Jan/Feb 2010 The Encounter Magazine

Old Market • Downtown • Riverfront

www.oldmarket.com January/February 2010 DOWNTOWN ARTARTIST KRISTAE

PETERSON

DOWNTOWN DININGLIBERTY TAVERN

Delinea Design:Documenting Diavolo

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

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At the Old Market’s Front Door10TH & HOWARD STREETS

Like no other, our gourmet chocolates and fudge are handmade in our kitchen with the finest ingredients.Come create a custom gift box that’s sure to delight.

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

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

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Spectacular holiday décor & moreWe celebrate the spirit of Christmas, always! Also find seasonaldécor for Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day and other holidaysthroughout the year.• Dept. 56 Village Gold Key Dealer• 100s of Ornaments, Gifts & Collectibles• Beanpod Soy Candles

1007 HOWARD ST.(402) 345-9627

Treat your special Valentine tohandmade chocolates

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

The OldMarket’s favorite spotfor lunch & dinner.

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

Call for reservations.

422 S. 11th Street • 342-2550www.MsPubOmaha.comM’sPub

New Patients WelcomeEarly Morning

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Celebrating Film as Art in Downtown OmahaAmerican Independents, Foreign Films, Documentaries, Classics, Community Development Programs & Arts in Education.

Film Streams at the Ruth Sokolof Theater 1340 Mike Fahey Street (formerly Webster) Daily showtimes at 933-0259 or filmstreams.org.

Present this ad for $1 off admission Offer expires April 30, 2009. Not valid with other discounts or coupons.

the encounter | january/february 2010 3

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Comments? Send your letter to the editor to: [email protected]

All versions of The Encounter are published bimonthly by O m ah a M a g a z in e, LT D, P.O. B ox 4 612 0 8, Omaha NE 68046-1208. Telephone: (402) 884-2000; fax (402) 884-2001. No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted; howev-er, no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010

PUBLISHERTodd Lemke

EDITORSandra Lemke

ASSISTANT EDITORLinda Persigehl

ART DIREC TOR / GR APHIC DESIGNMatt Jensen

PHOTOGR APHYBill Sitzmann • Scott Drickey

TECHNIC AL ADVISORTyler Lemke

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSLeo Adam BigaDavid Williams

Jonathan WelshHeather Akerberg

Molly GarriottMaureen Clark

Melissa McElroy

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVESGwen Lemke • Vicki Voet

Alicia Smith Hollins • Greg Bruns

EDITORIAL ADVISORSRick Carey • David Scott

EDITORIAL INTERNAdam Dallman

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION:402.884.2000

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Old MarketDowntown • RiverfrontSecond Chance

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

Furniture � Architectural Items �ChinaGlassware � Toys & Dolls �Books

Huge Selection of Vintage Clothing &Jewelry on our Lower Level

Bought and sold by the handful, or houseful

Over 30 Years in the Old Market

Large Conference Room24 hour accessUtilities and cleaningComplimentary coff ee for you and your clients

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photo by Patrick Drickey, Stonehouse Publishing Co.

january/february 2010 | the encounter4

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Downtown Dining: Liberty Tavern .................................6Cover Story: Delinea Designs.............................................8Downtown Story: Feeling Flu’ish? ...............................12Downtown Faces: Angela Barry ..................................14Feature: Souq Ltd. .......................................................16Downtown Faces: John Ursick ....................................18Downtown Art: Kristae Peterson ............................... 20Downtown Faces: John Wehrle .................................. 22Old Market Map ........................................................... 24Calendar .......................................................................27

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contents


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“ In Tune with the Seasonsat Liberty Tavern

story by Heather C. Akerberg photos by minorwhitestudios.com

Often hotel restaurants are dismissed as just a necessary amenity and the food as simply utilitarian; they are a place to grab a limp piece of fruit and a stale bagel before you head out for an afternoon of sight-seeing. Liberty Tavern (1001 Cass

Street) in the lower level of Hilton Omaha shatters all those preconceptions. The restaurant offers classic American dishes made from fresh, local ingredients in a warm, upscale atmo-sphere.

As a matter of fact, Liberty Tavern has maintained a Four Diamond rating since it opened in 2004. This rating can be attributed to the tavern’s experienced staff. Both Erin Vik, General ”

About 90

percent of

our buy-

ing comes

from our lit-

tle ‘bubble’.

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Manager, and Chef Michael Rhoades have years of experience in fine dining and have taught at Metropolitan Community College in the Culinary Arts program.

“When this hotel opened, we were challenged with creating a restaurant that had a free-standing, independent feel,” said Vik. “We have control over the menu and feel of the restaurant.”

When Chef Michael Rhoades joined Liberty Tavern in May 2009, he changed the menu to focus on regional foods. To ensure freshness and flavor, Chef Rhoades researched local farms and producers from which he could source ingredients. He has estab-lished a 400- to-800-mile buying area.

“About 90 percent of our buying for the restaurant comes from our little ‘bubble’,” said Rhoades. “They pick the vine-ripened vegetables and deliver them to us either that day or the next. It’s that fresh.”

On the menu, you’ll find Imperial Wagyu beef from Blair, Kuro-buta pork from South Sioux City, and heirloom vegetables from Rhizosphere Farms in Waterloo and Holgate Heirloom Produce in David City. The menu changes with the local growing seasons. So, Creamy Tomato and Herb Bisque or Corn Fritters appear on the summer menu, while Braised Red Cabbage is featured on the winter menu.

Seasonal foods are not just limited to the entrees and appetiz-ers. Beverage Manager Melissa Barnett, who recently completed the first stage of Sommelier certification, is also incorporating the seasons into the drink menu.

Liberty Tavern’s décor also gives a nod to the seasons. A warm color palette, wood paneling, and fresh-cut flowers create an at-mosphere of natural comfort. Floor-to-ceiling windows along the east wall invite in the sun and offer a view of the patio area, which features a freestanding fire pit and a mixture of cozy sofas and traditional seating.

“This is the first summer we’ve had this patio,” said Vik. “It’s been a great addition, especially on concert nights.”

Due to Liberty Tavern’s location, across the street from Qwest Center, the restaurant also prepares for event seasons. The restau-rant and lounge can seat nearly 300 people, but sometimes that’s not enough.

“The entire lobby becomes ours on event nights. We’re like an accordion,” said Vik. “We do additional food stations in the lobby and on the patio to accommodate guests that we can’t fit into the restaurant.”

Similar to how the seasons inform the restaurant‘s menu, the concert crowd dictates the offerings at food stations on event nights.

“We have a Miley Cyrus menu, a James Taylor menu, and a U2 menu,” adds Chef Rhoades.

No matter the event or the season, Liberty Tavern offers dis-tinctive, local flavors and attentive service.

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Omaha has always had a close rapport with the arts. From talented musicians to eccentric sculptors to dexterous web developers, something about our city is endearing to artistic types. And as if to render this point valid, Omaha has just

added two upstanding gentlemen to its creative class. Matt Bross and Chad Eacker, owners of a multi-media creative studio called Delinea Design, have recently opened a new head-quarters among the shops and offices of the neatly ensconced Old Market Passageway.

Their story is classic. Matt and Chad met while attending the University of Nebraska - Lin-coln. Matt’s concentration was in film studies and doing small production gigs for extra cash

Delinea DesignOmaha Media Moguls in the Making

by Jonathan Welsh | photos by minorwhitestudios.com

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(beer and pizza). Chad’s focus was graphic design and doing free-lance work to pay for college (beer and pizza). The two decided that they each had a skill set that complimented the other’s, and so decided to team up and start a company… in Chad’s mom’s basement. The resulting brainchild was Delinea Design, a two-man tour de force in the world of design.

