Little Village magazine issue 282: June 3-16, 2020

ISSUE 282 June 3-16, 2020

Finding pride in a crisis with Aime Wichtendahl, Iowa’s first trans elected official

A L W A Y S

F R E E

PLUS

Buy wine, support your neighbors Indigenous artists take to the internet

Inspiring art in uncertain times

The Englert needs your help!

From March to May, we experienced a $385,213 shortfall in earned revenue due to the cancellation of more than 80 events.

We have rewritten our plan for sustainability in 2020 which includes cost reductions and new sources for cash, but we need the help of the Friends of the Englert to fill the gap.

30%

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Operational Cost Reductions

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Did you know that Friends of the Englert get great perks?

From early access to tickets, to passes to our festivals, Friends perks are our way of saying thank you for your support.

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VOL. 29 ISSUE 282 June 3-16, 2020 ALWAYS FREE LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM PUBLISHER MATTHEW STEELE Rachel Jessen / Little Village

DIGITAL DIRECTOR DREW BULMAN ART DIRECTOR JORDAN SELLERGREN MANAGING EDITOR EMMA MCCLATCHEY ARTS EDITOR GENEVIEVE TRAINOR NEWS DIRECTOR PAUL BRENNAN CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ANGELA PINTO VISUAL REPORTER—PHOTO ZAK NEUMANN VISUAL REPORTER­—VIDEO JASON SMITH STAFF WRITER/EDITOR IZABELA ZALUSKA ENGAGEMENT EDITOR

10

18

22

Aime’s Iowa

Brix Gives Back

Mask Up!

Hiawatha’s trailblazing trans city council member is a star on the rise.

How one local wine and cheese shop is turning pandemic into panacea.

An ER doc and a pharmacist take a simple idea from Iowa City to the whole nation.

EMMA MCCLATCHEY

NATALIE DUNLAP

SUZANNE CODY

4 - Letters & Interactions 6 - Brock About Town 9 - Staff Letter 10 - Aime Wichtendahl 14 - En Español 18 - Bread & Butter

22 - Mask of Wellness 26 - A-List 29 - Events Calendar 35 - Ad Index 37 - Your Village

39 - Dear Kiki 41 - Astrology 43 - Local Albums 45 - Local Books 47 - Crossword

CELINE ROBINS FOOD & DRINK DIRECTOR FRANKIE SCHNECKLOTH DISTRIBUTION BRIAN JOHANNESSEN, DAI GWILLIAM, NORBERT SARSFIELD, NICOLE ELDRIDGE ADVERTISING ADS@LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM LISTINGS CALENDAR@LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM CONTRIBUTORS AUDREY BROCK, SUZANNE CODY, NATALIE DUNLAP, SHARON FALDUTO, DARCIE HUTZELL, JOHN MARTINEK, LAURA PICO, CHUY RENTERIA, MICHAEL ROEDER, DANA TELSROW, TOM TOMORROW, SAM LOCKE WARD SUBMISSIONS EDITOR@LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM DISTRIBUTION REQUESTS DISTRO@LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM CREATIVE SERVICES CREATIVE@LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM CONTACT (319) 855-1474, 623 S DUBUQUE ST, IOWA CITY, IA 52240

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Little Village is an independent, community-supported news and culture publication based in Iowa City. Through journalism, essays and events, we work to improve our community in the Iowa City, Coralville and Cedar Rapids area according to a few core values: environmental sustainability, affordability and access, economic and labor justice, racial justice, gender equity, quality healthcare, quality education and critical culture.

Letters to the editor(s) are always welcome. We reserve the right to fact check and edit for length and clarity. Please send letters, comments or corrections to editor@littlevillagemag.com. Little Village is always free; all contents are the licensed work of the contributor and of the publication.

If you would like to reprint or collaborate on new content, reach us at lv@littlevillagemag.com. To browse back issues, visit us at 623 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, or online at issuu.com/littlevillage.

