February 2015 Encounter

TO THE

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015

MAX

INSIDE OMAHA’S PREMIERE BACCHANAL

HOTEL FRANK

Omaha’s Legendary Rock Hovel

HERE COME THE HUDLIES

Techies Invade Downtown as Hudl Expands

The perfect spot for your Holilday Gathering.....

The

ck o R e h T e v o b A

A Note Perfect Beginning or Ending to your Evening.

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Contents

6

L I V I N G : A Space For Everything The Om Center Loft

10

A R T: Beautiful Decay The Art of Shawnequa Linder

14

M U S I C : Hotel Frank Omaha’s Famed House of Music

16

P E R F O R M A N C E : Zedeka Poindexter Poetry in Motion

18

F E AT U R E : Invasion of the Hudlies!

Wave of techies move with Hudl into the Old Market

20

F E AT U R E : A Night at the Max Inside Omaha’s Premiere Bacchanal

24

D I N I N G : Tokyo Sushi Sushi With a Focus on Family

26

FA S H I O N : Glam in All its Glory

36

FA C E S : Quincy Ellefson A Face You Know—8 years older

38

FA C E S : Carrie Meyer “The Fun Buster” Saves Omaha’s History

40

Downtown Omaha Map

41

Merchants & Attractions

44

Calendar of Events ENCOUNTER 4

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 Publisher Todd Lemke Executive Editor David Williams Managing Editor Robert Nelson Editorial Intern Claire Martin Contributing Writers Lindsey Anne Baker • Kim Carpenter • April Christenson Judy Horan • Jason Kuiper • Claire Martin James Walmsley • Matt Whipkey Creative Director John Gawley

Artisan Cheese • Award Winning Wine List

Director of Photography & Interactive Media Bill Sitzmann

Old Market Passageway • 1022 Howard St. Reservations Recommended: Call 402.345.8980 Reservations Online: www.vmertz.com

Contributing Photographer Keith Binder

head chef Kyle Lamb certified sommeliers David Eckler, Jennifer Fravel proprietor David Hayes general manager/wine director Matthew Brown

Senior Graphic Designer & Web Content Manager Kristen Hoffman Graphic Designer Rachel Joy Account Executives Greg Bruns • Gil Cohen • Kyle Fisher Angie Hall • George Idelman • Gwen Lemke Assistant to the Publisher Sandy Besch-Matson Event Director Erin Cox Account Assistants Alicia Smith Hollins • Jessica Linhart • Dawn Dennis Operations Tyler Lemke Accounting Jim Heitz Warehouse Distribution Manager Mike Brewer For Advertising Information: 402.884.2000 omahamagazine.com Owned and Managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD All versions of Encounter are published bimonthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha, NE 68046-1208.

Telephone: (402) 884-2000; fax (402) 884-2001. 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.

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015 5

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Sandy Aquila and her mother, Natalie Goodkind.

ENCOUNTER 6

LIVING

A Space for Everything ALAN ARKIN. TIBETIAN MONKS. VINX. THE LOFT OF THE OMAHA HEALING ARTS CENTER HAS SEEN IT ALL.

by Lindsey Anne Baker photography by Bill Sitzmann

G

ANESH GRACES THE soft purple cover

of Sandy Aquila’s guestbook. The book is bound at the top; inside, on delicate handmade pages, the dates corresponding to the signatures within start at 2001. On some pages, the handwriting is big and breezy. On one, it’s in Arabic.

The book tells the story of the loft space at the top of the Old Market’s Omaha Healing Arts Center, which Aquila opened in 2001. On the main floor of the center, situated at 1216 Howard St., is a retail area, tea bar, and event space, where concerts, speakers, poetry events, yoga, weddings, and more are routinely hosted. On the lower level, holistic practitioners offer massage therapy, acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine, and other Eastern healing techniques.

Before the center was the center, Aquila said, the space was her uncle’s antique shop, and the loft at the top was his office. There’s still homage to that time—an antique claw crane game in the corner of the kitchen.

“We’ve joked about putting herbs and vitamins inside,” Aquila said.

It would befit the setting now, a sort of multipurpose space used by Aquila’s family at times, for small yoga sessions or healing workshops at others, and perhaps most often, by guest artists and healers performing or practicing at the center—the names filling Aquila’s guestbook.

In the loft’s open layout is a six-seat dining table and fully stocked kitchen on one side and, on the other, two comfy couches and a low-lying, Japanese-style seating area in front of a mirrored wall. A central raised sleeping area is cozily out of view. The windows are treated with breezy sheers, and a few Asian-inspired tables—including a large Japanese tansu with movable pieces that currently house a TV and its accessories— are placed throughout. There’s a big pile of pillows for impromptu seating. Tibetan sculptures speak to the Center’s—and Aquila’s own—world-culture influences.

There are, of course, also exposed brick walls, a high ceiling and a local artist’s piece—an abstract with Asian embellishments—prominently hung.

“It’s still Old Market,” Aquila said. “It’s just older world. It’s the Age-Old Market.”

Holistic medicine stems from a lot of ancient Eastern traditions, Aquila said, attractive to her because they focus on both outer and inner aspects of humanity.

“When I began studying Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic healing, I noticed that even the intake questions were holistic, asking about who you are, not only about the symptoms you’re having,” she said. “There is a spiritual quality, and I don’t mean religious—it takes into consideration the whole being. These ancient healing arts are holistic, treating the body, mind, spirit and the emotions through lifestyle, herbs, hands-on healing and much more.” Aquila looks at the center as a body, of sorts, and the people and healing inside as its spirit. >

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015 7

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ENCOUNTER 8

LIVING

Convenient Care

WALK-IN MEDICAL CENTER

< “This space is like a womb,” she said.

“It’s a creative and healing place that holds the potential for possibilities. Just as people hold space in their hearts for love or compassion for another, this space holds a healing and nurturing atmosphere for people to remember the light inside themselves.”

Aquila’s guestbook tells of so many connections made.

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There was Dr. Alain Abehsera from Jerusalem who, during a three-day stay, shared his connective therapy practice—healing with his mind.

There was Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, the Spiritual Head of the Himalayan Institute —a nonprofit that promotes inner prosperity through yoga, meditation, holistic health practices, and humanitarian projects— who spoke at the Center in 2005.

There was Sondra Ray, known as the Mother of Rebirthing, who led sessions designed to help people recover from the trauma of birth.

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Alan Arkin taught a workshop on improvisational theater. Vinx, a worldinfluenced jazz and soul musician, riffed on traditional chanting and earned an Om-Center-specific nickname during his repeat visits: Grand Master Om. Musician Gerald Trimble, his ensemble and his assortment of old-world instruments—viola da gamba, lute, Turkish saz—are regulars here.

In November 2014, eight Tibetan monks created a sand mandala at the center.

They spread out in sleeping bags in the loft one night, cooked traditional Tibetan momos, or dumplings, one morning.

Each guest who’s stayed, Aquila said, has left something in the loft, in its air.

“So many amazing people have visited and stayed here now that it has been infused with a bit of their spirit and love.

“Who we are emanates from us,” she said.

“How we move through the world has an energy; that energy has created an atmosphere that has made this space so special to so many. It’s not only about four walls but about the quality of the place on an energetic level. Encounter JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2015 9

8 Years In A Row

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Beautiful Decay PA I N T E R S H A W N E Q U A L I N D E R

by Kim Carpenter photography by Bill Sitzmann

W

HEN I PAINT, I don’t start with just one idea,” said artist Shawnequa Linder. “If something emerges, I go with it and see how it reveals itself.”

And revealing it is. The artist’s paintings involve complex combinations of color and texture, which in turn result in works that are simultaneously harmonious and discordant, yet wholly unified. Linder likes to describe her paintings as fitting within the abstract decay genre, a genre that highlights how visually compelling weathered and worn art can be. “I love the beauty of inner destruction when everything is not related to each other,” she stressed.

That means Linder has an uninhibited, spontaneous approach to painting. Her technique is loose yet controlled, and she applies layer upon layer of paint to create a surface density that she in turn wears down and builds back up—or vice versa. While she uses conventional artist brushes, she often eschews them in favor of foam brushes and particularly her fingers, which allows her to control the work in a fluid manner that lends a distinctive quality to her work. >

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ART

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E N C O U N T E R 12

ART

< Linder also often changes the direction of her paintings as she progresses. “A lot of pieces have paint that I don’t like,” she said, “so I paint over it with different colors, and I scrape to find a pattern. Then I paint over that again using a water wash.”

