The coronavirus has left us all desperate for safe activities. As our collective calendar was systematically wiped clear this spring, people turned to the outdoors as a refuge and an escape from their homes. For many Iowans, that meant greasing up their gears and hitting the bike trails. The Iowa City Bike Library has been […]
Brian Johannesen
Posted inCOVID-19
Cedar Rapids Public Library continues to provide crucial services from a distance
If there is one small sliver of a silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that it has highlighted to our society who and what is truly essential to the lives we lead. Doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, public transit drivers, teachers, daycare — we feel a new sense of reverence for the people […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Theatre Cedar Rapids uses shut down to create positive, lasting change
Live performance venues were the first businesses to close when the coronavirus arrived in the United States, and they will likely be the last to reopen. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be a clear path to a scenario where these important cultural spaces can reopen in the near future. As Broadway announced its theaters will […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Oasis still dishing up their famous falafel during restricted hours of operation
Small, locally owned restaurants are a big part of what makes a community feel like home. They’re the places you stop for a quick lunch. They’re the places you take visitors when they’re in town. They’re the places you dream about returning to when you move away. For 16 years Oasis has served that role […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
FilmScene launches new app-based program to watch curated films at home
To many Iowans, fall is movie season. From Halloween slashers to the Oscar contenders released just before the holidays, a dark movie theater offers respite from the oncoming cold and a momentary trip to another (perhaps warmer) world. Given 2020’s constant apocalyptic newsfeed and a life-or-death election on the near horizon, there has never been […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Revival shifts focus to online shopping while retail space undergoes renovation
For 17 years Revival has been a place of escape and community. The Iowa City thrift and consignment boutique provides not only a unique array of vintage and used clothing, but also a selection of ethical, environmentally friendly new products and a top-rated, friendly staff. It is a store where you can browse, experiment with […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Brix Cheese Shop & Wine Bar survives the pandemic with creativity and generosity
Communities tend to display their identity in the small businesses that line their streets. When you visit a new community, you likely won’t remember the drive-thru fast food cheeseburger you had in between meetings, but rather the local beer at the watering hole on the corner, or the first edition of your favorite novel at […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Trumpet Blossom transforms its menu to cater to the pandemic food economy
Strong communities are built on inclusiveness. They provide spaces where members can explore new ideas, new art and new food, and that cater to a wide variety of needs and preferences. For almost a decade, Trumpet Blossom Cafe has done exactly that for Iowa City. As a restaurant, Trumpet Blossom offers high quality, locally sourced […]
Posted inCommunity/News
NCSML recovers from derecho losses, prepares a new vision for BrewNost
Since 1974 the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids has been a tourist attraction and center for education as the cornerstone of the Czech Village neighborhood. Through cooking classes, crafts lessons and events like the popular annual BrewNost international beer festival, the museum has offered a sense of connection with the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
CSPS uses the pandemic as an opportunity to focus on better serving artists and the community
The decision to use a space as an incubator for the arts and as a cultural gathering place for a community is often difficult, especially in a trendy neighborhood. Despite the fact that it is exactly these kinds of spaces that make neighborhoods attractive to restaurants, shops and other businesses, they frequently deal with razor-thin […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Public Space One gets flexible with its new spaces and online programming
Public Space One, over a variety of forms and spaces, has provided a home for art and artists in Iowa City for almost two decades. The newest chapter for the organization was just beginning as the COVID-19 pandemic reached Iowa and made in-person events and shared workspaces unsafe. Last year, PS1 purchased two houses at […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Inside Linn County Conservation’s derecho recovery effort
The derecho that tore through the Midwest on Aug. 10 has left scars all across Iowa. Hundreds of thousands lost power, cell service and internet connection — some are still without. Ten million acres of crops were damaged. The residents of Cedar Rapids found their roofs blown off and massive trees uprooted and splayed across […]
