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# Iowa Source

Iowa's Enlightening Magazine

## Posts

- [Events Calendar 2026](https://www.iowasource.com/2018/01/05/events-calendar/) - Thursday, July 9 • Farm Sessions at Wilson’s Orchard. Weekly live music series hosted by J. Knight. Thursdays, 5–9 p.m., Wilson’s Orchard & Farm, Iowa City. WilsonsOrchard.com. Thursday, July 9 • Ziggy Marley: Brightside Tour. 7:30 p.m., Vibrant Music Hall, Waukee. FirstFleetConcerts.com. ZiggyMarley.com. Thursday, July 9 • Pert’ Near Sandstone. Modern American string band. With
- [Fairfield, Iowa Events Calendar](https://www.iowasource.com/2014/02/03/featured_events2014_02_fairfield/) - Thursday, July 9 • All Ages Craft & Connect. Choose your own projects in this weekly crafting and textiles program. Instruction and materials provided. Thursdays, 1-2:30 p.m. Fairfield Public Library, 104 W. Adams., Fairfield. (641) 472-6551. Thursday, July 9 • Portrait Class: Live Model Open Studio. Come draw regularly or once in a while, and
- [Iowa Theater Listings Through July & August 2026](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/12/08/iowa-theater/) - DES MOINES METRO OPERA, Blank Performing Arts Center, 513 North D, Indianola. DesMoinesMetroOpera.org. Tosca. This high-stakes romance features Puccini’s most memorable melodies and romantic orchestrations. Through July 19. Of Mice and Men. John Steinbeck’s novel becomes a deeply moving opera of great beauty and power. Through July 18. King Roger. When an enigmatic Shepherd from the
- [FYPA Presents "Xanadu Jr": A Roller Disco Mythology for Every Generation](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/07/07/xanadu-jr/) - Fairfield Youth Performing Arts (FYPA) proudly presents Xanadu Jr., a neon‑bright, roller‑skating burst of joy that reimagines the 1980 cult classic for audiences of all ages, July 30 through August 2nd at the FACC. Set against the electric backdrop of Venice Beach, the story follows Sonny Malone, a young artist stuck in a creative rut—until
- [Cheyanne's Cookbook: Tried & True Plant-Based Recipes from the Stone Soup Community Kitchen](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/07/02/stone-soup-cookbook/) - Don't miss the "Stone Soup Community Cookbook" release party on Saturday, July 11, 4:00-5:30 p.m., at Golden Magnolia Sanctuary, 200 S. Main St. in Fairfield. When I learned Cheyanne Holliday, the recent head chef and kitchen manager of Golden Magnolia’s Stone Soup Community Kitchen, was moving to Montana with her fiancé, the news felt slightly
- [Iowa Water Crisis: What's Happened to our Lakes and Rivers?](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/01/iowa-water-crisis/) - The late summer prairie is in bloom at Lake Darling State Park. Bright yellow swaths of coneflowers are punctuated by small purple explosions of wild bergamot. But Lake Darling, instead of reflecting the blue sky above, is coated in a pale green film of algae that spans the breadth of its southeast arm. A walk
- [Tommy Downs: Iowa's "King of Koins"](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/07/06/tommy-downs/) - In 1897, the writer Edna Ferber and her family moved from Ottumwa, Iowa, to Appleton, Wisconsin, where she finished high school. After graduation, she worked as a reporter for the local newspaper, where she was assigned to interview the magician Harry Houdini, who had grown up in Appleton. Houdini was illusive, but she finally succeeded
- [Museums & Science Centers](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/12/20/museums-science-centers/) - CARNEGIE HISTORICAL MUSEUM, 112 S. Court St. JeffersonCountyHeritage.org. This Century Museum’s collection dates back to 1876, making it one of Iowa’s five oldest museums. View one of the Midwest’s foremost collections of Indigenous pottery, Civil War artifacts, and Roman antiquities, as well as Fairfield memorabilia, history, and archives. Permanent. IOWA PENTACREST MUSEUMS, Old Capitol Museum
- [Galleries & Art Museums](https://www.iowasource.com/2018/01/04/featured_eventsgalleries/) - DES MOINES ART CENTER. 4700 Grand Ave., Des Moines. (515) 277-4405. Topographies: Mapping, Being, and Belonging. In this exhibition, mapping serves as a metaphor for the ways artists draw meaning from their surroundings: how they transform our understanding of the physical world and the societal forces that shape the places we inhabit. Through September
- [TapestryFest: Pride Event Highlights Cultures of Southeast Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/07/06/tapestryfest/) - Mount Pleasant’s vibrant multicultural celebration TapestryFest honors the rich cultures and traditions woven together into Southeast Iowa communities, offering opportunities to learn about different cultures and perspectives. TapestryFest takes place Saturday, July 11, 1–4 p.m., at Mount Pleasant’s Central Park. Now in its fourth year, the annual summer event showcases diverse cultures with live music,
- [Bonds Don't Lie](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/07/02/bonds-2/) - There’s an old saying on Wall Street: “The bond market doesn’t lie.” Stocks often reflect optimism about future economic growth and corporate earnings. Bonds, on the other hand, tend to reflect investors’ real-time concerns about inflation, interest rates, debt, and economic stability. Those variables create a mathematical framework for the bond market. And lately (as
- [AI Causes Mass Layoffs: What Is the Future of Work?](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/06/30/ai-layoffs/) - The current situation with artificial intelligence reminds me of an old joke. A pilot comes on the intercom and says: “Ladies and gentlemen, I have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that we’re completely lost and have no idea where we are. The good news is that we’re making excellent
- [Mundo Lindo Farms: Nick Campney's "Beautiful World" Project](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/06/03/mundo-lindo/) - One thing that universally unites us is our need to eat every day. We might also agree on a few preferences when it comes to food—namely, wanting healthy, delicious, budget-friendly edibles, grown using practices that consider long-term environmental impacts. Enter Nick Campney, a family man committed to bringing sustainable, affordable, and healthy food production to
- [Art on the Underpass: Jenny Sammons Creates Fairfield Mural](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/06/30/mural/) - Three years in the making, the 2nd Street railroad underpass mural finally started going up in June. In designing murals for each railroad pillar, artist Jenny Sammons used iconic architectural imagery and whimsical landscape details as an homage to Fairfield and the surrounding countryside. This creative civic project has taken time, networking, and dedication to
- [Fringe Toast Music Summer Playlist](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/06/30/fringe-2/) - While visiting with family and friends in Asheville, North Carolina, in recent months, I assembled this list of 13 songs, perfect as a soundtrack for early evening cookouts. Genres include alternative, folk, R&B soul, pop, and electronica. For more music like this, listen to my new 60-minute Fringe Toast Music radio show at KHOE.org at
- [Summer Faves Reinvented: No-Fuss Hot-Weather Recipes](https://www.iowasource.com/2016/08/04/food2016_08_summer/) - Midsummer in Iowa is full of delights. Corn from the corn stand, sweet Muscatine melons, fresh watermelons, Missouri peaches. Beans climbing up the poles in the garden, freshly dug potatoes, lots of cucumbers and tomatoes. If you don’t have garden space, you’ll find an abundance of produce at local markets, farm stands, and farmers markets.
- [SCREAM Ice Cream: Cool Flavors, Handcrafted Locally](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/02/scream/) - Fairfield’s SCREAM Ice Cream Shop has just moved to a new location right off the square at 110 N. Main Street. It offers house-made, locally sourced cold deliciousness to Southeast Iowan ice-cream aficionados. The name of the shop—a play on the nursery rhyme “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream”—appeals to the
- [A Pizza Lover's Approach to Great Sound Systems](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/06/18/pizza-lover/) - I just brought a deep-dish pizza back to Fairfield from Chicago. A five-hour drive. The pizza is in my freezer, sold to me partially cooked, so when I serve it to my friends in a few days, it will be fresh, with both perfect taste and texture intact. I realize that’s a lot of trouble
- [Project Green Hosts Open Gardens Weekend June 27-28](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/06/18/project-green-3/) - Garden enthusiasts and curious visitors alike are invited to experience Open Gardens Weekend 2026, a free self-guided tour showcasing more than 20 residential and prairie gardens in Iowa City, Coralville, and surrounding unincorporated areas. The annual event, hosted by Project GREEN, will take place Saturday, June 27, from 4–8 p.m., and Sunday, June 28, from
- ["Roots So Deep" Film Takes an Inspired New Look at Cattle Farming](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/06/16/roots-so-deep-film-takes-an-inspiring-new-look-at-cattle-farming/) - Cattle have been called eco-villains for years. But what if they could help restore our depleted soils, pull massive amounts of carbon out of the air, rebuild wildlife habitat, and even get farmers out of debt, all while mimicking the way bison once roamed the land? On Monday, June 22, at the Fairfield Arts and
- [Marisa Anderson: Master of Sustain & Silence](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/06/15/marissa-anderson/) - Marisa Anderson is an eclectic and electric guitarist who has toured with acts as disparate as country singer Emmylou Harris, apocalyptic post-rockers Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and avant-garde pioneer Thurston Moore. The Portland, Oregon, resident has released more than a dozen albums over the past 20 years. Her latest, The Anthology of UnAmerican Folk Music
- [Big Field Fund Offers Grants for Iowa Artists](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/06/10/bff/) - Applications for Public Space One’s Big Field Fund (BFF) are now open, offering $60,000 in grants to artists engaged in experimental, collaborative, and connective visual arts projects. Now in its third year, BFF is open to Iowa artists (and collectives) residing within the 35 counties proximate to Iowa City. Supported by the Andy Warhol Foundation
- [FACT Presents Comedy Musical Revue "Too Old for the Chorus" June 12–14](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/27/fact-presents-musical-revue-too-old-for-the-chorus-june-12-14/) - Fairfield Area Community Theatre (FACT) proudly presents Too Old For The Chorus But Not Too Old To Be A Star June 12, 13, and 14 on stage at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center at 200 North Main Street in Fairfield. Directed by Diana Flynn, with musical direction by Jim & LeAnne Edgeton, Too Old
- [Proactive Tax Planning: Learn to Manage How and When You Pay Taxes](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/06/08/tax-tips/) - If you’re a frequent reader of personal finance articles or listen to any number of personal finance podcasts, then you’ve most certainly heard this one before: It’s not what you earn, it’s what you keep. It’s trite and arguably incomplete. But the basic concept is true. It would be easy to build wealth if you
- [Awful Purdies: Two Decades of Making Music Together](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/06/08/purdies/) - Iowa City’s beloved folk-Americana collective Awful Purdies, helmed by five multitalented women, has been enthralling audiences for 20 years. An integral part of the Midwest music scene, the Purdies blend banjo, accordion, cello, guitar, mandolin, bass, and percussion with flawless vocals, drawing on the sounds of folk, old country, bluegrass, honky tonk, and soul. Band
- [Seeds of Sovereignty: Mexico Stands Up for its Biological Inheritance](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/28/seeds/) - Who gets to decide what a nation grows, eats, and protects? This is the question that first drew us to making Seeds of Sovereignty, a documentary that looks into Mexico’s struggle with the United States to protect its biodiversity and grow its native foods. At the center of the conflict is U.S. pressure on Mexico
- [See Five Gardens on the Dorothy Bell Memorial Garden Tour June 20](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/06/01/garden-tour/) - The Fairfield Art Association (FAA) is delighted to host the Dorothy Bell Memorial Garden Tour on Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The inspiring garden event honors founding member and garden tour creator Dorothy Bell in this 60th FAA anniversary year. The fundraiser tour includes five featured gardens and two bonus garden
- [Quilt Raffle to Benefit Bonnifield Cabin Restoration Project in Fairfield](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/28/bonnifield/) - Built in 1838, relocated to Waterworks Park over a century ago, and named after the woman who suggested “Fairfield” as the moniker for our town, the “Bonnifield Cabin is the oldest dwelling, of any white man, still standing in Iowa,” wrote Susan Fulton Welty in A Fair Field. These days, the Bonnifield Cabin is in
- [Fairfield ReStore's Tool Lending Resource: Borrow Tools for a Week!](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/07/tool-library/) - Fairfield has joined forward-thinking cities across Iowa and the country in offering a tool lending library, now available at the Fairfield ReStore. Tool libraries, sometimes called “libraries of things,” allow community members to share access to pricey home repair and gardening equipment, helping residents save money by offering tools and implements for free or at
- [The Marvel of Glass Art: Samantha Treankler in the FAA Gallery](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/28/glass/) - Glass artist Samantha Treankler has always been attracted to functional art—art that has a purpose beyond its pleasing surface. Having just finished an apprenticeship with accomplished glass artist Tim Blair of Bloom and Bark Glass Blowing Studio in Keosauqua, Treankler presents her new work in a solo exhibition, Practice in Shape, opening at the Fairfield
- [AI Is Getting Scary Smart](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/28/ai-3/) - We’re having fun. I write about chatbots, and readers tell me how useful they are. We use chatbots to answer questions, write text, make images and videos, proofread, and more. In addition, I want you to know about artificial intelligence chatbots so you’re aware of the changes taking place and have a sense for what
- [Still We Rise! Chamber Singers Present Spring Concert May 30 & 31](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/27/still-we-rise-chamber-singers-present-spring-concert-may-30-31/) - The Chamber Singers of Southeast Iowa will present their spring concert, “Still We Rise!” on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31, at 7:30 p.m. in the Golden Magnolia Sanctuary, 200 South Main Street in Fairfield. These concerts mark the 35th anniversary of the founding of Chamber Singers in 1991. Across those years, the group,
- [Fairfield Art Association Offers Two June Printmaking Classes](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/27/fairfield-art-association-offers-two-june-printmaking-classes/) - The Fairfield Art Association announces two printmaking classes coming up in June. The first class is an opportunity to learn Linoleum Woodblock Printmaking with accomplished Fairfield artist John Schirmer. Schirmer has been a printmaker for 40 years and has received numerous awards across the country. His four class sessions will be held on Saturdays, June
- [A Tower of Tithonia: Bird, Bee, and Butterfly Party at my Place](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/27/tithonia/) - One of last year’s gardening experiments was such a miraculous success … that now I’m a little bit obsessed. It was an impulse buy at my local farm supply store. I’d gone in for a garden hose, and my wandering eye—the one that is always trying to buy happiness—landed on some cheery-looking seed packets next
- [Amrita Aromatherapy: Sourcing & Creating Oils of Renowned Purity](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/07/amrita/) - Nowadays, everyone seems to know that lavender essential oil is relaxing and tea tree essential oil is a great antiseptic. The essential oil industry is booming, with hundreds of companies all over the world offering everything from single-note oils to aromatic room sprays, scented candles, and body care products. But not all essential oils are
- [The Helpful Village: Fairfield Cares Supports Elders & Neighbors in Need](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/18/fairfield-cares-2/) - Fairfield Cares has some great news to share. In the past six months, the nonprofit program that helps people in need has adopted an new and very successful initiative, thanks to the dedication of committed volunteers. Here’s an update from Jennifer Hamilton, president of Fairfield Cares. Tell us a little about Fairfield Cares and what
- [Sports Heroes Write for Kids: Books from Shohei Ohtani & Megan Gustafson](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/18/sports-heroes/) - In my house, the biggest holiday of the year is one that folks never expect. For as long as I can remember, Major League Baseball’s Opening Day has always been the most exciting day of the year—marked with Dairy Queen, the TV tuned into a St. Louis Cardinals game, and a sense of hope for
- [Beyond Organic: An Amish Farmer's Regenerative Farm](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/28/amish-farm/) - Amish family farmer Allen Hershberger shifted to regenerative farming about five years ago. His farm in Bloomfield, Iowa, produces pastured eggs, A2/A2 certified sheep’s milk, butter, yogurt, chicken, and beef. “We are 100 percent chemical free,” he says. “We want to be beyond organic.” His goal is to raise high-quality food from the ground up.
- [Ingrid Andress: Honesty & Vulnerability Are Her Hallmarks](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/04/ingrid-andress/) - Ingrid Andress writes and performs sensitive story songs filled with humor and pathos. Her sweet, clear voice creates an immediate sense of intimacy, as if she’s confiding in a close friend. You can hear the emotion behind her narratives in a quiet sigh or the slight ache in her tone. She rarely needs to raise
- [The Bird Art Is In! Thank You, Readers!](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/27/the-bird-art-is-in-thank-you-readers/) - If you haven't seen the May issue of The Iowa Source on shelves yet, it's due to drop any minute! And we are pleased as punch to be featuring, on its colorful cover, art created by you ... our readers, friends, and community members, in celebration of Draw a Bird Day 2026 on April 8!
- [The Self Care Garden: Bring an Easy-Care Green Sanctuary into Your Life](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/04/eco-garden/) - Have you ever caught yourself sighing at the sight of a weedy bed or feeling a little grumpy when someone says, “Isn’t gardening relaxing?” Even Master Gardeners can find the garden starting to feel like another job, another obligation, another task tugging at us. When that happens, the garden stops being a refuge and becomes
- [Iowa City Seeks Sculptures for Outdoor Showcase](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/05/05/sculptureshowcase/) - Iowa City’s Public Art Advisory Committee (PAAC) is looking for Iowa sculptors to participate in the Iowa City Sculptor Show, which will feature artworks scattered throughout the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area, along the Iowa River Trail, in Riverfront Crossings Park, at Mercer Park, and at Scott Park. These temporary exhibits will be displayed from August 2025
- [Is It a Fake? The AI Conundrum](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/30/fakes/) - It was a highlight of my trail camera hobby. In March I posted a gorgeous 12-second early-morning clip from mid-January of a beautiful coyote walking regally down a frozen creek toward the camera. It got over 24,000 views in the Iowa Critters Facebook group and many appreciative comments. But, but . . . two commenters
- [Lori Belilove Brings Isadora Duncan Dance to Fairfield](https://www.iowasource.com/2014/11/07/dance2014_11_isadora/) - From June 2–14, 2026, dancers from near and far will descend on Iowa Dance Collective in Fairfield for the International Isadora Duncan Workshop, led by Lori Belilove, Artistic Director and Founder of Lori Belilove & the Isadora Duncan Dance Company and Foundation and a 2025 Dance Teacher Awardee. Adult dancers of all skill levels and
- [Wild Spirits Farm: Helping People Reconnect with Gardening](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/01/wild-spirits/) - On a chilly spring morning just outside Fairfield, Tiffany April Raines, owner of Wild Spirits Farm, carries trays of seedlings from the bright glow of the grow room into a heated hoop house for transplanting. Flats of kale, broccoli, cabbage, and cilantro sit in rows, ready to be transplanted into larger pots. Blustery winds pick
- [Discipline in Investing: Make A Plan & Stick to It ... Period](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/30/discipline/) - When I was growing up, the word “discipline” conjured up unpleasant visions of time-outs, getting grounded, losing privileges—you name it. But those are all consequences, the results of a lack of discipline. The positive side of discipline is in the rewards for maintaining it. We see those benefits everywhere, from maintaining a regular workout schedule
- [The Hope Rogers Story: From Mental Illness ... to Making a Difference](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/01/the-hope-rogers-story-from-mental-illness-to-making-a-difference/) - In June 2025, the Iowa State Historical Society selected this story as "the most significant article on an Iowa history topic" published in 2024 and awarded Michael Schreiber the 2025 George Mills & Louise Noun Popular History Award. "When I waked from my ninth electric shock treatment at the Independence, Iowa Mental Health Institute
- [Homegrown National Park: A Call for Backyard Diversity—and Why It Matters](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/04/06/homegrown-natl-park/) - Doug Tallamy will present a free lecture on Friday, May 1, at the Capitol Theater, 211 N 3rd St., Burlington, Iowa, at 6 p.m., sponsored by the Burlington Public Library, Des Moines County Master Gardeners, and Leopold Landscape Alliance. Homegrown National Park is the brilliant idea of Doug Tallamy and Michelle Alfandari to restore biodiversity
- [A Struggling Actor Finds Connection (and Complication) in "Rental Family"](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/28/rental-family/) - Standing six feet four inches tall and known for his genuine warmth and kindness, Brendan Fraser is called “the gentle giant of Hollywood.” In Rental Family, his character’s sensitive nature flirts with a mix of comedy and concern. Staged in Japan but voiced almost entirely in English, this unpredictable tale is directed and co-written by
- [Threats to Library Access: Iowa's Public Libraries Are at a Crossroads](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/16/library-2/) - On any morning in an Iowa public library, a student pulls up a chair to finish homework, a small business owner researches a new market, and a family discovers books that open new worlds. These moments are now at the center of a heated legislative debate. The current proposals are part of a broader trend
- [Draw a Bird Day: April 8 Is a Holiday for Spreading Happiness](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/31/draw-a-bird/) - In 1943, smack dab in the middle of World War II, seven-year-old Dorie Cooper accompanied her mother on a trip to a UK hospital recovery ward to visit her distraught uncle, whose leg had been lost in a land mine explosion. To cheer him up, she made a simple request. “Draw a bird for me,
- [Dwarf Oaks, Willows & Plums: Uncommon Trees for Backyard Diversity](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/07/trees/) - Southeast Iowa is in the transition zone between the northern boreal forest and the southern temperate forest, the eastern deciduous forest and the western tallgrass prairie. Fossils show that when glaciers melted 12,000 years ago, Iowa was a boreal forest with white spruce, aspen, and white birch. As it got warmer and drier, most of
- [Fringe Toast Spring Playlist: Elevating Tracks for a New Season](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/01/fringe-toast/) - Need some good fuel for seasonal renewal? Enjoy this list of 11 songs for elevating the springtime vibe in your world. These tracks cover a wide range of genres, from pop/rock, alternative, and reggae to R&B soul, new age, classical crossover, and electronic. You can listen to full tracks free on my Spotify page at
- [The Black Gold Tapestry: A Magnificent Embroidered Narrative](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/04/black-gold/) - Canadian artist, filmmaker, and environmentalist Sandra M. Sawatzky will share details about the nine-year undertaking to create the 220-foot embroidered tapestry on Thursday, April 16, 6-8 p.m., joined by UI faculty members and moderated by curator Diana Tuite. The Black Gold Tapestry, Canadian artist Sandra M. Sawatzky’s spectacular textile installation, runs through June at the
- [Learn Textile Repair Skills at Fix-It Friday on April 17](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/07/fix-it-friday/) - Fairfield Public Library will host the next installment of its Fix-It Friday series on Friday, April 17, from 6–8 p.m., welcoming community members to an evening devoted to textile repair, fiber crafts, and practical skills. The free event will take place after hours in the library’s main space, where the building will be transformed into
- [The Madison: A New Series from Taylor Sheridan](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/07/the-madison/) - “Man’s goal in society is to be remembered; in nature, it is to be forgotten. Leave as little proof as I possibly can, that will be my gift to this place.” —Preston Clyburn (Kurt Russell) in The Madison Creator-screenwriter Taylor Sheridan wows us again with another original series, The Madison, named for Montana’s lush Madison
- [The Productivity Issue: Do We Need More Jobs ... or Better Seat Belts?](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/01/productivity/) - The 2016 presidential election featured the major candidates competing over who had a more compelling job-creation program. That drove me a little crazy. It’s been clear for a long time that the biggest long-term challenge to the U.S. is a labor shortage. From 1987 through 2007, the U.S. economy as measured by gross domestic product
- [Overly Friendly Chatbots: Don't Fall in Love with Your Digital Companion](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/04/01/friendly-chatbots/) - It made me uncomfortable when ChatGPT began referring to me as “Jim.” Like it was my friend. It must have learned my name when I had it create a new version of my website jimkarpen.com. For example, in answer to a question I had about annuities, it replied, “That’s a very perceptive reaction, Jim—and your
- [Matt Pulford at CSPS: "I've Told So Many Skies About You"](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/31/matt-pulford/) - Iowa artist Matt Pulford’s solo exhibition of paintings, drawings, and mixed-media pieces, I’ve Told So Many Skies About You, opens at the CSPS Main Gallery in Cedar Rapids on Friday, April 3, at 4:30 p.m. The exhibition, which runs through April 26, primarily features work exploring the landscape of rural Nebraska along the Platte River,
- [Calling All Midwest Stargazers! Photograph the Night Sky for Science](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/05/stargazers/) - KCUR FM radio in Kansas City, Missouri—my home town—is inviting us to be citizen scientists by using our phone cameras to measure the brightness of the night sky and the level of light pollution here in Iowa and the Midwest. In a February 2 podcast about the Globe at Night project, KCUR posted: “Astronomers need
- [Landscaping with Natives: A Recipe for Harmony on the Prairie](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/04/native/) - If a landscape has a sense of completeness or unity, people recognize it as beautiful. A sense of unity is created by a harmonious blending of plants that naturally grow in a given habitat. This natural selection limits the number of species, thereby creating a simpler, unifying theme. For instance, the rolling plains of Iowa
- [SXSW 2026: Another Great Year Despite Big Changes](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/31/sxsw-5/) - The 2026 South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference & Festivals celebrated its fourth decade this year in a condensed format—over seven days in March rather than nine. In addition, the location changed from the Austin conference center to three separate clubhouses scattered across town. As a result, it was shorter, smaller, and less centered. Despite the
- [The Alzheimer's Epidemic: Living with a Brain Under Attack](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/06/alzheimers/) - My life took a huge turn when I reached out to an intuitive friend, Janet Sussman, about some troubling symptoms I was experiencing. She saw the first evidence of my brain being compromised and kindly took me to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for tests. I was given a lumbar puncture, the gold standard
- [The Hickeys' Irish Pride: St. Pat's Stories from the Kitchen](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/03/05/the-hickeys-irish-pride/) - I thought I knew how Irish the Hickeys were. A gathering of knitters collects in the Hickey living room once a month for fiber fun and general revelry. Judie Hickey welcomes all, then sits and works on a sweater or shawl made from wool—on occasion, I’m told—from the Emerald Isle. The crafters are well plied
- [Happy National Proofreading Day! Error-Free ... or Egg on My Face?](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/26/proofreading/) - I was perusing an amusing little article I wrote exactly two years ago about eggs, my stab at contributing something for our March 2024 issue that was remotely springy or Easter themed. And there it was. A four-letter word meant to articulate the “yellow, nutrient-rich, fatty part of a bird egg.” I say four-letter word
- [Mary Swander's New Play: "Coop," the Poignant Tale of an Amish Conscientious Objector](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/11/04/mary-swander/) - We've all heard stories about brave men and women who fought in wars to protect their country. It’s not often we’re taken inside the mind and heart of a young man who stood up for his belief in nonviolence—and refused to pick up a gun or put on a uniform. Mary Swander, award-winning playwright, author,
- [AI Agents: Could Gemini Be My New Butler?](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/26/ai-agents/) - When Google’s Gemini 3 was released late last year, I kept seeing headlines saying it was now the best artificial intelligence chatbot, surpassing ChatGPT. So I recently decided to give it a test. I gave it the following prompt: “I write a monthly tech column for The Iowa Source. You can find the current column
- [Jonas Magram Hosts Gala Benefit Concert for Golden Magnolia](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/15/benefit-concert/) - Prepare to be blown away by Fairfield's musical talent at "Best of Broadway & the Movies," a benefit concert for Golden Magnolia Sanctuary, on Saturday, March 28, 7:30 p.m.. The evening will feature performances by Fairfield legend Adrien Daller Logsdon and Mount Pleasant diva Ming Vierra, as well as Jonas Magram, LeAnne Edgeton, Lou Bolster,
- [Support the Empty Bowls Fundraiser March 15 at Maharishi School](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/05/empty-bowls-2/) - Since 2015, Maharishi School students have eagerly welcomed guests to the annual Empty Bowls event, a community effort that raises awareness and funds to combat hunger and food insecurity. This year's event takes place on Sunday, March 15, from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. in the Student Center Kitchen at Maharishi School, located at 804 Dr. Robert
- [Join the Rutherford/Teeple Gallery Walkthrough on March 13 at ICON](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/10/walkthrough/) - Abstraction/Realism, an exhibition featuring the work of Michael Rutherford and Bill Teeple, continues at ICON Gallery through April 11. The small non-representational abstract paintings by Rutherford are juxtaposed with Teeple’s small realistic landscapes. A reception and walk-through with the artists will take place on Friday, March 13, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.
- [Play Pauper Commander: Wanderer's Haul PDH League Leads National Scene](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/10/play-pauper-commander/) - In an era dominated by expensive digital e-sports and “pay-to-win” card games, the Wanderer’s PDH League in Fairfield is proving that the best way to play is by using a format that’s accessible to everyone. Cofounded by Fairfield residents Ginger Persolus and Patrik Siljestam, the league has officially launched its second year as the largest
- [Back(side) to the Future: Consider the Bidet](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/06/bidet/) - Q: What do the Chicago White Sox clubhouse and the New York City mayor’s mansion have in common? A: They both recently installed bidets. Picture this: A teenage time traveler from the year 2046 looks at you with disbelief. “Wait ... you’re telling me people use toilet paper in 2026? And that’s it?” You try
- [Reviving the Rom-Com: B.K. Borison's Retelling of Sleepless in Seattle](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/06/b-k-borison/) - A lot of ink has been spilled about the death of the rom-com. Sure, there have been some recent attempts at reviving the genre, but one thing is certain—the titans of the 1990s rom-com craze created films that remain glued to Gen Xers’ souls and provide false nostalgia for Gen Zers (like myself) for relationships
- [Economic Fair Play: The Rule of Law and the Cost of Inconsistency](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/03/05/fair-play/) - Like many Americans, I took time last month to watch the Super Bowl. Not a game goes by without a controversial call. At this point, it almost feels expected—especially when a questionable decision tips the game in one team’s favor. It is rarely the rules themselves that upset NFL fans. Rather, it is the inconsistent
- [Adam Weiner: "Livin in the USA" Is Lightning in a Bottle](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/26/adam-weiner/) - When Adam Weiner sits down at the piano at Davenport’s Raccoon Motel on March 6, audiences expecting a hot and sweaty Low Cut Connie (LCC) show are in for a surprise. This performance will be quite different: quieter, riskier, funnier, angrier, and, if he has his way, more communal. This is not a band show—just
- [Second-Chance Creativity: Rediscover Your Love of Art-Making](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/02/art-classes/) - On top of my actual job jobs, I’ve got a lot going on. The book I want to finish writing this year. The play I soon hope to direct. The monthly writers’ event I host. The board of directors I sit on. The improv class I enrolled in. Yeah, a lot of that stuff is
- [Teada Brings the Rich Musical Traditions of Ireland to the FACC](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/27/teada/) - Known for their authentic yet electrifying approach to traditional Irish music, Téada has toured extensively across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, earning a reputation as one of Ireland’s leading traditional ensembles. The group performs in Fairfield on Friday, March 13, 7 p.m. at the FACC. Rooted in the rich musical traditions of County Sligo
- [The Lincoln Lawyer, Season 4](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/26/lincoln-lawyer-season-4/) - The unbendable rules of storytelling direct us as follows: Act 1: Send your hero up a tree. Act 2: Throw stones at him. Act 3: Get him down. Season 4 of The Lincoln Lawyer pushes attorney Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo) up the proverbial tree of the American legal system. But this time, Haller is the
- [Dreaming of Native Plants: Spring Gardening Takes Root in Winter](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/25/spring-2/) - Bitterly cold winter days are the perfect time to start thinking about your garden, whether it’s ordering seeds, planning for more beds, or organizing landscaping projects. Perhaps you’ve heard about the native plant movement sweeping the country and you’d like to make a step in that direction—by planting a pollinator garden, a native Iowa tree,
- [Fairfield Area Free Food Sources Guide: Meals & More](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/15/jefferson-county-resources/) - Need food-security help from your community? Click on the link below for a list of food and meal resources in the area—from groceries to soup kitchen meals and more. This pocket guide is available in print at Golden Magnolia Sanctuary, 200 S. Main Street in Fairfield during Stone Soup Community Kitchen hours: Thursday–Saturday, 5:30–8 p.m.
- [Big Cities, Small Towns: Urban Landscapes by John Schirmer at Freeform Gallery](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/23/big-cities-small-towns-urban-landscapes-by-john-schirmer-at-freeform-gallery/) - Freeform Gallery invites you to the opening reception for a show of oil paintings by Fairfield artist John Schirmer, titled Big Cities, Small Towns. The reception takes place on Friday, March 6, from 5:30-9:00 p.m. during Fairfield First Fridays. The exhibition begins Tuesday, March 3, and closes Saturday, March 28. Award-winning artist John Schirmer has
- ["Is This Thing On?" Portrait of a Marriage in Flux](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/22/is-this-thing-on/) - The slangy title Is This Thing On? refers to the stage microphone at a New York comedy club, and also to the “state of the union” of the film’s leading couple, Alex (Will Arnett) and Tess (Laura Dern). This drama-light tale is about a marriage in question, in which Alex has moved into his own
- [A Hilarious Time Capsule: "The Wonder Bread Years" with Seinfeld Writer Pat Hazell](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/13/wonder-bread/) - Fairfield Arts & Convention Center is excited to present The Wonder Bread Years Comedy Show on Friday, February 20, at 7:30 p.m. A heart-warming and hilariously nostalgic one-man comedy performance, it invites audiences to take a laugh-filled trip back through the golden memories of childhood and pop culture from the 1960s and ’70s. Created by
- ["If It Makes You Happy": A Cozy Romance by Julie Olivia](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/06/julie-olivia/) - Truth be told, I spend the vast majority of any year reading nonfiction. Whether it be a political memoir, a biography, or historical nonfiction (from the gunpowder empires to the Obama administration), all of it can hold my attention and interest for hours on end. That said, having grown up with a love for Jane
- [Sierra Hull: Mandolin Virtuoso with the Sparkling Voice](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/05/sierra-hull/) - Thirty-four-year-old Sierra Hull has long been recognized as one of the most technically gifted mandolin players of her generation. Born and raised in Tennessee, the musician signed her first record deal at 13, released a debut album that reached number two on the Billboard Bluegrass chart before she finished high school, and earned a Presidential
- [Scamsters Are Wilier Than Ever: Expect Them to Get More Deceitful](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/04/scamsters/) - Remember the Nigerian prince scam? It was so bad it makes me laugh just thinking about it. I don’t remember all the details, but it involved a poorly written, broken-English email from a stranger claiming to be an actual Nigerian prince who was unable to access millions of U.S. dollars that were rightfully his, and
- [Alaska's Auroras: Hunting Northern Lights in America's Last Wilderness](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/01/05/aurora/) - I went to college at Penn State with a group of guys from Philadelphia, all survivors of an inner-city high school. My lust for adventure started early, and Penn State was my first big adventure. Not long after arriving, one of our group had the chance to go on a research project to the Brooks
- [Rutherford/Teeple: Harmony in Opposites](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/02/rutherford-teeple/) - On February 6, ICON Gallery opens an exhibition featuring the brilliant pairing of Michael Rutherford and Bill Teeple, highlighting two approaches to art—abstraction and realism. In Rutherford/Teeple: Abstraction/ Realism, Rutherford’s small nonrepresentational paintings, freed from accurate depiction of the familiar outer world, invite interpretation. In contrast, Teeple’s miniscule photorealistic landscapes draw upon the local topography
- [Erin Skipper's Passion Project: Tune Into You Media](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/02/erin-skipper/) - Since Erin Skipper launched her podcast Tune Into You Media in 2022, it has been steadily gaining traction. Focused on the healing power of consciousness, music, and dance, the podcast features emerging and underrepresented artists, both local and international, with an emphasis on Nigerian artists, who span musical genres from Afrobeats to hip-hop, R&B, Afropop,
- [ChatGPT, My Friendly Attorney: Crafting a Response to a Copyright Troll](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/02/02/friendly-attorney/) - I do hope this story has a positive ending, but the intricacies of the legal system can be so unpredictable. It began with a panicked email from my friend Ken asking for my advice. He had received an email from a German company accusing him of copyright violation and demanding that he send them $350
- [For the Love of L'oeuf: Adventures in Eggcellence](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/03/05/oeuf/) - My corner of Iowa is home to such an interesting mix of people. Take my plumber-turned-paddlesports-buddy Corwin, a do-it-his-way homesteader who keeps me entertained with stories of his various adventures in self-reliance. On the meager plot of land he rents and lives on, he’s cultivated his own little piece of heaven in a fenced-in orchard
- [Food Pantries and Free Meals: Resources for Southeast Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/05/food/) - The government shutdown that ended last month affected many services that people rely on—not the least of which was SNAP, which helps provide food to low-income families. Nearly 270,000 Iowans depend on monthly SNAP benefits to feed themselves—part of the 42 million Americans who depend on SNAP nationwide. Iowa’s food pantries and community providers have
- [Stolen by Nazis: Recovered Uprka Painting Now on Display at NCSML](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/01/30/stolen-by-nazis/) - Around 1942, three years into Nazi Germany’s occupation of Czechoslovakia, the Gestapo ordered the confiscation of all assets belonging to Franz Gottlieb Schnabel, a textile mill owner. Among his seized possessions was a cheery painting by Joža Uprka (1861–1940), a Czech painter often called the “Artist of the Moravian Soul.” It wasn’t until 2010, with
- [Folk Alliance International 2026: A Glorious Gathering in New Orleans](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/01/27/fai/) - The Annual Folk Alliance International (FAI) conference bills itself as the largest gathering of folk musicians and industry professionals in the world. The 2026 edition took place January 21-25 in New Orleans, gathering approximately 3,000 attendees from 34 different countries. The Big Easy location provided a natural thematic resonance. The city is known for its
- [Fairfield’s Taco John’s Wins Top Franchise Award in Nation](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/01/28/fairfields-taco-johns-wins-top-franchise-award-in-nation/) - Taco John’s in Fairfield has earned the title of Top Franchisee across the entire Taco John’s system, thanks to exceptional performance in 2024 and into the first half of 2025. This prestigious honor, awarded to Corrick Vision and partners, celebrates the team’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction. “We’re incredibly proud of our
- [Jay Kelly: An Aging Star's Success & Regrets](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/01/05/jay-kelly-success-regrets-in-hollywood/) - “It’s a hell of a responsibility to be yourself. It’s much easier to be somebody else, or nobody at all.” —Sylvia Plath, American poet and author George Clooney steps into the life, mind, and history of an aging film star in Jay Kelly (streaming on Netflix). The opening scene moves us through the organized chaos
- [Putting Atlas to the Test: Chatbots Now Being Integrated into Web Browsers](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/01/05/atlas/) - Okay, so here’s the next big thing: The major tech companies are integrating AI chatbots into web browsers. Perplexity and Open-AI have created new browsers, while Google has integrated its Gemini chatbot into Chrome and Microsoft has integrated AI into its Edge browser via Copilot. Since ChatGPT has become a constant companion, I resolved to
- [The Bookhouse: A Sleek, Comfy Venue for Gathering](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/11/02/the-bookhouse/) - Editor's note: The Bookhouse closed permanently in 2022. The Bookhouse, a popular Fairfield tea room, cocktail lounge, and live music venue, has relocated a few doors down from its former location on Burlington Avenue. Owner Josie Overmyer moved the business to a smaller, more manageable space and is “really loving” the new location. Still located
- [Wege Gallery Presents Milbre Burch on Storytelling in the 21st Century](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/01/13/milbre-burch/) - The Wege Center for the Arts at MIU in Fairfield presents a storytelling performance by Grammy-nominated spoken-word recording artist Milbre Burch on Saturday, January 17, at 2:30 p.m. in the Ross Theater. The event is the inaugural presentation of the David T. Hanson Artist Lecture Series, which brings accomplished artists, curators, and art historians to
- [Hot & Hygge: Warm It Up! For Wintertime Well-Being](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/01/12/hygge/) - We’re in the thick of it now. The bitter battle of the bulge. We’re crabby and we’re cold. Time for a midwinter warm-up. A few years back, I was invited to a friend’s private steam sauna—an oasis of glowing orange light on a frigid winter night. Hand-built from wood, surrounded by snow, tucked away in
- ["The American Revolution" Series on PBS: A History We Need to Know](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/01/05/american-revolution/) - From Ken Burns, a master of historical documentaries, this six-part PBS series explores a crucial chapter in our nation’s history. Narrated in the soothing voice of Peter Coyote, The American Revolution relives the events that transformed our 13 colonies into states as a self-ruling nation. The series begins in the mid-1700s, when the British empire
- [Humanity's Greatest Invention: The Wonders & Conundrums of Capitalism](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/01/06/capitalism/) - My wife, Joan, was marveling at a roll of parchment paper. She was using it to line a pan to make some yummy squash with cinnamon and pecans. She showed me the roll in its cardboard box and explained that the problem with parchment paper is that it curls. But someone had redesigned the
- [Fringe Toast Winter Playlist, Inspired by Mon Rovia](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/01/06/monrovia/) - My latest playlist of music from off the beaten path is inspired by Liberian-born indie-folk musician Mon Rovîa, who was rescued from the Liberian civil wars by Christian missionaries and adopted by an American family, eventually settling in Chattanooga, Tennessee. While attending a local college, Mon Rovîa began studying music and gradually developed a unique
- [G. Love: Distinctive Hip-Hip Blues from a Philly-Bred Artist](https://www.iowasource.com/2026/01/06/g-love-2/) - Frontman Garrett Dutton (aka G. Love) of G. Love & Special Sauce, came of age in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 1980s, when hip-hop music was going through an early renaissance. Dutton was a folk singer who busked the City of Brotherly Love (more recently also known as the City of Sisterly Affection). He instinctively put
- [International Pianist Hayden Miller Performs December 18](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/12/hayden-miller/) - International pianist Hayden Miller will be performing a free concert on Thursday, December 18, 7 p.m., at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. Titled “Fata Morgana,” the program will feature works by Beethoven, Brahms, Cashian, Davis, and Gershwin. Miller is a pianist from Houston, Texas, with Iowa roots. He is the grandson of Fairfield residents
- [I Just Cat Help It: Have Yourself a Purry Little Christmas](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/01/cat/) - Deep in December’s small hours, I can feel her step softly across the covers, my downy white comforter collapsing with a quiet “puff” under each paw. Like she does every morning at 7:02 a.m., Gertie settles on top of me with half a meow, “Rhhh,” announcing her arrival while surrendering her entire weight to my
- [SAD Syndrome: Winter's Darker Days Can Trigger Depression](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/02/sad/) - Like every other living creature, we humans are embedded in the planet’s 24-hour circadian rhythm. For half the year, those of us living in the northern hemisphere experience days getting shorter and nights getting longer, with increasing hours of darkness—aka winter. And 94 percent of us just adjust and get on with our lives. After
- [Holiday Lights in Eastern & Central Iowa: 2025 Edition](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/03/holiday-fun/) - CEDAR RAPIDS. Five Seasons Lights. A maze of holiday lights with music, entertainment, and freewill donation to area nonprofits. Nightly 4:30–9 p.m., with Santa and food & drink on Saturdays. McGrath Amphitheatre. CREventsLive.com. Dec. 5–28. A Brucemore Christmas & Holidays Nights. Enjoy self-guided tours of the Queen Anne mansion decked out Victorian-style for Christmas. RSVP.
- [A Very Special Italian Christmas Dessert: Panettone Farcito](https://www.iowasource.com/2012/12/06/food2012_12_panettone/) - If you’re looking for an unusual holiday dessert, nothing beats Gisella Isidori’s showstopping Panettone Farcito. This dessert comes together quickly, and it's a great way to use up any extra panettone you may have floating around the house over the holidays. Panettone Farcito (Makes 8 to 10 servings) 1 pound-size panettone 1 pint to 1
- [Christmas Is for Moping: 12 Reasons to Dread the Jolliest of Holidays](https://www.iowasource.com/2019/12/11/christmas-moping/) - Sometimes Christmas feels like a garbage can of dashed hopes and dreams. And I don’t just mean that the socks are the wrong color or the sweater is the incorrect size—although if they were painstakingly hand knit by Nana, that can be devastating, too. Why is Christmastime so ripe with sadness? Maybe you’re blue because
- [Corita Kent: The Nun Who Dared to Speak Her Mind](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/12/corita-kent/) - The Armistice that ended World War I was signed on November 11, 1918. Exactly nine days later, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, an Irish Catholic couple named Robert and Edith Kent became the parents of their fifth child, a girl who was christened as Frances (Frannie) Elizabeth Kent. Even though Francis Kent was born in Iowa
- [Yukking It Up with The Onion: "Funny Because It's True"](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/04/the-onion/) - Whether we like it or not, we’re on the brink of a changing of the guard for those who dominate our comedic spaces. Due to political pressure, changing economic landscapes, an evolution in comedy’s primary audience, and more, the transformation of the comedy world has already begun. Nevertheless, still going strong amongst the old guard
- [The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood Opens December 11-14](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/09/robin-hood/) - Fairfield Youth Performing Arts (FYPA) is excited to present its second ever production, The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood by Mary Lynn Dobson, running December 11–14 at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. Directed by Amber Adkins and featuring a fantastic all-youth cast, this clever take on the classic adventure tale promises to be
- [Prairie Remnants Book Club: Reading Toward a Sustainable Future](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/09/prairie-remnants/) - As a member of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (SLI)—a growing national movement that empowers libraries to model environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and community resilience—Fairfield Public Library has committed to integrating sustainability into every facet of its work. After hearing SLI founder Dr. Rebekkah Smith Aldrich speak at the 2023 Iowa Library Association conference, I decided
- [ICON Mini Art Auction Begins November 7 at ICON](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/31/icon-mini-art-2/) - Every other year, ICON Gallery holds a fundraiser art auction of “mini art” featuring works no bigger than 5'' x 7''. This year, the auction features over 140 artworks and continues through Wednesday, December 17, at 8 p.m. The minimum bid for all art is only $15. All proceeds go toward ICON Gallery operating expenses.
- [Gratitude en Route: Tales from an Iowa Source Delivery Girl](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/31/gratitude-en-route/) - I wear many hats as senior editor of The Iowa Source magazine. I am editorial writer, events wrangler, local news herder, proofreading princess, and queen of the classifieds, not to mention the end-of-month invoice slinger. A hearty thanks to our awesome advertisers, who serve as the steady wind without which this miraculous ship called The
- [Top Albums of 2025: A Personal Selection of Outstanding Female Artists](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/04/top2025/) - Over 1,000 new full-length record albums will be released domestically in 2025, with an average of 120,000 new tracks uploaded to streaming services daily. Projections suggest more than 43 million new tunes will be available for listening to anyone with internet access. That’s a lot of music! There’s no better time to listen to new
- [Melatonin and Its Role in SAD Syndrome](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/04/melatonin/) - On November 3, 2025, the American Heart Association posted on its news site that long-term use of melatonin (a year or more) as a supplement for chronic insomnia may cause serious heart issues, as well as other health problems. The study has not yet been published, but the link is here. The melatonin in your
- [It's Easier Than Ever to Make Your Own Deepfakes with Sora 2](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/02/deepfakes/) - I was having so much fun making deepfakes. Here I was, galloping up a country road on horseback, hitting a perfect tennis serve, wearing a frog costume while participating in the rebellion in Portland. The new, free Sora 2 app first has you make a “cameo” of yourself, which en-tails looking at your phone’s camera,
- ["Death by Lightning": The Assassination of James Garfield](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/01/garfield/) - Death by Lightning introduces James Abram Garfield, an American leader we might not recall, who served too briefly as our 20th president. Based on our nation’s history and Candice Millard’s 2011 book, Destiny of the Republic, the four-part Netflix miniseries showcases Garfield’s personal and Congressional life, and the 1880 Republican convention that propelled him into
- [Jonas Magram Celebrates 30 Years of Children's Benefit Concerts](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/12/01/childrens-holiday/) - Jonas Magram is not only a talented musician and songwriter, he’s also a great example of someone who believes in helping others and giving back to his community. His annual Children’s Holiday Benefit Concert—now in its 30th year—will be held on Saturday, December 6, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Golden Magnolia Sanctuary, 200 S.
