Free Pie

The other day I was making deliveries and I had a question for the general manager. The question was a mundane one regarding stand placement or other such stuff. It was 11:30 and the store was absolutely slammed with customers.

Am I interrupting the lunch rush? No, he said. We give away free pie slices on Wednesdays with lunch orders (I think an entree has to be purchased or something, but: Free Pie?! Awesome.)

On Wednesdays this local eatery is full of paying patrons who want their slice of pie. I didn't want to take up anymore of his time, so I promised to call him the next day when things slowed down.

Just Good Marketing

Most businesses see a slow down in the middle of the work-week. Tuesdays and Wednesdays seem to be the quietest for businesses who serve the general public.

This is why you see cheap movies on Tuesdays, "Ladies Night" on Wednesday, "Hump Day" specials, and a plethora of other ways businesses entice customers to patronize on these days. Its easy to fill an eatery after church on Sunday, but filling seats 7 days a week is a tougher challenge.

Go For It

You're a smart, observant, and astute reader. Obviously. Its only logical since you read coffee news and follow our blog. Therefore, you've noticed I haven't mentioned which restaurant this is. However, many if not all of you have already identified the place I'm talking about. Its a Midwest institution.

If you don't know, feel free to shoot me an e-mail at bigocoffeenews@live.com for more info. While you're at it, let us know where you normally pick up your copy of Coffee News and your favorite section!

New Eats

One of the best parts of this job is smelling the smells of all the great coffee shops and eateries in town. There is, of course, no shortage of great places to grab a bite to eat in Omaha. Newest among these is the Pig and Finch.

The hook for this eatery is labeled as "farm-to-table" using the shortest (middle-man) distance from food on the farm, to cooked on a plate at your table. Owned by 801 Restaurant Group with one other location in the Midwest (Kansas, I blieve), this restaurant replaces a closed Ruby Tuesday with something unique.

The first review on Yelp has this to say:

Pig & Finch is definitely a special addition to the Omaha dining scene. Love the farm to table aspect. Wait staff was very knowledgeable of the menu, and the decor is comfortable and inviting. I was very impressed when I walked in. All this said...the FOOD was outstanding! Every dish was unique and fresh. Around our table we ordered the espresso rubbed pork shoulder, the lamb burger, a tomato flatbread, and the short rib ragout grilled cheese for our main dishes. They were all wonderful! The pork shoulder, especially, was perfectly cooked with so much flavor. I would have to say that my personal favorite was the strawberry rhubarb crisp we shared for dessert. Best I've ever had for sure! I will definitely be dining here again.

Check out this new place and tell us what you think. And, while there, mention that they should have Coffee News available for their customers!

Hand-Brewing Coffee

A pair of local articles today from the Omaha World Herald focuses on the artisan idea of hand-brewing coffee. This technique could start with as simple as a French press and go to to more advanced hardware like a burr grinder, scale, and Chemex, whatever that is (hint, its a really fancy carafe).

The first article I came across this morning details the rise in this form of coffee making. Granted, its for the coffee drinker that wants more than their morning jolt of caffeine. The second shows how its done. Micah Yost is the focal point of the first article, as is how he makes his Morning Joe:

"[Yost] measure the coffee beans, grind them, fit the Clever with a standard paper coffee filter, then pour water over the grounds and let them steep for a few minutes, depending on how strong they want the brew. Then the brewer sets the Clever on top of their coffee cup and a lever snaps open a hole in the bottom, allowing the finished coffee to drain into the mug. Yost makes his coffee in about five minutes. He said he likes the Clever because, unlike some of the other brewing methods, it brews just enough coffee for one person."

This is serious coffee drinking. The article goes on to speak about the different methods and hardware that can be used to hand-brew coffee, and the merits of each. If you want try these types of labor intensive beverages, you can head to one of the two Aroma's Coffehouses in town and try them for yourself.

They'll do all the brewing, and customers can enjoy the fruits of their labor while decided what kind of set up they may want at home.


Aromas is at 1031 Jones St in the old market, or at 402 Arts Collective at 60th and Maple in Benson.

Do you know?

Every week, Coffee News brings its readers fun facts, interesting stories, and other entertaining news from around the nation and globe. The trivia portion, a reader favorite, has these questions this week:

1. Is the chemical symbol for gold Au, Ag, or Cu?
2. Who owned a California auto license plat that read: A1A-NA2?
3. In the science of gemology, an emerald cut is oblong, round or square shaped?
4. How many sheets of paper are in a ream?
5. In her comedy routines, what did Phyllis Diller call her husband?

