This Friday marks the last day on the job for Des Moines Performing Arts publicist, Cindy Hughes Anliker, who is transitioning into the private sector with a gig at AmeriHealth. Stepping into her role for Des Moines Performing Arts is Communications Manager Jonathan Brendemuehl. Best of luck, Cindy. This week’s
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Posted January 20, 2016in Sound Notes
Posted January 20, 2016in Food Dude
China quest
Fans of traditional Chinese restaurants absorbed a double shock at year’s end. It had been announced for months that Kwong Tung would close after New Year’s Eve following more than a half century of service. It was barely known that Great China was also closing after 27 years. Those were
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Posted January 20, 2016in Sound Check
Hinds “Leave Me Alone” Mom+Pop Look, Hinds is fun, OK? I am not trying to argue that the Madrid-based foursome’s sound is anything less than charming and enjoyable. But sometimes you have to ask yourself if that is enough. “Leave Me Alone” is about as DIY as it gets, with
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Posted January 20, 2016in Sound Circuit
Vocalosity’ gets personal
Des Moines Performing Arts is wrapping up its 2015-16 Spotlight Series this week with its presentation of “Vocalosity,” a new a cappella stage show from “Pitch Perfect” musical director Deke Sharon. The show combines many of the elements that make “Pitch Perfect” or “Glee” popular with the visceral interactivity of
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Posted January 20, 2016in Your View
Republican candidates are fortune tellers
The Republican presidential candidates have a very important qualification that the news media has failed to report correctly. Many of those candidates have demonstrated the remarkable ability to predict the future. The most recent example was evident in regard to President Obama’s executive orders on guns. Several Republican candidates exhibited
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Posted January 20, 2016in Film Review
Pearl Harbor 2: Libyan boogaloo
Once upon a time, back in the halcyon, pre-9/11 days of 2000, Michael Bay filmed a movie called “Pearl Harbor.” Released in spring of the following year, “Pearl Harbor” was an objectively terrible film, where Bay supremely exposed himself as a one-note action director with a tone-deaf approach to anything
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Posted January 13, 2016in Cover Story
Joy to the Jam
Since its inception in 1995, the Christian music-based Winter Jam (originally known as January Jam) has grown to become the largest American music tour, regardless of genre. Routinely bringing nearly a half million faithful listeners together every year, Winter Jam is a dominating musical force. In 2010, for example, according
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Posted January 13, 2016in On the Move
Ann Taylor closing at Jordan Creek
Jordan Creek Town Center is set to lose one of its original tenants later this month when Ann Taylor closes its doors on Jan. 23. Reportedly, the lease is expiring for the women’s clothing store, and the parties mutual agreed not to renew. Loft ups its image Loft, a sister
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Posted January 13, 2016in Food Dude
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
The steakhouse is a distinctly American institution. They thrive in North America, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay where wide-open spaces have allowed grazing and ample grains to be grown to feed livestock. Usually accented with dim lighting and leather and brass, they represent much of what is macho, excessive and decadent
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No bed of roses: Iowa loses the ‘Humor Bowl,’ too
Wasn’t that outrageous at the Rose Bowl? To recall lyrics from The Music Man and the pool table crisis in River City, “Make your blood boil? Well, I should say.” No, I’m not upset about the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band making fun of Iowa. What bugged me was
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