Monthly Archives: April 2012

Roxi Copland to Return to Des Moines

Posted on by
1

I’ve always liked Roxi Copland. Her sultry voice, smooth style and witty commentary has always caught my eye and when she moved away from Des Moines – well, that was a sad day for our city. But, I’m happy to announce that Roxi Copland will be making her way back to Des Moines this summer!

Copland has a new solo acoustic album entitled “Pretty Lies” coming out on May 1, 2012 and she’s heading back to Des Moines as a part of a month-long tour releasing the album. The tour wraps up in Des Moines with the official “Pretty Lies” album release concert at the Temple Theatre on June 1, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

“It’s a homecoming,” said Copland. “I lived in Des Moines longer than anywhere other than where I grew up, and some of my favorite people in the world live there – friends, family and fans. I’ve got a lot of great memories from Des Moines and I plan to return as often as I can – it’ll always be a stop on my tours.”

According to Copland’s website, “Copland’s latest effort, ‘Pretty Lies,’ takes her music in a slightly new direction, peppering her jazz/pop stylings with hints of roots rock and Americana.” I had the opportunity to listen to the album this week and the album drew me in with it’s cool jazzy notes and contrasting rhythms. If you haven’t had the chance to hear Copland, join her fan list and get a free download of “Perfect for Me” – one of my favorite songs of hers!

So, what can fans expect of Copland’s upcoming show in Des Moines?

“We’re planning on playing down the new ‘Pretty Lies’ album,” said Copland. “Then for good measure we’ll throw in a few old favorites and a new tune I just put the finishing touches on in April.  For those who haven’t heard Pretty Lies’ yet, I take the music on the album in a slightly different direction, combining jazz/pop with hints of roots rock and Americana. While the album is a solo acoustic effort, I’ll be joined on stage at the Temple performance by my younger brother and bassist Ian Copland. And of course I plan to bite the head off a bat. Just kidding. I like bats.”

Tickets are currently on sale for her Des Moines concert via Ticketmaster. Prices range from $15 for general admission to $32.50 for the VIP table seats.

 

Lost Egypt’s Last Weekend in Des Moines

Posted on by
Reply

Lost Egypt: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science, a limited engagement exhibit open at the Science Center of Iowa, is wrapping up this weekend on Sunday, April 29.

Lost Egypt gives visitors the chance to transport themselves back in time to Egypt and enables them to discover the mysteries, cultures, ancient civilization and science behind Lost Egypt. The exhibit showcases authentic artifacts, real mummies and hands-on activities, which keeps both adults and children entertained.

A few weeks ago, my fiancé, his parents and I visited Lost Egypt and we really enjoyed interacting with the exhibit while learning about the ancient culture along the way. Of course, I was excited to see “Annie” (pictured above) the real mummy on display. It gave me goose bumps when I walked into the dimly lit room where her sarcophagus and body are on display – but it provided a real life example of the culture and history behind the mummification process. Based on experience, I’d recommend you get out the Science Center to experience the exhibit before it closes on Sunday!

A few tips if you’re going to visit:

  • Make sure you interact with the exhibit. Get your picture taken while riding the camel. Put together ancient pottery. View the videos and read along as you experience the exhibit.
  • Give yourself a good 60-90 minutes to take full advantage of what the exhibit has to offer.
  • Take advantage of the extended hours. The Science Center will have extended hours until 7:00 p.m. on April 27 and 28 to give visitors additional time to visit the exhibit.
  • Try out the “Artifact Spotlight Tours,” which offer visitors an in-depth look into the Lost Egypt exhibit led by a member of the SCI Programs Team. Tours are offered daily at 2:00 p.m. and at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

Tickets to Lost Egypt are $16 for adults, $13 for children ages 2-12 and $14 for seniors. Only a few days are left to see the exhibit so make sure you get out to see Lost Egypt this weekend – or it will be too late!

140 Characters Conference – Free Ticket Giveaway!

Posted on by
4

On Monday, April 23 the 140 Characters Conference (#140confdm) will take place at The Stoner Theater in Des Moines. The Conference aims to provide a unique mix of presenters who will share their stories on how the internet and social media are shaping their thoughts, lives and even businesses.

Per the Des Moines 140 Characters Conference website, “The #140conf events – originally conceived and curated by Jeff Pulver – provide a platform for the worldwide Twitter community to: listen, connect, share and engage with each other, while collectively exploring the effects of the emerging real-time internet on business.”

The Conference will kick off registration at 8:00 a.m. followed by a full day of unique speakers with topics ranging from “social media in the food industry” to “saving the planet with social media.” (See the full schedule here.)

Last year I attended the 140 Characters Conference and it’s a great way to network and learn more about how the internet and social platforms are changing the world we live in – from a number of different perspectives. My favorite part about the Conference is that the individual speakers are allotted 10 minutes – and only 10 minutes – to present. The presentations are informative – but if a certain topic is not of particular interest to you, a new speaker will take the stage in just a few short minutes. The format keeps things fresh and fast-paced!

This year, I’m part of the “Cast of Characters” as I’m speaking on “Pinterest for Brands – Learn why your brand should be on Pinterest now – even if you don’t sell yarn.” If you attend the conference, make sure you find me and say “hey!”

Click here to purchase a ticket or win a free ticket to the event! (See below.) Insider tip: If you’re purchasing a ticket to the event, use the code ‘verizon’ when checking out and save $30 on the ticket price!

How to Win a Free Ticket to the #140Conf
Comment below, write on The Dish’s Facebook page or send a tweet to @TheDishonDM explaining why you’d like to attend the Conference by 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 19 and you could win a free ticket to the Conference thanks to Verizon Wireless! One lucky winner will be randomly selected at noon on Thursday, April 19 and the winner will be announced on The Dish on Des Moines’ Facebook page and Twitter account.