J U LY / A U G U S T 2 02 1
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• Wave Bistro • Ika Ramen and Izakaya • Mezcal Brothers • Cultural Spots in the Metro
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Friday & Saturday, August 20th - 21st, 2021 Ta-Ha-Zouka Park — Elkhorn, NE DAYS & TIMES Friday, August 20 th , 5 pm -11 pm Saturday, August 21 st , 3 pm -11 pm
FEATURE ATTRACTIONS · Hot Air Balloons Launch around 7 PM & Glow around 9 PM (weather permitting) · Taste Award-Winning Wines Featuring Local Wineries with Over 70 Wines to Taste · Enjoy Live Music from the Best Area Bands, Beer Garden, Marketplace Village & Delicious Foods · VIP Food & Wine Pairings at 6 PM & 8 PM with Carrabbas on Friday & 801 Grill on Saturday · Pony Rides and Fun for the Kids! · Free Park N Ride from Elkhorn High School to and from the Festival Entrance
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FROM THE EDITOR // LETTER BY TARA SPENCER, SENIOR EDITOR
CERAMICS, MUSIC, GRAPHIC DESIGN J u ly /A u g u s t I s s u e
is
A rt f u l
Managing Editor’s Note: As Omaha’s arts and culture magazine, this July/ August edition, which focuses entirely on those subjects, is one of the staff’s favorites. This month’s editor’s letter is written by A+C editor Tara Spencer.
T
here’s nothing better than hearing the right song at the right moment—whether it’s one that picks people up and gives them energy when they need it, or one that reaffirms that a person is not alone in their feelings.
Listening to music has always been a way for me to work out my emotions, often resulting in my feeling better about life in general. Considering the mental and emotional drain this last year has been, it’s little wonder that the annual arts-and-culture-themed issue focuses heavily on beats and melodies. In one of the features, musician and regular writer Virginia Kathryn Gallner talks to some well-known artists in Omaha’s music scene about who they think deserves some recognition. This city has a music scene—encompassing everything from jazz to folk-rock to hip hop—that continues to grow and thrive. Speaking of recognition, be sure to read the story on the Mezcal Brothers, a group who’s been sharing their rocking, danceable music with the world for more than two decades. That is longer than our accomplished Gen O subject, 13-year-old Winston Schneider, has been alive. It’s impossible to ignore our city’s vibrant visual artists, and the main feature highlights one of Omaha’s most recognizable people, Jun Kaneko, who continues to strive to find answers. Despite, or perhaps because of, the pandemic and a Parkinson’s diagnosis, the man who helped shape Omaha’s artistic landscape is looking to find the positive side. After trying to find a traditional job in graphic design, multimedia artist Adri Montano found her own way of telling her story and those of women of color erased by history. Two local documentarians did not start out wanting to work in that medium. One wanted to share her story to help others learn and cope with trauma. The other began by telling people’s stories in print, but couldn’t find a satisfying way of doing so until he started working in film. Each story in this issue includes a bit of arts and culture. Restaurant veteran George Liao of Wave Bistro offers a literal, and visual, feast in West Omaha. In Benson, the art at Ika Ramen is as stimulating as the food is comforting. Then there’s the guy who wants you to eat his art—his bread art, that is. Each year, we produce several themed issues. As the arts and culture editor, this is one of my favorites, allowing me the opportunity to highlight so many of our city’s talented individuals. This issue offers a glimpse into the world of those who help Omaha’s artistic scene flourish, whether they are collectors or makers, and we are ever so thankful for their work.
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TAB L E of CON T E N T S THE USUAL SUSPECTS 03
From the Editor July/August Issue is Artful
06
Between the Lines
08
Calendar of Events
014 History
David P. Abbott
089 Obviously Omaha
Cultural Spots in the Metro
132 Explore! 135 Instagram 136 Not Funny
The Adventure of Adventuring
A R T S + C U LT U R E 016 Music
Mezcal Brothers
096
020 Theater
Matthew Gutschick
022 Entertainment Adri Montano
DINING 090 Feature
Wave Bistro
094 Profile
Matthew Scheffler
096 Review
Ika Ramen and Izakaya
126 Dining Guide SPECIAL SECTION 101 41st U.S. Senior Open Championship
* 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.
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70 trees have been reforested
due to the printing of our last round of publications.
Learn more at
.com
Between
THE LINES A LOOK AT FOUR OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS
JULIUS FREDRICK—Contributing Writer and Digital Assistant Fredrick is an award-winning lifestyle writer and nature enthusiast. He currently writes for the trip planning platform Jubel (@jubel.co) and for his personal travel blog, takegoodrisks.com. His wanderlust is global, having toured cities such as Tokyo, Santiago de Chile, Marrakesh, London, and Cardiff with his "dynamite" girlfriend and photographer, Sarah Lemke. While he enjoys urban settings, his favorite place is anywhere that offers obscure, beautiful landscapes and a toasty campfire. When not clacking away at the keyboard or retying his hiking boots for the 20th time that day, Fredrick is likely to be found in some hole-in-the-wall with a slice of New Yorkstyle pizza and a pending jukebox request for David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.”
HANNAH HESER—Editorial Intern Heser was born and raised in Omaha. She is finishing her last two semesters at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, preparing to graduate in December 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in creative media and a minor in communication studies. When she is not in school or working, Heser enjoys singing and songwriting, learning new skills on the guitar, spending time with friends and family, and relaxing. After she graduates, Heser hopes to move to Nashville, Tennessee, to follow her dreams with music and get affiliated with a company that offers journalism/broadcasting jobs in that area. Heser actively posts on her Instagram account, @hannahheser.
JOEL STEVENS—Contributing Writer Stevens was born and raised in North Omaha. As the ninth of 10 sons, he barely survived childhood and the inevitable deep trauma associated with having eight older brothers. It’s no wonder he married a licensed therapist/social worker. After graduating from Central High School, he studied journalism at UNO. He’s worked as a bartender, cook, video store clerk, researcher for an environmental nonprofit, and as a film critic, entertainment reporter, and sportswriter. When he’s not writing or in therapy, he’s usually exhausted and spending time with his wife, Angee; his four children—Beckett, Finnegan, Juno, and Iris; and dogs Zeke and Cora. He has also served as a judge for the Omaha Film Festival and is active in several local charities and social causes with his wife and children.
WENDY TOWNLEY—Contributing Writer The garden has become Townley’s happy place, second only to the library and a craft supply store. If she hasn’t returned an email or text message yet, chances are she’s finishing an overdue library book, creating some sort of paper craft, or regretting not pulling those weeds sooner. Townley’s first byline appeared in Omaha Magazine in the late 1990s, thanks to an assignment by the magazine’s then-editor—the late, great Eric Stoakes. Townley serves as executive director of the Omaha Public Library Foundation and teaches a journalism course at UNO. She’s grateful that her husband, Matt Tompkins, and their Westies, Barley and Teddy, don’t mind glitter, glue, and dustings of potting soil throughout their house.
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JULY/AUGUST 2021 VOLUME 39 // ISSUE 4
SCR
IBE
EDITORIAL Managing Editor
DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor
TARA SPENCER Associate Editor
LINDA PERSIGEHL Editorial Intern
HANNAH HESER Contributing Writers
KAMRIN BAKER · LEO ADAM BIGA · CHRIS BOWLING TAMSEN BUTLER · KIM CARPENTER · VIRGINIA KATHRYN GALLNER CHRIS HATCH · JEFF LACEY · NIZ PROSKOCIL · SEAN ROBINSON KARA SCHWEISS · JOEL STEVENS · TIM TRUDELL DOUGLAS “OTIS TWELVE” WESSELMANN · MIKE WHYE
CREATIVE Creative Director
MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer
DEREK JOY Graphic Designer II
MADY BESCH Contributing Photographers
JUSTIN BARNES · KEITH BINDER · COLIN CONCES SCOTT DRICKEY · JOSHUA FOO · WILLIAM HESS · SARAH LEMKE
Ken Ludwig’s
Dear Jack, Dear Louise
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Joslyn Art Museum features works from antiquity to the present. Whether inside or out, the galleries offer a relaxing and artful destination for all.
explore
NOW
AT
MEGAN BARTHOLOMEW
FREE GENERAL ADMISSION For current visitor guidelines, special exhibitions, and hours, visit joslyn.org
2200 Dodge St. | Omaha, NE | (402) 342-3300 | www.joslyn.org JULY/AUGUST 2021
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» Museums « CHARLEY FRIEDMAN: SOUNDTRACKS FOR THE PRESENT FUTURE
Through Aug. 1 at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. Experience this immer-
sive auditory installation that combines over 70 secondhand guitars, mandolins, and basses to create a singular instrument. Soundtracks for the Present Future explores ideas around decentralization and diversity through the multiplicity of distinct instruments. 402.341.7130. –bemiscenter.org
NEBRASKA ARTIST BIENNIAL
Through Aug. 1 at Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth St. The 2021 Nebraska Artist Biennial is a
juried exhibition. Ultimately, 100 artists representing a variety of artistic styles and disciplines were selected this year. Admission: free. 402-305-1510. –gallery1516.org
ATIIM JONES: CROSSROADS
Through Aug. 7 at Fred Simon Gallery 1004 Farnam St. Jones is a Minneapolis-born street
photographer based in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2010, he began photographing strangers in the Old Market District, and in 2011 created Crossroads, a photographic documentary of people in the Old Market and surrounding area. It has since become one of the largest photography projects in the world. 402-595-2122. –artscouncil.nebraska.gov
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JULY/AUGUST 2021
SALVADOR DALI’S STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
Through Aug. 14 at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. Curated by David S. Rubin, this exhi-
bition presents a comparative study of two of Salvador Dalí’s most celebrated portfolios, his book illustrations for the Comte de Lautréamont’s Les Chants de Maldoror (1868-69) and Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy (c. 1308-20), and includes 143 prints signed by Salvador Dalí (43 prints for Les Chants de Maldoror, and 100 prints for The Divine Comedy). Admission: $5 adults, $4 college students, $3.50 students and seniors, and free for members. Wed-Fri: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sat: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. –elmuseolatino.org
FAIRYTALE LAND
Through Aug. 29 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. An enchanting castle adventure
awaits at the museum, where visitors can scale the castle wall, visit Bentley the unicorn, or prepare a feast in the castle kitchen. Admission: $14 nonmembers, adults, and children ages 2-17, $13 seniors (60+), and free for members and children under 24 months. 9-4 p.m. 402.342.6164. –ocm.org
AMERICAN ART DECO: DESIGNING FOR THE PEOPLE (1918-1939)
Through Sept. 5 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. This ticketed exhibition investigates a
dynamic period in American history and culture, when the country and its citizens went through political, economic, social, and artistic transformation and revolution. From stylish decorative art objects to products of industrial design, modern American paintings to compelling photographic images, the multimedia works of art in this exhibition reflect both the glamour and optimism of the 1920s and the marginalization, devastation, and escapism of the 1930s. Admission: $10 adults; $5 college students with ID; free for Joslyn members and youth ages 17 and younger. Wednesday through Sunday: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. 402.342.3300. –joslyn.org
DIEDRICK BRACKENS
Through Sept. 5 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Drawing on global textile and weaving
traditions, Diedrick Brackens creates intricate tapestries that interrogate personal stories and shared cultural realities. 402.342.3300. –joslyn.org
JAMES CAMERON CHALLENGING THE DEEP
Through Sept. 12 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. The exhibition follows explorer and
filmmaker James Cameron’s achievements in deepocean science, engineering, and exploration and features his record-breaking dive to the bottom of the earth in his Deepsea Challenger submersible. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children ages 3-12, and free for members and children ages 2 and under. Tuesday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sundays: noon-4 p.m. 402.444.5071. –durhammuseum.org
ALL TOGETHER, AMONGST MANY: REFLECTIONS ON EMPATHY
Through Sept. 19 at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. Th is exhibit
explores the cultural and sociopolitical issues currently defining the United States. While it is not an exhaustive survey, it provides a snapshot of America’s turbulent society today. 402.341.7130. –bemiscenter.org
GAME ON!
Through Dec. 31 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. This interactive children’s exhibit
brings well-known board games and popular video games to real-life adventures. Admission: $14 nonmembers, adults, and children ages 2-17, $13 seniors (60+), and free for members and children under 24 months. 9-4 p.m. 402.342.6164. –ocm.org
Read About
in Omaha Magazine
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
JULY/AUGUST 2021
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OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR
NICK CAVE’S SOUNDSUITS: ENSEMBLE
CHRISTOPHER TITUS
Aug. 11-21 at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. In this mini exhibition,
July 22 at Funny Bone Comedy Club, 17305 Davenport St. Titus is an American comedian,
actor, and podcaster. He starred in his own netinternationally known Chicago-based artist Nick Cave’s Soundsuits, from the collections of Betiana work TV show, simply called Titus, and now has his own podcast. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $25. and Todd Simon, Karen and Robert Duncan, Kathy and Marc LeBaron, and Polina and Bob 402-493-8036. –omaha.funnybone.com Schlott are brought together. Soundsuits will travel to the Simon residence for the Summer Arts Encounter event on August 29. 402.341.7130. ILIZA: BACK IN ACTION TOUR –bemiscenter.org July
CATBOY, OWLETTE, & GEKKO
Aug. 20-22 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Th is is the museum’s first-ever
PJ Masks-themed weekend, featuring character appearances, a DIY mask station, and more. Admission: $14 nonmembers, adults, and children ages 2-17, $13 seniors (60+), and free for members and children under 24 months. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 402.342.6164. –ocm.org
» Stage Performances « AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE ACROSS AMERICA
July 1 at The Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St. ABT is one of the great dance
companies in the world and is internationally celebrated as a cultural institution dedicated to preserving and extending the great legacy of classical dancing. 8:15 p.m. Tickets: $5-$50. 402.472.4747. –liedcenter.org
EDDIE GRIFFIN
July 9-10 at The Waiting Room, The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Griffi n is
a popular comedian turned actor who started his career onstage as a dare. His comedy special Eddie Griffin: Undeniable is currently airing on Showtime to rave reviews. Times vary. Tickets: $40. 402.884.5353. –waitingroomlounge.com
POWER HOUR
July 10 at The Backline, 1618 Harney St. Th is
show lines up some of the area’s best comedians to each do quick sets of their best material. If you want a taste of the best comics in the region (and sometimes special guests), jam-packed into just over an hour, then this is the show to watch. 8:30 p.m. Tickets: $5 402.720.7670. –backlinecomedy.com
LORENZO “RENNY” CROMWELL
July 16 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave.
