Check out Bench, they can probably take care of that "hanging out in my garage and doing little projects" itch -- it's a collaborative workshop. They've got all the tools, you bring your own supplies. Might not fit your definition of cheap - $35/day, unless you buy a $75/month membership, and then it's $10/day.
August 22nd is the Great Nebraska Beer Fest. Held at Werner Park (Papillion, SW side of Omaha). I want to say last year there was something like 70 breweries there. $44 ticket.
If you happen to be able to get mail sent to a non-Omaha area ZIP code and then sent on to you (say, a friend back home, wherever that 2,000 miles away is), send in for the Omaha Craft Beer Explorer's Guide. It's a book with a coupon for a free beer at 9 different local breweries, and once you've visited them all, you can stop by the Omaha Visitors Center for a free pint glass.
I'll see if I can think of more later -- my sister and her family live in Omaha, so I'm down there about once a month or so (Was just there this weekend, will be back down for the beer fest in August)
