Writers/directors Danny and Michael Philippou make mean, ugly movies. That’s not an insult so much as an inarguable assessment made after watching Talk to Me and Bring Her Back. Both movies feature imperative sentences as titles and an imperative observation about interacting with dead people: Don’t do it. That’s probably the name of their next […]
Posted inVisual Arts
Cause & Culture: String Light Stories offers a thread to connect us
In today’s post-pandemic digital age and divided political climate, it’s easy to feel isolated. Many are searching for a way to feel connected and be part of a community. In this unique moment in human history, we are quietly craving intimate, meaningful gatherings and spaces where we can be reminded that we’re not alone. With […]
Posted inMovies
With Friends Like These, You Need Therapy
Comedians these days can either accept that “funny” is an incredibly subjective term or blame their lack of talent on the “woke mafia.” So at least, there are options now. Tim Robinson is a prime example of the former option. A true Hawaiian pizza of a jokester, he is arguably too vehemently defended by those […]
Posted inMusic
Omaha musician Roman Constantino launching band project ‘Velvet Velvet’
Omaha band Velvet Velvet is a project of Roman Constantino, who is best known as the front-person of popular area rock band Garst. With Garst on hiatus, Consantino has evolved this project towards more a band itself bringing on Cannon Dunwoody, also from Garst and Dominic Bazer and Jordan Opere from The Ivory Claws. Velvet […]
Posted inMovies
Oopsie Doopsie: You’re Dead!
I do not understand the Final Destination movies. I mean their appeal. I understand the movies themselves just fine. They are not very complicated. In all of them, death is some kind of sentient, unseen being with a Rube Goldberg fetish who gets his invisible jollies from decapitating young people with seemingly innocuous objects like […]
Posted inCulture
Preparing for ‘Hamilton’: What it takes to bring traveling shows to Omaha’s Orpheum
With the sound of rolling road cases, members of local IATSE 42, a union of theatrical stage employees, unload a truck in front of Omaha’s Orpheum Theater. The cases contain all the different pieces of “Hamilton” merchandise — pins, shirts, posters — you name it. Once all of that is loaded in the front, the […]
Posted inMusic
Omaha-area band ‘Violenteer’ improvises musical future
Brothers Randy and Barry Cotton formed Violenteer in 2021 alongside drummer Eric Ebers. Randy has played in bands from Omaha to Portland, including Ravine, Ritual Device, and Ocean Black. The first two would likely be name-checked by most old-school Omaha music fans when discussing influential bands from the past. Another notable band is Members of […]
Posted inCulture
Cause & Culture: Cinco de Mayo celebration fosters tourism and cultural pride in Nebraska
Rounding the corner of L Street onto 24th Street, the music was the first thing to hit me. My family and I got to the festival during a calmer pocket of time on Saturday. The parade had ended, and some of the traffic had thinned out. A band was playing on a stage situated on […]
Posted inNews
John Ewing Jr. elected mayor of Omaha
The results of Omaha’s city mayoral election are in. Democrat John Ewing Jr. defeated Republican incumbent Mayor Jean Stothert with Stothert having 36,307 votes trailing challenger John Ewing Jr.’s 45,336, based on unofficial results. Ewing said he was going to celebrate Wednesday, and get to work Thursday. “What I’m going to do is start talking […]
Posted inDining
At Brother Sebastian’s, a blessedly odd vision becomes Nebraska beef gospel
The original idea for Brother Sebastian’s, the monastery-themed steakhouse in west Omaha that’s now been around for nearly 50 years, was sketched out on the back of a pizza box. Loren Koch, the original owner, drew his idea for the themed restaurant, with its many small dining rooms, fireplaces and cozy ambiance. “All of it […]