Jack Keenan is a friendly face that helps Omahans start their day. As a morning anchor on KETV Channel 7, Keenan has gotten to know the city and surrounding areas through his reportage and by doing segments like “Now Serving Omaha,” “Welcome to the Weekend,” and “Hit the Road Jack.” Visit Omaha met with Keenan in Memorial Park to learn about how he enjoys the city during his downtime.
You’ve experienced so much of Omaha in your less than two years here. Can you describe one of your most memorable moments?
I proposed to my girlfriend, Lauren, who I met and fell in love with in Omaha, right here in Memorial Park, just a little bit off at the trail. It was just a beautiful day that I'll never forget. Afterwards, we went to J. Gilbert's Wood-Fired Steaks & Seafood to celebrate the Nebraska way – with steak!
What’s a restaurant that made a deep impression on you?
Ahmad’s Persian Cuisine has beautiful ambiance, beautiful, delicious food and refreshing drinks. The owner, Ahmad Nazar, is excited about every element of the restaurant he’s run for decades. I love that spirit. I feel like that’s what local restaurants are about – passion for food, for serving and for connecting with the community.
What are some other Omaha restaurants would you like to give a shout out to?
In my neighborhood, Dundee, I love Ooh De Lally and, for brunch, Good Lookin’.
Outside of Dundee, Noli’s Pizzeria is great.
So is Blue & Fly Asian Kitchen. The variety in Omaha is unbelievable.
You mentioned your neighborhood, Dundee. Can you tell me more about why visitors should check it out?
Visitors should absolutely swing by Dundee. It's wonderful to walk down Happy Hollow Boulevard and see the different architecture, the houses, the landscaping, the greenery, and the community out and about. There’s a real neighborhood spirit here. You can walk down Underwood Avenue and find restaurants and bars and whatever you need real quick. It's a quaint, private feeling mixed with a neighborhood community feeling that makes it the best of both worlds packed into one loving neighborhood.
And so many people out walking dogs! You recently became a doggy daddy yourself. Where do you like to take your furry friend?
Yes, we recently became dog parents to little Nora, our mini weenie puppy. We found out pretty quickly that she loves The Green Spot. It's one of our favorite spots to shop locally and to get anything she needs, from probiotics and vitamins to her favorite treats. The staff know her well. We like to see the other dogs there too. It’s a fun experience.
What surprised you the most about Omaha?
Most surprising to me about Omaha is everything honestly. I love how energetic it is, how clean and how many activities there are to do. Everywhere I look, there's something new going up, a new restaurant, a new event to check out, something that I've never thought of before. And neighbors here look out for each other. Having moved around a lot, I haven't experienced that kind of community spirit and neighborhood feel in other cities like I have in Omaha.
If you see Jack around town, tell him hi and share any of your own Omaha finds with him. For more visitor ideas worth broadcasting, head to VisitOmaha.com.
