features

cover story

Year in rewind

look at the people, places and events we covered in 2009

February
Arts and Entertainment Editor Jared Curtis continued his string of DVD Reviews, which feature a new release along with a “Curtis Classic.” Curtis opened viewer’s eyes to “Office Space,” which tells the story of Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) and his boss Bill Lumbergh (Gary Cole). This classic is always a laugh-out-loud comedy.

We introduced our first-ever “Winter/Spring Arts and Entertainment Guide” to keep central Iowans busy during what is often a blah time of year. This week’s cover story had a mixture of art, live entertainment, theater, food, film and indoor and outdoor activities to participate in.

The third week of February brought one of our biggest issues of the year as “The Best of Des Moines” winners were announced. We began the online “Best Of” voting in December and the issue made a special early delivery to newsstands honoring those in categories of “Eats,” “Shopping,” “Culture and Nightlife,” Sports and Recreation” and “Everything Else.” A record number of votes were entered. Winners were honored at our first “Best Of” party at Prairie Meadows.

Reed Prior’s cover story entitled “An Open Letter to Young People” ended February. Prior shared lessons he learned while in jail as he served a life sentence for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. In February, President George W. Bush granted a pardon to Prior, and he was released from prison.

March
“Belly Up” hit up the neighborhood sports bar Jethro’s BBQ that is continually filled with patrons who just plain enjoy BBQ. Winner of numerous Cityview “Best Of” awards, the restaurant has a menu chock full of mouthwatering entrees.

Marty Tirrell, whose mouth has proven to be bigger than his audience, was fired once again, this time from KXNO after dropping the f-bomb more than 12 times during a radio broadcast. Fortunately, few people listened.

“Center Stage” profiled Theater…For A Change’s production of “The Pillowman,” a dark comedy about the life of Katurian Katurian Katurian who is being interrogated by detectives because a number of his stories are linked to a series of child murders.

Dying isn’t cheap as freelance writer Michael Swanger reported in “The Cost of Dying.” The National Funeral Director’s Association stated the average cost of a funeral is $6,500, but totals could reach more than $10,000 with the addition of cemetery, monument, floral and transportation costs.

To end the month, KCCI news anchor Kevin Cooney shared his insight in our “Guest Commentary,” writing about how newspapers have been killing themselves for decades, and that the industry must develop a 21st century delivery system. Cooney describes a device that is “light, portable, flexible, foldable plastic” that could provide information via digital radio signals. The content would be distributed wirelessly and downloaded or stored in a chip.

April
Only once a year do we make up the news, and what better way to do it than our annual “April Fool’s” issue? Freelance writer Michael Swanger reported in our cover story entitled “City of the Apes,” that a local animal research facility had developed a groundbreaking program allowing apes to live, work and play freely among human beings. Other features included reporter Matt Miller profiling the “Redneck Games” in his weekly column the “Locker Room.” The two-day event included events like the corncob chuck, bobbing for pig’s feet and a cow-pie toss. Arts and Entertainment Editor Jared Curtis risked life and limb to show us Coffin in his “Belly Up” column. Coffin, located at 666 Nosferatu Lane, is one of Des Moines’ newest hangouts for the darkest of souls. We received plenty of letters from people who enjoyed the issue. We also received letters from people who are still confused.

“Art Pimp” summarized Olsen-Larsen Galleries’ 30th Anniversary Exhibition in the Valley Junction Gallery Walk. Marlene Olson’s gallery has captured Iowa works for three decades and continues to bring awareness to Iowa art. Olson credits former Des Moines Art Center directors James Demetrion, Peggy Patrick and the Iowa State Fair Art Show for giving Iowa a much-needed boost.

May
“Locker Room” took a look at Australian Rules Football Club, which was forming in Des Moines behind the leadership of Tyler Kamerman. Australian Football is played between two teams of 18 players on an oval-shaped field. The team held informal meetings twice a week with a practice day and an evening where the team could watch games.

