May/June 2011 The Encounter Omaha Magazine

Old Market • Downtown • Riverfront

www.oldmarket.com

May/June 2011

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

Shops at the Old Market’s front door / 10th & Howard

keepsakes hats and apparel

novelties

games

Old Market Sundries is small in size but large on variety! Find essentials for travelers, Nebraska-made gifts, Heartland apparel, Husker items and lots of unique souvenirs. Fans call us “the hotel gift shop without the hotel prices.”

Handmade chocolates & fudge Like no other, our gourmet chocolates and fudge are handmade in our kitchen with the finest ingredients. We also feature many varieties of sweets from around the world.

• Vermont Truffles • International Licorice • Nostalgia Candies • Sugar-Free Varieties • Jelly Bellies • Salt Water Taffy

1005 HOWARD ST.

Souvenirs and gifts galore!

•

402-344-8846

S I NC E 1 977

Spectacular holiday décor & more More than just Christmas, Tannenbaum celebrates the spirit of every season. Come browse our huge and colorful collection!

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

1003 HOWARD ST. • 402-345-8198

1007 HOWARD ST. 402-345-9627

CELEBRATING CHRI STMAS SINCE 1985

BASEBALL FANS DON’T COME TO OMAHA FOR ORDINARY

THIS YEAR, MAKE MIDTOWN CROSSING YOUR DESTINATION FOR CELEBRATION. Slide into one of our four-star restaurants; pop up to one of our vibrant nightspots and then catch a free shuttle to TD Ameritrade Park.

Park at Midtown Crossing and we’ll shuttle you to the stadium for free! The first three hours are always free in both of our garages.

402.934.8860 3220 Farnam Street, Suite 2102 Parking map available at www.midtowncrossing.com

Great restaurants. Dynamic nightspots. Plenty of affordable parking and a free shuttle.

That’s our version of a grand slam!

CO M I N G I N M AY !

Old Market Downtown • Riverfront

MAY/JUNE 2011

P UBLISHER

Todd Lemke

M ANAGING E DITOR Corey Ross

C IT Y E DITOR

Sandra Lemke

downtown omaha gift card

A SSISTANT E DITOR Linda Persigehl

A RT D IRECTOR / G RAPHIC D ESIGNER

THE PERFECT GIFT Redeemable at a wide variety of downtown restaurants, bars, retail and service outlets, art galleries, event venues, hotels and museums.

Matt Jensen

G RAPHIC D ESIGNER John Gawley

P HOTOGRAPHY

Bill Sitzmann • Scott Drickey

TECHNICAL A DVISOR Tyler Lemke

DINE

> S H O P > P L AY > S TAY

Available soon at: OmahaDowntown.org

C ONTRIBUTING W RITERS Leo Adam Biga David Williams Niz Proskocil Joe Gudenrath Judy Horan Lainey Seyler Wendy Townley Aaron Michaels

A CCOUNT E XECUTIVES

Gwen Lemke • Vicki Voet • Gil Cohen Alicia Smith Hollins • Greg Bruns

E DITORIAL A DVISORS

Rick Carey • David Scott FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION:

402.884.2000 www.omahapublications.com

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4 may/june 2011 | the encounter

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.

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“OLD MARKET”

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

10

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6 8 10 13 15 17 23 24 26 28 30 31 35

Downtown Story : Downtown Fun in the Sun ..................

Downtown History: The Henery Family .........................

Cover Story: David Hayes Buys V. Mertz .......................

Feature: Old Market Bakeries .....................................

Downtown Art: Hot Shops .........................................

Special Section: Advantage Coupons ..........................

ODID: Embracing the CWS ..........................................

Feature: TD Ameritrade Park .....................................

Downtown Face: Jeff Jorgensen ................................

Condo Life: Culvers ....................................................

Old Market Map...........................................................

Merchants & Attractions ................................................

Calendar ......................................................................

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 | may/june 2011 5

DOWNTOWN STORY

Photo courtesy of Nebraska Chidren’s Home Society

“

There is always something new and exciting at the Omaha Sum-

”

mer Arts Festival.

6 may/june 2011 | the encounter

Downtown Fun in the Sun

by Aaron Michaels

W

arm temperatures and hot events are sure to lure people from throughout the region to Omaha this summer. Here are a few reasons to bring the entire family downtown to enjoy what the city has to offer.

Sand in the City In most instances, 350 tons of sand dumped into downtown Omaha would be a great concern. But in the case of Sand in the City — Nebraska Children’s Home Society’s annual fundraiser — it’s an opportunity for tons of fun.

Beginning Friday, June 3, roughly 20 corporate teams will converge on the parking lot at N. 10th Street and Capitol Ave. (across from DJ’s Dugout and catty corner from Qwest Center Omaha) to create 15-ton sand sculptures of various sizes and themes.

Past sculptures have included scenes from popular movies, camping and outdoor activities, and Omaha-focused and historic representations, among many other examples of intricate planning and design.

“Visitors can expect to see more sand sculptures this year than in the history of the event, plus a new main stage featuring local talents, and acts will perform all weekend,” said NCHS Marketing and Public Relations Manager Kathleen Al-Marhoon. “For one weekend, we bring a temporary beach-like atmosphere to downtown Omaha in an effort to raise awareness and support for an organization that serves children throughout the year.”

The weekend fun is free to the public (although donations are appreciated), and those who attend get the opportunity to vote for their favorite sculpture as well as enjoy food and an interactive Kid Zone that includes two gigantic sandboxes.

Dates/Times: Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, June 5, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www. sandinthecityomaha.com for more information.

downtown story

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Fully Charged is the all-new surge of circus entertainment from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, which explodes into action at Qwest Center Omaha June 3-5.

The most electrifying edition ever of Ringling Bros. celebrates performance power that boosts Photo courtesy Ringling Bros.

Circus circus-goers’ excitement. The acts, which can only be seen at The Greatest Show on Earth, include Tabayara, a dynamic animal trainer whose ability to communicate with animals allows him to ride stallions and orchestrate four-ton Asian elephants in a symphony of dance. When he stands inside a cage, eye-to-eye with 12 ferocious tigers, Tabayara sees family where others see danger.

Strongman duo Dmitry and Ruslan lift large, cumbersome telephone poles, which weigh half a ton, and twirl them above their heads while acrobats dance atop. Likewise, the fearless Fernandez Brothers bring thrills as they perform daring feats of athleticism on the Twin Turbines of Steel, including extreme jumps and twists inside the moving wheels. The Human Fuse, Brian Miser, sets the arena sky ablaze as he rockets through the air from his self-made human crossbow. He travels 80 feet at 65 miles per hour — so don’t blink.

And then there are the clowns for which Ringling Bros. is famous. The hilarious hoopla ensues with Clown Alley, as clowns of various sizes charge up the audience’s funny bone with hysterical antics and clownish comedy.

Dates/Times: Friday, June 3, 7 p.m.; Saturday, June 4, 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, June 5, 1 p.m. Doors open one hour prior to the performance. Contact Qwest Center Omaha (www.qwestcenteromaha.com) for ticket information and prices.

Taste of Omaha Taste of Omaha, a three-day extravaganza and outdoor festival free to the public, boils down to one thing: the food.

Restaurants of all varieties pitch their tents Photo courtesy Mid-American Expositions at the Taste of Omaha grounds — located on Omaha’s riverfront parks, the Heartland of American Park and Lewis & Clark Landing —cooking the specialty items that have made them some of the favorites in the area. All types of food will be served, from pizza to juicy barbecue ribs, while guests

are treated to live entertainment on five stages throughout the festival.

The festival offers each person an opportunity to taste a wide selection of Omaha’s favorite restaurant dishes, including Mexican, Italian, Greek, Oriental, Mediterranean and Polish, as well as Continental and American cuisine.

“Feature foods from many of Omaha’s top restaurants, good entertainment and family activities for the kids — and you have the recipe for the Taste of Omaha,” said Mike Mancuso, event producer. “Omaha has a tremendous reputation for fantastic restaurants and food companies.”

Now in its 12th year, Taste of Omaha has become one of the biggest annual events in the city, bringing together a selection of great foods and culinary delights.

Dates/Times: Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, June 5, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit www.tasteofomaha.info for more information.

Summer Arts Festival Exquisite artwork by 135 artists from across the country in a broad range of media, accompanied by food, music and fun under Photo courtesy sunny skies can only mean Vic Gutman & the return of Omaha’s Assoc.

Summer Arts Festival.

This year marks the 37th anniversary of the festival, which has grown each year.

The year’s event, presented by First National Bank, is June 10-12 downtown along the Gene Leahy Mall streets.

“There is always something new and exciting at the Omaha Summer Arts Festival,” said Festival Manager Elizabeth Balazs.

“More than 40 of the Festival’s 135 artists are new, and we have a great line-up of free concerts featuring world musicians Red Baraat, a Punjabi rhythm and brass funk band, and a nine-piece Latin and salsa band, Orquesta Alto Maiz. From the Children’s Fair and Young Artist Exhibition, to numerous art demonstrations, great music, food and, of course, the people watching, no one will want to miss this event.”

