From volleyball to hula hoops to a sand pit for the kids, the Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD) is bringing a bit of the beach to the streets on Saturday for the eighth annual Downtown Block Party. The Iowa City summertime staple will cover 14 blocks with art, music, culture and activities for all ages. […]
Iowa City Downtown District
Posted inCommunity/News
Streets will close in Iowa City on Thursday and Friday for a mini block party and the UI homecoming parade
Dubuque Street between Washington and Iowa Avenue in downtown Iowa City reopened to traffic at the end of August after closing down in March for infrastructure updates as part of Iowa City’s revitalization efforts. But on Thursday that block is closing down again as the Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD) holds its Back to Dubuque Celebration. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
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 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Taste of Iowa City returns on Wednesday with food from dozens of restaurants, live music by Dave Zollo
Taste of Iowa City returns for its 16th year on Wednesday. This year’s event will feature food from 48 downtown and Northside eateries, as well as live music. Taste of Iowa City “offers the perfect opportunity for new students and food lovers to experience the diverse culinary offerings from our local downtown restaurants and chefs” […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Public Space One is highlighting two Jamies in two very different art exhibitions along the Summer Gallery Walk
One unintended benefit of Iowa City’s Public Space One having multiple locations is that those locations can bookend the perfect route for an art gallery stroll. Which seems to be just one of the acts of serendipity occurring around this Friday’s 2024 Downtown Summer Gallery Walk. Another coincidence? That participants can catch two different PS1 […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘The you is a door’: Abdurraqib sets high bar for Mission Creek 2024
Iowa City’s Mission Creek Festival (which just kicked off its 19th year) has always fundamentally been about two things: creative place-making and wild moments of synchronicity. As such, it could have had no better opening than Thursday night’s reading by author and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib.
Posted inEastern Iowa
Street closures for Downtown Block Party in Iowa City announced
Street closures have been announced for Saturday’s Downtown Block Party in Iowa City. Starting at 5 a.m. on Saturday the city crews will barricade the following streets. • Iowa Ave from Clinton to Linn • Washington St from Clinton to Gilbert • Clinton St from Iowa Ave to College St at the Ped Mall • […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Revival’s vibrators are a bestseller — and spreading good vibes about sexual wellness
I can’t be the only Iowan who has found herself opening an incognito tab in a dispiriting search for a decent vibrator. Driving across the state on I-80, you’re bound to see a few billboards for adult stores selling plasticky sex toys out of warehouses with truck-friendly parking lots. Chains like Romantix, Spencer’s and Lion’s […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Photos: Inflatable bunnies ‘Intrude’ on the Ped Mall
Six massive inflatable rabbits have officially taken over the Ped Mall in Iowa City. Designed by Amanda Parer, the Intrude installation is visiting from Australia and will be on display until Feb. 28. Intrude is part of the Iowa City Downtown District’s Winter Night Lights, a month-long public art and light experience.
Posted inCommunity/News
Why three longtime downtown Iowa City business owners decided to make a change in 2022
Yotopia marks its 11th anniversary this year at the Clinton Street entrance of the Iowa City Ped Mall. The locally owned shop serves frozen yogurt sourced from the Country View Dairy in Hawkeye, Iowa, non-dairy vegan desserts and full-fat options “for those who want a more decadent indulgence,” as Veronica Tessler, owner of Yotopia, told […]
Posted inStatewide
Holiday markets around Iowa to spice up your gift shopping
Receiving gifts is great, and giving them can feel even better. But even the best gift givers can find themselves scrolling glassy-eyed through Cyber Monday sales, sweating in a mile-long self-checkout line or cursing the supply chain gods as the estimated delivery date gets bumped to Dec. 26. Give yourself a present this year and […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Hawkeye basketball teams will take over downtown IC Friday; here’s the schedule and street closures
The University of Iowa women’s and men’s basketball teams will celebrate their 2022 Big Ten Championships this Friday with Hawkeye Hoops from Downtown. The players will compete on a full-size court, set up near the corner of Iowa Avenue and Clinton Street, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Hawkeye fans will have their chance to watch […]
