June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Iowa Artist
A piece of artwork is versatile and not always displayed on a wall. For Mike Marcovis, his artwork is finely crafted, as well as functional. His artwork supports another artistic venture: creating music. Marcovis is a luthier — a craftsman who makes handmade guitars. He cuts, sands and fashions wood
Read More →
June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Art News
The art world went to court this spring, a lot. In San Francisco the family of Armand Vaillancourt lost its legal fight to prevent The City from dissembling and moving his brutalist Vaillancourt Fountain from Embarcadero Plaza. San Francisco will spend $4 million to move the neglected political sculpture, labeled
Read More →310 N.W. CHAPEL DRIVE, ANKENY SALE DATE: 2025-12-08 SALE PRICE: $1,360,000 SELLER: SPG INC BUYER: TTLC COOPERATIVE HOUSING ACRES: 0.742 SQUARE FEET: 11,616 NO ADDRESS LISTED SALE DATE: 2025-12-08 SALE PRICE: $2,152,165 SELLER: DRA PROPERTIES LC BUYER: TSPTN25 LLC ACRES: 9.881 SQUARE FEET: 0 214 N.W. COLLEGE AVE., ANKENY SALE
Read More →
June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Cars in the City
With current gas prices soaring, car manufacturers continue to promote their fuel-efficient electric or hybrid models. This month’s Cars in the City features the 2026 Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid. The Volvo hybrid gets about 58 mpg equivalent when using both electricity and gas for short trips. Once the electric charge
Read More →
June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Lunch With...
Siriaco Garcia is a prolific Chicano artist who has installed more than 60 commissioned murals in central Iowa and Minnesota under his nom de plume Siricasso. To our mind, he is redefining 21st century Iowa more than anyone else. Siricasso has covered walls mostly with scenes of hope and assimilation.
Read More →
June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Walks of Life
Longer days and warmer nights can only mean one thing — farmers market season is back. With fresh-picked produce, handcrafted goods and sweet treats, the market is a weekly gathering place for both vendors and visitors. Jacob Gomke Homemade flavors and big dreams Jacob Gomke loves ice cream. When he
Read More →
June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Collections & Hobbies
“Super Smash Bros.” is a platform fighting game that first hit CRT (tube) TV screens via the Nintendo 64 in 1999. Since then, it has had a total of five iterations across multiple gaming platforms and spurred one of the most active competitive gaming scenes in the world. Local player
Read More →From Iowa’s cultural epicenter, Mainframe Studios at 900 Keosauqua Way in Des Moines, Iowa comes your Listener-supported Community Voice, the Award-Winning indie radio station, KFMG-LP 98.9 FM (streaming simultaneously at www.kfmg.org), bringing you music, literature & cultural content. Quote of the Week – “There are few things more dangerous that
Read More →
June 01, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
Here’s betting District Judge Adria Kester does not read the Aspen Daily News. That Colorado newspaper’s front-page slogan declares, “If you don’t want it printed, don’t let it happen.” What happened to Judge Kester occurred outside of her usual venue — the 22 courthouses of north-central and northwest Iowa where,
Read More →Kathy and I were privileged to be on hand for a grandson’s high school commencement ceremony at Adel-De Soto-Minburn (ADM) High School in Adel last Sunday. The event was hugely attended, impressive, and full of joy for the graduates, their classmates, families, and friends. The end of a high school
Read More →
