M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 22
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
Summertime and lifelong memories go hand-in-hand. Watertown was made for both. With two lakes, award-winning local breweries, fine dining and infinite colors in each sunset, you’ll find great places around every corner. Plus, the majestic Redlin Art Center and historic, newly-restored Goss Opera House paint the picture for a diverse art scene.
Get back to what matters. Find your great place on the great plains at VisitWatertownSD.com. MARCH/APRIL 2022
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FROM THE EDITOR // LETTER BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN
CONNECTING HISTORY AND GENERATIONS S p r i n g I ss u e P o p s
L
ast summer I took a fantastic visual road trip. I did not get in the car and drive; rather, I followed a three-part show titled “Prehistoric Road Trip” on PBS. It featured YouTube personality Emily Graslie traveling through the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming in search of ancient fossils. The information was fascinating, but I became more intrigued when, in the final episode, Graslie spent part of her time in Agate Fossil Beds National Monument near Harrison, Nebraska. One of the experts she spoke to in that episode was University of Nebraska at Omaha professor Larry Bradley, Ph.D. Bradley has an interesting story beyond having appeared on a public television program, which is why he is the subject of our Adventure story this issue.
I love vintage magazines. Among my possessions are a copy of Rolling Stone from September 1995, two copies of Vogue from the late 1960s (one has a fashion spread, but not the cover, with Audrey Hepburn), and a copy of Look from the 1960s. The Look magazine is one of my favorites. It isn’t in perfect condition and doesn’t have a lot of big names in it, but the articles are intriguing. Apparently I am not the only person interested in this photography-focused lifestyle publication. Lincoln-based photographer and journalist Bill Ganzel is finding the people behind many of the stories produced in the magazine. People like Alan Stone, an announcer and DJ at many psychedelic shows in San Francisco who still has eclectic music tastes, but has given up his rock ’n’ roll lifestyle and is active in his Jewish faith. Ganzel, who lives in Lincoln, shared his tale of collecting these stories in one of our main features. John Tierre Miller was the driving force behind Johnny T.’s Bistro and Blues in Jackson, Mississippi, a place that has hosted celebrities such as Morgan Freeman and Steve Harvey. Miller, who spent his early childhood in North Omaha, has returned to the area and opened a Johnny T.’s here. His journey from Omaha kid to college tennis player to entrepreneur is in our dining section. One of my other favorite stories in this issue is our Nostalgia story in 60+ about playground equipment. Writer Kara Schweiss brought the idea to the table a couple of months ago, and the lively discussion that came out of that idea turned it into an article. I remember a tall merry-go-round painted in primary colors at the park in Linden, Iowa, where my father’s family had reunions during summers when I was a kid. The height of this spinning contraption fascinated me, and I looked forward to finishing the potluck meal so I could go outside and play on it. Many staff members also had memories of burning their legs on hot metal slides, jumping out of swings from high in the air, or becoming dizzy from merry-go-rounds. Happy spring to our readers. There’s a lot of great articles in this issue.
*Note: The hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover and does not include all of the editorial content included in the magazine’s full city edition. For more information on our city edition, visit OmahaMagazine.com.
MARCH/APRIL
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2022
TAB L E of CON T E N T S THE USUAL SUSPECTS 05
From the Editor Connecting History and Generations
08
Between the Lines
10
Calendar of Events
026 Adventure
Setting History Straight
046 History
Prospect Hill Cemetery
065 Obviously Omaha
Six Cheap Fitness Activities
082 Explore! 087 Instagram 088 Not Funny
Tips for Travelers
A R T S + C U LT U R E 016 Music
066
Billy Troy
018 Multimedia
Diana Martinez
020 Author
Anna Lind Thomas
022 Visual
Anthony Deon Brown
DINING 066 Feature
Committee Chophouse
070 Profile
John Tierre Miller
072 Review
Oscar’s Pizza & Sports Grille
076 Dining Guide
020
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
022
* Note: The hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover and does not include all of the editorial content included in the magazine’s full city edition. For more information on our city edition, visit OmahaMagazine.com.
read online at omahamagazine.com
OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM/PAGES/SUBSCRIBE
Between
THE LINES A LOOK AT TH R E E OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS
OMAHA’S
MAGAZINE
TIM McCORMACK—Independent Sales Contractor McCormack has been a high school history teacher, an elementary school principal, a successful business owner, a franchise developer, and a master marketer. He has dealt with every aspect of building and running successful businesses—including building 14 different businesses in four different states, writing franchise disclosure documents, trademarking business names and slogans, and writing employee handbooks and operations manuals. These are some of the reasons why McCormack is a great person for people to work with on Omaha Publications ads. He understands business, and said his favorite part about being at Omaha Publications is getting to talk to, and network with, other business owners and managers.
KARA SCHWEISS—Contributing Writer Schweiss began writing for Omaha Publications 24 years ago and is now its longest-serving freelance writer. She is a Nebraska native and a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s journalism program. Her writing, editing, and project management work for publishers, nonprofit organizations, and commercial entities has spanned many facets of the communications sector, including advertising, marketing, broadcasting, web-based, and social media. She prefers to work behind the scenes and enjoys the satisfaction of telling a good story or making complex information clear and comprehensible to readers more than seeing her name in bylines and credits. Schweiss said she’s proud of her professional body of work but maintains that her two teenage sons are her favorite creations.
MEGHAN TOWNLEY—Freelance Writer Townley has been contributing to Omaha Magazine since 2013. She is a full-time literature and composition teacher at Creighton Preparatory High School, and spends her free time with her family, along with writing, reading, and practicing yoga. Her work has been featured in Good Housekeeping, Wedding Essentials, HER, Irish America, Bene Italian Life & Style, UNO Magazine, and the Omaha World-Herald. She has worked at magazines in New York City, including Harper’s Bazaar, Bene Italian Life & Style, BRIDE’S, and Good Housekeeping. Traveling and live music are two of Townley’s passions. When combined, this is the best sort of getaway. // 8 //
MARCH/APRIL 2022
THE
FUTURE
OF BUSINESS OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM/PAGES/SUBSCRIBE
MARCH/APRIL 2022 VOLUME 39 // ISSUE 8
O
le n Sa
On
! No w
Sal
e No
w!
EDITORIAL Managing Editor
DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Associate Editor
LINDA PERSIGEHL Contributing Writers
TAMSEN BUTLER · CHRIS BOWLING · KIM CARPENTER DWAIN HEBDA · JEFF LACEY · LISA LUKECART KARA SCHWEISS · TARA SPENCER · MEGHAN TOWNLEY DOUGLAS “OTIS TWELVE” WESSELMANN
CREATIVE Creative Director
MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer
DEREK JOY Graphic Designer II
MADY BESCH
March 4 – 27
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April 15 – May 8
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Contributing Photographers
JUSTIN BARNES · KEITH BINDER · COLIN CONCES SCOTT DRICKEY · JOSHUA FOO · WILLIAM HESS · SARAH LEMKE
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BILL SITZMANN For Advertising & Subscription Information:
402.884.2000 Omaha Magazine Vol 39 Issue VII, publishes monthly except February, April, August, December, totaling 8 issues by Omaha Magazine, LTD, 5921 S. 118 Circle, Omaha, NE 68137. Periodical postage at Omaha, NE, and additional offices and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Omaha Magazine, 5921 S. 118 Circle, Omaha, NE 68137
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NELSON MANDELA: THE OFFICIAL EXHIBITION
March 5-July 3 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Th is exhibition takes visitors on a personal
journey through the life of the world’s most iconic freedom fighter and political leader. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for members and children 2 and under. Noon-4 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, Closed Mondays. 402.444.5071. —durhammuseum.org
of
EVENTS
» Exhibits «
FACES FROM THE INTERIOR: THE NORTH AMERICAN PORTRAITS OF KARL BODMER
I DON’T KNOW YOU LIKE THAT: THE BODYWORK OF HOSPITALITY
Through March 19 at Bemis Center, 724 S. 12th St. Th is group exhibition considers the stealth
work of hospitality. Admission: free. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. 402.341.7130. -info@bemiscenter.org
Through May 1 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Th is is Joslyn’s first exhibit to focus
on Karl Bodmer’s watercolor portraits of Native Americans. Tickets: $10 general admission, $5 college students with ID, free for Joslyn members and youth ages 17 and younger. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. 402.342.3300. -joslyn.org
MONUMENTAL WORKS
Through March 31 at KANEKO, 1111 Jones St. This exhibit strives to illuminate each of
March
4-27
its 12 legendary artists’ creative process, as well as the craft and perseverance needed to master their materials and convey meaning in their sculptural work. Admission: free. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays. 402.341.3800. -thekaneko.org
FOREVER FOREST
Through April 16 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Exploring the realities
of forests through play, families will learn about sustainability, selective harvesting, transportation needs, and the every-day products we use that are made from trees. Admission: Free to members and under 24 months, $14 kids 2-15 and adults, $13 seniors (60+). 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 402.342.6164. -ocm.org
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
COLLECTIVE VISION
March 4-27 at Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St. This exhibition is a collection of
work by 14 different photographers. Admission: Free. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends. 402.342.6452. -hotshopsartcenter.com
8 PRINT MAKERS & 1 QUILTER
April 9-May 8 at Roberta and Bob Rogers Gallery, 1806 Vinton St. As a storyteller each
artist has ideas, feelings and thoughts to express, share and show. Admission: Free. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. 402.496.4797. -rbrg.org
COMMON SENSES FESTIVAL
Throughout April at K ANEKO, 1111 Jones St.
Science, art, and technology come together in an educational event. The month includes an installation exhibit at KANEKO lectures and discussions, and live performances for neuro-diverse communities. 402.341.3800. -commonsensesfestival.com
» Concerts « THE DIRTY DOZEN BRASS BAND WITH NATHAN AND THE ZYDECO CHACHAS
March 1 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St.
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band are the pioneers of the modern New Orleans brass band movement and feature blues, cajun, New Orleans soul, zydeco and R&B music. Tickets: $25 advance/$30 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353. -waitingroomlounge.com
MOLLY TUTTLE & GOLDEN HIGHWAY
March 2 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. Tuttle
and her bluegrass band features mandolin, banjo, fiddles, and bassist. Tickets: $25 advance/$30 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. -theslowdown.com
Five venues, five unique celebration experiences. Hosting events for 100 - 1,000 guests, Omaha Event Group boasts 15 years of experience with over 300 events each year, including Omaha Fashion Week. Schedule a consultation with our team of experts today. hello@omahaeventgroup.com | 402.819.8792 | omahaeventgroup.com Omaha Design Center | The Downtown Club | Empire Room | Omaha Palazzo | Anderson O'Brien Fine Art Gallery
MARCH/APRIL 2022
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OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR
ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN, PERFORMED BY GARY MULLEN & THE WORKS
BUGS BUNNY AT THE SYMPHONY
March 5-6 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. This event honors the beloved
March 11 at Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. Th is
tribute to Freddie Mercury and Queen should includes their classic hits. Tickets: $39-$79. 8 p.m. 402.934.9966. -ralstonarena.com
cartoons and classical music of Bugs Bunny at the Omaha Symphony. Tickets: $20-$89. Saturday 7:30, Sunday 2 p.m. 402.345.0202. -ticketomaha.com
OMAHA SYMPHONY—BERLIOZ’S SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE
BONNIE PRINCE BILLY & MATT SWEENEY WITH EMMETT KELLY
March 11-12 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. This program includes
March 5 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. These musicians perform melodies in the
“Red Cape Tango” from “Metropolis Symphony” and Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique.” Tickets: $20-$89. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. -ticketomaha.com
American folk or country tradition. Tickets: $25 advance/$28 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353. -waitingroomlounge.com
PARQUET COURTS
March 8 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Indie rock post punk Parquet Courts’
TOOL IN CONCERT March
“Sympathy For Life” focuses on grooves instead of rhythm. Tickets: $25 advance/$28 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353. -waitingroomlounge.com
KATY KIRBY & SUN JUNE
March 8 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. Song-
writer and indie rock artist Katy Kirby tours with the evolving pop-rock band Sun June. Tickets $15. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. -theslowdown.com
JOE PURDY
March 10 at Reverb Lounge 6121 Military Ave.
