The October 16 Weekly Market Report

Nicole Buntgen, Contributing Writer

Piezon’s Pizzeria announced that it will remain open despite the recent and unexpected death of owner Matt Vrzal. The pizzeria is located at 15605 West Center Road. Vrzal was a former Husker offensive lineman, a high school football coach and a popular personality on local radio.

The Little King deli and sub-sandwich shop at 8602 Dodge Street now serves breakfast. At least for now, no other locations are offering the breakfast menu. Breakfast hours are from 6 to 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 to 10 a.m. Sundays. From now through November 10th, customers will receive 25 percent off their breakfast order if they mention “Grow Omaha.”

North Italia has started hiring for its new restaurant at Village Pointe and is hosting an on-going, on-site job fair each day through November 2nd. North Italia will open its first Nebraska location November 19th in a 9,000 sq. ft. space formerly occupied by Bravo Cucina Italiana. The restaurant serves handmade pasta, pizza and other dishes. North Italia has 39 locations in 13 states. The closest existing ones are in Kansas City and Denver.

The Pizza Ranch restaurant at Council Bluffs’ Metro Crossing Shopping Center is undergoing renovation. The restaurant remains open during construction. When the project is complete, restaurant will include a Pizza Ranch Fun Zone Arcade.

The Scene Event Space will open in January 2025 at 745 North 14th Street in the former Urban Outfitters location in the Builder’s District. The 2-story, 8,500 sq. ft. venue sits between Rally Coffee and Slowdown. The owners also operate Salon for Women, which has been in business for 10 years at Lakeside Hills Plaza.

Cedar, a cocktail bar in Countryside Village, will celebrate its 10-year anniversary Saturday, October 18 from 3 p.m. to midnight. The celebration will include food on the grill, games and live music.

Sierra, formerly known as Sierra Trading Post, is expected to open on October 23 at 3145 Manawa Centre Drive in Lake Manawa Power Centre. Part of the TJ Maxx Family of Brands, the outdoor recreation retailer offers apparel, footwear and gear for active and outdoor lifestyles. This will be Sierra’s fourth Iowa location—it already operates stores in Omaha and Lincoln. A HomeGoods store next door will open on the same day. Ross Dress for Less opened in the same building last weekend.

BeautyFirst will open a Papillion store at 8540 South 71st Street in The Shoppes at Market Pointe in late October. Locally owned BeautyFirst was founded in 1989 has three existing stores in Omaha and two in Lincoln. The stores offer professional haircare, skincare and cosmetic products.

The Anastasia Co will hold a grand opening and ribbon cutting on October 24 for its first-ever storefront at 23913 Southwest Street in Waterloo, Neb. Founded in Omaha in 2013, the family-owned stationery, apparel and gift brand now serves more than 2,000 retailers worldwide.

NAPA Auto Parts plans to open a store at 11718 Stonegate Circle. The building is just west of Mulhall’s Nursery. According to a building permit to renovate an existing space, the 9,600 sq. ft. project will cost a little over $100,000. NAPA currently has four area locations.

Riddle’s Jewelry plans to hold a ribbon cutting for its Shadow Lake Towne Center store on November 7th at 3 p.m. The Rapid City, S.D.-based retailer has more than 60 stores in 10 states, including one at Westroads Mall. The company also plans to open a store at Village Pointe.

Nebraska Brewing Company will officially close on October 19 after 18 years of operation. The La Vista brewery and taproom at 6950 South 108th Street will have extended hours on its final day, noon to 9 p.m.

Learn more about Anderson Convenience market at www.Anderson1952.com

Local Commercial Real Estate Market Holds Steady in Third Quarter

NAI NP Dodge, the commercial real estate division of N.P. Dodge, produces a report on Omaha’s commercial real estate market each quarter. Below are some highlights from the third quarter of this year.

Office

The 49.4 million sq. ft. Omaha office market ended the 3rd quarter of 2025 with a vacancy rate of 7.7 percent, which was down from last quarter. Absorption over the past 12 months was -162,000 sq. ft. Rental rates were up to $25.42. Approximately 1.6 million sq. ft. of office space is under construction at this time, more than last quarter.