Renny is an accomplished social media star and stand-up comedian whose comedic videos have garnered more than 3 million followers, including Diddy, Rihanna, Wale, and Drake. Times vary. Tickets: $20. 402.884.5707. –reverblounge.com
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July 22 at Holland Center Outdoors, 1200 Douglas St. Over the course of 10 years,
comedian Iliza Shlesinger has gone from winning NBC’s Last Comic Standing to premiering her fifth Netflix stand-up special UnVeiled in November 2019. 7 p.m. Tickets: $49.50-$106. 402.345.0606. –ticketomaha.com
PAULA POUNDSTONE
July 24 at The Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St. A revered panelist on NPR’s Wait,
Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me, Paula Poundstone was the first woman to host the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and is the recipient of an American Comedy Award for Best Female Stand-up Comic. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $16-$42. 402.472.4747. –liedcenter.org
RAVE ON! PRESENTS: BUDDY. THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY
July 30 at SumTur Amphitheater, 11691 S. 108th St. Papillion. This performance tells the
true story of Holly’s meteoric rise to fame, from the moment in 1957 when “That’ll Be The Day” hit the airwaves until his tragic death less than two years later on “The Day the Music Died.” The show features over 20 of Buddy Holly’s greatest hits. 402.597.2000. –papillion.org
JO KOY: JUST KIDDING WORLD TOUR
July 30 at Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. As one of
today’s premiere stand-up comics, Koy has come a long way from his modest beginnings performing at a Las Vegas coffee house. He has appeared on over 140 episodes of Chelsea Lately as well as many other late-night shows. 8 p.m. Tickets: $45.50$189.50. 402.934.9966. –ralstonarena.com
DAMON WAYANS
July 30 to Aug. 1 at Funny Bone Comedy Club, 17305 Davenport St. Wayans is a stand-up come-
dian, actor, writer, producer, and member of the Wayans family of entertainers. Wayans performed as a comedian and actor throughout the 1980s, including a year-long stint on the sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live. Times vary. Tickets: $50. 402.493.8036. –omaha.funnybone.com
OMAHA FRINGE FESTIVAL
Aug. 5-7 and Aug. 12-14 at Weber Fine Arts Building, 6505 University Drive S. and Big Canvas Theatre, 3624 Farnam St. The Omaha
Fringe Festival is two weekends of live theater created, produced, directed, and performed by Omaha artists. The lineup consists of multiple performances throughout the festival. Times vary. Tickets: $10 individual show ticket, $25 day pass, $50 festival pass. –omahafringe.com
OMAHA UNDER THE RADAR
Aug. 7 at various locations. This annual event
gives Midwestern and national performers the chance to connect and learn. While the festival will be different this year, the organization will still be producing their SOUNDRY Workshop for sound art and experimental music. There will be both online and in-person options available. There is a tuition, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Times vary. Tickets: TBD –undertheradaromaha.com
AUBREE SWEENEY & FRIENDS
Aug. 14 at The Backline, 1618 Harney St. Sweeney is a nationally touring comedian. She is currently based in Los Angeles, but loves to come home to Nebraska. Join her and some of her comedian friends for an evening of comedy, music and storytelling. 7 p.m. Tickets: $10. 402.720.7670. –backlinecomedy.com
SWEAT
Aug. 16-Sept. 15 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Winner of the 2017 Pulitzer
Prize for drama, Sweat follows a group of American steelworkers who lose their economic security. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $18-36. 402-553-0800. –omahaplayhouse.com
DEAR JACK, DEAR LOUISE
Aug. 20-Sept. 19 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. A heartwarming recount
of wartime romance between two strangers, stitched together from hundreds of real-life letters between the playwright’s parents. Jack is an Army doctor stationed in Oregon, accomplished and disciplined. Louise is an aspiring actress in the heart of NYC, bubbly and ambitious. Times vary. Tickets: TBD 402-553-0800. –omahaplayhouse.com
BELLYDANCE HAFLA
Aug. 21 at Apollon Art Space, 1801 Vinton St.
This dance performance will feature local dancers, and is open to the public. Enjoy beautiful dancing while listening to wonderful global music. Limited seating and performance slots are available, and pre-registration is strongly encouraged. 6-8 p.m. Tickets: $10. 402.884.0135. –apollonomaha.com
OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR
BRAD WILLIAMS
STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES
SOUTHERN AVENUE
comedian and actor who has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including Mind of Mencia. Times vary. Tickets: $25. 402-493-8036. –omaha.funnybone.com
er-songwriters of his generation, a worthy heir to Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, his two musical mentors. He is a master storyteller whose songs have been recorded by a vast array of artists, including Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Joan Baez. 8 p.m. $40 advance, $45 DOS. 402.884.5353. –waitingroomlounge.com
live shows in over a dozen countries and wowed audiences at festivals such as Bonnaroo, Firefly, Electric Forest, and Lockn’ with their boundary-breaking Memphis soul/blues/R&B fusion music. Local group Kris Lager Band will open the show. 7 p.m. Tickets: $18-$35. 402.345.0606. –ticketomaha.com
Aug. 27 and 28 at Funny Bone Comedy Club, 17305 Davenport St. Williams is a stand-up
July 8 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Steve Earle is one of the most acclaimed sing-
» Concerts « FREE CONCERTS:
Th is summer, several places will offer an eclectic array of live music from local musicians. These concert series, offered in some of Omaha’s most vibrant areas, will provide a fun night out. • Jazz on the Green (Turner Park at Midtown Crossing, 3110 Farnam St.): 7:30 p.m. Thursdays July. • Music and Memories (Shadow Lake Towne Center, 72nd Street and Highway 370): 6:30 p.m. Fridays. • Music in the Park (Bayliss Park, 100 Pearl St., Council Bluffs): 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. • Music in the Park (Washington Park, 20th and Franklin streets, Bellevue): 7 p.m. Thursdays. • Rockbrook Village Friday Night Concert Series (108th and Center streets): 7 p.m. Fridays. • Saturdays @ Stinson Concert Series (Stinson Park, 2285 S. 67th St.): 7 p.m. Saturdays. • Village Pointe Vibes (Village Pointe, 17305 Davenport St.): 6:30 p.m. Thursdays.
JOCELYN
July 2 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Omaha
native Jocelyn combines her observant, mature outlook on life, love, and music to write amazing, memorable songs that stick in your head. Th is show was originally scheduled for May 15, 2021. All previously purchased tickets will be honored and do not need to be changed, updated, or reprinted. 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 advance, $20 DOS. 402.345.7569. –theslowdown.com
BENNIE AND THE GENTS
July 2 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. This is a local glitter rock tribute band
that formed nine years ago. The group plays the music of David Bowie, Queen, Alice Cooper, and other heroes of ’70s glam rock. 9 p.m. Tickets: $12 advance, $15 DOS. 402.884.5353. –waitingroomlounge.com
July
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THREE DOG NIGHT
July 23 at Holland Center Outdoors, 1200 Douglas St. This band’s performances have electrified
NICK SHOULDERS
July 24 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Shoul-
band Three Dog Night’s hits weave through the fabric of pop culture today. They have had 21 hit singles, including 11 Top Tens, and 12 consecutive gold albums. 7 p.m. Tickets: $39-$99. 402.345.0606. –ticketomaha.com
ders is a living link to the roots of country music with a penchant for the absurd. His creative output is steeped in the complicated history of his beloved home of rural Arkansas, but crafted as a conscious rebuke of country music’s blind allegiance to historical seats of power and repression. 7 p.m. Tickets: $12 advance, $15 DOS. 402.345.7569. –theslowdown.com
CODY CANADA AND THE DEPARTED
MAHA MUSIC FESTIVAL
July 10 at Holland Center Outdoors, 1200 Douglas St. Legendary American rock
July 14 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave.
This group is a three-piece Americana roots-rock band based in New Braunfels, Texas. The band is comprised of frontman Cody Canada, bassist Jeremy Plato, and drummer Eric Hansen. 8 p.m. Tickets: $20. 402.884.5707. –reverbloung.com
THE DOCKSIDERS
July 16 at Holland Center Outdoors, 1200 Douglas St. This lively group is known as Amer-
ica’s favorite Yacht Rock tribute band. Led by three-time Grammy® nominee, Kevin Sucher, The Docksiders bring their tribute act of your favorite soft rock songs of the ’70s and ’80s. 7 p.m. Tickets: $18-$35. 402.345.0606. –ticketomaha.com
ELI YOUNG BAND
July 17 at Holland Center Outdoors, 1200 Douglas St. While selling out venues as a head-
liner from coast-to-coast, Eli Young Band has toured with Jason Aldean, Dave Matthews Band, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw, and Darius Rucker. This performance includes special guest Pony Creek. 7 p.m. Tickets: $20-$60. 402.345.0606. –ticketomaha.com
SKID ROW
July 17 at Stir Concert Cove, 1 Harrah’s Blvd., Council Bluffs. Infamous ‘80s hair band Skid
Row are gearing up to perform at the cove with glam metal rockers Dokken and Vixen. Don’t miss your chance to experience Skid Row’s signature energy live in concert. 8 p.m. Tickets: $39.50$161. 712-329-6000. –caesars.com/harrahs-council-bluffs/shows
July 28 to Aug. 1 at Stinson Park, 2285 S. 67th St. This summer music festival showcases a
vibrant, eclectic mix of national and local musicians and artists. This year’s lineup includes Thundercat, Khruangbin, Drive-By Truckers, and more. Opening night will be housed at multiple venues, followed by a day-long conference on Thursday, and performances on Friday and Saturday. 4 p.m. Wednesday, 8 a.m. Thursday, 5 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: TBD. –mahafestival.com
BILLY MCGUIGAN’S POP ROCK ORCHESTRA
Aug. 5-7 and Aug. 13-15 at SumTur Amphitheater, 11691 S. 108th St.. Papillion. McGuigan
and his 14-piece rock orchestra present a high-energy concoction of rock ‘n’ roll mega hits in a unique, live concert experience. They will take you on a journey through ’50s rock, the psychedelic ’60s, and the sweet sounds of the ’70s. 402.597.2000. –papillion.org
BACH MAI: ALBUM RELEASE SHOW
Aug. 6 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Th is local indie pop punk band leans on lyrical content, pop punk tropes, and percussive nuance to garner the attention of their listeners. J. Crum and Steady Wells will also perform. 7 p.m. Tickets: $8 advance, $10 DOS. 402.345.7569. –theslowdown.com
JACKOPIERCE
Aug 12 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave.
Jack O’Neill and Cary Pierce, the “Jack O” and “Pierce” who make up the seminal duo Jackopierce, are celebrating 30 years of making music that has amassed a loyal following of millions of fans across the world. 8 p.m. Tickets: $25. 402.884.5707. –reverbloung.com
JULY/AUGUST 2021
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OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR
MELISSA ETHERIDGE: 2021 TOUR
Aug. 14 at Holland Center Outdoors, 1200 Douglas St. Etheridge stormed onto the American
rock scene in 1988 with the release of her critically acclaimed self-titled debut album. Known for her confessional lyrics and raspy, smoky vocals, she has remained one of America’s favorite female singer-songwriters for more than two decades. 7 p.m. Tickets: $54.50-$399 (VIP w/ photo op.) 402.345.0606. –ticketomaha.com
BROTHERS OSBORNE
Aug. 14 at Stir Concert Cove, 1 Harrah’s Blvd., Council Bluffs. The duo’s third studio album
Skeletons is a melodic, muscular album that builds on the hooks of the band’s career-launching debut, Pawn Shop. The brothers carved their own path in country music, and with six Grammy nominations, four CMA Awards, five ACM trophies, and more than half a dozen hits, it’s clearly working for them. 8 p.m. Tickets: $49-$163. 712-329-6000. –caesars.com/harrahs-council-bluffs/shows
BLAKE SHELTON: FRIENDS AND HEROES 2021
Aug. 18 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St.
Shelton is bringing his show and some of his favorite friends to Omaha. Watch Shelton, Martina McBride, Tracy Byrd, Trace Adkins, and Lindsay Ell take to the stage again. 7 p.m. Tickets: $36$359. 402.341.1500. –chihealthcenteromaha.com
SHAKEY GRAVES
Aug. 19 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St.
Alejandro Rose-Garcia, aka Shakey Graves, is an Americana musician from Austin, Texas. His music combines blues, folk, country, and rock. He released his breakthrough debut album, Roll the Bones, a decade ago on Bandcamp. It’s been sitting atop the most downloaded folk records rankings since then. 7 p.m. Tickets: $28 advance, $30 DOS. 402.345.7569. –theslowdown.com
OPERA OUTDOORS
Aug. 20 at Turner Park at Midtown Crossing, 3110 Farnam St. This free opera concert under the
stars features highlights from the coming season as well as some of opera’s greatest hits. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: free. 402-346-7372. –operaomaha.org
SINGER-SONGWRITER SHOWCASE
Aug. 26 at Holland Center Outdoors, 1200 Douglas St. In partnership with the Omaha
Entertainment and Arts Awards (OEAAs), OPA presents a showcase giving aspiring songwriters the opportunity to share their talent. One artist will be selected to open for The Alternate Routes at Holland Center Outdoors September 2. The event is free, but a suggested donation of $10 is encouraged upon entry. Proceeds will directly benefit the talent being featured. 6:30 p.m. 402.345.0606. –ticketomaha.com
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JULY/AUGUST 2021
MEMORIAL PARK CONCERT
Aug. 28 at Memorial Park. Enjoy this free annual
celebration with a Fireworks Grand Finale. Musical guest TBA.
HIPPIE FEST
August 28 at Falconwood Park, 905 Allied Road, Bellevue. This live music event features bohemian
shopping, vintage hippie car show, DIY tie-dye, giant bubble garden, cirque performers, kids activities, drum circles, delicious food, cocktail bar, beer, dancing, and more. All ages welcome. Tickets: $15-25, kids 10 and under free. 402.332.5771. –gosarpy.com
» Family & More « FARMERS MARKETS
Farmers Markets are open. Here are the times and dates for the local markets. Attendees are encouraged to check with organizers for availability before attending any market. • Aksarben Village (67th and Center streets) 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays • Bellevue (Washington Park) 8 a.m.-12 p.m. • Council Bluffs (Bayliss Park) 4:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays • Florence Mill (N. 30th Street) 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday • Gifford Park Neighborhood Market (33rd and California streets) 5-8 p.m. Fridays • Old Market (11th and Jackson streets) 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays • Villae Pointe (168th and Dodge streets) 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturdays • Papillion (84th and Lincoln streets) 5-8 p.m. Wednesdays
FREE MOVIES
Laugh, cry, and relax with classic and current movies on starry summer nights. Bring a blanket or a chair and the whole family and enjoy the show. All movies begin at dusk. • Free Friday Summer Movies at Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard (19475 225th St. Council Bluffs): through Aug. 27. • Monday Night Movies at Midtown Crossing (Turner Park, 3110 Farnam St.): through July 28. • Music & Movies in the Park (Bayliss Park, 100 Pearl St., Council Bluffs, IA.): Fridays through July 26. • Starlight Movies (SumTur Amphitheater, 11691 S. 108th St., Papillion, NE.): TBA.
