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Monday, Dec. 29, 2025
Good morning to you! 

You shouldn’t need a reason to smile today, but here are a few, just in case you do.

“Smile. It makes people wonder what you’re up to.”

This quote is attributed to Sean Keogh, author of “Bottoms up: a Cheeky Look at Life.” My sister had a similar version as a painting that was hung in her bedroom in our childhood home. I read it hundreds of times as a kid, and I always smiled. She did, too. I hope you are as well.

“If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.”

Dolly Parton has been known to share this quote, along with a great big smile. In fact, I can’t envision Dolly not smiling. Wouldn’t it be great if people said that about each one of us?

“You are never fully dressed without a smile.”

These beautiful words are from the song “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” from the Broadway musical “Annie,” written by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin. So many people put so much time and money into their appearance, yet the greatest improvement we can all make to how we look is to simply add a smile — and it’s free!

“Life is like a mirror. Smile and it smiles back at you.”

You have likely heard that when one person yawns, another soon will. The same is true for smiles. In fact, they multiply. A lot.

“Be the reason someone smiles today.”

My friend Susan used to take her finger and press it against my forehead each time I would frown. “You are going to get a permanent wrinkle there,” she would say. “You should smile instead.” That was great advice. It still is, which I am reminded of each time I look at that wrinkle.

“Life is short. Smile while you still have teeth.”

I had a friend who ran a car dealership who would say, “Buying a car shouldn’t be like going to the dentist.” And, he made car-buying fun. My dentist took offense to that comment, though, and would frequently say, “Going to the dentist should be fun.” And, at her office, it is. Meanwhile, there is still something heart-warming about a person without teeth offering an ear-to-ear smile.

Have a magnificent Monday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

Read more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

 
 
News headlines

FROM KCCI: Des Moines firefighters battle overnight fire in extreme cold. Des Moines firefighters braved the extreme cold and high winds early Monday to extinguish a house fire near Drake University.First responders arrived at the scene around 12:30 a.m. at 18th Street and College Avenue, where fire was shooting from the roof of the house. The close proximity of the houses raised concerns about the fire spreading, but firefighters managed to prevent it. ... READ MORE

FROM WHO-TV: Vehicle crashes into front of northern Iowa high school. Crews are working on cleaning up debris after a vehicle crashed into a northern Iowa high school Saturday. Hampton-Dumont High School posted on Facebook Sunday saying,” On Saturday night, there was an incident in which a vehicle drove through the front of the High School. The vehicle proceeded through the cafeteria and struck the lunch line door.” ... READ MORE

FROM WOI: Ag drone leader weighs in on national security following the FCC ban on foreign-made drones. The Federal Communications Commission said Monday it will ban new foreign-made drones from entering the U.S. market, citing national security concerns tied to drone technology. The decision blocks new approvals for drones and critical components produced in foreign countries, including Chinese-made drones from companies like DJI and Autel. The FCC said its review found the technology posed “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.” ... READ MORE

 
 

FROM AROUND THE WORLD: US offers Ukraine 15-year security guarantee as part of peace plan, Zelenskyy says. The United States is offering Ukraine security guarantees for a period of 15 years as part of a proposed peace plan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday, though he said he would prefer an American commitment of up to 50 years to deter Russia from further attempts to seize its neighbor’s land by force. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE NATION: Midair helicopter crash in New Jersey leaves 1 dead and another critically injured. Two helicopters crashed midair in New Jersey on Sunday, killing one person and critically injuring another, authorities say. Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel said rescuers responded to a report of an aviation crash at about 11:25 a.m. Video from the scene shows a helicopter spinning rapidly to the ground. Police and fire crews subsequently extinguished flames that engulfed one of the helicopters. ... READ MORE

FROM AROUND THE STATE: Garage fire causes total loss, damages nearby homes and cars in Red Oak. The Red Oak Fire Department says a Sunday garage fire, which caused damages to nearby homes and cars, is a total loss. The Red Oak Fire Department says crews were called to the 900 block of N 4th Street around 5 a.m. on reports of a detached garage fully engulfed in flames. Additional aid was called from Stanton FD and Elliot FD. ... READ MORE

 

Clear Mortgage meteorology

A cold start to the week, with winds finally dying down this evening. Moderating temperatures after. Light snow is possible early Thursday.

For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage.

 
 
The 2025 results: CITYVIEW's Best of Des Moines®
 
 
Best Radio Station
 
1. KFMG 98.9 FM
 
2. Life 107.1
 
3. WHO 1040 AM
 
See all of the results
 

2025's greatest gifts to Des Moines' food scene, part III
The Reinhardt Room is an event space adjacent to Django. George Formaro and Derek Eidson are Des Moines' most curious restaurateurs and partners at Django. Special events in restaurants are almost always wine (or beer) pairings, usually with a representative from one vineyard showing off the winery's (brewery's) product. 
Formaro and Eidson are not typical chef/restaurateurs. Some of their restaurants have been deep dives into historical preservation. Formaro painstakingly resurrected 20th century coal oven pizza of New York City at Centro, even as New York City was closing them down. Eidson did similar things at his Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster, mimicking the best of 20th century Wisconsin lake country supper clubs.

