March 06, 2024 by Brent Antisdel
in Political Mercury
We were all in the formula, the algorithm of horror that is a modern school shooting. Death for some, dehumanization for others. In covering the Perry school shootings Jan. 4, what struck me was the hope-stealing realization that so many students and families seemed prepared for their roles. The students I talked
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March 06, 2024 by Brent Antisdel
in Film Review
Ethan Coen, known famously as one half of the Coen Brothers, ventures into solo territory with “Drive-Away Dolls,” a raucous and unpredictable road-trip comedy that brims with eccentricity and audacious humor. Despite Ethan’s previous collaborations with his brother Joel yielding some of cinema’s most memorable characters and scenes, “Drive-Away Dolls”
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March 06, 2024 by Brent Antisdel
in Food Dude
Readers have alerted us about the avalanche of media interest in “the next new thing.” That is something that came with social media. Everyone with a smart phone is a restaurant critic, often posting while dining out. People camp overnight to be first to eat at a new Chick-fil-A or
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March 06, 2024 by Brent Antisdel
in Des Moines Forgotten
Iowa film industry lore is a niche topic that captivates my interest. If I hear anyone telling a story about the old days of film production, I stop what I am doing to join the conversation. My early Des Moines Forgotten articles included stories on the Varsity Theatre, filming a
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March 06, 2024 by Brent Antisdel
in Joe's Neighborhood
CITYVIEW Best Beaverdale Area Store Once again taking home Best Beaverdale Area Store … Beaverdale Books. Runner-up: Back Country We do love to compete, don’t we? Probably due to some Darwinian gamble about Bob and Jack outracing the T-Rex to the safety of a cave. The loser’s gene pool ended
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March 06, 2024 by Brent Antisdel
in Center Stage
The evolution of Greater Des Moines theatre companies is fascinating. Exploring these unique purveyors of community engagement gives cultural adventurers a greater understanding of the cultural icebergs beneath the surface. One of the longest continually running community theatres in Amerca is the Des Moines Community Playhouse. Surpassing its centennial producing
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March 06, 2024 by Brent Antisdel
in People & Pets
When offered a handful of grain, Stella, an alpaca, sticks out her long tongue to scoop the food into her mouth, leaving slobbery drops on the offering hand. Within minutes, more alpacas arrive with hopes to gobble up a special treat. The alpacas are part of the Rusty Stars Alpacas
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March 06, 2024 by Brent Antisdel
in Walks of Life
The vision of what life is like “after retirement” is as unique as each individual. For some, that vision focuses on leisure: traveling to warm beaches, afternoons spent reading, extra rounds of golf, more time for hobbies, friends and families. For others, however, employment continues to be an important aspect
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March 06, 2024 by Brent Antisdel
in Art News
Cecily Brown, whose one-person show at the Des Moines Art Center (DMAC) in 2016 was a major coup for the museum, is flying high after her “Death and the Maid” exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York Times art critic Roberta Smith wrote a review titled “I Was
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