THE 3RD ANNUAL COUNCIL BLUFFS TATTOO ARTS CONVENTION
July 2-4 at Mid-America Center, 1 Arena Way, Council Bluffs. Special guest this year is Al Flic-
tion from Ink Master, season one. Admission is free for children under 12. Tickets: $20 day pass, $40 weekend pass. 712.323.0536. –villainarts.com
LEASHES AT LAURITZEN
July 5 and 12 and Aug. 2 and 9 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Canines are invited
to walk the grounds and enjoy the great outdoors. This is an informal, fun way to enjoy and explore Lauritzen’s 100 acres and miles of trail with the family and four-legged friends. 6 p.m. Tickets: $10 for non-members, $5 for dogs, free for members. 402-346-4002. –lauritzengardens.org
TURNER PARK NIGHT MARKET
July 16- Sept. 10 at Turner Park, 3110 Farnam St. The Omaha Farmer’s Market and Turner Park
bring visitors family-friendly activities, vendors, food, entertainment, and more. 6-10 p.m. last Friday of each month. Admission: free. –midtowncrossing.com/events/
OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR
RALSTON’S ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION
NEBRASKA ASIAN FESTIVAL
MILLARD DAYS
year’s theme is “Tribute to Essential Workers,” as the Fourth of July Ralston community tradition continues with a fun run/walk, parade, fire department water fight, a spectacular firework show, and more. Times vary. Admission: free. 402-339-7737. –ralstonareachamber.org/independence-day
promotes, and educates the public on Asian heritage. Guests can enjoy food, fun activities, and cultural performances throughout the day. 11 a.m. Admission: $5, free for children under 12. 402-216-9081. –facebook.com/AsianFestivalNebraska
parade, a carnival, a beer garden, tractor pull, and live music. Times vary. Admission: free, $25 for carnival. 402-679-5258. –millarddays.com
July 4 in Downtown Ralston, 7400 Main St. This
TBA at Lewis and Clark Landing, 515 N. Riverfront Drive. This family-oriented event celebrates,
DOUGLAS COUNTY FAIR
FAIRYTALE BALL
the county where urban and rural meet, with something for everyone: live music, the parade, and a livestock show. Times vary. Admission: free. –douglascountyfair.org
filled with encounters with princesses and princes, horse-drawn carriage rides, a wishing well, and activities including crafts and archery training. Dinner is included and costumes are encouraged. 6 p.m. Tickets: $20 for members, $35 for non-members. 402-342-6164. –ocm.org
July 11-14 at Sycamore Farms, 1150 River Road Drive, Waterloo. This is a celebration of
RIVERJAM “THE WOODSTOCK 50TH ANNIVERSARY EXPERIENCE”
July 16-18 at Riverwest Park, 23301 West Maple Road. RiverJam will pay tribute to the greatest
music festival of all time—Woodstock. With more than 40 DJs, bands, and artists performing on three stages, food trucks, a beer garden, vendors, and more. Times vary. Tickets: $15-$325. –eventbrite.com
8TH ANNUAL RIBSTOCK
July 24 at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village.
This celebration of great barbecue also features craft beer and live music from local favorite Lemon Fresh Day. Proceeds benefit the Food Bank for the Heartland, Project WeeCare, and the Millard Business Association scholarship fund. Admission: $5. 402.496.1616. –aksarbenvillage.com
BENSON DAYS
July 30 to Aug. 1 along 60th and Maple streets.
Benson Days is a family-friendly summer festival that celebrates the neighborhood’s creative culture. Friday features a movie night in Gallagher Park with food trucks. On Saturday, take a tour of Benson’s historic buildings, and Sunday attendees can take a bike ride through the neighborhood. Those are just a few highlights of the weekend. Email bensondaysne@gmail.com for more information. Admission: free. –bensondays.com
THE COLOR RUN 5K
TBAat CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. The popular traveling 5K returns to Omaha.
Participants run the route while paint powder colors the streets—and the runners. 8 a.m. Tickets: $25-$50 adults, $15 children ages 5 and under. –thecolorrun.com
July 23-25 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. This enchanting night at the museum is
NEW AMERICAN ARTS FESTIVAL
Aug. 6 in Benson at Military Ave. and Maple St. Due to COVID-19, their typical street festival
will now be a hybrid of gallery-operated in-person exhibits, featured artisans at local retailers, food trucks, satellite on-street stages, as well as virtual performances. 5-10 p.m. Admission: free. 402-342-6164. –bffomaha.org
NEBRASKA BALLOON AND WINE FESTIVAL
Aug. 20-21 at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, Elkhorn. As the name implies, guests can sip Nebraska wines and view hot air balloon launches. 5 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $19 wine-tasting package at the gate, $15 wine-tasting package in advance, $14 general admission, $7 children under 12, children 5 and under free. 402-346-8003. –showofficeonline.com/NebraskaWineBalloon
Aug. 24-29 at Andersen Park, 136th and Q Streets. Th is full week of activities includes a
ARTS BLOCK PARTY
Aug. 14 at Cass St. between 72nd and 69th Streets. Guests can tour the Omaha Community
Playhouse, Omaha Conservatory of Music, and Omaha Academy of Ballet. There will be live music and performances, interactive demonstrations for the kids, food, and raffle prizes galore. 10 a.m. Admission: free. –artsblockpartyomaha.com
DUNDEE DAY
Aug. 21 in Dundee, 50th St. and Underwood Ave. This family-friendly street festival celebrates
and highlights the Dundee neighborhood with a parade, 5k run, art and craft vendors, pancake breakfast, food trucks, live music, and a beer garden. 8:30 a.m. Admission: free. –dundeeday.org
SEPTEMBERFEST
Sept. 3-6 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. This “Salute to Labor” festival offers four
days of entertainment, educational and artistic displays, a carnival, Omaha’s largest parade, a beer garden, and food. Times vary. Admission: $5 per person per day, parade is free, . –septemberfestomaha.org
PETFEST 2021
Aug. 14 at Petshop, 2725 N. 62nd St. Th is is
Benson First Friday’s Annual Music Festival Fundraiser, with an incredible lineup of local musicians, drag performances, and live painting. Times vary. Tickets: $20 advance, $25 DOS. Email info@ bffomaha.org for more information. –bffomaha.org
OMAHA FASHION WEEK
Aug. 26-28 at Omaha Design Center, 1502 Cuming St. OFW is returning to the runway
for another season of fashion and glamour. It is the nation’s fifth-largest fashion event, showcasing designers each year on the runway and providing mentoring, education opportunities, and a professional showcasing platform. Times vary. Tickets: $40-$80. 402-937-1061. –omahafashionweek.com
Event times and details are correct as of presstime, but are subject to change. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many events are canceling and/or changing dates/time/ places as needed. Most venues base these decisions on direction by the Douglas County Health Department and Nebraska’s publication of guidance on canceling events and limiting the number of people in public gatherings. Omaha Magazine encourages readers to visit venues' websites and/or calling ahead before attending an event or visiting a museum. JULY/AUGUST 2021
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hose who spend any time near the historic Hanscom Park neighborhood may not realize a small brick home sitting at 3316 Center St. played a sizable role in the craft of magic more than a century ago. It became the stage of latenight, four-hour magic shows that were intimate and engaging. At the center of these Center Street performances was David P. Abbott, a Falls City, Nebraska, native whose travels and opportunities eventually brought him to Omaha. But let’s not give away the secret to this whole trick. As an 8-year-old boy, Abbott attended one of his fi rst magic shows. Inspired by the intricacies of such a performance, Abbott returned home and conspired with his younger sister to host their own magic show—which involved guessing the number of seeds in an apple. Abbott and his siblings grew up on a family farm with their parents, George and Sarah. George lived a life flush with activity and activism, spending time in political protests and running for public office as a Populist. George was an avid traveler, crisscrossing the country as his children grew. “David Abbott was raised in a fearless household,” said Dave Arch, a local magician and member of the Omaha Magical Society (which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary). “The belief in the Abbott family was ‘we will land on our feet.’” As the boy’s fascination for magic grew, Abbott developed the same spirit of fearlessness as his father. According to research and writings by magician Teller (of Penn and Teller fame), Abbott completed three months of school, excelling in algebra and geometry. He discovered talents for music, too, learning to play the piano, oboe, clarinet, and guitar.
“Abbott picked up the mantle of the Spiritualist who was fleecing widows through magic. He called them out [in his book]. This incensed him. He exposed all of the fraudulent methods he knew they were using to fleece people through magic.” - Dave Arch “Abbott picked up the mantle of the Spiritualist who was fleecing widows through magic,” Arch explained. “He called them out [in his book]. Th is incensed him. He exposed all of the fraudulent methods he knew they were using to fleece people through magic.” It was those experiences that Abbott used as inspiration for the tricks he created— and eventually debuted for years in his east Omaha home. “Abbott was [keen] to beat back the people who were using trickery for nefarious purposes,” Arch added. After a stop in Lincoln to run a loan business alongside his siblings, Abbott and his wife, Fannie, eventually moved to Omaha and into the now-famous home near Hanscom Park. Abbott and his brothers secured jobs in banking and finance. His passion for magic never waned. In his spare time, Abbott not only refi ned his work as a magician, he developed tricks that have continued to influence magic today. Those tricks include the Disposable Fingertip, the Red Herring Th imble, and the Black Bag. His Center Street home was a playground for these new tricks, using all rooms, every nook and cranny, to entertain and delight intimate audiences, but also to become a master of his trade.
Years later, Abbott’s legacy as an inventor of magic tricks and techniques began to take shape. He traveled to nearby counties in Nebraska practicing and perfecting his craft, dedicated to maintaining magic’s reputation.
“He took that house and just rigged it from top to bottom with all that he needed,” Arch said. “People would come just to see him perform at his house.”
In fact, one of Abbott’s greatest contributions to the practice of magic was his 1907 book, Behind the Scenes with the Mediums. The book not only dove deep into magic and mediums, but the human psyche and how it can often be so easily swindled.
Apparently, a lot of people came just to see him perform. According to the site Vanishing in Magic, Teller and Todd Karr compiled a 900-page collected works of Abbott in which, “There is informative correspondence in the form of letters from Abbott’s friend
Kellar, who offers unguarded commentary on the likes of [notable magicians] Ching Ling Foo, Alexander, Horace Goldin, and Okito.” Although Abbott understood the importance of the performance, it was the behind-the-scenes work he enjoyed the most, the solitary task of developing, quite literally, the tricks of his trade. Arch said that if Abbott were alive today, chances are you’d never see him perform: “He is revered as an inventor of a lot of the magic that’s still used today.” Abbott, who died in 1934, was a founding member of the Omaha Magical Society. At its start in January 1921, it was only the seventh chartered magic club in the United States. The national parent organization, the Society of American Magicians, was led by president Harry Houdini—arguably history’s most famous magician and escape artist. One of the society’s goals is to share the joy and craft of magic from generation to generation. They have donated a collection of more than 1,200 books on magic to Criss Library at the University of Nebraska at Omaha as part of this goal. Another: keeping Abbott’s legacy alive by honoring area magicians who share their passion. Known as the Old Market Magician, Ryan Chandler received the society’s David P. Abbott Award in 2019. Chandler, 35, is a musician and an educator for Elkhorn Public Schools. Despite teaching full-time and raising his young son alongside his wife, Chandler has maintained a love of magic—even impressing perhaps the most well-known magical duo, Penn and Teller. In 2018, Chandler performed on their network TV show Fool Us. Like other magicians before him, Chandler’s love of magic was born from watching magic shows as a child—often alongside his father, Robert Chandler. He spent years developing his own tricks and practicing the tricks of others. But what has kept Chandler drawn to this peculiar performance world is the intimate, often unexpected moments created with other people. “I do magic because it’s fun,” Chandler said. “I don’t think anything I’ve done is all that special. The only way [to perform magic] is to share it with other people.” Visit theomahamagicalsociety.org for more information.
JULY/AUGUST 2021
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A+C MUSIC // STORY BY LEO ADAM BIGA
.
Rooted in
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN
DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK
Rock d by e d n Bo travel THE MEZCAL BROTHERS KEEP SHAKIN' THINGS UP
JULY/AUGUST
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2021
lB The Mezca
sists of ba rothers con
ssist Charl
ie Johnson
Shaun Th , drummer
eye, frontm
an
uit eza , and g Gerardo M
arist Benn
y Kushner
// A+C MUSIC //
// A+C MUSIC //
R
oots rock devotees near and far count lincoln-based band mezcal brothers righteous practitioners of the genre’s pure, hard-driving beats.
Originally founded in 1998 by siblings Gerardo and Tony Meza, the group’s origin story is organic. The brothers hung out making music, sometimes jamming at family gatherings. Then Gerardo volunteered the as-yet-unformed, unnamed band to replace a no-show group at Duffy’s in Lincoln. They scrambled to find players, rehearsed, hit upon the name and, once onstage, discovered people dug their sound and energy. The sons of Mexican immigrants grew up steeped in the pure rhythms of classic rock. “Something about that era really drew me in and the music really spoke to me,” Gerardo Meza said. “When I started writing I would hear that influence. It would just come out.” His brother ended up leaving the band before they put out their first record, Hold on Tight. “That’s what we toured with. None of us really had jobs at the time so we had to play, we had to be on the road,” Meza said. “Eventually we got some connections and reviews.” Additional records followed. “The records got everywhere,” he added. The band toured California and the Pacific Northwest. “That’s where our big fan base was.” They also toured the Midwest with Los Straitjackets and Big Sandy. Eventually, their music took them overseas to places such as Scandinavia, where rockabilly rules. Back home, they played major festivals in Wisconsin and Washington. Fans of the style “live and breathe this stuff,” Meza said. “At times I just thought of it as one big party.” Omaha music journalist B.J. Huchtemann appreciates the band’s “high-octane” style and “irresistibly danceable” sound. Their current lineup has long been intact. Frontman, songwriter, and acoustic guitar player Meza is joined by Charlie Johnson on bass, Benny Kushner on electric guitar, and Shaun Theye on drums. They make “a good fit” Meza said, despite the fact Kushner and Theye “were never really into this music” before they joined. “We kind of schooled them as far as ‘listen to this, listen to that.’ Of course, they liked it.” They’ve killed it ever since.
“A lot of that has to do with the fact we were on the road,” Meza said. “We had to depend on each other quite a bit playing those shows. That really bonds a band. We anticipate what we’re doing on stage. It’s like being tied at the waist by a rope. We all kind of know who’s pulling and tugging where, so we know how to respond.” At the peak of their travels, they were gone a month at a time.
Recording and touring gave way to local gigs. The Nebraska Music Hall of Fame inductees are a fixture at Lincoln’s iconic Zoo Bar. Once the pandemic hit, Meza said, “We went six months without actually playing a show.” They used the downtime to get back in the studio. The result is Shakin’ Dog, a 14-track LP that released to strong reviews last fall. “We just got tired of doing the same set every night. We had to mix it up and get it more exciting and challenging, and that’s where we’re at now with the new songs.”
“We spent most of our career on the road and so when we came back to Nebraska, a lot of people didn’t recognize the fact we were getting recognition nationally and internationally,” Meza said. “Being validated in Nebraska meant a lot to us because that’s where we’re from.”
The Lincoln Journal-Star’s Kent Wolgamott wrote the record is “reminiscent of a Blasters album”and delivers “the “blistering rockabilly expected from the Mezcals.”
