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.
“Your recent column on your baby blue Mustang brought me a chuckle (Jordan Creek/WDM Living magazine, January 2025). My first car was a 1970s new green VW bug. Green with a chalk-colored interior, rubber mats with Beetle emblem, real wood (stuck on) paneling, same on gear shift top, crank sun roof, and — an AM FM radio! A problem with it was that the engine was in the back and the cover was vented, so with lots of snow and rain, the car wouldn't start! My dad gave me a can of something to spray on the distributor cap and it was usually good to go! My dad was very methodical about clearing snow off cars — had to have it ALL off before driving. Of course, I was impatient and left the right side still covered with snow one day. Unfortunately I sideswiped a car. That was not easy to share that with my dad, but it was fixed and back on the road again. I enjoyed the car stories.” - Connie
Everyone seems to have a great first car story — or at least they should! - Shane
“I am busier than a one-armed paper hanger (Busy, Jan. 8, 2025).” - Chuck
That’s busy. - Shane
“I’m busier than a one-legged guy in a butt-kicking contest (Busy, Jan. 8, 2025).” - Pat
That’s even more busy. - Shane
“Busier than a cat in a room full of rocking chairs (Busy, Jan. 8, 2025).” - Jill
That may be the busiest. - Shane
“Busier than a one-armed milker (Busy, Jan. 8, 2025).” - Rex
I stand corrected. - Shane
“I enjoyed your column today (Cattle lines, Jan. 13, 2025). It is so nice to be an Iowa native. I just wish it wasn't so cold. When we were building the Central Library and had two winters to go through, it was so good to stop over at Centro for hot chocolate! Thanks again.” - Kay
I hope you didn’t have to wait in line very long! - Shane
Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
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FROM KCCI: Neighbors concerned about proposed homeless village in Des Moines. DES MOINES, Iowa — The city of Des Moines is taking steps to address homelessness by seeking federal funding to establish a village of temporary housing units. The city council voted unanimously to apply for this funding, aiming to create a Pallet Shelter homeless village consisting of 43 individual shelters. However, the proposed site near the Chesterfield Community Center has sparked opposition from local residents. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: Alert issued for Iowa pet owners on bird flu danger. ...READ MORE
FROM WOI: AMES, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is advising Iowa pet owners to keep their cats and dogs away from sick or deceased wild birds and animals. Pet owners should also discourage indoor and outdoor cats from hunting wildlife because of the ongoing threat posed by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) circulating within wild and migratory birds. ...READ MORE |
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Clear Mortgage meteorology
A nice day ahead before turning much colder tonight. Warming again by the middle of next week.
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 | | | SOUND CIRCUIT
Dance an Irish jig
By Jackie Wilson
Some of Ireland’s biggest rising musicians and Irish dancers are set to perform in Des Moines on Jan. 18.
The Byrne Brothers concert is sponsored locally by the Celtic Music Association. The all-ages concert takes place at the Franklin Center.
The Byrne Brothers hail from Donegal, Ireland, and are a multi-award-winning family band consisting of Luca, 20, on accordion; Finn, 18, on banjo, mandolin and guitar; Dempsey, 14, bodhran and whistle; and their father, Tommy, on uilleann pipes, fiddle, guitar and bagpipe. | | | READ MORE |
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U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection reports of Boar’s Head’s plants found some frightening things: equipment covered in meat scraps; green mold and flaking paint; unidentified “slime”; puddles of blood, debris and trash; dripping condensation falling on fresh food; and insects. Those reports go back to 2019 and include all BH plants. Apparently, this wasn’t important enough for the USDA to make it public until BH-contaminated meats killed four people and made scores more very sick last year. That makes this old cynic very suspicious of USDA's ethics.
Oma Pacific bluefin tuna, known as the “black diamond” of tuna, is the most highly prized fish for sashimi. It only swims in the Tsugaru straits. A record sized 608-pound Omo sold at Tsukiji Market this month. It was purchased by a Michelin-starred Japanese sushi restaurant chain for 207 million yen, over $2,100 per pound (WAPO). Omo Japanese Ramen & Sushi opened recently at 8430 Ward Parkway, in Kansas City, Missouri, across the street from Kansas. It doesn't have oma on its menu. Oma rarely ever gets out of Japan.
Basic Bird is closed temporarily until they can figure out how to proceed after a vehicle drove through the window and the rest of the front of the restaurant Thursday.
Weekend specials
• Olympic Flame (514 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) hosts belly dancers Friday nights.
• Vietnam Cafe (Merle Hay Mall Food Court) has a weekly 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 6-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
• Cousin's Maine lobster truck will be at Firetrucker Brewery (716 S.W. Third St., Ankeny) on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Wayne Page/Ron Roberts Duo plays Louie’s Wine Dive (4040 University Ave., Des Moines) Sunday at 5.
• Price Choppers have cherries on sale for $2.99/pound, blueberries for $2.50/pint, frozen catfish nuggets for $2.19/pound and chicken wings for $3.99/pound through Monday.
• Irina's Steak and Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) has a $28 boeuf Bourguignon special on Sunday.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
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The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Hair Salon
1. Pure Salon
2. Saint Blonde Salon
3. Hair by Ashley Haack
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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Des Moines Performing Arts – Explorers Series. Jan. 21. “Pink Boots and a Machette.”
