Omaha Magazine - Nov/Dec 2022 - Hotel Edition

FROM THE EDITOR // LETTER BY JULIUS FREDRICK

LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF OBLIVION

Hello dear readers, familiar and fresh. This is Omaha Magazine associate editor Julius Fredrick, and I extend to you my sincerest gratitude for pausing here to read my inaugural editor’s letter a gracious task, given the strength of content found in the proceeding pages.

While the team at Omaha Magazine prides itself on providing readers a much-needed breath from the bleak churn of the modern news cycle highlighting and celebrating the good and goodwill that distinguishes the metro as a place of integrity, enterprise, and many an unsung talent once a year, we tackle a big, sometimes frightening, and often heartbreaking story unfolding within ou r community.

Our main feature this issue addresses the deadly fentanyl epidemic: a national crisis that’s breached Nebraska’s “heartland” insulation with devastating impact. Calling on a wide, yet authoritative pool of individ uals both within, and well beyond, the margins of jurisprudence we aim to illuminate this complex issue via thorough and multi-faceted investigation. Local and federal law enforcement outline their efforts to curb fentanyl trafficking and overdoses, while medical professionals trace its genesis, proliferation, and unique challenges regarding treatment.

On the other side of the law, we speak with an overdose survivor as he recounts his near-death experience with fentanyl-induced oblivion, and a repentant, if not cautionary, drug dealer. Finally, we call on a bereaved, frustrated father who lost his son to a fentanyl overdose just this past June. While the story is alarming by nature, we strive to to paint a clearer picture of the crisis through the perspective of these disparate yet inter connected individuals each reckoning in their own way with Omaha’s rising fentanyl flood, and trying to stay afloat in its wake.

On a lighter note, our arts and culture section turns the spotlight toward inspired and inspiring members of the community including award-win ning documentarian Dan Napoli, rising pop starlet HARLOW, and cre atively reenergized Oglala Lakota painter, Nathaniel Ruleaux. Meanwhile, our dining feature pays homage to Omaha staple Cascio’s, and how the family-owned steakhouse continues to adapt and fill seats through 76 years in business.

As for 60+, we usher in the holiday season with a profile on “Santa Bob,” a professional St. Nick who managed to weather the pandemic’s freeze on parties and events and emerge jollier than ever. Additionally, we highlight retired IT professional for Nebraska Medicine, Louise Foster, as she fully invests in the right hemisphere of her brain pursuing a dream career as a “cozy” murder-mystery novelist, releasing six thrillers in quick succession.

Lastly, I’d like to issue a correction in regards to our October music profile on punk outfit Stronghold: the names of the current and previous drum mers are Tim “Twig” Lorence and Ryan “Emmy” Emswiler, respectively. It’s true, drummers really never receive their proper respect, do they? Check out the amended version online at omaham

Well, that’s it from me. If you made it this far, thank you again for humoring me and thank you for your continued support of Omaha Magazine remarkable people of Omaha and your stories, that make it all worthwhile. And remember, through tragedy and triumph alike it’s about all of us.

*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.

for select content in this issue.

KIM CARPENTER Asso ciate Editor

A longtime contributor to our magazines, Carpenter joins the team as Omaha Publications’ newest associate editor. She has worked at art organizations including the Akron Art Museum and the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts and prior to the pandemic, covered visual artists in the Omaha World-Herald ’s weekly Art Notes column. The author of several art books and catalogues, she loves learning about artists’ processes and practices. Carpenter grew up in Pennsylvania and attended school on the East Coast, but has called Omaha home for nearly two decades and can’t imagine living anywhere else in the country. She resides in midtown with her family and their dog, Jasper, who, despite what others might say, she claims, is a very good boy. He did not contribute to the edit ing process.

BRIDGET FOGARTY Free lance Writer

Fogarty is a freelance writer making her first contribution to Omaha Magazine this issue. She works full time as a local journalist with The Reader and El Perico, the altmonthly’s bilingual sister publication, where she’s reported on immigration and education. Fogarty moved to Nebraska in June 2021 for the job via Report for America, a national service journalism program that places reporters in local newsrooms. Originally from Illinois, Fogarty earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and Spanish at Marquette University and served as an AmeriCorps volunteer in Milwaukee. When she’s not reporting, she loves taking walks to farmers markets, spending time in nature, and meeting Omahans who love their city.

DOUGLAS “OTIS TWELVE ” WESSELMANN

Columnist

Wesselmann won a Debut Dagger from the British CWA for his novel “Imp: Being the Lost Notebooks of Rufus Wilmot Griswold in the Matter of the Death of Edgar Allan Poe.” His first novel, “On the Albino Farm,” is currently being serialized on his blog, douglaswesselmann.com.

Wesselmann novel Tales of the Master (Grief Illustrated Press) was released in 2016. He has been a fixture on Omaha radio/TV for 40 years and currently hosts the morning show on Classical 90.7 FM. In September, Wesselmann was honored by the Omaha Press Club with a Face on the Barroom Floor. Despite rumors to the contrary, Wesselmann lives in the middle of North America, though he is considering moving to one o f the edges.

EDITORIAL

Associate Editors

Contributing

LEO

DRESSING THE ABBEY

Through Jan. 8, 2023 at Durham Museum 801 S. 10th St. This costume exhibition highlights fashion from Downton Abbey, one of the most widely watched television dramas in the world.

N R

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A of

EVENTS

» Exhibits «

CROSSROADS: PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENTARY BY ATIIM JONES

Through Nov. 9 at Fred Simon Gallery, 1004 Farnam St. The street photographer’s “Crossroads” project is a photographic documentary of people in the Old Market District and surrounding area. It has since become one of the largest photography projects in the world. By appointment only, 9 a.m-4 p.m. Mondays—Fridays. Admission: Free. 402.595.2122. —artscouncil.nebraska.gov

TERRY A. RATZLAFF: BETWEEN BEING THERE AND NO LONGER BEING THERE

Through Nov. 16 at Metropolitan Community College Elkhorn Valley Campus, 829 N. 204th St., Elkhorn. The artist and educator works at the inter section of photography and bookmaking to create photographs and books that deconstruct and analyze modern perceptions of time, chaos, and order, and obsession. 9 a.m-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 9 a.m-5 p.m. Fridays. Admission: Free. 531.622.1301. —mccneb.edu/gallery

KATIE TEMPLE: BUILDING A HOME

Through Nov. 20 at Creighton University Lied Art Gallery, 2500 California Plaza. The mixedmedia artist’s paintings examine universal ideas of leaving home, not having a home, and searching for a place to call home. Her creative practice, which features a distinctive, architectural style, is rooted and influenced by the different places she has lived in throughout her life. 8 a.m-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 10 a.m-4 p.m. Saturdays and

Sundays. Admission: Free. Closing Reception: Friday, Nov. 18, 4-6 p.m. 402.280.2290.

—creighton.edu

THOMAS WHARTON: WINDOWS AND KEYS

Through Nov. 27 at Garden of the Zodiac, 1042 Howard St. This first solo show by the artist showcases work that encompasses the media of sculpture, painting, photography, drawing, and installation. 402.341.1877.

—gardenofthezodiacgallery.com

GUATEMALA PAINTINGS AND PRINTS

Through Dec. 30 at El Museo Latino, 4701South 25th St. View paintings and prints from a variety of artists from Guatemala.

FRANCISCO MATA ROSAS: IN LINE EXHIBIT

Through Dec. 31 at El Museo Latino, 4701South 25th St. View a collection of photos documented along the Mexican/US border. Reserved timed viewings. 402.731.1137.

—elmuseolatino.org

THE HISTORY OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

Through Dec. at the Great Plains Black History Museum, 2221 N. 24th Street. This highlight of 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), tells their history and the role they have played in providing quality higher education. 1-5 p.m.Wednesdays-Saturdays. Visits by appointment. Admission: Free. 402.932.7077.

—gpblackhistorymuseum.org

The public can view the cast’s original costumes, which depict fashions of the British aristocracy in the early 20th century and showcase the tur bulence and changes in the late Edwardian era through the 1920s. Noon-4 p.m. Sundays; 10 a.m-4 p.m Tuesdays-Saturdays. Admission: $13 adults; $10 seniors (62+); $10 military/veteran; $7 children (3-12); free for members and children 2 and under. 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

RICHARD HUNT: MONUMENTAL

Through Feb. 5, 2023 at KANEKO, 1111 Jones St. One of foremost American sculptors of the past century, Hunt has established himself as one of the most important and prolific “monument makers” of the past fifty years. This exhibition grounds this work within Hunt’s broader artistic practice and more critically contextualizes his tremendous contributions to the history of Amer ican sculpture over the past seventy-five years.

—thekaneko.org

SARAH ROWE: POST

Through Feb. 5, 2023 at KANEKO, 1111 Jones St. Featuring a new body of work created in the exhibition space, this exhibition showcases how Rowe draws from the energy of Heyoka, the sacred clown of the Lakota. The Omaha artist’s work is participatory and opens cross-cultural dialogues through painting, casting, fiber arts, and perfor mance. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays. 402.341.3800.

—thekaneko.org

2022 REGIONAL BIENNIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION

Nov. through Jan. 2023 at Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth St. The juried exhibition of photog raphy highlights the best photographic artwork being created in Nebraska and the states it touches, including Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Artwork was selected by this year’s judges, Diego and April Uchitel. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays; appointments preferred. Admission: Free. 402.305.1510.

—gallery1516.org

HEAVEN, HELL, AND EVERYTHING IN—BETWEEN

Nov. 5-Nov. 28 at Hot Shops, 1301 Nicholas St. An eclectic/eccentric group show featuring both established and emerging Omaha artists. Opening reception: Saturday, Nov. 5, 6-9 p.m. 10 a.m-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 11 a.m-5 p.m. Saturdays & Sun days. Admission: Free. 402.342.6452.

—hotshopsartcenter.com

GABRIELLA QUIROZ

Nov. 18—Jan. 11, 2023 at Fred Simon Gallery, 1004 Farnam St. Working primarily in colored pencils and painting, the artist develops works of symbolic imagery that showcases the beauty often overlooked in day-to-day life. By appointment only, 9 a.m-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. Admission: Free. 402.595.2122.

—artscouncil.nebraska.gov

EMPTY BOWLS

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 4-8 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 1, 11:30 a.m-1:30 p.m. at Creighton University Lied Art Gallery, 2500 California Plaza. Artistic practice meets social transformation during this popular event where students create ceramic bowls for sale to the public. All proceeds benefit the Siena Francis House. Admission: Free. 402.280.2290.

