After a long hiatus, the Englert Theatre is once again opening its doors to the public, albeit with strict COVID-19 safety procedures in place. Interim Executive Director John Schickendanz and Board President Carl Brown sat down with Little Village recently to discuss the theater’s current changes and future direction. It’s been a difficult 16 months […]
Genevieve Trainor
Genevieve Trainor lives in Iowa City, Iowa. Passions include heavy music, hoppy beer, and hidden rooms.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Five questions with: Tiffany Biehl, Codfish Hollow
Maquoketa music venue Codfish Hollow is renowned regionally and nationally for its iconic experiential events, starting with a tractor ride across the property from the parking to the barn. Musicians love the hospitality there, too, as much as audiences love the performances. Like many venues across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Codfish Hollow […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Track premiere: Traffic Death, ‘Crushed By Corpses’
Des Moines quartet Traffic Death is back with their third full-length release, Judas Curse Of The Iron Sabbath, due out next month on Sump Pump records. You can check out a review of the full album online or in our September issue, #298, on stands now. Track one, “The Fury,” is currently available to stream, […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review and Q&A: Traffic Death — ‘Judas Curse of the Iron Sabbath’
Look, it’s no surprise to anybody that I nearly broke the internet trying to get my hands on the new Traffic Death album (Ed. note: The album is available for preorder on the Bandcamp page for Sump Pump Records. Once physical copies are available, the band will have them at shows). I’m not going to […]
Posted inBook Reviews
Book Review: ‘Moon of the Snow Blind’ by Gary Kelley
As a Midwest interloper, I’d never heard the apparently ubiquitous story of the Spirit Lake massacre before encountering this new graphic novel. Of course, we had our own legends of “terrifying savages” back in New Jersey (look up the Jenny Jump House sometime if you’re interested in such things), so I know the drill: No […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Andre Perry to leave the Englert, search begins for next executive director
In a news release invoking “a new chapter,” the Englert Theatre in Iowa City announced on Tuesday that long-time executive director Andre Perry would be stepping down on Sept. 13 to “tackle new projects in the community.” Current Englert marketing director John Schickedanz will serve as the interim executive while the board of directors conducts […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The once and future Olympic Theater
Once upon a time in Cedar Rapids, there was an Olympic Theatre. Located at 1124 3rd St, the records of the History Center show that it was built as a private home, but became the Olympic in 1912, remaining under that name until 1939. “The building showed silent flicks early on and then often showed […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Strong Like Bear — ‘In the Future Only the Rich Will Live Forever’
In The Future Only The Rich Will Live Forever by Strong Like Bear The dystopian cyberpunk delight of Carmen Cerra’s cover art is the first thing you’ll love about Strong Like Bear’s June release, In the Future Only the Rich Will Live Forever. The world is more organic than the man; the walls have tendrils […]
Posted inBook Reviews
Book Review: ‘Fishtastic!’ by Tess Weaver, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt
You may think you know whimsy, but unless you’re already a fan of Jennifer Black Reinhardt’s illustrations, you haven’t seen the half of it. The Iowa City illustrator pulls out all the stops for the visuals accompanying Iowa City author Tess Weaver’s charming picture book tale of a theater school of fishes. Inspired by the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
To hell and back: Three stories of derecho resilience
Home of Katrina Benning and Jeremiah Hopkins When Katrina Benning and Jeremiah Hopkins bought their 1959 home on the edge of Bever Park in Cedar Rapids six years ago, both had been homeowners before. But this was their first home together. Their blended family, which brought together her two children and his four in what […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Five questions with: Comedian Nathan Timmel
For two decades, comedian and author Nathan Timmel has been making people laugh with his stand-up routines. Since moving to Iowa in 2007, he’s been a regular at Penguin’s in Cedar Rapids, as well as frequenting the open mics at the Yacht Club and Studio 13 in Iowa City. His first novel, We Are 100, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Designing a playground for all in Iowa City
It’s been just over a year now since the Department of Justice reached a settlement agreement with the Iowa City Community School District over the dozen playgrounds that failed to meet ADA requirements. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (which turned 30 just last year) provides that “no qualified individual with a disability […]