Meza—who is also a Lincoln Public Schools fine art instructor, studio artist, and the leader of a second band, The Dead of Night—said, “The Mezcals have been the foundation and
After years without a new album, Shakin’ Dog is a fitting followup to the hall of fame induction.
it’s nice to have lincoln be such a musical city where we can always get gigs. it’s a perfect place to play music, enjoy music, and be around like-minded people. -gerardo meza
The rockabilly album reworks old songs by Meza the band never performed or recorded. The remixed works “sound sweeter” thanks to the magic of Johnson, who co-owns Fuse Recording, and top local players jamming on sessions. “Charlie is a genius. He knows his way around a recording studio and soundboard. His ears are the only ones I trust,” Meza said. “We have a genius guitar player in Benny and an amazing producer in Charlie, so we’re pretty lucky. That’s why we look at this project we call the band as having the right people, the right sound, and the right attitude. That’s what keeps bands together.” There are no egos running amok. “That’s what usually breaks up bands,” Meza said. “We never really had those issues…We’ve worked with good people.” The band’s last shakeup was 14 years ago. Being together so long has forged an unspoken unity.
the solid thing throughout. I can’t even imagine what it would be like without it. I think everybody in the band feels the same way.”
Realistically, the band won’t be going on any long tours again. “We’re grateful for those days. We were young and energized enough to do it then,” Meza said. “But it takes a toll. Shitty food, being at a bar every night, drinking. Tempers flare because you’re frustrated being gone. It’s nice to have Lincoln be such a musical city where we can always get gigs. It’s a perfect place to play music, enjoy music, and be around likeminded people.” Meza and company look forward to laying licks and riffs down in front of fans again. Sure, the band’s older now, but, Meza said, “We still bring it.” Visit mezcalbrothers.bandcamp.com for more information.
JULY/AUGUST 2021
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Unafraid
Determined
and
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JULY/AUGUST 2021
A + C T H E AT E R / / S T O R Y B Y V I R G I N I A K AT H R Y N G A L L N E R
MATTHEW GUTSCHICK MANIFESTS VISIONS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK
A
fter sampling them all, Matthew Gutschick found an artistic medium that spoke to him at age 8. It continues to speak to him as an adult.
Gutschick’s mother is a ceramics artist. Raising Matthew and his two brothers, she wanted to make sure that in all their extracurriculars, they had at least one artistic activity. They tried painting, dancing, even exercise videos. Theater was next. “I remember feeling like there was a way of engaging in pretend play with the structure of a story,” he said. “It was pretty electrifying, even at that young age.” That’s why he is invested in doing his work at an intergenerational theater: to give other kids that same opportunity to find their voice and use it to change the world. Gutschick earned his B.A. in communications and theater at Wake Forest University. He also took business classes at the graduate level to gain a better understanding of the management side of arts. While there, he had the incredible experience of learning from Maya Angelou, who was a humanities professor during that time. Every spring, Angelou hosted a course for 30 students focusing on poetry in performance. She shared stories and coached students on how to perform some of her favorite pieces. “Here’s this person who, on day one, knew all of our names,” he said of Angelou. “She impressed upon us that knowing somebody’s name takes a small amount of effort, but is an enormous gesture. [It was] emblematic of her philosophy deeply rooted in an appreciation for what ties us together as human beings.” After graduating, Gutschick worked at a children’s theater in North Carolina. He struggled with how to grow the organization and open it to new plays. So, he went to graduate school to pursue theater management. His MFA program at Yale University represented the evolving conditions of being an artistic director at a larger theater. Yale gave him the opportunity to apprentice with artistic directors, as well as learn from acclaimed playwright Paula Vogel. As fate would have it, The Rose Theater was looking for someone with his qualifications shortly after he graduated. “This is an opportunity I’ve had to grow into,” he said. He had expected to serve in other roles for some time before taking on a leadership role. Julie Walker, managing director, has been a close collaborator and partner. “Matt sets the artistic vision, and together we work to fulfill the mission of the theater,” Walker said. That vision manifests visibly in their productions. “It’s very important that there’s a pathway for me to fall in love with material I’m directing—whether being able to personalize it
in some way, or recognize how it can inspire or move others.” Gutschick appreciates a challenge as a director, too. “I’m drawn to plays that have something in them that scares me or stretches me.” Gutschick works in close collaboration with directors of educational programs at The Rose to ensure they are speaking to as many children as possible. They want to reduce the barrier of cost when needed, to make sure they do not turn any child away: from tickets to shows to camps and classes. The Rose is unique among professional theaters in that they have dedicated teaching artists among their full-time staff. Often in the world of theater, teachers are contracted. These teaching artists also contribute to mainstage work as actors and directors. At a time when many cultural institutions are confronting histories of systemic racism, Gutschick wants to help make BIPOC communities feel like The Rose is a place that reflects and embraces their experiences. This means more than just inclusive casting practices. For Gutschick, that is not enough. “Our organization has tried to look very hard at ways we can become more anti-racist. That, of course, has included an ambitious learning-based agenda for our staff and board, but also emboldening some of the action steps…deliberately trying to open our doors to more BIPOC artists to collaborate with us.” That is how the “Sharing Our Stories” initiative started. The initiative is open to all local playwrights who have an idea for a children’s play or musical. The Rose will support these playwrights in their artistic development through one-on-one consultation and by providing space and time to workshop the pieces. They will provide an artist stipend. If a play or musical is a good fit for a production at The Rose, they will commission the artist to further develop the project. Gutschick wants to “open our doors to people who want to create work for [children], and uplift voices that have been historically underrepresented on our stage and others.” The Rose has also been working with other children’s theaters to adapt one of Angelou’s lesser-known works, Life Doesn’t Frighten Me. “It feels like a very full-circle moment, working with her estate to try and bring that to the stage. “I’m emerging from shutdown more excited about live theater than I’ve ever been, even as a kid.” That childlike sense of wonder is what The Rose hopes to nurture in their young audiences. “We both believe children can impact and change the world,” Walker said. “Experiencing theater is something we believe every student should have access to—and the benefits of being part of the creative process will stay with them as life skills for a long time.” Visit matthewgutschick.com for more information.
JULY/AUGUST 2021
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A+C VISUAL STORY BY KAMRIN BAKER PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY DEREK JOY
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JULY/AUGUST 2021
E-CRE ATING Adri Montano
HISTO RY
& the Invisible Women
WITH HER of the World
HAND S
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“ Adri’ s artwork makes women of color visible, thereby including them in the patterns our brains are making.
Adri is doing critical work to enrich all our lives by not overlooking humans with much to offer. ” -Peggy Jones ’m here to dismantle the patriarchy and cure the traumas of our ancestors,” Adri Montano said, clear as day. It’s her elevator pitch, her tagline, her purpose in the world. The multimedia artist, who specializes in illustration, graphic design, and animation, immigrated from Colombia with her family 21 years ago, fi rst landing in Florida, later Washington D.C., and now, with her husband and daughter, in Papillion. Montano was born creative, influenced by her father’s passion for the arts. However, it took time to reach the beauty she has discovered now. “The lifestyle was way different in the States,” said Montano, who took dance, music, and tennis lessons in Colombia. “You couldn’t just get private arts tutoring because that’s only for rich people. I had to work and help in the house to just keep my family afloat. There were days that gum was for dinner. I didn’t have the privilege to simply go to school.” Montano eventually pursued community college in Florida, and later graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a visual arts degree, concentration in graphic design, and a minor in art history. Despite countless years of grinding and sacrificing, she still had trouble finding work. “I want whoever hears my story to put themselves in the shoes of an immigrant of color with a graphic design degree, trying to get a job in this city, where people look and sound nothing like you,” Montano said. “I went to countless interviews, and it happened again and again, losing to white cis men. So I said, ‘f*ck it, I’m going to do my own thing.’” Her thing is creating art to tell the stories of women of color erased by history. Her Black, Colombian, and Indigenous identities inspired her to research women whose lives changed the course of history—who otherwise would never have their portraits drawn.
There’s Queen Nzinga of Ndongo (now Angola) and Matamba, who is Montano’s favorite, the one she would “choose to revive if there were ever a zombie apocalypse.” Nzinga spent her life fi ghting Portuguese colonizers in the 1500s and even killed her own brother, who was selling her people into slavery. Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz was a Mexican writer who refused to get married and instead became a nun so she could continue her studies, even though she did not believe in the Catholic church. Her poem, “You Foolish Men,” which describes men as predators, was written in the 1600s. Then there’s Tu Youyou, a Chinese woman who discovered a groundbreaking treatment for malaria through the study of ancient plants and medicine. The government kept her discovery under wraps for years, until she won the Nobel Prize in 2015. “I am so passionate about the history of marginalized women who are basically invisible,” Montano said. “It’s not because they were quiet, or because they didn’t exist, it’s because they were never included.” Peggy Jones, an associate professor in UNO’s school of the arts, has spent her career studying the intersections of gender and the arts. “When we don’t know something, it in effect doesn’t exist,” Jones said. “People’s lack of knowledge creates a ripple effect whereby they act on this lack as if these accomplishments have never existed, nor could they ever have existed. Our brains are constantly and unconsciously seeking patterns on which to base future actions.” Jones taught Montano in her Black Aesthetics course at UNO, where students explored paradigms such as race and gender, and how those paradigms affect art and the way it is and was created. “Adri’s artwork makes women of color visible, thereby including them in the patterns our brains are making. Adri is doing critical work to [enrich] all our lives by not overlooking humans with much to offer,” Jones said.
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Montano’s creative process often depends on how she’s feeling. When she’s angry about the injustices of the world, she said it’s impossible to create digital art. “It has to be physical,” she said. “I make paper from scratch. I’ll use charcoal or homemade paints. The whole process is very therapeutic and takes time. The imperfections on the paper make me feel so raw and human. Just like your skin that has scars and bruises and stretch marks and wrinkles, the paper feels the same way.” When she’s able to channel her feelings into more concrete ideas, she works on digital illustrations. She is currently developing a book: Th e Black Adventures of Nina and Catalina, the story of two girls who travel through time and space to be empowered by the women of yesteryear, learning about science, history, and self-discovery along the way. “I am raising my daughter this way,” Montano said. “She was named after an indigenous woman from the area I was from in Colombia, who was abused by her colonizers yet formed treaties with them to help her people. My daughter is half and half like that, too. I want her to be seen. I want her to be heard.” Her daughter is half Colombian and half American. “She is like a bridge between the two worlds, just like la India Catalina.” Montano creates vivid, colorful works to fi nd healing in her ancestral story, while developing a new narrative. “If I’m not being represented, if you’re not going to hire me, I don’t need you. I can do it myself.” To learn more about Adri Montano, visit adrimontano.com.
OBVIOUSLY OMAHA // STORY BY TAMSEN BUTLER // PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED
CULTURAL SPOTS IN THE METRO
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SIX LESSER-KNOWN ATTRACTIONS
While it’s certainly true that the Old Market is host to a variety of cultural experiences, it’s important to know that numerous cultural sites exist outside the confines of downtown, yet still within the Omaha metro area. Note: Hours are correct as of presstime. 01. MODERN ARTS MIDTOWN 3615 Dodge St. | 402.502.8737 modernartsmidtown.com The Modern Arts Midtown gallery is full of pieces from contemporary artists within the local and regional area. They recently shifted some of their exhibited art to the main gallery to make it easier for visitors to peruse. The gallery is open by appointment only.
02. JOHN SAUTTER FARMHOUSE 222 N. Jefferson St. | 402.679.5100 John Sautter, Jr. was a German immigrant who lived in this home from the 1860s to 1916. The Papillion Area Historical Society purchased the home in 1979 and moved it to its current location after housing developers bought the Sautter Farm. Inside the house is authentic decor and photos of the Sautter Family. The home is open by appointment only.
03. GREAT PLAINS BLACK HISTORY
MUSEUM
2221 N. 24th St. | 402.932.7077 gpblackhistorymuseum.org The Great Plains Black History Museum was originally opened in the mid1970s and is dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and educating about the myriad achievements of African Americans in the Midwest and beyond. Open for tours by appointment only on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 1-5 p.m. Tours are also available for organizations by appointment.
04. CZECH AND SLOVAK EDUCATIONAL
CENTER AND CULTURAL MUSEUM
8106 S. 84th St. | 402.686.9837 @CzechAndSlovakMuseum
One of Omaha’s newest cultural areas feature exhibits honoring Nebraska’s early Czech and Slovak immigrants. According to nebraskastudies.org, between 1856 and World War I, over 50,000 Czechs chose
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Nebraska as their new home. This center tells their story, and also features a gift store and cafe. They host presentations on making Czech foods such as kolaches and on historical or cultural information. The museum is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 1-5 p.m.
05. MALCOLM X MEMORIAL FOUNDATION 3448 Evans St. | 800.645.9287 malcolmxfoundation.com
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This organization teaches the community about the legacy of human rights activist Malcom X while also providing educational, family-friendly experiences along with special programs such as a community garden, radio station, and yoga classes, among others. The site is open to the public Saturdays from noon-4 p.m. and the rest of the week by appointment, which can be scheduled by calling.
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06. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF
OMAHA
333 S. 132nd St. | 402.334.6426 jccomaha.org Started in 1926, the JCC offers a wide variety of social, recreational, and educational activities to the community and is home to both the Institute for Holocaust Education and the Jewish Press. The JCC has a thriving and active performing arts program along with a variety of other programs designed with the Jewish community of Omaha in mind. Last year the JCC was renamed the Staenberg Omaha Jewish Community Center in honor of philanthropist Michael Staenberg. The JCC is open weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. with weekend hours of 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., but since these hours are primarily for the fitness center portion of the campus, visitors should consult the website for current hours of other offerings.
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dining feature // STORY by Niz Proskocil
photography by bill sitzmann // design by matt wieczorek
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A dozen stir-fried jumbo shrimp circle the border of a sleek white plate, all neatly arranged on a pool of spicy-sweet sauce. A small mound of steamed broccoli sits in the center of the plate, crowned by a flaky, golden puff-pastry lattice dome. The Szechwan Shrimp entree at Omaha’s Wave Bistro is one of several beautifully plated creations that are a delight to the eye. Owners George and Connie Liao are the husband-and-wife team behind the bistro, where thoughtful food presentation, friendly service, and dishes prepared with care and attention have made the restaurant a popular dining option for more than 14 years. George is the executive chef, and Connie manages the dining room.
“The combination of excellent food and service at our restaurant is something I am proud of and find very special,” said George, who has worked in the restaurant business for more than 30 years. Originally from Taiwan, the Liaos ran the former Tokyo Kitchen Japanese Grill in West Omaha for more than seven years and sold it before opening Wave Bistro at 144th Street and West Maple Road in March 2007. The couple wanted to shift their focus from an order-at-the-counter, fast-casual spot to a more upscale restaurant that offers higher-quality ingredients, attentive service, and culinary creativity. George, 62, describes his restaurant’s style as Asian fusion. He likes to take Asian ingredients and flavors from cuisines such as Chinese, Thai, and Japanese and combine them with French and Italian cooking techniques, then add his own personal touches. “This is the reason I opened Wave Bistro. I try to make different dishes, try to make it unique,” he said, adding that he’s more interested in “creating a new style of dishes” instead of food that is traditional or authentic. A Thai-inspired dish he created for the menu at Wave is Garlic Basil Crusted Chicken with Seven Pepper Spiced Mango Sauce. He wanted to pair fragrant Thai basil with mango, two ingredients that complement each other nicely. The entree features a marinated chicken breast crusted with Thai basil, served with a spicy mango sauce that infuses the dish with a pop of bright flavor and color. Other menu highlights include Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Sliced Beef in Spiced Hoisin Sauce, Green Curry Vegetables, and Lemon Creamy Almond Shrimp. Wave also offers more familiar Chinese menu items such as fried rice and orange chicken, George said, since not everyone may want to try the Asian fusion fare. The restaurant’s name is inspired by his love of seafood. George worked for an aquaculture company in Taiwan before he and Connie moved to the U.S. in 1987. They lived in Lincoln, where they had relatives, and George graduated from the food service program at Southeast Community College. He later earned a master’s degree in hospitality management from the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. He managed gourmet Asian restaurants in Las Vegas before he and Connie returned to Nebraska. It’s where they wanted to raise their son and daughter, and start a business. The Liaos opened Tokyo Kitchen, their first restaurant, in 1999. The couple have known each other since they were children and attended the same elementary school. Growing up, their families lived about a mile apart in a small town in Taiwan.
