If there is one small sliver of a silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that it has highlighted to our society who and what is truly essential to the lives we lead. Doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, public transit drivers, teachers, daycare — we feel a new sense of reverence for the people […]
Coping with COVID-19
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Theatre Cedar Rapids uses shut down to create positive, lasting change
Live performance venues were the first businesses to close when the coronavirus arrived in the United States, and they will likely be the last to reopen. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be a clear path to a scenario where these important cultural spaces can reopen in the near future. As Broadway announced its theaters will […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Oasis still dishing up their famous falafel during restricted hours of operation
Small, locally owned restaurants are a big part of what makes a community feel like home. They’re the places you stop for a quick lunch. They’re the places you take visitors when they’re in town. They’re the places you dream about returning to when you move away. For 16 years Oasis has served that role […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
FilmScene launches new app-based program to watch curated films at home
To many Iowans, fall is movie season. From Halloween slashers to the Oscar contenders released just before the holidays, a dark movie theater offers respite from the oncoming cold and a momentary trip to another (perhaps warmer) world. Given 2020’s constant apocalyptic newsfeed and a life-or-death election on the near horizon, there has never been […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Revival shifts focus to online shopping while retail space undergoes renovation
For 17 years Revival has been a place of escape and community. The Iowa City thrift and consignment boutique provides not only a unique array of vintage and used clothing, but also a selection of ethical, environmentally friendly new products and a top-rated, friendly staff. It is a store where you can browse, experiment with […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Trumpet Blossom transforms its menu to cater to the pandemic food economy
Strong communities are built on inclusiveness. They provide spaces where members can explore new ideas, new art and new food, and that cater to a wide variety of needs and preferences. For almost a decade, Trumpet Blossom Cafe has done exactly that for Iowa City. As a restaurant, Trumpet Blossom offers high quality, locally sourced […]
Posted inCommunity/News
NCSML recovers from derecho losses, prepares a new vision for BrewNost
Since 1974 the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids has been a tourist attraction and center for education as the cornerstone of the Czech Village neighborhood. Through cooking classes, crafts lessons and events like the popular annual BrewNost international beer festival, the museum has offered a sense of connection with the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Coping with COVID-19: Fight, flight or freeze
When it comes to responding to sudden danger, the human body is a marvel. Moments after a threat to survival is detected, the nervous system’s hardwired fight-or-flight response engages and our bodies undergo a series of physiological changes, all designed to keep us alive. Pain perception decreases and blood thickens in order to clot more […]
Posted inCommunity/News, COVID-19
Coping with COVID-19: An uncertain future
A few days ago, after nearly jumping out of my skin while watching a television show in which a character reached out to touch a stranger’s hand, I wondered if I could remember exactly the last time I touched someone apart from those with whom I live. Looking back in my planner, I saw I’d […]
