Jack Becker, CEO and executive director of the Joslyn Art Museum, will speak about Thomas Eakins at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Slowdown in Omaha.

Eakins’ most famous paintings focused on medical education and health care, and provided an overview of intellectual life in Philadelphia in the late 19th century and early 20th century.

The lecture is part of Science Café, a free educational event sponsored by the University of Nebraska Medical Center and other groups.

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More information: www.unmc.edu/sciencecafe/

Omaha Fashion Week started as a small underground scene. A handful of local designers were creating gorgeous ready-to-wear pieces, but no one ever really saw them. Not until one man, Nick Hudson, gave them a platform.

When Hudson — a British-transplant and beauty business owner — told me he was going to produce a fashion show just outside his Nomad Lounge in the Old Market, I turned my nose up. He was talking about organizing a multi-faceted event (with a dozen designers and 100 models) in three weeks.

Hudson’s “Field of Dreams” attitude — “build it and they will come” — proved me wrong. Each year the catwalk extends a few more yards. More experienced designers and models apply for a spot in the six-day celebration. Getting a VIP seat at Saturday’s grand finale runway show is nearly impossible. Tickets sell extremely fast.

On Monday, I sat at the end of the runway and ogled designs. And the only thing I could think of were those sentimental terms people use to commemorate someone’s life: ambitious, passionate, determined. Hudson did it. He created Omaha’s Fashion Week, one of the city’s most-talked-about and must-be-seen-at events of the year.

***

Omaha Fashion Week is now in its fourth year, and Hudson is at a loss for words.

“Despite all the months of preparation, it still blows me away: the level of talent in Omaha,” said Hudson, executive producer of Omaha Fashion Week. “I’m still really impressed.

***

Lameesha Stuckey opened Fashion Week with a dozen fresh pulled-together looks. She provided women with a glimpse into what seemed to be her personal closet. Her collection skipped the monotone or all-black ensembles many of us favor in cocktail dresses. Her models strutted down the runway Monday night in vibrant shades of purple — from pastel to violet. She proved that a little color can bring pep to your step and that a little cinching at the waist accents a woman’s curves beautifully.

Unfortunately, there were two problems with a couple of her pieces. The second model to walk towards a throng of snap-happy photographers at the end of the runway might have shown part of her brassiere. The cut of the dress under the armpit was angled too low. Maybe a different undergarment would do the trick. Otherwise, the dress was well-constructed.

The other snag was small, but quite comical. While a different model trotted across the runway, many people noticed that a ruffle in the dress didn’t lie properly. Some sort of black spandex material was exposed. Brook Hudson, an Omaha Fashion Week producer and emcee, bolted for the model after she stepped off the runway to adjust the dress before she returned on stage.

***

Allison Dutton was one of two teen designers to showcase pieces at Monday’s runway show. Dutton, 17, designed her first dress while in the fourth grade. Her bio stated that her collection was “inspired by her imagination.” Dutton did a phenomenal job demonstrating mix-and-match possibilities. Color-coordinated outfits can seem sometimes almost too polished. Dutton paired bold patterns with earthy colors, such as mustard yellow and brown. Her final piece was a chic cocktail mini-dress with gold-and-black long sleeves. It truly was an ideal dress for a night on the town. But it might have been a tad too short even for the leggy model wearing it. She kept yanking the dress down to cover her rear end. The more she walked, the more the dress inched up.

***

Maximillian Suiter was the second teen designer at Monday’s show. He generated cheers and applause from the audience for his eight-look holiday collection. Ah, winter. Now that’s an event to look forward to. Style-wise, below-freezing temperatures can be tricky. Suiter gave us some great ideas for ensembles based around creative layering, jewel tones and crushed velvet fabric.

***

Jennifer Roberts’ 1960s-inspired collection featured bold colors and geometric and floral prints. The poppy hues of sunshine yellow and orange were refreshing. Her take on vintage flair included pencil skirts, capri pants, a white polo with floral trim and lots of cap-sleeved blouses.

