DowntownBeat

Contributions + Rewards: Crisis Center/Downtown Can Drive

2011-08-09T10:05:00.000-07:00

Business participants seated at Discerning Eye (left to right): Nathan Gould from the Englert, Sarah from the Crisis Center, Karen Kubby (Beadology), Astrid Bennett (Iowa Artisans Gallery), Joni Schrup (Discerning Eye), Donna Zender (Zender's), and Nikki Neems (R.S.V.P.)

Participating downtown merchants helped the Crisis Center during its lean time of year by sponsoring a two week can drive. During a two week period of July 14-31, customers who contributed a can were eligible for one of three Grand Prize gift certificate baskets valued at $500 each, and customers could enter for each can contributed. Congratulations to all three Grand Prize winners who were chosen: Jenevieve Nelson, Mary Priske and Lucy Joseph.

Grand Prize winner Lucy Joseph

Participating businesses include Akar, Active Endeavors, Beadology, Bella Joli, Catherine's, The Chait Galleries, Discerning Eye, Dulcinea, Englert Theatre, Fired Up, Glassando, Home Ec, Hands Jewelers, Iowa Artisans Gallery, Lorenz 2.0, M.C Ginsberg, Oasis Falafel, Om, RAYGUN, Revival, R.S.V.P., Sweets & Treats, Textiles and Zender's.

Jenevieve Nelson submitted her cans to Home Ec Workshop.

For those that would like to contribute to the Crisis Center, here is a list of their top-10 donation needs:

1. Financial contributions
2. Canned fruit and fruit juice
3. Canned meat
4. Hearty soups and stews
5. Canned vegetables
6. Toilet paper
7. Baby formula
8. Baby diapers
9. Laundry detergent
10. Pasta and rice

Earth Day + Iowa City Green Drinks

2011-04-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

The next Green Drinks gathering is happening this Thursday, April 14th at The Red Avocado (521 E. Washington St.) beginning at 5:30 pm.

At the March gathering, we talked about a variety of issues, including the farm bill and the new bill which would transfer water quality monitoring from the DNR to the Dept. of Agriculture. We also talked about farming in Iowa, including ethanol plants and the price of corn; year-round farmers' markets, Prairie Preview, composting and more!

At the April gathering, we will be talking about Earth Day events, including Eco Iowa City's EcoFair at the downtown rec center on April 22 from 3-6 pm.

Green Drinks is an international organization in 789 cities worldwide. Iowa City Green Drinks, one of 8 in Iowa, meets every 2nd Thursday. Everyone is invited to join this informal group for food and/or beverages while discussing a wide range of environmental issues (and ideas) in the Iowa City area. Green Drinks is a great way to connect with other local environmentally-minded people.

For general info and a list of local green events visit the website. To receive email reminders and info on Iowa City Green Drinks, join the email list.

Swing Dancing on the Ped Mall!

2011-04-12T11:25:00.000-07:00

Spring banished winter from Iowa City this past weekend, and the Ped Mall was in bloom with the Hawkeye Swing Festival, sponsored by the University of Iowa Swing Dance Club. Accompanying them was a lively jazz band from the University of Iowa. The Festival, which ran April 9 & 10, attracts college dance club members from as far away as Chicago and Des Moines. Music included traditional Lindy Hop style all the way to ultra smooth jazz. Downtown workers were much distracted by all the festivities, as shown in these pictures taken by staff members at Iowa Artisans Gallery. The Hawkeye Swing Festival is held every spring.

Iowa City's TOP CHEF competition!

2011-03-24T09:35:00.000-07:00

Don't miss your chance to sample the finest food and drink Downtown has to offer - all under one roof! The Downtown Association of Iowa City is inviting Downtown chefs and bartenders to participate in the first annual "Top Chef: Downtown" competition.

Top Chef and DTA reception takes place Wednesday March 30th, 5 - 7:30pm at hotelVetro in downtown Iowa City. A portion of the proceeds from Top Chef: Downtown will benefit the "Make Change with your Change" parking meter donation program in downtown Iowa City. The Downtown Association of Iowa City (DTA) is providing this forum, as its annual membership meeting and reception. The forum allows chefs and bartenders to showcase their culinary and mixology talents and market their food and drink to a wide audience of Downtown business people and patrons.

Chefs will face off and compete to wow both judges and patrons with one signature dish from their restaurant. Additionally, bartenders from will compete for the title of "Master Mixologist" by serving their most creative cocktail.

A panel of judges will sample dishes and drinks from every contestant and will determine the winners. Patrons will vote for the People's Choice winners. A limited number of tickets are still available for thus event are $10 and RSVPs are required. Please RSVP via email to DTA Executive Director Nick Arnold or by calling 319.354.0863.

Time to think... About Summer!

2011-03-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

Our venerable Summer of the Arts (SotA) organization plans to unveil its summer lineup of events in a not-your-usual news conference, Tuesday March 29, 11:30 am. The event takes place in the lower level ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel in Iowa City. "Not-your-usual," you say? Yes, because the public is invited to bring lunch and enjoy an appearance by Kevin Burt.

Summer of the Arts will release the 2011 event line-up for the following festivals:

The official schedule for the Iowa Arts Festival main stage performances
The Iowa City Jazz Festival will present main stage acts including local, national and international talent
The Friday Night Concert Series presented by the Iowa City Press-Citizen will outline 13 weeks of bands from Johnson County
New in 2010! – Downtown Saturday Night presented by the Downtown Association of Iowa City and MidWestOne Bank will expand to 13 weeks in 2011 featuring some incredible regional performers
The Free Movie Series presented by M.C. Ginsberg Jewelers and The Daily Iowan will provide the schedule for 9 weeks of movies
Sand in the City presented by Bank of the West

Iowa City’s Summer of the Arts (SotA) is an umbrella organization for local arts and culture events which include: Iowa Arts Festival, Iowa City Jazz Festival, Free Movie Series, Downtown Saturday Night and the Friday Night Concert Series.

Time for Art! Downtown Iowa City Gallery Walk this Friday

2011-03-02T15:32:00.000-08:00

AKAR: Karl Borgeson, lidded jar

The March Gallery Walk takes place on Friday, March 4, 5-8pm, at 17 venues in downtown Iowa City. Gallery Walks are scheduled for March, June and October and are self-guided, free, family-friendly and open to the public. Maps are available at each location. We'll have appetizers for all of you foodies, but our wonderful downtown restaurants stand ready to feed you before, during and after the Walk.

Gallery Walk venues include AKAR, Arts Iowa City, Bella Joli, the Chait Galleries, the Englert Theatre, Glassando, Home Ec Workshop, Iowa Artisans Gallery/D.J.Rinner Goldsmith, The Mansion, MidWestOne Bank, MC Ginsberg, Modela, RSVP, the Senior Center’s Old Post Office Gallery, Textiles, United Action for Youth (UAY), and US Bank.

