Omaha

Bordered by the Missouri River and the Platte River, Omaha has many beautiful waterfront parks. Boasting the country’s largest urban arts colony, the city has the nation's largest community playhouse, the third largest children's theater, an opera, a symphony, and a major art museum.

With more than 1million people living within a 50-mile radius, it’s no surprise Omaha has a sizable gay community. It shows its true colors for Omaha Pride Day every June.

Getting here

Omaha’s Eppley Airfield is about 7 miles northwest of the city. Taxis, shuttle buses and the number 16 Metro bus are available to bring you downtown. Amtrak trains also stop here.

Getting around

Renting a car is the best way to get around. The Omaha Metro has buses to get you around on public transportation for $1.25. The Downtown Transit Center, (two blocks of 16th St between Dodge and Farnam), is the major hub for connections to most everywhere

Neighborhoods

All of the gay clubs are downtown, within easy walking distance of one another and there is plenty of street parking around them.

Local Media

The GLBT Center publishes the Gayzette, with area news and features. Find a fresh copy every other week in the gay clubs and other businesses in Omaha and Lincoln, or online.

The Reader is the local alternative weekly paper with listings, events calendar and reviews. Omaha World Herald website Omaha.com has online coverage of the city too.

Bars

Connections (1901 Leavenworth St), Omaha's only bar primarily for women.

DC's Saloon (610 S. 14th St) nightly cowboy, leather and bear bar with shirtless studs, men-only underground bar underwear and leather dress code nights.

Flixx (1019 S 10th St) video lounge, cabaret, show bar; Tuesday buck drink discount for shirtless guys, wet boxer contests, drag bingo.

The Max (1417 Jackson St) high energy multi-zone dance club, area's largest; two dance floors, beer busts, Friday amateur strip, weekend drag shows.

The Omaha Mining Company (1715 Leavenworth), after hours Friday/Saturday from 1:30am, no-liquor, huge dance floor, 18-plus dancing until 4am.

In Council Bluffs West End, in Iowa, Broadway Joe's (3400 W Broadway) neighborhood bar has later hours than Omaha counterparts. The crowd moves over at 1am for another round or two.

Restaurants

Dixie Quicks (1915 Leavenworth St) home-cooked Southern comfort food, Cajun, Tex-Mex and Southwest elements; brunch, sandwiches, soups salads and full meals.

French Café (1017 Howard St) setting the standard for fine dining in Omaha; classic French cuisine, bistro, brunch and dinner service.

Gerda's German Restaurant & Bakery (5180 Leavenworth St) native German recipes with southern twist, bakery, wine tastings, Oktoberfest specials, lunch and dinner daily except Sunday.

M's Pub (422 S. 11th St) sandwiches and light fare that won’t break the budget; also steak and seafood bistro entrees, wine, lunch and dinner.

Film

The Ruth Sokolof Theater (14th at Mike Fahey St) sceens gay titles among the many films of interest in the Film Streams series.

A Side Trip to Lincoln

From Omaha, Lincoln is just an hour's drive away.  The Nebraska state capital is a vibrant college town that's a lot more cosmopolitan than most people expect, and the median age here is a youthful 30.3 years. The University of Nebraska Cornhuskers football team are known far and wide.

There are two gay clubs in town: Panic (200 S. 18th Street), primarily a women's bar; and Club Q (226 S. 9th Street), a huge dance and drag-show bar.