Dana Telsrow

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ART NEEDS YOU NEED ART

alt PS1 // online workshops

// outdoor public art

// virtual studio visits for artists // call for video work // virtual exhibitions

ALL THE DETAILS @ publicspaceone.com/alt

image by Nina Kintsurashvili

COMING THIS SUMMER THE BLACK FUSIONIST SOCIETY digital project by Center for Afrofuturist Studies resident Antoine Williams

POST-CONSUMER CONTENT outdoor installation series curated by Louise Fisher

LETTERS LV encourages community members, including candidates for office, to submit letters to Editor@LittleVillageMag.com. To be considered for print publication, letters should be under 500 words. Preference is given to letters that have not been published elsewhere.

FAMILY WALKS AROUND the neighborhood have taken on new importance in these coronavirus days, haven’t they? But as you step sideways to allow social distancing, be careful where you step, for a walk on that pristine-looking lawn can bring toxic, cancer-causing chemicals into your home.

That sprayed lawn just isn’t safe. The tipoff is an absence of colorful flowers like dandelions. Realize that everything but the grass has been killed by pesticide and herbicides for the sake of a “perfect” look. And along with killing a diversity of plants comes the destruction of an environment for butterflies, fireflies, bees and animals that your children love to see. There is clear scientific evidence of harm from lawn chemicals. They promote a multitude of risks: to children’s health, pets’ heath, pollinators and water quality.

Good lawn care skips the chemicals, allowing your yard to be natural. A diversity of plants—in addition to grass—will begin to flourish and create a healthier lawn.

Pollinators will visit your yard and do their job in the cycle of life. People and pets will be safe from chemical harm.

Why do some people ignore the science?

Use this pause-button of coronavirus to rethink your lawn care. And watch as your yard becomes a place of beauty in a natural way.

—Linda Quinn, Iowa City

Only you know what’s best for you and your family’: Individuals, business owners given reins as Iowa’s cases near 15,000 (May 1) I’m tired of the line of thought “we each need to determine protocols for ourselves.” That’s

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a leadership vacuum. We are each making decisions for the entire community right now.

That needs to be systematized. It’s like people want to pretend we live on islands, not affecting each other. It’s such a failure of even the most basic understanding of how societies function. —Forrest P. Deadline for requesting absentee ballots by mail is this week (May 19) I disliked the form to send in to request a ballot. Too much personal information was exposed on a nonsecure piece of mail in my opinion. —Myralee V. Reynolds: Movie theaters, wedding venues and pools can reopen Friday, bars next week (May 20) As my husband just said: “Hey, the parachute is working! Let’s take it off!” —Kaci K. Just because there is room in the hospitals, it doesn’t mean it is safe. Bars open? Let’s imagine for a moment the police officers who need to go in, separate people, get spit on by drunks, etc. Movie theatres, really??? I’m staying home. —Melanie M. Iowa Utilities Board ends prohibition on disconnections (May 21) No power = no entertainment, no internet, no job-hunting ability to make money to pay the power bill. How do you even keep your phone charged to receive a job offer or emergency call? It seems cruel to deprive anyone of electricity, especially right now. Some basic minimum should be free for everyone and you could pay for extra used. —Tom B. Gov. Reynolds opens up Test Iowa testing to all, criticizes reporters for focusing too much on testing (May 21) Remember when she issued the official Day of Prayer and then the virus miraculously went away? —Trenton O.

Climate action goals Reach NET ZERO emissions by

2050

You play a key role in meeting these goals.

Learn more:

Achieve a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

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LETTERS But still no antibody tests. I just drove to Madison, WI yesterday to get one. —Stevi A. Yeah guys! Stop being hung up on those life saving tests! We need to get to Applebee’s ASAP! —Cody F. University of Iowa announces it will resume in-person classes in the fall, begins calling coaches and athletes back to campus (May 22) They don’t care about the residents; not everything should be about the U of I … It should be about you and I. The people should have a say. —Lisa D.B.