Chait Galleries features Juxtaposition of Time – the Artwork of Beardon and Lyvers. Beardon, a sculptor, and Lyvers, a painter, measure time in this show. “Time is never still. What is contemporary today is retro tomorrow. Today’s shiny metal is rusty and tarnished tomorrow; eventually, the future becomes the present.” Balancing dynamic movements from a single fulcrum, investigating controlled construction with chaotic finishes, James Anthony Beardon mixes elements of contemporary steel sculpture with the corrosion of time. The abstract paintings of Matt Lyvers portray a study in time. From the ancient hieroglyphic and geometric shapes superimposed on long organic stains of color, to the orbs and flames of light of a timeless space, the steady progression of time plays an important role in Lyvers’s work. Chait Galleries is located at 218 E Washington St.

Matt Lyvers, painting, at Chait Galleries

Modela hosts Souvenirs: recent paintings from Rebecca Hermann sketchbooks. Rebecca Hermann includes art trips as part of her artistic process, traveling to Southern France and other European countries to collect visual forms in her sketchbook. These sketches often end up as large rubber stamps used to layer repeated patterns of acrylic paint onto her canvases. Modela is located at 323 E. Market St.

Rebecca Hermann, at Modela

The Old Post Office Gallery (Senior Center) now encompasses two exhibit spaces. In the main gallery is Rok Williams: Paintings & Drawings. “If I could guess where my paintings and drawings come from, it might be from daydreams or unintentional rearrangements of wispy visions I do not want to put to words or tunes. I like to work quickly, fighting off words that try to invade my brain or brush, so I mostly work with acrylics and pencils and markers, sometimes adding oil or kitchen concoctions.” Paintings by Bill Ginks will be on display in the top floor gallery. I paint out of a need and the subject matter is realized after a time of getting acquainted with the canvas. Whatever the original intent, your work always ends up as a signature, or a self - portrait of your psyche. Merrill Sparks will provide entertainment. The Old Post Office Gallery is located at 28 S. Linn St.

Iowa Artisans Gallery/D.J. Rinner Goldsmith presents Jane Chukas: Landscapes in Oil Pastel & Acrylic. DJ Rinner Goldsmith exhibits Jewelry by Bethany Young. Jane Chukas specializes in fanciful colorful landscapes abstracted from her travels. Also a musician, Chukas incorporates visual rhythm and emotive connections in her paintings. Chukas is a former Iowan now living in Galena, IL. Bethany Young specializes in custom bridal jewelry. This exhibition includes several examples of her work in pearls and natural gemstones. Iowa Artisans Gallery/DJ Rinner Goldsmith is located at 207 E Washington St.

Jane Chukas, Rural Nocturn, at Iowa Artisans Gallery

AKAR presents New Ceramic Works by Karl Borgeson & Robert Briscoe. Karl Borgeson is a studio potter and Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. His utilitarian pottery is architecturally derived from West African and Indonesian culture, and finished in a salt firing kiln. Bob Briscoe is a full time Minnesotan potter as well as long-standing contributor to Studio Potter Magazine. Briscoe's work features large scale pottery finished with robust wood ash glazes. AKAR is located at 257 E. Iowa Avenue.

“Space Available,” photography by Jessie James Sinclair is on display at MC Ginsberg Jewelers, 110 E. Washington St. Sinclair’s work focuses on the connections and collisions between the natural and man-made worlds, exploring the ways in which nature overcomes and beautifies spaces previously claimed by man. The artist works with a large format 4x5 camera, and shoots digitally with Canon EOS SLR cameras.

Jesse James Sinclair, at MC Ginsberg

Home Ec Workshop features a Mixed-media window installation by Jillian Marie Chapman. "This collection has been the exploration of finding a way back from the in-between when life takes you on an unexpected turn and you need someone to guide you. These images are a combination of sculpture and photography." Home Ec Workshop is located at 207 N. Linn St., in the near Northside Neighborhood.

Located at 109 S. Dubuque St., Textiles shows Melody Wallace: A Feeling in Time. Each painting represents an emotion felt at a specific moment in my life.” Works include landscapes, portraits, flowers, done in oils or watercolor.

Bella Joli features paintings by Jennifer Boender in her show entitled "rebirth." This series is about how becoming a new mother has in one moment reawakened my soul, and given way to new life. When my baby boy took his first breath, I felt as though I was taking mine. Using elements of the shapes and colors of motherhood, fertility, and new life, I can tell the story of how motherhood has reshaped my life. Bella Joli is located at 125 S. Dubuque St.

Arts Iowa City highlights the work of foil stamping pioneer and UI faculty member Virginia Myers plus her students. Entitled Foil Imaging: Virginia Myers & her students, the show location occupies a newly remodeled space in the lower level of the Wells Fargo Bank Building, 114 S Dubuque St.

Glassando, features Sculptural Jewelry Creations from Sandy Baker. Declared one of the top 100 jewelry designers in the last 30 years by National Jeweler magazine, Sandy Baker has been creating jewelry since the late 1960s. Sandy’s fine art training can be clearly seen in her bold designs. She approaches each piece of jewelry as a miniature sculpture, taking into account three-dimensional space. Glassando is located in the Old Capitol Mall.

UAY (United Action for Youth) shows works made by 3rd through 6th grade participants in UAY’s after school outreach programs at Grant Wood, Roosevelt, and Coralville Central Elementary Schools. Artworks include painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, and printmaking. The UAY Youth Center is located at 355 Iowa Avenue.

MidWestOne Bank features two exhibits. In ICCSD Artist Educators, 10 current or retired art teachers in the Iowa City Community School District show ways of “making art” using oil, pastel, paper, pencil, fabric, metal, clay and acrylic media. (Ends April 30). The MidWestOne's Kids' Art Exhibit highlights works by area school students. (ends March 31.) MidWestOne Bank is located at 102 S. Clinton St.

US Bank, 204 E Washington St. hosts Deanne Warnholtz Wortman & Darrell Taylor: Reassemblies. Wortman and Taylor work with large reassembled billboard materials. Music provided by Jeanne Nelson.

The Timothy Tarot by Jacks’son Timothy is the featured exhibit at the Englert Theatre. The exhibit is located on the second floor in The Douglas & Linda Paul Gallery of the Englert, 221 E Washington St.

The Mansion hosts Lindey Anderson: Revealing Color. Anderson creates mixed media paintings. The Mansion is located at 538 S Gilbert St, at the intersection with Bowery.

RSVP showcases recent work from the UI Center for the Book: Calligraphy, Book Art, Paper Making, Letterpress Printing. RSVP is located at 140 North Linn St, next to the Motley Cow.