As an alternative newsweekly, we take pride in sharing stories that are passed up by mainstream media. Case in point, when Westboro Baptist Church members from Topeka, Kan., picketed Lincoln High School. The picketers chose Lincoln because a student received a scholarship in honor of Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming college student who was murdered in 1998. In response to the picketing, more than 250 Lincoln high school students gathered to counter the protesters on the school campus.

With May being the month of high school graduations, we looked at the Des Moines Public School District’s alarming decline in graduation rates. Reporter Matt Miller peered into a recent study by Johns Hopkins University, indicating the Des Moines Public School District had a 65 percent graduation rate, a far cry to where it should be. Kittie Knauer, a retired Des Moines Public Schools Administrator, and Jonathan Narcisse, school board member at the time, both offered opinions on how to solve the district’s on-going problem.

We ended May celebrating what summer had to offer in our annual “Summer Arts and Entertainment Guide.” The cover story featured previews of music, film, theater, arts and outdoors and is one of our largest papers of the year.

June
“The Cornball Run” graced the first issue in June as Arts and Entertainment Editor Jared Curtis showcased everything that went into making 2009’s Cornball Run a success. Curtis talked with organizers, Jared Austin, Mark Kraft, Hogan Tilley and Kevin Tilley, who started the race in 2007. The duo of Matt Heeren and James Carlock won the 200- to 400-mile race across Iowa in 2008 and provided insight on what it takes to place first.

Freelance video game writer Matthew Hunter recounted the annual Microsoft E3 media briefing at the University of Southern California. Hunter told of Microsoft’s Project Natal, which promises to make game controllers simpler by eliminating them altogether. Hunter also previewed the next line of “Halo 3: ODST” and “Halo: Reach.”

As warm temperatures made their way to way to the Midwest, what better way to welcome them than to write about a physical feat? Intern Nick Fetty told of Steve Cannon, a Des Moines resident, who planned on running 289 miles across Iowa to raise awareness about cancer. The effort was personal for Cannon as both his aunt and grandmother died from cancer and one of his best friends was diagnosed.

“Belly Up” finished June with a look at Sinners and Saints, a new bar on the Court Avenue scene that features a variety of music memorabilia, featuring signed guitars, album covers and posters.

July
July brought the noise as we debuted our new music section, “The Sound,” offering readers concert previews, artist profiles, CD reviews and both local and national music news of various genres.

The second annual 80/35 Music Festival took over downtown Des Moines on July 3-4. Numerous acts including Man Man, Tilly and The Wall, G Love and Special Sauce, Public Enemy and Ben Harper and Relentless7 graced the mainstage, while more than 30 other acts rocked the two free stages. We featured an interview with Public Enemy’s Chuck D to preview the event and debuted our new “Front Row” concert photo page and our “Soundstage” concert review column, which highlighted the best concert photos of the week along with a concert review. The following week we published review of the festival and numerous pictures. Man Man and Miss Derringer stole the show, while Public Enemy’s hype-man Flavor Flav was unable to attend, putting a damper on the already soaked Friday night crowd.

We sponsored our third Annual Brewfest, celebrating all things beer. With a great turnout at the new Principal Park location, patrons were able to sample more than 300 varieties of beer. Mmmm.

We also let our readers know where to find the biggest drinks in town, highlighting the debut of “The Magic Dragon” at Fong’s Pizza. Keeping with the drinking spirit, we took a look a battle brewing in Iowa, “Beer vs. Wine,” profiling Iowa wineries and the rapidly growing Olde Main Brewery Co. in Ames.

July also brought some content changes as we combined a few entertainment columns, added book reviews from our friends at Beaverdale Books and began highlighting multiple films released each week.

In “Belly Up,” we discovered that Porky’s Pub and Garage is the home of the Pink Ladies; oh how we love pink chaps.

We finished the month with Relish, taking a look at local dinning icons and one of Iowa’s unique traditions, the Steak de Burgo.

August
We heated up Iowa’s hottest month heated up with some predictions from us for the 2012 presidential race. Freelance writer Doug Burns took a look a numerous candidates from both parties and how important Iowa will be to get the ball rolling.

