Back to the Future: Mid-City Bank

There was plenty of goofiness going on as we shot our second "Back to the Future" location.

The old Mid-City Bank that once sat on the corner of Saddle Creek and Dodge for years was torn down earlier this year.

In its place will be a hotel for Nebraska Medicine patients and family.

We stopped by the site after shooting photos and video of the demolition of the Omaha Civic Auditorium.

We tried to use some existing landmarks to make sure the "after" photo matches.

Apparently, the hotel could be up to six stories tall.

The property has been a dirt lot since May, when the bank was demolished.

Ok, look closely at this one. I didn't see it until after the photo was taken.

The End of the Civic Auditorium

Watch the final 30 seconds of the demolition of the Civic Auditorium.

We rushed from picking up Lauren from art club today to get our "Back to the Future" photo of the Omaha Civic Auditorium. Little did we know, we were under the gun to catch the final parts of the building being demolished.

Unfortunately, Lauren was not a willing participant in the shoot. While she moped and complained about not being able to work on her homework, I hustled the other four girls across the street. Then the fun began.

This was cute.

No Lauren in these photos, unfortunately.

We know there are photos like this from our "before" shoot. We just have to find them.

Check out Emily, trying to scale the fence.

Back to the Future: Baxter Arena

Our first "Back to the Future" photo of Baxter Arena, shot more than two years ago.

We are quite proud of our "Back to the Future" series photos, which document the "before" and "after" of buildings in and around the Omaha area. But the Baxter Arena photo project was our most ambitious one yet.

For more than two years, we have been shooting photos from the same spot on the wall across the street from Baxter Arena. Never mind that there is a sign (just out of frame) that says to "keep off this wall." In addition to documenting the building of the arena, we also tried to include a white car in each photo. That's because there was a white car in the first photo we took.

And the final photo, shot a few days before the building's opening.

Back to the Future: In A Photo

How's this for a "Back to the Future" moment? In a photo!

We managed to re-create this photo tonight during the Jefferson School open house.

Back to the Future: Aksarben Village

We shot this photo in August of 2012.

Aksarben Village has been the site of quite a few of our "Back to the Future" series photos. (Read about them here.) So last night, we decided to check on the progress of one from nearly three years ago.

Lauren said her knees look the same in both photos. And that she hasn't grown.

As you can see, there is no new building in "Zone 6." Only a parking lot, primarily used by Aksarben Cinema patrons. But we are told the building is still to come. So I guess this photo is the "in progress" version.

Here is how the latest "Back to the Future" series photo looked on Facebook.

Back to the Future: Pool Photo

How's this for a "Back to the Future" photo at the Four Seasons pool?

As Seen On SnapChat...

Here's hoping Emily sends me a follow-up.

UNO Arena Update

This one won't be used in our Christmas letter
because it is not a white car in the background.

We had noticed a lot of progress at the UNO arena site lately, so we thought it would be a good time to do another photo update that can be included in our "Back to the Future" photo series. (If you aren't familiar with it, read this post.)

Fortunately, the weather was good. And true to form, Lauren lasted all of four or five photos before she shrilled "I'm tired of this!" and walked off.

Here's the photo shoot, in photos:

Veronica got a lift from Emily.

Everyone was on the lookout for a white car for our usual background.

This one should work just fine.

This is typical of the craziness behind the scenes at one of our shoots.

Lauren has obviously had enough.

We can still include (at least part of) her!

Here's an update on the Pacific Life building, which will go next to the parking garage.

Aksarben Village Construction Update

Lauren posed in front of the construction of the Pacific Life Building.

It wasn't too long ago that we would park at Aksarben Village and walk across a large, empty, grassy lot to get to Aksarben Cinema. Now the grass is gone, a fence has gone up and a mammoth structure is going up.

Lauren and I stopped by to see the progress. The view over the fence (at right) shows construction of the planned Pacific Life building is coming right along.

Here is one of the buildings, as described by the Omaha World-Herald.

And here is a bird's eye view of the planned construction (courtesy of the Omaha World-Herald).

UNO Arena Update

We are starting to see some progress in the construction of the new UNO arena.

Back To The Future: Hyatt Place

(From left): Emily, Veronica and Julia pose in front of the new Hyatt Place.

And the same trio, in March of 2010, when the site was advertised as a "Residence Inn by Mariott."

The latest picture in our "Back to the Future" photo series harkens back more than three years ago.

Veronica says she doesn't even remember taking the photo (see the original post here). Emily was already sprouting up like a bean pole. Julia wore her St. Mary's school uniform and Olivia and Lauren didn't want to be in the photo. So it was too bad for those two when it came time to pose for the "finished product" picture.

You can see from the photo at right that the building itself didn't turn out exactly as portrayed in the artist's rendering that was originally on display.

If you would like to see for yourself, the Hyatt Place is across the street from Ted and Wally's ice cream shop, near the corner of 11th & Jackson.

If you like our "Back to the Future" photo ideas, check out this one of the DJ's Dugout in Aksarben Village and this still-in-progress shot at Hillcrest Estates. 

Olivia walked across the street to capture a broader view of the building.

Everyone got to be a part of this photo.

Back to the Future: Hillcrest Estates

We'll see how this turns out. It's expected to be quite a place when finished.

We added to our "Back to the Future" series of photos today by snapping a "before" photo of the area near Hillcrest Estates where an elaborate "Grand Lodge" will go up on some vacant property at the corner of Highway 370 and 60th Street.

You can read all about it – and even view a virtual tour here. Judging by the photo at right, it's going to be a pretty amazing place.

If you don't want to follow the link, here is a bird's eye view of the master plan. The "cottages" are already in existence and where Aunt Jean lives now.

Back to the Future: DJ's Dugout

You probably know by now how fond we are of taking our "Back to the Future" photos around town. If not, here is a post to catch you up.

Today, we were able to check another location off our list. This one involves the DJ's Dugout that went up in Aksarben Village. We took the original photo Sept. 30, 2012.

Take note of the Ponzu Sushi and Grill restaurant in the upper left of the original photo. Many people have wondered what "Ponzu" means. Now we know ... "hidden restaurant."

We wondered why anyone would build a restaurant right in front of Aksarben Cinema.

Now we know the answer: it's a prime location at Aksarben Village.

Back To The Future ... With DJ's Dugout

They're building a new DJ's Dugout in front of Aksarben Cinema.

She's No Lady Gaga

This is what happens when Veronica stays up past 1:30 a.m.
(Thanks, Bob Cullinan, for helping make a not-so-quality photo a little better.)

In Case You Missed It: BTTF

Veronica got a "boost" at the movies.
Not mentioned in my earlier post about our trip to Midtown Crossing to see "Back to the Future" last Friday was the "boost" Veronica got that night.

When we arrived, it was quickly clear that Veronica's swivel chair at the theater left her a bit shy of seeing over the tall counter in front of her. So we contacted the wait staff by pressing the call button (pictured at right) on the counter. The traditional "taller" tool – a phone book – was a no-go, we found out. (Do they still print phone books?)

But the server didn't give up. She returned a few minutes later with a plastic cover used to keep food warm. The three-inch boost it gave Veronica was just enough to do the trick.

This plastic cover gave Veronica's butt a boost.