Greetings, Cultural Adventurers:
9/2/2025
From Iowa’s cultural epicenter, Mainframe Studios at 900 Keosauqua Way in Des Moines, comes your Listener-supported Community Voice, the Award-Winning independent radio station, KFMG-LP 98.9 FM (streaming simultaneously at www.kfmg.org), bringing you music, literature & cultural content.
– John Busbee for The Culture Buzz
The Culture Buzz Podcast Library – https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz
2014 Iowa Governor’s Award for Partnership & Collaboration in the Arts
2015 Iowa History Award for Iowa History Journal magazine story, “Last Full Measure of Devotion”
2018 – voted Best Local Talk Radio Show
Cityview Magazine “Center Stage” columnist
Little Village Magazine “Contact Buzz” columnist
www.TheCultureBuzz.com
Quote of the Week –
“Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.”
—Louis Brandeis (1856-1941) an American lawyer who served as an associate justice on the Supreme Court of the United States from 1916 to 1939.
Newsletter content:
I. Iowa Flash Buzz – cultural news of the week
II. Guests on this week’s show;
III. Performance Arts (Greater Des Moines/Iowa);
IV. Visual Arts (Greater Des Moines/Iowa);
V. Auditions and other Opportunities (Greater Des Moines/Iowa);
VI. Planning ahead;
VII. Author events (Greater Des Moines/Iowa);
VIII. Best-sellers, life resource books, Greater Des Moines performing arts organizations, Central Iowa indie book stores, cultural exploration resources, health & welfare resources
I. Iowa Flash Buzz –
Des Moines Performing Arts’ Touchdown Tailgate
Des Moines Performing Arts (DMPA) will celebrate the intrastate rivalry football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Iowa State Cyclones with the popular Touchdown Tailgate.
Touchdown Tailgate will take place Saturday, Sept. 6 at 9 a.m. at Cowles Commons.
Des Moines’ largest tailgate event is free to attend. There will be two large screens for guests to enjoy the big game. Your Private Bar will be on site throughout the event selling drinks, along with local food trucks.
The event kicks off at 9 a.m., with entertainment provided throughout the day. Kickoff for Iowa at Iowa State will be at 11 a.m. The National Anthem will be just before kickoff. A bags tournament run by SoCo Baggers will begin at 2 p. m. You can sign up here.
Immediately following the game, local musician Jordan Beem will perform.
https://www.desmoinesperformingarts.org/whats-on/events/2025-26/touchdown-tailgate-2025
This Time Next Year: A New Short Story Contest Launches
The Des Moines Public Library and Little Village are inviting writers statewide to imagine the year ahead.
The Des Moines Public Library is partnering with Little Village magazine to create a short story competition. The contest, titled “This Time Next Year,” asks writers to create a story that encompasses predictions about the year ahead. The winning story will receive a $200 prize and be featured in the January edition of Little Village.
The contest is open to anyone residing in Iowa who is 18 years of age or older. In addition to following the theme of Predictions for the Year Ahead, submissions must be a maximum of 2,000 words and must be new, self-contained short stories. Generative AI usage is prohibited.
Writers will be judged on technical writing skill, story development, and character development. Submissions are being accepted from September 2 through October 31.
“Little Village is one of the prominent forces in Iowa’s arts and culture scene,” says Aaron Gernes, Des Moines Public Library spokesperson. “Joining forces with their team to showcase aspiring writers from across the state is an exciting way to celebrate creativity.”
More information, including submission requirements, can be found at dmpl.org/lv-contest.
Art on The Avenues opens neighborhood event series
Local artists, neighbors creating all summer with support from Invest DSM
Wonder Week thru August 29.
https://investdsm.org/2025/05/27/art-on-the-avenues-opens-neighborhood-event-series/
II. This week’s guests on The Culture Buzz –11:00 AM – Director Katrina Ploof and leading actor Rebecca Hunt (as Alice Murphy) lead a lively discussion about the Des Moines Playhouse’s next smash musical, Bright Star. With music by comedian / writer / actor / musician Steve Martin and Edie Brickell of the New Bohemians, this new Broadway musical tells a sweeping tale of love, loss, and hope and is sure to capture the audience’s hearts.
https://www.dmplayhouse.com/events/bright-star/
11:13 AM – Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg is a poet, writer, and transformative language artist who continues to share her powerfully engaging writing in her new book, The Magic Eye: A Story of Saving a Life and a Place in an Age of Anxiety. Listen as Caryn shares glimpses into the beck story of this beautifully written story.