Reporter Matt Miller let people know they are never too old to dance by profiling the Iowa Energy Spark Plugs, a group of women over the age of 55 who perform year round, not only at home basketball games but all over the state.

Thanks to former daily writer, Buck Turnbull, we took a look back at “The Big Peach,” The Des Moines Register’s storied Sunday sports section.

We paid tribute to iconic writer/director John Hughes after he passed away from a heart attack at the age of 59. Hughes was responsible for a slew of classic films including “The Breakfast Club,” “Sixteen Candles,” “Weird Science,” “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.”

It isn’t August without our annual “State Fair Fashion” issue. We profiled some of the finest dressed folks who graced the midway. From kilts to WHO-TVs Andy Fales’ plaid shorts, we enjoyed it all and look forward to next year’s hunt.

August also was the downfall of the much-hyped Rock Gone Wild music festival in Northern Iowa. The four-day event was to showcase a number of bands spanning four decades, but was canceled after the festival’s location became unavailable only a few weeks before the show, leaving ticket holders scrambling for refunds.

Straying from his norm, “Food Dude” took a look at numerous local fast food options in the area.

We ended the month with our annual “Fall Arts & Entertainment Guide,” highlighting everything going on in music, movies, theater, art and outdoors events through the end of the year. Reporter Matt Miller introduced us to central Iowa’s newest sport, lawnmower racing. Arts & Entertainment Editor Jared Curtis hyped up the theater season with a profile of the immensely successful “Wicked” at The Civic Center. He also profiled the best 10 upcoming films. One of his picks, “Zombieland,” became the surprise hit of the fall.

September
We started September with a look at the lives of minor league athletes. Reporter Matt Miller profiled ones from the Iowa Cubs, Iowa Barnstormers, Des Moines Menace and the Des Moines Buccaneers, who not only play hard on the field, but also work relentlessly off the field with school and jobs.

We kicked off our “GameDay” football column, offering NFL knowledge as well as a Pig Skin Payoff contest, which allowed participants to choose each week’s winners for prizes.

The “Our View” editorial column criticized the Waterbury neighborhood for continually complaining about the rattling of their windows from concerts at the Val Air Ballroom, a building in a different area code. They group oversaturated the media with numerous complaints about the music.

The Pappajohn Sculpture Garden opened in the West End of downtown to critical praise. Great, we have a world-class sculpture garden. Now how do we enjoy it during Iowa’s wild winters?

We showcased numerous Iowa authors in our annual “Fall Book Guide.” From non-fiction, to fiction, to children’s books, we reviewed a wide range of titles for all readers.

After numerous comments on his fast food extravaganza, “Food Dude” took a look at Heirloom Diners, three local restaurants serving quality food with fast food efficiency.

The final “Curtis Classic” DVD review of the month featured “Road House” in honor of Patrick Swayze, the film’s star, who passed away from cancer.

We finished the month with a trip down memory lane, as Arts & Entertainment Editor Jared Curtis took readers to a simpler time with the history of the Des Moines Dragway, which ran drag races in the ’50s and ’60s.

October
To start the month, Reporter Matt Miller highlighted the commercial growth of Eastern Polk County, especially the Bass Pro Shop opening and the new Southeast Polk High School.

Miller also featured the story of professional mountain climber Don Bowie, who stopped through town to talk about his adventure up K2 in Pakistan, the world’s second largest mountain.

“Rocktober” was the theme of the month as numerous heavy bands — Mastodon, GWAR, Dethklok, Lamb of God, Soulfly — rocked and rattled the greater metro area.

Iowans stuffed their faces at the U.S. Cellular World Food Festival.

“Project Censored,” a freelance piece we run every year, provided an interesting and harrowing look at the top stories of the year that were forgotten, covered-up or just not cared about by the mainstream news media.

“Civic Skinny” proved its wealth of knowledge when Terry Branstad filed “exploratory” papers to run for governor. Skinny had been saying for months that Brandstad was in.

October was also the month we added freelance writer Doug Burns’ column, “Political Mercury.”

We also hosted the first Honey Creek Fall Cycling Festival. Even though the weather didn’t cooperate, the festival was a success.