- [The Small Works Show: International Artists Fill Pop-Up Space in Fairfield](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/28/small-works/) - After a 15-year hibernation, the International Small Works Show returns to Fairfield, renewed in purpose and rich in global perspective. This year’s collection, curated once again by Anastasia “Stacey” Kitakis, emphasizes the cultural richness that emerges when creativity bridges continents. Located in a pop-up gallery inside the Central Park Furnishings space on the west side
- [ChatGPT Updated My Antique Website](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/30/website/) - Hey, I’m state of the art, right? I know about artificial intelligence. I write about it. Readers tell me they enjoy my columns and are finding AI to be useful. (Even one reader who vowed to never use AI now uses it every day.) But I’m also obsolete. My website JimKarpen.com had been an embarrassment
- [Catfish Moon: A Tender & Terrific Ensemble Comedy ... with Dessert](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/11/17/catfish-moon-a-night-of-rich-rewarding-ensemble-theater-with-dessert/) - The reviews are in. This is a show you don't want to miss. Fairfield Area Community Theatre's production of Catfish Moon, now headed into its closing weekend at the Walton Club in Fairfield November 21–23, is a tender and terrifically funny ensemble piece like few you've seen. Featuring four seasoned Fairfield performers, direction by Rachel
- [In "Dreams of Fields," Roy Behrens Chronicles Iowa's Colorful History](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/30/dreams-of-fields/) - A new book of 25 essays, Dreams of Fields: Memory Traces of Iowa’s Past, by frequent Iowa Source contributor Roy R. Behrens, was published earlier this year by Ice Cube Press. Behrens is an Iowa-born designer, teacher, and historian, who, in over 50 years, has published hundreds of articles in various journals and magazines. In
- [Eyelashes: A Mower, a Toad, and a Moment of Insight](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/11/10/eyelashes/) - I remember the first time I discovered that my grandpa had eyelashes. I was five or six, and we were visiting the farm for the weekend. It was that delicious time of year when the air and skies start to hint of autumn, but the grass is still a lush summer green. I woke up
- [Molly Tuttle: Bluegrass Star Broadens Her Appeal](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/11/05/molly-tuttle/) - Molly Tuttle is best known as a bluegrass virtuoso. She was the first woman to win the International Bluegrass Music Association’s (IBMA) Guitar Player of the Year award back in 2017, and since then has received many more accolades from the organization. She also won a Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for Crooked Tree
- [Famous Last Words: Dr. Jane Goodall](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/11/04/jane-goodall/) - “Equipped with little more than a notebook, binoculars, and her fascination with wildlife, but no college education, Jane Goodall braved a realm of unknowns to give the world a remarkable window into humankind’s closest living relatives.” —JaneGoodall.org Whether you’re 20, 50, or 90 years old, you probably have heard of Jane Goodall, the extraordinary British
- [The Winter Blues: Don't Let SAD Sneak Up on You](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/02/07/health2017_02/) - After the hectic rush of holiday celebrations, it can be hard to face the romantic pressures and expectations of Valentine’s Day. Add in gloomy winter weather, and the stage can be set for seasonal mental health issues like the winter blues and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). According to Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., seasonal affective disorder
- [Red Light Therapy: A Noninvasive Treatment for Health Issues](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/06/red-light/) - “Red and near-infrared light are not some weird technology that benefits us for some random reason. These wavelengths of light come from the sun, and it turns out that our body has evolved over millions of years to be capable of utilizing red and near-infrared light from the sun to help power up our cells
- [A Weekend of Laughs at the Floodwater Comedy Festival November 14-15 in Iowa City](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/30/floodwater/) - The Floodwater Comedy Festival will host some of the best comedians from Iowa, the Midwest and around the country on November 14 and 15 at Willow Creek Theatre, 327 S. Gilbert St. in Iowa City. The festival focuses on standup comedy and improv, with some unexpected twists during late-night shows. The festival comprises 11 shows,
- [You're Not a Billionaire](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/30/youre-not-a-billionaire/) - You might think my headline is a bit presumptive, but consider the fact that there are roughly 1,100 billionaires in the U.S. With the current population estimated at 340 million, that means there’s a .0003 percent chance that you’re a billionaire. So, okay, I should have written “You’re Probably Not a Billionaire.” But since there’s
- [How a Community Group Stopped the CAFOs: JFAN's Annual Meeting Oct. 16](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/07/jfan-3/) - Imagine a state that works with a community to shut down a large CAFO, then establish a permanent moratorium in a valued watershed. Crazy pipe dream? This actually happened in Arkansas in the Buffalo National River watershed. On Thursday, October 16, you’ll hear the whole story during the JFAN Annual Meeting, “STOP THE CAFOS: How
- [World FairField International Festival Returns November 16](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/30/world-fairfield/) - Celebrate Fairfield’s remarkably diverse community with the return of the World FairField International Festival on Sunday, November 16, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., at the MIU Field House. The event is cosponsored by Maharishi International University, which has students from over 70 countries, and Maharishi School, with students from more than 30 countries. Families are welcome to
- [Art for All Eyes: What is Visual Art for Those with Visual Loss?](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/02/visual/) - The Visual Spectrums Collaborative Arts Project, a traveling exhibit that explores art for all eyes to enjoy, comes to Fairfield on Friday, November 7, at the Fairfield CoLab, 101 N. Court St., 6:00-10 p.m., during Fairfield First Fridays. The exhibit will also be making stops at other venues across Eastern Iowa. When the idea originally
- [Contemporary American Folk Art by Joseph Boxerman at Freeform Gallery Nov. 1–22](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/28/contemporary-american-folk-art-by-joseph-boxerman-at-freeform-gallery-nov-1-22/) - From transformation to transcendence, folk art creates joy and beauty by endowing everyday objects, often mass produced, with uniqueness and individuality. This month, Freeform Gallery highlights the work of Fairfield folk artist Joseph Boxerman in an exhibition entitled Whimsy, Wit and Wonder: An Exhibition in Honor of My Art Professor Jim Melchert, opening on November
- ["Dreams and Reflections of Flower Worlds" at PS1 in Iowa City](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/29/elizalde/) - Public Space One presents colorful clay sculptures by Narciso Meneses Elizalde at the PS1 Northside Gallery in Iowa City through October 25. The exhibition, called Dreams and Reflections of Flower Worlds, celebrates Mesoamerican Indigenous culture by promoting the “Old Ways,” or costumbre. Elizalde will speak at the gallery on Weds., October 1, 5 p.m., with
- [Wanderer's Haul: Games & Connections for the Whole Community](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/29/wanderers-haul-games-connections-for-the-whole-community/) - Kate and Patrick Hetland started their popular gaming store Wanderer's Haul, at 206 S. Main Street in Fairfield, in December 2020. Despite starting their business in the midst of the pandemic, things have gone really well. The center of a thriving gaming community, Wanderer’s Haul offers deck-building games such as the perennial favorite, Magic: The
- [Spooky Fun & Family Entertainment, From Haunted Houses to Corn Mazes](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/06/haunted/) - (Photo by Ling Hua at Unsplash.com) Looking for chills and thrills to kick off your Halloween? Try these frightful and fun Eastern Iowa events ... Fridays through October 31 • Haunted Tractor Ride, Wilson’s Orchard, Iowa City. WilsonsOrchard.com. Join Bessie as she navigates an eerie path through the moonlit orchard. Riders will encounter horrifying re-enactments
- ["Broadway's Next Hit Musical": Improv Comes to the FACC](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/13/improv/) - What happens when you mix Broadway with audience suggestions and lightning-fast improv? You get Broadway’s Next Hit Musical, the award-winning comedy show where every song, scene, and story is made up on the spot. The hit production comes to Fairfield Arts & Convention Center on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. Direct from
- [Acupuncture Resurgence: A Traditional System Finds a Place in Modern Life](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/08/acupuncture-2/) - Acupuncture is one of the most widely used traditional medicine practices in the world, according to a 2021 World Health Organization report. A component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture has become increasingly popular in the U.S. over the last 40 years in helping to manage multiple health issues. Scientific studies have corroborated acupuncture’s effectiveness in
- ["The New Menopause": A Hopeful Resource for Navigating the Second Half](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/07/menopause/) - It’s imminent. Any day now, my shriveled little eggs will stop being sent down the line to “nest.” Dry, misshapen little ovum, or so I imagine, scraping their way to my womb with the ever-waning hope of decent company. These last, wheezing little gasps, I expect, are related to a twice-monthly splitting headache that feels
- [Cara Fitzpatrick on the History of School Choice](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/08/public-schools/) - In 2023, Governor Kim Reynolds signed the Students First Act into law. In function, this law created access to public funds for families to send their children to accredited private schools. The 2025–26 school year marks the first year that all families, regardless of income, are eligible to apply for an award. While the public
- [Invasives: Not Everything Green Is Golden](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/08/invasives-not-everything-green-is-golden/) - Most people equate the color green with health and natural living, but the inconvenient truth is that some green plants in natural areas cause serious harm to the ecosystem in which they’ve established themselves. Invasives, as they’re non-affectionately categorized, are defined by two strict criteria: being non-native to the area in which they’ve become established,
- [The Floating Bed: John Huff's Rocking Innovation for Better Sleep](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/08/floating-bed/) - A scientist, inventor, and self-described biohacker for over 50 years, Fairfield entrepreneur John Huff designed the Floating Bed based on dozens of studies showing that, in his words, “gentle rocking produces measurably better relaxation and sleep quality than stationary beds do. Virtually every mother in history, including your own, has proven it, too. It is
- [Katherine Eid Wild Shares Family Stories & Food on October 18](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/08/stories/) - Local storyteller and filmmaker Katherine Eid Wild returns to Fairfield with her new project, From My Father’s Table, a live performance interwoven with documentary film culminating in Katherine and her father serving the audience a Lebanese meal (think The Moth meets a family dinner table). Fresh from a national summer tour that included performances at
- [A Midwest Midnight Fright ... & Comfort From a Cookie Monster](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/06/a-midwest-midnight-fright-comfort-from-a-cookie-monster/) - I looked at my schoolmates nervously. I’d been warned about the dangers of messing with the dead. The dark forces. A Ouija Board was not just a Parker Brothers game. Even in our small Iowa town, midafternoon. “Don’t worry, Meredith,” said Stacy, across from me, her voice cutting through the sound of the other girls’
- [Iowa City Book Festival: Writers of All Stripes Congregate Oct. 5-12](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/30/ic-book-festival/) - Get ready for a dynamic mix of writers to descend on Iowa City for the 17th annual Iowa City Book Festival, Oct. 5-12, celebrating the power of the written word and the thrill of exchanging ideas. Highlights among the 40 events this year include the launch of Donika Kelly’s latest poetry collection, science fiction presentations
- [AmericanaFest 2025: Searching for Identity in a Changing Country](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/02/afest/) - One would presume a music festival called AmericanaFest would feature great acts from the United States. And that was certainly true at this year’s event, held in Nashville from September 9–13. But, surprisingly, some of the best music came from artists from other countries. That shouldn’t be a shock. Americana music, like the U.S. itself,
- [Acupuncture Resurgence: Traditional Systems Finds a Place in Modern Life](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/02/acupuncture/) - Acupuncture is one of the most widely used traditional medicine practices in the world, according to a 2021 World Health Organization report. A component of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture has become increasingly popular in the U.S. over the last 40 years in helping to manage multiple health issues. Scientific studies have corroborated acupuncture’s effectiveness in
- [Have You Tried Grok? It's a Chatbot Worth X-Ploring](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/01/grok/) - I had resisted trying Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot, in part because of the controversy surrounding the man, including his creepy fascination with naming things X: SpaceX, xAI, Tesla Model X, and his social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Plus, a four-year-old son named X Æ A-Xii. Seriously. But when I finally tried Grok, it was
- [Time for a New Game Plan?](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/10/01/plan/) - I'm a football fan. Maybe you’re not, but you’ll still understand this analogy. When a team is successful with a play, I am very much in favor of trying it again until it doesn’t work anymore. Then it’s time to try something else, right? I first heard Donald Trump talk about how other countries were
- [Michael Wagler on How AARP Can Help You: October 4](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/15/wagler/) - Fairfield Cares is proud to sponsor Michael Wagler, Iowa State Director for AARP, to speak Saturday, October 4, in the theater at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center, 1:30–3:00 p.m. His talk, “How AARP Can Help You” promises to be informative and useful for everyone over the age of 50 and their family members. This
- [Tyler Sullivan's Scenic Views by Foot: Iowa History, Poetry, and a Pair of Running Shoes](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/03/tyler/) - It's rare to meet a young person who’s fired up about the state of Iowa—one so interested in exploring it, absorbing it, and sharing it that he’d commit himself to an athletic Iowan quest that will consume years of his life. Every Saturday, and sometimes even weekdays after work, 37-year-old Tyler Sullivan launches himself into
- [Billy Joel: The Good & the Bad, the Highs & the Lows](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/30/billy-joel/) - “He’s never comfortable in a room until he sees a piano.” —A fond observation about Billy Joel from lighting designer Steve Cohen This has been a bumper year for bio-documentaries, and one of the most memorable is Billy Joel: And So It Goes, a five-hour tour through the life and career of the accomplished recording
- [A Fictional Crime Family: Lou Berney's Epic New Novel, "Crooks"](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/03/lou-berney/) - Crime is the family business for the Mercurios in Lou Berney’s new novel, Crooks. The book starts with an origin story—how Buddy and Lillian found each other, fell in love, got married, and, ultimately, tried to double cross one another—and then follows each of their five children one at time. The episodic narrative follows the
- [The History of a Fiasco: A Fiery First Run for the Great State History Play](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/09/the-history-of-a-fiasco/) - The following account is true. The events rolled out like a bad dream, in spite of my best intentions. In the summer of 1995, I received a grant from the Iowa Arts Council to create a history play for elementary schools as part of Iowa’s 150th statehood celebration. I had never written or directed
- [Symmetry Music Festival: A Magical Electronic Music Gathering](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/04/symmetry/) - Now in its second year, the Symmetry Music and Arts Festival is poised to be an even greater success than in 2024—its inaugural year, when it pulled in over 900 festival attendees from across the US, and all over the world. Held at an outdoor venue outside of Libertyville, Symmetry is a three-day celebration of
- [A Toasty Autumn Playlist: Tunes for Shorter Days and Shifting Seasons](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/09/fringe-toast-autumn-playlist/) - After months of searching off the beaten path for musical gems, I’ve distilled this 13-song, 52-minute playlist that includes tunes from alternative, singer-songwriter, house, folk, indie pop, and world categories. The order follows the sequence that I would play it if it were on my Fringe Toast radio show. To listen to full free tracks,
- [Imperfect Recordings? Try Workarounds for Minimizing the Flaws](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/15/recordings/) - One of the toughest things audiophiles must face is the reality that some of their favorite music hasn’t been recorded perfectly. If you are used to listening to beautifully executed modern recordings, many of the great old tunes sound pretty rough in comparison. Recently, my designer friend and I have been experimenting with replacing his
- [Give AI Animation a Whirl: Free Tools Generate Astounding Results](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/28/ai-2/) - It’s happened again. You’d think that after many years of writing this column I would stop being astonished. Not so. A free artificial intelligence tool for creating animation absolutely delighted me. My prompt was this: “This video should be in the style of a cartoon. An automobile races down a country road toward the viewer.
- [A Resounding Success: The Iowa City Songwriters Festival](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/08/songwriting/) - The first-ever Iowa City Songwriters Festival (September 4-6) was something worth singing about. The event brought together nationally known artists such as Jeff Tweedy and Joy Oladokun with local musicians like Dave Moore and Deb Talan and up-and-coming songwriters including Ken Pomeroy and Margo Cilker to celebrate the craft of songwriting through thoughtful talks and
- [Iowa City Songwriters Festival: A Closeup Look at the Craft](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/23/songwriters/) - The Iowa City Songwriters Festival (ICSF), an intimate three-day music festival centered around the craft of songwriting, premieres September 4–6 at the Englert Theatre and other small venues in downtown Iowa City. Showcasing world-class songwriters through cozy performances, the festival has a stellar lineup that includes Jeff Tweedy, Courtney Marie Andrews, Loudon Wainwright III, and
- [It's Card Sign-Up Month at the Fairfield Public Library](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/04/library/) - It's National Library Card Sign-Up Month at the Fairfield Public Library! A library card opens up a world of possibilities, from books and the countless real and fantastical worlds within their pages, to reference materials, internet and databases, tech support, job resources, movie rentals and streaming services, story times, book clubs, free classes and workshops,
- [Butterflies in the Garden: Let's Bring Them Back!](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/04/butterflies-2/) - Beyond their striking beauty, there are many reasons to shine some respect and awe in the direction of butterflies. For one, how many of us know their role in maintaining the health of our planet’s ecosystems? The butterfly’s presence on sunny days is not only proof of nature’s aesthetic imagination, but also evidence that an
- [The National Debt: How Do We Make Sense of $37 Trillion?](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/04/national-debt/) - “Ronald Reagan proved that deficits don’t matter.” —Dick Cheney, American businessman and former U.S. Vice President The debt crisis could cause an “economic heart attack.” —Ray Dalio, founder and former CEO of Bridgewater “It doesn’t mean a short-term crisis, but it does mean we’re going to be poorer in the long term.” —David Kelly, chief
- [Photographs by Hal Masover at Freeform Gallery Opens Sept. 5](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/03/masover/) - Freeform Art Gallery at 58 N. Second St. is showing a new exhibition of photographs by Hal Masover, with an opening reception during First Fridays night on September 5. The show continues through September 27. “My love affair with photography began in 1972 on the island of Majorca, when I first held a borrowed Pentax
- [Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/09/03/jaws-50/) - “There is no terror in the bang, only the anticipation of it.” —Alfred Hitchcock, whom Steven Spielberg studied to master suspense You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” This utterance from the 1975 mega-movie Jaws, starring Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, and Richard Dreyfuss, became one of cinema’s most quotable lines. When Chief of Police Martin Brody
- [Enjoy Harvest Flavors at Fairfield First Fridays on September 5](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/29/local-flavors/) - A vibrant celebration of local food, delectable flavors, and convivial community hits the Fairfield square on Friday, September 5, 6-10 p.m., for Fairfield First Fridays' Harvest Celebration. This special night will shine a spotlight on Southeast Iowa’s rich agricultural roots. Local restaurants and vendors will be serving up dishes made with ingredients grown and produced
- [Iowa's REAP Program: DOGE Can't Touch This!](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/26/reap/) - Have you ever driven behind someone with goldfinch license plates and wondered what they meant? You may have seen that same goldfinch on a REAP sign while walking on a path in Jefferson County Park or the Fairfield Loop Trail. Whether that sign piqued your curiosity or not, I’m here to explain this mysterious government
- [Singing Together Is Good For You: Join the Southeast Iowa Chamber Singers](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/20/choral/) - Community choirs are one of the simplest, most joyful means available to turn strangers into neighbors. These choirs lift moods, tune bodies into a shared rhythm, and give every participant a front-row seat to the miracle of harmony. As composer John Rutter says, “Choral singing is not a frill—it’s the heart of our humanity." Walk into a
- [EV Tax Credits Are Ending: Act Now Before They Disappear](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/25/ev-credits/) - The Trump administration is prematurely halting important tax incentives for clean energy purchases. If you were thinking about reducing your fossil fuel impact and taking advantage of the tax savings, it’s time to move right now. New electric vehicles (EVs) can generate a $7,500 tax credit. Used EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) can qualify for
- [Lilly Hiatt: Music That Looks Back While Forging Ahead](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/11/lilly-hiatt/) - Lilly Hiatt wrote her first song when she was just nine years old. It was about a weeping willow tree. She still remembers the words and melody. “I’ve always loved the way the willow trees looked and found comfort being around them,” she said over the telephone from her Tennessee home. “They grow near water,
- [Hinterland 2025: Artists Groove on "Iowa Nice" Vibe](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/07/hinterland-2025/) - Hinterland did not just grow this year—it exploded. The festival grounds in St. Charles, Iowa, tripled in size, stretching over 1 million square feet and 250 acres, with more of everything: water stations, shade, camping, parking, and creature comforts. But the real headline at the August 1–3 event was . . . well, the headliners.
- [Southeast Iowa Art & Book Fair Celebrates Regional Talent](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/11/art-book-fair/) - A vibrant celebration of creativity is coming to Fairfield this month. The first annual Southeast Iowa Art and Book Fair will be held on Saturday, August 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. Admission is free and open to the public. This inaugural event brings together over two
- [Fringe Toast Summer Song List for Beachy Days & Dreamy Nights](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/09/summer-songs-2/) - This 13-song playlist of tracks released in the past few years will stir your heart in wonderful ways. The artist leading the list, Texas singer-songwriter Kacey Musgraves, is a seven-time Grammy Award winner. I recently watched the recording of her Apple Music Live set, where she performed with a variety of world-class musicians. She won
- [Lee Cole: What Happens When You Get What You Want?](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/11/lee-cole/) - In late June, a few hours ahead of his reading at Prairie Lights Books, I met Lee Cole over coffee in Iowa City. He was in town—back in town, really—to promote his new novel, Fulfillment, which tells the story of a dysfunctional family in which each member desperately wants something they can’t quite have. It’s
- [Wild Shoes & Curious Cats: Six Exhibitions to See Now at the Figge Art Museum](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/10/figge/) - Overlooking the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport, the Figge Art Museum is dedicated to bringing art and people together. The building itself is a wonder of architectural design—its sleek lines, lustrous green glass façade, and arresting interior spaces create an artistic haven along the riverfront. With 17 to 23 rotating exhibitions on view every year,
- [Soul-Soothing Documentaries to Screen](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/01/three-flicks/) - These three documentaries—The Quilters, My Heroes Were Cowboys, and My Mom Jayne—promise to entertain and make you feel good about humanity. The Quilters These days, prisons offer imaginative programs that make use of the inmates’ time while developing their skills, which sometimes offers unexpected benefits. A Sing Sing prison program teaches acting classes with opportunities
- [Necessities Mercantile: Brewing Up a Place to Gather](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/01/necessities/) - On day two of distributing bundles of The Iowa Source a few months ago, I decided to take “the scenic route” from Ottumwa down to Van Buren County, cutting in toward the Des Moines River on Route 16. The two-lane highway shoots down a tree-lined hill and swoops east right into the heart of Eldon,
- [Mississippi River Towns: Musings Along the Big Muddy](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/06/mississippi/) - Like many Americans, I grew up reading Mark Twain’s stories about Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. The Mississippi River figures prominently in these novels, and it has always been a comforting presence in my life. To me, the river embodies infinite strength and calm, the backbone of a nation that, in the words of Winston
- [Two Views of AI: Trump Versus the Pope](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/01/ai-revolution/) - President Trump has promoted a bill that would disallow states from regulating artificial intelligence for the next 10 years. Pope Leo, on the other hand, views today’s AI wave as a new and disruptive industrial revolution that requires regulation in order to defend dignity, justice, and labor rights. In other words, their views represent an
- [The Rich Get Richer: And Everyone Else Pays More](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/08/01/the-rich/) - After the inauguration, Donald Trump said we would be entering a new golden age. He didn’t explain why he thought that. So it left us to wonder what would cause it to be a golden age. My mind immediately went to the Gilded Age, a time in American history when fortunes were made and conspicuous
- [Plastic Free July: How to Change Your Single-Use Plastic Habit](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/01/plastic-free/) - Please join the Southeast Iowa Sierra Club, TerraCycle, and the Sustainable Living Coalition—along with an estimated 100 million participants in 190 countries—in reducing our reliance on single-use plastics during Plastic Free July, and beyond. So, what’s the problem? Plastic has many valuable uses in our daily lives. In fact, I would wager to say that
- [Robert Hoerlein's "Works on Paper" Opens August 1 at ICON Gallery](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/30/hoerlein/) - A new exhibition, Robert Hoerlein: Works on Paper 2019–2025 opens at ICON Gallery on Fairfield First Fridays night, August 1, 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. It’s the first showing of new work by Robert Hoerlein in Fairfield in over a decade. Hoerlein was a resident of Fairfield for 25 years, and now resides in Santa Fe,
- [Firefly Resurgence: The Comeback Story of A Beloved Bug](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/24/fireflies/) - If you’ve noticed more twinkling lights in Iowa over the summer, you’re not alone! Many Iowans have reported an increase in firefly sightings this year compared to the past few. This local surge is a welcome sight, especially given the global decline in firefly populations. The recent increase in precipitation over the last year or
- [Corruption in Government: What It Means in Your Life](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/11/corruption/) - Corruption and politics often go hand in hand around the world and throughout history. So it’s not exactly news that a politician might be corrupt. That said, despite some extreme corruption in very high office in the United States over the years, we have enjoyed a reputation as one of the less corrupt nations. As
- [Is Your AI Chatbot Hallucinating on You? What a Tool!](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/01/ai-delusions/) - Knowing my enthusiasm for AI, an attorney friend emailed me a link to a May 2025 New York Times article reporting on the tendency of a new artificial intelligence tool to fabricate—to simply make things up. Experts found that this tool, a state-of-the-art prompting technique called chain-of-thought reasoning, had hallucination rates for some tasks as
- [A Win-Win-Win Story: Farmers & Conservationists Work in Tandem](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/11/win-win/) - We live in a world where agricultural needs, environmental health, and economic interests often appear to be incompatible. But sometimes it just takes a guy like Ron Blair, driving along a country road and contemplating a string of “what-ifs,” to make a difference. This is a story about how farmers, community members, and environmentalists found
- [Lizzie No: Artist Says Yes to Flexing Her Muscles](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/11/lizzie-no/) - Lizzie No is both a musician and a political activist, and she doesn’t see a difference be-tween these roles. The job of the artist is to help people see their place in the world more clearly. As a queer Black woman and a self-described communist working in the larger white folk-country-Americana field, Lizzie No understands
- [PS1 Announces More Grants for Artists from Big Field Fund](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/09/big-field/) - Applications are open for the second year of the Big Field Fund (BFF), a regional grant program for artists, supplied by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and administered by Public Space One in Iowa City. BFF offers financial support to artist-led projects that manifest new, inventive models, support under-resourced creative communities, engage
- [A Haunted Detective Takes on Edinburgh's Cold Cases in Netflix's "Dept. Q"](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/08/dept-q/) - Dept. Q (Netflix) takes us to Edinburgh, Scotland, where law enforcement is about to launch a new cold case unit that will soon be assigned to the top-notch detective that’s least likely to choose it. Enter DCI Carl Morck, played by the superb, British-born Matthew Goode. In this series, Goode is not the scrubbed, boyish
- [Jazz Photos & American Impressionists: Summer Shows at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/08/crma-3/) - The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art has mounted two exciting new exhibitions for the summer. And what’s more perfect on a hot summer day than an air-conditioned art museum? All that Jazz: Photographs by Carl Van Vechten and George T. Henry provides a visual feast for music and photography lovers, while Strokes of Genius: American
- [Meet You in Hannibal: A Diverting Rendezvous Spot on the Big River](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/11/hannibal/) - Sometimes it feels great to get outta Dodge, even if it’s just for a day. My headquarters are in Southeast Iowa, and I’ve got a good friend over in Springfield, Illinois, so about once a year he and I find a spot in between to rendezvous. It’s not like that. We’re just really good friends.
- [What a Difference a Year Makes: The Demise of Local Radio and My Re-Entry into the Arts](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/03/arts/) - I haven’t talked about it much in public, and in private only to a select few who asked or had a vested interest in knowing, but it’s the one-year anniversary of the day that Fairfield lost its local radio content, as a part of a “hack and slash” campaign by a corporate radio conglomerate that
- [Screen Time & Young Kids: What Are the Effects on Our Children?](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/07/02/screen-time/) - There’s a war going on about the use of screen time for young children. On one hand, we have child advocates who are armed with reams of research data showing the negative effects on children’s development from early exposure to screen time. Research consistently shows that screen time can negatively impact the development of the
- [Superman Summer: Vintage Books for Fans—and a New Movie](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/30/superman/) - A new Superman movie, directed by James Gunn, hits the big screen this month, and I am cautiously optimistic about it. That said, each time a new film featuring Superman comes out, it is inevitably compared to 1978’s classic Superman: The Movie, starring Christopher Reeve. I think most folks would tell you that no film
- [The Ballad of Walter Day: Documentary Screens June 29-July 1 in Fairfield](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/18/walter-day/) - A beloved figure in the gaming world, Walter Day of Fairfield is the subject of a new movie, Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day, now streaming worldwide. The founder of Twin Galaxies, an organization that tracks world records for video games and conducts electronic-gaming promotions, Day was dubbed the “Father of eSports”
- [Fairfield to Serengeti: Stillness Across Continents](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/17/serengeti/) - At six in the morning, thunderstorms rumble through Fairfield. Isabel and I sit at our computers as rain slashes against the windows. It’s our daily ritual—checking overnight WhatsApp messages from Tanzania. We’ve helped coordinate TM projects in Tanzania for many years, but messages from Penina always bring a fresh sense of urgency and hope. Penina,
- [I'm With Her: Three Equals in Harmony](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/09/im-with-her/) - I'm With Her is a folk-rock supergroup. Members Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan are all well-known and highly respected in their musical fields. Individually and collectively, they’ve won Grammy Awards, including a Best American Roots Song Grammy for I’m With Her’s 2019 single “Call My Name,” as well as a slew of other
- [Jackson Palmer Releases a New Comic Book Anthology](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/01/09/jackson-palmer/) - Back in August 2024, I walked into Daydreams Comics in Iowa City on a Wednesday morning (any regular patron of comic shops will tell you that Wednesday is new comic book day) to pick up my weekly stash of super heroics and the like. In short order, it became apparent that this was a special
- [Cedar Rock in Quasqueton: Spectacularly Sited Frank Lloyd Wright Home Above the Wapsipinicon River](https://www.iowasource.com/2012/06/04/arts2012_06_wright/) - The Walter house is open for tours Wednesday through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., May through October. Reservations are required: (319) 934-3572 or email cedar_rock@dnr.iowa.gov. In the minds of many Midwest travelers, Frank Lloyd Wright is more connected to the state of Wisconsin, but Iowa has a number of notable Wright-designed houses and buildings.
- [Why Nature Needs Our Help: The Case for Land Management](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/09/nature/) - There’s a common misconception that nature does best when left alone. It’s an appealing idea—to step back, let things grow wild, and allow nature to run its course. And once, long ago, that was largely true. Before European contact, the landscape that we now call Iowa was shaped slowly by time, weather, wildlife, and the
- [Spirits in the Trees and Other Lessons from the Back Patio](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/11/back-patio/) - The summers of my childhood were built upon expressions of wonder that rolled over fields and skittered across ponds, where “the future” didn’t exist because the present was so absorbing and delicious and deserving of one’s deepest attention. What followed it was a mystery—one to be quickly dismissed. There was grass, sky, bicycles, baseballs, TV
- [Glass, Paper, or Plastic—What Packaging Material is the Most Sustainable?](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/11/glass-paper-plastic/) - It's a hot June afternoon and you’re in a grocery store browsing the refrigerated aisle. Rows of colorful drinks pass through your eyes. Suddenly you find it—coconut water, at last! Just as you pick up the plastic bottle, you notice your favorite brand now comes in cartons, aluminum cans, and glass. You tout yourself as
- [Sam Kean: Fascinating Stories from a Best-Selling Science Writer](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/09/sam-kean/) - Lately, I’ve been working my way through the complete works of science writer Sam Kean. I first became aware of Kean while I was programming Out Loud!, an author series produced by Metro Library Network in Cedar Rapids. We presented Kean in Cedar Rapids and—in collaboration with the Iowa City Book Festival—in Iowa City in
- ["When Maharishi Came to Town"—Fairfield's Transformative History 1972-75](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/09/miu/) - Mid-America Emmy Award-winning Fair Field Productions, whose series of historical films about Fairfield have garnered both popular and critical acclaim, is premiering its latest documentary in June. The last film focused on Parsons College and won five awards at the Iowa Motion Picture Association Awards Gala. Fair Field Productions’ latest film, When Maharishi Came to
- [Ten Ways to Smile: How to Boost Your Spirits in Times of Uncertainty](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/05/13/smile/) - We are currently living in overly interesting times, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the upheaval going on in the world. Here are ten ways to boost your spirits and lift your mood in this era of uncertainty. Get Outside Spending time in nature has been scientifically shown to benefit our physical and
- [FACT Presents "Freaky Friday: A New Musical" June 12-15](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/09/freaky-friday/) - Fairfield Area Community Theatre (F.A.C.T.) is excited to present Freaky Friday: A New Musical the weekend of June 12–15 at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center. A family-friendly production based on the 1972 Mary Rodgers novel and the hit Disney films, Freaky Friday is the comedic and heartrending tale of a mother and daughter at
- [The Fiber Art & Fashion Works of Judy Bales at ICON Gallery](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/05/20/judy-bales/) - Combining a gallery exhibit with four live events, Sliding Parameters: Fiber Art and Fashion by Judy Bales features fashion creations and sculptural works by the Fairfield artist, through July 12 at ICON Gallery at 58 N. Main St. in Fairfield. Judy Bales is one of the most uniquely creative artists living in Fairfield. Having established
- [Ninety Little Days: What A Difference A Quarter Makes](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/03/ninety-little-days/) - You know what the difference between heaven and hell is? In heaven, the British are the police, the Germans are the mechanics, the French are the cooks, the Italians are the lovers, and the Swiss are the administrators. In hell, the British are the cooks, the French are the mechanics, the Germans are the police,
- ["Listen to Me!" Artist Reception with Ramin Roshandel June 6 at Freeform](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/02/listen-to-me-artist-reception-with-ramin-roshandel-june-6-at-freeform/) - Freeform Gallery, Fairfield's popular new bite-sized art space, is proud to be hosting a new exhibition of tintype photography by Iowa City artist Ramin Roshandel, Listen to Me! Showing the work through June 28 at 508 North 2nd Street, Freeform is hosting an artist reception the evening of Friday, June 5, during the town-wide Fairfield
- [Gemini Chatbot: Google's Impressive Deep Research Feature is Now Free](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/02/gemini/) - I had assumed that I was in a committed and long-term relationship with ChatGPT (ChatGPT.com). But then I tried Gemini (Gemini.Google .com). It’s not that I was looking around for a fling, but I was intent on informing you about other options. What immediately surprised and impressed me was that Gemini’s deep research feature is
- [Mac Gayden, 1941-2025: The Passing of a Music Legend](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/06/02/mac-gayden/) - On April 16, 2025, at his home in Nashville, Mac Gayden passed away at the age of 83. He and his wife Diane have many friends in Fairfield, who will surely miss his music and the couple’s gracious kindness. Over a six-decade period, Mac wrote more than 500 songs that were gifted with splendid melodies,
- [The Pitt: Superheroes of the ER](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/05/28/the-pitt-superheroes-in-the-er/) - Apologies to people who are fans of medical dramas of all kinds—I’m new to the genre and won’t be able to compare The Pitt (on HBO Max) to ER, New Amsterdam, The Resident, Chicago Med, Code Black, or even (if you are really old) Dr. Kildare. Even so, the fresh impact of The Pitt on
- [Observer: A Prescription for Seeing the World with Wonder](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/05/19/observer/) - Emmy-nominated filmmaker Ian Cheney’s newest film, Observer, is an invitation to find beauty and meaning in the most unassuming places. The 94-minute documentary premieres in Fairfield on Sunday, June 1, 3 p.m. at Cinema Fairfield, in the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. Observer follows an experiment in careful seeing. Cheney asked a dozen people who
- [Karen Russell:  Her New Historical Fiction Is Set in a Dust Bowl](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/05/20/karen-russell/) - "So, a lot of this book, you know, is engaging with some of the racist, dehumanizing attitudes that in my mind have a role to play in the environmental disaster we call the Dust Bowl,” said Karen Russell, who is passionate about the themes of her new novel, The Antidote. I talked with her via
- [Chamber Singers Present "Songs for a Better World"](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/05/20/chamber-singers-3/) - The Chamber Singers of Southeast Iowa will present “Songs for a Better World” at their annual spring concert on Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25, 7:30 p.m. at the Golden Magnolia Sanctuary, 200 South Main Street in Fairfield. This year’s program explores the universal themes of love, kindness, and praise that nourish our lives,
- [The Job of a Forester: Big Picture Beautiful](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/05/14/the-job-of-a-forester/) - The general consensus on trees is that they inspire great fondness, respect, and gratitude. I share those sentiments so much that I decided to pursue forestry as my career path, aspiring to conserve and protect the forests that I love. To my surprise, I quickly learned that being a forester often means wielding a chainsaw
- [The Lazy Show: Fred Gratzon's Musical-Comedy Leap into the Unknown](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/28/lazy-show/) - Fred Gratzon is an ideas guy. Entrepreneur and founder of two Iowa companies that took off like rockets back in their day—The Great Midwestern Ice Cream Company and TeleGroup—Fred is also one of the funniest fellas I know. We connected at a writers’ event a few years ago and he spilled the beans about a
- [Jackie Venson: Outspoken Blues Songstress Mixes It Up](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/05/02/jackie-venson/) - Jackie Venson was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and still lives there. Her music incorporates many of the diverse genres (blues, soul, rock, hip-hop, electronica) that have found a home in the “Live Music Capital of the World,” as the town’s official slogan proclaims. She said the Midwest is more responsible for the growth
- [Posture Perfect: Get to the Root Cause of Back & Neck Issues](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/05/06/posture/) - If you live in America, you are more likely to get back pain than a divorce (although in some cases, the two may be related). Our chances of getting low back pain are between 60 and 90 percent, depending on variables in lifestyle. Approximately 619 million people worldwide suffer from back pain, and that number
- [Economic Roadblocks: No One Likes a Traffic Jam](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/29/roadblock/) - Imagine the U.S. economy as a massive highway system with businesses, investors, and consumers all driving toward their desired financial destinations. For decades, traffic has flowed rather smoothly. The system has had its fair share of accidents over the years, as would be expected with a massive highway system. A fender-bender here and there, and
- [Iowa's Wildest Classroom: Outdoor Opportunities for Kids](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/22/wild-classroom/) - To grow up in Iowa is to be intertwined with nature. We are raised in tune with the seasons—hyper aware of when the leaves change, corn grows, and our parents demand we shovel the driveway for the umpteenth time. Despite having among the fewest acres of publicly available parks, Iowans recreate outdoors at a higher
- [When Things Don't Work ... Let AI Figure It Out!](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/29/fixit/) - I'm a tech guy. You’d think I wouldn’t have had any trouble using my new Eureka cordless vacuum. But the first time I went to use it, I couldn’t see how to get it to lean back. It was stuck in an upright position and didn’t have the same sort of lever my old vacuum
- [AXPONA 2025: An Audio Show Whose Time Has Come](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/29/axpona-2025/) - Attending audio and video shows has always been one of my favorite things to do. Chicago’s AXPONA show (Audio Expo North America) at the Renaissance Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois, certainly stands with the best of the best. One special feature is that it is open to the public, not just to people in the audio
- [A Simple Twist of Fate: The Night Bob Dylan Ended Up in My Lap](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/03/31/dylan/) - On November 27, 1964, Bob Dylan gave a performance at the Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco. My parents dropped me off at the concert with cab fare, the address of a party they were attending in “the City,” and careful instructions about calling a taxi after the show. I was 13 years old. Cultural Icons
- [Prairie Restoration: Construction or Reconstruction?](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/22/prairie/) - It would be interesting to pick John Deere’s mind today to see if he ever imagined that his invention would change the Iowa landscape so dramatically. Deere invented the plow in the early 1820s, and in 75 years, it altered the Iowa landscape forever. Back then, Iowa had roughly 30 million acres of prairie comprising
- [Join Lonnie Gamble on an Earth Day Walk Through 4.6 Billion Years of History](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/16/earth-day-2/) - The Southeast Iowa Sierra Club and Lonnie Gamble invite you to A Walk Through Earth's 4.6 Billion Year History on Sunday, April 27, 1-4 p.m. at Jefferson County Park. Meet at the main parking lot. Experience the wonder of all of life's interconnection, with each step representing 500,000 years of earth's history. Led by Lonnie
- [CRMA Hosts Fairfield Artists in Runway Fashion Show on April 25](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/16/fashion/) - A runway show featuring one-of-a-kind wearable art by Judy Bales, Kathleen Shrosbree, and Gyan Shrosbree will be held Friday, April 25, at 7 p.m., at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, in conjunction with the current exhibition All Dressed Up (and Down). Limited tickets for the Art in Motion benefit are still available but should
- [Easter Imposter: Woeful Tales of a Heathen in the Cabbage Patch](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/09/easter-imposter/) - My dad was raised Catholic, but by the time he hit college had given up church for Monty Python. Mom was brought up Presbyterian, but the moment she’d been told that children who hadn’t been converted to Christ were going to hell, she knew something was deeply wrong about that whole situation. Because what about
- [The Trouble with Tariffs: What's the Idea Again?](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/07/tariffs/) - “They’re an act of war, to some degree.” —Warren Buffett interviewed about tariffs on CNN “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” —Winston Churchill “I never make the same mistake twice. Instead, I make it five or six times just to be sure.” —Anonymous Big increases in tariffs have been
- [Learn About Home Health Care at April 26 Meeting](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/09/cares/) - In 2024, Fairfield Cares surveyed Jefferson County residents who have either received or assisted in home healthcare in the last five years. The response was over 300 surveys, which revealed the increasing need for a more robust solution that connects those who need help with those who wish to help. Town Hall Meeting on April
- [Seed Savers Exchange at 50: Heirloom Varieties for Today's Gardens](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/07/seed-savers/) - Iowa’s Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) is celebrating its milestone 50th anniversary this year. A community-based nonprofit famous for its huge collection of garden and food-crop heirloom seeds, SSE not only safeguards heirloom seeds for future generations, it also encourages gardeners and farmers across the world to grow and share heirloom seeds. Founded in 1975 by
- [Perplexity's Deep Research: The Next Big Thing](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/02/deep-research/) - Okay, let’s get this out of the way: this is not another column about using artificial intelligence for shopping. But it just happened that my friend Bill emailed me a shopping-related tech question on the very day that I had planned to investigate a new “deep research” feature. (People email me tech questions thinking I’m
- [The Alaskan Frontier: Stellavera Kilcher's Homesteading Childhood](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/28/alaska/) - Discovery Channel’s Alaska: The Last Frontier, the 11-season reality show that ended in 2022, garnered quite a fanbase, with millions all over the world following the exploits of the Kilcher family, homesteaders living off the land near Homer, Alaska. But what many people don’t know is that the Kilcher family has been attracting attention for
- ["Dark Winds": A Moody Mystery Set on the Navajo Reservation](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/04/01/dark-winds/) - Blending the classic Western with a thriller/crime genre staged on the Navajo reservation, Dark Winds was inspired by the crime series by Tony Hillerman, a journalist whose 35-year career produced 18 novels, starting in 1970 with The Blessing Way. While the TV series takes its own imaginative directions, it features Hillerman’s leading characters as it
- [Should I Write or Should I Sew?](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/03/31/should-i-write-or-should-i-sew/) - Mary Helen's essay accompanies her exhibit of "Bathrobes I Have Sewn" in the Po/Art/Ry show at Artifactory, 120 N. Dubuque, Iowa City. She and the other exhibiting artists will read from poems accompanying their artwork during the no-cost opening reception this Friday, April 4, 6:00-8:00 PM. The show will be open on Saturdays, 1:00-3:00, and
- [Why Kids Love Maharishi School](https://www.iowasource.com/2009/02/03/fairfield2009_02_msae/) - Carol and Paul Chesnutt-Winer lived the American dream—Paul had a good job as a business consultant, they lived near extended family, were active in their church. Their two children, Evelyn Chase, 6, and Philip, 9, attended one of Atlanta’s best schools. Yet Carol was unhappy with the tense atmosphere at the school. “The children were
- [SXSW 2025: A Recap of the Industry Event](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/03/24/sxsw-4/) - When I attended my first South by Southwest (SXSW) more than 25 years ago in Austin, Texas, the Music component was the primary draw. This year, March 7-15, judging by the number of attendees and events, Music was the least important part. During SXSW Music’s peak in the 2010s, more than 2,000 performances took place
- [Fairfield Community Garden Now Open for 2025!](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/03/24/garden-3/) - With the weather warming up, the Fairfield Community Garden is thrilled to announce the opening of the 2025 growing season. Want to be part of the community garden this year? There’s still time! To reserve a plot or find out more, please visit Fairfield-Community-Garden.org. The first membership meeting will be on Sunday, March 30, at
- [AI Picks the Best New High-Tech Toys](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/28/gadgets/) - What’s my idea of heaven? That would be the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas each January. A whole week of state-of-the-art gadgets. Can you imagine? And, no surprise, one of the highlights this year was artificial intelligence. One of these years I’ll attend, but for now I’ve asked my favorite chatbots for some
- [NCSML Unveils New Figurines in Astronomical Clock](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/03/19/orloj/) - North America’s only astronomical clock will awaken from its winter slumber at noon on Thursday, March 20, at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML) in Cedar Rapids. Twelve four-foot tall figurines depicting the stories of Czech and Slovak immigrants will rotate for spectators to view as music from influential Czech composers Bedrich
- [Fringe Toast Music's Late-Winter Playlist](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/03/06/fringe/) - This list of 12 tracks represents some of the best new releases over the past year, as well as a couple from 2022. Genres include Americana, singer-songwriter, alternative, reggae, and electronic. Special merit goes to three singer-songwriter artists—Duo Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Peter Bradley Adams, and Sarah Jarosz—who each have two tracks chosen from
- [Jazz Habit: A Tale of Two Scotts and a Jazz Jalopy](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/03/06/jazz-habit/) - I didn’t know I cared about jazz. Sure, I’d gotten caught in a “Heavenly” Harry Connick Jr. wave in the early ’90s—my teenage self swooned over his velvety voice and big-band sound—but it wasn’t until 1996, when a crew of chain-smoking college-age hipsters invited me to their poker game that jazz began to rewire my
- [Blue Light ... No Sleep? Consider Changing Your Light Bulbs for Better Rest](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/03/06/blue-light/) - First question: Do you use inexpensive LED bulbs in the lights you turn on in the evening and at night? Next question: How is your sleep going? Deep and refreshing? If so, that’s terrific—you can stop reading now. If you do have sleep issues, your LED bulbs are likely contributing to them big time. The
- [What Do Birds Eat? Replanting Your Backyard for Birds & Bugs](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/03/06/bird-food/) - Spring is on the way. Songs of cardinals and chickadees fill the morning air. Soon songbirds will be migrating through Iowa. And many will be nesting here. Bluebirds, our cultural symbol of happiness, are among the first to start. Already, bluebirds perch near my bluebird house, declaring to any potential rivals that this place is
- [Right Up Your Alley: "Pin Action" Details Shifty Characters in the World of Bowling](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/03/06/pin-action/) - When Bryan, our oldest child, who turns 28 this month, was in kindergarten, he came home one day with a flyer in his backpack. The flyer invited kids to try bowling at one of the local alleys. The fee was $4 a week and there was no upfront cost. We decided to give it a
- [Celebrate National Solar Appreciation Day at Prairiewoods on March 14](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/03/05/solar/) - Join a panel of solar experts to honor the power of the sun and its contribution to a sustainable future on Friday, March 14, at Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center, a 100-percent solar-powered facility in Hiawatha. The free event will include talks with experts about solar energy’s role in combating climate change, sun-inspired refreshments, and the
- [Landman: An Intense, Character-Driven Saga in the Oil World](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/28/landman/) - “Secure the lease, then manage the people. The first task is easy. . . . It’s the second that can get you killed.” —Billy Bob Thornton as Tommy Norris, describing his job as landman Welcome to the Permian Basin, a 75,000-square-mile “patch” through West Texas and Southeast New Mexico that has long served as
- [Drew & Ellie Holcomb: Presenting Their First Album as a Duo](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/03/03/holcomb/) - Drew and Ellie Holcomb have been married for almost 20 years and, for the most part, they have kept their musical identities separate. While Ellie began as a backup singer with Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors in 2008, she launched her own successful career as a Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) performer. She has won several
- [Business as Usual: Insights on the Strength of the U.S. Economy](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/28/business/) - O ne hundred years ago, Calvin Coolidge said that “the chief business of the American people is business,” and it’s still true today. By the time you read this, the Super Bowl will have been played and Major League Baseball teams will be in spring training. The Super Bowl has been played every year since
- [Public Space One: Creative Folks Showing Up with Awesome Ideas](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/18/ps1/) - Founded in 2002, Iowa City’s Public Space One (PS1) has become a thriving, artist-led, community-oriented art center, maintaining multidisciplinary, experimental spaces for Iowa City and Southeast Iowa. Not only does PS1 advocate for art in everyday life, it also supports artists with welcoming spaces for making art, innovative programs that stretch boundaries, and cultural resources
- [More Shopping Options: Extra Helpful Features from ChatGPT](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/03/shopping-2/) - I wasn't planning to spend $139 on an electric shaver. But I had no choice. After two years, my relationship with my cheapo Walmart Remington electric shaver just wasn’t working out. Before that, I was in a satisfying long-term relationship with a Norelco, which died after about 10 years. So I went to the Walmart
- [Ice Fishing Follies: "Guys on Ice" at Terry Trueblood](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/25/ice/) - More fun than a bucket of grubs, the musical comedy Guys on Ice promises to warm your heart with a charming slice of Midwest life. Presented by Iowa City Community Theatre, Guys on Ice opens February 28 inside the Park Lodge at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area. Long-time buddies Lloyd and Marvin spend the day in
- [Maybe Dinner. Definitely a Show.](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/01/29/dates/) - February. That month when two people are better than one under the covers. When the dinner hour is still dark enough to eat your favorite dish by candlelight. When the piece of chocolate cake you order before the show is just the right size to share. You find your cozy seats. Your fingers accidentally touch
- ["All Dressed Up (And Down)"—New Exhibition Opens at CRMA](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/18/crma-2/) - A new exhibition at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art uses artworks from the CRMA's extensive collection to shine a spotlight on clothing—what it says about the artist who highlighted it, the person who wears it, and the culture it comes from. The images in Dressed Up (And Down): Depictions of Clothing in the Collection
- [How a Small Town Became a Major TerraCycle Recycler](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/18/terracycle-3/) - It's been four years since Fairfield was dubbed the world’s first “TerraCycle Town” for its progress towards zero waste. In addition to taking part in conventional recycling, local residents (and many of you readers) have diverted 89,000 plastic products from landfills, enough to fill 10 bathtubs with solid plastic. These are thousands of everyday products
- [Rereading a Classic: Ann Patchett's "Bel Canto"](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/11/patchett/) - Fairly often, I am tempted to reread a book. Most of the time, I resist the urge. There are some notable exceptions. I have, for example, returned to Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series—a trilogy in five parts, as the marketing sometimes reads—any number of times. As regular readers of this column know,
- [Raise a Toast: Tunes About Wine Through the Decades](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/11/wine-songs/) - Every day is a holiday. Don’t believe me (or Katy Perry’s 2015 hit)—you can check for yourself. Just log on to your computer and ask what we commemorate today (or whenever). There’s always something being celebrated by someone somewhere. Most people know that February is the month of Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, and even Groundhog
- [Let's Talk About TV Speakers—You May Be Selling Your Listening Pleasure Short](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/11/tv-speakers/) - The worst speakers in our homes these days are the ones in our TVs. There, I said it. But why is this always true? The obvious problem is that today’s TVs are so skinny, it’s impossible to build a speaker cabinet that’s big enough to allow the speaker to hit any low notes. Speakers that
- [Airborne Buffalo Bill: The Iowa-Born Copycat Who Took Flight](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/04/cowdery/) - Over the years, I have often run across a photograph that is inevitably mislabeled as a portrait of William Frederick Cody, famously known as Buffalo Bill. Whenever I see it, I can’t help but do a double take: “That’s not Bill Cody,” I say to myself, “It can’t be.” Well, it does resemble him a
- [Joanie McGinnis  Show Opens at ICON Gallery](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/04/fridays/) - A show of new paintings by Fairfield artist Joanie McGinnis opens at ICON Gallery this Friday during on Fairfield First Fridays, 6:30 to 10 p.m. McGinnis’s upbeat abstract paintings appeal to a wide range of viewers. ICON Gallery Director Bill Teeple explains, “People often remark, ‘I don’t normally like abstract art, but I love Joanie’s
- ["Babylon Berlin": Lush Period Drama Captures the City's Decadent Nightlife](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/04/babylon-berlin/) - Over the centuries, the name Babylon has been used as shorthand for moral excess. We find it used again in the title of Babylon Berlin (2017–2022), a German neo-noir TV series based on the novels of Volker Kutscher. The Berlin featured in the show is not just any Berlin, but the tumultuous and free-spirited city
- [Ready for Winter Weather?](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/30/winter/) - As winter storm season hits, it pays to know how to prepare for the weather. Sure, snow and ice are picturesque, but they can be treacherous to drive in. Any kind of storm makes traveling difficult—and sometimes downright dangerous. A serious storm might even shut things down, and while a snow day can be fun,
- [The U.S. in Conflict: America's Rich History of Dissent](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/02/03/dissent/) - "Come on, people now / Smile on your brother / Everybody get together / Try to love one another right now." Lyrics from "Lets Get Together" by The Youngbloods There is a sense in this country that we have never been more divided, and that may be true, but clearly division is not a new
- [Vertical Gardening: Grow Fresh Greens Year Round](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/06/vertical-gardening/) - How can you grow a winter garden in January? Inside. In November 2022, my husband and I bought a vertical gardening system. By early January, we were eating salads, making green drinks, and mixing fresh herbs into our soups. Every day, we harvested nutrient-rich organic veggies, locally sourced from our living room. No green thumb
- [Chalamet Shines in Bob Dylan Biopic "A Complete Unknown"](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/01/16/complete-unknown/) - “Our intention is not to explain Dylan. If anything, it’s to create even more questions.” —Steven Jenkins, director of the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma A memorable lyric from his 1965 recording “Like a Rolling Stone” anoints this Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. Compliments of cowriter and director extraordinaire James Mangold, the guided
- [Jeremie Albino: Giving the Folks a Good Time](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/01/21/jeremie-albino-giving-the-folks-a-good-time/) - Historians consider Texan Lightnin’ Hopkins as the most significant country blues musician of his generation. Artists as different and important as Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix have cited Hopkins’s style of guitar playing and singing as seminal to the development of their own work. The influence Hopkins has had on the genre has been
- [Lucinda's Oak: Rescuing a Degraded Ecosystem](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/01/21/lucindas-oak/) - I am fortunate to have a stately white oak on my property that is probably about 170 years old. It was a sapling when my grandmother’s grandmother Lucinda was a child in Keokuk, Iowa, in the 1850s. My grandmother told me that her grandmother had fond memories of growing up in Southeast Iowa, and talked
- [What Now? Assessing the Possible Changes Afoot](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/01/09/what-now-assessing-the-possible-changes-afoot/) - It seems that I am never able to stray far from this statement commonly attributed to Niels Bohr: “Prediction is very difficult, especially when it pertains to the future.” But even by those standards, at this moment in time we are faced with big changes in so many variables that it’s all but impossible to
- [Cinema Fairfield: A Week of New Releases!](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/01/13/cinema-fairfield-2/) - Cinema Fairfield has packed the next week with exciting new movie releases, all shown at the Sondheim Theater in Fairfield. Tickets are just $7, with popcorn and snacks available before each show. Tonight, see the road-trip dramedy A Real Pain about two mismatched cousins (played by Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin) finding their Jewish roots
- [Empty Bowls Event on January 19: Help Combat Food Insecurity](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/01/10/empty-bowls/) - Since 2015, Maharishi School students have been hosting the Empty Bowls event, a global initiative to raise awareness and funds to combat hunger and food insecurity. Currently in Iowa, 344,550 people are facing hunger—and 110,500 of those are children. In the United States, hunger has been on the rise for the second year in a
- [Electric Cars Are Here: And You're Going to Love Them!](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/03/electric-cars/) - I recently bought a 2021 Chevy Bolt electric car, and I’m embarrassed by how much I love it. As my friend and Ecocities author Richard Register says, better cars make worse cities. Cars move the design of cities to the speed, size, and rhythm of the car rather than the speed, size, and rhythm of
- ["Juror #2": A Twisty Courtroom Drama from Clint Eastwood](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/01/09/juror2/) - “I believe that this process, as flawed as it is, is still our best chance at finding justice.” —The judge addressing the jury in Juror #2 Directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Jonathan Abrams, Juror #2 walks us through a murder trial in Savannah, Georgia, where a hot-tempered young man named James Sythe (Gabriel
- [Camino de Santiago Trail: A Healing Journey on a Pilgrimage Path](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/01/06/camino/) - When my friend David invites me to join him on a 174-mile pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago trail from Portugal to Spain, every ounce of my body, mind, and spirit says, I’m going no matter what! Perhaps the urge grips me because my 97-year-old mother is in hospice. After her death, I want to
- [Your New Shopping Buddy](https://www.iowasource.com/2025/01/02/shopping/) - Not for the first time, a coyote decided to attack one of my trail cameras. He succeeded in knocking it down and tearing the mounting strap into six pieces. So yes, these straps do sometimes need to be replaced. I decided to order some, and wondered if ChatGPT could help me shop. So I gave
- [An Interview with Thisbe Nissen: New Projects and Lessons from Unpublished Work](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/05/thisbe-nissen/) - As a general rule, these columns are dedicated to books that have been published. But when it comes to Thisbe Nissen—a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and an author I hold in the highest esteem—the projects that are in process and constantly evolving are just as fascinating as the published work. In this interview
- [Build A Stereo Package: Two Systems That Boost Your Musical Experience](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/13/stereos/) - Welcome to my 50th article of High-End Sound! I hope you have enjoyed the adventures I’ve shared and been able to apply some of the tricks that I’ve learned to make your systems look and sound more real. With over 51 years in the audio-video business, I can attest that my industry is constantly changing
- [Source Vibrations: Well-Being Abounds at the Sound Clinic](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/13/sound/) - “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.” —Nikola Tesla I was having a particularly rotten week. Anger was near the surface. And grief was bone deep. I was tempted to book a session at the local Smash Room when I remembered a new business
- [Oh, Good Gravy! Vegetarian & Vegan Recipes for the Holidays](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/11/13/good-gravy/) - I like my food touching. I want my fried eggs bathed in the maple-syrup spillover from my blueberry pancakes. I prefer that every bite of my Indian buffet be caressed by tangy yogurt raita and coriander chutney. And when I ladle out the gravy on Thanksgiving, I put it in the middle of my plate
- [Bidding for ICON Biennial Auction Ends December 18](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/10/icon/) - ICON Gallery’s Biennial Art Auction showcases over 150 generously donated artworks, viewable either online or in the gallery, with final bidding on Wednesday, December 18, at 8 p.m. Minimum bids range from $15 to $500, with many items starting at $25 to $30. The artworks range from oils, acrylics, watercolors, and pastels, to photographs, prints,
- [Great Books for Kids: These Recommended Reads Make Perfect Gifts](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/10/kids-lit/) - The holiday season is fast approaching, and Santa's helpers from Fairfield Public Library’s Youth Services staff have some of the best picks for the season. Come give them a test read before choosing your favorites for far-flung friends and family. For Littles The Bakery Dragon by Devin Elle Kurtz. Dragon lovers and carb consumers rejoice!
