Posted September 30, 2015in Cover Story
The honeymoon is the paradox of romance. Theoretically, it plays out as scripted in bridal show dreams conjured from the promotions of high-end resorts. Like all things theoretical, honeymoons sometimes fail the test of real-world complications such as delayed flights, missed connections, downgraded rooms, bad weather and unrealistic expectations. The
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Posted September 30, 2015in Featured Story, Food Dude
Long ago, in a restaurant world without bistros, gastropubs, sports bars or media buzz, Des Moines’ food scene was personality driven. Excellent cafés bore the names of their owners — Babe’s, Vic’s, Rocky’s, Johnny & Kaye’s, Gino’s, Aunt Jenny’s, Noah’s, Lemmo’s, Mr. V’s, Ricceli’s, Raul’s and Chuck’s to name a
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Posted September 30, 2015in Film Review
Though it might not seem like it at first glance, the way “The Intern” is constructed actually has a lot in common with “Million Dollar Baby.” The latter film, the 2004 Academy Award winner for Best Picture, is perhaps best known for the stunning, gut-wrenching emotional shift that happens two-thirds
Read More →Not everybody is picking up what Madison Ray is putting down. Like virtually any artist who has created for public consumption, Madison Ray has suffered the slings and arrows of negative response, sometimes in this very forum. Dealing with it is part of the coming of age that any performer
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Posted September 30, 2015in Tech Talk
If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Children across the country are told this every day when they say something hurtful. The problem is that this expression is also used when people say something negative. Criticism and negativity aren’t inherently evil. They are the
Read More →When the Des Moines Symphony kicks off its newest season, astute ears will notice a difference in the way the music sounds. The Des Moines Civic Center has made a number of subtle changes to its stage and seating area with the goal of eliminating echos and noise, and creating
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Posted September 30, 2015in Center Stage
“Improv-nesia” is the word for it, according to the members of Comedy Xperiment. The Des Moines troupe has been doing its special brand of improv for years now, and yet the players find it hard to recall individual shows. Even the bits that rocked the Stoner Theater soon drop out
Read More →Republicans now find the shoe on the other foot with this pope. In the past, the GOP have used the church and religion to bash Democrats over narrow issues like abortion. Now there’s a new pope suggesting the Republicans are seriously out of step with the broader mission demanded by
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Posted September 30, 2015in Featured Story, On The Tube
“Benders” Thursday, Oct. 1 (IFC) Series Debut: Denis Leary has produced shows firefighters (“Rescue Me”), EMTs (“Sirens”) and music (“Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll”), so it was inevitable that he’d get around to another of his obsessions: hockey. “Benders”’ beer-soaked concept of an amateur hockey league that spends more time bro-bonding and trash-talking off
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Posted September 30, 2015in Joe's Neighborhood
If you’re all the way to the mermaid tank at the Des Moines Renaissance Faire, you’ve gone too far. This is understandable, because you were probably distracted and beguiled by the smiles and colors and beauty of the sights when you walked in the gate. How could you not be?
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