Omaha, Nebraska: Can One Good Block Make a City?
So I had pretty low expectations for Omaha… it’s in Nebraska and sounds so unsexy. However, my friend was interning out there and it was a convenient stop on our way to Fort Collins, Colorado, where we have relatives. So my brother and I got there around five, driving through their high-rise business district downtown. I was immediately impressed by the actual number of active and vibrant skyscrapers and businesses in the downtown. We shortly dropped our stuff off at my friend’s overly cozy one bedroom apartment and headed downtown. I have to admit I was still skeptical of what the happy hour and nightlife would be like cause while driving in while we saw businesses, I still hadn’t really seen a place I’d be comfortable having a drink on the patio. When we landed at Blue, a sophisticated sushi lounge, I was more than impressed. As we continued on into the night roaming from different restaurant and bar and even down the riverfront, I found there were as diverse restaurants as a classy little French restaurant to a bar with 1.50 beers. Each place had its own unique feel and nothing felt like a pre-packaged cliché bar or restaurant.
The next day on our way out, we stopped at a wonderful farmer’s market and picked up some breakfast and food for the rest of the trip. There was some kind of adventure race happening at the same time because people of all ages and sizes were dressed in crazy outfits running around the place. It was definitely a perfect Saturday morning to me. Overall, Omaha seemed like the perfect Midwest Gem. The city has found a way to transition itself into what appeared to me a totally cosmopolitan city while keeping its unique feel. I almost felt like I was back in DC with its global, sophisticated and high-end feel, except the prices were 50% less and the service was 50% better.
The one caveat? All of this took place in a span of less than a probably about a quarter of a mile in a place called Old Market. I asked around if there were really other places to go out in and most responded negatively. While I’d love to live in a place like the downtown I went out in, I’m not convinced that I wouldn’t get bored with that span of 15 or so awesome restaurants and nothing else. What do you think?