The artist also doesn’t confine herself to creating just one painting at a time; instead she works on several paintings at once—sometimes up to seven—with each one interacting with and playing off the other. Linder loves when this kind of synergy occurs. “I’m in the mode of something happening,” she explained, “and it’s somewhere I’m happy to be.”

Size frequently depends on the amount of space a painting dictates. “I used to paint so small,” she said. “I was afraid of all that space, but an art professor once projected an image of my work onto a large-scale screen and said to the class, ‘This is museum quality right here.’”

Museum quality, however, doesn’t mean that Linder’s paintings are priced too expensively for most art lovers. They range anywhere from $125 to $600, with sizes that display well on the walls of typical homes or apartments rather than in large, sprawling spaces. “I want to make my paintings affordable,” Linder explained, “because I want a Shawnequa on every wall.

In the end, all of Linder’s techniques and approaches result in inimitable paintings that are wholly her own. “I don’t know how a painting will turn out,” she said, “and for that reason, every painting is an original. I don’t duplicate.” That means sometimes her work is so varied, they don’t even seem created by the same artist. “In the end, all the pieces are different,” Linder said. “They all have their own personalities.” Encounter

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E N C O U N T E R 14

MUSIC

A Frank Look at Hotel Frank O M A H A’ S F A M E D R O C K ‘ N R O L L H A N G O U T WAS ONE HOPPIN’ HOVEL.

by Matt Whipkey photography by Bill Sitzmann

B

ETWEEN ADOLESCENCE AND

adulthood, is chaos. No single Omaha building embodies one’s formative years of 18 to 22 more than a dilapidated mansion on 38th and Farnam streets. Although you may not remember the party, you probably partied there. Farnam House, Jerkstore, Gunboat, Lifeboat, and Power Pad: all names affectionately affixed to this brokedown palace of music, art, and madness. All names precursors to the legend of a hotel known as Frank.

From 2006 to 2008, Hotel Frank was ground zero for myriad musical artists and performances. Capgun Coup, Bear Country, Conchance, Dim Light, FTL Drive all called Hotel Frank home. While they were far from the first bands the house on Farnam had seen (previous residents include Conor Oberst and The Faint), figuratively they made the most noise. With Capgun Coup concerts packing in upwards of 200 people, literally the house rocked.

“When everyone was pogoing in unison the floor would give a couple feet,” said Capgun Coup front man Sam Martin. “If you went to the basement you could see cracks in the beams opening and closing.”

While most individuals would not willingly place their residence in such jeopardy, Hotel Frank’s recklessness was equal parts youth and the product of constant home disrepair.

“It was a wretched place to live,” said Martin.

“It was February of 2007 and the heat quit working.

It was not fixed until March. It would have been a much better house if it was kept up by the owners.”

Capgun Coup, with all of its members one time residing in the west wing of the Farnam triplex,

have come to define the Hotel Frank era. With their danceable yet artistic approach to brash spastic rock, the building and the band fed off each other.

While Capgun’s time at Hotel Frank was a relatively small window, Dim Light front man Cooper Lakota Moon resided in the triplex on four separate occasions from 2000 to 2008.

“No one has ever lived there as many times as I have,” Moon said. “In 2008, at 28, I think I was the oldest person to ever live there.”

Moon, with his perspective of seeing the house throughout the last decade and prior, felt the national spotlight that romanticized the Hotel Frank experience around 2009, left some cracks unnoticed.

“You live in that place for a reason, it’s cheap.

You don’t live there because it’s cool, it’s not cool,” Moon said. “People tend to romanticize it. People are there because we are broke.”

For every frozen winter afternoon and sweltering summer day, cracked wall, and bucking floorboard, the camaraderie throughout Hotel Frank seemingly trumped all opposing forces. A spirit that exists to this day: with all three wings occupied, vibrant and hosting live, uninhibited rock and roll.

“It was no parents,” said Martin. “The essence of it was hope of not jumping into the same thing you see everyone do. Not jumping into the work force but trying to do something real with your music.”

“I love that triplex,” Moon said. “It was a special time, an amazing creative energy and flow. We certainly had our fun, but we were getting things done.” Encounter

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Zedeka Poindexter POETRY IN MOTION

by Lindsey Anne Baker photography by Bill Sitzmann

Z

EDEKA POINDEXTER HAS had a good year.

In the spring, the Omaha-born performance poet was named slam master of the Om Center Poetry Slam, a monthly event where Omaha’s nationally recognized slam teams come together. She was named a 2014 fall fellow at the Union for Contemporary Art. In January, she—alongside Nebraska State Poet Twyla M. Hansen—will present in a new interactive poetry reading series at KANEKO called Feedback.

A week and a half after that, she’ll read at a Backwaters Presssponsored reading at the Community Engagement Center.

She was nominated for the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award’s Best Slam Poet title for 2014 and again for 2015.

“It’s really strange,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting it. It’s like all the things I thought I possibly might want are all happening.

“Matt told me I should probably start investing in lottery tickets, because this is a pretty good run.”

That Matt is Matt Mason, the longtime master of the Om slam who handed the reins to Poindexter in May. A longtime fixture of the slam scene—and a three-time member of the Omaha Slam Team, the rotating members of which compete at the National Poetry Slam—she was well-positioned to take the role. Now that she’s in it, she’s been hosting regular “slam family meetings” and trying to connect the city’s slam poetry, spoken word, and other creative communities.

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PERFORMANCE

“It hasn’t been without its challenges,” Poindexter said. “While slam has a very specific following, I wouldn’t say it’s as wide-reaching as I would like it to be. A lot of it is just a matter of making sure we’re talking to each other. Spoken word is so diverse, and slam is just one specific outlet. There’s so much out there—it’s a matter of us all appreciating things we do well and opening our arms wide.”

To that end, Poindexter has her eye on bringing one of slam’s most prominent national competitions, the Women of the World Poetry Slam, to Omaha in 2016. Started in 2008, WOWPS is a three-day event designed to foster women’s involvement in the global slam poetry scene.

“We could have the top 80 women in performance poetry from this country and other countries here,” Poindexter said. “I think we’re well-placed for that.”

She’s also at work on an exhibition piece she’ll show with the other Union for Contemporary Art fall fellows at the completion of their fellowship. She’s been working with the ideas of food and family, building a table with place settings and love letters for people living and dead she’d like to have at her table.

It makes sense for this poet locally known for a piece about her family’s recipe for peach cobbler, for a writer who’s filled a notebook with the Southern idioms her mother and grandmother would use, for a woman who wants to help people tell stories while she tells her own, too.

“There’s this idea that you can go into someone’s mind,” she said.

“Slam is the perfect vehicle for that: You can see it in [poets’] faces and their reactions, and they can see it in your face and your reactions. No matter how tired or frustrated or fed up I get with art in general, I don’t think I could ever truly walk away.

There are so many stories out there to hear that keep me coming back. I’m certain there’s something I haven’t heard yet. And then I think if I listen hard enough, I’ll be able to write it myself.

“With the way things have been going, maybe I’ll be the first to write something I’ve been waiting to hear. I hope. I hope.” Encounter

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Invasion of the Hudlies!

H U D L’ S E X P L O S I V E G R O W T H I S B R I N G I N G WAV E S O F Y O U N G T E C H I E S T O T H E O L D M A R K E T.

by Jason Kuiper photography by Bill Sitzmann

H

UDL, THE LINCOLN-BASED sports video editing company, is now making its presence felt in Omaha and shows no signs of slowing down.

In September, Hudl opened a new location in the Old Market at 1013 Jones St., in the space that used to be the Nomad Lounge. The expansion to Omaha has proved a popular move for both Hudl employees and potential employees. So now, company spokesperson Alli Pane said, the company already has plans to employ more people at the Omaha site.

“It’s been great, we actually have people who work at our Lincoln office but love this new Omaha office so much they come up and spend a day there,” she said.

Hudl has been generating plenty of buzz recently. The company was recently named by Inc. Magazine as Nebraska’s fastest-growing company for a second straight year. Hudl was created by three classmates from UNL’s Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management and has two Lincoln locations in addition to the new Omaha office.