For more information on Gallery Walk, call Iowa Artisans Gallery (319)351-8686 or Chait Galleries, (319)338-4442.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON GALLERY WALK: The downtown Gallery Walk was started in the early 1990’s as a way of showcasing MC Ginsberg’s exhibit of work to be auctioned at the Domestic Violence Intervention Program’s Fine Art and Fun Fundraiser. At that time, participants numbered five: MC Ginsberg, Iowa State Bank & Trust, Iowa Artisans Gallery/DJ Rinner Goldsmith, Arts Iowa City and the Barn Collections (no longer downtown.) For several years, the DVIP fundraiser continued to be the centerpiece of the March Gallery Walk, but other Walks were added in June, during the Iowa Arts Festival and in October. Gallery Walk is administered by volunteers. Several of the exhibition venues are devoted to businesses other than art but demonstrate the vibrant cultural scene in Iowa City. Anyone wishing to exhibit work in one of the exhibition venues should contact Terri Miller Chait, (319)338-4442, or Astrid Bennett. 

Think Green! Iowa City Green Drinks meets Thursday February 10

2011-02-09T12:01:00.000-08:00

The next Green Drinks gathering is happening this Thursday, February 10th, 5:30pm, at The Red Avocado (521 E. Washington St.) At the January gathering, we talked about camping trips and Earth Day events, so we were obviously thinking about Spring already! We also talked about Prairie Preview which is happening on Tuesday, March 8th at Parkview Church on the corner of Dubuque and Foster Road. If you haven't been, it's definitely an event worth going to, sponsored by the Johnson County Heritage Trust.

Green Drinks is an international organization in 745 cities worldwide. Iowa City Green Drinks, one of 7 in Iowa, meets every 2nd Thursday. Everyone is invited to join this informal group for food and/or beverages while discussing a wide range of environmental issues (and ideas) in the Iowa City area. Green Drinks is a great way to connect with and get ideas from other local environmentally-minded people.

For general information and a list of local green events visit the website. To receive email reminders and info on Iowa City Green Drinks, join the email list

Iowa City GREEN drinks at Red Avocado, Thursday

2010-12-06T05:37:00.000-08:00

The next Green Drinks gathering is happening this Thursday, December 9th at The Red Avocado (521 E. Washington St.) beginning at 5:30 pm.

Recent gatherings have included Iowa City locals, students, and visitors from Kansas City and Chicago.

Green Drinks is an international organization in 700 cities worldwide. Iowa City Green Drinks, one of 8 in Iowa, meets every 2nd Thursday. Everyone is invited to join this informal group for food and/or beverages while discussing a wide range of environmental issues (and ideas) in the Iowa City area. Green Drinks is a great way to connect with other local environmentally-minded people.

For general info and a list of local green events visit the website.
To receive email reminders and info on Iowa City Green Drinks, join the email list.

Santa & the horsedrawn carriage rides- Celebrate the Season! this Saturday

2010-11-30T11:12:00.000-08:00

Join us for Celebrate the Season, Saturday December 4, 10am- 5pm in downtown Iowa City. This event was extremely popular last year and offered many ways for families to enjoy the holiday season together. Twenty-four businesses in the central Downtown and near Northside host open house events. Santa arrives via horse-drawn wagon at Old Capitol Mall from 12-2pm. Horse-drawn wagon rides from 12-3pm were a big hit last year. Just before that, at the 11:45am Countdown to Santa's arrival, hear Carolers from the UI School of Music. Also at Old Capitol Town Center from 11-3pm: activities for kids hosted by the Iowa Children's Museum, Penny Bear, Gingerbread House displays (vote for your favorite), cookie decorating, and refreshments.

Musical events include Tom Nothnagle at Old Capitol Town Center from 1-3pm, and the Nutcracker at the Englert, 2pm & 7pm. All events except the Nutcracker are free. Nutcracker tickets are available at the Englert Theatre box office.

Downtown businesses hosting holiday open houses from 10am-5pm include Austin-Burke, AKAR, Bella Joli, Catherine's, Chait Galleries, Cheap 'n Chic, Discerning Eye, Domby, Dulcinea, Glassando, Hands, Herteen & Stocker, Home Ec Workshop, Iowa Artisans Gallery, Lorenz 2a, Lyla's Boutique, MC Ginsberg, Modela, Raygun, Revival, r.s.v.p., Textiles, Velvet Coat and Zender's Salon. Hothouse Yoga offers yoga for kids 11:30-12.

Stop by and enjoy the fun!

Small Business Saturday, Free Movie & --someone's gonna make out well!

2010-11-24T10:54:00.000-08:00

Join us for Small Business Saturday, THIS Saturday, after Thanksgiving. This interesting concept champions the small businesses that are the drivers of local economic support, jobs and all those fundraiser coupons needed for your schools. Other goodies? Parking in City Ramps will be free on Friday, and public transportation will be free both Friday and Saturday. Register to win a mega-value gift basket, worth $1500 in sizable downtown coupons! Enter to win at the businesses listed below; drawing will take place during Celebrate The Season festivities on December 4.

Wondering what to do with the kids this Saturday, after all the Thanksgiving activities? Check out the FREE movie, The Neverending Story, 3pm at the Englert! A perennial favorite with children and adults alike, this film is sponsored by twenty downtown businesses, including Discerning Eye, r.s.v.p., Textiles, Chait Galleries, Catherine’s, Cheap and Chic, Iowa Artisans Gallery, Domby, Revival, MC Ginsberg, Lyla’s Boutique, Bo James, AKAR, Dulcinea, Austin Burke, Velvet Coat, Hands Jewelers, Zenders Salon, Raygun and Home Ec Workshop.(Sorry, child care will not be available at the event.)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Russian Literature Out Loud...

2010-10-27T07:54:00.000-07:00

Check out today's public outdoor reading of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, near Weatherdance Fountain in the Ped Mall. Readings will be today and Thursday from 9am to 9pm, and Friday and Saturday from 9am to 6pm. More events are planned for this celebration of the works of Tolstoy and Chekhov and the University of Iowa's Russian program. For more information, visit today's Iowa City Press Citizen for Anna Barker's piece on the entire lineup of events and background information.

KIDOWS! pictures- on view til Halloween

2010-10-26T09:43:00.000-07:00

at rsvp

Our re-scheduled, first-ever KIDOWS! kids' window painting event was a big success. Located at 21 downtown Iowa City businesses, kids flocked downtown to try their hand on a big window canvas, still on view at most locations until Halloween. Here are some of the many pictures we took. Check it out!

Discerning Eye

Textiles

Iowa Artisans Gallery & DJ Rinner Goldsmith

rsvp

Sometimes staff just have to express their inner child on the borders of the kids' paintings!

