Jan/Feb 2011 The Encounter Omaha Magazine

Old Market • Downtown • Riverfront

www.oldmarket.com January/February 2011

Soup Scoop Soup Revolution’s Sara DeMars Cerasoli

Se Follow e The for Spe ing Pages c and Co ial Offers upons !

TEXT

Omaha Coupons to 63638 to have coupons sent to your mobile phone.

Powered by the

Page 19

OMAHA MAGAZINE • 5921 S. 118TH CIRCLE • OMAHA, NE 68137

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID OMAHA MAGAZINE LTD

“Forget love. I’d rather fall in chocolate!”

Handmade chocolates for your valentine (or yourself)

Spectacular holiday décor & more We celebrate the spirit of Christmas, always! Also find seasonal décor for Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day and other holidays throughout the year.

2010 5 198 • Dept. 56 Village Gold Key Dealer • 100s of Ornaments, Gifts & Collectibles • Beanpod Soy Candles

1007 HOWARD ST. (402) 345-9627

Small in size but large on variety! Find essentials for travelers, Nebraska-made gifts, Heartland apparel, Husker items and souvenirs. We’ve been called “the hotel gift shop, without the hotel prices.”

• Vermont Truffles • International Licorice • Nostalgia Candies • Sugar-Free Varieties • Jelly Bellies (40 flavors) • Salt Water Taffy ◆

(402) 344-8846

H R I S T M A S F O R 2 5 Y E AR S

The souvenir and traveler’s store

Like no other, our gourmet chocolates and fudge are handmade in our kitchen with the finest ingredients.

Come create a custom gift box that’s sure to delight.

1005 HOWARD ST.

CELEBRATI NG C

S I N C E 1 97 7

1003 HOWARD ST. (402) 345-8198

CITY OF OMAHA

GREEN MARKETING Advertise in front of ten of thousands of Omaha’s commuters daily while supporting Metro transit and it’s positive environmental impact on our world. Advertise on any of the 400+ NEW benches installed for the bus riding public and be noticed throughout the entire City limits! You can support the Metro transit program and benefit from advertising on these benches while placing your HIGH IMPACT message just feet from the curb.

Best Buy Signs is Omaha’s exclusive bus bench advertising source.

We offer discounts to: non-profit groups, political campaigns, environmentally conscious campaigns, city events and awareness, local sport and entertainment groups and ad agencies.

1415 Harney Street Telephone: 402.341.7576

New Convenient Downtown Location

the encounter | january/february 2011 3

Old Market Downtown • Riverfront

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011

P ublisher

Todd Lemke

Pure and Simple

M anaging E ditor Corey Ross

C it y E ditor

Sandra Lemke

A ssistant E ditor Linda Persigehl

A rt D irector / G raphic D esigner Matt Jensen

G raphic D esigner John Gawley

P hotography

Fine Dining

Bill Sitzmann • Scott Drickey

Technical A dvisor

Award Winning Wine List

Tyler Lemke

C ontributing W riters Leo Adam Biga Judy Horan Traci Orsuna Aaron Michaels Joe Gudenrath Tony Endelman Lainey Seyler

A ccount E xecutives

Gwen Lemke • Vicki Voet Alicia Smith Hollins • Greg Bruns

E ditorial A dvisors

Rick Carey • David Scott

THE AFTERNOON

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION:

BLANC BURGERS + BOTTLES

SHOP EAT

402.884.2000 www.omahapublications.com

CRAVE WOHLNER’S PARLIAMENT PUB FASHION CLEANERS

DELICE

Z-WIRELESS

LOFT 610

INGREDIENT

PRAIRIE LIFE FITNESS

INDULGE

ELEMENT HOTEL

it’s all right here

REPUBLIC OF COUTURE

THE GREY PLUME THREE DOG BAKERY MARCUS CINEMA TRU SALON & SPA

CANTINA LAREDO

CALLAHAN FINANCIAL PLANING COLDSTONE CREAMERY ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE

URBAN LIVING

REDEFINED

www.midtowncrossing.com 4 january/february 2011 | the encounter

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD

Comments? Send your letter to the editor to: letters@omahapublications.com All versions of The Encounter are published bimonthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha NE 68046-1208. Telephone: (402) 884-2000; fax (402) 8842001. No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs.

Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted; however, no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations.

contents N ow check out E ncounter M aga zine online .

U sing flipbook technology to give you a whole ne w maga zine re ading e xperience .

8

J.P. COOKE COMPANY

RUBBER STAMPS PRE-INKED STAMPS INTERIOR SIGNS DESK NAME PLATES NAME BADGES EMBOSSING SEALS

“OLD MARKET”

1311 HOWARD OMAHA, NE 68102 (402) 342-7175 FAX: 402-342-9426

6

28

6 Cover Story: Soup Scoop . .............................................. 8 Photos: Jazz Hot........................................................... 12 Downtown Dining: Q Consumables . .......................... 15 Downtown Art : Flower Child ......................................... 17 Special Section: Advantage Coupons...........................19 ODID: Keeping Downtown Safe.....................................27 Downtown History: Groundhog Prom........................ 28 Feature: Condo Overview............................................ 30 Old Market Map............................................................ 32 Calendar....................................................................... 35 Downtown Story : Quiz with Your Fizz ..............................

The Original Old Market Irish B ar Nightly Specials Live Irish Music Weekends Open 11a.m.

1205 H arney St. 342-5887

dublinerpubomaha.com the encounter | january/february 2011 5

DOWNTOWN STORY

“ S ” It’s not un-

usual for us

to get 80 or 100 people in there.

6 january/february 2011 | the encounter

Quiz with Your Fizz Slowdown brings in crowds with fun and games story by Tony Endelman | photos by minorwhitestudios.com

tarted by Robb Nansel and Jason Kulbel of Saddle Creek Records, Slowdown has become one of the premier concert venues in Omaha. Night after night, crowds of college hipsters, tipsy twenty-somethings, and live music lovers flock to North Downtown to catch some of the most popular acts in Pop and Indie Rock. But, once a week, this rock club changes its tune and, instead of live music, plays host to live trivia. Slowdown’s Pub Quiz, generally on Tuesday nights, is perfect for those who like booze, IQs, and a little friendly competition.

Thought to have originated in the UK, pub quizzes are a modern example of a pub game

downtown story and can have a variety of formats and topics. Like the one at Slowdown, many pub quizzes require no entry fee and serve as a way to get customers in the bar on less busy nights. And, while Slowdown may boast Omaha’s best-known pub quiz, these trivia tests are far from uncommon. Pub quizzes are quite popular in the United States and, according to a recent study, there are over 22,000 held weekly across the pond.

“It can get pretty busy for some of our pub quizzes,” says Adrienne Losee, who works at Slowdown. “Attendance fluctuates, but it’s not unusual for us to get 80 to 100 people in there.”

Though game regulations can vary slightly from pub to pub, Slowdown’s rules are pretty straightforward.

Each team must consist of five people or less. The competition begins at 9 p.m. and features four categories of 10 questions, which are presented by the moderators.

And, now that nearly everybody has constant Internet access, players are prohibited from using their cell phones. The winning team has its bar tab paid for in full.

“The questions aren’t multiple choice,” describes Tyler Brown, a regular at Slowdown’s pub quizzes. “You just need to come up with the answers.” The categories can encompass anything from art, movies and music, to world history, and can include audio or video.

“You can tell if the moderators came up with the questions,” adds Brown. “If there happens to be a lot of questions about Jim Croce, you can assume that someone who works there might have been listening to a lot of Jim Croce that week.”

For something that’s supposed to be fun and games, it’s not all fun and games. “Some people take it very seriously,” offers Brown. “There’s always the team of 35 to 40-year-old men who bring their laptops and will pull up Wikipedia if they feel the need to heavily contest an answer. It gets intense, and there’s a weird mix of people trying to get loaded off a free bar tab, and people who don’t care too much for alcohol but really want to win the game.”

So, if you’re in the mood for some drinking and thinking, check out the weekly Pub Quiz at Slowdown.

For more information, visit www.theslowdown.com or call 402-345-7569

We Are More Than Coffee!

Comfort Food, Cocktails & Coffee

Breakfast . Brunch . Lunch Dinner . Dessert . Coffee . Gelato Paxton Building • 14th & Farnam • 884-0900 For Reservations Book Online CraneCoffeeOmaha.com

Come & experience what all of Omaha is talking about!

HIRO 88 URBAN CHIC IN OLD MARKET

HIRO 88 o l d m a r k e t 1308 Jackson St. 933.5168 [outdoor dining] HIRO WEST w e s t o m a h a 3655 N 129th St .

933.0091 [south of 129th & maple]

{ Happy Hour Specialties } Mon-Fri 3-6, 10-Close Sat 10-Close

Select Sushi Rolls, Drink Specials & Appetizers www.Hiro88.com the encounter | january/february 2011 7

COVER STORY

“ S ” The

Soup Scoop

Soup Revolution’s Sara DeMars Cerasoli recounts the

apartment

tragic day in NYC that ultimately led to her bringing her culinary talents to Omaha

by Judy Horan | Photos by minorwhitestudios.com

I had been in was

destroyed.

8 january/february 2011 | the encounter

ara DeMars Cerasoli is the entrepreneur you see parking her little white van — called the Soup Revolution — in strategic places around Omaha, primarily in the downtown area during lunch time. People line up for soup, salad, homemade biscuit, a beverage and dessert — alfresco — from the mobile food van.

In the three years since moving to Omaha, Cerasoli and her soup van have become a familiar sight downtown. Less known is how she arrived on the streets of Omaha after leaving behind a successful culinary career in New York City.

It’s a story she’s reluctant to tell — it started on 9/11 — but eventually she shares the reason behind her move to Omaha.

First, a little about the business.

Cerasoli’s food van travels around downtown Omaha and in other areas of Omaha where

cover story she caters private events for companies. Cerasoli cooks her soups in a kitchen she shares with Barley’s in the Tip Top building.

This winter, the van will still be out on the icy streets. “I’ve got to sell soup,“ she insists. But, not surprisingly, Cerasoli is looking for invitations to sell soup inside warmer company sites.

Cerasoli spent eight months preparing a business plan before launching Soup Revolution. Her favorites are southwestern soup, because her mother is from El Paso, Texas, “and we grew up eating tamales.”

At first, her customers were young creative people that follow trends. “They thought the idea was very urban.” Now it’s grown to include corporate workers as well who often want to get out of the office to get fresh air. “Stay-at-home moms also come by to grab lunch,” she says.

Until three years ago, the petite blonde with a big smile lived in New York City where she met her husband, Anthony Cerasoli.

She kept her maiden name, DeMars, because of the reputation she had built in New York culinary circles under that name. The New York Times wrote about her when she helped open the restaurant Spoon.

Spoon is a gourmet takeout restaurant. “That’s a big thing in New York,” Cerasoli says. She worked as head chef there for four years until a week before her first son, Rocco, was born.