Interested to know if you were right? Pick up a copy of Coffee News at one of our many Omaha businesses that carry it!

Best Ice Cream in Town?

Ted and Wally's Ice Cream

Need to beat the heat this Summer? Ice Cream is a great option and a parental past-time with the kids. One establishment to grab some ice cream is Ted and Wally's in the Old Market.

The Go section of the Omaha World Herald just wrote this nice spotlight on this establishment today.
From that piece:

Ted & Wally’s Ice Cream is featured in a new book focused on the best ice creams across the nation.

“Scoop Adventures: The Best Ice Cream of the 50 States” by Lindsey Clendaniel is in bookstores now. Ted & Wally’s shared its recipe for sweet corn ice cream in the book.

Clendaniel is the creator of the blog scoopadventures.com.

Ted & Wally’s is at 1220 Jackson St

While you're getting some of the best ice cream around, make sure you grab a copy of Coffee News on top of the old Pepsi vending machine in the entry parlor!

Community Event: Autism Walk

6th Annual Omaha Autism Puzzle Walk & 5K Run

The Autism Society of Nebraska is proud to announce our 6th annual Autism Puzzle Walk! This year we are thrilled that our message of support is truly traveling across the state!

DATE: April 27, 2013
 TIME:  
7:30 a.m. 5K Packet Pick Up
8:30 a.m. 5K Run
9:00 a.m. Walk Registration and Events Open
10:30 a.m. Fun Walk
Event Ends at Noon

PLACE: Elmwood Park, 60th & Dodge Streets

COST: $12 Adults 19 and over
$8 for those 18 and under
$30 for 5K runner 

The Autism Society will be hosting our Omaha Autism Puzzle Walk and 5K run at Elmwood Park in Omaha. Come join us for a great family event with free continental breakfast, bounce houses for ages 1-101, carnival games, face painting, character appearances and loads of fun!

For walkers:

• Online registration open until April 26 at 5:00 p.m. Registrations will be accepted day of the walk.
• Cotton Tshirts are only guaranteed to those who register prior to April 12, 2013. We will order a limited quantity of additional shirts for those who register after April 12, but you may not receive a shirt if you are a late registrant. 
• Late registration no longer incurs a late fee.
• Registration and check in begins at 9:00 a.m. on April 27. 
• The Fun Walk will begin at 10:30 a.m.

For runners:

• Click here to see a map of the 5K course.
• Online registration open until April 25 at 7:00 p.m. NO REGISTRATIONS DAY OF RACE
• Registrations will still be taken at packet pickup at Peak Performance, 519 N. 78th Street from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on April 26
• Technical Tshirts included (they run large) if the runner registered by April 12
• Registration after April 12 will not incur a late fee, but no Technical Tshirt will be given. 
• Packet pickup will occur on Friday, April 26 at Peak Performance, 519 N. 78th Street from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. We encourage you to pick up your packet at this time to avoid congestion on the day of the race. 
• Packets will be available race day starting at 7:30 a.m. 
• When registering, if you are not joining a team, you can create a team using your own name.
• Chip timing will be used this year. Timing services provided by Precision Race Results, LLC, Omaha, NE.
• Medals given for Top 3 Male/Female in each age group. 
• Prize given to overall Top 3 Male and Female and Top Male/Female Masters. 
• Strollers are allowed, but must start at the back. ***NOTE*** There may be dirt or grassy areas in the race. 
• Additional 5K information can be found on our FAQ Page. 
• We are pleased to provide one of the only Family Friendly 5K’s in the area! Come run and then stay for the fun. With face painting, bounce houses, Storm Troopers, stage show, continental breakfast and more, you can’t go wrong at our run.

Registration

Can't attend the actual walk? No worries! Register as a Virtual Walker and join us in supporting the cause! All funds raised by the Autism Society stay in Nebraska where we can directly impact the lives of our local community!

Registration is easy! Take a few moments and create your own personal fundraising page and help us spread the word!

Remember to register by April 12, 2013 in order to guarantee a shirt at the event. Late registration no longer has a price increase, but a shirt will not be guaranteed for late registrations. 

Every 11 minutes…

Every 11 minutes a child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
The family is told that early intervention is critical.
They then realize they cannot afford those services.
Please help us help them! 

Learn more about the Autism Society of Nebraska at www.autismnebraska.org!

