Cityview | Central Iowa's Independent Weekly

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Cover Story

August 25, 2011

Fall Arts &Entertainment

Central Iowa's definitive source for the season's music, theater, outdoor and film

Deke Dickerson plays the Bombay Bicycle Club on Sept. 2. Special to Cityview

By Jared Curtis, Amber Williams, Michael Swanger and Jim Duncan

Music

By Michael Swanger

With the sounds of summer tucked away in our memories, we fall back again on a stable of brick-and-mortar venues for our live music offerings in the coming months. Summer can be a tough time for indoor venues that host live music when competing with the multitude of outdoor offerings, so the next few months are crucial for those businesses as they close out the year.

With that said, a number of shows featuring big name acts and lesser known, but equally compelling ones, are slated to play the Des Moines metro this fall. From clubs, bars and restaurants, to ballrooms, theaters and an arena, there seemingly is something for everyone.

The Chris Robinson Brotherhood plays People's Court on Oct. 7. Special to Cityview

Not to be forgotten, of course, is the wealth of local talent, which on any given night can be appreciated by live music fans at a nominal cost. What's more, music fans will find shows of note not only in the usual places, but at some venues that often go unnoticed by mainstream fans and media, including churches, businesses and wineries. Regardless of where you find it, support live music when and where you can.

The following is a sampling of shows, organized by venue or event that can be found throughout central Iowa through the end of 2011. It is not an inclusive list, as many shows have yet to be announced. But it's a good start. Read Cityview each week for breaking music news and artist interviews (local and national) as well as to see concert photos. Also, be sure to visit Cityview's calendar for the most comprehensive listing of concerts in central Iowa.

All Play
615 3rd St., Des Moines
333-5050
http://www.allplaydm.com
Sept. 4 — Walter Trout
Sept. 9 — Ronnie Baker Brooks
Sept. 16 — Candye Kane
Sept. 24 — Jimmy Thackery
Oct. 7 — Dr. Duke Tomatoe
Nov. 11 — Damon Fowler

Anchor Coffee House
Westminster Presbyterian Church
4114 Allison Ave.
274-1534
http://www.westpres.org
Sept. 10 — Carol Montag
Oct. 15 — Strangebyrds
Dec. 3 — Garrison Doles

Blink 182 plays Wells Fargo Arena on Sept. 8. Special to Cityview

Behind the Barn
Living History Farms, Urbandale
278-5286. 6-9 p.m.
http://www.lhf.org
Sept. 21 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts

Bike Down to I-Town
Downtown Indianola
6-10 p.m. Free
http://www.bikedowntoitown.com
Sept. 21 — Cruise Control

Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant
5485 Mills Civic Parkway
West Des Moines
564-7300
http://www.bluemoonduelingpianobar.com
Sept. 1-3 — Andy Paczak, PJ Gartrell, Todd Cutshaw
Sept. 8-10 — Adam Pringle, Dave Hawke, Steve Winter
Sept. 14 — Decoy
Sept. 15-17 — CD Thomas, Don Peters, Papi Sorrelis
Sept. 21 — Papi Sorrelis
Sept. 22-24 — Dean Madonia, Papi Sorrelis, Spencer Bates
Sept. 28 — 17 Candle
Sept. 29-Oct. 1 — Chris Hatfield, Todd Cutshaw, Wiz

Blues Before Sunset
East Locust Street in front of State Historical Building
Fridays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free
281-4011
http://www.culturalaffairs.org
Sept. 2 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts

Bombay Bicycle Club
8410 Hickman Road, Clive
http://www.bombaydsm.com
Sept. 2 — Deke Dickerson
Sept. 9 — Lukas Nelson and Promise of The Real
Sept. 27 — Sara & the Tallboys
Oct. 21 — Bible of the Devil
Oct. 29 — BBC 2nd Annual Halloween Tribute Show
Nov. 2 — The Toasters
Nov. 13 — Deals Gone Bad

Los Lobos performs Sept. 8 at Prairie Meadows.Special to Cityview

Civic Center of Greater Des Moines
221 Walnut St.
246-2300
http://www.civiccenter.org
Sept. 17-18 — Des Moines Symphony
Oct. 22-23 — Des Moines Symphony
Oct. 25 — Straight No Chaser
Oct. 28 — Frankie Valli
Nov. 5-6 — Des Moines Symphony
Dec. 31 — Des Moines Symphony New Year's Eve Pops

Civic Music Association
Sheslow Auditorium, Drake University
280-4020
http://www.civicmusic.org
Sept. 23 — Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Oct. 14 — Emerson String Quartet
Nov. 12 — Oasis Quartet

DG's Tap House
127 Main St., Ames
http://www.dgstaphouse.com
Aug. 25 — Elephant Revival
Aug. 26 — Leaving TX
Aug. 27 — Mumfords
Sept. 2 — J Trey & Lady Soal
Sept. 8 — Great American Taxi
Sept. 9 — Whitewater Ramble
Sept. 10 — Dead Horse Trauma
Sept. 15 — Mary & The Giant
Sept. 16 — Hyentyte
Sept. 17 — Lick It Ticket, Sun Company, Poe Toaster
Sept. 22 — Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Sept. 23 — The Nadas
Sept. 24 — The Mountain Goats
Sept. 25 — Xiu Xiu
Sept. 29 — Rebel Creek
Sept. 30 — KTop
Oct. 1 — Rumble Seat Riot
Oct. 6 — Jet Edison
Oct. 15 — Bright Giant
Oct. 27 — The Workshy, Sun Company
Nov. 10 — St. Anyway
Nov. 15 — Split Lip Rayfield
Nov. 18 — Pert Near Sandstone

Dale Valley Vineyard and Winery
Stuart, 515-523-2199
http://www.dalevalleyvineyard.com
Aug. 27 — Backstage Boogie Band
Sept. 3 — Trouble No More
Sept. 17 — Hold On Band
Oct. 1 — Mason Jar Marnin

Des Moines City Hall
400 Robert D Ray Drive
Sept. 2 — Gin Blossoms
Drake University
http://www.drake.edu.com
Nov. 12 — Oasis Quartet
Nov. 18 — Hana Pestle

El Bait Shop
200 S.W. 2nd St.
284-1970
http://www.elbaitshop.com
Aug. 28 — Omega Dog
Aug. 31 — David Zollo
Sept. 7 — Brother Trucker
Oct. 5 — Brother Trucker
Nov. 2 — Brother Trucker
Dec. 7 — Brother Trucker

Gillian Welch performs Oct. 14 at Hoyt Sherman Theater. Special to Cityview

Flying Mango
4345 Hickman Road
255-4111
http://www.flyingmango.com
Nov. 7 — Sharon Little

The Gas Lamp
1501 Grand Ave.
280-3778
http://www.gaslampdsm.com
Lost Highway Roots Revival with DJ Eight Ten every Tuesday
Open Jam every Thursday
Aug. 26 — The Jitz, Rumble Seat Riot
Aug. 27-28 — Unknown Component
Sept. 2 — HotDog Skeletons, Sons of Great Dane
Sept. 3 — Randy Burk and the Prisoners
Sept. 7 — LZ Love and Lightning Red
Sept. 8 — Fall Down Drunks
Sept. 9 — Viva Montesa
Sept. 10 — Four on the Floor
Sept. 16 — Beatles Trio, Zachary Harper
Sept. 17 — The Annadale Cardinals
Sept. 23 — Jesse Harris and the Gypsy Sparrows
Sept. 24 — John D. Hale band
Sept. 27 — Hymn For Her
Sept. 30 — Chris Beard
Oct. 1 — Crooked Mile
Oct. 7 — Too Slim & the Taildraggers
Oct. 8 — Cash Tribute
Oct. 13 — Chad Elliot
Oct. 14 — Larry Bridgette
Oct. 15 — The Sequels, The Host Country
Oct. 21 — The Jesters, Jon Defoor
Oct. 22 — Love Songs For Lonely Monsters
Oct. 28 — Vera Black
Nov. 4 — Kelly Steward
Nov. 5 — Kevin Gordon
Nov. 10 — Matt Stell & the Crashers
Nov. 11 — J.C. Anderson Band
Nov. 12 — Davina and the Vagabonds
Nov. 18 — Brother Trucker
Nov. 19 — Pre-apocalyptic Junkyard Orchestra
Nov. 25 — Harper
Dec. 3 — Dazy Head Mazy
Dec. 10 — Sena Ehrhardt
Dec. 16 — North of Grand
Dec. 17 — Whiskey and Woe

Greenwood Lounge
3707 Ingersoll Ave.
277-1219
Aug. 25 — The Soul Searchers
Aug. 26 — Kevin Best
Aug. 27 — High Crest
Aug. 30 — Dan Jones
Aug. 31 — Kevin Lindgren
Sept. 1 — The Soul Searchers
Sept. 2 — Rick Burke
Sept. 3 — Can of Worms
Sept. 6 — Kevin Lindgren
Sept. 7 — Bill Maytowski
Sept. 8 — The Soul Searchers
Sept. 9 — Justin Appel and Heath Alan
Sept. 10 — Stu Ramsey
Sept. 15 — The Soul Searchers
Sept. 16 — Joey Libido
Sept. 17 — Kevin Lindgren
Sept. 21 — Bill Maytowski
Sept. 22 — The Soul Searchers
Sept. 23 — Thankful Dirt
Sept. 24 — Rick Burke
Sept. 28 — Stu Ramsey
Sept. 29 — The Soul Searchers
Sept. 30 — Justin Appel and Heath Alan
Oct. 1 — Brian Holtz Band
Oct. 6 — The Soul Searchers
Oct. 7 — Blues From the Heartland
Oct. 13 — The Soul Searchers
Oct. 14 — Rick Burke
Oct. 15 — Justin Appel and Heath Alan
Oct. 19 — John Burns
Oct. 20 — The Soul Searchers
Oct. 21 — Soul Pleasin'
Oct. 22 — Scott Eggleston
Oct. 27 — The Soul Searchers
Oct. 28 — Scott Eggleston
Nov. 11 — Rick Burke
Nov. 16 — John Burns
Dec. 9 — Rick Burke
Dec. 14 — John Burns

Hessen Haus
101 Fourth St.
288-2520
http://www.hessenhaus.com
Aug. 27 — Barry Boyce Band
Sept. 10 — Bob Malek & His Fisherman
Oct. 15 — Barefoot Becky & Her Ivanhoe Dutchmen
Oct. 22 — Bob Malek & His Fisherman
Oct. 29 — Bill Koncar
Nov. 12 — Bill Koncar
Nov. 19 — Bob Malek & His Fisherman
Dec. 3 — Bob Malek & His Fisherman
Dec. 10 — Barefoot Becky & Her Ivanhoe Dutchmen
Dec. 17 — Bill Koncar

Mac Miller plays the Val Air Ballroom on Oct. 19. Special to Cityview

House of Bricks
525 E. Grand Ave.
727-4370
http://www.thehouseofbricks.com
Aug. 25 — The After Party, Trenton Stafford
Aug. 26 — Ventana, Caustic Vision, September
Aug. 26 — Hillside Charge, September
Aug. 27 — Samsahra, Smiling Politely
Aug. 27 — S.E.R.F., Steve Robinson
Aug. 28 — Zombie Marmalade, Saved on Sunday
Sept. 1 — Gemini Syndrome, Evolve
Sept. 2 — The Green Vote
Sept. 5 — Psychostick, Freudian Slips
Sept. 9 — Harper Lee Harvey
Sept. 10 — Isaac James
Sept. 11 — Melvin Coleman
Sept. 14 — Dead Superstar, Censored
Sept. 17 — Mad Monks
Sept. 25 — Nekromantix, Rumble Seat Riot
Oct. 9 — Bang Tango, The Knobs
Oct. 15 — MC Wrenn and the White Chocolates
Oct. 23 — Polkadot Cadaver, September
Oct. 23 — Wednesday 13, Vampires Everywhere!
Oct. 26 — Allele, The Chaos Agent
Nov. 2 — Kill Devil Hill, Calous

Hoyt Sherman Theater
1501 Woodland Ave.
244-0507
http://www.hoytsherman.org
Sept. 8 — Tommy Emmanuel
Sept. 15 — Little Big Town
Sept. 23 — Demetri Martin
Sept. 28 — Blue October
Oct. 3 — Brandi Carlile
Oct. 6 — Trailer Park Boys
Oct. 14 — Gillian Welch
Oct. 16 — The Laurie Berkner Band
Nov. 27 — Oak Ridge Boys
Dec. 16-17 — Tonic Sol-fa

