Despite freezing temperatures on Sunday, hundreds gathered on the University of Iowa Pentacrest and marched to the Ped Mall for a rally in response to the killing Renee Nicole Macklin Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis four days earlier. Good was serving as a legal observer of ICE and Border Patrol agents sent to […]
Ped Mall
Downtown Iowa City’s hotelVetro has closed, with Hotel Chauncey soon to follow
Hotel Chauncey will close on Sunday and hotelVetro has already closed. Like SpareMe Bowl & Arcade, which will close its doors for the final time on Wednesday night, the two downtown Iowa City hotels are owned by Hawkeye Hotels. The closure of the two hotels was first reported by Corridor Business Journal on Monday. Hawkeye […]
No bidders for the Chauncey and other foreclosed Moen buildings at the sheriff’s auction
The Chauncey, along with two more well-known Iowa City buildings, went under the hammer at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office auction on Tuesday, and there were no bidders for any of them. That means GreenState Credit Union still owns the Chauncey (404 E College St), Plaza Towers (221 E College St) and Park@201 (201 E […]
As state and federal officials target speech they disapprove of, free speech proponents will rally in Iowa City Wednesday
Freedom of speech, and the importance of protecting it from powerful opponents, has become an urgent topic of discussion since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. His administration has, among other actions, aggressively targeted international students expressing opinions or engaging in protest it dislikes for deportation, pressured universities to change curricula to […]
Marion’s Happily Ever After Book Boutique is a one-woman matchmaking operation
I’ve been to my fair share of bookstores, and all have left me with something to remember: a dazzling window display, a cozy nook, a roaming cat. My latest store visit can be summed up by the exclaimed observation of a fellow patron: “It’s a penis!” This plush appendage sat atop a shelf in Happily […]
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” […]
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.
Fortuna Board Game Cafe in the Ped Mall is closing
After 16 months hosting gamers in its Ped Mall location, Fortuna Board Game Cafe will close permanently on Sunday, Jan. 29, owner Justin Ford announced Wednesday in posts on the cafe’s Facebook and Instagram pages. “We understand that this news may come as a disappointment, but please know that it was not an easy decision […]
Public art meets the front porch swing in Black Hawk Mini Park
The official description of Mi Casa, Your Casa 2.0 calls it an “international participatory public art installation” that “features a series of three-dimensional red frames that illustrate the warmth, comfort, and safety of our home.” But anyone walking past Black Hawk Mini Park can be forgiven if their first thought is, Oh, look, swings! The […]
Ukrainian-Americans speak on behalf of friends, family at Iowa City solidarity rally
Many were wearing the Ukrainian national colors of blue and yellow, and a few carried the country’s flag as they marched from the Ped Mall to the Old Capitol Building Tuesday, showing support for Ukraine as it resists Russia’s invasion. Tuesday’s solidarity rally was the second held on the Pentacrest since the invasion of Ukraine […]
Revival returns to Ped Mall building after ‘major facelift’
Revival reopened its doors on the Ped Mall to shoppers on Thursday after closing them more than a year ago due to building renovations. “I’m excited to reopen,” said founder and owner Sheila Davisson. “It feels so good to be back in our space. It feels like home with a major facelift.” The renovations completely […]
The Iowa City Latino Festival returns to the Ped Mall on Saturday
Iowa City Latino Festival is returning, after a year off due to the pandemic. This year’s festival kicks off on the Ped Mall at noon on Saturday. “We are excited to come back,” Manny Galvez, the festival’s founder and organizer, told Little Village. “We started the festival 10 years ago, but we had to cancel […]

