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Omaha GAF?

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Evo X

Member
Sup guys. I'm on a cross country road trip from SoCal to Chicago. Having a great time so far stopping in places along the way and meeting some really cool people. Not a single moment has been boring.

Left Denver earlier today and my next stop is Omaha. Problem is, I know next to nothing about the place or anyone who lives there.

So reaching out to GAF for some recommendations on stuff to do. If you live there and wanna hang out, I'm down. Just PM me.

Some of my favorite pics from each state that capture what make it unique. Lemme know if there's any cool backgrounds or scenery I could snap while I'm there. Thanks.

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laZCP6S.jpg


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Husker86

Member
We got a pretty good zoo.

I hope you take some landscape pictures without the car in frame ;) (though not in Omaha, no landscape pictures here worth taking)
 

Zophar

Member
Best scenery is in the northwestern side of the state. Omaha has decent nightlife in the Benson and the Old Market districts. For history/culture go to the Durham Museum, but the real tourist attraction is the #1 in the world Henry Doorly Zoo.
 

YaBish

Member
Welcome to town! I'd suggest heading to the old market for shopping, and maybe the slowdown for a concert (they have shows most nights). Also, they zoo is literally the best in the world, so if you like animals we've got your hookup. There's plenty of little things to get sucked into, despite the reputation that there's nothing to do here.
I'm busy this weekend, otherwise I'd give you a proper welcome to town. Hope your visit goes great!
 
Nice car, you should focus more on that.

Check out Henry Doorly Zoo, it's awesome.

The Durham Museum is also a really cool place, I recommend it.

If you're a whiskey man, pick up a bottle of Cut Spike Whiskey while you're there too.

Enjoy the added food tax when eating out. Everytime I go back home to visit it's a real treat to hear my dad go on a 30-minute tirade about it.
 

Ominym

Banned
Omega stealth brag thread.

Visit a 311 museum. I assume one exists.

This hurt my feelings more than I thought it would. haha

I'm from Omaha, there is a thread on the topic. But if you're in town I would suggest:
  • Going to the Alamo Drafthouse (Food, drinks, movies)
  • Going to the Beercade/Benson bars (Food, drinks)
  • Laugh at the skyline (Entertainment)

Those are some general suggestions. If you throw out some interests/types of food you like I can suggest some more tailored specifics.
 

Evo X

Member
Hey, it's my first road trip. Thought the car was supposed to be the main star! I was uploading them one by one at a Taco Bell on the side of the Interstate, and of course I want drawn to those in the Gallery as I'm a massive car enthusiast.

90% of my scenery pics are sans car if anyone wants to see em.

Anyway, thanks for the suggestions so far. I'm only there for one night. Just figured I'd ask the locals for quick fun things to check out instead of staying in the hotel doing nothing.
 
Don't go through Iowa. That place gives me the creeps, like there is just something I feel is out of place compared to the surrounding states. I don't know why Nebraska doesn't do that to me though. Whenever I make my way out west, I have gone up and around through MN at times for avoidance.

EDIT:
You missed Brown county, NE? Please see my inserted, official flag.
brown-county-nebraska1.gif
 
I live here, it's not anything crazy. Everyone is super nice and there are some good bar scenes in Benson as well as the downtown area. Go to our zoo, it's the best in the world.

Other than that, just avoid Iowa.
 
I live here, it's not anything crazy. Everyone is super nice and there are some good bar scenes in Benson as well as the downtown area. Go to our zoo, it's the best in the world.

Other than that, just avoid Iowa.
Woah! Are you serious about the avoid Iowa comment? If so, why?! People look at me funny when I give them that advice. I am not trying to bash Iowa, it just feels like Bazaaro world or something.
 
As others have said, the zoo is great. Benson area is good for some fun and drinks, Old Market area is good for the same with shopping added in. What area are you staying in?

Plenty of great restaurants as well, what do you like?

Are you in town tonight or tomorrow?
 
Woah! Are you serious about the avoid Iowa comment? If so, why?! People look at me funny when I give them that advice. I am not trying to bash Iowa, it just feels like Bazaaro world or something.

