The weekend is nearly upon us and you know what that means: it’s time for another edition of the Iowa City Weekender. As always there’s a lot going on musically around town, but this is an especially exciting weekend for cinema in Iowa City. The 10th annual Iowa City Documentary Film Festival kicks off tonight […]
Things to do in Iowa City
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Inside the Canarium
Once upon a time, I wanted to be a poet. I carried around a notebook, went to readings, bought poetry books, took poetry classes. What was hard was actually writing poems. One day in class, Marvin Bell said something that took a while to sink in, “Poets write poetry because that’s what they do, they […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Prairie Pop
Fishbone is Back! – An interview with Fishbone Bassist Norwood Fisher
I made it out of the ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s without a single tattoo, but if I did get inked, it likely would have been a Fishbone logo. They were my favorite band when I was a teen, and I wasn’t alone. Back in the mid-to-late-1980’s, two Los Angeles area bands—the Red Hot Chili Peppers […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Hot Tin Roof
Hot Tin Roof: Handgun
By Todd Case Megan slept in the bassinet. She was three weeks old. Guffey marveled at the slight rise and fall of his daughter’s chest, and the way she smelled so sweet. He pulled the cotton baby blanket down to reveal her face. Joanie’s mother had sent them that blanket and about two-hundred dollars’ worth […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Show Photos: Adult Swim Carnival Tour
Students filed into Hubbard Park Monday night for Adult Swim’s 2012 Free Carnival Tour featuring Dan Deacon. The night was fully charged with outrageous games, prizes, and live performances. Iowa City’s ION (Sam Alexakis) kicked off the night and DJ Arbiter (Josh Messer) dropped the bass as a free-for-all dance off ensued. By dusk the […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The Hops: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – Chico, CA
Serving temperature: 50-54º F Alcohol content: 5.6 percent ABV. Food pairings: Bill Manley, a product development manager at Sierra Nevada, told me the chefs at the brewery’s restaurant commonly pair Pale Ale with grilled meat, mushrooms and fresh garden vegetables. For cheese pairings he suggested Colby and Edam. Where to buy:It is almost universally available […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Show Review: The End Times Spasm Band @ The Mill 4/8/12
The End Times Spasm Band brought their apocalyptic message in spirit of the prohibition era to the Mill on Sunday night, turning the stage into a 1920s speakeasy. With an arsenal of high-brow lyrics, intense energy and classic vocals The End Times Spasm Band coaxed even the most timid of audience members into joining the commotion and taking […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
A-List: Andrew Skurka at Finn & Feather, April 9-10
Fin & Feather Presents Andrew Skurka April 9, 10 | 7 pm Fin & Feather (125 Highway 1 W) Curious how you can earn an “ultra” in front of your “long-distance backpacker” moniker? Then hike, bike or otherwise trek to Fin & Feather this month for presentations by ultra long-distance backpacker Andrew Skurka. National Geographic […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
On the Beat: Getting fresh
As far as I can tell, Iowa City has moved on to spring. The markers dot the city. Everyone is cruising around on their bicycles, wind whipping through their hair. Ladies and gentlemen alike are swapping their duck boots and heavy coats for flip flops and shorts. The days are getting noticeably longer while the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Iowa City Weekender: April 5-7
Welcome back to another edition of the Iowa City Weekender. I decided to go ahead and skip last week because let’s be honest, there’s not much I could have written about on Mission Creek weekend that hadn’t already been blasted at y’all in some form. I hope everyone got to enjoy at least a little […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Show Review: Dirty Beaches @ Gabes 3/30/12
Mission Creek started low and quiet Friday night as people slowly filed into Gabe’s to see the lo-fi bill that promised a night of dreamy textures and pop sensibility. Kicking off the night was Iowa City’s own Savage Young Taterbug and Wet Hair, both known for their hauntingly loony storytelling and spastic syncopation. Together they […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Show Preview: Goldenboy at The Mill – 4/10/12
Goldenboy w/ Colloquialisms, the Noble Octopus | The Mill | April 10 | 9 p.m. | $8 | 21+ after 10 p.m. Goldenboy is fronted by Shon Sullivan, a native of suburban LA. His big break came as a multi-instrumentalist in Elliott Smith’s band, and Goldenboy grew out of that experience. “It started as […]