There isn’t a whole lot that doesn’t fall under the breadth and scope of what these two can do. They specialize in print, web and video, and have done work for the likes of A&E Biography, Turner Classic Movies, the Oma-ha Community Playhouse and Mutual of Omaha. Once having met them, it becomes apparent how they’ve been successful in attracting such notable clients. “We’re allergic to stock,” said Chad. “We’re very passionate about our work. No matter what it is we’re working on, it has to be origi-nal,” Matt added.

“The work we did for Sadie Nardini, a yoga instructor/author from N.Y.C., is a prime example. It began with an original design for her business cards, then evolved into creating a website

and DVD for her, which involved everything from designing a projection background for the video we shot to designing an unique DVD cover,” said Matt. “It was sort of a microcosm of what we do,” Chad remarked.

When speaking with them you get the feeling that they’re somehow related - maybe long lost brothers - by the way they work off of each other. They seem to complete each other’s thoughts. In fact, during the course of their latest endeavor, a documentary project for the Omaha Per-forming Arts and the Lied Center for Performing Arts, they were affectionately nicknamed “the Kubrick Brothers” on set.

The Diavolo Project: Nebraska documentary might very well be Delinea Design’s masterwork to date. Originally commissioned to be a teaching tool, the project’s finan-ciers determined that the quality of Matt and Chad’s work necessitated a change of format into a full-blown docu-mentary. The project consisted of sending eight teachers

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from Nebraska to the Diavolo Dance Theatre in L.A. for a week to learn about and participate in Diavolo. The goal was to have them return with the ability to teach Nebraskans what Diavolo is all about.

The creator of Diavolo is Jacques Heim. Jacques has done work for the ever-popular Cirque Du Soleil, and as Matt and Chad both testified, he has an indelibly vi-brant personality. “Jacques was such a character, constantly joking in between activities,” said Matt, “but once an activity started he was all business.” It is largely Jacques personality and energy that makes Diavolo what it is.

However, it’s no easy task to adequately describe what Diavolo is. Perhaps the most fitting definition is an activity that redefines dance through dynamic movement and creative expression - though that might not help you grasp what it actu-ally is. It’s something that you will most likely have to see for yourself to understand.

The documentary is set to premiere at the Holland Center for

Performing Arts in February. When asked if this was their favorite project thus far in their

budding careers, both Matt and Chad answered a resounding “yes!” When asked why, they replied, “because it was the last project we worked on.” This statement embodies how passion-ate they are about their work. Interestingly, instead of subscrib-

ing to cable T.V., they prefer Netflix, which allows them to avoid unwanted distrac-tions. They seem to always be thinking about the next project.

What’s next for Delinea Design? “We’re thinking about starting an anima-tion studio,” said Matt. Verily.

Recently, there’s been a push by the City of Omaha

and the Young Professionals Council to attract talented young individuals in order to grow the economy and keep it strong. It appears as if their strategy is working, as we now have a couple of great additions to Omaha’s creative community in Chad Eack-er and Matt Bross of Delinea Design.

cover story


http://www.libertytavern.com

If you’re a downtown resident and feeling a bit “under the weather,” you need not leave your neighborhood to find a doctor’s care; rather, just venture down a block or two to the Creighton Family Healthcare clinic in the Old Market. In fact, it seems quite a few

people have been taking advantage of this convenient medical facility.The Creighton clinic has felt the consequences of phenomenal growth in the Old Market

and surrounding areas. “Previously, we had to turn people away!” said Dr. Mark Goodman,

Feeling Flu-ish?Relief is Just ‘Round the Corner

story by Maureen O’Halloran Clark

photos by minorwhitestudios.com

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If some-one is not insured, we have a sliding fee program.

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interim chair of Family Medicine at Creighton University School of Medicine and one of the physicians at the clinic.

In response to that need, Todd Carlon, CEO of Creighton Medi-cal Associates, reported that the clinic completed a $1.2 million expansion project in November. The project more than doubled the space from 4,300 square feet to 10,000 square feet, and from 10 exam rooms to 17. Two more physicians, board-certified in family medicine, have been added to its staff. A pharmacist has joined the team as well, and is available for counseling about medications, though no medications are sold on-site.

In addition to the extended space and staff, the clinic has lengthened its hours, including now being open during the lunch hour. Another addition is a $120,000 X-ray machine which sends images online to a radiologist at Creighton University Medical Center. All of these changes enable the clinic to meet the needs of more patients.

The clinic is owned by Creighton University and staffed by Creighton Medical Associates, who are physicians and support staff affiliated with Creighton’s School of Medicine. Their mission: to provide excellent, cost-effective care to clients, as well as to support the academic mission of the school. Originally opened in 1995, the clinic had just 800 square feet. There was only enough room for two exam rooms and a four-chair waiting area. This is the fourth expansion since its opening. It also was a “historic restora-

tion,” which preserves the Old Market feel of the building.First-time visitors may be a little confused by the building,

which has a Leavenworth address, but the Leavenworth side of the building is actually its back, with no entrance. The front door is located on the opposite side, or the south end of the building. Patients will find ample parking, with spacious, paved lots wrap-ping the entire west and south sides of the building. The lots have entrances off of Leavenworth, 13th and 14th streets.

Dr. Goodman mentioned, “If someone is not insured, we have a sliding fee program, where they might qualify for financial as-sistance.” Carlon added, “All they need to do is come talk to us and we will work something out.” Financial counselors at Creigh-ton University are on hand to talk to patients, preferably before treatment, to determine payment amounts and schedules.

One of the clinic’s doctors is fluent in Spanish, as is one of the receptionists, which helps better serve its Hispanic clientele, Goodman added.

Resting on Dr. Goodman’s bookshelf is a country-doctor-style black bag. Dr. Goodman said of the bag, “I still use it!”, explaining that he makes house calls for his patients who are unable to get out.

The Creighton Family Healthcare Old Market clinic: historic bricks on the outside, state-of-the-art medical technology on the inside, and quality medical care given with old-fashioned heart.

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When Security National Bank sought to open up a branch in Omaha’s Old Mar-ket neighborhood, it hired Angela Barry to make it happen. That was 1998. Eleven years later and Barry is still with Security National, still in the Old Mar-

ket. “The pure joy of every day” is why Barry has remained in the Old Market all these years. One of the most appealing aspects of her job as First Branch Manager is the Old Mar-

ket’s varied population. “The relationship I have with the folks in the Market is beyond my

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Angela Barry:Living a storybook life in the Old Market

by Molly Garriott | Photos by minorwhitestudios.com

I’m a

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wildest dreams,” she enthuses. The array of different people — artists, business people, politicians and tourists — keeps things fresh, Barry believes. She has as-sisted neighboring artist, merchants and residents with their personal finances and business plans. “It’s the craziest, wildest mix of people,” she declares, “And I love it.”

This does not come as a surprise to Tara Nation, manager of Thomas D. Man-gelsen’s Images of Nature Gallery. “Every-one she does business with is a friend,” chuckles Nation, who has worked with Barry on the Old Market Business Associa-tion’s executive board.

If the people of the Old Market are a diverse lot, then so are its businesses. Barry likes this. The diversity affords her ample opportunities to sample differ-ent cuisines and shop in equally unique stores. “I like to go to different places for different things,” she explains. It’s M’s for comforting lavosh, Ahmad’s for exotic Jujeh chicken, La Buvette for a restorative

Bordeaux, and Mr. Toad’s for a cocktail sipped out of doors. Summer and fall are her favorite times of year in the Old Market because they “get me outdoors,” she explains. But she also admits that winter is a magical time; when the eaves are blanketed with snow and a light dust-ing is falling, Barry says the Old Market resembles a “storybook.”

Barry has been an active member of the neighborhood’s business association “since the day I stepped foot in the Old Market.” From 2005 to 2007, she served three con-secutive one-year terms as president. Barry has been on its board for 11 years and does not plan on leaving in the foreseeable fu-ture. “I’m a lifer by choice,” she laughs.

