Becoming Bensonites

…and I’m not talking about the kind you hope for after a big meal.  We have been working hard to get the bathroom put back together.  As you have seen, the bathroom we started with was a lesson in ugly.  Thankfully though, the ugly is gone and the functional beauty is on the way.  When we started there was so much potential we have had some trouble reigning in our ideas and we have finally landed on what we think will be an awesome bathroom.  We recently posted *some* of our inspiration and have since come across a few ideas that we are excited about implementing in our own bathroom.  Follow the jump to see how far we’ve come, the work we have left, and some new ideas that we are looking forward to seeing in our bathroom.

Continue reading →

One of our favorite things about Benson is the abundance of live music venues within walking distance of our house.  We can walk to more than 5 venues in less than ten minutes.  One of the most well known, and some may say, most popular venues in Omaha is found just a few short blocks from our house.  The Waiting Room Lounge (6212 Maple Street) is a relatively new venue to main street Benson, but it has not failed to draw numerous large acts and local bands alike.

Monday night I had the pleasure of seeing one of my favorite local bands: Eustace.  Due to one of the members moving out of state, it had been 2 years since their last show, and this was their final show…ever.  The members of Eustace have all done their share of time in other bands and some continue to be an integral part of the local music scene; so The Waiting Room was a fitting venue for their farewell performance.  Having been recently remodeled, The Waiting Room is a first class venue.  From national headliners filling the house to local farewell shows drawing 75, the space works wonderfully for all sizes.  Monday night’s concert was all about friends playing music for friends.  There was a special connection between the members of Eustace and their more than appreciative audience.  None of us ever really expected another show, it was never even on the radar.  I for one was surprised and giddy with anticipation for this show; and it did not disappoint.

Now you may be wondering, “is The Waiting Room a venue with a bar or a bar with a venue?”  The answer to that question is a resounding “Yes”.  With a show or event almost every night of the week it would be easy to call it a venue and be done with it.  The problem with that is you would be missing out on a whole other side of The Waiting Room…the bar.  Now I’m not much of a drinker (not because of principle, but because I haven’t found a drink I like enough to have another) but The Waiting Room is the kind of bar I would hang out in…if I were one to hang out in bars (again, not principle, just time).  The atmosphere at The Waiting Room lends itself well to hanging out, enjoying a drink, and maybe testing your skills on a vintage pinball machine or challenge a stranger to a friendly game of pool.  Considering all that The Waiting Room has going for it, it is no wonder that it has quickly become a live music landmark in Omaha.  Don’t take my word for it though; check out The Waiting Room for yourself.

Before we began the renovation process our bathroom left a lot to be desired, most importantly, a shower.  Just a reminder of what we started with:Plastic pink and grey tile, ornate vanities, flowery wallpaper, plastic wall sconces, the lack of a shower, and 2 giant (for the space) windows made this an ugly and less than functional space.  During the time it took to close on the house we spent a lot of time gathering inspiration for our remodels and the bathroom was one of the first rooms we approached.  Follow the jump to find our inspiration.

Continue reading →

zombies storms.  Omaha is no stranger to the undead severe weather, from severe thunderstorms to the occasional tornado (though tornado warnings are far more common), we get it all.  Just about every home that we looked at had a basement, but our house was the only one that we found with what appeared to be a storm shelter.  During our initial walkthrough we found 2 doors in the basement.  Knowing that one was the walkout, we were rather curious as to what the other could be.  Imagine our surprise when we found a doorway leading to a room set out under the yard.   With a roof like a pizza oven, and a hole in the roof leading to the yard; this is by far the strangest room in, or in the case: out of, the house.  In addition to sheltering us from the inevitable zombie apocalypse occasional summer storm, our odd little room will also be the future home of the canned vegetables from the garden we look forward to growing next summer.  More on that endeavor later.  For now check out our little zombie storm shelter.

As we look forward to moving in to Benson we thought it would be fun to spotlight our favorite places in our new neighborhood.  The first place I want to share is Leo’s Diner (6055 Maple Street), my favorite place to grab breakfast in Benson and in the top 2 in the whole city.  If I were a fan of biscuits & gravy I would definitely have The Island: hash browns covered in biscuits in gravy with a couple of eggs on top; The Island is what Leo’s is known for.  If you are looking for an old fashioned, family diner, Leo’s is as close as you will get in Omaha.

At 9 am on a Saturday morning the place is crowded, like a diner should be on a Saturday morning.  Walking in you are greeted by the sound of bacon sizzling on the griddle and the faint smell of grease in the air.  The seats at the counter normally fill up fast, you have almost no chance of finding 2 stools next to each other. The food at this greasy spoon is always awesome.  From The Island that I mentioned above to their waffle combo (my favorite) which is a big belgian waffle, hashbrowns, 2 eggs, toast, and your choice of meat.

You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu.  I must confess I’ve only ever had breakfast at Leo’s, and while they do serve lunch food they are only open until noon, so breakfast is the main event.  If you are looking for a great breakfast and a family friendly atmosphere, check out Leo’s.  If you and your friends are looking for a good breakfast after a long night, check out Leo’s.  If you are looking for a great place to propose to your girlfriend, check out Leo’s…ok, that might be a stretch.  Nonetheless this place should be next on your list of restaurants to check out.  Great food, reasonable prices, and an inviting atmosphere makes this one of the top diners in Omaha.

Check back next week for another Benson Spotlight.