—creighton.edu

CSM ALL—STAR REVIEW ART SHOW

Dec. 1-Jan. 6, 2023 at College of Saint Mary Hillmer Art Gallery, 7000 Mercy Rd. This show features artists who have presented in the Hillmer Art Gallery over the last 15 years. Exhibiting artists include Gary Day, Becky Herman, and Jeff Spencer. 9 a.m-7:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays; 9 a.m-5 p.m. Fridays; 8:30 a.m-12:30 p.m. Saturdays. Admission: Free. 402.399.2400.

—csm.edu

ELISABETH KLEY: MINUTES OF SAND

Dec.8-April 16, 2023 at Bemis Center for Contem porary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. Organized by the Fabric Workshop and Museum (FWM), Kley’s first solo museum show features a new body of work. Invited to print yardage utilizing FWM’s world-renowned screenprinting facilities, the artist, whose work sits at the distinctive confluence of pattern, decoration, and contemporary art, interwove her ceramic and painting practices with three new yardage designs and a new suite of ceramic sculptures.

OPULENCE: PERFORMATIVE WEALTH AND THE FAILED AMERICAN DREAM

Dec. 8-April 16, 2023 at Bemis Center for Contem porary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. This group exhibition assembles a range of creative practices—including painting, sculpture, video, fashion, and nail art istry-that embrace lavish, sumptuous aesthetics to examine how America’s obsession with wealth and the ways it is displayed shapes class, race, and gender. 402.341.7130.

—bemiscenter.org

» stagE PErformancEs «

X: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MALCOLM X Nov.4-6, at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Through a series of vignettes, the opera outlines the life of Malcolm X from boyhood to his assassination in 1965, discovering the past, present, and future vision of “a prophet in search of a Black utopia, charting a course for the future.” 402.345.0606.

—o-pa.org

ANNIE

Nov. 8-13 at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. This classic family-favorite Broadway musical has reminded generations of theater goers that sun shine is always right around the corner and is now set to return in a new production. 402.345.0606.

—o-pa.org

THE WEISENHEIMERS

Nov. 11 at the Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. The Midwest’s improv comedy group returns for one night only with an interactive shows featuring smart, fast comedy. 402.553.0800.

—omahaplayhouse.com

CIRQUE MUSICA: HOLIDAY WONDERLAND

Nov. 14 at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Daredevil athleticism is on display as acrobats and aerialists perform with a musical mix of timeless seasonal music. 402.345.0606.

—o-pa.org

BERT KREISCHER

Nov. 17-18 at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. One of the top names in comedy stops by Omaha on “The Berty Boy Relapse Tour.” 402.345.0606.

—o-pa.org

A CHRISTMAS CAROL Nov. 18-Dec. 23 at the Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. One of Omaha’s favor ite holiday traditions features stunning Victo rian costumes, festive music and crisp wintry sets. 402.553.0800.

—omahaplayhouse.com

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA

Nov. 25-Dec. 18 at the Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. This new holiday production of the beloved Broadway musical whisks audiences away to a wintery wonderland, where your family will find the familiar fable of Cinder ella; a young woman who overcomes the frozen hearts of her family with the warmth of her hope and determination - and of course, a little help from her Fairy Godmother. 402.345.4849.

—rosetheater.org

EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (AND THEN SOME!)

Nov. 25-Dec. 18 at the BlueBarn Theatre, 1106 S. 10th St. Three actors perform every Christ mas story ever told and toss in Christmas tra ditions from around the world, seasonal icons from ancient times to topical pop-culture, and every carol ever sung. 402.345.1576.

—bluebarn.org

SISTER’S CHRISTMAS CATECHISM

Nov. 25-Dec. 23 at the Omaha Commu nity Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. This ”CSI: Bethlehem” is a holiday mystery extrava ganza, where Sister takes on the mystery that has intrigued historians throughout the ages: whatever happened to the Magi’s gold? 402.553.0800.

—omahaplayhouse.com

SCAN & PLAN YOUR VISIT

THE NUTCRACKER

DEC. 3 at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. America Midwest Ballet showcases the ballet company’s International cast of artists, backed by a polished ensemble of students danc ers across the metro, in this holiday favorite. 402.345.0606.

—o-pa.org

THE PRINCESS BRIDE: AN INCONCEIVABLE EVENING WITH CARY ELWES

Dec. 9 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Join the actor who portrayed Westley for a behind-the-scenes look at life on and off the set of the classic film. 402.345.0202.

—o-pa.org

DC YOUNG FLY & FRIENDS

Dec. 11 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The star of MTV/VH1’s hit show “Wild’n Out” and the highly rated “85 South Show” podcast comes to Omaha for one night only. Recommended for ages 18+. 402.345.0202.

—o-pa.org

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS

Dec. 3 at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The holiday show features contestants of the Emmy-Award winning television show, RuPaul’s Drag Race plus a host of other per formers. 402.345.0606.

—o-pa.org

GIMME GIMME DISCO: DANCE PARTY INSPIRED BY ABBA

Nov. 5, 8:00 p.m., at the Slowdown 729 N. 14th St. Calling all Dancing Queens! We're a dance party playing your favorite ABBA hits, plus plenty of other disco hits from the 70s like The Bee Gees and Cher. 18+ ID required. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

VIENNA BOYS CHOIR

Nov. 8, 7 p.m., at St. Cecilia Cathedral, 701 N. 40th St. One of the world’s most cherished choral ensembles performs in the impressive acoustics of Omaha’s cathedral. 402.551.2313.

—stceciliacathedral.org

HUNNY

Nov. 8, 8 p.m., at the Slowdown 729 N. 14th St. Gearing up for their new release titled Homesick, the California-based band creates a newfound sound varying from punk rock to up-tempo. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

MARTY STUART & HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES

Nov. 10-11, 7:30 p.m. at Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. With legends like George Jones, Johnny Cash, and Merle Haggard all passed on, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and musician Marty Stuart steps into their venerable shoes. Stuart records music that honors country’s rich legacy while advancing it into the future. 402.884.5353. —waitingroomlounge.com

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m., at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. The American rock band is renowned for its live shows where it plays songs differently each performance. The Grammy Award winners take to the CHI stage as it wraps up the last leg of its Fall 2022 tour. 402.341.1500.

—chihealthcenteromaha.com

LIQUID STRANGER

Nov. 16 , 8 p.m., at the Slowdown 729 N. 14th St. Renowned for his metamorphic capabilities and expertly crafted sonic adventures, Liquid Stranger bridges the gap between mellow and heavy. He has performed at some of the most innovative events and festivals around the globe. 402.345.7569. —theslowdown.com

AMANDA SHIRES TAKE IT LIKE A MAN TOUR

Nov. 20, 8 p.m., at at Barnato, 225 N. 170th St. T he American singer-songwriter and fiddle player brings her inimitable approach to country music and songs from her most recent album to Omaha with special guest Honey Harper. 402.964.2021.

—barnato.bar

THE LEMONHEADS IT’S A SHAME ABOUT RAY TOUR

Nov. 21, 8 p.m., at Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. The American alternative rock band brings listeners back to a time and place where ripped, faded jeans were in style and music about youthful angst and the slacker’s boredom filled the airwaves of college radios across the country. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT CONCERT

Nov. 24, 7 p.m., at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The concert, which follows the Lighting Ceremony at Gene Leahy Mall, features a special guest vocalist accom panied by the Nebraska Wind Symphony. 402.345.0606.

—holidaylightsfestival.org

HARRY POTTER IN CONCERT

Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. & Nov. 27, 2 p.m., at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Doug las St. The Harry Potter Film Concert Series returns to the Holland with music from the fifth film in the Harry Potter series. Ernest Richardson conducts the Omaha Symphony in performing the magical score live while the entire film plays in high-definition on a 40-foot screen. 402.345.0606.

—o-pa.org

SICKICK

Nov. 26, 8 p.m., at Barnato, 225 N. 170th St. The masked DJ, producer, and vocalist samples the world around him to create his dark and sensuous “sickhop” songs. 402.964.2021.

—barnato.bar

DANIELLE BRADBERY

» concErts «

DROPKICK MURPHYS Nov. 2, 7:15 p.m., at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The legendary punk band brings Woody Guthrie's peren nial jabs at life - many of which are from the 1940s and 1950s - into the time of their lives in their new album This Machine Still Kills Fascists. 402.345.0606.

—o-pa.org

HOLIDAY HARMONY

Nov. 20, 21, 27, 28; Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, & 24 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. As part of the holiday poinsettia show, local musicians share their talents and perform hol iday classics that are sure to delight guests of all ages. 402.346.4002. Visit website for times.

—lauritzengardens.org

Dec. 1, 6 p.m., at Barrel & Vine, 1311 S. 203rd St., 6 pm. Bradbery won season four of NBC's The Voice in 2013, becoming the youngest artist to win the competition at age 16. Since then, she has released two albums and multiple singles. 402.504.1777.

—bvomaha.com

NATE SMITH—THE WHISKEY ON YOU TOUR

Dec. 16, 8 p.m., at Barnato, 225 N. 170th St. Featuring a mix of gritty backwoods soul, rock ‘n’ roll swagger, and velvet-thunder vocals, Smith is a Nashville artist with a unique connection to life’s inner tug of war. 402.964.2021.

—barnato.bar

AVI KAPLIN

Dec. 8, 8 p.m., at the Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. A three-time Grammy winner as a member of the platinum-selling vocal group Pentato nix, Kaplan returns to his artistic foundation of organic acoustic—driven rock and roots music that had provided the soundtrack to his upbringing in rural California. Through country, blues, soul, folk, tribal drums, and a touch of gospel, he explores matters of the heart, truth, morality, and the search for relevance. 402.345.7569.

—theslowdown.com

CHORAL COLLABORATIVE: CARMINA BURANA

Nov. 13, 2 p.m., at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Be there for Carl Orff’s epic, breathtaking “O Fortuna,” the music that has raised goosebumps and thrilled audiences from concert halls to blockbuster movies, as a 500-person choir of elite singers from Nebraska high schools joins professional soloists and the Omaha Symphony for the groundbreaking Car mina Burana. 402.345.0606.

—o-pa.org

FOUR DANCES FROM ESTANCIA

Nov. 20, 2 p.m., at Strauss Performing Arts Center, 6305 University Drive North. Omaha Symphony trombonist Jason Stromquist makes his debut as soloist in front of the orchestra with Grondahl’s tuneful concerto for trombone; his performance is bookended by two Latinx-com poser legends: Silvestre Revueltas and Alberto Ginastera. Revueltas’ bold Redes Suite draws upon polytonal harmony and Mexican folk tunes alike. 402.554.3411.