Joe Purdy 14th album is a commentary on modern troubled times. Tickets: $25. 8 p.m. 402.884.5707. -reverblounge.com
MORGAN WALLEN - THE DANGEROUS TOUR
March 11 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Wallen offers a variation of bro-coun-
try with smooth R&B rhythms over arena-ready stomps. Tickets: $149-$289. 7 p.m. 402.341.1500. -chihealth.com
12
March 12 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. This Grammy-Award-win-
ning art-metal band features rock music that incorporates elements of metal and prog. Tickets: $52-$122. 7:30 p.m. 402.341.1500. -chihealth.com
CHRIS RENZEMA—THE HOPE OR NOSTALGIA TOUR
March 14 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St.
Renzema’s sophomore album sparked more than 90 million streams. Renzema received over one million Spotify track saves over the last year. Tickets: $20 advance/$25 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. -theslowdown.com
BILLIE EILISH
March 16 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Th is singer is most known for her
Grammy-winning record Everything I Wanted. 7:30 p.m. Limited tickets available. 402.341.1500. -chihealth.com
SUBTRONICS
March 17 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. Sub-
tronics’ music features cutting-edge sound design with hard-hitting bass. Tickets: $30 advance/$35 day of show. 9 p.m. 402.345.7569. -theslowdown.com
OMAHA SYMPHONY—MAESTRO’S MINI MIXTAPE
March 20 at Witherspoon Concert Hall, Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Explore music
and art created all over the world in this concert including repertoire from American composer Jessie Montgomery, Aaron Copland, and Claude Debussy. Tickets: $15. 2 p.m. 402.345.0202. -ticketomaha.com
ANDY SHAUF
March 22 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. The Toronto-based, Saskatchewan-raised musi-
cian’s songs unfold like short fiction. Tickets: $20. 8:30 p.m. 402.884.5353. -waitingroomlounge.com
VANISHING TWIN
March 23 at Reverb Lounge 6121 Military Ave.
The electronic pop ensemble incorporates elements of afrofunk, outer jazz, and avant-garde. Tickets: $15 advance/$18 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.884.5707. -reverblounge.com
GARY NUMAN—THE INTRUDER TOUR
March 24 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Numan has recorded seven top 10 singles,
seven top 10 albums, and received critical acclaim. Tickets: $30 advance/$35 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353. -waitingroomlounge.com
GRETA VAN FLEET DREAMS IN GOLD TOUR 2022
March 25 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. This Grammy Award-winning band
has a sound that blends hard rock and blues rock. Tickets: $46-$66. 8 p.m. 402.341.1500 -chihealth.com
ENTER THE HAGGIS
March 11 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Toronto-based Celtic Folk
Rock band The Haggis has released eight acclaimed studio albums. Tickets: $30. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. -ticketomaha.com
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
TOBY MAC
March 17 at Baxter Arena, 2425 S. 67th St.
Christian hip-hop rapper and singer Toby Mac has earned seven Grammy Awards. Tickets: $19-$89. 7 p.m. 402.554.6200. —baxterarena.com
March 5 – July 3, 2022 Continue the journey.
A TRIBUTE TO BILLY JOEL OMAHA SYMPHONY WITH MICHAEL CAVANAUGH
March 25-26 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. This star of Broadway’s
musical Movin’ Out, performs Joel’s greatest hits. Tickets: $65-$89. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. —ticketomaha.com
NO LIMITS REUNION TOUR
March 26 at Baxter Arena, 2425 S. 67th St.
Master P, Mystikal, Silkk The Shocker, Mia X, Fiend, Mercedes, and Mr. Serv-On perform in this show. Tickets: $29-$109. 7 p.m. 402.554.6200. —baxterarena.com
LUNA LUNA
March 27 at Reverb Lounge 6121 Military Ave.
This bilingual Latino band is based in groove and rhythm, carrying a slight rock inspiration with pop influences. Tickets: $15. 8 p.m. 402.884.5707. —reverblounge.com
LAS CAFETERAS
March 30 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Th is band uses traditional
instruments such as a quijada (donkey jawbone), and tarima (a wooden platform). Tickets: $20-$34. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. —ticketomaha.com
Produced by Round Room Live in partnership with The Royal House of Mandela (RHoM) and RHoM Investments
‘Brings an epic and inspiring struggle alive’ - THE TIMES
DURHAMMUSEUM.ORG
SCAN & PL AN YOUR VISIT
402-444-5071 | 801 S. 10TH ST, OMAHA
LAINEY WILSON
March 31 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Th is singer-songwriter was recently recog-
nized as No. 1 on “Billboard”’s Emerging Artists chart for her hit “Things a Man Oughta Know.” Tickets: $15 advance/ $18 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353 —waitingroomlounge.com
LOS TEMERARIOS
April 2 at Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. Los Temerarios have recorded more than 20 albums and been honored with two Grammy nominations, and many other awards. Tickets: $49-$199. 8 p.m. 402.934.9966. —ralstonarena.com
WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS
April 2 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St.
This Scottish Indie Rock Band performs music from their newly released album. Tickets $16. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353. —waitingroomlounge.com
RENÉE ELISE GOLDSBERRY WITH THE OMAHA SYMPHONY
April 2-3 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Known for originating the role
of Angelica Schuyler in the Tony Award-winning Hamilton, Goldsberry performs show tunes. Tickets: $20-$89. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. 402.345.0202. —ticketomaha.com
PILLOW QUEENS
KENNY HOOPLA
band’s 2021 album “In Waiting” was nominated for Ireland’s prestigious Choice album of the year award. Tickets: $15 advance/$18 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. —theslowdown.com
up-and-comer Hoopla’s 2020 release How will I rest in peace if I’m buried by a highway? landed in the Top 10 at Alternative Radio. Tickets: $20 advance/$25 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. —theslowdown.com
April 4 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. Th is
April 11 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. Indie
FAROFA
April 8 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Farofa features tradi-
MOGWAI April
tional rhythms blended with modern stylings from many places, including the music of their native Brazil. Tickets: $30. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. —ticketomaha.com
CHICAGO PLAYS THE STONES
April 9 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Chicago Plays The Stones pres-
ents its audience with classic Rolling Stones songs arranged in the Chicago blues styles . Tickets: $22-$52. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. —ticketomaha.com
OMAHA SYMPHONY DEBUSSY & MOZART 39
April 10 at Witherspoon Concert Hall, Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Maestro Larry
Rachleff takes the podium for an afternoon of Debussy and Mozart. Tickets: $35-$40. 2 p.m. 402.345.0202. —ticketomaha.com
14
April 14 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Scottish post-rock band Mogwai’s new
album features guitar-based instrumental pieces, melodic bass guitar lines, and heavy use of distortion and effects. Tickets: $25 advance/$28 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353. —waitingroomlounge.com
CHICAGO
April 20 at Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. One of the
longest running music groups of all time, Chicago has sold over 100,000,000 records. Tickets: $44$139. 7:30 p.m. 402.934.9966. —ralstonarena.com
FUZZ
April 21 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St.
American rock band Fuzz performs songs from their third album III. Tickets: $20 advance/ $25 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. —theslowdown.com
MARCH/APRIL 2022
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OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR
TYPHOON
LOL SURPRISE! LIVE
cated arrangements and careful orchestration. Tickets: $20 advance/$23 day of show. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353 -waitingroomlounge.com
hologram concert tour “L.O.L. Surprise! Live – Calling All B.B.s” features original music from the brand new album “Fierce,” dancers, a DJ, and holograms on stage. Tickets: $29.50 - $59.50. 6 p.m. 402.934.9966. -ralstonarena.com
April 21 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Th is band’s music is marked by compli-
TREVOR HALL
April 24 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. Hall’s
music is an eclectic mix of acoustic rock, reggae, and Sanskrit chanting. Tickets: $30 advance/$35 day of show. 7:45 p.m. 402.345.7569. -theslowdown.com
OMAHA SYMPHONY—DAPHNIS ET CHLOÉ
April 29-30 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The Omaha Symphony evokes
a night at the Ballet Russes under the baton of conductor Alasdair Neale. Tickets: $20-$81. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. -ticketomaha.com
» Performing Arts «
March 17 at Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. The
JARED FREID
March 18-19 at Funny Bone Comedy Club, 17305 Davenport St., No. 201. This comedian,
based out of New York City, is originally from Needham, Massachusetts. Tickets: $15. Times vary. 402.493.8036. -omaha.funnybone.com
HASAN MINHAJ THE KING’S JESTER
March 20 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Comic Hasan Minhaj returns
to his storytelling roots four years after his Netflix comedy special “Homecoming King.” Tickets: $49.50-$74.50. 7 p.m. 402.345.0202. -ticketomaha.com
OUTSIDE MULLINGAR
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
March 26 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.
Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria bound out of the zoo and onto the stage in this live musical. The event features a preshow with Omaha’s Zoo. Tickets: $20-$60. 3 p.m. 402.345.0606. -ticketomaha.com
SWING, SWING, SWING! AMERICAN MIDWEST BALLET
March 4-27 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. This show, based on the novel by
to be a true friend, and a human being. Tickets and times vary. 402.345.0606. -ticketomaha.com
MADAGASCAR THE MUSICAL
and enlightening review of all the science that popular movies such as Star Wars and Frozen got wrong and what they got right. Tickets: $69$250. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. -ticketomaha.com
THE COLOR PURPLE
March 8-13 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Mean Girls gets to the heart of what it means
Alton Brown is best known as the creator, writer, and host of “Good Eats,” “Good Eats: Reloaded,” and “Good Eats: The Return.” Tickets: $29-$150. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0606. -ticketomaha.com
April 6 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Tyson offers an entertaining
bian and Afro-contemporary dance with live music and singing. Tickets: $20-$37. 7 p.m. 402.345.0606. -ticketomaha.com
MEAN GIRLS
March 25 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.
DR. NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON: AN ASTROPHYSICIST GOES TO THE MOVIES
March 4 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. This event showcases powerful Afro-Colom-
tin Hensley and Jen Smedley know that moming isn’t easy. Tickets: $39.25 - $189.25. 7 p.m. 402.345.0606. -ticketomaha.com
ALTON BROWN LIVE: BEYOND THE EATS
intertwines the tales of Orpheus and Eurydice, and of King Hades and Persephone. Tickets and times vary. 402.345.0606. -ticketomaha.com
SANKOFA DANZAFRO
March 5 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Best friends, comedians, and moms Kris-
his kingdom between his three daughters. Tickets $35 general admission, $30 for health care workers, military personnel, and educators. Times vary. 402.345.1576. -bluebarn.org
March 29-April 3 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Th is winner of eight Tony Awards
love with Anthony at age 6, but after a bout with heartbreak, Anthony swore off women forever. Now middle-aged pair must reunite. Ticket prices vary. 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. 402.553.0800. -omahaplayhouse.com
#IMOMSOHARD: THE GETAWAY TOUR
March 24-April 17 at Bluebarn Theater 1106 S. 10th St. Aging monarch Lear decides to divide
HADESTOWN
Through March 13 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Rosemary secretly fell in
Alice Walker and the film by Steven Spielberg, is an intimate coming-of-age story. Ticket prices vary. 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. 402.553.0800. -omahaplayhouse.com
KING LEAR
April 9 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.
