Greetings, Cultural Adventurers:

8/19/2025

From Iowa’s cultural epicenter, Mainframe Studios at 900 Keosauqua Way in Des Moines, comes your Listener-supported Community Voice, the Award-Winning independent radio station, KFMG-LP 98.9 FM (streaming simultaneously at www.kfmg.org), bringing you music, literature & cultural content. – John Busbee for The Culture Buzz

The Culture Buzz Podcast Library – https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz

2014 Iowa Governor’s Award for Partnership & Collaboration in the Arts

2015 Iowa History Award for Iowa History Journal magazine story, “Last Full Measure of Devotion”

2018 – voted Best Local Talk Radio Show

Cityview Magazine “Center Stage” columnist

Little Village Magazine “Contact Buzz” columnist   www.TheCultureBuzz.com 

 

Quote of the Week –   “Each and every one of you has the power, the will, and the capacity to make a difference in the world in which you live.” – Harry Belafonte (1927-2023) an American singer, actor, producer, and activist who played a central role in the 1950s folk music scene. He was known as the “King of Calypso” for popularizing Caribbean folk songs, and his 1954 album Belafonte Sings introduced calypso to American audiences.

 

 

Newsletter content:

I. Iowa Flash Buzz – cultural news of the week

II. Guests on this week’s show;

III. Performance Arts (Greater Des Moines/Iowa);

IV. Visual Arts (Greater Des Moines/Iowa);

V. Auditions and other Opportunities (Greater Des Moines/Iowa);

VI. Planning ahead;

VII. Author events (Greater Des Moines/Iowa);

VIII. Best-sellers, life resource books, Greater Des Moines performing arts organizations, Central Iowa indie book stores, cultural exploration resources, health & welfare resources

 

I. Iowa Flash Buzz –

 

Heart performs at Des Moines Performing Arts

The legendary rock band Heart brings its Royal Flush Tour to the Civic Center Sat Aug 23 at 8 PM. Here is an exclusive interview with Nancy Wilson who, with sister Ann, are the creative brain trust for this iconic band. https://archive.org/details/nancy-wilson.-heart-at-dmpa-aug-23.2025

https://www.desmoinesperformingarts.org/whats-on/events/2025-26/heart

 

Restaurant Week

Savor exclusive dishes and special deals through Aug 24. Try a new spot or revisit an old favorite with prix fixe menus starting at $15 for lunch and $40 for dinner. https://dsmmagazine.com/dsm-dish-restaurantweek2025/

 

2025 Cloris Awards Nominees this Sunday

41 shows produced by 11 regional theatre companies will vie for top honors at the 2025 Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theatre Arts Awards at Hoyt Sherman Theatre on Sunday August 24 beginning at 5 PM. This inclusive collaborative celebration brings performers, technicians and patrons together for a free evening of recognition for a year of stellar performing arts. Check out the Nominees and shows on the Cloris Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/ClorisAwards/

 

Ingersoll hosts ‘ultimate neighborhood block party’

Ingersoll LIVE features live music and family-friendly fun on August 23

Get ready to celebrate at the ultimate neighborhood block party! Ingersoll LIVE, presented by Bankers Trust, will take over the 2800 block of Ingersoll Avenue on August 23 with two stages of live music, family-friendly entertainment, local food and drinks and community vendors from 3-10 p.m.

To see the full entertainment line-up and schedule, visit: www.theavenuesdsm.com/ingersoll-live-2025/

 

Art on The Avenues opens neighborhood event series

Local artists, neighbors creating all summer with support from Invest DSM

Wonder Week from August 23-29. https://investdsm.org/2025/05/27/art-on-the-avenues-opens-neighborhood-event-series/

 

II. This week’s guests on The Culture Buzz –

 

11:00 AM – Celebrated author James Grady (Six Days of the Condor) provides tantalizing glimpses into this newest novel, American Sky. This immersive story whisks his readers into the power and evolutionary 1960s.   “Grady’s style is loose, colorful, challenging and fun. I sometimes thought of Orwell’s novel 1984, sometimes of the Dylan song ‘Desolation Row.’” — Patrick Anderson, The Washington Post   https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/James-Grady/191277879

 

