Saturday, June 20, 2026

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June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel in Sound Circuit

Fastball finds a second wind as nostalgia fuels new popularity

Fastball, the alt-rock trio that helped define late-1990s radio, is enjoying an unexpected comeback, and co-founder Tony Scalzo says the band is embracing every minute of it. “We are excited about getting this new vibe. It’s like we’re in a renaissance, more than we were 15 years ago when nobody wanted anything

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June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel in People & Pets

Second careers

As Caty Elgin rides her horse, Smokescreen, during a jumping competition, she leans in, guiding the horse over a fence. As the horse clears it and other obstacles in record time, Elgin wins another riding competition. In addition to competing, Elgin teaches riding lessons and trains riders for competitions. She

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June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel in Ask Cityview

Ask CITYVIEW

I am 100% certain I attended a Freddie King concert in the summer of 1976 in a small bar near Drake University. Can any CITYVIEW reader confirm King’s 1976 Des Moines appearance? We are not sure if our readers can confirm it, but we sent ourselves down the rabbit hole

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June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel in Publisher

Iowa in motion

Beauty is easy to find in Iowa, if you know where to look, and if you take the time to really see it. That idea sits at the heart of the 16th Annual Keep Iowa Beautiful Photography Contest, where more than 500 entries once again captured the state in all

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June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel in Book Review

Book Reviews

‘The Girl With A Thousand Faces’ Sunyi Dean already had me locked into her twisted narratives with “The Book Eaters” and her endlessly inventive sentences, but this one hit differently. It is set in Kowloon in 1970s Hong Kong, one of the most fascinating places in human history, and she

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June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel in Your Neighbors

Iowa Genealogical Society silently serves generational knowledge

The Iowa Genealogical Society is one of the more underappreciated and less-known groups in Des Moines. Despite it being located in the bustling East Village, full of nightlife, shopping, restaurants and music venues, the society sits there quietly, running smoothly, hosting a wealth of knowledge within.  To find out more,

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June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel in Art News

Litigations and festivities

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

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June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel in Iowa Artist

Headed for tone, built for sound

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

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June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel in Commercial Real Estate Transactions

Commercial real estate transactions in Polk county from Dec. 8, 2025, to Dec. 17, 2025

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

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June 03, 2026 by Brent Antisdel in Cars in the City

2026 Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid delivers luxury, power and fuel savings

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

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