Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss Hit Des Moines

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Emily Beckmann

Des Moines is increasingly becoming a popular stop for many artists on their tours. For Bess Rogers and Allison Weiss it seemed like a natural fit with the rest of their tour appearances, and luckily, there was an opening at the Vaudeville Mews. As Rogers put it, “The rest was history.”

Rogers and Weiss will perform today, Sunday, October 23 at 10:00 p.m. at the Vaudeville Mews and tickets to the show can be purchased for only $5 through Tikly.

Rogers’ musical accomplishments include touring as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for Ingrid Michaelson and her song, “We believe in you,” landed a leading spot in a national Mott’s for Tots TV commercial.

“Touring with Ingrid has and is wonderful,” said Rogers. “We’re all sort of a big family, and so it’s always a great time. I love her music, and I’ve learned a lot about touring and the music industry from my experiences playing with her. It’s definitely made me a more skilled musician.”

Alongside Rogers will be Weiss, a 24-year-old passionate guitarist and singer who is highly influenced by her feelings and past experiences in life. Did I mention that she has thousands and thousands of hits on her music on YouTube and she loves pizza?

While Rogers is most looking forward to playing the show in Des Moines, she’s open to suggestions as to what else she should experience while in Des Moines.

“I don’t know much about Des Moines,” said Rogers. “If any locals out there have suggestions of where to eat or what to see while we’re here, tweet at me – @bessrogers!”

If you can’t make it to the show, make sure you check out their cheeky tour website filled with quirky ways to support these artistic ladies while they’re on tour. Otherwise, as Bess said, “I hope to see all of Des Moines at the show!”

Follow the fun: @bessrogers and @allisonweiss.

Local + Music = Locusic

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Emily Beckmann

Think Pandora, but for local music, and you have Locusic. Locusic is an Ankeny-based local music streaming service focused on local bands and musicians and plans to officially launch this weekend in Des Moines.

“I wanted to do something to help the local music scene and also local businesses,” said Jake Kerber, founder of Locusic. “I’ve seen great local bands and heard people talk about how great they are, but then they just can’t get any traction. Their music’s better than what’s on the radio, but what can you do? Ultimately I came up with a system where the two groups can help each other.”

When a listener opens Locusic they are prompted to select a genre. Based on the genre and the listener’s location, Locusic will select and stream music from local musicians based within 50 miles of the listener’s location.

“I hope Locusic can increase the general public’s awareness of the high quality and vast quantity of music being produced by artists in our area, ” said Kerber. “When someone’s looking at a list of local shows, they’ll have heard of the bands via Locusic and be able to make a more informed decision of which bands to go see – and ultimately go see more local shows.”

Attend the Locusic Launch Party: Locusic will officially launch their service this weekend in Central Iowa. On Saturday, October 22 at 7:00 p.m., Locusic will host a launch party at the Bombay Bicycle Club in Clive, with musical performances by Obsidian’s Dream, The River Monks, Angle, Faded Pearl and Only. The party is free to attend, the local musicians are sure to entertain, and it’s a great way to support Des Moines and the local music scene.

World Food Festival to celebrate Iowa’s diverse culinary traditions

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Emily Beckmann

The World Food Festival will add a dash of flavor and culture to Des Moines this weekend when it rolls into the East Village with live music, cooking demonstrations, local and international wine and beer, Cultural Cafés, a marketplace, interactive non-profit activities, and much more.

For the seventh year, the World Food Festival will “reign as Des Moines’ premier taste and entertainment event” on October 7 – 9, 2011. The Festival will be held on the streets of the East Village between East 4^th Street and East 6^th Street on East Locust Street and on East 5th Street. The hours for the Festival are: Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Festival is free to attend and many different international foods and beverages will be available for purchase. For only $1 the Cultural Cafés will offer samples of their unique dishes and for only $5 attendees will be able to go for the full-plate option for $5 or less. With over 30 different vendors showcasing their foods from Turkey, Ethiopia, Greece, Morocco, Russia, Mesopotamia, Hawaii and more, attendees will be able to find many different options to enjoy. For a sneak peak at what will be offered, click here to check out the menu items before you attend the Festival.

Free parking will be available in the State of Iowa Parking Ramp (corner of E. Grand and Penn) as well as a free bike valet at the corner of E. 4^th and E. Locust Street.

Last year the event had a record number of attendee’s at 75,000, and with the gorgeous fall weather that’s in the forecast for the weekend, I’m sure many curious food enthusiasts will come out to enjoy the food, beverages, live entertainment and diverse culture which is uniquely Des Moines.

Free food, wine and live music to kick off Civic Music Association’s 2011-2012 season

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Emily Beckmann

Civic Music Association will kick off their 87^th season with a bash at Jasper Winery on September 7, 2011 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. The free happy hour-style event will feature live music by the Belin Quartet and the Ian Copland Trio, food from Proof and wine/beer from Jasper Winery.