If you’ve paid attention in town, you’ll know the students couldn’t care less about social distancing. They are by FAR the worst in the disregard category. So they will absolutely come flocking back. The spread will be easy to track from there. —Tania D. I don’t think this is particularly noteworthy, nor “news” ... most are missing the key-wording here: “plans.” We’ve been planning a return to campus, yes, because that’s the ideal situation for our students ... There is a pilot in place to test this ... This isn’t stating that 100% for certain we’ll be back face-to-face ... as we’ve learned, lots can change here, and fast. —Adam S.

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AU D R E Y B R O C K

HUH, THAT WAS WEIRD. Where were we? I think I was advocating level-headed caution. To be clear, I still do, but it’s become a little harder for me to put into practice after three months of quarantine. I just miss people so much, you guys.

Sure, my social life before this consisted primarily of sitting in dark corners at dive bars making snarky observations about passersby, but it was good enough for me. The closest I get now is scrolling through Facebook, looking for things to mock from the safety and comfort of my futon, and Facebook does not disappoint. So, without further ado, here’s my official guide to the three types of socially distanced people during quarantine: The homesteader. This person is thriving under quarantine. You know that, because they cannot seem to stop themselves from reminding you. Your Instagram feed is lousy with the photographic evidence of their home workouts. They downloaded Duolingo; they’re making a sourdough starter. They put on work pants for their 9 a.m. Zoom meeting. This is easy for them. They’ve always been an introvert, they remind you, voice dripping with sympathy for you, the simple-minded fool who requires personal connection to live a fulfilled life. You hate this person, but only because you wish you could be them.

The plague rat. This person hardly seemed to notice that anything has changed. If anything, they’re happy. The patio at Cactus has never been less crowded, and it was actually pretty dope, not having to go to work or class. If questioned about their decision to loiter outside of a convenience store, touching every square inch of the Redbox machine at least twice, they say, “Bro, I haven’t seen my grandma in forever.” You just want to seize this person by the lapels and scream, “Have some respect for your own mortality!” but that would definitely violate social distancing guidelines. You hate this person, but part of you wonders if it would be relaxing to be this oblivious.

The Edward Hopper. This person is an absolute wreck. Their brain addled by Clorox fumes, they no longer have a sense of time, which is just as well, because if they realized how long they’ve been scrolling through Twitter, they’d faint. There’s nothing good in the kitchen, and there won’t be for another week, so they eat elderly ramen noodles they found in the lazy Susan. They watch Doctor Zhivago and wish they were snowed in with Omar Sharif. Or anyone, for that matter. They get weepy thinking about the last party they went to, disappointing though it was, because it might be the last chance they ever got to drink boxed wine with a bunch of philosophy grad students. You hate this person, because this person is pathetic, and this person is you.

As problems pile up, Gov. Reynolds brushes off questions about Test Iowa: ‘This is one tool in the toolbox’ (May 22) It’s a very expensive tool that seems not to work well. —Jeffrey M. She hasn’t offered one bit of scientific evidence for her decisions other than “I trust Iowan’s to do what Iowan’s do—they listen and take care of each other” deflecting her horrible decisions back on people following her “leadership”... her “dial up and dial down” approach was thrown out after she met with Trump... fine—I will still do my part but it’s a battle for all of us right now. —Lisa D. Speaking of tools … —Megan K. Reynolds allows almost all businesses and outdoor venues to reopen, eliminates 10-person cap on gatherings (May 26) Oh good, so that means every Iowan has received every unemployment check, right? —Kellie O. Who in their right mind would want to go to a bowling alley and stick their fingers into a rental bowling ball right now? That’s a hard sell without a pandemic. —Joe H. Governor YOLO. —Alex S. Adventureland announces its reopening (May 26) I’m at a loss for words. To openly say that lost lives balance lost livelihoods is literally putting profits before people. —Ben S. Some counties see sharp rise in COVID-19 cases, but Iowa’s top health official ‘continues to be fine with what we’re seeing,’ Gov. Reynolds says (May 27) So outbreaks won’t be reported unless she’s specifically asked about them. I guess what we need is for a reporter to ask her every day if there’s an outbreak at every employer in the state. Then we might actually know something.