She and Security National Bank have played active roles, overseeing refresh-ment sales, at the Playing with Fire con-cert series along the riverfront. For the past three years, the Old Market Business Association has hosted a Trick-or-treat family day, a favorite of Barry’s. Over

1,000 children and their parents parade the cobblestone streets of the neighbor-hood, decked out in their costumes, to fill their Halloween treat bags with chocolate bars and gum balls. Barry says the event provides families the opportunity to be outside and take a slow look around at what the Old Market has to offer. The outing invites them to meander about in-stead of mindlessly scurrying about from one activity to another.

Says Nation: “Angela is very service-minded. She has a great work ethic and is dependable. You can always count on her. I can always trust Angela to act with integrity, personally and professionally. And she’s great fun!”

Whether it’s biking along the riverfront, taking in a Blue Barn play, or meeting friends for dinner, Barry’s evenings are most often spent, like her days at Secu-rity National Bank, in the Old Market. Concedes Barry: “I’m not a girl who stays home very often.”


Where Everyone Knows Your NameSouq Ltd. In the Old Market Passageway

by David Williams | photos by minorwhitestudios.com

New York, Paris, Cairo…the globetrotting buyers at Souq Ltd. have once again been scouring the planet for the most captivating array of jewelry, apparel, ac-cessories and home accents.

Their most recent buying trip, a whirlwind adventure across three continents, found them dwarfed in the shadows of the majestic Empire State Building, the romantic Eiffel Tower, and the awe-inspiring hulk that is the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Uh…ummm…okay…so those were just some of the faux monoliths dressing up the neon-splashed Strip during their trek to a sprawling merchandising show in Las Vegas (why in the

FEATU

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This has been a part of my life for as long a I can re-member.


world would someone build a hotel right next to an active volcano?), but there’s nothing counterfeit about the tantalizing de-lights they scored for the boutique located in the Old Market Passageway.

The family business run by Emily and Kirk Wynn, their daughter Allison,

and a small cadre of what they fondly call “Souqettes,” has been one of the more colorfully eclectic mainstays of the Old Market since Emily’s mother, Nancy, founded the store in 1972. The floor-to-rafters cacophony of hand-woven/dyed/forged/sculpted offerings represents a global village of goods from six continents (sorry, Antarctica) and only the warmth of smiles greeting every shopper matches the earthiness of the wares found at Souq.

It’s a space where every product comes with a story. Chanchitos, Chilean good luck charms in the form of three-legged terra cotta pigs, compete for the attention of two-legged shoppers trying on apparel from a former Soviet Republic, togs that are to be punctuated with eye-popping jewelry from Israel (“The Man from Tel Aviv,” more on him later).

The business has a deliciously serendipi-tous, if convoluted, provenance. Nancy had a college friend living amid political unrest in Afghanistan, one who wanted his teenage son out of that troubled country. His Omaha pal would not accept cash for taking in the young lodger, but a treasure trove of Afghani rugs, clothing and baubles soon started showing up on Nancy’s doorstep.

Souq, the Aramaic word for an open-air

market, was born. “This has been a part of my life for as

long as I can remember,” explained Emily. “I grew up here. I met Kirk here when he went to work for my mom in 1981. Anyone who inherits a business (her mother was tragically taken in a 1986 car accident) faces special, often conflicting emotions. It took me a long time to accept that I wasn’t just taking care of it for someone else,” she said of the visage that looms to this day in an oil portrait hung behind the counter. “But now I don’t worry anymore if my mom would be pleased,” she mused with a hint of introspection. “I know that she is pleased.”

And now Allison is echoing her mother’s journey.

“We’re always a great team, but es-pecially at market,” Emily said of her

platinum blond-this-morning, blazing redhead-this-afternoon daughter. “I’m looking at things from a seasoned busi-ness perspective, and she’s keeping Souq young and hip with her great eye for fash-ion.”

“I’m 23,” added Allison, “and my mom is….well…my mom, but we still have a great time on buying trips” that may break stereotypes of intergenerational travel habits. “I’m often ready to watch reruns of ‘I Love Lucy’ in the hotel room, but it is she who always wants to hit the town,” she chuckled.

Business travel, if not always as glamor-ous as it seems, does have its perks.

“We once discovered the most beautiful man in the world,” Allison beamed. “He was a vendor at a show and we were both like (insert here that sputtering motorboat sound made when an index finger bounc-es between purring lips). “We grabbed the next female vendor we stumbled upon, someone we didn’t even know, and dragged her from her booth just to sneak back and get a second look!”

Possessing a business acumen beyond her years, Allison is too savvy to divulge a trade secret, especially one dealing with an exclusive vendor affiliation. “We just refer to him now as ‘The Man from Tel Aviv,’ but I admit we probably bought much more than what we might have, just to build face time (and what a face!) with a new partner!”

A recent visit to Souq found that most familiar of sights: Emily administering one of her dexterous, carefully choreo-graphed, across-the-counter hugs that conclude so many transactions in a place where, like the crowd at “Cheers” on Nick at Nite, “everyone knows your name.” At the other end of the hug was Rhodora Fe-lix, smartly clad in countless layers (black, blacker, blackest) atop leggings and fringed suede boots.

“Souq has everything I could ever need,” chirped the San Francisco native who works as a massage therapist, “espe-cially when I have absolutely no idea of what I need!”

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John Ursick didn’t always know he wanted to be a restaurateur. The former art school student came to the realization over time. His love of food, passion for Southwestern culture, and knack for creative expression was the right recipe for

Stokes, the chef/owner’s first restaurant.Ursick started working in restaurants while in college. He did his share of flipping burgers

and waiting tables. These experiences planted a seed of thought: “I could do this.”In 1991 he met his future business partner Gayle Carstens while working at the former

Champps Americana restaurant at Oak View Mall. He continued to experiment with food and develop his cooking skills. In the mid-90s Ursick realized that he wanted to open his own restaurant. By spring of ‘97, he and his business partner opened the first Stokes location in Miracle Hills. The menu was Northern Mexican-inspired. Their dishes feature a lot of black beans and roasted chilies. Stokes also boasts an impressive drink menu, which has evolved over the years: margaritas made with fresh ingredients (no mixes), martinis, and a solid wine collection. They have gone on to open two additional Stokes: one at 11th & Howard streets

“”

We love

cowboys

and

cowboy

culture.

Inspired by the Old WestJohn Ursick

by Melissa McElroy | photos by minorwhitestudios.com

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in the Old Market, and another at 175th and West Cen-ter in Legacy. Even with all of Stokes’ success, Ursick yearned to do even more.

“We love cow-boys and cowboy culture. We had to hold back putting cowboy decor up at Stokes. I wanted to open an old-fashioned saloon. So we went to Dal-las (to study ideas),” Ursick said. The result? The Twisted Fork, an eclectic, urban cowboy bar & grill, opened in the Old Market in 2008.

Beyond the menu and wine selection, it is clear that Ursick and Carstens put a lot

of thought into the ambiance of their restaurants. They have perfected creat-ing an atmosphere that is inviting, yet sophisticated. It is not casual dining, not upscale either, rather some mix of the two. Their restaurants rock a cozy, cool vibe without any pretense.

One has to wonder how Ursick finds time to run four restaurants.

“I spend about 95 percent of my time tasting food, talking to chefs, working, teaching, coaching… I go to each loca-tion and sample the food. If the sauce is off at one location, it could ruin some-one’s whole dining experience,” Ursick said.

Not that he is complaining. “I am fortunate to be one of those

people excited about work. I work late because I want to, not because I have to.”

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19the encounter | january/february 2010

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Art is the only time when I can be who I want to be.