Guests will be able to preview the Civic Music Association’s upcoming season, network, learn more about the Civic Music Association and participate in a raffle, which will include the opportunity to eat at La Mie with season artist, Karrin Allyson, two season subscriptions to Civic Music Association and gifts from Jasper Winery.

After the season is “kicked off” at Jasper Winery, the 2011-2012 concert series will begin with a jazzy season opener on September 23 featuring the Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans.

“In addition to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, our season will feature the world-renowned Emerson String Quartet, the Oasis Quartet, Jazz Singer Karrin Allyson, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Latin Jazz wonder, Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band,” said Carrie Clogg, Executive Director with the Civic Music Association.

Belin Quartet.

Since its inception in 1925, the Civic Music Association has been an asset to the arts and culture scene in Des Moines. The Civic Music Association is not only building awareness, understanding and respect for classical, world and jazz artistry, but they’re bringing world-class musical experiences to Des Moines.

“We have a fabulous concert going experience,” said Clogg. “All of our concerts are held in the intimate atmosphere of Drake University‘s Sheslow Auditorium guaranteeing each patron an up close and personal view of the concert. In addition, we offer complimentary coffee from Zanzibar’s at intermission and many of our concerts have “Meet the Artist” receptions after the concert with complimentary food, wine and music!”

If you’d like to get more involved with the Civic Music Association, check out their new website, purchase tickets to their upcoming season, attend the “Kick-Off Party,” like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Iowa State Fair celebrates 100th Anniversary of the Butter Cow

Posted on August 15, 2011 by Emily Beckmann

Butter is a cooking and baking staple, but year after year it has proven to be an important part of the Iowa State Fair. Each year, thousands of fair goers wait to get a glimpse of the well-known Butter Cow, and other sculptures, that are created from butter.

This year is the 100th Anniversary of the Butter Cow, which is something to celebrate! It’s only appropriate to share of few facts about the yearly Iowa State Fair tradition:

The Butter Cow first appeared at the Iowa State Fair in 1911 (hence the 100 Year Anniversary).

600 pounds of low moisture, pure cream Iowa butter goes into making the Butter Cow each year – which is enough butter to butter 19,200 slices of toast!

Each year, much of the butter from the Butter Cow is stored, recycled and reused (to create the butter sculptures) for up to 10 years.

Norma “Duffy” Lyon, who was the fourth person and first women to sculpt the Butter Cow, passed away this year. Norma had sculpted the Butter Cow since 1960 and she was known throughout the city as “The Butter Cow Lady.”

This year Sarah Pratt, who is the current Butter Cow sculptor (and who apprenticed with Norma Lyon), led the Iowa State Fair Parade as the Parade Marshall.
The Butter Cow is housed in a 40-degree cooler room and measures about 5-1/2-ft high and 8-ft long when complete.

The Iowa State Fair is August 11 – 21 this year, which gives you 7 more days to stop by the Agriculture Building at the Iowa State Fair to see the Butter Cow and the other butter sculptures!

“Nothing Compares” to the Iowa State Fair

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Emily Beckmann

The Iowa State Fair has drawn in hundreds of thousands of visitors year after year and is the single largest annual event in Iowa. The Iowa State Fair has been named the #2 choice for summer fun in America (in 2004 by USA Weekend) and made it into the New York Times best-selling travel book “1000 Places to See Before You Die,” which comes by no surprise to most native Iowans.

The 2011 Iowa State Fair will be held from August 11 – 21 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds located at East 30^th and East University Avenue in Des Moines. I have attended the Fair for the past 20 + years, and there are a few things that I look forward to each year at the Fair:

Free entertainment: This year the Iowa State Fair has more than $400,000 worth of FREE entertainment, which includes: The Nadas, Tonic Sol-fa, The Band Perry and even the Ying Yang Twins (I didn’t know that they still existed!).
Food on-a-stick: While you might only have the stomach (and budget) to try a few of the items on-a-stick at the Iowa State Fair the new one’s you’ll see this year are: Chocolate Covered Fried Ice Cream on a Stick, Peanut Butter and Jelly on a Stick, Fried Cheesecake on a Stick and the most artery clogging of them all – Fried Butter on a Stick (is it conscience that it’s the 100^th Anniversary of the Butter Cow?). Foodie side note: Keep in mind that there are a few healthy options at the Fair as well as a few options under $2.00 each!
Contests: Each year the Iowa State Fair hosts dozens of unique contests, which are open to the public. A few of my personal favorites include: the Mullet Contest, the Twin Contest (I know a set of twins that have won), the Yo-Yo Contest, the Beard Growing Contest, the Ladies’ Husband Calling Contest and the Mr. Legs Contest. Make sure you check out the contest schedules for the day(s) that you attend the Fair so you can see some of these contests in action!
Animals: While I’ve lived in the city for my entire life, there’s something strangely intriguing about going through all of the animals barns and looking at the prize-winning animals. And of course, it’s always mind-blowing to look at the “Big Boar” and other large animals. Tip: be mindful of where you step!