***

Erin Thomas turned heads with her Toxic Sadie swimsuit line. Thomas recently showed her bikini collection at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim Show in Miami in July. The skimpy Brazilian bottoms, jeweled bikini tops and stone embellishments attracted a lot of attention. Naturally, photographers clicked away. The fabric-and-chain accessories were a nice touch.

Originating here

The swollen Missouri River has run the Omaha Marathon out of its traditional finish area at Lewis & Clark Landing.

But fear not, runners: The courses may have changed, but the races will go on.

The marathon, half-marathon and 10K races will start on Mike Fahey Street near TD Ameritrade Park, said Susie Smisek, race director. They will end in Lot C, just east of the stadium.

Smisek said Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle told her about a month ago that he didn’t think Lewis & Clark Landing would be ready by race day, Sunday, Sept. 25. That sent her and others searching for another spot.

Even though the river level is dropping, and the Missouri has receded from some parts of the landing, water still covers the area where the finishing chute and post-race food tables have been set up for recent marathons. Dried muck covers the concrete over which water has lapped for most of the summer.

Smisek and others have been out plotting the marathon course, making sure it will cover the full 26.2 miles.

“We always have had a certified course,” she said.

Smisek said she had received a couple of dozen emails from runners concerned about whether the race would be run at all. She assured them that it would.

So far, Smisek said, 2,200 people have registered for the half-marathon, 800 have signed up to run the full, and 650 people are down to run the 10K.

People who want to run in honor of Leonard Vavra, a longtime Omaha runner nicknamed “Crazy Leonard,” can designate $5 of their registration fees to the Omaha Running Club, Smisek said. Vavra, known for his cheerful hooting and hollering during races, died in May at age 82. Vavra’s relatives will be walking the 10K during this year’s race, Smisek said.

All races will start at 7 a.m. For more information, go to omahamarathon.com.

Sam Holmes won the event for the second year in a row, completing the Cunningham Lake course in 2 hours, 7 minutes, 44 seconds. The 23-year-old from Denver bettered his time from last year by almost three minutes.

“It feels great to come back and repeat my performance,” he said.

More than 700 athletes from 25 states participated in Omaha’s second annual triathlon, race director Alan Kohll said. The Olympic distance team, aqua-bike and sprint distance events began at 6 a.m. Sunday. The kids triathlon, a shorter event, was on Saturday.

About 300 people chose the traditional triathlon, which consists of a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer bike ride and 10-kilometer run. The sprint triathlon, which had about 170 participants, has all three components but is half the distance.

The course began with a swim around the lake, followed by the bike ride on Nebraska 36 and back, then a run along 96th Street. Kohll said the use of the highway made this year’s course safer and better for everyone.

Morgan Chaffin, 28, of Carbondale, Ill., won the women’s Olympic distance in 2:21:03. Originally from Norfolk, Chaffin is a professional triathlete.

“The course was tough, hilly,” she said. “The bike was kind of fun because you could get going on the hills.”

Koll said the number of entrants was down slightly from last year, likely due to conflicts with the Cornhusker State Games triathlon and RAGRBAI. Interest in the kids triathlon, however, spiked.

“It’s encouraging to see so many kids,” Kohll said. “That race went from 70 or so kids last year to about 160 this year.”

Some of the athletes have a favorite part of the race.

For Chaffin, who competed as a cyclist for three years, it’s biking and swimming. Holmes was a competitive swimmer most of his life.

For others, such as Omaha native Katie Scott, it’s nice to look forward to the next part. “When you get tired of one, you’ve got another,” Scott said.

She and her husband, Wesley, have competed in about a dozen triathlons together.

“It’s our dating,” Wesley said. “It’s really bizarre, how our 4- or 5-hour bike rides on the weekend is our time.”

The couple encouraged her family to participate.

“My family came out and is doing this for the first time — my sisters, brother-in-law, dad, cousins — and little niece and nephew did the kids’ one. It’s a family affair,” Katie said. “We wanted them to get involved and experience what we love to do, and hopefully they’ll love to do it, too. It’s just a great sport and fun time.”