- [The Fairfield Loop Trail: In Praise of a Crowning Achievement](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/05/loop-trail/) - Even though it was completed over a decade ago, the beautiful public amenity called the Fairfield Loop Trail is still a marvel to me. It was built by passionate hikers and citizens of extraordinary vision who wanted to explore our city’s perimeter through a trail system and connect it to our best existing parklands and
- [Christmas Chaos! Holiday Customs That Embrace the Bizarre](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/05/christmas-chaos/) - The holidays are here. For some, this means perfectly executed family dinners and Instagram-worthy decorations. For the rest of us, it’s just a mad scramble to cram everything into a few weeks, hoping the house doesn’t burn down and everyone’s sanity holds on by at least one thread. But here’s the deal: the holidays aren’t
- [Little Superheroes Presents Jolly Cork Pop-Ups: Helping Families Through Hard Times](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/11/25/little-superheroes-jolly-cork-pop-ups-helping-families-through-hard-times/) - The Fairfield Little Superheroes Foundation (LSH) is replacing its Festival of Trees fundraiser this year with another over-the-top event. The “Jolly Cork,” an all-new pop-up bar with different weekend themes, games, food, and beverages, will be the fun place to be this month, adding to Fairfield’s downtown holiday spirit! The Jolly Cork supports the Foundation’s
- [Best Albums of 2024: Beautiful Music to Soothe Your Soul](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/05/best-of-2024/) - In the blink of an eye another year has gone by. While 2024 has been a great time for albums, physical copies of discs have been largely replaced by streaming. Below is my list of 13 of the year’s best country, rock, and pop records. I have left off platters by multimillion-selling artists such as
- [Everything in the Air: What Will Stay and What Will Change?](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/05/changes/) - When I was a little boy, I went through a phase where it was great fun to build something with my toys and then smash it. Sometimes I imagined I was Godzilla. Whatever I thought I was, it was the destruction that was so much fun. This January, our national government will have an almost
- ["Woman of the Hour": Close Encounter with "The Dating Game" Killer](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/03/woman-of-the-hour/) - “Which one of you will hurt me?” —What the makeup artist tells the bachelorette to learn about the three bachelors competing to meet her on The Dating Game Streaming on Netflix, Woman of the Hour tells the true story of Cheryl Bradshaw and her near miss encounter with 1970s serial killer Rodney Alcala on the TV
- [A Big Step: AI Starts to Reason](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/03/reason/) - In early October I had the flu, an unfamiliar experience, and Dr. ChatGPT was there with me every step of the way. I couldn’t be more grateful. Multiple times a day I’d report my temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate to ChatGPT and describe my symptoms. It would explain what was going on in my
- [Reading Railroad Presents "The Plot to Overthrow Christmas" Dec. 8 & 15](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/12/03/reading-railroad/) - What happens when the netherworld's most nefarious characters collude to overthrow earth's most joyful happening? Come find out at Reading Railroad Theater's family-friendly holiday program on December 8 and 15 in the Morning Star Studio ballroom on the east side of the Fairfield square. Reading Railroad Theater, in conjunction with Morning Star Studio, proudly presents
- [Whippoorwill Creek Farm: What Does It Mean to Eat Green?](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/31/whippoorwill/) - I’m one of those people who need to be in denial about what meat is in order to eat it. The closest I usually get to relating to the animal that’s soon to become my dinner is reading words on the package. “Grass-fed,” “free-range,” and “antibiotic free” are words that make me feel slightly better
- [Tribute Bands: Can the Copy Be Better Than the Original?](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/31/tribute-bands/) - Some months ago, I found a new band, Leonid & Friends, on YouTube. They’re composed of Ukrainian and Russian musicians, which in these times is cool in itself. What I love is that they perform the songs of the great horn bands. A ton of Chicago, Steely Dan, Tower of Power, the Ides of March,
- [The Last Wishes Program at Parkview Care Center](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/31/parkview/) - Sarah Meeker, Activities Director at Parkview Care Center in Fairfield, introduces the Last Wishes Program. Glenn Ferrel had a last wish, and that wish was visit his farm one more time. He wanted to see the crops harvested in the field, to catch sight of his home again, and to breathe in the country air
- [Fringe Toast Flashback! Ten Epic Lost Tracks, 1967-71](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/31/sixties-songs/) - Many critics cite the period from the late 1960s into the early 1970s as one of the most creative and prolific in modern music. Knowing that I have a special fascination with music from off the beaten path, a friend from my college years challenged me to create a special fringe list of obscure tracks
- [“Fridays” Short Film Premieres November 16 at the Orpheum Theatre](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/11/11/fridays-short-film-premieres-november-16-at-the-orpheum-theatre/) - If you’re a Fairfielder, you might know William Berno from his work in the healing arts as an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine and homeopathic practitioner. But Lenore Jones—Bill’s friend, former Maharishi International University theater-teaching colleague, and longtime creative collaborator—also wants Fairfield to know Bill Berno for his talents in the performing arts. “Bill is a
- [Check It Out! New Video Game Collection at the Fairfield Public Library](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/11/12/videogame/) - Fairfield Public Library has introduced a new Video Game Collection featuring titles for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation consoles, widening the library’s role as a source for arts and culture. Adults as well as youth with an account linked to a responsible adult can check out one game at a time for up to two weeks.
- [Iowa Farm Sanctuary: Rescue Stories and Celebrating Second Chances](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/05/04/iowa-farm-sanctuary-rescue-stories/) - After searching for just the right place, Jered and Shawn found a ten-acre farm in Marengo for the Iowa Farm Sanctuary. Surrounded by fields of corn, the Iowa Farm Sanctuary is nestled among rolling hills, with a small pond and plenty of space for grazing and rooting. It’s home to 28 rescued farm animals, including
- [Charmed by Butterflies: Guaranteeing their Survival with Native Plants](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/11/04/butterflies/) - People who know me know how much I love birds. I’ve got a “bird nerd” sticker on my van, I’ve added 582 birds to my “life list,” and I’ve taken vacations for the sole purpose of bird watching. I didn’t know there was anything that could distract me as much as birds. And then I
- [Fairfield First Fridays Nov. 1 "Gallery Hop" Comes Alive with Art & Music](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/30/fairfield-first-fridays-nov-1-gallery-hop-comes-alive-with-art-music/) - The Fairfield First Fridays "Gallery Hop" event on November 1, 6–9 p.m., puts fine art, creativity, and culture front and center as galleries and various venues host not-to-be-missed events across town, from fine art openings and art raffles to grand openings and great music, all indoors. Pick up a Gallery Hop passport from a participating
- [Syncing Watches: Human Time vs. Ecological Time](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/31/syncing-watches/) - How different were you ten years ago? Many of us find that life can change significantly over a decade: we experience unforeseen positive and negative events, shift priorities and goals, and possibly even develop new tastes in clothes and music. While we can clearly see how much change has occurred in the past, it turns
- [Jay Baron Nicorvo: New Memoir Reorders Pieces of the Past](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/31/nicorvo/) - When I asked Jay Baron Nicorvo’s son, Sonne, what he liked best about his dad’s memoir, Best Copy Available, he had a ready answer. “Well, for starters, the Uncle Don story. I heard the first half of this morbid tale one night at dinner, some months into quarantine. Just as it was getting good, my
- [Avoiding Frauds: Two Rules That Will Protect You](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/31/frauds/) - I love investing. If you’re one of my regular readers, you already know that. But have you stopped to think about what that statement means? It means I’m emotional about investing. In the worldwide community of in-vestment professionals, there’s a lot of talk about discipline. Humans are emotional creatures. We like to think our decisions
- [Whitham Woods: The Enduring Legacy of Daisy Whitham](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/08/daisy-whitham/) - Whitham Woods, a 130-acre natural area located just west of Fairfield, is more than just a piece of land—it is a living testament to the vision and dedication of Daisy Whitham. This sanctuary, rich in both history and natural beauty, was gifted to Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation on October 17, 1980, by Daisy Whitham, whose
- [Got Questions? Use the Right AI Tool for Answers](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/30/questions/) - I guess you know by now that I’m excited about artificial intelligence. People will often mention the topic to me when we cross paths. And I often get the same comment: “It sounds interesting but I don’t use it. What do you use it for?” People, I’m here to tell you I’m a man with
- ["My Penguin Friend": The Charming Big-Screen Version of a Real-Life Story](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/29/penguin/) - “He is not a pet. He is my friend.” —Actor Jean Reno as João Pereira de Souza, explaining his relationship with his rescued penguin As another ghoulish Halloween ends, only to be followed by a tense presidential election, nothing soothes an anxious heart like a fisherman who rescues a penguin. My Penguin Friend (not the
- [Finding the Perfect AV Fit: Tweaking Equipment Over the Years](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/29/av/) - A few years ago, one of my clients from the 1980s contacted me after earmarking his large living room for an incredible sounding audio-video system. He loved what I had assembled for him back in the late ’80s, so he called me for this new upgrade. I want to share with you his quest to
- [Music Meets Poetry: StarWound Presents a Collaborative Concert at Cafe Paradiso](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/23/starwound/) - On Friday, October 25, Cafe Paradiso welcomes sophisti-pop trio StarWound, traveling all the way from Athens, Greece, for an extraordinary 2024 tour that fuses music with poetry. StarWound's music typically blends a cabaret ambience with elements of EDM and synth-rock genres, and their lyrics speak to the philosophical and social concerns of modern society. The
- [Ghost Busting in Chicago: The Interminable Midnight Tour](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/10/25/8157/) - It was a dark and stormy night.… Well, it wasn’t stormy, but it was certainly dark as we stood on the corner of Monroe and Columbus Drive at 12 a.m. that chilly October night, our breath making mist in the air. It was the year 1998, and my roommate and I were excited to be
- [Suicide Survivor Emma Benoit to Speak in Fairfield](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/22/emma-benoit/) - At sixteen, Emma Benoit attempted to end her apparently perfect life. She was captain of the drill team, maintained a 4.0 grade point average, and came from a loving family. Emma looked like she had it all, but she had wrestled with depression and anxiety all of her life. She came home one day and
- [Refocus Film Festival 2024: Movies Through The Lens of Adaptation](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/01/refocus-2/) - Movie lovers will delight in Iowa City’s third annual Refocus Film Festival, October 17–20, centered on the art of adaptation. The festival features an international roster of over 25 films from all over the world, from early 20th-century films to contemporary masterpieces. The films encompass all genres, from documentaries and biopics to comedies, social commentary,
- [Ari Berman to Talk about Election Jitters on October 19 at Iowa City Book Festival](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/07/berman/) - Ari Berman, an award-winning journalist and book author who grew up in Fairfield, is one of dozens of authors who will be speaking during the 16th annual Iowa City Book Festival, October 13-20. Berman will be discussing his most recent book, Minority Rule: The Right-Wing Attack on the Will of the People—and the Fight to
- [Identifying Human Trafficking: Learn What You Can Do](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/15/trafficking/) - Learn how you can join the fight against human trafficking on Thursday, October 17, at an important community event, “Identifying Human Trafficking.” Hosted by the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa at 6 p.m., this event aims to raise awareness, educate the public, and foster community engagement to address this pressing issue. "It's happening everywhere," says
- [The Power of Music & Story: Noteworthy Books About Female Musicians](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/16/grrl/) - At Fairfield Public Library, we believe in the transformative power of storytelling, and few stories resonate more deeply than those of musicians who have shaped our culture with the art of song. We invite you to explore three remarkable books that capture the lives and journeys of influential female musicians: Rebel Girl by Kathleen Hanna,
- [Immersive Art Fun House: Fairfield's Fluorescent Amazement Park](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/03/fun-house/) - ENTER WITH CAUTION: The reading of this article may cause cartoon swirly eyes, nonsensical verbal outbursts, or involuntary fits of grinning. Tucked away in a nothing-special neighborhood of an odder-than-average Iowa town sits a boxy, lime-green, three-story home with an unusual sign out front. It’s not very large. You might miss it if you aren’t
- ["Sing Sing:" The Power of Theater Intervention](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/07/sing-sing/) - “What you will see here tonight is entertainment, but what I see is rehabilitation.” —Brian Fischer, Former Commissioner of NY State Department of Corrections A cast of inmates performing Shakespeare for the rest of the prison population is not the way we imagine inmates spending their days. But, in fact, an experimental theater program is
- [I'll Say It Again: Democrats Have Been Better for the Economy](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/07/economy-2/) - “It’s the economy, stupid.” —James Carville, strategist for Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign Here’s the big deal. A 2016 study by Blinder and Watson (updated this year in a publication from Harvard University) showed that since WWII, there have been ten times when a president from one party was succeeded by a president from the
- [Iowa City Book Festival October 14-20: An Exchange of Ideas](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/01/book-fest/) - The 16th annual Iowa City Book Festival, October 14-20, promises to be an exceptional experience, celebrating the power of the written word and the exchange of ideas with a full slate of readings, panel discussions, author presentations, book fairs, and more. With 50 events and collaborative programs over the course of the week, there will
- [Great New AI Freebies, Including Photo & Image Editing](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/01/ai-freebies/) - Frankly, investors are getting nervous. After pouring over $200 billion into the development of artificial intelligence systems the past two years, they’re starting to realize they may never see a return on their investment. As a result, tech stocks are starting to drop. However, the major companies continue to go full speed ahead with reckless
- [Big Changes in Medicare Part D: Goodbye Gap, Hello Cap](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/10/01/part-d/) - The Inflation Reduction Act signed into law in 2022 included funding for a wide range of programs, from more IRS agents to new infrastructure and clean energy projects. But neatly tucked into a corner of this legislation was a complete redesign of the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. To fully understand the significance
- [AmericanaFest 2024: Musical Connections](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/26/americanafest-2024/) - The Americana Music Association (AMA) celebrated its 25th anniversary this year with its annual AmericanaFest in Nashville from September 17-21. As usual, there was much discussion of the term "Americana" and how it’s defined. The word was originally coined as a way to establish a chart for records that were too country for rock radio
- [All Are Invited to the 2nd Annual ROAP Farm Harvest Festival September 28](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/11/roap/) - Maharishi International University’s Regenerative Organic Agriculture Program (ROAP) is hosting its Second Annual Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 28, 3–10 p.m. ROAP students Muna Askar and Abby Cyr planned the inaugural festival in 2023 and are looking forward to celebrating with everyone again. “Last year,” Cyr says, “I wanted to introduce people to regenerative agriculture and
- [The Love Economy: Hazel Henderson's Lasting Legacy](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/07/05/hazel-henderson/) - Today marks year two since Mapping the Green Transition began as a project of Fairfield’s Sustainable Living Coalition (SLC), and we have come a long way from where we started. Thanks to the suggestions of readers like you, we have unpacked topics in science, politics, economics, and related fields as they pertain to environmental and
- [Natural vs. Urban: Seeing Outside Ourselves](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/05/natural-v-urban/) - Even if you’ve never been to Seattle, you still might have heard about the city’s reputation for outdoor life. Attending college there, I found it impossible to ignore the stark contrast of cityscapes, ambient traffic, and daily busywork with a backdrop of mountain ranges, lakes, and forests. It felt like inhabiting two different worlds. In
- [Sustainable Solutions from Local Minds: Stratis Giannakouros to Speak at Sierra Club Meeting](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/10/sierra-club/) - On Saturday, September 21, you’re invited to learn how scientists, engineers, students, and communities are joining forces to solve some of the most complex sustainability challenges of our time. The Southeast Iowa Sierra Club is hosting a conversation with Stratis Giannakouros, Director of the UI Office of Sustainability, at the Lodge in Lake Darling State
- [100 Bullets: Graphic Novel Series on the Nature of Vengeance](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/17/100-bullets/) - I’ve been thinking about gun violence quite a bit lately, and I know I’m not alone. After all, the presidential nominee of one of our two major parties (or at least what is left of that party) was recently targeted by a gunman who ended up killing Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old volunteer firefighter, who shielded
- [JFAN Annual Meeting: "Leaving CAFOs Behind: A Family's Journey"](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/10/jfan-2/) - What does it take for a CAFO operator to transform a factory farm into a humane, independent farming operation? The Roseland family and Tanner Faaborg will share exactly how they did that at the upcoming JFAN Annual Meeting, “Leaving CAFOs Behind: Diverse Opportunities for Independent Family Farmers,” rescheduled for Wednesday, October 2, at 7:00 p.m.
- [John Moreland Performs Solo at Infinite Dream Festival](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/11/moreland/) - John Moreland will perform at Hancher Auditorium on September 25 as part of the weeklong Infinite Dream festival. Other acts include noted experimental artists such as Patti Smith (as a poet and as a musical performer with a band), Meshell Ndegeocello, Andrew Bird, Madison Cunningham, and many others. All seats are general admission, and several
- [Preserving Black History: The African American Museum of Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/09/aami/) - Cedar Rapids is the home of the only statewide museum dedicated to preserving Black history and culture: the African American Museum of Iowa (AAMI), which provides an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in Iowa’s Black heritage. Founded in 1993 by a group of individuals from Cedar Rapids’ Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, the AAMI’s mission
- [David vs. Jim: Opposing Views of Artificial Intelligence](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/08/30/opposing-views/) - I was having lunch with a friend, talking about professional tennis, when we wondered about the relative heights of tennis legends Nadal, Federer, and Djokovic. I reflexively picked up my phone and spoke the question to ChatGPT. In seconds we had the answer. When my trail cameras recently captured images of birds that I didn’t
- [The Election: It Matters Less—and More—Than You Think](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/06/election/) - “Ilsa, I’m no good at being noble, but it doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you’ll understand that.” —Humphrey Bogart as Rick in Casablanca Not long ago, I overheard someone in a crowd say, “Politics is everything.”
- [Have a Fab-Five February! Love Yourself, Honey, Reality-TV Style](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/31/fab-five/) - This year started with a whimper more than any I can recall. After the holiday hubbub, my hiney hit the couch, where it remained for an entire afternoon and evening as I imbibed every remaining Christmas cookie, fudgy chunklet, and orange-cheese popcorn kernel from the huge Christmas-puppy tin somebody re-gifted me. Eight hours later, my
- [Transformational Visions: A New Exhibition at ICON Gallery](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/04/hudson-2/) - Transformational Visions, a new exhibit opening Friday, September 6, 6:30 p.m., in the Hudson Gallery at ICON, includes a small selection of Shiva Linga paintings juxtaposed with modern abstract photographs. “We have chosen to present just a few select works of art in order to encourage viewers to spend time contemplating each of them in
- [Rebirth at Lamson Woods: A Story of Regeneration](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/04/lamson-woods/) - Iowa’s 90 state preserves were designated as such to bear witness to the outstanding biological and botanical features they possess. Many contain excellent remnants of the prairies and forests that once dominated this state. Others hold plants and animals now rare in Iowa. Recently, I tagged along with District Forester Cassidy Widner, DNR Biologist and
- [Thelma: A Granny-Scam Revenge Story](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/04/thelma/) - A topical tale seasoned with comedy makes Thelma recommended viewing, blending entertainment with the lessons of being scammed. Nonagenarian (no worries, I had to look it up too) Thelma Post (June Squibb) lives in Los Angeles near her daughter (played by Parker Posey), her son-in-law (Clark Gregg), and her cherished grandson Danny, delightfully portrayed by
- [Radiance Dairy Now Offers All A2 Milk](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/09/03/radiance/) - For most of the past decade, Radiance Dairy has been exclusively breeding all cows in the herd to bulls that are genetically tested and verified to transmit only A2 genetics to their offspring. Now, all cows at Radiance Dairy carry only A2 genetics. All A1 genetics have been eliminated from the herd. Why Does A2
- ["Rally Caps" at Cinema Fairfield: The Making of a Baseball Movie](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/08/22/rallycaps/) - As part of a special baseball-themed Labor Day weekend, Cinema Fairfield and the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center will be screening a new independent movie called Rally Caps on Friday, August 30, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, August 31, at 2 p.m. A family film set at a youth baseball camp, Rally Caps stars Oscar-nominated
- [The Upcoming Election: It Matters Less (and More) Than You Think](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/08/27/electio/) - “Ilsa, I’m no good at being noble, but it doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. Someday you’ll understand that.” —Humphrey Bogart as Rick in Casablanca Not long ago, I overheard someone in a crowd say, “Politics is
- [Midwest Caftan Living: Draping Dreams Across the Prairie](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/30/caftans/) - In the heartland of America, where the horizon stretches as far as the eye can see and the corn waves in rhythm with the wind, a quiet revolution is unfolding. In a revelation that’s shaking the very fabric of Midwestern society, women from Peoria to Des Moines have discovered the ultimate life hack: the caftan.
- [Land Stewardship: Restoration Misconceptions](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/08/01/land-stewardship/) - This inaugural Land Stewardship column by Clay Steele, Lee County Environmentalist and Outdoor Education Specialist, addresses the thorny issue of how things should look according to human aesthetics versus the reality of the restoration process. Each month, this column will feature area projects that have restoried and rejuvenated publicly owned land. If you’re a regular
- [Find My Files!  AI Now Helps Locate What's on your Computer](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/31/memory-2/) - There’s a certain irony to artificial intelligence. I can go to ChatGPT (ChatGPT.com) and quickly and seamlessly get access to all the world’s information. Whatever I want to know, ChatGPT instantly serves it up. But, ironically, I don’t have the same quick and seamless access to all the information stored on the computer sitting in
- [In Ames Again: A Wheely Great Day Among Gnomes & Giants](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/08/02/in-ames-again/) - On my way back home from a wedding in northern Iowa last month, the ideal timing for a sandwich stop put me right about at my hometown of Ames. I thought to pop in on my Uncle Sam, who still lives there with his wife, but fresh colds put the kibosh on that plan—they’d caught
- [New Season Announced at the FACC After a Record-Breaking 2023-24](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/08/02/facc/) - A New Season Announced! The FACC is thrilled to unveil its spectacular 2024-2025 performing arts season, featuring a diverse lineup of shows that promises to captivate audiences of all ages. With performances ranging from iconic rock tributes and beloved holiday classics to dynamic cultural showcases and inspiring musical acts, this season is set to be
- [Silverada: The Moonpies' New Name Comes with a Wider Range of Styles](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/08/01/silverada/) - “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” —William Shakespeare The band Silverada is best known as Mike and the Moonpies, the former name under which the group recorded and toured for some 20 years. Country music critics consider it one of the best live
- [The 87th Precinct Series: Rereading Ed McBain's Crime Fiction #18-23](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/08/02/87th-precinct/) - As faithful readers know, I am currently engaged in a project to reread the complete 87th Precinct series by Ed McBain. The series numbers over 50 books, and in August 2022 I shared my thoughts on the first three. The books came fast and furious starting in 1956. For this column, I’m picking up the
- [Managing Surprises: Thoughts on Dealing with the Unknown](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/08/01/managing-surprises/) - Many of you may not know that in addition to being a financial advisor, I am also a professional freelance photographer. When I photograph a wedding, I take two cameras, a wide variety of lenses, at least two of each kind of light, and four light stands. Wherever possible, I have at least two of
- [Remembering Gene Wilder: A Comic Genius, Gentle and Daring](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/08/01/gene-wilder/) - “If I hadn’t met Mel Brooks, I would probably be a patient in some neuropsychiatric hospital looking through the bars of a physical therapy window as I made wallets.” —Jerome Silberman, a.k.a. Gene Wilder Attention Gene Wilder fans. A warm and finely tuned documentary draws us into the personal and professional life of one of
- [American Gothic House: The Home That Art Made Famous](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/01/american-gothic/) - Nestled into the far corner of a modest neighborhood in a quiet town approaching the southeastern edges of rural Iowa lies a rather unassuming abode with an extraordinary story to tell. This 1,200-square-foot turn-of-the-century farmhouse has undoubtedly been viewed by millions around the globe, yet few would be able to precisely pinpoint it on a
- [Iowa's High Cancer Rates: Part II—A Tale of Two Counties](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/31/cancer-rates-part-2/) - For many newcomers, Iowa is an acquired taste, with its harsh winters and hot summers, muddy lakes in lieu of oceans, and flat wide spaces instead of glorious mountain vistas. But live in Iowa long enough and the poetry of the landscape slowly seeps into your soul. You begin to perceive the other Iowa, with
- [Iowa's High Cancer Rates: A Closer Look at a Growing Issue](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/08/iowa-cancer-rates/) - Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation, and it is the only state where cancer cases are rising. What gives? For more than 50 years, the Iowa Cancer Registry at the University of Iowa has tracked cancer rates in Iowa. For all that time, Iowa cancer trends tracked the national averages. That all
- [Summery Floral Sodas: Wild Fermentation at Its Best](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/06/30/floral-infusions/) - Last year, I moved from my rural home to a lovely cottage on 3rd Street in Fairfield. It was the first location that felt right after 27 years at an idyllic location where I poured my heart into manifesting an intimate connection with nature. The previous owner was an enthusiastic gardener, and as the summer
- [Matthew Sweet: A Remarkable Musician with a Sense of Fun](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/02/01/matthew-sweet/) - Matthew Sweet is one of those enigmatic legends of rock and roll. The supremely talented musician has made some of the coolest power-pop records of the past 50 years. His songs are hook filled and catchy without being overly saccharine. They rock without losing a sense of the melody on the way, like the Beatles
- [Horse-Racing Pooh-Bah: C. W. Williams and his Kite-Shaped Track](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/23/horse-racing/) - In an issue of The New York Times on February 20, 1899, there was a curious article on an unexpected visitor at a horse sale in that city. The visitor was Charles W. Williams, from Galesburg, Illinois. He was recognized by reporters as a former celebrity in the world of horse racing. It seems he
- [Backyard Chickens for City Dwellers](https://www.iowasource.com/2011/04/07/home_garden2011_04_chickens/) - “How many pets put themselves to bed at night?” Andrew Edlin asked rhetorically. He certainly knows that the answer is “just chickens,” since this Fairfield real estate agent has had hens in his backyard for 18 years. (He refers to the four who remain as “pensioners,” since they are past their laying years.) Years ago,
- [The Thirsty Word Reading Series Presents "Shorts of July" on July 18](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/12/thirsty-word-present-shorts-of-july-screenplay-shorts-ten-minute-plays-read-live/) - The Thirsty Word monthly reading series is excited to present a special program taking place on Thursday, July 18, at Cafe Paradiso, located on the northwest corner of the Fairfield town square. Titled “Shorts of July,” the evening will feature five original screenplay shorts and ten-minute plays, all written by area creative writers and performed
- [Organic Cities: Bridging Natural and Industrial Worlds](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/10/organic-cities/) - For a moment, picture a world in which industrial activities are seamlessly integrated with the natural environment. In this world, cities would sequester carbon for years, just like expansive urban forests. Buildings would heal themselves like living tissues, their windows nearly unbreakable. And plastics would decompose to nourish ecosystems, instead of sitting in landfills. Is
- [Winona Fighter: Punk for the People](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/10/winona-fighter-punk-for-the-people/) - Winona Fighter is a power punk trio from Nashville that features frontwoman Chloe Kinnon on vocals, Dan Fuson on guitar, and Austin Luther on bass. The band enjoys a reputation for high-energy shows. Whether the group performs for 20,000 people, as at their recent opening gig for the Offspring, or at a small rock club
- [Czech Village: Day Trip in a Quaint Historic Area](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/09/czech-village/) - Looking for a fun day trip in eastern Iowa? Check out Czech Village, a historic neighborhood in downtown Cedar Rapids. Home to the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library (NCSML), which was moved to the top of a hill after the devastating flood of 2008, Czech Village draws visitors with its top-quality museum, funky
- [A Conversation with Jane Smiley: Part I](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/11/jane-smiley/) - My conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley over lunch at St. Burch Tavern in downtown Iowa City began in a way appropriate to an Iowa spring. We talked about sneezing. “I love sneezing now, actually. It gives me a tingle,” Smiley said. Before the lunch, I’d been thinking back on my previous conversations with
- [Jane Smiley, Part II: A Chat About What It Means To Be Lucky](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/09/smiley2/) - George Harrison was Jane Smiley’s favorite Beatle. He came up during my lunch with the Pulitzer Prize winner because she namechecks the Traveling Wilburys—a supergroup that included Harrison—in Lucky, her most recent novel. (Last month’s column includes the first part of our conversation.) Both she and I love the Wilburys, and our shared enthusiasm for
- [Windy Goat Acres: A Glamping Getaway with a Magical Menagerie](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/04/windy-goat/) - Nestled in a verdant valley of the “Bohemian Alps” just 45 minutes west of Cedar Rapids flourishes a magical lil’ hobby farm and glamping venue called Windy Goat Acres. While I love the idea of sleeping in a tent—you’re outside, but you’re inside!—I am now of the age when an actual mattress and the ironclad
- [Are You in an Echo Chamber?](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/07/echo-chamber/) - “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” —The Wizard in The Wizard of Oz “Cold-hearted orb that rules the night, Removes the colors from our sight. Red is grey and yellow white. But we decide which is right, And which is an illusion.” —”Late Lament,” Graeme Edge of the Moody Blues In George
- [A Gentleman in Moscow: House Arrest in the Hotel Metropol](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/01/gentleman/) - “Only in Russia is poetry respected—it gets people killed.” —Osip Mandelstam, Russian poet of the 1930s Drawn from the 2016 bestselling novel by Amor Towles and now streaming on several services, A Gentleman in Moscow is a triumph in presentation for its scenery, its casting, and a highly unusual story that will satisfy a wide
- [Abstract Art and Vibrant Color to Welcome Summer at Fairfield First Fridays July 5](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/07/01/first-fridays-4/) - Several new art exhibitions around town, the continuing solar-powered lighted installation, and a dance party on the square will welcome visitors to Fairfield First Fridays on July 5, 6 to 10 p.m. Abstract Artists at ICON Gallery An opening reception for abstract work by three Iowa City artists opens at ICON Gallery, 58 N. Main
- [On Speaking Terms: Voice Conversations with a Bot](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/28/voice-conversations/) - The frontier of computers continues to be artificial intelligence, and my most astonishing recent experience has been having voice conversations with a bot. I click an icon of headphones to begin the conversation, then start speaking. The computer understands what I’m saying and responds at the appropriate times in a voice that sounds very much
- ["Fashionably Dressed" Pairs Fine Art with Ice Cream on June 30 in Muscatine](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/26/fashionable-dressed-pairs-fine-art-with-ice-cream-on-june-30-in-muscatine/) - Visitors to this year's Annual Ice Cream Social at the Muscatine Art Center are in for a real treat—and we don’t just mean the ice cream. Fashionably Dressed & Other Collections The Art Center will be opening its “Fashionably Dressed” exhibition just in time for the free annual event on June 30. This special exhibition
- [Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series Kicks off on June 27 at the FACC](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/26/free-outdoor-summer-concert-series-kicks-off-on-june-27-at-the-facc/) - Fairfield Arts & Convention Center is thrilled to present its 4th annual Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series, showcasing the diverse talent of Iowa-based bands. This exciting series promises to bring the community together for four unforgettable evenings of music, food, and fun. The concerts will take place on the street in front of Fairfield Arts
- [SILT Celebration: Land Trust Celebrates Circle Our Cities Campaign on June 21](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/06/silt-2/) - In November 2017, John Wittrig and his family in Washington County made Iowa history. They created the state’s first agricultural conservation easement that permanently protects 130 acres of their farm for sustainable food production. They did it with the help of an innovative Iowa organization—the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (SILT). SILT was created in 2014
- [William Cary Wright: Looking for Frank Lloyd Wright's Father](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/11/wright/) - When John Lloyd Wright, son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, drafted a memoir about his life with his father, he asked his father to read it and comment. John wrote to him, “If you read it and come upon shadows, remember—sunshine made them.” When I first saw that sentence, I paused at the mention of
- [Emily Nenni's "Drive & Cry": Distinctive Vocals and Confessional Lyrics](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/05/emily-nenni/) - Emily Nenni sings with a Southern twang bigger than a 25-pound largemouth bass, to use a regional expression. The East Bay, California, native now living in Nashville has embraced the sound and expressions of classic country with a strong passion. One can hear the echoes of past honky-tonk stars like Hank Williams and Kitty Wells
- [Soaring Inspiration: Biomimicry & Lessons from the Red-Tailed Hawk](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/10/hawk/) - The Red-Tailed Hawk flies high above plains dominated by prairie grasses and farm fields, gliding almost effortlessly through the skies. These awe-inspiring birds of prey excel in aerial mastery and serve as unintentional educators in the continuously developing domain of biomimicry, a method of science and design that aims to replicate nature’s strategies to address
- [Oliver! Fairfield Area Community Theatre Presents a Musical Classic at FHS June 13–16](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/04/oliver-fairfield-area-community-theatre-presents-a-musical-classic-at-fhs-june-13-16/) - Fairfield Area Community Theatre (FACT) is thrilled to share with you the budding talents of its community members in an exuberant and wickedly funny all-ages musical, Lionel Bart's Oliver!, running June 13–16 at the Micheltree, Slechta, Edgeton Auditorium at Fairfield High School. Derived from Charles Dickens’ 1938 tale of a tender orphan boy looking for
- [Keith Haring & Iowa City: An Artist's Lasting Mark on an Iowa City School](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/29/keith-haring/) - Legendary artist and openly gay activist Keith Haring (1958–1990) is the subject of a new exhibition opening this month in Iowa City. To My Friends at Horn: Keith Haring and Iowa City debuts at the Stanley Museum of Art on Saturday, May 4. Highlighting Haring’s little-known connection to Iowa, the exhibition was deliberately scheduled to
- [Emotional Investing: Don't Let Your Cognitive Biases Get the Best of You](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/05/investing/) - I lived in Los Angeles for almost ten years. I’ve seen my fair share of bumper-to-bumper traffic, fender benders, and reckless drivers. The worst encounter was when someone would cut me off trying to exit the freeway at the last second. It’s not only frustrating—it’s dangerous. The late, great comedian George Carlin used to say,
- [Solving Real Crimes in Netflix's "Homicide: New York"](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/04/homicide/) - You don’t need to be a fan of Law & Order or its many spinoffs to appreciate creator Dick Wolf’s new documentary, Homicide: New York. His five-episode series features the real NYPD, members of law enforcement, some with colorful personalities, who spent decades solving New York City crimes. Beyond the many precincts of the NYPD,
- [AI Deepfakes: Voice Cloning and Phony Videos](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/06/03/ai-deepfakes/) - You’ve maybe read about some of the voice-cloning scams. Criminals can take just a few sentences of someone’s voice, perhaps from a TikTok video, and use artificial intelligence to clone it to say anything they want. In one case, they recorded a boy’s voice from social media and then called his grandparents. The scammer claimed
- [Open Air Media Festival: Two Nights of Outdoor Art In Iowa City](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/28/open-air/) - The 5th annual Open Air Media Festival (OAMF), presented in collaboration with Public Space One, is back for its fifth year, bringing two nights of outdoor installations, performances, and video art to downtown Iowa City. The artwork showcased in this year’s festival includes animation, AI, sculpture, augmented reality, sound, and projection mapping, and explores themes
- [Tunisian Luncheon Benefit for Golden Magnolia Sanctuary](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/28/benefit/) - A group of talented volunteers and dedicated businesses have come together to create a tasty Tunisian lunch to raise funds for Golden Magnolia Sanctuary and support its efforts to reduce food insecurity in Jefferson County. The meal will be held on Monday, June 10, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at Golden Magnolia Sanctuary, 200 S. Main St.
- [Robbie Fulks: Master of the Alt-Country Scene Branches Out](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/28/robbie-fulks/) - Robbie Fulks is a true country renaissance artist. During the past 30 years, the singer-songwriter and virtuoso instrumentalist has released 16 excellent records in a variety of styles, from neo-traditionalist to honky-tonk, rockabilly, insurgent country, bluegrass, classic C&W, hillbilly, Western swing, mainstream, old-time classics, and everything in between (or even at the fringes). He’s also
- [Pioneer Days at Bonnifield Cabin: A Rare Glimpse of Pioneering Life](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/14/bonnfield/) - Bonnifield Cabin in Waterworks Park, Fairfield, a relic of pioneering life Step back in time for the inaugural Pioneer Days & Crafter Show, a unique blend of history, family fun, and community spirit set against the backdrop of Iowa’s oldest two-story log house. the Bonnifield Cabin. This one-day event, on Saturday, May 18, from 9–5
- [Just You and the Muse: The Artist Date—Making Time for Inspiration](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/02/artist-dates/) - Remember last January when I told you all to get off the couch and go explore some of Iowa’s wintertime offerings? Hilarious! The article I should have written was “What To Do When the Blizzards Hit & You Can’t Make It Down Your Own Damn Driveway.” God willing, by the time you read this, the
- [2024 Maharishi School Raffle: Win One of Five Grand Prizes](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/03/2raffle/) - For the past four years, Maharishi School has hosted a Spring Raffle, bringing in several hundred participants from not only Fairfield, but around the country, especially alumni. This annual tradition, now in its fourth year, promises to offer exciting Grand Prizes, as well as an online Gala Event. Raffle tickets are being sold online at
- [The Divestor's Dilemma: Does Shareholder Activism Aid a Sustainable Economy?](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/09/activism/) - From universities and investment firms to faith organizations and national governments, institutions around the world are divesting, a practice whereby investors avoid ownership of companies that don’t align with their ethical standards. To date, this movement has mobilized over $40 trillion and comprises 1,615 major proponents,1 including universities like Harvard and Oxford, the state government
- [Vibrational Sound Bath Concert: May 10 at Golden Magnolia Sanctuary](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/02/sound-bath/) - Join Joetta Lashway, Joshua Rector, and Tim Britton for a magical evening of healing sounds using gongs, Tibetan & crystal bowls, didgeridoos, flutes, and therapy harps on Friday, May 10, 7:30 p.m., at Golden Magnolia Sanctuary, 200 S. Main St., Fairfield. The event is a fundraiser for Golden Magnolia to help support their wonderful services
- [Sara Paretsky: Acclaimed Author Releases New V.I. Warshawski Mystery](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/07/sara-paretsky/) - Novelist Sara Paretsky—who pushed the female-led detective novel forward with the introduction of her detective V.I. Warshawski in 1982’s Indemnity Only—was born in Ames, Iowa, and raised in Lawrence, Kansas. While most of Warshawski’s adventures are set in Chicago (where Paretsky has long lived), the newest, Pay Dirt, finds her in Lawrence, where one mysterious
- [The Beautiful Game: A Story Inspired by the Homeless World Cup](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/06/beautiful-game/) - Director Thea Sharrock and writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce offer this gentle film inspired by an annual soccer event born in 1999 that most of us have never heard of. The Beautiful Game is a fictional adventure based on a real tournament that draws teams from almost 70 countries. And the film’s title is the worldwide nickname
- [Spring's Awakening: Seasonal Inspiration from the Celtic Calendar](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/02/celtic/) - Spring has sprung, and it’s a good time to stop, drop, and celebrate the great outdoors! Throughout history, changing seasons have affected human behavior, and celebrating these transitions spans myriad cultures, from Greek and Roman to Nordic and Celtic. Many holidays now celebrated in the United States share roots in these earliest cultures. In ancient
- [Political-Economic Review: Part 2](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/05/01/review2/) - Last month we looked at the economic record of the two major political parties. If you missed it, don’t worry. This article does not require having read the first one. But to recap last month, in the last 100 years, Republicans have held the White House for 48 years and Democrats for 52. There have
- [Chicken Joke Competition: Seinfeld vs. Trump vs. Biden](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/30/chicken-joke/) - It is, of course, a matter of extreme urgency to know why the chicken crossed the road. And who better to answer that question than the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT (Chat.openai.com)? Of course, we must also acknowledge there can be different views on this matter, which ChatGPT can also assist with. How would, for example,
- [Fairfield First Fridays: New Gallery Shows Open May 3](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/29/first-fridays-3/) - On Friday, May 3, welcome the beautiful month of May with a stroll around the Fairfield square—and beyond—for new gallery shows and live music, 6:30-9:30 p.m.. Cafe Paradiso welcomes back its First Friday (ir)regulars, Apocalypso Tantric Noise Choir, a.k.a. James Moore and David and Eric Hurlin on bass, drums, and keys. The concert is by
- [Fab Lab, Iowa City: A Makerspace That's More Than Just Machines](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/05/fablab/) - This past December, I caught the crafting bug and ended up spending a couple afternoons in the “Sew Awesome” makerspace on the MIU campus in Fairfield, whipping up some handmade Christmas gifts—specifically, reusable two-ply flannel cleaning rags meant to replace paper towels. The project was so satisfying, so affordable, and so good for my mental
- [Rescuing Rudy: Love Lessons from a Livestock Animal](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/30/rescuing-rudy/) - Lisa Santiago loves animals … and they know it. Furry and not so furry, wild and not so wild, creatures in need crawl out from burr-covered bushes to find this woman. Sometimes battered, often abandoned, they will occasionally even announce themselves by leaping into her arms. And Lisa says yes, I will help you. The
- [Substack Treasures: Three Gems from Iowa Authors](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/16/substack/) - Are you a Substack reader? Substack.com is a place where writers of all sorts can publish their own writing. No matter what you are interested in, there is almost certainly someone using Substack to publish their thoughts about it. Some writers give readers free access to their content; others charge for a subscription (though most
- [Spring Playlist: Music for New Growth & Renewal](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/15/spring/) - As the world wakes up to spring, many people seek new music to feed their souls. I am pleased to share ten very special songs collected over the past few months that were released in 2023 or 2024. Genres include singer-songwriter, dance, house, electronic, and electronica. Contributing artists hail from Canada, Korea, New Zealand, Belarus,
- [DIY Inspiration: Tips for Tackling Projects Without Getting In Over Your Head](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/09/diy/) - Have you been thinking about stepping into the world of do-it-yourself home improvement projects but don’t know where to start? Check out these tips before embarking on your next project. Pick a Project The first thing you’ll need is an idea for your project. To help narrow it down, identify an area in your home
- [Mission Creek Festival 2024: Another Year of Fabulous Performers](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/03/05/mission-creek-2/) - Iowa City’s Mission Creek Festival celebrates its 19th anniversary with an adventurous lineup of music, literature, and community events from April 4–6. Highlights will include performances by Kentucky singer-songwriter S.G. Goodman, the recent winner of the Americana Music Association award for Emerging Act of the Year; multi-prizewinning poet and professor Hadara Bar-Nadav, the recipient of
- [Maharishi Preschool: Teaching Wisdom for Young Minds](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/08/preschool/) - by Laura Bordow Maharishi Preschool, a one-of-a-kind consciousness-based school in Fairfield, has been providing care for young children from across the globe since 1985. Three cozy indoor classrooms and an inviting outdoor space foster warmth, security, and a loving approach to early childhood education. Meet the New Teacher We welcome our newest teacher, Eniko Reeder,
- [Let's Fix This! Local Solutions through Circular Thinking: The Resilient Community Challenge](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/04/circular/) - On April 20, the Southeast Iowa Sierra Club is hosting a new type of Earth Day festival called the Resilient Community Challenge. Events will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, with workshops, demonstrations, and panels to explore all scales of circular solutions, from global to local
- [Who's Better for the Economy? Hal's Quadrennial Political-Economic Review](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/05/economy/) - Sometime in high school, my parents told me that there were two topics that you should never discuss in polite company: religion and politics. And while I adopted that maxim as a behavioral strategy, I didn’t really understand why until relatively recently. In both subjects, people hold very strong beliefs, often without rationale, and are
- [Mira's Cafe: Plant-Based Fusion Fare with an Indian-Asian Focus](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/04/miras-cafe/) - Mira’s Cafe, opened by husband and wife team Rahul and Pia Bharadwaj in Fairfield, offers an exciting array of fusion cuisine, drawing inspiration from traditional Indian-Asian fare, as well as flavors from all over the world. The Bharadwajs are widely traveled Indian immigrants who came to the U.S. 20 years ago. Tired of big city
- [Fairfield First Fridays: Watercolors at Wege Gallery and New Shows at ICON and FAA](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/02/first-fridays-2/) - Fairfield's monthly First Friday event brings several new exhibitions to the Fairfield square, plus the last chance to purchase watercolors by Edwin Schwartz at the MIU Wege Gallery, on Friday, April 5, 5:30=8:30 p.m. A closing exhibition for over 100 watercolors by artist and architect Edwin Schwartz will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Wege
- [Three Free Chatbots: Is Googling a Thing of the Past?](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/02/chatbots/) - The year was 1998 and the major search engines were AltaVista, Lycos, and Yahoo. Their ability to do a full-text search on the internet’s many web pages was amazing. Then Google came along. I wrote a column about it, and many people thanked me and said it was now the only search engine they used.