KIDOWS! Kids' window painting event Saturday at 21 downtown businesses

2010-10-14T13:39:00.000-07:00

The first ever KIDOWS! Window painting event takes place this Saturday, October 16, 10-2pm at participating businesses. School-aged kids can show up at Fired Up! on 112 S. Linn St, opposite the library, and be assigned to a spot. Or, if kids and parents already have a relationship with a participating business, they can show up there. All paints and tools provided, but wear clothes that might not mind being embellished with a red splash. Store staff will supervise painting but parents are encouraged to accompany their children as no childcare is provided. The 21 participating businesses include Textiles, RSVP, Hamburg Inn, Teaspoons, Pagliai's Pizza, Murphy Brookfield Books, G Spot Hair Design, Revival, MC Ginsberg, Domby, Eadology, Discerning Eye, Home Workshop, Om, Fired Up, Iowa Artisans Gallery & DJ RInner Goldsmith, Bella Joli, Lorenz 2.0, Inbox and Buzz. Stop by- the weather looks like it will be fabulous!

American Craft Week! October 1-10

2010-09-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

American Craft Week is a new, national event that takes place October 1 – 10, 2010. Communities of individuals, small businesses and organizations across the country are joining together to celebrate the way that handmade objects enrich daily lives and contribute to the national aesthetic and economy.

Downtown Iowa City businesses that are observing American Craft Week include Iowa Artisans Gallery & DJ Rinner Goldsmith, the Chait Galleries, AKAR, Beadology, The Senior Center, MC Ginsberg Jewelers, Home Ec Workshop and Glassando. Group events include a Gallery Walk, October 8, at 20 locations in downtown Iowa City. Individual events are included below.
Iowa Artisans Gallery kicks off American Craft Week with an exhibit entitled The Shikibu Paintings, by local gallery artist Michael S. Ryan. Also on display are recent stoneware ceramics by Ames artist Mary Weisgram. DJ Rinner Goldsmith features “Hoop-a-la!” with hoop earrings by Louise Rauh, Bethany Young and Denise Manard. The October 8 Gallery Walk includes a demonstration of paper marbling techniques by Barbara Bernier from 6 – 7pm. In addition, the Gallery will highlight a daily “featured artist” during October 1-10, including educational materials along with art pieces. Iowa Artisans Gallery/DJ Rinner Goldsmith is located at 207 E. Washington St.

The Chait Galleries Downtown celebrates American Craft Week with new artists Craig & Teresa Miller. The Millers bring a taste of Colorado back to their home state of Iowa with their unique, one-of-a-kind twist on furniture. The Millers design, carve, sand, and oil branches of the ancient piῆon trees that are indigenous to the southern Colorado area they call home. The finished furniture pieces lay bare the unique beauty of the craggy trees culminating in functional and innovative art. Chait Galleries is located at 218 E. Washington St.

AKAR specialized in high end collectible ceramics as well as designer goods. Their exhibition during American Craft Week features Recent Ceramics by Linda Arbuckle & Clary Illian. AKAR is located at 257 Iowa Ave.

The Iowa City Johnson County Senior Center invites the public of all ages to learn to quilt during America Craft week 2010. The quilters meet in room 211 Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8 AM - Noon. This event accompanies their show of quilts by Patti Zwick. The Senior Center is located at 28 S. Linn St.

MC Ginsberg Jewelers features Bench Art -- a work in progress, an exhibit of work by UI metalsmith graduate students, University of Iowa metalsmiths Margaret Kim, Carrie Metheny Erin Rappleye, Bess Siritanapivat and Allison Tipton. MC Ginsberg is located at 110 E. Washington St.

Glassando focuses on handmade glass jewelry and other items, and features fused glass by Anne Nye. Glassando is located in Old Capitol Town Center.

Beadology hosts a variety of classes open to the public, including Basic Stringing, Basic Wirework, Herringbone Technique, 1920s Netted Bracelet, and Doorknocker Earrings. Karen Kubby welcomes her fellow co-owner and sister to town during that time period. Beadology is located at 220 E. Washington St.

Home Ec Workshop offers workshop space and classes, plus quality craft supplies. A three-week class featuring screenprinting plus embroidery starts October 6. Home Ec Workshop is located at 207 N. Linn St.

Field to Family Culinary Walk, Today--Sept 8!

2010-09-08T10:34:00.000-07:00

Field to Family hosts a wide spectrum of events focused on local food. Spread out over a six week period, today is the Culinary Walk, 5:30 - 8pm in downtown Iowa City. All tickets today (available at New Pi) are $30 and benefit the Johnson County Local Food Alliance. Sample hors d'oeuvres at 126 and Hearth, Atlas, Chef's Table, Devotay, The Motley Cow Cafe, New Pioneer Food Co-op and the Red Avocado. Visit the web more information on Field to Family.

Green Drinks meets again...Thursday September 9

2010-09-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

Iowa City Green Drinks meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month, and the next gathering is this Thursday, September 9th at The Red Avocado (521 E. Washington St.) beginning at 5:30 pm.
Anyone interested in discussing a wide range of environmental issues (and ideas) in the Iowa City area is welcome to join this informal group for food and/or beverages.

The August Green Drinks gathering featured Celebrity Chef & Food Activist Rocky Barnette, along with the Food & Water Watch team to talk about fair food policy and how we can help on a local level.  Green Drinks is a great way to learn and to connect with other local environmentally-minded people.
For general info and a list of local green events visit the website. To receive email reminders and info on Iowa City Green Drinks, join the email list.

Landlocked Film Festival is here! (what a great name...)

2010-08-27T06:26:00.000-07:00

Landlocked Film Festival, Thursday, August 26 - Sunday, August 29
Landlocked Film Festival presents independently made documentaries and narrative films and videos of lengths ranging from 2 minutes to 2 hours. You'll find animation, art films, outrageous comedy, sweet stories, action and adventure, heartwarming and heartbreaking drama, hard-hitting documentaries and even some zombies and aliens. An added bonus is that many of the directors, actors and film artists who made the movies will be at the festival.

Select Movies have a $5 fee, most are FREE for screening. Please visit the Landlocked website for more information and to obtain tickets.

