The occasion, as stated on the Varsity Cinema marquee, was the Des Moines premiere of Killers of the Flower Moon, another hefty, late-period offering from Martin Scorsese. Yet the night, […]
Arts & Entertainment
Two eerie short stories by Victoria Shellady
Stories written and submitted by Victoria Shellady Sourdough Elizabeth Moore had dinner on the table at 5 p.m., like she did every other weeknight. That night’s creation was a new […]
Album Review: Dave Helmer — ‘Such a Clown’
Such a Clown by Dave Helmer Looking at the cover art for Dave Helmer’s Such a Clown, I’ll be honest — I was expecting some trite country rock at best […]
‘At Halloween, I’m at the height of my powers’: An interview with writer Carmen Maria Machado, currently teaching ‘the art of haunting’ at UI
Celebrated experimental writer Carmen Maria Machado is back in Iowa City this fall. The Allentown, Pennsylvania native earned her MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop in 2018, and is back […]
Ordinary Survival, the Center for Afrofurist Studies’ first film festival runs Oct. 29-Nov.12
Refocus isn’t the only film festival in Iowa City this fall. Through the coming week, the Center for Afrofuturist Studies (CAS) is hosting its first film festival under the title […]
Nation Czech & Slovak Museum exhibits include ‘the most famous Czech artist,’ precious gems and a ‘visual legacy’
This weekend, the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library will open an exhibit displaying the familial tapestry of the artist behind the work. “Noah Breuer is an American artist […]
Book Review: ‘The Demon, the Hero, and the City of Seven’ by A.E. Kincaid
Imagine going to your middle school Scholastic Book Fair, picking up an intriguing fantasy title and thumbing through to find “fuck” sprinkled throughout. If that prospect delights your inner (or […]
Album Review: Lani — ‘Love, Lani’
Love, Lani is an aptly named album. Across nine tracks, its creator reflects on love and relationships while shifting through musical genres that are clearly dear to her. Released in […]
Book Review: ‘Inmani: Nova Mundo Blues’ by Cullen McHael
Never before have I come across a book that so thoroughly encapsulates the experience of enjoying a piece of Juicy Fruit gum. Cullen McHael’s debut Inmani: Nova Mundo Blues does […]
LV Recommends: Des Moines’ new Monsterama Arcade & Pizzeria gets two enormous, dismembered thumbs up
Wednesday, 6:11 pm. Of course I’m at Monsterama. Where the hell are you? Monsterama Arcade & Pizzeria (located at 3108 SW 9th St, next to Lucky Gal) on Des Moines’ […]
Album Review: T.A.N.G. — ‘Big Bright Empty Nothing’
Big Bright Empty Nothing by T.A.N.G. Space is the place and T.A.N.G. is here to tell us about it on their 2023 release, Big Bright Empty Nothing. Recorded and mastered […]
Lights, camera, inaction: Iowa needs to get back in the blockbuster business
Filmmaking and all of its related fields are perfect for boosting a creative economy. So much so that, 16 years ago, the state of Iowa attempted to brand itself the […]