Iowa State Center
Iowa State University, Ames
(877) 843-2368
http://www.center.iastate.edu
Sept. 16 — Hot Club of San Francisco
Oct. 6 — Narek Hakhanzaryan
Oct. 26 — Irish Chamber Orchestra

Jasper Winery
2400 George Flagg Parkway
282-9463
http://www.jasperwinery.com
Aug. 25 — Bob Pace Band

Java Joes Coffeehouse
214 Fourth St. Free
288-5282
http://www.javajoescoffeehouse.com
Aug. 27 — 4th Street Swing Band
Aug. 28 — Johnston Station Jazz Band
Sept. 4 — Jazz Jam
Sept. 13 — Irish Jam
Sept. 18 — CJC Big Band

The Lighthouse Concert Series
West Des Moines Christian Church
4501 Mills Civic Parkway, 223-1639
http://www.lighthouseconcerts.webstarts.com
Sept. 11 — Roots Rock Society
Oct. 14 — Bill Riley Jr. Talent Competition
Oct. 21 — Kim Richey
Nov. 11 — Tom Kimmel
Dec. 9 — Lighthouse Christmas Show

The Longest Yard
122 5th St., West Des Moines
274-1710
Sept. 1 — Dustin Baird
Sept. 8 — Spam
Sept. 15 — Mike Sceto
Sept. 22 — Dustin Baird
Sept. 24 — Misfit Toys
Sept. 29 — Spam
Sept. 30 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts
Oct. 28 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts
Nov. 18 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts
Dec. 3 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts

The Maintenance Shop
Iowa State University Memorial Union
2229 Lincoln Way, Ames
(515) 294-2969
http://www.m-shop.com
Sept. 1 — Former Thieves
Sept. 8 — Uncle Lucius, Dave Beck
Sept. 9 — Larkin Poe
Sept. 14 — Briads, pepper Rabbit
Sept. 15 — Milk Carton Kids
Sept. 16 — Empires, Love Songs for Lonely Monsters
Sept. 17 — Skypiper, Cashes Rivers
Sept. 19 — Blitz the Ambassador
Sept. 20 — Gardens and Villa, Youth Lagoon
Sept. 21 — George Watsky
Sept. 27 — Deas Vail
Sept. 30 — Elenowen
Oct. 7 — Will Hoge
Oct. 8 — Those Darlins, Peelander-Z
Oct. 9 — Passafire, Tatanka
Oct. 15 — Lake Street Drive
Oct. 18 — Cymbals Eat Guitars, Hooray for Earth
Oct. 19 — ISU Jazz Combo
Oct. 21 — Joe Jack Talcum & The Powders, Samuel Locke Ward Lo-Fi Spectacular
Oct. 24 — Hawthorne Heights, ViFolly
Oct. 28 — Gregory Alan Isakov
Nov. 3 — MURS, Tabi Bonney
Nov. 9 — ISU Jazz Combo
Nov. 15 — Peter Wolf Crier, Birds and Batteries
Nov. 17 — The Greencards
Nov. 18 — David Zollo
Dec. 1 — The Fling and Yukon Blonde
Dec. 3 — S. Carey, The River Monks

Mother's Pub
2900 West Street, Ames
(515) 292-2301
http://www.motherspub.net
Aug. 26 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts
Sept. 1 — Damon Dotson
Sept. 8 — Brian Congdon
Sept. 9 — Damon Dotson
Sept. 10 — Decoy
Sept. 22 — Brian Congdon
Sept. 24 — Vivace
Sept. 28 — Honor By August
Sept. 29 — Tony Bohnenkamp
Oct. 5 — Red Wanting Blue
Oct. 6 — Damon Dotson
Oct. 13 — Brian Congdon
Oct. 14 — Smile Big
Oct. 20 — Tony Bohnenkamp
Oct. 21 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts
Oct. 22 — Burnin' Sensations
Oct. 28 — Joe and Vicki Price
Nov. 3 — Damon Dotson
Nov. 10 — Brian Congdon
Dec. 1 — Damon Dotson
Dec. 8 — Brian Congdon
Dec. 15 — Tony Bohnenkamp
Dec. 16 — Burnin' Sensations
Dec. 17 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts

Music in the Junction
Railroad Park, Valley Junction
West Des Moines
Thursdays, 6 p.m. Free
http://www.valleyjunction.com
Aug. 25 — The El Dorados
Sept. 1 — Throwing Toast
Sept. 8 — Malcolm Wells and The Two-Timers
Sept. 15 — Final Mix
Sept. 22 — Melodie Proffitt Band
Sept. 29 — Brother Trucker

Music on Stage at the Art Center
Des Moines Art Center
4700 Grand Ave.
277-4405
http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org
Nov. 19 — American String Quartet

Penoach Winery
26759 N. Avenue, Adel
993-4374
http://www.penoach.com
Aug. 26 — Chad Elliot
Sept. 16 — The El Dorados
Sept. 17 — Apple Festival: Shade Jones, Ortonville Circus

Pella Opera House
611 Franklin, Pella
628-8625
http://www.pellaoperahouse.org
Sept. 16 — Pieta Brown

People's Court
216 Court Ave.
277-3727
http://www.peoplesdm.com
Aug. 27 — On the Run
Aug. 30 — Pacific Dub, T.U.G.G.
Sept. 2 — Bob Tyler & The Reckless Hearts, Jason & the Haymakers, Douglas Acres
Sept. 3 — Euforquestra, Jon Wayne and the Pain
Sept. 6 — Hot Buttered Rum
Sept. 9 — Psychedelic Furs, The Tom Tom Club
Sept. 15 — Down, In Solitude, Pony Killer
Sept. 16 — The Sundogs
Sept. 21 — Cody Canada & the Departed
Sept. 23 — G.B. Leighton
Sept. 24 — 40 oz. To Freedom - Tribute to Sublime
Sept. 30 — The Fez
Oct. 1 — Mat Kearney
Oct. 5 — American Headcharge, Spineshank
Oct. 6 — Sister Soleil
Oct. 7 — Chris Robinson Brotherhood
Oct. 9 — We Came as Romans, Miss May I
Oct. 13 — Brett Dennen, Blind Pilot
Oct. 16 — Club Belly
Oct. 17 — Yellowcard
Oct. 18 — Yelawolf
Oct. 21 — The Nadas
Nov. 2 — William Elliott Whitmore
Nov. 9 — Panic at the Disco, Foxy Shazam
Nov. 18 — Jon Wayne and the Pain
Nov. 26 — High & Lonesome
Dec. 10 — Heatbox

Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino
Altoona, Interstate 80, Exit 142
(800) 325-9015
http://www.prairiemeadows.com
Aug. 28 — The Turtles, The Association, The Grass Roots, The Buckinghams, Mark Lindsay
Sept. 8 — Los Lobos, The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Oct. 29 — KGGO Halloween Bash
Nov. 4 — Johnny Mathis

Ritual Café
13th Street between Grand and Locust
288-4872
http://www.ritualcafe.com
Aug. 26 — Rosie Burgess Trio
Sept. 2 — Kate Kennedy
Sept. 8 — Open Mic with Mary McAdams
Sept. 9 — Mare Wakefield, Mary McAdams
Sept. 10 — Gatehouse Saints (Jen McClung & Jim Coppic)
Sept. 16 — Heidi Barton Sink
Sept. 17 — Dustin Smith
Sept. 23 — David G. Smith
Sept. 24 — BeJae Fleming
Sept. 30 — Kristie Stremel
Oct. 1 — Ashton Powers
Oct. 7 — Innah
Oct. 8 — Big John Burns
Oct. 13 — Open Mic with Mary McAdams
Nov. 10 — Open Mic with Mary McAdams
Nov. 12 — Namoli Brennet
Dec. 8 — Open Mic with Mary McAdams
Dec. 15 — Independent Lens

The Royal Mile
210 4th St.
280-3771
http://www.royalmilebar.com
Mondays - Singer/Songwriter Night at the Mile

Snus Hill Winery
2183 320th St., Madrid
(515) 795-3535
http://www.snushillwine.com
Aug. 26 — Billy Club
Aug. 28 — Hold On
Sept. 2 — Infusion
Sept. 3 — Backstage Boogie Band
Sept. 4 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts
Sept. 11 — Cross Roads
Sept. 16 — Fat Tuesday and Jany Hooper
Sept. 18 — ProMusica
Sept. 23 — Tony Valdez
Sept. 25 — Ashanti
Sept. 30 — Blues Bureau

Stephens Auditorium
Iowa State Center, Ames
(877) 843-2368
http://www.center.iastate.edu
Oct. 9 — The Miles Davis Experience
Oct. 27 — Widespread Panic
Nov. 4 — Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith
Nov. 20 — Lorie Line
Dec. 1 — Mercy Me Christmas Show
Dec. 15 — Osmond Family Holiday Celebration
Dec. 20 — Mannheim Steamroller

Summerset Winery & Inn
15101 Fairfax, Indianola
961-3545
http://www.summersetwine.com
Aug. 28 — Tony Valdez Large Band
Sept. 4 — Cros Roads
Sept. 11 — Malcolm Wells and The Two-Timers
Sept. 18 — Ashanti
Sept. 25 — Tony Valdez Duo
Oct. 2 — Bob Pace Band with Steve George
Oct. 9 — Sons of Gladys Kravitz

Terrible's Lakeside Casino
777 Casino Drive, Osceola
(877) 477-LAKE
http://www.terribleslakeside.com
Sept. 8-9 — Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Sept. 23-24 — Gordon Lightfoot

Two Saints Winery
15170 20th Ave., St. Charles
396-2102
http://www.twosaintswinery.com
Aug. 28 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts
Sept. 4 — Tony Valdez Duo
Sept. 11 — The El Dorados
Sept. 18 — Hot Tamale & the Red Hots
Sept. 25 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts

unWINEd
Gray's Lake
5:30-8:30 p.m. Free.
Sept. 9 — Brother Trucker
Sept. 16 — Tony Williams
Sept. 23 — Brian Congdon and Brad Seidenfeld
Sept. 30 — Boomerang

U.S. Cellular World Food Festival
Downtown Des Moines
Oct. 7-9 — Bands TBA

Val Air Ballroom
301 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines
223-6151
http://www.valairballroom.com
Sept. 17 — Dic Youngs' Rock 'n' Roll Revival
Sept. 28 — Bassnectar
Oct. 9 — Pretty Lights
Oct. 11 — Wye Oak, Explosions in the Sky
Oct. 15 — Primus
Oct. 19 — Mac Miller

Vaudeville Mews
212 Fourth St.
243-3270
http://www.vaudevillemews.com
Aug. 25 — Vanna
Aug. 26 — Nachtmystium, Nethervoid
Aug. 26 — Purity Ring, Love Songs for Lonely Monsters
Aug. 27 — The Usual Things, The Widow
Aug. 27 — Pretty Girl Hate Machine, Mercies May
Aug. 28 — Krum Bums, Eastern Turkish
Aug. 29 — Downglory, Lake of Fat Kids
Aug. 29 — The Floorwalkers, Dustin Smith
Aug. 30 — Fishboy, Christopher the Conquered
Sept. 2 — Louis Logic, D.O.P.E. Clique
Sept. 3 — The Curse of Hail, Shadow of Indra
Sept. 3 — Psalm One, MC Longshot
Sept. 7 — Dave Beck, Dustin Smith
Sept. 9 — Child Bite, Death by Steamship
Sept. 10 — The Seed of Something
Sept. 11 — Natalia Zukerman, Garrison Star
Sept. 16 — In Difference, Rat Storm
Sept. 17 — Sheltering Sky
Sept. 19 — Potluck, Glasses Malone
Sept. 21 — Ha Ha Tonka, Alana Amram & the Rough Gems
Sept. 23 — Electric Six, Kitten
Sept. 24 — Wolfgang, Canby
Sept. 26 — The Vibrators, Die Mutts
Sept. 26 — Brass Bed, New Member Charles
Sept. 27 — Jaron & the Cordovas
Sept. 28 — TFD!
Sept. 29 — Qwazaar, Batsause
Oct. 1 — Mutemath
Oct. 4 — The Pack A.D.
Oct. 6 — The Drums
Oct. 24 — Comeback Kid
Oct. 25 — Warbringer, Lazarus A.D.
Oct. 27 — Blood on the Dance Floor, Angel Spit

Wells Fargo Arena
730 Third St.
564-8000
http://www.iowaeventscenter.com
Sept. 8 — Blink 182, My Chemical Romance
Sept. 17 — Andre Rieu

West Towne Pub
4518 Mortensen Road, Ames
(515) 292-4555
http://www.westtownepub.com
Sept. 16 — Matt Woods and The Thunderbolts
Sept. 23 — Damon Dotson
Oct. 7 — Salty View's Acoustic Review
Oct. 28 — Burnin' Sensations
Nov. 11 — David Zollo
Nov. 18 — Brian Congdon and Brad Seidenfeld
Dec. 2 — Out of the Blue

Zimm's Food & Spirits
3124 Ingersoll Ave.
277-9929
Every Wednesday — Bob Pace Band CV

Take one last road trip

By Michael Swanger

Before the snow flies, and after you've exhausted almost all of your music dollars locally, you might consider one of the following shows worthy of a road trip in Iowa. Safe travels and don't forget to encourage your friends out of town to come to Greater Des Moines to catch a show in return.

