Omaha Driver Entertainment Guide

Located at 6920 Pacific Street is Caniglia’s Venice Inn. Established in 1957 by Eli Caniglia and his brothers, the Venice Inn is one of Omaha’s most well-known and popular Italian steakhouses. The menu contains several Caniglia family recipes from Sicily and Italy, including chicken and eggplant parmigiana, pesto linguini, and baked manicotti. The Venice Inn also serves great pizzas, prime rib, steaks, chops, chicken and sea food dishes. The restaurant has several banquet rooms that will host party sizes from 20 to 175 for all occasions. Our office management and staff have often held our Christmas celebrations at the Venice Inn. We’ve never been disappointed or walked away hungry. Caniglia’s serves lunch Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm., and dinner Tuesday through Sunday after 5:00 p.m. Give it a try and Buon Appetito!

If you are looking for something fun to do in Omaha during the holidays, here’s an idea for you… put on your best silly Santa hat and go Christmas caroling! Through caroling, many churches throughout the Omaha metro bring the Christmas spirit to home-bound senior citizens and others in need of love and encouragement. This group from West Hills Church enjoyed a chili luncheon at the church before embarking on their vocal music adventure. Spreading cheer is contagious and helps prepare hearts for the coming celebration of Jesus’ birth. As a reminder, you now have 11 shopping days until Christmas. Happy Motoring!

Located at 13615 California Street is Ted’s Nebraska Grill. A chain of restaurants founded in 2002 by media mogul, Ted Turner, Ted’s is a classic American grill serving beef, bison, chicken and seafood dishes from its extensive menu. My wife and I enjoyed the early American decor and the extensive use of wood inside the restaurant. The booths are spacious and permit private conversation, if that’s what you are seeking. I had a beef burger with jack cheese and bacon, and my wife had the grilled Caesar salad topped with cedar plank grilled salmon. The size of the burger was impressive, and the ingredients fresh. My wife also enjoyed her meal. Ted’s is open daily for lunch and dinner. Give it a try and Happy Motoring!

Located at 2368 S. 29th Street, just west of I-480 at the Martha Street exit, is Dinker’s Bar and Grill. The marquee out front says “Omaha’s Best Burger” and, in my view, the signage is spot on. The helpful, friendly wait staff immediately recognized I was a first time visitor and directed me past the bar area to the order counter. I ordered the “Haystack Burger” that had been recommended to me former Husker, Dave Rimington. The Haystack was delivered promptly.  It is a giant burger on a kaiser bun topped with American cheese, honey smoked ham, and a fried egg over easy. The garnish was fresh and the burger delightfully greasy. I’d been trying to cut back on my calorie consumption and immediately found my brain and my stomach locked in a WrestleMania challenge match. Ultimately my brain “tapped out” and the entire Haystacker was consumed. Dinker’s is a terrific neighborhood bar and grill, and I am already planning my next visit. Dinker’s is open Monday through Saturday from 10:oo a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Happy Motoring!

Located at 3230 John Creighton Boulevard in North Omaha, is the Adams Park Community Center. My friend Chuol Tuach loves to come here to work out, and to participate in a pick-up basketball game with other neighborhood youth. The Adams Park facility has a weight room, gym and locker room/shower facilities. It also has extensive outdoor recreation space, including a football field, a soccer field, 3 softball fields and two outdoor basketball courts. The City of Omaha Parks and Recreation Department maintains several excellent community and senior centers throughout the city, just like the one at Adams Park. Use of these facilities is typically free of charge. Follow the link to determine what centers are near to you. Happy Motoring!

Located at 4524 Farnam Street, just across the street from the Medical Center is Caffeine Dreams, a delightful little coffee shop in the Midtown. The coffee is pretty good, and they offer a wide array of flavor choices. They have board games for guest entertainment, and the staff is very friendly. Caffeine Dreams also has free WiFi hot-spots nearby, making it a convenient place to sit and surf the web.  Caffeine Dreams is open Monday through Saturday at 6:30 a.m. and at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday.  Bring your laptop computer, a book or the newspaper and enjoy your stay. Happy Motoring!

Located at 36th and Farnam Streets, the Crescent Moon Alehouse, the Huber Haus (a German Beer Hall on the lower level), Max & Joe’s (next door) and Beertopia (two doors down) , make up “Beer Corner USA.” Four unique beer experiences in one midtown Omaha location. At the Huber Haus you can enjoy a Bratwurst sandwich or an imported Bavarian pretzel from their food menu, with your choice of several German draft or bottled biers. The Crescent Moon has daily lunch and drink special offerings.  Max & Joe’s provides a Belgian Beer Tavern experience, while Beertopia is a store that sells hundreds of bottled beers and keg beers from around the world. The Moon is a fun place to spend Oktoberfest, Fat Tuesday, and most other celebrations. Be safe. Take a designated driver and don’t over indulge. Happy Motoring!

Located at 4150 South 144th Street (between L and Q Streets) is Charlie’s on the Lake.  Charlie’s is a restaurant well known for its extensive seafood choices, aged and trimmed cuts of Angus beef, and broad drink selections (martini’s and wines). Pick your own fresh main lobster from Charlie’s lobster tank. Or try the Prime Rib and King Crab legs. There are so many great choices on their lunch and dinner menus. Open Monday through Friday 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  Be sure to carry extra blankets and a fully charged flashlight in your vehicle during Winter months, you never know when you may become stranded or need to offer roadside assistance to others. Happy Motoring!

One of my favorite book stores in Omaha, The Bookworm, is located at 87th and Pacific Streets in Countryside Village Shopping Center. The Bookworm hosts several reader book clubs, and book club participants receive a 20% discount on those books selected for discussion. Often, the store hosts authors at the store to discuss their works and to perform book signings. In 2008, I attended a book signing with Alice Schroeder, author of The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life. Authors frequently share interesting details about their personal struggles and successes while developing their story lines. I enjoy those insights. Buy a book at The Bookworm, then walk a couple doors down the shopping center to Starbucks! Ahhh! Books and coffee, there’s no better combination! Open daily (click here for hours) Happy Motoring!

Located at 1218 South 119th Street, inside Absolutely Fresh Seafood, is Shucks Fish House and Oyster Bar. Shucks also has a second location at 16901 Wright Plaza (168th & Center). If you are looking for fresh shucked oysters on the half shell, you should visit Shucks. Unique and inviting – with the freshest seafood in Omaha. The inside of Shucks feels like Pike Place Market in Seattle. Rough cut wooden planks cover the walls, with other nautical decor. The fish bar at Absolutely Fresh Seafood is impressive, with selections from all three coasts. Shucks house specialties include Jambalaya, Swordfish, Ahi Tuna Steak, and Atlantic Salmon. Have you checked your auto jack and spare tire pressure recently? Make sure the spare is inflated. Also check your tire iron. Increasingly, new cars have a standard-issue tire iron that are too short, with insufficient leverage to remove a lug nut. If you don’t have AAA or other roadside service, consider buying and carrying a better tire iron. Happy Motoring!