Dante Powell is on a roll. The Louisiana-born comic has clocked thousands of miles as both a truck driver and a comedian. Powell has called Des Moines his home for over a decade, headlining shows in the capital while hitting the road in major cities with Gary Gulman, Janelle James, Rory Scovel and other gods […]
The Mill
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Bo Ramsey, Joe and Vicki Price set to make the Ideal Theater feel like the Mill this Saturday
Young musicians dominate the press and public consciousness, because talent and the energy of youth will always be compelling. But if we’re talking about music as a capital ‘A’ Art, people like Bo, Joe and Vicki have been making music for well nigh five decades…
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘For 10 years I dreamed of bringing something like this to Iowa City’: Dreamwell Theatre to host no-holds-barred queer variety show this fall
The details are not yet set, but Iowa City’s Dreamwell Theatre is bringing back its QueertopIA event this fall. QueertopIA is an offshoot of the Queertopia project in Minneapolis, “a longstanding tradition of an all-inclusive, no holds barred ‘cabaret of queer love’ started in Minneapolis by Jeffry Lusiak and carried on by Nastalie Q,” according […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Englert to screen two films celebrating the Mill — one made at its peak, another since its demolition
For those still mourning the loss of Iowa City’s beloved, iconic venue the Mill, this one’s for you! Come out to the Englert on Friday, Sept. 23 to sit back and reminisce on the venue that impacted so many. There’s going to be a screening of the Last Night at the Mill, a concert film […]
Posted inCommunity/News
The Mill is gone, its building soon to be demolished. But plans to replace it are in the works.
The iconic Iowa City venue The Mill closed in 2020 after 58 years of hosting music, literary readings, political events and more. And after plans to possibly revive it fell through, the building on Burlington Street that was home to The Mill for 48 year has stood empty for a year and a half, and […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Two grassroots groups are fighting against the odds to save The Mill, Iowa City’s ‘cultural crossroads’
If three months into Iowa’s COVID-19 pandemic there were some locals who still hoped life might return to normal someday, the announcement that The Mill restaurant and music venue was being sold off was likely a wake-up call. The Mill, 120 E Burlington St, was a stomping ground for generations of townies and a destination […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Fixtures, equipment from The Mill listed for auction
When The Mill announced its closure two months ago, the Iowa City community that the restaurant and music venue had served for nearly 60 years (48 at its current Burlington Street location) was aghast. Everyone knew that there would be institutional casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic, but “it couldn’t happen here” seemed like the prevailing […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: The Mill was an Iowa City institution. Maybe that was the problem.
By Chris Wiersema, Iowa City The Mill is an important and sadly repeated lesson in Iowa City “institutions.” There have been beautiful, heart-rendering remembrances. There have been wails of mournful surprise. There have been valiant proclamations of forthcoming financial heroics that shall save the day. The Mill has died its second and possibly final death. […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
The Mill is closing after nearly 60 years in Iowa City
A longtime Iowa City institution is officially closing its doors after 58 years, according to a Facebook post on the business’s page Thursday afternoon. The Mill is known for its pizza and spaghetti, vintage pew seating, vine-draped patio and, of course, its performance space.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Watch: Sitting down with stand-ups at Floodwater Comedy Festival
Before taking the stage during Floodwater Comedy Festival on Friday night, Little Village sat down with comedians Kristen Toomey, Keonna Scott and Donny Townsend at The Mill in downtown Iowa City to discuss their craft. Presented by the Iowa City Downtown District
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Whether you foxtrot or lindy hop, dancing is required at the Dandelion Stompers’ Mardi Gras show
Don’t go to a Dandelion Stompers show expecting to just sit there and watch. “Oh, man,” said Dandelion Stompers bandleader Chris Clark. “Dancers really make it a party. We work hard to interact with the audience when they’re sitting down and watching, but once they are up and dancing, it goes to a whole new […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Five questions with: Dolores Sparkles, burlesque comedian
Dolores Sparkles debuted her solo show in New York City and has played in Chicago and throughout the Midwest. You can laugh with and relate to her this Saturday, Jan. 18, at The Mill. Several years before being “born” onto the “Wall of Babes” at Studio Vitality dance school in Cedar Rapids, the nouveau-vaudevillian was a New Jersey medievalist who
