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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 22

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FROM THE EDITOR // LETTER BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN

QUADRUPLES, NATIONAL TELEVISION, AND HEALTHY LIVING New Year Brings Inspiring Stories

anuary is an inspiring month. The name, according from brittanica.com, comes from Janus, the Roman god of passage and new beginnings.

Hopefully this magazine will inspire readers as they start 2022. The two main features this month have to do with medicine. In one feature, health writer Susan Meyers talks about how artificial intelligence is helping doctors work more efficiently and quickly, often two key points when recovering from an illness or injury. The second feature tells the story of Maria and Joseph Sawaged, a couple who stopped at nothing to achieve their dream of conceiving a child. Maria undertook 13 rounds of fertility treatments in order to become pregnant, and the end result was one set of four healthy young ones, born at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Gen O is often a favorite department of mine, and this month’s article did not disappoint. Young musician Matthew Murray primarily plays violin, but also plays the guitar, and keyboards, and dances. He is a generous person who finds ways to give time or money whenever possible, even if that means an impromptu performance at a store. The profile is about Dr. Jaime Seeman, whose story I found inspiring. She competed on The Titan Games and won the title of Mrs. Nebraska in 2020. The obstetrician-gynecologist is a long way from where she was in 2015, when she was diagnosed with prediabetes and hypothyroidism. A report from CBS News in mid-November 2021 stated that the cost of meat has risen substantially across the board. While this varies from state to state, overall figures reveal that chicken, beef, pork, and fish prices had all risen by at least 10%. That is one factor that led forecasters to predict the food trend of reducetarianism for 2022. Reducetarianism is a style of eating in which people gradually reduce their consumption of animal products. The dining section this month brings three articles that can help anyone interested in this trend. Imani Murray created Ital Vital with her Jamaican belief in Rastafarianism in mind. Chef Lauren Wright became a vegan when she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, but missed eating cakes, cinnamon rolls, and potato salad; so she created Conscious Comforts. The dining review is about a one-day juice cleanse from Evolve. Artist Bob Mathews paints brightly colored kangaroos and portraits, as well as sculpts. Before painting full-time, however, he was known as Dr. Mathews, an ER physician. Omaha Magazine prints many articles about people, and some of my favorite articles are those about people who see Omaha as the great city it is. Walter Shatley is one of those people. The actor came to Nebraska from Norman, Oklahoma, in the early 2000s. He married fellow transplant Samantha Butler, moved to New York City, and consciously chose Omaha as the place to start a family. There are many inspiring articles in this issue. I hope you enjoy them all.

* Note: The hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover and does not include all of the editorial content included in the magazine’s full city edition. For more information on our city edition, visit OmahaMagazine.com.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

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2022

TAB L E of CON T E N T S THE USUAL SUSPECTS 03

From the Editor Quadruples, National Television, and Healthy Living

Between the Lines

Calendar of Events

066 History

Polio, An Iron-Clad Problem

081 Obviously Omaha Local Podcasts

098 Explore! 103 Instagram 104 Not Funny Sports?

A R T S + C U LT U R E 014 Music

Alexis Arai

082

018 Theater

Walter Shatley

020 Visual

Bob Mathews

022 Poetry

Ryan Boyland

DINING 082 Feature

Ital Vital

086 Profile

Lauren Wright

088 Review

Juice Cleanse

092 Dining Guide

014

// 4 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

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THE LINES A LOOK AT TH R E E OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS

OMAHA’S

MAGAZINE

CHRIS CHRISTEN—Freelance Writer Christen is a career journalist who recently moved into public relations. She continues her storytelling as a freelance writer, photographer, and editor. Christen was inducted into the Omaha Press Club Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame in 2021, and currently is a trustee of the Omaha Press Club Foundation. She loves exploring nature and museums; dabbling in musical theater, and traveling. Cooking and early morning meetings? Not so much. This issue marks Christen’ first as a contributor to Omaha Magazine.

TERRY JENSEN—Editorial Intern Jensen believes that life is all about the stories, so she is passionate about writing and reading. This University of Nebraska at Omaha student graduated in December 2021 with an English major and creative writing minor. In a past life, she worked in apartment management, and in early childhood education and retail sales, sometimes concurrently. When Jensen’s not busy with school, she enjoys playing pub trivia with her family and hanging out with her miniAustralian shepherds, Pepper and Natasha. Jensen hopes to write professionally when she grows up.

MEGAN FABRY—Freelance Writer Born and raised in Omaha, this one-third of triplets spent most of her childhood hanging out with her other two-thirds and their older brother. Fabry graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with a journalism and media communications degree, and a minor in English, and spent much of her time working as the arts and entertainment editor for the UNO newspaper The Gateway. Although she travels often for work, her true joy is traveling for leisure, where she can cross items off her bucket list one at a time. In her spare time, she likes hunting for discount books, spending time with her family, and collecting vinyl records. // 6 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

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FUTURE

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 VOLUME 39 // ISSUE 7

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// 7 //

C A L E N D A R 8

EVENTS

» Exhibits « FORM

Through Feb. 25 at K ANEKO, 1111 Jones St .

In October 2021, KANEKO founder Jun Kaneko received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Sculpture Center, recognizing his contributions to the field of sculpture. In honor of this award, he has installed an exhibit in the KANEKO Bow Truss Gallery featuring pieces from his permanent collection. Admission: free. Thursday-Friday 1-7 p.m., Saturday-Sunday noon-5 p.m. 402.341.3800. –thekaneko.org

HOLIDAY AT SUGAR HILL: PHOTOGRAPHY BY JERRY DANTZIC

Through Feb. 27 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. In April 1957, photojournalist Jerry

Dantzic gained special access to Billie Holiday during a week-long run of performances at the Newark, New Jersey, nightclub, Sugar Hill. His discreet, respectful, artful approach, using only available light, helped forge a bond of trust—and gave him unprecedented access to his subject. The result is a series of remarkable images that challenge the tragic narrative that frequently defines Billie Holiday. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for members and children 2 and under. Noon-4 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, Closed Mondays. 402.444.5071. —durhammuseum.org

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

I DON’T KNOW YOU LIKE THAT: THE BODYWORK OF HOSPITALITY

Through March 19 at Bemis Center, 724 S. 12th St. Hospitality is usually considered a philosophi-

cal concept with juridical implications, an ethical concern, or a social/political practice. This group exhibition shifts the focus to consider the stealth work of hospitality on our conceptual, physical, political, and historical understanding of bodies. Admission: free. Wednesday-Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 402.341.7130. —bemiscenter.org

FACES FROM THE INTERIOR: THE NORTH AMERICAN PORTRAITS OF KARL BODMER

Through May 1 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Th is is Joslyn’s first exhibit to focus

on Karl Bodmer’s watercolor portraits of Native Americans and features 64 recently conserved watercolors, including portraits of individuals from Omaha tribes. Tickets: $10 general admission, $5 college students with ID, free for Joslyn members and youth ages 17 and younger. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays. 402.342.3300. —joslyn.org

A PORTRAIT OF MEDICAL HUMANITIES: ARTWORK BY CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Jan. 5-31 at Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St. This exhibition is a collection of works

made by Creighton University Studio Art majors and Creighton University School of Medicine students. Admission: free. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Weekends 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 402.342.6452. —hotshopsartcenter.com

#SCANXIETY BY RACHEL MINDRUP

Feb. 2-28, at Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St. Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic disor-

der that occurs in 1 in 3,000 births. It can cause tumors to grow anywhere on or in the body at any time in an individual’s life. They live in the spaces from MRI to MRI with “scanxiety” emanating into a “what next” subcurrent of daily life with NF. Admission: free. Weekdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Weekends 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 402.342.6452. —hotshopsartcenter.com

FOREVER FOREST

Feb. 5 - April 16 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Exploring the realities of forests

through play, families will learn about sustainability, selective harvesting, transportation needs, and the everyday products we use that are made from trees. The exhibit includes a tree top climber, a realistic mini replica of a Union Pacific engine, a kid-sized home under construction for children to help build, and more. Admission: Members and under 2 free. Kids 2-15 and adults $14, seniors 60+ $13. Tuesdays-Fridays 9 a.m-4 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m.-5:00 p.m. 402.342.6164. —ocm.org

» Concerts « KEEP PUSH’N: MUSIC OF REO SPEEDWAGON WITH BOOM BAND

Jan. 1 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St.

The four members of the Beatles tribute band Come Together decided to take their music one step further to pay tribute to another great band. Tickets: $10 ADV. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353 —waitingroomlounge.com

THE LONELY ONES

Jan. 5 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave.

Formed in the summer of 2019, The Lonely Ones are a four-piece vocal-oriented hard rock band with an ear for melody and a taste for success. Tickets: $15 ADV, $20 DOS. 8 p.m. 402.884.5707 —reverblounge.com

JAIMIE BRANCH

Jan. 6 at Low End, Bemis Center, 724 S. 12th St. Branch is a Colombian-American Brook-

lyn-based musician and artist working in the areas of improvisation and composition. Admission: free. 8 p.m. 402.341.7130. —bemiscenter.org

Five venues, five unique celebration experiences. Hosting events for 100 - 1,000 guests, Omaha Event Group boasts 15 years of experience with over 300 events each year, including Omaha Fashion Week. Schedule a consultation with our team of experts today. hello@omahaeventgroup.com | 402.819.8792 | omahaeventgroup.com Omaha Design Center | The Downtown Club | Empire Room | Omaha Palazzo | Anderson O'Brien Fine Art Gallery

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

// 9 //

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

REBA: LIVE IN CONCERT TOUR

Feb. 3 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. One of the most successful female record-

ing artists in history, McEntire has sold over 56 million albums worldwide. Tickets: $26.50-$199. 8 p.m. 402.341.1500 —chihealth.com

WALKER HAYES-THE FANCY LIKE TOUR

Feb. 5 at Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. Hayes’

recent EP Country Stuff includes the RIAA certified Platinum hit “Fancy Like,” which has topped every country streaming and sales chart since its release. Tickets: $25-$54. 7:30 p.m. 402.934.9966. —ralstonarena.com

OMAHA SYMPHONY-PERRY GILMORE PLAYS SAINT-GEORGES

Feb. 6 at Witherspoon Concert Hall, Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. The program begins

with the “Polish Dance” from Chabrier’s comic opera, The Reluctant King and concludes with Louise Farrenc’s “Symphony No. 3.” Tickets: $35$45. 2 p.m. 402.345.0202. —o-pa-org

THE BLACK ANGELS

Feb. 7 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. The

SHAYNA STEELE

Jan. 14 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Known from recordings with

Snarky Puppy, Moby, and others, Steele will perform at the Holland Music Club. Tickets: $30. 7:30 p.m. 402.342.3300. —o-pa-org

FLATLAND CAVALRY

Jan. 14 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Texas Flatland Cavalry continue to evolve as

musicians and storytellers. Tickets $20. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353 —waitingroomlounge.com

PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION & ANTHONY MCGILL

Jan.14 -15 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Principal clarinet of the New

York Philharmonic Anthony McGill joins the Omaha Symphony for a performance of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major. Tickets:$20-$81. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. —o-pa-org

THE DEAD SOUTH TWIN TWANGLER TOUR

Jan 16-17 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. The

Dead South is a four-piece acoustic ensemble that blends elements of folk, bluegrass, classical, and rockin’ boot-stompin’ acoustic music. Tickets: $28.50 ADV, $36.50 DOS, $55 two-night pass. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. —theslowdown.com

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

NELLY WITH BLANCO BROWN: LIL BIT OF MUSIC SERIES

Jan. 19 at Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. Nelly, the

multi-platinum, three-time Grammy-winning artist and four-time AMA-winning entertainer reschedules his Fall Concert Series. Tickets: $45$95. 7:30 p.m. 402.934.9966 —ralstonarena.com

MUSIC OF THE KNIGHTS

Jan. 22 - 23 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCa-

rtney, and Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber are not only knights, they are also three of the most successful songwriters of all time. Omaha Symphony’s Music of the Knights® honors their lasting musical influence. Tickets: $20-$89. Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. 402.345.0202. —o-pa-org

