HELLO EVERYONE!
Happy July 4th week, Omaha! 🎆

Summer is in full swing and there is a lot happening around the city this week, from a big South Omaha groundbreaking to some great shows at the Orpheum.

Here's what's inside:

  • 🏗️ South Omaha gets a $25M upgrade - Construction started on La Plaza de la Raza at 24th and N Street, bringing an amphitheater, playground, and public art to the neighborhood

  • 🍦 Coneflower Creamery is officially the best in the country - USA Today readers named them the No. 1 ice cream shop in the nation

  • 🎭 Wicked plays the Orpheum all week - Plus Tommy Ryman, NOVULENT, and Derek Hough are all coming to Omaha

Let's get into it!

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NEWS
🏍️ Motorcyclists Ride for Alzheimer's Awareness in Omaha

🏍️ Motorcyclists Ride for Alzheimer's Awareness in Omaha
About 50 riders rolled from Stir Cove in Council Bluffs to Defiance Harley-Davidson Sunday as part of the Alzheimer's Association's "Do What You Love" campaign. Nearly every rider had a personal connection to the disease. It's one of those rides where the cause and the community are impossible to separate.

💧 City of Omaha Hosting 'Hydrant Parties' Across the Metro
Parks and Rec is beating the summer heat with free hydrant parties every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at three locations through August. It's low-key, it's free, and it's exactly the kind of thing that makes a city feel like a neighborhood.

🤝 Omaha's Venezuelan Community Rallies for Earthquake Victims
After devastating earthquakes killed 1,400+ people in Venezuela, Omaha's Venezuelan community packed roughly 500 boxes of clothing, shoes, baby items, and food for those affected. Donations collected at Millennium Night Club. A reminder that Omaha's reach extends far beyond its borders.

👟 Pleasant Green Baptist Church Turns Fireworks Into Shoes
The church set up a fireworks tent at 108th and Maple with a mission: sell enough to fund 2,000 pairs of back-to-school shoes for an August 9 giveaway. One of 40 nonprofits selected by city lottery to run a stand and they're putting every dollar directly back into the community.

🏗️ Work Starts on $25M South Omaha Plaza Project
Construction began Monday on La Plaza de la Raza at 24th & N Street, a transformative project led by nonprofit Canopy South. The finished plaza will include an amphitheater, playground, shaded gathering areas, and public art. Expected to open fall 2027, a big moment for South Omaha's historic business corridor.

🎸 Nebraska Adds Another Memorial Stadium Concert
Cole Swindell will perform after the September 19 Huskers game against North Dakota, free with game admission. It's the third stadium concert announced this year and another sign that Husker game days are evolving into something bigger than football.

🤖 UNO Is Betting Big on Artificial Intelligence
UNO launched a dedicated AI degree, an AI Learning Lab (2,000+ trained so far), and an annual AI conference. Chancellor Joanne Li wants UNO to be a national leader in AI research. Nebraska quietly building its tech future, one lab at a time.

🌟 South Omaha Plaza Groundbreaking Marks a Neighborhood Milestone
The long-awaited La Plaza de la Raza broke ground this week, converting a historic parking lot at 24th & N into a vibrant community hub. Canopy South secured a $25M recovery grant from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Amphitheater, stage, playground, and public art are all in the plans.

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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.

  • Mercredi Market quietly slipped onto the Old Market scene at 509 South 11th Street, right next door to La Buvette, opening on June 24. The spot serves up sandwiches, soups, salads and a coffee program -- a solid new option in that stretch of downtown.

  • Coneflower Creamery just scooped up some serious national recognition, landing the No. 1 spot on USA Today's 2026 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for best ice cream shop in the country. This is their fourth year in a row earning a nomination, and this time they came out on top among 20 finalists nationwide. You can find them in Blackstone, Millwork Commons and downtown Elkhorn.

  • The Breakfast Club opened on June 20 at 2121 South 67th Street in Aksarben Village, taking over the old Jones Bros. Cupcakes space. The Iowa-based breakfast-and-brunch chain operates from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily -- they also have spots in Des Moines, West Des Moines and Ankeny.

  • Amaravathi's made its brick-and-mortar debut on June 20 at 12317 West Maple Road in the former Dolce space in Tranquility Place. The locally owned restaurant was previously a catering operation and is now offering South Indian cuisine in a full sit-down setting.

  • Hawaiian Bros Island Grill opened at 1130 North 203rd Street near Metropolitan Community College's Elkhorn campus, adding another local outpost for the Kansas City-based quick-serve chain. They're now in 14 states, with existing Nebraska locations in Miracle Hills and near I-80 & Highway 370.

  • The Academy Sports Bar in Millwork Commons was only open during the College World Series and has temporarily closed to finish construction. The full permanent opening is on track for early August.

  • The Peach Cobbler Factory is coming to Omaha, with plans to open its first local location at 2501 South 90th Street in Loveland Shopping Center. The company is targeting an October or November 2026 opening, though no official date has been announced yet.

  • Scooter's Coffee landed on Yelp's 2026 Top 50 Fastest Growing Brands list at No. 13, marking the Omaha-based chain's third straight year of making the ranking. The recognition is based on net new locations and consumer interest tracked across the Yelp platform.

  • Site-1 Brewing has permanently closed its downtown taproom at 2566 Farnam Street, though the brewery itself is staying in business. All of their beers will continue to be available at bars and restaurants around the city.

  • Papa Johns has been shutting down hundreds of locations across the country this year, but Nebraska and Iowa fans can relax -- local spots have not been affected. The chain has closed locations in 17 states so far, with Texas, California, Florida and Arizona taking the hardest hits.

  • KFC has closed its location at 2555 South 175th Street in Lakeside Plaza, leaving the chain with just seven remaining spots across the greater Omaha metro.

FUN
Nebraska Trivia

Q: The Nebraska quarter pictures a pioneer family heading westward with what famous landmark in the background? This natural feature, located in the North Platte River valley near Bayard, became the most famous landmark on the Oregon-California trail.

(Answer below.)

Play Word Search! New Nebraska themed game every day.

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

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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: Chimney Rock

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