By Shane Goodman shane@dmcityview.com

No boundaries

It’s the greatest show on earth. That, according to Bo James, describes the Say What! Poetry Slam he founded three years ago. The show is now held the first Thursday of each month at the House of Bricks in the East Village, where about 80 people attend. James hopes to grow that number to 200. And we do, too.

Like many Des Moines artists, these performers are not getting rich. But they have created a diverse and talented mix of entertainment like no other in the area. This is another example of Des Moines’ well-kept secrets, a touch of culture in a city with plenty of nay-sayers. And for poets like Lenny Twin, Lisa Barber, Tessa Wilkinson, Phil Little and Jason La Cava, it is a great opportunity to express their history, their pain, their sexuality, their sensitivity. It is a “no boundary” approach to help these poets get in touch with themselves, and with those who attend. We recommend that you attend the second annual Poetry Slam Competition on Feb. 1. And while you are at it, mark your calendars for Say What!’s third anniversary celebration on March 1. That show will not only include poetry, but live music and dancing as well.

New looks

We have made a few changes to both our print and online editions recently. The avid reader will notice this page looking a bit different. Same content, just a new look on a different page. We have also reworked our video game, television and CD review columns into an easier-to-read format in one page, and we have added expanded information in these areas online for those who want even more. A few weeks ago, we brought back our Bar Notes feature, which provides a summary of fine drinking establishments in the area. And finally, we worked our film reviews and movie listings into one format to keep the information together so it would be easier to find. Keep looking to our Web site for even more changes that we will roll out in coming weeks.

Thanks for reading.

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