11:19 AM – With the majority of the world’s population being people of brown skin, Drs. Gauri and Abhijit Desai developed a line of skin care for melanin-rich skin. Listen as they provide insight into the scientific and medical research that makes their Brownkind products so unique for keeping the skin youthful.   “Known for clinically developed skincare rooted in science, Brownkind works to shift narratives in spaces where people of color have historically been underrepresented, including the media.” https://brownkind.com/

 

11:32 AM – In The Teachers of Auschwitz, Wendy Holden brings a deeply provocative historical novel to vibrant life and relevance. Inspired by a true story, Wendy shares glimpses into the inspirational and heart-touching story of how one man created special spaces for the interred children of the Holocaust.   “Haunting and beautiful. Excruciatingly vivid, The Teacher of Auschwitz is rigorously researched and true to the history, powerfully conveying what a smart, loving and energetic man Fredy was.” — Dr Elizabeth Baer, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum   https://www.wendyholden.com/

 

11:43 AM – The Big Hop is a marvelous history of man’s first nonstop flight across the Atlantic. David Rooney elevates his passion for flying and history into a captivating story, anchored by his exceptional research and skill at spinning an immersive tale.   “A true-life thriller … the accumulating tension of a whodunnit … The Big Hop reminded me of a John Buchan novel. Rooney has Buchan’s knack for acute imagery … and for spare, compelling action scenes … There may be some risk of air-sickness reading Rooney—but there is no danger of boredom” — The Observer   https://www.davidrooney.uk/

 

12:00 PM – Denise Forney, the Cloris Awards facilitator and producer, joins this year’s host, Julie Larson, to share insights into the 2025 Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theatre Arts Awards. The 2025 Cloris Awards Nominees are all listed on the Facebook page. Be sure to join Central Iowa’s theatre community – performers, production personnel, patrons – on Sun Aug 24 at the Hoyt Sherman Theatre at 5 PM for Greater Des Moines’ answer to the Tony Awards.   “The Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theatre Arts Awards have proven to be a legacy honoring celebration of performing arts for its namesake, Des Moines’ own Oscar and Emmy Award-winning star. This annual recognition party has united the Greater Des Moines theatre community as never before, and the results in production values prove the benefits to all.” – The Culture Buzz https://www.facebook.com/ClorisAwards/

 

12:17 PM – Releases this week. Peter Mann’s new book, following his New Yorker Best Book of 2022 historical fiction of the year, The Torqued Man, takes readers on another fantastic journey. World Pacific is described as a darkly comic novel of intrigue, adventure, and the perils of self-invention set in San Francisco and the Asian Pacific during the outbreak of the Second World War.   “Far removed from the staid worlds of most historical fiction, this is a wonderfully comic, gripping, and intriguing novel—like All the Light We Cannot See, but with a wry, macabre humor—following three hugely different, yet brilliantly developed characters.” — Booklist   https://www.pmanniabooks.com/

 

12:31 PM – Iowa historical memoirist Cherie Dargan releases Book 3 of her Grandmother’s Treasures series, The Promise. This section of the five-book series begins prior to WW I and fills that era with vivid storytelling.   “It’s a little history, a little (quilt) mystery, and faith, hope, and love.   https://www.cheriedargan.com/

 

12:46 PM – David C. Jacinto brings a rich, diverse and epic historical novel adventure to us, big enough that this is Book 1 of a Courageous Series duology. Out of Darkness is an Amazon No. 1 New Release, Best Seller in its class, immersive story that sweeps readers into the fast-moving story of a young boy overcoming the iron-fisted rule of the massively wealthy lord of the land, who not only owned much of South Yorkshire’s coal mines and the villages in which the miners lived, but the mortgage on their lives. Listen as David gives glimpses into how this vividly told tale was inspired by a true story.   “Out of the Darkness is a powerful story of the industrial enslavement of children by aristocratic overlords during England’s nineteenth-century Industrial Revolution. It is a story of overcoming adversity, and the power of family infused with the gospel of Christ to help a young boy rise from his desperate beginnings to reach great heights. Out of the Darkness tells a wonderfully powerful and uplifting story of the nineteenth-century American immigrant.”  — Tim Ballard, best-selling author, rescuer of children, and founder of Operation Underground Railroad, the inspiration behind the movie Sound of Freedom.   https://davidajacinto.com/

 

III. Performance Arts

 

1. Des Moines Performing Arts. The legendary rock band Heart takes the Civic Center stage Sat Aug 23 at 8 PM as their Royal Flush Tour stops in Iowa’s capitol city. https://www.desmoinesperformingarts.org/whats-on/events/2025-26/heart

2. Goodstock 2025. Music of the late 60s/early 70s. Peace, love, and jazz. New Hope United Methodist Church (4525 Beaver Ave) hosts this event, featuring the Community Jazz Center Big Band, and presents a free show, with a cadre of regional great singers, including Tina Haase Findlay and Preshia Paulding. Donations benefit Peace Ministries and the Texas Flood Victims. Sun Aug 24, Cool Activities start at 3 PM, Live jazz 4-6 PM.