20 january/february 2010 | the encounter

Good journalists are known for their listening and ob-servational skills. The ability

to digest and compartmentalize decid-edly overt information is one thing, but it is something else altogether to pick up on subtler, less obvious signals and divine their underlying meanings.

Both skills were on the fritz in a recent conversation with artist Kristae Peterson.

No, she explained, we wouldn’t be go-ing to her studio because it was messy or otherwise less than presentable in any way, because it wasn’t. No, it wasn’t because she feared that I might not like her work because she already knew that I was an ardent admirer. And no, it wasn’t because…well, you get the idea.

“I don’t go to my banker husband’s office and sift through loan papers,” she chuckled good-naturedly, “and he doesn’t come into my studio. No one does.”

And that’s why a chat with the art-ist took place not in a paint-splattered, canvas-cluttered workspace, but instead in her smartly appointed, art-strewn (but none of her own) loft in the Beebe Run-yan Building at 9th and Douglas streets.

Before one may be tempted to wan-der to undeserved and clichéd stereo-types of idiosyncratic art world snooti-ness, real or imagined, please know that Peterson’s convictions are grounded in the earthiest of beliefs.

“My studio is something of a sacred space to me,” said the mixed media painter whose vibrant work is often eas-ily recognizable by a palette that dwells in the realm of orangey-red hues run-ning the gamut from the soothing to the

eye-popping. “Art is the only time when I can be who I want to be. It’s my alone time where I can construct a world that is exactly as I want it to be,” she said in de-scribing a personalized cosmology of her own making.

The artist points to Eva Hesse, the Ger-man-born American sculptor (1936-1970), as inspiration for musings on identity and self-awareness, ones that are particularly commonplace among artists and others in the creative arena.

“I cannot be so many things,” said Peter-son in quoting Hesse. “Cannot be some-thing for everyone…woman, beautiful, artist, wife, housekeeper, cook, saleslady, all these things. I cannot even be myself or who I am.”

Peterson, a frequent contributor to shows at the internationally acclaimed Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, founded the Avenue Gallery in Dundee before deciding to concentrate full time on her own work. She is represented in Omaha by the Lewis Art Gallery and in Des Moines by the Independent Thought Gallery.

I have it on good authority - an unim-peachable source, it would seem - that Kristae Peterson maintains a studio that hovers above commercial space in the heart of the Old Market somewhere in the 1200 block of Howard Street. Her studio may be, for all practical purposes to the rest of us, a phantom one. It matters not. That’s because the artist’s canvases are infused with an unmistakable “realness” (no phantoms here) of texture, depth and color that belie the often-abstract nature of her work, not to mention her world-view.

Phantom StudioArtist Kristae Peterson

by David Williams | photos by minorwhitestudios.com

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John WehrleBrings New Opera Fans into the Fold

by Leo Adam Biga | photos by minorwhitestudios.com

Since assuming his Opera Omaha general director post in late 2007, John Wehrle has championed a community engagement focus expressed by the company’s new corporate motto, “Opera For Everyone.”

His mission is “developing new works, developing new ways of people seeing opera.” In 2009 a Wagner-inspired, outdoor country western spoof, Das Barbecu — complete with good eats and a beer garden — played to 1,500 people who, Wehrle said, “got a different view of our company and saw we could have fun and laugh at ourselves. It’s really being flexible enough to meet as many potential audience members as possible where they are, and so if it means taking a concert by our opera chorus around the community because that may be the first exposure people have, then that’s how you do it.”

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“ ‘Opera For Everyone’ is my belief that people are inherently intelligent and seek out experiences that expand them. What we really are here to do is help people live better lives.”

The Missouri native’s pursued the greater good since aban-doning a singing career for arts management. He was with the Pittsburgh Symphony when, he said, “my boss told me the future of arts in America is in strong institutions that are flexible and nimble and make good decisions. I found that really com-pelling.”

He finds his performing background a benefit.“I think having been on the stage is the only way you un-

derstand how a company gets ready to create the marriage of performer and audience. Unless you’ve experienced that con-nection where you look out and you see somebody’s eyes in the audience, you really don’t know why you’re doing this. That’s how I do it,” he said. “I think I bring a backlog of philosophical, artistic, political views that color our choices of programming and allow me to be conversant with a variety of people in the community.”

A trained ear also helps with casting. “It helps me in audition. I feel I can usually hear somebody and know if they’re going to crash in the third act.”

He gives private voice lessons and still sings a bit. “I haven’t really kept my chops. I threatened on my 50th birthday to do a recital.” He has some regrets about not performing profes-sionally anymore. “I do miss the opportunity to walk out and, if there’s any skeptics, convince them.”

Wehrle remains “connected” to the craft through his work and wife — professional opera singer Diane Owens. “So there is a great reinforcement and fulfillment in my life,” he said. “I tell people it’s like woodworking: there is somebody who has to plane the surface and prepare it so the craftsmen can come in and do their real job, and right now I’m pretty content to make sure the surface is smooth, deal with the worm holes, and let somebody else do the really important work.”

Last fall’s Brundibar represented his idea of “a perfect” program. Besides being “an important piece about big-ger issues,” it featured a collaboration with the Institute for Holocaust Education, an education guide for schools, performances attended by 9,500 school kids and produc-tions with area youth singers and musicians. “I’m proud of the work we do on an ongoing basis in schools, taking in full-throated presentations to simply providing materials for kids.” For its upcoming Mozart festival, WAM!, the com-pany’s working with teachers to develop a curriculum.

After stints in Utah and Tennessee, Wehrle sought the Omaha job because of the company’s “amazing history and good commitment to quality. Creativity is always prized here,” he said, “and there is a strong sense we’re in it for the long haul.”

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10TH TO 14TH STREETS BETWEENLEAVENWORTH & FARNAM, OMAHA


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

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

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

DOWNTOWN HOTELSCourtyard by Marriott...(10th & Douglas) .......346.2200DoubleTree Hotel...(16th & Dodge) ...346.7600Embassy Suites Hotel...F9 ...............346.9000Hilton Convention Center Hotel .......998.3400Hilton Garden Inn...(10th & Dodge) .. 341.4400Redick Plaza Hotel...(15th & Harney) ..............342.1500Magnolia Hotel...(16th & Howard) ...342.2222

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

GALLERIES1301 Gallery...(13th & Nicholas) .......342.6452Artists’ Cooperative Gallery...D7 .....342.9617Bemis Ctr. for Contemporary Arts...K4 ..........341.7130Fred Simon Gallery...A8 ...................595.2122Garden Of The Zodiac...E7 ..............341.1877Hot Shops...13th & Nicholas ............342.6452Images of Nature...D5 ......................341.8460Jackson Artworks...G6 .....................341.1832Julia Russell ...(11th & Douglas) ....... 891.0691Omaha ClayWorks...H5 ....................346.0560Passageway Gallery...E7 ..................341.1910Sirens at the Loft...F6 .......................933.3333White Crane Gallery...E7 ..................345.1066

HEALTH SERVICESAcupuncture

Libba Harmon, LAc ..........................214.6265Massage Therapy

Sandy Aquila LMT...E3 .....................345.5078Lisa Christensen LMT...E3 ...............850.6651Barb Rost LMT (19th & Douglas)......345.7500

MedicalDr. John Bartholet, DC...E3 ..............342.2216Downtown Chiropractic (2111 Douglas) .........345.7500Derek Fender, DDS...D4 ...................342.3901

Dr. Mark Goodman, MD...L1 ............280.5500Dr. Stephen Peterson MD...L1..........280.5500Dr. James Polerecky DDS (19th & Farnam) ....341.7576Dr. Ritch Miller DC (2111 Douglas) ...345.7500Heartland Pathology (310 S. 16th) ... 346.0195Omaha Dental Spa (11th & Howard) 505.4424