Japanese Vanilla Souffle Cheesecake is lighter than a traditional Western-style cheesecake, but just as tasty.
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An American Culinary Federation-certified executive chef, George enjoys expanding his culinary skills and learning new techniques. His interest in baking led him to take pastry classes in Las Vegas and at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha. At Wave, he especially likes making the desserts, which include a light and fluffy Japanese-style cheesecake, chocolate mousse torte, and crème brûlée.
He is also an avid cookbook collector and owns more than 500. In the mornings, he enjoys studying recipes and getting inspired. “During my free time, I am always experimenting with different tastes and ideas,” he said. “This is the way you can improve.” Food presentation is important to him, so he strives to make dishes that look as good as they taste. Among the eye-catching entrees at Wave is the Cashew Crusted Salmon Fillet, a customer favorite. It features a stacked presentation that starts with a bottom layer of rice formed into a disc, followed by a tidy row of vibrant green asparagus, and topped with tender, flaky salmon with a golden-brown, crunchy cashew crust for added texture and flavor. A savory teriyaki reduction sauce is swooped in a circle around the plate. When using edible garnishes such as fresh herbs, fruit, or sliced vegetables to decorate a dish, he said, it’s important that the
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garnishes complement the dish’s flavor and enhance its appearance. Dots and swirls of sauces, ingredients with varied shapes and sizes, and bright pops of color can add visual appeal to the plate. “This is the first impression to the guests,” he said. “Making food look good is all part of the joy of cooking.” The dining room at Wave also makes an impression. Featuring a mix of contemporary and traditional decor, the 74-person capacity space is comfortable and inviting. Glass water goblets and crisp white cloth napkins adorn the wooden tables, and a pair of giant wavy sculptures hang from the high ceilings. Soft, neutral colors and fresh flowers set the tone for a relaxing ambiance. Providing a positive dining experience and interacting with guests is what Connie enjoys most about owning and operating a restaurant. Before coming to the U.S., she worked in an administrative job at a high school in Taiwan. She’s known for her people skills and warm, cheerful personality, her husband said, and has a knack for remembering names and faces of many guests over the years. “A lot of customers have been like friends,” Connie said. “I like to talk to customers. George likes cooking.”
This is the first impression to the guests. Making food look good is all part of the joy .. of cooking. -George Liao
Being a chef and owner is hard work, but it’s also rewarding, George said. It allows him to be creative while taking on a variety of responsibilities in and out of the kitchen. “I like the fast-pace nature, creating new dishes, making decisions...and building a community of friends,” he said. For some of the restaurant’s regulars, Wave has become a favorite spot to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. “People come here not only to enjoy the food but the service and the music,” George said. Once a year, the Liaos take a break from the bistro and go on a weeklong vacation, usually overseas. France and Italy are among their favorite travel destinations, largely for the food. Even on Sundays, his one day off, George is all about cooking and creating. He’ll head to the restaurant, where he has the kitchen all to himself, and spend hours baking cakes, bread, and French and Chinese pastries, or experimenting with new dishes. Not to put on the menu, he said, but simply for the joy of it. Visit wavebistrorestaurant.com for more information.
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DINING PROFILE // STORY BY TARA SPENCER
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK
omatoes, peppers, chives, mushrooms, and onions placed carefully on a bed of chewy, sourdough focaccia bread form a portrait of puppy love. Matthew Scheffler has officially found a new hobby—creating art from bread.
what I have in my house.” After doing some research, he decided to try sourdough focaccia. “When I first tasted it, I was blown away. It was the first successful bread I’d ever made,” he said. “So I kind of stuck with that.”
Many people turned to the oven while stuck at home in 2020. However Scheffler’s bread affair began pre-pandemic. His mom would make simple banana breads when he was younger. While it wasn’t an interest at the time, later in life he started experimenting with baking his own and bringing his creations into work for coworkers and friends. One day he might use carrots, or make a zucchini bread, “just kind of spicing it up and making it a wacky bread.”
Focaccia is his main jam right now, but this isn’t just any flat Italian bread. Scheffler has taken Matt’s Breads to a whole new level, recreating familiar works of art and creating his own using a variety of vegetables and herbs. His friend and former coworker Katie Callaghan said he made her a vampire bread. “We were just talking, and I think I said a vampire would be cool and he said, ‘OK!’” The bread included peppers, tomatoes, onions, and black olives. “It tasted great,” Callaghan said.
He tried his hand at making other types of loaves. “I tried wheat bread, I tried a marbled dry. I failed every time,” he said with a laugh.
Callaghan said she loved working with Scheffler, and not just for the free bread. “He was always in a good mood,” she said, before adding that he had “the strangest music taste.” A visit to the kitchen when he was working might reveal him blaring a Britney Spears tune one minute and rocking out to Slayer the next. “You never knew what he was gonna play.”
“So it kind of turned into this joke, and I started getting a little adventurous,” he said. The interest was organic, becoming something he enjoyed doing on a regular basis. He started photographing his doughy creations, even starting an Instagram account. “I cracked myself up one night calling it Matt’s Breads.” No doubt he cracks others up as well. The 31-year-old, who works at La Buvette, has an energy that is infectious even over Zoom. He walks from room to room, pausing longest in the kitchen to touch on his latest creation, a beet-infused pan of focaccia and a spinach puree for future use. “Look at this gorgeous green,” he said enthusiastically. He is also working on some sourdough brownies. “That’s a big hit…got some white chocolate and walnuts in there.”
A look at Matt’s Breads’ Instagram page could draw some comparisons. One photo features a buttery-looking recreation of Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss,” while the one before it is the Jurassic Park logo. His first attempt at creating art on bread was the aforementioned portrait of puppy love—a picture of his friend’s chihuahua. He also made one featuring Picasso’s “The Old Guitarist” for his father, who is a jazz guitarist with the Omaha Symphony.
Cooking was not something that came to him naturally. Scheffler said while he’s now been in the service industry for roughly seven years, it all began with a little fear at what used to be Saints Pub in Midtown Crossing. “I started as a terrified mid-20s server—absolutely terrified. And then they told me to bartend and I was terrified. And then they told me to cook, and I was terrified,” he said. “Now I’ve done pretty much everything besides G.M. but I do great at all of it….[I] kind of just hit the ground running with it all. I didn’t even know how to make a Jack and Coke, but here I am, making Long Islands,” he joked.
Scheffler said he doesn’t consider himself to be terribly artistic. “I never tried to paint…my artistic background is doodling on bar napkins, I guess.” It’s these doodles, however, that spawn the ideas for his bread art.
Baking sourdough bread was also intimidating at first. “It seems complicated and science-y. But then you just kind of get into the kitchen and do it.” Scheffler said the sourdough starter is like a pet. “You feed it every day, and you watch it bubble up, and you start to see it grow and get stronger, and you kind of take pride in your starter after a while…like a little baby. Or a Tamagotchi.” His first sourdough attempt was trying to make a loaf, but he said that failed. “I didn’t have the equipment…I’m just working with
JULY/AUGUST
While he might sketch things out beforehand, as he did with a recent Star Wars-themed creation, he said when it comes to creating the images, he uses an exacto knife to cut the vegetables. “It’s not like I can trace anything…so it’s pretty much winging it,” he said. “When you’re cutting out vegetables, there’s no erasing or going back.” He added that he does lay things out on a plate before placing them on the dough. Sheffler said there is a wild card moment, in that you don’t know what it’s going to do once you bake it. “There’s kind of a magic about the impermanence of it all that kind of adds to the charm, I think, of the art,” he said. “Also, you’re gonna eat it. Like, I spend four hours doing the art, but I can’t wait for you to eat it, because it’s so good.” Visit matts_breads on Instagram for more information.
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AN ARTFUL ADVENTURE IN
FLAVOR
DINING REVIEW // STORY BY TIM TRUDELL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK
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| DINING REVIEW | IKA RAMEN AND IZAKAYA
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KA RAMEN AND IZAKAYA IS A FAR CRY FROM THE CUP OF RAMEN HEATED IN ONE'S DORMITORY-ROOM MICROWAVE, OR THE DRIED NOODLES WITH FLAVORING PACKETS MANY SURVIVE ON IN THEIR FIRST APARTMENT. LOCATED IN THE HEART OF BENSON, AMID BARS, GALLERIES, BOUTIQUES, AND VINTAGE GOODS STORES, THE ASIAN EATERY AND BAR ROCKS THE PALATE WITH ITS TAKE ON RAMEN SWIMMING IN ITS OWN UNIQUE SPICY BROTH. IN JAPAN, AN IZAKAYA IS A CASUAL BAR, WHERE PEOPLE MEET, ENJOY DRINKS, AND GRAB A BITE TO EAT—THE PERFECT DESCRIPTION FOR THIS LOCAL EATERY.
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he storied neighborhood is a perfect fit for the original Ika home, as its eclectic, relaxed vibe embraces the restaurant. With Beercade’s retro arcade across the street, Ika is a great date-night spot.
My wife Lisa and I enjoy strolling through Benson, taking in the neighborhood’s public art, either through the “alley” art with its colorful murals or the social justice messages displayed on storefront windows. We’d been wanting to try Ika Ramen and Izakaya for a while. I love ramen. If I could live off of it, I would. (Unfortunately, Lisa has other ideas for sustenance.) Splitting a couple of small plates, we each selected an item. Lisa chose a five-piece order of gyoza, while I opted for the buffalo chicken skins. The gyoza, a dumpling with pork and cabbage, lay in a shallow pool of their “magic” sauce, which provided a nice flavor. The buffalo chicken skins, tossed in their fuego sauce, offer a hot and spicy crunch. Though served on a small plate, we agreed the skins were plenty as an appetizer for two. The fuego sauce consists of chicken broth and a chili sauce similar to sriracha, said Blake Farias, the front-of-thehouse manager.
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Since Ika Ramen and Izakaya is a Japanese-style kitchen, everything is cooked at the same time, unlike other places in which appetizers are prepared first, Farris said. That’s why some items are referred to as small plates. He said the chicken skins rate among customers’ favorite small plate offerings, while other tasty small plates include chicken skewers and fried brussel sprouts. “I’ve been told we have the best calamari in town,” he added. Bowls are among the entree options, and include poke, featuring fish with vegetables or rice. Lisa chose the Poke Ceviche, which consists of salmon, cucumbers, red and green onions, avocado, cilantro, Thai chili, a citrus marinade, seaweed, and that magic sauce. The ramen, of course, is the main star at Ika. My usual go-to is Tonkotsu, with a pork broth, shar siu (barbecue pork), ajitama (soft-boiled egg), negi (green onion), pickled ginger, and mushroom. However, the spicy miso intrigued me, with chili oil and spicy bok choy. Swimming in chicken broth, the dish includes gochugan sausage (flavored with chili paste), onsen tamago (soft-cooked egg), and noodles. It’s definitely a spicy dish, which I loved. Fair warning though, I did find myself taking more than a few drinks of my soda during dinner.
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| DINING REVIEW | IKA RAMEN AND IZAKAYA hose who don’t care for spicy ramen dishes can choose from several mild options, such as Mary Jane (featuring barbecue chicken in chicken broth).
A third entree option on the menu is donburi, a rice bowl with meat or fish, as well as vegetables and rice.
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While all have murals on the walls, each features a different design unique to that eatery and created by Alex Roskelley, who did the murals at Beercade and Jake’s Cigars. Each piece adds to the individuality of that location, and, if you’re art enthusiasts like we are, they entice you to visit each restaurant. For more information on the restaurants, visit ikaramen.com.
IKA RAMEN 6109 MAPLE ST. - 402.558.2482 FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE PRICE OVERALL
$$ 5 STARS POSSIBLE
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Distinctive art at each spot helps distinguish them from each other.
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While ramen is the main attraction, menus vary at each location. The Papillion location includes a large selection of sushi, and Lucky Tiger Izakaya also features sushi with the ramen and small plates.
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Since opening in 2017, the company has added Ika San Downtown in the Old Market. Lucky Tiger Izakaya opened in the Blackstone District in 2020, and the newest location, Ika San Shadow Lake in Papillion, opened in April.
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“The bartenders are great at creating fun drinks,” Farris said.
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With an intimate seating capacity of 36 people, Ika Ramen and Izakaya fills up quickly. On Friday and Saturday, the wait can last up to three hours, Farris said. Kaitei—Ika’s speakeasy—is located in the basement, and is an excellent spot for people to wait for a table, he said. Guests can enjoy a drink and visit with their party. The staff will come and lead them to their table, Farris said.
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While we didn’t order an alcoholic beverage during our visit, Ika’s bar menu offers a nice selection, from sake to rice beer, as well as plenty of mixed drinks. A favorite option is Makgeolli, a rice wine that is gaining popularity across the United States, Farris said. .
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2021
Course Guide
FORE-WARD THINKING A History of Omaha Country Club COMPILED BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN
maha’s most prestigious country club is also the city’s original. In 1899, Omahan Arthur P. Guiou persuaded 65 fellow members of the Omaha Club to donate $100 per person to establish the Omaha Country Club. Guiou owned Guiou Lumber Co. and was a prominent figure in Omaha society. With these funds, a board was established and 80 acres were purchased south and east of a trolley line that ran through the Benson area (60th and Maple streets). The next year, according to the Omaha WorldHerald, a professional golfer from Kansas City named George Baird came to lay out the golf links. Two months later, the club held its first celebrity golf match. The idea of playing golf in Omaha became successful. In 1905, 40 additional acres were purchased to create one 18-hole course. By 1916, OCC created a waiting list for membership. In November that same year, construction began on a practice putting green. The “Roaring ’20s” gave OCC much prosperity. In 1922, the OCC hosted the Trans-Mississippi Golf Association Tournament, and by the mid-1920s, professional golf gave more prominence and a sense of fashion to the game. The land for the location of Omaha Country Club at 6900 Country Club Road was procured in 1922 from the sale of the previous land at $150,000. // G102 //
OMAHA MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
It was the site of clothier Arthur Brandeis’ estate, called “Olive Crest,” and Boston golf course architect Wayne Stiles created the 18-hole course. A fashionable Tudor-revival-style clubhouse, offering many modern amenities, was opened in 1927. The clubhouse sits in this location today. As the country experienced the Great Depression in the 1930s, the Omaha Country Club strove for innovation, planning, and frugality, but still entered 1940 financially insecure. World War II and rationing also contributed to low membership and income, but by 1945, OCC was swinging again. The 1950s saw prosperity in the club and its membership. Architect Perry Maxwell was commissioned to undertake an extensive renovation of the course in 1952. Changes made by Maxwell included shortening hole No. 5, lengthening holes No. 6 and 10, relocating the green on No. 12, and completely rebuilding many of the green complexes on the golf course. As a result, OCC bears the unmistakable stamp of Maxwell's hand and its undulating greens, with their “Maxwell rolls.” The terrace was completely rebuilt and included a dance floor. The 1960s through the 1980s carried the traditions of the OCC as a premier golf course and club, but the transition to the modern era brought with it many changes. Chief among these was a more active mixed-golf program.