3. The Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theatre Arts Awards. Hoyt Sherman Theatre hosts this annual celebration. Aug 24. 5 PM. Free and open to the public. https://www.facebook.com/ClorisAwards/ina

 

IV. Visual Arts – Exhibitions

 

Des Moines Art Center – “Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa”   “Light Within Ourselves: Haitian Art in Iowa” showcases a selection of the rich holdings of Haitian Art in the Waterloo Center for the Arts’ collection—the largest public collection of Haitian Art in both Iowa and the United States. Thru Sep 7. https://desmoinesartcenter.org/art/exhibitions/light-within-ourselves/

 

Des Moines Art Center – Exhibition Firelei Báez. The exhibition runs through Sep 12. https://desmoinesartcenter.org/event/exhibition-opening-firelei-baez/

 

V. Visual Arts – Galleries & Found Space Exhibition Sites

 

1. Des Moines Art Center. 2 Re-connect with old favorites on exhibit from their permanent collection. Explore the constantly changing exhibits, from staff-curated to international, always ready to stimulate the imagination and senses. Always open (except holidays), always free. https://desmoinesartcenter.org/

2. Brunnier Art Museum. Ames. 2 This is the flagship for the University Museums, a treasure trove of visual arts immersion on the Iowa State University campus, which includes the Christian Petersen Art Museum, The Farm House Museum, the Anderson Sculpture Garden and the Art on Campus Collection. https://www.museums.iastate.edu/visit/brunnier-art-museum

3. The Grinnell College Museum of Art. Grinnell. 2 https://www.grinnell.edu/campus-life/arts-culture/museum

4. 2AU. West Des Moines. 1,2 http://www.2aulimited.com/

5. Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Des Moines 2 I added this destination for its unique value as a “living gallery,” where the constantly changing floral exhibitions entice and delight. https://www.dmbotanicalgarden.com/

6. Heritage Art Gallery. 2 Des Moines. http://www.polkcountyheritagegallery.org/

7. Hoyt Sherman Place Art Gallery. 2 Des Moines. https://hoytsherman.org/gallery/

8. IN Tandem Arts & Authors. 1,2 Des Moines. https://www.facebook.com/INTandemArtsAndAuthors/

9. Kavanaugh Art Gallery. West Des Moines. 1,2 https://kavanaughgallery.com/

10. Kunzler Studios. West Des Moines. 1,2 kunzlerstudios.com

11. Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design. Des Moines. https://www.lizlidgett.com/

12. Moberg Gallery. Des Moines. 2 https://moberggallery.com/

13. Olson-Larsen Galleries. West Des Moines.1,2 https://olsonlarsen.com/

14. Polk County Heritage Gallery. Des Moines. 2 http://www.polkcountyheritagegallery.org/

15. Ritual Café. Des Moines. 2 https://www.facebook.com/ritualcafedesmoines/

16. Slow Down Coffee Shop. Des Moines. 2 https://www.theslowdowndsm.com/

17. Zanzibar’s Coffee Adventure. Des Moines. 2 https://www.facebook.com/ZanzibarsCoffeeAdventure/

1Visit these galleries open during semi-annual Historic Valley Junction Gallery Nights.

2Check website for current exhibitions.

 

VI. Auditions, Volunteer, and other Enhancement Opportunities –   “The Arts is a Contact Sport” (A Culture Buzz creed)

 

· AUDITIONS – Des Moines Playhouse. Disney’s Frozen: The Broadway Musical. Mon Sep 15, 6 PM. https://www.dmplayhouse.com/auditions/disneys-frozen/

· Additional volunteer opportunities abound – with the seasons ramping up, now is a great time to explore how to find other ways to engage with Central Iowa theatre companies. Assistance is always welcome, from costume and set building, to ushering, to back stage crew, find a short-term commitment that will be immensely gratifying.

