Posted June 24, 2015in Cover Story
This is a story of corporate bid-rigging (absolutely), municipal corruption (allegedly), political in-fighting (definitely), opportunistic land-owners (seemingly), nasty lawsuits (certainly) and east-side-vs.-west-side chauvinism (naturally) in Des Moines. And of salvation. All the intrigue took place in the 1890s. The salvation is taking place right now. What is being saved is
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Posted June 24, 2015in Center Stage
For one show this year, Des Moines Metro Opera brought in a woman from the Czech Embassy in Chicago. She spent a week teaching the cast her language. For another, performers learned to juggle opera Italian and cowboy lingo: “Howdy, ragazzi!” And for the third, by Mozart, the design team
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Posted June 24, 2015in On The Tube
“Humans” Sunday, June 28 (AMC) Series Debut: It’s not the future; it’s a “parallel present”(?). Whenever it is, “Humans” is a British production, which means a more subtle take on sci-fi than ‘Merican fare: A busy suburban London couple (Tom Goodman-Hill and Katherine Parkinson) buy a refurbished “Synth” (a human-like
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Posted June 24, 2015in Sound Circuit
We spend a lot of time talking about “the next big thing.” But while many people are busy debating what it takes to be successful, the Holy White Hounds have quietly set out to do the damn thing. The most direct path to success is one that involves three steps.
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Posted June 24, 2015in Food Dude
Growing up in Des Moines during the 1950s and ’60s, I graduated from college before I knew what an avocado tasted like. Ashamed that I did not know what this fruit was when first offered one, I bit into it as if it were an apple, skin and all. I
Read More →Rapper Rick Ross was pulled over by a Fayette County deputy in Georgia on June 10 for a window tint violation. The deputy alleged that upon the opening of Ross’ window, he smelled marijuana, giving him the right to search the vehicle. Good thing too, because they found five “marijuana
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Posted June 24, 2015in Belly Up To...
What’s better than free craft beer after a bike ride? Raising money for charity and drinking free craft beer after a bike ride. Firetrucker Brewery is working to create community engagement at the young brewery, which will celebrate its first anniversary on Independence Day weekend. To start, each night, the
Read More →Comic books have been a lot more than cavorting caped crusaders and kitschy kids for decades now, yet serious artists and writers who go beyond superheroes and cartoons don’t always get the notoriety and readership they deserve. There are incredible indie comics, covering every genre imaginable, waiting to be discovered
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Posted June 24, 2015in Locker Room
Polk County Conservation (P.C.C.) is offering kayaking classes and events throughout the summer. While it’s true that anyone can rent a kayak and begin to paddle, most people don’t take a lesson to learn the essentials of kayaking. “We teach the basics and general safety during the Summer Skills classes
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Posted June 24, 2015in Political Mercury
1. The political spectrum of influences in the Iowa congressional delegation has lurched to the right. For the last 30 years, Iowans, or businesses, needing Democratic and Republican influence on Capitol Hill had both in the form of men who became institutions, Tom Harkin and Charles Grassley. We no longer have that, and
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