Des Moines Community Playhouse – Kate Goldman Children’s Theatre. Jan. 17 - Feb. 2. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.”
Theatre Midwest in collaboration with the Des Moines Playhouse. “The Gull: A Tragicomedy for One, After Chekhov.” Jan. 22-25.
Botanical Blues back in full swing
Sundays through March 30, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Bob Pace is up next in the weekly concert series, where you can warm up and shake off the blues.
Poetry Palooza! revives a beloved historic program.
Iowa leaders share favorite poems at the Des Moines Art Center. Poetry Palooza’s “Favorite Poem” program makes its premiere on Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Des Moines Art Center. A diverse group of 12 leaders from Central Iowa will take the stage to present their favorite poem and express the importance poetry plays in their lives. The free event from 3-4:30 p.m. is a collaboration between the Iowa Poetry Association’s Poetry Palooza! and the Art Center’s Art Bridges Foundation.
The lineup of readers includes: Trevy Augustin, Kelly Baum, Lenny Bell, Connie Boesen, Tej Dhawan, Richard Deming, Deidre DeJear, Seso Marentes, Zach Mecham, Michael Morain, Dawn Oropeza and Poet-Emcee Mike Pace. The event revives a once treasured feature of the historic Des Moines National Poetry Festival.
Attendance is free, and no registration is required. The Des Moines Art Center is located at 4700 Grand Ave. in Des Moines.
Des Moines Metro Opera
The Festival 2025 includes “The Flying Dutchman,” “The Cunning Little Vixen,” and Stravinsky's witty and profound homage to Mozart, “The Rake's Progress.” Ticket prices are set to increase on Feb. 4, so don't forget to secure your seats before the deadline. In other news: General director Michael Egel was named one of the Top 30 Professionals of the Year by Musical America.
— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz |
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| Featured home for sale | | | |
$924,900 9912 N.W. 44th St. Polk City, IA 50226
This luxurious walkout ranch boasts 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and an oversized 3-car garage with 3400 sq ft of living space. This modern home features 10' ceilings, hardwood floors, 2 electric fireplaces, central vac, irrigation system, wet bar, mud room, laundry room, walk-in pantry, covered deck, covered patio, and so much more. The expanded-depth garage has epoxy flooring.
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 414 61ST ST., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-09-06
SALE PRICE: $580,000
SELLER: VIBRANT CREDIT UNION
BUYER: 414 61ST STREET LLC
ACRES: 1.154
SQUARE FEET: 4,868 |
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Featured in the current
issue of Winterset Living magazine | | | From fostering to adoption
Kappelmans build relationships.
By Darren Tromblay
Foster parenting has been a kaleidoscope of emotions and experiences for Paige and Josh Kappelman.
Since becoming a licensed foster family in January of 2023, their days of family building have been one part challenging, but another part incredibly rewarding. Their adopted children, Javier, Jayden and Jaylynn, are reflections of their “calling,” as Paige deems it.
“Before we were married, we discussed adopting someday. We felt called to it as Christ followers,” she says. “When we struggled to conceive, becoming a foster family was an obvious and easy choice. We had a desire to make a positive impact in a child’s life.” | | | READ MORE |
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FROM ESPN: Agent: Brady plans to continue dual role with Fox, Raiders ... READ MORE
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Indiana Fever to Build Massive State-of-the-Art Performance Center. ... READ MORE
FROM Yahoo Sports: LSU QB Colin Hurley hospitalized after car crash near LSU's campus ... READ MORE |
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2013: Bolshoi Ballet artistic director attacked with acid. In a crime that scandalized Russia and made headlines around the world, Sergei Filin, the artistic director at the famed Bolshoi Ballet, is attacked with acid outside his home in Moscow on January 17, 2013. A dancer at the ballet, Pavel Dmitrichenko, was later convicted for ordering the attack, which revealed deep divisions within the ballet company. ...READ MORE
1997: Ireland grants a divorce for the first time in the country’s history. The Republic of Ireland legally grants a divorce for the first time following a 1995 referendum. The first divorce in Ireland, granted to a terminally ill man who wished to marry his new partner, was a harbinger of the decline of the Catholic Church’s power over the Republic. ... READ MORE
1893: Americans overthrow Hawaiian monarchy. On the Hawaiian Islands, a group of American sugar planters under Sanford Ballard Dole overthrow Queen Liliuokalani, the Hawaiian monarch, and establish a new provincial government with Dole as president. The coup occurred with the foreknowledge of John L. Stevens, the U.S. minister to Hawaii, and 300 U.S. Marines from the U.S. cruiser Boston were called to Hawaii, allegedly to protect American lives. ... READ MORE
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| Birthdays and notables | | | Happy 80th birthday to Jim Becker on Saturday!
These celebrities were born on this date: Calvin Harris, Dwyane Wade, James Earl Jones, Jim Carrey, Kelly Marie Tran, Michelle Obama, Steve Harvey, Zooey Deschanel
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to the last riddle:Who was the biggest jokester in George Washington’s army? Laughayette!
Today's riddle: What did King George think of the American Colonies?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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mary@dmcityview.com
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