‘Don’t need nothin’… but a good time’

In the 1980s, arena rock was all the rage, and the music wasn’t from just ordinary rock bands. These were hair bands. Big hair. Twisted Sister. Mötley Crüe. Bon Jovi. Quiet Riot. Def Leppard. Poison. The list goes on. Were they bombastic? Yes. Over the top? Of course. Entertaining? Without a doubt. And, for some of us, they still are.  

A few decades ago, a friend who shares my musical tastes told me I should join him to see a 1980s tribute band called Hairball. “It’s like 20 concerts in one,” he said. And he was right. But it was more than just the music of Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey and Aerosmith. It was the total package — lights, sound, smoke, fire and bombs. I loved it, and I still do. In fact, I have seen Hairball many times since, mostly at the Iowa State Fair.  

You don’t have to be a child of the 1980s to appreciate Hairball, but you do have to appreciate having a good time. Check out our cover story this month for an interview with Hairball’s Dave Moody, who tells us, “The road goes on forever, and the party never ends.” Rock on. 

The ultimate food challenge returns

Each fall, we ask our readers to select the ultimate local version of a popular food. In our first effort, sandwich lovers picked B&B Grocery Meat & Deli’s pork tenderloin as the ultimate sandwich. Later, steakhouse fans went with Chicago Speakeasy. Noodle lovers chose Noodle Zoo. Steak de Burgo fans picked Irina’s. Burger lovers went with Café at the Meadows, and later with Dirt Burger. Barbecue aficionados selected Woody’s. We held pizza runoffs three times, with Gusto yielding its title to Taste of New York, which repeated again. Taco lovers went with Tasty Tacos. We even had contests for the ultimate breakfast and the ultimate lunch. 

This year, we decided to take another stab at BBQ, as Des Moines is as big of a barbecue town as any. I encourage you to take our challenge and let us know which restaurant serves the ultimate BBQ.  

More than just fun and games

Most all employers and employees are attempting to find ways to work together better, and team-building exercises are often sought as a solution. They are not for everyone, clearly, but those who choose to participate and get involved with their co-workers often find great benefits. In this month’s business journal, we learn how three companies are attempting to boost morale and bring coworkers together through involvement in corporate games.

You will find all this and more in this issue of CITYVIEW. Have a great month, and thanks for reading. ♦

Shane Goodman 
Editor and Publisher
CITYVIEW
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.dmcityview.com