DISNEY PRINCESS: THE CONCERT
March 20 at at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. A quartet of icons perform an evening
of story, animation and song. This show is for ages 6 and up. Tickets: $39.50 - $230. 6 p.m. 402.345.0606. -ticketomaha.com
IMPROBABLE ASCENT WITH PARACLIMBER MAUREEN BECK
March 22 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Th is world champion para-
climber and 2019 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year will share her adventures as a one-handed athlete. Tickets: $15-32. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. -ticketomaha.com
Th is American Midwest Ballet production is about big bands and swing dancing. Tickets: $27-$67. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0606. -ticketomaha.com
THE GIVER
April 15-May 8 at at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Twelve-year-old Jonas lives
in a utopian society with no memories. When Jonas is chosen by The Giver to bear the memories of his society, he learns the truth behind his perfect world. Tickets and times vary. 402.553.0800. -omahaplayhouse.com
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SPONSORED PROFILE //
“That was the whole reason I started this group,” he said. “Because I realized there’s all this talent all over, and if we could pull together we could create something bigger than we could alone,” he said. “The concept has always been synergy.” He is currently the premier fire performance instructor in the Midwest, and has taught classes and performed in Costa Rica as well as performing in Las Vegas, the Bahamas, and Cabo San Lucas. Now the 44-year-old runs the largest performance group of this size and caliber in the area. Hill said that he never thought he would be an entrepreneur. He pulled the performers together in 2012, starting as Flowtricks Entertainment and changing the name to Omaha Circus Arts in 2019. Besides the traditional circus-style performances, Hill has incorporated technology into the performances, specifically with state-ofthe-art-LEDs and projection mapping. “There’s nothing quite like this around here,” Hill said. Others in the community agree. STORY BY TARA SPENCER // PHOTOGRAPH BY KATIE ANDERSON
Artful Synergy
KEN HILL PUSHES THE BOUNDARIES
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Omaha Circus Arts owner and founder Ken Hill can’t sit still.
The former IT tech helped people fix their computer issues over the phone while multitasking on his true passion. “I was composing music with an earbud in my right ear,” he said.. Though he had studied music composition at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, that wasn’t where he found financial success as an artist. But it did lead him there.
When he traveled to San Francisco to do a show, the organizers included fire acts to accompany the budding musician. Hill was hooked. “I fell in love with it,” he said. Hill grew up practicing martial arts and was an instructor of a blend of kickboxing, kali, and ninjitsu prior to trying his hand at fire
performance. “It has the technical foundations of my martial arts training, but rewritten by the creativity of my musical and songwriting skills.” A local burlesque group helped teach him the basics of fire performance, but Hill said it wasn’t the style he wanted. “In my mind, I envisioned bigger stages and productions, sharing this art to the mainstream audience.” Then circus acts started gaining popularity on YouTube, and Hill noticed more performers appearing locally. “Originally, I thought I’d be a solo artist my whole life,” he said. “I never felt comfortable managing and owning and running things. I thought that was something that was outside my skill set.”
“K EN IS A PIONEER IN THE E N T E R TA I N M E N T I N DU S T RY, C ON S TA N T LY PU S H I N G T H E BOU N DA R I E S OF POS SIBI L IT Y AND IMAGINATION,” SAID JESSE SWANSON OF CHAOS PRODUCTIONS. “His kind heart and constant drive are an inspiration to all those around him. His talent is a valuable asset to the Omaha community.” Hill puts everything back into the company— time, money, energy, and passion—as his end goal is for the artists to be able to perform full time. He thinks this is very much an achievable goal. “We made it through the most challenging growing pains,” Hill said. “These next five to 10 years, I only see exponential expansion.”” OCA For more information, visit omahacircusarts.com
But when he noticed many talented performance artists struggling to find work, he wanted to help.
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“He has people who request him constantly in the senior communities,” Lemke said. “They’ll go to their activities director and say, ‘When can we have Billy Troy back?’ He is amazing.”
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The 68-year-old still records his own music, and now plays with his own son, Troy Graves, in The Billy Troy Band. Besides his son, who is the bassist, the band includes a second guitarist—who also plays for country singer Toby Keith—and a drummer. Troy said they’ve been with him since they were teens. “They all had been with me for years before I moved here,” he said. “They’re all doing so well…They all work in different bands, right in downtown Nashville.”
HE PLATFORM WAS SET FOR BILLY TROY FROM BIRTH. THE SINGER, SONGWRITER, AND PRODUCER ESSENTIALLY GREW UP ON THE STAGE OF THE GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE. His father, Josh Graves, is known as the “king of the dobro” after introducing these resonator guitars to bluegrass music in the mid-1950s. Josh, 1997 International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Honor inductee, played the Opry with the Foggy Mountain Boys, and his son was often by his side. “I grew up on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry,” Troy said. “And then when I turned 16, I became part of the Grand Ole Opry.” Throughout his youth, Troy appeared regularly on a TV program called The Noon Show, and later he was also on The Porter Wagoner Show, where Dolly Parton got her start. Throughout high school, he would leave class to go perform on TV shows and head back to school after. “I was just a Nashville boy,” Troy said. In the early 1970s, right after high school, Troy signed with Andy Williams’ record label, Barnaby Records. At the time, there were only a few other names on the label, but they were notable—The Osmond Brothers, Jimmy Buffett, and Ray Stevens. Troy took to the road, performing first as a solo act, later adding members to the group that would become the Billy Troy Band, and they were known for playing country and bluegrass. // 16 //
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Besides being a well-known singer and performer, Troy has also found success as a songwriter and producer, earning him several Grammy nominations. “I know that my father worried about me being in this business because it’s such a hard thing, but luckily he gave me the tools to be able to do more than one thing,” Troy said. “’Cause when [performing] doesn’t work, I’m still a producer and a songwriter.” Troy’s music interests also extend beyond country and bluegrass. “There was a time where they wanted to put you in one genre, and I just couldn’t do it,” he said. “I always just liked all kinds of music.” A devoted fan of The Beatles, he started his own group when he was around 10 called The Crickets, because “we wanted to be The Beatles.” He still enjoys performing Beatles songs, as well as Billy Joel tunes and other pop classics, even taking the band on the road to perform as a Billy Joel tribute a while back. Omahans often found him putting on a lively show at The Ozone Lounge every Saturday night, before the venue closed. Troy also works with the Merrymakers Association, a nonprofit that provides senior living communities with free music entertainment. According to Merrymakers executive director Sandy Lemke, Troy typically plays 12 shows a month with them.
Since Troy now lives in Omaha and the rest of the group members live in Tennessee, they often collaborate remotely. “It’s so easy to do with technology,” Troy said. “They’ll be in the studio in Nashville, and they’ll send me files and I’ll work on my part.” Technology also proved helpful when the pandemic hit, and Troy was unable to perform for regular audiences. His solution, at the urging of his wife, Sheryl, was to use social media. He started posting videos of his In-House Sessions, sometimes working with other musicians. “Each week I would do a three-song segment of me at home, just performing, and that was very successful,” he said. “We even used it in the Merrymakers. We all started doing videos for some of the places we couldn’t get into, and it worked out really well.” Despite taking careful measures to avoid exposure, Troy and several members of his family did contract COVID. “The biggest thing you need to do, and it’s just what I didn’t do, is get to the hospital.” Troy said he mistakenly refused to go, but when he started turning blue at home, Sheryl called 911 and he was transported to the hospital during a snowstorm. While struggling to stay alive in the hospital, Troy said he started getting cards and letters from all over the country. “You won’t believe what that does to you,” he said. “I’m in the hospital, I’m looking at stacks of mail that come in, and it’s like, man…I was so touched by it. You know, it changes the way you look at everything, really.” Troy still records and performs his original music, and he wrote a documentary-style musical play called Backstage Memories, based on his own memories of the Opry. “I base the show on that, because [people] can relate to it. Because I can give them the music of their past.” Visit billytroymusic.com for more information.
" I K N OW T H AT M Y FAT H E R WO R R I E D ABOUT ME BEING I N T H I S B US I N E SS B E C AU S E I T ' S S U C H A HARD THING, BUT LU C K I LY H E G AV E M E T H E TO O L S TO B E A B L E TO D O M O R E THAN ONE THING. - B I L LY T R OY
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FA ST “Even the best documentary still needs to spur people to action in order to change things. Ultimately, people change things.” -Diana Martinez
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN
STORY BY TARA SPENCER
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lthough the news in Nebraska has been known to speak of a statewide “brain-drain,” Omaha is a city where more than onethird of the residents have at least a bachelor’s degree. In fact, the city has gained some valuable college-educated assets over the years. Film Streams’ artistic director Diana Martinez is one of those assets. She was initially hired as the education director after a lengthy, nationwide search. Film Streams’ marketing director Patrick Kinney said, “She was interested in the entire breadth of film–lowbrow, highbrow, art house, blockbusters, all of it–and how that work reflected important truths about our culture. It was clear that she was the film expert we’d been looking for.” Martinez’s fi lm roots started early. She recalled her Salvadoran parents watching a diverse range of movies to help them with their English, and they would let her watch whatever movies she wanted. She said they never set limits on what she could do in life, either. After earning her bachelor’s degree in English from Caltech-San Bernadino, Martinez earned a Ph.D. in fi lm and media studies from the University of Oregon. Once she started teaching—at the University of Oregon—she quickly realized the role she played in some students’ lives. “I had students tell me they took my class because of my last name, because they just wanted one other Latino to bond with in this really homogenous place,” she said. “Then I had to look at what I was teaching. Clearly there was an expectation of what it would mean to have a professor of color.” Growing up in Southern California, Martinez said she was fortunate to be surrounded by diversity. It wasn’t until she started moving in circles that were less heterogeneous that she started to recognize how important that was.
While she couldn’t change the curriculum, the desire to tell the stories of people of color in the film industry prompted her to create her own podcast, Hollywood in Color. “I’m a researcher at heart,” she said. “I spent forever researching loudness standards. Like, you don’t need to know that,” she added with a laugh. Before moving to the Midwest, the now 35-year-old did her own brand of research. “This is probably the wrong way to go about it, but I think it actually gave me a very positive depiction of Omaha—I did my Instagram research.” She looked at local influencer, bar, and restaurant accounts. “And I was like, OK. There’s a cool, thriving scene of young people who have Instagram content.”
When she came to visit, she said it was similar to the area she grew up in, known as the Inland Empire. Since moving to Omaha more than five years ago, Martinez’s support for the city has only grown, and she has become one of its biggest champions.
Martinez found out she was the new artistic director in mid-March, one day before Film Streams shuttered their doors to in-person audiences. Within a week of closing, they were doing virtual cinema, offering films to patrons to rent online. It was a strange time to take on a new leadership role. “Being artistic director, I envisioned programming our screens...Then it became launching a virtual platform and learning how to do streaming, basically, in a few months,” she said. “That wasn’t at all what I anticipated, but…I don’t think I’ve ever, in my career, felt more accomplished than during that time.” Martinez’s current role involves overseeing all of Film Streams’ programming. “That includes our education programming, which Diana still oversees, but also the new releases and classic films we show at the Dundee Theater and Ruth Sokolof Theater,” Kinney said. “Additionally, she oversees our community engagement screenings—which may look like a film followed by a panel discussion—and our events with visiting filmmakers and artists.” It’s clear Martinez believes in the power of film, but she knows it has its limits. While she thinks film can change peoples’ perceptions, she is also realistic. “A film, I believe, isn’t going to provide affordable housing for people,” she said. “It’s a representation of issues and ideas, and even the best documentary still needs to spur people to action in order to change things. Ultimately, people change things.” She laughingly admits that might be controversial for her to say, given what she does. But she believes art is powerful in the realm in which it exists. is a
“I don’t know why people leave,” she said. “I get that there’s things in terms of politics, weather, and those things that do make it difficult to live here. But, especially for creative people, this is a place where you can “This make a difference so fast, place where because it’s so much smaller than New York or LA. You you can make need fewer resources to get a a differproject off the ground.” Martinez’s work at Film Streams has influenced her feelings toward Omaha as well. She said the philanthropic community is supported in a way that it’s not in other places, even major cities, in the U.S. That proved especially helpful when she first arrived in 2020. “I was concerned about our staff, but I was privileged enough to be like, I’m not worried we won’t come back, because of all the resources that we were able to basically put away before the pandemic happened,” she said.
ence so fast, because it’s so much smaller than New York or LA. You need fewer resources to get a project off the ground.”