The Iowa State Fair offers a little bit of everything for everyone. Recently, I discovered a great resource on their website called “Plan Your Itinerary.” This resource helps you plan your day(s) at the Iowa State Fair, since there are soo many things to do and see. It’s simple, just visit the Daily Program to plan and organize your very own, personalized Fair itinerary. This feature is perfect for overly planned people like me or for people who want to make the most out of their fair experience!

Honestly…where else can you see a Mullet Contest, Outhouse Races, the Budweiser Clydesdale’s and eat more than 50 different foods on a stick? You’d be hard-pressed to find another venue that offers agriculture, food, entertainment, art and soo much more, all in one place! Make sure you visit the 2011 Iowa State Fair because truly, “Nothing Compares.”

Devour Des Moines: Tri to eat it all

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Emily Beckmann

What would happen if you mixed a competitive eating contest with a triathlon? For some it may seem crazy, and for others it may be a reality. On Saturday, August 6 at 10:00 a.m. Devour Des Moines, a mix between an eating contest and a traditional triathlon, will put Des Moines finest competitors to the test.

After watching far too many episodes of Man vs. Food, Mike Banasiak, Devour Des Moines’ event organizer, decided that it was time to bring a local competitive eating/triathlon event to Des Moines.

“Devour Des Moines has been an idea of mine for years and I finally have the opportunity to bring it to life,” said Banasiak. “It is a unique event that DSM has never seen before. Through the eating and triathlon team relay, participants will be supporting local restaurants while promoting an active lifestyle. Plus, it is always satisfying to see a great organization like Buy Fresh, Buy Local benefit from the proceeds.”

Each team, which consists of four members, will compete in a relay format race in downtown Des Moines. Each team member will perform an individual leg of the race, and the team will come together to finish the final leg of the competition.

Here’s the twist: each leg of the race will consist of one eating and one athletic event. Whether it’s eating a breakfast burrito at Mullets and running 1.5 miles or eating an order of bacon wrapped tater tots from High Life Lounge and then biking 5 miles, these competitors will have to prove that they’ve got the athletic talent and stomach to handle the inaugural Devour Des Moines event.

Devour Des Moines is being planned with the support of the Young Professionals Connection, as well as many other local restaurants and businesses. Only 30 teams will be allowed to compete and registration is open until tomorrow (July 29, 2011). If competing in the food-friendly triathlon is not your dish, make sure you come out to see the event in action!

“It will be a fun challenge while raising money for a great cause,” said Banasiak. “Come watch the competitors and join the after party at El Bait Shop to support the event, to entertain yourself, and to just have a good time!”

Local jazz artists say “good-bye” to Des Moines with farewell concert series

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Emily Beckmann

The dark, sultry voice of Roxi Copland and the Michael Buble-esk sounds of Max Wellman have come together for a final farewell series at one of Des Moines’ most intimate theaters, The Temple Theater. The “Max and Roxi: Live at the Temple” series kicked off last weekend with shows on both Friday and Saturday nights and will conclude this weekend with a series of shows on Friday (8:00 p.m.), Saturday (8:00 p.m.) and Sunday (7:00 p.m.).

“Audiences can expect new arrangements of a variety of songs ranging from standards to today’s music, as well as a number of my own tunes,” said local musician, Roxi Copland. “Max & I will be backed by a stellar 7-piece band comprised of the some of the best musicians in Iowa.”

I attend the first show of the series last Friday night and I was blown away by the luxuriously smooth sounds that Max and Roxi brought to the Temple Theater’s stage. The 7-piece band was backlit by rich blue and red lights and the jazz sounds filled the room with holistic and soulful beats. Audience members bobbed their heads to the beat, laughed along with Max and Roxi’s antics and even gave a standing ovation at the end of the night.

The show showcased each vocalist and it was obvious to the audience that both performers have a true passion for jazz music and performing for a live audience. Max and Roxi laughed back and forth sharing stories and memories (Roxi used to be Max’s piano teacher), they blended harmoniously (it gave me goose bumps), and they were quick to tout the extreme talent of their supporting band members.

Sadly, Max and Roxi’s show is labeled a “farewell series” for a reason. Shortly after this concert series, Roxi will head to Vancouver and Max will leave for Atlanta – both to further pursue their music careers and dreams. Max recently wrote on his blog:

“To my people in Des Moines, don’t fret! Things will definitely be different in the future, but I will drop in from time to time. However, this is probably the end of my active performing schedule in Des Moines for the foreseeable future. It has been a wonderful ride… I can’t thank you all enough for the support that you have thrown my way.”

