Hats off. This is where we are at as a society, especially for men. Sure, hats should still be removed when indoors or when our national anthem plays, but men today are clearly wearing hats less than those from past generations. Look at most any group photo or film of gatherings of men from years past, and you will see a bunch of hats. Today? Not so much. In fact, other than trucker caps or MAGA hats, barely any. The question is, why?
There is no shortage of opinion on the subject from a variety of sources, and they most all seem to have the same reasoning. Many say the changes started with President John F. Kennedy at his inauguration, when he chose not to wear the traditional top hat during the ceremony. With hair like his, could you blame him?
Others say the change came from the anti-establishment movement in film and music from non-hat-wearers like the Beatles, Elvis Presley, James Dean and Steve McQueen. Once again, a bunch of guys with great hair. Except Ringo, of course.
The growth in automobile ownership is also said to have had an impact on men choosing not to wear hats. In the 1920s, less than 1% of the population owned a car. This number increased to 25% in 1940 and to 55% in 1970. When men were walking outside or using public transport, hats made sense to stave off the elements and to stay warm. When cars became more common as a means of transportation, the narrow head-to-roof distance made wearing hats a challenge.
The return of soldiers from wars is also a factor, as many military men swore off hats with the rest of the uniform they were required to wear. Wearing hats even caused PTSD for some.
Maybe the greatest contributor to the decline in men wearing hats is due to something we most all can appreciate — heat. Those who work outside still value the warming effects of hats, but with more people working indoors, the need has seemed to dissipate. Heat is now better dispersed in buildings, and layered clothing has helped keep our bodies warmer, too.
Meanwhile, a few reminders of the hat-wearing generation remain. Some old church pews still have the clips that secured hats. Coat racks still have the top hooks to hang them. And my dad’s felt hat and furry Russian-type hat are still collecting dust somewhere.
How about you? Do you, or does a man you know, wear dress hats? Or do you still have a few in your closet from your father or grandfather? Send me a note and let me know.
Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com
See Shane Goodman's past columns here. |
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FROM KCCI: Comedy club proposes to move into old Spaghetti Works. DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines comedy club is eyeing a move into a long-vacant downtown space, previously home to the old Spaghetti Works restaurant. The building has been empty since the restaurant closed in March 2023. TeeHee's Comedy Club is proposing to take over the location, according to a proposal submitted to the Des Moines Zoning Board of Adjustments. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: 70-year-old man shot and killed by DMPD officers identified. DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines Police Department on Monday released the name of the 70-year-old man who was shot and killed by officers last week. On November 26th at 6:07 am, officers with the Des Moines Police Department responded to 430 Grand Avenue on a report of a man pointing a gun at a woman. ...READ MORE
FROM WOI: Central Iowa sees first measurable snowfall of the season: Here's how much snow fell. This was the first measurable snowfall of the season for central Iowa and the first test of winter driving for many area drivers. ...READ MORE |
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Clear Mortgage meteorology
A brief warming trend is ahead today into a windy Wednesday. Colder Thursday. Warming again into the weekend.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
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| Read the latest CITYVIEW | | | FEATURE STORY
A lot of people with a lot of problems
By Jim Duncan
On June 18, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, backed by the families of several murder victims, announced the launch of the first Iowa Cold Case Unit (ICCU).
“We know that, with a cold case, a family is left in the dark, and a murderer is left walking free,” Bird said.
Phrases like “hope cannot be forgotten, “never stop looking,” and “ensure that no murderer walks free” were bantered. Steve Ponsetto, a retired Division of Criminal Investigation agent, was named leader for the unit that comes from Linn County law enforcement. | | | READ MORE |
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Tuesday Touts
Dogtown's merry gentleman. Ron Presswood, owner of Platinum Kutz Barbershop, upped the ante in this year's generosity sweepstakes with Iowa-raised turkeys and other such local loyalties. His seventh annual Thanksgiving community turkey feed created a bustling scene of good will. Presswood gets little attention, compared to Chuck's, for providing good tidings, but he bestows an abundance of comfort and joy. Kue'd BBQ, Tito's and Love sponsored this year's event in Dogtown. Farm Story Meats, Golden Prairie Turkey, Eat Greater Des Moines, Farm Table Delivery and West Forty Market contributed.
Wheely good news. This year's World Cheese Awards in Viseu, Portugal, affirmed what C.J. Bienert of Cheese Shop and Cheese Bar has been telling Des Moines cheeseheads for years. Jasper Hill Farm from Vermont is special. They won the Super Gold Medal and the title of “Best American Cheese” for its Bayley Hazen Blue. The farm also received gold medals for its Harbison cheese and Vault No. 5 cheddar; silver medals for four cheeses — Cabot Clothbound, Caspian, Moses Sleeper and Alpha Tolman; and an additional bronze medal for its Barnstorm Blue. Bayley Hazen Blue is made with raw milk from the farm’s own herd of cows, as it has been since the dairy company was formed in 2003. Read more about them here.
Tuesday deals
•Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) offers a Tuesday burger and a pint deal for $10.
• Beaver Tap has $7 burgers including a side on Tuesdays.
• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special today of a burger with fries and a beer for $10 until 4 p.m.
• Hy-Vee stores are promoting $6 Tenderloin Tuesdays with a BPT and tots bargain priced.
• Kelly’s Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers really good tenderloins with a side and drink for $11.50 on Tuesdays.