“I wish we talked about that more, because it does a disservice to art to make it want to be always about social justice, or always working to do something,” she said. “Sometimes art is just beautiful. That, in and of itself, is a really powerful experience. Let art be for arts’ sake sometimes.” Visit filmstreams.org for more information.
-Diana Martinez
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nna Lind Thomas— writer, mom, Bellevue West graduate, and creator of the HaHas for HooHas website— earned her first bit of internet fame 10 years ago by sharing a particularly embarrassing story most people would have buried deep down and developed some kind of coping mechanism to deal with. As a humor writer, Thomas has no problem sharing such anecdotes with anyone online.
Thomas was working at California State University at Chico as a residential director when she met Rob. She was getting her master’s degree in interpersonal communication, and he was stationed at Beale Air Force Base. They met through match. com. Thomas said online dating was exactly what she’d expected at first—a disaster. She said every man who “winked” at her was in their 60s. “They were all in a camper trailer—I don’t know why,” she said. “And they were like, ‘I know I’m not in your age range, darlin’, but you’re gorgeous. Let me take you out for a beer.’” She stopped logging on. On the last day of the free trial, she got a reminder that the trial was ending. She logged on again, saw Rob, and sent him a message with her email address. He emailed right away to ask her out to dinner, and literary history was made. Well, viral internet history at the very least. “The fart story makes people like, laugh until they cry,” Thomas said. “I don’t know why.”
very good, and when she went home that day, Thomas told her mom she was going to be a published author. With the help of her agent, Erin Niumata, and her editor, Julie Baumgartner, she is. “Anna loves writing,” Baumgartner said. “She wants to hone her craft, she embraces even the smallest writing suggestion or editing tip, and I’m watching her skills take off.” Besides getting to watch primetime soap operas, being the baby had other perks. Thomas said she was bullied a lot as a child, but because she was so loved at home, the hurt feelings didn’t last. She already knew she was important. “I mean, you might hurt my feelings, but at the end of the day…I’m the baby and I’m adored and there’s nothing you can really say to change that,” she said.
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Thomas farted on a first date. Not a dainty, easily glossedover fart, either. It was a silent A story she finds funnier took place years later killer. “It was…so bad,” she while she was pregnant with Poppy. Thomas added that her parents’ hersaid. “And I started screamitage and temperament also helped ing, ‘Roll down the window!’ They were moving, and her parents were shape her humor and writing style. I pulled on the windows. I helping, because, as she put it, “I’m, like, Her dad is Swedish, and her mom tried to roll down the window, really pregnant, totally sprawled out… is Sicilian. “It’s really funny because but it’s locked…I’m flying cankles roaring.” Swedes are fairly unemotional—weird at the window as if I’m when it comes to emotion,” she said. being kidnapped.” “Sicilians are like, filled with passion.” Yet she attributes her sense of humor “I’M LIKE REALLY This gassy story has a happy to her dad—“He is outrageous”—and ending, though. The man her interest in writing to her mom. PREGNANT, TOTALLY Thomas screamed at is now “She was very, very good.” her husband, Rob, who took SPRAWLED OUT… that date in stride. These Thomas thinks the struggles people days, the couple and their go through make the best stories. CANKLES ROARING.” two daughters, Lucy, 7, and “It’s what we tell our grandchildren, Poppy, 5, go through all it’s what things we overcome,” she -ANNA LIND THOMAS hardships and embarrasssaid. “I don’t think it should be ments as a family. And avoided, I think it should be leaned Thomas writes it all down, A mover dropped a box labeled “marital into…And if you were to keep and many of them appear items” at the feet of her parents. Suddenly your sense of humor, even better. in her books We’ ll Laugh there’s a rattling noise. “My husband and You’re going to have a great story to About This (Someday), I lock eyes. Because we realize what it is, tell, and in a way that encourages which came out in fall and I grit my teeth and I’m like, ‘get it, other people.” 2021, and I’m Not Ready get it.’” Long story short, her husband for This, set to publish did not get it. Her mom opened the box, That’s what she tries to do with her this spring. her dad could not understand what was writing, and so far it’s working. going on, and Thomas is still hoping “That’s the thing about that story makes it into a book. According to Baumgartner, “The writers,” she said, “We sophistication and depth of meaning really do have an advanHer flair for storytelling started early. in her second book really makes this tage. We almost like She recalls writing a “hilariously editor proud.” bad things that happen dramatic” story for a class. “I think, to us because we get to because I was the baby of the family, Visit annalindthomas.com for write about it.” my parents let me like, hang around more information. when they were watching Dallas or something,” she said with a laugh. Her teacher told her the story was 0
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STRONG ELEMENTS
of fantasy flow through much of Anthony Deon Brown’s artwork, yet the subjects maintain a level of realness that draws the viewer in, like a good opening line in a book. Speaking with Brown has similarities. He is inquisitive, asking questions that seem to come from left field, but with the goal for better understanding of the other person. “I really love meeting people,” he said. “I love observing the attitudes and structures of people— even when they’re mad at me, I’m still watching.”
While he loves contemplating people and their actions, his art rarely focuses on the human form. In fact, a look at his Instagram page reveals he prefers drawing animals, specifically birds.
tracks, but Brown is still working out parts of the tale. “I’m very excited to show people what that world looks like and feels like to me,” Brown added. “But it’s gonna take a while.”
“My whole idea for a while—and it still is—the whole idea was to take Renaissance images and translate [them] and switch every character for a bird,” Brown said. That idea has taken a turn, developing a life and a story of its own.
No doubt the wait will be worth it. Fellow artist Shane Bainbridge has worked with Brown on gallery shows and apparel and product design. He has also collected some of Brown’s art for his personal collection. “Anthony seems to be infinitely curious as an artist,” he wrote in an email. “He’s driven as hell. Prolific. He also is humble and approachable and always willing to go deep into the topic of creativity and art.”
Many of his recent paintings still feature birds, often with colorful pieces of fruit and/or flowers. This new direction represents a story Brown has in his head, reflected in his Instagram handle, Anthony “Rage the Typhoon” Deon. The story is called “Angels with Filthy Souls,” and Rage the Typhoon is the main character, based on Brown. He woke up in a pod on a desolate, future Earth with a strong desire to make green things grow again and, in doing so, creating “The Garden of Dia,” which is essentially heaven on Earth. “So when you see my paintings and it’s fruits and birds, that’s the garden,” he said. Of course, there is an antagonist who tries to stop that growth in its
Brown’s personal story largely takes place in Fremont. His family moved there from Oklahoma in the early 1990s. “Yes, coming to Fremont, Nebraska, where me and my little sister had to be close because we were the only Black kids…Sure. That sucked. But it would have been way worse in Oklahoma,” he said. Brown explained, “Sometimes your family members…they want to stay stuck in a zone, and they’re perfectly fine with being there. There’s no higher thinking, there’s no striving for anything better.” For Brown, thinking and striving for something better is a necessity in life and his work. Fremont may be a quiet town, but the move itself helped him become the artist he is. Brown said his interest in art took off in high school, thanks to a teacher who pushed him and a friend who, unintentionally, embarrassed him. “This was like, one of those moments in a TV show,” he said. “She stopped the whole class and said, like yelled at me, ‘Anthony, you know, you’re so much better than all of us?
“‘Anthony, you know, you’re so much better than all of us? If you actually took this seriously…This could be your career. This could be what you do.’”
If you actually took this seriously…This could be your career. This could be what you do.’” Brown said the whole class was quiet after that, and he sat through it in shame. After thinking about it, he realized she wasn’t trying to embarrass him. “I realized, oh, she cares about me. She really sees potential. And then I was like, alright, I’ll do my best to take it seriously. And here I am.” Interest from another admirer resulted in Brown receiving commission requests from across the country. Instagram user spaghettitoesdad, also known as Martin Bruckner, is an Omaha illustrator with more than 20,000 followers. Bruckner shared a piece he’d commissioned from Brown on his account, and Brown said his commission work got “crazy” after that. Brown said now he can say no to projects he doesn’t want to do, and he can price them at what they should be valued. “I still remember what it was being on the other side, and then recognizing that people don’t understand…what it is to really create something from scratch: take nothing, make it something, and then try to present it to the world and sell it,” he said. “They think, ‘I used to use crayons. And you know, that was cool. If that’s basically what you’re doing, then it’s gotta be easy.’” A look at Brown’s work should be clear evidence that it is not easy, despite the fact that he may make it look that way. As Bainbridge noted, “I admire his ability to execute painting with such vibrance, imagination, and detail at such a remarkably prolific rate,” adding that Brown appears to have no difficulty jumping from genre to genre, style to style, and technique to technique, “even within a single work.” It appears that’s how Brown functions best—always questioning, never settling, ever hopeful and moving forward. It may not make sense to all, but the results are undeniable. Visit @anthonydeonbrown on Instagram for more information.
// OBVIOUSLY OMAHA //
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STORY BY LINDA PERSIGEHL // PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED
SIX CHEAP (OR FREE!) FITNESS ACTIVITIES IN THE METRO
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eople will soon shed the layers of winter clothing and begin looking to get more fit. If you desire an alternative to a crowded fitness club, or are bored with your home gym routine, the Omaha metro offers a plethora of fun fitness activities to mix up one’s exercise regime—some of them in the great outdoors—and many of them budget-friendly. Here’s a list of options.
