Posted October 05, 2022in Political Mercury
Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, who has served in public office since the Eisenhower administration, should perhaps “retire” or “step aside.” This is the sense his former colleague Tom Harkin says he gets when traveling the state, talking to Iowans — including political independents, a voting block Harkin thinks
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Posted October 05, 2022in Film Review
The inspirational story of Sidney Poitier is retold in this warm and thoroughly engaging documentary from filmmaker Reginald Hudlin, featuring commentary from Oprah Winfrey (the film’s producer), Spike Lee, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Quincy Jones, cultural critic Nelson George — and Lulu, Poitier’s costar in “To Sir With Love.” Most
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Posted October 05, 2022in Food Dude
Restaurants on the outskirts of town have been development pathfinders. When Eddie Webster’s opened in 1970, it was miles of cornfields away from the houses. It introduced central Iowa to flagons of wine, Alaskan ice cream cocktails, and a menu of steaks and lobster, no pasta or chicken. Eddie built
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Posted October 05, 2022in Des Moines Forgotten
I’m beating a dead horse when I talk about Beggars’ Night versus Halloween. Seemingly every news station and media outlet will have yet another story about the history of Beggars’ Night. And my Halloween-obsessedDes Moines Forgotten friends will once again rant about how offensive it is when I don’t celebrate
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Posted October 05, 2022in Joe's Neighborhood
Don’t get me wrong, there are serious problems in the world, and serious people are needed to keep us from killing ourselves and killing each other and to make sure we add baking powder to the cake batter. That tablespoon of baking powder is the difference between a cake that
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Posted October 05, 2022in Center Stage
Central Iowa continues its strong upward trend when it comes to cultural enhancement through performing arts. The community, from patrons to corporations with a strong foundation of local support, helped central Iowa’s cultural scene remain solvent during the COVID years. The Symphony, the Opera, multiple theater companies, anchored by world-renowned
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Posted October 05, 2022in Cars in the City
This month’s Cars in the City isn’t exactly a car. It’s a Polaris Ranger Crew NorthStar Trail Boss, a UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle). UTVs are mostly for off-road use, but that may soon change. As of July 2022, Iowa law says UTV and ATVs can now be driven in town,
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Posted October 05, 2022in Your View
Posted October 05, 2022in People & Pets
One Thursday evening at the Valley Junction farmers market in West Des Moines, people of all ages circled around two balls of curly fur with wagging tails. As I clamored to see the spectacle, there sat Reese and Wrigley, two dogs soaking up all the attention. Reese, with his curly
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Posted October 05, 2022in Walks of Life
A fresh coat of paint here, a demolished wall there. Through remodels big and small, local residents are changing their homes and loving where they live. Of course, it’s one thing to read about home improvement projects, but it’s another to see it with your own eyes. To view before and
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