With more women employed outside the home, many women worked during the traditional golf days of Tuesdays for 18 holes and Wednesdays for nine holes. A new golf shop and ladies locker room were added to the north end of the clubhouse in 1960. OCC also hosted the Women's Trans-Mississippi Championship in 1972. The 21st century brought with it a strategy to remain the city’s premier country club. In 2004, Keith Foster of Paris, Kentucky, was chosen as the architect to revitalize the entire golf course. The renovated course, on which golfers and spectators will gather for the U.S. Senior Open Championship July 8-11, was listed in Golf Week Magazine’s “Top 200 Classic Courses” in 2016. OCC first hosted the U.S. Senior Open Championship in 2013. The course was redesigned in preparation, and the clubhouse was significantly remodeled—from necessary roof repair to renovating the screened-in porch. The event brought national attention to the club. OCC celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2017. They are proud to be the host of the 2021 USSO. For more information, visit omahacc.org
PHOTO BY BILL SITZMANN COURSE ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRIAN HILL
WELCOME To the U.S. Senior Open Championship
maha Country Club, site of the 41st U.S. Senior Open Championship, is Omaha’s premier country club. Established in 1899, the club has kept up-to-date through a series of enhancements and renovations throughout its 155-year history.
Jackie Brandt spent several summers caddying at Omaha Country Club in the 1950s as a youth. In 1956, he began playing for the New York Giants, and he spent the majority of his 12-year MLB tenure with the Baltimore Orioles. He played in two All-Star games and won a Golden Glove in 1959.
The course on which top senior golfers will play over the next four days was designed by architect Perry Maxwell in 1952. The design was renovated in 2004 by Keith Foster; who also restored Maxwell’s course designs at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa and Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth.
Thomas Sieckmann is the director of golf instruction at Omaha Country Club. This former PGA player won the 1988 Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic with a score of -17. Scott Gutschewski, Mike Schuchart, and Jim White are also former PGA golfers with roots in Omaha.
One notable Major League Baseball player graced the golf course at Omaha Country Club.
OCC welcomes all visitors and players to the 41st U.S. Senior Open Championship.
JULY/AUGUST 2021 • U.S. SENIOR OPEN
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OMAHA MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
Jennifer Likes Board Member and Golf Committee Chair
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he elevated first tee presents players with the first risk/reward of the round. The hole is a relatively short par 4 with a dogleg right, and the tee shot is critical. A long hitter can hit though the fairway and into the punishing rough. The right corner is heavily guarded by a well-placed bunker, tall pines, and native grasses. The fairway slopes left, and the tee shot is best played to the right center of the fairway, flying the bunker if possible. Anything left of center means the player will have a blind second shot, which is slightly uphill into a well-guarded green with deep bunkers to the left and right. The green, with its subtle breaks, can prove to be a difficult read.
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ee the ball on the left side of the markers and aim down the right side with a south wind. In a north wind, aim down the middle and attempt placement in the middle or right side of the fairway. The left rough is brutal. Aim the second shot at the trees to the right of the sand trap on the right of the green to take advantage of the right-to-left fairway slant. The third shot to the green should be between 60 to 100 yards, setting up a sand wedge, gap wedge, or wedge depending on the wind. Plan to land the ball on the green 5 to 8 yards short of the flagstick to allow for roll up, unless the flagstick is on the front right (then the goal should be hit high to the left). The green slopes severely back to front and right to left, so, if the green is fast, avoiding going long is essential.
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OMAHA MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
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his is the longest of the par 3s on the course and is the ninth (men) and 11th (women) handicap hole. Like all the other par 3s at OCC, prepare for a lot of trouble surrounding a deceiving green. With a downhill look, this green is flanked by sand. An overhanging tree on the back right of the green can mean a brutal pitch or chip shot. A way-left hit creates a blind pitch into a green with multiple breaks. Any player can shoot for the flagstick, but the potential for a double is high. The smart decision is to play for the center of the green regardless of hole location. The next best option is to hit short. On the green or just off, a par is achievable, but if anywhere else, players should say a prayer and hope for the best.
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he fourth hole is the most difficult par 4 and the No. 1 handicap hole. The right side of the fairway is guarded by multiple trees and runs alongside an unmaintained native area. A severely sloped hillside and fairway bunker guard the left side of the fairway. An accurate tee-off on this hole is key. A drive in the fairway will leave a mid-to-short iron to a large, but nuanced, elevated green protected by two deep bunkers. Approach shots that land in the back third of the green rarely hold the putting surface. Par is a great score on this hole.
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JULY/AUGUST 2021 • U.S. SENIOR OPEN
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he fifth hole is the most difficult of the five par 3s. The green complex is among the most challenging. Deep bunkers guard both sides of this steeply sloped green. A false front makes a precise tee shot critical. A tee shot into the center of the green is always a wise play regardless of the hole location. Back right hole placements require a precise shot to a small, but accessible, plateau. The green will be running away from players, so keeping the chip shot on the green is no small task. Back left hole placements are the most accessible, as a well-struck shot into the middle of the green will feed left and often leave an uphill putt for birdie. But even to the back left, the steep slope of the green easily fools players. Front left hole placements are generally a few paces from the false front that guards this green. Coming up short means being left with an interesting 25-to-30-yard chip. Par is an excellent score on this hole.
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OMAHA MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
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his is one of the best risk-vs.-reward holes on the course, and there are many different ways to play it. Depending on the wind direction, a good drive will leave the player at the bottom of the hill with a 180-160 yard shot to the green. Big hitters should avoid the left, as there is a hidden creek in play. Shorter drivers should plan for a layup and favor the left side, as a miss right makes the layup harder. Those who decide to layup should note a gorgeous creek intersects the fairway about 80 yards from the green. The green has lower and higher tiers. A player can use the green’s slope as a backstop for lower-tier hole locations, and get in good position. For higher-tier hole locations, it is imperative to be level or below the hole. A miss long to the back of the green’s rough will likely result in big numbers. Likewise for the back green side bunker. Leaving the ball in the middle of the green and trying to two-putt is the conservative play. With a long- or mid-iron, favor a distance to the front of the green to protect against going long. With a wedge after a layup, the middle of the green is a good target distance-wise. The hole is well-bunkered. JULY/AUGUST 2021 • U.S. SENIOR OPEN
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his hole represents the best scoring chance of the par 3s on the front nine. The tee is elevated, from which the green site is situated at a low point, immediately past a creek that will likely not come into play. The hole is framed by trees and three bunkers We make it easy to stay comfortable through all of Omaha’s most unpredictable weather. That’s because that are benched up to the putting surface. When on the tee, players should take notice Claim your special limited of the wind direction and hole location, as it will dictate the overall shot shape via a installed to seal in comfort in your home, for years to come. time offer at PellaOmaha.com, fade or a draw. Using the inside edges of the front two bunkers as the shaping target Claim your special limited time offer at PellaOmaha.com, or call 402-493-1350. will lead to success. The largest challenge for the seventh hole is the subtle nature of or call 402-493-1350. breaks that are presented on the green and feature a gentle slope that divides the green into quadrants. To make par here is expected, whereby birdie is needed before heading onto the final #1 two of the front nine, which prove difficult. PELLA IS RATED BY holes HOMEOWNERS FOR THE HIGHEST CRAFTSMANSHIP.* *Study of homeowner perceptions of leading national brands. Study commissioned by Pella, 2019.
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OMAHA MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
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his is ranked as the third toughest hole at Omaha County Club, and it easily deserves this ranking. This is a long par 4 that requires two well-struck shots to reach the green. The optimal tee shot finds the left side of the fairway and often catches a speed that allows the ball to travel another 20 yards or more on the ground. Missing right sends the player into a hazard and missing too far left blocks the player by a thicket of low-hanging trees. After a nice tee shot, the player is faced with a mid-tolong iron shot. The green is well-protected by sand traps on the right side and severe mounding on the left. Missing short or right will allow the player to get up and down with a deft pitch shot. Missing long, or, even worse, missing left, requires one of the most difficult pitches on the golf course with the severe left-to-right green running away from the player. There is no certain two-putt on this double-tiered green that breaks severely from left to right.
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Kelli Tierney House & Golf Committee Member, Junior Golf Chair
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he ideal tee shot is on the right side of the fairway as the fairway slopes hard down and left. There are two deep bunkers on the right side, making reaching the green in regulation a challenge. Hitting too far left will leave a player in deep rough. A tee shot down the middle can easily dribble off into the left rough.
A good tee shot will leave a player with a mid-iron into a green with two greenside bunkers on the right and left. One should aim for the center of the green. A fast downhill green makes for a difficult shot when a player hits off the back. The ideal approach will leave the ball below the hole. Par on this hole is a win, and birdies are also achievable.
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OMAHA MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
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Robb Pantano Board Member, Club Vice President, 2002 Member/Guest Champion
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challenging dog-leg right that rewards a well-hit drive and tempts the brave with a “go for it in two” uphill second shot. A good strategy is to play the left side of the fairway with a driver off the tee. If struck well, a second shot seven-iron, placed between the right and left fairway bunkers, allows for a short iron to the green (an errant third shot assumes risk on both the right and left, in addition to going out-of-bounds long and behind). The undulating green and constant speed pose a two-putt par.
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JULY/AUGUST 2021 • U.S. SENIOR OPEN
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OMAHA MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
his is a relatively short par 3; however, it poses lots of opportunities to find trouble. The small green of this 170-yard hole has four greenside bunkers and a falsefront fairway that seem to be a magnet for any errant shots. If the flagstick is tucked behind the front bunkers, aiming at the center of the green is probably the best option, because the ball will funnel back to the hole. If the flagstick is back, aiming for the center of the green is not a bad choice. The back bunkers pose the biggest threat. Missing on the left side of the green will put a player on the false front fairway side. This leaves the golfer with a tight lie to a very small, undulating green. Part of what makes the hole difficult is the scenery. This may be the shortest hole on the course, but has one of the best views of any hole. From the tee, golfers are able to see the 16th green, the 12th fairway, the 17th tee, the 18th green, and the OCC Clubhouse looming in the foreground. This is often an underappreciated hole and one of the best that OCC has to offer.
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Randy Blackburn Board Member, Membership Committee Co-chair
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ole No. 12 is one of the more difficult holes on the course, requiring a precise drive and offering a challenging green complex. The drive should be aimed at the right third of the fairway. The sloping right-to-left fairway will bring the ball to the left third of the fairway. A miss to the rough on the right offers little chance to hit the green, as the green is guarded on the right by a large cottonwood tree. A miss ending up in the left rough does offer a chance to reach the green, but the green is guarded by a false front on the left and by a deep bunker complex. A drive in the fairway offers the best chance to hit this green, which slopes right-to-left and back to front. Once on the green, putts require good green reading and distance control. Birdies are rare, and bogies are more likely.
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OMAHA MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
Scott Schmidt Board Member and Club President
N
o. 13 is the easiest hole on the golf course, yet presents several challenges. Hitting a 200-yard tee shot to the left side of the fairway presents the best opportunity to approach the green; however, two fairway bunkers guard the left side of the fairway, and any tee shot between 200-300 yards left is either in a bunker, behind a tree, or in tall native grass. The green slopes left-to-right and back-to-front, and is guarded in front by bunkers on the left and right. A false front stops any approach shots that fall short. Hitting driver off of the tee can drop the ball in front, or on the green, but anything that misses the 20-yard landing area will cause the golfer to end at par or above, potentially giving a shot back to the course.
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Joe Sullivan III Board Member, Club Treasurer
T
his hole plays longer than its 324 yards based on its long gradual uphill trajectory. Roughly 220 yards from the tee is a bunker off the left side of the fairway, and not much further on the right side the fairway begins to narrow considerably. The green is guarded by two large bunkers; one left front and the other on the right side. Off the tee, a good strategy is sacrificing distance for accuracy with hopes of leaving a nine-iron to the middle of the green.
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OMAHA MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
T
his is one of the most challenging holes on the course. Club selection is more variable on this final par 3 than it is on any of the others. The tee box sits at one of the highest points on the course and the hole plays dramatically downhill toward the lowest point on the course at the creek bed. Wind, however, is the biggest consideration when selecting a club. Players who miss the green may want to be short, because there isn’t an easy second shot from anywhere else. A miss left makes the second shot nearly impossible to hold the green and a miss right will usually put players in the deep greenside bunker, which makes it hard to judge distance and loft. The slope of the green is fairly severe, running from the back to the front. There are many subtle breaks on this green that can be difficult to read.
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his is a long, demanding par 5 into a well-bunkered, two-tiered green. This hole features one of the narrowest fairways on the course, with trees on the right and heavy rough on the left. The ideal tee shot is on the right side of the fairway, as the fairway slopes hard down and left. Two deep bunkers on the right side of the green can cause fits for all players. Hitting too far left will leave players in deep rough. A drive down the middle can easily dribble off into the left rough. A good tee shot will leave the player with a mid-iron shot to the green, with greenside bunkers on the right and left. Aim for the center of the green. This fast downhill green makes for a difficult shot when a player hits off the back. The ideal approach will leave a ball below the hole. A severe pull will find the creek on the left side. Going for the green in two is only for long hitters, and is a high risk/reward situation.
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T
he fairway slopes slightly from left to right. Favoring the left/middle side of the fairway on the drive is ideal, as it will feed to the right/middle of the fairway, allowing for a better angle on the approach shot. Hitting a second shot from the fairway will permit the player to be more aggressive with a precise approach shot. The green is well-guarded by bunkers and deep rough, as well as a severe uphill slope in front of the green. Missing short could result in the ball rolling 40 to 70 yards back down the fairway. This large green allows for a wide array of hole locations. Several subtle slopes throughout the green makes for a tricky read. It will take three precise shots to make birdie. Making par is always a good score on this hole.
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OMAHA MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
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T
he tee and green on this hole are nearly level, but the fairway dives down a ravine. A good tee shot should get players close to the top of the hill. The second shot needs to stay right, because the fairway slopes drastically from right to left. The chances are that an uphill approach shot, from an uneven lie, will be challenging. While the green isn’t as difficult as some, it’s protected by three bunkers, the worst of which a golfer will go into if the player needs to approach from the left. A safe miss on the green is short as it is sloped upwards from front to back. The next stop is always the 19th hole.