Retail

Approximately 66 million sq. ft. of retail space was considered for this report, which is based on CoStar data. At this time, 391,000 sq. ft. of retail space is under construction, which is up from last quarter. Vacancy went up to 4.4 percent. Rental rates were $18.35 per square foot. The 12-month net absorption was 251,000 sq. ft. at the end of the quarter, down from the previous period.

Industrial

Omaha’s industrial sector continues to be strong. The total market size is 111 million sq. ft. Approximately 4.7 million sq. ft. of industrial space is currently under construction, up over the previous quarter. Industrial vacancy is 2.9 percent, which is up from last quarter. Rental rates are $8.54, up over last quarter. The 12-month net absorption is 851,000 sq. ft., which is down from last quarter.

Third Quarter Developments

During the third quarter, we learned that Dillard’s department store will move from Oakview Mall to the former Younker’s space at Westroads Mall. Dillards will completely remodel the space. Westroads also landed a 31,000 sq. ft. Toys R Us store to fill its vacant, former Forever 21 space.

Raymond Partners of Scottsdale, Ariz., plans to break ground early next year on The Residences at Heartwood Preserve, an upscale condo development on the west side of the 500-acre Heartwood Preserve development.

Salt Lake City-based Woodbury Corporation started construction on the long-awaited Crossroads project at 72nd & Dodge Street.

Clarity Development revealed that it plans a multi-building development project in and around the Little Bohemia district.

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Isaiah Ang, Contributing Writer

Nebraska Medicine held a groundbreaking celebration today for its 125,000 sq. ft., 3-story Gretna Landing Health Center. Nebraska Medicine is partnering with Noddle Companies on the project, which will open to patients in the second half of 2027. Gretna Landing is northwest of 192nd & Highway 370.

The CHI Health Convention Center will soon be undergoing renovation of its existing space while the extension on the east side of the building is under construction. According to a building permit, the existing convention center will receive updated wall paneling, acoustical treatments, wainscoting and baseboards. Restrooms will receive updated finishes and toilet partitions.

Additionally, operable partitions will be installed in existing meeting and exhibit rooms to increase acoustical performance. The renovations are part of the $200 million expansion of the convention center. The 94,000 sq. ft. expansion is currently under construction with steel beam framing being installed now. The overall project will be complete by summer 2027.

The Council Bluffs Planning Commission reviewed an amendment to the development plan for Treehouse, a mixed-use development at South 34th Street & 2nd Avenue. The commission approved Knudson Development, LLC’s original plan in 2020. That consisted of 225 apartment units, 17,400 sq. ft. of commercial space and 38 townhomes. The site is approximately 8.78 acres and adjacent to the First Ave trail.

The amendment replaces the 38 townhomes with 48 apartment units in two, 2-story buildings. Additionally, the development will now include a clubhouse and additional off-street parking. The amendment will go to the city council for final approval. The Treehouse is currently under construction under Phase 1 of the plan, which consists of the first 86 apartment units.

Northwest Bank has started construction on a 2-story, 20,300 sq. ft. building at 14607 California Street. The construction site is a 1.6-acre lot in front of Beth El Synagogue northwest of 144th & West Dodge Road. The building will have two drive-thru lanes and 68 parking stalls. Northwest Bank will consolidate its three Omaha-area locations into the future building.

Mutual of Omaha this week provided a progress update on the construction of its future downtown headquarters. In late August, the tower crane completed its sixth and final jump, reaching its full height of 780 feet. The final shear core concrete has been poured, officially completing all vertical concrete work. Structural steel now extends past Level 35 on all sides. Interior work is now underway through level 21. Though it won’t be fully completed until late 2026, the 44-story tower is already the tallest building in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and South Dakota.

All Purpose Construction, an Omaha-based commercial construction company, plans to build three hangers at Eppley Airfield. According to a building permit, the hangers total 74,000 sq. ft. and will cost $3.76 million to construct.

The Bellevue City Council approved a $35 million bond to fund several public improvement projects next year, including trails and facility improvements at several parks, infrastructure maintenance and repair and projects in the city’s entertainment district. The latter includes a $10 million walkway project.

Metonic, an Omaha-based real estate developer, held a groundbreaking today for The Collection at Gretna Landing, a build-to-rent development with 110 freestanding homes at 19817 Ridgemont Street. The project is located within the Gretna Landing development northwest of 192nd & Highway 370. The development will include maintenance-free landscaping, a dog park and a mix of two- and three-bedroom cottages, alongside three- and four-bedroom houses with attached garages.