• KFC has a Tuesday special of eight pieces of bone-in chicken for $10. They also have a new two-piece dinner with mashed potatoes, gravy and a biscuit for $4.99.
• Mickey's in Yale (217 Main St., Yale) offers breaded pork chop specials on Tuesdays.
• Abelardo's stores offer five tacos (hard, soft or fried) for $5.99 on Tuesdays.
• Irina's Steak and Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) has a new Tuesday special — 2.5-pound live lobster with two sides $50.
• Kwik Stars offer $1.49 grilled cheese sandwiches on Tuesdays.
• Taco Tuesday brings serious discounts to Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines), La Familia (1610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines), all Taco John's, The Dam Pub (2710 Beaver Ave., Des Moines), all Fernando’s, Malo (900 Mulberry St., Des Moines), Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave., Des Moines), Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines), Faustino’s (4944 Franklin Ave., Des Moines) and LaTapatia2 stores.
• Sakari (2605 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines) has steak (12-ounce ribeye or New York) dinners with miso, salad and rice for $25 on Tuesdays.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
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The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Chamber of Commerce
1. Urbandale Chamber of Commerce
2. West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce
3. Ankeny Area Chamber of Commerce
The 2025 Best Of Des Moines Poll is now closed. Results will be published in the February 2025 issue of CITYVIEW. |
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| Featured home for sale | | | |
$325,000 701 S.E. 69th St. Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
This charming 2-story home has it all — 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and plenty of space to spread out. The main level features an open-concept layout that's perfect for everyday living and entertaining. The updated fireplace with built-in shelves and cabinetry adds a modern touch, making the living area feel both cozy and stylish....
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 5500 WEST PARKWAY, JOHNSTON
SALE DATE: 2024-08-22
SALE PRICE: $1,550,000
SELLER: B&P PROPERTIES LLC
BUYER: 5500 JOHNSTON PKWY LLC
ACRES: 0.943
SQUARE FEET: 10,240 |
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Featured in the current
issue of Indianola Living magazine | | | Invisible airwaves
Amateur Radio is a worldwide community.
By Becky Kolosik
Imagine living in the states recently pummeled by back-to-back hurricanes. In the wake of the destruction, thousands were without electricity, and many were unable to send texts or make cell phone calls. When all other communication failed, amateur radio operators came to the rescue.
Amateur radio (ham radio) in an international community, but local operator Rich Rogers says that according to the FCC, as of October 2024, there were nearly 6,500 licensed hams in Iowa, and at last report, 150 in Warren County.
The Warren Amateur Radio Society is an ARRL-affiliated amateur radio club based in Indianola dedicated to public service, education and training, and support of the ham radio community. Rogers and his son, Tony, are both members. | | | READ MORE |
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| Des Moines road closures | | | Lanes at S.W. 13th Street from Caulder Avenue to Park Avenue will be reduced daily from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, through Friday, Dec. 6. This lane reduction is necessary for sewer repair. Two-way traffic will be maintained.
10th Street from Shawnee Avenue to N.W. Aurora Avenue will be closed from 7 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, through 3:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. This street closure is necessary for sewer repair. Local traffic will be maintained. |
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FROM ESPN: 49ers RBs Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason both headed to IR ... READ MORE
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: All-Star Reliever Clay Holmes Drawing Interest in Free Agency As Starting Pitcher ... READ MORE
FROM Yahoo Sports: WNBA 2025 schedule release: Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese, Liberty vs. Aces highlight opening weekend ... READ MORE |
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1967: First human heart transplant. On Dec. 3, 1967, 53-year-old Louis Washkansky receives the first human heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. Washkansky, a South African grocer dying from chronic heart disease, received the transplant from Denise Darvall, a 25-year-old woman who was fatally injured in a car accident. … READ MORE
1984: Explosion kills thousands at pesticide plant In Bhopal, India.An explosion at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, on Dec. 3, 1984, leads to the worst industrial accident in history. Decades later, the official death toll remains disputed. At least 5,000 people died immediately, according to official estimates, approximately 20,000 died over time, and another half-million were injured when toxic gas enveloped the city. … READ MORE
1989: Five‑year‑old disappears — abductor is later ID’d by clothing fibers. Five-year-old Melissa Brannen disappears without a trace from a Christmas party in Fairfax, Virginia. The intensive forensic investigation that followed led to the arrest of party guest Caleb Hughes and, in the process, demonstrated how technically advanced crime solving had become. … READ MORE
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| Birthdays and notables | | | Happy Birthday: Rebekah Olson!
These celebrities were born on this date: Ozzy Osbourne, Amanda Seyfried, Jake T. Austin, Jenna Dewan, Tiffany Haddish, Ruby Jay, Trina, Andy Grammer, Brendan Fraser, Montell Jordan, Julianne Moore, Holly Marie Combs
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to the last riddle: A robot walks into a bar and says he needs to loosen up. What does the bartender serve him? A SCREWDRIVER! - Shane Goodman, Lori Bluml, Carolyn Rogers, Martha HW, Rex Post. Other answers from: Irving Stone, William Snyder.
Today's riddle: What is Elton John’s new song about a miniature reindeer?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Ankeny, Altoona or Bondurant Living magazines, contact:
Angela Ossian
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 307
Mobile: 515-979-5585
angela@iowalivingmagazines.com
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