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Dec. 26 - Jan. 1, 2025

 
 
'With every Christmas card I write'
 

Bing Crosby may have dreamed of a white Christmas with every Christmas card he wrote, but the card-sending trend has certainly changed.

If you feel like you received fewer Christmas cards in the mail this year, you are not alone. And, more than likely, you did not send as many either.

According to a 2024 story in the New York Post, six in 10 adults were receiving fewer Christmas cards — and three-quarters of them weren’t bothered the least bit. In fact, the study of 2,000 U.S. adults the story referenced found 44% hope this decline continues for the rest of this Christmas. Bah humbug.

But wait. It gets worse (or better, depending on your Christmas spirit — or lack thereof). Three in 10 weren’t planning to send a single card last year. This year, more are likely skipping the tradition. How could something that was as much of a part of Christmas as the tree, the songs and the presents fade away so quickly?

The Post story states that almost four in 10 (37%) didn’t think Christmas cards were as important as they used to be. The research noted in the story also found that 58% said the rise in digital communication might be making them obsolete, 39% would rather have a festive video call to catch up with loved ones, and 33% thought a personalized text message would suffice.

But, some people are still sending cards, right? Yes, in fact, an estimated 1.3 billion Christmas cards are being sent this year in the United States, and, on average, those who are sending cards will write 10 and expect to receive eight in return. But, it’s clearly on the decline, and it’s not just the kids who are skipping out on the Christmas card tradition.

A Better Homes and Gardens story noted how, across generations, Americans are divided on whether sending out Christmas cards is worth the time, energy and money. Many of those who do still send cards are now seeking simpler ways. According to the story, 57% of Americans are now utilizing AI to craft holiday cards. Sigh.

Christmas videos? Text messages? Social media? Using AI to write Christmas cards? Let’s hope that somehow, through all the noise, we can still find time to write a few cards to friends and family about a place where the treetops glisten… and children listen… to hear the sleigh bеlls in the snow.

May your days be merry and bright. 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

 
 
 

Polk City Public Library news

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

  • Library winter weather policy: If school is delayed due to inclement weather, all morning programs will be canceled. If school is dismissed early due to inclement weather, all afternoon/evening programs will be canceled. If school is canceled due to inclement weather, a decision about opening the library will be made by 9 a.m. All programs will be canceled.
  • Children’s books collection: Through Dec. 31. Library staff is collecting donations of new and like-new children’s books to fill the book vending machine at Moulton Elementary School in Des Moines. Unwrapped donations may be left under the tree in the library’s foyer.
  • Library holiday hours: Wednesday, Jan. 1 closed. Monday, Jan. 19 closed for staff training.
  • Beat the Winter Blues Eight-Week Challenge (adults): Jan. 4 – Feb. 27. Hey, adults. Join library staff for an exciting Health and Wellness Challenge throughout January and February. Each week will feature a different theme, along with a list of enjoyable activities for you to choose from. You can participate from the comfort of your home or while you’re on the go. To participate, pick up a paper copy of the challenge at the front desk, then complete at least one of the themed challenges each week. If you complete all eight weeks, celebrate your accomplishment by turning in your challenge sheet at the front desk to enter a prize drawing.
  • Not-A-School-Day: Monday, Jan. 5, 1 p.m., LEGO free play featured.
  • Adult Crafternoon: Floral Canvas Painting, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2 p.m. Ages 17 and older, registration required.
  • Wednesday Adult Book Club, “The Alice Network” by Kate Quinn: Wednesday, Jan. 7, 7 p.m.
  • NEW Tiny Tot Art: Thursday, Jan. 8, 10 a.m.
  • Lego Club: Monday, Jan. 12, 4 p.m. Register online at polkcitylibrary.org.
  • National Rubber Ducky Day: Jan. 13. Waddle on over to the library for a special scavenger hunt to celebrate National Rubber Duck Day.
  • Comets Kids Club: Tuesday, Jan. 13, 4-4:45 p.m. Turing Tumble! Kids can explore coding the hands-on way with a mechanical game that uses marbles, ramps and gears to solve logic puzzles. Registration required. Register online at polkcitylibrary.org.
 
 

Polk City Arbor League Tree ID and Pruning Workshops

  • Sunday, Jan. 11: 1-3 p.m. Lost Lakes Park, 504 N. Broadway, Polk City.
  • Sunday, Jan. 25: 1-3 p.m. Miller Park, 401 Booth St., Polk City.
  • Saturday, Jan. 31: 1-3 p.m. Leonard Park, 413 Parker Boulevard, 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.

  • Rocks at Jester Park: Tuesday, Dec. 30, 10-11 a.m. Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Learn the basics of geology. What are rocks made of and how do they form? We’ll discuss minerals and the three basic rock groups, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Also explore the fascinating process of fossilization. If you have a rockhound in your family, then this program is for them.
  • Tracks and Scat: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 10-11 a.m. Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Discover the variety of mammals making tracks in the snow. Learn how to identify the most common mammal tracks in Iowa. Create an animal track of your own to take home. 
  • Winter Hike at Fort Des Moines: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1-2 p.m. Fort Des Moines Park, Shelter No. 3, 7200 S.E. Fifth St., Des Moines. Bundle up and head outdoors to hike the trail around the pond. Learn how animals survive the long cold winter as we try to stay warm ourselves. Dress for being outdoors.
  • Global Migrations - Green Sea Turtles: Saturday, Jan. 3, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Join us for a family-friendly program focused on the migrations of an amazing animal. We’ll travel around the world together as we learn animal facts and how climate change is affecting this species. The program will involve a presentation and hands-on fun. Stop by Critter Club afterward to meet one of the Nature Center’s amazing animals. Free, all ages welcome.
  • Critter Club: Saturday, Jan. 3, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. Come and visit with Jester Park Nature Center’s resident animals up close. We’ll have one or two ambassador animals out to learn what special role they play in education. You may even get to touch them. This is an open house style program, so come and go anytime from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Attend the Global Migrations program beforehand to be an animal champion. Free, all ages welcome.
 