—Justin P.

LETTERS

/LittleVillage READER POLL:

Does the knowledge of knowing about more cases change the way you do things? At this stage I look out for me. If I don’t feel safe I don’t do it. I’m not looking at one political party or another to be honest. —Renee G.

Have you or someone you know participated in a demonstration following George Floyd’s murder?

Iowa marks 500 COVID-19 deaths as virus reaches all 99 counties, Reynolds acknowledges ‘substantial spread’ (May 28)

No 25% Yes 54.2%

She has no right to get short with the press who are doing their jobs to inform the public. If she can’t respect the information Iowans have the right to ask about and receive, she shouldn’t be in her role.

—Erin S.

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Covid Kimmy did her best. She met with Trump. Ignored the results of her sponsored study. Bought supplies from a company that doesn’t make them. What else could she do? —Sean D.

Not sure 20.8%

“555 of the 2,517 employees tested have had a positive result reported so far.” THIS CANNOT BE IGNORED. —Mara S.

S T R E S S F R A C T U R E S

JOHN

MARTINEK

… and we’re back.

NOT THAT WE EVER WENT AWAY, but due to COVID-19, the March 18-31 edition of Little Village magazine turned into the March 18-June 2 edition. Because of the pandemic, we felt it wasn’t safe to ask our delivery crew to distribute the magazine as usual, and it wasn’t responsible to encourage people to leave their homes to find a copy.

So, for the past 11 weeks, we’ve focused our attention on keeping our readers informed (and, on occasion, entertained) through our website.

When COVID-19 was first confirmed in Iowa on March 8, Little Village made the editorial decision to cover it as fully as possible. That has meant we’ve published at least one story about the virus every day since then—more than 320 stories on COVID-19 and its impact on our state and communities in 12 weeks. We also rearranged our website to make information about the virus easy to find.

Little Village’s early COVID-19 coverage earned us a grant from the Local Media Assoociations/Facebook Journalism Project. We were one of only four Iowa news outlets recognized for their work in the first round of grants.

We did all this despite our office closing down and staff hours being cut due to the pandemic. Our loyal advertisers—local businesses who recognize the importance of having a strong, independent voice in the community—have kept us afloat, as have the readers who generously contributed in support of our mission.

In May 2018, Little Village set up a program to allow readers to make donations to help us keep both free and fully functioning.

Since COVID-19 hit, the number of people supporting us with donations has nearly quadrupled.

We are grateful, and we take the trust in our work very seriously.

Little Village was While we’ve been weathering the storm, we’ve also tried to help one of four Iowa out local businesses by featuring news outlets “business bonds” on our site. By recognized for its ordering these buy-now-spendCOVID-19 coverage later gift certificates to locally owned restaurants and shops, in the Local Media readers are making life a little Association/ easier for small businesses during Facebook this difficult time.

And to inject a bit of fun amid Journalism Project’s the solemnity, we published first round of grants. the Little Village Quarantine Coloring Book in May (on sale through June 15), the proceeds of which will be divided between Little Village and the local artists whose work is featured in the book.

We’re finally back in print, but there are changes to where and how you’ll find a copy of the latest Little Village. The magazine will still be available in our outdoor racks and newsstands, but instead of stocking hundreds of indoor racks, we’ve partnered with 12 local restaurants who will be including a copy in each of their to-go orders.

