January 01, 2020 by Brent Antisdel
in Feature 2
CITYVIEW’s quest to eradicate hibernation continues. Wicked arctic blasts have invaded central Iowa, and Old Man Winter now occupies the region. This evil bully rules with an ice-cold fist while brandishing bad intentions and intimidating the citizenry with malicious sub-zero temperatures. Be on high alert, but fear not! Although CITYVIEW
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January 01, 2020 by Brent Antisdel
in Business Feature
EDITOR’S NOTE: After this story went to press, President Donald Trump signed a bill that raises the federal legal age for purchasing tobacco from 18 to 21. Beginning in the summer of 2020, it will be a violation of federal law to sell tobacco products to anyone under the age
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January 01, 2020 by Brent Antisdel
in Civic Skinny
The Des Moines City Council on Dec. 16 gave the go-ahead for the plan by developer Jeff Young to turn the old Franklin Junior High School into an entertainment center, gathering place, office building and hotel. There were a few questions about signage and sidewalks before the unanimous vote, but
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January 01, 2020 by Brent Antisdel
in Political Mercury
The former vice president talks small-town retail, future of ag and nuclear arms. American agriculture can get to net-zero carbon emissions and make money doing it while still feeding the world, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says. “It’s hard for people to get their head around it because it’s so
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January 01, 2020 by Brent Antisdel
in Film Review
A whodunit with a lot on its mind besides catching a killer Director Rian Johnson shows his love for the murder mystery genre but avoids falling into its predictable plot mechanics in his latest feature, “Knives Out.” When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his
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January 01, 2020 by Brent Antisdel
in Food Dude
Bartender’s Handshake and Lucky Lotus add personality to Des Moines’ most eccentric street. No other restaurant neighborhood in Des Moines has changed more, and more often, than Ingersoll Boulevard. It was home to the first franchise food joint in town — Henry’s. Many others followed including Burger King, Hardee’s, Howard
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January 01, 2020 by Brent Antisdel
in Your Neighbors
Local Dungeon Master Paul Privitera works to build the popularity of polyhedral dice in central Iowa. Maybe you pretend that Earth’s oceans have flooded, the ice caps have melted, the skies have emptied and dry land no longer exists…. Or that WWIII brought about nuclear Armageddon, and you’ve tunneled underground
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January 01, 2020 by Brent Antisdel
in Joe's Neighborhood
A little love here, a little push there, a little encouragement wherever it was needed. “So, you want to try the Fernet?” the bartender asked as he leaned across the bar with a small shot of dark liquid. Why not? Although, I must admit that I’ve never quite taken to
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January 01, 2020 by Brent Antisdel
in Center Stage
50th anniversary tour visits Des Moines. Anyone who has followed the world of musical theater for any length of time recalls the opening rock guitar riff that signaled a dynamically different spin on the Jesus story. “Jesus Christ Superstar” is celebrating its 50th anniversary, rejuvenating memories of those who have
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January 01, 2020 by Brent Antisdel
in Des Moines Forgotten
So’s Your Mother and The Laughing Iguana Most of my faithful readers are aware of my weekly music program on 98.9 FM KFMG called “Iowa Basement Tapes” — a show that plays Iowa’s history in DIY music dating back to the rockabilly and psychedelic acts of the 1960s, the political
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