I, THE BREATHER

Jan. 27 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Celebrate the 10 year reunion tour for These

Are My Sins and Truth and Purpose with I the Breather, Sleepwalker, Curses, and Execution Day. Tickets $12 ADV, $15 DOS. 7 p.m. 402.884.5353. —waitingroomlounge.com

Black Angels have toured with Queens of the Stone Age, Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Black Keys, and played festivals such as Glastonbury, Coachella, and Bonnaroo. Tickets: $22 ADV, $25 DOS. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. —theslowdown.com

ERIC CHURCH: THE GATHER AGAIN TOUR

Feb. 11 at CHI Health Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Church has released nine studio albums

since 2005. His style has been described as country rock, outlaw country, and southern rock. Tickets; $36-$166. 8 p.m. 402.341.1500 —chihealth.com

OMAHA SYMPHONY-BAHL AND TIME FOR THREE

Feb. 11 - 12 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The concert’s first half fea-

tures Sarah Kirkland Snider’s “Something for the Dark.” The genre-bending trio Time For Three joins for Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto, and the program finishes with Rachmaninoff ’s “Symphony No. 2 in E Minor.” Tickets: $20-$81. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. —o-pa-org

M-PACT

Feb. 11 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. M-pact is respected worldwide

as a cutting-edge trailblazer in the realm of vocal music. Tickets: $30. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. —o-pa-org

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

MARC E. BASSY-NOTHING IN THIS WORLD TOUR

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE ORCHESTRA WORLD TOUR

made a name for himself with his gold-certified “Morning” and the double-platinum single “You & Me” featuring G-Eazy. Tickets: $22.50-$122.50. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. —theslowdown.com

arrangements based on composer Nobuo Uematsu’s beloved Final Fantasy VII music. The concert is led by Grammy Award-winning conductor Arnie Roth. Tickets: $40-$85. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. —o-pa-org

Feb 11 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. Bassy has

R&B LOVE FEST

Feb 12 at Baxter Arena, 2425 S. 67th St. This con-

cert features the classic sounds of Jon B., Sisquo w/Dru Hill, Jagged Edge, and Ginuwine. Tickets $29-$109. 7 p.m. 402.554.6200. —baxterarena.com

OBITUARY AND MUNICIPAL WASTETHE DECIBEL MAGAZINE TOUR

Feb. 12 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Deci-

bel’s decade-long tour returns with a co-headlining bill starring Tampa death metal legends Obituary and Richmond, along with thrash metal heroes Municipal Waste. Tickets $27 ADV, $30 DOS. 6 p.m. 402.884.5353. —waitingroomlounge.com

SLEIGH BELLS

Feb. 13 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. This

American musical duo is known for their overdriven style of noise pop, incorporating elements of pop, hip-hop, metal, and punk. Tickets: $30 ADV, $35 DOS. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. —theslowdown.com

SLENDERBODIES PLASTIC PARTS TOUR

Feb. 14 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. Indie

electronic duo Slenderbodies fuse supple beats and dreamy guitar work with hushed R&B vocals. Tickets: $20-$22. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. —theslowdown.com

OMAHA SYMPHONY-MUSIC OF FLEETWOOD MAC

Feb 19 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Fleetwood Mac tribute band Landslide

and the Omaha Symphony will perform “Go Your Own Way,” “Gypsy,” and more. Tickets: $20-$89. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. —o-pa-org

TALSOUNDS

Feb. 25 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Experience all-new symphonic

CRASH TEST DUMMIES

Feb. 25 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St.

Celebrating their 30th anniversary tour, original members Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts, and Mitch Dorge will be joined onstage by Stuart Cameron and Marc Arnould. Tickets:$35. 8 p.m. 402.884.5353. —waitingroomlounge.com

ARTURO AND THE AFROLATIN JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Feb. 26 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Arturo O’Farrill has expanded

the definition of Afro-Latin music. The pianist, composer, and educator, along with his band, are world-class jazz musicians. Tickets: $22-$50. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. —o-pa-org

» Performing Arts « WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME

Jan. 20 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.

Playwright Heidi Schreck’s boundary-breaking play breathes new life into the Constitution and imagines how it will shape the next generation of Americans. Tickets: $35 - $65. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0606. —o-pa.org

BRIGHT STAR

Jan. 21 through Feb. 13 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Written by Steve Martin

and Edie Brickell and inspired by real events, young teenager Alice Murphy is devastated when her infant son is ripped away. Tickets:$25-$45. Wednesday-Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. 402.553.0800. —omahaplayhouse.com

WELLRED COMEDY TOUR

American who adopted the TALsounds moniker in 2009 for her explorations in the drone, ambient, and improvisational disciplines. Admission: free. 8 p.m. 402.341.7130. —bemiscenter.org

Jan 21-22 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Trae Crowder (The Liberal Redneck), Corey Ryan Forrester (The Buttercream Dream), and Drew Morgan (The Ginger Ninjer) celebrate maintaining sanity (or not) Tickets: $30 GA, $50 meet and greet. 7 p.m. 402.884.5353 —waitingroomlounge.com

DAVID ARCHULETA OK, ALL RIGHT TOUR 2022

FLIP FABRIQUE: SIX

Feb. 19 at Low End, Bemis Center, 724 S. 12th St. Natalie Chami is a Canadian-born Lebanese

Feb. 23 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. Archuleta

initially attracted fans in 2008 when his tenor vocals and boyish charm helped earn him a second-place finish on American Idol. Tickets: $25-$140. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. —theslowdown.com

Jan. 29 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Flip Fabrique is a circus company based in Québec, Canada that combines astonishing feats, acrobatic comedy, and a mystery to engage audiences. Tickets: $20-$37. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0606. —o-pa.org

CARMELA FULL OF WISHES

Jan. 28-Feb. 13 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. Carmela, the daughter of migrants, wakes up on her birthday full of possibility. She must decide what her deepest wish is before her birthday is over. Tickets: $25. Times vary. 402.345.4849. —rosetheater.org

TAYLOR TOMLINSON-DEAL WITH IT TOUR

Jan. 29 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Comedian Tomlinson roasts modern 20-something life with self-deprecating precision. Tickets:$29.75-$49.75. 7 p.m. 402.345.0202. —o-pa-org

DANCING WITH THE STARS: LIVE!

Feb. 1 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Dancing With the Stars–Live tour 2022 allows live audiences the opportunity to experience the excitement, glamour, and glitz seen every Monday night on TV. Tickets: $59.50-$69.50. 8 p.m. 402.345.0606. —o-pa.org

PRIDE PLAYERS A ROSE TEENS ‘N’ THEATER PRODUCTION

Feb. 3-6 at The Rose Theater 2001 Farnam St. Pride Players, now in its 22nd year, uses improvisation to create songs, poetry, monologues, and skits that explore what it means to be a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, or ally teen in Omaha. Tickets: $10 Times vary. 402.345.4849. —rosetheater.org

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

Feb. 8-13 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.

Rich with musical hits, including “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” and more, Fiddler on the Roof is a heartwarming story. Tickets: TBA. Times: TBD. 402.345.0606. —o-pa.org

OUTSIDE MULLINGAR

Feb. 11 - March 13 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Rosemary secretly fell in

love with Anthony at age 6, but after a bout with heartbreak, Anthony swore off women forever. The now middle-aged pair must overcome their own aloofness. Ticket prices vary. Friday - Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. 402.553.0800. —omahaplayhouse.com

TODD BARRY 2021-2022 STADIUM TOUR

Feb. 12 at The Slowdown, 729 S. 14th St. Barry

has released three one-hour, stand-up specials, including his latest one for Netflix, Spicy Honey. He is known for providing voices for the animated series Bob’s Burgers, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and more. Tickets: $25 advanced, $30 day of show, $35 reserved. 8 p.m. 402.345.7569. —the slowdown.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

// 11 //

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

THE SECRET LIFE OF BEARSRAE WYNN-GRANT

Feb. 15 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Wynn-Grant has dedicated

her life to ecological research and conservation with National Geographic Society’s Last Wild Places Initiative. Tickets: $15-$32. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. —o-pa-org

WHITNEY CUMMINGS: TOUCH ME TOUR

Feb. 18 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Best known for creating and

starring in the NBC series Whitney, Cummings is also the executive producer, co-creator, and co-writer of the Emmy-nominated series 2 Broke Girls. Tickets: $39.50-$69.50. 7:30 p.m. 402.345.0202. —o-pa-org

SWEENEY TODD

Feb. 25-27 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St.

This dark, Tony Award-winner for best musical by Stephen Sondheim has thrilled opera audiences across the nation. Tickets: $19-$99. 402.345.0606. —o-pa.org

» Family & More « ICE SKATING

Ice skating can be one of the best ways to enjoy the season. The metro area offers indoor and outdoor options with venues that range from downtown excitement to natural charm. Grover Ice 6171 Grover St. Admission: $5 children (12 and under), $7 adults (13-55), $6 seniors (56+) Skate rental: $3 Monday-Friday 1-3 p.m., Friday 6-7:30 p.m., Saturday 12:45-2:15 p.m., Sunday 2-3:30 p.m. 402.991.7982. —groverice.com Mahoney State Park 28500 West Park Highway, Ashland. $2 adults age 13 and older, $3 children ages 3 -12, children 2 and under free. Ice skate rental $3. Monday, Thursday & Friday 4 p.m.–8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday. 402.944.2523 —outdoornebraska.gov/mahoney Motto McLean Ice Arena 5015 S. 45th St. $5 ages 6 and older, 5 and under free with a paid adult. Skate rental: $2. 402-444-4955 —parks.cityofomaha.org/motto-mclean Moylan Iceplex 12550 West Maple Road. Adults: $9 for admission and skates, $7 kids 12 and under. Times vary. 402.431.0335. —moylaniceplex.com

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

UNMC Ice Rink Through Jan. 30 at 42nd and Emile streets. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Admission: $7 Skate rental: Included in admission. 402.559.0697 —unmc.edu Dates and times may change due to seasonal events, maintenance, or other reasons. Check websites and/or call ahead before heading out.

THE OMAHA HOME AND GARDEN EXPO

THE GREAT REUBEN DEBATE

Feb. 18-20 at Mid-America Center, One Arena Way, Council Bluffs. With five public perfor-

January 14-31 at Blackstone District, 36th and Farnam St. Vote for the best reuben in Blackstone.