“Caryn is a former poet laureate of Kansas who has published a couple of dozen books, both fiction and poetry, but “Magic Eye” is unlike anything she’s written before — memoir, yes, but also a kind of found poem in the dust bin of the universe.”
~ Max McCoy, from “In a Forthcoming Memoir, a Kansas Writer Sees the Land and Herself Anew” in the Kansas Reflector
https://www.carynmirriamgoldberg.com/
11:31 AM – In Romantic Friction, Lori Gold lures readers into a richly rewarding reading experience. Listen as Lori shares glimpses into the creation of this masterful story.
“With prose that crackles and wit that leaps off the page, Romantic Friction opens the curtain to an irreverent, hilarious, and yet decidedly loving behind-the-scenes look at the world of publishing. Lori is a writer readers will be thrilled to discover.”
— Chandler Baker, NYT best-selling author of Whisper Network, The Husbands, and Cutting Teeth
https://www.lorigoldsteinbooks.com/
11:45 AM – Annie Guest takes readers on an intimate, inspiring journey of transforming a sacred space – her home. Design for Your Mind: How a Family Caregiver and Mental Health Therapist Renovated Her Home to Recharge Her Life – and Didn’t Break the Bank. Listen as Annie shares insights into this fascinating and beneficial reimagining of how anyone’s home can adapt to a new situation.
“At the heart of Design for Your Mind, is a focus on the fundamental relationship between our environment and our mental and emotional health. It’s not simply about creating beautiful rooms, it’s about crafting spaces that foster comfort, stability and a sense of personal connection. As the full title clearly states, Guest astutely recognizes that knowing a little something about how our brains work can be a game-changer when it comes to creating a space we truly love.”
— Anne Willoughby, Designer, PorchLight Home Interior Designs
https://www.annieguestdesignforyourmind.com/
12:00 PM – Carrie Landgraf delivers a compelling journey in her memoir, The Stuart Spoon. Inspired by a true story, Carrie shares a mystery and soulful journey about an inherited treasure.
“In The Stuart Spoon, Carrie Landgraf sweeps readers into a gently seductive mystery that is as cozy as a comforter on a cool winter’s night.” – The Culture Buzz
https://www.amazon.com/Stuart-Spoon-Carrie-Lynn-Landgraf/dp/B0D1PK28B8
12:14 PM – Anna Gomez brings her marvelous storytelling experience to full focus in Somewhere Along the Way. Anna provides glimpses into the crafting of this wonderful tale of a young girl whose life was changed by the discovery of a letter from a mother she ever really knew.
“A beautifully woven tale of two love stories, past and present, that capture the complexities of love. Anna Gomez delivers a poignant story that juxtaposes the outward quest of a young woman to find her mother with the transformative journey of the heart.”
– New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Leylah Attar
https://www.annagomezbooks.com/
12:28 PM – In Frontier Comrades: From the Fur Trade to the Ford Car, writer, historian and exceptional researcher Jim Wilke tells the stories of six lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender lives on the frontier of the American West. Each account interprets this history through experiences that take place in different parts of the West, moving chronologically from the fur trade era to the dawn of the automobile age. Absolutely fascinating.
“Jim Wilke’s vividly drawn histories evoke sexual and cultural borderlands. . . . Readers will encounter here a West that is both familiar from countless frontier narratives and yet unfamiliar in its well-documented accounts of LGBTQ stories. Together these portraits reinstate complexity and humanity to storied times and places—gay, lesbian, and transgender lives that were there all along.”
—Josh Garrett-Davis, H. Russell Smith Foundation Curator of Western American History at the Huntington
https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/bison-books/9781496242228/frontier-comrades/
12:46 PM – Tess Sharpe pens a powerful adult romantic thriller in her new book, No Body No Crime. Listen as she shares peeks into this masterful page-turner.
