Hundreds of people gathered at Cowles Common in downtown Des Moines on Wednesday night to protest in response to the leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and declaring there is legal protection for abortion provided by the U.S. Constitution, regardless of circumstances. The “Abort the State” protest was organized […]
Des Moines
Posted inCentral Iowa
Meet Lefty, the three-legged dog that became a Des Moines icon
Whether or not you’re a pet owner, you’ve probably seen a post or two from your fluff-loving friends on #NationalDogDay and #NationalPetDay. But you may not have heard of Specially-Abled Pets Day. The holiday, which is on May 3 every year, was founded in 2006 to encourage adoption of specially-abled animals from shelters. Des Moines […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Photo Gallery: GDP Festival 2022
GDP festival returned to Des Moines this past weekend with a lineup of heavy-hitting locals. The single-day festival played out on stages across Des Moines at a handful of venues, acting as a sort of musical tour of the city’s art scene. The lineup boasted acts from across the state including Iowa City’s Blake Shaw […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Abbie Sawyer celebrates debut solo release at xBk Live
Editors’ Pick: Abbie Sawyer w/Annalibera, D. Smith, xBk Live, Saturday, April 23 at 5 p.m., $15-18 Des Moines musician Abbie Sawyer is celebrating the release of her first solo album this weekend with a top-notch lineup of support. Love is a Flood, recorded at Golden Bear Records in Des Moines, dropped earlier this month. Sawyer’s […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Get psyched for GDP: A teaser of the acts performing in Des Moines on Saturday
Local music lovers, this one’s for you. We’re only days away from Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the all-Iowa music fest happening in Des Moines. This Saturday night, get ready to catch up to a dozen performances all taking place at three venues: Gas Lamp, the Cave and Teehee’s Comedy Club. Performances will be happening simultaneously […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
Five questions with Amanda Montell, podcast host and author of ‘Cultish’
Author Amanda Montell has never been to the Midwest before. But she’s rectifying that with a visit to the Des Moines Public Library on April 21 to talk about her 2021 release, Cultish: The Language Of Fanatacism. The event begins at 7 p.m., and is a part of the 2022 Authors Visiting in Des Moines […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Before I-235, Des Moines’ Center Street district was a bastion of Black commerce and culture
By the time its final section opened to traffic in late 1968, I-235 was already part of the fabric of Des Moines. Cutting across the city and running just north of downtown, it’s the most traveled roadway in Iowa. But like many stretches of highway built through cities, the construction of I-235 did damage that […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
Invasive species, meet your match: Goats clean trails and charm residents in Clive
Dealing with invasive species is an issue that Iowa parks and recreation departments are all too familiar with, but the City of Clive is engaging in a clever approach to rid the Greenbelt Trail of pesky plants: goats. The Greenbelt Goats were introduced to the city in late 2019 to help minimize garlic mustard and […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
80/35 adds a photography fellowship this year to help young photographers bridge the experience gap
Young adults aged 16-21 have a chance to gain free experience in photography alongside established mentors while photographing the 80/35 Music Festival this year. This new fellowship offers more than just an opportunity to learn how better to work a camera. Those involved will have access to workshops, mentorship, info on how to get into […]
Posted inCommunity/News
A Des Moines furniture bank needs volunteers to continue helping families start over
Coming out of COVID, more families than ever are looking to start over and get the assistance they need to thrive. The FreeStore is a Des Moines furniture bank helping locals leaving domestic violence housing (temporary or intermediate) and other unsafe conditions. They provide furniture and other household items to help furnish a new residence […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Gross Domestic Product Festival returns to Des Moines in April
Another favorite Iowa music tradition is returning to Des Moines next month. The Des Moines Music Coalition (DMCC) announced this year’s lineup for the annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a one-day All-Iowa music festival happening on Saturday, April 23. Little Village is a co-presenter of GDP for the first time, celebrating the launch of the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Five questions with Luke Pettipoole of the Envy Corps
Des Moines music fans know the Envy Corps as an alt-pop band from Ames that has over time become a festival staple. This summer is no exception. In the recent lineup announcement, 80/35 festival revealed that the Envy Corps will take the stage there for the fifth time. I talked with the founder of the […]