In New York City, she saw a lot of mobile food units like the one she now operates. But she never saw one selling soup. Her Soup

Cerasoli’s soup van sets up shop for lunch near the UNMC campus, 40th & Dodge Streets.

the encounter | january/february 2011 9

cover story Revolution van may have been inspired by other mobile food vans, but it has its own unique style.

Inspiring Health and Community

The Story Starts in Hastings Growing up, Cerasoli was the naughty one, she says. “My dad laughs now, but I caused him a few grey hairs.”

Fiercely independent as a child, Cerasoli, 39, was destined to be an entrepreneur. The native of Hastings, Neb., dropped out of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and lived for four years in Breckenridge, Colorado, where she spent the days snowboarding and the evenings cooking as a sous chef in an Italian restaurant.

She had no culinary training.

A chef there encouraged her to attend culinary school. She applied to the French Culinary Institute in New York City and found something more exciting to do than snowboarding. She also experienced a revelation: “It was the first time I wanted to go to work instead of playing.”

Among her culinary jobs was as head chef for a New York caterer called Upper Crust. President Bill Clinton was a guest at a private fundraiser in Connecticut. “He came into the garage where we were working and offered a photo op,” she remembers with a smile. She cherishes the memory.

She also worked with culinary guru Martha Stewart for a cookbook opening and was a behind-the-scenes production assistant for the Food Network.

Cerasoli and her husband, Anthony, settled down to a happy life in a 225-square-foot Manhattan apartment.

Until 9/11 She still finds it painful to talk about that dreadful day almost 10 years ago. She and Anthony were house sitting for friends in a penthouse apartment across from the south tower of the World Trade Center. She awoke when the first plane hit the north tower and ran outside.

“The second plane came by when I was outside the building.

Suitcases and airplane wheels were falling around us,” said Cerasoli, who escaped with only her cell phone. “The apartment I had been in was destroyed.”

Her firefighter father-in-law spent his last day on the job, before retiring, rescuing people from the towers. Her brother-in-law was in the second tower on 9/11. Both men survived, but lost friends that day.

Anthony and Sara stayed in New York City another six years, but their feelings for the metropolis had changed. They started to discuss where to move.

“I started looking at Omaha, because my family was still in Hastings. The airport was here and the family in New York could get here,” she says.

She found other advantages to life in Omaha. And those ended with a $ sign. “When we had Rocco, we moved to a 780-squarefoot apartment at $2,800 a month. But there wasn’t even a place

10 january/february 2011 | the encounter

to put my family when they visited.“ When Rocco was 6 months old, they moved to Omaha. Cerasoli calls the move, “a big day.”

But the decision rocked Anthony’s family. They were dismayed to learn that the couple would live more than 1,000 miles away. In fact, Anthony was the first in his tight-knit Italian family to move away from New York. Even though his mother often flew to Italy to teach ESL classes, she always returned home.

Now even Anthony’s Italian madre has fallen in love with Omaha. His family visits often. Sara and Anthony live in a roomy home in midtown Omaha with Rocco, 3, and their second son, Mercer, 2.

Also in residence are two cats, Harry and Lloyd, named after characters in the movie “Dumb and Dumber.” They were found in a New York City dumpster by a no-kill shelter. Cerasoli says that, after 9/11, she needed the love the cats give her.

Cerasoli at first taught cooking classes at Sur La Table in Omaha. Anthony, who had worked for Citigroup in New York, joined First National Bank in Omaha. He keeps the books for his wife‘s business.

“He is an Excel master. He creates spreadsheets you won’t believe.“ What celebrity chef does the Omaha soup chef admire? That would be the relatively unknown Gabrielle Hamilton, who owns the restaurant Prune in NYC. “I love her food, her work ethic, her style. I got to work with her briefly.”

What’s next for the energetic — if exhausted — entrepreneur? Cerasoli is thinking about starting a small traditional soup restaurant. One that is not on wheels. She also is considering manufacturing her soups for sale.

The working mom sees being her own boss as helping balance her life — and it’s more rewarding than snowboarding.

Go to www.soup-revolution.com to see where the Soup Revolution van will be located for that day’s lunch (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.). Follow Cerasoli’s tweets and on Facebook.

Second Chance Antiques & Collectibles

Bought and sold by the handful, or houseful

Furniture Architectural Items China Glassware Toys & Dolls Books Huge Selection of Vintage Clothing & Jewelry on our Lower Level

Over 30 Years in the Old Market

1116 Jackson St. 346-4930 Mon-Thurs 10am-6pm / Fri-Sat 11am-9pm / Sun 12-6pm

25 Y E A R S

PREMIUM HOMEMADE

12th & Jackson • Old Market • 341-5827

Happy New Year’s from the Omaha Downtown Improvement District We can’t stop the snow from falling but we can help make sure downtown businesses and property owners are prepared. Visit the Downtown Improvement District website (www.omahadowntown.org) for snow removal tips and other important information. You can also become a “Fan” of the Omaha Downtown Improvement District Association on Facebook for various downtown updates and information!

www.omahadowntown.org the encounter | january/february 2011 11

T

photography by christian behr | hair/makeup by heather dizmang | location: jazz, downtown omaha | story by linda persigehl

he days of Prohibition may be long gone, but Virginia, Kenzie and Jasmine look as if they’d be right at home on stage in any speakeasy. On Virginia: Black and flesh-toned lace flapper dress by Mysteree, $69 at Souq; On Kenzie: Black and silver swirled ruffle dress by Minuet, $138 at Nouvelle Eve; On Jasmine: Black fringe and sequin flapper dress from Runway Paris, $78, and black feather and tool hair piece, both at Nouvelle Eve.

12 january/february 2011 | the encounter

Back-alley deals and secrets are plentiful at this gin joint, but Jessica and Shaela know how to keep a tight lip. On Jessica: Wool jacket with embellishment by Flora Paris, $89.

Beaded cami by Willow & Clay, $60. Lined skirt by Tri-Dot, $110. All available at Nouvelle Eve; On Shaela: Red tank top by M. Rena, $29. Dazzling jacket by Young Threads, $65.

Crinkled black skirt by Sacred Threads, $35. Cross necklace, Black studded belt, $59, and Parkhurst hat, $45. All items at Souq. the encounter | january/february 2011 13

Brittany and Sarah are no wallflowers, with these cool-as-ice stares and jazz-hot looks. They’re ready to be entertained.

Brittany: Green officer jacket by Hard Tail, $148. Beaded tank dress by Althea, $78.

Michael Stars cami, $42. Lace cover by 36 Points, $58. Tights by Bozzolo, $18.

All available at Nouvelle Eve; Sarah: Multicolored evening gown titled Fall Symphony D., by ANAC, $119, at Nouvelle Eve. 14 january/february 2011 | the encounter

DOWNTOWN DINING

“ o ” Q’s fluid

Q Consumables

menu fea-

American bistro comes to Q Street locale with colorful past

tures fresh, reasonably

priced comfort food

that’s “simple and straightforward.”

story by Leo Adam Biga | photos by minorwhitestudios.com

hn and Allison Querry already thought they found the perfect setting for their new American bistro, Q Consumables, when they moved into the former Cafe de Paris.

Omaha’s only Mobil four-star restaurant had a long run there until owner Ivan Konsul retired. Much of the kitchen equipment remained behind. The appealing location, just off the Old Market in the revitalized Little Italy district, helped.

As the Omaha couple prepped for Q’s September opening, they discovered the colorful history of the site, which opened as the Italian Gardens back in the ‘30s.

Josephine (Caniglia) Marcuzzo was the owner of the Gardens. As the story goes, Marcuzzo had originally intended to open a casino/nightclub on the site, but there was opposition to her plan, and so someone planted a bomb there that detonated and damaged the front of the building. This was enough to convince Marcuzzo to open the place as a restaurant, and thus Italian Gardens was born. Marcuzzo’s relatives shared the story with the Querrys, which only made the locale even more appealing to them.

John Querry shares a tale of how he got tired of the dining room’s shag carpet and

the encounter | january/february 2011 15

downtown dining pulled it up to reveal a terrazzo floor, complete with a crack from the bomb blast. The rich floor’s earth-colored pattern pulls the dark-hued interior design together. Outside, a yellow front door, and above it a yellow Q, pop out in relief against the gray exterior, lending a signature face.

After a year searching for the right location, the Querrys now feel sure they’ve got the best of both worlds.

“We bounced around looking at a number of different spaces,” said John. “This is the best space we looked at, the most reasonably priced, and historic to a degree none of the other places had. It was frustrating having to wait, but in the end the wait paid off because we got the right spot with the right tools in the right neighborhood.”

Querry, also the head chef, likes being near the Old Market rather than in it.

“We have our own parking lot, we don’t have the hustle and bustle, we can be a little more relaxed in here and kind of do our own thing and still provide really quality food. We’ve got lots of hotels very close by, so lots of people have a way to get here by shuttle, et cetera, from not very far away.” Q seats approximately 60 diners.

He also has faith in the site’s track record.

“This has been a functioning restaurant for 70-80 years. This neighborhood supports restaurants, it supports quality. There’s

other places in town where maybe it would be more of a crapshoot, but this is a location that’s proved itself.”

Querry’s heartened too by how his bistro has been embraced by area residents.

“The neighborhood has welcomed us and we’re trying to do the same thing. The neighbors have been just incredibly supportive, and that’s helped a lot. We’ve got already steady amounts of business from the neighborhood.”

His confidence extends to the fluid menu’s fresh, reasonablypriced comfort food, which like the decor, he said, is “simple and straightforward. Everything we put out we make. It is done from scratch and that’s important to us. We control the quality of our product and we stand behind it.”

Q serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The homey morning fare offers classic dishes along with whimsical plays on old favorites.

The lunch menu’s built around soups, salads and sandwiches.

Dinner items mix lighter meat entrees, adding fish dishes on weekends. Burgers are the one constant. Querry keeps things interesting by offering staples like pork tenderloin with different sauces and sides. There’s a growing wine list and the Querrys plan on expanding their desserts and baked goods.

Allison Querry, who left a retail career to open Q, is proud she and John launched the place without any paid advertising, using social media to spread the word.

Guest Caterers

(lunch served on a rotating schedule)

Grand Fortune Chinese Restaurant Big Mama’s Kitchen La Mesa Mexican Restaurant Mangia Italiano Big Boy’s Homestyle Cooking Petrow’s Restaurant Sgt. Peffer’s Café Italian The Greek Islands • Full service convenience center • Fresh flowers, specialty floral arrangements, specialty balloons and balloon arrangements for all occasions.

• Unique, hard to find specialty gift items for all seasons • Official NCAA sanctioned University of Nebraska Husker memorabilia, clothing, etc.

• Fashion Cleaners next day service

1601 Dodge St., Suite 100

(South lobby of the First National Tower)

402.341.5555 Hours: 6:30a-5p Monday-Friday 16 january/february 2011 | the encounter

DOWNTOWN ART

“

Every season there are new flowers [to work with] and I just love it.