Come to Omaha, drive across the bridge into Council Bluffs, IA. You'll immediately want to turn around and come back to Omaha. It's the worst.
 

Evo X

Member
I'm coming in tonight and will be staying downtown close to the Old Market area.

I'm in Kearney right now, so still probably 2 hours out.

And you guys serious about that Iowa shit?

It's the fastest way to Chicago. Going through Minnesota or Missouri would be a huge detour.
 
I'm coming in tonight and will be staying downtown close to the Old Market area.

I'm in Kearney right now, so still probably 2 hours out.

And you guys serious about that Iowa shit?

It's the fastest way to Chicago. Going through Minnesota or Missouri would be a huge detour.

Nah, ignore the Iowa talk. Omaha hates on Council Bluffs and Iowa in general, but it's perfectly fine to drive through. That said, there is no need to do anything but drive through Council Bluffs.

If you'll be in the Old Market area tonight I'd recommend Brickway Brewery and Distillery for some good drinks. Plenty of great food in the area as well. If you like cigars, Havana Garage is a cool place.

I take it you are spending the night and headed out in the morning?


Edit - plenty of other good drinking spots as well depending on your location of course. This bar would give you a good idea of the beer scene if that's your thing.

http://www.localbeer.co/#home
 

Zophar

Member
Woah! Are you serious about the avoid Iowa comment? If so, why?! People look at me funny when I give them that advice. I am not trying to bash Iowa, it just feels like Bazaaro world or something.

There's nothing wrong with Iowa, in fact there's a lot it has over Nebraska (Des Moines and Iowa City are great, for one thing). Council Bluffs is just kind of a mess in contrast to Omaha right across the street.
 

Ominym

Banned
I'm coming in tonight and will be staying downtown close to the Old Market area.

I'm in Kearney right now, so still probably 2 hours out.

And you guys serious about that Iowa shit?

It's the fastest way to Chicago. Going through Minnesota or Missouri would be a huge detour.

People are just joking, Iowa (particularly Council Bluffs) tends to be the punching bag of Omaha because it's nothing special and is really only useful for the casinos and AMC theater that has a real IMAX.

And since you're driving through Western Nebraska? You basically got spoiled on what Iowa looks like. Whole lot of nothing. That's what you can expect on your way to Illinois.

I will say this, I made the drive from Omaha to southern California this summer and nothing (including Iowa) is more brutal than southern Utah. A nuclear bomb could go off there and I don't think anyone would even notice.
 

Dice

Pokémon Parentage Conspiracy Theorist
1) Look out because people here are insane drivers and every time you cross town at night you'll see at least one person with their headlights off.
2) If you have a lot of time, love animals, and the weather is nice, go to the zoo. Literally the best zoo in the world.
3) Eat at El Basha. I usually get the felafel wrap combo (they make their fries in the same oil, so they are very flavorful) with lentil soup on the side, but everything there is good.
4) Depending on how long you're here, you might grab a light flick & dinner at the midtown cinema. It's not fancy state of the art stuff (we have those elsewhere), but their setup is unique and fun.
5) The Pub Classic sandwich at the Brazen Head makes for a nice lunch.
 

JesseZao

Member
1) Look out because people here are insane drivers and every time you cross town at night you'll see at least one person with their headlights off.
2) If you have a lot of time, love animals, and the weather is nice, go to the zoo. Literally the best zoo in the world.
3) Eat at El Basha. I usually get the felafel wrap combo (they make their fries in the same oil, so they are very flavorful) with lentil soup on the side, but everything there is good.
4) Depending on how long you're here, you might grab a light flick & dinner at the midtown cinema. It's not fancy state of the art stuff (we have those elsewhere), but their setup is unique and fun.
5) The Pub Classic sandwich at the Brazen Head makes for a nice lunch.

Nearby the midtown crossing area is Spielbound, a board game cafe, if you like such things.
 

Dice

Pokémon Parentage Conspiracy Theorist
Oh and I don't know if you're anti-religious or something but if you at least have an appreciation for the architecture/art, check out the St Cecilia Cathedral and St Peter catholic church. They are beautiful.
 