Aug. 27 — Peter Frampton, Riverside Casino, Riverside
Aug. 27 — Foghat and Slaughter, Meskwaki Bingo, Tama
Aug. 27 — "Carnival of Madness," McElroy Auditorium, Waterloo
Sept. 2 — Three Dog Night, Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake
Sept. 4 — Marty Stuart, Old Threshers Grounds, Mount Pleasant
Sept. 10 — Iowa Women's Music Festival, Upper City Park, Iowa City
Sept. 16 — David Allan Coe, Mobius Club, Algona
Sept. 19 — Steve Earle, The Englert Theatre, Iowa City
Sept. 27 — Plain White T's, Blue Moose Tap House, Iowa City
Oct. 4 — James McMurtry, The Mill, Iowa City
Oct. 4 — The Damnwells, Gabe's, Iowa City
Oct. 7 — Iris DeMent, The Englert Theatre, Iowa City
Oct. 15 — Robert Randolph & the Family Band, The Englert Theatre, Iowa City
Oct. 27 — Reba, Tyson Events Center, Sioux City
Oct. 27 — Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, Gallagher-Bluedorn, Cedar Falls
Oct. 30 — They Might Be Giants, Englert Theatre, Iowa City
Nov. 18 — LeAnn Rimes, North Iowa Community Auditorium, Mason City
Nov. 26 — Confederate Railroad, Riverside Casino, Riverside
Dec. 10 — Eddie Money, Lou Gramm and Mickey Thomas, Riverside Casino, Riverside

Art

By Jim Duncan

Eric Fischl "Untitled, 2," at Steven Vail Fine Arts

For Des Moines' fine art scene, autumn is the sobering, back-to-work season that follows carefree summers filled with big festivals and light entertainments. This year's fall calendar supports such sobriety with a preponderance of deadly serious exhibitions. "Survival Does Not Lie In The Heavens," a major show of Texas conceptual artist Dario Robleto at the Des Moines Art Center (DMAC), explores longevity and extinction. Another DMAC exhibition, "Black White Gray Blue," revisits the horrors of American slavery. A third DMAC show studies the psychology of portraiture with a title nod to dementia a la Vincent Van Gogh.

"Mingled Visions: Selections from Edward S. Curtis' 'The North American Indian'" revisits the extinction of the Plains Indian way of life at the MacNidar while The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art (CMA) goes to THE founding father for gravity, showing "An American Masterpiece: Charles Willson Peale's George Washington." CMA also studies photography's effect on grave social conditions in "Shout Freedom! Photo League Selections from the Columbus Museum of Art."

The gallery scene is also filled with deep stuff. Mary Kline-Misol's long awaited series of portraits of homeless Iowans comes to Moberg, as do Thomas Jackson's ironic reflections on serious matters. William Barnes will show his latest meditations on ephemerality and wistfulness at Olson-Larsen while Steven Vail Fine Arts will continue to show "Selective Color," a nationally acclaimed exhibition that demonstrates how subtle uses of color can make dramatic statements.

"Tim" by Mary Kline Misol acrylic on canvas at Moberg Gallery

For levity, fall also brings annual celebrations with Art Stop, Quilt Walk and the fall studio tours of arty Winneshiek County highlighting that genre.

Calendar
(*APT* indicates a special Art Pimp tout)

Recurring Events & Family Attractions

Thursday Night Art Walks in downtown Newton

First Friday Art Walks, Fairfield Town Square
Open houses at Studio 100 (304 Fifth St., 778-8768,
http://www.jamesellwanger.com)
James Elwanger plans on monthly open houses, mostly on the last Thursday of each month, but subject to change. Check website for latest details.

Special Events

Dario Robleto, "The Common Denominator of Existence Is Loss," at the Des Moines Art Center

Sept. 8. Pecha Kucha VI. The international anti-Power Point movement takes on the arts and creativity this year, in the Des Moines Art Center courtyard.

Sept. 23-24. Art Stop (http://www.myspace.com/artstop, http://www.artstopinfo.com) A two-day visual and performing arts event, with shuttle busses to Valley Junction, East Village, Ingersoll Avenue, Gateway West and Roosevelt, but not Drake.

Oct. 7-9. Northeast Iowa Artists Studio Tour (Winneshiek County Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-463-4692, http://www.iowaarttour.com) Iowa's original art studio tour takes places around Decorah's autumn majesty. APT

Sept. 28 – Oct. 1. "Quilt Walk" Nine Historic Valley Junction merchants feature quilt-related exhibitions and demonstrations, and hosting opening receptions with artists. Special open house events on Sept. 29.

William Barnes "Humility Accrues," at Olson-Larsen Galleries

Galleries

Ongoing

Anderson Gallery (Drake campus, 271-1994, artsci.drake.edu/andersongallery)

Through Sept. 23 "Immaterial Material" Small sculptures of Jim Shrosbree mix with large post-consumer constructions of David Hamlow demanding viewer interaction.

Oct. 1 – Oct. 30 "AIGA" Graphic design exhibition.

Nov. 11 – Dec. 16 "William Kentridge Prints"

Art Dive (1417 Walnut St., http://www.artdive.com) Des Moines' original alternative gallery plans alternative exhibitions. Be surprised.

2AU (200 Fifth, West Des Moines) Pearls reign this fall in Au's effort to provide Art Deco comforts in a troubled year.

Finder's Creepers (515 18th St. http://www.finderscreepers.com) The alternative to alternative.

Kavanaugh Gallery (131 5th Street West Des Moines, 279-8682, http://www.kavanaughgallery.com) Specializing in purchased estate collections, there's no telling what you might find here.

Susan Noland Studio Gallery (902 42nd St.) The psychological properties of gems are front and center in this master goldsmith's repertoire.

Teeple Hansen Gallery (108 W. Broadway, Suite 206., Fairfield)

University Museum (3219 Hudson Road, Cedar Falls, http://www.uni.edu/museum)

Special Exhibitions

Olson-Larsen Galleries (203 Fifth, West Des Moines, http://www.olsonlarsen.com)

Through Sept. 3 "Three Takes on Photography" Peter Feldstein, David Ottenstein, Dan Powell.

Sept. 9 – Oct. 8 "New Works by John Preston, Scott Charles Ross, William Barnes" APT

Oct. 14 – Nov. 26 "New Works: Sarah Grant, Thomas Jewell-Vitale, Paula Schuette-Kraemer"

Dec. 2 – Jan. 7, 2011 "Debra Smith, Tilly Woodward" APT

Moberg Art Gallery (2921 Ingersoll Ave., http://www.moberggallery.com)

Aug. 26 – Oct. 1 "Thomas Jackson" APT

Oct. 7 – Nov. 26 "Mary Kline-Misol" Historical realist Kline-Misol reveals her long awaited series of homeless portraits. Coincidentally, her portraits of George Washington Carver and Mohandas K. Gandhi will also be unveiled at the World Food Prize headquarters. APT

Dec. 2 – Feb. 2011 "New Works by Bill Luchsinger & Karen Strohbeen" Creating their first prints in 1970, Karen and Bill were among the nation's digital print making pioneers, even before David Hockney made it cool. The exhibit will showcase new work on paper, canvas and ceramic tile. APT

Heritage Art Gallery (111 Court Ave., http://www.heritagegallery.org)

Oct. 17 – Dec. 1 "Ten Year Exhibition" Featuring 31 current and alumni artists of Paintpushers, a Des Moines artists collective. The reception is Saturday, Nov. 12 from 3 to 8 p.m.

Dec. 5 - 2011 "Des Moines Exhibited"

Steven Vail Fine Arts (2880 Grand Ave., 309-2763, http://www.stevenvailfinearts.com)

Through December "Selective Color" Works by Rita Ackermann, Kamrooz Aram, Carlos Amorales, Donald Baechler, José Bedia, Ross Bleckner, Robert Cottingham, Eric Fischl, Wayne Gonzales, Antony Gormley, Beverly Semmes, Josh Smith, Pat Steir and Donald Sultan demonstrate how minimal color in reductive art can have a dramatic impact. APT

Museums

Des Moines Art Center (4700 Grand Ave., http://www.desmoinesartcenter.org)

Through Sept. 4 "Surface Value" James Gobel, Alison Elizabeth Taylor and Mickalene Thomas present visions of American life and lifestyle, exploring pop culture influences, issues of racial and sexual identity and the varying subcultures that make up our diverse population.

Through Oct. 30 "Single Channel Two Melodrama" Split screen high definition video features Christopher K. Ho's Lesbian Mountains in Love. APT

Through Sept. 18 "The Fashion Show" An examination of how clothing communicates who we are and who we wish to be through the ages.

Through Oct. 2 "Iowa Artists 2011: Matt Corones" Corones created two large-scale "stained glass" windows in the museum's lobby and Pei wing, each with three patterns, based on photographs of flowers, digitally-created patterns influenced by Middle Eastern decoration and "Matisse Camouflage," a brightly-colored riff on the master's cut-paper collages. APT

"Iowa Artists 2011: Matthew Kluber" Kluber projects an ever-changing computer generated image onto a field of multi-colored stripes, resulting in a work that constantly changes form over time. You have to see this to believe it. APT

Sept. 23 — Jan. 15 "Survival Does Not Lie In The Heavens" Dario Robleto's recent exploration of longevity and extinction through his incorporation of 19th-century folk traditions used to create visually arresting objects. This is a major national art event. APT

Sept. 23 — Jan. 29 "Black White Gray Blue" Revisiting the horrors of slavery in the U.S.

Oct. 7 – Jan. 25 "Vincent van Gogh and the Psychology of Portraiture" Portraits from the Des Moines Art Center's Permanent Collection, including the recent Vincent van Gogh acquisition. APT

Ankeny Art Center (1520 SW Ordnance Rd., http://www.ankenyartcenter.com)

September "Jacklin Stoken and group"
October "Works by Ben Schuh"
"Works by Marry Rork-Watson"

November "Works by Heather and Nicole from Studio3"

Octagon Center for the Arts (427 Douglas Avenue, Ames http://www.octagonarts.org)

Through Oct. 15 "Linda Lewis & Annick Ibsen" Sculptures of irony and human nature. APT

Through Oct. 23 "Iowa Watercolor Society Exhibit"

Brunnier Museum of Art (University Museums, 290 Scheman Bldg., Ames, 515.294.3342, http://www.museums.iastate.edu)

Through Dec. 30 "French Art Nouveau" Decorative arts, particularly glass and tapestry, are featured in this exhibition.

"The Age of Brilliance" Twenty-nine cut glass pieces from the Brilliant Era of American glass, circa 1876.

"Relationships: Interstitial Connections" Studio faculty make connections to other disciplines.

"Fragile Thread of Glass" Thirty centuries of glass as aesthetic objects for utilitarian uses.

"Priscilla Sage: Contemporary Sculptures" Textile sculptures.

"Iowa City and Keota Glass" Works from two 19th century Iowa glass companies that were directed by J. Harvey Leighton.

"NC Wyeth: America in the Making" Saturday Evening Post illustrator's works chronicle 20th century.

"Ulfert Wilke: Words to Be Seen" German immigrant to Iowa, Wilke's art was heavily influenced by Asian calligraphy.

Christian Petersen Art Museum, Morrill Hall, Iowa State Campus

Through Dec. 16 "Subject to Change: Art & Design in the 20th Century" Rotating show from the permanent collection.