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STRIKE A YOGA POSE
City of Omaha Parks & Recreation Department offers yoga sessions for different skill levels throughout the year. Classes for beginners, seniors, and even toddlers are offered at Common Ground in Elkhorn, A.V. Sorenson Community Center, and other recreational centers in the metro. —parks.cityofomaha.org Another place to work on one’s flexibility, strength, and balance is at Lauritzen Gardens. They offer a variety of yoga classes indoors through March, then move things outside in warmer months. Cost is $15 per session. Packages are available, and members get a discount. —lauritzengardens.org
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HIT THE BIKE PATH
For those who find cycling more their speed, the Omaha Pedalers Bicycle Club might be a good fit. The group meets weekly on Thursday mornings for a Keystone Trail ride, and Saturday mornings twice a month for a longer ride from Waterloo to Fremont, as weather allows. They organize easy trail rides, as well as moderate and strenuous treks, to meet every fitness level. It’s a social, recreational club, not a competitive one, so being in top training form is not a priority. Club membership is $20 annually for a single/$26 for a family. —opbc.clubexpress.com
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TEE OFF ON THE LINKS
Many find swinging the irons a great way to spend an afternoon outdoors. Those looking to get more exercise can skip the cart and walk one of Omaha’s eight municipal golf courses—some 9-hole, others 18-hole. Several Omaha city courses offer discounts for kids, students, and seniors, as well as club rental. Westwood offers play as low at $12 per round; Johnny Goodman golf course offers 9 holes for $18 during the week. —parks.cityofomaha.org/golf
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PICK UP PICKLEBALL
Those who haven’t tried pickleball yet should make 2022 the year. The fast-paced game, played on a badminton-sized court using a large paddle and plastic wiffle ball, has simple rules, making it easy for beginners. Prairielane Park, Meadowlane Park, and Miller Park offer dedicated outdoor pickleball courts, while Montclair Community Center and Hanscom Indoor Tennis Center offer indoor pickleball courts for a small rental fee. League play is also available. —parks.cityofomaha.org/activity/pickleball
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TAKE A WILDLIFE HIKE
Nature lovers can consider taking brisk hikes through one of the metro’s natural treasures, Fontenelle Forest, in Bellevue. The Great Marsh Trail, along wetlands rich with aquatic life including beavers and frogs, is a great way to get in 10,000 steps. Winter bird walks, tree identification walks, full moon hikes, and star-gazing hikes for amateur astronomers (for a small additional fee for members) are also good bets for some low-impact cardio. Annual memberships to Fontenelle Forest/Neale Woods are $50/single, or $70/family. —fontenelleforest.org/recommended-hikes
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FLOAT YOUR BOAT
With milder temperatures, people can make getting out in local waters in a kayak, canoe, or paddleboat a part of their weekly routine. These sports work the upper body and build core strength while enabling boaters to enjoy great views on The Platte or Elkhorn River. A single-day park pass is $6, or an annual pass is $31, which gives the pass-holder access to all eight state parks in Nebraska. Nearby Mahoney State Park’s Owen Marina rents paddleboats for $10 per half-hour. Platte River Rentals has full-day kayak rentals for $25. Or better yet, one can BYOB (bring your own boat). —For park permits, visit ngpc-home.ne.gov
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DINING FEATURE // Story by Tamsen Butler Photography by Bill Sitzmann // Design by Matt Wieczorek
OLD-SCHOOL COOL
WITH A CONTEMPORARY FEEL
the Committee Chophouse Evokes Classic Era There are two entrances into The Committee Chophouse: one from the street and one from inside The Cottonwood Hotel, formerly the historic Blackstone Hotel. Enter through the hotel to appreciate the sheer magnitude of the hotel’s history, courtesy of black-and-white photos of famous people who visited the Blackstone Hotel in its heyday. “Being in the same space as Jackie and JFK, and Nixon and Truman, that is just amazing,” said John Onsa, the hotel’s food and beverage director. “I think, to me, as a history buff, it’s just like going back in time.” Blackstone Hotel was built in 1916 and hosted a variety of celebrities, politicians, and other notable people. When Cottonwood Hotel opened on Nov. 17, 2020, The Committee Chophouse wasn’t far behind with an opening date of Dec. 15 that same year. The restaurant is named after a weekly poker group by Blackstone Hotel’s owner, Charles Schimmel. The Committee Chophouse manages to offer an old-school vibe without feeling outdated. Guests can start at the trendy Cottonwood Room lounge, featuring an eye-catching tree fixture as the main focal point. The lounge offers comfortable seating with a VIP feel. Walking into The Committee Chophouse, it’s obvious great care was taken to ensure a welcoming atmosphere with a touch of Rat Pack nostalgia.
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Onsa calls The Committee Chophouse the “crown jewel” of the building, and with good reason. “My first thought in here was I felt a little like Frank Sinatra,” Onsa said. “We have these traditional four-top tables and booths, but we also have the half-moon booths. Couples like them because you don’t feel like you’re on top of anybody; our servers love the set-up as well and they love serving in this restaurant.”
My first thought in here was I felt a little like Frank Sinatra.”
-JOHN ONSA
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ommittee Chophouse is quickly making a name for itself within the Omaha food community as a premier steakhouse. “The steaks are incredible. We have an amazing prime beef program. Chef Jason and Chef Brandon [Kalfut] spent a lot of time making sure our beef selection is the best. They will not accept any product that is not of the highest standard.” Executive Chef Jason Sirois helped open the restaurant and has plans to “break the barrier of what you know as a classic steakhouse.” Sirois said his team doesn’t receive pushback when they try innovative menu items that deviate from a traditional steakhouse menu. “Omaha’s come a long way when it comes to that. It is a steakhouse first but that doesn’t mean we can’t branch out and try some new things. Everyone who comes in here [is] pretty open to things, which is cool because we don’t want to pigeonhole ourselves.” // 68 //
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He continued, “We’re working on a lot of new stuff now. We’re working on going from classic steakhouse to doing some more modern things. We’re continuing to push the envelope so we can stand out among steakhouses.”
guys and girls—they all have grown so much. It’s trust and faith in people and hoping that everyone buys into what we’re trying to accomplish. We always say we’re not a team, we’re a family.”
Sirois said his favorite menu item is “by far, the Cowboy Ribeye. It’s a beautiful 20-oz., bone-in ribeye.” Onsa’s favorite is the Delmonico, a 16-oz. prime steak. “But we have some amazing sides, too,” Onsa added.
Sirois was born in Omaha but spent time as a chef in Las Vegas and different areas of Colorado. His culinary career started small, working various kitchens straight out of high school and moving around to learn different cuisines. He was accustomed to the “old-school” way of chefs screaming at their teams and throwing things around, but said, “Times have changed. You have to work hard to build a culture that people want to be in. It used to be that there was a line of people waiting to take the place of staff who left. It’s just not like that anymore.”
The fact that a restaurant opened, let alone flourished, during a global pandemic is a testament to the teamwork and dedication of the staff. “Chef Jason has built a really incredible brigade of chefs. They all know each other and as he’s grown, they’ve grown. In a COVID situation, that’s rare,” Onsa said. Sirois added, “I’m the luckiest chef in Omaha. I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of
// DINING FEATURE //
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nd though it’s common for chefs to have several jobs in a short period of time so they can learn, it’s not the same at The Committee Chophouse. “People stick around because there’s opportunities for advancement,” Sirois said. “Our staff doesn’t have to go from job to job—they can grow here and get to the level that they want to and that increases our retention,” Onsa said. “It makes us a better restaurant and a better hotel when we keep people.”
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A dedicated staff and impressive menu, coupled with a space that is rich in history, makes for an exceptional dining experience. Legacy guests (those who had parents or grandparents who once frequented the original hotel) feel just as at home at The Committee Chophouse as do guests visiting for their first time. Onsa said that oftentimes these legacy guests will arrive at the restaurant “dressed to the nines” to honor the history of the hotel.
The two private dining areas boast a contemporary feel while honoring the past that is The Committee Chophouse. The rooms are both “sought-after,” according to Onsa, but getting a reservation is easier for a weeknight. Weekends are typically booked far in advance. Onsa said the rooms are perfect for small groups for birthdays, corporate gatherings, or any other event in which the host wants the guests to have a special experience. One room features the original poker table that helped inspire The Committee Chophouse’s legacy, refurbished to be used as the dining table but still featuring the original felt and some playing cards underneath the glass top. Special touches such as complimentary valet parking and the signature cocktails in the Cottonwood room make a visit to The Committee Chophouse feel like a journey into the past. Guests are treated to food that’s both classic and innovative from a menu carefully crafted by a culinary staff dedicated to their craft. Onsa said, “We can create an experience that’s like a big city, but right here in our customers’ backyard. That’s what’s great about Omaha—we have the tools to do that.” Sirois agreed. “Yeah! Small town, big city attitude,” he said.
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We’re working on going from classic steakhouse to doing some more modern things. We’re continuing to push the envelope so we can stand out among steakhouses.”
Onsa and Sirois agree—if anyone were to earn the title of Omaha’s “Rat Pack,” it would have to be the three owners of the Cottonwood Hotel. “They are a bit of a Rat Pack, yeah they are,” laughed Onsa. “In the sense of they are really fun, successful, and approachable; yes, Matt [Dwyer], Jay [Lund], and Tom [McLeay] are our Rat Pack.” The Committee Chophouse is getting started on what could be a long tenure. Sirois said, “What isn’t next? Chef Brandon is talented and he’s champing at the bit to start pushing the envelope and maybe start a tasting menu. I think everyone is ready to show what we can do. We want to create experiences here that customers want.” Visit thecommitteechophouse.com for more information.
-JOHN ONSA
MARCH/APRIL 2022
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DINING PROFILE STORY TARA SPENCER PHOTOGRAPHY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN MATT WIECZOREK
a drive to REVITAL ZE JOHN TIERRE MILLER WANTS TO HELP
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A man whose roots are in Omaha has returned, using his entrepreneurial spirit to continue his family’s legacy. John Tierre (Johnny T.) Miller lived in North Omaha until the age of 11, when he moved to Houston, Texas, with his mom. It was a move that helped further his budding tennis career at the time. Spending those formative years in Omaha, however, especially having his grandparents in his life, left a deep impression. “My grandfather was an entrepreneur philanthropist. [He] did a lot in the community,” Miller said. “He wasn't necessarily working to find a job, he was working to provide jobs.” His grandfather, John Goodwin, passed away in 2018, but his entrepreneurial spirit was passed on. Miller is a soft-spoken man who doesn’t offer information freely, unless he’s talking about business. He attended Jackson State University in Mississippi on a tennis scholarship, graduating in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in business. “After graduating, I started a small business,” he said. “It was actually a T-shirt printing company, and I just kind of evolved from fashion into entertainment—going to concerts, parties—as a promoter, segued into a barber shop, a beauty shop, into my first restaurant.” That restaurant was Norma Ruth’s, named after his grandmother, and it was counter service comfort food. “[It was] five-star quality food, chef-driven, but it was takeout,” Miller said. “The response was so great that we knew it was time to go full service. People want a glass of wine with those lamb chops.” He sold the small plaza where Norma Ruth’s was located, along with his other businesses, and purchased a building in the Farish Street Historic District of downtown Jackson. In its heyday during the middle of the 20th century, Farish Street was the largest economically independent Black community in Mississippi. “Farish Street was where all the African Americans came when it was segregated,” Miller said. “So that was where your doctors, your lawyers, the movie theater, all your restaurants, the florist—any business you could think of, that was the mecca. People came from all over the South to go to that area…Integration is what killed it.” Seven years ago, Miller decided he wanted to help spur the revitalization of the district. That’s why he decided to open the first Johnny T’s on Farish Street.
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“Some thought it was a bad investment, because of the area,” he said. “Why would you choose there, of all the places?…And it’s been amazing. It’s turned into a tourist attraction—celebrities, entertainers, anyone that's visiting the city. That’s where the hotels, visitors and tourism bureau, that’s where they send them. Morgan Freeman shot a movie there, like, three weeks ago [meaning early November 2021].” Miller’s drive to revitalize historically Black neighborhoods is what prompted him to open a Johnny T’s in Omaha. “What we want to do here is set the bar. We felt like North Omaha deserves something on this level,” he said. While the Omaha location doesn’t have a kitchen, Miller has a plan. There will be a Johnny T’s food truck, and he has enlisted the help of legendary Omaha chef Glenn Wheeler. The two met through Instagram during the COVID shutdown. “He saw me on a live with Chef Jeff Henderson,” Wheeler wrote in an email. “And he private messaged me, telling me he was opening a club in Omaha…John approached me with the idea of the food truck that he had in Jackson being brought to Omaha to provide food service to the bar.” In addition to the food truck, Miller and Wheeler also plan to partner on opening a soul food restaurant in North Omaha that they are calling the Heartland Project. “The name of the business, of course, is going to be Norma Ruth’s,” Miller said. In the meantime, Wheeler is catering free Sunday brunches that are served from noon until 2 p.m., and Miller is bringing in free chicken from Time Out Foods for patrons on Friday nights. His grandfather was good friends with the former owner of Time Out, Steve Mercer, who passed away in 2019. Miller believes it is important to “recycle the dollars” within the community. “We want to build a great rapport with other businesses in the area and also our local council…and anybody around that has the ability to change the culture and the environment in North Omaha. We want to be a part of it.” With his varied experience in running different types of businesses and his background in promotion, public policy, and even tennis, Miller could bring a unique perspective to building up the community. “I used to tell people [it was] like the Mr. Miyagi effect in Karate Kid, where he was learning all these skills and traits, only in the end to have to use them all,” Miller said. Visit johnnytsbistroandblues.com for more information.
