August 01, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Couch Surfing
Guru Higgins (as he wants to be called) has traveled to Iowa from Vermont while on his way to Montana. His opening line on his email to me was “looking to check out Des Moines, cook you a meal, and show you some yoga moves.” I don’t do yoga, and
Read More →There is no silver bullet in the digital age for booking travel accommodations. Leave your cares, deadlines, awkward relationships and everything else at home and travel to an exciting or relaxing place. As perfect as getting away from it all can sound, the gatekeeper to these experiences can be unbelievably frustrating. No, this gauntlet of
Read More →
August 01, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Belly Up To...
Johnston landmark since the 1930s The name The Boat House conjures up a quaint place next to a lake or ocean. Although Saylorville is close, The Boat House in Johnston isn’t off a beach or dock. The Boat House, located on Beaver Drive, is kittycorner to Camp Dodge and the static aircraft display perched
Read More →
August 01, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Sound Circuit
Fans love rock ’n’ roll cover band On a recent Thursday evening, an enthusiastic crowd gathered for Valley Junction’s Music in the Junction. Guitarist Devon Miller donned a Viking hat and strummed his fiddle while singing “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.” The crowd came alive, joining in and singing
Read More →
July 31, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
The Iowa Legislature wrote some wonderful concepts into the state’s government transparency laws. For example: “This chapter seeks to assure, through a requirement of open meetings of government bodies, that the basis and rationale of governmental decisions, as well as those decisions themselves, are easily accessible to the people. Ambiguity
Read More →
July 17, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
The University of Iowa announced last week that it will close seven academic centers, shrink three others and eliminate 33 jobs. The reductions will save $3.5 million, officials said. The announcement should come as no surprise if you have been paying attention to events in our state. The university has
Read More →The suicide of writer/television star Anthony Bourdain devastated the food world in June. No other journalist has changed the way people think about food, travel and culture, at least not since the death in 2006 of R.W. Apple, the New York Times chief political analyst and food correspondent at large. Bourdain rose from dishwasher to chef
Read More →
July 10, 2018 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
Don’t be surprised if a guy named Jamie Campbell turns out to be one of the key players in the 2018 race for Iowa governor. Campbell’s name will not be on the ballot in November. He will not be crisscrossing the state, appearing at one campaign event after another. But
Read More →
Bob Ray
Bob Ray became governor by luck. He remained governor because he was a very decent man. He was beloved not because he was a visionary leader, but because he was a nice guy. He had one great moment — but it was so great that it permanently changed the face
Read More →