 

 

Check the websites of the theatre companies listed below to consider a wide range of volunteer opportunities.

1. About Time Theatre Company. https://abouttimetheatre.com/shows/

2. Ankeny Community Theatre. https://www.ankenycommunitytheatre.com/audition.html

3. Carousel Theatre of Indianola. https://carouseltheatre.org/?page_id=344

4. Class Act Productions (CAP). http://www.captheatre.org/main/expect/

5. Des Moines Community Playhouse. https://www.dmplayhouse.com/audition-2/

6. Des Moines Performing Arts. https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/

7. Des Moines Young Artists Theatre. https://www.dmyat.org/

8. Iowa Shakespeare Experience. https://www.iowashakespeare.org/

9. Iowa Stage Theatre Company. https://www.iowastage.org/audition

10. Once in a While Productions. https://www.facebook.com/groups/6717224708342610/

11. Pyramid Theatre Company. http://pyramidtheatre.org/

12. Tallgrass Theatre Company. https://tallgrasstheatre.org/audition/

13. Theatre Midwest. https://www.theatremidwest.org/

14. Urbandale Community Theatre. https://urbandaletheatre.com/get-involved/

 

VII. Planning ahead

 

University Museums at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa offers free events and educational programs open to all who wish to attend.

The events for the fall 2025 semester are relevant to exhibitions at the Brunnier Art Museum, Christian Petersen Art Museum, Farm House Museum, Anderson Sculpture Garden, and/or the Art on Campus Collection.   “The schedule of events for the fall 2025 semester truly continues our 50th anniversary celebration, paying homage to the role University Museums has played in conservation and preservation throughout our history. It celebrates our past, honors our present and looks to our next 50 years– continuously offering programs that are free and accessible to all.” -Allison Sheridan, curator and communications manager, University Museums https://www.museums.iastate.edu/

 

Church of Cash – Johnny Cash Tribute Band

For all fans of the man in black, one of the most honored tribute bands will be at Prairie Meadows Sep 18 at 7 PM. If you’re going to capture the mystique and resonance of Johnny Cash onstage, you better have the raw prowess as well as the reverberating voice. Jay Ernest, the driving force propelling Minneapolis-based Church of Cash, has both in spades. With his bandmates, Ernest brings the iconic Man in Black to life every time he takes the concert platform.   www.churchofcashmusic.com https://tickets.midwestix.com/event/johnny-cash-tribute-pm2025/listing

 

GAIA II: The Pale Blue Dot Exhibition at Grand View University

Christine A. Curry joins Mary Kline-Misol for an extraordinary Climate Crisis Dialogue in the Prairie Meadows Gallery in the Rasmussen Center at Grand View University Oct 20-Nov 21, 2025. Catered gallery reception Fri Oct 24, 5-7 PM.

 

VIII. Between the covers – author/book events worth noting:

1. Beaverdale Books. Elise Wayland. Join Romance writers in conversation. Rivals to Lovers. Fri Aug 22. 6:30 PM.

2. Marshalltown Public Library. Denise Wiliams. Just Our Luck. Thu Aug 28, 6:30 PM.

3. Beaverdale Books – Book Launch. Arbor Sloane. Not Who You Think. Sat Aug 30, 3 PM.

4. Beaverdale Books – Book Launch. Laura Snider. Bodies of Proof. Tue Sep 2, 6:30 PM.

5. Beaverdale Books – Meet the Poet. Richard Tillinghast. Night Train to Memphis. Wed Sep 3, 6:30 PM.

6. Beaverdale Books at West Des Moines Public Library – John M Donovan. Confessions of the Tenth-Smartest Person in the World (and Other Delusions), Thu Sep 4, 7 PM.

7. Beaverdale Books. Shadley Grei. Before Closure. Mon Sep 8, 6:30 PM.

8. Beaverdale Books. Joyce Rupp. The Years of Ripening: Reflections on Aging Later in Life. Sun Sep 14, 2:30 PM.

9. Beaverdale Books – Special Ticketed Event at Franklin Event Center. Veronica Roth. To Clutch a Razor. Tue Sep 16, 6:30 PM. $26 includes admission and copy of book.