Also new this year is speed-painter Tim Decker from Florida.

From a temporary studio at 14th and Farnam Streets, he will entertain crowds with five-minute portraits along with music and banter as he paints portraits of politicians, actors and other recognizable celebrities. Performances are at noon, 1, 2, 3 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, and noon, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Dates/Times: Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, June 12, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.SummerArts.org for more information.

the encounter | may/june 2011 7

DOWNTOWN HISTORY

Trevor, Michael and Brandon Henery.

Michael’s third son, Heath, operates a second Michael’s and bar in Norfolk, Neb. Heath’s daughters also work at the restaurant.

“

As you grow up in it, you just find a passion for serving people and putting a great product on the table.

”

8 may/june 2011 | the encounter

Michael’s and More Three generations of Henerys have made the hospitality biz their main mission

W

by Leo Adam Biga | photos minorwhitestudios.com hile not a household name in Omaha, the Henery family has been behind some of the area’s most popular eating-drinking establishments going back to the 1970s.

Michael’s at the Market is probably the clan’s best-known eatery today. Like all their dining spots, it specializes in genuine Tex-Mex cuisine. The place is owned by namesake and family patriarch Michael Henery and his son, Brandon Henery.

Two more of the elder Henery’s boys are restauranteur-bar owners. Below Michael’s is T. Henery’s Pub, owned by Trevor Henery and his wife, Jacki. In Norfolk, Neb., Heath Henery operates Michael’s Cantina and the Mint Bar. He also has Thompson’s Corner in Osmond, Neb. All three Henery sons got their start in the restaurant game under their father, learning the business from the ground up, then managing-owning in partnership with their dad before becoming full owners themselves.

Hospitality makes up only part of the Henery family business holdings. Heath manages their many commercial properties. Michael has a major development underway in Bellevue. He divides his time between Nevada, where he has business properties and personal residences, and Omaha, where he has a Riverfront Place penthouse.

All this, and the family still maintains a low profile.

“Not a lot of people really know us that well,” Brandon say, “and we tend to kind of like it that way. We’re low-key.”

downtown history So how did an Irish-American family with roots in northeast Nebraska come to dish up authentic Mexican food?

Long story short, Michael is the classic self-made man who came off the family farm to start an entrepreneurial career still going strong more than 50 years later.

Early on, he had his own grading-landscaping, home-building and real estate brokerage businesses in Omaha. A friend’s passion for Mexican food rubbed off on him. Trips to El Paso, Texas, exposed him to the real thing.

When the opportunity to open a restaurant in South Omaha surfaced, Henery hired a mother-daughter team from a Mexican cantina and they developed the recipes still used in the Henery eateries today.

Michael Henery was ahead of the curve, as Omaha had few dine-in Mexican spots before 1980. He showed vision again by relocating Michael’s to the Old Market when the district was just taking off. Michael says, “Business was slow the first years there, and so I worked three jobs to keep it going because I knew it’d be really successful eventually.”

Brandon Henery marvels at his father’s industry and instincts. “Dad never takes his nose off the grindstone. He works a lot harder than we’d like to see him to at 71, but he just has that work ethic that being raised on a farm I think builds in you. To come as far as he has is just absolutely amazing. It’s really the epitome of the American Dream. He doesn’t have any pretenses. He doesn’t mince words, yet he’s very affable. If anybody was cut out for it, it’s him.”

The sons didn’t have to follow their father’s footsteps, but it turns out they have the same entrepreneurial drive he has.

“As you grow up in it, you just find a passion for serving people and putting a great product on the table,” Heath Henery says.

With Heath’s two daughters helping mind Michael’s Cantina and the Mint Bar, a third generation carries forward the family’s hospitality legacy.

25 Y E A R S

PREMIUM HOMEMADE

12th & Jackson • Old Market • 341-5827

the encounter | may/june 2011 9

cover story

“ B ” I always

Prize Acquisition

thought

Veteran restauranteur David Hayes takes over Old Market institution V. Mertz

by Lainey Seyler | Photos by minorwhitestudios.com

it was

Omaha’s finest

restaurant.

10 may/june 2011 | the encounter

efore David Hayes got into the restaurant business, he owned the landscaping company Lawns Unlimited for 35 years. Then wine piqued his interest and he opened The Winery across from Westroads Mall in 1985.

That started a string of culinary success that has allowed Hayes to change the landscape of the Omaha restaurant scene in the last 26 years.

After The Winery, Hayes opened Monterey Café, a southwestern restaurant. He hired Mark Hoch, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, to be the chef and took him along to open Jams, on 78th and Dodge, which Hoch now owns, and later to develop the menu for Bebo’s, another Hayes restaurant. Hayes opened Café Café, which is now Bailey’s on 120th and Pacific, B&G’s, and Back Nine, which is now Clancy’s. Recently, Hayes did some consulting work with Willy Theisen on his Pitch Pizzeria project, developing the wine menu for the Dundee restaurant.

Hayes’ latest acquisition is the Old Market institution V. Mertz. With his love for wine, it only makes sense that Hayes be the current proprietor of arguably Omaha’s foremost wine restaurant.

cover story Hayes bought the restaurant from Wesley and Eileen Stamp in November last year, and maintains that things will continue as usual under his patronage.

He said, “I always thought it was Omaha’s finest restaurant” and seems to be taking an “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” approach. Alexander Fairlie, an employee of the restaurant for 12 years, is still the general manager, while Matt Hallberg was promoted to executive chef in January this year.

The restaurant takes up a lovely bit of real estate in the downstairs corridor of the Passageway on 10th and Howard. Original owners Mark Mercer and Vera Mertz-Mercer, who own quite a few buildings in the Old Market, developed the Passageway by connecting two produce warehouses with a skylight. The restaurant is dimly lit with a little evening light creeping in through that skylight. Brick walls are simply adorned with shelves displaying only a portion the restaurant’s extensive wine collection. The small space is inviting yet intimate. White tablecloths are a quick sign of the professionalism diners have come to expect of the restaurant.

The restaurant has become well known lately for its wine service. It was a semi-finalist for a James Beard Award (the restaurant industry’s equivalent to the Oscars) in outstanding wine service in 2010. The restaurant serves a five-course and eight-course tasting menu paired with wines by sommelier David Eckler, costing $100 and $150 respectively. Chef Hallberg and Eckler change out

BLUE

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

10

$

Lunch

menu items and wines regularly, usually several per week.

Said Fairlie, “Everything remains true to the original vision.

We’re seasonally driven, and we’re devoted to local and regional organic sources.”

Of his cooking, Hallberg said, “I try to keep my food fairly simple and straightforward. I don’t like masking my food.”

Last year, the restaurant developed a $35 three-course prix fixe menu available Tuesday through Friday evenings, making dining out at a fine establishment more friendly on the pocketbook.

Simplicity aside, the menu presents classical French cuisine with fresh American interpretations. On a recent menu, foie gras comes with raisins, walnuts and a tangy gastrique sauce, and trendy pork belly appears with polenta. Classical sauces are paired with fresh ingredients to make an enticing meal. The V. Mertz pepper steak is a permanent fixture on the menu.

“I think a lot of what sets us above is the training of our staff,” Hallberg said. “We have very experienced and knowledgeable servers, and our wine list sets us apart.”

It’s that professionalism that keeps watch over the romantic corner of the Passageway, where V. Mertz has presented a beautiful meal to diners for more than three decades now.

V. Mertz is open at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Call 402.345.8980 or visit www.vmertz.com for more information.

Welcome Baseball Fans!

2 People come in for Pedi’s for the Price of One. Purses, Sunglasses, Jewelry!

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

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Historic Old Market

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416 S. 12th Street Omaha, NE 68102

16839 Wright Plaza Omaha, NE 68130

Model: Lilly Broders Photo: Dale Heise Dress: Buff Reynolds

518 S. 10th St. Old Market 402.345.0404 www.fringessalon.com the encounter | may/june 2011 11

1415 Harney Street Telephone: 402.341.7576

New Convenient Downtown Location

12 may/june 2011 | the encounter

FEATURE

WheatFields Express

“ T ” Food

and drink bring body

and soul

together.

Sweet Spots A perilous trek through downtown’s sugary underworld story by David J. Williams | photos by minorwhitestudios.com he first day off a weeklong, fat-burning, cabbage-infested soup diet found me faced with making the rounds — albeit 10 lbs. lighter — of the sweet spots in and around the Old Market. I hold the following establishments personally responsible for my disgracefull downfall, one that has me again fastening my belt one notch to the right.

If I had to gain the weight all back though, this was certainly an enjoyable way to do it.

Downtown establishments offer up some of the most delectable desserts in all of Omaha, with atmosphere to boot! Here’s just a sampling.

WheatFields Express 1202 Howard St. • www.wheatfieldscatering.com For the next six months or so, one of the most coveted seats in the Old Market will be an alfresco perch at the corner of 12th and Howard. Sure, you can commandeer one of the 111 chairs indoors at the sprawling space whose “express” label belies its roominess, but the the encounter | may/june 2011 13

feature rhythms of the Old Market are best captured at curbside.