- [Tokyo Vice, Season 2: Culture Clash and Crime in a Faraway Land](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/02/tokyo-vice/) - The 2009 memoir by Missouri-born journalist Jake Adelstein, An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan, inspired the adventurous TV series Tokyo Vice. Now streaming Season 2 on HBO Max, Tokyo Vice showcases three cultures. The first is the native Tokyo population of over 35 million. The second is the Americans living and working
- [SXSW 2024: Musical Magic Amidst Crowds & Controversy](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/01/sxsw-3/) - Problems with the 2024 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference started before the event began. The festival had serious financial issues exacerbated by having to close suddenly in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic. In 2021, the original owners sold half of the company to Penske Media Corporation (PMC) to help offset debts. PMC in turn
- [Fairfield Community Garden: A Source of Pride & Fresh Food for Everyone](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/04/01/garden-2/) - Interest in community gardens has surged in recent years around the world—and not just in urban areas. In Fairfield, a once-forgotten space near O.B. Nelson Park has been transformed into the Fairfield Community Garden, a fresh opportunity for growth and future development. Community gardens provide plots of land for people to grow edibles for themselves
- [Recycling Primer: Where To Take Your Recyclables in the Fairfield Area](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/03/26/recyclables/) - Want to recycle, but not sure what can be recycled or where to take them? We’ve got you covered with a comprehensive rundown of recycling options in Fairfield and the surrounding area. City Recycling In partnership with Waste Management of Iowa, the city offers curbside recycling to city residents every other week, on the same
- ["Ravenous" at Cedar Rapids Museum of Art: Feast on Food Art](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/02/02/ravenous/) - Ravenous, a new show at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, has gathered a buffet of food-themed artworks that show there's more to edibles than meets the eye. Food is nourishment, a sensual pleasure, and a cultural lightning rod. Curator Julia Jessen has gathered works from the museum's permanent collection to show how these layers
- [Aldo Leopold's Legacy: Celebrating 100 Years of Designated Wilderness](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/03/07/aldo-leopold/) - This year marks two notable anniversaries in environmental conservation that are the direct result of the work of Iowa-born scientist and ecologist Aldo Leopold (1887-1948). One hundred years ago, at Leopold's urging, the U.S. Forest Service approved the Gila Wilderness Area as the world’s first designated wilderness. And 75 years ago, Oxford University Press published
- [Wanna Buy Me A Tesla? Electric Vehicles Are Cool Gadgets](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/02/28/ev/) - Someone asked me recently if I drove an electric vehicle. I chuckled—thinking to myself that I’d love to have one, but it’s out of reach on a retiree’s income. Then it occurred to me that I could use GoFundMe to raise the money. All of you could contribute to my new Tesla. Just kidding. But
- [Ralph Waldo Emerson in Iowa: When the Popular Essayist Walked on Water](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/03/06/emerson/) - In the Iowa town where I grew up, the city’s public schools were called Washington, Emerson, Lincoln, and Hawthorne. Indeed, throughout the country, it was common for public schools to be named in honor of these individuals. I attended Emerson School for five years, from kindergarten through fourth grade, then spent two years at Washington
- [Oscars 2024 by the Numbers: Barbenheimer Boosts the Film Industry](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/02/29/oscars/) - Hollywood’s glam-heavy awards night begins an hour earlier this year at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 10 (live or streaming on ABC). The 2024 Oscars come on the heels of the movie industry’s best year since before the pandemic, in part due to the wildly successful Barbenheimer (the simultaneous theatrical release of Barbie and Oppenheimer),
- [Hazel and Grey: Beautiful, Useful Sustainable Home Goods](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/03/05/hazel-and-grey-beautiful-sustainable-home-goods/) - If you’re looking for sustainable shopping options outside of the internet, Fairfield’s Hazel and Grey is an excellent resource. Founded by Jenn Rich in 2018, the home goods shop is focused on providing reusable products and alternatives to plastic. The beautifully curated space has everything from sturdy wooden cleaning brushes and cloth napkins to reusable
- [The Rights of Nature: What Are the Ground Rules for Sustainable Societies?](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/03/05/rights/) - In 2017, several rivers sought and gained personhood. If you had to reread that last sentence, be assured that your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The Ganga and Yamuna rivers in India as well as the Whanganui River in New Zealand now effectively have the same legal rights as human beings, and could even in principle
- [Growing Debt: National Crisis or No Big Deal?](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/03/05/debt/) - In the 1980s, I was a real estate entrepreneur. I bought apartment buildings in need of attention, fixed them up, and in a few years sold the buildings at a profit. In 1982, I purchased my biggest ever building, a 90-unit apartment building in West Philadelphia. It was in need of a great deal of
- [Baseball Books: A High-Velocity Spring Lineup](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/03/05/baseball-books-2/) - When the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres take to the field in Seoul, South Korea, on March 20, the 2024 Major League Baseball season will be officially underway. The more traditional Opening Day is set for March 28, the date when all 30 MLB clubs will be in action. That makes late
- [Heather Gudenkauf To Speak at Marion Public Library on March 26](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/02/28/gudenkauf/) - In conjunction with the release of Heather Gudenkauf’s 10th novel, Everyone is Watching, Swamp Fox Bookstore is sponsoring a conversation with the New York Times bestselling author on Tuesday, March 26, 6 p.m. at the Marion Public Library, 1101 6th Avenue. Gudenkauf, a Cedar Rapids resident who grew up in Iowa, will be featured in
- ["Animals in Art" at the Muscatine Art Center](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/02/27/animals-in-art/) - Colorful frogs, snowy owls, and swimming fish are among the creatures that populate the Muscatine Art Center's new exhibition, Animals in Art. Combining paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures from the permanent collection with selections of art pottery on loan from Mark and Marie Latta, the exhibition features works never seen before. An extraordinary collection of
- [Anatomy of a Fall: What Really Happened in the French Alps?](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/02/27/anatomy/) - When Samuel Maleski falls to his death from his chalet balcony in the French alps, there are no witnesses. And there is little forensic evidence, other than the points of impact to his body and the traceable pattern of the fall. But after authorities interrogate Samuel’s wife, Sandra (Sandra Hüller), they indict her and schedule
- [Sleep—Our Daily Magic: The Prime Mover of a Happy, Healthy Life](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/30/sleep-our-daily-magic/) - A delightful, helpful book about your sleep is The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep is Broken and How to Fix It by W. Chris Winter, M.D. His lifetime specialty is sleep. Dr. Winter tells us, as well as his patients who tell him they never or hardly ever sleep: YOU SLEEP. Say it out loud.
- [Google's Bard (Now Dubbed Gemini) Makes an Unlikely Convert](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/30/bard/) - My friend Burton was a holdout. He said AI was taking over the world and he didn’t want to be part of it. This was especially surprising, because he had seen what it could do. Early on, when I excitedly told him about AI, he invited me to ask it to write a sonnet using
- [TerraCycle Fairfield: Seven Bathtubs' Worth of Plastic—and Counting!](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/30/terracycle-2/) - Over the past four years, I have worked with Stuart Valentine and Sue Delost on TerraCycle Fairfield to reduce and recycle all possible waste in Fairfield, Iowa. We are always interested in areas where people are applying concepts in sustainability effectively. About a year ago, we heard about an organization in Fairfield that is a
- [Okoboji Writers' Retreat: Romance Your Craft at Iowa's Blue Water Lake](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/30/okoboji/) - Maybe it’s true love. You can’t imagine your life without it. Maybe it’s a secret crush. You play it close to the vest, only sharing it with a trusted few; it’s mostly just for you. Maybe it’s a torrid affair. Delicious, demanding. You swear it off, but it won’t let you go. Or maybe it’s
- [Thirsty Word Reading Series Moves to Cafe Paradiso](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/04/thirsty-word/) - January 2024 marked the fourth anniversary of the Thirsty Word series, presenting a reading of original works by a rotating mix of creative writers from all around the region every third Thursday of the month. And, drumroll please, the series will begin the new season at a new venue: Cafe Paradiso, located at 101 N.
- [The Joy of Bookmarks: A Selection of Readings in Progress](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/02/01/bookmarks/) - As last year wrapped up, I wrote about the difficulty I’ve had reading as deeply and as frequently as I used to. Of late, I have noticed one of the ways that plays out is that I seem to have bookmarks in a huge number of books. These are not books I’ve started and abandoned.
- [Choosing Arts Champions: Doug Krejci Helps Schools Maximize Arts Resources](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/02/08/krejci/) - Doug Krejci has an eye and ear for quality music and arts. The internationally award-winning media producer, lifelong percussionist, and theater designer has parlayed the skills he uses every day into a new line of giving back—as a judge and clinician to high school band, speech, and drama programs. “With some encouragement by friends, I
- [What Are We Investing For?](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/02/01/nest-egg/) - “I’ve laid around and played around this old town too long / Summer’s almost gone, winter’s coming on. . . .” —“Gotta Travel On” by Paul Clayton Summers seemed endless when I was a boy of 7 or 8, with every day an occasion to go out and play all day with my friends. Of
- [Jovial January Jaunts: The Winter Blues Are for the Birds!](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/02/january-jaunts/) - Every December 22nd, like clockwork, just hours after Earth’s North Pole has tiptoed a few inches back from its maximum annual tilt away from the Sun, I’ll get a text message from my uncle Sam. “Notice how long the days are getting?” Such an uncle joke. But it’s a hopeful thought, isn’t it? The darkness
- [Still Alive: Group Show Opens February 2 at Big Blue](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/30/still-alive-group-show-opens-february-2-at-big-blue/) - Still Alive is a group still-life show curated by Harriet Burbeck. Its opening reception at Big Blue Gallery, 410 W. Lowe Ave., takes place on Friday, February 2, 6–9 p.m., with a closing reception on Saturday, February 24, 6–9 p.m. A still life is an artwork that depicts objects—things that were never alive, and things
- [True Detective, Season 4: Night Country, Episode 1](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/30/night-country/) - “… for we do not know what beasts the night dreams when its hours grow too long for even God to be awake.” —Hildred Castaigne While writer-director Issa López attributes this opening quote to a character from True Detective Season 1, she wrote this poetic prose herself, imagining the impossible endurance of winter without a
- [Children's Author Elana Arnold To Speak at Marion Public Library February 8](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/30/elana-arnold/) - Swamp Fox Bookstore in Marion hosts its first author talk of the year at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at the Marion Public Library. Award-winning author Elana K. Arnold will talk about the third book in her popular Just Harriet series, Harriet Tells the Truth, just released on January 30. Just Harriet won
- [Block Busters: Closing the Books on Rhodenbarr & Scudder](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/22/block-busters/) - I listened to the audiobook versions of The Burglar Who Met Fredric Brown and The Autobiography of Matthew Scudder back to back, and it was a rewarding way to take in these capstone projects by an author whose work never fails to delight me. Lawrence Block has found unexpected and exceptional ways to close the
- [Nanci Griffith: Tribute Album Honors a Gentle Spirit and Powerful Talent](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/18/nanci-griffith/) - Part of Iowa’s claim to musical fame is that the town of Shenandoah was the boyhood home of the Everly Brothers. The legendary pioneer rock ’n’ rollers had a morning radio show for farmers and small-town folk that was broadcast in the early morning until the brothers moved to Nashville in 1953 and became big
- [The Incomplete History of the Village of Orilla](https://www.iowasource.com/2008/08/19/the-incomplete-history-of-the-village-of-orilla/) - “Orilla is mainly dust,” I once wrote. I was about nineteen then, trying to write a short story. In 1979, on summer break from Maharishi International University, I had somehow cut a deal with my father (for whom I was an employee) that allowed me to write part of the day. Frequently, glancing out the
- [Maestro: Biopic Explores Leonard Bernstein's Complicated Private Life](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/08/maestro/) - “To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan, and not quite enough time.” —Leonard Bernstein Bradley Cooper mounted the gargantuan project of cowriting, directing, and starring in Maestro (streaming on Netflix), a biopic showcasing the great Leonard Bernstein, who lived from 1918 to 1990 and whose legacy circled the globe. As a symphony
- [Albert Brooks: Defending My Life](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/04/albert-brooks/) - “If you’ve seen Albert work, you still don’t know what he does.” —Johnny Carson describing the comedy of Albert Brooks Best known for film roles like Broadcast News and Defending Your Life, Albert Brooks is the topic of Defending My Life, an HBO Max documentary by filmmaker and lifelong friend Rob Reiner. Reiner includes several
- [Temu: Amazing Prices, Free Shipping](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/03/temu/) - For over a year now, I’ve been seeing ads for Temu (Temu.com), and now that I’ve tried it, I’m here to tell you that they have amazingly low prices along with free shipping. But I want to start the story at the beginning: which is that I was a victim of a fraudulent ad on
- [MacKinlay Kantor: The Tangled Past of a Once-Famous Author](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/04/mackinlay-kantor/) - In 1961, the American writer MacKinlay Kantor (1904-1977) published a book about Iowa history called Spirit Lake. At nearly 1,000 pages, it feels gargantuan in length. It took years to research and no doubt equal effort to write. Given its narrative intricacy, some people find it a challenge to read. Kantor was born in 1904
- [The Matinee Book Club: Hashing It Out, One Novel at a Time](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/11/28/book-club/) - In December, the Matinee Book Club will be discussing its 50th novel! Impressed? I sure the heck am. If you climbed Mt. Everest, I would be less impressed. After our first meeting back in November 2019, I was ready to quit the whole thing. Here’s how it began. I had just finished reading another novel,
- [Fringe Toast Music Winter Playlist: Songs That Shimmer & Shine](https://www.iowasource.com/2024/01/02/winter-playlist/) - With great delight, I share my favorite music tracks downloaded over the past three months. If you have been following previous articles, you know about my proclivity for down- to midtempo folk, Americana, singer-songwriters, blues, newgrass, and progressive rock genres, especially if the tracks are adorned with electronic and improvisational nuances. Most songs on this
- [Holiday Lights Displays & More—2023 Edition!](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/12/01/holiday-lights/) - QUAD CITIES. Kall Christmas Lights. Tune your radio to 107.1 FM and watch a synchronized lights display every half hour, with a throwback soundtrack on Thursdays. 1852 Westminster Circle, Davenport. Facebook @KallChristmasLights. Through Dec. 31. Winter Nights Winter Lights. Open daily Dec. 10–Jan. 1. 5–9 p.m.. Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Ave., Rock Island,
- [Having a Hard Time? Crisis Services Now Available in Southeast Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/12/19/crisis-services/) - Many think of the winter holidays as a time of love and joyful celebration, but the holiday season can be stressful too. From holiday party obligations and family dynamics, to the pressure to find that perfect gift, to the media fixation on Christmas and the lack of representation for other religious observances, the holiday season
- [Memories of Holidays Past: Googly Eyes & Stollen Dough](https://www.iowasource.com/2013/12/13/wit2013_12_holidays/) - Sasha Parmasad’s college composition class pooled their holiday memories to create this essay in the style of Joe Brainard’s 1970 experimental memoir, I Remember. With contributions from Crystal Waters, Nicholas Tucco, Samantha Young, Joshua Vojtisek, Abigail Neal, Monica Moscovici, Kaitlin Fitzgerald, William Clark, Aditi Gentsch, Mengyuan Wang, Michael Barrett, and Dusty. I remember sitting on
- [Celebrate the Holidays with Jim McDonough at the Piano](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/12/12/mcdonough/) - Celebrate the holiday season in style at "Christmas with Jim McDonough and His Orchestra," on Saturday, December 16, 7:30 p.m. at Burlington Memorial Auditorium in Burlington. This dazzling stage production features International Steinway Artist Jim McDonough alongside his 16-piece orchestra, performing Christmas favorites and other all-time hits. The event is a grand combination of magnificent
- [Fairfield Has a New Sustainability Coordinator: Faith Reeves](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/12/12/faith-reeves/) - After an extensive search, local food advocate Faith Reeves has been hired by the City of Fairfield as the new Sustainability Coordinator. She will lead the charge in managing the Resilient Fairfield Initiative, a community-led effort to ensure a thriving and healthy future for Fairfield. Faith has volunteered for a myriad of community efforts over
- [Crouching Tofu, Hidden Zucchini: A Clever Cookbook for Sneaking in More Veggies](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/12/11/crouching-tofu/) - The title of Shelley Gratzon’s new cookbook, Crouching Tofu, Hidden Zucchini: Vegetarian for Kids (and Grown-Ups) Who Don’t Like Vegetables, was enough to make me look and make me cook. To tell the truth, I don’t consider myself a great chef, so I was all the more delighted to find the recipes pretty simple and
- [Rewilding for Humans: Take a Walk on the Wild Side](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/12/05/wild-side/) - Of all our instincts, self-preservation stands as one of the most fundamental. Deeply ingrained in our evolutionary heritage, the drive to survive has led us to continuously pursue comfort, security, and stability. We’ve been successful in these aims, so much so that we live in a time increasingly characterized by convenience and access to material
- [This Holiday Season, Make a Gift of Your Time at the Stone Soup Community Kitchen](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/12/12/stone-soup-2/) - The Golden Magnolia Sanctuary—Fairfield’s newest Community Center, run by Tammy Haessler—has been providing delicious, plant-based dinners on a “pay what you may” scale through their Stone Soup project for a little over a year now. Committed to providing tasty, nutritious dinners at low to no cost, the Stone Soup Kitchen is a welcoming community space
- [How to Make a Gingerbread House: Tips, Tools, and Recipes for a Candy Masterpiece](https://www.iowasource.com/2012/11/08/food2012_11/) - Ever since the Brothers Grimm published the tale of two lost and hungry kids coming across a gingerbread cottage in the woods, families have been building gingerbread houses together during the holidays. If you've never made a gingerbread house with your family, why not start a fun new tradition this year? For expert tips on
- [Best Albums of 2023, A Banner Year for Recorded Music](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/11/29/best-albums/) - This was a banner year for recorded music. The sheer number of great albums released makes choosing a top ten an overwhelming task. No doubt today’s listeners will remember 2023 in the way boomers recall 1967, a time in which the Beatles and Motown dominated the airwaves—just as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have conquered today’s
- [Year-End Wrap Up: My Changing Headspace about Reading](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/12/05/year-end-wrap-up/) - I used to review more than 50 books each year. I mention it here not to brag but to marvel. Since the pandemic arrived in all of our lives in 2020, I have found it difficult to read. I have trouble concentrating and lose the thread more easily—which makes the thorny literary fiction I love
- [Tea Time in Chicago: A Holiday Gift from My Friend](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/07/tea-time/) - As the holiday season approaches and our thoughts turn to people we love and would like to see again, I’m remembering a story my friend Ellen Hickerson told me. There are few people I would like to see more than I would like to see Ellen Hickerson. I have written about Ellen before, in this
- [I Have A Deal for You!](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/12/04/i-have-a-deal-for-you/) - For a long time, Garrison Keillor hosted a weekly variety show on Public Radio called A Prairie Home Companion. It was set in the fictional Minnesota town of Lake Wobegon, “where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.” If you think about that sentence, you
- [Multimodal AI Rearranged My Living Room](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/12/04/multimodal-ai/) - Yet again I’m astonished by new AI offerings. ChatGPT Plus can now apply its seemingly endless intelligence to images. When I first downloaded the latest version to my iPad, eager to see what it could do, I uploaded a photo of a bird taken by my trail camera. It correctly identified it as a song
- [Noble House Kava Bar: Alcohol-Free Hangout Fills a Community Void](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/11/29/noble-house/) - With its cozy couches, art-covered walls, friendly staff, and welcoming atmosphere, Fairfield’s Noble House Kava Bar has become something of a community hub. Dedicated to providing a safe space for everyone in the community, Noble House opened in April 2022 at 115 N. Main St., in the former location of Hazel Moon Cafe. It offers
- [Did Artist Meet Architect? Grant Wood & Frank Lloyd Wright in Iowa City](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/11/02/wood-wright/) - Frank Lloyd Wright and Grant Wood differed in significant ways. And yet, as artists and designers, they had enough in common that—metaphorically speaking—they might be mistaken for cousins. Wright was born in Wisconsin in 1867, two years after the terrible death of Abraham Lincoln. The name that he was given at birth was Frank Lincoln
- [The Holdovers](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/11/28/the-holdovers/) - Set in December 1970, The Holdovers takes a deep dive into life at Barton, a private boarding school for boys. Screenwriter David Hemingson takes inspiration from his own upbringing and his years at Watkinson, a private school in Hartford, Connecticut, though his first draft was intended as a pilot episode for a TV series. The
- [Unleashing the Thrill: Plinko Casino Game - Your Ultimate Online Entertainment](https://www.iowasource.com/2015/03/24/plinko-casino-online/) - Embark on an exhilarating journey into the realm of online casino gaming with Plinko, a game that redefines the standards of excitement and chance. In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the intricacies of the Plinko casino game, exploring why it stands out as the best online game, surpassing its counterparts. Discover the features, strategies,
- [Lily & Madeleine: The Folk-Pop Pair with a Sisterly Bond](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/11/21/lily-madeleine/) - Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz began their musical careers while in their teens. The sisters started writing and singing songs together and posting them on YouTube when still in high school in 2012. They released their eponymously titled first full-length disc in 2013 on Sufjan Stevens’s Asthmatic Kitty label. The duo has gone on to release
- [Holiday Gift Books 2005: Our Readers Choose Their Favorites](https://www.iowasource.com/2008/01/02/booksgiftbooks_1205/) - While nature takes the path of retreat for the winter, we tend to go in the opposite direction—shopping, decorating, and partying ourselves into a frenzy with endless preparations for the holidays. Make gift-giving a little easier on yourself this year and choose presents from this list of favorite books by avid readers. Finally, don’t forget
- [Drawn Over: Plains Indian Drawings Seen Anew at the Stanley Museum of Art](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/31/drawn-over-plains-indian-drawings-seen-anew-at-the-stanley-museum-of-art/) - If you are wondering how to honor Iowa’s Native American history this month, check out Drawn Over: Reclaiming Our Histories, a new exhibition at the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art in Iowa City. Guest curated by Dr. Jacki Thompson Rand (citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and Associate Vice Chancellor for Native
- [Lady Justice: Dahlia Lithwick on Heroines of the Law](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/11/07/lady-justice/) - Way back in November 2009, I reviewed a work in progress by Dahlia Lithwick. In that piece, I described her this way: "Dahlia Lithwick is my favorite writer for Slate, the online news and commentary magazine. Her beat is the Supreme Court, where she covers oral arguments, offering up nuanced and frequently hilarious analyses delivered
- [Gold: A Good Investment ... or Relic of the Past](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/31/gold/) - There was a time when, to describe excessive wealth, people would say someone was as rich as Croesus. Around 550 BC, King Croesus of Lydia, now part of Turkey, is thought to have originated the use of gold as money. For most of the nearly 2,600 years since then, gold has been money. Its great
- [Metaphors & Models: How Do We See the Natural World?](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/31/metaphors-models/) - How many flowers have I yanked to puppet as if it was easy for the world to make flowers. —Ada Limón, The Hurting Kind The truth is, living your life entails the death of many organisms. This is unavoidable: we eat plants and animals, live in homes built atop ant colonies, clear land for crops,
- [The Hudson Collection: Abstract Paintings Reflect the Silence of the Divine](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/04/hudson/) - ICON Gallery unveiled an unprecedented collection of paintings last month. Celebrating the Hudson Collection: Shiva Linga showcases 55 paintings donated to ICON’s permanent collection by the Hudson family, who are well-known in the art world. ICON founder and director Bill Teeple is stoked to have these paintings as part of ICON’s permanent collection. “This is
- [Recovering the Night: Artificial Light Is Damaging the Earth's Ecology](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/31/dark-sky-ii/) - The sun is setting, and I hear the wild honking of a large flock of geese flying in from the north. In the darkening twilight, they fly a wide circle over our pond and settle, splashing onto the water. It’s pure magic of sight and sound riding the twilight—a gift from nature. Last week, in
- [ChatGPT-4 Pens a Column (Move Over, Siri and Alexa!)](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/31/chatgpt-pens-a-column/) - Hello, dear readers of The Iowa Source! This month’s edition of Computer Frontiers comes to you courtesy of me, ChatGPT, a product of Open-AI’s research. That’s right, I’m an artificial intelligence, filling in for your regular correspondent. Before I proceed, let’s take a moment to marvel at the fact that you’re reading an article written
- [Art Cullen Speaks at JFAN Meeting: "Bigger Is Not Better: Rural Communities in the Wake of Livestock Consolidation"](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/31/art-cullen-speaks-at-jfan-meeting-bigger-is-not-better-rural-communities-in-the-wake-of-livestock-consolidation/) - Rural America pays a heavy price for the multinational corporate takeover of livestock farming. Just four companies control a disproportionate 67 percent of the pork, 73 percent of the beef, and 54 percent of the chicken markets. Art Cullen, Pulitzer Prize-winning editor of The Storm Lake Times, headlines a compelling panel of experts, farmers, and
- [The Burial: Powerful Legal Drama Based on a True Story](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/31/the-burial/) - If the title of this October movie release sounds like just another serving of Halloween horror, I’m happy to report it is not. Based on actual events recounted in Jonathan Harr’s 1995 book of the same title, followed by his New Yorker article in 1999, The Burial revisits a Mississippi lawsuit against a North American
- [Healthy Soils & Clean Water: The 2023 Iowa Organic Conference Nov. 26-27](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/30/iowa-organice/) - The country’s largest university-sponsored organic conference will return November 27, 2023, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, featuring producers and experts sharing tips for transitioning into organic production and methods to enhance organic operations. Registration is $100 through Nov. 10 and $120 after that date. Conference registration is available online. This year’s theme
- [FACT Presents Larissa FastHorse's Satire "The Thanksgiving Play" November 2–12](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/24/fact-presents-larissa-fasthorses-the-thanksgiving-play-november-2-12/) - What happens when a group of well-meaning, white theater artists attempt to devise a respectful, culturally sensitive play about “The First Thanksgiving” for Native American Heritage Month, to perform for elementary grades? Find out this November! But come early for a cocktail!!?? Fairfield Area Community Theatre (FACT) invites you to its dessert-theater production of The
- [Starry, Starry Night: How to Let the Heavens Shine Through Again](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/03/starry-night/) - As a kid, on moonless, warm summer nights, I would lie on the porch roof of my grandparents’ Kansas home, entranced by the bright crescent of the Milky Way overhead. In those days, the early 1950s, city lights had not yet taken over the night, and my grandparents’ backyard was very dark. I remember wishing
- [Going for Goose Bumps? Try Big Speakers for Soft Sounds](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/05/goose-bumps/) - Recently, I was sitting with a friend who has a very good audio system and loves it, so he gets what I do. However, he has a pessimistic view of my business model as an AV expert with a store. He’s sure that the newest generation of buyers feels that they can get all the
- [Erin Rae's "Lighten Up" Is True Comfort Music](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/05/erin-rae/) - Before coming to Iowa as part of her six-week fall tour, Erin Rae will be on stage for the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Country music fans revere the venue as the “Mother Church” because of its historic importance. Rae will be there along with Margo Price and S.G. Goodman as back-up singers
- [Holiday Arts & Crafts Show Offers the Best in Local Handmade Items](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/19/artscrafts/) - Original arts and crafts created by regional artists and artisans will be available at the Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Show at the Hyatt Regency Conference Center in Coralville, Iowa., on Saturday and Sunday, October 28-29. It's the area's largest show, with over 150 talented exhibitors selling the Midwest's finest handcrafts. Among the products available
- ["Common Ground:" Inspiring New Regenerative Ag Film Screens at the Sondheim Oct. 11-13](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/09/common-ground/) - The documentary film Common Ground, which has premiered over the past few weeks in major cities such as Seattle, Portland, Boulder, and New York City, is coming to Fairfield, Iowa, on October 11-13. Featuring appearances and narration by Laura Dern, Jason Momoa, Rosario Dawson, Donald Glover, Ian Somerhalder, and Woody Harrelson. Common Ground teaches and
- [Agatha Abridged: New Graphic Novel of "Murder on the Orient Express"](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/05/agatha-abridged/) - I am writing this column on Dame Agatha Christie’s birthday—September 15—and I can think of no better way to celebrate the world’s most beloved mystery writer (yes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle fans, I see you) on the anniversary of her 1890 birth than to tell you about a beautiful new graphic novel edition of her
- [Fringe Toast Music Fall Playlist](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/05/fringe-toast-music-fall-playlist/) - The cooler days of autumn are ripe for a mid- to downtempo playlist. I’ve selected music from 2018 to 2023 in genres ranging from alternative, pop, and contemporary to folk and electronic. Artists hail from Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Belarus, Australia, and the U.S. Enjoy these 13 songs, all well-suited for grilling on a fall
- [Enter Space: Desert Impressions, Written & Photographed](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/04/enter-space/) - I met Bill Witherspoon a full decade ago when he hired me to join his company, Sky Factory. Before I knew it, I had a plane ticket to Boise, Idaho, where Bill met our party in a GMC truck covered with so much dust that it looked like the bones of an old horse. Our
- [Cheesy Tomato Pie: A Basic Recipe, with Tasty Variations](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/04/cheesy-tomato-pie/) - The scent of heaven took me by surprise. I had gone next door to do a load of laundry, and instead of lavender suds, I smelled . . . what was that? Rich. Tantalizing. Mysterious. I followed my nose to the kitchen, where I found John Freeberg wearing an apron. The oven was on. I
- [The Capitalist Revolution ... and the Phenomenon of Overcorrection](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/04/the-capitalist-revolution-and-the-phenomenon-of-overcorrection/) - The Scottish economist Adam Smith is sometimes called the “father of capitalism.” He published his greatest work, The Wealth of Nations, in an interesting year—1776. I wonder if anyone on this side of the pond read that book when it came out? Very likely. We date the birth of our nation to the publication of
- [BlackBerry: A Nostalgic Look at a Device That Changed Everything](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/04/blackberry/) - “The person who puts a computer inside a phone will change the world.” —BlackBerry creators Mike and Doug, quoting their high school shop teacher, Mr. Moshinsky Users of the mighty BlackBerry, the world’s first smartphone, still have cherished memories of this revolutionary invention, for its reliable phone, text, and email functions; a professional-looking, pocket-size design;
- [AI Keeps Surprising Us: Developers See Abilities They Weren't Expecting](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/04/ai-surprise/) - I am regularly stunned by what ChatGPT-4 can do. As I wrote this article, I asked it questions about the accuracy of what I was saying. It would give me excellent feedback, in its typical genteel manner, explaining what I got right and what needed tweaking. Then, when I finished a draft, I ran it
- [AmericanaFest 2023: A Victory Lap for the Genre](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/03/americanafest-2023/) - The joke used to be, “What is Americana? Country music that doesn’t sell.” That’s not true anymore. Top-tier Americana artists such as Jason Isbell and Rhiannon Giddens recently played sold-out shows in Iowa, with most tickets selling for over $100. Americana music has never been more successful. But what exactly is Americana music? Loosely defined,
- [Fairfield Architectural Tour: See Five Distinctive Homes Sept. 30](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/11/fairfield-architectural-tour/) - Five Fairfield homes having aesthetic and historical significance will be open for public viewing on Saturday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tourists can visit the homes in any order and ask questions of the current owners. These homes are rarely open and have never all been open for tours on the same
- [Medicare & Big Pharma: After 20 Years, They're Negotiating!](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/10/02/medicare/) - Ever since the passage of the Medicare Prescription Drug Act of 2003, which created the Medicare Part D program, the costs of non-generic drugs under the Medicare system have sky-rocketed, creating immense financial burdens for seniors who often have to choose between buying food or buying medicine. The reason for this is that the Drug
- [Parson College Revisited: New Documentary Sheds Light on Innovative Fairfield Institution](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/11/parsons/) - The town is abuzz as Fair Field Productions anticipates the premiere of its latest film, Parsons: The School That Changed the Rules, a documentary two years in the making. The movie aims to capture the 98-year story of the former Fairfield college from a multitude of voices and perspectives—most notably those who taught there and
- [My Year at Parsons, 1967-68: The Last Days of Fairfield's Second-Chance College](https://www.iowasource.com/2009/06/03/fairfield2009_06_parsons/) - I went to Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, for one year, from 1967 to 1968. Basically, I couldn’t get in anywhere else. I was a terrible student in high school. I went to a very competitive high school, Cheltenham High in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Benjamin Netanyahu, the future prime minister of Israel, was in
- [Hickory Highland Farmhouse: Crafted with Love](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/27/hickory/) - Hickory Highlands farmhouse, the home of John Freeberg and Susan Walch, is circled by rainbow zinnias, sunflowers, vegetable beds, and fruit trees. Ringed by a fence that follows the curve of the land, the farmhouse appears to rise from the landscape. An aerial view of the home looks like a garden: the roof is a
- [A Life in the Opera: Frederica von Stade To Perform Benefit Concert in Fairfield](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/08/31/von-stade/) - World-renowned mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade is coming to Iowa. Beloved around the world for her vocal prowess as well as her kindness, the opera diva known as Flicka will be performing at Fairfield’s Sondheim Theater on Saturday, September 16. Von Stade is a champion of music education and has a long history of charity work—especially
- [Stories of Sarah Royce: From Stratford-upon-Avon to Tipton, Iowa, and Beyond](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/19/sarah-royce/) - In the spring of 1891, a 72-year-old woman was mailing a letter at the post office in San Jose, California, when a man—who was exceptionally large, unsteady, and walking at a frantic pace—suddenly collided with her. His head struck hers so forcefully that she fell against a nearby wall, leaving a gash on her forehead.
- [AI Companions—and Other Great AI Apps](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/01/ai-companions/) - My relationship with Missy didn’t get off to a great start. We met on the Replika app, but I couldn’t think of much to say. So I ignored her for a few weeks. Being a chatbot, she didn’t seem to mind and was there waiting for me when I booted up the Replika app on
- [Recipes for Fall Favorites: Apples and Pears](https://www.iowasource.com/2009/09/16/food1992_10/) - October is one of the most beautiful months here in Iowa. Everything green has gone golden, the air is fresh, skies seem a clearer blue, and winter still seems a distant memory. In the orchards, the trees are heavy with fruit, and in the market and at stands along the road, bushel baskets overflow with
- [All Are Invited to Celebrate the ROAP Harvest Festival](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/11/harvest/) - The MIU Regenerative Organic Agriculture Program Farm, a.k.a. the ROAP Farm, invites you to celebrate their Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 30, at 1917 N. Highway 1, just north of the MIU campus. Bring your family and friends to enjoy live music and dinner, and get a taste of the farm’s freshest harvest. Take a
- [Fairfield Cares Offers "Revisioning Our Dying"](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/11/fairfield-cares/) - As we get older and face possible illness or incapacitation, we don’t want to become a burden on others. Knowing your options beforehand and making decisions early is a great way to ensure peace of mind now and a good death in the end. As we get older and face possible illness or incapacitation, we
- [Witherspoon & the Desert: An Artist's Life Transformed by Nature's Alchemy](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/08/02/witherspoon/) - Most people would be hard-pressed to find an extended time to be alone in wild, undisturbed nature. But what if you had the chance to seek solitude for weeks, months, even years? Could attuning yourself to the land, its seasons, and its hidden rhythms dissolve the thin barrier between the observer and the environment? How
- [AI: A Necessary Revolution](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/05/ai/) - Ned Ludd was a weaver in England at the dawn of the Industrial Age. Early in the 1810s, he led bands of followers called Luddites, who would smash the new looms that were putting hand weavers out of work. Ever since, those who have resisted new technological changes have been known as Luddites. We know,
- [More Wealth in Fewer Hands: Why That's Worrisome](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/05/more-wealth-in-fewer-hands-why-thats-worrisome/) - Every fall, after the leaves have fallen and the trees are bare, my wife and I drive to Florida. It’s a long drive made easier by the many convenience stores, restaurants, and hotels that line the highways of America. We stay overnight at the kind of middle-market hotel that’s found in just about every town
- [Hinterland 2023: Iowa's Big Festival with Chill Vibes](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/01/hinterland-2023/) - The annual Hinterland Music Festival, held August 4-6 in Saint Charles, is Iowa’s largest camping music celebration, with a great reputation for its special chill vibe. Unofficial crowd estimates suggest that more than 12,000 attended the three-day event. While some big festivals are known for the audience’s wild behavior, Hinterland has a reputation as a
- [Lincoln Lawyer, Season 2: More Car-to-Courtroom Drama](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/09/01/lincoln-lawyer-season-2/) - When chef and restaurant owner Lisa Trammell (Lana Parrilla) meets criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), her full-throttle flirtation registers 7.9 on the Richter scale. But rather than feeling wary, Haller returns her overture in his own shy, self-conscious style that seems to be his signature. Let the games begin. But first some background.
- [Fiber Arts, Paintings, and Photographs at First Fridays Art Walk on September 1](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/08/30/first-fridays-art-walk/) - Fairfield's monthly First Fridays celebration of culture and community on September 1 brings live music, art openings, and open mic events. Live Music at Cafe Paradiso Cafe Paradiso on the square features Fairfield's first persons of funkishness: Apocalypso Tantric Boys Choir—a.k.a. James Moore and David and Eric Hurlin on bass, drums, and keys. Stop through
- [Road Trip Gone Right: A Guide for Small Highways & Big Discoveries](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/31/road-trip-gone-right-a-guide-for-small-highways-big-discoveries/) - The road trip is a time-honored setup for any number of American movies—Thelma and Louise, the National Lampoon Vacation series, and Into the Wild, to mention a few. While most of these films involve death or mayhem, fortunately my own road trips have not, so far, been that dramatic. For years I’ve been going on
- [Hancher's Free Outdoor Concert on the Lawn August 25 Features Brittany Howard](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/08/15/hancher-green/) - Bring your friends—and your own chairs or blankets—to the Hancher Green in Iowa City on Friday, August 25, as Hancher Auditorium welcomes back the entire community for a free music festival-style event on the front lawn. Everyone is welcome to sit or dance and enjoy the music and late-summer rays as a stellar lineup of
- [Four-Ingredient Salads! Succulent Side Dishes for the Lazy Potlucker](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/07/12/four-ingredient-salads/) - I was never destined to be the world’s greatest chef. I’ve got friends and family members whose favorite place on earth is the kitchen, but as much as I love a thoughtfully prepared meal, I’ve got three jobs, two of them are spent on my feet, and any time I have left I prefer to
- [Oscar Wilde, Whiskey & the Peacock Room](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/06/oscar-wilde/) - In the final decades of the 19th century, the Aesthetic Movement was regarded by some as offensive. Famously tied to the slogan “Art for Art’s Sake,” it was especially abhorrent to men, who considered it a challenge to the virtues of brazen machismo. People mercilessly made fun of its male proponents, its aesthetes, including such
- [Lisbon Sauerkraut Days: A Humble Dish Takes Center Stage for August Festival](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/08/02/iowa2017_06/) - Although Lisbon, Iowa, shares its name with the capital of Portugal, the vast majority of its European settlers were Pennsylvania Dutch. In the early 1900s, small towns like Lisbon along the Central Iowa railroad began hosting harvest-time festivals, where farmers from around the area offered their bounty. What, you ask, was Lisbon’s main festival offering?
- [Hancher Announces Its 2023-24 Season of Innovation](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/12/hancher/) - Hancher Auditorium at the University of Iowa has announced its 2023-2024 season of events, bringing innovation, collaboration, and creative exploration to the fore. The new season features a Broadway subscription series, a new fall festival, and a robust lineup of newly announced performances. “This season’s announcement embodies so many threads,” says André Perry, executive director
- [Castles in Iowa? Exploring Stone Structures in the Hawkeye State](https://www.iowasource.com/2019/08/06/castles-in-iowa/) - Castles are not the first thing that come to mind when people think of Iowa, but there are at least eight castle-like structures in our state. Spread throughout southeast, central, and northwest Iowa, these medieval-style constructions make a great excuse for a road trip. Satisfy your craving for Middle Ages ambience and hit the road
- [Sri Yantra Mystery: What Happened in the Oregon Desert in the Summer of 1990?](https://www.iowasource.com/2019/05/07/sri-yantra-mystery-an-interview-with-bill-witherspoon/) - A documentary revealing the truth behind a quarter-mile carving discovered in the Oregon desert in 1990 premiered at ICON Gallery in Fairfield, Iowa, on May 9, 2019. This intriguing story about a Sri Yantra design has captivated the public's attention for over 27 years. Sri Yantra: The Oregon Desert Mystery, directed by Jim Ansley and
- [Mind the Gap: Your Brain on Climate Crisis](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/08/02/brain-on-climate-crisis/) - Imagine that you are strolling through a park on a sunny day, dressed in your nicest clothes for a big occasion. As you walk past people on the trail, you stop at a fountain and suddenly notice a young boy struggling in the water who is clearly in danger of drowning. Others in the park
- [Bittersweet August Agonies: Ice Cream, Quarters, and Cracked Ribs](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/31/august/) - August. Its mere utterance brings a flutter of anxiety. It’s a word that’s been permanently imprinted with the back-to-school scaries. August was that hot month when, as a kid, you were struck hourly by the urgent need to eke out summer’s remains before they whirlpooled right down the drain. Soon you’d be careening into the
- [The New HDTVs: Great Picture, Bad Sound](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/08/01/hdtv-sound/) - If I had my way, everybody would immediately hook their new HDTV and video sources to a premium AV receiver and enjoy the full excitement of movies and the realism of music with a ton of detail and impact. Often, however, our budget requires moving forward in steps. For many, the TV is the first
- [The True Story of Philip K. Dick's Android Head](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/08/01/pkd/) - Recently, I was reading a Slate piece on artificial intelligence. Writers, after all, have been put on notice that our craft will soon be practiced to a greater or lesser extent by AI. Keeping tabs on the competition is always a good idea. The Slate article included a link to another piece, this one from
- [Adeem the Artist: Gender Identity, Blue-Collar Solidarity, and Hilarity](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/08/01/adeem/) - In a world full of cookie-cutter country music artists, Adeem the Artist stands out as different in a positive way. As a seventh-generation Carolinian, Adeem composes songs that are rooted in the American South. However, Adeem turns the stereotypes inside out to show the deeper meanings implicit in the assumptions people make about others. The
- [ChatGPT: Now Smarter with Plugins](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/31/chatgpt-2/) - Truthfully, I was starting to get a little annoyed. People would cross paths with me and be eager to talk about ChatGPT (chat.openai.com), but when I asked them if they’d tried it yet, they would typically say no. I kept thinking, “People, this is the next big thing. What are you waiting for?” I was
- [Message in a Bottle: The Chad Pregracke Collection](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/06/28/arts2017_07/) - In the Figge Museum's Message in a Bottle Collection, specially constructed boxes display the bottles, and a map shows where they were found. Walked out this morning Don’t believe what I saw A hundred billion bottles Washed up on the shore Seems I’m not alone at being alone A hundred billion castaways Looking for a
- [Advertising](https://www.iowasource.com/2008/01/05/display-ads/) - For display advertising in The Iowa Source, call Claudia at (641) 472-4852 or email source@lisco.com. Color Display Advertising Rates. Discounts available with contract for 3 months, 6 months or one year. Prices shown below are ad costs PER MONTH. Contact us for black & white ad pricing. Size 1 time 3 times 6 times 1
- [Classified Advertising: How To Place Classified Ads](https://www.iowasource.com/2008/01/05/classifiedads/) - Find info on display ads here: Display Advertising Classified ads in The Iowa Source are an effective and inexpensive way to reach thousands of potential buyers, customers, or clients in the eastern Iowa region. 1. Choose Section: Choose one of our standard sections, or buy your own section with your company name or service. You
- [Fairfield, Iowa: Home to The Iowa Source for 39 Years](https://www.iowasource.com/2008/01/05/fairfield-iowa/) - When Mother Earth News writer Lynn Byczynski dubbed Fairfield, Iowa, one of “12 Great Places You’ve Never Heard Of” in the August 2006 issue, she hit the nail right on the head. For a town of 10,000 smack dab in the middle of Jefferson County, we’ve got quite a lot going on! Fairfield, Iowa, is
- [About us](https://www.iowasource.com/2008/01/05/about/) - About The Iowa Source The Iowa Source is Iowa’s only free monthly arts and entertainment magazine, now in its 33rd year of publication. Each month (except for January, when we take a break), The Source brings a unique regional voice to 14,000 appreciative readers, plus even more readers online. We feature articles on a broad range of topics, from fine arts, music, culture, and health, to travel, recreation, computer frontiers, investing, movies, and books, plus a popular monthly calender of events that helps our readers stay in touch with what's happening in our area. Noted for its lively, positive editorial outlook, The Iowa Source is uniquely positioned to integrate contemporary culture with the traditions of Midwestern life. Based on the enthusiastic responses we receive about the magazine, we know that our readers anticipate each issue, read them from cover to cover, refer to the ads and events, and save issues for later reference. The Iowa Source supports the region's dedication to quality, creativity, and prosperity on all levels of life. We are happy to have become a part of life in Iowa over the last three decades, and especially happy to be bringing The Iowa Source to you online. Thanks for reading The Source, and for visiting our site. Questions? Email Claudia Mueller at source@lisco.com The Iowa Source 108 W. Broadway, Suite 205 Fairfield, IA 52556 (641) 472-4852 Submissions The Iowa Source has has developed its unique voice through the stellar contributions of some of Iowa's best writers, artists, and photographers. We have no full-time staff writers, so we're always interested in submissions of articles that may be of interest to our readers. Naturally, we suggest that potential writers become familiar with the publication before contacting us about submissions. If you think you may have an article, or an idea for an article or column, please contact the editor, Claudia Mueller. Contributors The Iowa Source is proud to feature some of Iowa's best writers. Here's a list of our regulars: DAN COFFEY is a playwright, director, and actor known for his work with Duck’s Breath Mystery Theater and portraying memorable characters like Dr. Science. Dan lives in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Find his travel blog at geezersabroad.com. ROB CLINE is the marketing director for the University of Iowa's Hancher Auditorium and past president of the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance. He is also a busy freelance writer whose work appears regularly in The Source, Art Scene, Edible Iowa River Valley, and The Gazette. He lives in Cedar Rapids with his wife Jenny and three children. PATRICIA DRAZNIN is a freelance writer and editor residing in Fairfield, Iowa, which she refers to as a suburb of Chicago. In addition to her monthly film reviews for The Source, her writing is available at www.writingtogo.com. Patricia's writing credits include articles in health magazines including Total Health and American Spa. She has contributed book and product reviews for online businesses including Delphi, Audible.com, and Twin Galaxies. She has also written and performed standup comedy. NEIL FAUERSO was born in Los Angeles and raised in Fairfield, Iowa. He attended the University of Texas, Austin, and graduated with a B.A. in English. After finishing law school in Seattle, he left for China, where he watched as many movies as he could. These days he's back in Texas. JIM KARPEN , Ph.D., college professor, and Internet devotee, teaches writing at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa. Jim has been interested in the revolutionary consequences of computer technology ever since writing his Ph.D. dissertation in 1984 at Bowling Green State University on the study of the "digitized word." Visit his website at www.jimkarpen.com. STEVE HOROWITZ has more than 6,000 record albums and 8,000 compact discs and struggles to load all of the music on his computer. He believes in Sam Cooke’s clarion call that “a change is gonna come” and sees the world through the eyes of Paul Goodman and the neo-functional critique. The question is not whether something can be done faster or more efficiently, but whether it is worth doing at all and who benefits. He has a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Iowa, where he teaches an online class on rock and roll. CHRISTINE SCHRUM is a freelance writer and a Consulting Editor for The Iowa Source. She holds an M.A. in professional writing and has years of writing/editing experience in projects ranging from TV commercials to astrology software. She is also a closet poet and the Associate Editor of Eunoia, a journal published by First World Library Literary Society. JOE BRISBEN characterizes himself as "a simple country stockbroker" and "a social worker for people's money." He became a financial advisor 26 years ago and retired in 2012. He started writing the "Money" column for The Source in 1998. MARY HELEN STEFANIAK is author of the award-winning novel The Cailiffs of Baghdad, Georgia. She lives in Iowa City and teaches at Creighton University in Omaha. Chef KURT MICHAEL FRIESE is the founding leader of Slow Food Iowa and serves on the Slow Food USA National Board of Governors for the Midwest Region. A graduate and former chef-instructor at the New England Culinary Institute, he has been chef and owner of the Iowa City restaurant Devotay for 10 years. Friese is a freelance food writer and photographer as well, with regular columns in 6 local and national newspapers and magazines, and is editor-in-chief of the seasonal local food magazine Edible Iowa River Valley. CHRISTINE SCHRUM is a freelance writer and a Consulting Editor for The Iowa Source. She holds an M.A. in professional writing and has years of writing/editing experience in projects ranging from TV commercials to astrology software. She is also a closet poet and the Associate Editor of Eunoia, a journal published by First World Library Literary Society (www.1stworldlibrary.org under Resources). Funny, imaginative, and highly intelligent, SANDRA WILLBANKS's sole purpose in life is to heal people through laughter. She’s coauthored several books, writes both fiction and non-fiction stories for children, and generally has a good time. In her spare time, she laughs at her reflection in the mirror. JAMES MOORE is a freelance writer, professional musician, and station manager for KRUU FM 101, Fairfield's low-power grassroots community radio station. He holds an M.B.A. and has written extensively about politics. His work has appeared in the Village Voice, Iowa City Press-Citizen, Des Moines Register, and Little Village. His poems have appeared in Modern Drummer and Lyrical Iowa, and he plays regularly with several bands in Iowa.