"Commissioning a Collection: 75 Years of Public Art"

Anderson Sculpture Garden, around Morrill Hall, ISU campus

Through Aug. 2012 "Realities: the Lyric Sculpture of William King" Pop Artist's work commissioned for ISU. APTThe Vesterheim (523 W. Water St., Decorah, http://www.vesterheim.org)

Sept. 1 – Sept. 3, 2012 "Sigvald Asbjørnsen, Sculptor" Works by the renowned artist, including portrait busts of famous Norwegians and Americans.
Through April 2012 "Polar Exploration" Featuring Roald Amundsen, Richard Byrd and Bernt Balchen. APT

Through April 7, 2012 "Norwegian-American Lutheran Colleges" Institutions of higher education shaped by religious and ethnic identity.

Faulconer Gallery (Grinnell College, http://www.grinnell.edu/faulconergallery)

Through Sept. 4 "Liz Steketee - Family Albums" "Reconstructed memories" offer creative insight into the act and the art of taking family photos. APT

Sept. 7 – Nov. 30 "Chinese Propaganda Posters" Exhibition of posters will open on Sept. 7 with a gallery talk by Yang Pei Ming of the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center. We don't make this up.

Sept. 23 – Dec. 11 "Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin in Iowa" Renderings and models of Griffin works, focusing on those in Iowa, will put the College's Griffin-designed house, Ricker House, in regional context on the centenary of its construction

Sept. 23 – Dec. 11 "From the Book Forest: Commercial Publishing in Late Imperial China" Commercial printing during the Ming and Qing dynasties (15th - 19th centuries), this exhibition will feature visiting artists from China who will demonstrate traditional woodblock printing techniques.

Cedar Rapids Museum of Art (410 Third Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids), http://www.crma.org

Through Sept. 4 "Shout Freedom! Photo League Selections from the Columbus Museum of Art" Non-profit organization of photographers committed to the transformative power of photography to effect social change. Its members included Berenice Abbott, Lewis Hine, Lisette Model, Aaron Siskind, W. Eugene Smith, Paul Strand and Weegee.

Through Oct. 9 "A Show of Hands: Ceramics from the Collection" Studio ceramics from the 1970s and '80s.

Sept. 3 – Dec. 31 "An American Masterpiece: Charles Wilson Peale's George Washington" Commissioned in 1776 by John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, this was Peale's second full-scale life portrait of Washington, and the first to portray him as commander in chief of the Continental Army.

Sept. 24 – Jan. 15, 2012 "Seeing and Remembering: Portraits and Their Stories" Exhibition looks at the different types and situations within portraiture.

Blanden Art Museum
(920 Third Avenue South Fort Dodge, 515-573-2316, http://www.blanden.org)

Through Oct. 29 "Don Heggen: Master of Luminous Watercolors"

Through Jan. 21 "Joyce Blunck: Assemblages & Paintings" Venerable found object artist retrospective.

MacNider Art Museum (303 2nd Street Southeast, Mason City, 641- 421-3666, http://www.macniderart.org)

Through Sept. 10 "A Series in Progress by Larry Gregson" Winner of Area Show: 42 exhibition gets a solo show.

Through Oct. 29 "Mingled Visions: Selections from Edward S. Curtis's 'The North American Indian'" Photogravures include famous images like "Geronimo" and "Cañon de Chelly – Navaho" and less well-known images like "Bear Bull – Blackfoot" and "Wichita Grass-House." APT

Nov. 10 - January "Iowa Crafts 40" CV

Film

By Jared Curtis

After a mediocre summer (except for "X-Men: First Class," "Super 8," "30 minutes or Less" and "Captain America"), filmgoers are going to be hungry for quality movies.

Luckily, the fall release schedule offers a few gems including the George Clooney directed "The Ides of March," the return of the Muppets in "The Muppets," David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen teaming up again in "A Dangerous Method," Jason Reitman's new film, "Young Adult," Johnny Depp returning to Hunter S. Thompson territory with "The Rum Diary" and David Fincher's remake of the "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."

But with the good comes the bad, and there are plenty of horrible-looking films coming this fall including Adam Sandler playing both a brother and a sister in the atrocious-looking "Jack & Jill," Hugh Jackman playing with robots in "Real Steel," another spin on "The Three Musketeers" and the unfunny looking heist flick, "Tower Heist."

Don't forget about one of the most anticipated films of the year (at least by tweens), "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1," as well as some unnecessary sequels like "Paranormal Activity 3," "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas," "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" and "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol." Also, it wouldn't be Hollywood without some ridiculous remakes including "Straw Dogs" and "Footloose."

Even though the release schedule looks bad, don't fret, the following 10 films will make this fall a little more enjoyable. An entire list of releases follows.

Contagion

'Contagion'

Sept. 9

Directed by Steven Soderbergh, starring Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow
Let's start with what could be the best film of the fall, Steven Soderbergh's thrilling "Contagion." Packed full of top actors, the film is one part a "Towering Inferno," one part "Outbreak" as an airborne virus is released and threatens to destroy mankind. Gwyneth Paltrow and Matt Damon star as a married couple who experience the virus firsthand. Kate Winslet and Laurence Fishburne play doctors searching for a cure, Marion Cotillard plays a World Health Organization official, and Jude Law keeps the public informed as a blogger covering the spread of the virus. The trailer is extremely creepy, offering quick shots of suspense and panic. Plus, how many times do filmgoers get to see a number of our favorite movie stars being killed by a virus? Soderbergh calls this his first horror film, and I couldn't be more excited to become infected by "Contagion."

Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star

'Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star'

Sept. 9

Directed by Tom Brady, starring Nick Swardson, Christina Ricci, Don Johnson and Stephan Dorff
I laugh every time I see Nick Swardson on screen. The dude is funny, and I've been a fan since seeing his stand-up and his role as Terry on "Reno 911." He's been as a bit player throughout his career, but thanks to his buddy Adam Sandler (who produced and co-wrote the script), he's finally getting the chance to be the lead in "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star." Larson is a loser living in a small, northern Iowa town. After he loses his job, he inadvertently watches a porno and discovers that his parents were famous porn stars in the '70s. With his life going nowhere, Larson heads to California to be a porn star like his parents. But once he gets there, he is taken advantage of and turns to the kindness of strangers including Miles Deep (Johnson), a former porn director who is looking to break back into the business. "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star" might not be the smartest film of the fall, and it probably won't be nominated for an Academy Award, but Swardson delivers the laughs and there are sure to be plenty in this wild and raunchy comedy.

Drive

'Drive'

Sept. 16

Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Christina Hendricks and Albert Brooks
Originally intended to be a big budget action film starring Hugh Jackman, ("Drive") was recreated into a stylish noir featuring the tremendous acting of Ryan Gosling. After meeting director Nicolas Winding Refn and bonding over REO Speedwagon as Gosling drove them home, the film took on a life of its own. "Drive" tells the story of Driver (Gosling) a Hollywood stunt driver who works as a getaway driver at night. When he takes a job for a local thug (Brooks), things go wrong and soon Driver has a bag full of money and an array of bad guys trying to hunt him down. Luckily, his driving skills keep him alive as he tries to set things right while helping a new friend (Mulligan) escape a life she doesn't deserve. The director describes it as "a film about a guy who drives around at night listening to pop music because it's the only way he can feel anything." Let's just hope the general movie going population can enjoy an action film with brains.

Take Shelter

'Take Shelter'

Sept. 30

Directed by Jeff Nichols, starring Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain, Shea Whigham and Katy Mixon
Ever since I saw the trailer and heard the buzz surrounding "Take Shelter," I've been anticipating its release. Michael Shannon ("Revolutionary Road" and "Boardwalk Empire") is an acting force who doesn't get the chance to carry films, so it's exciting to see an actor of his caliber get the opportunity to shine. Shannon stars as Curtis, an average guy with a wife (Chastain) and kid, who starts hearing and seeing storms that may or may not be real. After numerous dreams, Curtis decides to expand the tornado shelter in his backyard. But as he spends more money and time dealing with the shelter, his personal life falls apart as his friends and family thinks he's gone crazy. The trailer shows a range of soft, beautiful and chaotic scenes that throws viewers for a loop. I'm sure "Take Shelter" won't get a huge release (not a lot of big name actors, small budget), but I encourage people to seek it out.

Wanderlust

'Wanderlust'

Oct. 7

Directed by David Wain, starring Paul Rudd, Jennifer Aniston, Malin Akerman and Justin Theroux
Another film flying under the radar is "Wanderlust." The story follows a couple (Rudd and Aniston) who after a number of changes are forced to leave the city and move to Georgia to stay with family members while getting back on their feet. On their trip, they stay at what they think is a bed and breakfast, but it ends up being a hippie commune. The two are intrigued by the simple way of life and embrace it. Now, the story doesn't sound like the best film, but I am excited because of everyone involved. First, you have director David Wain ("Wet Hot American Summer") who was one of the founders of the iconic comedy group of "The State." Another member of "The State," Ken Marino ("Children's Hospital"), helped co-write the screenplay. Then there is the hilarious supporting cast including Malin Akerman, Ray Liotta, Lauren Ambrose, Alan Alda, Joe Lo Truglio, Kerri Kenny, Todd Barry and Michaela Watkins. Finally, you have Rudd and Aniston, who have shown great on-screen chemistry in the past. Plus, Aniston seems to be stepping down from her high horse and taking chances. Hopefully she's realized how hot and funny she was as a dirty dentist in "Horrible Bosses." Think of this as "Wet Hot American Summer" with hippies.

The Thing

'The Thing'

Oct. 14

Directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Eric Christian Olsen and Ulrich Thomsen

When I first heard one of John Carpenter's greatest films was being remade, I screamed in disgust. There is no need to remake "The Thing," and it should be one of the films considered untouchable by the talentless hacks directing today. But then I discovered the film was not going to be a remake but more of a prequel as it focuses on the Norwegian scientists who inadvertently bring the alien to the American camp at the beginning of Carpenter's classic. After finding the frozen block of ice, Dr. Sander Halvorson (Thomsen) and graduate student Kate Lloyd (Winstead) have different theories, splitting the camp in the process. While Halvorson keeps to the research, Lloyd and helicopter pilot Sam (Edgerton) dig deeper into what was found and discover the alien life form is more than they can handle. Hopefully, the effects crew can create monsters half as scary as the original. If they do, plenty of people will be afraid of "The Thing."

Martha Marcy May Marlene

'Martha Marcy May Marlene'

Oct. 21

Directed by Sean Durkin, starring Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes, Sarah Paulson and Hugh Dancy

Here's another Sundance Film Festival buzz film that has me intrigued from the description and spooky trailer. "Martha Marcy May Marlene" might have a bunch of names in the title, but it focuses on only one girl (Olsen). The younger sibling to the Olsen twins stars as Martha, a girl who struggles to adapt to life after she flees a cult. She's Marcy Mae to the cult, led by Patrick, who is played by one of the greatest actors working today, John Hawkes ("Winter's Bone"). She's Marlene to the prying outsiders trying to figure her out, and she is Martha to her estranged sister (Paulson), who tries to provide her with a normal and stable life after escaping the cult. Not only is it a strong story, but I challenge anyone to watch the trailer and tell me that seeing and hearing Hawkes perform an acoustic song for his "family" doesn't haunt you for days. Filled with paranoia and painful memories, "Martha Marcy May Marlene" will be one of the better films of the fall.

Melancholia

'Melancholia'

Nov. 11

Directed by Lars Von Trier, starring Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland and Alexander Skarsgard

Although I usually despise director Lars von Trier and his pretentious films ("Dancer in the Dark," "Dogville" and "Manderlay"), I have to admit that "Antichrist" was one of the most disturbing movies I've ever seen. So I'm curious to see his newest film "Melancholia," even if it won't make my stomach queasy after watching it. Described as "a beautiful movie about the end of the world," the story follows two sisters — Justine (Dunst) and Claire (Gainsbourg) — whose lives are changed after the planet Melancholia is discovered to be heading straight for Earth. As paranoia grows about the planets colliding, the two sisters find themselves rethinking their lives and the choices they've made including their husbands (Skarsgard and Sutherland). After watching the trailer, I was confused, but in a good way. The film looks absolutely beautiful, and Dunst, who has had her problems the past decade, seems to be back in prime form, winning the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. "Melancholia" might be a complete bomb, or it could be hailed as Trier's masterpiece. Whatever the case, audiences should be intrigued.

