Bring on the cocktail parties, ornament exchanges and holiday dinners: It’s time to host and be hosted. With all this celebrating going on, you might want to check your list twice. Hostess presents can lengthen your to-gift list quickly, which can get pricy. Rather than breaking the budget with bottles of wine, use your crafty […]
On the Table: Sweet Spot – Wilton Candy Kitchen in Wilton, Iowa
Music: Elite Eight Albums of the Year 2012

If nothing else, 2012 can be described as the Year of Easy Listening. A multitude of indie bands (Beach House, The Walkmen, Divine Fits), beat makers (Flying Lotus, Lindstrom, Crystal Castles) and hip-hop artists (Killer Mike, El-P, Big KRIT) put out strong, extremely listenable albums, which, in turn, made it difficult for anything to really […]
Ask Dr. J: Get S.O.M.E.
There aren’t many occasions that are flooded with such a variety of emotions as this, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Whether it be the joy of gathering with your loved ones, or the grief of intolerable in- laws, the horror of realizing all of those perfect gifts that you meant to be buying […]
The Hops: St. Bernardus Christmas Ale by Brouwerij St. Bernardus – Watou, Belgium

‘Tis the season for holiday beers, a time when breweries release festive winter warmers or special one-offs made with top secret ingredients, and a time that for me is the most exciting part of the seasonal beer calendar. In the past, I happily vetted many of these special releases for my December recommendation; however, this […]
Haulin’ Ass: Road Dog

The bullshit I get dragged into always starts with a phone call. In this case, voicemail. “We like your background and want to interview you.” I nearly broke my thumbs calling back. I even shaved and showed up in my funeral coat. That’s when they cornered me, chatting me up as to my “current employment.” […]
Iowa City Weekender: December 13-15

Hello and welcome to another edition of the Weekender. This weekend we get to watch one of our favorite downtown establishments turn 50 years old, raise some money/awareness for some our community’s non-profits and spread some Christmas cheer, all with a backdrop of super Iowa music. As another semester comes to a close, I hope […]
Talking Movies: The Year after the Year of the Woman

It’s finally that time of year, folks. Loved ones gather together by the crackling fire to share memories and hugs. Bygones are forgotten as we remember what’s really important. Grudges fall by the wayside, tears well up and love is made. Yes, it’s finally the apocalypse. The Mayan calendar comes to an end and so […]
A-List: The Mill’s 50th Anniversary

The Mill 50th Anniversary Dec. 14-16 Friday: David Zollo & the Body Electric w. Brooks Strause, Alexis Stevens, Doug Nye 8:00 p.m. | $10/12 Saturday: Greg Brown w. Dave Moore 8:00 p.m. | $30/35 Sunday: Brunch show with The Awful Purdies and Milk & Eggs 12:00 p.m. | $15 In 1962 Keith Dempster opened […]
Hot Tin Roof: The Lieutenant Part One: Death Follows
Apocalypse: The End of the World as We Know It
Doubtless you have heard the wild speculation surrounding the so-called End of the Mayan Calendar on Dec. 21, 2012. Be all that as it may, the fact is that date is quite remarkable astrologically and in a surprisingly direct, down-to-earth, positive way. I did an analysis of Dec. 21, 2012 based on a triple composite […]