“An entirely original thriller. From the first page to the last, No Body No Crime is a riveting story with two unforgettable heroines. A must-read!”
―AMY TINTERA, author of Listen for the Liehttps://www.instagram.com/forest_of_arden/?hl=en
III. Performance Arts
NOTE: During this respite before the fall season starts, this is an excellent time to review the upcoming seasons of area theatre companies. Purchase season passes and save, target select shows, and get engaged with excellent locally produced performing arts events. Full listing with links below.
1. Tallgrass Theatre Company. Blithe Spirit. Sep 12-28. https://tallgrasstheatre.org/tickets/
2. Des Moines Playhouse. Bright Star. Sep 19-Oct 5. https://www.dmplayhouse.com/events/bright-star/
3. Central Iowa Wind Ensemble. City of Light: Cafés, Cabarets, and Cathedrals. Sun Oct 12, 2025, at 3 p.m. https://www.ciwe.org/city-of-light/
4. Ankeny Community Theatre. Blithe Spirit. Oct 3-15. https://ankenycommunitytheatre.com/
IV. Visual Arts – Exhibitions
Des Moines Art Center – “Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa”
“Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa” showcases a selection of the rich holdings of Haitian Art in the Waterloo Center for the Arts’ collection—the largest public collection of Haitian Art in both Iowa and the United States. Thru Sep 7. https://desmoinesartcenter.org/art/exhibitions/light-within-ourselves/
Des Moines Art Center – Exhibition Firelei Báez. The exhibition runs through Sep 12. https://desmoinesartcenter.org/event/exhibition-opening-firelei-baez/
V. Visual Arts – Galleries & Found Space Exhibition Sites
1. Des Moines Art Center. 2 Re-connect with old favorites on exhibit from their permanent collection. Explore the constantly changing exhibits, from staff-curated to international, always ready to stimulate the imagination and senses. Always open (except holidays), always free. https://desmoinesartcenter.org/
2. Brunnier Art Museum. Ames. 2 This is the flagship for the University Museums, a treasure trove of visual arts immersion on the Iowa State University campus, which includes the Christian Petersen Art Museum, The Farm House Museum, the Anderson Sculpture Garden and the Art on Campus Collection. https://www.museums.iastate.edu/visit/brunnier-art-museum
3. The Grinnell College Museum of Art. Grinnell. 2 https://www.grinnell.edu/campus-life/arts-culture/museum
4. 2AU. West Des Moines. 1,2 http://www.2aulimited.com/
5. Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Des Moines 2 I added this destination for its unique value as a “living gallery,” where the constantly changing floral exhibitions entice and delight. https://www.dmbotanicalgarden.com/
6. Heritage Art Gallery. 2 Des Moines. http://www.polkcountyheritagegallery.org/
7. Hoyt Sherman Place Art Gallery. 2 Des Moines. https://hoytsherman.org/gallery/
8. IN Tandem Arts & Authors. 1,2 Des Moines. https://www.facebook.com/INTandemArtsAndAuthors/
9. Kavanaugh Art Gallery. West Des Moines. 1,2 https://kavanaughgallery.com/
10. Kunzler Studios. West Des Moines. 1,2 kunzlerstudios.com
11. Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design. Des Moines. https://www.lizlidgett.com/
12. Moberg Gallery. Des Moines. 2 https://moberggallery.com/
13. Olson-Larsen Galleries. West Des Moines.1,2 https://olsonlarsen.com/
14. Polk County Heritage Gallery. Des Moines. 2 http://www.polkcountyheritagegallery.org/
15. Ritual Café. Des Moines. 2 https://www.facebook.com/ritualcafedesmoines/
16. Slow Down Coffee Shop. Des Moines. 2 https://www.theslowdowndsm.com/
17. Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure. Des Moines. 2 https://www.facebook.com/ZanzibarsCoffeeAdventure/
1Visit these galleries open during semi-annual Historic Valley Junction Gallery Nights.
2Check website for current exhibitions.