Participants can taste and vote for their favorite version of rueben, from a traditional sandwich to tacos. A portion of all proceeds goes to The Women’s Center for Advancement. Times and prices vary. —blackstonedistrict.com

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY

Jan. 17 at at The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. The Durham Museum will offer free admission

for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Visitors will be able to learn about their community, participate in a community art project at The Platform, and view the temporary exhibition on Billie Holiday. Admission: free. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 402.444.5071. —durhammuseum.org 2020

Feb. 10-13 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. The 56th Annual Omaha Home & Garden

Expo features items and ideas for inside and outside the home, with a focus on eco-friendly ideas. Show hours: Thursday 5-9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-7p.m., Sunday 11a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets: $9 adults, $4.50 ages 5-12, free for children under 5. 402.341.1500. —showofficeonline.com

TANGIER SHRINE CIRCUS

mances, audiences can enjoy favorites from comical clowns and kooky Keystone Kops to high-flying acrobats and aerialists, as well as amazing animals. Tickets: $15-$25. Times vary. 712.323.0536 —caesars.com/mid-america-center

16TH ANNUAL OMAHA ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS AWARDS

Feb. 20 at The Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. The

metro celebrates some of the most talented artists and entertainers in the Omaha area at this annual event. The OEAA offers a memorable evening that thanks the artists who keep Omaha culture alive. This year’s event will be a hybrid virtual/in-person awards show. Times and tickets TBD. 402.345.7569. —oea-awards.org

A SYMPHONY OF SPORTS

BLACKSTONE CHILI COOK-OFF

the globe. Tickets: $15. 2 p.m. 402.334.6426. —jccomaha.org

chili battle in this annual community fundraiser. Restaurants, bars, and businesses compete for votes to determine the best chili in Blackstone. 12:30-3:30 p.m. 402.810.9500. —blackstonedistrict.com

Jan. 20 at Jewish Community Center, 333 S. 132 St. Explore music inspired by sports played around

WEEKEND AT ARRENDALE

Jan. 21-23 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S, 20th St. Families can enjoy a themed weekend

Feb. 20 at The Cottonwood Hotel, 302 S. 36th St. The Blackstone District will be holding a

featuring character visits and activities inspired by Frozen. Admission: Members and under 2 years free. Kids 2-15 and Adults $14, Seniors 60+ $13. Friday-Sunday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. —ocm.org

36TH ANNUAL CATHEDRAL FLOWER FESTIVAL

Jan. 28-30 at St. Cecelia’s Cathedral, 701 N. 40th St. Forty of Omaha’s finest floral designers

Event times and details are correct as of presstime,

FOURTH ANNUAL TATTOO ARTS CONVENTION

but are subject to change. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many events are canceling and/or changing dates/time/ places as needed. Most venues base these decisions on direction by the Douglas County Health Department and Nebraska’s publication of guidance on canceling events and limiting the number of people in public gatherings.

join the Cathedral Flower Guild in this celebration of the coming spring season. Times TBD. Admission: free. 402.551.2313. —cathedralartsproject.org

Jan. 28-30 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. This event will feature the best local, national,

and international artists along with tattoo contests, sideshows, and vendors. Tickets: $20 day or $40 for a three-day pass. Children under 12: free. Friday 2-11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 215.423.4780. —villainarts.com

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

“That was the whole reason I started this group,” he said. “Because I realized there’s all this talent all over, and if we could pull together we could create something bigger than we could alone,” he said. “The concept has always been synergy.” He is currently the premier fire performance instructor in the Midwest, and has taught classes and performed in Costa Rica as well as performing in Las Vegas, the Bahamas, and Cabo San Lucas. Now the 44-year-old runs the largest performance group of this size and caliber in the area. Hill said that he never thought he would be an entrepreneur. He pulled the performers together in 2012, starting as Flowtricks Entertainment and changing the name to Omaha Circus Arts in 2019. Besides the traditional circus-style performances, Hill has incorporated technology into the performances, specifically with state-ofthe-art-LEDs and projection mapping. “There’s nothing quite like this around here,” Hill said. Others in the community agree. SPONSORED PROFILE PROFILE //// STORY STORY BY BY TARA TARA SPENCER SPENCER //// PHOTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH BY BY KATIE KATIE ANDERSON ANDERSON SPONSORED

Artful Synergy

KEN HILL PUSHES THE BOUNDARIES

Omaha Circus Arts owner and founder Ken Hill can’t sit still.

The former IT tech helped people fix their computer issues over the phone while multitasking on his true passion. “I was composing music with an earbud in my right ear,” he said.. Though he had studied music composition at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, that wasn’t where he found financial success as an artist. But it did lead him there.

When he traveled to San Francisco to do a show, the organizers included fire acts to accompany the budding musician. Hill was hooked. “I fell in love with it,” he said. Hill grew up practicing martial arts and was an instructor of a blend of kickboxing, kali, and ninjitsu prior to trying his hand at fire

performance. “It has the technical foundations of my martial arts training, but rewritten by the creativity of my musical and songwriting skills.” A local burlesque group helped teach him the basics of fire performance, but Hill said it wasn’t the style he wanted. “In my mind, I envisioned bigger stages and productions, sharing this art to the mainstream audience.” Then circus acts started gaining popularity on YouTube, and Hill noticed more performers appearing locally. “Originally, I thought I’d be a solo artist my whole life,” he said. “I never felt comfortable managing and owning and running things. I thought that was something that was outside my skill set.”

“K EN IS A PIONEER IN T TH H EE E N T E R TA I N M E N T I N DU S T RY, E R Y, CO ON C N S TA N T LY PU S H I N G T H E BOU N DA R I E S OF POS SIBI SI BIL IT I T YY AND IMAGINATION,” SAID JESSE JESSE SWANSON OF CHAOS PRODUCTIONS. SWANSON PRODUCTIONS. “His kind heart and constant drive are an inspiration to all those around him. His talent is a valuable asset to the Omaha community.” Hill puts everything back into the company— time, money, energy, and passion—as his end goal is for the artists to be able to perform full time. He thinks this is very much an achievable goal. “We made it through the most challenging growing pains,” Hill said. “These next five to 10 years, I only see exponential expansion.”” OCA For more information, visit omahacircusarts.com

But when he noticed many talented performance artists struggling to find work, he wanted to help. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

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A s i x rai e l A

American Idol Role Model Is

A+C Music · story by Tara Spencer photography By Bill Sitzmann design by Derek Joy

o l th at & M // 14 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

“Music was healing for me. That’s why I want to give [it] to others. That’s something I couldn’t talk about a couple years ago.”

Alexis Arai

Alexis Arai has a voice that can easily fi ll a small jazz club or get people up on their feet at a large outdoor festival. She can sing country, pop, and likely any other genre that grabs her interest—and she plays several instruments. Th at range in talent was no doubt part of the reason the American Idol judges sent her to Hollywood to compete in the 2021 season. She also auditioned for The Voice and appeared on Mexican reality TV show Tengo Talento. Arai said she appreciates what she learned from these experiences, but admitted that parts were disappointing. “American Idol, I feel...is all about the story. They could [not] care less about your voice, your talents, they just want the story,” she said. “Back then I wasn’t ready to share mine, and my story isn’t here for people to feel sorry for me. It’s to motivate people.” Arai, a woman who hears melodies in her dreams and loves to dance, wants her music to be about making people happy; and, hopefully, making them dance. “When you’re dancing, your stress goes away, you’re dancing the negativity away,” she said. While Arai isn’t ready to share her full story, she disclosed that it involved a sexual assault and deep depression. “Music was healing for me. Th at’s why I want to give [it] to others,” she said. “Th at’s something I couldn’t talk about a couple years ago.” She credits music and her faith with helping her get through other hard times in life as well. “I grew up with ADHD. Back then, it was...severe, so it was really hard for me to learn in school.” She said music was the best way for her to communicate. Her experience with the disorder led to her volunteering to work with other children with disabilities, and fed her interest in the Montessori method of education, in which she is certified. Arai married realtor Mauricio Hernandez in October 2021. Hernandez plays in the mariachi group Mariachi Rey Azteca. Arai said one of the couple’s long-term goals is to open a Montessori school for other children who might not thrive in a traditional school setting.

“I want to be a Latin role model that people can come up to and talk to if they have a problem or need help.”

Alexis Arai “It’s something special in my heart. I feel like we need to be here to help everyone.” Her work with the Department of Health and Human Services reflects that goal. Arai described the work as helping those with disabilities reach their goals, whether that’s learning how to read or how to cook their own meals. Besides her work with DHHS, the energetic 26-year-old plays violin with a Christian music group and performs with a mariachi band. She also wrote four of her own wedding songs, including the one that played during her father-daughter dance. After trying her hand at pop and other genres, Arai’s focus now is on the music that calls to her. “Latin music is in my blood,” she said. “I’m really enjoying what I’m doing now. I’m enjoying every minute of it.” Her success isn’t surprising to anyone who knows her. Arai’s cousin and fellow musician Salvador Robles said she has always stood out. Robles and his sister, Gabi, played in a mariachi group with Arai when they were younger. “She was one of those children whose talent was way above and beyond her years,” he said. For Robles, the mariachi experience was eye-opening because the learning is done by ear rather than by reading music, not something the young violinist was used to. “Gabi and Alexis... they excelled at it. It took me a little bit longer to learn.” He did learn, though, and has played alongside his cousin’s husband in Mariachi Rey Azteca, as well as playing alongside his cousin again when she asks. Robles has recruited Hernandez for family gigs as well. “I told him recently, ‘Now that you’re married, you have to come play, because it’s just a cousin thing.’ So he’s a new musician added to the family.”

Hernandez’s transition to being part of that family officially began when he proposed to Arai during an Alexis Arai y Su Grupo Latino performance at The Jewell. Owner Brian McKenna said that while he wasn’t in town at the time, his staff sent him a video of the proposal. “Naturally, I was super happy for them, and also kind of proud that he chose The Jewell,” McKenna said. “It was so beautiful to witness, even watching the video.” Like Robles, McKenna believes Arai is a natural performer. “She has the ‘Artist Factor,’ he wrote in an email, “meaning everything about her as an artist is fully developed, from being a great singer, a great songwriter, [and] a professional leader.” He added that she also has charisma, charm, kindness, beauty, and a connectivity with the audience. When he tells people to come see her perform and they do, they always come up afterward to tell him what an amazing time they had. They are instant fans. There are some who aren’t even aware there is a Latin music scene in Omaha. However, Arai believes knowledge of the community is growing, and she wants to be a part of it. “I just want people to know who I am, you know, who I truly am,” she said. “I want to be a Latin role model that people can come up to and talk to if they have a problem or need help.” “Sometimes people here in Omaha tend to put us—musicians who come from a Mexican background or musicians who have performed Mexican music here—they tend to put us in a box,” Robles said. “We’re so much more than that...Alexis is so much more than that.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

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A+C THEATER

ampiric Walter Shatley

Rabbits,

Finds Homaha

Actor Walter Shatley was performing at The Rose Theater in the role of Prince Charming in spring 2006 while his fi ancee Samantha Butler played the title role of Cinderella. The Associated Press wrote an article about the couple that was picked up by news outlets from Taiwan to Columbus, Nebraska.

Before the fairy tale, started, however, Walter had no idea he was going to live in Omaha or that he would get married here. He was born and raised in Norman, Oklahoma. The Sooners fan started acting in eighth grade when he performed John Travolta’s role in an assembly production of Staying Alive. Walter said eighth grade was “a poignant year.” Like many adolescents, it was a time when he was discovering his passions. It ignited his love of acting, and Walter took his fi rst acting class as a freshman at Norman High School. His passion led him to the University of Oklahoma school of drama, from which he graduated in 2000 with a BFA in drama. One year later, he was acting in Philadelphia with a company called American // 18 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

Family Theater. By 2002, Walter had moved to Los Angeles, where he played in Pinnocchio and worked “a series of crappy jobs to pay the bills.”

Walter’s fun-loving character. Walter kissed her hand by way of chivalric greeting. “I’m pretty sure he had me from that point.”

It was a vampiric rabbit, however, that brought Walter to Omaha and the love of his life. In 2005, he joined The Rose Theater’s touring production of Bunnicula as the character Pete Monroe, replacing actor Andrew McGreevy for the California-WashingtonMaine-Florida run. He also acted as puppeteer for about half of the scenes in which the titular bunny was used. Samantha was already in the area, having fi rst been cast in Miss Nelson is Missing. Several months later, he returned to The Rose during a tour break, and ran into his friend Cat Nelson.

Walter and Samantha, who were married in July 2007, lived in New York City for the fi rst three years of their marriage. The couple remained in theater, working on lighting and carpentry crews. Samantha performed off-Broadway, but the couple realized (as time progressed) the Big Apple might not offer the ideal life for a young family.

As it happened, Samantha, also a friend of Nelson, came to see her as well. Samantha was at that time rehearsing for Th e Berenstain Bears Onstage and simultaneously performing in Junie B. Jones. “I had heard Walter stories, but I came out to see Cat and give her a big hug,” Samantha said, referring to the many local anecdotes about

Th at’s when Rose Theater artistic director James Larson offered Samantha a role as Peter in Peter Pan. Walter, then 33, was cast as a Lost Boy. He showed up to rehearsals the fi rst day sporting a beard. He learned one dance for the role…and at the end of the day was re-cast as a pirate. They had been thinking about moving to Samantha’s hometown of Memphis, or Norman, or possibly moving back to Omaha. Th is casting call sealed the deal. The couple performed together for two years. Then Samantha found work at U.S. Bank to afford the couple health

insurance in anticipation of having a family while Walter continued in theater.