So, enjoy a meal from one of these great local spots, and have a little Little Village, as a treat. —Little Village staff

LITTLE VILLAG E

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QUARANTINE COLORING BOOK $20 32-PAGE BOOK $30 BOOK + DOWNLOAD On sale now through June 15, with proceeds split between Little Village and 23 contributing artists. littlevillagemag.com /quarantine

TO ENCOURAGE CONTINUED SOCIAL DISTANCING the June 3, June 17 and July 1 editions of LV will only be available online and in limited locations—any of our outdoor racks, and with your meal (!) when you order from one of our local restaurant partners.

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Landslide The history-making Hiawatha City Councimember on growing up in rural Iowa, running for office and how our government is “stumbling” on LGBTQ rights and COVID-19.

BY EMMA MCCLATCHEY

A

ime Wichtendahl didn’t run for office until 2015, but she’s been intrigued by politics for more than three decades.

“When I was 8 years old, I remember following the ’88 presidential election between Bush and Dukakis,” she said. “And interestingly, I was really mad at my parents for voting for Dukakis. Which is weird now ’cause I’m, like, totally a Democrat.”

A lot about Wichtendahl’s life has changed since she was a kid in Newhall, Iowa, a town with a population hovering around 850, approximately 20 miles west of Cedar Rapids.

For years, Wichtendahl harbored a secret: she was transgender. This realization, she said, was “terrifying.”

“I didn’t know anyone like me. The things that I saw growing up [about LGBTQ people] were just fodder for daytime television, Jerry Springer. It was always presented as just, ‘Oh, look at this oddity,’” she explained. “I didn’t want to be ostracized. And so it was very difficult to come to terms with my own identity.”

She pretended to be a “normal,” cisgender boy, focusing on small-town issues.

“I was really annoyed when I was a kid that our town didn’t have a swimming pool. I’m just like, ‘I’m going to run for mayor and I’m just going to pool put in,” she recalled with a laugh.

“When I was younger, that was the priority.”

Wichtendahl never did run for mayor of Newhall (although she claims she did almost

10 June 3-16, 2020 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282

LittleVillageMag.com

win the mayorship in a write-in election at the age of 19).

“I was very, very much in the closet for a long period of time,” she said. “I got married in 2000. My mentality at that time was trying to basically distract myself and focus on other things such as my education, my friends, family, things like that.”

She studied journalism and political science at Kirkwood Community College and Mount Mercy College (now University) in Cedar Rapids. She and her wife had a son, but their marriage was dissolving.

“Basically, I hit an emotional brick wall right after college. Because at that point, all the things I had been trying to distract myself with were finally done,” she said. “I spiraled into this torrent of depression over my gender identity. It finally came to the point of either living or dying, and I didn’t want to die. I figured out what I had to do to live, and that was to transition and take this immense plunge. It was still a fairly scary thing to do, even in 2005.”

Wichtendahl began transitioning gradually, finding support from her family and friends along the way. But in 2007, almost as soon as she started living full-time as a woman, Wichtendahl received a message from her property management company.

“It was, ‘Your lease is up, we’re asking you to move, get out,’ basically,” she said. “They never told me why, but I think I could fill in the blanks.” She had no legal recourse, and she and her 2-year-old son found themselves homeless and couch-surfing for a month. But a coworker—“I was working at Transamerica, somewhat ironically”—who was preparing to move offered to sell Wichtendahl her house in Hiawatha. Wichtendahl accepted, “and I’ve been here ever since,” she said.

“The best thing about buying my own place is that nobody can ever tell me to leave, as long

as I pay the mortgage,” she said.

After years of working jobs in insurance and web design, Wichtendahl began considering a run for Hiawatha City Council in 2013. Two years later, she launched her campaign.

“My campaign slogan that year was ‘Stand with local businesses,’” she said. “[I wanted] to basically put a younger voice and a different voice on the council for future development and make some positive change.”

Campaigning was another plunge for Wichtendahl, who had to gather signatures, knock doors and fundraise for the first time.