VI. Auditions, Volunteer, and other Enhancement Opportunities –
“The Arts is a Contact Sport”
· AUDITIONS – Des Moines Playhouse. Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical. Mon Sep 15, 6 PM. https://www.dmplayhouse.com/auditions/disneys-frozen/
· Additional volunteer opportunities abound – with the seasons ramping up, now is a great time to explore how to find other ways to engage with Central Iowa theatre companies. Assistance is always welcome, from costume and set building, to ushering, to back stage crew, find a short-term commitment that will be immensely gratifying.
Check the websites of the theatre companies listed below to consider a wide range of volunteer opportunities.
1. About Time Theatre Company. https://abouttimetheatre.com/shows/
2. Ankeny Community Theatre. https://www.ankenycommunitytheatre.com/audition.html
3. Carousel Theatre of Indianola. https://carouseltheatre.org/?page_id=344
4. Class Act Productions (CAP). http://www.captheatre.org/main/expect/
5. Des Moines Community Playhouse. https://www.dmplayhouse.com/audition-2/
6. Des Moines Performing Arts. https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/
7. Des Moines Young Artists Theatre. https://www.dmyat.org/
8. Iowa Shakespeare Experience. https://www.iowashakespeare.org/
9. Iowa Stage Theatre Company. https://www.iowastage.org/audition
10. Once in a While Productions. https://www.facebook.com/groups/6717224708342610/
11. Pyramid Theatre Company. http://pyramidtheatre.org/
12. Tallgrass Theatre Company. https://tallgrasstheatre.org/audition/
13. Theatre Midwest. https://www.theatremidwest.org/
14. Urbandale Community Theatre. https://urbandaletheatre.com/get-involved/
VII. Planning ahead
“Back to School”
Tuesday, September 9 – 7:00 PM
Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation announces the five Iowans who will tell their original “Back to School” story on Tuesday, September 9. Kim Lipshutz, Tim McCoy, Sarah Scull, Quinn Whitaker, and Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist Harry Smith will present their compelling stories on the historic Hoyt Sherman Place stage. Courtney Crowder, Kyle Munson, Kim Norvell, John Sorrell, and Amanda Tugade are serving as coaches for The Tellers. Tickets are on sale now at the Hoyt Sherman Place box office and hoytsherman.org.
West Des Moines Historical Society and City of West Des Moines Host First Annual Heritage Jubilee
Celebrating History, Culture, and Community on October 11
WEST DES MOINES, IA — The West Des Moines Historical Society and the City of West Des Moines are proud to present the 1st Annual Heritage Jubilee on Saturday, October 11, from 1–4 p.m. at the historic Jordan House Museum grounds.
This family-friendly event marks the 175th anniversary of the completion of the first phase of construction of the Jordan House, one of Iowa’s most significant landmarks. Guests of all ages are invited to enjoy an afternoon filled with live music, heritage demonstrations, historic games, crafts, and hands-on experiences.
Highlights include:
- Apple cider making on antique presses
- Toe-Tapping Tunes from The Weary Ramblers
- Indigenous Experience: History of the tribes who once lived in West Des Moines
- Underground Railroad Journey: Explore stories through historical figures
- Legacy Woods Update: Learn about new progress at Legacy Woods
- Historical reenactors
- Pack a Wagon: Test your skills for the Oregon Trail journey
- Build a Log Cabin: Pioneer skills in action
- Laundry Station and Corn Grinding & Bird Feeder Project
- Owl Pellet Dissection & Bone Identification, sponsored by NCMIC
In addition, heritage vendors and demonstrators will showcase traditional skills, such as broom-making, herb preservation, and wattle fence building, with support from the Polk County Master Gardeners.
The Heritage Jubilee is free and open to the public.
University Museums at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa offers free events and educational programs open to all who wish to attend.
The events for the fall 2025 semester are relevant to exhibitions at the Brunnier Art Museum, Christian Petersen Art Museum, Farm House Museum, Anderson Sculpture Garden, and/or the Art on Campus Collection.