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F E AT U R E

Hudl began when Omaha native and Millard North graduate David Graff started working with the Nebraska football team in 2003 to improve their use of video. The company now boasts more than 20 professional teams, including the New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Boston Celtics, and Washington Capitals, as well as more than 80 percent of college football teams, as clients.

The Omaha office has more than 20 employees.

Pane said that while the company has hit their hiring goal for the year, they hope to double their hiring next year. She said the company has planned to have 75 to 80 “Hudlies”—Hudl employees—to fill the new Omaha office.

Pane said the company’s hiring goal for 2015 calls for 80 to 90 new members for their product team alone. The product team is made up of designers, developers, and engineers.

Company officials saw the need for the Omaha presence after finding there were potential new hires who didn’t want to make the commute to Lincoln. Pane says the company also recognizes there is a rich talent base in Omaha and great universities to draw from. Employees love the Old Market location because it’s new and flashy, Pane said, and is “wide open.“ “It looks great, we have the brick walls, large wooden posts throughout the space, and have taken out and opened up the ceilings,” Pane said.

The company has installed a new Wi-Fi system, meeting rooms, and numerous tech updates throughout the 8,000 square feet of space.

Employees also enjoy having access to all the funky amenities the Old Market is known for, Pane said. The Omaha site hosts software developers, sales team members, designers, and other employees. Pane said company officials are excited that the new space has plenty of room for their plans to continue to grow the company, which bodes well for both the company and city. Omaha, Pane said, should get ready for a major influx of “Hudlies.” Encounter J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 19

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A Night at The Max I N S I D E O M A H A’ S PREMIERE BACCHANAL

by James Walmsley photography by Bill Sitzmann

H

ERE ARE THE town eccentrics, the

artists, the kings and queens of drag, those who love to dance and those attempting to hook up. Here are the civilized, but just as often the debauchers and hedonists, the flat-out jerks, and, at certain times, the tittering bachelorette bacchanals and the best and worst of Husker fandom.

This is the Omaha that dies every Monday morning, then rises again on weekend nights. And they flock to a distinct dance club in droves, all of them, proving—contrary to a well-worn blurb The New York Times issued once upon a time—The Max is no longer the place to be on Saturday nights. It’s the place where everyone is on Saturday nights.

And tonight, I am one of them.

“People coming to The Max for the first time think we just recently opened,” says Stosh Moran, one of the club’s staple personalities and partner of owner Bruce Barnard.

“There’s a full crew working during the day to keep The Max looking fresh and new. Bruce is constantly ordering new lights and keeping on top of what’s new and trending.”

It’s too dark to tell, but I think I’ve discovered the lekking grounds of an ancient cult. That is, until a strobe flare overpowers a darkness flecked with polychromatic pin spots and lasers. I’m in the disco hall, the club’s most popular room, and a heavy fog of human flesh has been revealed. The air is surprisingly sweet, despite the stagnant humidity generated from perspiring bodies. I move amongst the movement, but I’m not drunk enough yet to dance.

The blast of light expires and a throng of swaying silhouettes returns. A shirtless man tugs at the bulge in another man’s jeans, drawing him in closer.

Two women grind arrhythmically as their mouths attempt to meet, and the hands of a middle-aged man trace the curves of a middle-aged woman’s body. The dance floor doesn’t discriminate. >

A drag-queen contest on a recent night at The Max.

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F E AT U R E

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< “No funny business, but can I touch your beard?” a young disciple of loosened inhibitions asks. “Just once. Seriously, no funny business.”

“Okay,” I say, because, you know, I’m at The Max, and at what other time can I entertain such an odd request?

As he pets my face, I close my eyes and dissolve into the soundscape, which is loud and hypnotic. “Turn Down For What” segues into a remix of “Baby Got Back” to the tune, or rather rhythm, of “Shots.” My foot inadvertently taps to the chanting of “Butts,” but I’m less entranced by the Top-40 pop of yore than the pulsating kick drum that accompanies every tune. It’s the heart of the club, the bringer of life. The same thump that I had felt under 15th Street as I made my way on foot to the multiplex.

“I remember being shocked by the sheer breadth of it —the multiple rooms, multiple DJs, and endless bars,” says Homorazzi blogger, Nic Opp, who reviewed The Max last year. “I think in the gay communities across North America, we’re more used to seeing the traditional dive bar that we have all mostly grown so fond of. In major cities, you see the bigger spaces as expected, but it was completely unexpected of Omaha as an outsider.”

I retreat to a room called the Arena, which radiates the sensation of slow motion, especially after experiencing the disco hall. Here, the contrast of bright and dark dissolves to an ocher dim. Hip-hop plays at half-volume and half-speed, and a small, esoteric cult pantomimes carnal rhythms on the showroom stage. I’m a convert, but only in spirit, for I’ve found a comfortable spot at the bar. Oh, and more importantly I’ve found God, or a real-life bartender that acknowledges I exist.

This, of course, is not an indictment on the club’s service, but a testament to the capacity they host. And what with the wild pack of rum-thirsty bros roaming the facility at all hours, it’s amazing that anyone gets a drink at all. But The Max gives us all the sort of room we need to find relief from our working lives, whether it be in the main floor lounge, the upstairs billiards lounge, the outdoor garden, the disco hall or the Arena.

“It’s unlike any other environment in Omaha,” says Mike Mogler, who isn’t afraid to take his shirt down a few buttons and leave it all on the dance floor. “It’s a place to be yourself and have as much fun as possible. It’s also the best place to dance in Nebraska!” Encounter

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Coming Soon: Capitol District Marriott Hotel! www.capitoldistrictomaha.com J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 23

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Tokyo Sushi A L L - Y O U - C A N - E AT S U S H I W I T H A F O C U S O N F A M I LY

by April Christenson photography by Bill Sitzmann

F

AMILY IS AT the heart of everything that Randy Gao does.

It was the reason he moved to the Midwest in the early ‘90s, after first emigrating from China to New York City. It compelled him to enter the restaurant business, following in the footsteps of his older sister. And it has been the driving force behind his latest venture, all-you-can-eat Tokyo Sushi.

For the Gaos, going into the restaurant business seemed an obvious choice— a way for them to make a living, together.

Sitting at the bar of his modern but cozy restaurant in the heart of the Old Market at 1215 Howard St., Gao told me the story about how he first came to the United States in 1993 after leaving his home in China’s Fujian province. He attended high school in New York City and, after graduation, moved to Fort Madison, Iowa, where his older sister had recently opened a restaurant.

Today, over 20 years later, the Gao family remains in the Midwest and now operates three restaurants in the Omaha/Council Bluffs area. Randy, his brother, and two sister-in-laws operate Tokyo Sushi. Other members of the family own and operate two Chinese restaurants in Council Bluffs—Taste of China and China Wok.

Beet burger and beet chips

The Rueben E N C O U N T E R 24

DINING

The Orig inal Old Market Irish Bar Nightly Specials Live Irish Music Weekends Open 12 p.m.

Opened in 2013, Tokyo Sushi is Randy’s second all-you-can-eat sushi restaurant. The first, Wasabi, was located in West Omaha and closed in early 2013. He says the move downtown has been good for business and their all-youcan-eat business model, unique for a sushi restaurant, lures customers from outside Omaha.

“I love the downtown area,” Gao said. “We have a lot of regulars here and we even have some customers that come all the way from Lincoln.”

Tokyo Sushi’s all-you-can-eat menu is perfect for the indecisive among us. For $19.99 Sunday through Thursday ($22.99 on weekends) you can choose from an expansive menu—including soups and salads, a host of appetizers, traditional nigiri (a piece of raw fish placed atop a pillow of rice), maki (traditional sushi rolls), and many specialty rolls. The weekend menu also includes your choice of five varieties of sashimi (thinly sliced raw fish). During lunch you can enjoy a slightly abbreviated menu for $12.99 per adult.

Although Tokyo Sushi is all-you-can-eat, this isn’t your typical buffet. Every item on the menu is made fresh to order by four sushi chefs. Gao told me how important it is to him to use the freshest fish possible. For that reason, they receive several shipments of fresh fish each week.

True to form, Gao had families in mind when designing the interior of Tokyo Sushi. He wasn’t going for a super trendy atmosphere. Rather, he wanted to create a comfortable space for

families to come together and enjoy a meal. The dining area accommodates around 100 diners and is filled with mainly four-top tables. “We didn’t want it to feel like a bar,” he said. “We really wanted the design to be family friendly.”