Bent Tree Golf Course in Council Bluffs opened its Toptracer facility today. It’s only the second Toptracer range in the metro area. The setup includes four indoor bays and four outdoor bays, giving golfers the chance to play iconic courses like St Andrews, Pebble Beach, Oakmont CC, and others. Rates are $30 per hour for members and $40 for non-members.

The City of Omaha appears to be reaching a tipping point with the developer of the Civic Auditorium site. At the end of September, KETV reported that the developer, White Lotus, was moving into the next phase of construction after it had completed rough grading earlier this year. Last week, KETV reported that the city plans to buy back the site from White Lotus under the terms of the contract citing insufficient progress.

The agreement with the developer set timelines for it to complete 50 percent of the infrastructure and buildings, which could be footings and foundations, within two years, otherwise the City can exercise an option and right to buy back the property. The city is apparently planning to exercise that right in November. The city has not provided details, but representatives have shared there is another party interested in developing the Civic site.

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Frontier Airlines’ inaugural nonstop flight between Omaha’s Eppley Airfield and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport took off last week. The nonstop service operates twice per week. Frontier joins Delta Airlines, which offers five nonstops per day from Omaha to Atlanta. Frontier also offers nonstops from Omaha to Denver and Orlando.

Tommy’s Express Car Wash has a building permit for a location at 8425 West Center Road. It will be constructed on a pad site in front of the Goodwill retail store. Tommy’s Express is a national chain with six locations in the metro area Four additional Omaha locations planned, including the 84th & Center location.

Cabinet IQ of Omaha will hold a grand opening celebration Thursday, November 20th from 5 to 7 p.m. at 9825 Giles Road, Suite E in La Vista. The company specializes in designing and selling custom cabinets and countertops for kitchens and more. Based in Austin, Texas, Cabinet IQ has 52 locations nationwide.

Elite Learning Academy & Preschool plans to open its fourth location this coming winter at 2205 North 181st Street. Founded in 2019 by Allison and Greg Acero, Elite Learning Academy has three existing locations Omaha and Gretna. The organization serves infants through pre-kindergarten children.

Omaha-based HDR was part of the design team for Pittsburgh International Airport’s $1.7 billion terminal expansion. HDR joined Gensler, in association with luis vidal + architects, to form the architectural and engineering design team. HDR led the surface access, site, airfield and infrastructure design. The design features additional space for concessions, an expanded TSA checkpoint and separate levels for departing and arriving passengers. More than 6,000 additional parking spaces, featuring a 3,300-space garage and a 2,700-space surface lot, were added.

Thrive Occupational Therapy will hold a ribbon cutting and open house for its latest clinic location at 11532 Willow Park Drive in Gretna. The location is along the east side of Highway 6 between Angus and Locust streets.

Omaha Insurance Services is the Greater Omaha Chamber’s October business of the month. The company focuses on protecting individuals, families and businesses. The office is located at 10730 Pacific, suite 040.

For the eighth time in 2025, Creighton University’s Rural Mainstreet Index sank below growth neutral. The index is based on a monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and energy. The region’s overall reading for October fell to 34.6, its lowest level since May 2020, from 38.5 in September. The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral.

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More than 2,200 participants last Saturday walked in the Susan G. Komen: More Than Pink Walk around Werner Park. The event raised more than $450,000 for cancer research, treatment and education.

Starting at 2 p.m. last Thursday, Open Door Mission president and CEO Candace Gregory began a 24-hour livestreamed podcast outside the Lydia House called “Conversations on a Bench.” During the stream, Gregory talked with various guests and passersby in an effort to shine a light on the positive change happening at Open Door Mission.

The Omaha Community Foundation reported last week that, in 2025, the organization awarded a total of $147,319 to 11 local organizations from three specialized grant funds: Creche Childhood Education Fund, Jetton Charitable Fund and Richard A. Shaw Fund. Each fund supports specific programming in the community, driven by the intent of donors who established the funds. Awarded nonprofits include Completely KIDS, Keep Omaha Beautiful and more.

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What Is the Reverse Staging Method?