”

may/june 2010 | the encounter

Flower Child Omaha florist Sheri Johnson says her passion for all that blooms never wanes

by Traci Orsuna | photos minorwhitestudios.com

l

owers have been the passion of Sheri Johnson’s since she was a little girl; today, they are also her livelihood. Since opening her shop, Garden Flowers, a decade ago, Johnson has brought her love of flowers and her talent for design to the Old Market community, as well as to all of Omaha. Again this year, she’ll be a featured artist in the annual Cathedral Flower Festival, Jan. 29.

“My mom would take us to the grocery store on Saturdays and we’d get to pick something out,” recalls Johnson. “I always picked flowers.”

After graduating from Millard South, the Omaha native went on to work at a local flower shop. “I was basically processing flowers and hauling trash.” Johnson moved on to other

the encounter | january/february 2011 17

downtown art

HELPING FAMILIES LIVE HEALTHY » Family activities. » FREE drop in child care while you work out. » FREE group exercise & water fitness classes. » NO contracts to sign. » 10 branches to serve you.

Use promo code 8293 to waive the joining fee.

Expires 2/28/11 Online purchases only.

florists, each time learning something new and refining her talents. In 2001, she opened Garden Flowers at 10th & Howard.

She settled in and has never left.

As with any creative profession, Johnson says there are times when it can be a struggle to create something out of nothing. But the beauty of her medium is what truly inspires her work. “Everyday it’s something different,” she says. “Every season there are new flowers [to work with] and I just love it. I never get tired of it… I

tival, sponsored by the Cathedral Arts Project (CAP). “[From] the first time I did the show [in the early ‘90’s], I was hooked,” she says. “January is just such a dark and wintery time in Omaha and to go to the Flower Festival…it’s just a nice break from winter.” At the Festival, local florists create floral displays inspired by pieces of art.

This year’s theme is pottery from Xalapa, Mexico.

Bea Haney serves as CAP volunteer chair for the florists and has worked with John-

www.metroymca.org

“January is just such a dark and wintery time in Omaha and to go to the Flower Festival…it’s just a nice break from winter.”

Meet local quality professional singles of all ages.

Locally owned and private organization.

All applicants are interviewed and screened with criminal background checks.

We work with people who are stable and serious about dating.

681-6676

info@youruniqueconnection.com

New Year’s Special

25% Off All New Memberships!

Expires March 31st, 2011 • Must bring in this ad 18 january/february 2011 | the encounter

really don’t.”

Johnson and her staff use mostly locally grown flowers and plants; some they grow themselves, others they purchase from local wholesalers, “weather permitting,” she adds. In colder months, they often incorporate such items as pine cones, evergreen and cold-weather plants, such as dogwood and curly willow.

Weddings present a fun and unique challenge. “I love, love, love it when girls will come up with some crazy idea that they’re almost embarrassed to bring up,” she says with a laugh. “And then they [tell me] and it’s like, ‘We absolutely can make that happen!’ It’s really rewarding when somebody has an idea and then we bring it to life.”

This month, Johnson will be participating in the annual Cathedral Flower Fes-

son on past festivals. “Sheri can take [a piece of art] and do an interpretive floral arrangement which absolutely catches the drift of the [piece]. It’s very obvious that she’s not just somebody who sticks flowers together; she is …a real designer.”

With so many kinds of blossoms available to work with, does Johnson have a favorite?

“I really don’t have a preference. Every season my favorite changes.” She adds in her contagious laugh, “It’s like ‘Oh, that’s my favorite! …No, THAT’s my favorite!’”

The Cathedral Flower Festival is free and open to the public Saturday, Jan. 29, 9-10 AM for Special Needs Guests only, 10AM to 4:30PM and 7PM to 9PM. and Sunday, Jan. 30, 1PM to 4PM. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Cathedral Arts Project. St. Cecilia’s Cathedral is located at 701 N. 40th Street.

DOWNTOWN

See Th Follow e for Spe ing Pages cial Of fers and Co upons !

TEXT

Omaha Coupons to 63638 to have coupons sent to your mobile phone.

Powered by the

! r a e Y w e N y Happ

THANK YOU FOR USING

Locally owned and published by: Advantage Coupons In business for over 16 years.

Over 17 Million Advantage Coupons booklets mailed to households in Omaha, NE • Lincoln, NE • Fremont, NE, Council Bluffs, IA and Des Moines, IA. TEXT

Owner: Kent Carlson (402) 659-3701 Sales Staff: Kathy Swanson: (402) 332-8432 kathy@advantagecoupons.com James “Luckie” Lawrence: (402) 813-6610 luckie@advantagecoupons.com Dan Collier: (402) 208-2330 dan@advantagecoupons.com Don: Zurcher: (402) 547-0587 donz@advantagecoupons.com 5919 S. 118th Circle Suite 200 Omaha, NE 68137 Omaha Office: Fax: Lincoln Office: DesMoines Office:

Photos by Luckie Lawrence

(402) 333-3550 (402) 333-8471 (402) 435-6868 (515) 490-8097

Omaha Coupons to 63638 to have coupons sent to your mobile phone.

Powered by the

Make 2011 Your Year!

The Urbane Salon and Spa Team is ready to introduce you to the latest trends in all areas of hair, skin and nail care. We invite you to experience the Urbane 2011 Hair and Make-up collection during your personalized consultation or service.

Present this coupon to enjoy a complementary discount of $10 off for every $50 purchased in salon /spa services or retail items. Offer expires February 28, 2011.

Call today to book your appointment or schedule a consultation.

Coupon

Urbane Salon and Day Spa invites you to explore your true beauty and reward yourself with the attention you both DESIRE and DESIRE! Urbane offers a complete array of services for all your hair, nail, skin care and massage needs. There simply isn’t a better time to reinvent a look or recreate yourself for the New Year!

934-2909

1007 Farnam on the Mall www.urbanesalonanddayspa.com

ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

Coupon

Coupon

ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

Locally Owned & Operated ngs Eveni -Sat. .

ThursA BY Z PIZ LICE THE Sable!

Avail Private Party Room Seating 80 NOW Available

6056 Maple St.

556-9090

Monday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - Close • Sundays 4 p.m. - Close

FREE M’Lady Salad

with purchase of any Queen or King Pizza.

FREE

FREE

Prince Pizza

Garlic Cheese Bread

with purchase of any King Specialty Pizza.

with purchase of any King Specialty Pizza.

Party Room Rental

10% OFF (Seats up to 60)

Dine-In Only

Dine-In Only

Dine-In Only

Call Carla at: 884-8680

Not valid with any other offer.

One coupon per visit please.

Not valid with any other offer.

One coupon per visit please.

Not valid with any other offer.

One coupon per visit please.

Not valid with any other offer.

One coupon per visit please.

6056 Maple St. 556-9090

6056 Maple St. 556-9090

6056 Maple St. 556-9090

Expires 2-28-11

Expires 2-28-11

6056 Maple St. 556-9090

Event Listings at: www.pscollective.com

Expires 2-28-11

Expires 2-28-11

Coupon

Event Listings at: www.pscollective.com

Event Listings at: www.pscollective.com

Event Listings at: www.pscollective.com

Event Listings at: www.pscollective.com

Event Listings at: www.pscollective.com

ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

Coupon

#1 Neighborhood Service Company

YOUR

“We Give You the Pricing Up Front.”

You Approve the Price Before We Start the Work!

“We’re Not Comfortable Until You’re Comfortable”

8530 “L” Street

Omaha, NE 68127 331-3500 24 Hour Service / FREE Estimates

FREE Estimates

Up To

350 OFF

$

“It’s Hard To Stop A Trane”

of a complete Qualifying System (Furnace and A/C or Heat Pump) Expires 2-28-11

24 Hour Service

10 OFF

$

SERVICE CALL “It’s Hard To Stop A Trane”

http://rivercityac.com ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

Must present coupon. Not valid with any other offer or coupon. Expires 2-28-11

24 Hour Service

FURNACE or AIR

Clean & Check

7450

$

+Tax

“It’s Hard To Stop A Trane” Must present coupon. Not valid with any other offer or coupon. Expires 2-28-11

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

Coupon

Locally Owned & Operated Since 1981

• We Service All Systems, Makes & Models • FREE Estimates on Equipment Installation • Residential & Commercial • 100% Financing Available (W.A.C.) “It’s Hard To Stop A Trane”

Drop Off On Your Way To Work, DOWNTOWN Check Engine Light on?

Steering pulling to one side?

Hit a pothole?

Hear a weird noise?

$25

E8

OFF

any suspension or front end repair work over $100.

Offer good with coupon only.

Expires: 2-28-11

BRAKES! off $

50

a four-wheel brake job when it includes new brake pads or shoes for each axle. Take $25 off when only one axle is needed. Not valid with warranty work. Good for most cars.

Expires: 2-28-11

$17.

99✓ Oil

E8

Includes up to 5 qts. oil.

Good for most vehicles.

Does not include $3.50 EDF & Tax. Offer good with coupon only. Expires: 2-28-11

$ E8

E8

✓

Change

20 00 Winterizeing

OFF

Coupon

Pot Holes Got You Down?

For ALL your auto care needs...

We will flush the radiator and refill with up to 2 gallons of anti-freeze. Good for most vehicles.

Does not include $3.50 EDC.

Offer good with coupon only. Expires: 2-28-11

Downtown 346-1040 (27th & Leavenworth)

Since 1970

ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

30th & Sprague 8906 Maple St. (Next to U-Haul) Bellevue (Hwy. 75 - Next to Amarillo BBQ)

455-0135 393-7888 293-1800

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

Coupon

Call 24/7

I started my car from the warmth of my home!

FREE

Mobile Service Home or Office Call for details

We Do It All: Call Today!

ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

Starting at: • 7” In-Dash DVD ..................$299.00 • Keyless Entry .......................$89.99 • Alarms .................................. $79.99

Starting at: • Window Tinting (2 Door)....$119.99 • Window Tinting (4 Door)....$139.99

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

Coupon

(402) 682-8879

Coupon

• NOW OPEN •

FREE 7-Day Pass

Downtown Omaha 1027 Jones St.

(402) 991-2333

Must present this coupon to receive offer.

Expires 2-28-11

ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

Coupon

Mention this ad and with any meal purchase, Receive

Whole Fruit Serving!

The

UNION PACIFIC CAFE

Union Pacific Headquarters 2nd Floor • 1400 Douglas • 544-3663

Open Monday-Friday 6:00am-3:30pm

ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

FSG

Catfish Lake

Restaurant & Lounge 

 



  

 

 

 



 

 

 

1006 Cunningham Rd. • Bellevue, NE

292-9963

Mon. 4 pm-9:30 pm Tues.-Thurs. & Sun.11am-9:30 pm Fri. & Sat. 11am-10 pm

Full bar service for your enjoyment ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

Rustic Atmosphere With A Scenic Lakeside View Stop In And See Our Newly Remodeled Outside Lakeview Dining & Smoking Area!

20% OFF

E8

Your Total Bill

 

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

5.00 OFF

$

E8

When you purchase Two

Catfish, Full Walleye, Prime Rib or Steak Dinners

20% OFF

E8

Your Total Bill

(Up to $20.00 Maximum Discount) Valid Sunday through Thursday only.