1205 Harney St. 342-5887

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Although it doesn’t have a bar atmosphere, Tokyo Sushi does offer a happy hour special every weekday from 3-5 p.m. and a late-night happy hour from 9 p.m. to close (9:30 p.m. to close on weekends). Happy hour is still all-you-can-eat, but the price tag is only $12.99 and, like the lunch menu, is smaller than the dinner menu.

When visiting Tokyo Sushi for the first time, it can be a bit overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to start when you have the entire menu to choose from. Randy said some customer favorites include the Super Dynamite roll; tempura fried with eel, white tuna, crab, cucumber and cream cheese, with eel sauce and spicy mayo on top. Another favorite is the Hoppin Jalapeno Roll, which is crab, cucumber, and crunchy bits of fried tempura batter inside and spicy tuna and jalapeno chips on the outside. The roll is then drizzled with eel sauce and spicy mayo.

“I think a lot of our customers like the idea of all you can eat sushi,” Gao said. “It’s a good way to try a lot of things—without breaking the wallet.” Encounter

F I VE S A L ON

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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 25

FA S H I O N

The Winter of Our Discontent GLAM IN ALL ITS GLORY photography by Bill Sitzmann

R

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Here stylist Nicholas Wasserberger works with one his favorite club kid muses, Jordyn, in a celebration of all that is colorful, carefree, and just a little bit carnal.

stylist | Nicholas Wasserberger hair & makeup | Sandy Butt, Victor/Victoria Salon & Spa model | Jordyn

FA S H I O N

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sweater | vintage Oscar de la Renta skirt | Wallflower Artisan Collective bag | Hello Holiday

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march/april 2014 | the encounter omahamagazine.com

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

quincy ellefson REVISITING FERTILE GROUND FIVE Y E A R S L AT E R

by Claire Martin photography by Bill Sitzmann If you’re ever strolling or driving along 13th Street near TD Ameritrade Park in NoDo, you might be surprised to recognize a familiar face or two.

Quincy Ellefson, who was 8 years old by the time of completion of Omaha’s Fertile Ground mural, starred alongside his siblings as three of the work’s models. The mural’s creator, the nationally renowned Philadelphia-based artist, Meg Saligman, handpicked them in 2008. “[Meg] just looked at Quincy and his brother and said, ‘Oh, they’re perfect,’” Quincy’s mother, Amy, said. “She photographed hundreds of people, but ended up choosing them.” Quincy and his sister Annika are depicted holding hands in the mural. They were photographed for the mural when Quincy was 6 and Annika was 9.

The mural was completed in June 2009 as a gift to the city from the Peter Kiewit Foundation. The effort, known as the Omaha Mural Project, was coordinated by the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts.

E N C O U N T E R 36

FA C E S

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

Every character in the mural, save for one important exception, depicts an actual, real-life Omahan. The dancing figure of a woman at the center of the sprawling mural is a composite representing the spirit of Omaha. At 32,500 square feet, it is among the largest such works in the nation and has become a familiar backdrop during ESPN’s annual coverage of the College World Series.

Quincy, who today is 14 years old and homeschooled, has only vague recollections of being photographed in a darkroom during the candidate-selection process eight years ago. But he does remember being photographed with another young boy.

“Whenever I look at it,” Quincy explained, “I always look for the guy that I took photos with but I can never remember what he looks like. I like seeing my brother and sister in the mural, too.”

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Amy added that Keanu, Quincy’s younger brother who is now 11 years old, wasn’t originally slated as a mural figure.

He was a last-minute insertion on Saligman’s whim.

Quincy’s larger-than-life persona is now one of the city’s most recognizable faces, but the actual-size, flesh-and-blood Quincy is now doubly familiar for another reason. He’s become something of a fixture on local stages, racking up an impressive list of credits that includes work with the Omaha Community Playhouse, Opera Omaha, and Nebraska Shakespeare, among others. Quincy has performed in 13 productions and has been active in film classes and modeling stints.

“I do prefer doing musicals,” he said, “but acting is a lot of fun, too. My favorite part is getting ready before a show.”

Although Quincy added that he didn’t get any special treatment (nor teasing) from friends for appearing in the mural, being immortalized in what is perhaps Omaha’s grandest hunk of public art has its own perks.

“I just kind of like looking at the mural as a whole,” Quincy said.

“It’s just weird to think that that’s me up there.” Encounter

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 37

422 S. 11th Street

•

342-2550

www.MsPubOmaha.com

OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

The “Funbuster” T H E N I C K N A M E I S I N J E S T, B U T C A R R I E M E Y E R R E A L LY I S SERIOUS ABOUT PRESERVING O M A H A’ S H I S T O R Y.

by Judy Horan photography by Bill Sitzmann

E N C O U N T E R 38

FA C E S

N

O FOOD IN the gallery. Turn down the heat.

Come In - Warm Up - Relax

Don’t touch that.”

enjoy a pot of tea & our new food items

Co-workers at the Durham Museum call curator Carrie Meyer “The Funbuster.” She’s something of a spoil sport.

But for a good reason.

She and her staff are responsible for more than 40,000 objects at the museum. Each year, 1,000 more items are donated to the permanent collection. All have ties to Omaha history. All require special care.

The nickname is all in fun. And, for the most part, so is her job as curator of exhibits and collections. She cheerfully describes herself as a “professional nerd.” What might be tedium for others is a passion of hers.

Traveling exhibits are paired with local exhibits— those researched, written, and produced by Durham staff—with the same theme. An example is the exhibit of 44 costumes worn by actress Katharine Hepburn that opens February 7.

TWO LOCATIONS IN OMAHA

Meyer paired that traveling exhibit from Kent State University with a local exhibit of garments and drawings created by costume designer Georgiann Regan for the Omaha Community Playhouse.

Old Market

345 N 78th Street (402) 393-7070

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Museum visitors often suggest exhibit ideas. “I can’t tell you how many people said, ‘Why don’t you have dinosaurs,’“ Meyer said.

So she did. The four-month exhibit—A T. Rex Named Sue from Chicago’s Field Museum—contributed to a record year at the Durham with 204,787 visitors in 2013.

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A native of Tennessee, Meyer was motivated by television’s CSI to become a biology major. She switched majors to earn a degree in art history in 2005 from Rhodes College in Memphis. After watching the movie The Mummy, she discovered the world of museum history and thought “Could I do that?” Meyer moved to Waco, Texas, to pursue a Master of Arts in Museum Studies at Baylor University, while working two jobs.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER • 2013

2014

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In 2007, Meyer became curatorial associate at the Ak-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum in Clewiston, Florida, run by the Seminole Tribe She joined the Durham in 2008.

Meyer is pursuing a Master of Arts in History at UNO with an emphasis on Omaha history. In 2014, she was appointed to the Landmarks Heritage Preservation Commission.

Omaha’s topDentists™

The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon

Best of Omaha™ Campaign 2015

Malorie Maddox Omaha Stories

war & Chuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past.

Along the way, Meyer learned that collecting local history can entail some long hours and odd side trips. Durham staff was at TD Ameritrade Park in 2011 to collect programs commemorating the opening day of the ball field. “We keep an eye on the things happening today that people will want to know tomorrow,” Meyer said.

Some day that program will become historical. And when it is, “The Funbuster” will ensure nobody mishandles a piece of Omaha history. Encounter J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 39

Peace

™

The Road Home

Prescription Drug Abuse Among Teens Nebraska’s Premier Wealth Advisors The Making of Nebraska John Jackson

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N O R T H / S O U T H N U M B E R S 1 0 - 1 9 ( N U M B E R S 1 - 9 O N PA G E 4 1 )

&

Merchants Attractions

OLD MARKET · DOWNTOWN · RIVERFRONT ANTIQUES

Antique Annex...F16............................ 402.932.3229 Ashley’s Collectibles...E15....................402.934.3100 Ashley Jr. Collection...D16...................402-934-3100 Fairmont Antique Mall...E17.................402.346.9746 Flying Worm Vintage...E16.................. 402.932.3229 The Imaginarium...D16.........................402.594.7061 Joe’s Collectibles...F16......................... 402.612.1543 Second Chance Antiques...D14.......... 402.346.4930

ART

Anderson O’Brien Fine Art...F16...........402.884.0911 Artists’ Cooperative Gallery...G15..........402.342.9617 Bemis Ctr. for Contemporary Arts...E18.402.341.7130 FAME....................................................402.341-3930 Farrah Grant Photography...G16...........402.312.8262 Gallery 616...F17...................................402.214.3061 Garden Of The Zodiac...G15.................. 402.341.1877 Hot Shops Art Center...D2....................402.342.6452 MANGELSEN - Images of Nature Gallery...F15.............