“The schedule of events for the fall 2025 semester truly continues our 50th anniversary celebration, paying homage to the role University Museums has played in conservation and preservation throughout our history. It celebrates our past, honors our present and looks to our next 50 years– continuously offering programs that are free and accessible to all.” -Allison Sheridan, curator and communications manager, University Museums
https://www.museums.iastate.edu/
Our annual Music Walk in Downtown Ames is coming up on Thursday, September 18.
Each year, we feature a diverse group of local artists who are excited to showcase their talents. Music Walk is the perfect opportunity to experience the many things Downtown Ames has to offer!
Learn more and check out business and musician pairings on the Music Walk event page
Make sure to follow Downtown Ames on social media (@downtownames) for updates as we get closer to the event!
https://downtownames.org/upcoming-events/music-walk-2025/
Church of Cash – Johnny Cash Tribute Band
For all fans of the man in black, one of the most honored tribute bands will be at Prairie Meadows Sep 18 at 7 PM. If you’re going to capture the mystique and resonance of Johnny Cash onstage, you better have the raw prowess as well as the reverberating voice. Jay Ernest, the driving force propelling Minneapolis-based Church of Cash, has both in spades. With his bandmates, Ernest brings the iconic Man in Black to life every time he takes the concert platform.
https://tickets.midwestix.com/event/johnny-cash-tribute-pm2025/listing
GAIA II: The Pale Blue Dot Exhibition at Grand View University
Christine A. Curry joins Mary Kline-Misol for an extraordinary Climate Crisis Dialogue in the Prairie Meadows Gallery in the Rasmussen Center at Grand View University Oct 20-Nov 21, 2025. Catered gallery reception Fri Oct 24, 5-7 PM.
Proyecto Echoes Migrantxs
This is the very first Spanish-language theater project in Des Moines, debuting on October 4 at 7 p.m. in the Stoner Theater. Gabriela Fuentes, M.A. (she/her/hers/ella), an Independent Performer and the Proyecto Echoes Migrantxs Director, reflects the excitement this project brings to Iowa.
Proyecto Echoes Migrantxs is more than a play. It’s a 6-week collective creation project led by Latinx adults who have long dreamed of exploring the performing arts but never had the opportunity. Through this project, we are not only celebrating art and language, but also ensuring every participant is compensated for their time and talent. This project will have English interpretation available for non-Spanish speakers.
There are opportunities for businesses and individuals to support this project through their special GoFundMe page. https://www.gofundme.com/f/Bringspanishlanguagetheatertodesmoinesdonatenow?attribution_id=sl:19756be1-9d6c-4f8d-882a-b3274ab2b31a&lang=en_US&ts=1756483106&utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&utm_content=amp13_t1-amp17_tb&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link
VIII. Between the covers – author/book events worth noting:
1. Beaverdale Books – Book Launch. Laura Snider. Bodies of Proof. Tue Sep 2, 6:30 PM.
2. Beaverdale Books – Meet the Poet. Richard Tillinghast. Night Train to Memphis. Wed Sep 3, 6:30 PM.
3. Beaverdale Books at West Des Moines Public Library – John M Donovan. Confessions of the Tenth-Smartest Person in the World (and Other Delusions), Thu Sep 4, 7 PM.
4. Beaverdale Books. Shadley Grei. Before Closure. Mon Sep 8, 6:30 PM.
5. Beaverdale Books. Joyce Rupp. The Years of Ripening: Reflections on Aging Later in Life. Sun Sep 14, 2:30 PM.
6. Beaverdale Books – Special Ticketed Event at Franklin Event Center. Veronica Roth. To Clutch a Razor. Tue Sep 16, 6:30 PM. $26 includes admission and copy of book.
7. Beaverdale Books Des Moines Public Library Fall Author Series – David Ellis. The Best Lies. Wed Sep 17, 7 PM at the Central Library.
https://www.dmpl.org/dmpl-fall-author-series *Highlighted author names indicate interviews are in The Culture Buzz Archive Library.
