Sensational Weekend

Looking to experience something new this weekend?  Here are a few suggestions to stimulate your senses!

Listen: Saddle Creek Shop Grand Opening

Located on North 14^th Street, the SHOP provides a destination for avid Saddle Creek Records fans to score souvenirs, and their favorite band’s T-shirts and vinyls.  The grand opening will feature in-store performances by Orenda Fink and The Mynabirds from noon to 6PM, Saturday July 23rd.

Taste: Girls Night at Soaring Wings

The forecast calls for a hot and beautiful weekend so round up your besties for a night of wine and dancing at Soaring Wings, Saturday, July 23^rd 7 – 9:30, $5.00 per person. 

Touch: Oil and Acrylic Painting Class

Get in touch with your artistic side at the Hot Shops Art Center this Saturday.  Jean Mason will be hosting a two-hour Oil and Acrylic Painting class.  Students will learn introductory color selection, paint application and composition skills, 10AM $35.00

Scouting

Last week I had a few friends in town and took them for some yummy slices at Pitch Pizzeria (be sure to try the Marsala pizza if you haven’t already… figs, goat cheese pears and truffle oil = delicious!)  After our feast we stopped next door at Scout: Dry Goods and Trade.  I’m usually not a big fan of digging through second hand clothing but Scout does all the sorting for you.  Their unique selection of clothing and accessories is hand selected and jam packed with name brand items you’re sure to love!  I walked out with three J Crew tops (one which still had the tags on) for $40 bucks, can’t beat that! This Thursday, Friday, Saturday buy one pair of shoes get the second pair half off so get Scouting!

The Next New Thing

If you like to be the first of your friends to latch onto the latest craze listen up!  Silk scarves are huge for fall and these clever chicks have designed a scarf that not only looks beautiful but stays in place around your pretty little face with a magnetic closure.  Made from 100% silk, each scarf is original just like the women who wear them.  Cairo is still in the launching phase but you can be one of the first to own their works of art by pledging $150 to help them launch their ecommerce site.  Check out their Kickstarter video to learn more.  And stay tuned to their website www.cairocairo.com as I'm sure they will be available online soon!

Night Rider

The 2nd Annual Owl Ride is this Saturday, July 16th - Omaha's nighttime urban cycling adventure. The perfect event for the nocturnal, coined the largest annual night bike ride between Chicago and Denver!  Get a starlit tour of Omaha along the 16-mile route that circles through Downtown, Midtown, Dundee, Aksarben, Field Club and the Old Market.  Several stops along the way will be offering sips and snacks including Pitch, Midtown Crossing, Jones Bros Cupcakes and the Field House.  The ride starts at the Lewis and Clark Landing, 11PM $35 per rider.  Be sure to bring your bike light!

"O Fest" Out West

Festivals are one of my favorite things about summer.  There is just something about listening to a live cover band and drinking beer in a parking lot that makes me smile.  Be sure to check out O Fest this weekend at Shops of Legacy featuring eats from Omaha’s top restaurants, live music, a huge variety of craft beers and shopping discounts at local retailers.  Open Friday, July 15, from 5P – 11P, Saturday, 11A – 11P and Sunday, 11A – 8P.  I love this look, perfect for a festival on a hot day, found at The Giving Tree in Shops of Legacy.

Paddle Party

It’s gonna be a hot one this weekend so you’ll either want to be in the comfort of your heavily air-conditioned home or in the water!  Nebraska Outdoor Adventures is a group of outdoor enthusiasts who make it easy and affordable to actively participate in a wide-variety of recreational activities.  This year NOA has launched a kayaking program at Lake Cunningham Marina.  An eight-week membership will give you access to kayaks and paddleboards 7 days a week.  Or if you are just looking for a day trip head to the Wine and Cheese Sunset Paddle this Saturday, July 16^th.  Paddle around the lake and enjoy the sunset, all skill levels welcome, $40 per person.

Outdoor Fitness Park

One of the best things about summer is ditching the treadmill and breaking a sweat outside.  And now you can work your core in the great outdoors! The Elmwood Fitness Park opened last week with eight pieces of equipment including a rowing machine, sit-up bench, double leg press, stretching bars, two elliptical machines and shoulder press machine all outside in the park.  Equipment is waterproof and will remain in the park year round at 67th and Pacific.  So work that behind in the sunshine! 

Absolutely Charming!

Every stylista knows that accessories can make an outfit.  Add the perfect belt and necklace to a plain white tee and you can look like a million bucks.  On a recent trip to Austin, TX my friend introduced me to Charming Charlie an accessory queen’s paradise!  Think Francesca’s Collection meets Forever 21 – with 8,000 square feet of accessories from bracelets and belts to handbags and scarves.  I walked in for a pair of sunglasses and walked out with just about everything else.  So I was super excited to hear a Charming Charlie just opened here in Omaha at Shadow Lake Towne Center!

Items are reasonably priced and categorized by color for those of us who tend to get overwhelmed in large retail locations with 7,000 pairs of earrings to choose from. Check it out!

Lemon Days

It’s that time of year when you wonder if you should be buying anything more for your summer wardrobe as Fall is just around the corner (boo hoo).  But a good sale is always an excuse to buy something out of season!  This weekend is Lemon Days at Regency Court, 25 – 75% off throughout the mall.  And who can’t use a new summer look from Francesca’s or Anthropologie, after all there are still 77 days of summer left!  I love this Spinning Light Dress from Anthro - on sale for $89.95.

All That Jazz!

In the mood for a picnic in the park and the smooth sounds of Latin Jazz?  Jazz on the Green kicks off tonight, at Turner Park in Midtown Crossing and will continue every Thursday night through August 11^th.  Venue opens at 5PM, if you want to snag a front row seat, concert begins at 7PM.  Blankets, chairs and outside food and drink are welcome!  If you are looking for a yummy snack to pack order takeout from Taste in Rockbrook Plaza, the Hummus is to die for!

And if you haven’t had enough Dixieland and Swing for one weekend, head to the Riverfront Jazz and Blues Festival, July 8^th and 9^th.  The venue has moved to the Orpheum due to flooding but the music is sure to be just as jazzy!  Music begins at 4PM, $38 per day.

Trash to Treasure

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is Garage Sale hunting.  There’s something fulfilling about digging through someone’s trash to find your treasure.   Sometimes all it takes is a fresh coat of paint to create a one-of-a-kind piece that will add character and charm to your home.  And why run all over town when you can visit the 500+ Family Indoor Garage Sale in LaVista (July 6th – 17th)!  All proceeds go to charity with new items arriving daily.  Just be sure to come prepared with plenty of change, small bills, a tape measurer and tote for collecting and carrying your finds!

There are so many fun ways to reuse items you find at a Garage Sale here are a few ideas I love!  Check out more on my Pinterest board http://pinterest.com/prairiegirloma/new-uses-for-old-things.