By Jill Anderson

Staging a home matters! Consider, the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2025 Home Staging Profile shows that 83 percent of real estate agents say that well-staged homes help buyers envision themselves living there.

Traditional staging focuses on the broad strokes, like thoughtful furniture placement that reflects daily living and color schemes that are timeless or on-trend. Items should complement the space and the overall room layouts—all while showing how people would naturally navigate the home.

Reverse staging—also called “microstaging”—flips this approach. It starts with the details homeowners often overlook early in the buying process but notice critically later. This includes hardware, textiles, lighting, scents and subtle décor before moving on to larger elements like furniture or paint.

The Core Principles of Reverse Staging

Here’s the philosophy behind this high-impact staging method.

• Detail-oriented staging: This focuses on hardware, textiles, lighting and accessories—elements that buyers can see and also touch, feel and experience up close.
• Layered impact: Because multiple senses are engaged, each micro-impression accumulates like points for the buyer, reinforcing the property’s sense of quality and integrity.
• Subconscious influence: Buyers may not linger on the hardware, but they notice when it is polished, turns smoothly and closes without creaking.
• Problem-solving focus: Limited budgets or outdated layouts are common challenges for sellers, but they don’t have to reduce a home’s appeal. Thoughtfully selected details draw attention away from flaws and enhance the overall presentation.

How to Microstage: 4 Tips

The smallest tweaks can close deals when done right.

1. Identify key touch points
The first step is identifying the areas buyers are most likely to interact with. This includes surfaces and features in kitchens, bathrooms and entryways.

Inspect doorknobs, cabinet pulls, light switch plates and faucets. These often show signs of daily wear from previous owners. Polishing or replacing these elements can make a significant difference, particularly if they are scratched, damaged, rusted or creaky. And with more than a hundred million homeowners in the U.S. expected to embrace smart home technology by 2028, subtly highlighting any smart tech features in a home can also be a great signal to buyers.

2. Curate a detail palette
When replacing hardware, make these details cohesive. Swap dull or tarnished fixtures for brushed nickel or matte black versions for a more modern look. Upgrade cabinet pulls and drawer handles with styles that complement the kitchen or bathroom palettes. Updated light fixtures give a room a contemporary feel.

3. Layer the details
Extend these thoughtful touches into season-appropriate textiles for a layered, multisensory effect. Add pillows, blankets and rugs that help buyers envision the comfort and warmth of the space once they move in. Use neutral tones as a base, accented with pops of color and current trends to guide the eye strategically.

Accessories should also feel intentional. If you have a target market in mind, incorporate objects that reflect their hobbies or interests, helping potential buyers feel a personal connection to the space and making it more memorable.

4. Amplify the senses
Every home carries distinct scents that are often overlooked. While these smells aren’t necessarily unpleasant, they can strongly shape buyers’ impressions of a property. Clean, subtle aromas and thoughtful lighting instantly make a home feel more welcoming.

You can also engage each sense to create a memorable home-viewing experience. A corner filled with natural light, accented by a tall leafy plant, a woven basket and a softly scented candle can make a room feel airy, warm and inviting.

Why Is Reverse Staging So Effective?

Microstaging is a fresh perspective that emphasizes the power of detail to transform a buyer’s perception of a home. It is:

• High impact: Thoughtful details create a sense of luxury and sophistication. Well-designed landscaping can boost a home’s value by showing off curb appeal, shows NAR’s Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor Features. These micro-impressions, though subtle, accumulate to build a lasting sense of quality that can resonate with buyers.
• Cost-effective: Small details are often less expensive to upgrade than major renovations. For reference, professional staging averages for about $2,000, while a minor kitchen renovation can cost $12,500 or more.
• Subtle persuasion: Staging hardware and accessories for maximum impact works subconsciously, influencing buyers without being overt. Display furniture can be swapped, rooms rearranged or walls repainted, but flimsy features suggest neglect and future expenses.
• Problem-solving: Limited budgets or dated layouts don’t have to diminish appeal. Carefully chosen updates can distract from flaws and make a room more presentable.

By focusing on details like hardware, textiles, lighting and sensory cues, sellers can compete on a budget while stagers showcase quality and diligent maintenance. Reverse staging shows that sometimes, the smallest changes can have the biggest impact.

Grow Omaha Residential is developed and sponsored by Jill Anderson, President Residential Sales, NP Dodge Real Estate 402.255.5099 or jill.anderson@npdodge.com.

