Welcome to the Friday 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.
“Good afternoon, Shane. Assuming you've never visited and you find yourself close to Austin, Minnesota, you might enjoy a trip to the Spam Museum (Ankeny Living, December 2024). By close, I don't mean driving up I-35 to Minneapolis and making a side trip. Perhaps on a visit to Rochester for a good news health checkup, you could slip over to Austin. The history and variety of Spam is nicely displayed. They have well informed docents who may even serve you samples of Spam flavors you request. Thanks for reminding my wife and me about the sandwiches and discouraging us from trying oyster soup. I'll stick with Creole Seafood Gumbo from Waterfront. Happy holidays.” - John
Aside from Spamwiches, I will stick with the tried-but-true ham and mashed potatoes. And don’t forget the gravy. - Shane
“Shane, I saw your Clive Living column on Spam canned meat (Clive Living, December 2024). My experience was similar. In college, I lived with my sister's family, and she had a couple of favorite Spam recipes that were budget friendly and really pretty good. A few years back, we stopped at the Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota. To say the least, it was an enlightening visit. I never would have guessed at the universality of Spam and all the ways it is prepared around the world. For me, the show stopper was the ‘museum gift shop,’ which has more flavors of Spam than I could have ever guessed are made. Better yet, even though a ‘gift shop,’ the Spam sold for one penny different than at a local meat and grocery chain with generally competitive pricing. My guess is the penny is for simplicity of making change. Also discovered a high school classmate descended from the Hormel family. I knew he was born in Austin, Minnesota, but he never talked about the family connection or Spam. We sold advertising for the high school newspaper — or at least that is what our hall pass to leave school said.” - Chuck
My wife was just asking me if we were going to plan a vacation for our anniversary. I guess I have it all planned out now. Thanks, Chuck. - Shane
“So, I assume Amazon is delivering you a case of Mistletoe today to last you all year (Mistletoe, Dec. 30, 2024)?” - JP
Pucker up. - Shane
Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.
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FROM KCCI: 1 dead, Des Moines police investigating officer-involved shooting. DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines Police Department is investigating a shooting involving an officer on the city's south side on Thursday evening. The shooting was reported just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the 2100 block of Meadow Court on Des Moines' south side. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: ‘Iowa Nice’ on full display as community helps reunite lost dog with owner. CLIVE, Iowa — A lost dog is now home safe after being on the loose for days, and it’s all thanks to the community. Security footage showed Gus, a Labrador Dane mix, scaling a seven-foot fence at 4 Paws Unleashed in Clive on Monday. ...READ MORE
FROM WOI: 'We will heal': Perry Community School District providing resources ahead of shooting anniversary. "Together, we will heal, we will grow, and we will move forward as one resilient community," said Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks. ...READ MORE |
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Clear Mortgage meteorology
Colder temperatures have moved in will and stay a while. More snow Sunday.
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
Oak Studio is mining genius on the ‘island of misfits’
By Jim Duncan
Izzy Kelai calls himself a model, photographer and dancer, “prioritizing portrait photography.”
That aphorism is so rife with wisdom that it has been ascribed to the legendary philosopher Lao-Tzu, the Medieval Sephardic rabbi Maimonides, the Communist dictator Mao Zedong, plus the Buddha, the Bible and Native American wind talkers. Everyone wants to claim it.
Its genius is realizing that charity can be best anticipated by preventing poverty. Maimonides wrote that, advising others to put a person “in the way of business, so that he may earn an honest livelihood and not be forced to the dreadful alternative of holding out his begging cup.” That kind of wisdom is rarely practiced and those who do deserve much praise. | | | READ MORE |
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In what city do people spend the most in restaurants? Cheapism reported that, among American city dwellers, San Franciscans spent the most per person on restaurant dining last year: $13,137. Houstonians spend the largest percentage of their budgets in restaurants at 31.72%.
Whatcha Smokin and Pho Viet are both closed for a winter break. Pho Viet just opened late last year but promises a "grand reopening" Feb. 10. That's after the Lunar New Year, too. It used to be that cash flow was essential to start-ups.
Reckoning 2024 in local arts and high culture
Show of the year: Des Moines Symphony’s 86th season culminated in the rapture of “The B9.” Beethoven’s Symphony 9 in D minor, was his final completed symphony, composed when the maestro was totally deaf. It’s the most ambitious work any symphony can take on. DMS did so with a 150-voice choral accompaniment. It was performed a few days after its 200th anniversary and drew the largest crowds this old writer has seen at the local orchestra in decades. Way to go, Joe.
Institution of the year. Des Moines Metro Opera was the only American company to be nominated for the World Opera Award (WOA) for best opera festival in the world. Their "Marriage of Figaro" produced two rising star WOA nominations and brought rapidly rising star baritone Alexander Birch Elliott to Iowa in the title role.
Homo sapiens of the year - Scott Charles Ross. The painter's inspiration to publicize the horror of Vladimir Putin's narcissus managed, through Ross' generosity, to raise enough awareness and money to keep eight Ukrainian high schoolers in Iowa and then on college scholarships at Iowa universities. Drake Law School, Moberg Gallery, Grinnell College and UNI also pitched in.