402.341.8460 KANEKO...F17...................................... 402.341.3800 Old Market Artists Gallery...G15...........402.346.6569 Omaha ClayWorks...F17......................402.346.0560 Passageway Gallery...G15..................... 402.341.1910 Sirens at the Loft...F16.........................402.933.9333 White Crane Gallery...G15.....................402.345.1066

Ovations @ Holland Center...E13........ 402.345.0606 Old Mattress Factory Bar & Grill...E6....402.346.9116 Parliament Pub...C5............................ 402.934.3301 Rock Bottom Brewery...F15.................402.614.9333 Roja Old Market...E14...........................402.346.9190 Sake Bombers @ Blue...E15............... 402.408.5566 Storz Trophy Room J5..........................402.502.1643 The Stadium Club Sports Bar & Grill...G15.......................

402.359.1290 The Slowdown...D4..............................402.345.7569 Stiles Pub...E15....................................402.991.9911 The Tavern...G16.................................. 402.341.0191 T Henery’s Pub...F14........................... 402.345.3651 Trap Room, The...C4........................... 402.505.9368 Union Pizzeria & Sports Bar...C2........ 402.932.2929 Upstream Brewing Company...F16..... 402.344.0200 Waters Edge Lounge @ Embassy Suites...H16...............

402.346.9000 Wilson & Washburn J5.........................402.991.6950 The Zin Room...B14..............................402.991.0660

BOOKSTORES

Jackson St. Booksellers...F17..............402.341.2664 Our Bookstore..G15 .............................402.763.6793 Soul Desires/Urban Abbey...G16 ........402.898.7600

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

Roja Old Market...E14........................... 402.346.9190 Shuck’s Fish House...(19th & Leavenworth).................

402.614.5544 Spaghetti Works...F16.......................... 402.422.0770 Spencer’s @ Hilton Garden Inn...G12...402.280.8888 Storz Trophy Room J5...........................402.502.1643 Table Grace Café...B14..........................402.965.1276 Stokes Bar & Grill…F15.......................402.408.9000 Subway...E15.. 402.341.8814 Sullivan’s Steakhouse...B13................. 402.342.0077 Trini’s Mexican Restaurant...G15..........402.346.8400 Twisted Fork Grill & Bar...G15...............402.932.9600 Union Pizzeria & Sports Bar...C2......... 402.932.2929 Upstream Brewing Company...F16......402.344.0200 V.Mertz...G15.......................................402.345.8980 Vincenzo’s Ristorante...E15...................402.342.4010 Vivace...F15..........................................402.342.2050 Wilson & Washburn J5......................... 402.991.6950 Wheatfields Express...F15.....................402.991.0917 The Zin Room...B14.............................. 402.991.0660 Zinc...E13.............................................402.345.0606 Zio’s Pizzeria...F16................................402.344.2222

FLOWERS

Garden Flowers...G16............................402.614.5661 Old Market Habitat...G15......................402.342.0044

H E A LT H & F I T N E S S

All About Me Boutique...G15................402.505.6000 Acupuncture Curbside Clothing...G16 Omaha Healing Arts Center...E15...........................

Drastic Plastic...E16.............................402.346.8843 ....................................................... 402.345.5078 Blue Barn Theatre...F17.......................402.345.1576 Flying Worm Vintage...E16................... 402.932.3229 Ayurvedic Healing (both at Omaha Healing Arts Center) Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge K5........ 402.444.5900 The Lotus...E16....................................402.346.8080 Dr.Rajesh Kotecha...E15................ 402.345.5078 CenturyLink Center Omaha...H7.......... 402.341.1500 McLovin’...H15...................................... 402.915.4002 Joyce Librunner, LMT...E15............402.740.0366 The Durham Museum...H19.................402.444.5071 Nouvelle Eve...F15.................................402.345.4811 Dental Film Streams...D4................................ 402.933.0259 Old Market Sundries...G16................... 402.345.8198 Derek Fender, DDS...E15............... 402.342.3901 Henry Doorly Zoo...(3701 S. 10th St.).402.733.8401 Overland Outfitters...G16.....................402.345.2900 James Polerecky, DDS...C15..........402.341.7576 Holland Performing Arts Center...E12.402.345.0606 Joslyn Art Museum...(2200 Dodge St.)........................... Reserve Goodwill in the Market...E16...402.342.4102 Omaha Dental Spa (at the Loft)...F16.....................

Second Chance Antiques...D14...........402.346.4930 ....................................................... 402.505.4424 402.342.3300 Silo Skate Shop...D17.......................... 308. 395 8987 Fitness KANEKO...F17......................................402.341.3800 Lauritzen Gardens...(100 Bancroft St.).402.346.4002 Souq, Ltd...G15.................................... 402.342.2972 Anytime Fitness...F18.................... 402.991.2333 MJ Carriage Service...(11th & Howard).402.453.6745 Urban Outfitters...D4.............................402.280.1936 Kempo Karate...(19th & Farnam)...402.905.6865 Omaha Yoga School...G15..............402.346.7813 Ollie the Trolley......................................402.597.3596 D I N I N G Massage Therapy Omaha Children’s Museum...(500 S. 20th St.)............... 801 Chophouse at the Paxton...C14.... 402.341.1222 9th Street Grill...H11.............................402.315.4301 Old Market Massage...E15............ 402.850.6651 402.342.6164 Ahmad’s Persian Cuisine...G15............402.341.9616 Omaha Healing Arts Center...E15......... 402.345.5078 Omaha Symphony...A16...................... 402.342.3560 Block 16...B14......................................402.342.1220 Medical Opera Omaha...(1850 Farnam St.)......402.346.7372 Blue Sushi Sake Grill...E15.................. 402.408.5566 Commercial Optical Co...E16......... 402.344.0219 Orpheum Theater...B15....................... 402.345.0606 Convenient Care Walk-in Medical.(105 N. 31st Ave) The Rose Theater...(2001 Farnam St.).402.345.4849 The Boiler Room...F17..........................402.916.9274 Capitol Lounge & Supper Club...G11... 402.934.5999 .................402.346.1111 TD Ameritrade Park Omaha...E3..........402.546.1800 Creighton Family Healthcare...D19.402.280.5500 Ticket Omaha...(www.ticketomaha.org).......................... Culprit Bakery...B14............................. 402.505.3897 Cupcake Omaha...G16........................ 402.346.6808 Downtown Chiropractic...(21st & Douglas)............

402.345.0606 B A R S , L O U N G E S & P U B S The Diner...F15.....................................402.341.9870 ....................................................... 402.345.7500 DJ’s Dugout Sports Bar/Blazin’ Pianos...G11.................. Ritch Miller, DC.............................. 402.345.7500 Bar 415...E15.......................................402.346.7455 402.763.9974 Heartland Pathology...A14............. 402.346.0195 Barry O’s...G15.....................................402.341.8032 Eat the Worm...E16..............................402.614.4240 Physical Therapy Berry & Rye...F16................................. 402.631.1331 Falling Water Grille @ Embassy Suites...H16................... Bobby Escolas, CMHT (Hypnotherapist).................

Billy Frogg’s Grill & Bar...F15................402.341.4427 402.346.9000 .......................................................402.990.2979 Blue Sushi Sake Grill...E15.................. 402.408.5566 The Flatiron Café...(17th & Howard).... 402.344.3040 Jannette J. Davis, MS, CST...G13..402.341.2230 Bricks & Mortar Bar and Bistro...G18.. 402.934.0005 Hiro 88...D16....................................... 402.933-5168 Cynthia Duggin, MSW, LCSW...E15.......................

Capitol Lounge & Supper Club...G11... 402.934.5999 ....................................................... 402.345.5078 DJ’s Dugout Sports Bar/Blazin’ Pianos...G11.................. J’s on Jackson...H6...............................402.991.1188 Jackson St. Tavern...F17......................402.991.5637 East & West Physical Therapy...E15.......................