Walter, knowing that working in theater is not conducive to raising a baby, began connecting through the local fi lm community. One of his fi rst connections was writer and director Faustus McGreeves, who had created the short fi lm Bent Over Neal. Walter was cast as Liam, and working on the fi lm enabled Walter to connect with several actors and behind-the-scenes folks; folks who he and Samantha now consider friends. Those connections paved the way for other fi lm projects. Walter acted in the local short fi lm Ambush Avenue by Brian Roma, which was shown in the Omaha Film Festival 2015. Th at same year at OFF, he met writer/director Trevor Nealy and gained acting spots on his web series The Boulevard. He also later met writer/director Todd Graves through fi lm festival connections. Last year, Graves asked Walter to audition for a fi lm he wrote titled Buzz vs. Scooty, a comedy about two elderly boxers who come together for one last fight.

STORY BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN • PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN • DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

Pira tes, & BOXERS

“The people in Omaha in acting have chosen a life that is better. That doesn’t mean the quality of the acting is not just as good.”

Walter Shatley

In fact, she and Walter are the fi rst to say that sometimes, the acting is better. “My friend was running the spotlight [for] Troilus and Cressida, so I saw it for free,” Walter said. “The neighbor from Home Improvement (Earl John Hindman) was in it but outside of Hindman, the performances were not good.”

Walter now works at a bank. Samantha, meanwhile, has left the banking world, but continues to perform in local stage productions such as those at Bellevue Little Theater and Chanticleer Theater. New York might be the pinnacle of many actors’ careers, but for Walter and Samantha, Omaha fits the playbill. “I tell people in New York about the talent in Omaha, and they are astounded,” Samantha said. “The people in Omaha in acting have chosen a life that is better,” Walter continued. “Th at doesn’t mean the quality of the acting is not just as good.”

Walter recently returned to New York for the Crown Heights Film Festival in which Buzz vs. Scooty was showing, and the visit reassured him that Omaha is the right place. “I was reminded how much it sucks to rely on mass transit,” Walter said. “How much time it takes. Here I can ride my motorcycle and get places in far less time.”

“I don’t paint with much realism in mind. I mean, if a cow needs to have green on it, I can put green on it.” Bob Mathews

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

A+C VISUAL

STORY BY TARA SPENCER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

RT CON nECtiONS A TR ANSITIONING FROM ACUTE C ARE TO CUTE ANIMAL S Artists don’t need a good bedside manner, but Bob Mathews’ voice is steady, warm, and calming, immediately putting the listener at ease — a trait that was no doubt useful in his former line of work.

He got two weeks in and decided it wasn’t for him. “Th is was during the Vietnam War,” he said. “And so, I enlisted.” Mathews was assigned to a Naval air base stateside, where he trained as an electronics technician.

“The ER can be 15 minutes of boredom, and then 10 minutes of just fear and chaos,” he said. “You never know what’s on your doorstep...A lot of those people need a doctor right away, and I kind of enjoyed being in the middle of that. It was a good fit for me.”

Mathews said the service “straightened him out.” It also made him realize he could do anything he wanted, so he followed in the footsteps of one of his uncles and went into medicine.

Mathews retired from ER medicine in 2017, but he’s not done working. His focus has switched from practicing acute care to painting cute animals using his own unique color schemes. “I don’t paint with much realism in mind,” Mathews said. “I mean, if a cow needs to have green on it, I can put green on it.” His artwork isn’t limited to animals, though. A look at his Instagram account shows vivid paintings of people and animals, as well as a few sculptures he’s created using items he found in an architectural salvage yard. But painting is his calling for now, one that he developed later in life after taking an overview course of the arts at Hibbing Community College in Minnesota. “We painted, we drew, we did some things in silver—we worked with all kinds of different media, [it] was really, really fun,” he said. Mathews met one of his biggest supporters, fellow artist Robert “Bob” Hocking, while living in Hibbing. He said Hocking consistently encouraged him. “He was such a positive individual in so many different ways,” Mathews added. “So I thought, ‘what the heck?’” In high school, Mathews took drafting classes and said he enjoyed them. But his guidance counselor pushed him toward a vocational school.

That wasn’t his only foray into military life, though. “The second time was after med school,” he said. “Th is time I enlisted in a reserve Army unit (325th General Hospital).” He reached the rank of major during his service. “So, I’ve experienced the military as an enlisted man and an officer. Believe me, being an officer is the way to go!” The ER doctor later found painting as a creative outlet. “I was sort of a weekend painter, you know, when time would allow, I’d work on something,” he said. “Now that I’m retired, I can work as hard as I’d like on it.” In 2015, he published a book of paintings titled Imaginary Friends 2013-2015. The collection of portraits features imaginary people “with a link to the fringe.” However, they were influenced by real people, several of whom he encountered in his role as an emergency physician. Mathews’ work has been in nearly 60 group shows and he has had seven solo exhibits. He said his first one was around seven years ago. “It was an amazing feeling. I mean, I got an email that I had been accepted and, you know, I jumped up and down like, like a little kid...it was so exciting.” One gallery he’s shown in is the Open Gallery in Vincennes, Indiana, where he met owners Michael and Kimberly Mullen. Michael wrote in an email that there was something about Mathews’ work, and his cover letter, that produced a strong response from the former English professor. “He was just getting started in his art career and I thought his work was interesting and felt he had great potential.”

Michael and Mathews have met in person only a handful of times, but they correspond regularly through “snail mail.” Michael said Mathews is thoughtful and caring, qualities one hopes to find in a doctor, adding, “Bob has compassion that I have not seen in enough of the health care professionals I have encountered over the years.” In Mathews’ artwork, that compassion leads to intriguing glimpses into the lives of animals and humans alike. “There’s an energy level that spills over to my paintings from the ER,” Mathews said. “Bold colors, black lines, etc.” His art made a strong impression on another audience when a painting his daughter posted on a website led to his first commissions. He received several emails from group members asking if he would paint their pets. Mathews met with them virtually, and would have them send eight or 10 photos of their pets from different angles, with several closeups of their faces. Then he would send progress photos. “I met the most interesting people from coast to coast,” he said. Mathews has also shown his work on both coasts, from California to New York, though he said he has no aspirations of “being in a big New York City gallery anymore.” “It would have been nice once, but that’s not gonna happen,” he said. “I know that. But if I could meet some more people [through] doing commissions...and have that kind of back and forth with them— that’s just so much fun.” Visit bobmathewsart.com for more information.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

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A+C POETRY // STORY BY TARA SPENCER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

What To Be, What Not To Be RYAN BOYLAND WANTS TO BE IT ALL

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021

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Ryan Boyland noted that while there are doctors who are writers, and writers who are doctors, they are typically only known for being good at one. “I want to be good at both,” said the 25-year-old UNMC student. Boyland didn’t plan on being a writer. While attending Bellevue East High School, he was most interested in math, science, and sports. While he quickly added that he was not good at the latter, he excelled at the fi rst two, earning him the title of valedictorian when he graduated. It wasn’t until he started at Harvard University that his interest in the artistic world was piqued. He had seen various spoken word artists performing online before, but Canadian poet Shane Koyczan made the deepest impression. Boyland said the piece he saw, “To Th is Day,” wasn’t meant for slam poetry, or for the page. “He combined music and poetry and visual art to tell a story.” A video of Koyczan performing the piece for a TED Talk makes the appeal clear. The poet discusses how society wants people to defi ne themselves at an early age. Th is is something that Boyland is fi guring out. His concentration was in neurobiology with a minor in astrophysics. He also studied German and was in a boxing club, which inadvertently ended up feeding his interest in performing poetry. At a college activities fair, Boyland was trying to recruit members for the boxing club when he ran into a friend who encouraged him to attend a meeting of the Kuumba Singers of Harvard. He was resistant. “I’m like, I don’t sing. Absolutely not. And they said, ‘OK, one, there’s free pizza…’ And I was like, all right, you should have led with that.” Th is exchange led to Boyland eventually becoming president of the group, though he maintains that he is not a good singer. His primary role was performing dramatic readings, poetry, or monologues in between songs, connecting them to create one cohesive production. // 24 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

However, Boyland largely honed his spoken word skills at open mics. His fi rst performance of this type was for an event on campus honoring Black women. Despite having given speeches and presentations before, this was different. “I was shaking like a leaf,” he said. “I was wearing a suit that was probably two sizes too big...and I had no idea how to deliver a poem or really even how to write at that point in time.” Despite his insistence that the poem was “terrible,” he remembered looking up from the sheet of paper to see the crowd slowly rising in a standing ovation. “I promptly went out into the hallway and collapsed,” he said. “I didn’t pass out, but out of all the things I’ve done, the places I’ve been, experiences I’ve had, I’ve never had that level of adrenaline rush before.” Growing up as an Air Force kid, he had been to a lot of places, from Florida to Colorado to Germany. Boyland now lives in Bellevue while attending UNMC, where he is currently in his third year, or phase two. While performing on a stage in front of a crowd is daunting, medical school has its own set of challenges. Boyland recalled one instance where a person came in for a routine procedure that took a turn for the worse. As he was asking a family member questions about the patient to determine treatment options, they broke down. “It felt terrible that I was the person who is sharing this time with this family member while their loved one is very near death,” he said. “It’s a strange position to be put in…As a med student, being in those spaces, in a lot of ways you’re expected to be there learning, but from the perspective of the patient, you are providing patient care.”

Boyland sees the medical profession as being twofold: “I think there’s the laughing and the joking and people are kind of happy that they’re providing care...And then there’s the darker aspect of it.” To deal with that, some medical professionals fi nd an outlet in writing, such as the Seven Doctors Project, or a more informal Friday writing class Boyland attends when he has time. He also continues to perform when he can, often at The Down Under Lounge open mics with Aly Peeler, who considers Boyland to be “phenomenal” and one of her favorite poets. Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason, who worked with Boyland through Nebraska Writers Collective, also had high praise for the young writer. Mason wrote in an email that Boyland is “an impressive and dedicated writer.” “He’s the type of person who came to almost every reading, attended any writing workshops, and was clearly interested just in being a better writer,” Mason said, adding that this made him a natural choice to recruit as a teaching artist, working as a coach for the Louder Th an a Bomb: Great Plains program at Central High School. While time constraints didn’t allow Boyland to continue, Mason said he has been a great help on smaller projects, “including work in correctional facilities and as a substitute coach at schools.” Boyland writes and performs whenever he can. He’s also working on a book of quotes from his fellow classmates that highlight the humorous side of medicine, though he said the darkness still shows itself in some of the thoughts. “Part of what I’ve heard from other physicians is that the opportunity to reflect on what you’ve seen needs to happen,” he said. His ability and skill at looking inward and expressing himself may be what helps Boyland excel in both his writing and medical careers.

OBVIOUSLY OMAHA // STORY BY TERRY JENSEN // PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT PODCASTS WITH A LOCAL VOICE

Omaha has a number of local podcasts available to stream or download.These programs feature a hometown perspective on topics such as gaming, music, and food; some are even generated by business and media organizations. The following local podcasts all offer a Midwestern view on popular issues and will inspire laughter, new ideas, and maybe even an appetite. They are available for listening or downloading.

