Quad Cities emcee Soe Heartlesz — “The Gorgeous Gangsta” and “Rap President of Peoria” — is a 36-year-old mother of five who recently won the Iowa Music Awards Female Rapper of the Year. After performing on dozens of stages around the Midwest over the past two decades, she’s maintaining her momentum with Cardiac Arrest, a […]
Valentine’s Day
Posted inRecreation
Bumper Crops: Ames is for pinball lovers
Valentine’s Day is here, and when I think of Valentine’s Day, I think of love. When I think of love, I think of pinball. The two aren’t that different, really. Both require good timing and the right amount of physical interaction: play too gently and your chances of scoring go down; play too hard and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A lean, green protein in the land of pork tenderloins, these bicoastal oysters feed a growing Iowa fanbase
Every year on a Saturday in late March, thousands of fresh oysters arrive in chilled boxes to Club 76, the pub at the American Legion Post 1776 in North Liberty. They’re ordered for the Post’s popular Stout, Sours & Oysterfest. At the all-day festival, guests will go through between 3,500 and 5,000 oysters, eating them […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Expect ‘all hits,’ cool outfits and ‘epic cardboard hearts’ at Cupid’s Lounge, a Valentine’s show from Ramona & the Sometimes, the Lovin’ Forkful
Cupid’s Lounge: Songs About Love by Talented Locals xBk Live, Des Moines, Saturday, Feb. 10 at 8:30 p.m., $13-18 Des Moines rock outfit Ramona & the Sometimes wants to sweep you off your feet — or at least rock your socks off — at their Valentine’s takeover of xBk Live, Cupid’s Lounge: Songs About Love by […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Thoughts on love as you scroll through social media today
Americans consume fairy tales from birth. Storytelling is ingrained in our DNA. So it’s no surprise we want Valentine’s Day to be full of rich chocolate, roses and showy displays of affection. Materialism is ingrained in us, too. Take a peek at any social media feed on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15, and you’ll find […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
Spoil your sweetheart (or sass your ex) with Valentine’s treats from around Iowa City and Cedar Rapids
No matter your relationship status or feelings surrounding Valentine’s Day, it’s a convenient excuse to indulge in a fancy meal, cocktail, dessert, or all three. Spend Tuesday, Feb. 14 in good spirits — and out of the waiting area — by supporting local IC/CR businesses, planning ahead and getting straight to the good stuff. Paint […]
Posted inCentral Iowa Food & Drink
Des Moines meals, sweets and experiences to indulge in this Valentine’s Day
No matter your relationship status or feelings surrounding Valentine’s Day, it’s a convenient excuse to indulge in a fancy meal, cocktail, dessert, or all three. Spend Tuesday, Feb. 14 in good spirits — and out of the waiting area — by supporting local businesses, planning ahead and getting straight to the good stuff. Paint the […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
A bloody Valentine weekend in the Quad Cities
Love isn’t patient and isn’t kind in Factory of Fear’s newest haunt. Moline-based Factory of Fear has been manufacturing Halloween scares for nearly 30 years, showcasing year-round attractions across more than 40 scare rooms. They’ve been sharpening their fangs in preparation for their 2023 Valentine’s weekend event, “Love is Blind: Vampires Suck.” This year marks […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
LV Staff Picks: Valentine’s Weekend
Love is in the air, readers! Intimacy is a major theme of our February issue (remember to grab a copy!), and celebrating love is a great reason to get out of the house this weekend. Do yourself a favor and fully embrace Valentine’s Day weekend, whether it be spending time with your SO or […]
Posted inCommunity/News
A vasectomy story
Or, Taking Thunderfuck Mountain by Strategy: Enter the Wyrm King One. I am prone on the table, awake, naked and aware. The light is open and white, as are the gypsum ceiling tiles and what bit of the upper walls I can make out. I am not restrained, but I don’t think to move. My […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Improv Incubator will turn love stories into laughs this Galentine’s Day
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, Galentine’s Day — Thursday, Feb. 13 — is even closer. And with this year being the 10th anniversary of Parks and Recreation’s Galentine’s Day episode, it only makes sense to fill the night with love and humor. Or at least, humor about love.
Posted inCommunity/News
Brock About Town: Valentine’s Day date ideas
Oh, hello. I didn’t see you there. Don’t let the rose petals scattered all over the bed fool you, you’re not interrupting anything. He just canceled on me. Apparently, “Saturdays are for the boys.” Will you help me blow out all these candles? I think I might have misunderstood the nature of this relationship.