FILM SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2010

Englert:  1:15 pm Love & Valor;  3:15 pm Can't Go Native;  5:00 pm From the Badlands to Alcatraz;  7:30 pm Is It Just Me? ; 9:45 pm earthwork

Iowa City Public Library:  3:00 pm Not Evil Just Wrong;  5:00 pm Shorts Program #1 ; 7:00 pm Ballhawks

Sheraton/Hotel Vetro : 3:00 pm Shorts Program #5 Comedy;  6:30 pm Documentary Short Films;  9:00 pm Shorts Program #4 Comedy

Bijou:  6:00 pm Voices Unveiled ; 8:00 pm Shorts Program #3 Drama

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2010

Englert : 12:15 pm Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead;  4:00 pm Play On;  7:00 pm Ashley's Ashes;  9:30 pm Splatter: Love, Honor and Paintball

Iowa City Public Library:  11:00 am Kid-Friendly Under 10 ; 12:00 pm (noon) Kid-Friendly Over 10;  1:15 pm Music Videos ; 2:45 pm Shorts Program #5 Comedy

Sheraton/Hotel Vetro: 12:00 pm (noon) Not Evil Just Wrong ; 1:45 pm Dumb Dumb;  3:15 pm Shorts Program #1 5; then From the Badlands to Alcatraz ; 7:00 pm Roll Out, Cowboy;  9:00 pm Scrappers

Bijou : 2:00 pm Student Program at the Bijou;  11:30 pm Endure

SUNDAY, AUGUST 29, 2010
Englert:  12:00 pm (Noon) Ballhawks ; 1:45 pm First Stop, Iowa ; 4:00 pm Shorts Program #2 Drama;  7:00 pm Broken Dreams ; 9:00 pm Landlocked Awards Ceremony

Iowa City Public Library:  12:00 pm (Noon) Kid-Friendly Under 10;  1:00 pm Kid-Friendly Over 10 ; 2:15 pm Shorts Program #3 Drama

Sheraton/Hotel Vetro:  2:30 pm Music Videos;  4:00 pm Vivir de Pie;  6:00 pm Home/Land*;  6:30 pm Shorts Program #4 Comedy
*Home/Land is a 30-minute documentary made by a former scholar in the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa (IWP). The film will be followed immediately by a panel of current IWP scholars and faculty.

Get Ready for the Taste! Wednesday 4-8, 40 downtown restaurants

2010-08-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

The third annual Taste of Iowa City returns on August 25, 2010 from 4:00p - 8:00p. Enjoy the unique and vibrant culinary atmosphere spanning the Pedestrian Plaza through the historic Northside Marketplace. Approximately 40 participating restaurants will serve sample portions of their favorite menu items and guests will be entertained with live music, entertainment and a festive street-fair environment. Taste of Iowa City allows the Downtown Association of Iowa City to introduce the varied culinary delights available in Downtown to new and returning University of Iowa students and reintroduce patrons from the community to the dishes they may have forgotten.

Food tickets will be available at locations in the Pedestrian Plaza and Northside Marketplace. All tickets are $1.00 and participating restaurants typically charge between one and three tickets per dish. Mark your calendar now for the "foodie" event of the summer!

Sand in the City time! Friday-Sunday, August 20-22

2010-08-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

Last year, I stumbled upon Sand in the City (pictures included) and it's really fun, not to be missed. Great for families. Find your beach experience!

Hours are Friday 9am - 9pm; Saturday 10am - 8pm; and Sunday 10am - 4pm. See below for details about food, music and other activities associated with the event.

Here's basic information from the
Summer of the Arts website (SOTA):
Sand in the City, presented by Bank of the West, is a wonderful late-summer event to bring out family and friends to downtown Iowa City for a weekend of free entertainment. Giant sandboxes filled with fantastical sand sculptures will line Iowa Avenue (from Clinton Street to Linn Street) as well as our FUN Zone, Kids Sandbox, Artist booths and Culinary Row along parts of Dubuque St. and Iowa Avenue.

Sand sculptures will be designed and constructed by teams representing some of the community's most beloved businesses and local organizations. Incredible sand sculptures will come to life through the collaborative and team building efforts of our teams.

The community has an opportunity to decide their favorites by contributing "sand" dollars in the name of the team building their favorite sculpture. Event goers will also be entertained by live music and an array of adult and kid friendly activities. Our participating businesses contribute not only their time but also financial resources that allows us to raise funds that help to support the Summer of the Arts festivals and events throughout the year.

On August 20th, the regularly scheduled Friday Night Concert Series will be pre-empted for Sand in the City's live entertainment from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. on Iowa Avenue.

Celebrity Chef Rocky Barnette's in town! Join him at Iowa City Green Drinks

2010-08-10T07:21:00.000-07:00

Celebrity Chef & Food Activist Rocky Barnette will be featured at the August Iowa City Green Drinks! Thursday, August 12, 5:30-8:00 at The Red Avocado. Chef Rocky is on tour with Food & Water Watch to promote revisions to the Farm Bill in 2012. Covering 6 states in 11 days, the Food & Water Watch road trip team is reaching out to senators and community members. Learn more about the strides that Food & Water Watch is making towards fair food policy & what you can do to help!

Visit this link for More info about Chef Rocky. Iowa City Green Drinks meets every 2nd Thursday- Anyone interested in discussing and learning about environmental issues in Iowa City is welcome to join this informal group. For more information, email Risa.

Still time to rummage...

2010-08-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

Farmers' Market and Rummage in the Ramp were buzzing on Saturday. People everywhere. Bounty. Locally produced meats. Foods from different parts of the globe. Handspun yarns. Flowers. garden sculpture.

And household stuff, lots of it, for cheap home decor that benefits local community non-profits. Now in its last day, til 8pm this evening. Thanks to all of the diligent volunteers who helped with this.

Last Chance! You CAN win! Downtown supports the Crisis Center

2010-07-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

Recipe for today through Sunday, August 1:

Bring your cans to the businesses listed below.
Fill out one entry form per can donated.
Be eligible for one of three gift coupon baskets worth $500 each.

Result: win win all around, and especially for the Crisis Center--- Read on:

Twenty local businesses are joining the fight against hunger in our community by supporting the Crisis Center Food Bank’s Thanksgiving in July Event. “We're giving away the most food bags that we ever have," said Beth Ritter Ruback, communication and development director at the center." In the past 10 years, it's more than doubled. The need for food is great in our community is great- especially during the summer months as school age children are at home. Downtown Iowa City businesses want to help.

Twenty locally owned and/or operated businesses in downtown Iowa City (Discerning Eye, Textiles, RSVP, Herteen and Stocker, Hands Jewelers, Beadology, Om, Dulcinea, Lorenz, Fired Up, Technigraphics, Iowa Artisans Gallery & DJ Rinner Goldsmith, Bella Joli, Modela, Sweets and Treats, Glassando, Velvet Coat, Revival, Active Endeavors and Home Ec Workshop), have joined the fight against hunger by collecting canned goods continuing through this weekend Sunday, August 1.