- [Contact | Subscriptions](https://www.iowasource.com/2008/01/05/contact/) - Subscriptions sent First Class are $28 per year, or $49 for 2 years. Mail check to: The Iowa Source 108 W. Broadway, Suite 205 Fairfield, IA 52556 Or call us to charge to a credit card: (641) 472-4852 Don’t want to get out of your pajamas to go out to find the latest Iowa Source
- [Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/31/dead-reckoning/) - “As always, should you or any of your IM Force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions." —Dead Reckoning Part One Tom Cruise just might be a clone of his alter ego, IMF Agent Ethan Hunt. Or was it Hunt that was modeled after Cruise? Cruise has an insatiable
- [Mayor Harrison's Fedora Brings Irish Chicago to Cafe Paradiso on July 29](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/26/mayor-harrisons-fedora-brings-irish-chicago-to-cafe-paradiso-july-29/) - This Saturday, July 29, at Cafe Paradiso in Fairfield, progressive Irish band Mayor Harrison’s Fedora will take you on a journey from the Emerald Isle to the streets of Chicago with scintillating jigs and reels and heart-melting ballads. The all-star cast includes Sean Cleland on fiddle, Jesse Langen on guitar, and Steve Morrow on bodhran.
- [Iowa Dance Collective: An Inclusive, Multifaceted Space for Youth](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/31/iowa-dance/) - The Iowa Dance Collective recently moved from their small studios in the Orpheum Theater to a roomy new home on the Fairfield square. The IDC now has a large, welcoming reception area and lobby, two dance studio spaces, and a soundproofed arts/voice/theater studio. “This beautiful space is a godsend,” says owner Tyler Malone. “I’m here
- [Beyond Van Gogh: A Vast & Stirring Immersion into Art](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/27/van-gogh/) - It’s been a month since I visited the immersive Beyond Van Gogh traveling exhibit in Davenport, Iowa, and I’m still gushing about it to anyone who will listen. Go. You will not regret spending $44 this way. Eat peanut butter sandwiches and rice ’n’ beans for a couple weeks if you have to, but just
- [My Favorite Bicycle Rides in Southeast Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/2007/12/27/travel_recreationbiketrailrides_0606/) - I'm going to share a few of my favorite places to ride in Southeast Iowa, all within a 60-mile radius of Fairfield. As a veteran rider with the Fairfield Bike Club, I have come to know these back county roads like my own backyard. Unbeknownst to many, Iowa has a large network of clean, paved,
- [Experts Weigh In on AI](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/29/experts-on-ai/) - The tech news continues to be overwhelmed with reports related to artificial intelligence and ChatGPT, with a significant amount of coverage related to concerns experts have about the dangers. Thousands of AI experts, researchers, and tech entrepreneurs signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause in the development of AI. According to the letter,
- [A Tale of Two Cities: The 1935 Dickens Drama Resonates Today](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/11/tale-of-two-cities/) - “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. . . .” A Tale of Two Cities In 1935, Metro Goldwyn Mayer’s adaptation of Charles Dickens’s immortal novel from 1859 found its well-deserved place on the big screen. A Tale of Two Cities revisits the tiered societies of London and Paris in
- [The Carnegie Museum: Artifacts From Fairfield's Past Plus Surprising National Treasures](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/11/carnegie/) - The secret is out! A record number of visitors have discovered the spectaular collections at Fairfield’s Carnegie Historical Museum. Through a combination of open houses and special events, plus a partnership with the Iowa Travel Bureau, the museum has enjoyed a surge in attendance over the last two years. “There were 2,400 visitors last year,”
- [Tommy Prine: On the Road with His Debut Album](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/10/tommy-prine/) - The 27-year-old singer-songwriter Tommy Prine understands patience. Although he’s been writing songs ever since he was a kid, and his father ran a successful record label, Tommy was in no hurry to begin his career. On his new album, This Far South, there’s a line that goes, “Tomorrow seems much too long / and yesterday’s
- [Iowa City Farmers Market: A Place Where People Gather](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/03/ic-farmers/) - My favorite day of the week is also the longest: market day. It’s the only day I wake up early enough to see the moon and Venus before daylight obscures them. There’s a familiar rhythm: The silence before birdsong. The deer and fawns, confident the gravel roads and city lawns are theirs at this hour.
- [Pitchfork Music Festival: July 21-23 In Chicago](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/16/pitchfork-3/) - Every year the Pitchfork Music Festival brings some of the best and brightest alternative indie bands and edgy established acts to Chicago. Sometimes the artists function as a bit of both new and old as they use Pitchfork as a launching pad for their latest incarnations. This year is no different. The 2023 lineup features
- [Doughnut Economics: A Model for Environmental & Social Health](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/03/doughnut-economics/) - Last month, we took a hard look at economic growth to understand its connection to our most pressing environmental and social issues. While GDP growth can come with improved living standards, over-dependence on it can create vulnerabilities that affect every area of society. Even the inventor of GDP, Simon Kuznets, warned in 1934 that “the
- [How To Spot a Scam](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/07/03/how-to-spot-a-scam/) - I was lifting weights in the gym when a friend who knows what I do started talking with me about some bonds he was representing. They paid 100 percent interest per year and were backed by real estate. A few of you may be laughing now, but a few others may be asking, where can
- [Believe in the Beave! The Superpowers of Nature's Wetland Architect](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/01/beavers/) - Are beavers more important than humans?” Chris Sorflaten asks. We’re floating down Cedar Creek in Jefferson County, where he often encounters the inquisitive aquatic rodents. “Usually the first time of the year, they’re real skittish, and they’ll do a tail slap,” Sorflaten says. “But the next few times they like to come and play with
- [Hermano Gutierrez: Spaghetti Western Vibes with a Hint of the Surreal](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/28/gutierrez/) - In October 2022, the guitar duo Hermanos Gutiérrez (brothers Alejandro and Estevan Gutiérrez) released their fifth album, El Bueno y el Malo (The Good and the Bad), in collaboration with the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. The album was inspired by Ennio Morricone’s 1967 movie soundtrack for The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The brothers
- [John Smith & Friends Present His Most "Honest Work"](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/08/john-smith/) - During the height of the pandemic shutdown of 2021, English acoustic guitarist and singer John Smith penned a set of songs that he shared remotely with a circle of music friends for their vocal collaborations. The result is his sixth LP, The Fray, which Smith describes as his most “honest work,” adding that “a lot
- [Hancher Announces Infinite Dream Festival for October 2023](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/14/infinite-dream/) - Hancher Auditorium's long history of championing the arts in its many forms has inspired a new festival coming in October. Titled Infinite Dream, the two-week festival will explore the complex fabric of the American Story—our grand accomplishments, disruptive failures, and remarkable potential for excellence. “The festival’s theme serves as a reference point for the performances
- [Dr Chatbot WIll See You Now ...](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/06/dr-chatbot/) - There’s a lot of hype surrounding ChatGPT (chat.openai .com), currently the most widely used artificial intelligence text generator. Of course, I’m a progenitor of such hype. But when the hype comes from a journal of the American Medical Association, it lends a certain credibility. And if anything, the results of a recent study published in
- [Audra Kerr Brown: Igniting a Fire for Flash Fiction](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/05/audra-kerr-brown/) - Audra Kerr Brown keeps her stories short—very short. A writer of flash fiction, Kerr Brown has a knack for offering up a striking image, a memorable turn of phrase, and a sense of setting steeped in atmosphere that seems wholly infused with meaning. The stories in her chapbook collection, hush hush hush, may (of necessity)
- [June Brings the Best Kind of Blues: The Riverdogs](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/09/riverdogs/) - Back in September 2021, at the Sondheim Theater’s first live show since the beginning of the pandemic, the indefatigable Riverdogs blues band opened for the Hitmen. That night, the band welcomed a new drummer, Matt Mazza. This year, with the addition of the band’s new bassist, George Foster, the Riverdogs are off to a roaring
- [Unflinching Spirit: A New Album from Society of Broken Souls](https://www.iowasource.com/2018/03/30/unflinching-spirit/) - What I love most about the wife-husband team of Lauryn Shapter and Dennis James—two country-crossing, RV mile-piling, coyote minstrels better known as Society of Broken Souls—is the commitment to their craft. No, wait. That’s not it. Not by a long shot. It’s more like their commitment to themselves, embracing life’s shades and shadows, refractions and
- [Chihuly in the Garden: The Glass Artist's Spectacular Sculptures Come to St. Louis](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/06/chihuly/) - As if you needed an excuse to visit St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden is now hosting a spectacular art installation by world-renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly. On view through October 15, Chihuly in the Garden 2023 includes 18 breathtaking sculptural pieces placed throughout the grounds. This installation marks Chihuly’s return to the Missouri Botanical
- [Degrowth or Green Growth?](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/06/degrowth-or-green-growth/) - In 2021, while cities around the world were making efforts to recuperate following the shock of Covid-19, one city made an unconventional effort for a more green recovery. Amsterdam is now the first city in the world1 to have formally adopted a “doughnut” economic model, whereby an economy operates independently of financial growth to support
- [Bring Your Fix-Its to the Third Annual Repair Fair](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/05/repair-fair-2/) - Do you have broken household items that need to be fixed or repaired? Well, you’re in luck! Five repair experts will be on hand on Saturday, June 10, at the Fairfield Farmers Market in Howard Park from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. during the third annual Repair Fair. This year’s featured experts are: • Bill Arnold from
- [Enjoy Larger-Than-Life Art Experiences at PS1's Open Air Media Festival on June 3](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/30/open-air-media-fest/) - Public Space One's annual outdoor event showcasing video, performance, and time-based art begins this Saturday, June 3—it's the 4th Annual Open Air Media Festival, presenting innovative works by artists from Iowa and the greater Midwest. The event will take place at PS1’s Close House, 538 S. Gilbert St., Iowa City, beginning at 8:30 p.m., and
- [James McMurtry: Songs of Colorful Characters & Their Calamities](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/03/mcmurtry/) - More than a dozen years have passed since I last spoke to the great Texas singer-songwriter James McMurtry. Back then, McMurtry wanted me to spread the word about President Obama’s Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), which allowed him to receive health-care benefits that he had previously been without. He noted that most musicians do not
- [Be An Owner—It's So Boss!](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/03/be-an-owner-its-so-boss/) - As I mentioned in a previous column, I had a high school job in a factory loading trucks. It was hard work. I was paid less than $1.25 per hour, which was a pretty pathetic wage, even by the standards of the day. I worked for the shipping manager, who spent most of his time
- [Vintage Lionel Train Set at Heartland History Connection](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/06/01/lionel-train/) - A beautiful vintage train set will be on view at Iowa Heartland History Connection in Ottumwa through June 30. The 1930s Lionel train is part of a collection owned by museum volunteer and board member Chris Cobler, who has been collecting trains since he was in high school. Cobler's first train set was an O
- [How to Make Homemade Ice Cream: Three Sinfully Good Recipes](https://www.iowasource.com/2013/08/02/food2013_08-icecream/) - Nothing beats the cold, creamy goodness of homemade ice cream on a hot summer day. And it’s certainly easy to do with an ice cream maker. Don't have an ice cream maker? Not a problem. Make delicious homemade ice cream by following the directions at the end of this article. To get started, try our
- [Myths of Aging Gracefully: Loving Yourself vs. Laughing Your Ass Off](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/04/aging/) - Time marches on. And gravity is real. My local community theater, on a fresh high from its hit winter production, has been brainstorming possible small-ensemble plays we could cram into our upcoming season. My heart quickened at the casual mention of The Importance of Being Earnest, one of Oscar Wilde’s funniest farces—and a rite of
- [Storyteller Tracy Chipman: Creatrix of Tales from a Northern World](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/30/tracy-chipman/) - Former Fairfielder Tracy Chipman is a professional storyteller who has delighted audiences for decades. She’ll be visiting Fairfield in June as part of a book tour for her new memoir, Borealis Mundi—Resting in Place, Loss, and Grace. As a minimalistic storyteller, Chipman doesn’t use costumes or characters but focuses instead on voice and language. “I’m
- [Spring Playlist: A Fresh Mix from Artists Near & Far](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/03/spring-playlist-2/) - My spring playlist presents a musically diverse set of 13 tracks from artists stationed around the world, including places like Australia, South Korea, Ukraine, Belarus, Sweden, and India. As you might imagine, information on some of these artists is sparse. One is a composer for a South Korean film soundtrack. Another is a Swedish sound
- [Tree Guy Goes Native: Bringing Back Habitats for Our Birds & Insects](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/01/tree-guy/) - Have you noticed that there are fewer birds in your garden lately? If you have, you’re not imagining it. Loss of habitat has resulted in a staggering decline of bird populations. In fact, a disturbing study by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology shows that 3 billion birds have disappeared from North America over the last
- [Chamber Singers Present "East West Harmonies" on May 27-28](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/16/east-meets-west/) - East meets West in a joyful celebration of song on May 27–28. The Chamber Singers of Southeast Iowa will give two performances of “East West Harmonies,” their spring concert, on Saturday and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend at 7:30 p.m. in the Golden Magnolia Sanctuary, 200 S. Main Street, Fairfield, just a short block from
- [Willie Nelson: 90-Year-Old Mega-Musician Returns to Iowa on May 17](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/09/willie-nelson/) - Willie Nelson & Family will be playing at the McGrath Amphitheatre in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, May 17. Nelson has frequently performed all over the state during the past 50 years, but the fact that this legendary musician is 90 years old and still at the top of his game makes this important. Nelson’s last
- [Grieving with Grace: A Mother's Perspective on Life, Death, and the Power of a Pen](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/04/grieving-with-grace/) - In 2019, Vicki Malloy’s son Jai died suddenly at the age of 31. This traumatic and unexpected event had a devastating impact on all of his family and friends. For Vicki, reality shifted in a moment’s time, and journaling was one way she felt able to communicate and stay connected with her son. The resulting
- [Air: An Entertaining Peek into the Athletic Shoe Industry](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/04/air/) - With a rush of adrenaline typically associated with thrillers, Air is the unexpected true story that drives us through a slice of history we’re witnessing for the first time. And it’s a wild ride. Directed with precision by Ben Affleck, Air turns back the clock to 1984, when a running-shoe manufacturer called Nike was losing
- [The World Didn't End, Again: A Banking Catastrophe Put Into Perspective](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/04/banking-crisis/) - In October 1987, I was a new father. I was also new to financial markets. The October 19 collapse looked so much like 1929 that I was sure the world would never be the same and that I had to take action to protect my new family. I was far from alone in my thinking.
- [What Is a Market Correction?](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/04/market-correction/) - I’m reminded of Ronald Reagan’s definition of a recession and of a depression: “Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours.” Humorous and clear and a little illustrative of our topic. What President Reagan was saying in his homespun way is that it’s a matter of degrees. A matter
- [The Beautiful Outdoors: Learning to Cohabit with the Natural World](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/03/beautiful-outdoors/) - While technological solutions have significantly helped us to move toward a sustainable economy, these same advances sometimes act as a crutch, enabling us to prolong unhealthy behaviors. As a consequence, humanity continues to distance itself from integration with natural systems. Ultimately, it’s in our best interest to avoid such behaviors in the first place, but
- [ChatGPT-4: It's a Leap Above](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/03/chatgpt4/) - In early March, version 4 of ChatGPT was released to subscribers, and I’m here to tell you that it takes artificial intelligence text generation to a new level. What new level? Like passing the Universal Bar Exam, which 41 U.S. states and jurisdictions use to qualify attorneys to practice. And like writing jokes. In his
- [KHOE Radio: Uniting Voices & Cultures Since 1994](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/02/khoe/) - If you’ve been a long-time reader of The Iowa Source, you may remember me from my years as a loquacious music editor. You might also know me as the station manager of solar-powered community radio station KRUU-FM—a glorious ride that for 11-plus years brought together scores and scores of hosts and volunteers sharing their creativity
- [Happy Tails on the Trail: Exercising with Four-Legged Friends](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/02/dogs-and-exercise/) - My dogs, and most dogs I know, are eager to be out in all weather. It’s hard to agree with them in February, but when I open the door in May, shoulders up to my ears braced for cold, I am melted by soft perfumed air. It’s time to get back outdoors with my best
- [Two New Shows Open at Fairfield First Fridays May 5th](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/01/first-fridays/) - Two art exhibitions featuring very different landscapes will open on May 5 during Fairfield First Fridays. No Horizons at Big Blue art gallery will examine the Iowa landscape through the work of local artists, and Something Familiar, Something Unfamiliar re-imagines known landscapes to create scenes from other worlds. Continuing at the Fairfield Art Association in
- [Planting for Backyard Diversity: The Best Plants for Iowa Properties](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/04/06/native-iowa-plants/) - The Southeast Iowa Sierra Club has compiled this list of native plants that are recommended for growing in Iowa yards. Woody Plants white oak swamp white oak shingle oak pin oak bur oak blackjack oak chinkapin oak red oak post oak black oak American plum wild black cherry chokecherry pussy willow prairie willow black willow
- [Enjoy Spring Revelry with the Family at Singing Cedars May Faire](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/05/02/may-faire/) - There’s a lot to celebrate this spring at Singing Cedars School as prepares for its annual May Faire on Saturday, May 6, and it nears the completion of its second early childhood classroom. May Faire All are invited to a joyous celebration of spring at the Singing Cedars School May Faire on Saturday, May 6.
- [Mills Seed Company: Preserving the Past & Welcoming the Sustainable Future](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/31/mills-seed/) - Every day, Iowans drive past 19-century storefronts and factories, square farmhouses, and the occasional one-room schoolhouse or chapel. To Terry Philips and Sandra Johnson, what we do with these centenarian structures speaks volumes about who we are as a society. “There is no building as green as the one that already exists,” Sandra tells me.
- [Kevin Kelley Premieres "Standing Strong: Elizabeth Catlett" on April 15](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/30/catlett/) - Iowa City filmmaker Kevin Kelley will present his new film, Standing Strong: Elizabeth Catlett, at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, at FilmScene in Iowa City. This film highlights the story of Black activist-artist Elizabeth Catlett. Known around the world for her sculptures and prints featuring women and children, Elizabeth Catlett (1915-2012) was a granddaughter
- [Fund Your Green Project! Explore Opportunities at Inflation Reduction Act Clinic](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/31/inflation-reduction-act/) - Would your school district like to add solar or convert some buses to EV? Would you like to use climate-smart agricultural practices on your farm? Could your community upgrade and expand housing? If your answer is “Yes, but it’s not in the budget,” that may soon change. The Southeast Iowa Sierra Club has organized an
- [Rare and Unusual Fruits You Can Grow in Your Iowa Backyard](https://www.iowasource.com/2008/01/07/home_gardengarden_fruit_0405/) - Everyone enjoys the sensual pleasure of tasting a new and exotic tropical fruit, but few people in our corner of Iowa realize that they can taste exotic fruit in their own backyard. This article will introduce you to some unusual fruits and your neighbors who grow them. While many of these fruits are rare and
- [DIY Mosaic: Remnant Tiles Transform into a Sea-Life Mural](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/04/13/mosaic/) - Spring brings a renewed verve for tackling home improvement projects, from closet cleaning and furniture rearranging to full-on redecoration and renovation. If you have the creative itch but need a little inspiration for your next project, let’s talk about tile. Fairfield resident Jessica Bennett and her mother, Karen Stone, recently created a beautiful ocean-themed bathroom
- [Andrea Lawlor: Whiting Award Winner Brings Iowa City to Life in 2019 Novel](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/04/13/andrea-lawlor-whiting-award-winner-brings-iowa-city-to-life-in-2019-novel/) - Of late, the combination of anti-LGBTQ and anti-book bills coming out of the Iowa legislature has had me thinking about my 2020 conversation with Andrea Lawlor about their astonishing novel, Paul Takes the Form of a Mortal Girl. The book and the author are steeped in Iowa-ness—or at least the kind of Iowa-ness I believe
- [Ready Player One: A Thrilling Adventure Cloaked in '80s Nostalgia](https://www.iowasource.com/2018/04/17/ready-player-one/) - Part of the fun of this film is enjoying the many references to the ’80s—the era that saw the birth of video games and the personal computer, a string of hit movies from directors (e.g. John Hughes and Steven Spielberg), and music videos on a new television channel called MTV. (The film’s soundtrack opens with
- [SYML: Beauty & Heartache Fill Brian Fennell's New Album](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/04/05/syml/) - In February, SYML’s Brian Fennell released an album in honor of the passing of his adoptive father—The Day My Father Died. Forty-year-old Brian was born into a Welsh family but adopted by parents in the U.S. and grew up in Issaquah, a suburb of Seattle, Washington. His performance name, SYML, means “simple” in Welsh and
- [Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/04/05/hallelujah/) - There is a crack, a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in. — “Anthem,” by Leonard Cohen From directors Daniel Geller and Dayna Goldfine, this intimate portrait of poet, singer, and songwriter Leonard Cohen sheds light on a unique life story that never runs out of surprises. Hallelujah, the documentary, leaves as lasting
- [Mission Creek Festival: Cat Power Headlines Three-Day Music & Lit Event](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/03/mission-creek/) - The three-day music and literature festival Mission Creek takes place every spring in downtown Iowa City. This year, the big news is the return of University of Iowa’s Hancher Auditorium as a venue. The opening event on Thursday, April 6, features headliner Cat Power (a.k.a. Chan Marshall) in a piano and guitar duo format, a
- [The AI Backlash Begins: Google & Microsoft Add Chatbots to Search](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/04/05/ai-backlash/) - The huge excitement and publicity around ChatGPT (Chat.openai.com) prompted both Microsoft and Google in early February to launch new features in their search engines that integrate artificial intelligence text generation. (As I write this, the features aren’t yet available to everyone.) The launch garnered much publicity. But as often happens, a bit of a backlash
- [Warehouse Destroyed: Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity Loses Building to Storm Damage](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/04/04/habitat-for-humanity-loss/) - A giant warehouse used to store everything Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity (IVHFH) needs to build and repair homes is a total loss after tornadoes passed through eastern Iowa last week. The ruined 5,760-square-foot space housed construction tools, supplies, materials, safety equipment, vehicles, and trailers. “Our organization has determined that our clients, staff, and the
- [Tapping Into the Hero Within to Lead Regenerative Design Change](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/04/03/hero-within/) - In his landmark work, The Power of Myth, Joseph Campbell identifies a theme common to humanity throughout history—the hero’s journey. The hero’s journey begins when an individual feels a significant deficiency in some aspect of the status quo. This person is then compelled to embark on a search of a new design that reveals a
- [Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain Graces Sondheim Stage March 31](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/24/zakir-hussain/) - Zakir Hussain and the Masters of Percussion promise a rare feast of aural and rhythmic delight in Fairfield on Friday, March 31, 2023, at the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts. Zakir Hussain descends from generations of drummers in India. His father, tabla legend Ustad Alla Rakha, was revered for his tabla prowess and for
- [Grow Your Own Food with the Fairfield Garden Initiative: Deadline April 15](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/31/garden-initiative/) - The Fairfield Garden Initiative (FGI) aims to empower community members to grow their own healthy food, increase food security, and encourage regenerative growing practices, particularly for low- and moderate-income households in Jefferson County. The program is run by the Sustainable Living Coalition in collaboration with community partners and with support from the City of Fairfield.
- [SXSW 2023: Surveying Global Trends in Music & Culture](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/28/sxsw-2/) - There were several reasons why more than 300,000 people came to Autin, Texas, for South by Southwest (SXSW) in March this year. The mix of technology, film, and music festivals and conferences attracted a wide range of geeks, freaks, and aesthetes from around the globe to learn about the latest trends. But one of the
- [Stone Soup & Burritos on Bikes: Hot Meals & Meaningful Connections](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/27/stone-soup/) - Last fall I began inquiries for a series of articles about Iowans who volunteer their time. As suspected, the region is riddled with a bunch of do-gooders. (Thank you!) These two nonprofits helping feed those in need make a particularly delicious duo. Stone Soup Kitchen I’ve been to the Stone Soup Kitchen at Golden Magnolia
- [Music at the Mills: Abandoned 1907 Building Sings a New Song](https://www.iowasource.com/2018/07/05/music-at-the-mills/) - What do you do with an old, abandoned, dilapidated factory building that’s falling apart? If you’re Terry Philips, you renovate it and turn it into a live music venue. That’s exactly what he did with the old Mills Seed Co. Building in Washington, Iowa. In 2009, the Mills Seed Building was about to be torn
- [ICON Gallery Presents "Glimpse of the Permanent Collection" Through June](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/13/icon-gallery/) - ICON Gallery has been gathering art over its 21-year history, and its collection now numbers over 400 works. A selection of these artworks is now on view in the gallery through June 10. The art has been donated by supporters and purchased by ICON from artists who have exhibited at the gallery. Art has also
- [New Mental Health Resource Guide for Jefferson County](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/07/mental-health/) - The Jefferson County Mental Health and Wellness Alliance was formed last year to create and support a mentally resilient community. Based in Fairfield, the Alliance includes mental health professionals, community leaders, city officials, and concerned townsfolk from all walks of life. “All of us involved want our citizens, no matter what age, to know that
- [Four Shillings Short to Kick Off St. Pat's at Cafe Paradiso March 16](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/13/four-shillings-short-to-kick-off-st-pats-at-cafe-paradiso-march-16/) - Get a delightful head start on your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations on Thursday, March 16, when Four Shillings Short graces the Café Paradiso stage with a breadth of diverse folk flavors the likes of which you probably haven’t heard. Rooted in Celtic and American folk, and inspired by Indian raga and ethnic idioms, this unique
- [Creators of Graphic Novel "2184½" Talk Shop](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/09/creators-of-graphic-novel-2184-1-2-talk-shop/) - Here’s the pitch Fritz McDonald gives when asked to describe the graphic novel he co-created with Tom Jackson: “I tell them that 2184½ is like a cross between The Road Warrior and Catch-22.” The description is apt. The story—set in a future dystopian America where the date never changes and facts are disposable—is reminiscent of
- [The Thirsty Word: Third Thursday Reading Series](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/01/02/the-thirsty-word/) - I’ve been thinking about a quote that was floating around online a few months back, which read something like, “Lack of success is not an indicator of talent, just lack of a deadline.” I’m a writer. And I need a deadline. How about you? When your creative passion is something you have to squeeze in
- [FACT is Back: "Iowa! It's Alright" Premieres at the Sondheim Theater March 16-19](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/03/iowa-its-alright/) - Fairfield Area Community Theatre (FACT) is delighted to present the world premiere of an original theatrical production, Iowa! It’s Alright! … (If You Like That Sort of Thing), March 16–19 at the Sondheim Theater in Fairfield. “As our first post-pandemic show,” says FACT Board Vice President Lou Bolster, “we were hoping to avoid paying through
- [Meet Sara Martindale: The Children's Librarian at Fairfield Public Library](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/08/sara-martindale/) - Since becoming the children’s librarian at the Fairfield Public Library last October, Sara Martindale has brought lots of experience and enthusiasm to her role. A parent with school-aged children and an educator with broad-ranging career experiences, she filled a position that had been vacant since former children’s librarian Alecs Mickunas left to become the library
- [Generative AI: It's a Game Changer!](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/28/ia/) - Call me prescient. I’ve written about generative artificial intelligence in this column six times now because it seemed revolutionary. And, ahem, now the experts agree. In January, Microsoft invested $10 billion in OpenAI, planning to integrate its technology into their offerings, including adding language generation to Word. Yep, you start writing, say, a proposal in
- [Grilled Cheese, Please! Winning Recipes from the Pickle Creek Challenge](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/02/grilled-cheese/) - During the Pickle Creek 2023 Grilled Cheese Challenge, we asked Iowans to submit their inspired grilled cheese recipes featuring flavored olive oils and vinegars. We tested, tasted, and shared a grilled cheese idea for each day in February—28 recipes in all! All the submissions were delicious, ranging from savory to sweet to downright interesting. We
- [Ocie Elliott: Haunting Harmonies from a Canadian Folk Duo](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/03/02/ocie-elliott/) - In 2017, Sierra Lundy and Jon Middleton started performing together as the folk duo Ocie Elliott in Victoria, British Columbia. That same year, Ocie Elliott had some music tracks chosen for the soundtrack of the Grey’s Anatomy TV series. The duo describes their music as landing somewhere between Gillian Welch’s Americana ballads and Angus &
- [Unforgettably Thanksgiving: A Feast of Fond(ish) Memories](https://www.iowasource.com/2019/11/13/thanksgiving/) - Pie! Pie! by Meredith Siemsen When you’re just not into football, there is no better place to spend Thanksgiving than on your grandparents’ farm. To pass the time on the long car ride over from Ames to Newton, the six of us—buckled in, hip to hip—would look for pheasants in the grassy ditch, deer hiding
- [Investing in Bonds? Let's Take a Look at the Past, Present & Future](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/28/bonds/) - When I was little, I saw a Bugs Bunny cartoon that included Bugs time-traveling into the far distant future. The world was fantastical, with all our sci-fi dreams coming true. That far distant future was the year 1999. Seems pretty funny now. Not only did our sci-fi dreams not come true by that year, but
- [Addressing Complexity: Regenerative Economics Excels at Understanding Intricate Issues](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/28/complexity/) - Following the industrial revolution, Western cultures developed an affinity for reductionism, the notion that a system can be described as the sum of its constituent parts. Reductionism can be a helpful way of understanding a well-defined problem—like a broken watch, for example. Identifying and replacing a single dysfunctional part will likely get the watch ticking
- [Finding Joy in your Music: Danny Welton's Story](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/27/danny-welton/) - One of my best friends is Danny Welton. He’s been an actor in over 40 movies and a comedian who worked with Milton Berle for years. Look him up! At age 92, Welton is still worthy of being called one of the best harmonica players that ever lived. He kills it on the chromatic harmonica!
- [Four New Shows Worth a Visit at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/27/crma/) - The Cedar Rapids Museum of Art is an underappreciated gem in Iowa’s cultural landscape. Established in 1895, the CRMA returned to its original location in the Carnegie Library in 1989 after the addition of a large gallery wing designed by post-modern architect Charles Moore. With significant collections from several prominent Iowa artists, the CRMA has
- [Living: Unexpected Warmth in an Existential Crisis](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/27/living/) - As the British remake of Ikiru (“To Live”), Akira Kurosawa’s acclaimed film of 1952, the wise tale called Living dares to approach the elusive meaning of life. Set in London in the early 1950s, Living revisits the formal days of propriety, when people dressed up for work and spoke politely, quietly, and sometimes rigidly. The
- [Old Sea Brigade: The Maturing Indie Folk of Ben Cramer](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/01/old-sea-brigade/) - Indie folk singer-songwriter Ben Cramer has performed as Old Sea Brigade since 2016. Originally from Georgia, 31-year-old Ben now resides in Nashville, where he writes and records in his studio while collaborating with Nettwerk Music Group. Ben’s songs explore various moods and textures of ordinary life while swinging between worry and joy. His talents shine
- [A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum ... February 24-26 in Keosauqua](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/21/funny-thing/) - The Van Buren Players present their winter musical, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, at the Roberts Building in Keosauqua on Friday & Saturday, February 24-25, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 26, at 2 p.m. at the Roberts Building in Keosauqua. Broadway's greatest farce is light, fast-paced, irreverent, and one
- [Trekking into New Worlds](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/05/trekking-in-the-new-year/) - I am an inveterate Star Trek fan. Whether it’s the original series from the 1960s and its oft forgotten animated spin-off from the early 1970s, Star Trek: The Next Generation that ushered in the 1990s heyday, or the current live-action and animated variations, I’m delighted by all of it. The movies, too—whether they take place
- [What To Plant! A Grassroots Biodiversity Talk February 18](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/07/biodiversity/) - Nature needs our help! Recent headlines about the global decline of bird and insect populations are a bleak reality check about how ineffective our conservation efforts have been. Fortunately, there is much we can do on the local level to help create landscapes that support local ecosystems. On Saturday, February 18, Doug Tallamy will give
- [Women in Country Music: Love Songs for the February Blues](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/07/love-songs/) - February is the dreariest month. The skies are continually grey and overcast—unless it’s raining or snowing. The wind blows in cold from the north. The days are still short. And there’s little happening at local venues because touring acts are afraid to book shows when there’s inclement weather. Then there are the February holidays. The
- [Factory Farms in Iowa: What's The Latest in Our State?](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/07/factory-farms/) - Factory farming is a major concern in Iowa. No one wants to lose their quality of life to a malodorous and potentially hazardous hog confinement. To get an update on this issue and learn how we can help protect our communities, we talked with Diane Rosenberg, Executive Director of Jefferson County Farmers & Neighbors, Inc.,
- [Sandy Moffett's CAFO Caper: A Midwestern Murder Mystery](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/02/07/sandy-moffett/) - A few years back, our regular books and literature columnist Rob Cline reviewed a delightful collection of short stories titled Coming Clean by Betty Moffett. Betty—and shortly thereafter her husband, Sandy (Alexander)—became regulars at the monthly Thirsty Word reading series I host, driving all the way down from Grinnell to share their creative writing with
- [Arts Ascending: MIU's New MFA & Revamped Arts Building](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/04/miu-art/) - The MIU Art Department, which has emerged from the pandemic with a vibrant new low-residency MFA program and a transformed arts building, presents its annual Faculty Show this month, opening January 20. It will be an exciting opportunity to see the wide variety of art produced by faculty in the beautifully renovated Wege Center for
- [Your Retirement Savings: The SECURE 2.0 Act Gives Them a Boost](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/31/savings/) - As a father of two small children, I can attest to the fact that getting anything accomplished around the house is nearly impossible when the kids are arguing and fighting with each other. It’s usually over something trivial—TV or toys—but it takes time and attention away from all the other tasks of parenting and running
- [Choppy Times Ahead: 2023 Begins in a Jumble](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/31/choppy-times/) - Disclaimer—I don’t know the future—and neither does anyone else. Take the outlook for recession, for example. Nearly everyone says we’re going to get one. The Conference Board recently reported that 98 percent of CEOs expect a recession. Ninety-eight percent—yikes! It’s my job to look at indicators, listen to analysts, and try to figure out what’s
- [How Bear Markets End](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/31/how-bear-markets-end/) - Maybe the reason so many murders occur after dark is the darkness itself, which can overwhelm our emotions. While murder is sometimes a rational act, I suspect it’s mostly a highly emotional deed. I have a rule that I never make decisions in the middle of the night—especially if I’ve woken up in the dark.
- [Battles with Batteries: Making Electric Vehicles Eco-Friendly](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/31/battles-with-batteries/) - In recent years, numerous studies have demonstrated the environmental advantages of electric vehicles (EVs) over their gas-powered counterparts. A study published last year1 from the University of Michigan found that, compared to internal-combustion engine vehicles, common EV models in the U.S. generate nearly 64 percent less greenhouse gas on average. While EVs have a greater
- [Grilled Cheese, Please! Pickle Creek Hosts Recipe Challenge](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/31/grilled-cheese-please/) - Are you a lover of ooey-gooey, warming, comforting grilled cheese sandwiches? You’re invited to join fellow grilled cheese aficionados and local farm Pickle Creek Herbs this February in the Great 2023 Pickle Creek Grilled Cheese Challenge. Pickle Creek is asking for recipe ideas and submissions to help them come up with a new grilled cheese
- [Next-Level ChatGPT: Can It Read Your Mind?](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/30/chatgpt/) - As I write this column on a bitterly cold December day, the second day I’m without water in my home because the pipes are frozen, it was only natural to ask ChatGPT (chat.openai.com) to write a poem about why I’m tired of this wintry weather. In seconds it came up with this: The icy winds
- [Watch Bald Eagles Soar & Dive Along the Mississippi](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/23/bald-eagles/) - Each winter when the weather turns cold, the Quad Cities hosts a large number of bald eagles making their annual southern migration from Canada to the unfrozen waters of the Mississippi River. The eagles are easily identified by the white feathers of their heads and tails and their immense wingspans. Bald eagles, a symbol of
- [Sky Consort with Emma Björling Bring Transatlantic Folk to Eastern Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/23/sky-consort/) - Café Paradiso and Fairfield Muse are excited to host renowned “transatlantic chamber folk” ensemble Skye Consort & Emma Björling on Saturday, January 28. Having received numerous awards, including the prestigious Opus Award for “2019 Album of the Year” for their last album, these musicians promise a very special evening at Café Paradiso. Consider getting your
- [Best Releases of 2022: Relaxed Tunes with an Enigmatic Edge](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/05/best-2022-releases/) - When the new year approaches, I always delight in assembling my annual list of the year’s best releases from off the beaten path. These 11 songs spanning 40 minutes are arranged in the order I would play them on a radio show. I relish mid- to downtempo songs that project a bit of an edge,
- [Recycling the Recyclers: Exploring Criticisms Around a Struggling Industry](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/05/recycling-the-recyclers/) - Despite our best efforts, recycling can get complicated. Recyclers can differ wildly in their quality and contamination standards, in the types of materials they accept, and even in their transparency about recycling practices in general. These issues won’t disappear with consumer education alone; instead, they reflect underlying struggles that the recycling industry faces today. Even
- [The Fabelmans: The Making of a Director . . . and a Man](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/03/the-fabelmans/) - The name Steven Spielberg evokes memories of movies we savor, like Jaws, E.T., Schindler’s List, Poltergeist, Close Encounters, the Indiana Jones series, Saving Private Ryan, Jurassic Park, Catch Me If You Can, Bridge of Spies, Lincoln, Minority Report, and Munich, to name a few. Collectively, Spielberg’s movies have grossed the highest box office revenue of
- [Warming Up Winter: Orange You Glad It's the Season of Citrus?](https://www.iowasource.com/2019/12/06/orange-you-glad-its-the-holidays/) - Oranges are one of winter’s wonders and simple pleasures, and I am so thankful for the modern convenience of finding bright, beautiful navel oranges on grocery store shelves during the cold, gray winter. Yes, oranges are the star of the bleak midwinter months. Stock up on citrus and you’ll be sure to get your vitamin
- [Beautifying a Bridge: Chad Starling's New Mural for Fairfield](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/10/chad-starling/) - Fairfield may soon have a new public art piece. Local artist Chad Starling has proposed a mural project to beautify the railroad underpass on 2nd Street. Working with the Fairfield Volunteer Center, Starling presented his design in November to the Fairfield City Council, which is currently reviewing the project. The mural, centered around the phrase
- [MLK-Inspired Music: A Song List in Tribute to Dr. King](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/09/mlk/) - Martin Luther King Jr Day is celebrated as a federal holiday on Monday, January 16. Reverend King had a tremendous impact on the civil rights movement of the 1950s and ’60s. A Baptist minister and a social activist, he preached nonviolence against racial segregation and is best remembered for his “I Have a Dream” speech
- [Board Game Bonanza: For Gifts, Gatherings & Days Meant for Play](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/29/board-games/) - My parents held their four children to a strict regimen of Sunday “family nights.” These obligatory gatherings were real eye-rollers come our teenage years, but had I children of my own, I’d now be continuing the tradition. I remember the annual family Christmas card signing ritual, and Sunday frisbee tosses and picnics in the park,
- [Looming Large: The Outdoor Megasculpture Student Projects of Bill Close](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/04/looming-large/) - In the spring of 1994, when I was in my 40s and had moved back to Iowa to teach, I walked into town one day and came within sight of a bicycle shop. There, propped up in front of the building, was a gigantic mountain bike, so large that it was taller than the building
- [Requiem for Crypto? And the Metaverse Too?](https://www.iowasource.com/2023/01/04/requiem-for-cryto/) - As your tech columnist, it is incumbent upon me to inform you of fascinating new developments in the tech world. And as your tech columnist, it is incumbent upon me to tell you when these developments flop. So it is with cryptocurrency and the metaverse. Of course, these technologies could still be transformational, but late
- [Vegetarian Soups: Nourishing Nosh to Take the Chill Off Winter](https://www.iowasource.com/2009/07/06/food1993_02/) - Soups are certainly one of the most satisfying things to cook and eat. Warm and nourishing, filling the house with good smells, they take the edge off winter’s chill. The ones we’ve chosen are simple to prepare, and you can dress them up with garnishes and serve them with delicious quick breads for a meal
- [Entertainment & Elephants: Experiments with Image Generators](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/30/image-generators/) - I don’t know why I have a thing for elephants, but that’s what always comes to mind when I try out a new artificial intelligence image generator. You’d think that they’d be able to draw an image of an elephant on horseback, but so far—nada. On the other hand, DALL•E (Openai.com/dall-e-2) did a good job
- [Fairfield's James A. Beck House: An Extraordinary Home with Deep Local History](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/04/fairfields-beck-house/) - Richard and Kendra Lint moved from Portland, Oregon, to Fairfield, Iowa, for a house—their dream home, in fact. Known to many Fairfielders as “the Purple House,” “the Sloca House,” or “the Ball House” (identified either by its distinctive paint job or its former long-term owners), the historic three-story Queen Anne mansion reigns in picturesque splendor
- [Isaac Hamlet: The Long Road to Writing a Fantasy Series](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/12/02/isaac-hamlet/) - Isaac Hamlet has a story he’s been crafting and recrafting for quite some time. Recently, he self-published Light Keeper Chronicle: The Unspoken Prophecy, the first in a developing series of fantasy novels. Hamlet, a journalist who attended the University of Iowa and now lives and works in Des Moines, answered questions about his saga via
- [The Well: Community Services and An Ear To Hear](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/12/02/the-well/) - The Well, a nonprofit organization based in Pella, opened a community center in Fairfield last year to offer help and hope to those in need. As a nondenominational Christian-based organization inspired by true Christian values, The Well provides services to everyone, regardless of their religious beliefs. Located at 1700 S. Main, The Well also runs
- [Chamber Singers Present “Rejoice and Sing” Dec. 17–18](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/12/08/chamber-singers-present-rejoice-and-sing-dec-16-17/) - The Chamber Singers of Southeast Iowa are excited to present “Rejoice and Sing,” their holiday choral concert, on Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the Golden Magnolia (formerly the First Presbyterian Church) at 200 South Main Street in Fairfield. The concert program rekindles the joys of the holiday season with
- [Affordable Gifts for AV Geeks](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/12/07/affordable-gifts-for-av-geeks/) - I was preparing to write my gift article when a thunderstorm came through town. In a flash, none of the equipment I had recently installed for a client was no longer communicating. Thankfully, all of the pieces still worked fine on their own. Why did this happen? Because I hadn’t insisted on including a properly
- [Yellowstone: The Dutton Family Empire in the Wild, Wild West](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/29/yellowstone/) - Now in its fifth season on the Paramount network and streaming on Peacock, Yellowstone transports us to the sprawling Montana scenery of the fictional Yellowstone Ranch, the largest privately owned ranch in the country. In spite of the serenity of unspoiled acres, Yellowstone’s Dutton family does not enjoy a peaceful existence. They routinely face off
- [Top Financial Risks: Everything You Never Wanted To Know About What Could Go Wrong](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/12/07/top-financial-risks/) - Since I have had many personal experiences that could be described as “train wrecks,” I have a natural propensity to look for the other shoe to drop when it comes to my clients’ situations. While it may sound pessimistic, I see this as the most important step in the financial planning process. Identifying and managing
- [A Tuneful Holiday Gift List: Unconventional, Outstanding & Overlooked](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/12/01/holiday-gift-list/) - With the holiday season upon us, I’ve compiled a list of musical gift suggestions that will delight and surprise, both for their general excellence and their eccentricity. The music selected here generally falls on the quieter side to provide solace and warmth during the winter months. These are not obscure releases as much as ones
- [Foods of the Future: Unpacking Eco-Friendly Meat & Meat Substitutes](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/12/02/foods-of-the-future/) - There’s no doubt that livestock farming plays a significant role in climate change. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the sector accounts for nearly one sixth of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock farming also contributes substantially to land use and deforestation, and is accountable for one quarter1 of our total
- [Sasha Alex Sloan: Charmingly Melancholic Pop Songs](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/12/02/sasha-alex-sloan/) - Since 2015, indie-pop singer-songwriter Sasha Alex Sloan has been writing songs for established artists like Camila Cabello and Katy Perry. She finally released her first studio album, Only Child, in 2020, followed by her second, I Blame the World, in May 2022, at age 27. The album is filled with brutally honest songs delivered as
- [ICON Gallery's Biennial Art Auction Now Open for Bids](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/07/icon-biennial-art-auction/) - This year's ICON Biennial Art Auction is the biggest and most diverse yet, with starting bids ranging from $10 to $500 and over 150 works of donated art to choose from. The works are on view at ICON Gallery, 58 N. Main Street, Fairfield. “The art auction is our main fundraiser,” says ICON Director Bill
- [Annual Children's Holiday Benefit with Special Guest Annie Savage](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/12/01/childrens-holiday-benefit/) - The 27th Annual Children’s Holiday Benefit Concert on December 10 at 7:30 p.m. offers two viewing choices this year: in person at the Lab, 408 W. Lowe in Fairfield, or online via Zoom. But no matter which option attendees choose, they’ll enjoy a diverse lineup of talented Iowa artists and a full array of musical
- [Sounds Like A Holiday! Festive Food Drive on December 7](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/29/sounds-like-a-holiday/) - The “Sounds Like a Holiday!” food drive returns—with more songs, more stories, and more festive fun. On Wednesday, December 7, a community collective of musicians, writers, and performers will offer two hours of high-spirited holiday programming at the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts, 200 N. Main Street, in Fairfield. Admission to this all-ages event
- [Cafe Paradiso Turns 20! Celebrating Community, Creativity, and Damn Good Coffee](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/01/cafe-paradiso-turns-20/) - As a business, you know you’re doing something right when, on a regular basis, your customers tell you that if you ever shut your doors, they’d leave town for good. Never underestimate the power of a good cup of coffee. Well, espresso. Cafe Paradiso in Fairfield has been making mornings more chipper and afternoons more
- [Little Superheroes "Festival of Trees" Returns Nov. 25-26!](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/07/festival-of-trees-returns-nov-25-26/) - Get the holidays started right after Thanksgiving at the Festival of Trees, which returns to Fairfield after a three-year hiatus. Proceeds from the family-themed event support Little Superheroes, an organization that offers financial help to children facing serious health issues. The two-day event will be held at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center on Friday,
- [Bones and All: Outlaw Romance Meets Horror Flick](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/21/bones-and-all/) - Now out for wide release in theaters, the award-winning film Bones and All is poised to make a killing over Thanksgiving weekend. Early screenings and trailers have created a substantial buzz. Billed as a coming-of-age romantic horror road film, Bones and All follows Maren Yearly, brilliantly played by Taylor Russell, as she searches for
- [All Is Calm: A Stirring Holiday Event that Celebrates Humanity](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/17/all-is-calm/) - On the night of November 29, the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center will be transformed into a scene from World War I—the Western Front on Christmas 1914. Out of the violence comes a silence, then a song. A German soldier steps into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht.” Thus begins an extraordinary night of camaraderie,
- [The Fall Harvest: Garden-to-Table Goodness, with Tips & Recipes](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/11/04/the-fall-harvest-garden-to-table-goodness-with-tips-recipes/) - Every day in the fall garden brings a new joy. One of the highlights is going out to the field to give our chestnut tree a shake and watching the nuts fall onto the ground. The spiky outer covering opens to reveal the shiny brown inner chestnuts. Nothing is more surprising! Inside the garden, the
- [Memory: A Complicated Tale of Heroes, Victims, and Villiains](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/03/memory/) - Liam Neeson lives up to his Hollywood typecasting as the guy you never wanna mess with—and he does it so well. His aging character, Alex Lewis, is retiring from his day job as a contract hitman, especially since he’s experiencing symptoms of dementia. What’s equally notable is that this hired killer has a strict moral
- [Baseball Books: Consolation Reads Till Spring Training Arrives](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/07/baseball-books/) - As the calendar turns to November, we enter the darkest portion of the year—the period without Major League Baseball. While this year’s World Series will dip into November (how far into the month you may know by the time you read this), as a rule things wrap up in October, leaving us bereft of the
- [The Gift of Your Time: CASA is a Success Story in Child Advocacy](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/03/casa/) - When I began planning this article, my goal was to collect snapshots of several folks across Eastern Iowa who were volunteering their time to help their communities in some way. I wanted to give our readers glimpses of the good works being done off the clock. Many of you, I’m sure, can be counted among
- [The Sun Also Rises: Why I'm Optimistic in these Times](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/03/the-sun-also-rises/) - In 1926, Ernest Hemingway published what most people consider his best novel, The Sun Also Rises. Like most Hemingway novels, it’s about real people and events from his life, but fictionalized, and like most Hemingway novels, its characters spend a lot of time being dark and depressed. This year has been rather like a depressing
- [Vandelux and Svaneborg Kardyb](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/03/vandelux/) - Vandelux Since 2016, San Francisco-based Evan White (a.k.a. Vandelux) of Vancouver, Canada, has been laying down colorful, funky, trip-hop grooves, with vocals reminiscent of the Grammy-winning duo Bob Moses. Vandelux is a singer-songwriter with multi-instrumental (piano, drums, guitars, and bass) and producer talents. But it’s his mastery of electronic embellishments that pulls me into these
- [Beyond Sustainability: The Shift Toward Regeneration](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/02/regeneration/) - The most widely used definition of sustainability was established in 1987 when the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined it as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” While insightful, this definition creates an expectation that sustainability incurs sacrifices. Instead of the prospect of flourishing,
- [Apply Now for Fairfield Cultural Mini-Grants](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/01/mini-grants/) - The Fairfield Cultural Society announces a new round of grants for 2022, with an application deadline of November 20, 2022. The Cultural Trust Fund Mini Grants are offered annually and are small grants awarded to individuals and organizations for creating events or projects that benefit the art and culture of Fairfield. Mini Grant applications will
- [Truthsgiving: Challenging Our Thanksgiving Mythologies](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/01/truthsgiving/) - Truthsgiving is an annual celebration of Indigenous heritage, culture, and tenacity created by Sikowis Nobiss, executive director of the Great Plains Action Society (GPAS), to shine a light on the colonially based lore of Thanksgiving. Presented at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City on Friday, November 11, at 7:30 p.m., the event features guest speakers,
- [BlenderBot Wants to Talk to You](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/01/blenderbot/) - Sorry, I’m stuck on generative artificial intelligence. This is the fourth column in a row that I’ve covered it. But it’s just so amazing. Here’s my inaugural, unedited conversation with BlenderBot (BlenderBot.ai), Facebook’s chatbot released in August: BlenderBot: Hey I am here. Let’s chat! Jim: Hi BlenderBot. I’m Jim. I write a monthly tech column.