FATURDAY

The Faturday team shares inspirations for places to eat. It all started in 2018 with lunch, where friends Sam Rocha, Dave Zorko, and T.J. would catch up and eat amazing food. One meal led to another, and the Faturday Omaha podcast was born. The trio explore the food scene in Omaha and the people who make it happen. They share insights about great places to eat and chat with restaurant owners and their staff behind the scenes. —feed.podbean.com/faturdayomaha/feed.xml

LIVES RADIO SHOW & PODCAST WITH STUART CHITTENDEN

This podcast offers a look at community, culture, business, and more in a weekly conversation with brand consultant and conversationalist Stuart Chittenden. Guests from the Midwest and beyond discuss topics encompassing politics, business, media, community activism, philanthropy, arts and humanities, and more. Chittenden offers support of the metro community in all its diversity through sharing stories that move and inspire people and communities. —livesradioshow.com

PACIFIC STREET BLUES AND AMERICANA

Pacific Street Blues and Americana weaves together a divergent mix of old and new blues against a texture of Americana roots and the rock bands listeners either grew up with, or wish they had. Pacific St. Blues and Americana is a knowledgeable, Omaha-centric radio show and podcast for those who hold a lust in their hearts to hear new music anchored in the love and lore from the blues to those halcyon music days gone-by. —podomatic.com/podcasts/kiwrblues

PUNCHBOARD PARADISE

Those interested in board games will appreciate this podcast featuring friends Chad Jacobson, Richie Turner, and Clef Haworth. Episodes are released biweekly, with a focus on topics in the board game world, particularly regarding targeted-audience board games such as Ticket to Ride (as opposed to family games such as Scrabble). The primary elements of each episode include a review of the hottest new targeted-audience games, or a draft in which the hosts try to assemble the best unique list of games that fulfill a certain topic. They credit much of their success to their fantastic group of listeners, dubbed the Punch Bunch. —punchboardparadise.com

THE WEEKLY GEEKLY

The Weekly Geekly was formed in 2016 with the simple premise of being a safe place to “geek out” with friends, and quickly became a place to explore new and fascinating media and creators. Since its inception, the podcast has ventured deep into geekdom while giving some exciting commentary on events, shows, comics, and local Omaha music. TWG is also a home for mini-series shows such as “Omaha Local Music Series,” “Skillpoint,” “Anime,” and “Dr.RavenWood’s Slasher Files,” a horror show exploring the Slasher genre. —synnation.net/twg

WHAT’S UP OMAHA WITH SMALL GUY PROMOTIONS

Host and owner of local business Small Guy Promotions, Danell Taylor launched What’s Up Omaha with an intent to spotlight positivity and support local in the Omaha area. Taylor’s objective is to help organizations and individuals get the support they need in order to grow. Guests include small business owners, leaders of community organizations, artists, and friends. Taylor discusses everyday life from the perspective of a family man who works hard for his dreams. —smallguypromo.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

// 81 //

2022

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY BILL SITZM

ANN // DESIGN

BY MATT WIECZ

OREK

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DINING FEATURE Story by Tara Spencer

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g n g er e s c a nd

ITA

LIFE

e c i n g n i h yt r e v e d — n a — — — W TA L A IS

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Being in Imani Murray’s presence is like drinking one of her creations—one is filled with a vitality that makes a person feel good.

time for her other interests, such as caring for her own mother with her job as a roller skating and art, an interest teacher, had Type 2 diabetes. that seems to run in the family. Her father, Neville Murray, was a direc- At that time, Neal was spending a lot of time The building exterior of her business, Ital Vital tor at Love’s Jazz and Arts Center at home caring for her then-4-year-old son, so Living on 24th Street, does the same. The bright and a painter whose work reflected she offered to prepare healthy meals for the two turquoise background is scattered with painted his Caribbean roots. Her mother is a women that they could eat when they needed. fruits and confetti. Greeting patrons at the drivepainter, graphic designer, and sketch “My son has some digestive issues, so he has a thru window of what was once The Cooler Snoartist who also plays a role as creative lot of things that he can’t eat as well,” she said. Balls shop is a portrait of a woman in a colorful director for Ital Vital. Murray said “I was like, 'Let me just make you what I make head wrap with a bowl of fruit sitting atop it. in addition to the mural he created him, but for an adult.’” The sprawling panorama was painted by her for her business, brother Marcus is brother, Marcus Murray. a graffiti artist and illustrator. Her Neal said after finishing culinary school and brother Nathan Murray prefers having her baby boy, she realized that working The mural represents the former Central High working with clay and ceramics. “It’s in someone else’s kitchen wasn’t going to work School student’s journey into veganism, which funny...a lot of them are focused on for her. “I kind of put my dreams of having began in 2016 and was spurred by health art right now and I’ve done art, but my own restaurant or business on the back troubles within her family. “It was really just my focus now is Ital Vital Living,” she burner and just kind of figured it would never motivation...what can I do to be healthy, and said. Murray’s artistic outlet now is happen,” she said. It was her mother who even what can I start doing for myself to be an creating juices, smoothies, and decora- encouraged her to pursue meal prepping for example for my family so they could start being tive smoothie bowls. others. “She had coworkers that were always healthier, so we can all take care of ourselves asking her what she was eating, where she got and our bodies better?” While Murray’s juices and smoothies it from,” Neal said. are tasty and can certainly be filling, she Those questions led her to explore a plantrealizes people like options. That’s why After starting with a Google form on Facebook based diet. She said her family already ate what she partners with two other local, Black and 10 friends and family members signing most would consider healthy meals, with lots women-owned businesses, Nature’s Soul up, Prepped by Lauren took off. “It was like of vegetables, rice, and chicken. Her father and Prepped by Lauren, offering their super, super quick, and it just has kind of was originally from Jamaica, so he would food products alongside her own. blown up since then,” Neal said. Besides the make jerk chicken and other well-seasoned meal prep, she offers private chef sessions and dishes. “He was just a good cook,” Murray Ital Vital carries protein balls from catering. And of course, she has the partnersaid. “I think that’s the biggest thing. Like Nature’s Soul, which Murray described ship with Murray and Ital Vital. when you have a good cook...you can make as “energy balls with protein and granola.” healthy food good.” “They’re so good,” she added. “They’re Neal said the two women are essentially addictive.” Her vegan options from related. “Our family is very big and very That idea of making healthy food with flavor Prepped by Lauren include a variety of complicated,” she added. “But basically, we’re is one she clearly keeps in mind when making salads and wraps, such as the chickpea all sisters.” her own creations. She adds cardamom and wrap, which Murray said is “almost like ginger to many of her favorites, though she a tuna salad without the tuna.” With Murray’s sister Latisha Taylor Burrell said she sometimes has to reign herself in helping to handle the business side of Ital on the ginger. “We love ginger,” she said Murray actually started documenting her Vital, it’s clear the entrepreneurial spirit of her family. health journey on YouTube, where interest is strong in this family. “I didn’t always in the smoothie bowls and juices she was know I was going to be an entrepreneur Her Jamaican roots were also an influence. creating for herself quickly grew. “She really at a young age,” Murray said. “That was Ital is derived from the word vital, and is blew up,” said Prepped by Lauren owner never like, the plan.” Fortunately for Omaha, part of the belief system of the Rastafari Lauren Neal. Once Ital Vital opened shop, plans change, and now the 23-year-old has movement. One aspect of the belief is that Murray approached Neal about adding plans to expand. one should eat what is grown in the earth her food to the mix. “And I was like, ‘yeah, around them in its pure form. But it’s not let’s do it!’” “This is our first spot,” she said. “I would just eating healthy. “[It’s] your way of life, love to have another spot, get kind of a how you go about things,” Murray said. Neal supplies Ital Vital with healthy, ready- chain going on. I also really want to just “Because it’s not just what the food is like, to-go vegan meals she makes through her grow—grow social media, grow my brand it’s what you put on your body...how you multifaceted food business. Like Murray, platform online, and build that so it can take care of yourself and stuff like that. So Neal also started out preparing healthy meals reach people internationally, outside of it all ties into ital.” for her family members. Her grandmother, just Omaha.” who recently passed away from congestive While starting her own business has taken heart failure, needed heart-healthy meals. Visit italvitalliving.com for more information. up a lot of her time, Murray tries to make Neal’s mother, who was trying to balance

Her Jamaican roots were also an influence. Ital is derived from the word vital, and is part of the belief system of the Rastafari movement. One aspect of the belief is that one should eat what is grown in the earth around them in its pure form.

“Because it’s not just what the food is like, it’s what you put on your body...how you take care of yourself and stuff like that. So it all ties into ital.”

// Photography by Bill Sitzmann // Design by Matt Wieczorek

On the Road to Conscious Comforts

LAUREN WRIGHT COOKS HER WAY TO PLANT-BASED HEALTH // 86 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

DINING PROFILE // Story by Tara Spencer

hen life handed Lauren Wright an autoimmune disease, she made cakes; and potato salad, cinnamon rolls, and runzas.

After being diagnosed with psoriasis at 19, Wright decided to take control of her own health. She had looked into some online support groups, and a lot of what she read concerned her. Members said that certain medications or steroids would work, but then symptoms would come back and get worse. “And I was like, ‘I cannot have this get worse. I can’t do that,’” Wright said. People in those groups also discussed how cutting out certain foods had helped them. She experimented with eliminating dairy, gluten, and meat. As she learned, she thought about how there must be other people in her community adjusting their diets to help with health issues. Wright realized maybe she could make it a little easier for them. That’s how Conscious Comforts was born. “Lauren approached me—she was vegan by that time— and she approached me with the idea of a plant-based business,” said Alexis Jensen, Wright’s best friend and business partner. Jensen was in. They had met through their then-boyfriends, nowhusbands. The two women quickly became friends and eventually roommates. When they lived together, Jensen said they stayed up late at night, talking about one day opening a restaurant. “We wanted an avocado-based restaurant, because we both love avocados,” she added. “Then it was just kind of like a pipe dream. We never really did anything with it.” Then, Wright decided she wanted to share her newfound interest and expertise, so she started a cottage bakery out of her kitchen. By January 2020, Jensen had joined the team, and they were in a rented certified kitchen. “I didn’t really know what I was getting into, and then COVID happened,” Wright said. “We learned as we went.” During that time, they added family-style pan meals to their menu, and the orders for cakes and other baked goods continued to roll in. Wright said a lot of what they have on their menu came from customers inquiring about items they could safely eat without worrying about food allergies. “I’d say our customers have really kind of told us where we need to be,” she added. Wright said while she had always found cooking to be a comforting experience, it wasn’t something she was passionate about. Becoming a vegan pushed her to branch out, and she realized she loved recreating the comfort foods she’d grown up eating. “It was like… almost a challenge for myself to do that,” she said. “I was definitely self-taught but [it] came out of necessity.” Some of those foods were items that were popular in her family. Her mom would make her own version of runzas using croissant dough, and her dad made a delectable potato salad, which Wright has incorporated in her menu. “It’s just like how I remember my dad

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

making it,” she said. “But we do a lot of dill pickles in ours, and he never measured. He’d just keep tasting until it [was] right.” As a child, Wright said she spent a lot of time at her grandparents’ houses two blocks away from her childhood home. Her grandmother’s specialty was chicken salad, and Wright said she would make “huge vats” of it to eat throughout the week, or for family events. “She always put smoked almonds in it, and then mayo and celery and all that kind of stuff...I do pumpkin seeds to avoid nut allergies, but I kind of recreated that as an ode to her.” “We’re

fortunate enough to be almost two Conscious Comforts started as a pickup years and delivery service, and while they would like to expand their pickup area, opening a into this. restaurant is no longer on the table. Jensen said having seen how much it takes, the We’ve cost and the risk, it’s not something they got our are interested in doing. own “We’re fortunate enough to be almost two kitchen years into this,” she said. “We’ve got our now, own kitchen now, and we don’t have a business loan…and we have no intention and we don’t of doing that.” have a Wright’s advice to anyone thinking about business starting a business is to “just go for it,” and those who are presented with no answers loan… and what appears to be a dead end should and we keep looking. have no It’s the same philosophy she employed when intention she was first diagnosed and her treatment options seemed limited. The dermatologist of doing she went to tried to get her to use steroids, that.” and that wasn’t something she wanted. “I had read that they [could] thin your skin and -Alexis stuff like that, and simple scratches would Jensen While Wright feeds the creative side, Jensen handles the day-to-day running of the business. Her work as an assistant to Milton Yen of Hiro helped inform her on what that entails.

take a little longer to heal,” she said, adding that it was frustrating, as she felt like she wasn’t being heard. “There are the right doctors out there, and I could have kept looking,” she said. “But I, at that point, felt discouraged and ended up finding what worked for me.”

Ultimately, what worked for her was veganism and taking probiotics, which she regularly does. And she has found that she can eat gluten, within reason. “Different things work for different people,” she said. Now her goal is to help others find what works for them in their journey to better health. Visit consciouscomforts.com for more information. // 87 //

2022

a t h ’ s W the

? e c ı u J se n a e l c y ida post- h o l h e lpfu l may b e

As the new year commences, the richness of winter holiday treats often makes people feel sluggish. Add to that the fact that “lose weight” is a New Year’s resolution for about 40% of people, and January becomes the perfect time to try a juice cleanse.

