Ellen Butler recently moved back to Des Moines after spending some time elsewhere, notably in the Big Apple. Her essay is about life in New York versus life in Des Moines. Her insights may surprise you! Read it after the jump.
Read MoreHave you seen the Duh Moyn apparel around town? I started seeing the stuff pop up on my Instagram feed a few months ago and I was really curious about who was behind it.
I did some digging and found the person behind it all is a guy named Skylar Prenosil. The idea for "Duh Moyn" popped into his head one night back in 2015 and as they say, the rest is history. Photography is courtesy of Liz Brown.
Read MoreOver the weekend, I was able to visit Luminarium: Arboria not just once, but twice! The first time I visited, I joined members of the press for a small, private showing and then a few days later, I went down to see it again with family.
What is it exactly? Well, it's an inflatable structure of different colors and sounds. It's half the size of a football and once you're inside, it feels like you're wandering around an alien spacecraft. It's pretty cool and I really enjoyed my experience.
They give you twenty minutes to explore and also limit the number of people who are allowed inside, so it was never too crowded. Although, I think it would be fun to wander around alone. It's very meditative...
Judging by the line to get tickets, there's an appetite for more things like this in Des Moines, so I hope the Powers That Be take note. Pictures and more below.
Read MoreIn case you don't subscribe to my newsletter, I wanted to share a couple of events with you that I think you should know about. I love this time of year: better movies, better music, and better cultural offerings! Also sweaters! Okay. Details below.
Read MoreChances are you've seen John Bosley's work whether you know it or not. His prints are sold at local gems like Domestica and each one has a particular warmth that catches your eye instantaneously.
John recently partnered with the Iowa State Fair to create a limited edition poster and was also asked to illustrate the May/June cover of Midwest Living. The guy's obviously prolific, but he's far from over-saturating the market with his work. John's art is thoughtful and you can see the artist behind it all isn't just doing it for money - it's a passion. Our talk is after the jump.
Read MoreI'm always on the lookout for cool stuff going on in the City and this upcoming installation seems to fit the bill pretty darn well. It's called LUMINARIUM and it appears to be some sort of inflatable, interactive artwork created by a group calling themselves Architects of Air. Since 1992, it has been traveling all around the world, across forty-one countries and five continents. And now it's coming to Des Moines.
Read MoreI'm glad to see our online community is beginning to grow here in good, old Des Moines. The more the merrier! I think a diverse choir of online voices only strengthens our city's creative scene, don't you? Check out the links below. These are all worth your time. Have I ever steered you wrong? Don't answer, just read.
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from Tiny Darling
I'm a sucker for a good playlist and this one from the Tiny Darling has been on rotation for days. Click on the picture to hear it all.
The Maytag's are a Des Moines-based band, heavily influenced by their soulful Midwest roots. Dustin Smith (lead vocalist) and Andy Poppen (trumpeter) are both members of the band and talked with me a few weeks ago about living, working, and creating here in the Midwest. Enjoy!
Read MoreThis was the highlight of my summer and one of the most enchanting experiences of the whole year. If you haven't been to Hinterland, I suggest you make every effort to go next year because it's only going to become more popular as time goes on. Unlike 80/35 - which I think could really take place anywhere - Hinterland is uniquely Midwest. More after the jump.
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