Read more about this event and times in our What's Happening section of the Big O Coffee News website.

Community Events: Easter Edition

Go Find Some Easter Eggs

Being out in the community and meeting store managers, business owners, patrons, and weekly Coffee News readers is one of the best perks of this job. Omahans are, by and large, great people and getting out of the house to interact with them has been amazing.

On that note, Easter is coming up and there are plenty of community events coming up to find Easter Eggs, run a 5k, and simply getting out there to meet your fellow Midlanders. The World-Herald posted this short list of local events to keep in mind.

There's the Alpha Xi Delta sorority AmaXing challenge and other events listed below. From the article:

Oak Heights Park, 10205 U St. New Creation Church hosts an Easter block party from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be food, games and an Easter egg hunt. Information: andrew@reallifechange.net.

Turner Park, 30th and Farnam Streets. Midtown Crossing and Three Dog Bakery will host an Easter Begg Hunt for dogs. Registration is $5 per dog. The hunt for treat-filled “beggs” will begin at 1 p.m., but pups should arrive by 12:45 p.m. There also will be a doggie fashion show with prizes for best dressed, best group and most interesting outfit. RSVP on the Facebook event page.

Bass Pro Shops, 2901 Bass Pro Drive, Council Bluffs. Easter activities include the 2 p.m. egg hunt. Bass Pro will also host hunts on April 13, 19 and 20. Each child will find five eggs hidden throughout the store and bring them back to the registration table.

Roberts Park, 1000 N. 25th St., Council Bluffs. City Parks and Recreation, 10 a.m.

Maple Street YMCA, 7502 Maple St., 10 to 11:30 a.m. Admission: Free for members; $5 for nonmembers.

Hanscom Park, 3201 Woolworth Ave. Hanscom Park Neighborhood Association, 11 a.m.

Rambleridge Park, 114th and Fort Streets. Party Pals of Omaha, 10:30 a.m.

Halleck Park, 816 E. Halleck St., Papillion. 1 to 3 p.m. for children 12 and younger.

Downtown YMCA, 430 S. 20th St. From 1 to 3 p.m., open to members and nonmembers.

The Good News

A News Roundup

Aside from horoscopes, trivia, and jokes, Coffee news is known for being a source of fun, entertaining, and altogether non-depressing stories from around the globe. I thought it would be fun on this random Thursday and take a look at the global news feed and see what similar stories were out there today.

It wasn't easy, as violence, missing airplanes, and scandal are dominating headlines. However, here are a few fun or otherwise uplifting stories floating out on the Wire today:

Motivation

Family fortunes don't tend to last long in the span of generations. When you talk about family money, old money, like the Carnegie fortune, financial and business gurus have shown can completely disappear within 3 generations. Lazy, entitled grandkids have a way of blowing through money at an alarming rate.

Anderson Cooper, I learned this morning, is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt of the famous and insanely wealthy family of Vanderbilts. Turns out that Anderson is set to inherit none of his mother's estimated $200M fortune when she passes.

Fortunately, Mr. Cooper has made his own way in the world and isn't worried about this turn of events. He figures, "Who has inherited a lot of money that has gone on to do things in their own life? From the time I was growing up, if I felt that there was some pot of gold waiting for me, I don't know that I would've been so motivated." (Read more at WonderWall).

Blast From the Past

A middle school teacher named Bruce Farrer had his students write 10-page letters every year to their future selves. Each year he tracks down students from decades before to send them their letters. From the article at Today:

"I've always had a sense of history,'' he said. "I kept a diary since I was 11 or 12, and I found that fascinating to me when I became a teacher to see how I thought at that time. I also thought that it would be valuable for people raising children when they get the letters to remember what it's like to be 14 years old. One student said the topics she wrote about as a teenager are the same ones her own 14-year-old daughter talks about when she gets home from school."

Farrer does his best to find every student in order to make sure they get their letter, using Facebook and other means to track them down.

I'm not sure if I'd be entertained or terrified to read a letter I wrote at that age, but it would be interesting nonetheless. Right?

Setting A World Record

A barber in New York shaved 73 heads in one hour to set a new world record with the folks at Guinness.  This wasn't just a stunt to get into the record books, it was for a good cause The record-setting effort was done to help raise awareness for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, which has generated more than $212 million for child cancer research since 2000 by shaving more than 354,000 heads.

