August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Joe's Neighborhood
The farmhouse sat on one side of the gravel road, surrounded by a large yard with a pump, a vegetable garden and scattered peony bushes. Chickens worked the ground in a hard-packed section at the back, while cattle lowed with mild dissatisfaction from the barns across the road. It was
Read More →
August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Book Review
‘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
Read More →
August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Art News
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
Read More →
August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Collections & Hobbies
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
Read More →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
Read More →
August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Walks of Life
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
Read More →
August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Duffy
August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Your Neighbors
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
Read More →
August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Lunch With...
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
Read More →
August 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in People & Pets
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
Read More →