One coupon per customer.

May not be combined with any other “specials”, offers or coupons. Limited time offer.

Valid Sunday through Thursday only.

One coupon per customer.

May not be combined with any other “specials”, offers or coupons. Limited time offer.

(Up to $20.00 Maximum Discount) Valid Sunday through Thursday only.

One coupon per customer.

May not be combined with any other “specials”, offers or coupons. Limited time offer.

Catfish Lake

Catfish Lake

Catfish Lake

Restaurant & Lounge 1006 Cunningham Rd. Bellevue, NE • 292-9963

Restaurant & Lounge 1006 Cunningham Rd. Bellevue, NE • 292-9963

Restaurant & Lounge 1006 Cunningham Rd. Bellevue, NE • 292-9963

WE ALSO CATER!!

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

Coupon

Call: 544-FOOD.

Coupon

1FREE

Come and see our amazing Union Pacific Headquarters 2nd Floor • 1400 Douglas • 544-3663 variety of food choices: • Health Bar • Quesadilla Station • Vegan & Vegetarian OPEN TO PUBLIC • Lunch Broiler (Grille) • Deli Catering Available!

• Pizza Station (Stone Oven Baked)

Call Now for a FREE* 25-Point Inspection! www.precisiondoor.net

(402)

206-2042

If it’s too late and your garage door is broken now,

We Can Fix It Today!

• • • •

Sales Service Installation Phones Answered 24/7 • Highest Quality Parts • Certified Techs • New Doors & Openers

100 OFF

FREE

1/2 HP Chain Drive $ 00 Installed

with repair over $100.

(Standard Replacement Install)

Any New 18 ft. 2-Car Garage Door - Installed

Offer may not be combined. Must present coupon. Expires 3-15-11

Offer may not be combined. Must present coupon. Expires 3-15-11

Offer may not be combined. Must present coupon. Expires 3-15-11

$

Any New 1-Car Garage Door - Installed

289

Service Call

Coupon

Avoid an emergency or accident...

200 OFF

$

Any New 16 ft. 2-Car Garage Door - Installed

300 OFF

$

ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

Coupon

ily Fam a!

Pizz y il Fam dly Frienes!

Pric

Now Serving

• Alfredo • Chicken • Cream Cheese • Artichoke Heart • We Use Organic

Sauces

• We Have Vegan Cheese & Mock Meat Available!

48th & Dodge 342-4500

T Ho he B Pizzme Maest Youa Saucde Tas Ever e ted!

“We make great pizza the whole family will enjoy! And, if you are disappointed for any reason – Please let me know! If I can’t make things right — I’ll give you your money back — every penny.”

—Duane Shaughnessy, Owner

Mighty Fine Medium

2-ToppingPizza

Only $

10

99

Get a 2nd Medium 2-Topping for only $7.99 Addl.

Tax & delivery not included. Not valid with other offer or coupon.

Expires 2-28-11 NIGHT FLIGHT PIZZA 48th & Dodge • 342-4500

1 - 16” Specialty Pizza of your choice

17

Only $

99

Tax & delivery not included. Not valid with other offer or coupon.

Expires 2-28-11 NIGHT FLIGHT PIZZA 48th & Dodge • 342-4500

Delivery to: Home, Businesses, Third Shift, Sporting Events & More FAST, LATE NIGHT PIZZA DELIVERY! (Limited Delivery Area and Times)

5

CARRYOUT SPECIALS

$ 00

OFF

any order of $20 or more.

Valid from 4pm-8pm only.

Orders must be placed by 8pm

3 -14” Pizzas

with 1-Topping on each

Only $2599

Tax & delivery not included.

Not valid with any other offer or coupon.

Expires: 1-31-11

Tax & delivery not included.

Not valid with any other offer or coupon.

Expires: 1-31-11

NIGHT FLIGHT PIZZA 48th & Dodge • 342-4500

NIGHT FLIGHT PIZZA 48th & Dodge • 342-4500

Wings & Family Late Night Special Meal Deal 1-Large 2-Topping Pizza

1-Large 2-Topping Pizza and 10 Hot/BBQ Wings

19

Only $

99

Tax & delivery not included. Not valid with other offer or coupon.

Expires 2-28-11 NIGHT FLIGHT PIZZA 48th & Dodge • 342-4500

• 1-Large Combo • 1-Large 1-Topping Pizza • Zesty Bread Stix

Only $

23

99

Tax & delivery not included. Not valid with other offer or coupon.

Expires 2-28-11 NIGHT FLIGHT PIZZA 48th & Dodge • 342-4500

Pizza and 1-Order Zesty Bread Stix

1599

Only $

After 9 pm Tax & delivery not included. Not valid with other offer or coupon.

Expires 2-28-11 NIGHT FLIGHT PIZZA 48th & Dodge • 342-4500

X-Large 16”

1-Topping Pizza

10

99 Only $ ––––––––––––––– –

Large 14”

1-Topping Pizza

$899 Only Tax not included.

No coupon necessary NIGHT FLIGHT PIZZA 48th & Dodge • 342-4500

2-X-Large

Pizzas

with 2-Toppings

Only $

2299

Tax & delivery not included. Not valid with other offer or coupon.

Expires 2-28-11 NIGHT FLIGHT PIZZA 48th & Dodge • 342-4500

Visit our website at: www.NightFlightPizza.com for more coupons and menu.

ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

Coupon

De li v e r y u n ti l 3a m E v e r y Da y !

ALL Locations OPEN 24 HOURS EVERYDAY Open 24 Hours

1503 Cornhusker Rd. • 292-6690 Open 24 Hours

12423 W. Center Rd • 333-3533 Open 24 Hours

Senior Night Mon. & Wed. 4pm-9pm All locations _____________

4707 N. 72nd St. • 572-0100

FREE

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner

Purchase any regularly priced breakfast, lunch or dinner entree and two beverages and receive a 2nd entree of equal or lesser value Free. (up to $8 Value)

Please present coupon when ordering. Offer valid with coupon at IHOP locations listed below. Not valid with other coupons, discounts or specials. Limit one coupon per party, per visit. ©2008 IHOP IP, L.L.C.

Valid all day Mon.-Fri. • Excluding Holidays • Sat. & Sun. After 2pm 4707 N. 72nd St. • 572-0100 7201 S. 84th St. • 339-2880

Open 24 Hours

Come Hungry. Leave Happy.

Dine-In Only!

12423 W. Center Rd • 333-3533 1503 Cornhusker Rd. • 292-6690

20% OFF

Any Guest Check

Please present coupon when ordering. Offer valid with coupon at IHOP locations listed below. Not valid with other coupons, discounts or specials. Limit one coupon per party, per visit. ©2008 IHOP IP, L.L.C.

Valid all day Mon.-Fri. • Excluding Holidays • Sat. & Sun. After 2pm 4707 N. 72nd St. • 572-0100 7201 S. 84th St. • 339-2880

Kids Eat

Dine-In Only!

FREE

FR EE

12423 W. Center Rd • 333-3533 1503 Cornhusker Rd. • 292-6690

Coupon

7201 S. 84th St. • 339-2880

Dine-In Only!

Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner

Purchase any regularly priced breakfast, lunch or dinner entree and two beverages and receive a 2nd entree of equal or lesser value Free. (up to $8 Value)

Please present coupon when ordering. Offer valid with coupon at IHOP locations listed below. Not valid with other coupons, discounts or specials. Limit one coupon per party, per visit. ©2008 IHOP IP, L.L.C.

Tues. & Thur.

4pm-9pm All locations

Valid all day Mon.-Fri. • Excluding Holidays • Sat. & Sun. After 2pm 4707 N. 72nd St. • 572-0100 7201 S. 84th St. • 339-2880

ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

12423 W. Center Rd • 333-3533 1503 Cornhusker Rd. • 292-6690

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

Coupon “Official sideline provider for University of Nebraska Athletics.

Best Selection, Best Pricing, Best Service...Period!

Price Match Guarantee to back it up.”

New Year’s Special!

Our Gift to You This Holiday Season, Take

Any One Regular Priced Item at either store!

Any One Regular Priced Item at either store!

20% OFF

1 coupon per visit. Not valid with other offers.

Max. Discount $25. *Some restrictions apply.

Expires: 2-28-11

E8

“Taking a Bite out of your Big Red Appetite...one Fanatic at a time.”

17154 Lakeside Hills Plaza • 758-0207

New Year’s Special!

Our Gift to You This Holiday Season, Take

——————————— HUSKER HOUNDS ——————————— 17154 W. Center Rd. •

3003 S. 84th St.

20% OFF

1 coupon per visit. Not valid with other offers.

Max. Discount $25. *Some restrictions apply.

Expires: 2-28-11

E8

New Year’s Special!

——————————— HUSKER HOUNDS ——————————— 17154 W. Center Rd. •

3003 S. 84th St.

New Year’s Special!

Our Gift to You This Holiday Season, Take

Our Gift to You This Holiday Season, Take

Any One Regular Priced Item at either store!

Any One Regular Priced Item at either store!

20% OFF

(171st & Center – Next to Gordman’s)

–– and ––

3003 S. 84th St. • 255-0058

20% OFF

1 coupon per visit. Not valid with other offers.

Max. Discount $25. *Some restrictions apply.

Expires: 2-28-11

1 coupon per visit. Not valid with other offers.

Max. Discount $25. *Some restrictions apply.

Expires: 2-28-11

(1 Block S. of 84th & Center)

E8

——————————— HUSKER HOUNDS ——————————— 17154 W. Center Rd. •

3003 S. 84th St.

Coupon

Truckloads of Fall Apparel Arriving Daily! Unmatched Selection!

E8

——————————— HUSKER HOUNDS ——————————— 17154 W. Center Rd. •

3003 S. 84th St.

www.huskerhounds.com “Thanks for 15 years of letting us serve YOU HUSKER NATION! We’ll be with you as we journey into new unchartered Big 10 Territory! They’re all going to find out that the road to Pasadena will have to go thru Lincoln!”

ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

WHOLE HOUSE SPECIAL Up to 10 Vents

This is not an exaggerated photo.

After Cleaning.

Have Your Air Ducts Ever Been Cleaned?

DUCT DOCTORZ Duct Cleaning (402)

250-9468

ADVANTAGE COUPONS • (402) 333-3550

y Onl $15995

Not valid with any other offer. Expires: 2-28-11

DUCT DOCTORZ (402) 250-9468 One coupon per party. Not valid with any other offer. Expires 01-15-11

FREE

DRYER VENT CLEANING With Any Duct Cleaning Service.

With coupon. Expires: 2-28-11

DUCT DOCTORZ (402) 250-9468

FSG

OMAHA -E8- 1/11

Coupon

Typical Air Duct Before Cleaning.

Joe Gudenrath Executive Director, Omaha Downtown Improvement District

For Sale By owner Priced To Sell FaST!