—ticketomaha.com

ENJOLI & TIMELESS: BLACK FRIDAY

Nov. 25, 7:30 p.m., at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Since 2017, Oma ha-based R&B/Soul band Enjoli & Timeless has performed every year on Black Friday to honor their time together as a group and collectively reminisce to the sounds of their favorite R&B and Soul classics. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

RYAN ADAMS

Nov. 29, , 7:30 p.m., at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The Alt-country singer songwriter is back on the road, zig-zag ging the country with his sound. Since emerging in the early 00s, Adams has met with critical acclaim for his intimate and honest output. His first record, Heartbreaker, was introduced the world to his bittersweet mind and he was touted as the new Gram Parsons. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

JOYFUL NOISE: A GOSPEL CHRISTMAS

Dec. 3-4 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Celebrate the season with another joy-filled production from Omaha’s own Grammy Award-nominated Salem Concert Choir. 402.345.0606. Visit website for times.

—ticketomaha.com

MARTINA MCBRIDE

Dec. 9, 7:30 p.m., at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The country star gets into the spirit of the holidays with her annual Joy of Christmas Tour. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

K—LOVE CHRISTMAS TOUR

Dec. 10, 7 p.m., at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The contemporary Christian radio station gathers all the biggest artists in this special Christmas tour to spread love during the holidays. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

PHYSICIANS MUTUAL OMAHA

SYMPHONY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Dec. 15-18 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. In this merriest way to cele brate the season, Conductor Ernest Richardson, the Omaha Symphony, and a stellar cast of singers and dancers send your spirits soaring with festive favorites and Christmas classics. Check websites for times. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

MIKE ZITO WITH HECTOR ANCHONDO

Dec. 15, 6 p.m., at Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. With numerous Blues Music Award honors under his belt, Zito is one of the most lauded artists in the contempo rary blues arena today who brings honesty, authenticity, and integrity to his distinctive sound. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS

Dec. 22, 7:30, at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Grammy Award winner Chip Davis creates a show that features Christmas classics in the dis tinctive Mannheim sound. The program celebrates the group’s recent anniversary of 35 years since the first Christmas album and includes dazzling mul timedia effects performed in an intimate setting. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

» family & morE «

VETERANS SHINE ON

Nov. 3, 6-7 p.m. at Memorial Park, 6005 Under wood Ave. The event includes several speakers, a laying-of-the-wreath ceremony for war representa tives, music, and the grand lighting of the WWII Colonnade. Speakers include Mayor Jean Stothert, Councilmember Pete Festersen, and special guest Jeanette Harper, USAF Veteran and Bellevue University Professor. Hot cocoa and desserts will be served. 402.444.5900.

—parks.cityofomaha.org

NEBRASKA’S OFFICIAL VETERAN’S PARADE

Nov. 5, 10 a.m., Downtown Bellevue. The event features a special flyover by the US Air Force. 402.444.5900.

—parks.cityofomaha.org

STORYBOOK LAND

Nov. 6, 1-4 p.m. at Westroads Mall, 10000 Cal ifornia St. Kids can meet and greet their favor ite storybook characters like Splat the Cat, The Grinch, Mirabel, Pete the Cat, and others all this free event. All kids receive a free book, while supplies last. 402.444.5900.

—parks.cityofomaha.org

BRIGHT NIGHTS

Nov. 10-20, 23, & 25-27; Dec. 2-4, 9-23, & 26-30 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Set a merry mood with friends and family and explore the illuminated indoor gardens. From a 20' tall poinsettia tree to a tropical paradise, see festive installations that glow and shine, showcasing nature in a new light. 402.346.4002.

—lauritzengardens.org

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU FAMILY FUN WEEKEND

NOV. 11-13 at the Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 South 20th St. Enjoy themed activities, including making pool noodle lightsabers and battle droids, and a Star Wars-inspired science show. 402.342.6164. Visit website for times.

—ocm.org

CIRQUE MUSICA: HOLIDAY WONDERLAND

Nov. 14 at the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Daredevil athleticism is on display as acro bats and aerialists perform with a musical mix of timeless seasonal music. 402.345.0606.

—o-pa.org

MERRY & BRIGHT: HOLIDAY POINSETTIA SHOW

Nov. 19-Dec. 31 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. T housands of poinsettias burst ing with rich, vibrant color fill the floral display hall in a glowing tribute to the holi days during the spectacular holiday poinsettia show. 402.346.4002. Visit website for times. —lauritzengardens.org

CHRISTMAS AT UNION STATION

Nov. 24-Jan. 8, 2023 at The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. This long-standing tradition features Omaha’s official Christmas tree, holi day concerts, and Santa himself. 402.444.5071. Visit website for event dates and details.

—durhammuseum.org

LIGHTS OF AKSARBEN TREE LIGHTING WITH SANTA

Nov. 25, 6-8 p.m. at Stinson Park, 2285 S. 67th St. This annual event starts with the tree lighting and includes community activities (in a heated tent), free visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and horse-drawn carriage rides throughout the holiday season. 402.496.1616. Visit website for event dates and details.

—aksarbenvillage.com

SANTA’S MAGIC

Nov. 25-Dec. 23 at the Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 South 20th St. This short, live performance features Santa Claus, elves, and an animatronic Rudolph. There will be indoor snowfall, silly moments, and a message from the Snow Queen. Following each per formance, children can share their wish lists with Santa and get their picture taken with him. 402.342.6164. Visit website for times.

—ocm.org

TREE LIGHTING & HOLIDAY PARADE

Nov. 23, 6-7 p.m., at Shadow Lake Towne Center, 7775 Olson Dr., Papillion. Kick off the holiday season with the lighting of Shadow Lake Towne Center’s new 35-foot LED-lit tree covered in more than 30,000 lights. 402.444.5900. —parks.cityofomaha.org

HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL

Nov. 24-Jan. 2 at the Gene Leahy Mall, Old Market. Thanksgiving Lighting Ceremony, 6 p.m. Celebrate the 23rd season of the festive lighting display that illuminates the the newly renovated Gene Leahy Mall and Old Market throughout the Holidays. The display includes white lights, garlands, snowflakes, and more. 402.345.5401. Visit website for locations. —holidaylightsfestival.org

CIRQUE DREAMS HOLIDAZE

Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m., at Liberty First Credit Union Arena, 7300 Q. St., Ralston. The circus dazzles audiences with its acclaimed and whimsical holiday spectacular, making it a premiere family holiday tradition. 402.934.9966.

—libertyfirstcreditunionarena.com

LIGHTS ON DUNDEE

Dec. 1, 5-9:30 p.m. at 50th & Underwood. Kick off the holiday season with our annual Lights on Dundee celebration with activities for the whole family.

—dundee-memorialpark.org

KETV FAMILY FESTIVAL

Dec. 4, 11 a.m-4 p.m. in Downtown Omaha. Enjoy a festive day full of family—friendly activities at your favorite Omaha attractions. Visit the website for the listings of venues and schedule of special holiday entertainment. 402.345—5401.

—holidaylightsfestival.org

COCOMELON LIVE! JJ’S JOURNEY

Dec. 18, 3 p.m., at the Orpheum The ater, 409 S. 16th St. T he Broadway-style musical production is inspired by the #1 most watched entertainment brand on YouTube. 402.345.0606.

—o-pa.org

NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

Dec. 31, 7 p.m., in Downtown Omaha; viewing locations at CHI Health Event Center & TD Ameritrade Park near 10th & Cass Streets. Cel ebrate New Year's Eve with the spectacular fire works show that fills the sky with bursts of color choreographed to explode on cue to a unique musical score. 402.345.5401.

—holidaylightsfestival.org

Event times and details are correct as of presstime, but are subject to change.

Omaha Magazine encourages readers to visit venues' websites and/or calling ahead before attending an event or visiting a museum.

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STORY

A+C MUSIC

RL OW

Rising Star

Bet s on H erself

ver since the art of making music became an ‘industry,’ the path to stardom has remained obscure, lying somewhere beyond the quantifiable. Record labels and produc ers would hedge their bets on prospective artists, and if especially fortunate, hit upon generational talent. A musician’s career was a gamble for all involved; a record deal hardly binding until sealed in rouge b y lady luck.

However, as up-and-coming pop sensation Kiana Meradith better known by her stage name, HARLOW is well aware, even star power can be converted into ones and zeroes these days.

“With the way that things work now, you’re sort of proving yourself [online] with song after song after song,” she said. “Content consumption is so high, and there’s a lot of demand to keep up with consistent releases.”

Such urgency is familiar to creators and users of digital media alike the endless torrent of data swallowing up all but the most viral of content, and just as quickly, the algorithm-led focus of its consumers.

“There are so many people doing what you want to do, and they’re all online. You have a lot of com petition at all times, which is actually quite a good thing…but there’s pressure,” H ARLOW noted.

In part, this is because major labels no longer have to roll the dice, nor ante up initial promotion costs. The cards streaming figures, social media data, trend projections are known well before chairs are rolled to the conference table.

“The record labels, they were more involved in the artists themselves,” reflected Jim Prchal, who’s booked HARLOW for multiple gigs at his West Omaha bar and music venue, Barrel & Vine. “But now it’s like, ‘hey they’re good, but let’s just look at their numbers.’”

In addition to Barrel & Vine, Prchal is a co-owner and partner at the Prchal Peterson Group, an accounting firm that serves clients nationwide many hailing from Music City, USA.

“One of my friends in Nashville, he was a VP of Sony Records for 15 years,” Prchal said, “and the biggest thing with these artists now is they got to get into TikTok. 'Tiktok numbers through the roof? Streaming numbers through the roof? If they’re good, we’ll find them. If they’re not? We’re passing.' It’s that simple anymore.”

“She’s getting traction on her followers,” he said of HARLOW’s climb, “she’s got a good vibe, she’s got good energy, an incredible voice. She’s an amazing musician…I was pretty surprised by her range. It just blew me away.”

Having only begun her pop career in 2020, HARLOW is making tremendous progress, with three singles “Haunted Houses,” “Dirty Mouth,” and “Titanic” totaling just under 845,000 streams at the time of writing. Each has made the awards circuit, with “Haunted Houses” and “Dirty Mouth” consecutive finalists for the 2021 and 2022 Unsigned Only Music Competition, respectively, and “Titanic” earning a finalist posi tion at the International Songwriting Competition (Performance Category) in 2022.

HARLOW believes her country music roots encourage lyrical depth, whether over guitar strings or sy nthesizers.

“I do have a history in country music, and that’s what I was raised on,” she said. “From a writing perspective, I still like to have my foundation in that. I like storytelling, and to be a good song writer is really impor tant to me.”

“Taylor Swift’s Lover album had just come out, so I was listening to that a lot when I wrote ‘Haunted Houses,’” she said of her debut, and presently, most popu lar single.

“Somebody I knew closely was going through a difficult time, and I was thinking, ‘you’re totally doing this to yourself, you’re ruminating, you’re going back to this thing that’s not good for you, you’re kind of…haunting yourself,’ she explained. “That was where the concept came from.”

