “mass consciousness” like they predicted in “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”—and it’s all because of decks. And parallel parking.

It’s another sign of the apocalypse we ignore at our own peril. A couple years back, I started noticing car commercials where an attractive young couple in a Buick—in my driving experience, I have always found it wise to give Buicks a wide berth, but that’s another story—anyway, so this couple come to a stop on a busy street right at an empty parking space in front of a fancy bistro. She looks at him with an unspoken question in her eyes—tension builds. He calmly returns her glance with a supremely masculine, self-assured nod, touches a button on the steering wheel and voila—the SUV magically parallel parks itself. It’s the work of Satan.

Further confirmation that the end is near is that now, there are people promising “self-driving” cars and robotaxis. It’s an abomination! If our roadways are soon to be taken over by sentient automobiles, I for one, will set fire to my deck, go out onto my front porch, and do my best Charlton Heston impression, shaking my fist at the sky as I shout at anyone who has surrendered our human heritage to the machines—like that young man getting out of the Buick!

“You maniacs! You taught cars to parallel park! Goddamn you all to hell!”

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