We’re not just real estate. We’re NP Dodge.

Cole Young, Contributing Writer

For the fourth year in a row, Creighton men’s basketball is ranked to begin the season. This year, the Bluejays were ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll. Creighton is one of 11 schools ranked in the Top 25 of the preseason AP poll each of the last four years, joining Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Duke, Gonzaga, Houston, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina and Tennessee. Not bad company.

Creighton will host No. 16 Iowa State this Friday for an exhibition game at 7:30 p.m. at the CHI Health Center. Tickets are still available, and the game will be broadcast on Nebraska Public Media, 1620 The Zone and 101.9 FM The Keg.

Omaha Supernovas outside hitter Reagan Cooper shined in Week 2 of the Athletes Unlimited Professional Volleyball Championship, earning more than 700 points and 50 kills in a week that saw her climb to No. 2 overall in the standings at the halfway point of the AU season. Despite Team Hentz winning only one match, Cooper was voted the No. 1 MVP in two of the three contests.

Cooper tallied 51 kills on a staggering .365 hitting percentage on 115 swings. With an additional 10 digs, one ace and one assist, she compiled 737 total points — the third most of any player in Week 2. As a result, she has risen to No. 2 overall in the leaderboard and will serve as a captain for Week 3.

AU has the week off as play shifts to Madison, Wis., for the final two weeks of action. The Week 3 draft is scheduled for Monday, October 20, at 10 a.m. Cooper, AU leader Jordan Thompson, former Supernovas setter Natalia Valentín-Anderson and Molly McCage will serve as team captains.

Union Omaha is on a 10-match unbeaten streak after last weekend’s draw against Greenville. By the time the Owls kick off their next match on Saturday, it will have been more than two months since their last loss. Since interim head coach Vincenzo Candela took over, Omaha has risen from 14th to fifth in USL League One standings.

League officials announced last week that Union Omaha midfielder Sergio Ors Navarro was voted USL League One Player of the Month. The 24-year-old is the eighth first-year professional to be voted Player of the Month since the league’s inception in 2019. He scored five goals and added one assist to help Union Omaha to an undefeated 3-0-2 month.

will host Forward Madison this Saturday, October 18, at 6 p.m. The club will be giving away bobbleheads of Dion Acoff to the first 1,000 fans in attendance.

The Kansas City Royals announced today that Omaha Storm Chasers manager Mike Jirschele is retiring following a 48-year career in professional baseball, including 38 years in the Kansas City Royals organization as a player, coach, manager and in the front office.

The all-time winningest manager in Omaha franchise history (1,214 wins), Jirschele managed the Storm Chasers for 17 seasons and a franchise-record 2,454 games, representing 31 percent of the club’s history. “Jirsch” led Omaha to four division titles, three league championships and one national championship.

Omaha Hockey split last weekend’s series against rival Minnesota State, winning Friday’s opener 6-2 before dropping Saturday’s contest, 4-1. Omaha will return to the ice next Friday, October 24, when it hosts No. 11 Massachusetts for a weekend series.

Creighton senior Annalea Maeder was named Big East Setter of the Week on Monday, her third time receiving the honor this season. In sweeps over Georgetown and Villanova last weekend, Maeder recorded 64 assists and 13 digs, adding a career-high nine kills against Villanova.

Creighton is on an eight-match winning streak that includes six in a row to begin Big East play. Tomorrow, Friday, October 17, the Bluejays host St. John’s at D.J. Sokol Arena at 6 p.m.

This Sunday, October 19, Creighton will host Seton Hall for its annual Pink Out game, with first serve scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

Upcoming Games

• Omaha volleyball at Oral Roberts | Thursday, Oct. 16 | 7 p.m.
• Creighton men’s soccer at Villanova | Friday, Oct. 17 | 2 p.m.
• #13 Creighton volleyball vs. St. John’s | Friday, Oct. 17 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha volleyball at Denver | Saturday, Oct. 18 | 1 p.m.
• Creighton women’s soccer at DePaul | Saturday, Oct. 18 | 3 p.m.
• Omaha men’s soccer at Delaware | Saturday, Oct. 18 | 5 p.m.
• Union Omaha vs. Forward Madison FC | Saturday, Oct. 18 | 6 p.m.
• Omaha women’s soccer vs. Denver | Sunday, Oct. 19 | 12 p.m.
• #13 Creighton volleyball vs. Seton Hall | Sunday, Oct. 19 | 12:30 p.m.
• Omaha volleyball at Kansas City | Tuesday, Oct. 21 | 7 p.m.
• Creighton women’s soccer vs. Seton Hall | Wednesday, Oct. 22 | 7 p.m.