Backed by a staggering array of cake-cookie-pie-pastry wonders, WheatFields offers what is perhaps downtown’s broadest selection of sugary temptations. And, no, it should not be considered blasphemy that they’ve taken the “wheat” out of their moniker in an increasingly popular sub-menu of gluten-free goodies.

A personal favorite? Every day can rekindle the magic of a walk-down-the-aisle affair with their Strawberry Wedding Cake, a towering opus whose etheOlsen’s Bakery real aura is akin to that of a cherubic cipher’s gossamer wings.

The translation of the adage scrawled in German that adorns the wall of the dining room, the same one that can be found at all WheatFields locations?

“Food and drink bring body and soul together.”

La Charlotte – Caniglia Pastries www.la-charlotte.com (402) 578-7946 Even if you don’t realize it, you’re most likely already familiar with Jacqui Caniglia’s alchemic wizardry.

The provenance of baked goods at such notable haunts as Dixie Quicks, Marks Bistro and Caffeine Dreams? That would be La Charlotte – Caniglia Pastries.

From catering gatherings of hundreds, to being at the ready for your most intimate of soirees, the flour-dusted folks of this family enterprise practice a decidedly European style of artistry.

It probably wasn’t a requirement for employment, but apprentice pastry chef Christine Stormberg’s resume — one that includes graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute and features showings at such prestigious venues as the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts — only adds additional layers of frosted flair in creations that are at once both simple and elegant.

My hands-down fave is the Pear Fangipane, a tart that evokes images of the Champs-Élysées. Scratch that. Is it too late to change that to the Pignoli, the pine nut-embedded Italian treat that can be found only at La Charlotte – Caniglia Pastries? Hold on, maybe it is the Lemon Vivi, named for Caniglia’s daughter, Vivian?

Now look what I’ve done! Impossible! Utterly impossible.

Bliss Old Market Bakery 1031 Jones St. • www.blissbakery.com Bliss (noun) 1. supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment 2. a cause of great joy or happiness 3. paradise, heaven 14 may/june 2011 | the encounter

‘Nuff said.

Co-located with Aroma’s coffee shop, Bliss is the home of the caketini, the clever name they coined for the shaken-not-stirred concoctions that are bite-sized portals to eternal … well, bliss.

It’s said that one should never mix liquors, but the Champagne Caketini — non sequitur aside — is a singular sensation that is perfect for whenever glasses (that’s how the caketini is displayed; in glasses) are raised in a boisterous “Cheers,” Skål, Prost, Salud or L’Chayim.

Reflecting a portion-consciousness that blends well with easily juggled, on-the-go bites, cupcakes have rocketed to the top of favorites at the cobblestone-girded bakery whose GQ (Gooeyness Quotient) has long been measured by the drips and drabs from sweet rolls and their pecan cousins.

Olsen’s Bakery 1708 S. 10th St. For more than a century, this tiny brick building south of the Old Market has been the home of glazed, sprinkled and frosted delights. The Holzapfel sign came down in 1968 after a wedding veil was lifted to merge an Austrian clan with a decidedly Irish one, but the todie-for kolaches still echo in a Teutonic legacy that lingers like the sticky sweetness you’ll be licking from your fingers with every visit.

Just as the glass-encased, multi-tiered display carousel stopped working in a bygone millennia, the homey, chotchkisplattered friendliness of this family bakery is a throwback to an earlier and simpler time, one when dungarees were anything but skinny, Chuck Taylors were relegated to the playground and Pabst Blue Ribbon had yet to attain a cult status.

Look for the neon “Open” sign as it flickers to life every morning at 7 a.m. Make that a more relaxed 7-ish. Baking, after all, is an art, not a science.

Nosh, Nibble and Nip And don’t forget these other sweet spots … Rub elbows with hipsters, college students and night crawlers of all stripes when the Donut Stop (1256 South 13th St.) opens (that’s right, I said opens) at 10 p.m. … Check out the thousands of candies, including such retro favorites as Necco Wafers and Peeps, at Fairmont Antique & Mercantile - Omaha’s Ultimate Store (1209 Jackson St.) … Wash it all down with an exotic Green Tea with Brown Rice at the Omaha Healing Arts Center, 1216 Howard St.

DOWNTOWN ART

“ A ” Hot Shops is a place where you can see where the art is made.

Works in Progress Hot Shops’ open house allows visitors to see artworks come to life story by Niz Proskocil | photo by minorwhitestudios.com rt lovers can view paintings, pottery and sculpture at museums. They can purchase artwork at galleries and gift shops. But at Omaha’s Hot Shops Art Center, visitors can enjoy a different kind of art experience.

People of all ages gather to watch as artists pour bronze, forge iron, create paintings, fire clay, shape metal and blow glass. Those demonstrations, along with a variety of live music and other activities, all happen at the Hot Shops’ biennial open house.

“At museums and galleries, you only see the finished work. You never feel the heat from the glass furnace, never watch a painting develop,” says managing partner Tim Barry. “Hot Shops is a place where you can see where the art is made. You see tools, the process.”

A fixture of Omaha’s north downtown, the art center at 1301 Nicholas St. will host its 10th Annual Spring Open House on April 30 and May 1. Free and open to the public, the celebration has become the Hot Shops’ biggest event.

Barry expects crowds of roughly 7,000 visitors over both days. Throughout the weekend, artists open their studios to the public, discuss their work, display their latest creations, and the encounter | may/june 2011 15

downtown art sell their paintings, jewelry, photography, ceramics, glassware and other items.

The open house runs from noon to 8 p.m. April 30 and noon to 5 p.m. May 1. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be available in many of the individual artists studios. Local musicians will perform throughout the day.

Established in 1999 and spanning 92,000 square feet, the venue includes 56 art studios, four anchor hot shops, four art galleries and various exhibition spaces. About 70 artists rent studios in the facility, where they work, cultivate relationships with other artists and draw inspiration from one another.

“It really has developed into a community,” Barry says. “They can come and do what they’re passionate about.”

By the end of 2001, all studios at the center were occupied, and the facility has been full ever since. About 40 artists are on a waiting list for studio spaces.

Iowa painter Dar Vande Voort has spent the past 11 years at the Hot Shops. Her third-floor studio is part workspace, part showroom.

“I relish my time over there,” Vande Voort says. “I love learning from other artists. Being around like-minded people really pushes your own envelope.”

That interaction and inspiration is something Gerry Klein, a fused-glass artist from Omaha, says she wouldn’t get from work-

ing at home.

“At home you’re not presented with the opportunities that exist here,” says Klein, who creates colorful bowls, dishes, jewelry and other objects at her Hot Shops studio. “You’re influenced by the work of others on a daily basis.”

That’s just one of the aspects that makes the Hot Shops special, says nationally known Omaha sculptor Leslie Bruning, one of the center’s founding members.

The idea for the facility stemmed from a desire to have a concentration of artist studios, a place to create and nurture a “critical mass” of local artists, Bruning says.

“When you do have a critical mass, you begin to work off of each other and see what other people do,” he says. “You get challenged on a daily basis. It increases your creative juices. I think it’s been very successful on that front.”

Another mission of the Hot Shops was to help artists gain exposure and generate sales of their work. For many years, Bruning says, local artists were largely viewed as “entertainment” or “someone just having a good time.” But that perception has changed over time.

“They were not conceived as a professional, not conceived as a worker in any sense,” he says. “I think we’ve come a long way.”

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The talk is over and the time has come for Downtown Omaha to host its first College World Series. The benefits of having this event downtown are obvious: close proximity to hotels, bars, restaurants, thousands of parking spaces, public parks and other event venues and attractions. But it will be the less obvious characteristics that will enable Downtown Omaha to further strengthen our city’s defining event.

Only in Downtown Omaha can you find local musicians playing on the sidewalks and internationally known musicians playing sold-out shows at the Qwest Center. You can buy locally grown produce at the Farmers Market and enjoy fine dining across the street. Small business owners sell their goods in the same neighborhood as Fortune 500 companies. It’s in Downtown Omaha where the natural beauty of the Missouri River meets Omaha’s historical roots within the Old Market, and the future of our city is celebrated at TD Ameritrade Park.

With everything that Downtown Omaha can provide, our success will ultimately be defined by the same hospitality, kindness and welcoming nature that Omahans are known for. We look forward to embracing this event, welcoming baseball fans to Downtown Omaha, and continuing the great tradition that is the College World Series.

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. the encounter | may/june 2011 23

FEATURE

“

I came

The Aura of a New Era

down to

With its stadium lights casting an impressive presence, TD Ameritrade Park begins its run as the new home of the College World Series. The following is a glimpse at what the new stadium has to offer.

drive around and walk around for about an hour one night just to

”

get the full impact.

24 may/june 2011 | the encounter

by Corey Ross | photo by minorwhitestudios.com

T

he process is called a “burn-in.”