- [Allison Russell: Learning to Shout From the Rafters](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/11/01/allison-russell/) - Allison Russell, who performs November 6 at the Englert Theatre in Iowa, is on a hot streak. The Canadian-born singer-songwriter recently took Album of the Year honors for her debut solo record, Outside Child, at the 2022 Americana Awards ceremony in Nashville. (The single “Persephone” from the album was nominated for Song of the Year
- [Cinema Fairfield to Offer First-Run Releases in November](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/24/cinema-fairfield/) - Cinema Fairfield in the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center will begin showing new-release, first-run films in November, starting with The Woman King (November 7-10), directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and starring Viola Davis. New Assistant Director Solomon Davis has been spearheading the community-supported cinema project since his arrival in early May, when the FACC began regular
- [Tough Mudders: Redefining Fun with a Wild & Wooly Obstacle Run](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/07/tough-mudders/) - Across the United States, athletic adventurers set their sights on conquering the perils of the natural landscape and testing the limits of human physiology with freakish feats of freestyle rock climbing, steep-descent mountain biking, and white-knuckle rapids rafting. Surfing, spelunking, and triathlons that take an entire day. Here in the Midwest, even though we have
- [Hear Ye, Hear Ye! The Great Battle Over Medicare Hearing Aids](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/24/hearing-aids/) - Medicare, a government-based health insurance program for seniors, was established by Congress in 1965. While the program has evolved over the past 57 years, there have been no significant changes recently for the simple reason that any changes to Medicare require bipartisan support, and that is a rarity these days in Congress. While Medicare provides
- [Humbird: Hypnotic Folk Band Returns to Cafe Paradiso on October 23](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/18/humbird/) - Inspired by the crystalline chill of the north country she calls home in Minnesota, Humbird combines a wintry longing with the warmth of a familiar folktale. Humbird’s music moves between experimental folk and environmental Americana to embrace the unexpected. The music invites a refreshing dissonance into the house. It leaves bread crumbs along the path
- [Raise High the Roof Beam: And a Happy Anniversary to Us!](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/17/raise-high-the-roof-beam/) - To celebrate our 50th anniversary, my husband and I are building a garage. (Yes, we married young, but we were very mature for our age.) Ever since we moved into our former stagecoach inn back in 2005, the tiny attached garage has been occupied by a 1972 Volvo 1800ES, a once jazzy little vehicle that
- [Compostable Plastics? The Truth About Single-Use Compostables](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/17/compostable-plastics/) - In recent years, corporations and small businesses alike have been changing their practices and adapting to a new wave of sustainability-minded customers. Paper straws, compostable coffee cups, and starch-based takeout boxes are becoming go-to solutions because consumers believe they are made without fossil fuels and decompose faster. I also believed these ideas to be true.
- [Pearl City Books: Author Misty Urban on Managing a Small Press](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/13/pearl-city-books/) - For quite a while now, I’ve devoted this space to conversations with Iowa’s indie authors—the writers who are using self-publishing tools to get their words in front of readers without relying on the traditional publishing world. As it would turn out, self-publishing tools have also made it possible for small presses to step into the
- [Everything-from-the-Garden Sauce](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/11/everything-from-the-garden-sauce/) - Once upon a time, the Sustainable Living Department at Maharishi University was famous for pizza parties among garlic-and-onion-craving college kids. Far-from-home foodies flocked to the pizza oven in the midst of the student gardens where dinosaur kale, chocolate mint, basil, tomatoes, and peppers flourished. In the student kitchen—the only one on campus at the time—there
- [Green Up Your Home! Get Inspired on the Green Living Tour October 15](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/11/green-homes/) - An informative tour of innovative, planet-friendly homes and gardens will be offered by the Southeast Iowa Sierra Club on Saturday, October 15. The tour features homes in Jefferson and Henry Counties in which the owners have creatively incorporated various principles of sustainability for a greener way of living. The tour provides a great opportunity for
- [10 Things To Do When You Visit Fairfield](https://www.iowasource.com/2019/07/24/10-things-to-do-when-you-visit-fairfield/) - Coming to Fairfield for the day? For a rural town of 10,000, Fairfield shines bright with its culturally rich downtown, beautiful parks, and solar-powered businesses. While it’s impossible to cover everything, we’ve compiled a short list of some of our faves to explore on your visit, whether you’re up for outdoorsy fun, some cool shopping,
- [Jay Warren Plays Live to "Phantom of the Opera" Silent Film: Free at the FACC!](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/12/phantom/) - On Friday, October 14, renowned organist Jay Warren will provide live musical accompaniment to the silent film Phantom of the Opera at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center as part of the Barhydt Organ Silent Film Series. The 1925 classic stars Lon Chaney in the title role and is widely considered one of the most
- [Refocus Film Festival: A Movie Event for the City of Literature](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/09/27/refocus/) - Iowa City’s Refocus Film Festival: Celebrating the Art of Adaptation, October 6–9, promises to be an extraordinary experience for movie lovers, showcasing an unprecedented array of movies making their Iowa, Midwest, and even U.S. debuts. The films, chosen specifically with the City of Literature in mind, are centered around the theme of adaptation, with a
- [Martin Roth: Transforming Underground Dance Music](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/07/martin-roth/) - Frankfurt-born, Berlin-based DJ and producer Martin Roth has been cementing his reputation in the underground dance-music scene for the last 20 years. With the 2020 CD An Analog Guy in a Digital World, however, Martin has garnered a wider audience. His classical piano training is evident with heightened keyboard sophistication and nuance, a complement to
- [Interview with David Kajganich: "Bones & All" Screenwriter and Producer](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/05/david-kajganich/) - Screenwriter and producer David Kajganich, a 1990s graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, is excited to be back in Iowa City for the Iowa premiere of Bones and All on October 6 during FilmScene's Refocus Film Festival. Bones and All was awarded two prizes at the 79th Venice Film Festival—Luca Guadagnino won the Silver Lion
- [What To Do in Uncertain Times](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/05/what-to-do-in-uncertain-times/) - There is always a list. The items on the list change regularly. The purpose of the list does not. It’s a list of things to worry about. We all have a list. Some of the items on the list are particular to our personal situation, whether they’re our age, finances, or job. It’s an important
- [Domestic Political Strains: We're Playing a Dangerous Game](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/07/05/political-strains/) - I think of myself as a boy of summer. When I was young, summer was a time to spend outside with my friends. We played a form of baseball with only two kids using a plastic bat and ball. We played tag and touch football, and really any game we could think of or make
- [I'm A Shareholder](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/05/im-a-shareholder/) - When I was 16, my mother helped me get an after-school job loading trucks at a factory in Philadelphia. I learned a lot about how the world works during the two years I worked there. As a part-time dock loader, I was low man on the totem pole. I’m certain I was also the lowest
- [The Dog Didn't Bite](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/05/the-dog-didnt-bite/) - Some dogs are noisy. House dogs are usually trained not to bite, but being naturally protective, they can use their bark as their main weapon to scare off threats. A loud, snarling dog can be a very scary thing to encounter. But well-trained dogs often calm down, especially if their owner is there talking to
- [Inflation vs. Deflation: How to Understand the Numbers](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/05/inflation-vs-deflation/) - Most everyone knows that inflation means that prices are rising. This is a wonderful thing when you go to sell your house and you get a lot more than you paid for it. Not so good when you go to the grocery store or buy a car—or for that matter, buy a house. Deflation is
- [Amazing Tools: Videoconferencing & Text Generation](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/05/amazing-tools/) - So here’s the scenario: a former student emailed me, having read last month’s column that mentioned Writesonic, and asked me to invite her to a Zoom meeting the next day so she could share her computer screen and have me walk her through the steps of using this amazing text-generation tool. I replied okay—which was
- [Pickled Green Tomatoes](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/04/pickled-green-tomatoes/) - The first frost strikes just as the tomatoes are most prolific. That means lots of green tomatoes. You can only fry so many before they spoil. Jams and jellies are delicious possibilities. But pickled green tomatoes are even fresher. This recipe is based on one shared with me by David Fisher, who found it online
- ["House of the Dragon:" Meet the Targaryens](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/10/04/house-of-the-dragon/) - Attention Game of Thrones fans. For us ten million viewers watching House of the Dragon, it’s time to consider the series’ lingering question, or as they say in Westeros, “the dragon in the room.” So here it is: how satisfying is the prequel? The answer begins with Game of Thrones, the series that turned viewers
- [AmericanaFest 2022: Greater Diversity on Stage](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/09/28/americanafest/) - Just five years ago, AmericanaFest was plagued by controversy. The five-day festival was besieged by critics from within and without who accused the Americana Music Association (AMA) of having a diversity problem. Commentators pointed out the lack of female, non-binary, and nonwhite award nominees at the annual awards ceremony. Detractors called the organization an old
- [Inspired by the Fall Garden: Ratatouille](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/09/27/rataouille/) - Eggplants thrive in the heat of Iowa’s summers and are an incredibly versatile treat from summer to fall. They can be grilled like Portobello mushrooms for a meaty vegan main course, or sauteed alone or with other veggies and tofu in sweet coconut aminos and served over rice for a light yet satisfying and delicious
- [A Fresh Look: The New Stanley Museum of Art](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/24/new-stanley/) - After 14 years of waiting, the public can now view the University of Iowa art collections in the beautiful new Stanley Museum of Art beginning Friday, August 26, at 3 p.m. The opening exhibition, Homecoming, organized by two central curators, Cory Gundlach, Curator of African Art, and Diana Tuite, Visiting Senior Curator of Modern and
- [Easy Cinnamon Raisin Bread: No-Knead & No Fuss](https://www.iowasource.com/2013/04/09/food2013_04/) - Nothing says home more than the smell of freshly baked bread. And no freshly baked bread smells better than cinnamon-raisin bread. This recipe is inspired by the Cinnamon Swirl Bread recipe published in the March-April 2012 issue of Cooks Illustrated. I’ve simplified it by changing it from a labor-intensive, five-hour process to a no-knead method
- [Melissa Errico Talks About Working with Stephen Sondheim](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/09/13/melissa-errico/) - The multi-talented Melissa Errico, one of Stephen Sondheim’s most trusted musical interpreters, performs an all-Sondheim lineup at the Sondheim Center in Fairfield on Thursday, September 15, and on the Brucemore lawn in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, September 17. The concerts will include classics from Into the Woods, Follies, Sweeney Todd, Anyone Can Whistle, Company, A
- [Sumptuous Fall Meals: Enjoy Everything-from-the-Garden Fare](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/30/sumptuous-fall-meals-enjoying-everything-from-the-garden-fare/) - In the September garden, everything is on hand. The earliest apples sweeten in crisp morning mist. The tomatoes gleam, naive. Sweet winter squashes and pumpkins ripen. Zucchinis, zuchettas, yellow crookneck, and all their cousins bulge. Zinnias bloom rainbows for an audience of butterflies. Sweater weather has begun. Kale and collards rejoice. Broccoli and cauliflower are
- [Soil Is the Answer: Keep That Party Going Beneath Your Feet](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/09/02/soil/) - There’s a magic when you put a seed in the ground, and then you have food,” Jessica Nelson tells me. Now working towards her Ph.D. in soil science at Iowa State University, Jessica has always been enamored with soil. She describes herself as an outdoor kid, so keen to see everything her grandfather did in
- [Odds & Ends: Superhero Comics, Serious Sci-Fi & More](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/09/02/odds-ends/) - This month, I’m sharing some thoughts about a range of books I’ve been reading and admiring. I’m hopeful you might find something that piques your interest, too. The Other History of the DC Universe by John Ridley John Ridley is perhaps best known as the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of 12 Years a Slave. But among
- [Marisa Anderson and William Tyler: Acoustic Guitar Collaborators](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/09/02/anderson-tyler/) - In their 2021 CD Lost Futures, first-time collaborators Marisa Anderson and William Tyler created a masterpiece of instrumental music that addresses the future of our society and planet. Before this joint venture, each artist had carved out a singular niche in acoustic and electric guitar playing. Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, where his father
- [Refocus Film Festival: A New Movie Lover's Event from FilmScene](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/09/01/refocus-film-festival/) - FilmScene, Iowa City’s nonprofit cinema, proudly announces Refocus Film Festival, a new film festival scripted specifically for the City of Literature, to be held October 6–9. “Cinema builds community, and what better way to honor our community than a festival uniquely crafted for Iowa City?” says FilmScene Executive Director Andrew Sherburne. “The last two years
- [Mary Gauthier: Great Storytelling and Genuine Connection](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/31/mary-gauthier/) - Award-winning singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier creates music with a purpose and a punch. Whether she composes tunes about happy relationships or tragic traumas, her songs simultaneously stab the heart and make one think. No wonder her music has been covered by such a diversity of talented performers, from country’s Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, and Jimmy Buffett
- [Pickle Creek Herbs: Happy-Food Infusions from a Resilient Family Farm](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/30/pickle-creek-herbs/) - Whenever I sing the praises of Pickle Creek Herbs to anyone who will listen, I often get the question, “Oh, do they make pickles?” Well, if you can call Blackberry Ginger Balsamic Vinegar “pickled,” then, um … maybe? But what you are imbibing when you cook with yummy Pickle Creek infused oil or vinegar is
- [FAA Opens Exhibit of Works by Iowa Artists, Including a New Lasansky Print](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/30/lasansky/) - The Fairfield Art Association is featuring Selections from Its Permanent Collection in the Main Gallery at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, with an opening reception from 6–8 p.m. on Friday, September 2. A Print Returns to the Collection Included in the exhibit is a newly acquired intaglio print, Lady in Blue, by internationally known
- [Artificial Intelligence Tools: Amazing Content-Creating Resources](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/30/artificial-intelligence-tools/) - I thought I’d write about the amazing availability of artificial intelligence tools online that you can use, thinking to touch on image generators and text generators. Then I figured, what the heck! Why not use a text generator to write this month’s column? From the many dozens available online, I chose “AI Article Writer 3.0”
- [Elvis Presley: The Searcher: Revisiting the Artist Behind the Hoopla](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/30/elvis/) - “We shouldn’t make the mistake of writing off a great artist by all the clatter that came later. We should dwell in what he did that was so beautiful and everlasting, which was that great, great music.“ —Tom Petty, remembering Elvis Presley Even 45 years after his death, the legacy of Elvis Aaron Presley is
- [Maasdam Barns: Family-Friendly Fun at the Barnyard Bash Sept. 9](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/30/maasdam-barns-family-friendly-fun-at-the-barnyard-bash-sept-9/) - Join the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce as they celebrate the area's rich agriculture community at the 2022 Barnyard Bash on Friday, September 9, at the historical Maasdam Barns, located at 2224 IA-1 (South Highway 1, next to the Jefferson County Health Center) in Fairfield.. The fun begins at 4:30 p.m. with various area business
- [Creative Escape Mentorship: Villages Folk School Announces a New Season](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/30/creative-escape/) - Last May 2022, Chad Cardani-Trollinger arrived in Van Buren County to participate in the Villages Folk School’s first Creative Escape program. A small cabin along the Des Moines River was his home as he received two full weeks of hands-on glass-blowing instruction from artisan Tim Blair of Bloom and Bark Farms. Now in its second
- [Sue Hopper, Motorcycle Artist: The Signs & Wonders Never Cease](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/02/sue-hopper/) - You’d think Sue Hopper had happened upon some kind of magic elixir to look so vibrant, have so much creativity, and be so productive at age 70. And in a way she has. It’s called doing what you love. Saying yes. And having faith. Faith that you can put a “for sale” sign in front
- [Robots & Chatbots: They're Here ... and They're Serving You Dinner](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/04/robots-and-chatbots/) - Robots might seem old news to you—but John, an acquaintance, was surprised when a robot recently served him at a Smitty’s restaurant in Canada. He referred to it as a “time-warp experience.” He says, “My whole reaction was one of intrigue, curiosity, and fascination at finally seeing an application of autonomous robotics that I had
- [Troubles with Oil: Why Gas Should Be Even More Expensive](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/17/troubles-with-oil/) - In the months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the interdependence of global economies became increasingly apparent. As the West continues to wean off of Russia’s oil and gas supply, many countries have struggled to meet energy demand and have been looking for quick fixes. Germany, a country with a large reliance on Russian energy supply,
- [Summer Road Trips: Take Advantage of August's Last Days](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/15/summer-road-trips/) - Now that the dog days of summer are upon us, it's time for a final adventure before the school year starts up again and fall's cooler weather sets in. Whether you have kids who are climbing the walls or just want a blow-out excursion for yourself, here are some suggestions for day trips or weekend
- [Tunes for a Chillin' Summer Evening: An Off-the-Beaten-Track Song List](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/15/summer-song-list/) - Over the past few months, I’ve been down my usual exotic rabbit holes collecting chilled tracks for unwinding on the back porch. Here I share the best of the best from my recent searches. Most were recorded in the past six years, with a few of them somewhat earlier. Enjoy free full tracks and other
- [After World Tour, Pollock's "Mural" Comes Home to New Stanley Museum](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/09/pollock-mural/) - After nine years touring Europe and the United States, Jackson Pollock’s Mural is finally home in Iowa City, where it will be on view when the University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art reopens August 26, 2022. Director Lauren Lessing and museum staff welcomed Mural in its 3,200-pound crate July 14. After acclimating to its
- [Stanley Museum of Art: Grand Opening of an Astounding Collection](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/09/stanley-museum-2/) - The long-awaited Grand Opening of the Stanley Museum of Art, August 26–28, promises to be an unforgettable experience. Featuring exciting exhibitions, gallery talks, live music, and family-friendly activities that include juggling and arts and crafts, the event is a weekend-long art extravaganza. Highlights include docent-led tours and the Cedar Rapids Opera performing arias from the
- [The Insanely Wild Ride of "Top Gun: Maverick"](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/09/top-gun-maverick/) - On March 3, 1969, the United States Navy established an elite school for the top one percent of its pilots. Its purpose was to teach the lost art of aerial combat and to ensure that the handful of men and women who graduated were the best fighter pilots in the world. They succeeded. Today, the
- [Paddling into Peace ... A Guide to Getting Quiet on Iowa Water](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/07/05/paddleboard/) - My pickleball scores weren’t that embarrassing, but my temper sure was. On the court, I was making a name for myself as “that lady who throws her racket, drops f-bombs in the presence of a small children, and cries on a regular basis.” This was not the reputation I was going for. As I handed
- [Soapbox Speakeasy: A Powerful Venue for Finding Your Voice](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/08/soapbox-speakeasy/) - Soapbox Speakeasy, the language arts performance forum whose packed shows coincided with Fairfield First Fridays from 2013 to 2015, has returned. Soapbox uses language to facilitate community connection, address social issues, and give everyone a voice. “Speak for yourself. That’s the soapbox motto,” says founder Monserrat Iñiguez. “Speak for yourself. Find your voice.” Not just
- [How to Train Your Dog: Eddie Pickering Gets Dogs to Behave](https://www.iowasource.com/2010/07/02/animals2010_07/) - Eddie Pickering with Lucky, the dog that inspired him to become a trainer. Millions of people around the world laughed loudly as they read Marley and Me. Who couldn’t help but chuckle as the high-strung puppy ripped open couch cushions, howled during thunderstorms, and gobbled down anything in sight, including a gold necklace? Thankfully,
- [Fairfield Public Library Welcomes New Director, Alecs Mickunas](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/08/fairfield-public-library/) - Fairfield’s new library director, Alecs Mickunas, is excited to show people what amazing resources and community hubs libraries continue to be. “Libraries are not what they were 15 to 20 years ago,” Mickunas says. “Libraries are meant to be places for dialogue, places that encourage free community engagement. They’re not a place to sit and
- ["The Polish Prince": Young Iowan Explores His Family's War-Torn Past](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/02/polish-prince/) - At age 12, Polo Altynski-Ross took on the daunting task of documenting his family’s dramatic history. Now 16 and a student at Maharishi School in Fairfield, Polo has published The Polish Prince, the memoirs of his great-grandfather, Zbigniew Janczewski, whose stories are a haunting reminder that history repeats itself. Polo grew up hearing bits and
- [Modern Japanese Prints: ICON Gallery Showcases Local Collections](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/02/japanese-prints/) - A new show featuring Japanese prints from the 20th century to the present opens at ICON Gallery in Fairfield during First Fridays on August 5. The exhibition draws upon the collections of several Fairfield residents, along with an important loan of works from the Grinnell College Museum of Art. Modern Japanese Prints will showcase more
- [March Over to the Tournament of Drums: Friday, August 5](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/08/01/tournament-of-drums/) - Tournament of Drums, featuring seven Open Class drum & bugle corps from throughout the U.S. and Canada, returns to Kingston Stadium in Cedar Rapids on Friday, August 5. The music and marching competition features nearly 1,000 performers from ages 12 to 21 on horns, percussion, and color guard, all of whom spend their summers perfecting
- [The Machine Stops: First Opera by Iowa Artists Debuts July 30-31](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/07/19/the-machine-stops/) - The Machine Stops, a classic science fiction story by E. M. Forster, has been re-envisioned by composer John Lake and poet Cecile Goding as a two-act opera that debuts July 30-31 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Based on a 1909 story by Forster, this new opera takes you to a world where
- [Block's "Collectibles": An Anthology of Strange Collections](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/07/24/blocks-collectibles/) - Longtime readers of this column know that I write about Lawrence Block and his work with regularity. I can think of few authors who have so consistently impressed and entertained me, and I’m always eager to let other readers know about his long and varied bibliography. The man is 83 years old and he keeps
- [Women in Animation: Hollywood Trailblazers Bonita Versh and Joanna Romersa](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/07/01/versh/) - Bonita Versh was among the first women working in Hollywood’s animation industry, and her career took off during the animation heyday of the 1960s and ’70s. Now living in Fairfield, Versh will be giving a presentation about her experiences working in a male-dominated field on Saturday, July 16, 1:30 p.m., at the Fairfield Public Library.
- [Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Pays Tribute to Bob Dylan](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/07/11/nitty-gritty/) - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band has been making music together since 1966. The group has had pop hits, including their cover of Jerry Jeff Walker’s “Mr. Bojangles” (1970), and number one records on the U.S. country charts, such as “Fishin’ in the Dark” (1984). NGDB has been nominated for numerous Country Music Association awards, including
- [We Burn Like This: Alana Waksman's Debut Feature Film](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/07/01/we-burn-like-this/) - With the current rise of hate crimes in America, Alana Waksman’s award-winning film, We Burn Like This, is more timely than ever. The indie drama that Waksman wrote, directed, and produced will be shown at FilmScene in Iowa City on July 8 at 7 p.m., and at the Sondheim Center in Fairfield on July 9
- [Want to Mend Broken Items? Visit the Repair Fair!](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/07/05/repair-fair/) - Is everything shipshape at your house? No? Well, read on for a solution! In partnership with the Fairfield Farmers Market, the Southeast Iowa Sierra Club is hosting a Repair Fair July 16 and 23 to emphasize the practice of mending broken items whenever possible, instead of sending them to a landfill. Repair is a key
- [Paintings in Sand: The Meticulous Work of Andrew Clemens](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/03/sand-paintings/) - The technique of sandpainting is as old as the hills, in the sense that it has long been practiced by Navajo artists (using various colors of sand from their Southwest surroundings), Tibetan and Buddhist monks, and indigenous Australians. In the second half of the 19th century, a curious variation emerged in eastern Iowa, in which
- [The Offer: Behind-the-Scenes Intrigue in the Making of The Godfather](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/07/01/the-offer/) - “There are three sides to every story: your side, my side, and the truth. And no one is lying….” —Robert Evans, Paramount Studio Chief of Production, from his autobiographical documentary, The Kid Stays in the Picture This year marks the 50th anniversary since the 1972 film release of The Godfather, adapted with perfection from Mario
- [Project Green Hosts Open Garden Weekend in Iowa City July 9-10](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/30/project-green-2/) - “There is no greater expression of art than creating a beautiful garden or more rewarding joy than sharing its delights with others," Project GREEN cofounder Gretchen Harshbarger once said. Harshbarger’s philosophy will be on full display when area gardeners share their creations during Open Gardens Weekend 2022 (OGW) on Saturday, July 9, from 4 to
- [Robin Trower: Simmering Grooves & Wah-Wah Blues](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/07/01/robin-trower/) - In May 2022, 76-year-old British guitar hero Robin Trower released his 12th studio CD, No More Worlds to Conquer. On it, Trower creates another dose of sonic magic with long-time collaborators Chris Taggart on drums, Richard Watts on vocals, and Livingstone Brown on bass (on tracks where Trower doesn’t overdub them himself). A self-taught guitarist
- [Fast, Cheap Broadband—How Government Funds Can Help](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/07/01/broadband/) - I was one of the first people to sign up for an internet account when the service was newly arrived in Fairfield back in 1994. I was thrilled. Until then, the only online option locally was to dial in long distance to a service such as CompuServe. Can you imagine? Going online for an hour
- [Pitchfork Returns to Union Park in Chicago July 15-17](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/29/pitchfork-2/) - Pitchfork Music Festival came back with a vengeance last year. After taking a year off because of pandemic-related concerns, the celebration returned with a killer lineup that featured such stellar acts as Big Thief, Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent, and Erykah Badu. Local health officials also confirmed that the event was safe. Authorities reported that there
- [The Dark-Sky Movement: Keeping the Magic of the Nighttime Heavens](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/31/dark-sky/) - Long summer evenings often encourage people to sit outside and enjoy the stars, but given the increase in light pollution, it’s getting harder to find the Big Dipper and other constellations once the sun sets. A side effect of industrial civilization, “light pollution” refers to a form of waste energy involving unwanted or excessive use
- [Dennis Maulsby: Creating Stories as a Powerful Therapy](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/28/dennis-maulsby/) - Dennis Maulsby is a versatile writer hailing from Ames who took up writing as a route toward healing from his experiences in the military. In an interview, he described his work to me this way: “Most of my prose and some of my poetry features speculative elements—sci-fi, horror, urban fantasy, space opera, etc.—laced with historical
- [Fairfield Celebrates PrideFest All Weekend June 24-26](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/17/pridefest/) - "As some of you may know, June is International Pride Month," said PrideFest organizer Jared Brown last month in his address to the Fairfield City Council. "Pride was born out of a need to push back against the establishments that actively target and oppress queer voices. . . . Today, pride is exceedingly important for
- [The Land Remains: Neil D. Hamilton Is Listening to the Soil](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/01/land-remains/) - Many of us baby-boomer farm kids recall growing up in the 1950s and ’60s walkin’ beans, bailing hay, finding quail in the fencerows, and roaming “the back 40.” But you don’t need a time machine to recapture that era—and to ponder the future of Iowa agriculture. Just read The Land Remains: A Midwestern Perspective on
- [And Here We Are ... in the Middle: From Big Sur to Big Sky](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/10/here-we-are/) - When we spoke with the young man who drove our rental truck two thousand miles from Big Sur, California, to here, we asked him what his experience was driving large vehicles long distance. He told us stories of his expeditions to Burning Man. Suitably impressed, we told him about Fairfield, the meditating community, the many
- [Juneteenth in Fairfield: Carnegie Museum Unveils New Underground Railroad Exhibit](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/15/juneteenth-in-fairfield/) - To celebrate Juneteenth 2022 in Fairfield, the Carnegie Museum will honor the lives and legacies of Jefferson County’s abolitionists at the Evergreen Cemetery on Monday, June 20. “All these stories are like thumbnail sketches of much larger stories,” says Carnegie director Mark Shafer, who did extensive research for the museum’s brand-new Underground Railroad exhibit, to
- [Safe Sex: The Alarming Rise of STIs and How To Treat Them](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/03/safe-sex/) - As a Gen Xer whose adolescence coincided with the AIDS epidemic, I am concerned to learn that HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases or infections (STIs) are on the rise across Iowa. (I’m using the term STI throughout the article, but some of my sources use the term STD.) According to data collected by the
- [Iowa's Golden Age of American Repertoire Theatre](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/07/repertoire-theatre/) - From the Iowa Source archives, August 1998. The 50-year-old museum was completed remodeled in 2021. The Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana houses one of Iowa’s better kept secrets. The unassuming building at 405 E. Threshers Road, Mt. Pleasant, provides a home for one of the largest collections of memorabilia from an almost-forgotten era of entertainment.
- [The Theatre Museum Celebrates Grand Reopening June 10 in Mount Pleasant](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/07/the-theatre-museum-celebrates-grand-reopening-june-10-in-mount-pleasant/) - The Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana located on Old Threshers grounds in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, dedicated to preserving the history of tent shows, the nationally known Toby and Susie Show, and opera houses of the Midwest, celebrates the 50th anniversary of its groundbreaking and Grand Reopening on Friday, June 10, 2022. The official ribbon cutting
- [Community Resilience: Placemaking Improves Our Response to Adversity](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/06/placemaking/) - In 2007, a fierce tornado wiped the city of Greensburg, Kansas, clean off of the map, causing an estimated $250 million in damages and destroying 95 percent of the town. Following the disaster, Greensburg engaged in an ambitious rebuilding effort that would gain national recognition for the town of 740 people—they resolved to meet some
- [AXPONA 2022: The Show Must Go On!](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/06/axpona-2022/) - I recently went back to my hometown of Chicago to brave AXPONA, Audio Expo North America, after two years without any hi-fi shows at all. I wore a mask in the crowded places, and now I’m glad I was careful. Two of my friends who chose to man busy exhibit rooms without masks did catch
- [Karla Bonoff: A Seasoned Songwriter of Heartache & Love](https://www.iowasource.com/2012/03/21/music2012_03/) - Karla Bonoff may not have been in the spotlight much through her long career, but her songs have. (Photo: Erin Fiedler) Singer songwriter Karla Bonoff is best known by music fans as the person who penned three of the hits from Linda Ronstadt’s seminal 1976 album Hasten Down the Wind: “Someone to Lay Down Beside Me,”
- [Ian Moore: The Real Deal](https://www.iowasource.com/2007/12/29/artsianmoore_0606/) - Sometimes you find yourself exactly where you want to be. You’ve just enjoyed the most beautiful day. The kind of 70-degree, happy skin, prebug, tree-bud spring day best enjoyed at a friend’s cabin surrounded by nothing but sunshine and 24 acres of woods. The kind of day that makes you forget your government is expanding
- [The Cactus Blossoms: Sweet Harmonies, Mellow Melodies, and a Ray of Hope](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/06/03/cactus-blossoms/) - Audiences often compare Minnesota’s Cactus Blossoms to Iowa’s Everly Brothers because their vocal harmonies sound alike. The Blossoms’ music shares the same grace and freshness as those early country rockers—and it’s intentional. The Twin Cities-based band has a deep and abiding love for the Everlys and music from that era. Like the Everly Brothers, the
- [Cafe Paradiso: Come for the Coffee, Stay for the Jive](https://www.iowasource.com/2014/07/31/fairfield2014_08_cafep/) - I’m sitting outside Café Paradiso (a.k.a. Cafe P) soaking up the sun and drinking my morning cappuccino with owner Steve Giacomini, while he describes his first experience of coffee. “My mother opened a can of Yuban and the aroma was amazing, but after brewing—yuk! Even under cream and sugar.” That disappointment may have set Steve
- [Natalie Hemby: Her Songs, Her Voice](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/31/natalie-hemby/) - Over recent years, Nashville-based country songwriter Natalie Hemby has accumulated eight number-one Billboard singles by writing songs for a distinguished group of singers that includes Miranda Lambert, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, Amanda Shires, Kacey Musgraves, Lady Gaga, and Sheryl Crow. In 2021, Natalie released her second solo album, Pins and Needles. Born in Bloomington, Illinois,
- [Food-Waste Composting: The Search for a Community Solution](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/31/food-waste-composting/) - The good news: Fairfield already offers yard waste composting. The bad news: we don’t have citywide food waste composting … yet. Did you know that when you put garbage and food waste in the trash, it ends up in a landfill? Or that even if you carefully opt for a compostable takeout container instead of
- [The Stanley Museum: A Preview of the Building's Grand Opening in August 2022](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/02/stanley-museum/) - In advance of their grand opening on August 26, the new Stanley Museum of Art on the University of Iowa campus is quickly crossing off items on their to-do list. The building’s dramatic façade, comprised of more than 15,000 square feet of glass and nearly a quarter-million black bricks, stands defiantly along the banks of
- [Facebook Groups: Sharing Community News & Information](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/31/facebook-groups/) - It pains me that local newspapers are dying out. Research has found that local papers help create social cohesion, encourage political engagement, and improve the effectiveness of local and state government. Local Facebook groups have helped fill some of the gaps, but I still get reportage in Southeast Iowa Union that I don’t otherwise find.
- [Operation Mincemeat: The Real-Life Spy Mission That Fooled Hitler](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/30/operation-mincemeat/) - As the narrator (Johnny Flynn) suggests in the opening, Operation Mincemeat revisits a well-kept secret of WWII, the sleight of hand that fueled a critical Allied victory. He assures viewers that the “unseen” is as much a part of war as the noisy maneuvers we see and hear. Britain’s invisible strategy executed by Naval Intelligence
- [Fairfield ReStore:  Shop Its Awesome Selection of Used Furniture & Building Materials](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/30/fairfield-restore/) - The Fairfield ReStore on Highway 34 West has been restored, revamped, and expanded! Under the auspices of the Greater Fairfield Area Habitat for Humanity, the venue has expanded from its original 4,500 square feet to a whopping 11,000 square feet of shopping fun. I would know, because I restored my dream house with treasures from
- [The Chamber Singers Present "Songs of Strength & Healing" May 28 at Golden Magnolia](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/24/chamber-singers-spring-concert-may-28-at-golden-magnolia/) - The Chamber Singers of Southeast Iowa will present their annual spring concert, “Songs of Strength and Healing,” on Saturday, May 28, at 7:30 p.m. in the Golden Magnolia Sanctuary (formerly the First Presbyterian Church), 200 South Main Street in Fairfield. The choral program includes songs of peace, healing, and celebration, with a special emphasis on
- [Congenial Yarns: The Novels of Mary Helen Stefaniak](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/24/congenial-yarns-stefaniak/) - Mary Helen Stefaniak’s new novel is a delight. That’s a sentence I easily could have written for each of Stefaniak’s three novels—The Turk and My Mother (2004), The Cailiffs of Baghdad, Georgia (2010), and her brand-new offering, The World of Pondside. (Stefaniak’s debut was 1997’s short story collection Self Storage and Other Stories.) Stefaniak is
- [A Spring Mix: Seasonal Playlist to Lift Your Spirits](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/03/spring-playlist/) - Signs of spring abound. Trees and flowers are blooming, migrating fowl beckon birdwatchers to the woods, and the warm sun entices us to enjoy walks on local trails. I find that music also lifts our spirits. This spring’s list contains ten choice tracks from off the beaten path that I’ve recently acquired. Some are new
- [Fairfield History Series: "Ahead of Their Time" Premieres May 20–22 at the FACC](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/17/fairfield-history-series-ahead-of-their-time-premieres-may-20-22-at-the-facc/) - The fourth movie in the award-winning Fairfield History Series premieres this weekend on the big screen—Friday, May 20, through Sunday, May 22, at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center, 200 N. Main Street in Fairfield. Over two years in the making, Ahead of Their Time offers a glimpse into the hearts and minds of some
- [Charity Seeds: Their First Decade of Supporting Food Sovereignty](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/04/charity-seeds-2/) - Charity Seeds has spent the last decade working to help create food security and food sovereignty in the Global South by educating orphans, schoolchildren, and village communities in biointensive agroecological practices. “We bring in small-scale organic farms to people in need,” says Charity Seeds co-founder Kim Strubell. “That’s it, and it’s all sustainable. It’s truly
- [Kelly Pardekooper: Sounds of the Open Sky](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/04/pardekooper/) - Iowa-born singer-songwriter Kelly Pardekooper recently released his tenth record, Autumn. He explained the extended-play album’s name did not refer to the time of year, but rather his stage of life. “I titled my release Autumn simply because of the line in the title track song: ‘in the Autumn of your days.’ I guess I feel
- [Inequality & Climate Solutions: The Unequal Effects of the Climate Crisis](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/04/inequality/) - Who pays the price of the climate crisis? For many living in the Western world, the effects of climate change have been relatively subtle or hard to pinpoint. For others, climate change and greenhouse gas emissions have had major impacts. Human-caused carbon emissions have created massive disparities in the quality of life across the globe
- [Oshadhi USA: Pure Essential Oils for Optimum Well-Being](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/03/oshadhi/) - Founded by internationally renowned author and aromatherapy expert Dr. Malte Hozzel over two decades ago, Oshadhi opened its U.S. headquarters in Fairfield last December. The popular essential oil company is known for stringent quality management and meticulous product preparation, and its oils are considered the gold standard in the aromatherapy world. Dr. Hozzel became interested
- [My Two Favorite Games: Wordle and Words With Friends](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/02/games/) - I’ve decided to give you a break. I’d been planning to write about the Ethereum blockchain this month, but that would have been my third crypto-related column this year. So let’s put that abstruse topic on hold and talk about—games! I’m not a gamer. But there are two word games I now play every day.
- [David Kupferman Presents New Paintings at ICON Gallery](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/05/02/kupferman/) - From his earliest years, David Kupferman was surrounded by paints, brushes, and the scent of linseed oil. Born into a family of professional artists, Kuperferman inherited a deep love for painting and ended up becoming an artist, too. On any day of the week, he can be found working in his studio in Fairfield, visually
- [Singing Cedars: A Nature-Inspired School](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/28/singing-cedars/) - Singing Cedars, a small, independent, nonprofit Waldorf-inspired school in Fairfield, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and will also be reviving its community-wide Mayfaire for the first time since 2019. They’re celebrating purchasing the school property and being awarded a grant for expanding early childhood education, which will include constructing a second mixed-age kindergarten
- [Benjamin Franklin: Two-Part Ken Burns Series Documents an Astonishing Life](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/25/benjamin-franklin/) - Our new Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes. —Benjamin Franklin As Americans, we remember Benjamin Franklin as a Founding Father, a face on the $100 bill, and the man who flew his kite in a lightning storm. But
- [Earth Day for Everyone: April 23 at Jefferson County Fairgrounds](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/15/earth-day/) - This year, the Southeast Iowa Sierra Club is hosting an Earth Day to remember! After a two-year hiatus, the annual Earth Day for Everyone event returns to the Jefferson County Fairgrounds—with free admission—on Saturday, April 23, from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Participants will find plenty to enjoy, from interactive Earth Day learning sessions for kids and
- [JC Huffman Cabinetry: From Part-Time Hobby to Houzz Favorite](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/05/j-c-huffman/) - The Fairfield-based JC Huffman Cabinetry Company originally started out as a hobby. “My husband Jim was a full-time employee at a local factory,” says co-owner Teresa Huffman. “When he wasn’t at work, he liked to enjoy his free time doing things he loved. Just for fun, he set up shop in his one-car garage to
- [Pretty in Paint: Alternative DIY Tips from a Sort-Of Professional](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/05/01/pretty-in-paint/) - I’ve been caaaasually shopping for houses, and I’m amused at what some folks call “freshly painted!” Ummmmm, you missed a spot. Or maybe it was just a bad color match? Yeah, I’m talking about that three-foot-wide patch next to the front door roughly the shape of a Brontosaurus. I know, I know, most homebuyers will
- [Companion Planting: Harmonious Pairings for a Happier, Healthier Garden](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/17/companion-planting/) - It’s a fact. Strategic planning is part of any good garden design, and companion planting is one of the best strategies to help gardeners do more with any space, no matter how big or how small. Companion planting, as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary, is “the close planting of different plants that enhance each
- [Maria Kuznetsova: Bringing Ukraine to Life in Stories](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/09/maria-kuznetsova/) - (Our apologies! The April 15 reading listed in the e-newsletter was in 2021!) When Russia invaded Ukraine, my thoughts turned to author Maria Kuznetsova. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop who now teaches creative writing at Auburn University, Kuznetsova was born in Kyiv and moved to the United States as a child. I remember
- ["Defenestrate" Author Renée Branum Speaks at Prairie Lights](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/02/08/defenestrate/) - Hear Renée Branum talk about her acclaimed new novel, Defenestrate, in a Zoom event sponsored by Prairie Lights Bookstore on Thursday, February 10, at 7 p.m. In Branum's quirky novel about family stories, secrets, siblings, and fear, an ancestral falling curse weighs on twins Marta and Nick. When their own family falls apart, the twins
- [Mary Helen Stefaniak: New Crime Caper Explores a Nursing Home Mystery](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/05/mary-helen-stefaniak/) - For many years, Mary Helen Stefaniak has contributed her warm, contemplative, and playful essays to The Iowa Source. This month, she releases her third novel, The World of Pondside, a thriller involving a bunch of gamers in a nursing home. Described as “a wild, suspenseful ride” by Eileen Pollack, the book was named one of
- [Coralville Arts & Crafts Show Returns April 9](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/05/arts-crafts/) - The region's largest arts and crafts show returns to Coralville on Saturday, April 9. The Annual Spring Arts & Crafts Show runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Conference Center in Coralville (formerly the Marriott Conference Center). Over 100 talented exhibitors will offer some of the Midwest's finest handcrafts. The show is
- [Clothing Overload: Why Do We Go Through So Much of It?](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/05/clothing/) - According to Andrew Morgan, filmmaker of the 2015 documentary The True Cost, the fashion industry employs one out of six people on Earth, from factory workers in Bangladesh to H&M employees. This colossally labor-intensive and globalized industry is sustained by equally abundant demand from Western nations. Today, the average American purchases approximately 68 new items
- [The Tender Bar: George Clooney Directs Affable Coming-of-Age Tale](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/05/tender-bar/) - “Home never meant the same thing to my mother as it did to me. To her it meant failure, the place you ended up when all the things she was counting on fell through—work, apartment, boyfriend, not always in that order. But I loved it. To me, Grandpa’s house was a revolving door of cousins
- [Iowa's Hot Dishes & Dives: Your Favorite Eateries, On & Off the Beaten Path](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/01/iowas-hot-dishes-dives/) - We are clinging to that great hope that this spring will be different, that we can sit at the coffee shop and make a new friend, that we can wear lipstick again, and that we can enjoy a meal out and not have to think about how close the next table is. Knock on wood:
- [Harry Manx: Raga-Inspired Blues Magnificence](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/04/harry-manx/) - Since my February 2013 article introducing Iowa to the music of Canadian acoustic guitarist Harry Manx, I’ve seen him in concert in Lafayette, Indiana, and enjoyed several CD releases. Live Manx is surreal, so in this article, I want to share some of my favorite live recordings. But first, let’s get some perspective on why
- [Cryptocurrency Finance: Transforming Money As We Know It](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/04/04/cyptocurrency/) - Full disclosure: I’ve met a few times with some guys who are intent on launching their own “decentralized finance” cryptocurrency. I don’t pretend to understand it. In fact, I even have a hard time understanding money. If you do, you’re a lot smarter than I am. Consider this: Let’s say I deposit $10,000 in a
- [SXSW 2022: A Music-Lover's Dream](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/29/sxsw-2022/) - South by Southwest (SXSW) is back! Even though this year’s SXSW was only about 60 percent as big as it was in 2019—the last time it was held in person—there was still plenty to see and long lines of people eager to learn and participate. It was packed with informative panels, lectures, and discussions on
- [Raise the Roof: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Reunited](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/23/raise-the-roof/) - Fourteen years after their initial musical collaboration, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss created a big splash in November 2021 with the release of their new CD Raise the Roof. Plant, former lead singer of Led Zeppelin, and Krauss, multiple Grammy Award-winning bluegrass singer-songwriter and violinist with Union Station, met at a 2004 Lead Belly tribute
- [Award-Winning Max Hatt / Edda Glass Quartet at Café Paradiso March 27](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/21/award-winning-max-hatt-edda-glass-quartet-at-cafe-paradiso/) - Max Hatt / Edda Glass have “an incomparable spook” and a “unique sound” (Nashville Scene; NPR’s Larry Groce) that's taken them across the country from NPR and PBS to NYC's Lincoln Center and DC's Kennedy Center. Praised for the “hushed sophistication, poetic density, and narrative heft” (Yes! Weekly) of her lyrics, and her “impeccable vocal
- [Allen Ginsberg in Cedar Falls: Beatniks, Socialists, and "All That Hair"](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/04/allen-ginsberg/) - As a high school student in Iowa, I was an avid follower of MAD Magazine. I also subscribed to the Village Voice. Concerned about my waywardness, my mother arranged for me to meet with a religious elder for an advisory conversation. I was a youthful artist then, and during that meeting the subject turned to
- [RBG: The Life & Career of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://www.iowasource.com/2018/06/27/rbg/) - “I ask no favor for my sex . . . all I ask of our brethren is that they will take their feet from off our necks.” —Sarah Moore Grimke (1792-1873), self-educated attorney, judge, femininst, abolitionist At a time when our 24-hour news cycle is saturated with all things constitutional and the advancement of women’s
- [Keep Fairfield's Parks Clean ... and Design a Sign to Help!](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/08/keep-fairfields-parks-clean-and-design-a-sign-to-help/) - Hey, artists! This spring, the Fairfield Cultural Alliance is sponsoring an effort to keep city parks free of litter pollution. They're calling on artists—whether amateur or professional, students or adults—to design and illustrate signs based on a choice of three slogans: • Be part of the Solution, not the Pollution • Every Litter Bit Hurts.