These donated cans will be displayed in store windows or within in-store displays to create a visual representation of community helping community. To encourage donations, each donations will allow patrons entry into a drawing for three sizable downtown gift certificate baskets. Each basket will contain one gift certificate from each participating business-that’s 20 gift certificates in all! Patrons are encouraged to bring in as many cans as they can carry to as many businesses as they can visit to increase chances of winning. Three names will be drawn on Monday, August 2. Look for the "Small Businesses Have Big Hearts" poster displayed in your favorite stores and bring in a can or two before time runs out-The Downtown Can Drive Ends Sunday!

The economic slow down, job layoffs, termination of unemployment benefits, rising food and medical costs-the list goes on. There are many reasons for the increased requests for food assistance in Johnson County. Thanksgiving in July is a community-wide food drive that provides assistance to the hungry, homeless and working poor.

Your Downtown shares a common commitment to community- bring in your donations and watch our store windows fill!

Parking meters- or are they?

2010-07-26T09:06:00.000-07:00

Iowa City's Donation Stations.

There they are, in the middle of the Ped Mall, an innovative solution other cities have used to help funnel spare change directly to organizations serving the homeless and those in need of assistance. But you wouldn't know this unless you come for a close-up inspection. They ARE purple. Wendy Ford, Iowa City's Economic Development Staffer who's also involved with downtown issues, assures us that there are plans to make them artistic, to place more of them, including sponsored meters. Why not involve UAY or other organizations to paint them? A good idea. Next time you have spare change, you know what to do...

More Book Festival Pictures = Discerning Eye + Carl Klaus

2010-07-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

The venues on the Festival lineup were not large. The women's clothing store, Textiles, reports standing room only for their author. Carl Klaus read at Discerning Eye on Sunday at 1 p.m. With 40 people in attendance the report is, "he was just great! I served cookies and lemonade and many people stayed to visit afterward." See for yourself, as Carl tries alludes to some of what Discerning Eye's known for...

Pictures! The Iowa City Book Festival visits r.s.v.p

2010-07-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

What a great event the Iowa City Book Festival was! In its second year, this time there were three days of activities, including one focused on downtown. Mark at Active Endeavors reports an increase in traffic and sales. "The Book Festival was a hit, and well attended!"

r.s.v.p., another downtown business located in the Near Northside, hosted UI Graduate Kiki Petrosino, who read new poems. Kiki was born in Baltimore and received her BA from the University of Virginia. She spent two years in Switzerland teaching English and Italian at a private school, after which she earned graduate degrees from both the University of Chicago and the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Her poem, "You Have Made a Career of Not Listening," was featured in the anthology Best New Poets 2006 (Samovar Press), and other poems have appeared in FENCE, The Iowa Review, Forklift, Ohio, and elsewhere. Kiki presented her poems at a podium in front of a display photos created by Tom Langdon. Tom's exhibit, Writers of the World featured portraits and photographic broadsides of visiting poets and writers from the UI International Writing Program.

Karma

2010-07-16T19:13:00.000-07:00

So, you know that little problem with Panchero's I mentioned yesterday:
I am happy to report today that all is well. Panchero's humming again, and our favorite purveyor of homemade tortillas is doing just fine.

snapshots: sidewalk sales, bargains on a super summer day

2010-07-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

Following yesterday's hottest-yet summer steambath, today was pure enjoyment in downtown Iowa City. Here are a few snapshots of sidewalk sales in progress.

Sidewalk Sales continue through Saturday. Downtown Businesses are also collecting canned food to benefit the Crisis Center. Each can qualifies the donor to one entry form for a drawing for one of three baskets, each containing more than $400 worth of gift coupons to downtown businesses.

Friends at Panchero's brought some of our downtown staffers some welcome complementary chips and salsa, then suffered through a 911 call with fire fighters in their kitchen area. Checking out the evening news: no mention, so hopefully Panchero's good karma allows them to slip out of this without harm. (Dulcinea, shown above)

Prairie Lights' stylish shade, pottery finds at Iowa Artisans Gallery

Hula skirts on sale tables at Domby's; Spring cleaning the awning at Panchero's

July means... Sidewalk Sales!

2010-07-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Time to get the calendar out. Sidewalk sales start this Thursday, Friday & Saturday, July 15-17 at many locations in downtown Iowa City. It's the biggest sale of the year and your favorite time to find bargains at Prairie Lights Books, Active Endeavors, and many more of your local favorite stores. Iowa Artisans Gallery also sells artist "seconds" on this day. These are works that look quite wonderful to shoppers but may not quite meet the artists' high standards and are usually priced about 50% off of their customary prices. The Gallery will also do some housecleaning on gallery-owned items.

On Sunday, look for the Iowa City Book Festival as it expands into downtown Iowa City with its A Day in the City of Literature. We'll post about this exciting event tomorrow.

Where's the Secret Passageway?

2010-07-08T12:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a clue: How do you get to the Near Northside Neighborhood? Let Mr. Irving Weber show you the way. Oh, so you say he's been gone for a while now. No, I hope not, at least not his life-size sculptural likeness created by Max-Cast Studio in Kalona. Irving Weber was Iowa City's resident historian and one time purveyor of Ice Cream. The Irving Weber Days are a city-sponsored celebration that takes place every year, but I digress...

No, let Irving Weber lead the way. He's located at the three-way stop on the corner of Iowa and Linn Streets, flanked by the University. (You can get mighty distracted by the literary walk showcasing quotations by famous authors with Iowa connections, embedded as sculptures in the sidewalks there. Rumor has it that at some point in the future, this literary walk will be extended to the near Northside.) Go see Irving, then proceed beyond in the passage way between the Physics Building and Seashore Hall over to East Jefferson St. Continue to follow Linn St over to Market St, and there you are. You've found it! It's a handy five minute diversion that doesn't even require parking.

The Northside is a great little incubator of interesting shops and restaurants, from upscale to funky. Check out Home Ec Workshop, Haunted Bookshop, rsvp, modela and Artifacts. Make sure you're hungry! So many options: Hamburg Inn, Oasis, Devotay, Linn St Cafe, Bluebird Diner, T-spoons, and more. A guided tour will follow on another day.

Green Drinks, Red Avocado & Iowa City EcoCabs

2010-07-06T10:49:00.000-07:00

Iowa City Green Drinks meets on the second Thursday of each month, and the next gathering is this Thursday, July 8th at The Red Avocado (521 E. Washington St.) beginning at 5:30 pm. Everyone is invited to join this informal group for food and/or beverages while discussing a wide range of environmental issues (and ideas) in the Iowa City area.

At the June gathering, our local contact Risa Dotson- Eicke reported that the group discussed bottled water and two 2009 documentaries: GasLand and Tapped. "We also talked about edible planting in urban areas, like medians in Des Moines and beans in downtown Iowa City. We discussed the uses of used kitchen grease from restaurants, including bio-diesel, and whether or not the containers that soy milk and boxed soup come in are recyclable." Green Drinks is a great way to learn and to connect with other local environmentally-minded people. For general info and a list of local green events visit the website. To receive email reminders and info on Iowa City Green Drinks, join the email list.

