May 14, 2012

When I was about 9, I remember watching a show on TV about living in “disaster zones.” The first city featured was San Francisco. I remember saying “those people are crazy to live there, right on an earthquake fault line.” And then it was the tornado region of the Midwest. Same thing, “what are those people thinking living there?” This was all from...

Dec 20, 2011

By now many of you have read or heard about Stephen Bloom’s article in the Atlantic, “Observations From 20 Years of Iowa Life,” in which Bloom paints an ugly picture of rural Iowa. And you’ve likely seen the many responses, both well-reasoned and shouting-mad. But as a recently-returned Iowan, I’d like to add my voice to the conversation. For those of...

Dec 14, 2011

Well, I hate it when this happens, but I have nothing to review for today’s post. I know, shame on me for not eating at a new local establishment this past week. Shame on me for not supporting my local brethren with the mighty dollar. I have no excuses, although I was under the weather and extremely busy, but none the less I have done the next best...

Oct 11, 2011

Last week, Des Moines‘ Gray’s Lake Park was named one of the Top 10 Great Public Spaces for 2011 by the American Planning Association.  I, like many other Des Moines residents was excited and brimming with pride.  Not only because we at Des Moines is NOT Boring love to brag about the beautiful features of our city but also because I love...

Sep 22, 2011

Do you watch HBO‘s hit series, Boardwalk Empire? Well, if you don’t, you might want to. Did you know that this series has an Iowa connection? So what does a television show about Atlantic City in the 1920s have to do with Iowa? Whiskey. The makers of the oh-so-hard to find Templeton Rye are helping Boardwalk Empire’s creators give the show...