In 2025, they turned Reinhardt Room special events into historical reenactments. Charles Dickens' dinners recreated holiday menus from the pages of the world's best ever food writer (Anthony Burgess' opinion). Their Butcher and the Bay series recalled the Pacific Northwest of James Beard's youth. Chef George's Harvest & Hearth dinners, his throwback Steakhouse Bar, Italian Supper Club and Seafood Supper Club series kept faith with history and food as it used to be.

Check out the menus for this winter's Cask and Crust series which has three totally different avatars, https://www.djangodesmoines.com/events/#special-events

Deals today
• Hy-Vee Market Grilles offer pulled pork stuffed baked potatoes on Mondays in December for $8. 

• It's catfish night at Waterfront stores. Dinners cooked any way you like it, $19.99.

• Kids eat free on Monday at Curbin' Cuisine (1325 S.W. Oralabor Road, Suite 200, Ankeny).

• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave.) Monday special is three for $25 on all appetizers.

•  Bubba (200 10th St., Des Moines) has a Monday night sirloin dinner special for $20. 

• Kelly's Little Nipper (1701 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines) offers a "Monday grind" special grinder and fries basket for $9.50.

• Monday brings prime rib specials to both Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) and Christopher's (2816 Beaver Ave., Des Moines).

• Trostel's Greeenbriar (Merle Hay Road, Johnston) has a Monday burger with a side and beer deal for $14.   

• Beaver Tap (4050 Urbandale Ave.) has $8 omelets and $10 hot beef sandwiches or Mexican bowls on Mondays.

• Johnny's Italian Steakhouses have a chicken de Burgo special on Mondays before 4 p.m., $14 including beverage.
 
• Smoking Goat Pub (3015 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines) hosts Shelby Smokehouse Soul Food on Mondays 5-9 p.m.
 
• G Mig's (126 Fifth St., Valley Junction) has $11 smashburgers today with a side.
 
• The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll, Des Moines) has a Monday special Graziano grinder with a side for $12.
 
• The Continental (407 E. Fifth St., Des Moines) offers a Monday special double smash burger and shoestring fries, $12.
 
• Jethro's have a Monday chicken tenders and fries special $9.95.

• Angry Goldfish (2301 S.W. Ninth St., Des Moines) has specials on chicken Parmesan and lasagna today, $15 with garlic bread and salad.

• Eastside Eddie’s (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) Monday  special is a burger with domestic beer, soft drink or well drink for $10.  

• Centro (1003 Locust St., Des Moines) offers half-price pizza and Peronis on Monday.

• Pelican Post (265 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special today on hot beef sandwiches, $10.95 all day. 

• Tito’s Lounge (3916 Urbandale Drive, Urbandale) offers all-you-can-eat wings Mondays. 

• Johnny's Hall of Fame (302 Court Ave., Des Moines) has $12 burger baskets on Mondays and Fridays.

• Urban Cellars (640 S. 50th St., West Des Moines) offers $60 wine dinners for two on Mondays including two entrees with soup or salad, a dessert and a bottle on wine. 

• Club 2000 (422 Indianola Road, Des Moines) has a burger basket with fries deal Mondays for $9. 

• Red Lobster's Monday special is lobster and shrimp scampi with a side for $20. 

• Paula's (524 Elm St., Valley Junction) has a Monday special homemade tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwich for $12.50. 

• Destination Grille (2491 E. First St., Grimes) has a Monday steak night special, sirloins and truffle fries for $18.

• Guesthouse Tavern and Oyster (9500 University Ave., West Des Moines) offers "surf and turf" specials Friday and prime rib dinners Saturday. 

• Price Chopper delis offer two-piece, bone-in fried chicken dinners, with two sides and a roll for $6 on Mondays. 

• Aldi stores offer mandarins at $2.99/3-pound bag, avocados at 49 cents and petite beef tenderloins at $6.99/pound through Tuesday.

• Fareways have specials through Saturday on bone-in pork butts at $1.88/pound, chicken hindquarters at $1.29/pound and cauliflower for $1.99.
 

— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com
 
 
Featured in the current issue of CITYVIEW
 

FEATURE STORY
Installation in progress

By Cyote Williams

Established in 1948, the Des Moines Art Center has brought world-famous works of art right into central Iowa’s backyard. Whether it be at an exhibit inside one of the three unique buildings, which are considerable artworks themselves, or the renowned John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park in downtown, the Art Center has made the Hawkeye State’s capital a destination for exceptional artwork.

Its permanent collection contains works from names such as Andy Warhol, Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe and Grant Wood to name a few, and that does not count the various exhibits that make a temporary stay inside its walls. ...