By the way, The Red Avocado has been with us here in downtown Iowa City for more than 10 years. If you check the website for this vegetarian/vegan restaurant, you will see that they have started working with Iowa City Ecocabs, a local bicycle cab service which will deliver Red Avocado lunches every Friday to the downtown area. Sounds like an interesting topic for another post!

It's Jazz Festival time!

2010-07-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

Rowell Rudd's Trombone Tribe, headliner on Saturday

Iowa City swings...Check out the Iowa City Jazz Festival, Friday through Sunday July 2-4. Saturday nights' 8pm headliner is Roswell Rudd’s Trombone Tribe. Sunday night's is the Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio. And the list of ensembles is long- read more here.

Live music takes place on various stages in downtown Iowa City, Friday 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm; Saturday 1:30 pm to 9:30 pm  and Sunday 1:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Sunday's performance will be followed immediately by fireworks in Hubbard Park on the UI campus. Three stages include the Main Stage at Old Capitol Building; the Youth Stage at Iowa Avenue; and the Local and College Stage at Clinton Street. Grab a bite, bring your lawnchairs and let the fun begin.

Public Property, a local favorite

The Summer of the Arts website introduces a new feature to this year's Jazz Festival: Listen, Learn and Ask Questions of Three Unique Jazz Performers. This presentation will take place Saturday, July 3rd 10am to noon in the Carver Room at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Iowa City and is sponsored by aGrant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Here's a chance to listen to some of our internationally known mainstage performers tell stories about their musical odysseys, their approaches to learning how to play jazz and answer your questions. The workshop will include:

Roswell Rudd, trombonist and composer & leader of the Trombone Tribe, performing on the mainstage at 8:00 pm Saturday evening. This year Rudd was selected as one of the top jazz trombonists in the Downbeat Magazine’s Critics poll and leader of the best jazz CD’s of the year by the Village Voice. In addition to having played with such jazz notables as Carla Bley, Archie Shepp and his long-time collaborator, Steve Lacey, Rudd also has performed and recorded world and ethnics music with traditional musicians from Mongolia, Mali and Puerto Rico.

Bob Washut, pianist, composer, arranger and educator is Professor of Music at the University of Northern Iowa. He has received numerous commissions for collegiate jazz ensembles and directed the award-winning UNI Jazz Band One. Washut was also the founder of the well-known salsa band, Orquestra Alto Maiz. Washut’s Dream Band will also be the headliner on the mainstage Friday evening.

Deborah Weisz, jazz trombonist and educator. From playing in the Sahara Desert, just North of Timbuktu, to creating music in a grain silo at an artist colony in upstate New York, to traveling all over the world with Frank Sinatra (1987 - 1994). Weisz will be performing with the Trombone Tribe on Saturday evening.

Riverside Theatre's Shakespeare Festival- now through July 11

2010-07-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

There's still time to visit Riverside Theatre's Shakespeare Festival, ongoing in Lower City Park now through July 11. If you've never attended, you're in for a treat, and the spectacular weather of the last week makes it even more fun. Riverside alternates Shakespeare's Love’s Labour’s Lost with Romeo and Juliet. Love's Labor's Lost is directed by Theodore Swetz and is shown on July 3, 6, 8, 11. Romeo and Juliet is directed by Riverside Theatre founder Ron Clark and can be seen on July 2, 7, 9, 10. Read more about these performances on the Iowa Theatre Blog or in reviews in the Gazette or Daily Iowan posted on Riverside Theatre's website.

Based in downtown Iowa City, Riverside Theatre is celebrating 30 years of excellence. The Shakespeare Festival is one portion of the Theatre's lineup. In order to pull of the Festival, Riverside showcases a separate 2010 Acting Company, as well as a 2010 roster of interns. Riverside has been on the Iowa City Press Citizen's "Best of the Area" list for 2001-2009, and KCRG's A-list as "Best Theatre Group 2009." The Iowa Theatre Blog was founded by Matt Falduto in 2007.

Glassando's interview with stained glass artist James Thomas

2010-06-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

Glassando owner Abby Restko shares her interview with stained glass artist James Thomas, whose work is on display now in the store through July 9. Abby comments, "for formal art shows, artists are often asked to write an artist statement. While this highly edited formal statement can be informational, many times some of the original answers that helped develop the statement can be more insightful." Visit Glassando's website or Facebook page for more information about this store, which is located in the Old Capitol Town Center.

And now, meet James Thomas: What first got me interested in stained glass?
I enjoy experimenting with the effects that stained glass has on the beauty of light. This interest was probably sparked through researching the chemistry of plant pigments in graduate school. Many of the extracts I worked with in science were quite rich in color and interacted with light in interesting ways. I enjoy the virtually limitless availability of stained glass colors, appreciate how opalescence affects the transmission and reflection of light and how different textures bend, concentrate and obscure light. The essence of the artwork I aspire to create captures a dynamic interaction between light and glass. My stained glass often exhibit subtle and sometimes striking changes in brilliance and color depending on the intensity of light and angle of the sun over the course of a day or throughout the year.

How long have you been working in stained glass?
Many of the techniques I currently use evolved from a formal class I had in 1997, are learned by reading literature and improvised through the process of doing stained glass.

What influences the subject matter of your pieces?

I generally make geometric designs, landscapes, plants and animals
Strength is taken into consideration in design process, reinforcement is used when needed.
Piece shapes are designed according to what can be successfully scored and broken from glass sheets
Curved pieces and irregular polygons may require multiple scores and breaks to yield a final shape.
Most of my pieces are composed of irregular shaped polygons.
My larger pieces tend to have areas of rather tiny pieces to show detail.

Beside Glassando, where has your work been displayed?
In the last year I have been accepted into the following juried shows:
1)    University of Iowa Fine Arts Council Thieves Market, Nov 2009
2)    HeartFest - at the Valley West Mall in Des Moines, Feb 2010
3)    University of Iowa Fine Arts Council - Riverbank Art Festival, April 2010
4)    The Beaux Art Festival- Figge Museum Plaza – Davenport Iowa, May 2010
5)    Snake Alley Art Festival – Burlington, IA, June 20, 2010
6)    Before 2009, I made a commissions and for private individuals and for a non-profit group.

Fiber of all kinds... Wanna learn to knit?

2010-06-09T19:31:00.000-07:00

Home Ec Workshop reports the following tidbit on their Facebook page:
the Iowa City Farmer's Market is hosting a Knit in Public Day event this Saturday, June 12, at the market from 7:30 - 12pm. There will be volunteers teaching people to knit, spinners and hopefully, a whole bunch of knitters!

