HELLO EVERYONE!
Hey there, Omaha! 👋

Fall is settling in around town, with a hive of bees finding a new home, Restaurant Week firing up kitchens across the metro, and a packed run of live music heading our way.

Here's what's inside:

  • 🐝 Bees Get a Second Home in Ashland – A colony from Vala's Orchard moved to a nearby farm and gave the watermelon crop a serious boost

  • 🍴 Omaha Restaurant Week Kicks Off – Sullivan's Steakhouse and spots across town roll out special menus starting Thursday

  • 🎸 Violent Femmes & Yacht Rock Revue Roll Into Town – Live music fills The Admiral and Steelhouse Omaha this week

Let's dive in!

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NEWS
🐝 Bees at Vala's Orchard given second life at Ashland farm

🐝 Bees at Vala's Orchard given second life at Ashland farm
After pollinating apples at Vala's Pumpkin Patch, a batch of honeybees moved about 30 miles to Jilian's Produce in Ashland. Co-owner Justin Heldt added bumblebees this year too, and says his watermelon yield jumped 30 to 40%. The bees keep working through wind, fog, even light drizzle.

🛝 Volunteers build new North Omaha playground in three days
More than 100 volunteers finished a brand new playground at the Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands in three days, a job that usually takes weeks. Pacific Life and KABOOM! backed the build. Mayor John Ewing cut the ribbon Saturday, opening the space to neighborhood kids.

⛪ Omaha archdiocese honors Father Flanagan's step toward sainthood
Boys Town founder Father Edward Flanagan moved closer to sainthood this spring when Pope Leo XIV named him a "Venerable Servant of God." The archdiocese marked it Sunday with a Mass of Thanksgiving. Next comes beatification, which usually requires a confirmed miracle.

🏡 Homes designed by UNL students for older adults unveiled in Omaha
Two new Benson houses built for aging in place were unveiled Monday, with Mayor John Ewing cutting the ribbon. More than 30 UNL architecture students helped design them, and Holy Name Housing built them with Partners for Livable Omaha. Zero-step entries make getting inside easy. Public tours start next month.

🎂 Southwest Iowa family sets Guinness record for shared birthdays
Five straight generations of one Silver City family were all born on September 14, and Guinness just made it official. Fred Harlow sits in the middle of the streak. His daughter Emma aimed for the date with her son Arthur, and he arrived right on time.

🏪 Lincoln shops say Project O Street hurt less than they feared
Business owners braced for empty sidewalks when Project O Street construction began. Five months in, O'Rourke's Tavern says sales match last year, and A Novel Idea Bookstore beat its August 2025 numbers. Phase one is wrapping up, with later phases overlapping to shorten the work.

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RESTAURANT NEWS
What's Cooking In Omaha's Restaurant Scene 🍽️

Here's the latest on Omaha's restaurant scene - openings, moves, and what's next.

  • Fifth House, the vegan spot in the Blackstone District, reopened this past Wednesday, September 2nd, after a brief closure earlier in the month. An anonymous donor stepped in with funds to help local businesses weather the ongoing streetcar construction, and the restaurant made some small tweaks to stay sustainable through the next 16 months of work. 3901 Farnam Street.

  • Food trucks are gearing up for the 2026 Omaha Food Truck Faceoff Championship, with finalists Tradish(ish), The Papillion Taco Guy, The Fifth Taste by Chef Gerald, Curry in a Hurry and Pulled BBQ each revealing a signature dish for the contest. Catch it this Sunday, September 13th, at Kros Strain Brewing and Pint Nine Brewing Co. in La Vista, with live music and drink specials on top.

  • Le Peep is eyeing a fifth Omaha location, this time landing in North Downtown's Builders District. The breakfast-and-lunch favorite has signed a lease on a first-floor spot in the same building as Noddle Companies and Union Omaha's team store, though renovations and an opening date are still to come. 1501 Mike Fahey Street.

  • Javi's Cantina Mexican Kitchen is the new name for the former El Milagro Mexican Bar & Grill. Owner Javier Trujillo, who also runs several Javi's Tacos locations, has already put up new signage and plans an updated menu of entrees, appetizers and desserts within the next few weeks, all while staying open through the transition. 529 North 155th Plaza, Pepperwood Village.

  • Red Door Woodfired Grill is officially building out its second Omaha-area spot, with the future Gretna building near 192nd & Highway 370 now going vertical. The self-described "upscale neighborhood joint" is targeting a February opening, just months after debuting its first location at Aksarben Village back in June.

  • Jersey Mike's celebrated the grand opening of its second Council Bluffs shop this past Wednesday, September 2nd, kicking off with a five-day fundraiser benefiting nearby Thomas Jefferson High School. It joins the sandwich chain's existing Metro Crossing location. 2200 West Broadway, Council Bluffs.

FUN
Nebraska Trivia

Q: In 1714, Etienne de Bourgmont traveled from the Missouri River to a river he called the Riviere Nebraskier, after the Native American word for "flat water." By what name is this river known today?

(Answer below.)

Play Word Search! New Nebraska themed game every day.

Play Wordie (Nebraska themed Wordle)! New word each day.

CONCERTS
Upcoming musical performances in OMA/LNK



*Dates and times can change, so please confirm with the venue before you go.

EVENTS
Upcoming non-musical events in Omaha



*Dates and times can change, so please confirm with the venue before you go.

TRIVIA ANSWER

A: Platte River

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