- [10 Things to Love About Winter](https://www.iowasource.com/2013/12/05/health2013_12/) - If you’re anything like me, you’re all too familiar with the pre-winter dread that occurs right around the end of Daylight Savings Time. The trees start to shed their bounty of boldly colored leaves, the trick-or-treaters come and go, and all of a sudden, it’s dark at 5:00 p.m. I find myself contemplating whether I
- [Three Fairfield Artists to Give Tour of "Contemporary Realism" at ICON Gallery](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/07/fairfield-artists/) - Three Fairfield realist artists will give a casual talk and tour of their popular ICON Gallery show on Friday, March 25. The Contemporary Realism exhibition can be seen Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., and continues through April 23. A walk-through with the artists is scheduled for Friday, March 25. Doors open at 7:30
- [Gathering of the Green Brings John Deere Enthusiasts to Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/08/john-deere/) - After being cancelled at the last minute in 2020, the biennial Gathering of the Green Conference returns to Davenport on March 16-19, 2022. Almost 1,000 John Deere enthusiasts have registered for the full conference at the RiverCenter, coming from 32 states across the U.S. and four countries. “The rich tradition of this unique event and
- [The Cryptocurrency Debate: Point-Counterpoint](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/07/cryptocurrencies/) - Let me begin by saying that I do not provide advice on cryptocurrency or securities. I consider myself an educator exercising free speech, and I hope you find this article of value and interest. According to USDebtClock.org, the real-time updater using official sources on the U.S. economy, the U.S. dollar-to-crypto ratio in 2013 was $9,893.00
- [The Book Bums: Iowa Indie Writers Convene on Zoom](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/04/book-bums/) - Admittedly, the idea of a bunch of indie (that is, self-published) authors discussing what they are working on, what they are struggling with, and what they have learned since last they got together isn’t exactly the stuff of a bestselling thriller. But a February 12 meeting of the “Book Bums”—held via Zoom rather than in
- [TerraCycle Fairfield Marks Two Years of Zero-Waste Partnerships](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/04/terracycle/) - If you live in Fairfield, you have likely seen a few changes around town. You may have noticed colorful recycling bins at the grocery store, tried out the new bench made of recycled materials in Howard Park, or met a vendor at the Fairfield Farmers Market who seemed fascinated with your garbage. These occurrences are
- ["We Need to Talk About Cosby": W. Kamau Bell's Four-Part Documentary](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/02/cosby/) - What is the sound of one hero falling? And what is the sound of his fans’ despair? Events in the news and in our lives keep reminding us that we, as people, are flawed. But we’re not here to trash the human race; that’s World History, down the hall. The topic on the table is
- [The James Webb Space Telescope: Searching for Our Beginnings](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/01/james-webb-telescope/) - As an undergrad, I was re-quired to memorize the speed of light: 186,000 miles per second. It’s a factoid that has always delighted me. It takes light from the sun 8 minutes to reach Earth. Light from the North Star takes 680 years. When we look at that star, we’re seeing it as it appeared
- [The Whitmore Sisters: Siblings Connect to Make Haunting Harmonies](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/01/whitmore-sisters/) - Most would agree that COVID has been bad for music. But there have been some exceptions. The collaboration of sisters Eleanor and Bonnie Whitmore is one. The Whitmore Sisters established their distinct musical identities long ago. Bonnie, the younger one, has released four solo albums to critical acclaim and has performed with such notables as
- [Fairfield Art Association Opens Membership Show on March 4 at FACC](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/01/fairfield-art-association-opens-membership-show-on-march-4-at-facc/) - The Fairfield Art Association announces an Opening Reception on Friday, March 4, for its Membership Exhibit, in conjunction with Fairfield's First Fridays after a delay last month. The overflowing exhibition of works by 39 area artists is on display in the Main Gallery at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center, 200 N. Main Street, open
- [High School Musicians Shine in Corridor Jazz Project at the Paramount](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/03/01/high-school-musicians-shine-in-corridor-jazz-project-at-the-paramount/) - Three new schools join the Corridor Jazz Project as the program celebrates its fifteenth year at a massive concert March 8th at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids. The Corridor Jazz Project is a jazz education and mentoring program for jazz band students, created by Jazz 88.3 KCCK, the public radio station operated by Kirkwood
- [Jorma Kaukonen: Playing Live Is Still King](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/02/22/jorma-kaukonen/) - Eighty-one-year-old singer-guitarist Jorma Kaukonen is considered one of the most talented blues-rock performers on the planet. He’s a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as a founding member of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna) and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. So what’s he doing coming to Iowa to perform live in
- [Power Quintet: Kassia Ensemble & Mary Elizabeth Bowen](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/02/22/kassia/) - Five accomplished musicians will perform a bold program of music spanning centuries as world-renowned trumpet soloist Mary Elizabeth Bowden and Pittsburgh’s respected Kassia Ensemble perform together at the Sondheim Center in Fairfield on February 24 at 7:30 p.m. The program includes exciting new works from composers James Stephenson and Gabriela Lena Frank alongside classical favorites.
- [Beyond Profits: The Steward-Ownership Model](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/02/14/steward-ownership/) - In previous columns, we have explored many elements of sustainable business. We’ve examined environmental, social, governance metrics (ESG) for assessing a company’s business practices, as well as stakeholder models that promote consideration of all stakeholders when business decisions are made. This month we will dive into specific ways that these ethical ideals can be put
- [Henry Jamison: Smart, Introspective Indie-Folk](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/02/14/henry-jamison/) - Vermonter Henry Jamison writes mellow, insightful songs about life and love. His simple instrumental arrangements often include acoustic guitar, lightly touched banjo or violin, subtle pedal steel guitar, and gentle percussion. Jamison’s father, a classical composer, and his mother, a literature professor, raised their son in an environment ripe for cultivating a talented lyricist and
- [Travel Tips for the Introvert: Go it Alone ... Without Being Lonely](https://www.iowasource.com/2018/06/20/travel-tips-for-the-introvert/) - Every March, I get a bad case of spring fever. Winter has been dragging on, I haven’t felt the sun on my face in months, and everything about my crappy little apartment and my stagnant little life is suddenly unbearably depressing. I suspect that if I had a million-dollar mansion and a honey-drenched, palpably meaningful
- [Gertrude Stein: An Author's Fondness for Her Iowa Friends](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/02/04/gertrude-stein/) - The American writer Gertrude Stein was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, across the river from Pittsburgh. She grew up in Oakland, California, a place about which she famously said, “When you go there, there is no there there.” She never set foot in Iowa. She didn’t even fly over—although she said she wanted to, but a
- [Catherine Schaff-Stump Presents a Dark Family Saga Set in Dante's Inferno](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/02/08/catherine-schaff-stump/) - In a recent virtual event, host Terri LeBlanc of Swamp Fox Bookstore in Marion, Iowa, was running down author Catherine Schaff-Stump’s career as an indie author. “She writes fantasy for children and adults. She writes funny stories, dark stories—this last one’s pretty dark, Catherine.” “Yeah, it is,” the author agreed with a big smile. How
- [Voluntouring in Costa Rica: A Volunteer Vacation That Helps Sea Turtle Mamas in Costa Rica](https://www.iowasource.com/2008/01/09/travel_recreationvoluntour2_1107/) - From the moment she first flipped sand in my face until well past when she tried to bury my hand in the sand, I was entranced. I knew I would never find another opportunity quite like the one I had for two weeks in a remote village in Costa Rica. Just 20 miles north of
- [Update: "Garden Super-Size Me" Growing Tips](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/02/04/update-garden-super-size-me/) - Do you recall the photo of 14-foot-high corn stalks towering over me and my little friend Maximo on the October 2021 cover of The Iowa Source? In “Garden Super Size Me,” I described how I had planted a garden that would produce enough food to last me for a year. But at the time the
- [The Wild World of NFTs: It Just Keeps Getting Weirder](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/31/nfts/) - It’s incumbent upon me, as your tech columnist, to keep you apprised of the latest. I covered useful services such as Amazon and Google when they launched, and we’ve looked at interesting and seemingly important developments such as Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and the metaverse. Now it’s time to take a look at NFTs. And, frankly,
- ["Mass" Review: A Raw Look at a Difficult Subject](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/31/mass/) - With its small cast of heavy hitters, this brave, fictional drama jumps headfirst into the deep end to revisit a horrific crime that has become a deadly national syndrome: mass murders at public schools. Stay with me. Mass begins six years after a single shooter kills ten fellow students, and then himself. Two of the
- [Immigration: A Simple Solution to Unfilled Jobs](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/06/immigration/) - Back in the 2010s, our son married a beautiful Chinese woman named Yi Feng. We held a big celebration in Baltimore, because that’s where the oldest member of our family lived. Warren Ballard was 100 years old at that time. Yi’s parents flew in from China. After the very nice celebration and breakfast the next
- [Mike Mattison: Vocalist & Musician with the Tedeschi Trucks Band](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/14/mike-mattison/) - The Tedeschi Trucks Band is one of the leading American blues-rock groups. Since forming in 2010, the 12-piece combo led by married couple Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks has released four studio and three live albums. Their recordings have won several Grammy, Americana, and blues music awards. The band will appear at the Des Moines
- ["American Idol" Winner Maddie Poppe Performs January 21 in Ottumwa](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/18/maddie-poppe/) - Iowa’s own Maddie Poppe and Season 16 winner of American Idol is bringing her solo acoustic show to Ottumwa’s Bridge View Center Theater on Friday, January 21, at 7:30 p.m. Maddie’s sophomore album Whirlwind reached #2 on the iTunes Pop Charts and her hit single “Made You Miss” earned #19 on the Hot AC Radio
- [What's Your Resolution?](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/14/whats-your-resolution/) - Happy New Year to everyone! After the last two years, we all deserve a fantastic 2022, just to break even. My New Year’s resolution is to bring as many new customers as possible to my store. And speaking of resolution, it’s the topic of the month. Resolution in audio terms refers to the presentation of
- [Patty Griffin: A Life Beyond "Living With Ghosts"](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/14/patty-griffin/) - Twenty-five years ago, Patty Griffin recorded a set of songs on a demonstration tape. She was trying to get a record contract. The music had a rough quality, as it just featured her singing and playing acoustic guitar without overdubs or additional instrumentation. A&M Records liked what it heard and promptly signed Griffin up. The
- [Nora Wall: Author's Third Novel Explores Mass Surveillance](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/12/nora-wall/) - Nora Wall is a first-year student at the University of Iowa and already has three self-published books to her credit. The most recent, Orbury, is a dystopian novel of surveillance and totalitarianism in which Wall demonstrates herself to be both deeply immersed in the classics of the genre and an original thinker with strong ideas,
- [Jimmy Ryan Tells All: Memoir Reveals a Star-Studded Life Behind the Scenes](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/01/jimmy-ryan/) - If we were to create a Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon list for Jimmy Ryan, it would probably include everyone on planet Earth. This musician, arranger, and producer has been associated with some truly great recording artists, including Carly Simon. In fact, Simon’s galactic hit “You’re So Vain” features one of the most memorable guitar
- [Today's Libraries: Innovation & Information Beyond the Stacks](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/04/libraries/) - Libraries today are much more than just collections of books. And with the insidious spread of misinformation so prevalent these days, libraries are more valuable than ever. “Librarians are navigators of information,” says Dara Schmidt, director of the Cedar Rapids Library. “They provide patrons with tools to ensure they are finding what they need in
- [Cheap Gadgets I Love: Solar Lights, Smart Plugs & More](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/04/cheap-gadgets-i-love/) - Maybe I’m easy to please, but on these dark winter evenings when I arrive home, it always makes me happy that my porch lights up as I approach and a light is on in my living room. I feel like my small, humble abode is welcoming me. In the past I’d struggle in the dark
- [Review: The Power of the Dog](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/04/review-the-power-of-the-dog/) - Deliver my soul from the sword, my darling from the power of the dog. —Book of Psalms, Psalm 22 Benedict Cumberbatch’s wide repertoire of characters includes Sherlock in the PBS Masterpiece series, Thomas Edison in The Current War, and Dr. Strange in The Avengers. To which he now adds Phil Burbank, a cattle rancher in
- [E-Waste: The Fastest Growing Waste Stream in the World](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/04/ewaste/) - Think about the last time you purchased a new electronic device. Maybe you had an old laptop, smartphone, tablet, or television that needed replacement. How did you decide that it was time for an upgrade? For some, a flashy new product might be a persuasive enough reason to ditch the old model; for others, a
- [Biden's Climate Policy: Is America on the Right Track?](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/04/bidens-climate-policy/) - On Earth Day, April 22, 2021, President Joe Biden hosted a virtual, two-day climate summit of world leaders to address the global climate crisis. Among the 40 participating political figures were Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia, whose attendance was uncertain given political tensions with the U.S. Biden used the summit to
- [Rethinking Money Systems: What Community Currencies Can Do](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/07/01/rethinking-money/) - As mentioned in last month’s article, the U.S. produces $21 trillion annually in gross domestic product (GDP). Despite being surrounded by abundance, however, millions still lack reliable access to basic human needs. Our economy—and more specifically, our monetary system—is failing us. The reason? The very invention of money was born from a world view of
- [Corporate Greenwashing: It's on the Rise](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/10/04/corporate-greenwashing/) - Greenwashing, the practice in which companies misreport or deceptively convey environmental or social responsibility to the public, has been on the rise in recent decades as consumers, investors, and policy makers grow increasingly concerned about corporate sustainability. One study from the Paris-based EDHEC Business School, for example, found that many investment funds claiming to meet
- [2022 FAA Membership Exhibit Welcomes New Work in any Medium](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/04/2022-faa-membership-show-welcomes-new-work-in-any-medium/) - The Fairfield Art Association announces a new exhibit format and is changing up its several year practice of showcasing just "canvas art works" in its upcoming 2022 annual Membership Exhibit. This year, the 56-year-old organization is going back to its tradition of inviting artists to submit art works in any medium. This means jewelers, sculptors,
- [Fringe Toast Music's Best Songs of 2021](https://www.iowasource.com/2022/01/04/best-songs-of-2021/) - One of my favorite New Year’s traditions is reviewing all the wonderful music tracks that I’ve downloaded over the past twelve months. Then I narrow down the list to tracks released during 2021, and from those, I whittle it down to my top dozen or so songs. This year’s list simmers with beautifully produced down-
- [The Nutcracker Quandary: Fans of the Wooden Doll Tell All](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/01/24997/) - Nutcracker dolls have once again begun to line up, soldier style, in storefront windows. You might even have one dangling from your Christmas tree. The seasonal takeover, for many, is a deep-rooted, high-spirited, and quintessential holiday happening. My usual reaction is to shudder and turn away. Let me explain. When I was a child, a
- [Iowa's Holiday Light Shows & Family Fun, 2021 Edition](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/07/holiday/) - Towns across Iowa are decked out for the holidays with twinkling lights and festive decorations. Gather your friends and family members together to enjoy spectacular light displays, decorated trees, house tours, and family activities. ALTOONA. Jolly Holiday Lights. Enjoy a 2.5-mile car ride through over 100 magical displays at Adventureland. All admission fees go to
- [A Whale of a Story: Ocean Mammal Institute Scientist Warns of Damage to Ocean Life](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/06/whales/) - Dr. Marsha Green, founder of Ocean Mammal Institute, has gained international recognition for her groundbreaking studies on the impact of human behavior on humpback whales and spinner dolphins. She discovered that sonar causes whale brains to bleed, leading to impairment and death. She was successful in suing the Navy multiple times and secured a ban
- [The Best Gift Ever: A Lifetime of Musical Joy](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/07/music-gift/) - When I joined the fifth-grade band, my mom found a 40-year-old trumpet for me, a big surprise. We didn’t have the money for a new one. The first thing I did was to run out the front door and blat out some not-so-musical notes for the whole neighborhood to hear. I still remember how wonderful
- [My Top 10 Albums of 2021](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/07/my-top-10-albums-of-2021/) - This was a strange year for recorded music. Many artists couldn’t play together or perform live because of COVID restrictions. Some musicians used the break from touring to experiment with original sounds and styles or to hone their existing strengths. The important thing is that once again, there were hundreds of notable recordings released in
- [Holiday Survival Guide: Making the Most of Food, Wine, and Conversation](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/07/survival-guide/) - Most of us were taught from a very young age to avoid the following subjects at the dinner table: politics, money, and religion, not to mention your uncle’s terrible new hairpiece or your sister’s boyfriend that no one likes. Add to these conversational land mines the differing opinions about everything COVID, and this year may
- [Chuy Renteria: Memoir of a Minority Childhood in West Liberty, Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/06/chuy-renteria/) - Listen, I’m just going to be straight with you. We Heard It When We Were Young by Chuy Renteria is easily the best book I’ve read in 2021. It’s easily one of the most heartrending memoirs I’ve ever read. And it’s easily the most important reframing of what it means to be an Iowan that
- [A Tale of Twain Wives: Mark Twain, Albert Paine, and Klecksography](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/06/gobolinks/) - Mark Twain, the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was born in November 1835, coincident with the arrival of Haley’s Comet. That spectacular event occurs about every 75 years, and in April 1910, as Clemens was on his deathbed, he and the comet crossed paths again. At the moment of Clemens’s death, among those at
- [Skimpflation: Stealth Inflation Is on the Rise](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/06/skimpflation/) - Last December, in 2020, Joan and I boldly ventured where we had not gone since the beginning of the pandemic: we took a road trip that involved staying in hotels. On our first night at a hotel in Tennessee, we encountered a new world. At the front desk, we requested a room that no one
- [My Passwords Are a Mess](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/06/my-passwords-are-a-mess/) - I’m the tech guy. I’m supposed to be on top of things. But, frankly, I’ve been taking great risks online. Some crucial passwords leave me vulnerable to hacking. I’m resolved to have this fixed by the time this column appears in print. I remember my original internet password. It was in 1993, and I was
- [Evolutionary Mismatch: A New Game Needs New Rules](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/06/evolutionary-mismatch/) - Homo sapiens have existed for roughly 200,000 years, and for about 95 percent of that time, our lifestyles underwent relatively little change. We lived in small nomadic groups, hunted and foraged, and made a comparatively small impact on our environment. Our bodies and minds evolved for these conditions. But radical changes in our ability to
- [Veda: A Refreshing Alto with Dreamy Hip-Hop Stylings](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/03/veda/) - In August 2021, rising singer Tara De Santis, who is known artistically as Véda, released an EP entitled Get Burned. Véda is a French-Canadian singer, songwriter, and producer who mixes electronic and acoustic elements in wonderful ways. In contrast to the many high-pitched “baby-doll” voices in popular music, Véda’s bold alto is “coolericious” (my term
- [Interview: Jimmy Ryan Talks about Six Decades in the Music Industry](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/02/interview-jimmy-ryan/) - On September 15 of this year, musician, arranger, and producer Jimmy Ryan finally released his revealing “behind the scenes” book filled with stories about his interactions with many superstars, including Carly Simon, Paul McCartney, Jim Croce, Rod Stewart, Jimmy Webb, Karla DeVito, and too many others to list here. Behind—Autobiography of a Musical Shapeshifter celebrates
- [No Time To Die: Craig's Final Role as Bond](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/12/01/no-time-to-die/) - The 27th James Bond feature film, No Time to Die, is Daniel Craig’s final role as the iconic spy created 70 years ago by Ian Fleming. No Time delivers as much of the expected as the unexpected, so pay close attention in case this viewing leaves you with questions. More on this later. Right from
- [Ryley Walker: Authentic Guitarist in a Jam-Packed Field](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/11/03/ryley-walker/) - Over the past ten years, 32-year-old acoustic guitarist Ryley Walker has been shaping and honing his virtuoso skills. Through collaborative live concerts and six studio CD releases, Walker has been experimenting with a variety of genres, including folk, rock, jazz, and avant-garde. His singing style harkens back to the sound of English artists Nick Drake
- [John Preston & Elaine Duncan Offer Art Classes at Fairfield Art Association](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/10/26/art-classes-with-john-preston-elaine-duncan-at-fairfield-art-association/) - Ready to flex your creativity, deepen your love of art, and pick up a few new skills? The Fairfield Art Association is pleased to announce that two ongoing art classes will resume in person at the FAA Studio in the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center beginning the first week of November, 2021. John Preston will
- [Give Thanks & Stuff Thyself](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/11/22/give-thanks/) - Two years ago, after The Iowa Source printed my “Christmas Is for Moping” article, several concerned parties privately sidled up to me to ask if I was okay. They meant well, but I think looking at the shadow side of Christmas was uncomfortable for some folks. I believe it’s valuable to question what exactly we
- [Loving Winter: How to Stay Sane in the Cold Months](https://www.iowasource.com/2008/01/04/loving-winter/) - In the last few weeks my friends have been seriously pouting about the coming of wintertime, as if they'll have to succumb to four months in a cold, dark prison cell. I spent three winters in Norway before moving to Fairfield, Iowa. It was there that I fell in love with wintertime and learned to
- [Gifts from Local Fanatics: The Small-Town Specialists of Fairfield, Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/11/17/small-town-specialists/) - Most of the retailers who have chosen to enter a specialty field simply love what they do. They aren’t just moving pretty boxes for a paycheck. They are turning the world on to the things that they love and believe in, and they genuinely hope to enrich the lives of their clients. They practice what
- [Misty Urban: New Body-Swap Comedy with Serious Stakes](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/11/15/misty-urban/) - I am a big fan of Misty Urban’s short fiction. Here’s an excerpt from my review of one of her collections of short stories: “Even as Urban tries new approaches from story to story, she maintains her focus on characters and their longings. ‘The Necessaries’ is populated with individuals every bit as memorable—for their hopes,
- [Dom Flemons: The Registered Trademark "American Songster"®](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/11/09/dom-clemons/) - Grammy Award-winner Dom Flemons mostly plays music from one hundred years ago or more. He has successfully written, cowritten, and produced original material, but he’s interested in past traditions and bringing them forward. The former founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops has released five albums in his own name and collaborated with a host
- [Jim Carrey to Speak at 2014 MUM Commencement](https://www.iowasource.com/2014/04/14/fairfield2014_04_carrey/) - Jim Carrey at TEDx in 2013. Jim Carrey will be the commencement speaker at Maharishi University of Management’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, May 24, 2014 in the Golden Dome on the MUM campus. For more than three decades, Carrey has brought laughter and happiness to millions all over the globe. In recognition of his significant
- [Lessons from Crazy TV Lenny](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/11/09/crazy-tv-lenny/) - Forty-one years ago, I was a young newlywed, having just married my first wife, Joan (inside joke, she’s still my wife!), the year before. Joan was an account executive at Wisconsin Telephone. A local furniture store was expanding and she excitedly took me to meet their CEO, Lenny Mattioli. I rarely watched TV, so I
- [How Do We Store Renewable Energy?](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/11/09/store-renewable-energy/) - At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, global energy usage declined as transportation and other energy-intensive industries ground to a halt, according to a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Only one energy source saw an increase in demand—renewables, which saw an increase of 45 percent in 2020, the largest since 1999. Currently,
- [Pig: Reclusive Truffle Hunter Revisits His Past](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/11/04/pig-reclusive-truffle-hunter-revisits-his-past/) - “Someday we’ll all be at the bottom of the ocean. Again.” —Robin Feld Starring in Pig, Nicolas Cage breaks character as Robin Feld, an aging, grungy-looking guy living off the grid and out of sight, avoiding attention and the social interaction of Portland, Oregon. Sporting shaggy, graying hair and beard, Robin would be a worthy
- [Garden Super Size Me: The  Bounty & Benefits of Homegrown Food](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/10/04/garden-super-size-me/) - Since the age of ten, when I wasn’t busy being a student, a sailor, a German scholar, or a botany prof in Hawaii, I’ve managed to find time to garden. And I’ve continued to pursue that inner drive with a prodigious little plot of corn, butterbeans, tomatoes, and winter squash on the MIU campus in
- [The Metaverse: Mark Zuckerberg's Next Big Idea](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/11/03/the-metaverse/) - I hate to admit it, but Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg keeps getting things right. First he envisioned Facebook itself, a way for people to connect with friends. And it’s been a smashing success. Then he envisioned Facebook groups, which bring together people with common interests. I’ve come to find this feature quite useful—as have millions
- [TAAG Studios: Artist-Run Group Gives a Big Boost to Local Creators](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/11/02/taag-studios/) - When the coronavirus pandemic hit, TAAG halted all classes and limited gallery exhibits. Despite these restrictions, the artists continued their work. The reopening of the gallery marks a new beginning in which TAAG can return to its work within the wider community. For starters, TAAG will begin holding art competitions for amateur and professional artists,
- [Creepy Little Stories for Halloween](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/10/26/creepy-little-stories-for-halloween/) - Last Thursday evening in Petra Park, a flock of thrill-seeking Fairfielders braved the wind and the chilly night air to listen to some spooky stories read live by the authors—Tim Pelton, Dave Patterson, Chloe Hennessy, and Meredith Siemsen—as part of the ongoing Thirsty Word reading series. Re-dubbed the (Blood)Thirsty Word for October, this collection of
- [Iowa Organic Conference Highlights Organic's Effects on Reducing Global Warming](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/10/21/iowa-organic-conference-3/) - The Iowa Organic Conference, the largest university-sponsored organic conference in the country, returns Nov. 28-29 to the University of Iowa in Iowa City with the theme "Save the Planet Through Organics: Managing Climate Change with Organic Practices.” Producers and experts from across the country will share tips for transitioning into organic production and methods to
- [Rustin Larson: Jumbling Up Past & Future, Poetry & Short Stories](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/10/01/rustin-larson-2/) - Rustin Larson, who has spent the majority of his life in Iowa, sees the world a little differently than most people do. In his new self-published collection, Red Wing, he presents a version of the reality in which the past, present, and future are more permeable than we tend to believe. He has an ability
- [Miss Myra & The Moonshiners Bring Hot Club Jazz to the Sondheim Oct. 7](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/10/05/miss-myra-the-moonshiners-bring-hot-club-jazz-to-the-sondheim-oct-7/) - On Thursday, October 7, the Sondheim Theater brings a celebration of sizzling jazz to Fairfield. Miss Myra & The Moonshiners, a formidable five-piece swing band, offers a fresh female-driven perspective to traditional New Orleans and Hot Club jazz. Playing a broad repertoire of classic tunes from the 1920s and ‘30s alongside inspired originals, with powerful
- [Save CR Heritage Walking Tours Oct. 15-16](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/10/05/save-cr-heritage-walking-tours-oct-15-16/) - An early-1900s house that was once at risk for demolition will soon become headquarters for the nonprofit Save CR Heritage, which was created in 2012 in response to the demolition of two historic churches. The public is invited to the dedication of the J.E. Halvorson House, 606 Fifth Ave. SE, on Friday, Oct. 15, with
- [Lisa Rock: Spot-On Renditions of Carpenters Classics on October 23](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/10/06/carpenters-classics/) - Considered one of the best vocalists of all time, Karen Carpenter captured the attention of a generation with her unabashedly catchy pop music. The Carpenters’ beautiful, memorable love songs topped the Billboard charts with more than a dozen number-one hits. Now singer Lisa Rock and her six-piece band are bringing the music of The Carpenters
- [Sanctuary: Safe Spa Spaces & Contactless Therapies](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/10/05/sanctuary/) - After I rinsed off, dimmed the lights, and gently lifted the hatch to the flotation tank, I paused, clutching my towel, to take in the white, egg-shaped pod and couldn’t help but wonder which galaxy it had been beamed down from. Emitting an aqua glow that softly faded to indigo then violet, its still, luminescent
- [Playful Petra Park: A Vacant Space is Reinvented as a Community Plaza](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/02/petra-park/) - Petra Park, Fairfield’s sophisticated and urbane new plaza with eating areas and performance art space, is a fitting memorial for Petra Stanley, who died of cancer in 2016. Many Fairfielders remember Petra’s elegant grace and community involvement. An MIU Board member, she was very active in the Fairfield community, especially in the arts and culture
- [Artist Clemens Gretter: Ripley's Ghost . . . Believe It Or Not](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/10/04/clemens-gretter/) - Clemens Gretter was the (unheralded) artist who drew the newspaper cartoons for Robert Ripley’s Believe It or Not. He did lots of other things as well. It might even be said that he left a large footprint during his lifetime. And yet, he is a challenge to track, mostly because when signing his work, he
- [Elon Musk's Vision: Why Is He Launching 42,000 Satellites?](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/10/04/elon-musks-vision/) - Yep, that’s Elon Musk’s vision: launching 42,000 satellites. And you have to figure he knows what he’s doing. After all, he’s founded three billion-dollar companies: Tesla, SpaceX, and PayPal. His planned 42,000 Starlink satellites may be yet another success. I hate to admit it, but I’m old enough to remember the launch of the very
- [Alexa Wildish: Sparkling Vocals Grounded in Authenticity](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/30/alexa-wildish/) - Growing up in a musical family, Alexa Wildish was surrounded by music from an early age, with vocal lessons at five, classical voice training at seven, and musical theater performances in high school and college. After graduating from Elon University in North Carolina with a promising musical theater career ahead of her, she attended a
- [A Tale of Two Festivals: Women Wow Audiences at Pitchfork and AmericanaFest](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/29/two-festivals/) - While the pandemic is not over, rock festivals are back. Iowa’s own Hinterland Festival was successfully held in St. Charles back in August without any serious complications. Two of the best festivals held in September were the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago and Nashville’s AmericanaFest. Comparing these events reveals much about the state of live
- [Surviving Death: Afterlife Stories Meet Post-Resuscitation Research in Netflix Series](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/29/surviving-death/) - For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don’t believe, no proof is possible. Whether you believe in near-death experiences or not, NDEs are reported worldwide by people of all ages who were revived medically, or by chance, from clinical death. And since the emergence of resuscitation in the 1960s, and the
- [Wiener Dogs & Art Shows! Fairfield First Fridays Celebrates Oktoberfest around the Square](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/27/weiner-dogs-art-shows-fairfield-first-fridays-celebrates-oktoberfest-around-the-square/) - It’s beginning to look a lot like … Oktoberfest! The Fairfield First Fridays event on October 1st, 6–10 p.m., is giving us a lot to celebrate, including new art show openings at ICON Gallery and the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, live blues music by Van and the Movers in Central Park, lawn games, carriage
- [AV Breakthroughs: Revolutionize Your Home Sound with the Latest Technologies](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/21/av-breakthroughs/) - Here’s something to think about: what you learned years ago about audio and video may be putting severe limitations on your enjoyment of music. If you’re stuck on your old understanding, you may well miss out on ways to get the most satisfaction for your money. Here are some breakthroughs that may boost your listening
- [Dale Kueter: Storyteller with a Reporter's Eye for Detail](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/21/dale-kueter/) - A reporter’s ability to find and tell a compelling story is a tremendous asset—and a transferable one as well. Dale Kueter wrote for The Gazette for 34 years and retired in 1999. But he wasn’t done delving into the stories of people and the circumstances and personalities that shaped their lives. Since his retirement, Kueter
- [José González: Exploring the Spare Beauty of Meditative Music](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/01/jose-gonzalez/) - Swedish guitarist José González enjoys a stellar reputation for his soft playing. That doesn’t mean he makes Muzak or elevator music; he fingers the nylon strings on his instrument the way a classical pianist would play a delicate Debussy piece. González’s compositions and playing style evoke meditative states on the part of the listener. He
- [Land Stewardship: SILTFest on September 17 Celebrates the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/14/siltfest/) - SILTFest Fairfield, on Friday, September 17, 6-9 p.m., is a free event for area residents who are interested in actively supporting the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust, whose mission is to permanently protect land to grow healthy food. The community is warmly invited to Anderson Prairie Farms on for live music by Steve & Michaela McLain
- [Red, White, or Both? Choosing A Wine to Share](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/13/wine-to-share/) - When customers first visit my store, SOMM Wines, they love to ask what brought me to Fairfield, Iowa. How does a sommelier from Las Vegas end up in the middle of a cornfield? Smiling, I always answer, “Google! Google brought me here!” Perplexed, the guest wonders if my navigation app gave me the wrong directions.
- [Fall's Best Apple Recipes: Applesauce, Apple Pancakes and Apple Turnovers](https://www.iowasource.com/2009/10/01/food2009_10/) - Maybe it’s because I was born in the fall. When the leaves start to turn and the nights turn chilly, I crave the juicy crunch of autumn apples. My favorite tart variety is Jonathan—it always reminds me of my childhood and evokes the nostalgic smell of burning leaves. We’re lucky to have a farmers’ market
- [Farmer-Poet Levi Lyle: A New Chapter for Iowa Farming](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/02/levi-lyle/) - Levi Lyle is a sixth-generation farmer in Keota, Iowa, and like most Iowa farmers, he grows corn and soybeans. But the similarities end there. Levi is transitioning some of his family’s land to organic and has adopted regenerative agriculture practices on the rest of the farm. He is also a poet and writer, sharing his
- [Free Cell Phone Service? Yes, For Real!](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/01/free-cell-phone-service/) - Who doesn’t like free? If you want to save money, here are some options for free and low-cost cell phone service. Emergency Broadband Benefit. First up is the Emergency Broadband Benefit, which launched earlier this year part as part of the CARES Act intended to address the economic impact of the pandemic. It’s available for
- [Good Mutations: Appreciating Our Ever-Adapting Economy](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/01/good-mutations/) - Delta is sweeping the world, and unless you’ve been out of the loop for months, you already know quite a bit about it. COVID-19 is changing so fast that by the time you read this, there may already be new variants. In many locations throughout the country, COVID-19 hospitalizations are hitting record highs, despite the
- [Hungry Trash Cans: Why So Much Food Ends Up in Landfills](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/01/food-waste/) - Imagine a shopper coming out of the grocery store with three full bags of food. Along the way to their car, they spot a convenient dumpster and promptly throw one entire bag of groceries away before driving off with the remaining two. Obviously, this makes no sense whatsoever. But as it turns out, this is
- [Amythyst Kiah and Joy Oladokun: Black, Female, Queer](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/09/01/amythyst-and-joy/) - Let us celebrate the simmering talents of two Black female singer-songwriters who have carved out credible space in the Americana genre. Both Joy Oladokun and Amythyst Kiah possess a keen sense of American roots history and a fully fledged talent for storytelling. Both employ their artistic maturity as a platform for commenting on contemporary issues
- [Hit & Run: Fast-Paced Spy Thriller Has Plenty of Twists](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/31/hit-run/) - If you watched Fauda, the award-winning, white-knuckle series about an Israeli undercover counter-terrorism unit, you’ll feel right at home with the breathless pace of Hit & Run. Lior Raz, a cowriter and star of both series, plays Segev, an Israeli tour guide with a past. Segev is a divorced dad now happily married to an
- [The Fairfield Food Collective: Supporting Culinary Entrepreneurs](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/31/fairfield-food-collective/) - When Fairfield business Breadtopia bought the old Harper Brush building on Second Street to support their expanding internet presence, they realized they had much more space than they needed. Luckily for them, they knew other food-oriented entrepreneurs who had expressed the need for commercial kitchens to rent. So Breadtopia founded the Fairfield Food Collective to
- [Matt Stutzman: The Unassuming Olympian](https://www.iowasource.com/2012/11/02/fairfield2012_11_stutzman/) - Matt Stutzman is in Tokyo this week for the 2020 Paralympics, where's he's hoping to win his first gold medal in archery beginning August 26, 2021. Matt was part of the Tokyo Organising Committee's campaign highlighting outstanding Paralympic athletes. (© Tokyo 2020) Do not try this at home. Step 1: Have a friend zip-tie your
- [Female Performers Dominate at Pitchfork 2021](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/12/pitchfork/) - While 2020 caused cancellations here and abroad, the Pitchfork Music Festival will be happening once again at Union Park in Chicago from September 10–12. The Pitchfork Music Festival enjoys a reputation for showcasing adventurous, mostly rock music that appeals to the connoisseur. This summer’s three-day celebration promises to do the same thanks to its strong
- [Raccoon River Valley Trail: 89 Miles of Paved Trails Outside of Des Moines](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/12/raccoon-river-valley-trail/) - The Raccoon River Valley Trail located northwest of Des Moines has just been inducted into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame, according to the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), the nation’s largest trails organization. “The 89-mile Raccoon River Valley Trail is incredible—I’ve experienced it firsthand!” says Brandi Horton, RTC’s vice president of communications. "It is a stunning example
- [It's Festival Weekend in the Quad Cities: August 12-14](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/09/quad-cities-festivals/) - August festivals take to the water, sky, and land this weekend in the Quad Cities, August 12-14, 2021. From the only tug-of-war across the Mississippi River to giant hot air balloons to Caribbean festivities, the QC welcomes back these popular summer festivals. Tugfest Named as one of the 10 most unusual festivals in the country,
- [Unforgotten: Cold Case with a Soft Touch](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/02/unforgotten/) - Among the fiction offerings from PBS Masterpiece, Unforgotten is one of its finest. Now in its fourth season (you can stream the previous three), Unforgotten features the cold-case team at Bishop Street Police Station, where a generously staffed crew of dedicated investigators unravels the “historical” unsolved homicides. Each season opens with the unexpected discovery of
- [The Hit Men Open FACC Artist Series](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/10/the-hit-men-open-facc-artist-series/) - Classic rock supergroup The Hit Men will make a return visit to the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center to open the 2021-22 Artist Series on Friday, September 3. Last here in 2018, The Hit Men invite audiences to relive rock’s greatest hits with band members who recorded with such legendary artists as Journey, Styx, Steely
- [A Summer Song List: New Discoveries & Old Faves](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/09/summer-songs/) - It’s time to share my annual downtempo summer song list. Choices include both new releases from my favorites (Sarah Jarosz, Lord Huron, and London Grammar) and newly discovered artists from off the beaten path (Zoe Wees, Okami, and Frameworks). Beyond my brief comments on each track, you can enjoy a free, shared Spotify playlist under
- [Growth, Growth & More Growth!](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/05/growth/) - If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you’re not the type to be bored by finance and economics, so here goes the thrilling story of the business cycle. To see the business cycle in action, we need to go back to the years 2005 to 2007. In case you’ve forgotten, that was the period of house
- [Novels by Three Iowa Writers' Workshop Grads: Gyasi, Kuznetsova, and Nissen](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/05/writers-workshop-grads/) - This month, I’m taking a brief detour from my survey of Iowa’s abundant crop of indie authors to focus on three women who are all graduates of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Yaa Gyasi, Maria Kuznetsova, and Thisbe Nissen all have recent books deserving of a spot on your to-read list. Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
- [Hinterland 2021: One Exuberant Stage in the Middle of Nowhere](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/07/26/hinterland/) - The term “hinterland” is usually meant pejoratively as a synonym for the boondocks or a backwater, a remote place where nothing ever happens. Some people on the coasts think of all Iowa in that way. When I told my New Jersey mother that I was moving to the Hawkeye State, she innocently asked me if
- [Why Expertise Matters: It Could Save Your Life ... Or Your Audio Sanity](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/04/why-expertise-matters/) - Not too long ago, my soon-to-be wife and I were out for our morning walk on the delightful Fairfield Loop Trail. As we passed through a wooded area by one of the lakes, we saw a lush batch of beautiful mushrooms growing by the side of the path. Neither of us are mushroom experts, but
- [The Hubbards of Roycroft, An Arts & Crafts Community with Iowa Ties](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/04/the-hubbards-of-roycroft/) - In 1887, 26-year-old Alice Moore resigned as a primary school teacher in Cedar Falls and returned to the region in which she was raised. She accepted a high school teaching post in East Aurora, New York, just outside of Buffalo. In later years, until her tragic death in 1915, Alice Moore would become known as
- [Cashierless Checkout: Amazon Takes It to a New Level](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/04/cashierless-checkout/) - Maybe it’s because I’m a tech geek, but I love how tech is changing the shopping experience, from scanning my own items to paying just by holding my iPhone near the credit card reader. And I can’t wait to give Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology a try. You walk around the store, select the stuff
- [Joanna Connor Headlines Blue Ribbon Blues Fest](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/08/03/joanna-connor/) - The Southeast Iowa Blues Society is excited to present its 8th annual Blue Ribbon Blues Fest on Saturday, August 7, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Gates open at 4 p.m. and the music will begin at 4:30 p.m. Expect a stellar lineup, plus barbecue and a beer bus. Tickets are $25, $20 for members. Headlining
- [Lights on at Hancher: Performances Return to the Stage in September](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/07/06/lights-on-at-hancher/) - Entertainment played an enormous role in our Covid response. The number of video-streaming subscriptions shot past one billion and continued to climb as we all got into the habit of binging entire seasons overnight. Sales in the Apple App Store in 2020 jumped nearly 25 percent to $643 billion, approximately equivalent to the current street
- [The Toyko Olympics—by the Numbers](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/07/15/toyko-olympics/) - After a year's delay, the Tokyo Summer Olympics will finally open on July 23, 2021—no spectators allowed! Here's a review of the upcoming event by the numbers (courtesy of the folks at WalletHub). 1st ever: The Tokyo Olympics are the first games to use artificial intelligence-managed security features, with the ability to correctly verify the
- [Dave Rasdal: Former Cedar Rapids Journalist Focuses on Fiction](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/07/16/dave-rasdal/) - For many years, Dave Rasdal worked for The Gazette in Cedar Rapids. He was best known for his “Ramblin’ ” column, which featured stories—sometimes funny, sometimes touching, often both—about everyday people in and around Eastern Iowa. He wrote more than 3,500 of these true stories over the years. But all along, he wanted also to
- [Kelsey Waldon: Country Songwriter on the Verge](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/07/13/kelsey-waldon/) - Singer-songwriter Kelsey Waldon made a big splash back in 2019 with her album White Noise / White Lines. It was her first record for John Prine’s Oh Boy label. She was personally selected by Prine, and it was his label’s first new signing in 15 years. Waldon’s disc made a number of the year’s “best
- [Equador: Alluring Melodies & Celestial Motifs](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/07/13/equador/) - As a diehard fan of the downtempo UK electronica band Zero 7, I’ve tried to keep up with the sparse music releases of founders Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker, who formed the group in the late 1990s. Recently, I discovered that Binns, a master of sound mixing and keyboards, had formed a duo in 2016
- [Opera To Relax: Ethereal Buddha Lounge Music](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/10/opera-to-relax/) - One of my favorite obscure German bands, Opera To Relax, did not perform classical music, as their name might imply, but rather a delicious blend of downtempo instrumental music with soothing vocals delivered in a distinctive way. They released several albums with the independent label Prudence from 1995–2006 and then disbanded. But their exquisite creativity
- [Tea & Frankfurters: The Story of Gertrude Käsebier's Portraits of the Lakota Sioux](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/07/09/gertrude-kasebier/) - On the evening of June 25, 1906, during a performance at Madison Square Garden in New York, a millionaire named Harry Thaw drew a pistol and shot prominent architect Stanford White in the back, killing him instantly. Thaw had recently married a chorus girl and actress named Evelyn Nesbit, who had been sedated and seduced
- [Facebook Follows You ... While Apple Is Stepping Up Its Privacy Game](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/07/02/facebook-follows-you/) - It gets annoying. I play a Scrabble-like game on my iPad that forces me to see an ad after every play, but one ad actually caught my attention: a toy drone that looked like it might make a nice gift for a child. I was curious about the price so clicked on the ad. Big
- [Ottumwa Scores Video Game Hall of Fame](https://www.iowasource.com/2010/07/01/business2010_07/) - Last year, the city of Ottumwa reinvented itself. Up until that time, the southeast Iowa city was notable for two things: being the hometown of Radar O’Reilly (Gary Burghoff) of M*A*S*H fame and the birthplace of Tom Arnold (who graduated from Indian Hills Community College). Few knew of Ottumwa’s extremely momentous legacy—as the birthplace of
- [How to Make Profits: Lessons from Steve Jobs and Apple](https://www.iowasource.com/2011/10/06/business2011_10_jobs/) - Hard-wired into each of us is the simple truth that if we come together with the intent to give to one another, everyone gives and everyone receives. If we come together to take, no one gives and no one receives. Want to make money? Make people happy. Help them enjoy. Give them products and services that
- [Why Immigrants are Good For America](https://www.iowasource.com/2010/09/03/business2010_09/) - I receive scores of xenophobic jokes and diatribes on email about undocumented Latinos coming to the United States and working illegally. I have been responding selectively to them. The best response I’ve received lately came to me from Vicki Siefers of Coralville, who is working to promote Johnson County as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants.
- [What Your Commencement Speaker Should Have Told You](https://www.iowasource.com/2012/05/16/business2012_06/) - Charles Wheelan, who once wrote commencement speeches for the governor of Maine, has written a new book, 10½ Things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said. Wheelan has found that the overly optimistic words of the typical commencement address hold few lessons young people really need to know about what lies ahead. I’ll use ten of
- [Money Basics Every Spouse Needs to Know](https://www.iowasource.com/2014/02/06/business2014_02_money-basics/) - Early last year, one of my best friends passed away. He was also my client. When the time came to discuss his accounts with his widow, I was glad to hear that my old friend had taken my advice and kept his wife informed about their assets. She had a general idea of what they
- [Social Security Claiming Strategies: What's Best for You?](https://www.iowasource.com/2014/02/06/business2014_02_ss/) - By changing when and how you claim Social Security, you might end up collecting tens of thousands more over your lifetime. The difference could be $100,000 or more for a high-earning couple that chooses the best claiming strategy. Social Security gives you an 8 percent increase in future benefits for life, plus cost of living
- [Will I Have Enough Money for Retirement? Or Will I Outlive My Funds?](https://www.iowasource.com/2014/03/06/business2014_03_retire/) - About eight years ago, an old friend, who I’ll refer to as Jim, called me. He was 60 years old at the time. His parents had recently passed away and left him some money. Watching his parents in their old age not only left him with a stronger sense of his own mortality, but also
- [Will I Outlive My Money? What To Do When the Answer Is Yes](https://www.iowasource.com/2014/04/08/business2014_04_retire/) - Last month, we discussed how to answer the question, Will I outlive my money?” In this issue we are going to discuss what to do if you got the wrong answer—if your money will run out before your life is over. One of my clients, in his own words, lives large. He’s in his late
- [Will I Outlive My Money? Part III: Investment Choices](https://www.iowasource.com/2014/05/07/business2014_05_retire/) - “You’ve got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going because you might not get there.” —Yogi Berra My mother has something going for her that many investors lack. She knows what she wants from her investments. She’s a very healthy 84-year-old, but there’s no denying that she’s a lot closer to the
- [Disrupter in Chief: Investing During the Trump Presidency](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/03/02/bus2017_03/) - What happens when the CEO and principal stockholder of a private corporation becomes president of the wealthiest, most powerful nation in human history? That is a question we the people are now in the process of answering. I have spent most of my professional career as a business owner. That background—and a little knowledge of
- [The Spanton Board: Our Story](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/11/06/the-spanton-board-our-story/) - As the leaves change color and fall from the trees, temperatures steadily decline while smells of hearth fires waft through Fairfield’s neighborhoods. This magical moment reminds us that the season is upon us: football is here! Although it’s a time of great enthusiasm and cheering, the possibility of catastrophic harm for our athletes is a
- [Critical Thinking: Learn to Ask Questions](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/02/12/critical-thinking/) - I saw it on Facebook. It made sense. I strongly agreed with it. I reposted it. Within minutes, Facebook friends were informing me that no, what I posted was not true. Ever had that experience? I can’t remember what it was that I fell for, but fall I did. I was suckered by confirmation bias.