Home Ec Workshop is a fun little shop in the near Northside Neighborhood. Owners Codi and Alissa sell yarns and fabrics, have a "Knitting nurse," offer classes and workshop rental (sewing machines, etc.)

After the Iowa Arts Festival...

2010-06-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

It's hard to know what was more fun, seeing everyone show up for the art fair in downtown Iowa City, or seeing all those great kids and families having a blast during Kids' Day events and at the playground. And then there was the music... hmmmm....! We thank Mother Nature for cooperating during this great Iowa Arts Festival 2010!

Check it out: Iowa City Green Drinks Gathering on June 10

2010-06-08T16:49:00.000-07:00

The next Iowa City Green Drinks gathering is happening this Thursday, June 10th at The Red Avocado (521 E. Washington St.) beginning at 5:30 pm. Green Drinks is an international organization in 700 cities worldwide. Iowa City Green Drinks, one of 8 in Iowa, meets every 2nd Thursday.

Everyone is invited to join this informal group for food and/or beverages while discussing a wide range of environmental issues (and ideas) in the Iowa City area. Green Drinks is a great way to connect with other local environmentally-minded people.

For general info and a list of local green events visit the website. To receive email reminders and info on Iowa City Green Drinks, join the email list.

Countdown to Iowa Arts Festival: Friday Gallery Walk & Music galore!

2010-06-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

Glass at AKAR

Friday evening, listen to music and walk on the artful side! Gallery Walk is the kickoff to the three-day Iowa Arts Festival, and it's surrounded by great music, including Sarah Jarosz at 7pm and Darrell Scott at 9pm on the Main Festival Stage.

Bao Pham, Chait Galleries

Gallery Walk takes place Friday, June 4, 5-8pm, at 16 venues in downtown Iowa City. This is the biggest Gallery Walk of the year; it's self-guided, free, family-friendly and open to the public. This time, check out Arts Iowa City’s new exhibition space, in the lower level of the Wells Fargo Bank Building, 114 S Dubuque St. Also special to this event is the Big Brothers, Big Sisters photo display at US Bank. Gallery Walk venues include AKAR, Arts Iowa City, Bella Joli, the Chait Galleries, the Englert Theatre, Glassando, Iowa Artisans Gallery/D.J.Rinner Goldsmith, MidWestOne Bank, MC Ginsberg, Revival, the Senior Center’s Old Post Office Gallery, Textiles, United Action for Youth (UAY), and US Bank. Other Gallery Walk participants in the Near Northside are Home Ec Workshop and RSVP.

Emily Reason, Tulipiere, clay, at Iowa Artisans Gallery. Emily was an intern at the energyXchange in North Carolina, an innovative approach to using landfill methane to power artist studios

And just wait til you see what's up for Saturday & Sunday. More information about the Iowa Arts Festival schedule may be found on the "At a Glance" column on this weblink.

at Chait Galleries, Youngjoo Yoo

sterling silver bracelet, Louise Rauh at DJ Rinner Goldsmith

Countdown to Iowa Arts Festival: Altered Book show & sale

2010-05-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

Connie Roberts altered book with wooden whistle sculptures

It's that time of year, -so much going on it's hard to keep track. Here's something you may not know about- Iowa City Public Library Friends' Foundation's one and only Altered Book Exhibit and Sale. This exhibit included books that have been "altered" and transformed for new meaning or purposes by local artists, who are donating the proceeds to the Friends' Foundation. The exhibit takes place Friday June 4, 5-7pm, in the Library meeting rooms off of the main lobby. Friends of the ICPL have an early preview of the Exhibition. Friday is also when the Downtown Iowa City Gallery Walk kicks of Iowa Arts Festival (3-8pm, lots of music during and after. More on that in the next post.)

A bed of roses...

2010-05-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

Walking around downtown, you can't help but notice the fragrance at this time of year. A short investigation leads to roses, several kinds, in wide triangular beds at corners and other spots. A query to the City, in whose planters they reside, tells us that the are two hardy varieties: Charles Albanel (Rugosa) Medium Red, and George Vancouver (Complex) Medium Red.

Charles Albanel is a recurrent blooming rose (OK, I know that sounds funny), released by the Ottawa Research Station in 1982, according to the Bailey's Nursery. George Vancouver is also recurrent. They are both hardy ("4 out of 5" winters in St. Paul, MN.)

So, take a moment to smell the proverbial roses.

Check out KCRG's "Best Museum" - our own Museum of Natural History!

2010-05-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

Our own University of Iowa's Museum of Natural History was recently voted the area's "Best Museum" on the KCRG A-list poll. That's not the only landmark for this wonderful and little-known gem on the UI Pentacrest in the heart of downtown Iowa City. The Museum recently celebrated twin anniversaries: the 150th anniversary of its founding, as well as the 25th Anniversaries of Iowa Hall and Rusty, the Giant Sloth. The museum store is a rich treasure trove of educational toys for kids of all ages. Not to be missed is the video thank-you card from children in honor of Rusty the Giant Sloth's 25th birthday.

Did you know? This Rusty the Giant Sloth is handmade from a wood and styrofoam armature plus hand sewn cow hair. Recent archaeological finds have unearthed more sloth bones in western Iowa. This finding is documented in the current exhibition at the Museum.

The Museum occupies several floors in Macbride Hall and was the first Natural History Museum west of the Mississippi. The University also houses the oldest Museum Studies program in the nation, founded in 1910. Children will love Bird Hall and also, the many mammal, geological and Native American displays. Iowa Hall has many favorites for adults and children alike, and families can download a family guide to the museum, with coloring book features.

At a recent panel discussion featuring many of the original movers and shakers behind the Iowa Hall concept, it was apparent how important this concept is to our state's identity. Also obvious is the enormous amount of work, dedication and collaboration on the part of this pivotal group.

Currently on display, through August 1st, are two special exhibitions: Mysteries in the Valley of the Sloths, and "The U of I Through the Lens of Fred W. Kent." These are in addition to the ongoing displays. Summer hours are Tuesday through Saturday: 10am- 5pm; Sunday: 1 - 5pm. View more details about these exhibits here.

Welcome!

2010-05-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

This is THE time of year for downtown Iowa City. Teaming with events, cloaked in the loveliness of a Midwestern spring, and full of life as families and students emerge from winter hibernation, it can be hard to keep up with all the stimulation. Perfect time to start a blog and spread the word.

Look for informational updates on events. Learn the life stories of our multi-generational independent businesses or those that have just begun. Read about the quirky history of downtown Iowa City. Check out a walking tour.

Several people will be contributing to this blog. Let us know if you have an interesting story idea or photos to share. We look forward to seeing you again!