10. Beaverdale Books Des Moines Public Library Fall Author Series – David Ellis. The Best Lies. Wed Sep 17, 7 PM at the Central Library.

https://www.dmpl.org/dmpl-fall-author-series *Highlighted author names indicate interviews are in The Culture Buzz Archive Library.

Please visit: https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz 

 

Recurring bookstore events –

1. Beaverdale Books – Hunter’s Classics Book Club (2nd Tue, 7:00 PM); Beaverdale Book Browsers Club (2nd Thu, 6:30 PM); Urbandale UCC Book Club (3rd Thu); Books and Bonbons (3rd Thu, 7:00 PM); Environmental Book Club (3rd Sat); Mystery Book Club (4th Tue, 7:00 PM)

2. Storyhouse Bookpub – Storytimes (Saturdays 11:00 AM)

3. Dogeared Books – Dog-Eared official book club (one Thu/month, 10-11 AM); Between the Covers (one Sat/month, 7-8 PM); Women from Other Words book club (one Mon/month 5-6 PM); Translation book club (one Fri/month, 7-8 PM); Books & Beverages – the book club experience without the commitment (one Thu/month, 6-7 PM)

4. Capital City Pride – Book club meets every other month, rotating to different independent book stores. For titles being read and dates, locations, visit: https://www.capitalcitypride.org/pride-book-club

 

VII. Beaverdale Books provides Bestseller Lists on their website, including a parade of Iowa-authored books to consider. Many Iowa authors also have recordings archived in The Culture Buzz Podcast Library (https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz). https://beaverdalebooks.com/news/

Current bestsellers are:

1. Judy’s Birdhouse, Anna Zimney*

2. Des Moines Wallscapes Unseen, Jim Zeller*

3. Adopting Grace, Anna Jinja*

4. Seven, David Wolf*

5. Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, V.E.Schwab

6. Becoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar, Howard

Megdal

7. Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid

8. Monster in Mount Pleasant: A Story of Murders and Justice, CJ Williams*

9. Big Lake Troubles, Jeffrey D. Boldt

10. Remarkably Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt

* Iowa author

 

Here are some great Iowa author titles to consider adding to your library:

· The Long Way Back, Nicole Baart*

· The Lincoln Highway in Iowa: A History, Darcy Daugherty Maulsby*

· Baking Blue Ribbons: Stories and Recipes from the Iowa State Fair Competitions, Kay Fenton Smith* and Carol McGarvey*

· Omari’s Big Tree and the Mighty Djembe, Abena Sankofa Imhotep*

· The Leora’s Letters Dexter Trilogy, plus What Leora Never Knew Joy Neal Kidney* (4 books, each sold separately)

 

*Highlighted author names indicate interviews are in The Culture Buzz Archive Library.

Please visit: https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz 

 

Life Resource books worth your consideration –

1. Character: Life Lessons in Courage, Integrity, and Leadership. Robert L. Dilenschneider. This successful person has advised countless Fortune 500 companies while also creating resources that can benefit anyone.   “Based on thirty-one iconic historical figures who embodied such qualities of character, Robert Dilenschneider shares these inspirational and insightful stories to benefit others. As before, he succeeds.” – The Culture Buzz https://robertldilenschneider.com/

2. Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind: A Food-First Plan to Optimize Your Mental Health. Dr. Georgia Ede. Combine the surprising truth about brain food with the cutting edge of brain metabolism to achieve extraordinary emotional, cognitive, and physical health.   “This book is an invaluable resource and guide for anyone looking to enhance their health and life through the thoughtful integration of nutrition.” – David Perlmutter, MD https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/change-your-diet-change-your-mind

3. The Island of the Four Ps: A Modern Fable about Preparing for Your Future. Ed Hajim. Ed shares his wealth of experience, challenges and success, distilling it with a clarity and appeal that will benefit everyone desiring great advice through this engaging, beneficial allegory.   “This wonderful fable draws on the hard-won life lessons of fabled financier Ed Hajim. … For those on a similar quest, let Ed be your guide through reading this allegorical tale. It informs and inspires.” —Mark Zupan, President, Alfred University https://www.edhajim.com/

 

Check out insightful interviews in The Culture Buzz Podcast Library at https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz

 

Performing Arts & Cultural Organizations

Please check in advance regarding any scheduled performances, exhibitions, museum visits, etc.