Physical TherapyEast & West Physical Therapy...E3 ..345.5078

Psychotherapy, EMDR, HypnotherapyJannette Davis, MS, CST .................341.2230Cynthia Duggin, MSW, LCSW ..........345.5078Bobby Escolas, CMHT (Hypnotherapist) ......990.2979 Jeff Stormberg, PhD (Psychotherapist).........393.0642Tim Swisher, MHR, LMHP, LADC ....341.2230

PharmacyDepot Drug (1416 Dodge) .................544.DRUG

MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONSOmaha Children’s Museum...(500 S. 20th) ..........342.6164The Durham...J9 ...............................444.5071Joslyn Art Museum...(24th & Dodge) ..............342.3300Lauritzen Gardens...(100 Bancroft)..346.4002Henry Doorly Zoo...(3701 So 10th St) .............733.8401Qwest Center Omaha (10th & Capitol)............341.1500

OLD MARKET PROPERTIES902 Dodge Condos ......................... 884.6200 Brandeis Building .............................934.1224Farnam 1600 Building ......................342.1616Grubb/Ellis Pacific Realty ................345.5866Harney Street Appartments .............934.7510 Old Market Lofts...J7 ........................345.8000Riverfront Place ................................397.4837Shamrock Development/Paxton Building ......934.7711Skinner Macaroni Apartments...H1 .346.2346The Cornerstone .............................. 346.0510The Greenhouse Apts...A9 ...............341.3200TipTop Building...(16th & Cuming) ....345.8000 PUBS & TAVERNSBar 415...E3 .......................................346.7455Barry O’s ...E8 ..................................341.8032Billy Frogg’s Grille & Bar...E5 ...........341.4427Bullpen...G6 ...................................... 502.5150Dubliner Pub...D4 .............................342.5887J.D. Tucker’s Bar...E8 .......................934.5190Julio’s...F2 .........................................345.6921Irie...D7 ..............................................504.4901La Buvette Wine & Grocery...F7 .......344.8627M’s Pub...E6 ......................................342.2550Mr. Toad’s...E8 ..................................345.4488Myth Lounge...F6..............................884.6985Nomad Lounge...(J8) ........................884-1231 O’Connor’s Irish Pub...F3 .................934.9790Old Market Tavern...F8 .....................341.0191The Stadium Club Sports Bar & Grill...E8 .......359.1290T Henery’s Pub...C6 .........................345.3651The Underground...F7 ......................341.3547Upstream Brewing Co...G6 .............344.0200Urban Wine Company...J7 ...............934.0005Waters Edge Lounge @ Embassy Suites...F9 .....346.9000

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RESTAURANTS801 Chophouse at the Paxton...B1 ..341.1222 Farrells Bar...(902 Dodge) ................884.9947Ahmad’s...E8 .....................................341.9616Billy Frogg’s Grille & Bar...E5 ...........341.4427Delice European Bakery...E4 ...........342.2276Falling Water Grille @ Embassy Suites...F9 ........346.9000Famous Dave’s...D6 .........................614.9333Flatiron Café...(17th & Howard) ........344.3040House of Lee...F4 .............................991.9330Indian Oven...E7 ...............................342.4856Joe Banana’s ....................................346.7227Julio’s...F3 .........................................345.6921La Buvette Wine & Grocery...F7 .......344.8627Liberty Tavern (10th & Davenport) ...998.4321Little King...H21 ................................344.2264Lucky’s 10-0-One (10th & Pacific) ...991.1001M’s Pub...E6 ......................................342.2550Matsu Sushi...B8 ..............................346.3988Michael’s at the Market...C6 ............346.1205Nicola’s...G3 .....................................345.8466O Dining...A8 .....................................502.7888Old Chicago...D6 ..............................341.1616Omaha Prime...E7 .............................341.7040Passport Restaurant...H6 ................344.3200Rick’s Cafe Boatyard ........................345.4545Sam & Louie’s Pizza...H6 .................884.5757Spaghetti Works...F6 ........................422.0770Stokes Bar & Grill...(E5) ................... 408-9000 Subway...E4 ......................................341.8814Sullivan’s Steakhouse (222 S. 15th St.) ..........342.4432The Diner...D5 ...................................341.9870The French Café...F7 ........................341.3547Trini’s...E7..........................................346.8400Twisted Fork...E7 ..............................932.9600 Upstream Brewing Co....G6 .............344.0200V. Mertz...E7 ......................................345.8980Vincenzo’s Ristorante...D4 ...............342.4010Vivace...E6 ........................................342.2050Zio’s Pizzeria...F4 .............................344.2222

SPECIALTY FOODS & COFFEE13th Street Coffee C0....G3 ..............345.2883Aromas...I8 ........................................614.7009Bickford Bakery...I8 .......................... 934.7450Cubby’s Old Market Grocery...H3 ...341.2900Delice European Bakery...E4 ...........342.2276Hollywood Candy...F3 ......................884.7688 La Buvette Wine & Grocery...F7 .......344.8627Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream...H21 .......933.5280MJ Java...B3 & F7 .............................342.5282Old Market Candy Shop...F8 ...........344.8846Old Market Eea House...G3 .............934.8538Patrick’s Market...(E1) .......................884-1600 Soul Desires Books & Coffee...G7 ...898.7600Ted & Wally’s Ice Cream...G5 ...........341.5827

SPECIALTY SHOPSAshley Collectibles...E3....................934.3100Big Brain Productions...H5 ..............342.2885Chameleon...E7 ................................342.4444Cibola of Omaha...F7 (509 S 11th) ...342.1200City Limits...E3 ..................................345.3570Cornerstone Gem & Bead Co....G3 .346.4367 Drastic Plastic...F4 ...........................346.8843DSR Power Sports...E3 ....................991.1383Etc. Gifts...F7 ....................................342.2846

Garden Flowers...F7 .........................614.5661Garden Of The Zodiac...E7 ..............341.1877Goldsmith Silversmith...F7 ...............342.1737Homer’s Records...E5 ......................346.0264Iron Decor & More...G5 ....................346.6123 Jay Welter Cigars...(18th & Jackson) 345.1965Kessler’s...H5 (1125 Jackson) ..........715.5888Mairzy Doatz...F6..............................934.4815Namaste...E7 ....................................341.7069New Realities Books & Gifts...E7 .....342.1863Old Market Habitat Floral...E6 .........342.0044Old Market Sundries...F8 ................. 345.8198OM Gifts & Imports...E3 ................... 345.5078Overland Outfitters...F8 ...................345.2972Perspective Jewelry...D4 ..................934.4416Red Square...E7................................342.8878SG Roi Tobacconist...F7 ..................341.9264Souq Ltd...E7 ....................................342.2972Tannenbaum Christmas Shop...F8 ..345.9627Trocadéro...E4 ................................. 934-8389 SERVICESAt the Loft Spa...F6...........................505.4100Michael Boyle, Attorney...E7 ............359.1000Centris Federal Credit Union...C3 ...334.2000Commercial Optical...G3 ..................344.0219Dietz United Methodist Church ....... 346.9115Don Fiedler Law Offices...F7 ...........346.6263First National Bank...(F5) ..................885-2574 Fringes Salon & Spa...G8 ................. 345.0404Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce...D2 346.5000Omaha Convention & Visitors Bureau...B8 ....444.4660 Hair Market Salon...E7 .....................345.3692J P Cooke Rubber Stamps...F2 .......342.7175Klein Law Offices...H3 ......................391.1871Magical Journeys Carriage Service...E7 ........453.6745Movers Not Shakers .........................614.9770Old Market Car Wash...J2 ................393.2819Old Market Encounter ......................884.2000Old Market Mini Storage .................. 342.0022Old Market Web Site .....www.oldmarket.comOmaha Healing Arts Center...E4 ......345.5078Omaha Public Library...(15th & Farnam) .........444.4800Omaha Yoga School...E7 .................346.7813Pinnacle Bank...(10th & Douglas) .....346.9180Security National Bank...(11th & Howard) ..........344.7300Sirens...F6 .........................................933.9333Stinson, Morrison, Hecker LLP...C3 342.1700Urbane Salon & Spa...B8 .................934.2909Susie’s Baskets...D4 .........................341.4650Sutera Law Offices...E6....................342.3100Visions Framing Studio...K4 .............342.0020

