Welcome to another edition of the mailbag where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by readers of this newsletter or our publications. They are edited for space and clarity.
But first, an apology to my former co-worker Jeff Bruner and my former event partner Jeff Bruning for mixing up their names in yesterday’s column. I would like to say this was the only time I have done that, but I would be lying.
“Shane, I totally agree with you (Pardons, Dec. 4, 2024). The presidential pardon, if not totally eliminated, at least needs to have some restrictions. If you look at the statue of Lady Justice, she holds a scale that represents impartiality and the obligation of the law. Her blindfold represents the impartiality and objectivity of the law, and it doesn't let outside factors such as politics, wealth or fame influence its decisions. The power of the president to pardon indiscriminately effectually removes her blindfold and tips the scales.” - Paul
I appreciate you weighing in, Paul. - Shane
“I worked 60 hours a week for a while but only because I was paid a lot for the time that I worked those hours (Climbing the career ladder, Dec. 9, 2024). I was getting overtime pay at time and a half plus bonus based on the amount of work done. The survey firm mentions that it was from people who did an ‘opt-in.’ My guess is people who were working 60 hours a week did not have the time to opt-in, so I question how valid the survey is.” - George
Looks like you worked some overtime on this one. Good points, George. - Shane
“Hi, Shane. I read your piece in the recent CITYVIEW about Christmas songs. Was wondering if you really meant to say that a favorite Christmas song was ‘Snoopy vs. The Red Baron?’ It's a great song, but it has no mention of Christmas in the lyrics. A year later, The Royal Guardsman released ‘Snoopy's Christmas,’ and it's a fantastic Christmas song! Through an Indianola High School Class of 1974 classmate who is a musician, I have become Facebook friends with Marvin (Chris) Nunley, a member of The Royal Guardsman. (He sang and spoke the German intro on their recordings.) Super-nice guy, and he will be pleased to know he has a fan who runs a fine publication here in Des Moines, where he lived for a while as a young boy. I'd attach a link to ‘Snoopy's Christmas’ but clicking links in an e-mail is, as the Baron would say... ‘verboten’ and a quick YouTube search should bring it right up. All the best to you at the holidays!” - Karl
That you for the correction, Karl. You are absolutely right. My memory is of “Snoopy’s Christmas,” as that was the 45 my brother and I spun repeatedly on our General Electric portable record player. - Shane
Thank you 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: Osceola couple remembered for their work in the community. OSCEOLA, Iowa — Jim and Mary Ellen Kimball were huge supporters of the arts. At the Des Moines Community Playhouse, they earned the opportunity to sponsor two seats, one way for the organization to show its appreciation for all the things the Kimballs have done for the playhouse. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: Grimes standoff ends in barricaded man’s surrender.GRIMES, Iowa — An adult male surrendered to law enforcement after barricading himself inside a Grimes home for almost two hours Wednesday night. ...READ MORE
FROM WOI: 1 critically injured in I-80 rollover crash Wednesday evening. ALTOONA, Iowa — Eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 in Altoona near 38th Street were completely blocked following a semi rollover crash Wednesday afternoon, according to Iowa DOT 511....READ MORE |
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Clear Mortgage meteorology
Warmer but windy today, with light snow possible in the north. Colder again Friday, then a slow warming trend into next week. Very slim precip. chances Monday and Tuesday.
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 | | | BELLY UP TO...
HiFi Brew Lounge
By Jackie Wilson
At the HiFi Brew Lounge, a wall of records, stacks of albums, a disco ball and photos of musicians might signify a dance supper club where A-list celebrities drink martinis and mingle among humming background music.
But wait. There’s more to the place than its music theme and drinks. A full menu and house-brewed beer await patrons in West Des Moines’ newest joint.
The HiFi Brew Lounge is located at 103 S. 11th St. in Valley Junction. It occupies the old Fox Brewing building. The renovations to the new spot include a remarkable transformation from industrial décor to a supper club vibe. | | | READ MORE |
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The over indulgence report
Washington Post sent food writer Natalie Compton to Vegas to review the $107.41 Bacchanal Room buffet at Caesar's Palace. Compton, who admitted she never goes to buffets, savaged this one. "This was not a luxury dining experience. This was a Sweet Tomatoes hiding in a trench coat. Maybe that’s why we felt so duped." — What does that even mean? Between such rants, she revealed that this newest, most lavish incarnation of the famous buffet that opened in 1960 has: no servers in togas; a $2.7 million makeover; 20,000 guests a week consuming 2,000 pounds of crab a day; a 90-minute time limit; 25,000 square feet; nine “live-action” cooking stations and dozens of cuisines, including cherry-glazed quail, truffle rotisserie chicken, and whole rounds of wagyu. Compton's disdain made me want to try it.