Immortals

'Immortals'

Nov. 11

Directed by Tarsem Singh, starring Henry Cavill, Mickey Rourke, Freida Pinto and Stephan Dorff

I'm not sure what is really going on in the "Immortals" trailers, but that's the case with all of director Tarsem Singh's films ("The Cell," "The Fall"). What we do know is the story follows the ongoing struggle for power after the gods have defeated the titans years ago. Now, the mad King Hyperion (Rourke) has built an army and is on a path of destruction searching for the weapon that would let him rule humanity. With the gods powerless against Hyperion (they can't intervene in man's conflict), they must choose a warrior (Cavill) to lead an army and find the weapon — the Epirus Bow — that will unleash the Titans and destroy Hyperion. The film looks a lot like "300," but that isn't a bad thing. Plus, the action looks crazy, and Mickey Rourke was born to play a brute leader who declares war on humanity. Get ready for lots of crazy action, mythical beasts, flashy gold suits, the sexy Freida Pinto as a witch and a superpowered bow and arrow. If that doesn't get you excited, I don't know what will.

Sound of My Voice

'Sound of My Voice'

Release date not available

Directed by Zal Batmanglij, starring Brit Marling, Christopher Denham, Nicole Vicius and Richard Wharton

Admittedly, I don't know when "Sound of My Voice" will be released this year (or possibly next), but I'm so enamored with Brit Marling after seeing her in "Another Earth" — which is playing at the Fleur Cinema right now — that I had to get the word out about this film. The teaser trailer leaves a lot to the imagination, but from what I've gathered the story follows two filmmakers — Peter (Denham) and Lorna (Vicius) — who infiltrate a cult that meets in the San Fernando Valley. After going through strenuous health physicals, the two are finally allowed to meet the leader, Maggie (Marling), who claims to be a visitor from the future who is here on a highly important mission. Maggie never leaves her chambers, and the members of the cult follow her every word including growing her food, obsessively cleaning and sanitizing the house and giving her their own blood for transfusions. What the couple finds out about the cult will leave audiences in awe. The recommendation of this film is on Marling's involvement alone (she also co-wrote the story as she did with "Another Earth"), so let's hope she's not a one-hit wonder.

Movie Release Schedule

Sept. 2
"Shark Night 3D" (d. David R. Ellis, with Sara Paxton, Katharine McPhee and Joel David Moore)
"Apollo 18" (d. Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego, with Lloyd Owen and Warren Christie)
"Seven Days in Utopia" (d. Matt Russell, with Robert Duvall, Lucas Black and Robert Bear)

Sept. 9
"Contagion" (d. Steven Soderbergh, with Matt Damon, Kate Winslet and Jude Law)
"Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star" (d. Tom Brady, with Nick Swardson, Christina Ricci and Don Johnson)
"Warrior" (d. Gavin O'Connor, with Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte)

Sept. 16
"Drive" (d. Nicolas Windling Refn, with Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan and Christina Hendricks)
"I Don't Know How She Does It" (d. Douglas McGrath, with Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan and Christina Hendricks)
"The Lion King 3D" (d. Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, with the voices of Jeremy Irons, Matthew Broderick and James Earl Jones)
"Restless" (d. Gus Van Sant, with Mia Wasikowska, Henry Hopper and Ryo Kase)
"Straw Dogs" (d. Rod Lurie, James Marsden, Kate Bosworth and Alexander Skarsgard)
"The Whale" (d. Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit, narrated by Ryan Reynolds)

Sept. 23
"Pearl Jam Twenty" (d. Cameron Crowe, with Eddie Vedder, Neil Young and Chris Cornell)
"Killer Elite" (d. Gary McKendry, with Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro)
"Machine Gun Preacher" (d. Marc Foster, with Gerard Butler, Michael Shannon and Michelle Monaghan)
"Red State" (d. Kevin Smith, with Michael Parks, Melissa Leo and John Goodman)
"Abduction" (d. John Singleton, with Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins and Maria Bello)
"Dolphin Tale" (d. Charles Martin Smith, with Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd and Harry Connick Jr.)
"The Double" (d. Michael Brandt, with Richard Gere, Topher Grace and Stephen Moyer)
"Moneyball" (d. Bennett Miller, with Brad Pitt, Robin Wright and Jonah Hill)
"Weekend" (d. Andrew Haigh, with Tom Cullen, Chris New and Andrew Haigh)

Sept. 30
"Tucker & Dale vs. Evil" (d. Eli Craig, with Tyler Labine, Alan Tudyk and Katrina Bowden)
"Take Shelter" (d. Jeff Nichols, with Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain and Shea Whigham)
"50/50" (d. Jonathan Levine, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anna Kendrick)
"Courageous" (d. Alex Kendrick, with Alex Kendrick, Ken Bevel and Kevin Downes)
"Dream House" (d. Jim Sheridan, with Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz and Naomi Watts)
"Margaret" (d. Kenneth Lonergan, with Anna Paquin, Matt Damon and Mark Ruffalo)
"What's Your Number?" (d. Mark Mylod, with Anna Faris, Chris Pratt and Chris Evans)

Oct. 7
"Dirty Girl" (d. Abe Sylvia, with Juno Temple, Jeremy Dozier and Milla Jovovich)
"The Ides of March" (d. George Clooney, with Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman and George Clooney)
"Real Steel" (d. Shawn Levy, with Hugh Jackman, Evangeline Lilly and Kevin Durand)
"Texas Killing Fields" (d. Ami Canaan Mann, with Sam Worthington, Jessica Chastain and Chloe Moretz)
"Toast" (d. S.J. Clarkson, with Helena Bonham Carter, Freddie Highmore and Colin Prockter)
"The Way" (d. Emilio Estevez, with Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez and Deborah Kara Unger)

Oct. 14
"The Thing" (d. Matthijs van Heijningen Jr., with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton and Eric Christian Olsen)
"The Big Year" (d. David Frankel, Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson)
"Footloose" (d. Craig Brewer, with Kenny Wormald, Julianne Hough and Dennis Quaid)
"The Skin I Live In" (d. Pedro Almodovar, with Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya and Jan Cornet)
Oct. 21
"Martha Marcy May Marlene" (d. Sean Durkin, with Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes and Sarah Paulson)
"Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey" (d. Constance Marks, with Kevin Clash, Bill Barretta and Fran Bill)
"Father of Invention" (d. Trent Cooper, with Kevin Spacey, Heather Graham and John Stamos)
"Margin Call" (d. J.C. Chandor, with Kevin Spacey, Penn Badgley and Zachery Quinto)
"Paranormal Activity 3" (d. Henry Joost, with Ariel Schulman, Zayd Jaber and Katie Featherston)
"Revenge of the Electric Car" (d. Chris Paine, with Tim Robbins, Danny DeVito and Jon Favreau)
"The Three Musketeers" (d. Paul W.S. Anderson, with Logan Lerman, Orlando Bloom and Milla Jovovich)

Oct. 28
"The Rum Diary" (d. Bruce Robinson, with Johnny Deep, Amber Heard and Aaron Eckhart)
"Anonymous" (d. Roland Emmerich, with Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave and David Thewlis)
"In Time" (d. Andrew Niccol, with Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried and Cillian Murphy)
"Like Crazy" (d. Drake Doremus, with Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones and Jennifer Lawrence)
"Safe" (d. Boaz Yakin, with Jason Statham, Chris Sarandon and James Hong)
"Sleeping Beauty" (d. Julia Leigh, with Emily Browning, Rachael Blake and Ewen Leslie)

Nov. 4
"Another Happy Day" (d. Sam Levinson, with Ellen Barkin, Demi Moore and Kate Bosworth)
"The Monk" (d. Dominik Moll, with Vincent Cassel, Josephine Japy and Deborah Francois)
"My Week With Marilyn" (d. Simon Curtis, with Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne and Dominic Cooper)
"Puss in Boots" (d. Chris Miller, with the voices of Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis)
"Rid of Me" (d. James Westby, with Katie O'Grady, John Keyser and Storm Large)
"The Son of No One" (d. Dito Montiel, with Channing Tatum, Al Pacino and Juliette Binoche)
"Tower Heist" (d. Brett Ratner, with Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy and Casey Affleck)
"A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas" (d. Todd Strauss-Schulson, with John Cho, Kal Penn and Neil Patrick Harris)
Nov. 11
"J. Edgar" (d. Clint Eastwood, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Arnie Hammer and Naomi Watts)
"Melancholia" (d. Lars von Trier, with Kirsten Dunst, Kiefer Sutherland and Charlotte Gainsbourg)
"Immortals" (d. Tarsem Singh, with Henry Cavill, Freida Pinto and Mickey Rourke)
"Cook County" (d. David Pomes, with Xander Berkeley, Anson Mount and Polly Cole)
"Jack and Jill" (d. Dennis Dugan, with Adam Sandler, Katie Holmes and Allen Covert)

Nov. 18
"Happy Feet Two" (d. George Miller, with the voices of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams and Sofia Vergara)
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" (d. Tomas Alfredson, with Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy and Colin Firth)
"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1" (d. Bill Condon, with Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner)
"Tyrannosaur" (d. Paddy Considine, with Olivia Colman, Peter Mullan and Eddie Marsan)

Nov. 23
"The Muppets" (d. James Bobin, with Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Chris Cooper)
"Piranha 3DD" (d. John Gulager, with Ving Rhames, Gary Busey and Danielle Panabaker)
"Arthur Christmas" (d. Sarah Smith, with the voices of James McAvoy, Jim Broadbent and Bill Nighy)
"The Artist" (d. Michel Hazanavicius, with Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo and John Goodman)
"The Descendents" (d. Alexander Payyne, with George Clooney, Judy Greer and Matthew Lillard)
"Hugo" (d. Martin Scorsese, with Asa Butterfield, Chloe Moretz and Christopher Lee)

Dec. 2
"We Need to Talk About Kevin" (d. Lynne Ramsay, with John C. Reilly, Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller)
"Coriolanus" (d. Ralph Fiennes, with Brian Cox, Ralph Fiennes and Gerard Butler)
"Outrage" (d. Takeshi Kitano, with Beat Takeshi, Ryo Kase and Kippei Shiina)

Dec. 9
"A Dangerous Method" (d. David Cronenberg, with Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender and Keira Knightley)
"Young Adult" (d. Jason Reitman, with Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson and Patton Oswalt)
"I Melt with You" (d. Mark Pellington, with Carla Gugino, Jeremy Piven and Rob Lowe)
"New Year's Eve" (d. Garry Marshall, with Jessica Biel, Ashton Kutcher and Robert De Niro)
"The Sitter" (d. David Gordon Green, with Jonah Hill, Sam Rockwell and Ari Graynor)
"W.E." (d. Madonna, with Abbie Cornish, Natalie Dormer and Oscar Isaac)

Dec. 16
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked!" (d. Mike Mitchell, with Jason Lee, David Cross and the voice of Justin Long)
"The Iron Lady" (d. Phyllida Lloyd, with Meryl Streep, Jim Broadbent and Harry Lloyd)
"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" (d. Guy Ritchie, with Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Noomi Rapace)

Dec. 21
"The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" (d. David Fincher, with Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig and Stellen Skarsgard)
"Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" (d. Brad Bird, with Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton)

Dec. 23
"The Adventures of Tintin" (d. Steve Spielberg, with the voices of Jamie Bell, Andy Serkis and Daniel Craig)
"In the Land of Blood and Honey" (d. Angelina Jolie, with Zana Marjanovic, Goran Kostic and Rade Serbedzija)
"We Bought a Zoo" (d. Camneron Crowe, with Matt Damon, Elle Fanning and Scarlett Johansson)

Dec. 25
"The Darkest Hour" (d. Chris Gorak, with Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby and Max Minghella)
"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" (d. Stephen Daldry, with Viola Davis, Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks)

Dec. 28
"War Horse" (d. Steven Spielberg, with Jeremy Irvine, Tom Hiddleston and Emily Watson)

N/A
"Sound of My Voice" (d. Zal Batmanglij, with Brit Marling, Christopher Denham and Nicole Vicius) CV

Outdoors

By Amber Williams

The 9th annual Iowa Latino Heritage Festival returns to downtown Des Moines Sept. 17-18. Special to Cityview

It's that time of year when it feels good to slip on a fresh pair of socks and dig your feet down into snug sneakers or hiking boots. It's time to pull the old, perfectly tattered jean jacket out of the back of the closet and venture into a cooler climate for refreshing outdoor fun.

The rains have washed away the sweltering heat that likely chased most of us into the cool confines of air conditioned buildings, and you can almost feel sunshine sucking the water molecules back up into the atmosphere around us, so it may all start again.

Life's a cycle. And year after year, the greater Des Moines area offers much to do outdoors despite the heat, the rain or the snow. Here are a few things to do that will keep you busy until spring rolls 'round again.

