Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Join our email blast

Posted May 02, 2018in Lunch With...

Kim O’Connor

A discussion on the state of the local real estate market at Paula’s in Valley Junction. Kim O’Connor is a Realtor who brands herself KO Realty and works under the Iowa Realty umbrella. We asked her to lunch recently to discuss the state of the local real estate market. She

Read More →
Posted April 04, 2018in Lunch With...

TJ Moberg and Ryan Mullin

An interview over broasted chicken from High Life Lounge TJ Moberg and Ryan Mullin have been close friends most of their lives. Both went to East High School and developed a strong interest in the arts. TJ owns Moberg Gallery and is himself a successful artist in several disciplines. Ryan

Read More →
Posted February 28, 2018in Lunch With...

Brian Hardin

at Jethro’s BBQ Drake Brian Hardin was named Drake’s 17th athletics director in November. A Des Moines native and former Drake Relays champion, Hardin came to Drake from Marquette, his alma mater and a school with a similar athletics department to Drake, particularly in the fact that basketball is the

Read More →
Posted January 31, 2018in Lunch With...

Dr. Gregory Schmunk

The state of the arts of murder and suicide Polk County Medical Examiner Dr. Gregory Schmunk is a bona fide celebrity in his field. He was the forensic consultant for hit TV series “CSI,” “CSI Miami,” “Bones, Rizzoli & Isles,” “The Blacklist” and “Rosewood.” He has also made multiple appearances

Read More →
Posted January 03, 2018in Lunch With...

George Formaro at Centro

George Formaro obsesses about food. He wakes up in the middle of the night to read esoteric government manuals about pickling and charcuterie. He is owner/chef of Italian, French and Mexican restaurants, plus the Zombie Burger chain, Gateway Market and Café and South Union Bread Café. We asked him to

Read More →
Posted December 06, 2017in Lunch With...

Josh Mandelbaum

Josh Mandelbaum was the new star in the local political sky this election cycle. He not only upset a likable Democratic party insider and party boss, but he trounced him by 22 points. Being a 38-year-old political rookie, whose campaign ended up being a single issue, he got our attention.

Read More →
Posted November 01, 2017in Lunch With...

Tai Johnson-Spratt

Talking turkey and much more at Chicago Speakeasy Tai Johnson Spratt owned Iowa’s most exotic poultry facility ever until she closed Fox Hollow Farm five years ago. She was having some problems from motorcycle injuries and finding it harder than ever to make a profit raising the best-tasting birds in

Read More →
Posted October 04, 2017in Lunch With...

Lila A. T. Akrad at Greenbriar

Lila A. T. Akrad is a patent attorney, veterinarian, dog rescuer, jewelry designer and cancer survivor. She is also the granddaughter of Dr. William Lacy Brown, the legendary scientist who was the first PhD that Henry Wallace hired at Pioneer, in 1945. Brown would serve both as president and CEO

Read More →
Posted September 06, 2017in Lunch With...

Kevin Cooney

Kevin Cooney spent his professional life as a TV commentator, all but two years in service to KCCI and its predecessor KRNT. He was the longest serving anchor in Des Moines TV history and led his station to repeated landslide ratings victories. We asked him to lunch, and he proposed

Read More →
Posted August 02, 2017in Lunch With...

Bruce Gerleman

Bruce Gerleman is a developer, general contractor and restaurateur best known for reviving the Court Avenue district and creating Jethro’s. We asked him to lunch recently to talk about his career in Des Moines. He chose the Altoona Jethro’s. “This is the most successful store in the chain. We will

Read More →
House - Rack Locations