The No Kings rallies held in more than 1,400 cities across the country on Saturday were meant to have a festive atmosphere, as millions gathered nationwide to protest the actions of the Trump administration. Organizers of the Iowa City suggested people wear costumes, as did organizers in some other cities. But the rally in downtown […]
Eastern Iowa
Posted inCommunity/News
En Español: The 147 kilos I left behind
Ma viene de viaje la semana siguiente. Vendrá por tres para celebrar la graduación de mi sobrino mayor. La única vez que Ma vino a este país fue hace veintidós años, para el nacimiento del mismo nieto que ahora se gradúa. Cuando me avisa del viaje, me adelanto a pensar en la respuesta a la […]
Posted inRecreation
Can I eat that? An educational outing with the Prairie States Mushroom Club
Hunters waited at the Ryerson’s Woods trailhead in Iowa City on a beautiful late April Saturday morning. Older men with walking sticks wore blaze orange caps. University students in shorts and sneakers chatted among themselves. A handful of middle-aged women and a few retired folks rounded out the group. I joined them with my notebook […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Local faith leaders discuss ways to resist Christian nationalism: ‘We have a responsibility to cause some good trouble’
A group of Johnson County faith leaders gathered in an independent town hall on Tuesday, May 27 to speak against harm caused by the Trump of administration. Uniting under the name Voices of Faith, speakers in the group represented a variety of religious beliefs, primarily Christian denominations. The Voices of Faith Town Hall gathered at […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Review: The Original Pinettes Brass Band bring New Orleans heat to Iowa City
In the world of New Orleans brass bands, legendary names like the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Hot 8 Brass Band, The Soul Rebels, and Rebirth Brass Band have long set the standard, but none stand out quite like The Original Pinettes Brass Band. Billed as the “only all female brass band in the universe,” […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘A little bit of chaos is OK’: Pokey’s Fest keeps punk music, ethic alive in Iowa City
Punk isn’t dead. Sure, punk is old enough that it may be dad — or mom — but it’s still by and for the kids. For proof of life, one needn’t look any further than Pokey’s Fest 3, two all-ages nights of hardcore punk and other assorted music for freaks that will take place June […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The Black Rose in West Branch aims to be a cozy, boozy and bookish hangout ‘for anyone who feels othered’
When Ashley Kofoed first arrived in West Branch with her fiancé, it was to meet her future in-laws for dinner at the local Brick Arch Winery. Dining with her family within the spacious building — which features two stories and a basement, three gas fireplaces, elegant wood finishes, a stage, a dance floor, a kitchen […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Street closures for Iowa Arts Festival start early Friday morning
Streets in downtown Iowa City will be closed to traffic starting at 6 a.m. on Friday morning as crews begin to set up this year’s Iowa Arts Festival. The three-day fest kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday and runs through Sunday afternoon. It’s the first weekend-long event of Iowa City’s annual Summer of the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Review: Love is a thing with feathers in ‘La Cage Aux Folle,’ a triumph for Revival Theatre Company
It was a sweaty, 83-degree day when I went to Revival Theatre Company’s staging of La Cage Aux Folles. This was perfect weather to be spirited away to Saint-Tropez on the French Riviera and into a packed theater full of cheering, clapping and the best show I’ve seen this year. The musical is a reworking […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Federal court dismisses Iowa company’s attempt to overturn 40-year-old wetlands protection law
On Thursday, a federal judge in Cedar Rapids rejected an attempt by the owner of a farm in Delaware County to overturn a 40-year-old law protecting wetlands. Judge C.J. Williams, the chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, issued a summary judgment in the case after determining the company […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Review: A mile of lights turn the Figge into Iowa’s biggest public artwork — a sight to see from both sides of the Mississippi
On May 18, 2025, the city of Davenport, Iowa began to glow. Nestled amongst the downtown’s old buildings, the Figge Art Museum celebrated its 20th anniversary by unveiling Evanescent Field, an architectural art project by internationally acclaimed light artist Leo Villareal. Hundreds of onlookers gathered in the promenade to the already stunning museum designed by […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Fully Booked at ICPL: Books that answer ‘what can I do?’
As a librarian who works with teens, I know the job isn’t just about recommending books. It’s about making information digestible to help them formulate their own solutions. Young people are apex community members, and they have many questions right now. They’re passionate, dedicated and hungry for ways to be impactful while trying to understand […]