 
Read more
 
Featured home for sale
 
Post listings here for $50. Contact jolene@iowalivingmagazines.com for details.
 
$625,000

1730 Woodland Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50309

 
Rare Sherman Hill Opportunity! Own a piece of history in one of Des Moines’ most sought-after historic districts, located directly across from Aposto. This beautifully maintained 1880s home blends timeless character with modern comfort, including updated plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems. Offering 2,484 square feet of finished living space, the home features 9-foot ceilings throughout, original wood floors, trim, siding and staircase, and abundant natural light. ...
  
See the listing here.
 
See more homes for sale
 
SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction
 
801 WALNUT ST., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2025-07-28
SALE PRICE: $32,000,000
SELLER: WELLS FARGO PROPERTIES INC
BUYER: DMCRE1 LLC
ACRES: 9.670
SQIUARE FEET: 1,413,252
 
More transactions
 
Featured in the current
issue of West Des Moines/Jordan Creek Living magazine
 

Handmade for the holidays
Residents share the joy of gifts from the heart.

By Jackie Wilson

The quilt from a beloved aunt. Knitted sweaters from Grandma. A child’s table and chairs crafted in a relative’s workshop. A personalized ornament. Handmade gifts are unique, but, more than that, they are gifts of time spent in the crafting, imagination in their design and love in their giving.

Upcycled mittens
As people outgrow sweaters or grow tired of them, Stephanie Greedy is eager to snap them up.

Greedy, of West Des Moines, uses them to make something new: mittens. Her upcycled mittens, which she began making about seven years ago, are popular items. ...

 
Read more
 
Sports headlines
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Aaron Rodgers blames refs for Steelers’ failed final play vs. Browns. The Steelers failed to clinch a playoff berth on Sunday, falling to the rival Browns in a humbling loss in Week 17. The game came down to the wire, with Cleveland ultimately winning 13–6 after Pittsburgh’s last gasp effort, a pass from Aaron Rodgers to Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the corner of the end zone, fell incomplete.  ... READ MORE
 
FROM ESPN: Brock Purdy's big night sets up 49ers-Seahawks showdown for NFC's top seed. On a night when the San Francisco 49ers were without All-Pro tight end George Kittle and had All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams for one snap, the weight of their playoff positioning fell on quarterback Brock Purdy. ... READ MORE
FROM YAHOO SPORTS: Raptors star Scottie Barnes records historic triple-double in overtime comeback win over Warriors. Scottie Barnes went off for the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon.Barnes dropped a monster triple-double to lead the Raptors to a 141-127 overtime win against the Golden State Warriors at Scotiabank Arena on Sunday. He had the triple-double secured before overtime even began, and had a career-high 25 rebounds in the win — which is the most recorded by a player in a single game anywhere in the league so far this season. It also matched the Raptors' franchise record set by Bismack Biyombo in 2016, too. ... READ MORE
 

1890: U.S. Army massacres Lakota Indians at Wounded Knee. On Dec. 29, 1890, in one of the final chapters of America’s long Indian wars, the U.S. Cavalry kills 146 Lakota Indians at Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. ... READ MORE

1845: Texas enters the Union. Six months after the congress of the Republic of Texas accepts U.S. annexation, Texas is admitted into the United States as the 28th state. ... READ MORE

1940: London is devastated by German air raid. On the evening of Dec. 29, 1940, London suffers its most devastating air raid when Germans firebomb the city. Hundreds of fires caused by the exploding bombs engulfed areas of London, but firefighters showed a valiant indifference to the bombs falling around them and saved much of the city from destruction. The next day, a newspaper photo of St. Paul’s Cathedral standing undamaged amid the smoke and flames seemed to symbolize the capital’s unconquerable spirit during the Battle of Britain. ... READ MORE

 www.history.com

 
Birthdays and notables
 

Happy birthday, Connor Elmitt and Sadie McFarland!

These celebrities were born on this date: Dylan Minnette, Paris Berelc, Jude Law, Dylan Mulvaney, Pardison Fontaine, Alison Brie, Danny Wagner, Ted Danson, Myles Garrett, Jane Levy, Christen Press, Jon Voight

SUBMIT: Send your local birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

 
Morning chuckle

The answer to the last riddle: Which of Santa’s reindeer has bad manners? RUDE-OLPH! - Gail Tomlinson. Other answers from Scott Holmgren

Today's riddle: What’s a digital camera’s New Year’s resolution?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

 

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or West Des Moines/Jordan Creek, Waukee or Norwalk  Living magazines, contact:

Martha Munro
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 314
Mobile: 515-321-5246

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or West Des Moines/Jordan Creek, Waukee or Norwalk  Living magazines, contact:

Martha Munro
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 314
Mobile: 515-321-5246
martha@iowalivingmagazines.com

 

 

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