Unexpected Discoveries in Omaha

I took a work trip with a few colleagues to Omaha last month.  It was a quick one-night stay in the downtown area.  I'd not had the privilege of visiting Omaha before this trip, so I was eager to fit in whatever bit of adventure Monday evenings offer in Omaha.  Plus, summer days in the 80°s was a treat compared to the Easy Bake Oven of the Texas summer.  You know what else?  To traverse Omaha from the airport, you visit both Nebraska and Iowa.  Bam.  Two states, one trip.

Separate from the effective meeting with our business partners, we did find time for some adventuring.  Shall we?

You know that Instagram -- you see something fun and immediately post your friends.  Well, newly into Instagram this year (#don'tjudge), I love some of the suggestions from the vegan folks I follow.  A restaurant called Modern Love was recommended on an Instagram post, so I text my colleague in charge of this adventure, with a joking "let's check out this place while we're in OMA."  Vegan comfort food.  Yes, we must have that in Omaha, land of beef & potatoes. 

The effective executor that she is (#shemakesitlookeasy), she let the business partners who we were visiting know that we'd be dining there for the evening.  Who knew I had such clout, to subject an entire party of like 10 people to vegan dining.  (I'll have to explore the extent of this tormentation...uh, clout, further.)  Upon apologizing sheepishly, I heard more than once, "they serve drinks, it'll be great."  Indeed.  Well, Modern Love was fab, and unless they are good liars, everyone in the party enjoyed their meals and the cashew cheese.  I especially enjoyed the cashew cheese and would consume mass quantities of said cashew cheese if I had the opportunity to dine there regularly (#friedmozzerellaFTW).  So, friendly business partners, should you read this post -- Thank you!  For hosting a great discussion and for a lively and tasty dinner!

While at dinner, a party member who is a local, suggested we check out a speakeasy down the way.  Of course we have to check out a speakeasy down the way!  Business, shmusiness - every day is an adventure.  We are told to say that "we're looking for the wicked rabbit" to the purveyor of fine cigars and spirits at the Looking Glass.

Our friendly hotel shuttle driver informs us with a pseudo-chuckle that it's still light outside and it might be shameful to get a drink before dark.  So of course, we invite him along.  But he doesn't drink.  Still, he is full of opinions.  We are not dismayed.  While it's only 8:30pm and still light outside, we clump into the tiny, fancy Looking Glass.  With a smirk, the clerk tells us to find the White Rabbit.  I'm overwhelmed with the number of sparkling bottles on the polished wooden shelves, so thank goodness an eagle eye in our party finds the pesky rabbit -- a bottle of vodka that's like a handle to a door in the wall.

Hello, retro 20s in the Wicked Rabbit!  We enter to cheers from those lined up at the bar, and make our way to a cozy corner of the sumptuous little place, and order a slew of fun drinks.  The long, elegant space is all gold leaf, dark leather and heavy velvet drapery with low flickering candles.

Vespa, Hanky Panky, Old Fashioned, Vodka OJ & a Martini

Drinks arrived with quirky orange peel adornments fastened with hat pins.  Such fun!

This was my first time at a speak easy, so of course I need to research.  "Speak easy" comes  loosely from "speak softly shop" during prohibition times across the 1800s in western countries.  They've recently come into vogue after a 2007 discovery of underground rooms in Binghamton, NY, which were thought to have been speakeasies back in the day. 

One drink, and we're happy to slip out the side door to stroll the block or two back to our hotel for an early evening, what with it being a school night and all.

Here's to fun work trips with great colleagues + a few adventures on the side.

Omaha, I'm intrigued and will be back to explore further.