Posted November 01, 2023in Political Mercury
It’s the defining issue in Iowa. Heartbreak in rural towns. Heave-ho construction in the suburbs. Framing it further, we are talking about rural decline versus the explosive growth in certain corridors, the economically bulging Des Moines suburbs and the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids corridor. But it is such byzantine business that
Read More →
Posted November 01, 2023in Food Dude
Early last month, NASA released the first-ever photos of Pan, the innermost moon of Saturn. To great surprise, the moon looks like a potsticker (gyoza in Japan). Asian media have dubbed it “the dumpling moon.” Dumplings are a lifelong food. People learn to love them before they have teeth and
Read More →
Posted November 01, 2023in Film Review
In “The Pigeon Tunnel,” filmmaker Errol Morris engages in a four-day conversation with celebrated spy novelist David Cornwell (better known by his pen name, John le Carré, author of “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold” and “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”), revealing the fascinating exchange between two masters of
Read More →
Posted November 01, 2023in Des Moines Forgotten
November is a weird a month. We move from “spooky season” to “second mortgage season.” It’s that time of year for us to be with our families, overspend at the grocery stores and cook a minimum of two large meals where only a fourth of the food is eaten. It’s
Read More →
Posted November 01, 2023in Joe's Neighborhood
The cardboard box is tucked under the eaves in the attic. Spiderwebs and insulation cling to the top. Old baby beds and suitcases and containers of long-abused toys surround it. Stale, warm air drifts down from the rafters. I breathe slowly. Dusting off the flaps, I open it to see
Read More →
Posted November 01, 2023in Center Stage
When it comes to storytelling on stage, great antagonists provide the tension and counterpoints for each story’s righteous path. Tallgrass Theatre Company’s inaugural mainstage Seedlings production, “Wicked Queen,” and CAP (Class Acts Productions) Theatre’s “The Wizard of Oz: Youth Edition,” are two gems sure to delight young audiences — and
Read More →
Posted November 01, 2023in Collections & Hobbies
The disc golf community has seen steady growth across the country and especially in Des Moines. According to the PDGA’s (Pro Disc Golf Association) 2022 demographic report, 300 courses are listed in Iowa with 1,771 members. One of those members is local disc golfer Kyle Schultz. Schultz’s father was able
Read More →
Posted November 01, 2023in Walks of Life
What’s your favorite college team? NFL? NHL? Most of us have been asked similar questions at one time or another. Some people, however, don’t need to be asked. The team shirt and hat they are wearing, the banner hanging on their garage door, the bumper stickers on their cars, and
Read More →
Posted November 01, 2023in Lunch With...
More than anyone else, Mike Lavalle elevated the Des Moines dining scene over the last 50 years. Right or wrongly, he has been a step ahead of everyone else in Iowa. We asked him to lunch, and he invited us to his new project, Purveyor in East Village. Our old
Read More →
