Anne Pham bounces a tennis ball on the ground. The score in her singles set is 0-2. She looks across the court at her captain, Michael Boyer. “Hey, I’m ready to come out whenever,” she declares. “No, you gotta stay in,” Boyer says. Pham had already played several sets of singles over the previous two […]
recreation
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa City fencing coach Judy O’Donnell invites all ages to poke fun
Iowa City Fencing Center founder, director and head coach Judy O’Donnell moved to Iowa in 2000, when her husband took a job at the University of Iowa. Ten years later, after advising for the university’s club fencers and taking on more private students than she had room for, O’Donnell opened the Fencing Center. “You can […]
Posted inCommunity/News
This 14-year-old archer from Waverly is hitting the mark in an elite, precision sport
Three years ago, if you asked Hunter Telleen’s loved ones which sport he’d excel at in high school, archery would likely never have crossed their minds. They’d probably have guessed cross-country or track, pointing to the records Hunter set running meets as a 7th grader at Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School. Buck hunting, a hobby the […]
Posted inRecreation
Live, laugh, LARP: Iowans wield foam weapons and forge fellowships through Belegarth
In a sunny clearing at Vander Veer Botanical Park, two sides draw their foam weapons and charge. This is Belegarth, a medieval-themed combat game. “Exercise is boring,” said Mazog, a Belegarth player of over 20 years. “Fighting is not boring.” Belegarth falls under the umbrella of Live Action Role Playing (LARPing). There are other types […]
Posted inRecreation
Six places for beginner riders to giddy up in Iowa
Blue Meadows Farm in Mitchellville has lessons for riders of any skill level, ages 4 and up. “I am so excited to keep growing the lesson program and help young riders develop and recognize their talents and love for the Saddlebred and Hackney breeds,” said co-owner Lauren Brannon in an interview with The Saddle Horse […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Tips for growing a more natural lawn (that you can still play on!)
“In environmental circles, lawns often times get a bad rap,” observed Fred Meyer, director of Backyard Abundance. The Iowa City-based nonprofit, founded in 2006, is dedicated to helping individuals connect with and appreciate nature. Grass lawns offer little environmental benefit, reduce biodiversity and don’t do anything for local pollinators. That’s made traditional lawns a contested […]
Posted inCommunity/News
RAGBRAI announces route for 50th anniversary ride this summer
Fifty years ago, the first RAGBRAI crossed the state from west to east, starting in Sioux City and finishing in Davenport. RAGBRAI’s golden anniversary route will begin and end in those same cities, organizers announced on Saturday night. The overnight towns for the weeklong ride from the Missouri to the Mississippi will be: • Sioux […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
50 ways to explore the state, from Council Bluffs to Lansing
Best town? Boring. Best restaurant? Hackneyed. Best tourist attraction? Nah. Little Village staff and contributors would like to draw your attention to these truly Iowa-y sites, stories and experiences. Some are recommendations, others cautionary tales, but all make our godforsaken state just a little more amazing. Introducing, the Independent Iowa Awards. MONUMENTAL SITES A […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Amid ‘the most altered landscape in America,’ this 100-acre plot in Johnson County remains rich and wild
Before the first Europeans arrived in what would become Iowa, most of the land here was covered by wild prairie plants. Bison and elk once grazed in the northwest and central regions, and black bears populated the woodlands and brush in the eastern corridor. Around 85 percent of Iowa’s landscape was prairie, but today a […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Bring your own TP, and other tips from Iowa summer music festival regulars
It’s that magical time of year again! Festival season is back and that means wristband tan lines, sipping craft beer with buddies and seeing all your favorite bands onstage. Although most festivals took a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many are back this year in full force. Alongside national favorites like Coachella, South-By-Southwest, Bonnaroo […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
Outdoor products made in Iowa, from bug spray to bicycle bags
Eco Lips – SPF lip balms, sunscreen and bug spray Based in Cedar Rapids Protect your lips and skin against the heat and annoying mosquitos, gnats, no-see-ums and other Iowa plagues. Eco Lips lip balm is made with organic products, with the choice of 15 or 30 SPF and three flavors: mint, berry and sport. […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
Iowa runners on running
Since the pandemic began, more people are running than ever. It is one of the most popular, and for many, accessible forms of exercise there is. Little Village asked a range of runners from Des Moines, the CRANDIC and the Quad Cities areas to comment on their experiences: advice for beginners, motivations to move, injury […]