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ni Di

y by D aisy H // S t o r utz w e e ll vi e Ro y B b i y l l h S p R it z m ra g g d o t a n o nn y M att Wieczo Ph b n g r si

M Dining Review

any people in my circle of friends had said how good juice cleansing made them feel, and how much weight they lost. There are several places in Omaha that provide juice cleanses. Evolve Juicery & Kitchen is one that offers a wide variety of juices that are coldpressed, meaning a hydraulic press uses thousands of pounds of pressure to extract the maximum amount of liquid from fresh fruits and vegetables.

The 4 p.m. hour brought with it a novel and 16 ounces of water. Twenty minutes later, my head hurt. The instruction to drink a little bit of caffeine should have been to drink one full mug. An hour-long nap relieved this problem. At 6 p.m., I looked in the mirror. My face and stomach looked thinner, my collarbone more pronounced.

Evolve specializes in paleo and keto diets, neither of which work well for this predominately plant-consuming editor, but their juice cleanse is offered in one, two, or three-day options.

Three hours and three juices to go. The next drink was the “pucker up granny,” a simpler concoction of green apple, ginger, and lemon. The 16-ounce drink was about 360 calories, with 84 grams of carbohydrates and 6 grams of protein. The label did not lie. This tasted lemony and sour. This was the only unpleasant beverage.

“Have you ever done a cleanse before?” the clerk on the other end of the phone asked. No, but let’s go for broke, I said. “You might not want to do that,” she said. “You’ll, uh…you’ll be spending a lot of time in the bathroom.” It was not the idea of frequent trips to the toilet that held me to one day, but the price—$45 for six juices per day. Evolve offers packaged juice cleanses, such as the spicy cleanse or the simply cleanse. I chose juices a la carte at the same price. Having stayed up until 1 a.m. the night before my cleanse day, I awoke at 10 a.m. ready for a liquid-filled day—and already felt behind schedule. The clerk said that those who drink caffeine regularly should drink coffee or tea, black, before starting on the juices. “Otherwise you’ll have a headache,” the clerk said. Instead of my normal coffee, I brewed a cup of tea, drank two swallows of bitter black liquid, and tossed the rest down the drain. The first juice to drink in the cleanse is an eight-ounce bottle titled “the anti.” This is coconut water, lemon juice, turmeric, ginger, lime, and cayenne pepper. It contains 50 calories, 13 grams of carbs, 1 gram of sugar, 0 protein, and tastes like lemon and ginger. Lemon and ginger, incidentally, became the theme of the day. Three of the six juices contained both ingredients. The instructions are to try and space out the juices by two hours, with 16 ounces of water in between. That’s why the 11 a.m. hour brought the consumption of 16 ounces of water before leaving to run errands, including going to the grocery store on a stomach full of liquid. The errand run meant missing the noon drink. At 1 p.m., I consumed the first of my three green juices, the clean green. This bottle contained the juices of green apple, cucumber, kale, and celery along with ginger and lemon. It had 92 calories, 16.3 grams of carbohydrates, 1.2 grams of fat, and 4.7 grams of protein. It tasted crisp, with the distinct flavors of tart apple and cucumber. Those who are not a fan of kale should not worry. The vitamins from kale are there, but not the taste. At this point, the cleanse would end at 9 p.m. As someone who often retires for the evening at 9 p.m. with a book, this timeframe left me feeling anxious. The next two hours consisted of unloading the groceries and sitting in front of the television while consuming another 16 ounces of water. At 2:55 p.m., I opened a bottle titled “beet it,” a concoction of cucumber, orange, beetroot, and ginger juices. It tasted earthy, with a distinct flavor of beetroot, but it was not overpowering. It also contained 140 calories, 34 grams of carbs, and 4 grams of protein. The other option for this juice was “tropical beets,” which contains pineapple and pear juices and, the clerk said, tastes less like beets.

T h i s i s co co n u t wat e r, l e m o n j u i c e , t u r m e r i c, g i n g e r, li m e , a n d cay e n n e pe ppe r. It co ntai n s 50 calo ri es, 13 g rams o f ca r b s, 1 g r a m o f s u g a r, 0 p r ot e i n , a n d tas t e s li k e l e m o n a n d g i n g e r . // 90 //

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

The carrot apple juice came one-and-a-half hours and 16 ounces of water later. It was fine. The drink was made from the juice of carrots and green apples, and contained 220 calories, 54 grams of carbohydrates, and 2 grams of protein. The clock striking 9 p.m. brought with it the juice titled “simply greens.” One of the clerk’s instructions had been to end on the simply greens because of the reduced sugar. This juice contained 70 calories, 14 grams of carbohydrates, and 6 grams of protein. It is a combination of cucumber, romaine, spinach, celery, and lemon juices with cayenne pepper—essentially a salad in a bottle—and a tasty way to get the vitamins from these vegetables. After drinking apple-based juices all day, it came across as bitter. Sugar count is one disadvantage of a juice fast. According to WebMD, those doing a juice cleanse should try to keep a ratio of 3:1 vegetables to fruits. If each of these three juices containing green apple held the juice of one medium apple, that is approximately 27 grams of sugar. Another disadvantage is protein. This combination of juices contains 22 grams of protein. The average man or woman in America weighs around 200 pounds, according to healthline.com, and should eat about 75 grams of protein daily. The calorie count for the day came out to under 1,000 calories. The best number of the cleanse came at 6 a.m. the following morning, when the number on the scale reduced by 1/2 a pound. Although the caffeine headache starting again in the back of my head felt terrible, seeing that number felt fantastic. Visit eattoevolve.com for more information.

evolve juicery & kitchen 15514 spaulding plaza - 402.885.8498 juice Service ambiance price overall

N/A $$$ 5 stars possible

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

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- Sponsored Content -

Omaha

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

Since 1936, we’ve been making our worldfamous Stella’s hamburgers the same way. The family secrets have been handed down to each owner, ensuring that your burger is the same as the one you fell in love with the first time you tried Stella’s. And if it’s your first time, we know you’ll be back! Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., closed Sunday. —stellasbarandgrill.com

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Nacho Typical Family Restaurant! xican Dining Me

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4 METRO LOCATIONS! www.romeosOMAHA.com

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Get a Little Get Saucy.

TED AND WALLY’S - $ 1120 Jackson St. - 402.341.5827

a Little Saucy. CHANGE SPEZIA SPECIALTIES

Appetizers

yH Happ our

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FRESH SEAFOOD • ANGUS BEEF INNOVATIVE PASTA • RISOTTO SPEZIA SPECIALTIES

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Come experience the true taste of homemade ice cream in the Old Market. Since 1986, we’ve created gourmet ice cream flavors in small batches using rock salt and ice. We offer your favorites, plus unique flavors like margarita, green tea, Guinness, and French toast. Special orders available. Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.- Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday. Noon-10 p.m. —tedandwallys.com

VARSITY SPORTS CAFE - $$ Ralston - 9735 Q St. - 402.339.1944 Bellevue - 3504 Samson Way - 402.932.1944 Millard - 14529 F St. - 402.505.6660 Ralston, Bellevue, Millard and Dundee. We are truly grateful to have been welcomed into each of these communities and welcome you in for good food, a cold drink and a comfy seat to enjoy the sport of your choosing! Determined to bring only the freshest ingredients, homemade dough and our specialty sauces to the table, we have worked hard to perfect our craft for you. Our goal is to bring the best food service to the area and show the best sports events that you want to see. Pick up and Delivery availalble. Please check website for hours of operation. —varsityromancoinpizza.com

I TA L I A N LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$ 45th and Leavenworth St. - 402.556.6464 La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha its legendary Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta for 60 years. We offer dine-in, carry-out, party facilities, catering, and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states. Open Tuesday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. —lacasapizzaria.ne

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Omaha

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FREE PARKING . LIVE MUSIC . BIER GARDEN

STEAKS • CHOPS • SEAFOOD ITALIAN SPECIALTIES 7 private party rooms Seating up to 400 Lots of parking

The restaurant is located in a residential neighborhood, surrounded by charming homes. Everyone is greeted with homemade bread, a bowl of fresh tomatoes and basil, a bowl of ovenroasted garlic cloves, specially seasoned olive oil, and (at night) a jug of Chianti! The menu includes a large variety of pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, and even a delicious New York steak. Traditional dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, and eggplant parmigiana are also available. Lunch offerings include panini, salads, and one of the best pizzas in town. Patio seating, full bar, and a great wine list complete the atmosphere. No reservations, except for private rooms. —losolemio.com

h Steak ouse

2022 Winner

1620 S. 10th Street

402-345-8313

www.casciossteakhouse.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

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Omaha

DINING GUIDE

MEXICAN FERNANDO’S - $ 7555 Pacific St. - 402.339.8006. 380 N. 114th St. - 402.330.5707

MODERN COCKTAILS MIXED WITH AMERICA’S MUSIC

3825 N. 30 TH ST., OMAHA, NE @JOHNNYTSBARANDBLUES

Featuring Sonoran-style cooking made fresh daily. Catering and party rooms also available. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4-9 p.m. —fernandosomaha.com

LA MESA - $$ 158th St. and W. Maple Rd. - 402.557.6130 156th and Q streets - 402.763.2555 110th St. and W. Maple Rd. - 402.496.1101 Fort Crook Rd. and Hwy 370 - 402.733.8754 84th St. and Tara Plaza - 402.593.0983 Lake Manawa Exit - 712.256.2762 Enjoy awesome enchiladas, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouthwatering margaritas, and more at La Mesa. Come see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s No. 1 Mexican restaurant 18 years in a row. Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m. —lamesaomaha.com

ROMEO’S MEXICAN FOOD AND PIZZA - $ 90th and Blondo streets - 402.391.8870 146th St. and W. Center Rd. - 402.330.4160 96th and L streets - 402.331.5656 Galvin and Avery roads - 402.292.2028 29th and Farnam steets - 402.346.1110 Romeo’s is your friendly, family Mexican food and pizza restaurant.We take real pride in serving our guests generous portions of the freshest, most flavorful dishes made with the finest ingredients available. Zesty seasonings and the freshest ingredients combine to ensure the ultimate in flavor. Our savory taco meat is prepared every morning at each location. Make sure to try our chimichangas; they’re the best in town. —romeosomaha.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

SPECIAL DINING CRESCENT MOON ALE HOUSE - $ 3578 Farnam St. - 402.345.1708 Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia—Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best Reuben sandwich, we are a Midtown beer-lover’s destination. Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen hours: Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight. Closed Sunday. —beercornerusa.com

RATHSKELLER BIER HAUS-$$ 4524 Farnam St. - 402.991.7724 Rathskeller Bier Haus celebrates daily with German beer, wurst and many other menu items. Within arm’s reach of the Blackstone District and historic Dundee. Rathskeller Bier Haus is our German castle and designed to bring the storied traditions of Bavaria to the beating heart of Omaha’s metro area. Come enjoy our large outdoor beer garden and four legged friends are welcome. Prost! Open daily 11 a.m.-Late. —rathskelleromaha.com

GREEK ISLANDS - $ 3821 Center St. - 402.346.1528 Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. We are well-known for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests. Carry-out and delivery available. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. —greekislandsomaha.com

Omaha’s Riverfront Entertainment Venue

Omaha

DINING GUIDE 168th & •West WEDDINGS PARTIESCenter • EVENTS 11th & Harney motsomaha.com

JAMS OLD MARKET • 1101 Harney St • Happy Hour M-F 3pm-6pm

STEAKHOUSES CASCIO’S - $$ 1620 S. 10th St. - 402-345-8313 Cascio’s is Omaha’s No. 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature steaks, chops, seafood, and Italian specialties. We have seven private party rooms, seating for up to 400 people, and plenty of parking. —casciossteakhouse.com

JAMS MIDTOWN • 7814 West Dodge Road • Sunday Brunch 10am-2pm BOOK 2022 EVENTS NOW!