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A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL STORY BY HOWARD MARCUS PHOTO BY BILL SITZMANN
Bringing the Gold Standards maha Country Club General Manager Tom McKitterick and his 60-member clubhouse staff will run the foodand-beverage service inside the facility at the 41st U.S. Senior Open Championship. Fortunately, McKitterick has been acquainted with commercial kitchens since high school, when he worked at a Howard Johnson’s restaurant in Rapid City, South Dakota. “I started as a dishwasher, did some work as a busser, [then] moved up to cook— and that was mostly during the summers,” said McKitterick, 58. He then worked toward a Bachelor of Science in hotel and restaurant management at Southwest Minnesota State University. When McKitterick’s parents retired and moved from Rapid City to Lincoln, he transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He earned a Bachelor of Science in food service management, with a minor in business management, from UNL in 1985. // G122 //
OMAHA MAGAZINE • JULY/AUGUST 2021
While at UNL, he did an internship at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln. The hotel then hired him as assistant catering services manager. A few months after graduating, Lincoln’s Hillcrest Country Club hired McKitterick as assistant manager. He managed Hillcrest for 11 years. What followed were positions at clubs around the country, including three years as CEO of the Country Club of Decatur in Decatur, Illinois; nearly four years as COO of Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; then 16 years as CEO of the Country Club of Lincoln. Along the way, McKitterick earned two certifications from the Club Management Association of America. One is Certified Club Manager. When McKitterick first became certified in 1993, he was 30—one of the youngest CCMs in the country. In 2011, he earned the Certified Chief Executive certification from CMAA, which mandates a minimum of five years’ service as a chief executive and time spent mentoring others, among other requirements. A final step is Master Club Manager. “I'm working on that,” he said.
One thing he doesn’t do much is play golf. “People will often say, ‘I bet you golf a lot.’ And I'm like, well, to be a decent golfer, you have to golf a fair amount, and I just never had time with the family and work,” he said. McKitterick’s move to the Omaha Country Club happened a year ago. OCC’s location was an attraction to him and his wife, as their daughter, son-inlaw, and two grandsons live in Omaha. In his role at the 122-year-old club, McKitterick oversees an operation that employs about 200 people at its summertime peak. About 90 work at the club year-round. The U.S. Senior Open Championship—a joint effort of the United States Golf Association, event facilitator Bruno Event Team, and the OCC, is a point of pride for McKitterick, who said, “we're excited for the city, and our members are excited to showcase their course. Our golf season here in the Midwest is so short. But everyone at the club is happy to see this event come to Omaha.” Visit omahacc.org for more information.
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Omaha
DINING GUIDE AMERICAN BARREL & VINE- $$ 1311 South 203rd Street Omaha, NE 68130 Barrel and Vine’s restaurant is an elevated food experience that is made from scratch daily with love in our kitchen. Our menu combines a mixture of Chef driven creative dishes, crave-able comfort meals and premium Nebraska steaks. Barrel & Vine also doubles as a live music venue and offers a rooftop bar, outdoor patio with firepits, and dozens of high end bourbons, scotch, and over 100 wine selections. Come check out an experience that is like nothing else in Nebraska. Open 7 days a week. Coming July 2021.
JAMS- $$ 7814 Dodge St. - 402.399.8300 17070 Wright Plz, Ste. 100 - 402.810.9600 1101 Harney St. in the OldMarket 402.614.9333 Jams is an Omaha restaurant legacy, an “American Grill” that offers a melting pot of different styles and varieties. The dishes are made with high-quality ingredients that pair well with award-winning wines or creative cocktails. —jamseats.com
LE PEEP - $ 69th & Pacific - 402.933.2776 177th and Center streets - 402.934.9914 156th St. & W. Dodge Rd. - 402.408.1728 120th and Blondo streets - 402.991.8222 Le Peep puts a wholesome perspective on your favorite neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot. Fresh. Simple. Elegant. Inviting. We put the emphasis on people, both patrons and staff. We focus on providing each of our guests the fresh food and friendly service that they have come to expect. Open daily 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. —lepeepomaha.com
STELLA’S - $ 106 S. Galvin Road, Bellevue - 402.291.6088 Since 1936, we’ve been making our world-famous Stella’s hamburgers the same way. The family secrets have been handed down to each owner, ensuring that your burger is the same as the one you fell in love with the first time you tried Stella’s. And if it ’s your first time, we know you’ll be back! Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., closed Sunday. —stellasbarandgrill.com
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TED AND WALLY’S - $ 1120 Jackson St. - 402.341.5827 Come experience the true taste of homemade ice cream in the Old Market. Since 1986, we’ve created gourmet ice cream flavors in small batches using rock salt and ice. We offer your favorites, plus unique flavors like margarita, green tea, Guinness, and French toast. Special orders available. Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.10 p.m., Fri.- Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday. Noon-10 p.m. —tedandwallys.com
VARSITY SPORTS CAFE - $$ Ralston - 9735 Q St. - 402.339.1944 Bellevue - 3504 Samson Way - 402.932.1944 Millard - 14529 F St. - 402.505.6660 Dundee - 4900 Dodge St. - 402.934.9439 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
xican Dining Me
ichanga Chim
DINING GUIDE LEGEND
$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+
5 METRO Locations!
3 90th & Blondo 402.391.8870 3 146th & Center 402.330.4160 3 96th & L 402.331.5656 3 Galvin & Avery 402.292.2028 3 29th & Farnam 402.346.1110
www.romeosOMAHA.com
Omaha
DINING GUIDE
I TA L I A N
Get a Little Saucy. CHANGE Appetizers
yH Happ our
LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$ 45th and Leavenworth streets - 402.556.6464 ntic Restaura ma nt Ro
an Dining Itali
SPEZIA SPECIALTIES
LO SOLE MIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO - $$ 3001 S. 32nd Ave. - 402.345.5656
WOOD FIRE STEAKS & SEAFOOD INNOVATIVE PASTA—RISOTTO—GNOCCHI FRESH SALMON DAILY
Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch & Dinner
Patio Dining Available
Catering
La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha its legendary Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta for 60 years. We offer dine-in, carry-out, party facilities, catering, and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states. Open Tuesday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. —lacasapizzaria.ne
Take Out & Curbside Pickup Available!
. Private Party Rooms . Walk-Ins Welcome 3125 South 72 nd Street
(Easy access off I-80, take 72nd Street Exit)
402.391.2950 . Call today to make your reservation
The restaurant is located in a residential neighborhood, surrounded by charming homes. Everyone is greeted with homemade bread, a bowl of fresh tomatoes and basil, a bowl of oven-roasted garlic cloves, specially seasoned olive oil, and (at night) a jug of Chianti! The menu includes a large variety of pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, and even a delicious New York steak. Traditional dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, and eggplant parmigiana are also available. Lunch offerings include panini, salads, and one of the best pizzas in town. Patio seating, full bar, and a great wine list complete the atmosphere. No reservations, except for private rooms. —losolemio.com DINING GUIDE LEGEND
$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+
CHEERS! 18 YEARS IN A ROW! LaMesaOmaha.com | 6 Locations JULY/AUGUST 2021
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ROTELLA’S ITALIAN BAKERY, INC.
Omaha
DINING GUIDE Breakfast
PASTA AMORE - $$ 11027 Prairie Brook Rd. - 402.391.2585
156th & Dodge • 408-1728 177th & Center • 934-9914 120th & Blondo • 991-8222 69th & Pacific • 933-2776
Thanks for Voting Us # BREAKFAST YEARS in a Row!
13
1
Drive-Thru Open (Center St. Only) Open Daily 6:30am-2:00pm Serving Breakfast & Lunch All Day!
w Bar in 2019 Ne
2 0 2 0 W i nn er
Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben! Omaha’s largest selection of craft beers.
3578 Farnam St • 402-345-1708 www.beercornerusa.com
SPEZIA - $$$ 3125 S. 72nd St. - 402.391.2950 Choose Spezia for lunch or dinner, where you’ll find a casual elegance that’s perfect for business guests, get-togethers, or any special occasion. Exceptional food, wine, and service, with a delectable menu: fresh seafood, certified Angus steaks, innovative pasta, risotto, gnocchi, cioppino, lamb, entrée salads, Mediterranean chicken, flatbreads, and fresh salmon daily. Enjoy a full bar, Italian and California wines, Anniversary/Lovers’ Booth (call to reserve), private dining rooms, and wood-fired grill. Open Monday-Sunday. Cocktail hour 4-6 p.m., when all cocktails, glasses of wine, and beers are half price. Evening reservations recommended. —speziarestaurant.com
LEPEEPOMAHA.COM | @LEPEEPOMAHA n Sandwi ube ch Re
Pastas are made fresh daily, including tortellini, fettuccine, and capellini. Daily specials and menu items include a variety of fresh seafood and regional Italian dishes, such as linguini amore and calamari steak, penne Florentine, gnocchi, spaghetti puttanesca, and osso buco. Filet mignon is also offered for those who appreciate nationally renowned Nebraska beef. To complement your dining experience, the restaurant offers a full bar and extensive wine list. Be sure to leave room for homemade desserts, like the tiramisu and cannoli. MondayThursday 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 10 p.m. Reservations recommended. —pastaamore.com
DINE-IN TAKE-OUT
4524 Farnam St. - 402-991-7724 FREE PARKING . LIVE MUSIC . BIER GARDEN
R AT H S K E L L E RO M A H A .C O M
MEXICAN FERNANDO’S - $ 7555 Pacific St. - 402.339.8006. 380 N. 114th St. - 402.330.5707 Featuring Sonoran-style cooking made fresh daily. Catering and party rooms also available. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4-9 p.m. —fernandosomaha.com
STEAKS • CHOPS • SEAFOOD ITALIAN SPECIALTIES 7 private party rooms Seating up to 400 Lots of parking
1620 S. 10th Street
402-345-8313
www.casciossteakhouse.com
DINING GUIDE LEGEND
$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+
JULY/AUGUST 2021
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Omaha
DINING GUIDE LA MESA - $$ 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 MODERN COCKTAILS MIXED WITH AMERICA’S MUSIC
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
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
3825 N. 30 ST., OMAHA, NE @JOHNNYTSBARANDBLUES TH
“exactly like nothing else.”
coming july 2021
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
Hamburger
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
RATHSKELLER BIER HAUS-$$ 4524 Farnam Street - 402.991.7724 Rathskeller Bier Haus celebrates daily with German beer, wurst and many other menu items. Within arm’s reach of the Blackstone District and historic Dundee. Rathskeller Bier Haus is our German castle and designed to bring the storied traditions of Bavaria to the beating heart of Omaha’s metro area. Come enjoy our large outdoor beer garden and four legged friends are welcome. Prost! Open daily 11 a.m.-Late. —rathskelleromaha.com
thanks to our customers for voting us the “BEST BURGER
IN OMAHA
“Serving World Famous Hamburgers Since 1936” 106 Galvin Rd., Bellevue, NE • 402-291-6088 • Open Monday-Saturday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm // 130 //
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Oppty-790_Barrel&WineAd_OmahaMag_v2.indd 1
5/3/21 4:31 PM
Omaha’s Riverfront Entertainment Venue
Omaha
DINING GUIDE WEDDINGS • PARTIES • EVENTS
GREEK ISLANDS - $ 3821 Center St. - 402.346.1528
JAMS OLD MARKET • 1101 Harney St • Happy Hour M-F 3pm-6pm
Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. We are well-known for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests. Carry-out and delivery available. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. —greekislandsomaha.com
JAMS MIDTOWN • 7814 West Dodge Road • Sunday Brunch 10am-2pm
LIVE MUSIC TH-SU
402-342-7827
CASCIO’S - $$ 1620 S. 10th St. - 402-345-8313
• WEDDINGS • PARTIES • EVENTS • REUNIONS • MEETINGS
JAMS LEGACY • 17070 Wright Plaza • Party Rooms & Patios • jamseats.com
Take Out & Delivery Available Online Ordering Available at Bellevue, Millard & Dundee Locations
402.339.1944
402.505.6660
151 FREEDOM PARK ROAD • OMAHA www.rivercitystar.com
Sports Bar
Please Check Website for Hours of Operation
402.932.1944
STEAKHOUSES
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 - $$$ 2121 S. 73rd St. - 402-391-7440 Famous for the original Whiskey Steak. Truly a one-of-a-kind Midwestern experience. Excellent food, wine, service, and value. Rare...and very well done. Lunch Monday- Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., cocktail hour 3-6 p.m., dinner nightly 5 p.m. —droverrestaurant.com
402.934.9439 DINING GUIDE LEGEND
varsityromancoinpizza.com
$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ h Steak ouse
@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
ek Dining Gre
Family Owned Since 1983 CATERING / PARTY ROOM AVAILABLE HOMEMADE, FRESH FOOD, ALWAYS.
