Dundee Day celebrates UNO,

This Saturday, local residents set aside time to celebrate their neighborhood. Located at 50th and Underwood streets, the Dundee Day festival was alive with hundreds of people.Local shops came out to the street to set up stalls filled with goods ranging from T-shirts to comic books and jewelry. Snow cone machines buzzed and balloons were twisted into funny looking, if not architecturally sound, hats.

The parade swung the day into full gear and was led this year by local radio talk show host Tom Becka.

"They asked me to lead the band this year, how could I say no?" Becka said.

Roaming the crowd was Darth Vader with a pair of Storm Troopers in tow.

"We're part of the 501st Legion," said John Jaeckel, one of the Storm Troopers, his voice muffled behind the helmet. "It's a club dedicated to Star Wars fans, young and old, who like to get into costume. We go to anything - from science fiction conventions to neighborhood parties like this."

On the sidewalk, between a stall selling purses with comical airbrushed illustrations and the Raising Awareness for Darfur, Hanna Ramsgard played violin, her case open at her feet with a small piece of cardboard asking for donations.

"I started playing when I was six. I'm twelve now," Ramsgard said when asked how long she had been playing.

Across the street from Hanna was Jerry Abdo, bobbing for apples in giant steel tubs filled with the fruit. Though he caught one, he would release it back into the wild. He was drenched from head to toe, his tactic requiring him to submerge at least half of his body to capture an apple.

Sitting near the inflatable jungle gym was Alvin Harper. Busying himself by drawing portraits of any who would sit in front of him, I asked him where he was from.

"I'm not from anywhere. My family has been roaming the Earth since forever, never claiming any one land and in return never having to wage war over it," Harper said while sketching my portrait. "You have a dollar? I haven't had a meal since 1927."

As the day wore on the kids went home and the adults came out to slake their thirst at Dario's Brasserie who had set up a European Style Beer Garden complete with live music.

Dundee Day is a fantastic chance to meet your neighbors. To those who did not attend, I encourage you to go next year for it serves as a great way to pass the day in this little historic section of Omaha.



all photos by Mike Bell