THEATRES & ENTERTAINMENTBlue Barn Theater...G6 .....................345.1576FilmStreams...(14th & Webster) ........ 933-0259 Holland Performing Arts Center...(12th & Douglas) .............................................345.0606 Omaha Symphony...(16th & Howard) ..............342.3836Opera Omaha...(17th & Farnam).......346.4398Orpheum Theater...(16th & Farnam) .345.0606The Rose...(20th & Farnam) ..............345.4849

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ONGOING EVENTSThrough 1/3: WIZ-ARDS OF POP: Sabuda & Reinhart Exhibit at the Joslyn. Celebrated children’s books cre-ators Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart are the best-known pop-up book artists working today, as well as the makers of the re-markable The Wonder-ful Wizard of Oz and the three-volume series En-cyclopedia Prehistor-ica: Dinosaurs, Sharks and Other Sea Mon-sters, and Megabeasts. Working in a shared studio in New York, the two have created an assemblage of hand-crafted pop-up books that are both intriguing and breathtaking at the turn of every page. Jo-slyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge Street, Omaha. For information, call 402-342-3300, or visit www.joslyn.org

Through 1/24: Ameri-can Letterpress Ex-hibit at the Durham Museum. American Letterpress: The Art of Hatch Show Print illus-trates the fascinating fusion of art with popu-lar culture and music history and celebrates a time-honored graphic art tradition through the work of Nashville’s Hatch Show Print, one of the nation’s oldest printing shops. The exhibition features 126 historical and contem-porary posters and 29 hand-carved wooden blocks – some on view for the very first time. Whether in posters promoting a Johnny Cash concert or a car-nival performance;

advertising a rodeo or the Grand Ole Opry; or capturing the modern-day verve of a concert by Coldplay or The Stokes, posters printed by Hatch Show Print capture the heralded traditions of American letterpress printing and graphic art at their very best. The Durham Mu-seum, 801 S. 10th St., Omaha. For info, call 444-5071 or visit www.durhammuseum.org

Through 3/13: !CAR-NAVAL!. El Museo Latino. The exhibition “CARNAVAL” presents the theme of carnival as celebrated around the world. Eight com-munities in Europe and the Americas will be highlighted through this exhibition where a carnival is a high point of the yearly cycle. Thurs/1pm-5pm; Sat/10am-2pm Gen $5; Students K-12 & Senior Citizens $3.50; Col-lege Students w/ID $4; Members FREE. 4701 S. 25 St. 731-1137 www.elmuseolatino.org.

JANUARY EVENTS1/1 - 1/31: Afford-able Treasures, All-Member Holiday Show. Artists’ Coop-erative Gallery Ltd. Wed&Thur/11am-5pm; Fr i& Sat /11am -10pm; Sun/noon-5pm. 405 S. 11 St. 342-9617 www.ar t is t sco - op gal ler y.com.

1/1 - 1/29: The Fred Simon Gallery: David Helm. The Fred Simon Gallery. The Fred Simon Gallery is located in the Nebraska Arts Council offices. Free. 1004 Far-

nam St., Lower Level. 595-2122 www.nebras-kaartscouncil.org.1/9: Cantus. Holland Performing Arts Center. Cantus’ adventurous repertoire spans many periods and genres – including chant, Re-naissance music, con-temporary works, folk, spirituals, world mu-sic, and pop. Ten men that sound “50 voices strong” (L.A. Times) per-form pristine, diverse chamber music – from Schubert and Poulenc to Curtis Mayfield. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $19. 13th & Douglas Sts. 345-0606 www.TicketOma-ha.com.

1/2: Lancers Hockey vs. Fargo Force @ 7 p.m. Tickets available at all Ticketmaster retail ticket centers locations, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone 1 (800) 745-3000, online at Tick-etmaster.com, Qwest Center Omaha box of-fice, or Civic Auditorium box office on game day. $15, $14, $12, $8 for kids and students. For more info, go to www.lanc-ers.com

1/8-1/9: Instant The-atre 3 at the Shelter-belt. The insanity of writing, rehearsing and performing original scripts, all in a 24-hour period begins Friday night, with performanc-es Saturday night at 8 & 10 p.m. Plays will be short, usually around 10 minutes long. Tick-ets are $10 at the door. Shelterbelt Theatre, 3225 California St. For more info, call 341-2757 or visit www.shelter-belt.org

1/9 - 4/18: The Human Touch Exhibit at the Joslyn. The Human Touch: Selections from the RBC Wealth Man-agement Art Collec-tion is an exhibition of contemporary artworks devoted to the human figure. The collection ranges from serious to whimsical, from re-alistic to abstract, and includes photography, painting, and sculpture. Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge Street, Omaha. For informa-tion, call 402-342-3300, or visit www.joslyn.org

1/12 - 1/17: Little House on the Prairie The Mu-sical. Orpheum The-ater. Little House on the Prairie takes on a new frontier in this up-lifting musical starring Melissa Gilbert as Ma In-galls, who played Laura in the much-loved television series. Tues-Thurs/7:30pm; Fri/8pm; Sat/2pm & 8pm Tickets start at $28. 409 S. 16 St. 345-0606 www.Tick-etOmaha.com.

1/15: Backstage Pass to the Hit Songwriters starring Maia Sharp and Jim Photogio. Holland Performing Arts Center. An intimate set from two songwrit-ers to the stars. Hear favorites by Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks, and more -- performed with sincerity, originality, and verve. 8 p.m. Tick-ets start at $25. 13th & Douglas Sts. 345-0606 w w w.T i c k e t O m a h a .com.

1/15 - 1/16: Omaha Symphony Master-works: Scheherazade. Holland Performing Arts Center. Escape the mundane worries of the workweek to become part of an exotic story that’s stood the test of time. Be transported to the Middle East, as the symphony shares the fabled tale of “Arabian Nights”. Just as Schehe-razade entertained and enticed the Sultan, the orchestra will whisk you away to a place where your senses are height-ened and indulged. 8 p.m. $15-$75. 13th & Douglas Sts. 345-0606 www.omahasymphony.org.

1/15: River City Hunt-ing & Fishing Expo. Mid-America Center. Fri/4pm-9pm; Sat/9am-6pm; Sun/10am-4pm Adults $7; Children $3; Under 3 FREE. One Are-na Way. 712-326-2295 www.midamericacen-ter.com.

1/16: Ellis Hooks. Hol-land Performing Arts Center. Ellis Hooks knows what it’s like to feel the blues – accord-ing to legend, he didn’t own a pair of shoes until he was 8. Now a world-traveling blues singer, Ellis has been compared to Otis Red-ding and Sam Cooke, but his soul croon and blues yowl are truly his own. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25. 13th & Douglas Sts. 345-0606 www.TicketOmaha.com.

1/16: Lancers Hockey vs. Lincoln Stars @ 7 p.m. Tickets available at all Ticketmaster retail

ticket centers locations, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone 1 (800) 745-3000, online at Tick-etmaster.com, Qwest Center Omaha box of-fice, or Civic Auditorium box office on game day. $15, $14, $12, $8 for kids and students. For more info, go to www.lanc-ers.com

1/16 - 1/17: I Sing the Body Electric. River City Mixed Chorus. The River City Mixed Chorus talks about the body in all of its many aspects. A show that will get physical and make you think! Sat & Sun/7:05 p.m. $20 per person- $45 for season tickets to all 3 shows. Creighton Lied Education Center. www.rcmc.org.

