Hey folks, welcome back to Little Big Screen: On the Big, Big Screen, where film columnist Benjamin McElroy recommends five screenings happening at Iowa’s independent movie theaters. Keep scrolling for the full list of this month’s big screenings.
Arts & Entertainment
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘What better place than Iowa City’ for a songwriting festival? Three days of shows, talks begin Thursday
In it’s first edition, the Festival is meant to “elevate the timeless craft of songwriting by blending world-class live performances with educational opportunities and community engagement,” as announced by the organizing team at the Englert Theatre.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Little Big Screen: ‘Jackie’ and other streaming movies dressed in Des Moines-born designer Halston
Halston, the designer who defined disco fashion as much as Donna Summer did its sound, was born, of all places, in Des Moines. Ninety-one years ago in August, Halston won the title of “Healthiest City Boy” at the Iowa State Fair. He was 2 years old, but the dude did grow up to be a […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
This weekend in Iowa: Goose at Hancher, the Iowa Music Awards hit the road
Established 2001 | Always free! Experts might call our recent weather a “false fall” but it’s real to us, dammit! Whatever it’s called, enjoy the cooler temps during the events in our Weekender. Jam band rockers Goose are at Hancher for a free outdoor concert tonight. Japanese art-rock trio TsuShiMaMiRe hit up two Iowa venues […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘Waitress,’ ‘Witch’ and ‘The SpongeBob Musical’ rack up honors at the Cloris Awards in Des Moines
Creepy, bubbly, romantic, epic — the past year of Des Moines theater productions offered something for every mood. On Sunday, some of the actors, behind-the-scenes crew and theater companies that brought these shows to life were honored with glass plaques at the 2025 Cloris Awards ceremony. Hoyt Sherman Place hosted the 10th annual local theater […]
Posted inBook Reviews
Book Review: ‘The Body Farm’ by Abby Geni
The Body Farm by Abby Geni is a collection of stories rooted deeply in the physical. Although the collection derives its title from the final short story of the book, it is an aptly chosen one; each story focuses on the disastrous effects of life on the human body, running from the miraculous to the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
This weekend in Iowa: have you heard the Rumours? Markets after dark and more.
Established 2001 | Always free! It’s the Weekender back to dispel the myth that there isn’t anything to do in our reader regions. “Team goilz,” a.k.a. Waterloo punk rock band the Rumours, hit up Octopus in Cedar Falls this Friday. They’re joined by 8 Foundead, Des Moines rockers Hazer and Guss Royall. Market After Dark, […]
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Refuel at these restaurants within walking distance of Iowa museums
Don’t let hunger cut your museum visit short. These local eateries are mere blocks away from some of Iowa’s coolest culture centers. Listed hours are may vary. IOWA CITY Stanley Museum of Art 160 W Burlington St, Iowa CityAlso nearby: Old Capitol Museum, UI Museum of Natural History Le Gourmet Korean Restaurant 201 S Clinton […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
The 10th annual Cloris Awards will bring together Des Moines’ theater pros and fans on Sunday
The Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theatre Arts Awards, a celebration that brings together Des Moines’ theater professionals, reflects its namesake. Leachman was a dynamic, versatile performer whose work spanned nearly eight decades and every acting medium. From dramatic roles (including Ruth Popper in The Last Picture Show, which earned her an Academy Award) to her […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
This weekend in Iowa: Bawdy Bawdy Ha Ha takes us to the circus, Alternating Currents is underway in the QC and more
Established 2001 | Always free! Today is the first day of the Alternating Currents festival in the Quad Cities, with events already underway this afternoon. On the festival schedule Friday night are the indie-rockers Hembree with Lauren Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs. Monk’s in Dubuque has an album release for Dead Nerves, Numb Hands, the […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Dearborn — ‘Memo for a Friend’
Memo For A Friend by dearborn There’s a particular atmosphere to a sleepless night. More than likely, it culminates in stumbling through a dark room and mental fog to turn on the TV, hoping bottom-shelf infomercials and reruns of yesteryear sitcoms quiet your mind. In those moments, when the rest of the world is asleep, […]
Posted inBook Reviews
Book Review: ‘At the Park on the Edge of the Country’ by Austin Araujo
Austin Araujo’s debut poetry collection At the Park on the Edge of the Country (Ohio State University Press) explores life at the intersections of immigration and naturalization, adulthood and childhood, understanding and apathy. Using figurative language and descriptive imagery, the collection’s three sections separate poems into formal and thematic movements. The first section addresses borders, […]