WHAT WE WANT TO DO HERE IS SET THE BAR. WE FELT LIKE NORTH OMAHA DESERVES SOMETHING ON THIS LEVEL.” -JOHN TIERRE MILLER MARCH/APRIL 2022
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Oscar’s Signature “Big O” pizza comes with hamburger, sausage, pepperoni, onions and green pepper. Pizzas can be ordered in halves to satisfy multiple diners.
DINING REVIEW // STORY BY JULIUS FREDRICK
D O G G e D L y OSCAR S PIZZA SPORTS GRILLE DeLIGHTFUL ’
Th e r e ’s a r e a s o n this so-called “Omaha style” i s p o p u l a r, a n d O s c a r ’s s i g n a t ur e pie proved an inspired addition t o t h e m e t r o ’s ongoing love letter for all things pizza.
Photography by Bill Sitzmann // Design by Matt Wieczorek MARCH/APRIL
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Borrowing nomenclature from Totinos’ viral 2014 online ad “Totino Boy,” I find the title of "pizza freak" to be a flattering epithet—I’ll admit it. Raised eyebrows consistently met my confession of never having tried Oscar’s Pizza & Sports Grille, a West Omaha staple flickering far in the periphery of my typical east-of-90th Street purview.
Two glowing paw prints marked the spot, each casting green, welcoming light over a Lakeside Plaza parking lot howling with bitter gusts of “oh, I guess it’s actually winter now.” My dining partner and I winced our way toward the door, above which the name of our would-be savior crystalized between said paws: Oscar’s. We arrived at Oscar’s Pizza & Sports Grille off 173rd Street and West Center Road at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28. The temperature outside was 18°F before windchill. Hot comfort food was our quarry, one we’d pursue with dogged determination. The parking lot’s gloomy monotone was shattered with a swing of the front door. The steady uproar of laughter and conversation, the determined strides and furtive glances of crisscrossing severs, and finally the hostess’ calm and kindly notice of a 10-to-15 minute wait confirmed our initial suspicions: the restaurant was packed. We waited at the bar, and while the six mules—ranging from an “Orchard Mule” to a “Tequila Mule”— intrigued us, that night’s special of $2 Bud Light draws won over our wallets.
OSCAR ’ S PIZZA & SPORTS GRILLE 173 & WEST CENTER - 402.758.1910 FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE PRICE OVERALL
$$$ 5 STARS POSSIBLE
As promised, our wait was short. Despite the encroaching bedlam around us, our server was prompt, patient, and friendly when taking down our appetizer, as she’d remain throughout our meal.
hellhound of Stephen King’s “Cujo.” The name is a warning that these puppies are indeed all bite—and double-dipped; the wings were fried, sauced, grilled, and then sauced again for a baked-on yet smothered flavor combo. Getting the wings dipped in multiple sauces cost an extra $0.69 per 10 wings. My dining partner, a spice queen by all accounts, replied “decent” when pressed for Kujo's heat levels, though to be fair she’s nonplussed by anything below a half-million Scoville units. Conversely, I puckered at my straw with alarming frequency and throughly enjoyed the burn. The other five wings were coated in a garlic parmesan sauce and were beautifully crusted and awash in garlicky goodness. In both cases, the meat was juicy, the sauce was ample, and the skin triumphantly arrived at that mythical char-buffed place between crispy and tender.
The appetizer menu boasted traditional bar food such as chicken tenders, onion rings, and pretzel bites, but we started with what’s arguably Oscar’s most championed menu item: hot wings. We ordered a 10-piece dish that included five Kujo—after the
For the main course, we ordered a large half pepperoni, half Big “O” pie. The pepperoni portion was fairly standard; a blanket of mozzarella concealed a solid layer of pepperoni. The Big “O” is described as Oscar’s signature pizza—topped with hamburger,
Like any self-respecting joint where sports and fanfare are part and parcel, Oscar’s has plenty of television mileage to go around. A quick survey from the bar and back left me somewhat dazed, with projectors and LCD screens forming a strobing wallpaper all their own in some corners. Despite this, tall ceilings, warm walnut tones, and yellow top-down lighting effectively softened the setting for eyes not glued to a game.
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sausage, pepperoni, onions, and green pepper. The pizza arrived piping hot, with the mozzarella baked to dappled perfection. An Oscar’s pie closely follows the tradition initiated by Omaha pizza’s old guard, such as Orsi’s and La Casa’s, where a confluence of Sicilian and Neapolitan elements have combined with varying degrees of Midwestern excess to characterize a number of parlors across town. The pizza at Oscar’s features a flaky, biscuit-inspired crust, a thick spread of cheese, sauce, and toppings, and is served square-cut in a baking pan. It certainly fits the mold, leaning more Midwestern than traditional. There’s a reason this so-called “Omaha style” is popular, and Oscar’s signature pie proved an inspired addition to the metro’s ongoing love letter for all things pizza. Despite noting early symptoms of a food coma, we opted for the server-recommended funnel cake fries ($5.99) for dessert. Paired with a ramekin of chocolate syrup, the dessert is a deconstructed funnel cake—oil-fried batter, a dusting of powdered sugar—repurposed into sticks for sharing. We appreciated
The funnel cake fries are a fun way to share the traditionally messy dessert.
the nod from our server towards this light and airy dessert, as the butter cake and brownie sundae were tempting, but probably too rich for this particular outing. Although our server had a bit of trouble with the POS system, we departed Oscar’s with wagging tales and a score of leftovers that later passed the reheat test with aplomb (when baked for 10-12 minutes at 375°F.). The bill, before tip, was $45.69. Any fellow pizza freaks out there hesitant to journey west can tread confidently knowing that Oscar’s has earned my coveted starshaped pepperoni of approval. If not for the pizza, well, how about hot wings so dang good they’d make Pavlov’s whistle sound like Julia Child? The food was truly mouthwatering, giving me another metro pizza joint to which I’ll gladly return. Visit oscarspizzaandsportsgrille.com for more information.
The popular wings come in a variety of styles, from the mild garlic and parmesan (left) to the spicy Kujo (right).
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VOTED OMAHA'S #1 SPORTS BAR!
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Nacho Typical Family Restaurant!
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DINING GUIDE
Get a Little Get Saucy.
TED AND WALLY’S - $ 1120 Jackson St. - 402.341.5827
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Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch & Dinner
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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
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, Millard and Dundee. 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
I TA L I A N LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$ 45th and Leavenworth St. - 402.556.6464 La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha its legendary Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta for 60 years. We offer dine-in, carry-out, party facilities, catering, and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states. Open Tuesday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. —lacasapizzaria.ne
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DINING GUIDE LO SOLE MIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO - $$ 3001 S. 32nd Ave. - 402.345.5656
Breakfast
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PASTA AMORE - $$ 11027 Prairie Brook Rd. - 402.391.2585 Pastas are made fresh daily, including tortellini, fettuccine, and capellini. Daily specials and menu items include a variety of fresh seafood and regional Italian dishes, such as linguini amore and calamari steak, penne Florentine, gnocchi, spaghetti puttanesca, and osso buco. Filet mignon is also offered for those who appreciate nationally renowned Nebraska beef. To complement your dining experience, the restaurant offers a full bar and extensive wine list. Be sure to leave room for homemade desserts, like the tiramisu and cannoli. MondayThursday 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 10 p.m. Reservations recommended. —pastaamore.com
4524 Farnam St. - 402-991-7724
SPEZIA - $$$ 3125 S. 72nd St. - 402.391.2950
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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
FREE PARKING . LIVE MUSIC . BIER GARDEN
STEAKS • CHOPS • SEAFOOD ITALIAN SPECIALTIES 7 private party rooms Seating up to 400 Lots of parking
The restaurant is located in a residential neighborhood, surrounded by charming homes. Everyone is greeted with homemade bread, a bowl of fresh tomatoes and basil, a bowl of ovenroasted garlic cloves, specially seasoned olive oil, and (at night) a jug of Chianti! The menu includes a large variety of pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, and even a delicious New York steak. Traditional dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, and eggplant parmigiana are also available. Lunch offerings include panini, salads, and one of the best pizzas in town. Patio seating, full bar, and a great wine list complete the atmosphere. No reservations, except for private rooms. —losolemio.com
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1620 S. 10th Street
402-345-8313
www.casciossteakhouse.com
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$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+
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Omaha
DINING GUIDE MEXICAN FERNANDO’S - $ 7555 Pacific St. - 402.339.8006. 380 N. 114th St. - 402.330.5707
MODERN COCKTAILS MIXED WITH AMERICA’S MUSIC
3825 N. 30 TH ST., OMAHA, NE @JOHNNYTSBARANDBLUES
ek Dining Gre
Featuring Sonoran-style cooking made fresh daily. Catering and party rooms also available. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4-9 p.m. —fernandosomaha.com
LA MESA - $$ 158th St. and W. Maple Rd. - 402.557.6130 156th and Q streets - 402.763.2555 110th St. and W. Maple Rd. - 402.496.1101 Fort Crook Rd. and Hwy 370 - 402.733.8754 84th St. and Tara Plaza - 402.593.0983 Lake Manawa Exit - 712.256.2762 Enjoy awesome enchiladas, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouthwatering margaritas, and more at La Mesa. Come see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s No. 1 Mexican restaurant 18 years in a row. Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. lamesaomaha.com
2022 First Place
Family Owned Since 1983 CATERING / PARTY ROOM AVAILABLE HOMEMADE, FRESH FOOD, ALWAYS.
3821 Center St. / 402.346.1528 GreekIslandsOmaha.com
DINING GUIDE LEGEND
$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
ROMEO’S MEXICAN FOOD AND PIZZA - $ 90th and Blondo streets - 402.391.8870 146th St. and W. Center Rd. - 402.330.4160 96th and L streets - 402.331.5656 Galvin and Avery roads - 402.292.2028 29th and Farnam steets - 402.346.1110 Romeo’s is your friendly, family Mexican food and pizza restaurant.We take real pride in serving our guests generous portions of the freshest, most flavorful dishes made with the finest ingredients available. Zesty seasonings and the freshest ingredients combine to ensure the ultimate in flavor. Our savory taco meat is prepared every morning at each location. Make sure to try our chimichangas; they’re the best in town. —romeosomaha.com
SPECIAL DINING CRESCENT MOON ALE HOUSE - $ 3578 Farnam St. - 402.345.1708 Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia—Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best Reuben sandwich, we are a Midtown beer-lover’s destination. Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen hours: Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight. Closed Sunday. —beercornerusa.com
Omaha’s Riverfront Entertainment Venue
Omaha
DINING GUIDE 168th & •West WEDDINGS PARTIESCenter • EVENTS 11th & Harney motsomaha.com
JAMS OLD MARKET • 1101 Harney St • Happy Hour M-F 3pm-6pm
JAMS MIDTOWN • 7814 West Dodge Road • Sunday Brunch 10am-2pm BOOK 2022 EVENTS NOW!
402-342-7827
• WEDDINGS • PARTIES • EVENTS • REUNIONS • MEETINGS 151 FREEDOM PARK ROAD • OMAHA www.rivercitystar.com
JAMS LEGACY • 17070 Wright Plaza • Party Rooms & Patios • jamseats.com
RATHSKELLER BIER HAUS-$$ 4524 Farnam St. - 402.991.7724 Rathskeller Bier Haus celebrates daily with German beer, wurst and many other menu items. Within arm’s reach of the Blackstone District and historic Dundee. Rathskeller Bier Haus is our German castle and designed to bring the storied traditions of Bavaria to the beating heart of Omaha’s metro area. Come enjoy our large outdoor beer garden and four legged friends are welcome. Prost! Open daily 11 a.m.-Late. —rathskelleromaha.com
GREEK ISLANDS - $ 3821 Center St. - 402.346.1528 Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. We are well-known 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
STEAKHOUSES Take Out & Delivery Available Online Ordering Available at Bellevue & Millard Locations
Please Check Website for Hours of Operation Sports Bar
402.339.1944
402.505.6660
402.932.1944
CASCIO’S - $$ 1620 S. 10th St. - 402-345-8313 Cascio’s is Omaha’s No. 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature steaks, chops, seafood, and Italian specialties. We have seven private party rooms, seating for up to 400 people, and plenty of parking. —casciossteakhouse.com
THE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$ 2121 S. 73rd St. - 402-391-7440
varsityromancoinpizza.com h Steak ouse
2022 First Place
@The Drover Restaurant & Lounge | Gift Cards Available 2121 S. 73 St. | (402) 391-7440 | DroverRestaurant.com Open Monday - Friday 11am - 2pm | Dinner nightly from 5pm
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., cocktail hour 3-6 p.m., dinner nightly 5 p.m. —droverrestaurant.com
DINING GUIDE LEGEND
$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+
MARCH/APRIL 2022
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explore.
come and
LE T’S PLAN A ROAD TRIP!