Distribution Destination: Perkins

My Quest for the Perfect Sandwich

Ever since I was a kid, I have loved a good French Dip sandwich. Any restaurant I went to as a child, I would always check first to see if they made one. My folks, bless them, encouraged me to spread my wings and try new things, but I rarely did. However, they never gave me too a hard time about it.

While delivering for Coffee News, my nose is constantly sniffing the most wonderful smells from different culinary locations around the metro. If I ate out every time I smelled something delicious, I'd probably gain more weight at a worrisome rate.

However, when I do allow myself to enjoy dining out, I do so at a CN distribution destination (a restaurant that carries Coffee News).

Over the last few weeks, the nice manager at Perkins at 108th and Q has been talking up her restaurant's French Dip, so I had to try it. As a purist, I didn't order the optional grilled onions with the sandwich, although sometimes my moods mandates such a diversion from my regular order.

Anyway, the sandwich was fantastic. The service was top notch. The atmosphere was peaceful, almost tranquil.

If you find yourself in the area for lunch (on a Tuesday at least), stop in and try the French Dip and tell Robin, the manager there, that Coffee News sent you!

Community Spotlight: St Vincent's Spring Sale

Buy Plants and Help a good Cause

Here at Big O Coffee News, we support our community and non-profit organizations. In fact, we love it when local organizations want to advertise events in our paper and donate a big part of that cost!

This week, Saint Vincent of Lerins Orthodox Church is starting to broadcast its upcoming plant sale. The proceeds benefit the good work the church is doing, and makes your house/apartment/yard more beautiful in the process.

Starting May 2nd and going to May 10th, St. Vincents is charging headlong into spring planting season by opening their doors every weekday from 9am to 8pm, and both Saturdays from 9am to 2pm to sell their plants.

For more information, call (402) 551-9721 or stop by during the sale. Don't forget to let the good folks at St. Vincent know that you found out where to buy your plants from Coffee News!

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Yappy Pack Carnival

Round Up the Furkids for the Yappy Pack Carnival July 19

Round up all your dogs, friends and neighbors and head on down to the Nebraska Humane Society Meadow (8801 Fort Street in Omaha) on Saturday, July 19, for the First Annual CAR Show & Canine CARnival.

The event is presented by Yappy Pack, a group of volunteers who raise money for the Humane Society.

The July 19 event runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon. It coincides with (and all proceeds go to) the Nebraska Humane Society Walk for the Animals.

Local rescue groups will attend along with a variety of local vendors. The carnival will be made up of 15 different games people can play with their furkids. Boston Terrier Rescue will offer Microchips for $25.00.

In addition, there is a silent auction with a host of great items, and a pancake breakfast. Click here for more info.

While you’re in that part of town for the Yappy Pack event, be sure to patronize one or more of our Omaha Coffee News distributors. Have fun!

Maximizing your Effect

Making the Most of Your Omaha Coffee News Ad

Your Omaha Coffee News ad is a great opportunity. Here are some thoughts on making the most of it.

People are going to spend more time with your ad than they would with something pushed at them. They already have made the decision to pick up Omaha Coffee News. 

Most if not all of them are avid readers of all of the content -- the Good News, the Quotes, the Trivia AND the advertising.

So you know you already have their attention. Now do more than listing a name, a logo and a website.

• List the BENEFITS customers enjoy because they pick you and not your competitor. For example: They will get the best price. You treat them like royalty. There is something they want that they get for free or at a discount because they patronize you. Get the picture?
  

• Include a specific call to action (Call today! Email now! Come on down!).

• Fall out of love with your logo. Chances are, the only thing you really know about your logo is that YOU like it. We're not saying don't use it in your ad. We're saying ask yourself if it delivers a tangible incentive for a prospective customer to respond to your ad. If you don't know for sure, think about listing another BENEFIT instead of using the space for your logo.
  

• Do make good use of graphic elements. A healthy balance of words, images and blank space will do wonders for your visibility. Take into account the way the Coffee News ad borders draw readers' eyes. Our design experts will work with you on these aspects of your ad to make it as effective as it can be in the context of what surrounds it on the front page.

• Remember that no matter where you are in Omaha Coffee News, you are on the front page: The front cover or the back cover. This is the kind of premium placement for which other advertising media charge thousands and thousands of dollars. Your Omaha Coffee News spot is premium space -- treat it that way by thinking through how you use it. 

By carefully thinking through exactly how you can use six square inches of advertising space to your best advantage, you will be doing a key bit of marketing diligence AND you'll be quite pleased with your results.