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Jan. 30 - Feb. 5, 2026

 
 
Singin' in the rain... and the shower
 

Gene Kelly was “Singin’ in the Rain” in 1952 in one of the simplest yet beautifully orchestrated productions ever seen. This was before AI. Before CGI. Before most any “i.” MTV didn’t exist yet, but this “video” from the musical film of the same name, a light-hearted depiction of Hollywood in the late 1920s, captivated movie-goers with Kelly’s graceful steps while he danced through puddles in a rainstorm.

Rumors from the production say that Kelly had a 103-degree fever on the day of the shoot, and he still completed it on one take. If true, this production is even more amazing.

Most of us wouldn’t even consider singing in the rain. Instead, we run through it as quickly as possible to get to our cars, our offices or our homes to avoid getting soaked.

That’s not to say we don’t sing while in water. In fact, surveys show that nearly three-fourths of us admit to singing in the shower. Most all of us are a rock star in the bathroom. But, why do we sing in the shower?

According to howstuffworks.com, some people say they sing in the shower to relieve stress in a private, comfortable space. The warm water and solitude apparently release dopamine, which enhances mood and creativity.

Others say singing in the shower improves mood further by increasing oxygen in the blood through deep breathing, and the act itself distracts from daily problems, providing more stress relief.

The acoustics of the bathroom are also a factor, as they “enhance the quality of the voice through reverberation and added bass, making a person sound better, which boosts confidence and encourages more singing.”

I will admit it. I sing in the shower. And, keep in mind, I flunked chorus in eighth grade. That doesn’t stop me from singing along to whatever my Amazon Alexa is playing for me in the mornings. This isn’t a new practice for me either. As a teenager, I would fire up my Panasonic RX 5010 AM/FM cassette boombox and sing along to my favorite songs, after first tuning in to my morning fix of Paul Harvey’s “The Rest of the Story” on the radio dial.

So, thank you, Gene Kelly, for showing us that it’s OK to sing while water runs over our heads — in the rain or in the shower.

Have a great week, and thanks for reading.

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

 
 
Kiwanis Seniors of the Month
 

Aidan Schumann has been named one of the Kiwanis Seniors of the Month.

“Hello, I’m Aidan Schumann and my parents are Jeff and Amy Schumann. My brother is a sophomore at Northwestern College, and my sister is in her first year of dental school at the University of Iowa. I participate in track and field, Principal’s Council and Comets For Christ at North Polk. I have been on the Gold Honor Roll for three years in a row and have recently submitted 140 hours of community service for Silver Cord. I also have recently been accepted into National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society. I attend Lakeside Fellowship youth group and have been on multiple missions trips to the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. As of now, I am undecided and have not committed to any colleges.”

Aidan says his favorite subjects are AP Chemistry and DMACC Environmental Science.

 
 

Polk City Public Library news

1500 W. Broadway   |   515-984-6119   |   www.polkcitylibrary.org

  • Not-A-School-Day: Monday, Feb. 2, 1 p.m. Join us each month for a special activity on Monday teacher in-service days when North Polk Schools are out.
  • Adult Crafternoon - Paper Heart Garland: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2 p.m. Ages 17 and older. Registration required.
  • Adult Coloring: Wednesday, Feb. 4, 1-3 p.m. and Tuesday, Feb. 17, 5-7 p.m. Colored pencils and gel pens will be provided. Ages 17 and older.
  • Wednesday Book Club, “Shout” by Laurie Halse Anderson: Wednesday Feb. 4, 7 p.m. In free verse, Anderson shares reflections, rants, and calls to action woven between deeply personal stories from her life that she's never written about before. Searing and soul-searching, this important memoir is a denouncement of our society's failures and a love letter to all the people with the courage to say #MeToo and #TimesUp, whether aloud, online, or only in their own hearts.
  • Babble and Brew: Thursday, Feb. 5, 10 a.m. Coffee for you and exciting, age-appropriate toys for the kiddos.
  • National Take Your Child to the Library Day: Saturday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by the library for lots of extra activities. Check our calendar and social media for details.
 
