February 06, 2013 by justin
in Cover Story
The self-proclaimed “practically perfect” Mary Poppins once urged that “a spoon full of sugar will help the medicine go down.” But how about a spoon full of lemon-flavored ice cream laced with bourbon and cayenne pepper to help kick debilitating flu-like symptoms? Ohio-based company, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, is touting
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February 01, 2013 by justin
in Featured Story, Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Iowans have little way to monitor public officials’ compliance with transparency laws. Even if they do find possible violations, the state affords them few avenues to hold leaders accountable. Take for example the Des Moines School Board. It held a closed session in May citing the provision
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January 30, 2013 by justin
in Locker Room
Beginning in 1930, Hotel Kirkwood was a place where socialites could gather together and enjoy a night of entertainment and camaraderie. The building has changed a bit since then, but the setting remains the same thanks to the Des Moines Social Club. The historic hotel’s lobby plays host to one
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January 30, 2013 by justin
in Cover Story
It’s cold. It’s damn cold. Fortunately, in Iowa we can get pretty inventive in finding ways to keep warm (hence Templeton Rye whiskey). But contrary to coastal belief, there is much more to do in Iowa than get drunk and chew gum — from movies to music, theatre to sports.
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January 30, 2013 by justin
in On The Tube, Recent Posts
‘The Americans’ seeks to undermine our way of life We’ve seen many dramas about married couples living a lie in the suburbs, with tensions cracking the cheery façade. The lie in “The Americans,” however, is bigger than most. Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth (Keri Russell) are KGB agents passing as
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January 30, 2013 by justin
in Featured Story, Food Dude
Bacon Week is Des Moines’ Lupercalia, or more literally, our Fastnacht — a series of pig-outs preceding the fasts of Lent. Iowa celebrants are more apt to wear hog costumes than goatskins, but the soft underbelly of this state’s most plentiful mammal provides inspiration for a week of excess and
Read More →Iowa businesses could be in for a lifesaver when it comes to paying state taxes. The State of Iowa recently announced some major changes in its payment procedures, and it involves a tech startup from the very unlikely city of… Des Moines. Dwolla, a 3-year-old startup created by Ben Milne
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January 30, 2013 by justin
in Recent Posts, Sound Check
Tegan and Sara ‘Heartthrob’ Sire This is not the Tegan and Sara you went to college with, and that’s a good thing. The Canadian twin sisters spent most of their 20s developing the acoustic, almost folky, kind of emo sound that became their trademark. But the ladies aren’t in their
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January 30, 2013 by justin
in Belly Up To...
I got an education on how to drink beer upon my first visit to Sambetti’s on Second Avenue in Des Moines. My uncle — a veteran drinker even then — introduced me to the cozy booths, the warm Italian food and the term “big boy” in reference to beer. I
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