402-342-7827

• WEDDINGS • PARTIES • EVENTS • REUNIONS • MEETINGS 151 FREEDOM PARK ROAD • OMAHA www.rivercitystar.com

JAMS LEGACY • 17070 Wright Plaza • Party Rooms & Patios • jamseats.com

Take Out & Delivery Available Online Ordering Available at Bellevue & Millard Locations

THE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$ 2121 S. 73rd St. - 402-391-7440 Famous for the original Whiskey Steak. Truly a one-of-a-kind Midwestern experience. Excellent food, wine, service, and value. Rare...and very well done. Lunch Monday- Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., cocktail hour 3-6 p.m., dinner nightly 5 p.m. —droverrestaurant.com

Please Check Website for Hours of Operation Sports Bar

402.339.1944

402.505.6660

402.932.1944 DINING GUIDE LEGEND

varsityromancoinpizza.com

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ h Steak ouse

ek Dining Gre

2022 First Place

@The Drover Restaurant & Lounge | Gift Cards Available 2121 S. 73 St. | (402) 391-7440 | DroverRestaurant.com Open Monday - Friday 11am - 2pm | Dinner nightly from 5pm

Family Owned Since 1983 CATERING / PARTY ROOM AVAILABLE HOMEMADE, FRESH FOOD, ALWAYS.

3821 Center St. / 402.346.1528 GreekIslandsOmaha.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

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// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

RYAN HURD: TOUR DE PELAGO Jan. 22 at Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln. This

NEBRASKA HANGOVER BALL WITH CHARLEY CROCKETT Jan. 1 at Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln. Crockett

countr y ar tist released his debut album Pelago in October 2021. Now he’s touring the countr y playing h i s lates t m ater ia l i n per son . —bourbontheatre.com

is a blues, countr y, and Americana singer, guitar ist, and song w r iter. He has released 10 albums since 2015 , the latest being a double LP. —bourbontheatre.com ST. LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Jan.

13 at Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln. Continuing the

Lied Center’s partnership with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Music Director Stéphane Denève returns to Lincoln to lead a program highlighted by Prokofiev ’s Romeo a nd Ju l iet Su ite . 4 0 2 -47 2 -4747. —liedcenter.org

Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln.

Jan.

Donahew has risen from a favorite on the local Texas music scene, racking up 21 #1 singles, to a hot, nationally touring act who consistently sells out venues all across the countr y. —bourbontheatre.com

BERLIN PHILHARMONIC PIANO QUARTET Jan.

18 at Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln. Established as a chamber

mu sic en semble of t he worldrenowned Berlin Philharmonic in 1985 , this incredible group returns to Lincoln after making their Lied Center debut in 2018. 402-472-4747. —liedcenter.org

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

hailed and provocative theatre and television artists of our time, Smith (The West Wing, Black-ish, Nurse Jackie) leads a new installation of power ful first-person stor y telling in this new production. 402-472-4747. —liedcenter.org

A NIGHT IN THE EMERALIED CITY Jan. 22 at Lied

CASEY DONAHEW Jan. 13 at Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln. Over the last 18 years,

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ANNA DEVEARE SMITH: NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Feb. 9 at Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln. One of t he most

The Friends of the Lied are pleased to announce the return of their fundraising gala. Enter the world of enchantment and be wowed by the creativity. 402-472-4747. —liedcenter.org

BRYCE VINE: MISS YOU A LITTLE TOUR 2022 Feb. 10 at Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln. Vine is

LINCOLN FRIENDS OF CHAMBER MUSIC— AIZURI QUARTET Jan.24 at Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln. The Grammy-nominated Aizuri Quar tet presents “What’s Past is Prologue,” a mix of work by women composers spanning 800 years. 402-472-4747. —liedcenter.org DUO BALDO Jan. 27 at Merryman Performing Arts Center, Kearney.

BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL Feb. 11-13 at Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln. This musical tells the inspiring tr ue stor y of K ing ’s

remarkable rise to stardom. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation. 402-472-4747. Jan. —liedcenter.org

Violinist Brad Repp and pianist/ actor Aldo Gentileschi combine virtuosic performances, theatrical comedy, and pop culture in critically acclaimed performances. 308.698.8297. —kearneyconcerts.org GHOST & VOLBEAT Feb. 4 at the Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln. The Swedish rock band

an American rapper and singer from Westlake Village, California. His music career star ted in 2011 when he auditioned for The Glee Project. —bourbontheatre.com

Ghost has teamed up with Danish rock band Volbeat for this U.S. arena tour. They are joined by doo-wop husband and wife duo Twin Temple. 402-904-4444 . —pinnaclebankarena.com

SHE’S A WOMAN STARRING MIZ CRACKER

Feb. 13 at Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln.

In her brand new show, She’s a Woman, drag queen and comedienne Miz Cracker presents a full hour of standup and music, discussing everything from dating and dieting to Covid and global calamity. —bourbontheatre.com

EXPERIENCE WARMTH & COMFORT IN THE DEPTH OF WINTER. WELCOME TO SARPY COUNTY!

Q, We’ll Smoke U BB

Gretna

Werner Park, Papillion

Comfort Suites, La Vista

Wicked Hen Farmhouse Cafe, Springfield Old Presbyterian Church, Bellevue

Courtyard by Marriott, La Vista Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Bellevue

Stella’s, Bellevue

Selfie WRLD, Papillion

Papio Fun Park, Papillion

The Beanery, Gretna

In Sarpy County, the fun doesn’t end in December. We’ve got plenty of wintertime activities to help beat the winter blues! Lift your spirits and hit the trails for some sunshine. Go cross country skiing, rent snow shoes at Fontenelle Forest to explore 19 miles of trails, or do a little ice fishing. You’ll also find numerous stores ready to enjoy, including Nebraska Crossing in Gretna and Shadow Lake Towne Center in Papillion. Or simply get out of the cold and head to one of our premier hotels. All this and more located just south of Omaha and along I-80. For a full list of shopping, restaurants and winter activities, visit us at

GoSarpy.com.

BELLEVUE • GRETNA • LA VISTA • PAPILLION • SPRINGFIELD • OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE • OMAHA METRO

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

DAVID SHANNON Feb. 26 at Merryman Performing Arts Center, Kearney.

Shannon has been a mainstay in West End theatre (London’s Broadway) for 25 years. He will be performing a variety of popular music from Josh Groban and Ed Sheeran to Les Miserables to Frank Sinatra, Elton John and of course a few Irish ballads. 308-.698 . 8297. —kearneyconcerts.org

IOWA CARMINA BURINA Jan. 8-9 at Des Moines Civic Center, Des Moines. Hear this choral masterwork like it’s never been performed

before as the Des Moines Symphony is joined onstage by 200 voices for a sensational, spectacular performance long to be remembered. 515-246-2368. —desmoinesperformingarts.org KEE LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL Jan. 14-15 in Downtown Cherokee. This weekend includes pub crawls on Friday and Saturday nights, a jam session on Saturday afternoon, and a jam session on Saturday night . 71 2 . 225 . 6 4 1 4 . —cherokeejazzbluesfestival.com

classic Golden Girls moments using puppets. Devoted fans will fondly remember our four girls from Miami, and for the first-timers, this will be a joyful introduction to the brilliance of that television series. 515-246-2368. —desmoinesperformingarts.org 39TH ANNUAL UNIVERSITY OF OKOBOJI WINTER GAMES Jan. 27-30 at Lake Okoboji. Iowa’s fictional university comes together for a spectacular weekend of sporting events to shake off cabin fever. 712-332-2107. —uofowintergames.com

music tour will feature Skillet, Tauren Wells, KB, Colton Dixon, I Am They, NewSong, and more. 515-564-8000 —iowaeventscenter.com

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S SOUTH PACIFIC Feb. 17 at Stephens Auditorium, Ames. Love

transcends the harsh realities of war and prejudice in this sweeping Pulitzer Prize-winning tale centered around two unlikely love affairs. 515-294-7389 —center.iastate.edu

IMMORTAL BELOVED Jan 29-30 at Des

Moines Civic Center, Des Moines. Beethoven’s passionate love lett ers come alive in a musical

15-16

WINTER JAM 2022 Jan. 22 at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. This annual Christian

love letter to the theater tells the story of Michael Dorsey, a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work until one show-stopping act of desperation lands him the role of a lifetime. 515-246-2300. —desmoinesperformingarts.com

DISNEY ON ICE: INTO THE MAGIC! Feb. 17-20 at DRUMLINE LIVE Jan. 29 at Stephens Tyson Center, Sioux City. Seek adventure Auditorium, Ames. Drumline Live with Belle as she explores the Beast’s is an international tour based on enchanted castle, experience Jan. the Historically Black College Moana’s courage to embark on and University (HBCU) marching a voyage, and sing along with band tradition, featuring riveting Miguel from Coco as he follows rhy thms, bold beats and earthe music in his heart. 712.279.4850. grabbing energ y. 515-294-73 89 —tysoncenter.com —center.iastate.edu

ANNUAL BALD EAGLE APPRECIATION Jan. DAYS Jan. 15-16 at the River City celebration of great passion from Mall, Keokuk. View bald eagles Dobrinka Tabakova’s Dawn to in their natural habitat at the B e e t h o v e n ’s Moonlight M i s si s sippi R iver f ront a nd Sonata and more, performed by Victory Park & Southside Boat Club Des Moines Symphony. 515-246-2368. on Saturday and Sunday. 319.524 .5599 —desmoinesperformingarts.org —keokukiowatourism.org CINCH WORLD’S TOUGHEST RODEO Jan. 21-22 at Tyson Center, Sioux City. The Cinch World’s Toughest Rodeo will spotlight fan favorite events such as Bull Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Bareback Riding, and Women’s Barrel Racing. 712.279.4850. —tysoncenter.com

TOOTSIE Feb. 8-13 at Des Moines Civic Center, Des Moines. This laugh-out-loud

THAT GOLDEN GIRLS SHOW! A PUPPET PARODY

Jan 25-30 at Temple Theater, Des Moines. This brand-new show parodies

FORTUNE FEIMSTER Jan. 30 at Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines. Feimster is

a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, who first became known as a writer and panelist on E’s hit show Chelsea Lately, later starring as a series regular on The Mindy Project for Hulu and Champions for NBC. 515-244-0507. —hoytsherman.org STEP AFRIKA! Feb. 5 at Des Moines Civic Center, Des Moines. Part of the Family Series, this show introduces audiences to the importance of stepping in cultural identity, the use of body percussion as a means of communication, and to the continuit y of the use of polyrhythms and audience participation from traditiona l Zu lu dance to contemporary stepping. 515-246-2300. —desmoinesperformingarts.com

DES MOINES HOME AND GARDEN SHOW Feb. 24-27 at Iowa Events Center, Des Moines. This

show is the largest and most successful home show in Central Iowa, featuring over 400 exhibitors, 1,000 experts, and amazing feature gardens. 515-244-5456. —desmoineshomeandgardenshow.com

KANSAS 2022 CARS FOR CHARITIES ROD & CUSTOM CAR SHOW Jan. 14-16 at Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center, Wichita. This is the premier event of the 65th Annual Cars for Charities’ Rod & Custom Car Show. It’s also chock-full of events for the whole family, featuring a free kids zone with face painting, a coloring station, and special appearances by all their favorite car toon characters. 316 -303- 8 0 0 0. —century2.org JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA WITH WYNTON MARSALIS Jan. 18 at Main Auditorium Lied Center, Lawrence. JLCO is comprised of 15 the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players today. They are led by Grammy-winning Wynton Marsalis, world-renowned trumpeter and composer, who was the first jazz artist to be awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in music. 785 .864 .2787. —lied.ku.edu

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

SENTIMENTAL SARABAND Jan. 22 at White Concert Hall, Topeka. The Topeka

Symphony will kick off 2022 with an intimate concer t of romantic and soulful dances. 785-232-2032 . —topekasymphony.org UNIVERSE AT AN EXHIBITION Jan. 22-23 at Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center, Wichita. A stronomer and

multimedia ar tist José Francisco Salgado returns with spectacular photography of the cosmos. The film takes viewers through a virtual gallery of images from the farthest reaches of the galaxy, while the live Symphony provides the soundtrack in the form of Mussorgsk y ’s orchestral work Pictures at an Exhibition. 316-303-8000. —century2.org MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK Jan. 25 at The Granada, Lawrence. This poppunk alt band from Minneapolis consists of vocalist and guitarist Justin Courtney Pierre, lead guitarist Joshua Cain , keyboardist Jesse Johnson, bassist Matthew Taylor, and drummer Tony Thaxton. 785-842-1390. —thegranada.com

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS Feb. 11 at INTRUST Bank Arena, Wichita. teamed

up with award-winning experts from broadway and renowned comedians to create an experience like no other. Top it off with the Globetrotters’ signature ankle breaking moves and rim-rattling dunks. 855-755-7328 . —intrustbankarena.com PAS DE DEUX Feb. 12 at White Concert Hall, Topeka. The Pas de Deux is a

grand duet—a love stor y in ballet form—and at this concert the Topeka Symphony presents the epic love story of Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe. 785-232-2032. —topekasymphony.org ANNUAL WINTER BLUEGRASS Festival Feb. 18-19 at Wichita Marriott Hotel, Wichita.