1/17: Bridal Fair 2010, Qwest Center Omaha. 11a.m. - 3p.m.; Admis-sion: $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Be sure to see some of Omaha’s finest businesses at Bridal Fair® 2010. Check out the latest in wed-ding fashion with fash-ion shows being held at Noon and 1:30pm. The shows will be hosted by Dan Arthur & Michelle Riell from Star 104.5 and Big Party & Jeff De-gan from Channel 94.1. Qwest Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. For more information or to pur-chase tickets online, please visit www.brid-alfair.com/registration.cfm.

Downtown and Council Bluffs January/February Calendar of Events

t h e w a y b a n k i n g s h o u l d b e

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1/17: Lancers Hock-ey vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders @ 5:05 p.m. Tickets available at all Ticketmaster retail ticket centers locations, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone 1 (800) 745-3000, online at Tick-etmaster.com, Qwest Center Omaha box of-fice, or Civic Auditori-um box office on game day. $15, $14, $12, $8 for kids and students. For more info, go to www.lancers.com

1/17: Omaha Sym-phony Family Series: Driving Forces. Oma-ha Symphony. Maestro Thomas Wilkins is your tour guide on a musi-cal exploration of mo-tivation. What drives music and what drives people? Fun, familiar pieces are introduced to encourage children to dream big and acti-vate their imaginations. We’ll hear the awesome music that’s been cre-ated when people have worked hard and fol-lowed their inspiration. 2 p.m. $7-$9.75. 1200 Douglas St. 342-3560 www.omahasympho-ny.org.

1/21-1/24: Midlands International Auto Show, Qwest Center Omaha. Thursday, 11am - 9pm; Friday, 10am - 10pm; Saturday, 10am - 10pm; Sunday, 10am - 6pm; Admission: Adults (Age 13 & up), $8 Seniors & Military ID, $5, Children (Age 7-12), $5, Children Under 6, Free. $1.00 off coupons available at all partici-pating dealers. All the newest cars, trucks and SUV’s from every major manufacturer! Qwest Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. For more in-formation, please visit www.omahaautoshow.com/.

1/21 – 2/14: FROM SHELTERBELT WITH LOVE . Our annual an-thology of short plays dealing with love, loss and relationships is back - with a bonus! We are also featuring a new adults-only late night show to go with it, After-Hours, featuring tales on the naughtier side. After-Hours runs

Fridays and Saturdays after the regular From Shelterbelt With Love show. Shelterbelt The-atre, 3225 California St. For more info, call 341-2757 or visit www.shel-terbelt.org

1/23 - 4/18: Construc-tion Zone. Omaha Children’s Museum. Construction Zone is a kid-sized world of building where kids can explore with ma-chines, tools, a super-sized dig pit and much more! Tues-Sat/10am-4pm; Sun/1-5pm $2 in addition to regular museum admission ($7/Adults & Children 2 & Over; $6/Seniors 60+), Members Free; Muse-um Admission Applies. 500 S. 20 St. 342-6164 www.ocm.org.

1/23: Omaha Sympho-ny Sights and Sounds Series: Bugs Bunny on Broadway. Omaha Symphony. Join the Omaha Symphony for a fun fusion of Looney Tunes cartoons and live orchestra music. See the “Wascally Wab-bit” himself projected on a big screen above the orchestra, as you listen to the irresist-ible scores that make the animated mayhem come alive--including “What’s Up Doc?” and “The Rabbit of Seville”. Sat/8p.m.;Sun/2p.m. $10 - $55. 1200 Doug-las St. 342-3560 www.omahasymphony.org.

1/23: Pilobolus. Or-pheum Theater. There’s nothing like the witty visual poetry of Pilobolus! They’ve mesmerized packed audiences at the Os-cars and abroad with unique shadow dances and colorful on-stage whimsy. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $19. 409 S. 16 St. 345-0606 www.Tick-etOmaha.com.

1/24: Martina McBride and Trace Adkins. Mid-America Center. 7:30 p.m. $59.75, $49.75 and $29.75, plus appli-cable fees. One Arena Way. 712-323-0536 www.midamericacen-ter.com.

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1/28: Faith Healer. Bri-git Saint Brigit Theatre Company. An itinerant Irish spellbinder plies his strange trade, gyp-sy-like, more theatrical than religious, on the backroads of Scotland and Wales. Grace, the woman, inextricably bound to him yet see-ing through him. Teddy, his Cockney assistant, attracted by the faith healer’s fantasy and chicanery.” These three relive, in the contradic-tion of Rashomon-like monologues, varying versions of their myste-rious final days togeth-er, with the sometimes damning, sometimes merciful, capricious-ness of memory. Fri/Sat 7:30pm; Sun 2pm $22 adults; $18 Ages 62+, Student & Military; Group rates available. 614 S. 11 St. 502-4910 www.bsbtheatre.com.

1/29: Lancers Hockey vs. Green Bay Gam-blers @ 7 p.m. Tickets available at all Tick-etmaster retail ticket centers locations, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone 1 (800) 745-3000, online at Tick-etmaster.com, Qwest Center Omaha box of-fice, or Civic Auditori-um box office on game day. $15, $14, $12, $8 for kids and students. For more info, go to www.lancers.com

1/29: ScrapArts Music. Holland Performing Arts Center. Metal. Mus-cle. Music. Movement! ScrapArtsMusic is a witty knock-out for the whole family that starts where STOMP and Blue Man Group leave off. Five performers plus industrial scraps add up to pure magic! 8 p.m. Tickets start at $16. 13th & Douglas Sts. 345-0606 www.Tick-etOmaha.com.

1/30: Lancers Hock-ey vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders @ 7 p.m. Tickets available at all Ticketmaster retail ticket centers locations, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone 1 (800) 745-3000, online at Tick-etmaster.com, Qwest Center Omaha box of-fice, or Civic Auditori-

um box office on game day. $15, $14, $12, $8 for kids and students. For more info, go to www.lancers.com

1/30: Omaha Sym-phony Rocks: Abba-Mania. Holland Per-forming Arts Center. Take a chance on this delightful celebration of ABBA, the Swed-ish pop sensation that stormed the 1970’s charts. As younger gen-erations discover ABBA through Mamma Mia, the Broadway show and movie, it’s undeni-able that their efferves-cent melodies exhibit strong staying power. 8 p.m. $15-$60. 13th & Douglas Sts. 345-0606 www.omahasympho-ny.org.

FEBRUARY EVENTS2/2: Lancers Hockey vs. Sioux City Mus-keteers @ 7 p.m. Tickets available at all Ticketmaster retail ticket centers locations, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone 1 (800) 745-3000, online at Tick-etmaster.com, Qwest Center Omaha box of-fice, or Civic Auditori-um box office on game day. $15, $14, $12, $8 for kids and students. For more info, go to www.lancers.com

2/5 - 2/6: Omaha Sym-phony Masterworks: The Music of Mozart. Omaha Symphony. Spend the evening with a true master whose work resonates in the human hear like no other. Take time to soak up the pure bliss of Mozart. 8 p.m. $15-$75. 1200 Douglas St. 342-3560 www.oma-hasymphony.org.

2/6: Beertopia’s 3rd Annual Extreme Beer-fest. Tip Top Ballroom. Your Ticket Gets You a Souvenir Tasting Glass, Program & four Hours of Sampling. A free shuttle will run be-tween Beertopia and Tip Top from 1-9pm. Because we care about your safety, we encour-age you to book a room at the adjacent Fair-field Inn, offering a $79 room rate Fri/Sat. Make reservations online by


Cubby’s Old Market Grocery601 S. 13th St.

linking from our website or by calling the hotel directly at 402-280-1516 giving the Group Code : EBF 3-7 p.m. $28 ad-vance, $33 day of fest. 15th & Cuming. 280-1516 w w w.beercornerusa.com.