That’s the period when newly installed stadium lights are turned on and allowed to normalize.

At the new TD Ameritrade Park in north downtown Omaha, the burn-in took place in February, over President’s Day weekend.

Already an impressive structure, comprised of 2,950 tons of structural steel and 500,000 bricks, the $128 million stadium took on a new life, says MECA President/CEO Roger Dixon, when the stadium lights came on. The jolt of electricity carried through 86 miles of electric cable expanded the stadium’s presence and gave the first glimpse of the aura of a new era for sports in Omaha.

Dixon, and many other visitors to downtown that weekend for events, such as the state wrestling champions, found the view captivating.

“What was interesting about the burn-in was they did it in a time frame where we had a haze, so there was a nice glow about it. They did that for about a week and the comments we got were very positive,” Dixon says.

“I came down to drive around and walk around for about an hour one night just to get the full impact.

The first action under the lights came in mid-April, but most will recognize the new stadium’s arrival in June when it begins the first of the 25 years it’s contracted to be the new home of the College World Series. (This year’s series is June 18-29.)

Dixon says the stadium has already scored big points with visitors, who now have the

feature ballpark sitting at 10th and Cuming St. to greet them.

“People coming in from the airport and seeing our campus for the first time can’t believe this is Omaha,” he says. “It’s not a major league baseball, nor is it a minor league baseball park. It’s a hybrid.”

That said, Dixon plans for a fan experience closer to major league.

“I don’t think people are going to realize until they actually see the inside of the facility how nice it’s going to be,” he says.

Foremost among the fan-friendly amenities are: a concourse that allows for a 360-degree view of the stadium; wide concourses that range from 24 feet to 45 feet, much wider than Rosenblatt Stadium; a high-resolution scoreboard that is 34-feet tall by 55feet wide; a cup holder in each seat; and legroom of 36 inches in infield seats, 34 in the outfield; and a back to traditional outfield bench seating.

Per NCAA requirement, Dixon says, the stadium can accommodate 24,000 fans. That’s only 1,000 more than Rosenblatt, yet somehow TD Ameritrade seems much bigger.

“People didn’t realize how massive a 24,000-seat structure is when you’re outside looking in,” Dixon says.

While sheer size undoubtedly makes the stadium the dominate feature in north downtown, Dixon says the structure’s brick façade helps it blend nicely with existing businesses and structures.

“The urban look fits within the campus, within the neighborhood,” he says.

The neighborhood presents the greatest unknown to how the series will evolve and is perhaps the question most pertinent to the fan experience. Saying it’s “anybody’s guess” as to how things will shape up around the stadium, Dixon does venture that it will be a more controlled environment than existed around Rosenblatt.

“We were concerned there’d be beer tents thrown up all over the place,” Dixon says. “Working through the city and CWS, Inc., we know there’s going to be hospitality, but it won’t be just walkin, like 13th Street at Rosenblatt.

“I still think there will be a carnival-like atmosphere, but it won’t be to the degree we saw at Rosenblatt.”

By moving the series downtown, Dixon says the Old Market

will undoubtedly be a bigger player in the CWS experience.

“Why wouldn’t it be? I think what you’re going to find is that people will park in the Old Market area and walk over, because most of the (5,000 parking spaces) around the stadium are going to be taken up by season ticket holders,” he says.

Old Market parking will be more of a challenge for daytime games, but Dixon expects solutions will evolve.

“Parking will be a challenge for the first year because of the newness. But I think as things progress, everybody is going to find their own route in to the park.”

Dixon expects that the combined benefits of the draw of the new stadium and the benefits of being downtown will take the CWS to a new level.

“Just the fact that the series is now in a downtown area is going to raise the atmosphere. I think a lot more people are going to use shuttle services and people staying downtown will walk. I think it’ll add to the vibrance of the event.”

And stadium planners and the NCAA are fully expecting the series to grow. The stadium’s 24,000 seats are planned to expand to 34,000 in the future, but Dixon says that timeline is unknown.

“We’ll have to grow into it. Could you sell 10,000 now? Probably. But is the cost worth it?

“The priority now is to get the stadium up, and it’s a 25-year agreement. We’ve got a long time.”

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the encounter | may/june 2011 25

DOWNTOWN FACE

“

While I Jeff Jorgensen have loved Three businesses keep Tannenbaum owner hopping

by Wendy Townley | photo by minorwhitestudios.com everywhere I eff Jorgensen is a familiar face in the Old Market. Most days, you’ll find him hard at work in one of the three businesses the busy entrepreneur owns in the shopping district: Tannenbaum, Old Market Candy Shop and Old Market Sundries. have lived, Jorgensen is a big proponent of finding new uses for old spaces, and he has had a front-row to the growth and development of the Old Market in the 25 years since moving back to I have to seat his hometown. Many might say he’s played a big role in the Market’s resurgence.

“I love old property. I love historic preservation. I love adaptive re-use,” he explains. “The say that Old Market is adaptive re-use. There is nothing you could do to the buildings to cause the fruit and vegetable wholesalers to move back. They don’t want to be here anymore. What you do with these old buildings to give them new life and to create an active place where I do love dopeople want to be? That is the shops, the restaurants, the taverns that make the Old Market and downtown such a fun place to be.” being A Central High School and University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate, Jorgensen developed an interest in community and economic development while in college. First, he worked for home. the State of Nebraska, followed by opportunities in Scottsbluff and Gering, Neb.

”

26 may/june 2011 | the encounter

J

Networking and subsequent conversations brought Jorgensen back to Omaha to oversee an economic development program for Black Hills Energy.

“While I have loved everywhere I have lived — mostly across Nebraska and for a year in Denver — I have to say that I do love being home,” Jorgensen says from an Old Market cof-

feature fee shop that offers an expansive view of the area’s historic buildings, colorful characters and brick streets.

In 1996, a phone call from a friend landed Jorgensen as coowner of Tannenbaum, a Christmas décor store at 10th and Howard Streets. It became a part-time hobby for Jorgensen, who worked at Tannenbaum one night a week and on the weekends while still maintaining his full-time job with Black Hills Energy.

Jorgensen anticipated working in economic development for the duration of his career, but company reorganization changed his plans. He next considered his options: looking for a new economic development job, rehabbing old buildings, or even taking his rental property business full time.

“I suppose I always had an interest in owning a business,” Jorgensen says. “A lot of what economic developers do is help people start businesses or expand businesses or find new locations for their new businesses. I have been in the position of helping other people do that, and to do it myself seemed exciting.”

When the dust of his unexpected career change had settled, Jorgensen put all of efforts into Tannenbaum and started working there full time. It was a rewarding experience that only grew when, in 2002, the Old Market Candy Shop, Tannenbaum’s nextdoor neighbor, went up for sale.

Jorgensen purchased the candy store, which had been an Old Market staple since 1977, and asked a friend and part-time Tan-

nenbaum employee to manage the day-to-day operations.

And just two years later, in 2004, Jorgensen purchased his third Old Market business: Sundries, located next door to the Old Market Candy Shop.

Since purchasing Tannenbaum, Jorgensen says he’d watched six or seven businesses rotate through the Sundries’ spot.

“The shop turnover is not good for business,” Jorgensen says.

At the time, Jorgensen wasn’t certain what his third business would become, but he sought ideas from fellow business owners throughout the Old Market, the majority active in the Old Market Business Association and the Downtown Omaha Improvement District. The answer was heard several times over: “People wanted a hotel gift shop without the hotel.”

A number of hotels are within walking distance of the Old Market, but none offer all of the small necessities that travelers request most often. Sundries addresses that problem, Jorgensen says. Its name is derived from its definition: “items too numerous to list.”

Jorgensen says owning three businesses that are physically adjacent to each other is of great help and support to them all, creating an undeniable synergy that’s ideal for business.

Jorgensen says he loves working in the Old Market, and today calls the “old part” of Omaha’s Little Italy home. It’s the history of both neighborhoods that he finds so appealing.

Join Us in Helping an Old Friend!

If you have visited the Old Market you have probably seen him whistling to himself while cheerfully shoveling snow from the sidewalks or planting the petunias in the roof top flower boxes that have become such a hallmark of spring in the Old Market. “He is more than just our maintenance man”, said Emily Wynn owner of Souq, ltd.

“He has become a very dear friend. And I know I am not alone in saying that.”

Paul Dreher, long time Old Market maintenance worker, lost his leg to cancer in December. The Old Market community and family and friends of Paul are planning a fundraiser to help with medical expenses.

Please join us : Sunday June 5th from noon to 3:00 p.m at IRIE 302 South 11th Street • Omaha, NE 68102 • 402-504-4901 For a $10 donation you will enjoy food provided by many of the fabulous Old Market restaurants, live music and chances to win amazing prizes, one of which is an extravagant weekend in the Old Market.

“We just want to help Paul get back out there fishing with his grandchildren. If you knew him you would know how important that is.”

— Emily Wynn, Owner of Souq, Ltd. the encounter | may/june 2011 27

CONDO LIFE

“ D ” Our goal is to collect more art.