8519 S 159 ST OMAHA, NE 68136

4 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms 3,155 Above Grnd Sq Ft (approx) Privacy Fence • Shed Huge Master Bedroom 29.8 x 14.5 Walk-in Closets in all four bedrooms

By Chalco Hills Recreation Park Built in 2006

Visit lemkefamily.com for details.

Vincenzo’s Italian Ristorante

Lunch – M-Sat Dinner – 7 Nights Old Market • 1207 Harney 342-4010 1818 N 144th • 498-3889

Public Safety Forum photo featuring OPD Officer and Crime Prevention Specialist Karl Koch

Keeping Downtown Safe story and photo courtesy of the Omaha Downtown Improvement District This column is part of a series detailing the activities and efforts of the Omaha Downtown Improvement District (DID) to further strengthen Downtown Omaha. You can find out more information about the DID on their website www.omahadowntown. org or by becoming a “Fan” on Facebook.

Downtown Omaha is safe. You can compare the area to other urban areas or other parts of our city to see that Downtown Omaha is not a place where people should feel unsafe. That doesn’t mean that we are immune to unwelcome activity, crime or a negative perception of the area, and for that reason, the Downtown Improvement District works to keep downtown safe in both perception and reality.

We’ve establishment the Safe Downtown Coalition, a network of security professionals from various downtown properties working together to share information and communicate about issues facing the area. We’ve developed crime prevention education materials and held a public safety forum to engage downtown stakeholders and involve them in efforts to keep our downtown safe.

Most recently, the DID established a district-wide patrol, placing an extra set of eyes on the streets to assist citizens and report any types of unwelcome activity within the area. The patrol has been successful in providing a positive presence and addressing nuisance activities that can detract from positive aspects of Downtown Omaha.

Lastly, it’s important that we recognize the efforts and support of the Omaha Police Department. Working together we are making a positive impact on the safety and security of Downtown Omaha. the encounter | january/february 2011 27

DOWNTOWN HISTORY

Two women dressed as subjects of American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein.

“ C ” It’s not about winning, it’s about outdoing yourself.

28 january/february 2011 | the encounter

Groundhog History A look back at 34 years of the politically incorrect Groundhog Prom

by Lainey Seyler | photo courtesy of Jim Goeken

ome early February, when winter is its coldest and summer and its barbecues and weekend festivals seem far away, a few folks don hope and some bizarre costumes and dance the night away at the Groundhog Prom.

The annual farcical prom, held every year near Groundhog Day, began more than 30 years ago in 1979 with 60 attendees dressed in tacky formal attire for a spoof on the Ak-Sar-Ben coronation. Word spread and attendance increased each year while the costumes became more tacky and took on a bizarre and defiantly irreverent tone.

“It’s kind of a counter-culture prom,” said Jim Goeken, the event’s organizer. “It’s the anti-prom. We even crown a queen, who can be a man or a woman.”

downtown history

The prom has moved locations in the past 33 years as the attendance expanded and venues closed. This year it will be held once again at Sokol Auditorium and will feature three live bands.

Tickets can be purchased online at eTix.com for $8, or at the door the day of the event (Feb. 5) for $10.

“It was just kind of an excuse to have a party,” said Goeken, who took over organizing the event in 1989. “I think people suggested a prom because they didn’t have fun at their prom or didn’t go.”

The spirit of the prom shows what an event can be in the hands of clever adults with good humor.

“Irreverent is sort of what we’re about,” continued Goeken.

“Lots of people satirize things that have happened within the last year, politically or in pop culture. Last year one woman was Michael Jackson as an Avatar.”

A favorite early costume for Goeken was a group that came dressed as “Swiners,” a spoof off the Shriners. The group had crafted miniature cars out of cardboard and had all donned fezes and pig noses. They danced around the floor in parade formation. Political satire is always popular. Monica Lewinsky has made several appearances, as has Sarah Palin in recent years.

Longtime attendee and one of the current Groundhog Prom knights Chris Fletcher was crowned queen one year for his Terri Schiavo costume that included protesters with signs Fletcher copied from actual protests. “The moment I thought of that [costume], I thought ‘there is nothing more tacky or irreverent.

That is a woman paralyzed in a chair. That’s as bad as it could possibly get.’”

For Fletcher, one of the great parts about the prom is the challenge to come up with a great costume. “It’s not about winning, it’s about outdoing yourself.” One year, Fletcher dressed as Larry Craig. He carried a bathroom stall around all night. Party goers played along by tapping his feet.

The mantra for the prom could be “the bawdier the better.” A perfect example—Fletcher spoke of a group that dressed as KuKluxKatrina, the racist hurricane hired by the Bush administration to wipe out the city. “That was pretty offensive. It’s funny, some people who are new and don’t quite get it do get offended. But some people come up to me and say, ‘That’s awful. That is disgusting. Can I take your picture?’”

The highlight of the night is the coronation. The “knights” of the Groundhog Prom (another spoof on the Ak-Sar-Ben Ball) select candidates based on their costumes and whether they’ll shine in front of a crowd. The candidates answer questions on stage, and the queen is chosen by applause. In 2002, Goeken deliberately crowned the queen with the least applause, which led the crowd to chant for a recount. Social commentary has grown to be a big part of the event. Everything is tongue-in-cheek. Attendees are doing what it takes to get a great laugh and make it through another harsh Nebraska winter.

BLUE

10

$

SUSHI SAKE GRILL Mon.-Fri. 11am to 2pm

two maki rolls 10 one maki roll & one (2pc) nigiri 11 one maki roll & one (3pc) sashimi 13

Lunch

served with miso soup or house salad (not available togo)

bluesushisakegrill.com 144th & W. Maple Rd.

Historic Old Market

168th & W. Center Rd.

Blue Sushi Sake Grill

Blue Sushi Sake Grill

Baby Blue Sushi Sake Grill

(402) 445-2583

(402) 408-5566

(402) 547-5959

14450 Eagle Run Dr. Omaha, NE 68116

416 S. 12th Street Omaha, NE 68102

16839 Wright Plaza Omaha, NE 68130

Come check out our newly expanded boutique!

Purses, Sunglasses, Jewelry!

Fit Flops Fall/ Winter boots and styles now in.

Model: Sarah Klein Photo: Dale Heise

518 S. 10th St. Old Market 402.345.0404 www.fringessalon.com the encounter | january/february 2011 29

FEATURE

The secong tower of Riverfront Place.

“ T ” People want to move down-

town because

Condominium Momentum Buyers still snatching up downtown condos, now at reduced prices

by Aaron Michaels | photo by minorwhitestudios.com

of everything it has to offer

— restaurants, theater, sym-

phony, Qwest Center, etc.

30 january/february 2011 | the encounter

he state of the Omaha condo market - vibrant and booming with interest and opportunities around every corner just a few years ago - is in a good news/bad news situation these days.

If you are in the market and have pre-approved financing, there are many high-end vacancies at great values. You pretty much have your pick of available properties, some priced significantly lower than they were or would have been three to five years ago.

On the other hand, if you bought at the height of Omaha’s downtown condo boom between 2004 and 2006, or are a developer of condos, your properties are most likely undervalued and difficult to sell, although sale and resale values are strong compared to markets in like-sized and larger cities in the United States.

But hold tight and don’t despair. Many local real estate agents are convinced by recent trends that the market will rebound -- but most likely not for another few years.

“When it was hot, people were excited to live and work downtown; they paid good prices,

feature and there were many different types of condos available downtown,” said Gena Schriver, once affiliated with condo sales for the old Burlington Station on 10th Street, a project which remains on hold almost five years after its announcement.

“Omaha is still a good market for condo sales and buys, but the rules and requirements have changed since 2007 because of what happened nationwide in the housing market.”

Something for Everyone While some cities’ downtown housing markets have struggled and continue to struggle, Omaha’s has largely remained steady because of its continued appeal and diversity.

The same can be said for the mixture of old and new condos on the market that keep buyers with varied interests, wants and needs looking for their best fit.

“Each building becomes a neighborhood with its own distinct feel, whether it’s a renovation of an old building or construction of a new one,” said Mike Moylan of Shamrock Development. “There was talk that the Omaha market was oversaturated at the height of the condo market, but that was never the case.

“Interest in condos slipped when the market dropped, but it never completely fell off. Residential sales impacted condo sales because many empty nesters who wanted to sell their single-family homes and move into a downtown condo weren’t able to because they had difficulty selling their house. It wasn’t really about the condos themselves.”

Proof of this is the recent completion of the newly constructed jLoft condominiums at 12th and Jackson Streets in the Old Market, and the near completion of the second tower of Riverfront Place along the Missouri River.

At the same time, renovations have led to recently completed condos at the Brandeis building on 16th and Douglas Streets and the Beebe + Runyan building at South 9th Street near the Old Market within the past couple of years.

One proposed renovation that still has yet to happen is the conversion of the Burlington Station on South 10th Street into 15 luxury condos. The project ran into several difficulties when the housing market crashed, but Schriver said plans to continue the project on some scale are still in the works.

Dude, Where Can I Park My Car? Just as there are interests in location and renovation vs. new construction, there are several amenities real estate agents are seeing as must-haves from condo buyers -- especially in downtown.

“Parking is the top question I get; where can I park, how many spaces do I get with this unit, etc.,” said Tasha Moss of Urban Omaha. “People are also very interested in outdoor living spaces as many of them are coming from homes with backyards and open spaces. These two factors are definite drivers in where they look and eventually want to buy.”

Schriver added that several other questions arise from prospective buyers concerning high-end finishes -- “granite countertops are expected in properties now but some ask about stainless steel appliances and other amenities” -- as well as proximity to restaurants and other downtown attractions.

“People want to move downtown because of everything it has to offer -- restaurants, theater, symphony, Qwest Center, etc. -- and that leads them in different directions,” Schriver said. “People also want to know about association fees and what they cover as well as if there is an inclusive workout facility, pool, extra bedrooms, etc. Price range definitely dictates most of these things.”

Moylan agrees, adding that living downtown is a choice, and with that choice comes certain expectations and conveniences.

“I get many people relocating from other cities, and while they are definitely satisfied with the positive difference in price from where they are relocating, they are choosing to live downtown because of proximity to work and other things they have become used to in other cities,” Moylan said.

Wall Street Bounceback?

While speculation continues as to whether or not the proposed Wall Street Tower, originally announced in 2005 as a 32-story glass tower, is going to happen, Jill Anderson of CBSHome Real Estate is confident the project will happen in some form. The building is set to fill the current vacant city block north of the Union Pacific headquarters at 14th and Dodge Streets.

When it will happen, however, remains unknown.

“The developers are still securing financing for the project and can’t start anything without that,” said Anderson, who represents sales for the Wall Street Tower project among others. “Once they get the go ahead, it will happen. Everyone involved wants to see it happen because it will be unlike any other condo development in downtown Omaha.”

According to reports in 2009, while the building is expected to remain at 32 stories it will be much narrower than in the original designs as the number of condos has dropped from 192 to 96.

The developer originally proposed 282 units in 2005, when the condo market was exploding and financing was easy to acquire.