3821 Center St. / 402.346.1528 GreekIslandsOmaha.com JULY/AUGUST 2021
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IOWA INDEPENDENCE DAY July 3 at Living History Farms in Urbandale. Celebrate America’s birthday with a family-oriented day of pieeating contests, foot races, a town parade, and more. The celebration will also include the Walnut Hill Bluestockings playing baseball according to 1875 rules. 515-278-5286. —lhf.org IOWA CITY JAZZ FESTIVAL July 2-3 in downtown Iowa City. This two-day event brings a weekend of live jazz performances, food vendors and fireworks displayed over the University of Iowa Pentacrest to close out the festival. 319-337-7944. —summerofthearts.org
NEBRASKA UNCLE SAM JAM! July 3 at Oak Lake Park,
Lincoln. This family-friendly event is Lincoln’s official celebration of Independence Day, featuring food, music, fireworks, and more. 402-441-7547. —lincoln.ne.gov
festival will feature all-day performances from national and local musicians along with food, drinks, and merchandise for sale. 402-435-8754. —zoobar.com
CORNHUSKER STATE GAMES July 16-25, varying
RED, WHITE, KABOOM! July 3 at Ag Park
in Columbus. The biggest Independence Day celebration in Columbus brings event goers a day of live music from Barrel House, activities, a bouncy house, and more. Fireworks starting at dusk. 402-564-2769. —thecolumbuspage.com in Fairbury. This annual event features more than 215 vendors, where everything from dishes to clothes will be available for purchase, along with great food. A Fourth of July Celebration will take place the first day. 402-729-322. —fairburyfleamarket.com
1890S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION July 4 at
Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in Grand Island. This summer tradition includes a parade, a concert, pie-eating contests, games, and more. Runners should be sure to check out the annual Firecracker 5K, which kicks off at 7 a.m. 308-385-5316. —stuhrmuseum.org
OREGON TRAIL DAYS July 8-11 throughout Scottsbluff. This annual event is one of the oldest community festivals in Nebraska. The celebration includes a kickoff barbecue, a hill climb bicycle ride to the top of Scotts Bluff National Monument, a chili cook-off, horseshoe tournament, and more. 308- 632-2133. —oregontraildays.com JOHN C. FREMONT DAYS July 9-11 throughout Fremont. Held every second week of July, this event celebrates John C. Fremont, and includes free activities, historical tours, car and bike shows, vendors, antiques, and live entertainment. 402727-9428. —johncfremontdays.org event celebrating German culture brings eventgoers a grand parade, ribfest, tractor pulls, live music, entertainment, and more. 402-269-3242. —gosyracusene.com
ALLIANCE HERITAGE DAYS July 13-18 throughout Alliance. Celebrating 4o years of Alliance heritage and history, this five day event brings carnival rides, various vendors, live musical entertainment, a parade, games, and so much more. 308-762-5400. —cityofalliance.net
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July
03
49TH ANNUAL FLEA MARKET July 3-5 at City Park
GERMANFEST July 13 throughout Syracuse. An
SATURDAY IN THE PARK July 2-3 at Grandview Park in Sioux City. On July Fourth weekend, Sioux City hosts a free music festival. This event is free admission, but you will need to reserve a ticket to attend. Friday’s headliner is indie pop trio AJR and the legendary John Fogerty will be the headliner on Saturday. 712-277-2575. —saturdayinthepark.com
ZOOFEST TBD at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln. This
locations in Lincoln, Omaha, and surrounding communities. This amateur sporting event offers participants the opportunity to compete in Olympic contests like gymnastics, track and field, and swimming, as well as more relaxed events like horseshoe pitching and chess. 402-471-2544. —cornhuskerstategames.com
FLIGHT NIGHT July 17 at Strategic Air Command
& Aerospace Museum in Ashland. Stargaze with the Omaha Astronomical Society or view planetarium shows at this after-hours event. Enjoy free simulator rides and guided tours of the HU-16 Albatross, Black Holes Exhibit, Space Humanities Longest Journey Exhibit, and more. This is a 21 and over evening out, with a cash-only bar. 402944-3100. —sacmuseum.org
NEBRASKA STAR PARTY Aug. 1-6 at Merritt
ANIMEIOWA 2019: POST-A-PIG-ALYPTIC
July 30 to August 1 at Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Des Moines. The biggest anime convention in Iowa is back for another year of cosplay, guest appearances, panels and more. —animeiowa.com
CHRISTMAS IN JULY July 10 in downtown Oskaloosa. Celebrate Christmas in the summer with fun and festivities for the whole family! From 2-8 p.m. on the Square, there will be games, activities, and a Christmas movie outdoors. Funds raised will benefit the Painting with Lights display. 641-672-2591. —mahaskachamber.org/mainstreet TOUR DE BREW July 17 at Millstream Brewery
Reservoir State Recreation Area near Valentine. This week-long event dedicated to nature and the stars will entertain children and adults alike. Guests can learn how to explore the night sky and take educational tours July of the surrounding area. 402-333-5460. —nebraskastarparty.org
in Amana. Millstream Brewery brings a unique twist to this event that allows goers to bike to different breweries for a beer tasting. Food will be available at the end of the tour. 319-6223672. —millstreambrewing.com
WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR July 18-23
at the Washington County Fairgrounds in Washington. This annual county fair includes rodeo and motocross events, a talent show, demolition derby, and more fun for the family. 319-653-2552. —washingtoncountyfairia.com
18-23
COLUMBUS DAYS Aug. 13-15 throughout Columbus. Attendees can spend the weekend listening to live music, enjoying food, a cornhole contest, bed races, a parade, and more. 402-564-2769. —thecolumbuspage.com/events/columbus-days KOOL-AID DAYS Aug. 20-22 throughout Hastings. Celebrate America’s beloved powdered drink mix, which was created in Hastings, with this weekend festival. Events include Kwickest Kool-Aid Drinking Contest, Jammers Boat Races, a fun run/ walk, and more. 402-461-8405. —kool-aiddays.com NEBRASKA STATE FAIR Aug. 27-Sept. 6 at the state fairgrounds in Grand Island. Participate in traditional fair activities like livestock exhibits, a midway, and lots of fried food. Concerts include Theory of a Deadman, Trace Adkins, Cody Jinks, and more. 308-382-1620. —statefair.org
SOUTHERN IOWA FAIR July 18-23 at the Southern Iowa Fairgrounds in Oskaloosa. This yearly event brings six days of rides, food vendors and more, with musical guest Lonestar. 641-673-7004. — southerniowafair.com RAGBRAI July 25-31 in multiple cities across Iowa. Thousands of bicyclists will converge upon Iowa for one week for this annual ride. This year’s event travels the state from Council Bluffs in western Iowa to Keokuk in eastern Iowa. Come for the ride, stay for the homemade pie found in each town along the route. 515284-8341. —ragbrai.com
VACATION. STAYCATION. SUMMER CELEBRATION. WE’VE GOT IT COVERED IN SARPY COUNTY. Tree Rush Adventures at Fontenelle Forest, Bellevue Nitro Circus, Aug. 26 rpy County Fair,
to the Sa LANCO, coming
Aug. 7
Werner Park, Papillion
Joe Nichols and Warrant coming to Bellevue Rocks! The Riverfron t, Aug.
13-14
The Sarpy County Fair, Aug. 4-8. Extreme bull-riding, rodeo, parade, carnival rides and more!
UPCOMING EVENTS AUGUST 4-8 Sarpy County Fair, Springfield
Omaha Storm Chasers at Werner Park, Papillion
Nebraska Brewing, La Vista
AUGUST 13-14 Bellevue Rocks! The Riverfront American Heroes Park, Bellevue AUGUST 26 Nitro Circus Werner Park, Papillion
Tara Hills Golf Course, Papillion
Midwest Pirate Festival, Bellevue
Union Omaha
AUGUST 28-29 Midwest Pirate Festival Bellevue Berry Farm & Pumpkin Ranch, Bellevue
Sarpy County will be awaiting with a wonderful mix of fun things to see and do this summer. Catch a Union Omaha soccer or Storm Chasers baseball game. Enjoy some family fun at one of our exclusive outdoor festivals. Spend the day exploring the outdoors and then wrap up the evening at one of our many local breweries, distilleries and winery. With six wonderful communities, we promise you’ll have one great time. For the area’s most complete and up-to-date listing of restaurants, hotels, events and more, be sure to visit us online at GoSarpy.com!
BELLEVUE • GRETNA • LA VISTA • PAPILLION • SPRINGFIELD • OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE • OMAHA METRO
// EXPLORE CALENDAR // NORDICFEST July 22-24 in downtown Decorah. This town promotes its Scandanavian heritage by welcoming visitors from around the world for a festival full of traditional crafts, food, colorful parades, musical performances, and a Saturday night fireworks show. 800-382-3378. —nordicfest.com
a no-kill, foster animal rescue foundation. —appellationkc.com
DODGE CITY DAYS July 30 to Aug. 8 in Dodge City. Running into early August, this two week celebration will mark the 59th year of the festival. This event will have food trucks, an obstacle course, BBQ contest, a car show, and more. 620227-3119. —dodgecitydays.org
ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL OF IOWA
TBD at Western Gateway Park in Des Moines. Attendees can participate in Grape Stomping, A Street Chalk Art Competition, Bocce, or Cannolieating contests, listen to a variety of bands or watch cooking demonstration, and eat lots of Italian food. 515-770-9839. —italianfestivalofiowa.com
HELEN GILLET Aug. 25 at the 1900
July 30-Aug. 7 at the National Balloon Classic Memorial Balloon Field in Indianola. This event promises a spectacular visual experience, with nearly 100 hot-air balloons adorning the sky, live music, glowing lights, and fireworks at night, along with other family-friendly attractions. 515-9618415. —nationalballoonclassic.com
25
Building in Mission Woods. Gillet is a singer-songwriter and surrealistarcheologist exploring synthesized sounds, texture, and rhythm using an acoustic cello. Her solo performance is known for its enigmatic quality as she fabricates each song with innovative use of the cello and true mastery of live looping technology. 913-730-1905. —1900bldg.com
04
Reservoir, Cross Timbers State Park and Toronto Wildlife Area in Toronto. Celebrating 150 years of Toronto, this three-day event offers vendors, booths, games, musical entertainment, and a parade. The event will close out with a fireworks show. 620-637-2985. —facebook.com/ torontobooster
2019 SUNDOWN SALUTE July 3 at the Historic
Heritage Park in Junction City. This five-day event celebrates Independence Day with a vast collection of vendors, food, a carnival, a car show, and live music entertainment. 620-225-3277. —sundownsalutejc.org
JUNQUE N’ DONUTS FLEA MARKET July 10 at Louisburg Cider Mill in Louisburg. Vendors will be setting up shop to showcase their treasures. Event-goers can shop around or stop into the Mill for refreshing cider and delicious cider donuts. 913-837-5202. —louisburgcidermill.com APPELLATION KC July 17 at Fiorella’s Event Center in Overland Park. This event will have 150plus different wines from all around the world for tasting selected by sommelier Zach Cherry. All net proceeds will benefit the Rescue K-911 Foundation,
// 134 //
JULY/AUGUST 2021
ALICIA KEYS Aug. 25 at Starlight Theatre in
Aug.
HINTERLAND MUSIC FESTIVAL Aug. 6-8 at Avenue of the Saints Amphitheater in St. Charles. Guests will be entertained with music from a talented MISSOURI number of artists from around the country (and the world) with styles rooted in rock, country, and more. FOURTH OF JULY EXTRAVAGANZA July 4 at Performers include Hozier, Kacey Musgraves, Rothwell Park and Howard Hills Athletic and Brandi Carlile. 515-333-4628. Complex in Moberly. This July Fourth July —hinterlandiowa.com celebration includes games, inflatables, food trucks, live entertainment, and more. IOWA STATE FAIR Aug. 12-22 at the Iowa Fireworks will begin at dark. 660-269-8705 State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. Revel in x 2040. — moberlymo.org the family-friendly atmosphere of this annual and traditional event, featuring rollercoasters for 2019 KANSAS CITY AIR SHOW July 3-4 at all ages, games, and much more. Special guests Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport. This twoinclude The Chainsmokers, Pentatonix, Hootie day event comes back for another year of aerobatic and the Blowfish, and comedian Gabriel “Fluffy” performances, demonstrations, and an appearance Iglesias. 515-262-3111. —iowastatefair.org by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. —kcairshow.org
TORONTO DAYS Through July 4 at the Toronto
VIRTUAL ETHNIC FESTIVAL Aug. 21-23 Online Event in Kansas City. This event will be livestreamed this year in lieu of an in-person festival at Swope Park. The annual tradition will still offer food, music, crafts, and dances from all around the world, supplied by locals in the KC metro area. 816-513-7553. —eeckc.org
ANDERSON COUNTY FAIR July 26-Aug. 30 in Garnett. This free, annual family event includes carnival rides, tractor pulls, demolition derby, and free musical entertainment featuring the Dirty Bourbon Band. 785-448-6767. —andersoncofair. com
ABOVE AND BEYOND: NATIONAL BALLOON CLASSIC
KANSAS
the jaw-dropping talents of the most incredible illusionists on Earth. The show has shattered box office records across the globe and dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on stage. 816-363-7827. —kcstarlight.com
SAND CINEMA PRESENTS: DISNEY’S ALADDIN July 9 at Longview Lake Beach in Blue Springs, Mo. Bring the family down for this lakeside event and enjoy a movie on the inflatable screen. Complimentary photos with Jasmine from @ThePrincessLife. Concessions are available. 660-269-8705 x2040. —makeyourdayhere.com KC FRINGE FESTIVAL July 18 to Aug. 1 in Kansas City. This is a 14-day festival of unjuried, uncensored performing and visual arts features performers and creators from all over—local, national, and international. 816-359-9195 . —kcfringe.org
Kansas City. The 15-time Grammy Awardwinning artist, songwriter, musician, and producer returns to the stage to bring her repertoire of worldwide hits to iconic venues across North America and Europe. 816-363-7827. —kcstarlight.com
MARTINA MCBRIDE Aug. 29 at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City. Multiple Grammy nominee Martina McBride is bringing her Livin Life Up Tour the Muriel Kauffman Theatre. Country musician Hailey Whitters will open the show. —kaufmanncenter.org
Event times and details may change.
Visit omahamagazine.com for complete listings. Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.
NO BETTER DIRECTION ...to take your flock
AQUAPALOOZA July 17 at Lake of the Ozarks. This family-friendly summer event held at Osage Beach brings boating events, live music, activities, and prizes. On the Water Party at Captain Ron’s Bar & Grill. 573-348-9797. —funlake.com/aquapalooza RUBLECON 2019 July 17 at the Relics Event Center in Springfield. This family-friendly event brings local artists for a day of cosplay, costume contests, cash prizes, toys and comics, and more. 417-882-0070. —facebook.com/THERUBLECON THE ILLUSIONISTS—DIRECT FROM BROADWAY
July 20-25 at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City. This mind-blowing spectacular showcases
Call For Your Free Travel Guide! 308-432-3006 www.DiscoverNWNebraska.com Photo by Zachary Carlson
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NOT FUNNY // COLUMN BY OTIS TWELVE // PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL SITZMANN
TH E ADVE N TURE O F ADVE N TURI N G
I
’ve heard it a lot lately. “Make every day an adventure!” Or, “Life should be an adventure!” Or, “Arkansas is an adventure!” Or, “Let’s go on an underwater cave adventure!” Or, “My adventures in life insurance underwriting.” Or—my favorite—“Join the adventure of model railroading.”
This is one of the curses of our current culture; words are losing their meaning. Concepts are being devalued, distorted, and/or simply mangled. Dogs become “support animals.” Parents become “helicopters.” And riots become “patriotic parades.” Adventure, after all has a precise meaning. It is defined as an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. (It’s that “hazardous” bit that I no longer have a taste for.) Now, I know there are a lot of adventurous people around these days, though probably fewer than there were back when going from the cave to the campfire involved dodging not-quite-domesticated wolves. It’s simply true that there are fewer real adventures available to us modern, developed-world, Netflixed humanoids. That’s especially true if we are the kind of biped that gets a lot of mail from AARP. Nowadays we have to seek out an adventure, check that it fits into our budgets, does not interfere with our scheduled nap, preferably does not involve passing through a security checkpoint, consider dietary restrictions, requires a sunscreen value less than SPF 50, avoids any sudden and extreme gains or loss of altitude or elevation, matches our available footwear, and make sure that it conforms to any medical advice we might have been given—even if that advice came from an in-law. Simply deciding which adventures are out there is more of a challenge than ever. In the olden days you could just point the bow of your little sailing ship one way or the other and you’d be guaranteed to find yourself somewhere unknown where “there be dragons,” or various indigenous people, who justifiably resent your claim of “discovering” them. As a bonus, this kind of adventure included scurvy and bad biscuits. So, how can we find our adventures in this modern civilized era? It’s obvious. We only need to ask Google. As in “Google, what’s my best adventure?” The answer? Here’s what the omnipotent, all-knowing search engine told me… 1. Hike the Incan trail to Machu Picchu. (No—this involves “Altitude” and “Footwear” objections.) 2. Go on safari in Kruger Park. (No—there are multiple security checkpoints on the way there.) 3. Take a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia. (No—I don’t like eggplant. That’s a dietary restriction.) 4. Scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef. (No—This also involves dietary restrictions, as in: I don’t want to be part of a Great White shark’s diet.) 5. Rave at the Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan. (No—Raving interferes with my nap time.) 6. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro. (No—I’ll stick to Hemmingway. Also see No. 1.) 7. Walk along China’s Great Wall. (No—I got this advice from an in-law.) 8. Helicopter over the Grand Canyon. (No—My dad was a pilot and he warned me about helicopters. “They don’t glide.”) In conclusion…Get lost, Google. Who needs a new adventure? I have an old house, a dog that is not housebroken, an alarm clock that goes off at 4 a.m. every morning, and several children. In other words, keep your Machu Picchu, I’ve got adventure up to here. Thank you very much. Otis Twelve hosts the radio program Early Morning Classics with Otis Twelve on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. Visit kvno.org for more information.
JULY/AUGUST
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2021
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