Walk #10: A Long Walk Through Bemis Park

Address: Cuming Street on the south to Hawthorne Avenue on the north; Glenwood Avenue on the west to North 33rd Street on the east

Information: Bemis Park Landmark Heritage District

Lunch: Bento Box #4

Destination Review: Although the landmark is the whole neighborhood, I decided to focus on the park, which provided me with a long, lovely sidewalk trail to explore.

There was lots to see along the way, including beautiful old lampposts, a charming children’s play area that looked like a train, and a mother and child statue.

About halfway through the park, there was an interesting Informational sign about how the park system was originally developed in Omaha, complete with a vintage park map.

The Walk: The trail wound its way all through the park, which is several blocks long. I walked its entire length, making this one of the more ambitious walks I’ve taken (yes, I know I’m a lightweight).

At its end, you could go out onto Cuming Street and see the OPS Administrative Building, which used to be Tech High School, across the street.

There was a tunnel under the street that I was tempted to explore, but it was hot out, and I was too tired. I still had to walk all the way back along the trail to get to my car, and climb a flight of stairs.

The Lunch: The park provided a pleasant picnic shelter for me to eat my lunch at.

The pasta salad was made with a Betty Crocker mix, which isn’t exactly healthy, but the directions didn’t specify, and I had gotten the mix for free. It was yummy, and the hard boiled eggs were good dipped in the leftover dressing coating the box. The vegetable and fruit were edible, but not too enjoyable. The Skippy PB Granola Bites were a pleasant finish.

Lunch Ingredient Deals:

Broccoli: A broccoli crown was 97¢ at Fresh Thyme. A 25¢ Allrecipes rebate made it 72¢.

Eggs: A dozen Hy-Vee Eggs were on sale for 39¢. I used a 25¢/2 Hy-Vee Perks home mailer coupon to make them 2 for 53¢, or 29¢ a dozen.

Pasta Salad Mix: Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad Mix was a Friday Freebie digital coupon at Family Fare.

Art Project: Embellished Frame

Walk #9: Distracted from the Bemis Bag Company Building by Cool Stuff in the Old Market

Address: 11th & Jones Streets

Information: Bemis Bag Company Building

Lunch: Bento Box #2

Destination Review: I’m pretty familiar with the Bemis because I took art classes there back in the 80s. As an artist, I know it is a very cool place.

There wasn’t a whole lot for me to see there, as they were closed, other than an installation involving farm equipment on the front porch.

So I got very distracted on this walk by all the cool things to see in the Old Market these days. For instance, the Hollywood Candy Store in the Fairmont Dairy Building. They’ve turned it into a great retro place full of childhood memories. There are lots of great displays of old stuff in cabinets…

…and lots of great old tin signs.

Stop that snickering in the back!

There was also a great old metal stamping machine that you can still use to make a souvenir coin with your own message. I used it to make the official Omaha Walks souvenir coin.

Childhood memories were brought back by boxes of animal crackers. I used to get one as a reward for behaving myself in the supermarket.

And a Peanuts lunchbox resembles one I used to have as a kid.

They sold old-fashioned soda pop in glass bottles—all the old brands you remember.

Across the street from the candy store is a really cool store that sells metal art from Mexico. Oh, I love this stuff!

A highlight was a bug band which reminded me of the bird orchestra at the Forevertron in Wisconsin.

So this was a great walk, but not exactly because of the Bemis.

The Walk: I walked all over the place, as described above. The weather was hot, so I worked up a sweat.

The Lunch: I had lunch at an outside table by the Hollywood Candy Store. They have part of an old orange Volkswagen there that looks like one my father used to own. Could this be Polly?

The blueberries and raspberries were kind of blah. Ranch dressing improved the radishes and broccoli considerably. And I really like egg salad, so that was OK. I couldn’t find dark chocolate covered peanuts, so I substituted dark chocolate covered cashews, which I found in the bulk area at Hy-Vee. They were yummy.

Lunch Ingredient Deals:

Broccoli: I got some for 97¢ at Fresh Thyme, and got a 25¢ Allrecipes rebate, making it 72¢

Radishes: 88¢ a bunch at Hy-Vee

Art Project: Embellished Frame

Walk #8: Beebe & Runyan Furniture Showroom & Warehouse

Address: 105 S. 9th Street

Information: Beebe & Runyan Furniture Showroom & Warehouse

Lunch: Bento Box #2

Destination Review: This big old warehouse appears to have been turned into loft apartments.

There was a street carnival going on near the building, but I stayed away from it to avoid being accused of parking at the building in order to attend the carnival.

The building has been very well maintained and has beautiful brickwork.

Not much more to say here, except that there were some nice tables and chairs out in front for me to sit and eat my lunch at.

The Walk: I basically just walked around the building, or most of the building, anyway, because the north side was blocked off. But it was a big building on an incline, and it was hot out, so I did manage to break a sweat.

The Lunch: Did I mention that hummus makes everything taste better? It definitely does. So does a Dove Dark Chocolate Bar for dessert.

Lunch Ingredient Deals:

Baby Carrots: These were on sale at Aldi for 69¢ for a one pound bag. Subtract a 25¢ Allrecipes rebate and a 10¢ MobiSave rebate and they ended up being 34¢.

Broccoli: A broccoli crown was 33¢ at Fresh Thyme. Subtract a 25¢ Allrecipes rebate and it was only 8¢.