TOP 10 RESULTS

• Men’s Sprint: 1, James Lundberg, Omaha, 1:06:09. 2, Callahan Eckardt, Shawnee, Kan., 1:10:54. 3, Lincoln Murdoch, Omaha, 1:14:56. 4, Guillermo Rojas, Colorado Springs, Colo., 1:15:38. 5, Jim Meyer, Omaha, 1:17:38. 6, Patrick Steele, Manhattan, Kan., 1:30:32. 7, John Jarrett, Papillion, 1:21:25. 8, David Rohan, Omaha, 1:21:31. 9, John Grafentin, Allen, Texas, 1:23:12. 10, Kyle Barger, Omaha, 1:23:42.

• Men’s Olympic: 1, Samuel Holmes, Denver, 2:07:44. 2, Eric Sorenson, Annadale, Va., 2:08:05. 3, Kris Spoth, Ames, Iowa, 2:12:23. 4, Gerald Kubiak, Omaha, 2:17:58. 5, Jim Rogers, Omaha, 2:18:55. 6, Craig DeSmet, Bennington, 2:19:46. 7, Taylor Ames, Wheaton, Ill., 2:20:10. 8, Doug Morris, Geneva, Ill., 2:20:25. 9, Adam Little, Omaha, 2:22:59. 10, Tony Pena, Orland Park, Ill., 2:23:14.

• Women’s Sprint: 1, Mary Thum, Sioux Falls, S.D., 1:16:42. 2, Amy McGarry, Omaha, 1:23:22. 3, Melissa Groff, Bennington, 1:24:46. 4, Sarah Fredrickson, Omaha, 1:25:31. 5, Jennifer Conkel, Hudsonville, Mich., 1:29:11. 6, Jayci Zakaras, Omaha, 1:30:33. 7, Mariah Anderson, Kearney, 1:32:02:2. 8, Karen Belair, Omaha, 1:32:08. 9, Hayley Phillips, Omaha, 1:32:25. 10, Amy Wagenknecht, Omaha, 1:32:30.

• Women’s Olympic: 1, Morgan Chaffin, Carbondale, Ill., 2:21:03. 2, Barbara Wehde, Sioux Falls, S.D., 2:32:50. 3, Julie Barr, Papillion, 2:33:53. 4, Kathy Grady, Sioux Falls, S.D., 2:41:54. 5, Holly Beavers, Belleville, Kan., 2:42:20. 6, Rebecca Cota, Maple Grove, Minn., 2:45:35. 7, Rebekah Lawson, Fenton, Mo., 2:45:51. 8, Karen Nelson, Windsor, Colo., 2:46:31. 9, Melissa Kosch, Omaha, 2:48:16. 10, Lisa Smith Cimino, Omaha, 2:50:17.

Jade’s film, TRUTH HALL, won five festival awards and is now in heavy rotation on the BET network. “People often leave Omaha, become successful and only come back to have a street named after them or to receive a key to the city. but how many of them actually give back?” says Jade. Living in Hollywood as both an actress and filmmaker, Jade knows what it takes to make it in the industry. She also recognizes the need to understand how to get your foot in the door from wherever you are. so she has hit the road, bringing Hollywood to cities across the nation, Omaha being her fourth city.

As an actress, Jade also stars opposite Regina King and Blair Underwood in the film Truth be Told and has lead roles in films such as Full Ride and How I Spent My Summer Vacation. “My workshops are geared toward those who want to act or become a writer, producer or director, but just need to be pointed in the right direction in order to get the ball rolling … or those who want to audition for a speaking role in a feature film but aren’t in a position to go to Hollywood,” Jade explains. so, as a bonus, attendees will get a chance to pitch Jade their film or TV idea for an on-the-spot critique, and/or audition for her next feature film – some of which she plans to shoot in Omaha.

Stepping Stone Productions presents: “The Business of Acting and Filmmaking” intensive workshop and talent search

When: Sat., July 30, 2011

Where: Love’s Jazz and Arts Center 2510 N 24th Street Omaha, NE 68111

Time: 12-5 PM

For tickets or more information, please visit http://www.UtopiaFilmsInc.com or check out Jade’s electronic press kit by clicking here.