Jonbo298

Member
Avoid North Omaha. Otherwise, take in the awesome zoo and at least check out the new Alamo draft house. Main area is star wars themed with a scale replica of the chair. Beercade is a good place but it's not downtown.

Other than that, Old Market area is pretty decent. Even though a building burned out recently.
 

Evo X

Member
Just got to the hotel in Omaha. Holy shit, I want to blow my brains out. 550 miles of shitty farmland Interstate littered with cops, trucks, and road work. Doesn't help that the time difference shortened the day and it was rainy and foggy the last 150 miles.

The car, which was fun as hell in the canyons of SoCal, Utah, and Colorado, felt so out of its element today. I mean it isn't exactly designed with comfort as a top priority. Headache inducing super loud engine and exhaust, suspension stiff as a board that rattles your teeth every time you hit a bump, and steering so sensitive that you have to remain on edge and stay 100% focused all the time.


I don't think I have the energy to do the 470 mile drive through Iowa tomorrow.
 
Just got to the hotel in Omaha. Holy shit, I want to blow my brains out. 550 miles of shitty farmland Interstate littered with cops, trucks, and road work. Doesn't help that the time difference shortened the day and it was rainy and foggy the last 150 miles.

The car, which was fun as hell in the canyons of SoCal, Utah, and Colorado, felt so out of its element today. I mean it isn't exactly designed with comfort as a top priority. Headache inducing super loud engine and exhaust, suspension stiff as a board that rattles your teeth every time you hit a bump, and steering so sensitive that you have to remain on edge and stay 100% focused all the time.


I don't think I have the energy to do the 470 mile drive through Iowa tomorrow.

Oh god. Through Iowa? Why not dip low and go through Missouri... with slightly more interesting landscape.
 

Dice

Pokémon Parentage Conspiracy Theorist
I know the feeling. I just recently went on a trip through Santa Fe/Grand Canyon/Rockies and coming back you've already gone through the most boring part of Colorado but then you have the entire fucking state of Nebraska being a huge flat nothingness. Iowa at least has rolling (not as rolling as Oklahoma) hills that are kinda pretty, at least when they're green. Illinois is boring shit, too.

Edit: I do recommend Missouri and Oklahoma for the way back. Oklahoma has a kind of surreal look with the red soil and gold & white vegetation over rolling hills. On the day I went through the sky was purple and cloudy as well. In fact, if you go through there, maybe try Zoe's Restaurant in Cheyenne. It's a cute little place we hit up before seeing the Washita memorial. Though, after that, cutting through the top of Texas is another huge flat straight of nothing, but making it through, Santa Fe is a really cool town. Arizona north of Flagstaff is fucking gorgeous but it may be too out of your way and I'm not sure how comparable the part of Utah you saw. It's nice seeing different parts of America with their different culture.
 
Just got to the hotel in Omaha. Holy shit, I want to blow my brains out. 550 miles of shitty farmland Interstate littered with cops, trucks, and road work. Doesn't help that the time difference shortened the day and it was rainy and foggy the last 150 miles.

The car, which was fun as hell in the canyons of SoCal, Utah, and Colorado, felt so out of its element today. I mean it isn't exactly designed with comfort as a top priority. Headache inducing super loud engine and exhaust, suspension stiff as a board that rattles your teeth every time you hit a bump, and steering so sensitive that you have to remain on edge and stay 100% focused all the time.


I don't think I have the energy to do the 470 mile drive through Iowa tomorrow.

Driving through Iowa is slightly better than driving through Nebraska. Emphasis on slightly.

Depending on your tastes and when you decide to head out, Des Moines has a cool burger joint I would recommend stopping at for lunch.

http://zombieburgerdm.com/
 

Northeastmonk

Gold Member
There's quite a bit to do in Omaha. We have Westroads mall which is what I believe Justin Bieber sings about in his song "Omaha Mall". It was also the place of a terrible shooting a few years ago where the killer was on 4chan iirc. We have Creighton University, which is a large Jesuit school near North Omaha. The birth house of Malcom X and Gerold Ford. Which I haven't exactly been to, only heard about. Westside High School was where some of 311's band members went to school at, if you like 311. We have the Nebraska Furniture Mart if you just want to see where everyone buys their furniture.