 

Area events

Email your event information to tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

CITYVIEW's Fire and Ice
Saturday, Jan. 24, 1-4 p.m.
Valley Junction
CITYVIEW brings back its legendary Valley Junction area pub crawl. Fire and Ice is a hockey-themed liquor sampling event that will be sure to warm up your winter blues. With your event ticket, you will receive 10 individual drink tickets to sample some of the best winter cocktails from establishments in the Valley Junction area. Bring your friends, try new drinks and shop local in Valley Junction. Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door. Follow the QR code for tickets. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-cityview-fire-ice-a-winter-pub-crawl-tickets-1873604273819

Uptown Ankeny Wonderlights
Through Dec. 31
Ankeny Market and Pavilion park, 715 W. First St.
Uptown Ankeny, in partnership with the city of Ankeny, features more than 50 animated light displays in and around six blocks of S.W. Third Street and throughout the Ankeny Market and Pavilion park. This magical holiday light experience is free and open to the public and can be enjoyed on foot, by bicycle and by car each evening.

Live Music at Prairie Meadows
Various dates
Prairie Meadows, 1 Prairie Meadows Drive, Altoona

  • Friday, Dec. 26, 8 p.m.: Jordan Beem featuring the John Griffiths Band
  • Saturday, Dec. 27, 8 p.m.: Night Like This Band
  • Saturday, Dec. 27, noon: 80 Grit Band
  • Sunday, Dec. 28, 8 p.m.: Recoil Band
  • Monday, Dec. 29, 8 p.m.: Get Off My Lawn Band\
  • Tuesday, Dec. 30, 11 a.m.: Richie Lee and the Fabulous 50s Band
  • Tuesday, Dec. 30, 8 p.m.: Decoy Band
  • Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8:30 p.m.: Grand Marshall Band
  • Wednesday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m.: Tommy Browder and the Country River Band
  • Saturday, Jan. 17, 7 p.m.: Young Elvis Tribute Band

New Year’s Eve Pops: Cirque
Dec. 31, 8 p.m.
Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut St.
www.dmsymphony.org
Ring in the New Year among the stars. The Des Moines Symphony and world-renowned Cirque performers from Troupe Vertigo take you on a cosmic journey of music and motion, blending breathtaking aerial feats with space-inspired symphonic masterpieces for an unforgettable night of celebration. Space-themed music from “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter,” “The Planets” and more comes to life with breathtaking choreography. Experience the thrill, the artistry and the unexpected — all in one unforgettable evening.

Des Moines Art Center Museum Highlights Tour
Saturdays, 1-2 p.m.
Des Moines Art Center, 4700 Grand Ave, Des Moines
Discover the vast variety of the Des Moines Art Center’s permanent collections during the Museum Highlights Tour. This tour offers a unique journey through the galleries, featuring a selection of timeless paintings, sculptures and more. Join knowledgeable guides to uncover the stories, techniques and inspirations behind the art on view, and experience the highlights of the Art Center in a fresh and engaging way. This guided tour is perfect for art enthusiasts of all ages. Free to all, no registration required.

Made In The Midwest
Temple Theater, 1011 Locust St., Des Moines
Des Moines Performing Arts announces the return of Made in the Midwest at the Temple Theater for an exciting new season featuring five dynamic artists representing a diverse mix of genres, from classic country and folk to indie rock and blues. Each performance will also include an opener, giving audiences even more opportunities to discover rising stars from across the Midwest.

  • The Cactus Blossoms: Classic Country/Folk/Americana, Tuesday, Jan. 27. Opener: Angela Autumn
  • Weary Ramblers: Folk/Americana/Bluegrass/Country, Thursday, Feb. 19. Opener: Brian Johannesen
  • Carver Jones: Alternative/Indie Rock/Indie Pop, Saturday, Feb. 28. Opener: Dirty Blonde

To purchase tickets, visit DMPA.org, call 515-246-2300, or stop by the Civic Center Ticket Office at 221 Walnut St. Night-of tickets will also be available for purchase at the Temple Theater Ticket Office, 1011 Locust St. The Temple Theater Ticket Office opens two hours before each performance, with all Made in the Midwest shows beginning at 7 p.m.

 

 
A sweet, seasonal spice cake
 

(Family Features) Pumpkin spice may be all the rage this time of year, but don’t forget another fruit that’s sure to please: sweet, delicious apples. For an ooey-gooey breakfast, office snack or potluck dessert, turn to this Apple Spice Cake that looks and tastes like it’s made for the season. Visit Culinary.net to discover more recipe inspiration.

Apple spice cake:
Recipe courtesy of “Cookin’ Savvy”

Cake:

  • 2 apples
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon flour (optional)
  • 1 box spice cake mix
  • 1 stick butter, melted
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 cup milk

Glaze:

  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk

Topping:

  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

  • Heat oven to 350 F.
  • Peel, core and chop apples into bite-sized pieces. In bowl, mix apples with brown sugar, cinnamon and flour, if desired, which helps keep apples from sinking to bottom. Set aside.
  • In large mixing bowl, mix spice cake mix, butter, eggs and milk. Mix in apples and pour into 9-by-13-inch pan. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
  • Let cool.
  • To make glaze: Mix powdered sugar and milk; pour over cooled cake.
  • Top with pecans.
 
 

In the current issue of North Polk Living magazine:

Handmade for the holidays

Residents share the joy of gifts from the heart

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.

[...]

 
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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