There is something uniquely entertaining about an Iowa State Fair concert. You can buy a deep-fried pickle. Pet a champion bull. Admire a butter sculpture. And then spend the evening singing along with thousands of strangers who somehow all know every word to a song released years before many of
Read More →CITYVIEW’s Hall of Iowa Culinary Excellence (CHOICE) Awards celebrate Iowa’s enduring culinary pioneers and institutions. Established in 2015, the awards recognize individuals and businesses whose lasting contributions have shaped the state’s food culture. The 2026 Master Class honors four recipients. Mariana Gomez of Tacos Mariana’s is recognized for three decades
Read More →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
Read More →Winter has finally loosened its grip, and with it goes the long stretch of indoor hibernation. The heavy coats are retired, the gray skies begin to lift, and the outdoors suddenly feel like an invitation. This seasonal shift isn’t just about warmer temperatures. It’s a cultural reset. Across parks, streets
Read More →In Iowa, the first crack of a baseball bat signals spring more surely than blooming trees or warming air. Baseball marks the moment winter finally loosens its grip. Fans flood the ballpark for Iowa Cubs games, turning evening outings into a cherished seasonal ritual. The smell of fresh-cut grass, the
Read More →The 1970 song by Simon and Garfunkel, “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” conveys our need for support and comfort during difficult times, using the metaphor of a bridge to symbolize help and solace. The lines “like a bridge over troubled water” and “I will lay me down” mean doing everything we
Read More →A reader recently asked how many years we have been conducting our Best of Des Moines readers’ poll. Good question. I bought CITYVIEW in 2004, and we have organized the poll for more than two decades now. I received some archives of past issues dating back to 1993 as part
Read More →Admittedly, I’m a slow learner. I have owned CITYVIEW for more than two decades now, and it has taken me a while to truly understand what readers want. Of course, some people think we should pound you over the head about who you should or shouldn’t vote for, tell you
Read More →We all hear about the people who work behind the scenes, but we rarely see them. That’s the idea. Some folks like to be front and center — and they should be. Others appreciate being in the support role, making sure the final presentations are precise. We see this with
Read More →Some people tell me that we Iowans love our Cyclones and Hawkeyes so much because we don’t have any “professional” teams. I caution them on their use of the word “professional,” as many players, coaches and members of the front offices of those teams would give them an earful. I
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