She bought Facebook ads, a strategy little used before in Hiawatha elections, and which Wichtendahl said “paid off in dividends.”

Wichtendahl didn’t advertise the fact she was trans while campaigning, but she didn’t hide it, either. Overall, she found her fellow Hiawathans responded well to her message.

The 2015 election was competitive, with five candidates, including three incumbents, vying for three seats on the Hiawatha City Council.

Longtime Hiawatha Mayor Tom Theis was also being challenged by business owner William Bennett.

On Election Day, Bennett narrowly upset Mayor Theis, and Dick Olson and Dennis Norton held onto their council seats. The third seat went to Wichtendahl—overwhelmingly.

“When you start seeing the returns coming over the TV for the first time you’re like, ‘Oh my god, oh my god,” she said. “I ended up actually getting the most votes. That was kind of a humbling experience.”

Driving home from her Election Night party, Wichtendahl was struck by the realization that she had just made Iowa LGBTQ history.

Initially, she wasn’t sure what to do with that designation.

“How do you balance coming into government new and fresh with also being the first

Dana Telsrow / Little Village

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trans person in Iowa to get elected to government?”

Little attention was paid to her identity until late February 2016, when a friend and Muscatine High School teacher asked Wichtendahl if she’d be open to visiting the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). Addressing the group, and with a Muscatine Journal reporter in attendance, she discussed her lifelong struggle with her identity, the open dialogue she has with her son and the power of the internet to affect legislation.

While her priority on city council remained the protection of small businesses, Wichtendahl became an outspoken critic of anti-LGBTQ policies in Iowa.

“Since the GOP took over the legislature in 2017, there’s been a lot of really bad ideas and bills coming to the floor, with some of them within striking distance of passage,” she said. This has included attempts to prohibit the use of Medicaid funds for gender confirmation surgeries; restrict educators from discussing gender orientation and gender identity with students and allow discrimination against trans athletes; and add exemptions to the Iowa Civil Rights Act that would undermine protections for LGBTQ Iowans.

“I think it would be much harder for me to campaign against these ideas if I wasn’t an elected official,” Wichtendahl explained. “When you get elected you get the ability to interact with your counterparts both in the statehouse and other elected officials throughout the area. That access can make a big difference.” She also noted that her status as a transwoman affords her added insight and authority on LGBTQ issues in the fight against “the worst ideas of some of these extremists in the legislature.”

“Fortunately, it’s not just me [fighting]. We’ve got a really good network of activists in Iowa.

One Iowa, they’re fantastic at what they do.”

Wichtendahl served as an honorary co-chair at the Sept. 20, 2019 LGBTQ presidential forum in Cedar Rapids featuring Joe Biden, Julián Castro, Joe Sestak and Marianne Williamson, co-hosted by the nonprofit One Iowa. “Without them, Iowa would be a tremendously different place, and not for the better.”

Wichtendahl’s reproach of decisions coming out of Des Moines now extends to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ COVID-19 pandemic response, specifically her reopening of businesses and venues.

Wichtendahl said most of the small business owners she works with have narrow profit margins and can’t afford to operate at 50 percent capacity. On the customer side, if people don’t feel safe going out, “business as usual” is impossible.

“Our government somehow is stumbling on the worst of all possible choices, in that they’re

LittleVillageMag.com

trying to get back to normal and just hope everything works out for itself,” she said. “They’re trying to put blinders on, and they think that this is just something that’s going to pass over. It’s not.”

Linn County has had some of the highest rates of COVID-19 infection in Iowa (Linn was second in the state for deaths as of May 30, with 76). Wichtendahl said she is proud of how seriously Hiawathans have taken social distancing, but fears for the trickle-down effects of COVID-19 on the local economy without continued state and federal relief.

“We completed a hotel study in February,” she cited as an example. “... It could help make Hiawatha a destination and be another source of revenue for the city. But now that travel and tourism is decimated, that plan gets put on hold, which then you don’t have that source of income for the city, which means less that we’re able to do … We’re not redeveloping, say, a street, which means those contractors aren’t being hired, which means they don’t have money to feed their families. And it just spiderwebs like that.”