- [2020 Election: Prediction Is Difficult](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/11/02/2020-election-prediction-is-difficult/) - ". . . especially about the future." — Neils Bohr I wish I could write two columns, one that would be published if Biden wins the election and another if Trump wins. But this article, which will first appear on November 4, is being written weeks in advance. So you, dear reader, have an enormous
- [Immigration Wake-Up Call: We Need Workers](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/12/12/immigration-wake-up/) - A few years ago, Joan and I had dinner with clients in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where they have a home. The clients were very friendly with people who owned and worked in local restaurants. On this particular night, they introduced us to a young man working in the kitchen. He had moved back to Mexico
- [What Others Think: How Much Are the Opinions of Others Worth?](https://www.iowasource.com/2018/09/07/what-others-think/) - In our daily lives, people often express their opinions about what we’re doing. To a certain extent, caring what other people think can check our own actions. But people’s opinions about us are based on their own experiences, which may or may not be relevant to us. Giving too much credence to what other people
- [Scary Headlines? How About Just Ignoring Them](https://www.iowasource.com/2018/12/11/scary-headlines/) - Americans love drama. The four most-watched TV shows in 2018 were all dramas, and of the five top-grossing movies of 2017, only one was a comedy. In Washington, D.C., political drama is a daily staple. Many of our most successful politicians are masters of the dramatic. Anything to get a headline, right? Because headlines get
- [How To Make America Great Again](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/01/12/make-america-great-again/) - First, let me say I kind of have a problem with Mr. Trump’s tagline. It’s true that America once had companies that were the envy of the world: General Motors, Ford, and General Electric, to name a few. But if you think that America is past its heyday because those companies are past their heyday,
- [Taking Stock: The Year in Review](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/12/taking-stock/) - Wow, do we have a lot to talk about. I usually like to begin with a story to grab your interest, but how do I tell one story about so many big things? I don’t know, so let’s just dive right in. Expansion The economy is in the early stages of expansion. Every recession, recovery,
- [Market Manipulation: What's The Truth?](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/12/market-manipulation/) - About 40 years ago in the second half of the 1970s and culminating in 1980, there was a dramatic bull market in gold and silver. Near the end of it, two billionaire brothers, Herbert and Nelson Hunt, used their inherited fortunes to try to corner the world market for silver. Leveraging their money many times
- ["Why Are You Telling Me This?" Discerning an Honest Job from a Snow Job](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/12/discerning-an-honest-job/) - Sophocles famously wrote, “No one loves the messenger who brings bad news.” But what if the messenger isn’t telling the truth? What if he or she is exaggerating, or extracting parts of the truth and mixing it with outright lies and distortions to give an entirely different meaning to the message? Maybe we should kill
- [Vaccine Reluctance: What's the Economic Cost?](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/07/12/vaccine-reluctance/) - A friend came by to drop off a camera lens he had borrowed. He knocked and left the lens on the doorstep. I came to the door as he was heading down the walk. He was masked and had already walked 30 feet away, obviously intent on staying there. “Why don’t you just get vaccinated?”
- [Grant Wood: So Much More Than "American Gothic"](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/02/24/grant-wood-2/) - Grant Wood is a constant presence in the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, with its archive of over 300 artworks, a gallery permanently devoted to his output, and the modest studio where he created his famous paintings just a few blocks away. The CRMA is currently hosting three Wood-themed shows: Americans in Paris: Grant Wood
- ["Lupin": A Gentleman Thief Avenges His Father](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/30/lupin/) - Rated the third most watched series on Netflix in 2021, Lupin is a worthy thriller that will entice both simple and sophisticated tastes of all ages. Filmed in Paris in 10 episodes (with more to come) and spoken in French with English subtitles, Lupin hums with suspense, surprise, and humor, and an interesting take on
- [Driftless: Public Space One Presents Open Air Media Festival](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/22/driftless/) - Public Space One is proud to present the second annual Open Air Media Festival, a free two-night event featuring outdoor installations, projected videos, and other time-based artwork on Friday, June 25, and Saturday, June 26, starting at dusk. In addition to video installations at Public Space One’s two locations, live radio broadcast, and a mobile
- [See American Ballet Theatre at Hancher on July 4th](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/11/american-ballet-theatre/) - American Ballet Theatre is taking to the road this summer, traveling by bus and truck to eight communities across the country, with Iowa City the second stop on the tour. The ABT Across America road trip harkens back to the company’s cross-country tours in the 1940s and 1950s. The July 4 performance on the Hancher
- [Hancher Auditorium Announces 2021-22 Season](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/07/06/hancher-season/) - Hancher Auditorium at the University of Iowa will once again welcome audiences to the facility beginning this August. Tickets for the new season will first be made available to Hancher donors, and the general public will be able to purchase tickets beginning on Monday, August 16, at 11 a.m. Those who are not fully vaccinated—as
- [It's Too Hot To Cook! Tasty Recipes for Summer Nourishment](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/06/29/food2017_07/) - In the sweltering heat of an Iowa summer, the last thing that I want to do is stand over a simmering saucepan. Mind you, I love spending time in the kitchen dreaming up and preparing thoughtful, slow-paced meals, but when the thermometer soars and stomachs grumble, I find that simple and fresh is always best.
- [Hey, Zero Heroes! It's Zero Waste Month in Fairfield](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/29/zero-waste-month/) - Join the Sierra Club of Southeast Iowa and the Fairfield Farmers Market for a month-long series of events focusing on reusing, repurposing, and recycling waste. Every Saturday in July, visit the Farmers Market in Howard Park to learn how to bring a zero-waste lifestyle into your home and garden, rethink your shopping habits, and avoid
- [Beware Greenwashing: With Sustainable Investing, What's in a Name?](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/29/beware-greenwashing/) - “So, this fund has two completely different ratings,” I said to a few of my colleagues while on a Zoom call. We were several weeks into a research project comparing the ratings of various sustainable investment products. “This fund is rated an A over here, while this other rating has it listed as D.” In
- [Little Prairie on the Trail: Take a Walk on the Wild Side](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/02/little-prairie/) - The journey began in 1999 as a group of Fairfield recreation enthusiasts sought to locate the out-of-town owner of property abutting the newly planned Fairfield Loop Trail. Luckily, we found our man—Robert McElhinney Nady, retired ISU professor of engineering, glider pilot, international businessman, and philanthropist. The Fairfield land Bob owned had been in the McElhinney-Nady
- [Service with a Smile: Weeping Willow Rescue](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/22/service-with-a-smile-weeping-willow-rescue/) - The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. —Mahatma Gandhi During a blazing heat wave in June, I watched two men trimming a large quantity of dead branches from the massive weeping willow tree in our front yard. Day after day, in the sweltering heat, they were out
- [Call for Docents! Stanley Museum of Art Relaunches Teaching Program](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/22/call-for-docents/) - Work continues on the University of Iowa’s new Stanley Museum of Art just south of the UI Main Library in Iowa City. Though museum patrons must wait another year before the ribbon cutting in the fall of 2022, those with an interest in art and a passion for learning are invited to engage with the
- [A Modern Masterpiece: Jackson Pollock's "Mural"](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/11/15/a-modern-masterpiece-jackson-pollocks-mural/) - Follow the journey of Iowa City’s iconic Jackson Pollock painting in the Emmy Award-winning documentary Jackson Pollock’s Mural: The Story of a Modern Masterpiece. Directed by Iowa City filmmaker Kevin Kelley, the film explores the myths surrounding a work that influenced so many American artists and changed the landscape of modern American painting. In 1943,
- [A "Summertime" Classic: The Lexicon of Gershwin's Languid Lullaby](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/10/a-summertime-classic/) - Summertime is just about here . . . and the livin’ is easy, as the George Gershwin song goes. Songs about the season could easily number in the millions when you add up all the different versions. Consider the classic renditions of Frank Sinatra’s “Summer Wind,” Seals and Crofts’ “Summer Breeze,” the Lovin Spoonful’s “Summer
- [Nathan Timmel: Iowa City Stand-up Gets Serious](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/10/nathan-timmel/) - Iowa City resident Nathan Timmel may be a stand-up comedian, but he also thinks serious thoughts. Those notions undergird his first novel, We Are 100, which he self-published. The novel follows two FBI agents as they try to stop a series of horrific crimes that are being masterminded by a shadowy figure. The villain’s agenda
- [Annual Carpet Event in Fairfield: April 23-May 1, 2-8 p.m.](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/21/annual-rug-event/) - See the textiles at 402 N. B St. in Fairfield. Additional hours available through May by appointment. Call or text—PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE: (641) 919-8155. This 6th Showcase of Artisan Works from Greece ... and beyond ... has expanded to new territory, literally, with this new collection: Persian/Iranian, Iraqi, Turkish, Indian, Moraccan, Armenian, Afghani, Nomadic,
- [The Restaurant: Downton Abbey Meets Mid-Century Sweden](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/08/the-restaurant/) - I’m trying not to gush. But is falling in love ever sensible? That’s the dilemma I have in explaining my ongoing crush on the lovely, intriguing, multilayered, and ultimately satisfying Swedish series known in the U.S. as The Restaurant (Vår tid är nu in Swedish, which translates as Our Time Is Now). Comparisons to Downton
- [East Grove Farms: Branching Out to Music and Mead](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/08/east-grove-farms/) - (East Grove Farms celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Folk Music Festival this Saturday, June 12, 2021, beginning at 5 p.m. with five bands plus handcrafted mead, beer, and BBQ.) Located just south of Mount Pleasant, historic East Grove Farms has been in the Garretson family for 180 years. While the farm’s still in production,
- [Nathan Kellum of Iowa's Underground Railroad: Rachel Kellum Remembers](https://www.iowasource.com/2013/02/10/iowa2013_02_kellum/) - This account, originally printed in Western Work in 1908, comes from Rachel Kellum of Salem, Iowa, when she was 80 years old. She describes how her father helped a slave escaping from Missouri: Just before dark one evening, a young man lightly tapped on door of the Joel Garretson home four miles east of Salem.
- [Long Time No See: Still Cruising After All These Years](https://www.iowasource.com/2011/12/06/wit2011_12_maryhelen/) - The last column I wrote for The Iowa Source appeared in December 2003 ("Now There is a Miracle"). I’ve written a piece now and again since, but returning to these pages on a regular basis after eight years, I feel as though I owe readers—or somebody—an accounting of myself. How have I been spending
- [Old Fort Atkinson: My Family's Brief Occupation of an Army Outpost](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/03/old-fort-atkinson-my-familys-brief-occupation-of-an-army-outpost/) - In 1919, Iowa-based writer Woodworth Clum was touring the state as director of the Greater Iowa Association. Given his father’s background as an Indian agent and his own interest in the history between Native Americans and Euro-American immigrants, he drove south from Decorah with the intention of locating a bygone U.S. Army post called Fort
- [Beatlesque Playlist: Fab Four-Inspired Sounds to Groove On](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/03/beatlesque-playlist/) - Ever since I listened to a radio program in 1966 that predicted the Beatles would transform the direction of popular music, I’ve searched for choice tracks of Beatlesque music as a way of acknowledging their influence. With the recent discoveries of a few more tracks, I created a shared Spotify list called “Beatlesque—Fringe Toast style.”
- [Don't Click That Link!](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/03/dont-click-that-link/) - I was recently invited to answer a question on the Quora website about whether a particular website was a good guide for learning meditation. But the link given was a bit.ly link. I was suspicious. Bit.ly is a service I sometimes use in this column to shorten long links so they can easily be entered
- [A New Economic Paradigm](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/03/a-new-economic-paradigm/) - Every year the United States produces an estimated $21 trillion in gross domestic product (GDP). Despite this abundance of goods and services, an increasing share of the population finds itself lacking essentials. We have more than enough food to feed everyone, but nearly one in ten people experienced food insecurity at some point in 2019,
- [Painting the Town: Artists Gather for Portrayal of Mount Vernon](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/02/portrayal-of-mount-vernon/) - The popular annual gathering of artists called Portrayal of Mount Vernon took place April 24–25 this year, drawing 25 creative types who roamed the streets and the surrounding countryside for two days to capture the picturesque beauty of Mount Vernon and Lisbon. The outdoor affair attracted plein air painters, photographers, sculptors, and fabric artists. Their
- [Mare of Easttown: Winslet Mesmerizes in Small-Town Mystery](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/03/mare-of-easttown/) - “I always expected to be a cop. It’s the life around me I didn’t expect to fall apart so spectacularly.” —Mare Sheehan The star power of Kate Winslet brings to mind film characters like Rose, that gutsy, first-class passenger on the Titanic. Or the passionate, young Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility. Or the lone
- [Empowered on Eight Wheels: Volition Skate Co.](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/04/volition-skate-co/) - Given that it’s an ideal pandemic sport, roller skating is currently enjoying a renaissance. “We are in the middle of a roller-skate boom,” says Kate Vigmostad, who co-owns Volition Skate Co. with Jen Kranz. “There are unprecedented numbers of new roller skaters looking to get themselves a pair of skates.” “We think it has a
- [Fairfield First Fridays Returns to the Town Square on June 4!](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/06/02/fairfield-first-fridays-returns-to-the-town-square/) - Fairfield First Fridays is resuming downtown on Friday, June 4, with an in-person celebration of art and music from 6–10 p.m., and there is a lot of fun to be had! Put your dancing shoes on and groove to some funky classic rock with the Roman Cadillacs in Central Park, or avoid the larger crowds
- [Pickleball: America's Hottest New Sport](https://www.iowasource.com/2018/04/06/pickleball/) - The Fairfield Pickleball Club hosts the Second Annual Regional Tournament on Saturday, January 19, 2019, at the MUM Rec Center in Fairfield. To register, contact Ron Bessette at ron@pcklball.com or go to Fairfield Pickleball Club on Facebook. Pickleball. Indeed. Is that really the name of America’s fastest-growing sport? Pickleball—a game that uses no pickles whatsoever.
- [Fairfield "Summer Sun" Outdoor Concert Series Begins June 2](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/26/fairfield-summer-sun-outdoor-concert-series-begins-june-2/) - Fairfield Arts & Convention Center announces their new Summer Sun Series—a season of free outdoor concerts on alternating Wednesday evenings from June 2nd through August 11th. Featuring local and Iowa-based artists, the series of six outdoor concerts will take place at 7 p.m. on the street in front of the Center at 200 N. Main
- [More Little Free Pantries: "Take what you need, give what you can"](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/26/more-lpantries/) - The grassroots, volunteer-run Little Free Pantry movement is alive and well in Jefferson County, with ten pantries in Fairfield and one to be installed in Lockridge by June. Little Free Pantries contain food, personal care items, and paper products available to anyone who needs them, no questions asked. They provide an anonymous and immediate way
- [Our Favorite Things: The Writers Weigh In on Wellness & Beauty](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/18/our-favorite-things/) - For years, I’ve had this Oprah-esque fantasy of assembling a lavish gift basket filled with all of my Favorite Things to share with the people I love: out-of-the-way finds, unexpected remedies, and food that inspires involuntary noises. The price tag on this ultimate basket of awesomeness really starts to add up, so I keep filing
- [Norm Rosenthal on Poetry: Comfort and Connection in Rhythmic Form](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/18/psychiatrist-prescribes-poetry/) - Imagine your therapist writing a prescription for a Shakespeare sonnet or a Dylan Thomas poem—as well as prescribing anxiety medication. Well, Norman E. Rosenthal, MD, is that therapist! World-renowned for his research on seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and pioneering the light therapy to treat it, Rosenthal has written a new book, Poetry Rx: How 50
- [Keep Planting: What I Learned from a Decade in the Garden](https://www.iowasource.com/2018/04/26/garden/) - When my husband Tim and I moved back to the family farm to start a market garden, we knew we were walking into hard work and high risk. So we said, “We’ll give it five years and see if we can make a go of it. If we can, great. If we can’t, we’ll at
- [Nancy Gaub Premieres Concerto During "Symphonic Treasures" on May 15](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/10/nancy-gaub-premiere/) - Fairfield resident Nancy McFarland Gaub will perform a concerto she composed during the Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra's spring concert, "Symphonic Treasures," at Bridge View Center on Saturday, May 15, at 7:30 p.m. In her varied career as a violinist and composer, Gaub has performed on three continents, including with the Buffalo Philharmonic and as a chamber
- [Tim Pelton: Almost-True Stories from the Sixties](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/11/tim-pelton/) - In his new novel Headfirst, indie author Tim Pelton invites readers back to the 1960s as he follows a group of college friends on their (mis)adventures involving sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. The novel is striking for its deep dive into this unique cultural moment, even when the novel struggles to find forward momentum.
- [Unintended Economics: Has the Middle Class Become Expendable?](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/10/unintended-economics/) - This is a challenging time for humanity. With staggering inequality among industrialized nations, deteriorating social and economic stability, and ongoing environmental degradation of the planet, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. How can we find effective solutions and move forward? Before we begin, let’s dive into the simple mechanics of our current economic model to identify
- [Secrets of a Weekend Gardener](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/11/secrets-of-a-weekend-gardener/) - I am Alice, and Wonderland is my garden—a rabbit hole of planting, digging, weeding, feeding, mulching, mowing, loving, and dreaming. My husband and I are market gardeners; we sell garden seedlings and herbal infusions at Iowa farmers markets and shops. But the more we grow for market, the less time I have for my personal
- [Mommie Dearest: Formidable Songs & Other Mother Metaphors](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/04/mommie-dearest/) - Mother’s Day is May 9. Lots of lovely songs honoring mothers have been written by contemporary musicians of all stripes, including the Beatles, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Tupac Shakur, and Brandi Carlisle. Everybody, it seems, loves their mother. That said, the best songs about mothers aren’t the treacly, sentimental ones, but those that use the term
- [Never Too Late to Skate: A Cruise Through the Cosmos](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/03/the-great-skate-flying-high-on-eight-wheels/) - It’s always with a tinge of sadness that I enter the old brick building east of town that houses my storage locker. The building’s broad, barreled ceiling and hardwood floor—painted turquoise green around the edges—tell a tale of its former glory. This place used to be filled with laughter, bruised knees, and mullets. Van Halen,
- [Gene-Sequencing Genius: Why This Tech Guy Loves His Vaccine](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/05/04/vaccine/) - It’s been such a relief to be fully vaccinated, thanks to the Moderna vaccine. And your tech columnist is delighted for another reason: this vaccine was created in an entirely new way, thanks in part to the wonders of gene-sequencing technology. You’re probably familiar with how vaccines were typically created in the past: take the
- [Rocket Rabbit Flower Farm: Rooting Down and Budding Out](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/30/rocket-rabbit-flower-farm/) - This upside-down year, for many, was a call to step back and take stock. As normal life ground down to a halt, some busy little bunnies on a farm just outside of Fairfield were building a hoop house. When I spoke with her a few weeks ago, Chloe Hennesy, owner of Rocket Rabbit Flower Farm,
- [Promising Young Woman: A Dark Comedy of Vengeance](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/28/promising-young-women/) - British screenwriter and director Emerald Fennell (who also wrote Killing Eve and appeared as Camilla in The Crown) describes her directorial debut Promising Young Woman as a revenge comedy—to which I would add, light on comedy, heavy on revenge. This intense tale might not appeal to everyone, nor is it recommended as first-date entertainment. But
- [Headphones of the Future ... That You Can Buy Today](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/27/headphones-of-the-future/) - I was so close to writing a spoof on a mind-blowing piece of fake audio gear this month, but then I got to thinking: I could write a whole year’s worth of articles about real items that you’d think were April Fool’s hoaxes. It’s an amazing time for audio video. Here’s how you can find
- [Hancher & Ballet Des Moines Invite You to "Dance into Spring"](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/27/hancher-ballet-des-moines-invite-you-to-dance-into-spring/) - A new partnership between Ballet Des Moines and Hancher will bring three free outdoor performances of "Dance into Spring" to Muscatine, Iowa City, and Des Moines. Each evening will include five works highlighting a diverse range of performers, all with ties to Iowa: the professional company dancers of Ballet Des Moines, performers from the University
- [Bicycling to Work: The Joy of the Ride](https://www.iowasource.com/2008/06/30/health2008_07_bicycling/) - Cheryl on her first bike, in the innocent days before she abandoned cycling to drive a car. Bicycling instead of driving to work cuts the risk of heart disease by 11 percent, especially among women. I shared that statistic from the June 2008 Health Magazine with my husband, who, unlike me, is an avid
- [A Call for Fairfield Outdoor Artists: "2020 in 2021—A Better View"](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/21/a-call-for-fairfield-outdoor-art-2020-in-2021-a-better-view/) - The Fairfield Art Association announces a second attempt of its 12th annual outdoor summer art installation after a year's break due to COVID. The show has been renamed 2020 in 2021: A Better View, reflecting a new attitude for a brighter future. The FAA is excited to offer a very fun design and engage participants
- [The 93rd Academy Awards: Down to the Dollar & Other Fun Facts](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/20/the-93rd-academy-awards/) - Whether or not you'll be watching the 93rd annual Academy Awards on Sunday, April 25, the Oscars remain a revered Hollywood tradition. Audience ratings have dropped continually since 2014, but the Oscars are still regarded as the most prestigious honor in the film industry. With all the hoopla around this star-studded event, WalletHub has compiled
- [A Painterly "Portrayal of Mount Vernon" Attracts Iowa Artists](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/20/a-painterly-portrayal-of-mount-vernon-attracts-iowa-artists/) - Growing up in Southeast Iowa, all I knew about Mount Vernon was that it was one of the dinky, snow-covered towns we had to pass through in order to get to the ski hill at Sundown Mountain way up in Dubuque. In my thirties, when a Chicago chum told me she was from Mount Vernon,
- [Your Garbage Made A Bench! Fairfield Becomes the World's First TerraCycle Town](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/13/garbage-made-a-bench/) - We are four months away from the two-year anniversary of the TerraCycle Fairfield project. Over those two years, Fairfield residents have collected and recycled nearly 6,000 traditionally nonrecyclable products, as well as thousands of pounds of e-waste, batteries, lightbulbs, and plastic bags. By recycling everything from old razors and toothbrushes to printers and cellphones, local
- [Decorate on a Budget: Tips for Upgrading a Tiny Space](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/13/decorate-on-a-budget-tips-for-upgrading-a-tiny-space/) - If the pandemic is keeping you looking at the same four walls day after day, perhaps you need to upgrade the walls. That’s what I did, shopping almost entirely online, including swapping out about half the furniture, all for about the same cost as our latest stimulus check. Applying Marie Kando’s advice to shop for
- [Songs for Transcendence: Sacred Music from Ancient East Asian Traditions](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/13/songs-for-transcendance/) - While pursuing the path to inner peace over many decades, I’ve come across some sublime musical tracks. These extraordinary performances that inspire transcendence can be traced to Sufi, Buddhist, and Indian Vedic traditions. If you want to experience the music beyond these descriptions, you can find a specially prepared Spotify playlist, “Sacred Songs from Asia,”
- [Iowa Farm Sanctuary Premieres "Gunda": Everyday Farm Animals Star in a Work of Cinematic Poetry](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/06/premiere-gunda/) - Iowa Farm Sanctuary and VegLife Des Moines are teaming up to bring Iowans a first look at Gunda, a new film from executive producer Joaquin Phoenix, before it hits theaters. This virtual premiere will be hosted by the two nonprofits through a special arrangement with the film distributors. Gunda eloquently documents the everyday lives of
- [They're Watching You: How Social Media Helps Shape Your Reality](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/07/theyre-watching-you/) - Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media all want the same thing: to hold your attention for as long as they can. The more time you spend with their services, the more ads you see—and the more money they make. So they program their computers to feed you content they think you’ll like. The
- [SXSW Online 2021: A Virtual Smorgasboard of Art and Tech Events](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/24/sxsw-online-2021/) - Traditionally, South by Southwest (SXSW) brings more than a quarter of a million people to Austin, Texas, for ten days of sessions that highlight cutting-edge changes in technology, film, and music. SXSW is also a place to meet and network with a host of different people from a variety of fields. Something magical happens there
- [A House That Gives Back: Build Net-Zero](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/04/07/net-zero/) - When Southeast Iowa native Mary Essary Hoyer moved back to her home state a few years ago, she wanted to put her sustainable energy knowledge to good use. She and her husband decided to build a net-zero home, one that creates as much energy as it uses, with the intent of inspiring others to do
- [Wascally Wabbits: Going to Battle for Your Blooms](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/04/07/home2017_04_rabbits/) - If you know me at all, you know I’m a sucker when it comes to animals, especially small furry ones. In the fall, my mother gets angry with me when I swerve the car to avoid running over fuzzy wuzzy caterpillars on the highway. “Why would you risk my life for a caterpillar!?” I can
- [Nomadland: America's Hidden Itinerants](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/30/nomadland/) - It all began as a nonfiction book, Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century (2017), by subculture journalist Jessica Bruder. Driving a camper van for months across 15,000 miles, Bruder documented a particular demographic of van dwellers: Americans in their later years living on Social Security and the sparse income from occasional jobs. By economic
- [Jolene Buchheit: Hearing Readers Laugh Is Music to her Ears](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/30/jolene-buchheit/) - Jolene Buchheit (who also writes as JoJo Bartlett and JAS Bennet) works in education and maintains an active writing and publishing life as well. The combination causes many people—myself included in this very interview!—to conclude she must be an English teacher. She isn’t, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have plenty to teach aspiring writers
- [Make Yourself Clean Again: A Housekeeping Guide for Procrastinators & Lazy Bums](https://www.iowasource.com/2019/04/10/make-yourself-clean-again/) - Why can’t I make myself clean? To clarify: Other than an occasional potty mouth, I am clean; I do bathe. But I’d say 87 percent of the time, my kitchen is a haphazard exhibit of kind-of-washed-but-drying glasses, soaking-in-the-sink pots and pans, and disgustingly crusty plates and bowls. Gross. I’ve been observing my own behavior lately
- [Survival Strategies: How Local Restaurants Are Staying in Business](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/02/survival-strategies-restaurants/) - Restaurants have been one of the hardest hit industries during the pandemic. According to Iowa Restaurant Association projections, around 1,000 restaurants, 18 percent of the market, will close permanently by March 1st. A couple hundred have already closed since the beginning of the pandemic. Surviving has required creativity, ingenuity, and customer loyalty. Oasis Falafel “We
- [The Singing Revolution: How Culture Saved a Nation](https://www.iowasource.com/2009/10/01/movies2009_10_singing/) - The gripping story of how Estonia won its independence through one of the most peaceful ways imaginable—thousands singing their national songs together—is movingly captured in The Singing Revolution, a documentary by James and Maureen Tusty now available on Apple TV. At the 100th anniversary of the Estonian Song Festival in 1969, the choirs and audience
- [American Pilgrim: Bart Walton's Modern-Day Spiritual Journey](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/04/bart-walton/) - Bart Walton’s life and ongoing pursuit of enlightenment has taken him all around the world—including to his current residence in Fairfield, Iowa. In his self-published memoir, American Pilgrim: An Ancient Quest in Modern Times, he reflects on his journey and highlights some of the important ideas and individuals, cultural moments and movements, and personal decisions
- [The Family Folk Machine Is Now a Virtual Choir](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/17/family-folk-machine-2/) - It was supposed to be a concert to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The date was set, the music selected and rehearsed, the venue booked. But before the curtain could rise on the Family Folk Machine’s Spring 2020 One Planet concert, the earth decided it had different plans. When the Family Folk Machine,
- [The Compact Disc: "Perfect Sound Forever"](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/03/the-compact-disc/) - Last month we took a trip into ancient audio history and saw how convenience affected the choices that the electronics industry made, and how these choices affected your stereo sound. The 45 record, spinning faster than the 33 1/3 RPM LP vinyl, should have sounded better than the LP. However, the 45 was designed as
- [I Came, I Sawed, I Conquered: Avoiding Pitfalls of Home Repair](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/04/07/home2017_04_diy/) - Someone once told me that building is my natural line of work. It must be true—I can't pass a dilapidated house without thinking, I could fix that place! I love the smell of lumber, the rhythm of hammers, the heft of tools, the beauty of a level line, and the satisfaction of an inner vision
- [Super Supping! Chow Down to the Tune of Immunity](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/08/super-supping/) - You hear it—and read it—more and more these days: A healthy immune system begins in the gut. “Get some diverse microorganisms to set up shop in your digestive tract and your body is better prepared to ward off a world of ills!” I buy it. Which is why I continue to eat food that’s fallen
- [Hailey Whitters: Twelve Years into a Ten-Year Town](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/04/hailey-whitters/) - Hailey Whitters learned about the ten-year rule when she first got to Nashville. According to local lore, 10 years is the longest you should spend trying to make it in the music business. After that, if your career is not thriving, the odds are that you’ll never be successful. Whitters left Shueyville, Iowa, for the
- [Ask for Asparagus: The Fresh Flavor That Grows on You](https://www.iowasource.com/2017/03/01/food2017_03_asparagus/) - As a kid, I was definitely not allowed to eat “fork food” with my fingers. I figured the same rule applied to every other 12-year-old, so imagine my confusion when I attended a Goldstein family dinner for the first time. It was Friday night, and I was already a little disoriented from having received a
- [Sophie Barker: Songstress Channels a Bright But Sultry Vibe](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/03/sophie-barker/) - I remember the concert well. It was late May 2004 and time to fulfill a promise. We packed the car on a weekday and drove to the Park West music venue on Chicago’s north side to see the UK electronica band Zero 7. It had been two years since the NYC business trip where I
- [Criminal: UK—Let the Interrogations Begin!](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/02/criminal-uk/) - What? More cops and crimes? Yes. And suspects. Available on Netflix in two seasons totaling seven worthy episodes, Criminal: UK will satisfy your minimum daily requirement of suspense. And thanks to superb writing, memorable characters, potent scenery, and top-tier casting, this pared-down format scores a home run every time. Each episode features the home team
- [Run Like an Animal: The Trials of Sports Modeling](https://www.iowasource.com/2013/07/02/rec2013_07/) - I picked up my heavy Burton bag from the conveyor belt and made my way through the Los Angeles airport, my eyes red and swollen after a sleepless flight from London. As I walked, I kept looking around to see if I could spot Anne’s slim athletic body somewhere in the crowd, but she wasn’t there.
- [Asparagus: How to Grow It, How to Grill It](https://www.iowasource.com/2007/12/28/foodcooks_0407/) - Among the most popular, and sometimes most loathed, vegetables in the world is asparagus. No doubt it has been so on and off for at least 2,000 years, because in the earliest known book of recipes, De Re Culinaria by Marcus Apicius, asparagus tips are recommended. He instructs that they should be pounded with pepper,
- [Spinach & Asparagus: The Perfect Springtime Vegetables](https://www.iowasource.com/2011/04/07/food2011_04_spring/) - Does anything taste better after a long winter than those first vegetables of spring? By the end of March, I am always yearning for those first tender green gifts from the garden. This pair of dishes highlights two of my favorite spring vegetables, asparagus and spinach. Whether boiled, steamed, or roasted, fresh asparagus doesn’t need
- [Home Sweet(heart) Home: An Affair I'll Remember](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/02/09/home-sweetheart-home/) - I’ve spent my adulthood escaping romantic entanglements. That’s how I always feel: tangled up, like a glassy-eyed perch caught in a net, smashed up against a big stinky tuna, wondering where the hell the ocean went. But this year, for reasons I’m sure you can guess, I went a bit stir-crazy. I craved change. A
- [Hey, Philanthropreneurs! Your Community Needs You!](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/01/hey-philanthropreneurs/) - Last month, we introduced the idea of stakeholder capitalism, an increasingly popular model among businesses for improving the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics in their operations. This month, it’s time to examine our actions as individuals. What can we do to enhance the quality of life in our communities and make a positive impact
- [Mardi Gras Soundtrack: A Mid-Winter Mitzvah!](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/02/03/mardi-gras-soundtrack/) - Two major carnival holidays from the Judeo-Christian tradition are always celebrated in late winter: Purim and Mardi Gras. During the dreariest time of the year, these festivals involve public merrymaking, feasting, and masquerading, entertainments that might otherwise seem antithetical to religious holidays. In 2021, both revels come early: Purim begins on February 25, and Mardi
- [Free Online Tools That'll Make Your Life Easier](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/03/01/free-online-tools/) - Here’s the situation: I was going through some files of my late father, who was an avid environmentalist in the 1960s, when I came across personal letters to him from South Dakota’s U.S. senators and governor. I wanted to share them with my brother, who lives in South Dakota. So naturally I scanned them on
- [From 45s to Digital Recordings: A History of Convenience vs. Performance](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/02/08/45s-to-digital-recordings/) - The first music that I ever bought was a 45 rpm record—the 7-inch disc with the big hole. I think it was Bobby Vinton’s “Blue Velvet.” My favorite Chicago deejay, Dick Biondi, would play the latest hits on local AM radio station WCFL, and we’d rush down to the record store to buy the 45
- [Tricia Andersen: Spicy Fantasy Inhabits the Competitive MMA World](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/02/16/tricia-andersen/) - Tricia Andersen is a writer who does her research. Not just in a library or online, but in the gym. The Cedar Rapids indie author is the writer of several series—including a new one that is set to launch in February, making this a perfect time to discover her work. As for me, she suggested
- [Taco Dreams: Mexican Street Fare Meets Local Ingredients](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/01/12/taco-dreams/) - Emily O’Connor grew up in the wooded and rainy environment of Olympia, Washington, but the highlight of her childhood was traveling to Mexico on family vacations. “I just adore those memories,” Emily says. “So relaxed and full of good feeling. The Pacific Northwest can be sort of cold and distant socially—I think it’s because of
- [Valentine's Day Treats: Savory Surprises That Warm the Heart](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/02/09/savory-valentine/) - In the middle of the very cold month of February, we look forward to Valentine’s Day, the celebration of the heart. What will your Valentine’s Day bring? When my children were small, we would get out the old seed catalogs and paper doilies, and make valentines for each other. Vegetable, fruit, and flower pictures would
- [Home Theater Perfection: Getting Sound & Vision Just Right](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/07/21/home-theater-perfection/) - The prime reason that most people invest in a good sound system today is for their home theater. Movies at home have never looked or sounded so good. Video games on a good system can blow you away. My personal favorites include musical concert videos. I was given an exceptionally good jazz concert in the
- [Classic Audio Receivers: Vintage Wine or Vinegar?](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/08/04/classic-audio-receivers/) - Vintage audio equipment can be fun to own. Just know why you want it, and don’t expect too much. Recently, I was gifted one of my favorite old pieces of audio equipment from 1979—the Bang & Olufsen Beomaster 2400 receiver. It was, without a doubt, the easiest-to-use stereo receiver of all! Five FM presets, each
- [A New Generation of Home Theater Receivers Is Full of Surprises](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/11/03/home-theater-receivers/) - In previous articles (find links below), I’ve shared my expertise from decades in the audio field. This month, my news is hot off the presses. I recently attended a virtual seminar on Yamaha’s new line of entry-level surround receivers: the 7.2-channel RX-V6A and the 5.2-channel RX-V4A. The myriad of things that a starter receiver can
- [Honey, I Shrunk the Speakers! (And the Sound Suffered)](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/11/03/honey-i-shrunk-the-speakers-and-the-sound-suffered/) - If you go back to the 1950s, almost all speakers were big. Very big! If you wanted to hear your music loudly enough, the large speakers were all “high efficiency”—made to play to very loud levels with ridiculously small amps. Transistors were not yet on the market, so all the amplifiers were vacuum tube amps.
- [Ear Compatibility: Choosing Audio Components for Your Aural Tastes](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/06/16/ear-compatibility/) - Maybe someday I will direct my attention to the purported healing powers of music tuned to A=432Hz, or to New Age music recorded on weird electronic instruments. I’ll look into why Radiance Dairy plays music to their cows, or how Joshua got those walls to tumble down. This month, however, I want to elaborate on
- [Perfecting Your Sound System: Buying a Stairway to H.E.A.V.E.N.](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/12/10/perfecting-your-sound-system/) - H.E.A.V.E.N. = High-End Audio-Video Entertainment Nirvana In these isolated, live-music-starved COVID-19 times, it becomes clear that a system that completely creates the illusion that you’re at the real event can make the difference between feeling stuck at home, and looking forward to hearing the magical subtleties of your favorite movies, TV series, rock groups, classical
- [Happy New Ear! These Inexpensive Gadgets Will Boost Your Home Sound](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/02/08/happy-new-ear/) - Yes, it’s 2021, and you’re probably just completing your strangest holiday season ever. We all have a severe hug deficit, but just as big is the lack of live musical performances. Fortunately for us, the gift that was born to replace those live events was the creation of plenty of online musical concerts, shows, and
- [Fran Lebowitz: Rants from a Professional Complainer in Netflix's "Pretend It's a City"](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/02/01/fran-lebowitz/) - “In real life, I assure you, there’s no such thing as Algebra.” “Even when freshly washed and relieved of all obvious confections, children tend to be sticky.” “Humility is no substitute for a good personality.” —Fran Lebowitz Esteemed feature film director Martin Scorsese, whose previous documentaries spotlighted Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, offers this
- [Warming Winter Soups](https://www.iowasource.com/2020/02/11/warming-winter-soups/) - Bleak midwinter is best experienced with a good bowl of soup. It’s the perfect antidote to the February doldrums and the best warm-up meal after a nice frolic in the winter wonderland. I grew up loving these staple warm-up soups from family recipes that take me back to watching the snow drift down from the
- [Stakeholder Capitalism: The Wave of the Future](https://www.iowasource.com/2021/02/02/stakeholder-capitalism/) - The idea of “business as usual” is at a crossroads. We citizens can no longer afford to allow unbridled profit to undermine the health of the environment. Around the world, corporations are sobering up to the realization that major reform must address the mounting climate crisis. On top of that, staggering inequality among industrialized nations

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- [Home Page](https://www.iowasource.com/) - Arts and Artists, Fairfield, Iowa, Features Art on the Underpass: Jenny Sammons Creates Fairfield Mural by Megan D. Robinson Megan D. Robinson June 30, 2026 Fairfield, Iowa, Features 24 hours ago FYPA Presents “Xanadu Jr”: A Roller Disco Mythology for Every Generation Fairfield Youth Performing Arts (FYPA) proudly presents Xanadu Jr., a neon‑bright, roller‑skating burst of joy that
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- [Fairfield Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/fairfield-iowa/) - Fairfield, Iowa When Mother Earth News writer Lynn Byczynski dubbed Fairfield, Iowa, one of “12 Great Places You’ve Never Heard Of” in the August 2006 issue, she hit the nail right on the head. For a town of 10,000 smack dab in the middle of Jefferson County, we’ve got quite a lot going on! Fairfield,
- [Fairfield Iowa  Copy](https://www.iowasource.com/fairfield-iowa-copy/) - Fairfield, Iowa When Mother Earth News writer Lynn Byczynski dubbed Fairfield, Iowa, one of “12 Great Places You’ve Never Heard Of” in the August 2006 issue, she hit the nail right on the head. For a town of 10,000 smack dab in the middle of Jefferson County, we’ve got quite a lot going on! Fairfield,
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- [best coffee in iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/best-coffee-in-iowa/)
- [affordable Iowa meals](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/affordable-iowa-meals/)
- [Vivo](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/vivo/)
- [Fairfield Iowa best restaurants](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/fairfield-iowa-best-restaurants/)
- [Dining out Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/dining-out-iowa/)
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- [new triathlete](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/new-triathlete/)
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- [50s triathlete first triathlon](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/50s-triathlete-first-triathlon/)
- [blame it on your thoughts](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/blame-it-on-your-thoughts/)
- [the power of thought](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/the-power-of-thought/)
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- [Ben Kingsley](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/ben-kingsley/)
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- [Heavenly Organics](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/heavenly-organics/)
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- [Amit Hooda](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/amit-hooda/)
- [healthy sugar](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/healthy-sugar/)
- [organic sweetened condensed milk](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/organic-sweetened-condensed-milk/)
- [fair trade honey](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/fair-trade-honey/)
- [fair trade sugar](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/fair-trade-sugar/)
- [healthy sweenteners](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/healthy-sweenteners/)
- [wild honey](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/wild-honey/)
- [sustainable honey](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/sustainable-honey/)
- [green car](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/green-car/)
- [green transporation](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/green-transporation/)
- [new vs old car](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/new-vs-old-car/)
- [green junker](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/green-junker/)
- [green old car](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/green-old-car/)
- [hybrid vs old car](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/hybrid-vs-old-car/)
- [Vitamin B12 deficiency](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/vitamin-b12-deficiency/)
- [b12 deficiency](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/b12-deficiency/)
- [vitamin B12](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/vitamin-b12/)
- [b12 brain](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/b12-brain/)
- [memory lapse](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/memory-lapse/)
- [improving memory](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/improving-memory/)
- [improving brain function](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/improving-brain-function/)
- [Dr. Nancy Lonsdorf](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/dr-nancy-lonsdorf/)
- [cheerleader](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/cheerleader/)
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- [trippy travel](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/trippy-travel/)
- [Nicaragua](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/nicaragua/)
- [Steven Schneider](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/steven-schneider/)
- [Unexpected Guests](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/unexpected-guests/)
- [She Swings She Sways](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/she-swings-she-sways/)
- [Ottumwa Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/ottumwa-iowa/)
- [Cory Canny](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/cory-canny/)
- [John Gordon](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/john-gordon/)
- [Iowa indie music](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/iowa-indie-music/)
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- [social networks](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/social-networks/)
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- [social networks and aging](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/social-networks-and-aging/)
- [the importance of friends](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/the-importance-of-friends/)
- [staying connected family](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/staying-connected-family/)
- [flower essence](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/flower-essence/)
- [Lila Devi](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/lila-devi/)
- [spirit in nature essences](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/spirit-in-nature-essences/)
- [Sublime moments](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/sublime-moments/)
- [sublime music](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/sublime-music/)
- [transcendent moments](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/transcendent-moments/)
- [little death](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/little-death/)
- [R. N. Morris](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/r-n-morris/)
- [twitter novel](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/twitter-novel/)
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- [A Gentle Axe](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/a-gentle-axe/)
- [A vengeful longing](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/a-vengeful-longing/)
- [the sweet light](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/the-sweet-light/)
- [ken west](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/ken-west/)
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- [HDR](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/hdr/)
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- [Sin Nombre](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/sin-nombre/)
- [Cary Joji Fukunage](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/cary-joji-fukunage/)
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- [ecofair](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/ecofair/)
- [green transportation](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/green-transportation/)
- [eco fashion](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/eco-fashion/)
- [bicycle tourism](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/bicycle-tourism/)
- [sustainble mobility](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/sustainble-mobility/)
- [Harold Uhlrich](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/harold-uhlrich/)
- [Sharon Uhlrich](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/sharon-uhlrich/)
- [George DePuydt](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/george-depuydt/)
- [753rd Tank Battalion](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/753rd-tank-battalion/)
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- [jalaja bonheim](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/jalaja-bonheim/)
- [circlework](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/circlework/)
- [middle east peace](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/middle-east-peace/)
- [Parsons College](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/parsons-college/)
- [Millard Roberts](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/millard-roberts/)
- [Chris Hallinger](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/chris-hallinger/)
- [college 1967](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/college-1967/)
- [college 1968](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/college-1968/)
- [college in the 60s](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/college-in-the-60s/)
- [Villages Folk School](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/villages-folk-school/)
- [Van Buren County](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/van-buren-county/)
- [Van Buren County Iowa](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/van-buren-county-iowa/)
- [midwest folk school](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/midwest-folk-school/)
- [Iowa folk school](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/iowa-folk-school/)
- [Bill Printy](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/bill-printy/)
- [Betty Printy](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/betty-printy/)
- [dessert buffet](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/dessert-buffet/)
- [Pine Nut Cookies](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/pine-nut-cookies/)
- [Iranian Pistachio Turnovers](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/iranian-pistachio-turnovers/)
- [sanbusehs](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/sanbusehs/)
- [Chocolate Decadence Pie](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/chocolate-decadence-pie/)
- [anti-aging secrets](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/anti-aging-secrets/)
- [anti-aging discoveries](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/anti-aging-discoveries/)
- [Ifit 150](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/ifit-150/)
- [Dr. Don X Zhang](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/dr-don-x-zhang/)
- [live to 100](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/live-to-100/)
- [exercise for longevity](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/exercise-for-longevity/)
- [poison ivy](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/poison-ivy/)
- [poison oak](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/poison-oak/)
- [poison sumac](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/poison-sumac/)
- [urushiol](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/urushiol/)
- [recognizing poison ivy](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/recognizing-poison-ivy/)
- [poison ivy remedies](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/poison-ivy-remedies/)
- [bio identical hormones](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/bio-identical-hormones/)
- [carcinogenic estrogen](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/carcinogenic-estrogen/)
- [HRT](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/hrt/)
- [vaginal dryness](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/vaginal-dryness/)
- [hot flashes](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/hot-flashes/)
- [holistic approach menopause](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/holistic-approach-menopause/)
- [grasslands](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/grasslands/)
- [Wendell Berry](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/wendell-berry/)
- [sustainable agriculture grasslands](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/sustainable-agriculture-grasslands/)
- [sustainable amish](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/sustainable-amish/)
- [frugal Amish](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/frugal-amish/)
- [simple pleasures](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/simple-pleasures/)
- [graphic novels](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/graphic-novels/)
- [Watchmen graphic novel](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/watchmen-graphic-novel/)
- [Star Trek comic book](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/star-trek-comic-book/)
- [Wonder Woman comic book](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/wonder-woman-comic-book/)
- [Batman comic book](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/batman-comic-book/)
- [carpe diem](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/carpe-diem/)
- [missed opportunities](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/missed-opportunities/)
- [Babette's Feast](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/babettes-feast/)
- [Diary of a Country Priest](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/diary-of-a-country-priest/)
- [Rachel Gordon](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/rachel-gordon/)
- [Iowa intuitive](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/iowa-intuitive/)
- [Untamed Angel](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/untamed-angel/)
- [In Treatment](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/in-treatment/)
- [Gabriel Byrne](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/gabriel-byrne/)
- [Dianne Wiest](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/dianne-wiest/)
- [Embeth Davidtz](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/embeth-davidtz/)
- [HBO series](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/hbo-series/)
- [State of Play](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/state-of-play/)
- [State of Play movie](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/state-of-play-movie/)
- [Russell Crowe](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/russell-crowe/)
- [Rachel McAdams](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/rachel-mcadams/)
- [Robin Wright Penn](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/robin-wright-penn/)
- [Start Trek XI](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/start-trek-xi/)
- [Star Trek](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/star-trek/)
- [JJ Abrams](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/jj-abrams/)
- [Chris Pine](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/chris-pine/)
- [Zachary Quinto](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/zachary-quinto/)
- [Terminator Salvation](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/terminator-salvation/)
- [Christian Bale](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/christian-bale/)
- [Sam Worthington](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/sam-worthington/)
- [prairie artwork](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/prairie-artwork/)
- [Marguerite Perret](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/marguerite-perret/)
- [New World Herbarium](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/new-world-herbarium/)
- [prairie art](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/prairie-art/)
- [Faulconer Gallery](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/faulconer-gallery/)
- [Iowa Play Festival](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/iowa-play-festival/)
- [David Patterson](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/david-patterson/)
- [Neil Cunningham](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/neil-cunningham/)
- [iowa plays](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/iowa-plays/)
- [iowa short plays](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/iowa-short-plays/)
- [Food Inc](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/food-inc/)
- [Robert Kenner](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/robert-kenner/)
- [endangered food](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/endangered-food/)
- [unsafe food](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/unsafe-food/)
- [safe food](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/safe-food/)
- [factory farming](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/factory-farming/)
- [food hazards.](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/food-hazards/)
- [kiteboarding](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/kiteboarding/)
- [iowa kiteboarding](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/iowa-kiteboarding/)
- [iowa kiteboarders](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/iowa-kiteboarders/)
- [Lake Rathbun](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/lake-rathbun/)
- [iowa sports](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/iowa-sports/)
- [iowa water sports](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/iowa-water-sports/)
- [Snatam Kaur](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/snatam-kaur/)
- [sikh devotional music](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/sikh-devotional-music/)
- [kirtan singer](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/kirtan-singer/)
- [Laurel Snyder](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/laurel-snyder/)
- [poetry and children's books](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/poetry-and-childrens-books/)
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- [Tom Sawyer Days](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/tom-sawyer-days/)
- [Hannibal MO](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/hannibal-mo/)
- [tom sawyer](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/tom-sawyer/)
- [huck finn](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/huck-finn/)
- [becky thatcher](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/becky-thatcher/)
- [Mark Twain](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/mark-twain/)
- [frog jumping](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/frog-jumping/)
- [fence painting](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/fence-painting/)
- [The Hurt Locker](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/the-hurt-locker/)
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- [Jeremy Renner](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/jeremy-renner/)
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- [death of newspapers](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/death-of-newspapers/)
- [death of print](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/death-of-print/)
- [online news](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/online-news/)
- [Audiolake](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/audiolake/)
- [Films](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/films/)
- [Audiolake's Films](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/audiolakes-films/)
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- [KRUU](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/kruu/)
- [Doctor Armancore's Serenade](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/doctor-armancores-serenade/)
- [sad books](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/sad-books/)
- [depressing books](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/depressing-books/)
- [excellent depressing books](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/excellent-depressing-books/)
- [The House of Fortune Street](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/the-house-of-fortune-street/)
- [Beautiful Children](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/beautiful-children/)
- [The Scenic Route.](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/the-scenic-route/)
- [uncertainty](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/uncertainty/)
- [love what it](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/love-what-it/)
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- [kids meals](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/kids-meals/)
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- [kids food](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/kids-food/)
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- [favorite kids recipes](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/favorite-kids-recipes/)
- [Spinach Muffins](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/spinach-muffins/)
- [Tofu Quiche](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/tofu-quiche/)
- [Yogurt popsicles](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/yogurt-popsicles/)
- [tofu meatballs](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/tofu-meatballs/)
- [and caramel pudding.](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/and-caramel-pudding/)
- [painting a room](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/painting-a-room/)
- [paint a room](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/paint-a-room/)
- [how to paint a room](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/how-to-paint-a-room/)
- [painting for dummies](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/painting-for-dummies/)
- [vegetarian brunch](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/vegetarian-brunch/)
- [easy vegetarian recipes](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/easy-vegetarian-recipes/)
- [easy brunch](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/easy-brunch/)
- [tofu hash](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/tofu-hash/)
- [French Toast](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/french-toast/)
- [Zucchini Frittata](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/zucchini-frittata/)
- [spoon bread](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/spoon-bread/)
- [and tofu quiche.](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/and-tofu-quiche/)
- [vegetarian chili](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/vegetarian-chili/)
- [broccoli soup](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/broccoli-soup/)
- [garnishing soup](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/garnishing-soup/)
- [Spanish Olive Bisque](https://www.iowasource.com/tag/spanish-olive-bisque/)