Drake women's basketball team reacted to a two-point halftime deficit with a 30-8 third quarter to run UIC out of the Knapp Center Thursday night. With Hawkeye stars Hannah Stuelke and Taylor McCabe in the stands, national assists leader Katie Dinnebier ignited the wake-up call as Courtney Becker had a career night in the Dogs’ 86-63 victory.
Weekend specials
• Olympic Flame (514 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) hosts belly dancers Friday nights.
• Vietnam Cafe (Merle Hay Mall Food Court) now has a weekly, not monthly Friday buffet. 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. $18.95 with pho included
• Bawarchi (6630 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines) offers Friday through Sunday specials on paneer kebabs, chicken curry and goat curry.
• Mickey's in Yale (217 Main St., Yale) has hot beef sandwich lunches and all you can eat fish dinner specials today.
• Fresh Thyme (2900 University Ave., West Des Moines) is having a sale on jumbo (16-20/pound) shrimp at $3.99/pound and Alaskan sockeye fillets at $7.99/pound through Tuesday.
• Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) offers BBQ beef and marinated roast beef sandwiches on special for Friday lunch.
• Bianchi’s Hilltop (2829 Hubbell Ave., Des Moines) has a lunch special on Italian roast beef sandwiches at $12.
• 801 Chophouse (801 Grand Ave., Des Moines) has Sunday supper specials that deliver deep discounts on filet, prime rib and red king salmon dinners.
• Lzaza (1409 23rd St., Des Moines) and Kathmandu (7229 Apple Valley, Windsor Heights) have weekend buffets of South Asian delights.
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) has live music from Jonas Woodstock from 6-9 p.m. Friday and with Charlston Trio Saturday, 6-9 p.m.
• Mainframe Studios (900 Keo Way, Des Moines) offers a celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures. Also stop by Oak Studio.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
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The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Wine Selection at a Restaurant
1. Louie’s Wine Dive
2. Cooper’s Hawk
3. WineStyles
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 | | |
$384,990 2832 E. 50th Court Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
The Bellhaven is a beautiful, open concept 2-story home that includes 4 large bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Upon entering the Bellhaven, you’ll find a spacious study perfect for an office space. As you make your way through the foyer, you’ll find a spacious and cozy great room complete with a fireplace. The gourmet kitchen with included quartz countertops is perfect for entertaining with its oversized island overlooking the dining and living areas.
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 8555 ALICE AVE., CLIVE
SALE DATE: 2024-09-03
SALE PRICE: $455,000
SELLER: ALICE FOUR INC
BUYER: BRUINSMA FARMS INC
ACRES: 0.417
SQUARE FEET: 2,970 |
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Featured in the current
issue of Altoona Living magazine | | | Holiday recipes
Residents share the foods that make the season bright.
By Sean Dengler
Favorite dishes are often at the heart of holiday gatherings. Their aromas wafting through the house signal time to join family and friends in celebration, reminiscing and gratitude. Their tastes spark memories and conversation. For many, certain recipes are a holiday must. They are inextricably woven into the fabric of the season, and the festivities wouldn’t feel complete without them.
A family tradition
For Jane Ferguson, making sugar cookies has been a family tradition since she married her husband, Larry, 49 years ago. | | | READ MORE |
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FROM ESPN: Notre Dame shuts down Georgia to reach CFP semifinals ... READ MORE
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Top 10 Biggest Snubs From 2025 Pro Bowl: Baker Mayfield, Malik Nabers and More ... READ MORE
FROM Yahoo Sports: Alex Ovechkin goals tracker: The Great Eight 24 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time record of 894 ... READ MORE |
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1990: Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega surrenders to U.S. On January 3, 1990, Panama’s General Manuel Antonio Noriega, after holing up for 10 days at the Vatican embassy in Panama City, surrenders to U.S. military troops to face charges of drug trafficking. Noriega was flown to Miami the following day and crowds of citizens on the streets of Panama City rejoiced. On July 10, 1992, the former dictator was convicted of drug trafficking, money laundering and racketeering and sentenced to 40 years in prison. ...READ MORE
1521: Martin Luther excommunicated. On January 3, 1521, Pope Leo X issues the papal bull Decet Romanum Pontificem, which excommunicates Martin Luther from the Catholic Church. Martin Luther, the chief catalyst of Protestantism, was a professor of biblical interpretation at the University of Wittenberg in Germany when he drew up his 95 theses condemning the Catholic Church for its corrupt practice of selling indulgences, or the forgiveness of sins. He followed up the revolutionary work with equally controversial and groundbreaking theological works, and his fiery words set off religious reformers all across Europe. ... READ MORE
1967: Jack Ruby dies before second trial. On January 3, 1967, Jack Ruby, the Dallas nightclub owner who killed the alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy, dies of a massive blood clot in a Dallas hospital. The Texas Court of Appeals had recently overturned his death sentence for the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald and was scheduled to grant him a new trial. ... READ MORE
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| Birthdays and notables | | | These celebrities were born on this date: Florence Pugh, Raegan Revord, Brianni Walker, Greta Thunberg, Mel Gibson, Eli Manning, Michael Schumacher, Katie McGrath, Lloyd Polite, Georgia Stanway, Danica McKellar, John Paul Jones
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to the last riddle: What do criminals pay on Jan. 1?A NEW YEAR'S RESTITUTION! - Gail Tomlinson
Today's riddle: Why is New Year’s Eve the least favorite holiday of a slice of bread?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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