Every week, the Four Mile Community Center echoes with the sound of hollow plastic balls smacking against wood, signaling match time for the Des Moines Table Tennis Club. For over three decades, the club has introduced new players to the game, building a community around rubber-coated paddles. The Des Moines Table Tennis Club was formed […]
Central Iowa
Posted inWeekender
Weekender Central Iowa! Cupcakke | Juneteenth Neighbor’s Day | Larry June
READ THE LATEST | SUPPORT LITTLE VILLAGE | SHOP PERKS THE WEEKENDER Your weekly editor-curated arts compendium There’s many reasons to get out and enjoy the sun this weekend. San Francisco’s Larry June will bring Bay Area vibes to Wooly’s and Chicago’s Cupcakke will make for a fun night at xBk. But concerts aren’t the only fun to choose […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Marty Stuart talks about his Fabulous Superlatives, decades of music-making and touring with Chris Stapleton in advance of Des Moines show
Having pulled the highest attendance at the Iowa State Fair of any modern Grandstand concert, Chris Stapleton has already conquered the state of Iowa. As he arrives again at Des Moines’ Wells Fargo Arena on June 22 though, audiences would be remiss not to pay special attention to one of his openers, Marty Stuart. Not […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
‘The next generation’ of Iowa skaters are carving out a community in the nation’s largest skatepark
On any sunny afternoon, the Lauridsen Skatepark in downtown Des Moines is filled with locals and out-of-towners, amateurs and pros, teens and 20-somethings. And right along with them, you’ll find the Subsect Kids Skate Crew, a group of skaters who are among the youngest at the park. “They really found and created their own space […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Five questions with Iowa Juneteenth T-Shirt Contest winner, Jaemal Sullivan
A man with more skills than he can account for pushed himself to the next level by entering the new Iowa Juneteenth T-Shirt Contest. Jaemal Sullivan didn’t know if he had a chance to come out on top, but it surely felt good when he did. Sullivan’s winning design, a Black power fist emblazoned with […]
Posted inRecreation
From sled hockey to RAGBRAI, Adaptive Sports Iowa wants to give all athletes a team
Wheelchair tennis is kind of like traditional tennis, but with wheelchairs. That sounds obvious, but the two sports are remarkably similar. The only adaptation is wheelchair players get two bounces instead of one. “Maneuvering your chair around and taking the figure eights and stuff on the court is really what I’ve learned, how to hit […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Art Week Des Moines 2023 tasks local artists like Jordan Brooks with capturing the spirit of five Des Moines communities
On Friday, June 16, Art Week Des Moines kicks off its ninth year showcasing area artists and connecting them with one another, as well as their community. This year, Art Week has introduced Art Week Fellows: a handful of artists tasked with overseeing specific art pop-ups within five neighborhoods around the Des Moines metro, drawing […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
Pride Sports League ensures every athlete in Central Iowa has a league of their own
Rich Rumsey is an active guy. He likes to play volleyball, dodgeball and go biking. But when he joined Pride Sports League in 2019, it wasn’t for sports. It was for the community. “It’s an organized way to find other people that are similar to yourself,” he said. “It’s a great way to meet people.” […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Iowa-born author Paul Kix to discuss the 10 weeks in Birmingham that changed America, chasing WWII ghosts in Des Moines
The biggest challenge Paul Kix faced writing his first book: spies aim to leave nothing behind. “I was chasing a ghost,” the author and journalist said regarding The Saboteur, his 2018 nonfiction text. “The point of the [WWII French] Resistance was, you will never have a paper trail … That’s why I had to go […]
Posted inWeekender
Weekender Central Iowa! Iowa Craft Brew Festival | Tim Capello | Native Gardens
READ THE LATEST | SUPPORT LITTLE VILLAGE | SHOP PERKS THE WEEKENDER Your weekly editor-curated arts compendium Get out and get moving this weekend! Summer is just around the corner, and you can find teasers of it even now: Enjoy a patio drag brunch, experience the Salisbury House Garden Party or wander the Iowa Craft Brew Festival (June is, […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
House of Large Sizes returns to the stage in Cedar Falls with swagger for first shows in 10 years
It takes serious swagger to pull off the kind of rock and roll House of Large Sizes became known for over 35 years ago. The intricate, machine-gun timing of the songs, the energetic delivery and the ear-splitting volume all rely on a certain confidence and attitude to pull off convincingly. At a pair of shows […]
Posted inWeekender
Weekender Central Iowa! Shrek Rave | BYOBrass | Lauren Vilmain | Mr. Bill
READ THE LATEST | SUPPORT LITTLE VILLAGE | SHOP PERKS THE WEEKENDER Your weekly editor-curated arts compendium This weekend is all about the music! Sway your hips to some of Iowa’s own or enjoy a musical vacation with traveling artists. You can choose to pull up or bring a chair. Visit Noce, Platform, xBk and other venues to feel […]