Please visit: https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz
Recurring bookstore events –
1. Beaverdale Books – Hunter’s Classics Book Club (2nd Tue, 7:00 PM); Beaverdale Book Browsers Club (2nd Thu, 6:30 PM); Urbandale UCC Book Club (3rd Thu); Books and Bonbons (3rd Thu, 7:00 PM); Environmental Book Club (3rd Sat); Mystery Book Club (4th Tue, 7:00 PM)
2. Storyhouse Bookpub – Storytimes (Saturdays 11:00 AM)
3. Dogeared Books – Dog-Eared official book club (one Thu/month, 10-11 AM); Between the Covers (one Sat/month, 7-8 PM); Women from Other Words book club (one Mon/month 5-6 PM); Translation book club (one Fri/month, 7-8 PM); Books & Beverages – the book club experience without the commitment (one Thu/month, 6-7 PM)
4. Capital City Pride – Book club meets every other month, rotating to different independent book stores. For titles being read and dates, locations, visit: https://www.capitalcitypride.org/pride-book-club
VII. Beaverdale Books provides Bestseller Lists on their website, including a parade of Iowa-authored books to consider. Many Iowa authors also have recordings archived in The Culture Buzz Podcast Library (https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz).
https://beaverdalebooks.com/news/
Current bestsellers are:
1. Learning in Free Fall, Nicole Terrizzi*
2. Decoding the Heart, Stephanie Caffrey*
3. Frozen River, Ariel Lawhon
4. Coming Up Short: My Memoir of America, Robert B. Reich
5. On Her Game: Caitlin Clark and the Revolution in Women’s Sports, Christine Brennan
6. Rivals to Lovers, Elise Wayland*
7. Just Our Luck, Denise Williams*
8. Bewitching, Silvia Moreno-Garcia
9. Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid
10. Project Hail Mary, Andy Weir
* Iowa author
Here are some great Iowa author titles to consider adding to your library:
· The Long Way Back, Nicole Baart*
· The Lincoln Highway in Iowa: A History, Darcy Daugherty Maulsby*
· Baking Blue Ribbons: Stories and Recipes from the Iowa State Fair Competitions, Kay Fenton Smith* and Carol McGarvey*
· Omari’s Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe, Abena Sankofa Imhotep*
· The Leora’s Letters Dexter Trilogy, plus What Leora Never Knew Joy Neal Kidney* (4 books, each sold separately)
*Highlighted author names indicate interviews are in The Culture Buzz Archive Library.
Please visit: https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz
Life Resource books worth your consideration –
1. Character: Life Lessons in Courage, Integrity, and Leadership. Robert L. Dilenschneider. This successful person has advised countless Fortune 500 companies while also creating resources that can benefit anyone.
“Based on thirty-one iconic historical figures who embodied such qualities of character, Robert Dilenschneider shares these inspirational and insightful stories to benefit others. As before, he succeeds.” – The Culture Buzz
https://robertldilenschneider.com/
2. Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind: A Food-First Plan to Optimize Your Mental Health. Dr. Georgia Ede. Combine the surprising truth about brain food with the cutting edge of brain metabolism to achieve extraordinary emotional, cognitive, and physical health.
“This book is an invaluable resource and guide for anyone looking to enhance their health and life through the thoughtful integration of nutrition.” – David Perlmutter, MD
https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/change-your-diet-change-your-mind
3. The Island of the Four Ps: A Modern Fable about Preparing for Your Future. Ed Hajim. Ed shares his wealth of experience, challenges and success, distilling it with a clarity and appeal that will benefit everyone desiring great advice through this engaging, beneficial allegory.
“This wonderful fable draws on the hard-won life lessons of fabled financier Ed Hajim. … For those on a similar quest, let Ed be your guide through reading this allegorical tale. It informs and inspires.” —Mark Zupan, President, Alfred University
Check out insightful interviews in The Culture Buzz Podcast Library at https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz
Performing Arts & Cultural Organizations
Please check in advance regarding any scheduled performances, exhibitions, museum visits, etc.