About Time Theatre – https://abouttimetheatre.com/

Ankeny Community Theatre –   www.ankenycommunitytheatre.com; Facebook: Ankeny Community Theatre

Ballet Des Moines – https://www.balletdesmoines.org/

Carousel Theatre of Indianola –   www.carouseltheatre.org; Facebook: Carousel Theatre Indianola

Central Iowa Wind Ensemble – https://www.facebook.com/CentralIowaWindEnsemble/

Civic Music Association – https://civicmusic.org/

Class Act Productions (CAP Theatre) –   www.captheatre.org; Facebook: CAP Theatre

Des Moines Community Playhouse/Kate Goldman Theatre –   www.dmplayhouse.com; Facebook: DMPlayhouse

Des Moines Metro Opera – https://desmoinesmetroopera.org/

Des Moines Performing Arts/Temple Theater/Stoner Studio Theater –

featuring an eclectic mix of Broadway national tours, symphony, music and more   www.desmoinesperformingarts.org; Facebook: Des Moines Performing Arts

Des Moines Symphony – https://www.dmsymphony.org/

Des Moines Young Artists’ Theatre –   www.dmyat.org; Facebook: DM Young Artists Theatre

Hoyt Sherman Place Theatre – featuring an eclectic mix of music, comedy, dance and more https://hoytsherman.org/calendar/events/#all

Iowa Shakespeare Experience –   www.iowashakespeare.org; Facebook: Iowa Shakespeare Experience

Iowa Stage Theatre Company –   www.iowastage.org; Facebook: Iowa Stage Theatre Company

Pyramid Theatre Company –   www.pyramidtheatre.org; Facebook: Pyramid Theatre Company

Science Center of Iowa – https://www.sciowa.org/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sciowa

Tallgrass Theatre Company –   www.tallgrasstheatre.org; Facebook: Tallgrass Theatre Company

Urbandale Community Theatre –   www.urbandaletheatre.com; Facebook: Urbandale Community Theatre

 

Greater Des Moines/Central Iowa Independent Book Stores:

The Culture Buzz encourages you to visit your local independent book store regularly. Check these sites, as their calendars are always filled with enticing activities and news.

1. Beaverdale Books, Des Moines (Beaverdale Neighborhood). http://www.beaverdalebooks.com/

2. Storyhouse Bookpub, Des Moines (Historic East Village). https://storyhousebookpub.com/

3. The Little Book, Des Moines (Highland Park District). https://www.thelittlebookdsm.com/

4. Shelf Love DSM, Des Moines (Drake Neighborhood). https://shelflovedsm.com/

5. Nos Books, Des Moines (Drake Neighborhood). https://www.nosbookstore.com/

6. Reading in Public Bookstore + Café, Historic Valley Junction. https://readinginpublic.com/

7. Quest Haven Books & Comics, Winterset. https://questhavenbooks.com/

8. Pageturners Bookstore, Indianola. http://www.pageturnersbookstore.com/

9. Dog-eared Books, Ames. https://dogearedbooksames.com/

10. Read a Book Nook, Marshalltown. https://read-a-book-nook.business.site/

11. Book Vault, Oskaloosa. https://bookvault.indielite.org/

12. Pella Books, Pella. https://pellabooks.com/

13. Prairie Lights Books & Cafe, Iowa City. https://www.prairielights.com/

 

Cultural Exploration Resources:

The Culture Buzz will begin including carefully vetted but comprehensive listings where you can do some advance online exploration before scheduling destinations in the region. These are two great websites to know about:

1. The Culture Buzz – John Busbee and associates encourage cultural adventurers through the comprehensive overview of what The Culture Buzz delivers. An archive library of favorite interviews is on the website, and all recent interviews can be found at The Culture Buzz Podcast Library – https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz 

Website – http://www.TheCultureBuzz.com/

2. Gentle Guide to Theater – Timothy Rose renews his insights and information about the Central Iowa theatre scene with his new website. This site is anchored by the most navigable, informative calendar of upcoming things theatrical in this region. www.gentleguidetheatre.com

3. Center Stage – This Cityview monthly column covers feature stories about Central Iowa’s theatre scene. Distributed throughout the region and available online. Current column: https://www.dmcityview.com/center-stage

4. Cityview – Central Iowa’s monthly printed and continually updated online resource to all things happening in your community, from arts & culture, to music, to civic and political discourse, to fascinating columnists and stories. Cityview is the reliable source for keeping you informed and engaged in the Greater Des Moines community and beyond. https://www.dmcityview.com/