Freelance writer Doug Burns entered the cage and fought the law, but the law won as he profiled Rick Tasler, Madrid’s police chief and cage fighter, known as “The Lawman.”

We followed the story of the Balloon Boy, which captivated audiences for at least a few hours in our “Good, Bad, Ugly.” Then we found out it was all a hoax put on by the boy’s fame-hungry, reality show wanting parents.

Our foodie magazine, Relish, returned to its separate magazine form with a focus on Iowa Beef, published separately from Cityview for the first time in years.

We ended the month with Arts & Entertainment Editor Jared Curtis scaring the crap out of our readers with a look at our impending doom on Dec. 21, 2012. Numerous religions, scientists and skeptics have the beginning of the end to occur around this time frame. With only a few years left, we’ve already started on the Cityview bomb shelter.

November
Freelance writer Doug Burns started the month off with a bang as he stirred up the Iowa Republican Party with a look at who is going to make the most noise in the GOP primary.

In our “Good, Bad, Ugly” column, we featured our favorite losers of the year, Matthew McNelly and Joey Miller. The two Carroll criminals tried to break into an apartment, but were unsuccessful after a witness called police and let them know the criminals’ faces were painted black. Officers caught up to a car matching the description and discovered both men had drawn on their faces with permanent marker. Both were charged with second-degree attempted burglary, but the shame will stick with them longer than a prison sentence.

Arts & Entertainment Editor Jared Curtis took a trip to downtown’s newest bar, Heroes, and reported on Anheuser-Busch Brewmaster George Reisch’s Q&A trip around numerous bars in “Belly Up.”

Hank Williams III brought his Hellbilly music to the Val Air Ballroom. Unfortunately, he denied media coverage of the show. Maybe he thinks he doesn’t need the press? Bruce Springsteen is immensely more popular, and he welcomed all media outlets to his amazing show at Wells Fargo Arena.
A piece of advice for Hank, you are not The Boss.

Arts & Entertainment Editor Jared Curtis profiled a dominating record label in town, Central Standard Records. The label has a number of talented MCs, but has also brought other genres of music into their family.

We debuted our first ever “Des Moines Sexiest People” issue. Twelve of Des Moines’ sexiest — ranging from musicians to politicians to local celebrities — were chosen, and Brian Duffy added humor with a caricature of each winner.

We ended the month with a non-traditional holiday story from freelancer Doug Burns. “Thanks For Nothing” focused on a Native American perspective of Thanksgiving, and it wasn’t pretty. If our land was stolen from us, we wouldn’t want to celebrate either.

December
Reporter Matt Miller started the final month of the decade with a story about the injuries people are receiving from Blackberry’s, computers, texting and video games.

Miller also previewed the upcoming Iowa Energy season in “Locker Room.”

Freelance writer Michael Swanger previewed the immensely popular and continually growing Crossroads Entertainment & Art Experience in “Scene Scribe.” The event features a plethora of music, seminars, art, theater and film showcases spread throughout venues in the downtown area.

We kicked off the voting process for our “Best Of” awards. Go to www.dmcityview.com and vote for the best in town.

“Civic Skinny” informed us that The Des Moines Register quickly removed an “unappetizing” photo of Gov. Culver as he finished a mini-triathlon in Florida, after one of Culver’s aid’s called the paper and demanded it be taken down. So much for free speech.

We put readers in a festive mood with 12 staff members’ favorite Christmas albums, which included Mariah Carey, Jimmy Buffett, Elvis Presley, Taylor Swift and My Morning Jacket.

Arts & Entertainment Editor Jared Curtis looked into the increasing popularity of tattoo removal or cover-up with “Ink Regrets.” He focused on trendy tats of day’s past like Tribal bands, barbed wire, significant other names and “tramp stamps.”

We gave advice for the snow driving impaired in the “Our View” column. We all know someone who needs it.

And we finished the year with what has become a Christmas classic, Robert Hullihan’s cute, critter-filled holiday story entitled, “’Twas the night before…” Brian Duffy’s illustrations brought the story alive, and it was a great way to share holiday cheer. CV