Lost in Transition
When you read this, presumably sometime in May, who knows what the weather will be like? You might be covering your plants for tonight’s frost, or you might be heading out for ice cream because you’re sweltering in 100-degree heat. That’s the kind of spring it’s been. Granted, spring in Iowa is often full of...
Talking Movies: Score One for Skin
If you like sex and art (especially in that order of enthusiasm), then you should definitely make a point of getting to the Englert on Friday, May 18, to see the Iowa premiere of Frederick Wiseman’s Crazy Horse, a documentary about Paris’s legendary cabaret. To sweeten the deal, FilmScene, the host of the event, has...
Your Town Now: Students Lobby for Sweatshop-Free Options
The name Alta Gracia means “high grace.” In the Dominican Republic, the Virgin of Altagracia is the protector of her people. Her name is invoked tenderly and with reverence by those seeking blessing on their land and on the many hands that help cultivate it, particularly in the poverty-stricken community named for her. Villa...
The Hops: Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA & New Belgium Ranger IPA
Much like buffalo wings and fixed-gear bicycles, IPA has a mystique I cannot understand. Everyone loves it but I have no clue why. When I asked John’s Grocery bier guy Joe Hotek to explain it, he shrugged his shoulders. Is it the invigorating and refreshing citrus? The strong, bitter bite? Hotek mentioned its very minor...
Atomic Andy Kaufman: The Comedian That Loved to Bomb
Early in Andy Kaufman’s career, the comedic performance artist sometimes opened for musicians—including, implausibly, schlock-popper Barry Manilow and R&B greats the Temptations. The latter group’s predominantly black fan base wasn’t feeling his inept Foreign Man routine, so they unleashed an avalanche of boos as he wept uncontrollably. Kaufman then pulled out a large cap...
Hot Tin Roof: Poolside Manner
By Lucas Sheperd It is one hundred and fourteen degrees according to the thermometer at the base swimming pool, and all I can see are clean haircuts, off the ears with neatly-trimmed necklines. No one is in the water. We spray on sunscreen, except Michael, who is from Oregon and has skin that is somehow...
Good Eggs
As the weather warms and backyard gardens begin to sprout, locals are asked to consider a very basic question: Where does our food come from? To some, there’s an easy answer, which is “the grocery store.” It is, however, a bit more complicated than that. Eggs often have a starring role on many shopping lists,...
Iowa City Weekender: May 10-12
Hello everyone and welcome to the Weekender. I’m filling in for Steve this week as he prepares himself for the summer. I’m still preparing for the summer as well, but I have a little more time on my hands. Why that is? I’ll never tell. Anyway, enough stalling. Let’s get into this. THURSDAY VO Marley...
On the Beat: Redemption Songs
As I watched Shabazz Palaces repeat “black is you, black is me, black is us, black is free” at their excellent concert at Gabe’s on April 25, I got a nice reminder of something that I have been thinking about for a while: the political power and hope of music. This is something that can...
American Reason on KRUI: 5/6/2012
This week on American Reason we discussed education, business and farming with special guest Dick Schwab. For more: http://schwabforhouse.com/ Direct Link: May 6, 2012 Subscribe: iTunes
Iowa City Weekender: May 3-5
Bienvenidos, everyone. This weekend’s holiday is a little silly as it is basically a Mexican holiday that doesn’t really exist in Mexico. I think I’m okay with Cinco de Mayo though, as an American day of celebrating Mexican culture. Either way, it’ll likely serve as a reminder of why I stay away from tequila. It’s...
American Reason on KRUI: 4/29/2012
This week on American Reason we discussed the curtailing of civil liberties and collapse of civilizations. Direct Link: April 29, 2012 Subscribe: iTunes
“The Burg: A Writer’s Diner” Launched 4/24 – Reading 5/8 at Prairie Lights
I tend to feel a bit possessive of Hamburg Inn. It’s always the first stop for my boyfriend and me when he visits Iowa City, and I’m pretty convinced the pork tenderloin was created solely for my benefit. The magical thing about the Hamburg, though, is that most of the people I know feel the...
Iowa City Weekender: April 26-28
Hello, hello. Come on in. Get settled in for another dose of the Weekender. Here’s how it’s going to work this week: This weekend, especially Thursday (tonight) is nuts and there is simply too much to write about. For the most part my blurbs are unnecessary for these things. For example, I think we all...
American Reason on KRUI: 4/22/2012
This week on American Reason we discussed John Derbyshire article about the “white version” of ”the talk”, Trayvon Martin and statistics with special guest Yale Cohn. Direct Link: April 22, 2012 Subscribe: iTunes
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