28 may/june 2011 | the encounter

Art is Their Décor An array of unique works adorn the Culver condo

by Judy Horan | photos by minorwhitestudios.com

r. Debra Reilly-Culver and Bob Culver use art as a decorating tool in their Old Market condo. Take the walls, for example: Muralist Craig Lee was hired to recreate two pages out of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony for walls in Bob’s art studio. “I love Beethoven,” says Debra.

A Japanese water garden on a wall above a bathtub in the master bath, and a golden heart mural in the guest bath also are Lee‘s work. Even the cat door is artwork. Lee framed the tiny entrance with flowers for sleek felines Mimi and Rosie.

The couple wanted to display paintings without cutting into the brick walls. So they hung the artwork on almost-invisible wires that are suspended from a track along the wood beam ceiling.

Artwork on display represents some well-known local artists’ names: A Karen Kunc print. A Jun Kaneko ceramic wall hanging. Artist Debbie Masuoka’s signature ceramic

condo life

With the most delectable

contemporary american cuisine in the Old Market, V.Mertz has something for everyone. $35, Three-Course Prix Fixe Menu, Tues. - Fri. Artisan Cheese • Award Winning Wine List Old Market Passageway • 1022 Howard St. Reservations Recommended • Call 402.345.8980 Reservations Online • www.vmertz.com Executive Chef Mathew Hallberg Pastry Chef Greg Pearsall Certified Sommelier David Eckler Proprietor David Hayes General Manager Alexander Fairlie

rabbit head that stands five feet tall. “Our goal is to collect more art,” Bob said. And you wonder where they’ll put it.

Bob is on the board of the Bemis Center and Nebraska Arts Council. Debra serves on the Opera Omaha board. The opera brought them together.

They married four years ago, and Bob moved into the condo that Debra bought when it was a shell. Omaha designer Jan Buckingham merged their living styles into a beautifully decorated home.

The great room flows from studio to kitchen to dining to living.

An extra beam was installed to hold the heavy weight of an antique crystal and brass chandelier that hangs above the dining table.

“Fire and ice” is the name of an unusual two-way fireplace (shared by the living area and master bedroom). Flames spurt through layers of small bits of shiny safety glass.

A former Los Angeles resident, Debra tired of maintaining a home and driving long distances. She now has a short drive to the University of Nebraska Medical Center where she is a reconstructive plastic surgeon and heads up the burn unit. Bob is a vice president with Lincoln Financial Group.

Bob, who has a degree in art, created the landscapes that line the wall at the entryway. Portraits he created of his son, Chris, and daughter, Ashley, hang in his studio. the encounter | may/june 2011 29

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H8 Morse Coe Building,

H7 Hotel Howard, 1909

1886-1887

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1879

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1880-1881

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Building, 1880

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1885-1889

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NORTH/SOUTH NUMBERS 10-19 (NUMBERS 1-9 ON PAGE 32)

Merchants Attractions OLD MARKET / DOWNTOWN / RIVERFRONT

ANTIQUES Antiques & Fine Art...C14. .......................402.341.9942 Fairmont Antique Mall...E17.....................402.345.1778 Joe’s Collectibles...F16 ........................... 402.612.1543 Second Chance Antiques...F16............... 402.346.4930

BOOK STORES

Dr.Ritch Miller DC (2111 Douglas) ............ 402.345.7500 Heartland Pathology A14 .........................402.346.0195 Old Market Massage ...E15 (OM Center) .. 402.850.6651 Omaha Dental Spa (At the Loft) F16 ......... 402.505.4424 Omaha Yoga School...G15 ....................... 402.346.7813 The Downtown Dentist...E15 ................... 402.342.3901

Lotus ...E16 ........................................... 402.346.8080 Nebraska Clothing Co...G15 ...................402.346.6114 Nouvelle Eve...F15...................................402.345.4811 Overland Outfitters...G16 ....................... 402.345.2900 The Souq Ltd...G15. ............................... 402.342.2972 Trocadero...E15...................................... 402.934.8389

Physical Therapy East & West Physical Therapy...E15 ......... 402.345.5078 Psychotherapy, EMDR, Hypnotherapy Jannette Davis, MS, CST G13 ................. 402.341.2230 Cynthia Duggin, MSW, LCSW E15 ........... 402.345.5078 Bobby Escolas, CMHT (Hypnotherapist)..... 402.990.2979 Jeff Stormberg, PhD C14 ........................402.393.0642 Tim Swisher, MHR, LMHP, LADC G13...... 402.341.2230 Pharmacy Depot Drug C11...................... 402.544.DRUG Life Coach, Transpersonal Psych., Herbalist,Biopulsar Tm Analyst Chanell Jaramillo E15 ........... 402.689.0905

DOWNTOWN HOTELS

MIDTOWN CROSSING

Jackson Street Booksellers...F17 ............402.341.2664 New Realities Books & Gifts...G15 ...........402.342.1863 Soul Desires Books & Coffee...F16 ........ 402.898.7600

CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES

Courtyard by Marriott...H12 ....................402.346.2200 DoubleTree Hotel...B/C10......................... 402.346.7600 Embassy Suites Hotel...H16.................... 402.346.9000 Fairfield Inn and Suites C2 ........................ 402.280.1516 Hampton Inn E2 ......................................402.345.5500 Hilton Convention Center Hotel G7 ..........402.998.3400 Hilton Garden Inn...C2 ............................ 402.341.4400 Holiday Inn E2 ..........................................402.341.0124 Homewood Suites D2 ............................. 402.345.5100 Magnolia Hotel... A16 ..............................402.342.2222

HOME FURNISHINGS Sugar Daddy’s...F15................................ 402.341.3930 Habitat Restore (24th & Leavenworth)........402.342.0044 Julia Russell ...F12 .................................. 402.891.0691 Room...G15............................................. 402.342.7666 Zongkers Custom Woods (S. 3rd St.) ........ 402.344.7784

GALLERIES Hot Shops Art Center-1301 Gallery D2 ... 402.342.6452 Artists’ Cooperative Gallery G15 ..............402.342.9617 Bemis Ctr.for Contemporary Arts.. E18 ... 402.341.7130 Fred Simon Gallery...G13 .........................402.595.2122 Garden Of The Zodiac...G15 .................... 402.341.1877 Images of Nature...G14 ...........................402.341.8460 Anderson O’Brien Fine Art F16 ................402.884.0911 Julia Russell ...F12 ..................................402.891.0691 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

HEALTH SERVICES

The Afternoon...W23 ...............................402.933.3809 Blanc Burgers + Bottles...V23 .................402.502.3686 Callahan Financial Planning...V23 ............ 402.341.2000 Cantina Laredo...W21 .............................402.345.6000 Coldstone Creamery/ Rocky Mountain Chocolate...X22............. 402.505.4192 CRAVE...W22..........................................402.345.9999 Delice European Bakery...W23 ................402.505.9500 Fashion Cleaners...X22 ............................402.916.1987 Glo Lounge...X23 .................................... 402.342.4505 The Grey Plume...W22 ............................ 402.763.4447 Ingredient...X23 ...................................... 402.715.4444 Loft 610...W22 .......................................402.885.6800 Marcus Midtown Cinema...X23 ............... 402.345.0102 Parliament Pub...W21 ............................. 402.934.3301 Republic of Couture...W22 ...................... 402.933.7555 Three Dog Bakery...X23 .......................... 402.509.9237 Tru Salon & Spa...X22 .............................402.933.8988 Element by Westin...X21 ......................... 402.614.8080 Wohlner’s Neighborhood Grocery and Deli...X21 ......................................... 402.551.6875 Verizon Wireless by Z Wireless ...X23 ....... 402.991.1180

MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS Omaha Children’s Museum (500 S. 20th) . 402.342.6164 The Durham...H19................................... 402.444.5071 Joslyn Art Museum... (2200 Dodge) ..........402.342.3300 Henry Doorly Zoo... (3701 So 10th St) ........ 402.733.8401 Lauritzen Gardens... (100 Bancroft) ...........402.346.4002 Ollie the Trolley ....................................... 402.597.3596 Omaha Symphony Assoc. A16 .................402.342.3560 Qwest Center Omaha H7 ..........................402.341.1500 Ticket Omaha www.ticketomaha.org .......402.345.0606

Acupunture Omaha Healing Arts 1216 Howard E15 .... 402.345.5078 OLD MARKET PROPERTIES Ellen Zinn L.Ac E15. ................................ 402.345.5078 902 Dodge Condos G11 ...........................402.215.7118 Dr.David Bole L.Ac. E15 .......................... 402.345.5078 Brandeis Building A13 .............................402.345.6564 Farnam 1600 Building (1905 Harney St.) ...402.342.1616 Grubb/Ellis Pacific Realty F15 .................402.345.5866 Ayurvedic Healing (both at Omaha Healing Arts Center) Dr.Rajesh Kotecha E15 ........................... 402.345.5078 Harney Street ApartmentsG18 ..................402.934.7510 Joyce Librunner LMT E15 ........................402.740.0366 Old Market Lofts...K3 .............................. 402.346.1000 Riverfront Place C14 ............................... 402.397.4837 Shamrock Development/ Massage Therapy (all at Omaha Healing Arts Center) Sandy Aquila LMT...E15 ......................... 402.345.5078 Paxton Building C14 ................................ 402.934.7711 Lisa Christensen LMT...E15 .................... 402.850.6651 Skinner Macaroni Apartments...D17 ........402.346.2346 Joyce Linbrunner LMT E15 ......................402.740.0366 The Cornerstone ApartmentsF15............. 402.346.0510 Tara Thompson LMT E15.........................402.706.7398 The Greenhouse Apts...H13..................... 402.341.3200 Julia Beutler LMT E15 ................................................... TipTop Building...C2.................................402.345.8000 Rachel Andress LMT E15 ..............................................