And just as condos followed the housing market decline, the recovery of condos will also lag behind houses. Anderson sees the recovering in Omaha taking the next few years to rebound, although a complete rebound make take more than three years as the economy also continues to recover from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

“When the housing market fell, condos were quick to follow, which made getting financing for new construction very difficult to get,” Anderson said. “Lending requirements for condo developers as well as for buyers has changed dramatically over the past few years, and that is affecting condo builds and sales more than a lack of interest. But as things continue to improve economically, so will sales of both homes and condos.” the encounter | january/february 2011 31

10TH TO 14TH STREETS BETWEEN LEAVENWORTH & FARNAM, OMAHA 1

2

3

4

5

6

www.OldMarket.com 7

8

9

10

A

A

B

B

C

C

D

D

E

E

F

F

G

G

H

H

I

I

J

J

K

K

L

L

1

2

3

32 january/february 2011 | the encounter

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Merchants Attractions OLD MARKET / DOWNTOWN / RIVERFRONT

ANTIQUES

Antiques & Fine Art...(16th St)........... 341.9942 Fairmont Antique Mall...H4............... 345.1778 Joe’s Collectibles...H5...................... 612.1543 Retro Recycle...E5............................. 341.1969 Second Chance...G5......................... 346.4930

BOOK STORES

Jackson Street Booksellers...H5......341.2664 New Realities Books & Gifts...E7...... 342.1863 Soul Desires Books & Coffee...G7....898.7600

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

Lotus ...F4.......................................... 346.8080 Namaste...E7..................................... 341.7069 Nebraska Clothing Co...E8................ 346.6114 Nouvelle Eve...E6............................... 345.4811 Overland Outfitters...E8.................... 345.2900 Retro Recycle ...E5............................ 341.1969 The Souq Ltd...E7.............................. 342.2972 Trocadéro...E4...................................934.8389

DOWNTOWN HOTELS

Courtyard by Marriott...(10th & Douglas)........

346.2200 DoubleTree Hotel...(16th & Dodge)....346.7600 Embassy Suites Hotel...F9................346.9000 Fairfield Inn and Suites (15th & Nicholas)........

280.1516 Hampton Inn (12th & Cuming)........... 345.5500 Hilton Convention Center Hotel........998.3400 Hilton Garden Inn...(10th & Dodge)... 341.4400 Holiday Inn (14th & Cuming)...............341.0124 Homewood Suites (13th & Cuming) .345.5100 Magnolia Hotel...(16th & Howard) .... 342.2222

HOME FURNISHINGS

Crawdad’s...E5.................................. 341.3930 Habitat............................................... 342.0044 Julia Russell ...(11th & Douglas)........ 891.0691 Kraft DC ...(16th & Leavenworth)......342.2790 Room...E7.......................................... 342.7666 Zongkers Custom Woods................. 344.7784

GALLERIES

1301 Gallery...(13th & Nicholas)........342.6452 Artists’ Cooperative Gallery...D7...... 342.9617 Bemis Ctr. for Contemporary Arts...K4...........

341.7130 Fred Simon Gallery...A8.................... 595.2122 Garden Of The Zodiac...E7............... 341.1877 Hot Shops...13th & Nicholas.............342.6452 Images of Nature...D5.......................341.8460 Jackson Artworks...G6...................... 341.1832 Julia Russell ...(11th & Douglas)........ 891.0691 Omaha ClayWorks...H5.....................346.0560 Passageway Gallery...E7................... 341.1910 Sirens at the Loft...F6........................933.3333 White Crane Gallery...E7................... 345.1066

HEALTH SERVICES

Acupuncture Ellen Zinn L.Ac...................................345.5078 Dr. David Bole L.Ac...........................345.5078 Ayurvedic Healing Dr. Rajesh..........................................345.5078 Carey Twomey...................................345.5078 Massage Therapy Sandy Aquila LMT...E3......................345.5078 Lisa Christensen LMT...E3................ 850.6651 Joyce Linbrunne LMT........................ 740.0366 Tara Thompson LMT......................... 706.7398 Medical Dr. John Bartholet, DC...E3............... 342.2216 Commercial Optical Co. ...G3........... 344.0219 Creighton Family Healthcare ...L1....280.5500 Downtown Chiropractic (2111 Douglas)..........

345.7500 Derek Fender, DDS...D4....................342.3901 Dr. Mark Goodman, MD...L1.............280.5500 Dr. Stephen Peterson MD...L1..........280.5500 Dr. James Polerecky DDS (19th & Farnam).....

341.7576

Dr. Ritch Miller DC (2111 Douglas).... 345.7500 Heartland Pathology (310 S. 16th).... 346.0195 Old Market Massage ...E3 (@ OM Center).......

850.6651 Omaha Dental Spa F6(At the Loft)... 505.4424 Omaha Healing Arts Center...E3....... 345.5078 Omaha Yoga School...E7.................. 346.7813 The Downtown Dentist...D4.............. 342.3901 Physical Therapy East & West Physical Therapy...E3...345.5078 Psychotherapy, EMDR, Hypnotherapy Jannette Davis, MS, CST..................341.2230 Cynthia Duggin, MSW, LCSW...........345.5078 Bobby Escolas, CMHT (Hypnotherapist).......

990.2979 Jeff Stormberg, PhD (Psychotherapist).........

393.0642 Tim Swisher, MHR, LMHP, LADC.....341.2230 Pharmacy Depot Drug (1416 Dodge)...................544.DRUG Life Coach, Transpersonal Psychology, Herbalist, Biopulsar Tm Analyst Chanell Jaramillo...............................689.0905

◆ ALFREDO

MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS

4 Wheels 4 Fun Bike Rentals (J-5)....... 558.5960 Omaha Children’s Museum...(500 S. 20th)...........

342.6164 The Durham...J9................................444.5071 Joslyn Art Museum...(24th & Dodge)...............

342.3300 Henry Doorly Zoo...(3701 So 10th St)..............

733.8401 Lauritzen Gardens...(100 Bancroft)..346.4002 Magical Journey Carriage Service (E-7)................

453.6745 Ollie the Trolley.................................. 597.3596 Omaha Symphony Association (16th & Howard)..............................................342.3560 Qwest Center Omaha (10th & Capitol)............

341.1500 Ticket Omaha www.ticketomaha.org..............

345.0606

OLD MARKET PROPERTIES

902 Dodge Condos.......................... 884.6200 Brandeis Building..............................934.1224 Farnam 1600 Building.......................342.1616 Grubb/Ellis Pacific Realty.................345.5866 Harney Street Appartments..............934.7510 Old Market Lofts...J7.........................345.8000 Riverfront Place.................................397.4837 Shamrock Development/Paxton Building.......

934.7711 Skinner Macaroni Apartments...H1..346.2346 The Cornerstone............................... 346.0510 The Greenhouse Apts...A9................341.3200 TipTop Building...(16th & Cuming).....345.8000

◆ SPICY MARINARA

◆ BEER CHEESE ◆ HOT SPICY ITALIAN

◆ RED CLAM ◆ PESTO CREAM

◆ WHITE CLAM ◆ POMODORO

◆ HOT NAKED

◆ ALFREDO

The Old Market’s family favorite since 1974

PUBS & TAVERNS

Bar 415...E3........................................346.7455 Barry O’s ...E8...................................341.8032 Billy Frogg’s Grille & Bar...E5............341.4427 Bullpen...G6....................................... 502.5150 Dubliner Pub...D4..............................342.5887 Eat the Worm...F4..............................614.4240 Embassy Suites Old Market...F9..... 346.9000 Farrell’s Bar & 9th St. Deli (902 Dodge) ..........

884.8818 Havana Garage Cigar Bar...E8.......... 871.9528 Irie...D7...............................................504.4901 J.D. Tucker’s Bar...E8........................934.5190 Jackson St. Tavern...H6.................... 991.5637 Julio’s...F2..........................................345.6921 M’s Pub...E6.......................................342.2550 Mr. Toad’s...E8...................................345.4488 Myth Lounge...F6..............................884.6985 Nomad Lounge...(J8).........................884-1231 O’Connor’s Irish Pub...F3..................934.9790 Old Chicago...D6................................341.1616 Old Market Tavern...F8......................341.0191

11th & HOWARD (402) 422-0770 LUNCH & DINNER EVERY DAY FROM 11 A.M.

the encounter | january/february 2011 33

Merchants Attractions OLD MARKET / DOWNTOWN / RIVERFRONT

Old Mattress Factory (501 N. 13th)... 346.9116 Rock Bottom Brewery...D6............... 614.9333 Sake Bombers @ Blue...E4...............408.5566 Slowdown (729 N. 14th)..................... 345.7569 The Stadium Club Sports Bar & Grill...E8........

359.1290 Stokes Bar & Grill...E5.......................408.9000 T Henery’s Pub...C6..........................345.3651 The French Cafe...F7......................... 341.3547 The Underground...F7.......................341.3547 Union Pizzeria & Sports Bar (14th & Cuming)..

932.2929 Upstream Brewing Co...G6..............344.0200 Urban Wine Company...J7................934.0005 Waters Edge Lounge @ Embassy Suites...F9......

346.9000

RESTAURANTS

801 Chophouse at the Paxton...B1...341.1222 Ahmad’s...E8......................................341.9616 Billy Frogg’s Grille & Bar...E5............341.4427 Blue Sushi Sake Grille...E4............... 408.5566 Bullpen Sports Bar & Grill...H5......... 502.5150 The Boiler Room...I6.......................... 916.9274 Delice European Bakery...E4............342.2276 Eat the Worm...F4.............................. 614.4240 Falling Water Grille @ Embassy Suites...F9.........

346.9000 Farrells Bar...(902 Dodge).................884.9947 Flatiron Café...(17th & Howard).........344.3040 Hiro 88...G2....................................... 933-0091 House of Lee...F4..............................991.9330 Indian Oven...E7................................342.4856 Joe Banana’s.....................................346.7227 Julio’s...F3..........................................345.6921 La Buvette Wine & Grocery...F7........344.8627 Liberty Tavern (10th & Davenport)....998.4321 Little King...H21.................................344.2264 Lucky’s 10-0-One (10th & Pacific)....991.1001 M’s Pub...E6.......................................342.2550 Matsu Sushi...B8...............................346.3988 Michael’s at the Market...C6.............346.1205 Nicola’s...G3......................................345.8466 O Dining...A8...................................... 502.7888 O’Connors Irish Pub...F3...................934.9790 Old Chicago...D6...............................341.1616 Omaha Prime...E7..............................341.7040 Passport Restaurant...H6.................344.3200 Rick’s Cafe Boatyard.........................345.4545 Rock Bottom Brewery...D6...............614.9333 Sam & Louie’s Pizza...H6..................884.5757 Spaghetti Works...F6.........................422.0770 Spencer’s (at Hilton Garden Inn).......280.8888 The Stadium Club...E8...................... 359.1290 Stokes Bar & Grill...(E5).................... 408-9000 Subway...E4.......................................341.8814 Sullivan’s Steakhouse (222 S. 15th St.)...........