CONSERVATION
Polk County Conservation Department 323-5300
http://www.conservationboard.org

Sept. 2 — The Mystery River Kayak Trip is just that: a mystery. The river will remain secret until the morning of the trip. Naturalists will guide participants down an Iowa river. Participants must be at least 16 years old with prior kayaking experience and should bring food and drink. The float will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The $35 fee includes transportation and kayaks. Departure is from Jester Park in Granger. The registration deadline is Aug. 26. To register, go to http://www.mycountyparks.com.

Fun for all ages at the Beaverdale Fall Festival, Sept. 16-17. Special to Cityview

Sept. 6, 10 — If you like butterflies, consider signing up for a monarch tagging class. Monarchs live only eight months, but in that time they travel more than 2,000 miles and wait the winter out in Mexico. Learn more about their amazing life cycles and how to tag them. This one-hour course reoccurs throughout the fall. Visit http://www.conservationboard.org or call 323-5300 for times and locations.

Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 11 — Looking for an excuse to get out of the house, make some new friends, enjoy a good meal and learn about the exciting world of nature? Sign up for OWLS (Older, Wiser, Livelier), a seniors program held the first Tuesday of each month. The nature program will cover a different topic every month including Arctic Adventure, Iowa Wildlife Center and Gladys Black: The Legacy of Iowa's Bird Lady. Each starts at 11 a.m. at the Jester Park Lodge, 11407 N.W. Jester Park Drive. An optional luncheon follows the program at noon for which registration is required. The cost of the catered lunch is $8. Lunch registration is due Sept. 2. To register for lunch, go to http://www.mycountyparks.com.

Sept. 9, Oct. 14 — Check out Wild Night Life and Hike, an evening of outdoor fun discussing creatures of the night followed by a hike through the woods at Jester Park, in Granger, Camp Area 5, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 9 and at Brown's Woods, from 7-8:30 p.m. on Oct. 14.

Sept. 22 — Have you always wanted to catch a flat head or channel cat? Check out Polk County Conservation's Catfish Basics class from 6-9 p.m. at the Yellow Banks Park (meet at the boat ramp at 6801 S.E. 32nd Ave. in Pleasant Hill). In this hands-on class, attendees will learn about catfish biology, what and when they eat, where to find them and more. After the program, the class will venture out on a sand bar and fish for catfish. Bait, hooks and sinkers will be provided. Bring a fishing pole if you have one, bug spray, a chair or bucket to sit on and a flashlight or lantern. Participants 16 years and older must have a valid fishing license, but all ages are welcome. Registration deadline is Sept. 15. To register go to http://www.mycountyparks.com. Fee: $5.

Sept. 23 — Turn your eyes to the sky for a special Stargazing event from 8-9:30 p.m. at the Yellow Banks Park, Shelter 1, 6801 S.E. 32nd Ave. View the autumn constellations through telescopes, which are provided. All ages are welcome.

Sept. 28 — Join the City of Energy Bus Tour from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Departing from Living History Farms in Urbandale, the tour begins by exploring the cutting edge, renewable fuels revolution at the Green Plains Renewable Plant followed by a tour of the Shenandoah museum highlighting history of the Everly Brothers and Earl May. Following lunch, there will be time to stroll downtown Shenandoah. The next stop is the KMA Radio Station home of the Kitchen Clatter Magazine and a viewing of the beautiful botanical garden. The final stop of the day will be sampling wine at the Wabash Wine Company. The $55 fee includes transportation, tour fees and meals. Registration deadline is Sept. 14. To register, go to http://www.mycountyparks.com.

Oct. 16 — Learn how to kayak (must be 12 or older) and geocache at this Do More Outdoors event. Enjoy a woodland hike, discover pond life, join in on some family friendly games or learn how to stay safe in the outdoors from 1-4 p.m. at the Fort Des Moines Park, Shelter 2. All ages are welcome. To learn more go to http://www.domoreoutdoorsiowa.com.

Nov. 19 — Do you know what common animals live in your neighborhood? Learn how to identify mammals by their tracks. Make tracks, play games and feel furs during this hands-on program set for 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Jester Park Equestrian Center, 11171 N.W. 103 Court. All ages welcome.

Nov. 19 — Everything needs a home, even wildlife. Lend a hand as building a variety of homes for birds and bats for this "make and take" program from 10 a.m. to noon at the Jester Park Shop, 11407 NW Jester Park Drive, in Granger. Materials, tools and instruction will be provided. Fee: $15. Minimum age of 12, accompanied by an adult. Registration deadline is Nov. 11. To register, go to http://www.mycountyparks.com.

EVENTS AND FESTIVALS

Sept. 3-5, 10-11, 17-18 — The ninth annual Des Moines Renaissance Faire involves three weekends packed with knights, barbarians and heroes of Medieval times including character reenactments of Scots, Brits, Irish, pirates, scallywags and buccaneers. The faire will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine, at Festival Park, an 18-acre outdoor event center located at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park just south of the Iowa State Fairgrounds at 4051 Dean Ave. Entry fees vary: ages 5-12, $8; adult, one day pass, $16; adult two-day pass, $25; and season passes, $35. All shows and a treasure hunt are included in the admission price. Call 262-4100 to learn about group discounts. Visit http://www.dmrenfaire.com to learn more.

Sept. 9-11 — Des Moines Kennel Club Inc. is hosting its annual dog show at the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, East 30th Street and Grand Avenue. For breeder referrals, contact Larry Shank at 994-2151 or prairiewindsams@q.com. It's quite a sight to see. Some of these dogs are better groomed than most people! Check out http://desmoineskennelclub.com to learn more.

Sept. 11 — What is it about a sleek ride that somehow attracts both the ladies and the gentlemen to its artful design? Join others who enjoy the colors and chrome of fine automobiles at the 12th annual Concourse D'Elegance, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Salisbury House, 4025 Tonawanda Drive. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students age 12 through college. Purchase them online at http://salisburyhouse.org.

Sept. 16 — Don't tell the authorities, but the Gatsby Gala will be luring some scandalous guests, and you might want to be among them. It's the prohibition era so on the down low, you will want to be at Salisbury House and Gardens, 4025 Tonawanda Drive, from 7-10:30 p.m. You won't want to miss this party. Dust off your flapper dress and zoot suit and maybe Templeton Rye will smuggle in the good stuff. Standard admission price is $150, and adults under age 35 are $75.

Sept. 16 — Leave your black ties and ball gowns at the cleaners, grab your dancing boots and mosey on over to the Blank Park Zoo, 7401 S.W. 9th Street, for a wild and exotic country-style gala, the Uptown Hoedown. This event supports the educational programs at the zoo as well as the training, veterinary care and general operations related to managing the extensive animal collection. Tickets are $65 for members, $75 for non-members, and premier tickets are $150. For more information, call 285-4722 or e-mail events@blankparkzoo.org.

Sept. 16-17— More than 20 years ago, merchants in the Beaverdale area first began the annual fall tradition now known as the Beaverdale Fall Festival with sidewalk sales, carnival rides, music, beer tents and a parade. Holy Trinity Church also had been hosting a similar annual event each September. In the 1980s, the two merged and the event expanded into a single weekend of neighborhood fun. This year, the parade will kick off at 10 a.m., starting at the First Federated Church, on Saturday. See the map and find out more at http://www.fallfestival.org.

Sept. 17-18 — The 9th annual Iowa's Latino Heritage Festival is returning to downtown Des Moines — back to where it all started at East Walnut and East First Streets. The two-day festival is an event the whole family can enjoy and is the biggest of its kind in the Midwest. Saturday kicks off at 10 a.m., and Sunday festivities are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with music, exhibitors, a talent search, children's activities, a poster contest, food, dance and live entertainment. More information will become available online at http://www.latinoheritagefestival.org.

Sept. 23-24 — As usual, the eighth annual Des Moines' Oktoberfest will bring live music, German food from Hessen House, a tented beer garden and various contests to downtown. And don't forget the traditional tapping of the Golden Keg at 4 p.m. on Friday. The cost is $10, but advance tickets can be purchased for $7 at all Des Moines area Hy-Vee location, which includes a two-day admission, a commemorative mug and your first beer. Learn more at http://oktoberfestdsm.com.

Sept. 24 — Dogtown Fest returns to the Drake neighborhood from 3-11 p.m. at University Avenue and 24th Street. Admission is free and festivities will include kids games, food, drinks, a beer tent, a cruiser bike rally and vendors as well as live music by Bob Tyler from 3-6 p.m. and Toaster from 7-10 p.m. Contact "Woody" Wasson at woody@woodyssmokeshack.com for more information.

Sept. 30 — Sample the metro's finest martinis at Cityview's fourth annual Martini Fest, from 5-9 p.m. Enjoy all the fresh cuisine, chic retail and live entertainment West Glen has to offer at 5525 Mills Civic Parkway, in West Des Moines, involving eight different bars and restaurants and 16 available martini flavors. Advance tickets are $15 and can be ordered online at http://www.dmcityview.com, or pay $20 at the door.

Oct. 7-9 — Entering its seventh year, the U.S. Cellular World Food Festival is considered Des Moines' premiere taste event featuring unique, mouthwatering flavors. The highlight of the event, are the restaurants and food vendors who specialize in small operations — the mom and pop kitchens churning out family recipes. All are welcome to the East Village from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Visit http://www.worldfoodfestival.org for more information.

Oct. 12-14 — The 2011 World Food Prize focuses on "The Next Generation: Confronting the Hunger Challenges of Tomorrow." The Borlaug Dialogue international symposium will gather the top minds and leaders in global agriculture, food and development this year, as the event celebrates its 25th anniversary at the downtown Marriott, where this year's laureates, John Agyekum Kufuor and Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva will be honored for their commitment and visionary leadership while serving as presidents of Ghana and Brazil respectively. For more information, go to http://www.worldfoodprize.org.

Oct. 15 — Farmtasia is a casually-elegant fundraising dinner/auction event, centered on the historic Flynn Barn and the modern Visitor Center at Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Road. This event combines a taste of Iowa's rich agricultural heritage with the comforts of contemporary amenities. Gala attire is casual, and costumes are encouraged. The winner of the second annual Teacher of the Year contest will also be announced at the Gala. Proceeds from Farmstasia support Living History Farms' extensive education and outreach programs, which serve more than 30,000 Iowa school children annually. For more information, call 278-5286 or go to http://www.ihf.org online.

Oct. 15 — Mysteries of the Castle is a stimulating Halloween event for the whole family. The historic rooms of the Salisbury House are ready for you to explore, including science experiments, story-telling, face painting and more. See the Owl Lady, bats, snakes and furry critters galore. It's a day filled with fun activities and lots to do. Kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. Tickets are $5.

Oct. 15-16 — Hey, animal lovers, the Great Iowa Pet Expo is returning to the Iowa State Fairgrounds, 4-H Building, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, to promote the health and well-being of Iowa's companion animals; to educate pet owners on the importance of spaying, neutering, and regular veterinary care; and to encourage pet ownership as a lifetime commitment. The Great Iowa Pet Expo shares the joy that our pets offer, while showcasing a variety of new products and services. Daily admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $3 for kids age 6-12. Learn more at http://www.greatiowapetexpo.com.

Nov. 22 — The Blank Children's Hospital Festival of Trees and Lights offers more than just trees and lights, though both are amazing sights to get you in the Christmas spirit. There will be an array of trees — including the Blank Children's Hospital Wish Tree — festival boutique, shopping, raffle prizes, concessions, a neighborhood forest and Santa Claus himself. The gala starts with a cocktails and social hour at 6 p.m. with a silent auction followed by dinner at 7 p.m. with live entertainment and a live auction. Tickets are $150. Learn more at http://www.blankchildrens.org.

Nov. 23-Jan. 1 — The 16th annual Jolly Holiday Lights is a holiday tradition for many families and is also is 100 percent charitable, with all of the money going directly toward granting children's wishes who have life-threatening medical conditions. It's open from 5:30-10 p.m. daily at Waterworks Park, 2201 George Flagg Parkway. Learn more at http://www.jollyholidaylights.org.

Nov. 29, Dec. 10 — Creating gingerbread houses is a timeless holiday tradition. Celebrate the tradition at the Gingerbread Grandeur Workshop from 6-8 p.m. at the Salisbury House, 4025 Tonawanda Drive. The workshop led by master baker Bob Harmeyer from Hy-Vee, who will teach you creative ideas and tips while making your own gingerbread creation. The November workshop perfect for a girls' night out, date night or a fun and creative evening with friends and family with wine and appetizers, while the December date is geared more for the kids with cookies and cocoa. After the workshop, take a tour of Salisbury House and view the spectacular gingerbread creations from local architects and bakers that will be displayed throughout the house. Tickets are $30, $20 for students.