402.763.9974 Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen...C14.......... 402.342.3662 ....................................................... 402.345.5078 The Dubliner Pub...E15........................ 402.342.5887 Joe Banana’s (1022 S.10th St.)...........402.346.7227 Chanell Jaramillo, MTP, CMH, HHP...E15...............

Eat the Worm...E16..............................402.614.4240 Julio’s Old Market...D16.........................402.345.692 .......................................................402.689.0905 Havana Garage Cigar Bar...G15............402.614.3800 Kitchen Table, The...D13......................402.933.2810 Jeff Stormberg, PhD...C14............402.393.0642 The Hive...F15..................................... 402.504.4929 Liberty Tavern...G7.............................. 402.998.4321 Tim Swisher, MHR, LMHP, LADC...G13.................

House of Loom...(1012 S. 10th St.).... 402.505.5494 Little King...F4..................................... 402.344.2264 ........................................................402.341.2230 J.D.Tucker’s...G15................................402.934.5190 M’s Pub...F15...................................... 402.342.2550 Pharmacy Depot Drug...C11......... 402.544.DRUG Jackson St.Tavern...F14.......................402.991.5637 Maria Sangria...F14..............................402.504.4901 Julio’s Old Market...D16...................... 402.345.6921 HOME FURNISHINGS Matsu Sushi...G14............................... 402.346.3988 Habitat Restore...(24th & Leavenworth..402.342.0044 La Buvette Wine & Grocery...G16........ 402.344.8627 Michael’s at the Market...F14...............402.346.1205 Iron Decor & More...F16....................... 402.346.6123 M’s Pub...F15...................................... 402.342.2550 Nicola’s Italian Wine & Faire...E16....... 402.345.8466 Julia Russell...F12..................................402.891.0691 Mr. Toad’s...G15.................................. 402.345.4488 O Dining & Lounge...G14......................402.502.7888 Niche...G15...........................................402.344.4399 Maria Sangria...F14..............................402.504.4901 O’Connors Irish Pub...E16....................402.934.9790 Room...G15.......................................... 402.342.7666 Nosh Restaurant & Wine Lounge...G11.402.614.2121 Old Chicago...F15 .................................402.341.1616 Simply Fabulous...G4.............................402.812.2193 O Dining & Lounge...G14......................402.502.7888 Omaha Prime...G15..............................402.341.7040 Urban by Design...E16......................................................

O’Connor’s Irish Pub...E16...................402.934.9790 PepperJax Grill...D16............................. 402.315.1196 970.214.7608 Old Chicago...F15..................................402.341.1616 Pickleman’s...B14................................. 402.505.9775 Zongkers Custom Woods...(S. 3rd St.)............................

The Omaha Lounge...C13....................402.709.6815 Rock Bottom Brewery...F15..................402.614.9333 402.344.7784

AT T R A C T I O N S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 41

• The Old Market’s Longest Jazz Gig • Live Music Every Sunday and Wednesday • Free Orsi’s Pizza on Friday, 4-6 p.m.

• Omaha’s Most Popular Patio 402.345.4488

1002 Howard St. Check us out on

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Merchants AttractionS

OLD MARKET · DOWNTOWN · RIVERFRONT

HOTELS

Courtyard by Marriott...H12 ...............................402.346.2200 DoubleTree Hotel...B/C10....................................402.346.7600 Embassy Suites Old Market...H16.......................402.346.9000 Fairfield Inn and Suites...C2.................................402.280.1516 Hampton Inn...E2.................................................402.345.5500 Hilton Garden Inn...C2 ........................................402.341.4400 Hilton Omaha...G7 ..............................................402.998.3400 Holiday Inn...E2.....................................................402.341.0124 Homewood Suites...D2 .......................................402.345.5100 Hotel DECO XV...B14........................................... 402.991.4981 Hyatt Place E16...................................................402.513.5500 Magnolia Hotel Omaha...A16 .............................402.342.2222 Residence Inn C12..............................................402.342.4770

MIDTOWN CROSSING

The Afternoon...W23...........................................402.933.3809 Arlan’s Barber Shop...W23..................................402.505.8767 Brix...W21............................................................402.991.8466 Callahan Financial Planning...V23.......................402.341.2000 Cantina Laredo...W21.........................................402.345.6000 Chef2...W22.........................................................402.991.5656 Coldstone Creamery/Rocky Mountain Chocolate...X22..............

402.359.1719 Corky Canvas...W22........................................... 402.637.4066 CRAVE...W22......................................................402.345.9999 Definitive Vision...W23.........................................402.502.7323 Delice European Bakery...W23............................402.505.9500 Element by Westin...X21.....................................402.614.8080 Fashion Cleaners...X22........................................402.916.1987 Garbo’s Salon & Spa...X22..................................402.933.8988 Glo Lounge...X23................................................402.342.4505 The Grey Plume...W22........................................402.763.4447 Hutch...W22........................................................402.955.9842 Ingredient...X23...................................................402.715.4444 Lenny’s Sub Shop...X23.......................................402.218.1745 Marcus Midtown Cinema...X23..........................402.345.0102 NT Nails............................................................... 402.991.7676 Pana 88...............................................................402.934.7262 Prairie Life Fitness...W22....................................402.916.5000 Saints Pub & Patio...W21.....................................402.932.1911 Three Dog Bakery...X23...................................... 402.715.4500 Wohlner’s Neighborhood Grocery and Deli...X21.402.551.6875 Verizon Wireless by Z Wireless...X23...................402.991.1180

MUSIC SHOPS

Antiquarium Records...D15................................402.345.0294 Homer’s Records...E15.......................................402.346.0264 Drastic Plastic...E16...........................................402.346.8843

DOWNTOWN PROPERTIES

902 Dodge Condos...G11................................... 402.215.7118 Ashley Park...(204 S. 25th)............................... 402-934-3100 Brandeis Building...A13......................................402.345.6564 Farnam 1600 Building...(1905 Harney St.).........402.342.1616 Grubb/Ellis Pacific Realty...F15..........................402.345.5866 Harney Street Apartments...G18.........................402.934.7510 Legend Building...(1429 S. 13th)...................... 402-934-3100 Old Market Lofts...K3......................................... 402.346.1000 Overland Building...D16..................................... 402-934-3100 Pullman Building...(1017 S. 10th St.)................ 402-934-3100 Riverfront Place...C14..........................................402.397.4837 Shamrock Development/Paxton Building...C14..402.934.7711 Skinner Macaroni Apartments...D17..................402.346.2346 The Cornerstone Apartments...F15.................... 402.346.0510 The Greenhouse Apts...H13............................... 402.341.3200 TipTop Building...C2............................................402.345.8000

S P E C I A LT Y F O O D S & COFFEE

13th Street Coffee Co...E16.............................. 402.345.2883 Aromas Coffeehouse...G18................................402.614.7009 Bliss Bakery...G18...............................................402.934.7450 Blue Line Coffee...D3.........................................402.932.0294 Cubby’s Old Markey Grocery...E17..................... 402.341.2900 Hollywood Candy...H4........................................ 402.346.9746 La Buvette Wine & Grocery...G16.......................402.344.8627 Nosh Restaurant & Wine Lounge...G11...............402.614.2121 Old Market Candy Shop...G16............................402.344.8846 Patrick’s Market...C15.........................................402.884.1600 Red Mango...D4................................................. 402.933.8815 Scooter’s Coffeehouse...F16.............................. 402.991.9868 Soul Desires...G16 ............................................. 402.898.7600 The Tea Smith...F15...........................................402.932.3933

Ted & Wally’s Ice Cream...F16.............................402.341.5827 Wheatfields Express...F15...................................402.991.0917