DAYTRI PS I N NE BRA SK A , I OW A , K AN SA S, AN D M I SSOURI
RODEO GRAND ISLAND, March 11 & 12 at Heartland Events Center in Fonner Park, Grand Island. This Professional
NEBRASKA
ANNUAL POLAR BEAR TANK RACE, March 4-5 at Middle Loup River near Mullen.
This timed event features teams of four-to-six people who race down the river in metal stock tanks. Prizes are awarded for tank decorations and themes. Teams may also choose to forgo the race and enjoy a relaxing float down the river. 308-546-2206. —sandhillsjourney.com
Rodeo Cowboy Association event features team roping, barrel racing, and Xtreme Bulls Tour. 308-382-4515 . —heartlandeventscenter.com
JERSEY BOYS, March 25-27 at Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln.
They were just four guys from Jersey, until they sang their ver y first note. They had a sound nobody CLUE, March 5 at the Neville had ever heard…and the radio March Center in North Platte. Join the just couldn’t get enough. Go iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, behind the music and inside the Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and story of Frankie Valli and The Mustard as they race to find the Four Seasons in this Tony and murderer in Boddy Manor before GRAMMY Award®-winning true-life the body count stacks up 308-532-8559. musical phenomenon. 402-472-4700. —northplattecommunityplayhouse.com —liedcenter.org
05
KEARNEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: AMERICAN ADVENTURES, March 8
at UNK Fine Arts Recital Hall in Kearney. Celebrate American music
with selections from film scores “Raiders of the Lost Ark ” and “Star Wars” (John Williams), Samuel Barber, and an orchestral piece by Florence P r ic e , “A dor at ion ,” c e le br at i ng Black Histor y Month. 308-865-84 41. —unk.edu
RIVERDANCE, March 8-10 at Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln.
This show is a powerful and stirring reinvention of the beloved favorite, celebrated the world over for its GRAMMY award-winning score and the thrilling energy and passion of its Irish and international dance. 402-472-4700. —liedcenter.org
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION, March 16-20 in downtown O’Neill. The home
SHAMROCK SHUFFLE 5K WALK /RUN/ CRAWL, March 12 in Fairbury. Runners
and walkers are encouraged to dress up in leprechaun gear for this event. The post-race celebration includes unique awards, live music, giveaways, green booze, and food. 402-729-3000. —fairburychamber.org
AUDUBON’S NEBRASKA CRANE SEASON,
March 5-April 10 at Rowe Sanctuary in Gibbon. Thousands of Sandhill
cranes migrate through Nebraska each year, and there are several opportunities to see them. The event includes educational events, guided tou r s ( prereg istration requ i red ), and other programs. 308-468-5282 . —ne.audubon.org
ELTON JOHN: FAREWELL YELLOW BRICK ROAD TOUR, March 27 at Pinnacle
Bank Arena in Lincoln. This concert
was rescheduled from June, 2020, so of the “The World's Largest Shamrock ” tickets are limited. Sir Elton John is nearly doubles its size to 7,000 people one of the most highly acclaimed during St. Patrick ’s Day weekend. and successful solo ar tists of March Festivities begin Wednesday with all time, and fans won’t want to the Irish Walk of Fame induction miss this tour. 402-904-4 4 4 4 . ceremony and the painting of the —pinnaclebankarena.com town's beloved shamrock. The big day is Saturday, when attendees can MYSTERY AT THE MANSION, March 5 at gather to watch the parade and partake Arbor Lodge Mansion in Nebraska City. in many other activities. 402-336-2355. Solve clues, look for evidence, and break —oneillchamber.com the old-fashioned whodunnit case while mingling with new friends. 402-873-8717. —arbordayfarm.org
16-20
THIS SPRING, COME DISCOVER WHY SARPY COUNTY IS SO NEAR, SO FUN! Union Omaha Soccer
lakes Fishing our many
& rivers
Werner Park, Papillion
Nebraska Crossing, Gretna
MacDaro’s Pub & Pizzeria, Gretna
Wildlife Safari, just off of I-80
Walnut Creek Recreation Area
Wine Cellar 510, Papillion
Eagle Hills Golf Course, Papillion
Omaha Storm Chasers at Werner Park, Papillion
Schramm Park Education Center
TreeRush Adventures at Fontenelle Forest, Bellevue
Embassy Suites, La Vista
Located just a few minutes south of Omaha, Sarpy County awaits with a wonderful mix of fun things to see and do this Spring. For the sports fans, catch an Omaha Storm Chasers baseball game or Union Omaha, Nebraska’s first and only professional soccer team at Werner Park. Spend the day at Fontenelle Forest, where you can enjoy the new TreeRush Adventures, the metro area’s only zipline obstacle course. Sarpy’s culinary scene can satisfy every craving possible and of course our award winning breweries, distilleries and winery can top off a perfect evening. Whatever you decide, stay and play and plan your getaway to Sarpy County this year. For a complete listing of restaurants, hotels, events and more, visit us online at
GoSarpy.com!
BELLEVUE • GRETNA • LA VISTA • PAPILLION • SPRINGFIELD • OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE • OMAHA METRO
E XPLORE CAL E NDAR
JOYCE YANG, April 19 at Lied Performing Arts Center in Lincoln. This Grammy-
nominated pianist captivates audiences with her vir tuosity, lyricism, and interpretive sensitivity. 402-472-4700. —liedcenter.org
SPRING FLING, April 16 at Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum in Ashland. Kids of all ages can participate
ZACH WILLIAMS, March 25 at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines. Join
IOWA
BRIAN REGAN March 3 at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines. Regan is one of
the most respected comedians in the country. He co-stars in Peter Farrelly’s TV series Loudermilk, 515-24 4-0507. —hoytsherman.org
in an egg hunt, make and take a craft, visit with the Easter Bunny, and learn about making kites. 402- 94 4-3100. —sacmuseum.org
Zach Williams and special guest Anne Wilson for a night of music and ministry. Williams is a Grammy awardwinning artist known for his signature blend of southern rock, country and faith-filled songwriting. 515-244-0507. —hoytsherman.org
LITTLE FEAT—WAITING FOR COLUMBUS TOUR, March 8 at Hoyt Sherman
Place in Des Moines. Little Feat is the
LEANNE MORGAN: THE BIG PANTY TOUR,
April 2 at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City. Morgan’s style of comedy
classic example of a fusion of many combines her southern charm and styles and musical genres made into hilarious stor y telling about her something utterly distinctive. Their own life into an act that keeps fans BROWNVILLE CONCERT SERIES, Todd musicianship transcends boundaries, coming back for more. 855-333-8771. Murray & Stacy Sullivan: I’m uniting California rock, funk, folk, jazz, —orpheumlive.com Glad There Is You, April 22-24 at country, rockabilly, and New Orleans Brownville Concert Hall, Brownville. swamp boogie into a rich gumbo, that This performance covers the musical has been leading people in joyful TENDERLOINS AND SO MUCH MORE April romance of Frank Sinatra and Peggy dance ever since. 515-24 4-0507. TOUR, April 6 at Cooking with Lee, from the time they first shared —hoytsherman.org Alessandra in Des Moines. the stage in 1941 at the Paramount This tour explores foods that Theater in Times Square until Frank ’s were made fa mous in Des JAY LENO, March 5 at the Orpheum passing in 1998. Peggy Lee and Frank Moines and restaurants that keep in Sioux City. Acclaimed late-night Sinatra were the closest of friends those traditions alive. 515-508-9474 . TV show host, stand-up comedian, bestand musical peers . 402- 825-3331 . —cookingwithalessandra.com selling children’s book author, and so —brownvilleconcertseries.com much more, Leno is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in TAKE A BITE, April 12-14 at the Amana GEORGE STRAIT: STRAIT TO THE STAR show business .” 855-333- 87 71 . Colonies. This three-day food fest CITY, April 23 at Pinnacle Bank —orpheumlive.com includes cooking education, hands-on April Arena, Lincoln. The Kind of instruction, samplings, and special Country will be joined by guest menu items and dinners at Amana IMMERSIVE VIVALDI, March 12 at Asleep At The Wheel for this Colonies food businesses. 319-622-7622. the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux one-night event. 402-904-4 4 4 4 . —amanacolonies.com City. This Sioux City Symphony —pinnaclebankarena.com Orc hes t r a produc t ion feat u res Vivaldi’s timeless classic, The Four KITES OVER HOOVER PARK, April 20 near ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION April 29 Seasons. After intermission, guests Hoover Park in West Branch. April is to May 1 at Arbor Day Farm in will be transpor ted into a modernKite-Flying Month, and thousands of Nebraska City. Visitors can celebrate day nightclub scene. 855-333-87 71. colorful kites will fly during this event, this holiday where it all began—at —orpheumlive.com which includes a kite-performance team Arbor Day Farm. All across this 260and family-friendly games, a candy acre campus, opportunities abound drop, and crafts for kids. 319-643-5301. ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVAL, March —hoover.archives.gov to play, learn, taste, and shop, all 17-20 in Emmetsburg. This sister in celebration of trees. Concurrent city of Dublin, Ireland, celebrates the to this event is the 148th Annual “wearing o’ the green” in a grand way. ABBA, April 23 at the Orpheum Arbor Day Celebration in Nebraska Events include a bean bag tournament, Theatre in Sioux City. This event City, with a parade, kids activities, fun run, kids’ zone, free movie, live celebrates the music of ABBA featuring plant sales, and more. 402- 873-8717. music, and a parade. Before the parade, the Finnish pop sensation Rajaton and —arbordayfarm.org eat a cup of Irish stew or a baked potato the, Sioux City Symphony. 855-333-8771. with toppings, or sample the entries —orpheumlive.com EARTH DAY, April 23 at Union Plaza in from the chili cook-off. 712-852-4326. Lincoln. This event includes live music, —emmetsburgirishgifts.com FOOD AND FARM FESTIVAL, April 27-28 informational booths, family activities, at Living History Farms in Urbandale. food trucks, and a farmer’s market. MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL, March 26-27 at Local producers, brewers, makers, and —lincolnearthday.org Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar ar tists will gather together on the Rapids. The Maple Syrup Festival, front lawn of Living History Farms to held at the end of the syruping season, celebrate everything that makes Iowa features syrup-making demonstrations, great. VIP events include Festival of a look inside the Maple Sugar House, Cheese, Beer ’n' Bread, and Cocktails a pancake breakfast with real maple and Comfor t Food . 515-278 - 5 2 8 6 . syrup, and live music. 319-362-0664 . —lhf.org —indiancreeknaturecenter.org
06
23
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
E XPLORE CAL E NDAR
NCAA BIG 12 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, March 10-13 at Munici-
KANSAS
MISSOURI
HOLI FESTIVAL, March 4 at Roe Park in Overland Park. Visitors to this
ERIC CHURCH, March 1 and 2 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. The coun-
festival should wear white clothing and expect to get messy as people playfully throw colorful powders at each other. This event is a celebration of the coming spring, the joy of friendship, and equality. 913-230-6189. —@absarevents on Facebook
QLATHE BBQ CHAMPIONSHIP, March
18-19 at Lone Elm Park in Olathe.