Dec. 1, 8, 15 — Come shop in one of the metro's most historic niche districts at the Valley Junction Holiday Open House, from 5-9 p.m. Admission is free. Learn more at http://www.valleyjunction.com.

Dec. 2-4 — 'Tis the season for the 15th Annual Holly & Ivy tour at the Salisbury House, 4025 Tonawanda Drive, and Terrace Hill. Enjoy both historic and picturesque landmarks in their entire festive splendor, each room throughout decorated by Des Moines' finest florists, interior decorators and dedicated volunteers. After the Salisbury House, the tour takes guest through the Victorian charm of Terrace Hill, the Chamberlain home at Wesley Acres and the private home of Sticks owner and Founder, Sarah Grant. Standard admission price is $15. Student price is $6, and there is a $12 admission for groups.

JUST FOR THE KIDDIES

Sept. 6, 19; Oct. 4, 17; Nov. 1, 14 — Join a naturalist in various "Nature Friends" programs, a nature adventure for 3-5 year olds accompanied by an adult exploring a different nature topic each evening through stories, sharing time, guided exploration and art activities from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Topics include Animal Homes, Spunky Spiders, Autumn, Unhuggable Animals, Winter is Coming and Oh No Snow. Snacks will be provided. This program is sponsored by Des Moines Izaak Walton League and West Des Moines Parks and Recreation. Call West Des Moines Parks and Rec to register and to find out the different locations at 222-3444 Fee: $7 per program.

Oct. 1, 9 — Kids can learn the basics of waterfowl hunting at Youth Waterfowl Fun Field Day. Sessions will include dog training, calling, decoy setup, waterfowl identification, gun and blind safety, rules and regulations, and waterfowl ecology. Youth will also shoot clay "ducks" on a trap range. Door prizes and snacks provided at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt Longhouse, 8700 N.E. 126 Ave., in Maxwell. To register, go to http://www.mycountyparks.com. This event is for youths ages 6-18 (youth must be accompanied by an adult). To register, go to mycountyparks.com.

Oct. 20-23, 27-30 — Living History Farms is bringing back Family Halloween Nights from 5:30-8:30 p.m. this year with horse-drawn wagon rides, marshmallow roasts, storytellers, scarecrow and jack-o-lantern displays all during this non-scary family event. Children aged 12 and under trick-or-treat through town, and free pop and popcorn for all. Prices are $5.50 per person and $5 for members and pre-sold groups of 10 or more.

Oct. 20-23, 27-30 — This merry, not scary, Halloween fundraising festival invites children and adults to dress in their favorite costume and trick-or-treat through Blank Park Zoo as it is transformed into a world of lights, castles, storybook characters and fun. Ride the train, scoot down Scarecrow Lane, and dance in the Pumpkin Patch on Thursdays and Fridays from 5:30-8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 1-8 p.m. The cost is $10.95 and is free for members. For more information call 285-4722, or email events@blankparkzoo.org

Dec. 10 — Enjoy a holiday open house with a prairie feel at the Living History Farms' Prairie Christmas, from noon to 4 p.m. at 11121 Hickman Road, in Urbandale. The historic homes will be decorated for the season and bustling with party preparations and music. Take a horse-drawn wagon ride to the general store and the church for an old fashioned holiday social with music, games, tree trimming and Santa Claus. Taffy pulls and children's crafts make this a festive afternoon on the prairie. The Marketplace and a special children's Santa's Workshop will be open for holiday shopping. The cost is $5.50 for non-members.

Dec. 31 — Your non-alcoholic alternative to typical New Year's Eve parties, GuideOne ImaginEve is Des Moines' premier free, family celebration from 4-8 p.m. at the Hy-Vee Hall, Iowa Events Center. The event features inflatable rides and bounce houses, a caravan of clowns, balloon artist, carnival games and prizes, spin art, a toddler zone and a fireworks finale. This one-of-a-kind family event encourages family members of all ages to participate in a wide variety of activities. All children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 286-4950.

PARTICIPATORY EVENTS

Sept. 3 — Walk to combat homelessness at the third annual Walk a Mile in Their Shoes walk-a-thon at the Copper Creek Lake and Park in Pleasant Hill, starting at 9 a.m. Unlike any other event of its kind, this one is offering an interactive experience. Along the 1.2-mile path, participants will see card board testimonies from once-homeless individuals and families who are current shelter residents or recovery program graduates. The display will also include posted statistics about homelessness, and prizes will be given to those who complete the fill-in-the-blank stat sheet. All proceeds will benefit Hope Ministries' programs and services to homeless men, women and children. Visit http://www.hopeiowa.org to learn more.

Sept. 18 — The Out of the Darkness Community Walk is a 3- to 5-mile walk from 2-4 p.m. at the Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny campus, Building 7. with the proceeds benefitting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Participants are among thousands of other walkers nationwide to raise money for AFSP's vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide and provide support for survivors of suicide loss. Get registered soon online at http://afsp.donordrive.com, or contact Stephanie McAdam at 225-6585 or smcadam@knappproperties.com for more information.

Oct. 1 — Sometimes it's good to be B.A.D. Join the biker nation and the American Diabetes Association for Bike Against Diabetes support the fight against this deadly disease. Registration is $25 per rider and $15 for a passenger and grants you admission to the event, a commemorative pin and lunch. The B.A.D. ride was started in California by Rip Rose, a biker and photojournalist for Easyriders, who wanted to bring the biker nation together in the fight against diabetes. The local event site is at the Gigglin' Goat, 628 Story St., in Boone. Register online at http://badride.diabetes.org. Contact Doug Bickford to learn more at 276-2237, or by email at dbickford@diabetes.org.

Oct. 8 — Des Moines' Light the Night Walk will take place at West Glen, 5525 Mills Civic Parkway, in West Des Moines. Teams of families, friends, co-workers and local and national corporations come together to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and bring help and hope to people battling blood cancers. Every Light The Night walker is encouraged to become a Champion For Cures by raising $100 or more to help fight blood cancer. Get more details at http://www.lightthenight.org.

Oct. 8 — Register today for the Central Iowa Free to Breath 5K Fun Run/Walk and Kids' Dash, a fun event for the entire family that brings the community together to inspire hope and create change for everyone impacted by lung cancer. All proceeds help support the National Lung Cancer Partnership's vital research, education and awareness programs. Event registration opens at 7:30 a.m. and the one-quarter-mile Kids' Dash starts at 8:30 a.m., followed by a survivor photo and rally/balloon release. The 5K Fun Run begins at 9 a.m. at the Raccoon River Park, 2500 Grand Ave., in West Des Moines. Pre-registration closes on Oct. 5. The cost is $20 for adults, $10 for kids aged 10 and under. Prices go up the day of the event. Learn more or register at http://www.freetobreath.org.

Oct. 15 — The second annual John's Baby Steps 5K Run/Walk takes participants along a peaceful route from Kinnick-Feller Park around Adel, from 7-11:30 a.m. First, second and third place awards will go to a male and female from each age group: 19 and under, 20-40 and 50-plus, and raffle prizes will also be awarded. The $25 entry fee includes a T-shirt if registered by Sept. 25. Fees go to $30 after that. Sign up early at http://www.getmeregistered.com.

Oct. 16 — The sixth annual IMT Des Moines Marathon, which also includes a half marathon, Bankers Trust marathon relay, Principal Financial Group 5K road race and Iowa Kidstrong Kids Run. The races start at 8 a.m. and starts and finishes at Nollen Plaza, 400 Locust St., except for the 5K, which has an 8:30 a.m. start time. Learn more at http://www.desmoinesmarathon.com.

Oct. 22 — The Susan G. Komen Iowa Race for the Cure at the State of Iowa Capitol Grounds invites participants to walk or run the race as individuals or with a team in support of life-saving cancer research. This race is the largest series of 5k run/fitness walks in the world. All registration fees include the official Komen Race for the Cure T-shirt and race bib. Find out the many ways to register and fees online at http://iowa.info-komen.org.

SPECTATOR SPORTS

Iowa Energy
The Iowa Energy basketball schedule was not released by press time. Find it online at http://www.nba.com/dleague/iowa in coming weeks, or call 462-2849 for more information.

Des Moines Buccaneers
Bucs Arena, home games are at 7:05 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
http://www.bucshockey.com
278-2827
Oct. 1 — vs. Fargo Force
Oct. 7 — @ Green Bay Gamblers
Oct. 8 — @ Tri-City Storm
Oct. 14, 15, at 7:30 p.m. — vs. Youngstown Phantoms
Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. — @ Team USA
Oct. 29 — vs. Tri-City Storm
Nov. 4 — vs. Green Bay Gamblers
Nov. 5 — vs. Chicago Steel
Nov. 11 — @ Omaha Lancers
Nov. 12 — @ Fargo Force
Nov. 18 — @ Omaha Lancers
Nov. 19 — vs. Sioux Falls Stampede
Nov. 23 — vs. Omaha Lancers
Nov. 25, at 7:30 p.m. — @ Chicago Steel
Nov. 26 — vs. Dubuque Fighting Saints
Dec. 2 — vs. Sioux City Musketeers
Dec. 3 — vs. Team USA
Dec. 9 — @ Tri-City Storm
Dec. 10, at 5 p.m. — @ Tri-City Storm
Dec. 16 — vs. Waterloo Black Hawks
Dec. 17 — vs. Youngstown Phantoms
Dec. 28 — @ Tri-City Storm
Dec. 30 — vs. Lincoln Stars
Dec. 31 — @ Sioux Falls Stampede
Jan. 6 — @ Omaha Lancers
Jan. 7 — vs. Sioux Falls Stampede
Jan. 13, at 7:15 p.m. — @ Muskegon Lumberjacks
Jan. 14, at 7 p.m. — @ Team USA
Jan. 20 — vs. Youngstown Phantoms
Jan. 21 — vs. Youngstown Phantoms
Jan. 27 — @ Lincoln Stars
Jan. 28 — vs. Omaha Lancers
Jan. 29 — Waterloo Black Hawks
Feb. 3 — @ Lincoln Stars
Feb. 4 — vs. Tri-City Storm
Feb. 8 — @ Dubuque Fighting Saints
Feb. 10 — vs. Sioux Falls Stampede
Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. — @ Sioux City Musketeers
Feb. 15 — @Sioux Falls Stampede
Feb. 17 — vs. Indiana Ice
Feb. 19, at 5:05 p.m. — vs. Waterloo Black Hawks
Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. — @ Sioux City Musketeers
Feb. 25 — vs. Sioux City Musketeers.
March 2 — vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks
March 3 — vs. Lincoln Stars
March 9 — vs. Fargo Force
March 10 — vs. Fargo Force
March 17 — @ Lincoln Stars
March 18 — @ Sioux Falls Stampede
March 23, at 7:35 p.m. — @ Fargo Force
March 24 — @ Fargo Force
March 30 — vs. Sioux City Musketeers
March 31 — @ Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
April 1, at 5 p.m. — @ Sioux City Musketeers
April 6 — vs. Cedar Rapids RoughRiders
April 13 — vs. Omaha Lancers
April 14 — @ Indiana Ice

Grand View University football
Williams Stadium, all games at 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
http://www.gvvikings.com
263-2800
Aug. 27, at 2 p.m. — @ Black Hills State University
Sept. 3 — vs. Marian College
Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. — @ Drake University
Sept. 17 — @ Trinity International University
Sept. 24 — vs. Olivet Nazarene University
Oct. 1 — vs. Saint Ambrose University
Oct. 8 — @ Waldorf College
Oct. 15 — vs. McKendree University
Oct. 29 — vs. University of Saint Francis
Nov. 5 — @ Iowa Wesleyan College
Nov. 12 — vs. William Penn University

Simpson College football
Bill Buxton Stadium, all games kick-off at 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
http://www.simpson.edu/storm
278-2827
Sept. 3 — @ Bethel
Sept. 10 — vs. St. Olaf
Sept. 17 — @ Coe
Sept. 24 — @ Loras
Oct. 1 — vs. Dubuque
Oct. 8 — vs. Cornell College (Homecoming)
Oct. 15, at 1:30 p.m. — @ Wartburg
Oct. 22 — @ Luther
Nov. 5 — vs. Buena Vista
Nov. 12 — vs. Iowa Central