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July 16-17
Railroad Days
The Durham Museum, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, the RailsWest Railroad Museum and the Historic General Dodge House are coming together to celebrate Omaha and Council Bluff’s rich railroad heritage during Railroad Days. The 2011 theme is “Railroaders: Then and Now.” Each participating venue will offer a variety of family-friendly activities in addition to the venues’ ongoing programs and exhibits. A family pass is only $15 and includes entrance into all four venues for the entire weekend. A $5 pass is also available for one additional adult with the purchase of a family pass. There is free parking at all the locations, and a family pass provides bus service between locations. For more information, visit OmahaRailroadDays.com.

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July 22
Scottish Rite Foundation Golf Outing
Benefiting the Scottish Rite Foundation of Omaha
Shoreline Golf Club – Carter Lake, IA
Support the philanthropies of the Scottish Rite Foundation by joining this year’s golf outing, which includes golf, cart and a prime rib dinner afterward at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center. Golfing begins at 12 p.m. with a shotgun start in a Texas Scramble format. Fees are $85/person or $340/foursome. For more information, visit ScottishRiteOmaha.org.

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July 30
Summer Wine and Food Festival, “An Evening Escape”
Benefiting The Partnership For Our Kids
Midtown Crossing promenade – 32nd & Farnam Sts. – 5 to 9 p.m.
Grab your passport for a summer celebration that will take you on a tour of fine wines, fabulous food and auction offerings that exude pure luxury! The amazing itinerary includes the Captain’s Quarters Patron Party, the Festival on the Promenade featuring live contemporary jazz and exceptional silent auction day-trip packages, and the Live Auction: Destination Escape, where you can bid on your favorite from an assortment of dream getaways. For more information, call 402-930-3002 or visit ThePartnershipForOurKids.org.

ENTER TO WIN 2 tickets to Joslyn Castle Bronte Festival! The festival is on July 29th, and the show begins at 7 p.m. at the Joslyn Castle. Click Hereto watch our segment from this week’s Morning Blend Omaha and enter the keyword!

inform · educate · inspire

“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the now the primary focus of your life.”

-Eckhart Tolle

August 6
JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes
A benefit for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Elmwood Park – Omaha – 8:00 a.m.”Wrangle Up a Cure” at this year’s JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes, the largest fundraising walk in Nebraska. Refreshments, face painters, moonwalks, rides, games, clowns, music and special guests will make this a fun and festive event, all while raising funds for diabetes research. For more information, call402-397-2873 or visit  Walk.JDRF.org.

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August 27
Easter Seals Nebraska’s Family Fun Fest
Benefiting Easter Seals Nebraska
ALLPLAY Sports Complex
Seymour Smith Park, near 72nd & Harrison Sts.
Easter Seals Nebraska’s Family Fun Fest is a Carnival and Kickball Tournament. Watch local celebrities play kickball with altered abilities and talk about their newfound awareness! There is free gate admission, with concession opening at 8:00 a.m. and the kickball tournament scheduled for 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Don’t miss this terrific event for the whole family! For information, visit NE.EasterSeals.com or call 800-650-9880.

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From the OFW Website:

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The National Weather Service said the water level near Omaha was at 28 feet. It was expected to rise to 28.6 feet by Saturday morning.

The river topped a record 30 feet in 1993, but officials said that record could be broken by the end of June.

“We’re probably looking at a 33-34 foot range,” said Paul Johnson, of Douglas County Emergency Management.

City officials are now taking preventative measures, filling thousands of sandbags. Increased levels expected over the coming weeks will make for record flooding conditions.

In the mean time, area hotels have been participating and assisting in the housing of locals who have been displaced from the rising waters.

Hotel Deco XV, a luxury hotel in downtown Omaha has been assisting  in the housing and bedding of those in crisis.  Many of the Hotels in the area have been assisting Emergency Managers and will continue to throughout the remaining time of this flood.

Waters are expected to remain high for the next few weeks.  During this time their assistance will be instrumental in the recovery from this years flooding.