The Kansas Bluegrass Association will be throwing its annual festival, which will include songwriting workshops, and jamming throughout the festival. —kansasbluegrass.org A NEW WORLD MASTERPIECE: FLORENCE PRICE’S REDISCOVERED SYMPHONY Feb. 20 at Century

II Performing Arts & Convention Center, Wichita. Composer Florence Price

made history in 1933 when her piece became the first symphony by a black woman to be performed by Feb. 2 at Main Auditorium Lied Feb. a major American Orchestra.After Center, Lawrence. Gr a m my slipping into obscurity after its Aw a rd-w i n n i ng classical premiere, her Symphony No. 1 is g uitar ist Sharon Isbin w ill experiencing a revival in the world perform with acclaimed soprano of classical music. 316-303-8000. Je s s ic a R iv e r a . 7 8 5 . 8 6 4 . 2 7 8 7. —century2.org —lied.ku.edu SHARON ISBIN AND JESSICA RIVERA

SENTIMENTAL SARABANDE Jan. 15 at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts, Springfield. The Springfield

Symphony starts 2022 with an intimate concert of romantic and soulful dances, including Gabriella Lena Frank ’s flirtatious Coqueteos from Leyendas and William Grant Still’s transcendent and enchanting Summerland. 417.836.7678. —springfieldmosymphony.org HARRIMAN-JEWELL SERIES PRESENTS PARSONS DANCE Jan. 21 at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Parsons Dance offers some of the most compelling works in dance, such as the iconic strobe-lit Caught. The company ’s Kansas City return will include a new work David Parsons set to Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Yusuf/Cat Stevens’ iconic songs. 816-471-0400. —kauffmancenter.org THE 39 STEPS Jan. 21 to Feb. 13 at Repertory Theatre, St. Louis. Hitchcock

meets hilarity in this madcap comedic thriller. Richard Hannay is an everyday bloke looking for a little more excitement in his life. But he gets more than he bargains for when he is unwittingly plunged into the world of spies, agents and espionage. 314-968-4925 . —repstl.org

AUGUSTANA Feb. 4 at The Granada, Lawrence. This American rock band from San Diego has released five albums and an EP while being signed to Epic Records and Razor & Tie. They are best known for their song “Boston.” 785-842-1390. —thegranada.com MOVIE MUSIC! Feb. 5 at Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center, Wichita. This

concert is filled with familiar themes from the silver screen, featuring guest conductor Ron Spigelman. 316-303-8000. —century2.org POTTED POTTER Feb. 10 at the McCain Auditorium, Manhattan. This parody takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harr y Potter books, and a real-life game of Quidditch, into 70 hilarious minutes. 785-532-6428. —k-state.edu/mccain

DIANNE REEVES Jan. 22 at the Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Gallery, St Louis. Reeves

is one of the pre-eminent jazz vocalists in the world today, known for her virtuosity, improvisational prowess and unique jazz and R&B stylings. 800.916.8938 —thesheldon.org

MISSOURI

DIANA KRALL Jan. 23 at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Diana Krall is the

REVOLUTION: THE MUSIC OF THE BEATLES Jan.

7-9 at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The Beatles come to life in

“Revolution,” a symphonic tribute to the Fab Four. It features top vocalists and the Kansas Cit y Sy mphony per for ming Grammy ®-winner Jeff Tyzik ’s new arrangements. 816. 471.0400. —kcsymphony.org

JOHAN SMITH Jan. 15 at the Ethical Society of St. Louis, St. Louis. Smith released his

only jazz singer to have eight albums debut at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. To date, her albums have garnered two Grammy ® Jan. Awards, ten Juno® Awards and have also earned nine gold, three platinum and seven multiplatinum albums. 816-471- 0400. —kauffmancenter.org

new album with Naxos in 2020, and is currently preparing for a tour that will see him perform in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China and at Carnegie Hall in New York. 800.916.8938. —stlclassicalguitar.org

PUNCH BROTHERS Jan. 24 at St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis. Grammy

Award-winning Punch Brothers Chris Eldridge, Paul Kowert, Noam Pikelny, Gabe Witcher, and Chris Thile—making his return to the Emerson Concert Stage— join together in a one-night only performance at Powell Hall. 314 .534 .1700 —slso.org

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

// 101 //

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

SCHLAFLY BURNS NIGHT Jan. 25 at Schlafly Tap Room, St. Louis. Robert Burns, the

Scottish poet and ploughman most famous for his poem ‘Auld Lang Syne’ bears great significance.The customs of this event include pipers piping Celtic music, Scottish food, nostalgia, satire, and a reading by Tom Schlafly. Plaid kilts optional. 31 4 . 2 41 . 2337. —schlafly.com

STICK FLY Feb. 11 to March 6 at Repertory Theatre, St. Louis. The LeVay

family ’s annual summer vacation to Martha’s Vineyard is thrown into a state of disarray by long-standing tensions, sibling rivalries and a drunken game of Scrabble. 31 4 .9 6 8 . 4925 . —repstl.org AN EVENING OF OPERA Feb. 12 at Pine

Ridge

THE FULL MONTY Jan. 28 to Feb. 13 at

Springfield Little Theatre, Springfield.

Based on the cult hit film of the same name, The Full Monty, a ten-time Tony Award nominee, is filled with honest affection, engaging melodies and the most highly anticipated closing number of any show. 417.881.5300. —springfieldmo.org

Presbyterian,

Kansas

Pride is a group of LGBTQ and straight allied teens creating theater that gives voice to their experiences. Join them for these Project Pride 2022 performances, a collection of hilarious and thought-provoking scenes created by the Kansas City teens. 816-474-6552 . —thecoterie.org

City.

Nor t h la nd Sy mphony Orchest r a will perform with singers from William Jewell College’s Graduate Artist Diploma P rog ra m . 816 .9 4 5 . 2 4 3 6 . —northlandsymphony.org PONY EXPRESS FAMILY DAY Feb. 21 at the Pony Express National Museum, St. Joseph. Family Day gives the kids a

chance to step back into the 1860’s job of a Pony Express Rider. You can experience the lifestyle through ma ny educationa l , ha nds- on exhibits and activities during Feb. this family fun day. 816.279.5059. —ponyexpress.org

CHAN CONDUCTS TCHAIKOVSKY Feb. 5-6 at St.

Louis Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis.

Conductor Elim Chan makes her SLSO debut with Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky’s Second Symphony, celebrating the folk song of his native Russia. Tan Dun’s percussion concerto captures the threat, sadness, and resolve of humanity in the face of natural crises. 314 .534 .1700 —slso.org

5-6

ONLY ONE DAY A YEAR Feb. 8 to March 6 at The Coterie, Kansas City. This National Endowment for the Arts award-winning play intertwines present day with the last segregated days of Fairyland amusement park. It is inspired by overlooked Kansas City histor y. 816. 474 .6552 . —thecoterie.org THE BEACH BOYS Feb. 9 at Kauffman Center, Kansas City. As The Beach Boys mark

more than a half-century of making music, the group continues to ride the crest of a wave unequaled in America’s musical histor y. 816. 471.0400. —kauffmancenter.org

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT PRIDE Feb. 26-27 at The Coterie in Crown Center, Kansas City . Project

T H E B A CH A R I A S O L OI S T S W I T H W Y L L I A M S -HE NRY CON T E MP OR A RY D A NCE Feb. 26 at Crown Center, Feb. Kansas City. These two critically acclaimed ensembles join forces with the exquisite music of Bach, Monteverdi, O’Connor and contemporar y dance for a scintillating, unforgettable visual and aural experience. 913-4 49-6995 . —bachariasoloists.com

THOMAS VILOTEAU Feb. 26 at the Ethical Society of St. Louis, St. Louis. French guitar

phenomenon Viloteau is the winner of the Guitar Foundation of America and the Francisco Tárrega competitions and author of the best-selling technique book In the Black Box. 800.916.8938. —stlclassicalguitar.org

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

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022

// 103 //

NOT FUNNY // COLUMN BY OTIS TWELVE // PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL SITZMANN

S P ORTS ?

’d rather play a sport than watch one.

The problem is that I am running out of sports to play. And let me say from the start, this situation is not just the result of my advanced age or decrepitude. Now it’s true that I’ve already surpassed my Biblical “three score and ten,” and that I’ve been sedated heavily on more than one occasion in order to be fussed over and repaired by young people with very impressive diplomas on their pale blue medical center consulting room walls. But, I’m blessed to be still fairly mobile and my wife hasn’t put a tracking device in my belt buckle—yet. Obviously, football is out, and not just because of my left knee…and my right knee… and the fact that if I am knocked down it may take a minute or two for me to stand up again…and the fact that I tend to cry when I’m hurt…and the fact there are no senior leagues I know of…and running? Yeah, sure. Heck, I have a great deal of trouble even watching football these days because I am just too darned empathic. Seeing a receiver on a crossing pattern get demolished by a safety moving at Mach II makes me a little queasy lately. I used to golf—that being one of the sports allowed to my demographic segment, along with bowling. But now when I swing a club I disturb players standing over delicate putts three holes away due to the loud snapping and crackling noise my right shoulder makes trying to escape from its socket. Bowling? Too loud. That is, my scream is too loud when my right shoulder actually does complete its escape as I roll one into the gutter. So, they’ve asked me not to come back. Ever. So, what sport can I play? The new craze is Pickleball, which is, so far as I can tell, miniature tennis with ping pong paddles, cute white shorts, and a whiffle-ball on a badminton court with a low net and a high risk of embarrassment. So far as I can tell—I watched a lot of YouTube videos —there is no beer, no shade, or any chance of cheating. Those factors and the wardrobe expense make this a non-starter. Cornhole? Excuse me? This unfortunately named game should revert to its original 19th century appellation, “Parlor Quoits,” or the name Father Guido Sarducci gave the diversion “Faba Baga—more properly,“Sacchetto di Fagioli” or “Bean Bag.” I just can’t watch, let alone play, this game without feeling embarrassed for everyone involved. Any game that includes terms like, “Dirty Bag,” “Drano,” or “Cornfusion,” is suspect on way too many levels. Some say Cornhole is not to be considered on its own, but is merely one part of a bigger sport called “Tailgating.” Since that sport includes meat cooked over an open fire I might consider it. Other options include “Mall Hiking”—this is like “Mall Walking” but in this version “hikers” don’t avoid obstacles like planters, benches, or slow children, but instead climb over them while whistling Tyrolean hiking tunes; and “Folding Chair Protesting”—this involves sitting in a folding chair on a busy corner holding up a sign that says, “Honk if you…” (Insert Controversial, Trivial, or Daily Outrage Issue) and can be unpleasant these days because nobody has a sense of humor anymore, but does offer fresh air and the occasional dose of bus exhaust. There’s one final possibility, the new sport of “Streaming”: I’m kind of into this one already and I’ve almost made it through all seven seasons of “The Great British Bake Off.” I’m a huge Paul Hollywood fan. Otis Twelve hosts the radio program Morning Classics with Otis Twelve on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. Visit kvno.org for more information.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

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