RESTAURANT AND WINE LOUNGE

S P E C I A LT Y S H O P S

Cibola of Omaha...G16.......................................402.342.1200 City Limits...F16................................................. 402.345.3570 Cornerstone Gem & Bead Co...E16................... 402.346.4367 DSR Power Sports...E15..................................... 402.991.1383 Goldsmith/Silversmith...G16..............................402.342.1737 Green St. Cycles...D4........................................ 402.505.8002 Hookah Ran’s...D15...........................................402-934-3100 Iron Decor & More...F16.....................................402.346.6123 J.P. Cooke Rubber Stamp Co...D16...................402.342.7175 Jay Welter Cigars...(18th & Jackson).................402.345.1965 Kessler’s...F17....................................................402.715.5888 The Lotus...D16..................................................402.347.8080 Machu Picchu Imports...D16..............................402.706.7818 Old Market Sundries...G16.................................402.345.8198 Overland Outfitters...G16..................................402.345.2900 Perspective Jewelry...E15..................................402.934.4416 Red Square...G15.............................................. 402.342.8878 Reserve Goodwill in the Market...E16................402.342.4102 SG Roi Tobacconist...G16...................................402.341.9264 Simply Fabulous...E17........................................402.812.2193 Studio 13...(1736 S. 13th St.).............................402.934.1111 The Summit...(1601 Dodge St.).........................402.341.5555 Susie’s Baskets...E13.........................................402.341.4650 Takechi’s Jewelry...(17th & Harney)...................402.341.3044 Tannenbaum Christmas Shop...G16................. 402.934.8389 Visions Custom Framing Studio...E17............... 402.342.0020

OPEN AT 11AM DAILY HAPPY HOUR 4 PM - 6 PM Late Night Happy Hour Fri. & Sat. 10 PM-12 AM LIVE MUSIC WEDNESDAYS 6 PM - 9 PM

1006 Dodge St., Omaha 402.614.2121 www.noshwine.com

SERVICES

Banking & Finance American National Bank...C14......................402.457.1070 First National Bank...F16.............................402.885.2574 Pinnacle Bank...G12....................................402.346.9180 Security National Bank...G16...................... 402.344.7300 Commercial Alliance Group...G18................................... 402.344.7700 Clark Creative Advertising...D16.................402.345.5800 J.P. Cooke Rubber Stamp Co...D16.............402.342.7175 Market Media.............................................. 402.346.4000 Vic Gutman & Associates............................ 402.345.5401 Information Downtown Omaha, Inc.................................402.341.3700 Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce...D15.....................

402.346.5000 Old Market Business Association...(www.oldmarket.com) Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau...G14.402.444.4660 Omaha Downtown Improvement District......402.916.1796 Omaha Public Library...C13.........................402.444.4800 Legal Boyle & Associates, PC...F16....................... 402.706.7810 Cullan & Cullan...F15.................................... 402.397.7600 Klein Law Offices...H16.................................402.391.1871 Stinson, Morrison, Hecker LLP...E14.............402.342.1700 Sutera & Sutera Law Office...F15.................402.342.3100 Other Big Brain Productions...F17..........................402.342.2885 Movers Not Shakers...H13............................ 402.614.9770 Old Market Mini Storage...(501 Pacific St.)..402.342.0022 Omaha CVB...G14.........................................402.444.4660 Salon & Spa Curb Appeal Salon...G16..............................402.345.0404 Omaha Healing Arts Center...E15...............402.345.5078 The Hair Market Salon...G14.........................402.345.3692 The Nail Shop...(9th & Douglas)...................402.595.8805 Rain Salon...(1006 S. 10th St.)......................402.991.9974 Sirens Salon & Day Spa...F16.......................402.933.9333 Urbane Salon & Day Spa...D15.....................402.934.2909

SIP. TASTE. SAVOR.

Improving Your Health Whether you need an injury or accident treated, have a specific body problem, need pain relief, or just want to improve your overall health, Downtown Chiropractic Health Center may have a solution for you through chiropractic care.

downtownchiroomaha.com 402.345.7500 • 2111 Douglas Street

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 43

Every community has a story.

WHYCOMMUNITYMATTERS.COM

Visit us in the historical RILEY BUILDING at 1016 Douglas on the Mall, 402.346.9180 or online at pinnbank.com.

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY calendar of Events SPONSORED BY PINNACLE BANK

ART AND MUSEUM EXHIBITS Selected Works of Cedric Hartman, Wallace Cunningham’s Reality < An Idea, and Olson Kundig: Anthology Through January 3. Kaneko—1111 Jones St. Local artist Cedric Hartman is known for making thoughtful, idiosyncratic work in the architectural realm—and an ever-evolving array of furniture, lighting and hardware. Now 85 years old, he still works at his Omaha studio workshop every day.

This exhibition at Kaneko will be the first time Hartman has curated a public exhibition of his work. Kaneko also will feature the innovative architectural designs of Wallace Cunningham (Reality < An Idea) and Olson Kundig (Anthology). Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat 1-5pm. Free admission. 402-341-3800.

-thekaneko.org Identity: An Exhibition of You Through Januar y 11, Durham Museum—801 S. 10th St. What makes you…you? Find out what makes you tick in Identity: An Exhibition of You, the highly entertaining exhibit on display this fall from Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute.

Children $6, Adults $9. 402-444-5071.

- durhammuseum.org

Linda Stephen & Iggy Sumnik Exhibits Through February 6, Fred Simon Gallery—1004 Farnam St. Linda Stephen, origami paper artist, and ceramics artist Iggy Sumnik, present their works in this dual

exhibition. 8-5pm. Free. 402-595-2142.

-nebraskaartscouncil.org Katharine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage and Screen Februar y 7-April 26, Durham Museum—801 S. 10th St. This exhibition from the Kent State University Museum features more than 35 costumes worn in 21 films and six stage productions as well as other personal items spanning Hepburn’s illustrious career. Come see how this true icon of American culture came to epitomize the modern woman of the 20th century.

Children $6, Adults $9. 402-444-5071.

-durhammuseum.org American Moderns: From O’Keeffe to Rockwell February 8-May 17, Joslyn Art Museum—2200 Dodge St. Between 1910 and 1960, the United States emerged as an international power, while also experiencing two world wars and the Great Depression. New technologies changed all aspects of life, while the art world witnessed dramatic transformations of its own. This exhibition explores the ways American artists including Georgia O’Keeffe, Marsden Hartley, Stuart Davis, Rockwell Kent, and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern world. This exhibition will have a ticket fee. Free for members, youth ages 17 and younger, & college students with ID. 402-342-3300.

-joslyn.org

Cody Heinert Exhibit Through April 3, Fred Simon Gallery—1004 Farnam St. Mixed media artist Cody Heinert from Sparks, Ne., exhibits his collages—many made with found materials on his farmland. 8-5pm. Free. 402-595-2142.

-nebraskaartscouncil.org CONCERTS A Night at Woodstock January 17, Holland Performing Arts Center—1200 Douglas St. Experience the music that defined an era with watershed classics from Woodstock, including Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love,” Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower,” The Who’s “Pinball Wizard,” and Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart.” 7:30pm. $22. 402-345-0606.

-omahasymphony.org Symphonic Space Odyssey January 18, Holland Performing Arts Center—1200 Douglas St. Blast off from earth, travel to distant stars, and explore new galaxies. A visual and musical journey through the wonders of space, the concert will feature larger than life visuals from NASA above the orchestra. 2pm. $15. 402-345-0606.

–omahasymphony.org Cold War Kids January 22, Slowdown—729 N. 14th St. Watch Cold War Kids perform with Elliot Moss. Anyone under 18 years of age must have notarized parental permission slip to attend a concern. Everyone who enters Slowdown must have an

E N C O U N T E R 44

ID. Tickets $22. 8pm. 402-345-7569.

–theslowdown.com The Music of Marvin Hamlisch: One Singular Sensation January 31 and February 1, Holland Performing Arts Center—1200 Douglas St. Nobody did it better than Marvin Hamlisch, award-winning composer of A Chorus Line, The Way We Were and The Sting. Stars of the Broadway stage join the orchestra to pay tribute to the legendary songwriter and performer. 7:30pm, 2pm.

Tickets start at $22. 402-345-0606.

-omahasymphony.org Sinbad February 6, Holland Performing Arts Center—1200 Douglas St. Ranked by Comedy Central as one of the top 100 standup comedians of all time, Sinbad tells stories, and boy, does he tell stories. The actor and comedian arrived on the comedy scene with a “hit ‘em in the face” style that has kept audiences laughing in the aisles for decades. 8pm.

Tickets starting at $39. 402-345-0606.

–ticketomaha.com Pixar in Concert February 14, Holland Performing Arts Center—1200 Douglas St. Treat your family to favorite scenes from Disney/ Pixar films, including Toy Story, Wall-E, Up, and Brave— all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen. 7:30pm.