About Time Theatre –
Ankeny Community Theatre –
www.ankenycommunitytheatre.com; Facebook: Ankeny Community Theatre
Ballet Des Moines –
https://www.balletdesmoines.org/
Carousel Theatre of Indianola –
www.carouseltheatre.org; Facebook: Carousel Theatre Indianola
Central Iowa Wind Ensemble –
https://www.facebook.com/CentralIowaWindEnsemble/
Civic Music Association –
Class Act Productions (CAP Theatre) –
www.captheatre.org; Facebook: CAP Theatre
Des Moines Community Playhouse/Kate Goldman Theatre –
www.dmplayhouse.com; Facebook: DMPlayhouse
Des Moines Metro Opera –
https://desmoinesmetroopera.org/
Des Moines Performing Arts/Temple Theater/Stoner Studio Theater –
featuring an eclectic mix of Broadway national tours, symphony, music and more
www.desmoinesperformingarts.org; Facebook: Des Moines Performing Arts
Des Moines Symphony –
Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre –
www.dmyat.org; Facebook: DM Young Artists Theatre
Hoyt Sherman Place Theatre – featuring an eclectic mix of music, comedy, dance and more
https://hoytsherman.org/calendar/events/#all
Iowa Shakespeare Experience –
www.iowashakespeare.org; Facebook: Iowa Shakespeare Experience
Iowa Stage Theatre Company –
www.iowastage.org; Facebook: Iowa Stage Theatre Company
Pyramid Theatre Company –
www.pyramidtheatre.org; Facebook: Pyramid Theatre Company
Science Center of Iowa –
https://www.sciowa.org/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sciowa
Tallgrass Theatre Company –
www.tallgrasstheatre.org; Facebook: Tallgrass Theatre Company
Urbandale Community Theatre –
www.urbandaletheatre.com; Facebook: Urbandale Community Theatre
Greater Des Moines/Central Iowa Independent Book Stores:
The Culture Buzz encourages you to visit your local independent book store regularly. Check these sites, as their calendars are always filled with enticing activities and news.
1. Beaverdale Books, Des Moines (Beaverdale Neighborhood).
http://www.beaverdalebooks.com/
2. Storyhouse Bookpub, Des Moines (Historic East Village). https://storyhousebookpub.com/
3. The Little Book, Des Moines (Highland Park District). https://www.thelittlebookdsm.com/
4. Shelf Love DSM, Des Moines (Drake Neighborhood). https://shelflovedsm.com/
5. Nos Books, Des Moines (Drake Neighborhood). https://www.nosbookstore.com/
6. Reading in Public Bookstore + Café, Historic Valley Junction. https://readinginpublic.com/
7. Quest Haven Books & Comics, Winterset. https://questhavenbooks.com/
8. Pageturners Bookstore, Indianola. http://www.pageturnersbookstore.com/
9. Dog-eared Books, Ames. https://dogearedbooksames.com/
10. Read a Book Nook, Marshalltown. https://read-a-book-nook.business.site/
11. Book Vault, Oskaloosa. https://bookvault.indielite.org/
12. Pella Books, Pella. https://pellabooks.com/
13. Prairie Lights Books & Cafe, Iowa City. https://www.prairielights.com/
Cultural Exploration Resources:
The Culture Buzz will begin including carefully vetted but comprehensive listings where you can do some advance online exploration before scheduling destinations in the region. These are two great websites to know about:
1. The Culture Buzz – John Busbee and associates encourage cultural adventurers through the comprehensive overview of what The Culture Buzz delivers. An archive library of favorite interviews is on the website, and all recent interviews can be found at The Culture Buzz Podcast Library – https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz
Website – http://www.TheCultureBuzz.com/
2. Gentle Guide to Theater – Timothy Rose renews his insights and information about the Central Iowa theatre scene with his new website. This site is anchored by the most navigable, informative calendar of upcoming things theatrical in this region. www.gentleguidetheatre.com
3. Center Stage – This Cityview monthly column covers feature stories about Central Iowa’s theatre scene. Distributed throughout the region and available online. Current column: https://www.dmcityview.com/center-stage
4. Cityview – Central Iowa’s monthly printed and continually updated online resource to all things happening in your community, from arts & culture, to music, to civic and political discourse, to fascinating columnists and stories. Cityview is the reliable source for keeping you informed and engaged in the Greater Des Moines community and beyond. https://www.dmcityview.com/
5. Des Moines Arts Festival (https://www.desmoinesartsfestival.org/) and Bravo Greater Des Moines (https://bravogreaterdesmoines.org/) – have joined forces to provide resources, support and networking for individual artists (DMAF) and cultural organizations (Bravo). For artists and organizations seeking to gain the training, information and resources for success, check out www.artswork.art, https://iowaartistdirectory.org/home/, https://www.artswork.art/cbc
6. Axios – Des Moines – this free, weekday newsletter is a quick-read, reliable Greater Des Moines news resource by two veteran news journalists, Jason Clayworth and Linh Ta. https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines
7. Art Week Des Moines – this annual, community/neighborhood celebration of the arts happens in several Greater Des Moines communities during the week leading up to the Des Moines Arts Festival. Planning, engagement and more happen throughout the year, and a diversity of input is welcomed and embraced by this initiative. https://artweekdesmoines.com/
8. dsm Magazine – Central Iowa’s gateway to arts, culture and more in a stunning, visual format. https://dsmmagazine.com/ dsm’s CultureCast podcast features interviews with cultural leaders, artists and musicians.