Reckoning the year in food and hospitality
Rookie of the year. Eva Lavalle returned to Des Moines and took over Purveyor in East Village. That place is a dream for lovers of tapas, charcuterie and paella. Eva's restaurant genes derived from two legends of Iowa food — father Mike and mother Lisa, both of whom “retired," although Mike redefined retirement to accommodate "my compulsion to intermingle daily with a couple hundred other people in a restaurant."
Thursday specials
• Irina's Steak and Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) offers a steak special with choices on Thursdays. Choose one: prime filet mignon, New York strip or baseball cut sirloin, plus one selected side, $25
• Sirloin steak dinners are featured specials today at Sully's Irish Pub (860 First St., West Des Moines), Front Row (9956 Swanson Blvd., Clive), and Winn’s Pizza and Steakhouse (122 W. Ashland Ave., Indianola)
• Thursday nights, Moroccan couscous — lemon chicken, beef keftas, five vegetables, harissa — are $17 at Purveyor (505 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines).
• Sprockets (2314 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a breaded pork tenderloin special on Thursdays for $9.99
• Kids eat free at Scornovacca’s (1930 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) on Thursdays
• Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) offers $2 off all sushi on Thursdays
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) has karaoke tonight from 6 p.m.
• ShortE's BBQ (8505 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) has $1 smoked wings Thursdays.
• Cyd's Catering has a football "pre-game meal deal" that includes crudité with tomatoes, shrimp cocktails, corn chips and three dips, bourbon meatballs, dry rubbed chicken wings and fudge brownies to feed four - $100.
• It's prime rib night at Flying Mango (4345 Hickman Road, Des Moines) and burnt end pork belly night at Whatcha Smokin (Luther, Iowa).
• Bevy’s Tavern (1300 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special of beef stew and cornbread Thursdays for $13.
• Fareway is offering whole USDA Choice rib roasts at $13.99/pound, bone-in roasts $14.99/pound and boneless $16.99/pound through Saturday.
• Amruth Indian Grill (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive), a recent Tuesday Tout, offers an all-you-can-eat dosa (gram/rice flour crepes) buffet on Thursdays 5:30-9 p.m. $18.95. This locally owned store is the raj of south Indian cuisine and dosa is its prophet.
• Southridge Hy-Vee has a $10 steak dinner special on Thursdays with $1 going to Southside Cares.
• Aldi has sales on pineapples $1.69, leg of lamb steaks $7.99/pound, and bone-in turkey breasts $1.69/pound through Christmas Eve.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com
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The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Flower Shop
1. Boesen the Florist
2. Wildflower
3. Carmen’s Flowers Uptown
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 | | |
$467,500 825 Shelby Drive Adel, IA 50003
Come see this contemporary 2-story walk-out home nestled in Adel's Bailey's Grove neighborhood. With 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a 3-car garage and nearly 3,300 finished square feet, this home has space where you need it. and it's loaded with updates and features. The main floor features hardwood floors, a formal dining area, living room with gas fireplace flanked with built-ins, an eat-in white kitchen with pantry, new backsplash and a large island. ....
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 200 FIFTH ST., WEST DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-08-29
SALE PRICE: $420,000
SELLER: JUNCTION HOLDINGS OF IOWA INC
BUYER: SPACES LLC
ACRES: 0.077
SQUARE FEET: 2,450 |
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Final weekend - “A Christmas Carol” by Iowa Stage Theatre Company.
Final two weeks - “Beauty and the Beast” by Des Moines Playhouse. You may want to get your tickets — this show goes back "into the vault" at the end of the year, and it may be some time before it's available to produce.
Hoyt Sherman Place Holiday open house – Free, festive family event
Join a free evening of music and holiday festivities at Hoyt Sherman Place on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Starting at 5 p.m., walk through the historic mansion decorated for the holidays by the Des Moines Women’s Club and enjoy light refreshments, a cash bar, and some Hoyt Sherman Place giveaways. This year, your family can also make a craft and meet a certain jolly old elf on the second floor of the mansion. Then, go to the beautiful theater at 6 p.m. to hear the spectacular sound of the 34th Army Band, Iowa Army National Guard. No tickets are required. This event is free and open to the public.
Blue Violin Candlelight Christmas
Sunday, Dec. 22 7 p.m. at Staplin Performing Arts Center, Valley High School West Des Moines.
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
Saturday, Dec. 21, 2 and 7:30 p.m.