Kansas City is known for its barbecue, and in this annual KCBS Sanctioned Event, more than 70 competition teams will fill the park with awardw in ning ba rbecue. 91 3 - 9 7 1- 8 6 0 0 . —olatheks.org
SKY LANTERN FESTIVAL, March 19, in Lawrence. Thousands of paper sky
lanterns will light the night at this magical event, which includes music, an activity area, photo opportunities, a fire pit, s’mores, and more. The exact location is revealed one week before the event. —lightsoveramerica.events
CHRIS PERONDI'S STUNT DOG EXPERIENCE, April 10 at C.L
Hoover Opera House in Junction City. This cast of performers
try star will be performing songs from his new album “Desperate Man” as well as other popular past hits. 816-949-7100. —ticketmaster.com
KORN, March 5 at T Mobile Center in Kansas City. This metal band
05
is known for their Grammy-nominated songs “Shoots and Ladders” and “Freak on a Leash.” They will be accompanied by special guests Chevelle and Code Orange. 816-949-7100. —t-mobilecenter.com
SNAKE, Saturday, March 12 in
North Kanas City. This popular St.
Patrick ’s Day event in Kansas City includes a parade followed by a charity cook-off, lad and lassie contest for youngsters, and more. 816-548-3113 . —snakesaturday.com
TOOL, March 15 at T Mobile Center in Kansas City. This band is known for
10
KEGS ’N’ EGGS, April 17 at Kansas
City Renaissance Festival grounds in Bonner Springs. While sipping on
craft beers and listening to live music at this adult-only event, guests can hunt for golden eggs and win prizes. 913-721-2110. —@kegsneggskc on Facebook
KANSAS STORYTELLING FESTIVAL, April 22-23 in downtown Downs. Tall tales,
anecdotes, and historical re-enactments can all be found at this festival, which offers t wo evening concer ts and many separate sessions of stories, workshops, and music. 785-454-6648. —kansasstorytelling.comg
KANSAS CITY FILMFEST, April 6-10
March
their Grammy-Award song “7empest." They are joined by special guests The Acid Helps. 816-949 -7100. April —t-mobilecenter.com
and dogs will delight audiences of all ages, with high energ y excitement f rom beg i n n i ng to end. This performance troupe has been seen on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Tonight Show, Dav id Letterman, and more. 785-238-3906. —jcoperahouse.org
pal Auditorium in Kansas City. Kansas City is on the tour for March Madness in the women’s division, also. 816-949-7100. —kcconvention.com at B&B Mainstreet Theaters Kansas City. More than 120
films will be shown over five days at this annual event, which celebrates the power of storytelling as a shared cultural experience through the cinematic arts. 816-756-5877. —kcfilmfest.org
BLESSING OF THE BIKES, April 28 on the historic downtown square in Neosho.
The annual event brings together more than 300 bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts to initiate the onset of the riding season. Food, vendors, drift trike racing, and live music carry the day that is concluded with a bike blessing. 417-389-3301. — @blessingof thebikescovenant0702 on Facebook
EVENT TIMES AND DETAILS MAY CHANGE. Visit omahamagazine.com for complete listings. Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE, March 17 along Broadway in Kansas City. Now that the snakes have been
driven away, visitors can spend the next day reveling with fellow St. Patrick ’s Day fans with one of the country ’s largest St. Patrick Day parades. —kcirishparade.com
ST. PATRICK’S DAY, March 17 in the Power & Light District, Kansas City.
Once the parade is done, it’s time for beer and shenanigans. One of Kansas City’s most popular areas will provide a free concert and DJ set along with green beer and food specials for sale at participating restaurants. 816-842-1045. —powerandlightdistrict.com
NCAA BIG 12 MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP, March 9-12 at T-Mobile Center
in Kansas City. Kansas City is on the
tour for March Madness. Basketball fans will enjoy seeing the best hoops the Big 12 has to offer. 816-949-7100. —t-mobilecenter.com
MARCH/APRIL 2022
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OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR
« FROM PAGE 14 CHELSEA HANDLER: VACCINATED AND HORNY
April 16 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. This comedian, television host,
best-selling author, and advocate is one of today’s most notable voices in entertainment. Tickets: $49.50-$219.50. 8 p.m. 402.345.0202. -ticketomaha.com
WICKED
ANNUAL WORLD OF WHEELS
Tony Awards, “Wicked” is one of Broadway’s biggest blockbusters. Tickets and times vary. 402.345.0606. -ticketomaha.com
rods will be shown at this annual event. Times vary. Tickets: $20 general admission, $8 children 6-12, free to children 5 and under. 402-341-1500. -chihealthcenteromaha.com
April 27-May 15 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Winner of one Grammy Award and three
OMAHA CZECH-SLOVAK FESTIVAL
April 14 at St. Nicholas Community Center, 5050 Harrison St. Celebrate Czech-Slovak cul-
ture with this spring festival, which features Czech food, dancing, music, and more. Times TBA. Admission: free, but cash is needed for drinks and food. 402-740-6552. -omahaczechclub.com
DEADLIEST LIFESAVERS WITH BIOMEDICAL SCIENTIST ZOLTAN TAKACS
April 19 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. This biomedical scientist and
inventor collects snake, scorpion, jellyfish, and other venoms from around the world, to identify leads for medicines. Tickets: $15-$32. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. -ticketomaha.com
EARTH DAY OMAHA
April 23 at Elmwood Park, 60th and Dodge streets. This event combines science, education,
music, food, and fun with eco-friendly demonstrations about ways to help the Earth, health and wellness, and activities for children. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission: free. An online component runs April 22-May 22. -earthdayomaha.org
GIRAFFES CAN’T DANCE, THE MUSICAL.
April 8 to May 1 at The Rose Theater 2001 Farnam St. This brand new musical is the story
ERNEST IN LOVE
April 21-24 and April 28-May 1 at University of Nebraska at Omaha, Weber Fine Arts Building, 6505 University Drive S. This show is based on
Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Tickets: $20. 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. 402.554.2406. -unotheatre.com
JEREMY PIVEN
April 22-23 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Jeremy Piven is best known for his role as Ari
Gold in the hit HBO series “Entourage.” Tickets: $35. 7 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. 402.884.5353. -waitingroomlounge.com
EUGENE ONEGIN BY OPERA OMAHA
April 22 and 24 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Tatyana bares her soul in a love letter to
the dashing Eugene Onegin, but he rejects her and flirts with her sister. Tickets: $19-$99. 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Sunday. 402.345.0606. -ticketomaha.com
ANJELAH JOHNSON-REYES—WHO DO I THINK I AM? TOUR
April 24 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Comic and actress Anjelah
Johnson-Reyes performs storytelling about navigating her racial identity, finding her place, and chasing her dreams. Tickets: $49.50-$99.50. 6 p.m. 402.345.0202. -ticketomaha.com
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MARCH/APRIL 2022
April 1-3 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Vehicles from classic Cadillacs to hot
of Gerald, who realizes that anyone can dance when they love the music. Tickets: $20. Times vary. 402.345.4849. -rosetheater.org
» Family and More « OMAHA FILM FESTIVAL
March 1-6 at Aksarben Cinema, 2110 S. 67th St., and online. Local, national, and international
films will be discussed, watched, and celebrated at this annual festival. Times vary. Admission varies from $10 per single movie-ticket to $100 for multi-day passes. 402-203-8173. -omahafilmfestival.org
FISH FRIES
March 4-April 14 in various locations. Many
churches and community centers around Omaha will provide a fish (or meatless) dinner on Fridays during this time frame. A few popular choices include: Holy Name Catholic Church, holynameomaha.org; Mary Our Queen Catholic Church, maryourqueenchurch.com; St. Patrick’s Catholic Church of Elkhorn, stpatselkhorn.org; St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, svdpomaha.org; St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church, stjohnsgreekorthodox.org; and Holy Ghost Catholic Church, holyghostomaha.com.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
March 12 in downtown Omaha. Th is annual
parade, put on by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, will march through the downtown area, starting at 15th and Harney streets and winding through the Old Market. -aohomaha.org
JUNKSTOCK
April 29-30 at Sycamore Farm, 1150 River Road Drive. More than 150 vintage, antique,
and junk vendors will display their wares at this southern-style flea market that includes food trucks and live music. Kids 12 and under are free. Adult tickets: $10 daily pass, $20 three-day pass. 402-765-8651. -junkstock.com
TREMENDOUS ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION
April 27 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St.
Visitors to the gardens can learn about Nebraska’s homegrown holiday during this event, which features a variety of educational activities. Admission: $10 adults, $5 children 6-12, free for children under 6 and members. 402-346-4002. -lauritzengardens.org
MAIFEST
April 27 at German-American Society, 3717 S. 120th St. The public is invited to celebrate spring
with German food, drinks, and a Maypole. Noon11 p.m. Admission: free, but cash is needed for drinks and food. 402-333-6615. -germanamericansociety.org
Event times and details are correct as of presstime, but are subject to change. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, many events are canceling and/or changing dates/time/places as needed. Omaha Magazine encourages readers to visit venues' websites and/or calling ahead before attending an event or visiting a museum.
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2022
twitter.com/omahamagazine
NOT FUNNY // COLUMN BY OTIS TWELVE // PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL SITZMANN
T I P S FO R TR AVELER S
I
t’s been an interesting last two years, don’t you think?
I’ve missed out on a lot. I’ve had smaller gatherings of friends and family, and smaller holiday feasts; made fewer visits to restaurants. I’ve attended fewer large gatherings of political zealots. Mainly, I’ve had less travel.
Hopefully, that’s about to change and soon I will be able to feel safe from infection again as they shuffle me through long security checkpoint lines, fill me with stale airport Cinnabons, and finally shoehorn me into a tiny coach seat between pro-football linemen for a 10-hour flight that delivers me to a long immigration and customs line in some backward country where they have family leave, universal health care, and really good coffee. Yes, soon we will all be traveling again. With that in mind, here are a few tips I’ve picked up on my jaunts around the globe. 1. When in Rome, Italy, do not fall for the pitch of the barkers at the unicycle rental stalls near the Castel Sant’Angelo. And if you do rent, avoid the Spanish steps. 2. Do not trust the food at the Franz Kafka Coffeehouse and B&B in Prague. It’s way beyond, “Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup.” 3. Never go to Hong Kong on a whim. The immigration folks there always ask “Why” you are there. Have a good answer ready. 4. Germans love deep-fried food so much it’s a miracle that they ever had the energy to invade anyone. A leading side effect of schnitzel and beer is a nap. So, never dine too far from your hotel room. 5. The French are not rude at all. Unless you talk to them, and if you do speak to one, you most likely don’t speak French yourself, so you won’t really understand exactly how rude they are being—until you discover the restaurant they directed you to is a tire store, “Magasin de Pneus.” 6. The Netherlands are very flat. And that’s why the nation produces very few Olympic quality skateboarders. There is no Dutch word for “hill.” 7. Lots of people go to see The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, but she never sings and they leave disappointed. Danish people sit on benches near the statue and quietly curse Disney Studios. 8. In Dusseldorf, the taxi cabs are all new Mercedes or BMWs, but they still smell like taxi cabs. Note: There is a large fine for bringing popcorn into any of the city’s cabs. 9. Most Broadway theaters are not on Broadway. So, if you’re in NYC for a musical, don’t trust Google maps. 10. Japanese folks are very polite, but only to a point. Try not to be an ass when you’re there, and I recommend the street food in Osaka and not the KFCs on every corner. So, if you are planning that long delayed big trip…you’re welcome. Otis Twelve hosts the radio program Morning Classics with Otis Twelve on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. Visit kvno.org for more information.
MARCH/APRIL
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