“I mean, we might as well address the dog in the room,” chuckled Andrew Sherburne, the co-founder of Iowa City’s nonprofit cinema FilmScene. Sherburne and programming director Ben Delgado eagerly await Oct. 17, the opening night of the Refocus Film Festival and the Iowa City premiere of Nightbitch, adapted from Iowa City author Rachel Yoder’s […]
Eastern Iowa
‘It feels like we are one hive’: 100 percussionists fill City Park with sound in performance of ‘Inuksuit’
The sky overhead City Park in Iowa City was clear, a dome of deep blue. Under that sky, more than 100 musicians arranged in concentric circles around conductor Steven Schick, their legs folded in lotus positions. Schick stood up and brought a sea shell to his mouth. The sound was almost imperceptible, only the friction […]
Bo Ramsey, Joe and Vicki Price set to make the Ideal Theater feel like the Mill this Saturday
Young musicians dominate the press and public consciousness, because talent and the energy of youth will always be compelling. But if we’re talking about music as a capital ‘A’ Art, people like Bo, Joe and Vicki have been making music for well nigh five decades…
Mount Mercy University to bring football program, possibly marching band to campus
Mount Mercy University leaders, as well as their partners at St. Ambrose University, are hoping to increase enrollment, provide more opportunities for students and strengthen community ties with an expansion to its athletics offerings. The private college in Cedar Rapids announced Friday that it will add a football team to its athletics program as early […]
‘Star Search: All Stars’ Ep. 5: Comediennes create chemistry during a pseudo-Real Housewives reunion
The Real Housewives of Johnson County, this week’s challenge, was a non-scripted, Bravo-inspired live cast reunion for a season of TV that didn’t actually happen. It was, of course, hosted by Lil Kimmy Blaque in the role of one “Candy” Cohen.
In memoriam: Ashlee Hopkins’ thoughtful, joyous spirit stretches beyond this community
Ashlee Louise Hopkins (Davis) was involved in a horrible biking accident on Sunday, Sept. 15. Despite her resilience, strength, and the incredible care of UIHC emergency and SNICU care teams, her injuries were too severe. On Sept. 23, following an honor walk at UIHC surrounded by friends and family, Ashlee made a final gift of […]
John’s Grocery fried chicken returns for one night only as part of Chicken Town, a FEaST fundraiser
Many Iowa Citians have had a fried chicken-shaped hole in their lives since John’s Grocery closed its kitchen in early 2022. But this month, they’ll have a chance to fill that void with a two-piece (or two), if they act quickly. The fried chicken that was a staple for University of Iowa students and other […]
Yohance Joseph Lacour and 20 more Midwest craftspeople featured at Dubuque Museum of Art
The Dubuque Museum of Art, Iowa’s oldest cultural institution and home to over 2,700 works, was founded as an art association in 1874 by Dubuque citizens eager to share their collections with the public. It’s amusing to imagine Gilded Age art patrons walking through a contemporary exhibition, such as DuMA’s upcoming Craft Invitational. Common materials […]
Iowa City now selling overnight and weekend parking permits for its parking ramps
Overnight and weekend parking permits for Iowa City’s parking ramps went on sale Tuesday morning. “The evening/weekend parking permits will be available for all City parking ramps and assigned for use at a single parking facility,” the city said in a statement. “The permits are available at 75% of the cost of an all-day parking […]
Phill the water buffalo’s former owner faces misdemeanor charge
A month after Phill the water buffalo made his escape over a fence in Pleasant Hill, his former owner has been charged with a misdemeanor. Prem Nepal of Des Moines was charged with having an animal at large. It is a simple misdemeanor, and if convicted, Nepal could face a fine of between $105 and […]
LGBTQ students were taunted and harassed during Linn-Mar’s homecoming parade
Linn-Mar High School’s annual homecoming parade in Marion on Wednesday was supposed to be a joyous occasion for students in the parade and spectators along the route. There was even an extra reason to celebrate this year, with the restoration of the school’s Armstrong bell that’s been rung every time the Linn-Mar Lions score a […]

