“I really believe ‘Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow,’” said Finken. “I’m not afraid of trying something and failing.  I’m only afraid of not trying.  That’s a lot of why I venture into all types of music genres and enjoy different types of shows in all different types of venues with all different types of audiences.  I never want to get too comfortable.”

Recently, I had the pleasure of listening to Finken’s new album “Bonne Finken: Live from the Loft.” The stripped, live music is enthusiastic and filled with passion. You won’t fall asleep listening to this ablum – it definitely keeps your attention with its contrasting rhythms and unexpected riffs. In my opinion, Finken’s voice is refreshing because of its unique character and vocal timbre.

“I wanted to capture both a stripped down version of some of these songs as well as capture some of the energy and magic that happens at live performances that can’t be captured in a studio setting,” said Finken. “You can perform as a band in a studio, but there’s a different level of energy that comes with a live performance in front of an audience.  These songs are very raw: no editing, one take taken – just had levels adjusted and they went on the album.”

You’re in luck. Bonne Finken + The Collective have a live show this Friday!

Check out Bonne Finken + The Collective at the “Live from the Loft” Release Party on Friday, May 18 at People’s Court. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.  Singer/Songwriter Chad Elliott opens the show at 8:00 p.m. followed by Bonne Finken + The Collective.

“The main feature of this show is to highlight the original music and the release of ‘Live from the Loft’,” said Finken. “But one of the very special features is the choreographed dances by Jennifer Kees and her Kees Camp Dance Crew.  It was collaborative – they took some of my music and put dances to my songs.  We took some of the songs they already have routines to, and will perform the songs live for them.”

Admission is only $10 in advance and $15 at the door. If you’re purchasing your ticket in advance via Tikly, do yourself a favor and spend $5 more and snag yourself a ticket and a signed “Live from the Loft” CD. Purchase tickets via Tikly by clicking here. 

“This is the type of show that I wanted to do back in 2008 when I first released ‘Soul on Display’,” said Finken. “It has just taken me all this time to get to a point in my career where I was able to actually pull it all off.  It took some time to get the music where I wanted it.  It took some time to establish ‘who I am’ as an artist and songwriter.  I feel like I’ve accomplished that to some degree.  So now, I’m starting to peel back some of the layers.”

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: Ancient Secrets, Modern Science,

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!

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.

A few of Des Moines’ St. Patrick’s Day festivities include traditional Irish fare, and it’s probably a good idea to keep some potatoes and cabbage on hand if you’re planning on kicking off the celebration bright and early Saturday morning.

A few bars serving up Irish grub on St. Patty’s Day include:

Sully’s Irish Pub: 110 Grand Avenue, West Des Moines

When you’ve been doing something for 35 years…you must be pretty good at it. Sully’s will kick off their 35th annual tent party to celebrate St. Patty’s Day at 6:00 a.m. with green eggs and ham for only $1.02, and HyVee will start up their grills later in the day (at noon). Star 102.5 will broadcast live and there’s no cover charge!

Mickey’s on Court: 206 3rd Street, Des Moines

Breakfast on the patio starts at 6:00 a.m. at Mickey’s on Court and continues with a block party and live music. There’s no cover before noon, but they are expecting thousands of people so you’ll want to get there early or have a back up plan ready.

Cabaret West Glen: 560 South Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines

Gobble some corned beef and cabbage while enjoying a free keg of green beer at Cab West, while it lasts of course…The keg will be tapped at noon and once they’ve run out of the free beer, there will be a handful of other Irish-themed drink specials, like $5 Irish car bombs.

Flanagan’s Restaurant & Lounge: 2120 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines

You’re the real deal when you kick off St. Patrick’s Day a day early, and that’s exactly Flanagan’s style. The heated tent opens at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 16 featuring drink specials, corned beef and cabbage, Irish-fried red potatoes and barbecue pork sandwiches from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Starting at 6:00 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day, Flanagan’s will serve up green eggs, ham, roasted red potatoes and toast for only $5 until 11:00 a.m. (That is by far the best bang for your buck that I’ve seen when it comes to St. Patty’s Day morning meal deals!) After the breakfast shift they’ll switch to serving corned beef, cabbage, and Irish-fried red potatoes or barbecue pork sandwiches and potatoes for only $6 until 9:00 p.m.

Murphy’s Bar and Grill: 2675 100th St., Urbandale

Starting at 9:00 a.m. Murphy’s will host their “Monster St. Patrick’s Day Party” and dish up corned beef and cabbage, shepherds pie and Irish stew alongside the traditional Irish drinks and green beer.

