Publisher’s note: Thirty-eight years ago, when Michael Gartner was editor of The Des Moines Register, he walked over to the desk of writer Bob Hullihan and said, “How about writing me a Christmas classic for the holidays?” Hullihan said, “Sure.” And he did. It ran in the Register and years later in the Ames Tribune. [...]
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The building that is now known as Buccaneer Arena opened 60 years ago. Back then, the Des Moines Buccaneers didn’t exist. Instead, the venue housed minor league professional franchises, but by the late 1970s, the rink was vacant and struggling to attract another team. At this same time, the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey squad stopped [...]
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For business leaders, each year presents its own set of challenges. However, none have been quite like the challenges of 2020, which included the COVID-19 pandemic. But, as with most challenges, area leaders demonstrated innovation and perseverance, and successes are to be found. Each and every day — even in 2020 — good things are [...]
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Twelve drummers drumming… …for Helen Eddy, the very busy Polk County health commissioner…and Karen Schunk and all the other women (and men) who make and give away masks to help protect us from the virus…including Linda Cravens, who sends masks to Iowa friends from far-off Salt Lake…and the men and women in the crowded hospitals [...]
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He knew them by their eyes. That’s about all Wiltsie Cretsinger of Coon Rapids could see of the physicians and nurses who shepherded him through a brutal, 21-day, take-his-breath-away fight with COVID-19 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. The medical professionals there were all “gowned up” with two sets of gloves, masks, hair coverings [...]
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“If Anything Happens, I Love You” is a beautiful but excruciatingly painful portrait of a tragedy. It’s the kind of art that is so moving, and so honest, that it feels like it must be coming from personal experience. Instead, it’s the tale that is sadly known by far too many parents in this country: [...]
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Comedian Shirley Fong-Torres liked telling her audiences that “the Chinese word for vegan translates as lousy hunter.” Vegan comedian Dick Gregory told folks that “only the most evolved level of animal intelligence has been able to raise edible foods.” Those two opinions represent 1,000 years of arguments as to whether eating meat or not eating [...]
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The holiday season is in full effect, and those close to me know that this is the time when I typically fall into my normal Scrooge behavior. Why? Well, it starts with Thanksgiving, then numerous November and December birthdays, then Christmas, then New Year’s. Before I know it, every weekend is booked with nonsense, and [...]
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“Joe, this is going to hurt.” No kidding. I lie on my back trying to visualize a white sand beach with crystal blue water and a cabana worker offering an ice-cold beverage in an oversized glass. Instead, my go-to visualization usually involves buying a footlong hotdog with extra mustard from the grill-guy outside Hy Vee. [...]
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Creatives often have to embrace patience. This contradicts their strong “take charge” mindset during the creative process. The patience side of performing artists’ yin-yang is currently being tested. They thrive in the live performance environment. They feed off of audience response, while elevating their performances from that stimulation. Many performers, from the local to the [...]
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Ron Sorenson has been the leading programmer of progressive music in Des Moines since 1970. We asked him to lunch, and he proposed eating in his office. Mike Wedeking of Flying Mango (and a radio host on KFMG) dropped off some of his heavenly brisket, and George Formaro (also a host on KFMG) provided some [...]
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No one named Duncan has lived there in nearly three decades, but neighbors still refer to Jenifer Owenson’s 83-year-old Waterbury abode as “The Duncan House.” The home was built by the family of arguably the best football player in Iowa history, Randy Duncan. It has seen its share of changes through the years. The teal-painted [...]
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This month’s Car in the City features the Lincoln Aviator. The mid-size luxury SUV showcased some high-tech options that I have never experienced in my late-model sedan. Admittedly, it took me bout 10 minutes just to start the car. As I climbed in, The Perfect Position Seats with Active Motion provided me with 30 different [...]
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In December of 1866, 11 painters gathered in New York City to form what would later become known as the American Watercolor Society. At that time, watercolor was considered a lesser form of painting, the domain of amateurs and commercial artists. The mission of the AWS was to change that perception. Within 10 years of [...]
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With nearly 50 years of musical experience and showmanship, the Sons of Gladys Kravitz continue to rock while entertaining a loyal local following. Affectionately known as the “Sons,” the group originated as an acoustic duo in 1993 before morphing into a four-piece ensemble, the Subdivisions, and then expanding into a six-piece band in 2016. The [...]
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As I walked down the dark staircase to Des Moines’ newest speakeasy, I expected a muscular guy decked in a pinstripe suit with a cocked fedora hat, questioning me, ‘What’s the password, blondie?’ Instead, I got a masked guy, handing me a menu, asking me what my drink preference was. Easy! Ken’s is billed as [...]
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When Jamie Angove lost her dog, Punkers, to bladder cancer in May, she’d been searching for another furry friend. A rescue dog was her only option, so when one appeared on the Animal Rescue League’s site, she knew he was the one. The Shiba breed, a popular dog in Japan, usually adopt out quickly. However, [...]
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