Crackers: I downloaded a Baker’s digital coupon for a free bag of Ritz Crisp & Thins last Friday. Free is always best.

Dark Chocolate: Mars Candy Bars were on sale at Walgreens for 59¢.

Dried Fruit Mix: $1 at Dollar Tree.

Green Bell Pepper: On sale for 89¢ at Fresh Thyme

Art Project: Embellished Frame

Walk #7: The Process of Not Falling at the John P. Bay House

Destination Review: This is a beautiful old house with a tower.

I really love old houses with towers, and this one has a nice one.

It was obviously a private residence, so I couldn’t really get too close or go inside. So I shifted my focus to the old church across the street, which also caught my eye, seeing as it was all medieval-looking and all.

The Walk: OK, folks, I stand corrected. Remember the whole Process of Falling at the Aquila Court Building thing? I walked around the block near the Bay House to get my exercise. I had my iPad out, prepared to take pictures along the way. I did NOT fall at any time during this walk. But nevertheless, when I got home I discovered a bunch of pictures of the sidewalk and grass that the iPad must have taken without my consent while I was walking. So maybe that’s what happened at the Aquila Court Building, too. It’s not nearly as exciting that way, though.

I did take some nice pictures of snowdrops on the walk.

The Lunch: I had it sitting on the steps of the old church. Nobody bothered me.

The salad was pretty good for being so simple. Fresh fruit was OK. My chocolate chips melted in the hot car, so I made the trail mix that I had in a previous walk instead, which I like very much.

Lunch Ingredient Deals:

Blueberries: Driscoll’s Blueberries were on sale at Hy-Vee for $1.25. I used a 50¢ off one Driscoll’s Product printable coupon that I got in my email for doing a survey on Driscoll’s Berries. Subtract that, and a 25¢ off any item Ibotta rebate, and the berries were 50¢.

Cashews: A cashew snack mix was $1 at Dollar Tree.

Cherry Tomatoes: Got a package of San Maria Tomatoes at Fresh Thyme for the sale price of 99¢.

Chocolate Chips: I got a package for a buck at Dollar Tree, but they melted in the car, so I used Peanut Butter M & Ms instead, which were on clearance for 50¢ at Baker’s.

Green Bell Pepper: On sale for 89¢ at Fresh Thyme, minus a 20¢ Allrecipes rebate on bell peppers, making it 69¢.

Kiwi: On sale for 20¢ at Fresh Thyme.

Red Onion: 63¢ at Walmat minus a 25¢ Allrecipes rebate, making it 38¢.

Salad Dressing: Ken’s Simply Vinaigrette Dressing was $1.98 at Walmart. I used a 50¢ off one Ken’s Dressing coupon from the 5-7-17 SmartSource insert and got a 75¢ MobiSave rebate, making it 83¢.

Whole Grain Pasta: Barilla Whole Grain Spaghetti was $1.38 at Walmart. I bought 3 and got a $1 Ibotta rebate for it, making them 3 for $2.14, or 71¢ each.

Zucchini: 35¢ at Fresh Thyme.

Art Project: Embellished Frame

Walk #6: Mini Vacation at the Bank of Florence

Address: 8502 N. 30th St.

Information: Bank of Florence Museum

Lunch: Bento Box #18

Destination Review: I have some childhood memories of Florence, since my primary care doctor was at the Florence Clinic when I was a kid. I was surprised that it still has the small-town feel that I remember.

The bank has been well-preserved.

The bank has a museum in it, but unfortunately, I was there on the wrong day, and it wasn’t open. I did get a picture through the window on the door, though.

This place is very aware of its history. It even produces melodramas. This made the walk feel like a mini vacation.

The Walk: Since I parked right next door to the bank, I didn’t get a lot of walking in, though I did walk all the way around it. Also, I got a lot of walking in at the Hy-Vee Drugstore next door, doing a mystery shop on obscure alcoholic beverages, which I had a hard time finding.

There was a charming little seating area with benches just outside the bank, perfect for eating my lunch, but I didn’t get a picture of it.

The Lunch: Mmmm…brownie!

Lunch Ingredient Deals:

Apple: Gala Apples were 78¢ lb. at Fareway. One apple was 35¢.

Baby Carrots: These were on sale at Aldi for 69¢ for a one pound bag. Subtract a 25¢ Allrecipes rebate and a 10¢ MobiSave rebate and they ended up being 34¢.

Baking Powder: Hearth Club Baking Powder is $1 at Dollar Tree.

Cherry Tomatoes: Got a package of San Maria Tomatoes at Fresh Thyme for the sale price of 99¢.

Chocolate Chips: A bag of Mill City Market Chocolate Chips is $1 at Dollar Tree. Eggs: There was a coupon in the Food Express section of Wednesday’s paper that got me a dozen eggs at Hy-Vee for 39¢.

Salt: I'm still using the Morton Salt I got for free with a Saving Star rebate, back when they used to do Friday Freebies.

Shredded Cabbage: A package of Dole Shredded Cabbage was on sale for 88¢ at Family Fare.

Sugar: A box of Domino Sugar is $1 at Dollar Tree.

Vanilla Extract: If you get lucky, you can get Spice Time Vanilla Extract for $1 at Dollar Tree.

Art Project: Embellished Frame