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August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Book Review

Book Reviews

‘Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators’ Revolution’ R. F. Kuang’s Poppy War Trilogy lives rent-free in my head years after I read it, so I picked up her newest book with buckets of anticipation and high expectations. Lucky for me, “Babel” more than met

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August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Art News

Medium is the message

Bill Luchsinger and Karen Strohbeen open their annual show Aug. 12 at Moberg Gallery. The pioneer digital couple are Iowa’s most popular artists by several measures, including total works sold. They have been doing their distinctive thing for 52 years now, and they were ahead of even David Hockney in

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August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Collections & Hobbies

American Ninja Warrior

Jackson Twait is a four-time veteran on “American Ninja Warrior” (ANW), a sports reality show that pushes elite athletes to their limit on obstacle courses of insane difficulties. The 24-year-old first caught the Ninja itch back in eighth grade, but it wasn’t his first television aspiration. “I just saw it

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August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Sound Notes

Sound Advice

Ovrfwrd, a Minneapolis-based instrumental quartet, fuses rock, jazz and classical music. The band touts an “adventurous listening experience” and has four albums to its credit. Catch them at xBK on Aug. 26. $10. Cheap Trick wants you to want to see them perform live on Sept. 9 at Hoyt Sherman

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August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Walks of Life

Won’t you be my neighbor?

Mr. Rogers had it right. With the social isolation many experienced in the last two years, the benefits of community have never seemed so crucial. Through driveway gatherings, street parties and more, these central Iowa residents have fostered opportunities for connection in their neighborhoods. ♦ LEANN AND JOE CULVER  Food

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August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Duffy

Duffy’s View

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August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Your Neighbors

Serving up history at the Iowa State Fair

Long before the days of funnel cake and deep-fried Twinkies, church-run dining halls dished out home-cooked meals at the Iowa State Fair. The West Des Moines United Methodist Church began its food stand in 1949 and is now the last remaining vendor in the Fair’s historic “Church Row.” For the

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August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Lunch With...

Jerry Talerico

Jerry Talerico is the dean of local chefs. He was the first Iowan to attend the Culinary Institute of America (CIA). He grew up in his father’s legendary restaurant Vic’s Tally Ho where steak de Burgo was on the menu before anywhere else. He owned Sam & Gabe’s, a legend

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August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller in People & Pets

Homeschooled corgi

Jennie Bailey and her family once had 13 pets in their home, including a hedgehog, chameleon and a gerbil. Today, they are down to just three pets — a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Kevin, a ragdoll cat, Cobalt, and a parrotlet. Kevin, the corgi, is 1 year old and not

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August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller in Your View

Your View

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