There's quite a few hospitals in town, going down Dodge street you'll notice that. Dodge goes straight through Omaha.

This is where the Ruben sandwich was created, FYI. Lots of history in Omaha, you'll notice a large diversity in North, South, and West.

Outside of the zoo, Westroads, Regency court (there's a Whole Foods there and the shopping centers are for the rich). Lady Gaga (I heard a rumor) bought a house in regency court, which are the million dollar homes, but I'm not sure if it's true.

There's quite a few places to eat. Downtown has a bunch of one ways, so be careful. The streets can eat up your car because of the potholes. TD Ameritrade park is where the College World Series is held, which you might just glance at when you're down at the zoo. Creighton is down there too.

Radio: 94.1 is today's hottest jams. 91.5 is NPR, 89.7 is Iowa rock, The River, all FM stations.
 

Kickz

Member
Been to Omaha to visit cousins, and to be frank I always wonder why people choose to live there. Even as guy who resides in the Twin Cities
 
Been to Omaha to visit cousins, and to be frank I always wonder why people choose to live there. Even as guy who resides in the Twin Cities

Omaha is great. I've lived in bigger cities and wouldn't trade it for most anything. Is it perfect? No, obviously not, but it is a great city with plenty of personality and I'm proud to call it home.
 

Jonbo298

Member
Just ignore the racists while you'r-



e... here...

Too late.

Where was I being racist? A significant number of shootings or other violent crimes are reported from North O. That's my basis for avoiding the area. It's been that way for decades. Growing up across the river, that's all it seemed like on the news at night. Yet another shooting in North O. Past 5-10 years or so the violence started getting more frequent west of 72nd and Dodge. The city government is being incompetent to do enough about it.

http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ne/omaha/crime/

The numbers don't lie. So fuck off with your assumptions I'm racist. If anything, you're the one acting racist with assumptions of why I said that.
 

FyreWulff

Member
Growing up across the river

Ah, Council Bluffs, home of our local regional Dixiecrats, and the only city in the area almost as racist as La Vista and Papillion.

When y'all in West O and CB done looking down your nose at all of us east of 72nd, maybe you can go back to dismantling more of your meth labs.

Now if you excuse me I need to go dodge cow trucks while I get some tamales
 
Ah, Council Bluffs, home of our local regional Dixiecrats, and the only city in the area almost as racist as La Vista and Papillion.

When y'all in West O and CB done looking down your nose at all of us east of 72nd, maybe you can go back to dismantling more of your meth labs.

Now if you excuse me I need to go dodge cow trucks while I get some tamales

tumblr_nmjh42a27c1skhdx8o1_500.gif

lmao
 

Jonbo298

Member
Ah, Council Bluffs, home of our local regional Dixiecrats, and the only city in the area almost as racist as La Vista and Papillion.

When y'all in West O and CB done looking down your nose at all of us east of 72nd, maybe you can go back to dismantling more of your meth labs.

Now if you excuse me I need to go dodge cow trucks while I get some tamales

Be careful with that amount of edge. It's getting in the way of facts.
 

Zophar

Member
I lived in North Omaha for years. Never robbed or shot or anything. We're not talking east St. Louis here.

Since we're talking "facts" it would do you well to reconcile your objective profiling of the area as a violent hotbed with its overwhelmingly black population, and the fact that the majority of that violent crime is black-on-black gang activity.
 

Northeastmonk

Gold Member
North Omaha has its history, but so does Omaha in general. The Omaha Riots and the infamous public lynchings. Omaha has a dark past to it. I wonder if OP did anything besides sleep in a hotel? There's plenty to go do. There's a Railroad Museum across the river. You can also sit in the same seat as Jack Nicholson did in About Schmidt if you go down to North 30th at a diner across the street from HyVee. I even remember when George Clooney came to town and downtown was packed.

I've heard that all you'll find in Western Nebraska are racists people. That's who you talk to and not an absolute fact.
 
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