Kirstin Kluver LMT E15 .................................................. PUBS & TAVERNS Bar 415...E15.......................................... 402.346.7455 BarryO’s ...G15 ....................................... 402.341.8032 Medical Commercial Optical Co....E16 ..................402.344.0219 Billy Frogg’s Grille & Bar...F15 ................. 402.341.4427 Creighton Family Healthcare ...D19 ........ 402.280.5500 Dubliner Pub...E15 .................................. 402.342.5887 Downtown Chiropractic (2111 Douglas)..... 402.345.7500 Eat the Worm...E16 ..................................402.614.4240 Derek Fender, DDS...E15........................ 402.342.3901 Embassy Suites Old Market...H16............402.346.9000 Dr.James Polerecky DDS C15 .................... 402.341.7576 Farrell’s Bar & 9th St.Deli H11 ................ 402.884.8818

the encounter | may/june 2011 31

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32 may/june 2011 | the encounter S. 34 St

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Qwest Center Omaha

Merchants Attractions OLD MARKET / DOWNTOWN / RIVERFRONT

Havana Garage Cigar Bar...G15 ............... 402.871.9528 Irie...F14 ................................................. 402.504.4901 J.D.Tucker’s Bar...G15............................. 402.934.5190 Jackson St.Tavern...F14 .......................... 402.991.5637 Julio’s...D16............................................402.345.6921 La Buvette Wine & Grocery...G16 ............402.344.8627 M’s Pub...F15 .........................................402.342.2550 Mr.Toad’s...G15.......................................402.345.4488 Myth Lounge...F16 ..................................402.884.6985 Nomad Lounge...G18 ............................... 402.884-1231 Nosh Wine G11 ........................................402.614.2121 O’Connor’s Irish Pub...E16 ...................... 402.934.9790 Old Chicago...F15 .................................... 402.341.1616 Old Market Tavern...G16...........................402.341.0191 Old Mattress Factory E6 .......................... 402.346.9116 Rock Bottom Brewery...F15 ..................... 402.614.9333 Sake Bombers @ Blue...E15....................402.408.5566 Slowdown D4 .......................................... 402.345.7569 The Stadium Club Sports Bar & Grill G15 ..402.359.1290 Stokes Bar & Grill...F15 ...........................402.408.9000 T Henery’s Pub...F14 ............................... 402.345.3651 The French Cafe...G16 ............................ 402.341.3547 The Underground...G16 ........................... 402.341.3547 Union Pizzeria & Sports Bar C2 ............. 402.932.2929 UpstreamBrewing Co...F16......................402.344.0200 Urban Wine Company...G18.....................402.934.0005 Waters Edge Lounge @ Embassy Suites...H16 .............................402.346.9000

RESTAURANTS 801 Chophouse at the Paxton...C14 .........402.341.1222 Ahmad’s...G15 .........................................402.341.9616 Billy Frogg’s Grille & Bar...F15 ................. 402.341.4427 Blue Sushi Sake Grille...E15 ....................402.408.5566 The Boiler Room...F17 ..............................402.916.9274 The Diner...F15 ....................................... 402.341.9870 Eat the Worm...E16 ..................................402.614.4240 Falling Water Grille@ Embassy Ste. H16 ..402.346.9000 Farrells Bar...H11..................................... 402.884.9947 Flatiron Cafe... (17th & Howard) .................402.344.3040 The French Cafe...G16 ............................ 402.341.3547 Hiro 88...D16 ..........................................402.933-5168 House of Lee...E16 ................................. 402.991.9330 Indian Oven...G15 ................................... 402.342.4856 Jackson St.Tavern...F17 .......................... 402.991.5637 Joe Banana’s (1022 S.10th St.)................. 402.346.7227 Julio’s...D16............................................402.345.6921 La Buvette Wine & Grocery...G16 ............402.344.8627 Liberty Tavern G7 ................................... 402.998.4321 Little King...E16 ......................................402.344.2264 M’s Pub...F15 .........................................402.342.2550 Matsu Sushi...G14...................................402.346.3988 Michael’s at the Market...F14 .................. 402.346.1205 Nicola’s...E16 ..........................................402.345.8466 O Casual Dining & Lounge...G14 .............. 402.502.7888 O’Connors Irish Pub...E16 ....................... 402.934.9790 Old Chicago...F15 ................................... 402.341.1616 Omaha Prime...G15 ................................. 402.341.7040 Passport Restaurant...F17 ......................402.344.3200 Rick’s Cafe Boatyard K7 ..........................402.345.4545 Rock Bottom Tap Room...F15 .................. 402.614.9333 Roja Old Market...E14 .............................402.346.9190 Spaghetti Works...F16............................. 402.422.0770 Spencer’s (at Hilton Garden Inn) G12 ..........402.280.8888 The Stadium Club Sports Bar & Grill G15 ..402.359.1290 Stokes Bar & Grill…F15 ..........................402.408.9000 Subway...E15 ...........................................402.341.8814 Sullivan’s Steakhouse B13 ....................... 402.342.0077 Trini’s...G15 ............................................402.346.8400 Twisted Fork...G15. .................................402.932.9600 Upstream Brewing Co....F16....................402.344.0200 V.Mertz...G15..........................................402.345.8980 Vincenzo’s Ristorante...E15 ..................... 402.342.4010 Vivace...F15 ............................................402.342.2050 Wheatfields Express...F15 ........................402.991.0917 Zio’s Pizzeria...F16. .................................402.344.2222

SPECIALTY FOODS & COFFEE 13th Street Coffee C0....E16 ...................402.345.2883 Aromas...G18.......................................... 402.614.7009 Bliss Bakery...G18 ................................... 402.934.7450 Cubby’s Old Market Grocery...E17 ........... 402.341.2900 Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream...E16 ................ 402.933.5280 Old Market Candy Shop...G16 .................402.344.8846 Old Market Tea House...E16 ....................402.934.8538 Patrick’s Market...C15............................. 402.884.1600 Soul Desires Books & Coffee...G16 .......... 402.898.7600 Ted & Wally’s Ice Cream...F16 ................. 402.341.5827

SPECIALTY SHOPS Ashley Collectibles...E15 ......................... 402.934.3100 Big Brain Productions...F17 .....................402.342.2885 Cibola of Omaha...G16 .............................402.342.1200 City Limits...F16 ...................................... 402.345.3570 Cornerstone Gem & Bead Co....E16 .........402.346.4367 Drastic Plastic...E16 ................................402.346.8843 DSR Power Sports...E15 ...........................402.991.1383 Etc. Whimsical Gifts...G16 .......................402.342.2846 Garden Flowers...G16. ............................ 402.614.5661 Garden Of The Zodiac...G15 .....................402.341.1877 Goldsmith Silversmith...G16 .....................402.342.1737 Homer’s Records...E15............................402.346.0264 Iron Decor & More...F16 .......................... 402.346.6123 Jay Welter Cigars... (18th & Jackson) ......... 402.345.1965 Kessler’s...F17 ........................................ 402.715.5888 New Realities Books & Gifts...G15 ........... 402.342.1863 OM Gifts & Imports...E15 ........................ 402.345.5078 Overland Outfitters...G16 ........................402.345.2972 Perspective Jewelry...E15........................ 402.934.4416 Red Square...G15 .................................... 402.342.8878 SG Roi Tobacconist...G16 ........................ 402.341.9264 Souq Ltd...G15 ........................................ 402.342.2972 Tannenbaum Christmas Shop...G16.........402.345.9627 Trocadero…E15..................................... 402.934-8389

SERVICES At the Loft Spa...F16 ............................... 402.505.4100 Michael Boyle, Attorney...F16 .................. 402.359.1000 Commercial Optical...E16 ........................ 402.344.0219 Don Fiedler Law Offices...C14 .................402.346.6263 First National Bank...F16 ......................... 402.885-2574 Fringes Salon & Spa...G16.......................402.345.0404 Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce...D15 .................