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Next up for Broadway fans, The Wiz is a retelling of the classic tale, The Wizard of Oz. Featuring an all-Black cast, and originally opening in 1974, the script has recently been updated by another Omaha native – Amber Ruffin, according to The New York Theatre Guide. The show will be playing at the Orpheum November 18th through 23rd.

Additional shows in Omaha’s 2025-2026 Broadway series include Shucked, & Juliet and Six. Tickets and additional information can be found at www.o-pa.org and ticketomaha.com.

The Omaha Holiday Boutique will return to the CHI Health Center Convention Center November 14 through 16. In addition to craft-show booths, the Omaha Holiday Boutique features live music, seasonal cocktails and a children’s entrepreneurial market. Last year’s inaugural event attracted 12,500 attendees and more than 200 vendors.

LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT

A 10-year study of 200,000 workers and 30,000 managers across 100 countries found that the best bosses excel at identifying employees’ strengths and matching them to roles where they thrive — even if it means losing them to another team, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“Hanger” is the combination of “hunger” and “anger” that has a profound effect on workplace dynamics. More than three-quarters of those surveyed experience it, according to EZ Cater, with Gen Z most affected. Seventy-one percent of Gen Z respondents reported feeling “hangry” at work at least once a week. And despite attempts to reserve time for a lunch break, only 42% of those who book their calendar for meals end up eating during that time.

JP Morgan Chase told staff moving into its brand-new, $3 billion headquarters in New York City that they must share their biometric data to access the building., according to The Guardian. Biometric access requires staff to scan their fingerprints or eye to gain access through security gates in the lobby instead of swiping their ID badges. The 60-story, 1,388-foot-tall, 2.5 million sq. ft. headquarters will eventually be the home base for more than 10,000 employees once it’s fully occupied.

SALES

Overcoming Objections – The “yes, and” principle empowers you to acknowledge objections without shutting down the conversation. Instead of saying “no,” you validate the client’s concern and build on it to find a solution, according to sales expert Gina Trimarco’s article in SalesGravy.

Example:
Client: “Your product is too expensive.”

You: “Yes, I hear you—and here’s why our product delivers unmatched value that saves you money in the long run.”

By applying “yes, and,” you keep the conversation moving forward and turn objections into opportunities to highlight your value.

Sales Book Recommendation – I’m a big fan of Jeb Blount’s sales books. He’s a 17-time, best-selling author and is known around the world as the fanatical prospecting expert. Jeb teamed up with LinkedIn guru Brynne Tillman to produce The LinkedIn Edge, a comprehensive playbook for turning LinkedIn into a revenue producer for sales professionals like you and me. I just read it and was impressed. If you’re looking for a good sales book, you can buy it at Amazon and Barnes & Noble or pretty much anywhere books are sold.

WISDOM

“If you do not understand a man, you cannot crush him. If you do understand him, you probably will not.” – G.K. Chesterton

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Did you know that Edged, a national data center company, is planning to build two, 283,497 sq. ft. data center buildings next to Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs?

Did you know Omaha attracted 14.2 million visitors in 2024?

Did you know Boys Town was once a farm? Father Flanagan purchased the Overlook Farm in 1921 to make room for his expanding group of young boys.

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Spooky Spirits happening October 18th: Step into a world of boo-tanical mischief! Come for the cocktails; stay for the chills – if you dare. Spooky Spirits is an adults-only, after-hours event that blends eerie enchantment with natural beauty. With bone-chilling live entertainment, tarot readings, ghastly garden strolls, creepy games and a few wicked plants, it’s a night of spine-tingling fun surrounded by the Lauritzen Garden’s twilight charm.