After enrolling at Belmont University in Nashville, HARLOW made area connections of her own, freelancing as a musician and actress, even lend ing her voice talents to a video game in what she describes as “a big learning e xperience.”

“One of the things that I learned in Nashville is that you’re a small fish in a really big pond,” she explained. “What’s really cool about Omaha, it’s a small big town, so the word of mouth for me was really positive…getting to play at Barrel & Vine was so exciting. It was the first show I’d done here in Omaha that I really felt like I got to show off what I can do. That w as awesome.”

Between hustling in Nashville, cultivating a home grown fanbase in Omaha, and fanning her social media presence worldwide, HARLOW’s decision to bet on herself is paying off.

“Now, I’m usually writing and recording with people in Nashville. I’m lucky with the people I’ve been able to work with there,” she said, forgo ing details sealed by a non-disclosure agreement a 1,000 miles away. “I got through a couple of the right doors to work with some really c ool people.”

“I guess what I can say is, I’m very happy,” she beamed, cards ye t to play.

Visit linktr.ee/thisisharlow to learn more about HARLOW.

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

“What’s really cool about Omaha, it’s a small big town, so the word of mouth for me was reall y positi ve.”

-HARLOW

lipper

Y EVER AFTER

GOVERN // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

The Rose’s retelling, she said, examines and

“i“I auditioned with many other talented actors and was so honored to be chosen to play such an iconic character,” the young per former said.

As impressive as the star turn is, it’s about far more for Sneed than donning the famed glass slipper. She will be the first BIPOC actress at the Rose to play the beloved fairytale princess. Directed by Sarah Lynn Brown (It’s A Wonderful Life), this Cinderella is a modern spin on the iconic slipper tale. With a wintery theme and a host of memorable numbers such as “In My Own Little Corner, “It’s Possible,” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” the production promises plenty of magic.

An Omaha transplant, Sneed hails from Waukee, Iowa. Growing up, she was influ enced by her parents’ love of musicals such as Hair and Phantom of the Opera, and she staged backyard productions with her sib lings. She went on to study theater perfor mance and theater for youth at the University of Northern Iowa, where she graduated in 2021. She then became a teaching artist fellow at the Rose, and in little over a year was promoted to a full-time position as both the organization’s school-based program ming director and a company actor. She is involved with elementary schools across the Omaha metro, providing field trips and opportunities for students to see shows.

kening back to the educational foundation she received at UNI when studying about diversity, inclusion, and multiculturalism. As much as she loves performing, working with youth is her ultimate passion. She takes time to cultivate connections with her fellow young artists in order to motivate and inspire them and strives to be the role model that children in marginalized communities need. To this end, Sneed is spearheading a production for BIPOC teens, Livin’ In Color, which will offer a protective and open space for diverse youth to create new works, examine community issues, and explore t heir voices.

“Sneed has made an enormous impact on The Rose in a relatively short period of time as part of our team,” said Matt Gutschick, artistic director for the Rose. “She displays professional maturity well beyond her years of experience. Most importantly, she is a transcendent educator, someone who brings a spark to each of her teaching engagements. That spark is something young people are totally drawn to and inspired by.”

This is why the opportunity to represent the character of Cinderella means so much to her. “As a child I was inspired by Brandy who played the first Black Cinderella in 1997, and I looked up to her,” she recounted. “I watched the VHS tape with my siblings so many times that it broke.”

“As a performer, Sneed has such a remarkable

“That is all channeled through a singing voice

“The cast is full of the most creatively beau tiful theater artists, and I know the show is going to be something really special,” she said. “I never thought after graduating col lege mid-pandemic that I would be in my dream job so soon. I am truly indebted to The Rose for believing in my abilities. They have provided the spaces for me to challenge what theater can be and grow as both an actor and teachin g artist.”

Visit rosetheater.org for more information.

“I AM TRULY INDEBTED TO THE ROSE FOR BELIEVING IN MY ABILITIES. THEY HAVE PROVIDED THE SPACES FOR ME TO CHALLENGE WHAT THEATER CAN BE AND GROW AS BOTH AN ACTOR AND TEACHING ARTIST.” - Zoella Sneed

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

As head of post-production and cre ative, Dan Napoli runs Hurrdat Films, a division of Hurrdat Media. He also hosts two Hurrdat-produced pod casts: Reel Life with Dan Napoli , featuring film directors and their projects, and Yellin’ In My Ear (with John Battistini), with Gen X/MTV generation-themed content. He began his career as a music supervisor and also has experience as a writer, producer, director, and editor. In college, he worked at a record store and as a ra dio deejay.

And every experience relates to another on s ome level.

“I think the common thread it’s story telling, but it’s deeper than storytelling it’s connection,” Napoli said.

Napoli’s own story of connection starts at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where he earned a degree in journalism and sports marketing. He also intended to play baseball, but an injury halted that plan his freshman year. Instead of punctuating a sad story about a dream unfulfilled, the injury opened up new opportunities. (And Napoli didn’t know it at the time, but baseball would also be a conduit to a future documenta ry project.)

“I got to have more of a life,” he said. “And I really loved it at Kearney…I didn’t go there just to play baseball. There were other things binding me there, and I just kind of dug it.”

Napoli was able to replace his meager scholarship income with a record store job, and considering his college studies and deejay gig, he envisioned a career in radio or the music industry in Los Angeles. But there was another connec tion with later significance: paintball.

During the 1994 Major League Baseball strike, Napoli and his fraternity broth ers watched alternative programming on ESPN, including the World Paintball Championship. “They were airing everything that potentially looked like a sport,” Napoli said. That exposure led to some group outings to a paintball field in Kearney owned by Ed and Ma ry Poorman.

“Turns out, five years later the record store goes out of business. I’m a blue-collar kid, and I have to have a job,” Napol i recalled.

Ed Poorman was prominent in the paintball world, and Mary Poorman often frequented the record store to buy alt-punk music. The couple also owned Warped Sportz, an action sports retailer, and offered Napoli his first career-related position in market ing and promotions eventually expanding to video projects as he entered his final semester of colle ge in 1999.

“That work led to my first production gig as a music supervisor,” Napoli said, adding that it was great field education, from learn ing about usage rights to realizing that “not everything can be the intensity of Slayer.”

DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Seeing viewers’ reaction to the final video project at a 2000 screening set Napoli on the path to becoming a director whose signature is storytelling and music. Prior to Hurrdat, Napoli led his own “very indie” film production company for ov er a decade.

“As a documentary director, my job is to take you into this world,” he said. “It’s twofold: to serve people from that world with the story and a deeper level of it, and to take an outsider to this world and experience it a nd connect.”

The work involves distilling copious infor mation and footage down to a compelling story that can be told in a couple of hours.

“I think my best strength is coming at it from journalism,” he said. “It’s so basic, and you want to dress it up and make it visual, but how do I get to my ‘five Ws and one H’? (making reference to the who, what, when, where, why, and how principals of storytelling.)

Hurrdat Films produces both entertain ment projects and works for brands and agencies. Napoli has produced over a dozen documentaries but is best known for the award-winning 50 Summers , which features the Omaha Storm Chasers in an examination of Minor League Baseball, and Best Kids In Texas , a look inside the world of professional paintball and the movement that created the San Antonio X-Factor. Both documentaries are avail able on iTunes and A mazon Prime.

Napoli is currently overseeing three documentaries in various stages of pro duction: Heart Means Everything , about American mixed martial artist Raufeon Stots; another about professional paint ball, We Can Be a Dynasty, and an ear ly-stage project about record stores and the ir revival.

Photojournalist Christopher Dilts met Napoli at a trade show 20 years ago.

“In the decades since then, we’ve both remained close friends and found opportunities to collaborate and work together on projects, building on that love of narrative and storytelling married with powerful, intimate images,” he said. “Recently, I’ve really enjoyed working with him on his Raufeon Stots doc. I don’t have any real background in MMA or pro fighting, but Dan knew that I love a character, love storytelling, and would instantly connect with this subject if he sent me in, even just for a day or so.”

“I’m super-driven,” Napoli said. “If I believe in it, I belie ve in it.”

Visit Vimeo to watch an extended trailer of Best Kids In Texas

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

"As a documentary director, my job is to take you into this world. It's two-fold: to serve people from that world with the story and a deeper level of it, and to take an outsider to this world and experience it and connect.,, -Dan Napoli

BILL SITZMANN

BY MATT WIECZOREK

For nearly a decade, Nathaniel Ruleaux built an acting career and dedicated his spare time to drawing and painting. He shared stories with audiences on stage and quietly made visual art at home. When he decided to become a full-time father, though, his commitme nts shifted.

“I was so used to working at a theater until all hours of the night. I found pretty fast that being a stay-at-home dad, I was artistically starved to do something,” R uleaux said.

So he began to make things. Works that were bold, bright, and varied. Some in acrylic, clay, spray paint whatever method moved him at the moment. Ruleaux’s artis tic approach is first and foremost rooted in a passion for storytelling. He formulates his vibrant pieces as part of a rich tradition that uplifts his own identity as a member of the Oglala Lak ota Nation.

It was an identity he deeply missed while away from Nebraska, first in graduate school in Texas, then acting in Washington, D.C. The farther he got from the Oglala Lakota people, the more others seemed to treat his Indigenous identity like it wasn’t real. Fortunately the stars aligned, and Ruleaux and his family moved to Omah a in 2019.

Ruleaux described himself at this time as bouncing around his studio apartment just making things alongside his baby, Luca, in a carrier. Everyone he knew was at work, so he started chatting with one of the only other people home during the day: his grandfather, Donald D. Ruleaux. Donald, who lived in Nebraska and died in 2020, was an artist and arts educator whose work featured in the permanent collections of institutions like the Museum of Nebraska Art and the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. As the pair discussed their shared passion for art, Donald began to talk to his grandson about Lakota culture, heritage, a nd history.

Growing up, Ruleaux said his grandfather’s artwork always hung in his family’s home. One of his favorites was a watercolor fea turing a bison herd with a single white one hidden in the middle. “It was something I could go back to, to remember who I am,” the art ist shared.

During regular calls with his grandfather, Ruleaux started painting more bison him self. Partly because they’re easy shapes, he joked; he just makes three circles and fills the bison in around them. But the artist is drawn to bison primarily for their symbolic resonance. During the 1800s, the United States government deliberately extermi nated tens of millions of bison to eliminate an essential resource for the Lakota and many other Indigenous people. This is part of a long history of erasure and murder of Indigenous communities by colonizers, governments, and white America.

Ruleaux created some bison in watercolor, some in ink, yet others in spray paint. He titled them “Bison One,” then, “Bison Two,” and the herd continued growing. As Ruleaux learned his Indigenous language, he began to call them by the Lakota word for bison, “ptéȟčaka .”