9. ia Magazine – Built upon the success of its Central Iowa counterpart, this annual gem brings enticing cultural news from across the state. https://iapublication.com/
10. Contact Buzz – This column covers crossroads between creativity and culture, and is offered in the new Des Moines edition of Little Village magazine. https://littlevillagemag.com/desmoines/
11. Little Village magazine. This Des Moines edition of the iconic Iowa City monthly brings a progressive voice to Central Iowa readers. https://littlevillagemag.com/desmoines/
12. 900Views Podcast. An exploration of arts and community with Host Pat Boddy. Based out of Mainframe Studios in downtown Des Moines, 900Views provides a platform for glimpsing the creative work and lives of the Midwest’s cultural producers and influencers. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/900views-pat-boddy-RCELj1xc7Wh/
13. Greater Des Moines Community Jazz Center is this region’s source for a decades-established advocacy group for jazz, and established jazz professionals guiding and nurturing next generations of jazz musicians and fans. http://dmcommunityjazzcenter.org/
14. Central Iowa Blues Society is the area’s connecting point for performance, presentations and education in the world of blues. www.cibs.org
15. Bryan Farland, for many years, single handedly puts together the most comprehensive list of live and streaming music in Iowa. Bryan reaches out two ways, https://www.facebook.com/TheListDSM and farlanbr@dsmlivemusic.com
Resources to help, support and guide during any challenges you or someone you care about may be experiencing:
COVID Iowa Recovery: 800-775-9276 https://covidrecoveryiowa.org/
National Alliance on Mental Illness: 988 or info@nami.org
United Way 211: Dial 211, text ZIP code to 898211 or visit 211iowa.org
CICIL: #CICILServes COVID-19 Hotline: (866) 44-CICIL
Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
LGBT National Youth Talkline: (800) 246-7743
LGBT National Talkline: (888) 843-4564
Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center: dmpcc.org
Broadlawns 24/7 Crisis Team: (515) 282-5752
Your Life Iowa Help Line: (855) 581-8111
Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to be connected to crisis counseling
Online Mental Health Crisis Chat: iowacrisischat.org
MercyOne Des Moines Behavioral Health Clinic: 515-643-9030.
Prelude Behavioral Services (substance treatment): 515-262-0349
Instead of 911 – Des Moines area
*Domestic Violence: 515.286.3600
Polk County Crisis & Advocacy
*Poison Control: 800.222.1222
*Mental Health Crisis: 515.282.5752
Broadlawns Crisis Team
*LGBTQ+ Abuse: 866.488.7386
*Sexual Assault: 515.243.7386
Children & Families of Iowa
*Veteran Crisis: 800.273.8255 press1
Veterans & Their Families Health Crisis Line
*Child Abuse/Neglect: 800.422.4453
National US Child Abuse Hotline
Animal Abuse/Neglect: 515.284.6905
Des Moines Animal Control
*open 24/7
As always, I appreciate news and information from you out there in the cultural trenches and am ready and willing to pursue a story or interview to share with my audiences.
Creatively yours, John Busbee