Couples Therapy with Jesse Peyton happening October 19th: “Couples Therapy” is one of the funniest, longest-tenured, stand-up comedy shows in the country, hosted by Viral Standup Comedian, Jesse Peyton. Come experience a night of laughter with your special someone and enjoy this unique, relationship-themed comedy show. It’s the perfect show for married couples, newlyweds or even first dates and singles! And…the audience actually gets to be part of this show! You get to watch the full comedy show and then enjoy a panel of comedians answering relationship questions – submitted by the audience.

Beats, Bites & Autumn Nights happening October 19th: Celebrate the magic of fall in the heart of Omaha’s Old Market! On Sunday, October 19, from 2 to 8 p.m., the Old Market Association, The Dubliner Pub and The Farnam Hotel invite you for an afternoon and evening filled with live music, delicious flame-grilled eats, festive fun and plenty of autumn vibes. This family-friendly festival brings together neighbors, visitors and businesses for a one-of-a-kind celebration of community, creativity and the Old Market spirit.

Lunch & Learn: Small Business Prep for the Holiday Season happening October 21st: Are you prepared for the holiday season? The holiday rush is coming fast, so let’s make sure your business is ready for it. Join a Lunch-and-Learn featuring Kierra, from Made in Omaha and Jenna from Natural Bath Co. They’ll share how they’re gearing up for the holidays — from inventory planning, to marketing and managing the seasonal surge — plus actionable advice to help your small business make the most of the season!

Zootacular Presented by Veridian Credit Union happening on select dates in October: Follow moonlit pathways decorated with twinkling lights and fall décor. Stop at treat stations, watch thrilling fire and magical performances, dance under glowing lights and explore select animal habitats after dark. Food and drinks available at Plaza Café, Sea Turtle Café and seasonal pop-up bars. Admission tickets and Ghouly Iglooze reservations are open now at the Omaha Zoo website.

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As the lip-flapping over the Fed and the Terrible Trump Tariffs slows to a dribble, the jibber jabber about AI is building to a crescendo. So, this morning as I perused the Wall Street Journal, the words of William Shakespeare, popped in my head: “What’s in a name.” I realized that AI has become a generic name for a concept with no clear definition.

I googled AI and tried to put some meat on the bones of the AI concept. According to Wikipedia, AI is a bundling of computer software programs whose objective is to replicate human thinking, and eventually, to have many human tasks replaced with AI algorithms. A noble objective, but the devil is in the details.

As I moved on to other WSJ articles on Mr. Market’s fascination with AI, a company called Open AI appears to be the locus of the spinning AI universe. Now on to Morningstar and Yahoo Finance to understand what Open AI is all about. At the beginning of the year, Open AI was a small, privately held company on the bleeding edge of AI software development.

Then, out of the clear blue sky, several major players on the chip side of the AI equation claimed to be Open AI’s BFF. (For those of you with big numbers on your life odometer, “BFF” stands for “Best Friend Forever”). A partial explanation for this sudden infatuation comes from the fact that AI requires massive amounts of computer power, a requirement that only companies like NVIDIA, Broadcom and Oracle are capable of fulfilling.

The original objective of OpenAI was to build computer programs capable of beating kids at video games. Not something up there in terms of advancing civilization, such as the wheel or sliced bread. Nor is it exactly something new. If you remember back to the 1960s, IBM built a computer to beat Bobby Fisher at chess.

Another, not exactly cutting-edge application for Open AI’s technology is in the area of inventory and production management. Also, not another major step forward for human culture. Walmart has been the leader of inventory control for decades. Go to any Walmart store and walk around and look at the massive amounts of shelves completely filled with all the trivial day to day items known to man. All of this is the result of Walmart’s massive inventory control mechanism that was put into place decades before AI was a twinkle in anyone’s eye.

So now, to the important stuff, what about AI and the stock market? A recent article in the Wall Street Journal put forth the questionable notion that AI will allow even faster computing of all available data and allow investors to ferret out once-in-a lifetime stock picks nano seconds before the rest of the world.

NOT! The bottom line is, if everybody has it, nobody has an advantage. The WSJ author also put forth the more plausible argument that AI is maybe the final nail in the stockbrokers, coffin.

The article’s author concluded by saying that AI provides a leg up to Do-It-Yourself 401(k) investors, because they can step back from the random machinations of the quarrelsome computers, forget the needle and buy the haystack, this enjoying the bodacious returns created by Mr. Market’s current fascination with AI.

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