 

Polk City Arbor League Tree ID and Pruning Workshops

  • Saturday, Jan. 31: 1-3 p.m. Leonard Park, 413 Parker Blvd., Polk City.

Each event will start with a pruning demonstration followed by a short hike around the park with winter tree ID tips and tricks. Participants are encouraged to RSVP to the Facebook event and bring their own pruners to have an opportunity for some hands-on practice. The event will be cancelled if temperatures are below zero.

 

Polk County Conservation events

Visit www.polkcountyiowa.gov/conservation/events for information about upcoming programs offered by Polk County Conservation and for registration links.

  • National Hot Chocolate Day Hike: Saturday, Jan. 31, 1-2 p.m. and 3-4 p.m., Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. A cold January day is the perfect time to make yourself a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy National Hot Chocolate Day. We’ll start the program with a brisk walk around Discovery Pond and end by enjoying a mug of hot chocolate around a fire. Free, all ages welcome.
  • Groundhogs and More: Monday, Feb. 2, 1-2 p.m., Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Celebrate Groundhog Day with us as we learn about this famous ground squirrel, its relatives and their amazing adaptations for survival. Free, all ages welcome.
  • DIY-Herbal Tea Workshop: Tuesday, Feb. 10, 6-7:30 p.m., Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Join us for another DIY class series and warm up with a cup of tea of your own creation. Discover the art of herbal tea blending and create your own custom tea mix to take home. In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn about the medicinal properties and benefits of various herbs, how to combine them for optimal wellness, and the basics of tea blending.Take home your very own handcrafted herbal tea blend, tailored to your preferences, and enjoy the comforting ritual of sipping on a tea that's truly your own. Registration required by Feb. 7. Ages 16 and older.
  • Knee-High Naturalists: Wednesday, Feb. 11, 10-11 a.m. Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Are you ready to get outside and explore? Come and hear a story followed by some outdoor fun. As naturalists, we will hike, investigate and navigate through the trails and grounds of Jester Park as we learn what makes the outdoors such an amazing place. Come dressed to be outside. Registration required by the day before. February’s topic: Snow and Ice.
  • Archery Date Night: Saturday, Feb. 14, 5-6:30 p.m. and 7-8:30 p.m., Jester Park Outdoor Recreation and Wellness Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Bring a loved one for a fun night of archery, axe throwing and bouldering. Instructions, equipment and light refreshments will be provided. Ages 18 and older. Registration required by Feb. 12.
 

Area events

Email your event information to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

Bright Nights and Green Sights
Various dates
Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, 909 Robert D. Ray Drive, Des Moines
Explore ways to “find your true nature” at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. For tickets visit https://dmbotanicalgarden.com.

  • Dome After Dark: Friday evenings through March 27, 6-10 p.m. Extra evenings Saturdays, Feb. 14 and March 14, and Tuesday through Thursday, March 17-19. Experience the Botanical Garden in a whole new light. Explore the warm tropical conservatory and renovated Gardeners Show House, illuminated for a magical after-hours escape.
  • NEW to Dome After Dark: Igloo Experience: Cozy up with up to five guests for an enchanting igloo experience, complete with admission to the event and Flora concessions. Perfect for friends, family or date night. Visit https://dmbotanicalgarden.com to reserve an igloo.
  • Friday Dinner at Flora: Fridays, 6-7:30 p.m. Reserve your spot now for a delicious three-course dinner at Flora, including admission to Dome After Dark. Each week a new, enticing menu showcases a variety of cuisines. Reserve a table online, https://dmbotanicalgarden.com.
  • Learn on Saturdays: Saturdays through Feb. 28, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., join the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden for its weekly educational lecture series presented by experts from across the state of Iowa. Purchase tickets online, https://dmbotanicalgarden.com.
  • Botanical Blues: Sundays through March 29, noon to 4 p.m. Performances begin at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Your favorite Sunday Blues in Des Moines is here to keep away your winter blues every week. Each set lasts one hour, with a one-hour intermission in between. Settle in, grab a drink, and soak up the sound in Iowa’s only tropical music venue. Flora serves Sunday brunch beginning at 10 a.m. — perfect before the music starts. Concerts are held live in the conservatory, and guests are welcome to wander the indoor gardens during the show. Ticket info and lineups available at https://dmbotanicalgarden.com.


