Posted January 15, 2014in The Sound
“Social Music.” “Love Riot.” Jon Batiste is out to change the lexicon of jazz. Coming from a long line of New Orleans jazz musicians, Batiste has taken the music world by storm since releasing his first album at the age of 19. Now all of 28, the Julliard-traned musician and
Read More →Courtesy of Beaverdale Books Review by Cathryn Lang Harper Oct. 15, 2013 $29.99 463 pp. Acclaimed author Simon Winchester examines the development and consolidation of the United States based on the five classical elements of Wood, Earth, Water, Fire and Metal in this book, “The Men Who United the States:
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Posted January 15, 2014in Food Dude
A food writer friend recently asked to meet for dinner while she visited Des Moines for the first time. She was on a 20-year-old mission to visit Noah’s Ark. “My college roommate was from Des Moines, and she talked about Noah’s as if were some kind of holy cathedral. It’s
Read More →Ken-Matt Martin delivers the great freak-out of “Clybourne Park,” late in the brilliant second act, and he does it without a word. Martin, playing “Kevin” in this half of the story, loses it amid negotiations over changes in his neighborhood. That’s the park of the title, which African-Americans like Kevin
Read More →Robo Medicine At least two U.S. medical schools so far are early adopters of Dr. Benjamin Lok’s and Dr. Carla Pugh’s “Robot Butt” for teaching doctors-in-training to properly (and compassionately) administer prostate exams. The robot, bent over a desk to simulate the patient profile, has sensors to alert the students
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Posted January 15, 2014in Locker Room
A woman sits in the schoolyard puffing away on a cigarette as her daughter attends school. Some crows begin to gather behind — unbeknownst to the woman. Two or three at first, but soon they start arriving in droves — murders, as a flock is called. One crow catches her
Read More →Ryne Doughty was always something of an early adopter. “I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember,” he said. “I used to perform for my parents. I’d lip sync in the living room.” Like most musically inclined children, living room performances gave way to garage band practices. Eventually,
Read More →The deadline for applications for this year’s Metro Art Alliance “Jazz in July” series is Jan. 24. Now in its 32nd year, Jazz in July spotlights some of central Iowa’s most unique communities and musical acts. Applications can be found at www.jazzinjuly.org. For more information, contact Kim Poam Logan at
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Posted January 15, 2014in Joe's Neighborhood
Swimming seems an activity that evokes an older time, perhaps even a better time, a time of gentle ease. Swimming belongs in a Norman Rockwell painting. There you are, floating on your back in a small pond bordered by Iowa prairie grass, with two dragonflies and a single grasshopper perched
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Posted January 15, 2014in Duffy