The title of one of these, “Facing the Storm,” references the fact that when bad weather roars in, bison head toward the oncoming storm not away. As much as Ruleaux’s works are portrayals of the majestic animal, they also examine issues facing Indigenous people today. Works feature bison running across a pipeline that leaks oil or the large bovine crashing through cityscapes.

“I eventually started to feel like I wanted to bring a bison into the world for every one that was shot from a train passing through the Great Plains and bring back a bison for every skull piled up on a giant hill,” Ruleaux said. “They represent a pushback against colonialist values and white supremacist systems.”

Ruleaux’s work extends outside physical media. In 2021 he helped form Unceded Artist Collective, a community and direc tory of Indigenous artists who live and create on the unceded land of the Umónhon and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ. The project received a generator grant from Amplify Arts.

Peter Fankhauser, the nonprofit’s co-director, said, “I feel like creative practice in general has a lot of potential to distill big concepts into a format that resonates on an emotional level, and I think that's what Nate does in the context of his community-building work, particularly with Unceded Artist Collective.”

Ultimately, Ruleaux’s work is a product of immense optimism and devotion to com munity that pushes against centuries of ancestral trauma. Like a bison facing the storm, the artist confronts the pain and isolation of a people nearly destroyed by colonial incursion.

Although his pieces may not always be obviously joyful, they demonstrate beauty in resilience, in the unusual, and in the collective.

“I hope to try to educate folks and help us all move to a better future, which can be hard to picture sometimes,” Ruleaux said.

Visit nathanielruleaux.com to see more of the ar tist's work.

“I hope to try to educate folks and help us all move to a better future, which can be hard to picture sometimes.” -NATHANIEL RULEAUX

Omaha Dance Venues

GET YOUR GROOVE ON

hether you’ve just finished dining out and the night seems too young to call it quits, or it's been a really long work week and you just want to let loose, hitting the dance floor at one of Omaha’s nightclubs might be just the fix you’re looking for. Here are a few of the metro’s lively venues for n ightlife.

RETRO REWIND NIGHTCLUB 15475 Ruggles St., Omaha retrorewinddanceparty.com

Northwest Omaha’s only dance club, Retro Rewind hosts “Getting Jiggy with the ’90s” every Thursday, with halfprice drinks until 9 p.m. Dance up a storm to the Fresh Prince, MC Hammer, George Michael and more turn of the century faves. On weekends, patrons can enjoy “I Want My MTV” Fridays and a Saturday Night Club mix, with hits exclusively from the ’80s, from Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, and more. This club is exclusively for those 21 and older. Open Thursday-Saturday 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

BUSHWACKERS SALOON & DANCE HALL 7401 Main St., Ralston bushwackersralston.com

Open 35-plus years, this hot spot in downtown Ralston features a barn-looking interior, a hand-crafted bar imported from Belgium, and wide open dance floor, where guests can take line dancing lessons every Thursday and Friday night. In addition to a fun, contemporary Country music playlist, the venue hosts live, local musical acts, and an 18+ College Night every Thursday. Open TuesdaySaturday 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

THE MAX

1417 Jackson St., Omaha facebook.com/themaxomaha

In Downtown Omaha, this large, multilevel gay bar and club has two dance floors—The Disco dance floor and The Arena show floor, as well as a stage and upper level lounge/ billiards room and outdoor patio. Next-level lighting and audio systems enhance the look and sound with lasers and LED lights for an immersive experience. This perennial favorite dance club also hosts special engagements by a variety of performers nearly every night. This is an 21+ only venue. Open Thursday-Saturday 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.

RHYTHMZ LOUNGE & BISTRO

10841 Q St., Omaha rhythmzlounge.com

The electric nightlife in this venue, recently updated and hidden in a nondescript strip mall in southwest Omaha, is sure to set the tone for a groovy night on the town. A Ca ribbean-inspired playlist and menu, fun holiday-themed events, an ultra-exclusive lounge, and high-energy dance floor make this a popular weekend destination. This is a 21+ only venue.

Thursday-Saturday 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Park Dr., Omaha

This large entertainment venue on the edge of Ralston hosts “Wild Wednesdays” with free dance lessons and no cover

THROWBACK

LOUNGE

Dining Feature

Steak house

76 Years of Sizzle

Cascio’s 14 oz. Bone-in Ribeye with a la carte gr illed shrimp

Cascio’s Steakhouse is often recognized not just for the quality of its food, but for its place in Omaha’s history. Opened in 1946 by two brothers of immigrant parents, this restaurant has managed to stay open as so many other restaurants of that era closed their doors.

STORY tamsen butler PHOTOGRAPHY bill sitzmann DESIGN matt wieczorek

“We have a loyal clientele base, and there are around 50 to 60 customers who come here daily for lunch and don’t miss. It’s restaurants without a true foundation of customers that fail.”

Alfie Cascio

Cascio’s Chicken Parmigiano, a custo mer favorite

“We’ve been open for 76 years,” said Alfie Cascio, current owner, and the grandson and great-nephew of the original owners. “It’s the last Italian steakhouse of the original 19; I’m the third generation of owners.” His father, Larry, owned Cascio’s Steakhouse before passing it a long to him.

Even as other historic restaurants have struggled to stave off closure, the Omaha staple perserveres thanks to a combina tion of winning qualities. “It takes hard work and dedication and a good wife who is supportive even though I’m never home,” C ascio said.

The restaurant opens at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday, but Cascio typically arrives around 7:30 a.m. “We have to grind every day,” he said.

A dedicated group of employees is cru cial to a restaurant’s success, he added. In an industry with a notoriously high turnover rate (one that rose exponen tially during the pandemic), Cascio’s Steakhouse boasts some long-time employees with careers that span decades. “Two guys who have been here one for 36 years and the other for 44 years started when they were young and have been here ever since.”

Cascio appreciates his employees and said they are the backbone of the restaurant. “I wouldn’t be able to do it all without my general manager, Lacey Sheibal,” he added. “Be fair to your employees and they’ll be fair to you. They’re my family. Everyone gets along.”

Cascio’s also gained six or seven employ ees from Anthony’s Steakhouse and Lo Sole Mio after their respective closings. He admitted he was shocked when Anthony’s shuttered its doors. “When Tony [Fucinaro, Jr., who was the owner of Anthony’s Steakhouse] told me he was closing, I told him he was full of it there was no way th ey’d close.”

Integrating the new employees into the way things are done at Cascio’s took some time. “Since they brought differ ent cooking styles, we had to spend time teaching them our way,” Cascio said. “I spent about five months in the kitchen, prepping a nd cooking.”

The restaurateur was happy to bring on the additional employees. “It’s hard to find good workers,” he said, adding that his employee roster fell to about 30 at the height of COVID. “I like it to be around 40 to 45 employees, and right now it’s around 40.”

Like most restaurants, supply-chain issues and shortages hit Cascio’s hard. They import their pasta from Italy, and during a wheat shortage, some variet ies remain unavailable, much to some custome rs’ chagrin.

Luckily, Cascio’s has earned a solid group of dedicated patrons.“We have a loyal clientele base, and there are around 50 to 60 customers who come here daily for lunch and don’t miss,” said Cascio. “It’s restaurants without a true founda tion of customers that fail.”

The owner said that if you treat your customers right, they'll return the favor. He recently donated 30 gallons of Cascio’s Italian dressing to a Shriner’s event, “And the next thing I knew, they booked two parties,” he shared.

The area around Cascio’s Steakhouse has recently experienced a revitalization, attracting new clientele. “The neighbor hood is changing,” Cascio said. “They’re fixing up houses and apartments. It’s really growing. People can walk to our restaurant now from their homes, so that helps, too.”

Recent renovations are also changing the restaurant’s look by transforming the lower level into an event venue.

The last time the business underwent any changes was during COVID when it repainted the upstairs. “The downstairs really needed some renovations,” said Cascio, adding that an ADA-compliant wheelchair ramp was included in the renovations, which began in April 2022 and was completed aroun d September.

The lower-level renovations created an ideal environment for wedding recep tions and other large gatherings. “It’s all cosmetic,” Cascio said.“We brought in new bars, ripped out the carpet, and gave it a more industrial look.” The upgrades give the space a modern ized feel that enticed some brides and grooms-to-be to book the venue even before renovations were complete. The first couple to have their wedding reception in the new event space was Cascio’s daughter, Bailey, and her nowhu sband, Seth.

While Cascio continues to future-proof his restaurant, the tranquil days of retire ment are calling. “In 10 years, when I turn 60, I’m done with 46 years in the restaurant business,” he said. The ques tion of who will take over the restaurant is not yet determined, but he’s certain it won’t be one of h is children.

“The kids have all worked here, and they know how hard it is,” he said. “They know all about working holidays and weekends. That fourth generation wants to do their own thing, and I don’t blame them.” Cascio has a lot of pride in the life paths his children chose even if they didn’t lead to the restaurant industry and back to Cascio’s.

“Maybe a cousin or niece will take over,” Cascio mused. “I’d love to keep it in t he family.”

For now, Cascio’s Steakhouse continues to provide the food and ambiance for which it’s become famous in Omaha. As the neighborhood and the city’s restau rant scene continue to evolve, Cascio’s remains a constant.

Visit casciossteakhouse.com for more information.

Chef Johnny Shi of Dra gon Cafe and Yamato Sushi Train & Grill

Johnny Shi delights in paving the intersection between food and people. During his travels from the kitchen to the front of the house, he searches for this interaction. Dragon Cafe, which opened twenty years ago, is where Shi is frequently found smiling as he oversees the stir fry or brings out a securely fastened to-go order. You might also catch him at Yamato Sushi Train & Grill, where guests pluck morsels from a perpetually rolling conveyor belt.

Shi’s journey to Nebraska began about 7,200 miles away, in the Fujian province of China in the city of Fuzhou, which he called home until his parents moved the family to New York his 7th-grade year in 1995.

After middle school, a move to Erie, Pennsylvania, for high school connected him with his uncle, Foon-chi Cheng. Shi said he considers his uncle, who influenced his rigorous approach to food and taught him how to hold a knife, “the family tie to restaurants.”

After school was done for the day, “my uncle would pick me up and then go to the restaurant China Moon and I would help out. So I slowly learned everything. I learned how to cut chicken, how to take the bones out from the chicken that’s how I started. Learning how to cook fried rice, doing the fryer…I was 13.” During summer break, the young Shi assisted his mother at Sunrise, the family’s Long Island, New York, restaurant.

This early experience with family and food prepared him for a life in the kitchen.