Tickets starting at $22. 402-345-0606.

–omahasymphony.org

David Sanborn February 15, Holland Performing Arts Center—1200 Douglas St. In his threeand-a-half decade career, saxophonist David Sanborn has released 24 albums, won six Grammy Awards, and has had eight Gold albums and one Platinum album. Among his many accomplishments, Sanborn played Woodstock with Paul Butterfield, toured with Stevie Wonder, played with the Rolling Stones, and toured with David Bowie. 7pm.

Tickets starting at $39. 402-345-0606.

-ticketomaha.com Hot Sardines February 17, Holland Performing Arts Center—1200 Douglas St. Celebrate Mardi Gras the sounds of the Hot Sardines – wartime Paris via New Orleans – is steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano. The space is transformed into a comfortable nightclub with table seating, light fare, and a full bar. Tickets: $26 and up. 402-345-0606.

-omahaperformingarts.org Ladysmith Black Mambazo February 20, Holland Performing Arts Center—1200 Douglas St. South African a capella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo is celebrating 50 years of joyous and uplifting music, along with the 2014 Grammy Award for Best World Music CD. The intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African traditions continue to gain praise and accolades, leaving impressions on audiences worldwide. 8pm. $34.75. 402-345-0606.

-ticketomaha.com Thomas’s Adventures in Music February 22, Holland Performing Arts Center—1200 Douglas St. Thomas Wilkins takes you on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun, straight into the heart and soul of music. 2 pm. $15. 402-345-0606.

-omahasymphony.org Randy Brecker February 27, Holland Performing Arts Center—1200 Douglas St. Jazz trumpeter and composer Randy Brecker has helped shape the sound of jazz, R&B, and rock for more than four decades. As multiGrammy winner, Brecker has worked with a wide range of artists from his early work with Blood, Sweat & Tears and the bands of Horace Silver and Art Blakey, to his co-leadership of the Brecker Brothers Band with his brother Michael. 8pm. $22. 402-345-0606.

-ticketomaha.com

FAMILY EVENTS Sesame Street Live January 2-4, CenturyLink Center Omaha. – 455 N. 10th St. Sesame Street Live are live show tours based on the muchloved Sesame Street television series. The shows feature the Muppet characters, original music and professional dancers. The Sesame Street Live Shows are something the under-six crowd will be smiling about for a long time.

After all, here are their much beloved television characters come to life right in front of their very eyes. 8pm. $21-$117. 402-341-1500.

-centurylinkcenteromaha.com Dinosaur Train LIVE! January 23, Orpheum Theater– 409 S. 16th St. Dinosaur Train Live! Buddy’s Big Adventure brings the beloved stars of the hit PBS series to Omaha for the first time.

Come join Buddy, Tiny, King, Don, and more in this fun-filled, interactive and immersive lie trip back in time to an age when dinosaurs roamed the earth…and rode in trains. 7:00pm.

Tickets starting at $22. 402-345-0606.

-ticketomaha.com 49th Annual Omaha Home & Garden Expo / 16th Annual Lawn, Flower & Patio Show February 5-8, CenturyLink Center Omaha – 455 N. 10th St. Step out of Winter and into Spring at Omaha’s most colorful and largest showcase of landscaping, home - gardens and outdoor living, as well as the latest products and services for the home - inside and out. Adults $8, children $4. 402-341-1500.

-centurylinkcenteromaha.com Extreme Planet February 10, Holland Performing Arts Center—1200 Douglas St. Take an electrifying journey into some of our planet’s most extreme environments with Carsten Peter.

The German photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically obsessed with devising innovative photographic techniques that allow him to capture dramatic, never-before-seen images of places few humans have dared ever go. 7:30pm. $22. 402-345-0606.

-ticketomaha.com Bad Jews by Joshua Elias Harmon February 19-March 14, Blue Barn Theatre – 614 S. 11th St. Described as a comedy about the holy and the holier-thanthou, Bad Jews is the story of Daphna Feygenbaum, a “Real Jew” with an Israeli boyfriend

1415 Harney Street Telephone: 402.341.7576 www.cityviewdentalomaha.com

The Convenient Downtown Dentist

J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 45

JANUARY/FEBRUARY Calendar of Events SPONSORED BY PINNACLE BANK

she met on a Birthright tour. When Daphna’s cousin Liam brings home his shiksa girlfriend Melody and declares ownership of their grandfather’s Chai necklace, a vicious and hilarious brawl over family, faith, and legacy ensues. $30. 402-345-1576.

-bluebarn.org From Field to Fork Through April 2015, Omaha Children’s Museum - 500 S. 20th St. Exhibit teaches kids and their families all about the role of agriculture in their daily lives and what is produced in Nebraska. $9, free admission for kids under 24 months of age. 402-930-2352 -ocm.org PERFORMING ARTS Shen Yun January 13-14, Orpheum Theater– 409 S. 16th St. 5,000 years of civilization on stage. This is the world’s premiere of the classical Chinese dance and music company based in New York. 7:30pm. 402-345-0606.

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Gaelic Storm February 13, The Arts Center at Iowa Western– 2700 College Road, Council Bluffs. Over the course of 10 albums and nearly 3,000 live shows, Gaelic Storm— the chart-topping, multi-national Celtic band—is dishing up a hearty serving of Full Irish: The Best of Gaelic Storm.

Adults, $32, Students and Seniors, $29. 712-388-7140.

-facebook.com/artscenteriwcc Camelot January 27-February 1, Orpheum Theater– 409 S. 16th St. The four-time Tony Award-winning show Camelot tells the story of the infamous love triangle between King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and Sir Lancelot. Never has this story of passion and betrayal been more fascinating. 8pm. Tickets starting at $72.50. 402-345-0606.

- ticketomaha.com Hands on a Hardbody February 13-March 22, Omaha Community Playhouse– 6915 Cass St. How much will a group of hard-luck Texans endure to win a pickup truck? When a local dealership offers a free Nissan Hardbody to the last person standing in a competition of mental and physical endurance, heart and determination, only the strong survive. The rules are simple:

don’t take your hand off the truck. Only one winner can drive away with the American Dream. As hours turn into days, the American spirit shines in this inspiring and humorous musical based on a true story. Full of catchy Gospel and Country Western hits, this wildly entertaining, yet endearing musical will renew your faith in the human spirit. 402-553-0800.

-omahaplayhouse.com Aspen Santa Fe Ballet February 19, Orpheum Theater– 409 S. 16th St. The brilliant contemporary Aspen Santa Fe Ballet returns to Omaha with a stunning new production featuring the “Square None.” Aspen Santa Fe Ballet personifies unique modern dance style and broad appeal. 7:30pm. Tickets starting at $26.25. 402-345-0606.

-ticketomaha.com The Church Basement Ladies in The Last Potluck Supper February 21, The Arts Center at Iowa Western– 2700 College Road, Council Bluffs. The Church Basement Ladies in The Last Potluck Supper is the fifth installment of the national hit musical comedy series. 2 pm and 8 pm.

Adults, $35, Students and Seniors, $32. 712-388-7140.

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Evidenced and competitive based exercise where reaching high levels of fitness is fun again.

SOMETIMES, FITNESS APPROACHES HAVE TO BE OVERHAULED AND WE’VE DONE THAT. Whether you’re 60, just out of college sports, or middle aged and un-athletic, Vise Downtown is designed with you in mind.

819 South 7th Street, Omaha, NE 68108 | www.visedowntown.com E N C O U N T E R 46

Not Exactly PUB GRUB.

Eat, Drink, Relax.

Sophisticated American cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere. Classy, but unpretentious.

Creative, but approachable. Open 7 days a week, live music.

Lunch, Dinner, Sunday brunch.

Fresh Daily Specials.

Open 11AM Monday - Saturday Sunday Brunch 10AM - 2PM, Full Menu After 2PM Happy Hour 4PM - 6PM Monday - Friday Reservations accepted 1125 Jackson St. | Old Market, Omaha, NE | 402.991.5637 | JacksonStreetTavern.com

The best holiday

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View our full menu, happy hours and more at

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Old Market

West Omaha

11 & Jackson 402.344.0200

171st & W. Center 402.778.0100

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Sip. Savor. Be Social.