342.4432 The Diner...D5....................................341.9870 The French Café...F7.........................341.3547 Trini’s...E7..........................................346.8400 Twisted Fork...E7...............................932.9600 Upstream Brewing Co....G6..............344.0200 V. Mertz...E7.......................................345.8980 Vincenzo’s Ristorante...D4................342.4010 Vivace...E6.........................................342.2050 Wheatfields Express...E4.................. 991.0917 Zio’s Pizzeria...F4..............................344.2222

SPECIALTY FOODS & COFFEE

2010 James Beard Award Semifinalist: Outstanding Wine Service

34 january/february 2011 | the encounter

13th Street Coffee C0....G3...............345.2883 Aromas...I8.........................................614.7009 Bliss Bakery...J8................................934.7450 Cubby’s Old Market Grocery...H3....341.2900 La Buvette Wine & Grocery...F7........344.8627 Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream...H21........933.5280 Old Market Candy Shop...F8............344.8846 Old Market Tea House...G3...............934.8538 Patrick’s Market...(E1)........................884-1600 Soul Desires Books & Coffee...G7....898.7600 Ted & Wally’s Ice Cream...G5............ 341.5827

SPECIALTY SHOPS

Ashley Collectibles...E3....................934.3100 Big Brain Productions...H5...............342.2885 Cibola of Omaha...F7 (509 S 11th)....342.1200 City Limits...E3...................................345.3570 Cornerstone Gem & Bead Co....G3.. 346.4367 Drastic Plastic...F4............................ 346.8843 DSR Power Sports...E3.....................991.1383 Etc. Gifts...F7.....................................342.2846 Garden Flowers...F7.......................... 614.5661 Garden Of The Zodiac...E7............... 341.1877 Goldsmith Silversmith...F7................342.1737 Homer’s Records...E5.......................346.0264 Iron Decor & More...G5.....................346.6123 Jay Welter Cigars...(18th & Jackson).3 45.1965 Kessler’s...H5 (1125 Jackson)...........715.5888 Namaste...E7..................................... 341.7069 New Realities Books & Gifts...E7...... 342.1863 Old Market Habitat Floral...E6.......... 342.0044 Old Market Sundries...F8.................. 345.8198 OM Gifts & Imports...E3.................... 345.5078 Overland Outfitters...F8.................... 345.2972 Perspective Jewelry...D4................... 934.4416 Red Square...E7................................ 342.8878 SG Roi Tobacconist...F7................... 341.9264 Souq Ltd...E7..................................... 342.2972 Tannenbaum Christmas Shop...F8... 345.9627 Trocadéro...E4.................................. 934-8389

SERVICES

At the Loft Spa...F6...........................505.4100 Michael Boyle, Attorney...E7.............359.1000 Commercial Optical...G3................... 344.0219 Dietz United Methodist Church........ 346.9115 Don Fiedler Law Offices...F7............ 346.6263 First National Bank...(F5)...................885-2574 Fringes Salon & Spa...G8.................. 345.0404 Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce...D2.

346.5000 Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau...B8.....

444.4660 Hair Market Salon...E7...................... 345.3692 J P Cooke Rubber Stamps...F2........ 342.7175 Kempo Karate (1907 Farnam St.).... 905.6865 Klein Law Offices...H3....................... 391.1871 Magical Journeys Carriage Service...E7.........

453.6745 Movers Not Shakers.......................... 614.9770 Old Market Car Wash...J2................. 393.2819 Old Market Encounter.......................884.2000 Old Market Mini Storage................... 342.0022 Old Market Web Site......www.oldmarket.com Omaha Healing Arts Center...E4.......345.5078 Omaha Public Library...(15th & Farnam)..........

444.4800 Omaha Yoga School...E7..................346.7813 Pinnacle Bank...(10th & Douglas)...... 346.9180 Security National Bank...(11th & Howard)...........

344.7300 Sirens...F6.......................................... 933.9333 Stinson, Morrison, Hecker LLP...C3.342.1700 Urbane Salon & Spa...B8..................934.2909 Susie’s Baskets...D4.......................... 341.4650 Sutera Law Offices...E6.................... 342.3100 Visions Framing Studio...K4..............342.0020

THEATRES & ENTERTAINMENT

Blue Barn Theater...G6...................... 345.1576 FilmStreams...(14th & Webster) ........ 933-0259 Holland Performing Arts Center...(12th & Douglas)..............................................345.0606 Omaha Symphony...(16th & Howard)...............

342.3836 Opera Omaha...(17th & Farnam)....... 346.4398 Orpheum Theater...(16th & Farnam).. 345.0606 The Rose...(20th & Farnam)............... 345.4849

Pinnacle Bank would like to welcome you downtown.

Visit us in the historical Riley Building at 1016 Douglas On The Mall, 402.346.9180 or online at pinnbank.com

t h e

w a y

b a n k i n g

s h o u l d

Downtown and Council Bluffs 09_POG14_DOWNTOWN.indd 1

ONGOING EVENTS Through 1/1: Gingerbread Festival: “A Season of Memories.”

Mormon Trail Center at Historic Winters Quarters. A display of over 100 gingerbread houses and other gingerbread creations. Talent shows will be part of the exhibit. Admission is free. Check with the Mormon Trail Center for times and talents.

3215 State St. 453.9372.

Open 9am-9pm daily.

Through 1/2: Christmas at Union Station.

The Durham Museum.

A variety of activities surrounding the holidays, including the region’s largest indoor Christmas tree on display. Enjoy great food and music, visit Santa and more! 801 S. 10th St., 444.5071. Hours: Mon&Wed-Sat /10am -5pm; Tues/10am-8pm; Sun/1-5pm. Admission: $7 Adults; $6 age 62+; $5 ages 3-12; free age 2 & under. www.thedurhammuseum.org

der/Members; www. the durhammuseum. org

Through 1/2: 100 Yards of Glory: Omaha’s Football History.

The Durham Museum.

Offers a rare look at the celebrated and untold stories of Omaha’s football past, dating back to the University of Nebraska’s first football game, a 10-0 victory against the Omaha YMCA men’s team in 1890. Explore the games, players, coaches, and trophies that have defined football excellence in our community for 120 years, spanning the high school, collegiate and professional ranks.

Mon&Wed-Sat /10am -5pm; Tues/10am-8pm; Sun/1-5pm. Members ALWAYS FREE!, Adults $7.00, Seniors (62+) $6.00, Children (ages 3 - 12) $5.00, Children 2 years and under FREE. 801 S. 10 St. 444-5071. www.durhammuseum. org.

Through 1/2: Ethnic Holiday Trees Exhibit.

The Durham Museum.

Explore holiday traditions from around the world! Created by local ethnic community groups, the exhibit showcases beautifully decorated holiday trees representing their special holiday customs. 801 S. 10th St., Mon&Wed-Sat/10am5pm; Tues/10am-8pm; Sun/1-5pm; 444.5071.

Admission: $7 Adults; $6 Ages 62; $5 Ages 3-12; Free Ages 2 & un-

Through 1/2: Crowning Achievements.

The Durham Museum.

The exhibit will showcase the Ak-Sar-Ben collection, including over 20 dresses worn

by Ak-Sar-Ben queens, princesses and countesses, and pieces from the 2010 Ak-Sar-Ben coronation will be on display such as the King’s costume and the crown and scepter of the kingdom of Quivira.

Mon&Wed-Sat /10am -5pm; Tues/10am-8pm; Sun/1-5pm. $7 Adults;

b e

Member FDIC

January/February Calendar of Events 3/31/09 10:27:28 AM

$6 Seniors 62+; $5 Ages 3-12; Free 2 & Under.

801 S. 10 St. 444-5071. www.durhammuseum. org.

Through 1/9: Holiday Lights Festival, Downtown Omaha. The Holiday Lights Festival will brighten downtown Omaha’s skyline again this year, bringing in even more lights, more music and more family-friendly holiday activities. Downtown Omaha, Inc. Foundation and The City of Omaha are producers of this event. ConAgra Foods Ice Rink will again open for skaters who bring a $5 entrance fee to benefit the Food Bank for the Heartland. For more details on First National Bank’s Fireworks Show, the Old Market Holiday Home Tour, Sounds of the Season and other Holiday Lights Festival events, go to www.holidaylightsfestival.org Through 1/9: Holiday Poinsettia Show. Lauritzen Gardens. More than 5,600 poinsettia plants are grown in Lauritzen Gardens’ greenhouses starting as early as July for this annual holiday show. This spectacular exhibit includes a 20-foot-tall poinsettia tree, beautifully decorated holiday trees, antique sleighs and model trains that travel through the display.

9am-5pm $6/adults; $3/ ages 6-12, free/members and children under 6. 100 Bancroft St. 3464002. www.lauritzengardens.org.

2/5: Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis. The Holland Center.

Through 1/16: Beyond Realism: The Works of Kent Bellows 19702005. Joslyn Art Museum. This retrospective exhibition of Bellows’ work presents some 70 drawings and paintings. His exquisitely detailed images provide a perceptive insight into the character of his subjects. Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat/10am-4pm; Thurs/10am-8 pm; Sun/ noon-4pm; closed Mon $8 adults; $6 seniors and college students; $5 youth (ages 5-17); ages 4 and younger free. 2200 Dodge St. 342-3300. www.joslyn. org.

Through 1/16: Golden Kite, Golden Dreams: The SCBWI Awards.

Joslyn Art Museum. Illustrations by over 45 artists, all recipients of the Golden Kite Award, the highly coveted prize judged by a jury of peers and recognizing excellence in children’s literature. Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat/10am-4pm; Thurs/10 am-8 pm; Sun/ noon-4pm; closed Mon $8 adults; $6 seniors and college students; $5 youth (ages 5-17); ages 4 and younger free. 2200 Dodge St. 342-3300. www.joslyn. org.

Through 1/23: Seasons of Joy: Currier & Ives Holiday Prints from the ConAgra Collection. Joslyn Art Museum. Over 50 prints by Currier & Ives from the corporate collection of ConAgra Foods, Inc., present a unique and joyous view of 19thcentury autumn and winter holidays, rural and urban landscapes, and American life. Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat/10am-4pm; Thurs/10 am-8 pm; Sun/ noon-4pm; closed Mon $8 adults; $6 seniors and college students; $5 youth (ages 5-17); ages 4 and younger free. 2200 Dodge St. 342-3300. www.joslyn.org.

the encounter | january/february 2011 35

Sponsored by Pinnacle Bank

Italian & Mediterranean specialties served in“the Old Market’s most beautiful dining room,” complemented with the area’s largest selection of Italian wines.

1108 Howard Street

1/5-3/20: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition, The Durham Museum.

•

342-2050

www.VivaceOmaha.com

The Old Market’s favorite spot for lunch & dinner.

Through 4/1: Take Time for Tea 1820-1950.

General Crook House.