5. Des Moines Arts Festival (https://www.desmoinesartsfestival.org/) and Bravo Greater Des Moines (https://bravogreaterdesmoines.org/) – have joined forces to provide resources, support and networking for individual artists (DMAF) and cultural organizations (Bravo). For artists and organizations seeking to gain the training, information and resources for success, check out www.artswork.art, https://iowaartistdirectory.org/home/, https://www.artswork.art/cbc

6. Axios – Des Moines – this free, weekday newsletter is a quick-read, reliable Greater Des Moines news resource by two veteran news journalists, Jason Clayworth and Linh Ta. https://www.axios.com/local/des-moines

7. Art Week Des Moines – this annual, community/neighborhood celebration of the arts happens in several Greater Des Moines communities during the week leading up to the Des Moines Arts Festival. Planning, engagement and more happen throughout the year, and a diversity of input is welcomed and embraced by this initiative. https://artweekdesmoines.com/

8. dsm Magazine – Central Iowa’s gateway to arts, culture and more in a stunning, visual format. https://dsmmagazine.com/ dsm’s CultureCast podcast features interviews with cultural leaders, artists and musicians.

9. ia Magazine – Built upon the success of its Central Iowa counterpart, this annual gem brings enticing cultural news from across the state. https://iapublication.com/

10. Contact Buzz – This column covers crossroads between creativity and culture, and is offered in the new Des Moines edition of Little Village magazine. https://littlevillagemag.com/desmoines/

11. Little Village magazine. This Des Moines edition of the iconic Iowa City monthly brings a progressive voice to Central Iowa readers. https://littlevillagemag.com/desmoines/

12. 900Views Podcast. An exploration of arts and community with Host Pat Boddy. Based out of Mainframe Studios in downtown Des Moines, 900Views provides a platform for glimpsing the creative work and lives of the Midwest’s cultural producers and influencers. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/900views-pat-boddy-RCELj1xc7Wh/

13. Greater Des Moines Community Jazz Center is this region’s source for a decades-established advocacy group for jazz, and established jazz professionals guiding and nurturing next generations of jazz musicians and fans. http://dmcommunityjazzcenter.org/

14. Central Iowa Blues Society is the area’s connecting point for performance, presentations and education in the world of blues. www.cibs.org

15. Bryan Farland, for many years, single handedly puts together the most comprehensive list of live and streaming music in Iowa. Bryan reaches out two ways, https://www.facebook.com/TheListDSM and farlanbr@dsmlivemusic.com

 

Resources to help, support and guide during any challenges you or someone you care about may be experiencing:

COVID Iowa Recovery: 800-775-9276 https://covidrecoveryiowa.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness: 988 or info@nami.org

United Way 211: Dial 211, text ZIP code to 898211 or visit 211iowa.org

CICIL: #CICILServes COVID-19 Hotline: (866) 44-CICIL

Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860

LGBT National Youth Talkline: (800) 246-7743

LGBT National Talkline: (888) 843-4564

Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center: dmpcc.org

Broadlawns 24/7 Crisis Team: (515) 282-5752

Your Life Iowa Help Line: (855) 581-8111

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 to be connected to crisis counseling

Online Mental Health Crisis Chat: iowacrisischat.org

MercyOne Des Moines Behavioral Health Clinic: 515-643-9030.

Prelude Behavioral Services (substance treatment): 515-262-0349

Instead of 911 – Des Moines area

*Domestic Violence: 515.286.3600

Polk County Crisis & Advocacy

*Poison Control: 800.222.1222

*Mental Health Crisis: 515.282.5752

Broadlawns Crisis Team

*LGBTQ+ Abuse: 866.488.7386

*Sexual Assault: 515.243.7386

Children & Families of Iowa

*Veteran Crisis: 800.273.8255 press1

Veterans & Their Families Health Crisis Line

*Child Abuse/Neglect: 800.422.4453

National US Child Abuse Hotline

Animal Abuse/Neglect: 515.284.6905

Des Moines Animal Control

*open 24/7

 

As always, I appreciate news and information from you out there in the cultural trenches and am ready and willing to pursue a story or interview to share with my audiences.

 

Creatively yours, John Busbee

C: 515-707-1532