University of Iowa football
Kinnick Stadium, all games are at 11 a.m. unless otherwise noted.
http://www.hawkeyesports.com
(319) 335-9327
Sept. 3 — vs. Tennessee Tech
Sept. 10 — @ Iowa State
Sept. 17 — vs. Pittsburgh
Sept. 24, time TBA — vs. ULM
Oct. 8, time TBA — @ Penn State
Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. — vs. Northwestern
Oct. 22 — vs. Indiana (Homecoming)
Oct. 29, time TBA — Minnesota
Nov. 5, time TBA — vs. Michigan
Nov. 12, time TBA — vs. Michigan State
Nov. 19, time TBA — @ Purdue
Nov. 25 — @ Nebraska

Iowa State University football
Jack Trice Stadium, game times to be announced unless otherwise noted.
http://www.cyclones.com
294-1816
Sept. 10, at 11 a.m. — vs. Iowa
Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. — @ Connecticut
Oct. 1 — vs. Texas
Oct. 8 — @ Baylor
Oct. 15 — @ Missouri
Oct. 22 — vs. Texas A&M (Homecoming)
Oct. 29 — @ Texas Tech
Nov. 5 — vs. Kansas
Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. — vs. Oklahoma State
Nov. 26, at 7 p.m. — @ Oklahoma
Dec. 3, at 11:30 a.m. — @ Kansas State

University of Northern Iowa football
UNI Dome
http://www.unipanthers.com
(319) 273-4849
Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. — @ Iowa State
Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. — @ Stephen F. Austin
Sept. 24, at 4 p.m. — vs. Western Illinois
Oct. 1, at 1 p.m. — @ Missouri State
Oct. 8, at 4 p.m. — vs. Indiana State (Homecoming)
Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. — @ South Dakota State
Oct. 22, at 3 p.m. — vs. Southern Illinois
Oct. 29, at 3 p.m. — @North Dakota State
Nov. 5, at 4 p.m. — vs. Youngstown State (Hall of Fame weekend)
Nov. 12, at 6 p.m. — vs. Southern Utah (Senior Night)
Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. — @ Illinois State

FARMERS' MARKETS

Adel — This year the Adel Farmers' Market moved to Harvey's Floral Company located on Adel's south side along Iowa Highway 169 featuring products from the new community garden, as well as other vendors every Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. It runs through Sept. 30.

Ames — The Ames Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Cultural District introduced a new weekly farmers' market event this summer, which is held every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., through Sept. 24, at the 400 block of Main Street. Find out more at http://www.amesmainstreetfarmersmarket.com.

Downtown — The Downtown Community Alliance downtown farmers' market is from 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday through Oct. 29 in the Historic Court Avenue District of Des Moines. Find out more at http://www.desmoinesfarmersmarket.com or call 286-4928.

Downtown Too — The other downtown farmers' market is a new addition this year. Spanning 13th Street between Grand Avenue and Locust Street, this market is on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., making it a perfect choice for the 80,000 people who work downtown to find a fresh lunch, take a quick grilling, gardening or fitness class by experts at Meredith Corp., or browse the 30 food and craft vendors. It starts on Aug. 31 and will run through Oct. 5. Visit http://www.desmoinesfarmersmarket.com to learn more.

Drake Neighborhood — Located at 25th Street and University Avenue (in the parking lot of the First Christian Church), the Drake Neighborhood Farmers' Market runs from 4 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday till Sept. 28. Visit http://www.drakefarmersmarket.com to learn more.

Des Moines Highland Park — Located along the sidewalk at the corner of 6th Avenue and Euclid Avenue, the Highland Park Farmers' Market runs till Oct. 9 every Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. Contact Norm Gilbert at 288-1735 or 991-5267 for more information.

4-Mile — On Des Moines' east side, at 3711 Easton Boulevard, the 4-Mile Farmers' Market takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday, running through Sept. 16 featuring events such as Jazz in July, hot air balloon rides, cool cars and sky diving demonstrations.

Johnston — Every Tuesday the Johnston Farmers' Market sets up at the City Hall parking lot, at the corner of N.W. 62nd Avenue and Merle Hay Road, from 3 to 7 p.m. through Sept. 27. Visit http://www.cityofjohnston.com for more details.

Valley Junction — A favorite history spot in the metro, Valley Junction, at the corner of 5th Street and Railroad Avenue, offers a farmers' market celebration from 4 to 8 p.m. including the Music in the Junction concert series to accompany the vendors and entertain the guests from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Friday until Sept. 29. See entire listing of the concert lineup at http://www.valleyjunction.com.

Waukee — Every Wednesday until Sept. 28, the Waukee Farmers' Market gathers guests and vendors at the triangle in the heart of the business district. For more information contact Lyn Schafer with Classic Floral at 987-1552. CV

Theater

By Jared Curtis

The Repertory Theater of Iowa presents "God of Carnage," Sept. 9 – 25.

Fall is the unofficial start of the new season, and theaters around the metro are gearing up for some great shows. The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines kicks off its season with "La Cage Aux Folles" and brings back fan favorite "Wicked" for a limited run in November.

The Des Moines Playhouse is packed full of shows this fall including "The Producers," "Anne of Green Gables" and "The Sound of Music."

StageWest celebrates its 15-year anniversary by bringing back crowd favorite "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" followed by "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill."

Keep an eye on shows from Tallgrass ("Lonely Planet"), Repertory Theater of Iowa ("God of Carnage," "The Woman in Black" and "The Santaland Diaries") and a plethora of shows being presented at the Des Moines Social Club including "Men of Steel" and "A Behanding in Spokene." Also, don't forget about the local colleges and all of their talented students taking the stage.

Although the touring productions pack a punch, the local talent in our fair city is immense, so regardless where you see a performance, you'll be entertained, so get out there and see a show.

The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines
221 Walnut St.
http://www.civiccenter.org
Oct. 11 – 16 "La Cage Aux Folles"
Nov. 9 – Dec. 4 "Wicked"
Dec. 7 -31 "Caucus! The Musical" presented by Right Brain Productions
Dec. 14-31 "Utopia: The Iowa Musical Revue" presented by Right Brain Productions

Des Moines Playhouse
831 42nd St.
http://www.dmplayhouse.com
Sept. 9 – Oct. 2 "The Producers"Sept. 30 – Oct. 16 "Anne of Green Gables"
Oct. 21 – Nov. 6 "The 39 Steps"
Nov. 18 – Dec. 11 "Junie B. In Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!"
Dec. 2 – 30 "The Sound of Music"

Sierra White stars as Billie Holiday in StageWest's production of "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill," Sept. 29 – Oct. 9

StageWest
At the Civic Center's Stoner Theatre
http://www.stagewestiowa.com
Sept. 15 – 25 "Hedwig and the Angry Inch"
Sept. 29 – Oct. 9 "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill"
Nov. 11 – 20 "Next Fall"

Tallgrass Theatre Company
Rex Mathis Auditorium, 1401 Vine St. West Des Moines
http://www.tallgrasstheatre.org
Sept. 30 – Oct. 15 "Lonely Planet"

Des Moines Social Club
1408 Locust St.
http://www.desmoinessocialclub.org
Sept. 9 – 25 "God of Carnage" presented by the Repertory Theater of Iowa
Oct. 10 – 23 "Men of Steel" presented by Locust ProductionsNov. 11 – 20 "A Behanding in Spokane" presented by Mooncoin Prodcutions Dec 9 - 23 "The Santaland Diaries" presented by the Repertory Theater of Iowa

The Repertory Theater of Iowa
http://www.rtiowa.com
Sept. 9 – 25 "God of Carnage"
Oct. 25 – 29 "The Woman in Black"
Dec 9 - 23 "The Santaland Diaries"

DMACC Huff Theatre
DMCC Campus, Building 6, 2006 South Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny
http://www.myspace.com/huff_theatre
Sept. 15-16 "Bland Mary" and "Daisy"
Sept. 16 - Auditions for "Office Girl"
Nov. 18-19 "Honour"

Drake University Theatre Department
http://www.drake.edu/artsci/theatre/DrakeTheatreHomePage.html
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2 "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead"
Oct. 7 -9 - Student Theater Showcase (student directed works)
Nov. 10 – 13 "A Little Night Music"
Dec. 1 – 4 "Flu Season"

Simpson College Theatre Simpson
http://www.simpson.edu/theatre
Sept. 10 "Love Letters… From Our New Home: A Grand Theatrical Celebration"
Oct. 7-9, 14-16 "Women Beware Women"
Dec. 2-4 "The Glass Menagerie"

Actors, Inc.
120 Abraham Drive, Ames
http://www.actorsinc.org
Sept. 23 – Oct. 9 "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten"
Nov. 25 – Dec. 11 "A Tuna Christmas"

StageWest presents "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," Sept. 15-25 Special to Cityview

Iowa State University Theatre Department
http://www.theatre.iastate.edu
Sept. 30 – Oct. 9 "Hedda Gabler"
Nov. 4 – 13 "Love's Labor's Lost"
Dec. 2 – 11 "A Christmas Carol"

Iowa State Center
Season at Stephens Auditorium
http://www.center.iastate.edu
Oct. 14 "Blast"
Oct. 29 "Disney's Beauty and the Beast"
Nov. 1 "Macbeth"
Nov. 15 "Dayton Contemporary Dance Company" CV

Theater1: The Repertory Theater of Iowa presents "God of Carnage," Sept. 9 – 25.

Theater 3: Sierra White stars as Billie Holiday in StageWest's production of "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill," Sept. 29 – Oct. 9

StageWest celebrates 15 years

By Jared Curtis

StageWest celebrates 15 years

For 15 years, StageWest has been providing the local theater scene with an array of shows and musicals unlike any other company in town. They strive to provide eclectic theater, and it shows. With titles ranging from "Angels in America" to "Jerry Springer The Opera," they offer something for everyone.

"When we started, I had no idea we'd be here 15 years later," said Ron Lambert, Producing Artistic Director. "We've built long-lasting relationships, with some of our supporters being involved since the beginning."

Local theater companies continue to grow, but it was StageWest that set the tone early on.

"When we started, there were only two other local companies creating shows on a regular basis. We love theater, and we love Des Moines, so we thought it was important to do this for the city," Lambert said. "We try to offer audiences progressive, new works, and most of the shows we do are Iowa premiere productions. It's not that revivals or repeat productions aren't good; it's important for artists and audiences to experience something new. I like to compare us to the Fleur Cinema; you might not know about the plot of what you're going to see, but you know it'll be something fresh and new."

Lambert believes live theater is more important than ever.

"Our society has become one that turns to screens instead of connecting face-to-face, and it's tougher to get audiences involved with so many entertainment options. But people like the intimacy of our shows, and we've expanded that by creating a talk back session after the first Sunday matinee where fans can discuss the play and themes," Lambert said. "When you're sharing something live with other people, a bond is created between the audience and the actors that can't be duplicated on a screen.

Opening its 15th season, StageWest is bringing back fan favorite, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," which runs Sept. 15-25.

"The show is a rock concert that details the life of Hedwig and her journey from Berlin to America with all of the bumps and bruises in between. She has a botched surgery that leaves her feeling barely man or woman, and is left empty by loves of her past," said Colin Morgan, who plays Hedwig. "I have never gotten a chance to portray such a beautiful character in such a profound setting like a rock concert. I highly enjoy telling/singing the story of 'The Origin of Love.' It's a beautiful idea to think that everyone floats around the world blindly, but avidly, searching for their missing half."

Following "Hedwig" is another show filled with unforgettable music, "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill." The show features one of Billie Holiday's last performances before her death and is a riveting portrait of the singer and her music.

"I'm in love with this show and just feel so privileged to be singing such amazing classics like 'God Bless The Child' and 'Strange Fruit," said Sierra White, who plays Billie. "I'm so moved by the character of Billie and her unbelievable strength. She's so beautiful, funny and sad that I just knew I somehow had to have a helping hand in bringing her back to life. I think the show offers audiences a better understanding of heart and soul behind Billie Holiday's amazing talent."

With two widely different, yet similar shows kicking off the season, StageWest continues to raise the bar for local productions.

"We love theater and we love Des Moines, and I think we're a great fit for the city," Lambert said. "It's important to mix it up from offering serious, issue-related shows to light-hearted entertainment. We think we're a unique option for the city and have worked hard at becoming Iowa's premier professional theater company for the production of progressive, contemporary theater in an intimate venue." CV

theater 2: StageWest presents "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," Sept. 15-25 Special to Cityview

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