April 22, 2015 by justin
in Cover Story
Few people can say they have sustained two broken thumbs, a broken ankle, a badly bruised knee and multiple concussions and then finish by saying that they’ve been pretty fortunate in their careers. But bull riders are not like “average” people. They spend most of their lives training every day
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April 22, 2015 by justin
in Belly Up To...
Cradled by the booming arms of Des Moines, Snusville is a homey town where everyone knows everyone. It’s like when you call a friend to tell him or her about your new promotion on the way home from work, and by the time you arrive, people are already celebrating your
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April 22, 2015 by justin
in Film Review
When you start talking about the disappearance of Johnny Gosch, it can be difficult not to start sounding like a conspiracy theorist. The fact that a young boy could be taken from a street in the middle of West Des Moines and disappear so completely is odd enough. Add in
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April 22, 2015 by justin
in Political Mercury
When Bill Northey reads about California’s historic water-shortage problems he thinks of cows. Not cows for California. But cows for Iowa’s dairy industry. Northey, Iowa’s secretary of agriculture, tells Political Mercury that he’s been having conversations with Iowa ag businesspeople about possible ways the Hawkeye State could take advantage of
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April 22, 2015 by justin
in Food Dude
Chefs complain that Des Moines diners are resistant to change. If a restaurant replaces a dish or alters a recipe, someone will complain. In this environment, any change of ownership at traditional establishments comes with customer anxiety. In the last year-and-a-half, La Pena, Chuck’s, Tally’s, The Radish and the Des
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April 22, 2015 by justin
in Center Stage
John Viars, in his director’s notes for “Around the World in 80 Days,” says he’s sorry his show doesn’t have a balloon. The balloon was a feature of the 1956 movie, and the Playhouse actually uses one in its ads. Still, I don’t think Viars has to apologize. His choreography
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April 22, 2015 by justin
in Civic Skinny
Bob Brownell, the usually mild-mannered Republican Polk County supervisor, sent an intemperate email six weeks ago blistering Democratic legislator Tony Bisignano (“Senator Boozehound”) and plotting how to use a Bisignano-backed bill to embarrass Democrats and take over the state Senate in the 2016 election. He sent it to seven Republican
Read More →The Des Moines Social Club is getting into the music business. The Club, which has hosted video production class and music lessons in its classrooms since opening the Firehouse, has announced the launch of its own music label, dubbed Station 1 Records. The Club has tabbed Sony Music Director of
Read More →We’re taking you back to Sunday, Feb. 15, when the lead singer of Taking Back Sunday was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Adam Lazzara, 33, was initially pulled over in Charlotte, North Carolina, for running a red light when the officers smelled alcohol on his breath. Lazzara was later released
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Iowa’s Straw Poll and Caucus: dream or nightmare?
The Iowa dream of homespun democracy now seems like more of a nightmare of electoral folly. The notion of grassroots selection of presidential candidates — thanks to the Iowa caucuses — is pretty much bankrupt. It has given way to billionaires with more money than they know what to do
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