402.346.5000 Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau G14 402.444.4660 Hair Market Salon...G14. .........................402.345.3692 J P Cooke Rubber Stamps...D16...............402.342.7175 Kempo Karate (1907 Farnam St.) ..............402.905.6865 Klein Law Offices...H16 ............................402.391.1871 Magical Journeys Carriage Service...G15 402.453.6745 Movers Not Shakers H13 ......................... 402.614.9770 Old Market Car Wash...D18 ..................... 402.393.2819 Old Market Encounter .............................402.884.2000 Old Market Web Site .......................www.oldmarket.com Omaha Healing Arts Center...E15 ............ 402.345.5078 Omaha Public Library...C13 .....................402.444.4800 Pinnacle Bank...G12 ................................ 402.346.9180 Security National Bank...G16 ................... 402.344.7300 Sirens...F16 ............................................402.933.9333 Stinson, Morrison, Hecker LLP...E14 .........402.342.1700 Urbane Salon & Spa...D15 .......................402.934.2909 Susie’s Baskets...D14 ............................. 402.341.4650 Sutera Law Offices...F15 ......................... 402.342.3100 Visions Custom Framing Studio...E17 ...... 402.342.0020

◆ ALFREDO ◆ 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

THEATRES & ENTERTAINMENT Blue Barn Theater...F17............................402.345.1576 FilmStreams...D4 .................................. 402.933-0259 Holland Performing Arts Center E12 .........402.345.0606 Omaha Symphony... A16 ..........................402.342.3836 Opera Omaha... A14 .................................402.346.4398 Orpheum Theater... A15............................402.345.0606 The Rose... (20th & Farnam) ......................402.345.4849

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

the encounter | may/june 2011 33

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Pinnacle Bank would like to welcome you downtown. owntown.

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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Omaha Magazine calendar of events

ONGOING EVENTS Through 5/1: The 4th Annual Omaha Health, Wellness & Fitness Expo—The Mind - Body - Spirit Fair. Omaha Civic Auditorium. The premier event in the city and the Midwest for health, wellness and fitness! Beauty, nutrition, free health review, retirement, retirement living, healthy eating and cooking, and so much more! Sat., April 30 -- 11 am to 5 pm, and Sun., May 1 -- 11 am to 4 pm. Free Admission. For more info, visit www.omahahealthandwellness. com.

Through 5/1: Les Miserables.

Orpheum Theater, Slosburg Hall. Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical, LES MISÉRABLES, with glorious new staging and spectacular reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.

The London Times hails the new show “a five star hit, astonishingly powerful.” The Western Mail says “an outstanding success

– the est version yet.”

Tickets $30-$78. For more info, visit www. omahaperformingarts.org

mission for members is free. For more information visit www. omahabotanicalgardends.org.

Through 5/8: The Glory of Ukraine. Joslyn Art Museum. The Glory of Ukraine is a two-part exhibition that forms an unprecedented celebration of the spiritual and national treasures of this large Eastern European nation. Icons and other religious objects from the famous churches, cathedrals, bell towers, and underground caverns of the nearly 1,000-yearold Monastery of the Caves join artifacts of ancient civilizations from the private PlaTar collection for a visually rich and historically intriguing presentation. 2200 Dodge St. 342-3300. More info at www.joslyn.org.

Through 5/8: Indoor Spring Flower Show.

Lauritzen Gardens.

This year’s spring flower show greets visitors with a tropical jungle featuring a huge pool and waterfall surrounded by flowering orchids, bromeliads and more mixed with popular spring blooms like tulips and daffodils.

Tickets: $3 for children, $7 for adults. Ad-

Through 5/15: “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” The Rose Theater. Alexander is having a bad day. It’s a terrible day. It’s a horrible day. To be quite honest, it’s a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. America’s feistiest storybook character wakes up with gum in his hair; his mom forgets to pack him dessert; and just when the day can’t get any worse, his best friend decides he’s not his best friend anymore! Tickets free for members, $16 for non-members. Visit www.rosetheater.org for more information.

Through 5/29: From Houdini to Hugo: The Art of Brian Selznick. Joslyn Art Museum. Step into Brian Selznick’s world with images of characters as diverse as the great Houdini, wordsmith Walt Whitman, celebrated singer Marian Anderson, and Hugo Cabret — an orphan who lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station. From Houdini to Hugo includes over

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100 original drawn and painted pictures from 17 books, among them: The Houdini Box, Barnyard Prayers, Walt Whitman: Words for America, The Doll People, Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, Our House, When Marian Sang, The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins, and Frindle.

2200 Dodge St. 3423300. More info at www.joslyn.org.

Through 7/10: CAPTURE THE MOMENT:THE PULITZER PRIZE PHOTOGRAPHS. The Durham Museum.

Created by the Newseum, Capture the Moment: The Pulitzer Prize Photographs, is a dramatic display of award-winning Pulitzer photography.

From the poignant shot of an ailing Babe Ruth watching his number being retired at Yankee Stadium, to the U.S. Marines raising an American flag atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, the photographs illustrate the enduring power of the still image. The exhibit includes each of the photographers and photo staffs who have won the prize since the Pulitzer board began awarding it to photographers in 1942. The Durham Museum, 801

S. 10 St. 444-5071. For more info, visit www. durhammuseum.org.

MAY 5/6: National Public Gardens Day. Lauritzen Gardens. Lauritzen Gardens, along with many other public gardens across the United States, will celebrate National Public Gardens Day. It is viewed as the unofficial beginning of the gardening season.

Visitors to Lauritzen Gardens on this day will enjoy free admission and an opportunity to learn about the various offerings the garden provides throughout the year.

For more information, visit www.omahabotanicalgardends.org.

5/6: Them Idiots Whirled Tour. Qwest Center Arena. Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, and Bill Engvall. Jeff Foxworthy is widely known for his redneck jokes, and his act goes well beyond to explore the humor in everyday family interactions and human nature. Bill Engvall is known for one of his biggest selling comedy albums and DVDs, Here’s Your Sign. Larry The Cable Guy has his signature catchphrase, “Git-RDone” and continues

to sell out theaters and arenas throughout North America.

Tickets: $59.50 available at all Ticketmaster locations.

Visit www.qwestcenteromaha.com for more information.

5/7-10/15: Omaha Farmer’s Market.

Every Saturday in the Old Market, Every Sunday at Aksarben Village. Every year from the beginning of May through mid-October, over 10,000 shoppers visit Omaha Farmers Market for fresh produce, smoked meats, canned jams, gourmet baked-goods, colorful flower stems and basically everything under the sun. For more information visit www. omahafarmersmarket. org.

5/8: Mother’s Day Brunch.

Lauritzen Gardens. The garden offers a relaxing environment for any mother or grandmother to enjoy her special day. She will be treated to delicious food, botanical beauty and family togetherness.

Visit www.omahabotanicalgardens.org for more information.

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5/10: Bob Seger.

Qwest Center Arena.

There is a signature richness and power to the music that Bob Seger has been making for four decades, and as succeeding generations have discovered those qualities, his reputation as an artist and songwriter has only grown. His work represents the honest best of what rock & roll can be. It’s passionate, unpretentious, uplifting and true to itself and its audience. Tickets: $69 available at all Ticketmaster locations. Visit w w w.qwestcenteromaha.com for more information.

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5/12: Wishbone Ash. Horseshoe -Whiskey Roadhouse. Wishbone Ash is a British progressive rock band known for their use of twin lead guitars and the hits “The King Will Come” and “Blowin’ Free.” Tickets: $18. For more information visit www.harrahscouncilbluffs.com.

5/14-5/15: Spring into Spring Plant Sale.

Lauritzen Gardens.

Visitors may spend the weekend choosing from a variety of plants grown and propagated in the Lauritzen Gardens greenhouses since as early as February. Many plants sold will be seen throughout the garden as beds are planted and re-planted during the upcoming seasons. For more information visit w w w.omahabotanicalgardens.org.

5/15: Greater Omaha Cage Bird Society Bird Fair. Mid-America Center. Exotic birds, unique cages and exciting toys will be some of the items featured at the Greater Omaha Cage Bird Society’s (GOCBS) Bird Fair.

Admission is $2, free for children under 12.

Visit www.midamericacenter.com for more information.

5/21-5/22: Omaha Beer Fest. Lewis & Clark Landing. Get your brew on! Attend Omaha’s first Omaha Beer Fest. 515 N. Riverfront Dr. Enjoy beer beer tastings, mix and mingle with brewmasters and beer aficionados, attend Beer Academy classes and dance to live music. Tickets sold for $30 online or at Spirit World. More information at www. omahabeerfest.com

recording artist Usher has just added a second North American leg to his acclaimed “OMG Tour.” The concert will feature Usher’s signature brand of hit-filled R&B-infused pop as well as special guest superstar Akon. Tickets starting from $29.50 available at all Ticketmaster locations. Visit www. qwestcenteromaha. com for more information.

5/23: Foo Fighters.

Mid-America Center.

Foo Fighters return to the MAC on tour in support of their most recent album, Wasting Light. Opening acts will be Motorhead and Biffy Clyro. Tickets from $49.50 available at Ticketmaster.com.