A Magical Cirque Christmas
Des Moines Performing Arts presents a mesmerizing Cirque show Sunday, Dec. 22 at 4 p.m. Enjoy the bedazzling display of costumes and acrobatics as no other company presents.
Let your old sousaphone stop collecting dust: Used Instrument Collection
Stephens Auditorium Ticket Office Lobby. Now through Dec. 22, Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Instruments that are collected will be distributed to area schools for use in their band/music programs. As the cost of buying or renting instruments can be prohibitive for many families in our community, music teachers appreciate donated instruments so all their students who would love to learn to play or would like to be in a band or orchestra get that opportunity. Last year’s Instrument Drive collected 60 instruments.
Instruments that can be hand carried (no pianos, please) can be brought to Stephens. Instruments requiring minor repair or replacement of parts are acceptable.
For more information, email perform@iastate.edu or call the Stephens Ticket Office at 515-294-2479
Noce calendar filled with irresistible shows, including Matt Wilson
Get ready for some joyful and zany holiday music from Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O as they celebrate their 15th anniversary with a new album,”Tree Jazz: The Shape of Christmas to Come,” at Noce Thursday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at Noce.
Polk County Heritage Gallery
GDM Exhibited 2024! The show runs through Jan. 30.
— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz |
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Featured in the current
issue of Johnston Living magazine | | | Rooted in community
Hamata helps beautify Green Meadows West
By Lindsey Giardino
Since moving to Johnston from Nebraska in 2019, Jason Hamata and his family have embraced their new hometown with open arms.
“We looked at all the suburbs in Des Moines and decided Johnston was best for us,” Hamata explains. “We thought Johnston had the best layout for a town, best parks and bike trails, and best school system.”
After exploring neighborhoods throughout Johnston, they found their perfect fit in Green Meadows West — an area that suits Hamata’s love for nature and community projects.
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I thought Green Meadows West had endless possibilities for horticulture projects, and I got started on them right away when we moved here,” Hamata shares. “We chose our house because it has a 20-acre prairie behind it and is part of about 91 total acres maintained by the HOA.” | | | READ MORE |
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FROM ESPN: Alabama AD tells Tide fans to 'fight back,' help fund NIL. ... READ MORE
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Six Potential Kirk Cousins Landing Spots If Falcons Decide to Cut Ties ... READ MORE
FROM Yahoo Sports: Netflix announces college football series following the SEC's 2024 season, set to release in 2025 ... READ MORE |
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1990: Bo Jackson becomes first athlete named to NFL, MLB all‑star games. On December 19, 1990, Los Angeles Raiders running back Bo Jackson is named to the AFC Pro Bowl team as a reserve, becoming the first athlete chosen for all-star games in Major League Baseball and the NFL. ...READ MORE
1972: Last lunar‑landing mission ends. The Apollo lunar-landing program ends on December 19, 1972, when the last three astronauts to travel to the moon splash down safely in the Pacific Ocean. Apollo 17 had lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, 10 days before. .... READ MORE
1917: National Hockey League opens its first season. On December 19, 1917, Montreal teams win the first two NHL games played. In a 7-4 win over the Ottawa Senators, the Canadiens' Joe Malone scores five goals. In his team's 10-9 win over the Toronto Arenas, the Montreal Wanderers' Harry Hyland also scores five goals. ... READ MORE
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| Weekly fuel report | | | The price of regular unleaded gasoline rose 4 cents, averaging $2.74 across Iowa according to AAA. Prices rose 4 cents from last week’s price and are down 2 cents from a year ago. The national average on Wednesday was $3.03, up 1 cent from last week’s price.
Retail diesel prices in Iowa rose 4 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.29. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $3.74 in Iowa.
The current Iowa diesel price is 22 cents lower than the national average of $3.51.
Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.
Natural gas prices held steady at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $3.38/MMbtu.
Propane prices averaged $1.56 per gallon in Iowa.
Home heating oil prices had a statewide average of $2.88 per gallon. |
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| Birthdays and notables | | | These celebrities were born on this date: These celebrities were born on this date: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rosa Blasi, Alyssa Milano, Jorge Blanco, Richard Hammond, Alexis Sánchez, Criss Angel, Tyson Beckford
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to the last riddle: What do you call a Irish man bouncing off the walls? RICK O'SHEA! - Irving Stone, Gail Tomlinson. Or, A "leap"(lep)rechaun! - Carolyn Rogers. Other answers: Rex Post.
Today's riddle: What do you call a hangover from wine?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Johnston Living magazine or weekly, contact:
Andrea Hodapp
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 322
Mobile: 515-883-0523
andrea@iowalivingmagazines.com
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www.biggreenumbrellamedia.com.
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