Hairball. It’s the one rock band you never tire of seeing. Hairball returns to the Jacobson Center Exhibition Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds for the 13th time on Saturday, Feb. 4. Opening band is The Pork Tornadoes. Tickets $28 advance; $33 show. Classic rock fans are singing joy to
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January 04, 2023 by Beckham Miller
in Belly Up To...
Craving a hand-crafted cocktail? The craft cocktail craze in the Des Moines area has steadily increased in recent years, with bars offering their shaken-not-stirred concoctions. However, one strong contender in the cocktail world introduced the concept long before any other bar when it first opened seven years ago — Juniper
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January 04, 2023 by Beckham Miller
in Book Review
‘The Light Pirate’ Change is an incredible, inevitable, potent beast, and I don’t think I’ve ever read a piece of fiction that more aptly illustrates that point. This is an incredibly sad story that somehow manages to feel timeless and almost fairy-tale-like in its melancholy. Wanda is named in the
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January 04, 2023 by Beckham Miller
in Sound Circuit
In the midst of winter, Iowans need something to look forward to. How about a weekend full of blues music to warm the soul? The Central Iowa Blues Society (CIBS) is hosting its 28th annual Winter Blues Fest on Feb. 10 and 11 at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott. This
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January 04, 2023 by Beckham Miller
in Collections & Hobbies
Larry Carroll collects Sid Dickens Memory Blocks. Some people collect coins or stamps. Not Larry Carroll. Over the course of two decades, he has accumulated nearly 500 art tiles, each with its own distinct design. Created by Canadian artist Sid Dickens and known as Memory Blocks, the three-dimensional plaster tiles
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January 04, 2023 by Beckham Miller
in Your Neighbors
Customizing children’s books for modern family dynamics. In 2023, the average family structure can look different from the typical nuclear family of years past. Non-traditional families often struggle to find themselves reflected in pop culture and media, particularly children’s books. April Pearson-Decklever resolved to change that with her progressive publishing
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January 04, 2023 by Beckham Miller
in Cars in the City
When electric vehicles hit the market, a small Prius was one of the first. Now, a pickup truck double the size is available with the Ford F-150 Lightning. Debuting in 2022, it’s the second pickup truck to be all electric (the Rivian R1T was first). I test drove a Lightning
Read More →For those who want to do more than open their wallets, another precious gift waits to be given: time. Volunteers find themselves rewarded in return by the joy of giving — and there are ample opportunities to serve right here in the Des Moines metro. Following are a few profiles
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January 04, 2023 by Beckham Miller
in Your View
January 04, 2023 by Beckham Miller
in Iowa Artist
Seso Marentes is to be known as an Iowa artist — not just an artist whose ancestors came from Mexico. He began his soul searching path to discover his Iowa roots. As a result, his artwork consists of a series of Mexican icons interlaced with symbols of Iowa. “It’s a
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