Bourbon Street Bar and Grill: 500 Army Post Road, Des Moines

Bourbon Street will open their doors at 11:00 a.m. They’ll offer up free Irish stew starting at 2:00 p.m. and of course the green beer will be flowing!

Mickey’s Irish Pub: 50 S.E. Laurel St., Waukee

Breakfast kicks off at 7:00 a.m. at Mickey’s in Waukee and the bagpipes will play at 1:30 p.m. Later in the afternoon you can munch on corned beef and cabbage and enjoy drink specials.

Gas Lamp: 1501 Grand Avenue, Des Moines

The Gas Lamp will kick off their inaugural “Saint Pabst Day” party at 9:00 a.m. with a street party and multiple bands. While the Gas Lamp isn’t serving up Irish food, they will have Fatty’s Italian Beef and Vienna Beef Chicago Dogs. But that’s not the best part, for only $20 you’ll get all the beer you can drink.

Other Irish Bars around Des Moines include (but I’m sure they’re not limited to):

• Mickey’s Irish Pub: 1800 N.W. 86th St. – Clive
• The Dublin: 2307 University Ave. – Des Moines
• Mickey Finn’s: 7020 Douglas Ave. – Urbandale
• Shorty’s: 208 Court Ave (Alley Entrance) – Des Moines
• Big Red’s Irish Pub & Pong: 207 Fourth St., – Des Moines

What’s your favorite St. Patrick’s Day tradition in Des Moines?

Chisme’s menu offers a unique range of Mexican and Italian dishes.  From the Al Pastor Pizza, a pizza topped with marinated pork, cheese and green sauce, to the Super Taco Plate, three tacos with your choice of meat and all the fixings, the dishes are flavorful and fresh.

Almost every time I visit a Mexican restaurant I end up ordering the queso blanco (white cheese dip). I don’t know what it is about the dip…but it’s addicting. While dining at Chisme the tradition continued.

Chisme’s chips and queso were not the normal Mexican chips and dip. The chips were warm, homemade and fresh. The queso offered a spicy kick with full flavor. These were, by far, the best chips and queso I’ve ever eaten! Seriously, if you have a hankering for chips and queso, you need to try the appetizer at Chisme. But here’s your warning: other chips and queso won’t compare. You’ll find yourself craving the queso from Chisme.

Chef Jesus Ojeda, a past Marine, culinary school graduate and ex-school bus driver, has really found a way to harness his passion for cooking.

Most diners will be surprised by the prices on the menu because they are a little higher than the average Mexican restaurant. But keep in mind that Chisme is a local, more authentic Mexican/Italian restaurant, the ingredients are fresh and homemade, and the food we tried was just plain good.

Website: http://www.elchismedsm.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/chismedsm – @ChismeDSM
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChismeDSM

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.

“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.

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.

This past weekend I dined at Centro and I was pleasantly surprised to find the answers to many of my wine-related questions in the form of a sleek and sophisticated interactive wine list. An iPad was sitting at our table when we arrived. At first I had no idea what was going on. I even said to my boyfriend, “Oh, I think someone forgot their iPad,”…and then I realized no one had forgotten anything – it was an interactive wine list!

The iPad wine list, or as our waiter referred to it, the “digital sommelier,” enables customers to browse for wines by price, type, region and varietal. It took a few minutes to get used to searching but the more we played around with the interactive list, the more we learned about Centro’s wine offerings. I am somewhat of a wine novice, so it was a great way for me to learn more about the wine selection without feeling intimidated.

After doing a little research, I quickly learned Centro isn’t the only restaurant in town that is using a digital approach to enhance the beverage selection process for its customers. Other interactive drinking and dining experiences around Des Moines include:

• El Bait Shop – Beer Genius, a machine that helps you select the “perfect” beer for your tastes based on what the bar offers. The machine gives information about the brewing technique, flavor, ingredients, and more, on each beer.

• Royal Mile / Red Monk – Scotch Genius, a machine similar to the Beer Genius that helps you select a Scotch based on a series of preference-based questions.

• Americana – Bar Genius, an interactive tablet that helps diners decide which beers, wines and cocktails pair well with the meal they’ve selected at the restaurant.

• Django – Digital Sommelier or interactive wine list. (Similar to Centro’s with a more French, homey feel.)

For a little more information about the idea behind these digital selection machines, click here to check out a demonstrative video put together by Americana on their Bar Genius.