2/6-5/16: Great Plains: America’s Lingering Wild at the Joslyn. Mi-chael Forsberg is a con-servation photographer focusing on the wildlife and landscapes of the Great Plains. His lat-est publishing venture, Great Plains: America’s Lingering Wild (Univer-sity of Chicago Press), will be available in Sep-tember. An exhibition of work featured in the book is scheduled to open at the Museum in February 2010. Jos-lyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge Street, Omaha. For information, call 402-342-3300, or visit www.joslyn.org

2/11: Tim McGraw in Concert. Qwest Center Arena, 455 N. 10th St.; Tickets: $56.25, $40.25, $25.25.Tickets available at all Ticketmaster retail ticket center locations, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone 1 (800) 745-3000, online at Ticketmaster.com or at Qwest Center Omaha Box Office.

2/11 - 2/21: The Rainfor-est. The Rose Theater. The awe-inspiring Ama-zon rainforest comes to life through this fascinating new pro-duction by the Omaha Theater Ballet. For ages 5-adult. Thurs-Fri/7pm; Satu/2pm & 7pm; Sun/2pm $16; free with membership. 2001 Far-nam St. 345-4849 www.rosetheater.org.

2/12: Alison Brown Quartet. Holland Per-forming Arts Center. This quartet of newgrass luminaries creates an exquisite blend of Celtic, folk, and jazz – with an affectionate focus on the five-string banjo. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25. 13th & Douglas Sts. 345-0606 www.TicketOma-ha.com.

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2/12 - 2/14: Chicago The Musical. Or-pheum Theater. This sensational tale of sin, corruption, murder, and all that jazz is now enjoying a Broadway revival. The musical, set in the prohibition era, is a satire on corrup-tion in the administra-tion of criminal justice. Fri/8pm; Sat/2pm & 8pm; Sun/7:30pm Tick-ets start at $25. 409 S. 16 St. 345-0606 www.TicketOmaha.com.

2/12 - 2/14: Omaha Symphony Pops Se-ries: John Tesh. Oma-ha Symphony. While many first met John Tesh as the host of TV’s Entertainment Tonight, these days he’s known for his music. Tesh’s talent as a pianist, vo-calist, and composer spans genres-from pop to classical, New Age to contemporary Chris-tian. Balancing smooth vocals with lots of fun, this performance will hit all the right notes. Fri&Sat/8pm; Sun/2pm $15-$80. 1200 Douglas St. 342-3560 www.oma-hasymphony.org.

2/13: Lancers Hockey vs. Chicago Steel @ 4:05 p.m. Tickets avail-able at all Ticketmaster retail ticket centers lo-cations, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone 1 (800) 745-3000, online at Ticketmaster.com, Qwest Center Omaha box office, or Civic Au-ditorium box office on game day. $15, $14, $12, $8 for kids and stu-dents. For more info, go to www.lancers.com

2/13: FRIGGATRIS-KAIDEKAPHOBIA: A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR THE BEMIS CEN-TER. 9:00 p.m. *Mem-bers pre-party at 7:00 p.m. The Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts invites you to Frigga-triskaidekaphobia, the sure cure to conquer your fear of Friday the 13th. Get freaky with Frigga while helping the Bemis Center in its mission to support ex-ceptional talent. The Frigga-brations will begin with a “members only” pre-party featur-ing a special musical

guest at 7:00pm. Bemis Center members get in for $7.00 and non-members for $13.00. All the proceeds go direct-ly to supporting artists and maintaining the Bemis Center’s dynam-ic programming. For more info, go to www.bemisunderground.org

2/13-4/26: THE SMITH COLLECTION: ARE WE THERE YET? AT THE DURHAM. The Durham Museum will pay hom-age to the great “Amer-ican Vacation” in truly unique fashion when it presents Are We There Yet? Iconic travel sites and more than 25 ped-al cars will capture the imagination of visitors as they experience this collaborative exhibi-tion from The Durham Museum and the Muse-um of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. For more info, call 444-5071 or visit www.durhammu-seum.org

2/14: An Evening with Lucie Arnaz. Holland Performing Arts Cen-ter. The beloved Lucie Arnaz presents a smoky selection of Broadway, pop, and Latin hits. A Valentine’s evening full of big love stories and songs. 7 p.m. Tick-ets start at $35. 13th & Douglas Sts. 345-0606 w w w.T i c k e t O m a h a .com.

2/14: Lancers Hock-ey vs. Youngstown Phantoms @5:05 p.m.Tickets available at all Ticketmaster retail ticket centers locations, Ticketmaster charge-by-phone 1 (800) 745-3000, online at Tick-etmaster.com, Qwest Center Omaha box of-fice, or Civic Auditori-um box office on game day. $15, $14, $12, $8 for kids and students. For more info, go to www.lancers.com

2/14: Lipizzaner Stal-lions at the Qwest.2:00p.m. - 6:00p.m. at Qwest Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Tickets: $31.50, $26.50, $24.50Tickets available at all Ticketmaster retail ticket center locations,

Ticketmaster charge-by-phone 1 (800) 745-3000, online at Ticket-master.com or at Qwest Center Omaha Box Of-fice.

2/16 - 3/26: The Fred Simon Gallery: Mary Day. The Fred Simon Gallery. The Fred Simon Gallery is located in the Nebraska Arts Council offices. Free. 1004 Far-nam St., Lower Level. 595-2122 www.nebras-kaartscouncil.org.

2/18-2/21: Omaha Home & Garden Expo / Lawn, Flower & Pa-tio Show. Thursday, 5pm - 10pm, Friday, 11am - 10pm, Saturday, 11am - 9pm, Sunday, 11am - 5pm; Admission: Adults, $7, Children (ages 5-12), $3.50, Chil-dren under 5, Free. Dis-count coupons avail-able at area Bag ‘N Save grocery stores. Two traditions unite for the home & garden event of the year! A showcase of design gardens, wa-terfalls and the smells of spring with every-thing for the home - inside & out! The latest ideas for today’s home consumers - from room additions, kitchens, bathrooms and home improvement products to the largest selec-tion of lawn & garden equipment and land-scaping ideas. Qwest Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. For more in-formation, please visit www.omahahomean-dgarden.com or www.showofficeonline.com.2/19 - 3/21: Death of a Salesman. Omaha Community Playhouse. For Willy Loman, there is only one Ameri-can Dream. After 36 years on the road in its pursuit, the travel-ing salesman, haunted by missed opportuni-ties and an uncertain future must come to terms with a lifetime of self-deception that has distorted his dream into an American trag-edy. Thu-Sat/7:30pm; Sun/2pm $32 adults, $21 students. 6915 Cass St. 553-0800 www.omahaplayhouse.com.

2/20: Bela Fleck, The Africa Project. Holland Performing Arts Center. The king of bluegrass took his banjo to Africa – and this is the bound-ary-breaking result! It’s jazz like you’ve never heard it before. Rooted in flutes, marimba and xylophone, The Africa Project pulses with a beating heart. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $19. 13th & Douglas Sts. 345-0606 www.TicketOma-ha.com.

2/21: Nebraska Choral Arts Society’s Music Brings Us Together - Celebrate Black History Month. UNO Strauss Performing Arts Center. Come hear the songs of old and new musc of current black composters, from spiri-tuals to jazz. Celebrate the contribution to American music. 3 p.m. $10/adults; $8/senior, youth, pre-ordered; $12/at the door. 6001 Dodge St. 342-6753 www.choirmusic.org.

2/25-2/28: Tangier Shrine Circus. Omaha Civic Auditorium. For ticket prices, times and more details, visit www.omahacivic.com

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Jan/Feb 2010 The Encounter Magazine

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