I've got some exciting news to share this week!

Last week, I mentioned how I've been wanting to bring Omaha Circle to life outside of just the newsletter. Well, after a conversation this past week, it looks like our very first event is officially in the works!

And it gets better! The person helping make it happen is actually someone I interviewed for this week's issue, and he's offered to host the event at his bar! There are still a few details to figure out, including the date, but I'm hoping to make it happen within the next few weeks.

I'll share a little more right after the Vitals, along with a quick poll. I'd love to hear what you think because I want to make this something people are genuinely excited to come to!

I hope your week has been treating you well, now lets get into it 😎

Somehow, the sun is already setting around 6:45 p.m., and I’m not really even sure when that happened. It feels like we had long summer evenings just yesterday. Now, before you know it, it’s dark outside, and the days suddenly feel a whole lot shorter.

It's happening! Omaha Circle's first-ever event is going to be a team trivia night at Rookies Bar & Grill, thanks to Neal Anding, who you'll get to know a little better very shortly!

I'll be your host for the evening, and I've got a fun mix of Omaha-related questions and other trivia categories in mind. There'll be some friendly competition, prizes up for grabs, and hopefully plenty of laughs along the way. And don't worry, you won't need to be an Omaha history expert to have a good time!

I’m keeping this first event small, with just 40 tickets available. It'll be a ticketed event, but I promise the price won't knock your socks off. Tickets will be under $20, and I'm hoping to have an early bird deal for the first few people who grab one!

I'm still figuring out the date and a few other details, but I'm hoping to make it happen within the next few weeks. In the meantime, I'd really love to know if this is something you'd be interested in coming to:

This week: Neal Anding, Owner of Rookies Bar & Grill

Seven people stopped by to say hello to Neal Anding while I was interviewing him. Seven. And the funny thing is, by the time our conversation was over, it didn't surprise me one bit.

When I walked into Rookies Bar & Grill on Monday evening, I was greeted with a smile. The place was lively, everyone I talked to was incredibly kind, and there was a warmth to it that's hard to manufacture. After sitting down with Neal, I started to understand where it came from. "Once you walk in these doors, you're gonna get all the respect and all love we can give you," he told me. To Neal, it doesn't matter what your life looks like outside the bar, who you are, or whether you're even there to drink. Once you're inside, you're welcome. "It costs nothing to be nice to people," he said. It's such a simple idea, but sitting there, I could see how seriously he takes it.

Neal has spent more than four decades owning bars, starting in 1982 when, at just 18 years old, he used bowling tournament winnings to buy his first bar in Percival, Iowa. He wasn't even old enough to legally drink, yet he owned a bar! Despite knowing little about the business, he quickly fell in love with the people. That passion has stuck with him ever since, which is why he's always owned just one bar at a time, keeping things personal and building genuine relationships. At Rookies, he knows his people, trusts his team, and has no interest in turning the place into some huge operation. As he told me, "Money is not what this is about. It's about building relationships." Above all, he wants Rookies to be a place where, no matter who you are or where you come from, you can walk through the doors and feel completely comfortable.

One story in particular stayed with me. One of the regulars was going through a difficult time and didn't have plans for Thanksgiving. Neal invited them to spend the holiday with his family. He didn't tell me that story like it was some grand act of kindness. He just didn't want her spending the day alone. And after watching people come over to greet him all evening, that kind of care felt completely genuine.

Toward the end, I asked Neal what all those years around people had taught him. His answer was: "People just want to be understood and heard." I left Rookies thinking about that. You can decorate a bar, make good food, and pour drinks, but making someone feel like they belong is something else entirely. And thinking back to those seven hellos, I'd say Neal has gotten pretty good at it.

Learn more about Rookies →

01 - An Amusement Park Inside Oak View Mall?

Oak View Mall might be getting something more exciting than another clothing store! NRG Adventure Park wants to transform the former Younkers into a two-story adventure space with zip lines, trampolines, and more. The goal? Give families a new reason to visit the mall. A City Council vote is expected October 20.

02 - Lights, Camera, Omaha!

A new movie called I'm Sorry, Matt 06, featuring former Saturday Night Live cast member Chris Parnell, is being filmed right here in Omaha! Directed by Omaha native Gabrielle Christensen, the dark comedy features familiar local spots. The inspiration behind it? Her mom apparently dated six different guys named Matt. You really can't make this stuff up.

If you want to see your pet featured here next week, click the button below and send them my way!

5:30 PM | Falconwood Fright Nights: Obsession
Enjoy an outdoor movie night with food trucks, a Nicki impressions contest, and some spooky-season fun. More details

7:00 PM | Sonic Live in Concert
The music of Sonic the Hedgehog comes to life with a live band and visuals at the Orpheum Theater. More details

7:30 PM | Evil Dead: The Musical
Horror meets comedy in this hilariously bloody musical at the Omaha Community Playhouse. More details

5:00 PM | Family Night at The Union
Bring the family for free hands-on art, crafts, Lego-building, and creative activities. More details

7:30 PM | The Black Jacket Symphony: Bon Jovi
Hear Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet performed live at Steelhouse Omaha. More details

9:00 AM | Millard North Makers Market
Shop handmade creations from more than 180 vendors while supporting Millard North students. More details

12:00 PM | Heartwood Kite Festival
Watch enormous colorful kites fill the sky at this free, family-friendly festival. More details

8:00 PM | Slow Pulp Live at Slowdown
Catch indie rock band Slow Pulp as they bring their dreamy, guitar-driven sound to Omaha. More details

1:00 PM | Omaha Women's Soccer vs. South Dakota State
Catch the Mavericks at Caniglia Field for their Senior Day matchup against South Dakota State. More details

2:00 PM | Momentum: American Midwest Ballet
Experience three distinctive ballet performances at the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center. More details

7:00 PM | Skillet: Comatose 20 Years Tour
Rock band Skillet brings its anniversary tour to Steelhouse Omaha for one night. More details

And that’s a wrap on week five. If you made it all the way down here, thank you for spending a little bit of your Wednesday with me.

If you liked this issue, send it to someone you think would enjoy it too.

See you next Wednesday 😄