Michelle Kaya was reluctant to leave her Michigan home, where she had family, friends and a teaching career. But her husband Ahmet’s job in executive management necessitated a move to central Iowa. Early in the process, he was staying at a hotel near Jordan Creek Town Center. Michelle came to visit, and she wanted sushi. […]
Central Iowa
Posted inFood & Drink
From breakfast sandwiches to purple pudding, ManilaBoy brings Filipino street-food staples to Des Moines
Pop. Pop. Pop. In late 2025, ManilaBoy food pop-ups started springing up everywhere in Des Moines: Horizon Line Coffee, RAYGUN, Crème, the Art Terrarium. They even made an appearance at the Little Book for Indie Bookstore Day this April. ManilaBoy isn’t popping out of nowhere. Chef and owner Earvin Idio and his family started serving […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Her parents’ kung pao chicken had Des Moines obsessed. With Heavenly Asian Cuisine, Nhina Chau brought back the recipe — and explored her Vietnamese roots
Nhina Chau, owner of Heavenly Asian Cuisine, will never put freezer-burned veggies in her egg drop soup. She crinkles her nose at the thought of it. “I personally hate the smell of frozen peas and carrots,” Chau said, squirming in her chair. Egg drop soup is a Chinese restaurant classic. The people of West Des […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Restaurant owner Alfonso Medina continues to feed a pro-decency movement in Marshalltown, six years after ‘No Love, No Tacos’ went viral
Inside La Carreta Mexican Grill in Marshalltown is a bulletin board with letters from supporters all over the world. A sticker on a server stand reads, “Racism and outside food not allowed.” The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day but Sunday, serving everything from huevos rancheros and a vegan al pastor […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
Central Iowa Water Works ends all watering restrictions as record-setting nitrate levels dip back down
Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) has lifted all restrictions on outdoor watering. The utility, which provides water to 20 percent of the state’s population, imposed a ban on lawn watering on June 8. “The lawn watering ban is not due to a lack of water in our rivers or reservoirs,” CIWW said in a news […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Nonprofits partner to furnish ‘The Row,’ six new houses for victim-survivors in Johnson County
Since opening its first shelter for people threatened by domestic violence in 1980, DVIP, now DVIP/RVAP, has seen the need for its services grow exponentially. The nonprofit, which grew out of an initiative launched by the University of Iowa’s Women’s Resource and Action Center in the late 1970s, now provides immediate and long-term crisis support […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Polk City will pay almost $200,000 to paramedic fired over comments about Charlie Kirk
Polk City announced it is settling a lawsuit filed by Alissa Furry, a paramedic voted the 2025 Medic of the Year by her peers, who the city fired last October after posting on Facebook about the death of rightwing activist and media figure Charlie Kirk. “The city’s insurer will pay Ms. Furry $189,000 on the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Review: Des Moines Metro Opera stages Steinbeck, corruption in Rome and a 100-year-old ‘mysterium’ for summer season
Opera lovers braved the sweltering summer weather this past holiday weekend for some world-class productions, care of Des Moines Metro Opera. The opera company was the subject of a series of Des Moines Register articles last fall reporting allegations that crew behind the scenes were routinely overworked, underpaid and occasionally put in dangerous positions to […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘Kamal’s,’ a new documentary about a Muslim chef and mayoral candidate in Grinnell, shows at Des Moines Art Fest
The Des Moines Art Festival returns this weekend, and with it the Interrobang Film Festival, a free-to-attend, juried show featuring 36 films. One of those films is a new documentary about Muslim chef Kamal Hammouda, based in Grinnell, and his life in food, family and politics. Directed by Nich Perez, Kamal’s blends interviews with Hammouda, […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Review: ‘I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire’ follows a 14-year-old Spider-Man stan with a penchant for kidnapping
You already know if you’ll enjoy I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire. If that title piqued your interest, I’m 90 percent sure this dark comedy from Iowa Stage Theatre Company is worth your time. It’s currently running at Des Moines’ Stoner Theater, with shows through Sunday, June 14. Go see it. In case you’d like […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Review: The mental health struggles of Beethoven, Vivaldi and other composers are explored in the first concert of Zenith Chamber Music Festival 2026
Zenith Chamber Music Festival offers audiences five nights of free concerts this week for their 12th annual summer series. Running Tuesday, June 9 through Saturday, June 13, these performances take place in unique venues around the Des Moines area and feature professional musicians and aspiring students. Funded entirely by donations, the festival is dedicated to making high quality chamber music accessible to everyone.
Posted inCentral Iowa
Lawn watering ban enacted in central Iowa due to high nitrate levels, affecting 20% of the state population
Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) imposed a lawn-watering ban on Monday. This is the second year in a row the water utility has banned watering by its 600,000 customers in the greater Des Moines area and beyond. “The lawn watering ban is not due to a lack of water in our rivers or reservoirs,” according […]
