Omaha Entertainment: Of G-Clefs and Homeruns

Omaha may be lying in the center of the Great Plains but when it comes to entertainment, the city is far from being flat. You will find a number of bars where you can have the time of your life in the downtown area. You will also experience several fairs and other fun activities held in the city throughout the year. The people of Omaha are anything but boring, especially when it comes to two things: music and sports.

Have you ever heard of “Omaha Sound?” It is a style popularized by various bands in Omaha in the 1990s. Omaha has a rich musical history. When it comes to jazz and R&B, Omaha is really the place to be. This city is the home ground for several influential bands including Lloyd Hunter's Seranaders and Anna Mae Winburn's Cotton Club Boys. Wynonie Harris, a rock and roll pioneer, is also from Omaha. Other famous homegrown artists include Preston Love, Luigi Waites, Buddy Miles and Doug Ingle among others.

Many of today's popular music groups either originally from or located in Omaha include The Faint, Cursive, Bright Eyes, Mannheim Steamroller, 49 Cents, Azure Ray, 311 and Tilly and the Wall. The city's hip-hop scene is also very vibrant. Some of the artists who keep this genre alive and kicking in the city are Mars Black, Pigeon John and Houston Alexander.

If you're not into singing and movie-watching, you may find another popular form of entertainment in Omaha very delightful --- sports. Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium is standing in the heart if the city for a reason. It is home to the Omaha Royals, the city's official minor-league baseball team. It has also hosted NCAA College World Series every year since 1950.

If baseball is not your sport, you may want to visit the Omaha Civic Auditorium and see the Omaha Beef. Omaha Beef is not really beef; it is an indoor football team, a tribute to the city's meatpacking past. Ice hockey is also a very popular sport in the city. Popular hockey teams include the Omaha Lancers, playing in the city of Council Bluffs, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha Mavericks, a team for NCAA Division I. The city is also witnessing its people's growing interest in biking and running. In fact, every year, the Omaha Marathon is held usually in September.