Omaha Driver Entertainment Guide

Located at 14808 Echo Hills Drive, in Millard, is Dusek Photography. Dusek’s provides professional photography services for individuals and families, for special events such as graduations or weddings, for Little Leagues and sports teams, for childcare/preschools and more. My wife and I believe it is important to have family photos taken at least once a year, as a gift to friends and family. You should check out Dusek’s impressive photo portfolio. The Dusek professionals have several outdoor locations that they use for their photo shoots, or you can make an appointment for their in-home (basement) studio. Just call Kim to make an appointment, at 402-934-4397. Enjoy your photos and Happy Motoring!

Located at 701 N. 40th in midtown Omaha, is St. Cecelia Cathedral. Begun in 1905 and consecrated in 1959, St. Cecilia Cathedral is one of Omaha’s most historic and recognizable architectural achievements. St. Cecelia’s is also the seat of the Omaha Archdiocese. The church’s website says the architectural style is “Spanish Renaissance Revival”, and it is easy to see the Spanish and Mexican influence in the design. Every winter, St. Cecilia’s hosts one of most spectacular floral displays in the Midwest, that it is open to the public. The 2010 event will be held the weekend of January 30-31; with Saturday hours: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday hours: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is a donation. Mass times may also be found on their website. Happy Motoring!

Located inside the Marcus Midtown Crossing Theatre (3201 Farnam Street), on the fourth level mezzanine, is Vue Lounge. The Vue provides a spectacular, open, lounging space with an unobstructed view of the midtown. It is the ideal place to gather for drinks and conversation before or after a movie. Buy a glass of wine or a drink and carry it wherever you wish inside the Marcus facilities. For a real treat, try the CineDine experience, with private menu and drink service at your movie seat/table inside the theater. You can order your tickets on the web, and pick them up at one of the convenient kiosks in the theatre lobby. We love the Vue, the Glo, and Marcus Theatres. Happy Motoring!

Lansky’s has three Omaha locations. One at 50th and L Streets in Omaha, another at 1131 N. Broadway in Council Bluffs, and a third location at 3909 Twin Creek Drive in Bellevue (at 36th Street and Highway 370). Lansky’s is well known for its Philly steak sandwiches and for its pizzas. I think Lansky’s pizza sauce has a sweet tangy taste to it.  Overall, the food is very reasonably priced. We had a group of 30 at Lansky’s and were very satisfied with the service. They provided a dining room for our group free of charge, saving us a lot of added expense. Lansky’s has an extensive menu that also includes pasta, calzones, soups, salads and desserts. I really like their newest location in Bellevue. Give it a try and Happy Motoring!

Located at 6949 S. 108th Street (108th and Harrison Streets) is Rotella’s Italian Bakery. A fifth generation bakery business that began in Calabria, Italy in 1850, Rotella’s has built a reputation based upon quality and service. Established in Omaha in 1921, Rotella’s specializes in fresh, nutritious breads and rolls. Rotella’s operates a outlet store at their bakery, where fresh-baked rolls, buns, hoagies and specialty breads such as Ciabatta bread may be purchased. Our family tradition is to order Rotella bread bowls from the outlet store and to serve an assortment of soups before attending Christmas eve worship services at church. It is so much fun to eat the tasty bowls! Our grandson’s food allergies include both milk and eggs. Amazingly, Rotella’s breads do not rely on these products. We love the smell of fresh-baked goods at the bakery. Check out their outlet store & Happy Motoring!

Located at 13655 California Street is Biaggi’s Italian Restaurant. A chain, with locations in 12 states, Biaggi’s provides casual, relaxed dining in an elegant setting. Biaggi’s always starts your meal with a serving of Italian breads with fresh olive oil and parmesan cheese. The menu has a variety of appetizers, salads, and main courses from which to choose. The three cheese Lasagna Bolognese was delicious. Others in our group had the Seared Sea Bass and the Eggplant Parmesan. We were impressed with both the portion sizes as well as the presentation of the food. Biaggi’s has a large selection of modestly priced wines. Biaggi’s is open daily for lunch and dinner, and takes reservations for private events. Happy Motoring!

WheatFields Restaurant is an upscale Omaha dining experience, with an impressive array of European recipes from Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and Lichtenstein. The bakery and dessert choices are extensive. WheatFields is a great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner,and it has three convenient Omaha locations from which to choose. At 1224 S. 103rd Street in One Pacific Place, at 7775 Olson Drive (Papillion) in Shadow Lake, and at 1202 Howard Street in the Old Market. WheatFields provides extensive catering services, including specialty box lunches that can be customized to meet your group’s dining needs. I’ve had WheatField’s cater hot scrambled eggs and bacon service for groups of 30, and was pleased with their service. Because they have so many food selections and services available, you really need to visit their website at www.wheatfieldscatering.com to understand what is available. Check it out and Happy Motoring!

Located at 1101 S. 119th Street is Big Fred’s Pizza. Since its opening in 1965, Big Fred’s has been a popular Omaha gathering spot for sports fans and athletes, especially after local sporting events and competitions. The weekend service wait can be long, especially during the Fall months, when the restaurant hosts Big Red fans seeking the excitement, comradery and game time atmosphere that develops inside the restaurant. Big Fred’s has several overhead televisions inside. Big Fred’s serves a thin crust pizza that is an Omaha original. It is light on the sauce, but heavy on the meat, cheese and other ingredients. Big Fred’s provides a family-friendly environment and is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Try it and Happy Motoring!

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!