Sunrise, for example, cultivated his multitasking skills. “You had to answer the phone, you had to pack the food, then you also had to watch the fryer… they had those BBQ ribs...so I had to watch that, too. I basically had to be in four different positions,” the chef recounted. In addition to this physi cal multitasking, there were also psy chological challenges. Customers were sometimes unkind to him over issues with orders, as he worked with them in English while communicating with the kitchen in his native language.

In 2001, a friend of Shi’s mother ran a restaurant called Little Dragon in the Midwest, and a cross-country move landed the family in Ottawa, Kansas. Shi said, “I’ve never been to a small town like that. It was a pretty big difference for me.” His role there involved a similar blend of front-and backof-house work lasting until 2002 when a newspaper ad presented an opportunity: a restaurant for sale. Several hours away, in La Vista, was the family’s soon-to-be business, Dragon Cafe.

Shi’s mother and uncle purchased the restaurant, and with it came recipes and sauces. “Chinese food here in the United States like Broccoli Beef and General Tso’s Chicken they are all prepared about the same way,” Shi explained. “It’s just the sauce that’s a little bit different.”

Employee Tony Lee has worked with Shi for about 11 years, and while he learned wok skills from the Dragon Cafe’s cooks, he said, “Sushi-wise, I learned it from Johnny.” He also relayed that Shi can cook every item on the restaurant’s menu, which tops well over 100 dishes.

Knowing how the food reacts to the cooking process is one way Shi keeps an eye on excellence. Lee shared, “Saucewise if there is something wrong, I go tell him. He’ll fix it right away.” For example, when preparing broccoli beef to-go, Shi explained that cooks need to account for travel time. “You need to make the sauce thicker because broc coli always has water come out later. If you don’t put enough cornstarch, the customer will get broccoli in water.”

In 2011 Shi saw an opportunity to expand his restaurant by learning a new skill. He traveled back to New York to Bayridge Sushi in Brooklyn for a stage (as a stagiaire), the restaurant industry’s unpaid training tradition. "You don’t pay for the school, but they don’t pay you either,” he explained. Fortunately, Shi was a quick study. “Earn your honors and they will put you in the sushi bar,” he said. “Some people, it takes about a month for the owner to teach you how to cut the salmon. It took me about a week. I worked hard and then the owner looked at me like, ‘Oh, this guy really wants to learn.’”

That hard work paid off with the open ing of Yamato Sushi Train & Grill near Aksarben Village in 2017. Sushi lends itself to Shi’s creative nature. “I like to create,” he said. “You can create from your own mind, and later on, you have your own style.”

Visit visit dragoncafelav ista.com and yamatosushiomaha.com for more information.

DAVID

BILL SITZMANN

DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

For expanded content,

the

on

“I like to create. Yo u can create from your own mind, a nd later on, you have your own style.” Chef Shi

COOKED TO PERFECTION

A Breakfast Burger served with American cheese, bacon, grilled onions, fries, fried egg, and honey mustard

Charred Burger + Bar

STORY tamsen butler PHOTOGRAPHY bill sitzmann DESIGN matt wieczorek

Upon arriving at Charred Burger + Bar on a Saturday night, my guests and I were worried there would be a long wait because there were people standing in the doorway with the look that only hungry people have. But we were pleasantly surprised when the host said they could seat us immediately and even gave us the option of eating inside or outside on the patio.

Non-alcoholic versions of Charred’s flavored lemonades

Fried Cheesy Pickles appetizer, served with ranch and jalapeño aioli for dipping

[My friend’s husband] remarked how his medium-rare burger was perfectly cooked, a feat he says most restaurants don’t manage to pull off successfully, in his experience.

e chose to sit inside because, on this particular Saturday, it was blazing hot. The interior of Charred isn’t anything special, but it’s not unpleasant either. We sat in a booth and were promptly greeted by our server a jolly woman with an infectious laugh.

Though my husband and I stuck with water and iced tea, my friend and her husband both ordered vodka drinks, which came in mason jars with lids. My friend’s husband took the first sip of his cherry vodka lemonade and his eyes widened. “Oh, that’s dangerous!” he proclaimed, going on to say that the drink was tasty, and he could easily see himself ordering more than one and guzzling them down before he realized what he’d done. His wife reported her strawberry vodka lemonade was also good but made no claims about its danger level.

We shared fried cheesy pickles as an appetizer, and they were a big hit. A dill pickle spear eveloped in cheese and a wonton wrapper fried and served with ranch dressing and a jalapeño aioli made all of us pause as we considered how these fried pickles were unlike any we’d tried before.

Charred is known for its Waygu beef burgers, so my friend’s husband tried the Charred Burger, which featured peppered bacon, balsamic tomato jam, charred cotija cheese, onion, and lettuce. He remarked how his medium-rare burger was perfectly cooked, a feat he says most restaurants don’t manage to pull off successfully, in his experience.

My friend ordered the Carolina BBQ burger, which features cheddar cheese, Carolinastyle BBQ, coleslaw, onion straws, and bacon. She was happy with the burger. They shared an order of cheese fries, which our server persuaded them to load with bacon pieces. They tore through them quickly and thoroughly enjoyed every last one.

My husband ordered the jalapeño popper burger, which he said was exactly what he envisioned from the description on the menu. The burger had peppered bacon, cream cheese, and charred jalapeño. He enjoyed the toppings but remarked that the burger patty itself was exceptional. The beef was juicy and flavorful and made all the better by the toppings. He liked the fries he had on the side but wistfully commented that he would rather have a plate of fried pickles instead. I, on the other hand, thought the pickles were filling after just a couple of bites and can’t imagine eating more than one.

My order was the only disappointment of the meal. I ordered the chicken avocado sandwich with fries, which had a seared chicken breast, lettuce, tomato, pickled onions, cheddar cheese, and avocado. It looked delicious, but when I picked up the sandwich, the bottom bun was so soaked with something oil from

the cheese, or perhaps juice from the pickled onions. It started to fall apart as globs of cheese plopped onto the plate. It was a soggy mess and made the sandwich far less appetizing.

As far as the avocado portion of the sandwich goes, it was more of a quick pass of smashed avocado than the slice of avocado I’d expect to see in a sandwich with “avocado” in the name. And while the fries on the side were good, I definitely felt like I was the least happy with my meal.

We ordered a warm chocolate chip cookie for dessert, but wound up with the chocolate chip cookie sundae, a plate of vanilla bean ice cream with strawberries, chocolate drizzle, and walnuts. It was tasty and very sweet, but not what we wanted.

Our server was attentive and friendly but seemed as though she was covering far too many tables.

I’m not against visiting Charred Burger + Bar again, but if I do, I’m not getting the chicken avocado sandwich. I will, however, absolutely order the fried cheesy pickles. And if I’m feeling like a drink, I just might try that cherry vodka lemonade my friend’s husband made sound like a revelation.

Visit charredburgers.com for more information.

A Charred Burger featuring peppered bacon, balsamic tomato jam, charred cotija, pickled onion, and lettuce

AMERICAN

BARREL & VINE- $$

1311 South 203rd St., Omaha, NE 68130 - 402.504.1777

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. —bvomaha.com

DJ’S DUGOUT SPORTS BAR - $

Seven Metro Area Locations:

Bellevue - 10308 S. 23rd St. - 402.292.9096

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

Downtown - 1003 Capitol Ave. - 402.763.9974

Aksarben - 2102 S. 67th St. - 402.933.3533

Millard - 17666 Welch Plaza - 402.933.8844

Elkhorn - 19020 Evans St. - 402.315.1985

Plattsmouth - 2405 Oak Hill Rd. - 402.298.4166

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

Dig In... At The Dugout! —djsdugout.com

DINING GUIDE

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 St. - 402.934.9914 156th St. & W. Dodge Rd. - 402.408.1728 120th and Blondo St. - 402.991.8222

Le Peep puts a wholesome perspective on your favorite neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot. Fresh. Simple. Elegant. Inviting. We put the emphasis on people, both patrons and staff. We focus on providing each of our guests the fresh food and friendly service that they have come to expect. Open daily 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. —lepeepomaha.co m

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

T ED 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

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 spe cialty sauces to the table, we have worked hard to perfect our craft for you. Our goal is to bring the best food service to the area and show the best sports events that you want to see. Pick up and Delivery availalble. Please check website for hours of operation.

—varsityromancoinpizza.com

ITALIAN

PASTA AMORE - $$ 11027 Prairie Brook Rd. - 402.391.2585

Pastas are made fresh daily, including tortellini, fettuccine, and capellini. Daily specials and menu items include a variety of fresh seafood and regional Italian dishes, such as linguini amore and calamari steak, penne Florentine, gnocchi, spaghetti puttanesca, and osso buco. Filet mignon is also offered for those who appreciate nationally renowned Nebraska beef. To complement your dining experience, the restaurant offers a full bar and extensive wine list. Be sure to leave room for homemade desserts, like the tiramisu and cannoli. Monday-Thursday 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 10 p.m. Reservations recommended.

—pastaamore.co m

Sandwich

S PEZIA - $$$ 3125 S. 72nd St. - 402.391.2950

Choose Spezia for lunch or dinner, where you’ll find a casual elegance that’s perfect for business guests, get-togethers, or any special occasion.

Exceptional food, wine, and service, with a delectable menu: fresh seafood, certified Angus steaks, innovative pasta, risotto, gnocchi, cioppino, lamb, entrée salads, Mediterranean chicken, flatbreads, and fresh salmon daily. Enjoy a full bar, Italian and California wines, Anniversary/ Lovers’ Booth (call to reserve), private dining rooms, and woodfired 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

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.co m

DINING GUIDE Omaha

LA MESA - $$

158th St. and W. Maple Rd. - 402.557.6130

156th and Q streets - 402.763.2555

110th St. and W. Maple Rd. - 402.496.1101

Fort Crook Rd. and Hwy 370 - 402.733.8754

84th St. and Tara Plaza - 402.593.0983

Lake Manawa Exit - 712.256.2762

Enjoy awesome appetizers, excellent enchilada’s, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouthwatering margaritas and much more at La Mesa! Come see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s # 1 Mexican Restaurant 19 Years in a Row! Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-9 p.m. lamesaomaha.co m

R OMEO’S MEXICAN FOOD AND PIZZA - $

90th and Blondo streets - 402.391.8870

146th St. and W. Center Rd. - 402.330.4160

96th and L streets - 402.331.5656

Galvin and Avery roads - 402.292.2028

29th and Farnam steets - 402.346.1110

Romeo’s is your friendly, family Mexican food and pizza restaurant. We take real pride in serving our guests generous portions of the freshest, most flavorful dishes made with the finest ingredients available. Zesty seasonings and the freshest ingredients combine to ensure the ultimate in flavor. Our savory taco meat is prepared every morning at each location. Make sure to try our chimichangas; they’re the best in town. —romeosomaha.com

SPECIAL DINING

CRESCENT MOON ALE HOUSE - $ 3578 Farnam St. - 402.345.1708

Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia—Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best Reuben sandwich, we are a Midtown beer-lover’s destination. Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen hours: Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.midnight. Closed Sunday.