Roxi plans on leaving Des Moines the week after the Temple Shows and in true Roxi fashion, she already has a full schedule ahead of herself. She plans to tour the West Coast this fall, to record a full-length acoustic album, and to get ready for a national tour the following spring.

“A number of factors contributed to the decision – I want to spend some time touring the West Coast and it’ll be nice to be closer to family (I grew up near Seattle),” said Copland. “Vancouver has an incredibly vibrant music scene and it seems like a great place to expand into international territory.”

With all of this being said, one thing is very obvious. This is the last time that audience members will see both Max and Roxi on stage together for a while, and the last time they’ll be able to experience these phenomenal musicians in the heart of downtown Des Moines, where they’ve grown and played for the past few years.

Max and Roxi: Live at the Temple is a show you don’t want to miss or you’ll be sorry that you did. Tickets can be purchased online at CivicCenter.org, at all Ticketmaster locations, at the Civic Center Ticket office (open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or by calling (800) 745-3000.

3rd Annual Wing Ding: “A cluckin’ good time”

Posted on July 22, 2011 by Emily Beckmann

Wings have been a finger-friendly bar food and a staple Super Bowl party snack since the first plate of wings was served in 1964 in Buffalo, New York. This weekend wings are invading Des Moines as a part of the 3rd Annual Wing Ding on Saturday, July 23 from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Jethro’s BBQ near Drake University.

Wing Ding, truly a wing lovers fantasy, will offer fresh wings from local restaurants, frosty adult beverages, live local music, a wing eating contest and other prize giveaways. All proceeds from the 2011 Wing Ding will help VSA Iowa, the state organization on arts and disability, provide arts experiences in drama, dance, music, visual arts and creative writing to more than 30,000 Iowa children and adults with disabilities this year.

Eleven Central Iowa restaurants, such as: Court Ave. Brewing Co., El Bait Shop, Daytona’s, Gerri’s Bar and Grill, and Jethro’s BBQ, among other great establishments, are coming together for Wing Ding to celebrate all things wing. It’s safe to say you won’t find another experience that will allow you to sample wings from this many restaurants at one event!

Admission to the event is $15 in advance (online via Tikly or at Hy-Vee Stores) and $20 at the door. Admission includes a pound of wings, a drink ticket, and live entertainment, plus you’ll feel good knowing that you’re helping out a worthy cause.

Don a shirt you don’t mind spilling a little BBQ on and head to Wing Ding for a “cluckin’ good time.”

FREE WINGS AND BEER – What could be better?

VSA Iowa is partnering with The Dish on Des Moines to giveaway a pair of tickets to Wing Ding. Visit The Dish on Des Moines’ Facebook page between 12:00 – 12:30 p.m. on Friday, July 22. Correctly answer the wing-themed trivia question by commenting on the status by 3:00 p.m. All correct answers will be entered into the drawing for two free tickets! The winner will be announced on Facebook around 4:00 p.m. and the tickets will be at will call the day of the event.

Dwollapalooza held thanks to Zaarly connections

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Emily Beckmann

Two great things about Des Moines, the startup community and the local music scene, collided last night at Dwolla headquarters thanks to Tikly, Dwolla, Zaarly and Jason Walsmith of The Nadas.

A listing was put up on Zaarly, a website that helps you buy and sell things from the people around you, by Jason Walsmith of The Nadas offering live entertainment. Dwolla, a Des Moines-based startup company, decided to jump at the chance of a personal concert with Jason Walsmith. After a blog post by Dwolla, a few pushes on Twitter and Facebook, and only a few hours, Dwollapalooza was born. Dwollapalooza was held yesterday from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Dwolla’s office in downtown Des Moines.

“I think Zaarly offers a very interesting way to make connections between artists and people who love music,” said Emma Peterson, communications director at Authentic Records. ”What I’m excited about is the ability to add a gig at a non-traditional show time. Or, let’s say you want to have a party on Friday and would love to have some talent present. Zaarly some live music, you never know who may have a few hours free and would be happy to play your living room. The potential for Zaarly and the music scene blows my mind.”

At Dwollapalooza Walsmith performed for an audience of 20 + people for around 45 minutes. The concert was soo personal that Walsmith interacted with the crowd, took song requests and even joked that it was his first time playing in the Midland Building, his first time playing surrounded by Dwolla’s idea-filled white boards and one of the most intimate performances that he’s ever given.

“I thought Zaarly sounded cool, and seemed like another way to connect with fans in a surprising and barrier-breaking way,” said Walsmith. ”My favorite part about Dwollapalooza was the spontaneity of the whole thing. With a few key strokes we booked a gig and created a buzz that rippled through our social media circle of friends and beyond exponentially.”

With the power of social media, the talent of a great local musician, the willingness of Dwolla to provide the show and the concept of Zaarly, Dwollapalooza was a success.