Tea pots! Tea cups! Tea accoutrements and memorabilia throughout the years. Come and enjoy this walk through the past. Tues-Fri/10am4pm; Sat-Sun/1pm-4pm $5 adults($6 Nov-Dec); $4 students; $3 ages 6 to 11; Free for children under 6. 5730 N. 30 St. 455-9990. www.omahahistory.org.

Through 4/10: Big Backyard. Omaha Children’s Museum. Kids can climb, bike, camp and hike in the biggest backyard under one roof! Explore 10,000 square feet of outdoorsy fun including the newly restored Richman Gordman Zooland Animals. Members: Free.

Non-members- $2 with regular admission. 500 S. 20 St. www.ocm.org

Award-winning food & wine list – open late 7 nights a week.

Call for reservations.

M’s Pub

422 S. 11th Street

•

342-2550

www.MsPubOmaha.com

36 january/february 2011 | the encounter

foose, Mary Day. Bemis Center, 12th & Leavenworth streets, 341.7130.

More information soon at www.bemiscenter. org January 2011: Vera Mercer: Still Lifes.

Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts. 12th & Leavenworth streets, 341.7130. More information soon at www.bemiscenter.org 1/1 – 1/30: Potluck Art for Food. Hot Shops Art Center. A potluck group so benefit for local food banks. Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas, 342-6452. For more info, visit www.hotshopsart center.com

5071. www.durhammuseum.org.

1/15 – 3/27: Schoolhouse to White House: The Education of the Presidents. The Durham Museum. Focusing on the early education of American Presidents from Herbert Hoover through George W. Bush, the family-friendly School House to White House exhibition engages visitors of every age and interest.

Documents and photos drawn from the collections of the National Archives Presidential Libraries reveal fascinating details about children that would grow up to be presidents.

Mon&Wed-Sat/10am $7 Adults; $6 Seniors 62+; $5 Ages 3-12; Free 2 & Under. 801 S. 10 St. 4445071. www.durhammuseum.org.

1/15 – 3/20: With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition.

The Durham Museum.

In commemoration of the two-hundredth an- 1/15 – 5/9: “The Seniversary of the birth JANUARY EVENTS: cret Garden” Spring of the nation’s revered January 2011: NebrasFlower Show. Lauritzen sixteenth president, ka Arts Council IndiGardens. 9am-5pm $6/ this exhibition reveals vidual Artist Fellowadults; $3/ages 6-12, Lincoln the man, whose ship Exhibition. Bemis free/members and chilMediterraneanthoughts, specialties served words, and CenterItalian for & Contempodren under 6. 100 BanOld Market’s beautiful in“theIncludes actions were deeply rary Arts. art- most croft St. 346-4002. More affected ists: Jamie Burmeister, with by the personal info coming soon to dining room, ” complemented Liz Vercruysse, Anthony area’s largest selection ofexperiences Italian wines. and piv- www.omahabotanicalotal historic events. $7 Hawley, Michael Morgardens.org Adults; $6 Seniors 62+; gan, Francisco Souto, 1108 Howard Street • 342-2050 Ages 3-12; Free 2 & Therman Statom, Peter $5www.VivaceOmaha.com Under. 801 S. 10 St. 444Walkley, Mary Zica-

1/16: Ozzy Osbourne.

Qwest Center Omaha Kicking the new year off with a bang, Rock Legend Ozzy Osbourne is coming to Qwest Center Omaha’s Arena!

In support of his album SCREAM and single “Life Won’t Wait”, the show is part of his world tour on which he’s earning some of the best live reviews of his career. Show time and Ticket info available at qwestcenteromaha.com Tickets sold at Ticketmaster.com or at Qwest Center box office, 745-3000.

of Sugar, Let’s Go Fly a Kite and, of course, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. Runs Jan. 27 through Feb. 13, 2011 Slosburg Hall in the Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Tickets range from $28-$65. For more show times, ticket info and more information, visit www.omahaperformingarts.org

1/20 – 2/14: From Shelterbelt with Love 10.

Shelterbelt Theatre.

Theatergoers will be showered with love with eight new wonderful plays sure to touch your heart or tickle your funny bone. 3225 California St. 341.2757.

Visit www.shelterbelt. org for show times and ticket prices.

1/30: .38 Special Live.

Harrah’s Convention Center. .38 Special is an American rock band that was formed in 1975. The band’s first two albums had a strong southern rock vibe, but shifted to an arena rock style in the 80s without abandoning its southern rock roots. Their hits include “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up In You” and “Back Where You Belong.” Show at 8pm.

Tickets are $35-$50 and available at 1-888512-SHOW. Visit www. harrahs

1/27 - 2/13: Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins.

Omaha Performing Arts Broadway Across America. Combining the best of the original stories by P.L. Travers and the beloved Walt Disney film, the Tony® Award-winning MARY POPPINS is everything you’d hope for in a Broadway musical – and more. Produced by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh, the show includes such wonderful songs as Chim Chim Cher-ee, A Spoonful

FEBRUARY EVENTS 2/3- 2/13: The Misfits.

The Rose Theater. Four adolescent misfits have decided that enough is enough. For years, their weight, intelligence, sexual orientation and troubled nature have made them the targets of relentless ridicule.

Tired of being defined by hurtful labels, they decide to run for student council on a platform of change. Their message: no more name-calling.

What they win is more than they ever imagined!

This play is recommended for ages 10 and older.

The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. For tickets and show times, visit www.rosetheater.org 2/5: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. The Holland Center. “The finest big band in the world today.” –Daily Telegraph Creative genius. Legendary trumpeter. The “high priest of jazz” (New York Times).

Wynton Marsalis leads 15 top jazz soloists to deliver a crisp, swinging repertoire drawn from the masterworks of Ellington, Mingus, and more. This is the premier jazz event of the season!

8pm in Kiewit Hall, Holland Center for Performing Arts, 13th & Douglas.

For more information, visit www.omahaperformingarts.org 2/6-2/9: Sesame Street Live: Elmo’s Healthy Heroes. Qwest Center Omaha. When Super Grover loses his superness, Sesame Street needs a hero! Never fear, Elmo and his team of Healthy Heroes are here. Teaching lessons of healthy habits through song and dance, Elmo, Abby Cadabby and your favorite It’s Elmo’s Healthy Heroes to the rescue! Showtimes and ticket prices available at www.qwestcenter omaha.com. Tickets sold at box office or at www. ticketmaster.com

Sushi & Japanese Cuisine 1009 Farnam St 402-346-3988 www.matsusushi.wordpress.com

SuShi LunCh 2 Rolls Starting at $695

new entree menu coming soon!

Cubby’s Old Market Grocery 601 S. 13th St. 1/27-2/13: The National Tour Company of Mary Poppins perform “Step In Time.” the encounter | january/february 2011 37

Sponsored by Pinnacle Bank

2/12-5/8: A necklace from The Glory of Ukraine exhibit. Joslyn Art Museum.

2/8: Violinist David Garrett. Holland Center. “David Garrett is already the stuff of legend.” — BBC Music Magazine.

Maverick virtuoso David Garrett has dazzled audiences since age four.

With a Guinness World Record for his speedy work on the violin and new inspiration from AC/DC, Queen, and Michael Jackson, Garrett’s distinct artistic vision honors both Metallica and Mozart. 7:30 pm at Kiewit Hall, Holland Center for Performing Arts, 13th & Douglas.

For more information, visit www.omahaperformingarts.org

Contemporary and traditional Southwestern jewelry and home decor.

Native American pottery, kachina and semi-precious stones set beautifully in gold and silver.

• Silversmith on Premise • Expert Repair Old Market 509 South 11th Omaha, NE (402) 342-1200

• Custom Design Available • Watch Batteries

Cibola Old Town 7236 1st Ave Scottsdale, AZ (402) 990-1700

38 january/february 2011 | the encounter

Fifth Avenue 7132 E. 5th Ave. Scottsdale, AZ (480) 663-8444

2/12 - 5/8: The Glory of Ukraine. Joslyn Art Museum. The Glory of Ukraine comprises two distinct and rarely seen collections: icons and religious relics from the famous churches, cathedrals, bell towers, and underground caverns of the nearly 1,000-year-old Monastery of the Caves and artifacts of ancient civilizations that populated modern day Ukraine from the private PlaTar collection. 2200 Dodge Street. For more information on admission and hours, call 342-3300 or visit www.joslyn.org 2/12: Momentum: Ballet Nebraska. Joslyn Art Museum. Momentum will be held in Joslyn’s Witherspoon Concert Hall. Momentum is a mixed-repertory pro-

gram of short ballets offering dynamic dance in an appealing variety of styles, choreographed

by Ballet Nebraska company members and a slate of guests including Texas-based choreographer Edward Truitt, former artistic director of the Lone Star Ballet and an alumnus of the original Omaha Ballet professional dance company. Tickets available through ticketomaha.com or by calling 345-0606. Joslyn members will enjoy a reduced ticket price.

2200 Dodge St. 3423300. www.joslyn.org.

2/18: Omaha Performing Arts PresentsStep Afrika! Step Afrika! celebrates stepping, an art form rooted in African tradition. Their intricate kicks, stomps and rhythms mix with spoken word to pound the floor and fill the air!

Families, dance lovers, and world music fans will love the wondrous loudness of this leading step company. 8:00pm at Kiewit Concert Hall, Holland Performing Arts Center, 13th & Douglas. For more information, visit www. omahaperformingarts. org 2/12 – 2/13: Green Living Health Expo.

Omaha Civic Auditorium. 1804 Capitol Ave. 346.2333. For more information, visit www. omahacivic.com

2/20: An Evening with Steven Soderbergh.

Holland Performing Arts Center.. In support of the nonprofit cinema Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater. Academy Award-winnning director Steven Sederbergh will be interviewed by Kurt Andersen, with an introduction by Alexander Payne. Immediately following the interview will be a post-party with food, drinks and music to celebrate the occasion. For information on tickets, visit www.filmstreams.org.nday, February 20, 2011. Holland Performing Arts CenterPresentation Only 2/24 – 2/27: Tangier Shrine Circus. Omaha Civic Auditorium. 1804 Capitol Ave. 346.2333. For more information, visit www.omahacivic.com 2/25 – 3/13: Fantastic Mr. Fox. The Rose Theater. The town’s three meanest farmers – Boggis, Bunce and Bean – are fed up. Joining forces, they resolve to end the nightly raids. But foxes are clever and the Fantastic Mr. Fox is the cleverest of them all.

Taking his game underground, he challenges the dimwitted farmers to keep their eyes on the prize! Based on the book by Roald Dahl. The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. For tickets and show times, visit www. rosetheater.org

Classic Food with fresh ingredients, global inspiration, and contemporary twist.

Daily lunch and dinner specials....soup year round.

Late Night Tapas Menu • Friday and Saturday 11 pm-2 am $3 wells and $3 Beers Open 11am Tuesday-Saturday • 4pm Sunday • Closed Monday 1125 Jackson Street • 402-991-5637

B

RS

T

PL

FI

FI

RS

TP LACE

Ups

ing Company Brewicrobrewery m trea est M

AC E•

•

2011