—beercornerusa.co m

GREEK ISLANDS - $ 3821 Center St. - 402.346.1528

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

ZEN COFFEE COMPANY - $

West - 132nd and Center

Downtown - 25th and Farnam

One Pacific Place - Drive Thru Kiosk next to Trader Joes

Zen features over 50 popular drink options including Butter Beer, Honey Bee, Lavender Lady and Sunshine Daydream. Choose from hot or iced lattes, blenders, fruit smoothies and teas! Grab a flight or double cup to try the seasonal features! Delicious pastries and toasts made in house daily. —zencoffeecompany.com

STEAKHOUSES

CASCIO’S - $$

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

Cascio’s is Omaha’s No. 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature steaks, chops, seafood, and Italian specialties. We have seven private party rooms, seating for up to 400 people, and plenty of parking. —casciossteakhouse.co m

T HE 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. Open Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Dinner nightly at 5 p.m. —droverrestaurant.com

come and

explore.

PLAN A ROAD TRIP!

DAYTRIPS IN NEBRASKA,

NEBRASKA

EMPIRE WILD Nov. 3. Merryman Performing Arts Center, Kearney. A genre-bending, crossover trio, Empire Wild has brought their signature mix of original music, inventive covers and twists on the classical canon to audiences across the country. —kearneyconcerts.org

STOMP Nov 3 & 4. Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln. STOMP is explosive, inventive, provocative, witty, and utterly unique—an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered armfuls of awards and rave reviews and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. —liedcenter.org

SHOW ME REPTILE & EXOTICS SHOW Nov. 5-6. Lancaster Event Center. A unique experience for both reptile lovers and the reptile-curious. It is a place of friendship and community for everyone. The show provides everything you need to properly care for your reptiles. From high quality reptile equipment like lighting, heating, feeders, substrate, cleaners and enclosures to friendly vendors who assist in reptile husbandry and adoptions. —lancastereventcenter.org

32ND ANNUAL FROST FROLIC HOLIDAY MARKET Nov. 5. Jefferson County Fairgrounds, Fairbury. Kick off the holiday shopping season with SE Nebraska’s biggest vendor show! The 32nd Annual Frost Frolic

KANSAS, AND MISSOURI

Holiday Market features two buildings full of vendors including crafts, baked goods, direct sales as well as on site concessions. hello@hnmcatrescue.org

HOLIDAY SPLENDOR CRAFT SHOW Nov. 12. Buffalo County Fairgrounds, Kearney. Step into a winter wonderland of holiday shopping with over 250 booths of your favorite gifts, products and delicious food items all under one roof. This high quality show has been going strong since 2004 and shows no signs of stopping. — buffalocountyfairgrounds.com

SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD Dec 1-18. The Tada Theater, Lincoln. From composer Jason Robert Brown, this rousing score blends elements of pop, gospel,and jazz, featuring tight harmonies and daring vocals. This tour de force production transports the audience from the deck of a Spanish sailing ship bound for a new land, to the ledge of a New York penthouse. A powerful diverse cast and a supercharged, well-crafted score appeal to old and new generations alike. —tadaproductions.info

A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISMAS Dec 1. Viaero Center, Kearney. Experience the enchantment of Christmas as Magical Hostess Lucy Darling takes you through an evening of dazzling performers and breathtaking cirque artists, accompanied by your favorite holiday music performed live. Get into the spirit of the season with this merry treat that’s perfect for the entire family. —kearneyevents.net

34TH ANNUAL ARTS AND CRAFT FAIR Dec 3. First Church, North Platte. The Craft Fair at First Church is an awesome event that builds

community and provides an opportunity for you to support local crafters. They have some of the best craft vendors in the state, some of the greatest food in the state, and some of the best shoppers in the state. It is a great fair that benefits a great church. —firstchurchnp.com

DECK THE HALLS - LINCOLN’S SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Dec. 4. ed Center for Performing Arts. Tis the season! LSO’s annual celebration returns with lots of holly, jolly, and more, including Sleigh Ride and The Nutcracker with guest conductor Lucas Waldin. Tenor Drew Duncan will bring beloved holiday songs to life, and audiences of all ages can celebrate the joy of the season with dancers from Chase Dance and Dancing Beyond Limits The concert also showcases Bell-issimo handbell choir and Lincoln Suzuki Studios. —liedcenter.org

ALTON BROWN LIVE: BEYOND THE EATS - THE HOLIDAY VARIANT Dec 8. Lied Center For Performing Arts. Alton Brown is hitting the road with a new culinary variety show! Expect more comedy, more music, more highly unusual cooking demos, and more potentially dangerous science-y stuff. Prepare for an evening unlike any other, and if Brown calls for volunteers…think twice. —liedcenter.org

THE FLYOVERS- A MODERN A CAPPELLA QUINTET Dec 9 The Lark, Hastings. The Flyovers are a modern a cappella quintet from Lincoln, Nebraska. Consisting of two tenors, Ether Saure and Lucas Kellison, a soaring soprano, Anna Claridge, a rumbling bass, Bill Catlett, and an impossible beatboxer, D-Wayne. The group has grown regionally in popularity from their unusually humble beginnings. —thelarkdowntown.com

WHITE CHRISTMAS. Dec 11. Brownville Concert Hall, Brownville. Brownville favorites KT Sullivan, Jeff Harnar, Todd Murray & Stacy Sullivan unite for a fun Christmas show featuring the music of White Christmas and many other beloved movie and Broadway holiday tunes.

—brownvilleconcertseries.com

AN INTIMATE CHRISTMAS WITH LORIE LINE. Dec. 14. Rococo Theatre, Lincon. Lorie Line is once again making an appearance as a solo piano artist. Expect a very intimate evening with Lorie as she shares her beautiful music, funny stories and heartwarming stories of faith.

—rococotheatre.com

MIRACLE OF 34TH STREET: THE MUSICAL DEC 20. Merryman Performing Arts Center, Kearney. A holiday classic, “Miracle on 34th Street The Musical” is sure to fill you with happiness and cheer for the holiday season. Based on the classic 1947 film, it tells the tale of a skeptical little girl who doubts the existence of Santa Claus. This is a tale that we want to believe in, that creates a world we seem to desperately desire, where love and generosity of spirit are their own rewards.

—kearneyconcerts.org

DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL Dec. 22-24. Lied Center For Performing Arts. A record-setting Broadway holiday sensation which features the hit songs “You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas” from the original animated special. Max the Dog narrates as the mean and scheming Grinch, whose heart is “two sizes too small,” decides to steal Christmas away from the Holiday loving Whos. Magnificent sets and cos tumes inspired by Dr. Seuss’ original illustrations help transport audiences to the whimsical world of Whoville and helps remind us of the true meaning of the holiday season. —liedcenter.org

IOWA

WINNE THE POOH: THE NEW MUSICAL Nov. 5. Des Moines Civic Center, Des Moines. Disney’s iconic Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin and their best friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, and Owl (oh… and don’t forget Tigger too!) have come to life in a beautifully crafted musical stage adaptation. Featuring the Sherman Brothers’ classic Grammy Awardwinning music with further songs by A.A. Milne, this beautiful fresh stage adaptation is told with stunning life-sized puppetry through

leash the slopes! at Mt. Crescent Ski Area

the eyes of the characters we all know and love, in a new story from the Hundred Acre Wood. —desmoinesperformingarts.org

5K BEER RUN - TWISTED VINE BREWERY

Nov 5. Twisted Vine Brewery, Des Moines. Join us at Twisted Vine Brewery on Saturday, November 5th, 2022, at 11 AM for a 5k-ish, fun run event that starts and ends at this BRANDNEW location in the East Village, Des Moines. Run, walk, jog - whatever goes! Complete the course and celebrate with us and a FREE, local craft brew at the finish line.

ILIZA SHLESINGER; BACK IN ACTION TOUR

Nov 11. Des Moines Civic Center. Iliza Shlesinger is an award-winning comedian, actor, writer, producer and author, selling out theaters around the globe with a devoted fan base. Iliza has five Netflix stand-up specials, has starred in multiple movies, authored two books, hosts her own podcast “Ask Iliza Anything”. —desmoinesperformingarts.org

THE BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY PERFORMS

LED ZEPPELIN IV Nov 12. Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines. Remember putting on an album and listening from start to finish? Relive that moment with a live

concert experience unlike any other as The Black Jacket Symphony recreates the iconic album Led Zeppelin IV live in its entirety—note for note, sound for sound— plus a full set of Led Zeppelin’s greatest hits. —hoytsherman.org

ACKERMAN WINERY | FIRESIDE WINERY PRODUCTION TOUR Nov 12. Amana Colonies. Join us for a guided tour of our production facility. Get insider tastings & pairings while learning about the winemaking process. After the tour, feel free to walk the short distance to our tasting room for more wine & appetizers. —amanacolonies.com

EAGLES “HOTEL CALIFORNIA 2022 TOUR” Nov 17 Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. Due to overwhelming demand, the EAGLES Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, with Vince Gill – extends the “Hotel California” 2022 Tour in the U.S. with November show. Each concert features a live ‘Hotel California,’ performance, accompanied by an orchestra and choir.  After a short intermission the band will perform a full set of their greatest hits. —iowaeventcenter.com

DES MOINES WHISKEY FEST Nov 18-19. The River Center, Des Moines. Spend your day tasting new whiskeys, listening to endless music, and eating your way around the festival. So many fun filled options! Dont forget about the cigar truck or the outdoor game patios. Whiskey Fest has expanded and will take over both sides of The River Center. Saturday is full of food, music, entertainment and more! Enjoy all day activities like axe throwing, cigar trucks, contests, speakers, games, and of course WHISKEY! Over 200 types of whiskey for tasting! —dsmwhiskeyfest.com

PRELUDE TO CHRISTMAS, Dec 2-4 Amana Colonies. Enjoy candlelit streets, the beautiful Tannenbaum Forest, great shopping for unique gifts, and our delicious food all in a place like no other.  Prelude to Christmas is a special time in the Amana Colonies with the main village of Amana decorated for the Christmas Holiday. Join us for this wonderful celebration and start a Christmas tradition of your own. — amanacolonies.com

OLD WORLD CHRISTMAS MARKET 2022 Dec

3. National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, Cedar Rapids. The Old World Christmas Market is inspired by traditional European markets, but with our own Midwest magic. Experience a delightful market with local handcrafted items, delicious treats, entertainment and activities for people of all ages. This enchanted celebration of culture, community, and holiday cheer is free for the entire weekend, including admission to NCSML galleries. —ncsml.org