5/24: Josh Groban. Qwest Center Arena. Josh Groban’s “Straight To You” tour will bring the feel of a theater experience to an arena setting though stage design, lighting, and projection, as well as through the spontaneity and interactivity. Throughout the “Straight To You” show, Groban will interact with audiences and perform favorites from his bestselling albums, including his self-titled debut, Closer and Awake, as well as songs from Illuminations. Tickets starting at $ 72 available at all Ticketmaster locations. Visit www. qwestcenteromaha. com for more information.

5/14: Artist Spotlight: Dancing with Degas.

Joslyn Art Museum.

Ages 8-12 are welcome. Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen sculpture is one of Joslyn’s most loved works of art.

Learn about life in 19th century Paris and the artist that created this famous ballerina to better understand his inspiration. Then build 5/21: Omaha Beef an armature and cre- Football vs Chicaate a plaster sculpture go Slaughter. Civic of your own. Materi- Auditorium.

Tickets als provided. Advance $10-$40. For more inregistration required. formation visit www. 5/26: Kickin’ CounTickets: $13-$16. 2200 omahacivic.com. For try Music Series.

Italian & Mediterranean specialties served Dodge St. 342-3300. tickets call 800-745- Horseshoe- Whiskey in“the Old Market’s most beautiful More info at www.jos- 3000.

Roadhouse. Headliner dining room,” complemented with the lyn.org.

Bucky Covington with area’s largest selection of5/22: Italian wines.

Usher. Qwest Mat D. Bucky CovingArena. By over- ton is a country mu1108Center Howard Street • 342-2050 whelming popular de- sic artist and former www.VivaceOmaha.com mand, multi-platinum American Idol contes-

tant with the hits “A Different World,” “It’s Good to Be Us” and “I’ll Walk. Admission is free. For more information visit www. harrahscouncilbluffs. com.

5/25-6/12: “Wicked.”

The Orpheum, Slosburg Hall. Back by “Popular” demand.

Entertainment Weekly calls WICKED “the best musical of the decade.” When it first played in Omaha last year, it broke box office records and sold out in record time.

Winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy and three Tony® Awards, WICKED is Broadway’s biggest blockbuster, a cultural phenomenon and was just named “the defining musical of the decade” by The New York Times.

Tickets: $39-$128.

Call Ticket Omaha : 402.341.1811. For more info, visit www. omahaperformingarts.org 5/27-5/28: Taylor Swift. Qwest Center Arena. Multitalented singer, songwriter and actress Taylor Swift returns to Qwest Center Omaha in support of her new album, Speak Now. Her songs have soared on both the country and pop charts. Tickets from $27 available at Ticketmaster locations.

Visit www.qwestcenteromaha.com for more information.

5/28: Omaha Children’s Museum Children’s Parade.

South 20th Street.

Kick off summer and join Omaha Children’s Museum in celebrating 35 years of imaginative play with the first ever Omaha Children’s Museum Chil-

dren’s Parade. Dress up your bike, trike, stroller or wagon and march down south 20th St. and end at he museum for a 35-soda geyser salute to kick off our summer exhibit Dinosaurs:Dawn of the Ice Age. Parade is free but registration required:http://bit.ly/ OCMchildrensparade.

5/28-6/4: 6th Annual Great Plains Theatre Conference. Metropolitan Community College- Fort Omaha Campus. A week filled with great minds, brilliant classes, thrilling theater, and wonderful connections. Visit w w w. m ccn e b.e du / theatreconference for more information.

5/28- 1/8: Dinosaurs: Dawn of the Ice Age. Omaha Children’s Museum. Stomping and roaring robotic dinosaurs and Ice Age mammals are invading Omaha Children’s Museum this summer as the museum celebrates its 35th anniversary with the new exhibit Dinosaurs: Dawn of the Ice Age open May 28, 2011 through January 8, 2012. Visit www.ocm. org for more information.

5/30: Memorial Day Cruise. River City Star.

The River City Star is the is open to the public for Memorial Day! Take your Monday off work and come down to the riverfront for a cruise. We’ll be having special reduced rates of half off the normal price, which give you to perfect opportunity for bringing down the whole family and some friends too! For more information visit w w w. r i ve r c i t y s t a r. com.

JUNE 6/2-6/26: “Reefer Madness- The Musical.” Blue Barn Theatre. Back by popular demand! Based on the 1963 propaganda film, this raucous musical comedy takes a tongue-in-cheek look at the hysteria caused when clean-cut kids fall prey to marijuana, leading them on a hysterical downward spiral with evil jazz music, sex and violence. Bluebarn Theatre is proud to revive one of the most successful productions in our 22-year history!

Join us once again for the MADNESS!! For ticket information, call 402.345.1576.

6/3-6/5: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. Qwest Center Arena. Don’t miss “Fully Charged” - the all-new surge of circus entertainment from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey where megawatts of thrills explode off of the arena floor with breathtaking dare-devilry, superhuman stunts and never-before-seen performances that energize Children Of All Ages! Tickets starting at $16.50 available at all Ticketmaster locations. Visit www. qwestcenteromaha. com for more information.

6/3-6/19: “The Sound of Music.” The Rose Theater. With songs such as “Edelweiss” and “Do-Re-Mi,” this final collaboration of Rodgers and Hammerstein was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical! When Maria is dispatched from the convent to serve as governess to the seven children of the Von Trapp family, her

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arrival is met with resistance. But, Maria’s soaring spirit and love for music is a winning combination that helps the family to unite as they face the threat of a Nazi occupied Austria. Tickets $20 for members and $25 for non-members.

Visit www.rosetheater. org for more information. Visit www.rosetheater.org for more information.

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6/4-6/5: Nebraska Children’s Home Society’s Sand In The City®. The fun starts with 350 tons of sand dumped into the middle of downtown Omaha! From there, corporate teams compete to build the best 15-ton sand sculpture. The public is invited down for a FREE weekend of fun - see the sculptures, vote for your favorite, enjoy great food and an interactive Kid Zone including 2 GIGANTIC sand boxes - all to benefit the Nebraska Children’s Home Society.

For more information, please visit www.sandinthecityomaha.com.

6/4-8/28: Joslyn Treasures: Well Traveled and Rarely Seen. Joslyn Art Museum’s collection is not only known and admired by those in Omaha who consider the museum their own, but is respected by institutions worldwide. A quick look at the itinerary of our most popular works over the past years would make even the most seasoned traveler jealous — requested for over three dozen exhibitions, objects from the Joslyn collection have toured from coast to coast as well as to Europe.

Joslyn Treasures: Well Traveled and Rarely

Seen reunites these familiar and important favorites with highlights from the vaults to showcase forty works from antiquity through the twentieth century. 2200 Dodge St. 342-3300. More info at www.joslyn.org.

6/5-6/6: Nebraska State Chili Cookoff.

River City Star. Nebraska State Chili Cookoff is back at the River City Star! Cooks from around the country will be traveling to Omaha to cook their best salsa, chili verde, and traditional reds.

Winners advance to the World Champion Chili Cookoff in October. For more information visit www.rivercitystar.com.

6/9-6/13: Santa Lucia Festival. Lewis and Clark Landing. Carnival, live music, dancing Italian food and entertainment at 8th & Riverfront Dr. Free admission. Visit www. visitomaha.com for more information.

6/10-6/12: Contagion: Outbreak.

Qwest Center convention center. Outbreak is Omaha’s only multimedia, multi-genre Pop Culture Expo!

Focusing on Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror and so much more.

Each attendee will be exposed to a memorable event that will be talked about for years.1-Day and 3-Day Passes Available.

Please visit www.contagionoutbreak.com for more information.

6/11: Omaha Beef Football vs Sioux Falls Storm. Civic Auditorium Tickets $10$40. For more information visit www.omahacivic.com. For tickets call 800-745-3000.

6/12: Rose Day. Lauritzen Gardens. The Omaha Rose Society presents a rose show and photo contest at Lauritzen Gardens. Anyone is welcome to enter either contest the morning of the event. Visitors may stop at the “Rose Talk” table to get answers to frequently asked questions about roses. Detailed information about the event and how to participate may be found at omaharosesociety. com. For more information, visit www. omahabotanicalgardends.org.

6/14: Mumford & Sons with Nathaniel Rateliff and Fair Children. Stir Concert Cove, Harrah’s Casino, Council Bluffs. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com More info at www.harrahscouncilbluffs.com 6/19: Father’s Day Brats, BBQ, and Beer Cruise. River City Star.

Come aboard and celebrate Father’s Day on the River City Star. Dad will love the sights and sounds of the riverfront while enjoying a BBQ buffet. With plenty of beer specials and live entertainment, its sure to put a smile on Dad’s face! For more information visit www. rivercitystar.com.

6/25: Gary Allen. Stir Concert Cove, Harrah’s Casino, Council Bluffs.

Tickets available at t i c ke t m a s te r. co m More info at www. harrahscouncilbluffs. com 6/29: Panic At The Disco. Sokol Auditorium. Playing with Fun. and Funeral Party.

Tickets $25 in advance available at all Ticketmaster locations.

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