Dine & Dance with CultureALL
Various dates and locations
Savor authentic ethnic cuisine and music presented by local talent. Enjoy these curated dining experiences at locally owned Des Moines area restaurants listed below. Each $60 ticket includes dinner, music, dancing, story sharing and discovery. Learn more about CultureALL and its community partners by visiting CultureALL.org/events.

  • Sip & Cook: It’s a Wrap! Hosted by Chef Nina Chau: Friday, Jan. 30, Heavenly Asian Cuisine & Lounge, Valley Junction, 225 Fifth St., West Des Moines. Enjoy cocktails and appetizers while learning how to prepare your own custom wraps. Then dance to music from around the world: k-pop, tango, hip hop and more. Top off the evening with dessert.
  • A Night in Peru: Music, Culture and Traditional Flavors. Hosted by Chef Mariela Maya: Monday, Feb. 16, Panka Peruvian Restaurant, 2708 Ingersoll Ave., Suite 200, Des Moines. A flavorful three-course meal with drinks accompany sweet stories about growing up in Peru. Come for a full night of dining, dancing and live Peruvian music performances.
  • Rhythm and Roots: an Afro-Caribbean Dinner. Hosted by Chef Amara Sama: Tuesday, March 3, Palms DSM, 1905 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines. Experience the harmony of African and Caribbean flavors as you sit down to dinner, then get back up again to join Afro-Caribbean dancing.
 
A convenient homecooked solution without the slow cooker
 

(Family Features) Walking in the door to the smell of homemade chili is sure to warm you up from the inside-out, but if you forgot to set up the slow cooker before heading out the door in the morning, don’t fret — a hearty bowl of beans, beef and stewed goodness can still await.

For a quick and easy version of the comfort food classic, consider this quick homecooked chili that is made in a skillet and ready in half an hour. Just brown ground beef with a chopped onion, stir in beans, tomato sauce, cubed sweet potato and a few simple seasonings and you’re well on your way to a winter warmup.

Find more easy ways to feed your family by visiting Culinary.net.

Quick homecooked chili
Recipe adapted from Allrecipes
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans
  • 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) stewed tomatoes
  • 1 can (10 ounces) diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 1 sweet potato, cubed
  • water (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 pinch garlic powder
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • sour cream (optional)
  • sliced avocado (optional)

Directions:

  • In large saucepan over medium heat, cook ground beef and onion until meat is browned and onion is tender, 5-7 minutes.
  • Stir in tomato sauce, kidney beans, stewed tomatoes with juices, diced tomatoes with green chilies and cubed sweet potato. Add water to reach desired consistency.
  • Season with chili powder and garlic powder. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Bring to boil then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
  • Serve with sour cream and sliced avocado, if desired.
 
 

In the current issue of North Polk Living magazine:

BIG GAME, BIG PARTY

Capping off the football season with a watch party to remember

It’s time for the big game, and that’s the perfect reason to gather with your fellow fans around the big screen to see which team finishes the year with a championship ring. And you won’t be alone. Record-breaking viewership has been reported the last two years, with 127.7 million U.S. viewers last year, according to ESPN. Indeed, it isn’t hard to find football fanatics, though many will be disappointed that their favorite team won’t be playing Sunday, Feb. 8, at Levi’s Stadium.

[...]

 
Read the full digital issue
 

P.S. As a free newsletter, we rely on readers like you to grow our subscriber list. If you have friends or coworkers who you think would enjoy Polk City Living Weekly, share this email with them and they can subscribe by clicking the subscribe tab at IowaLivingMagazines.com

 

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Johnston, Iowa 50131

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