EXPLORE CALENDAR

CHRISTMAS WITH JIM MCDONOUGH AND HIS ORCHESTRA: 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR. Dec 3. Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines. Celebrate the holiday season in style by attending “Christmas with Jim McDonough and His Orchestra: The 20th Anniversary Tour!” This dazzling stage production features International Steinway Artist, Jim McDonough, alongside his 14-piece professional orchestra, performing your favorite Christmas music and other all-time favorites. The awe-inspiring event is a grand combination of beautiful music, spectacular visual effects, and the true spirit of the season. —hoytsherman.org

SINTERKLAAS DAY Dec 3 Downtown Orange City. The Sinterklaas Day Celebration draws children and their families to downtown Orange City to see the arrival of the Dutch “Santa” on his white horse, and to participate in Dutch games and a puppet show. —orangecityiwoa.com

PENTATONIX: A CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR Dec 8 Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. As one of the most innovative, inventive, and inimitable vocal groups of all time, Pentatonix reimagine, reinvigorate, and redefine a cap pella. Since emerging in 2011, the three-time

GRAMMY® Award-winning and Daytime EMMY® Award-nominated vocal quintet—Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, and Matt Sallee—have reached unprecedented heights, toppling charts, selling 10 million albums worldwide, generating bil lions of streams, and performing everywhere from The White House and Macy’s Thanks giving Day Parade to The Hollywood Bowl. — iowaeventcenter.com

DEC. 03

11TH ANNUAL SINGLE MOMS CHRISTMAS DINNER Dec 10. Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. Single mothers are invited to attend this special Christmas event being held in their honor. With the help of our great com munity, Single Parent Provision invites single mothers to enjoy this memorable evening including a catered dinner, heartfelt program, laughter, and love all in the great company of other single moms. —iowaeventcenter.com

BLUEY’S BIG PLAY Dec 27-28 Des Moines Civic Center. Bluey’s Big Play is a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® awardwinning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. Join the Heelers in their first live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created

puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life. Bluey’s Big Play is presented by BBC Studios and Andrew Kay in association with Windmill Theatre Co. —desmoinesperformingarts.org

KANSAS

2022 SOUP AND CHILI FEST Nov 5. Downtown Hutchinson. The Downtown Kiwanis Club’s 2022 Chili and Soup Festival is a great day to be in beautiful Downtown Hutchinson and sample fantastic chili and soup. It’s a day the whole family can enjoy and you get to vote for the Best Soup and the Best Chili! Starts at 11:30 a.m. and goes until the chili and soup are gone!  —visithutch.com

WICKED WINE WALK Nov 12. Power & Light District, Kansas City. Grab your BOOS Crew for Wicked Wine Walk! Sip, taste and explore downtown Kansas City at the Wicked Wine Walk on Saturday, November 12th, in the Power & Light District. Enjoy live music on 14th Street, wine tastings and small plates at each of the participating venues. —powerandlightdistrict.com

27TH ANNUAL TURKEY SHOOT Nov 20. Commencing at Buck Run Community Center. Fort Scott, Kansas. Shoot free-throws and win a turkey to enjoy for your Thanksgiving dinner. Kids- grab a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian for this chance. Each child and adult will shoot 25 free-throws each. The adult/child team scoring the highest in each age group wins a turkey! —fortscott.com

LUMINARY WALK - THE ARBORETUM BY CANDLELIGHT Nov 25 & 26, Dec 2 & 3, 8-10, 15-17. Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens in Overland Park. Take a stroll along the lit pathways to experience the magical Gnome and Fairy Villages, serene winter woods by candlelight, and the

colorful Children’s Garden. Enjoy musical performances in four different locations and visit with Santa in his Woodland Depot. The gardens are bright with color -  while the quiet woods are lit with candles lining the walkways. Trees, buildings, and bridges are all part of the show, with thousands of lights aglow. —opkansas.org

SHAWNEE CHRISTKINDLMARKT Dec 3. City Hall in Shawnee. Explore three different Christmas cultures in one event at Shawnee’s Christkindlmarkt. Hosted by the Shawnee Sister Cities Committee, the holiday-themed event features an appearance by Santa, carolers, holiday treats, and crafts for entertaining the children. —visitshawneeks.com

A VERY ELECTRIC CHRISTMAS Dec 14. Lied Center of Kansas, Lawrence. Follow the story of a young bird named Max and his family as they begin their journey South for the winter. When Max gets blown off course and ends up at the North Pole…his adventure begins! Dancing toy soldiers, caroling worms and performing poinsettias light up the stage in Lightwire Theater’s A Very Electric Christmas. —lied.ku.edu

2022 HYDE PARK LUMINARIA Dec 17. Hyde Park Neighborhood, Hutchinson. Stroll, drive, or ride through Hutchinson Hyde Park’s beautiful neighborhood for the 35th annual Christmas Luninaria.  Meet Santa at the corner of 20th and Washington, and enjoy musical entertainment, horse-drawn wagon rides and cider and cookies at Hyde Park. —visithutch.com

MISSOURI

KEVIN HART Nov 3. T-mobile Center, Kansas City. Kevin Hart is bringing his first major tour in over four years to Kansas City. — tmobilecenter.com

JUDAS PRIEST: 50 YEARS OF METAL Nov 13. Family Arena, Saint Charles. One of heavy metal’s all-time greats, Judas Priest, will get the opportunity to celebrate their 50th anniversary again this year with the launch of a new North American fall tour. The 50 Heavy Metal Years Tour will also feature Queensryche as openers and is being fueled by the highest-charting album of Priest’s career, ‘Firepower,’ which peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200. —discoverstcharles.com

THE NATIONAL COLLEGIATE BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2022 Nov 20. Kansas City. Induction Celebration will take place at The College Basketball Experi ence in Kansas City, MO. A red carpet arrival and VIP reception will begin at 6:00 p.m., fol lowed by the Induction Celebration at 7:30 p.m. —halloffameweekend.com

NOV.

GLOWILD Nov 1-Dec 11. Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City, MO. The Kansas City Zoo is bringing a completely unique experi ence to the Greater Kansas City area this Fall – GloWild, an immersive and breathtaking nighttime event. GloWild is a lantern festival like no other, fea turing massive handmade steel and silk works of art depicting animals, local landmarks, botanicals, and Asian cultural creations. GloWild will be the largest event of its kind in the Midwest! —kansascityzoo.org

SANTA’S NORTH POLE DASH Dec 3. Frontier Park, Saint Charles. The Greater St. Charles Regional Chamber of Commerce announces they will be holding their 12th annual Santa’s North Pole Dash  on Saturday, December 3rd, 2022, in Historic St. Charles. Santa’s North Pole Dash is a 5K run and 1-mile walk for all ages. —discoverstcharles.com

JURASSIC WORLD LIVE TOUR Dec 9-10. T-Mobile Center, Kansas City. Juras sic World Live Tour, an exhilarating and unpredictable live, family entertainment experience that brings the wonder and thrills of Jurassic World to generations of fans returns to T-Mobile Center in Kansas City from Dec. 9 – 11 for seven performances. —tmobilecenter.com

WESTON HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE AND TREE LIGHTING Nov 12. Weston, MO. Annual Tree Lighting and festivities to kick of the holiday season! —westonmo.com

EVENT TIMES AND DETAILS MAY CHANGE. Visit omahamagazine.com for complete listings. Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

I HAVE A FRIEND

Ihave a friend–hard to believe, I know–but I have a friend who studied evolutionary bio-physiology. I should emphasize that I do not know if he got good grades or not. Whatever his class rank, he and I were talking one night, which is something I do with friends from time to time, and the conversation turned away from the Greek tragedy currently enveloping our favorite college football team toward the subject of decrepitude.

The gist of our chat was that he maintained, in the view of evolutionary biophysiologists, the human body was designed to last about 35 years. “The spine is poorly designed,” my friend opined, “And the joints just don’t stand up well to repetitive weight-bearing motion or the constant impact injury inflicted by ambulation under stress.” In other words, gravity rules. He had a formula that showed just how long our furry hunter-gathering ancestors had before they started thinking about inventing orthopedic surgery, but I won’t bore you with the math. Suffice to say, Pickleball is a consequence of tennis.

I was reflecting on this truth nugget recently after it became clear that my shoulder had decided to follow Roger Federer into retirement. Rather than announcing this decision at a press conference, the old ball-and-socket decided instead to communicate its intention via spasms of intense, unbearable, agonizing, tortuous, disabling, screaming, chronic pain.

(Note: I am a male human. Male humans have a much different modality for measuring pain than female humans. To a male such as I, my shoulder pain is a 15 on a 10-point scale. My wife would classify the same inflammatory agony as a 2, not even worth a Tylenol–just to be clear.)

I must also note that I have reached an advanced age that precludes me playing any real sport. Thus, I was limited to long, ruined walks over an intensely mowed and over-sprinkled, ersatz bucolic landscape punctuated by little flags… golf. Now, even that silly little pursuit is beyond me. I have given my clubs to a younger man, filed down my spikes and turned them into slippers, and donated my autographed Lee Elder poster to a charity.

It must be said, I was never a very good golfer, though I did win a tournament once. (I have since forgotten where or how that happened.). When I started playing as a young man, I was very good at cursing. Eventually I realized that bad language only upset the beer cart attendant and thus reformed, my enjoyment of that misspent time on various municipal fairways increased. Anyone who takes golf seriously who does not have a camera crew following them is deluded. Here then, though I know it is not “golf season,” I leave you with my legacy, the “Otis Twelve Rules for Golf” To Wit:

1. The “It Oughta’ Be About Here” Rule: If you hit your drive into the woods or the weeds, or under a nearby patio deck, and you cannot locate the ball after looking for a minute or so, drop a new ball and play on. You are not on the course to look for lost things.

2. The “This Shot Won’t Teach me Anything” Rule: If your ball comes to rest against a tree trunk, snuggles up to a boulder, or results in you not being able to see the flag because of an intervening porta-potty, remember that you are not Sergio Garcia. Attempting the shot would be dangerous and possibly embarrassing. Kick the ball out away from the impediment and play on.

3. The “Buck Fifty” Rule: If you, like me play rounds with mostly “jar” balls, remember the approximate cost of those balls is $1.50. If you hit your jar ball into the pond, creek, lake, or ocean you have just incurred a financial cost of a buck fifty. That is sufficient penalty. Drop a new ball and play on.

Play on. Enjoy. And raise a glass to me as you follow these simple rules. But don’t raise the glass too high. You’ll blow out your shoulder.

Otis Twelve hosts the radio program Morning Classics with Otis Twelve on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. Visit kvno.org for more information.