Wichtendahl encourages businesses not to be too eager to reopen their doors and locals to continue buying online, and tipping generously.

“I think those are basic things that we can do to try to continue to get through this, making sure that when this scourge does pass that we have a stable economy that we can get back to.”

June Pride Month is typically a time for the LGBTQ community to celebrate progress and organize. With in-person Pride events canceled, where can the community go for this much-needed morale boost?

“I’m actually really amazed at people’s ability to be adaptive and find new ways to combat adversity,” Wichtendahl said. She praised the efforts of Pride organizers in scheduling socially distant events, including her partner, a CRPride board member. Wichtendahl has agreed to participate in a Trans Issues Virtual Panel hosted by CRPride on Tuesday, June 26 via Facebook Live.

Wichtendahl has expressed ambitions of running for state government someday. But for now, she’s committed to her second term on the Hiawatha City Council—at a time when trans representation in the U.S. government is at an all-time high—and getting her community through a crisis.

“When push comes to shove,” she said, “people will come together.”

Emma McClatchey plans to dress her dog and herself in matching rainbow tutus and join online Pride celebrations.

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i celular se ha vuelto un apéndice externo de mi cerebro—ir a cualquier parte sin él es inconcebible, aún cuando voy de mi sala a mi cuarto durante la cuarentena. Hace poco leí el libro Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World de Cal Newport, considerado un “Marie Kondo” para nuestras vidas digitales. Newport nos da consejos para organizar nuestras vidas digitales, tales como desinstalar aplicaciones que no usamos, pasar menos tiempo en nuestros celulares y determinar qué es lo que realmente queremos y necesitamos de nuestra tecnología. Newport también habla de los efectos psicológicos que ha traído un mundo que cada vez esta más conectado electrónicamente Digital Minimalism nos muestra el modelo de negocios de las compañías de redes sociales. El modelo incluye investigaciones para descubrir las vulnerabilidades humanas y así entender cómo lograr que sus usuarios utilicen sus productos durante más tiempo.

Estas compañías básicamente logran vender el tiempo y la atención de sus usuarios a empresas publicitarias. El libro también menciona que el omnipresente iPhone (smartphone que hizo su debut en el 2007 cuando la mayoría de personas utilizaban las

incluyen la dificultad para mantener contacto visual, para participar en conversaciones sin tener que revisar el celular, y para poder ignorar el celular cuando estamos en el cine.

Newport también muestra la diferencia entre las conexiones virtuales (nuestras CUANDO REVISAMOS NUESTROS redes sociales y comunicaciones virtuales) y las conversaciones CELULARES PARA VER CUÁL ES LA (nuestro contacto humano en persona).

NOTIFICACIÓN MÁS RECIENTE, LE Son muchos los estudios que han DAMOS A NUESTROS CEREBROS demostrado que el contacto en persona trae mayor empatía, mejor habilidad UN POCO DE DOPAMINA, LA para escuchar y la habilidad de poder HORMONA DEL PLACER. reconocer cuándo alguien está en peligro.

Aunque muchos usuarios de las redes sociales (incluida yo) creen que tener redes sociales desde casa en computadores), una presencia social en estos medios es una solía tener solo un puñado de aplicaciones y manera eficiente de mantenerse al día con no se le podía instalar nuevas aplicaciones. sus amigos, sus compañeros y sus familiares, Newport después habla en detalle acerca los estudios de investigación han demostrado de los efectos perjudiciales que tiene un que autorregular el tiempo que pasamos en mundo constantemente conectado a través de nuestras vidas virtuales es un auténtico reto. la comunicación en persona. Tales efectos 14 June 3-16, 2020 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282

Jordan Sellergren / Little Village

Cuando revisamos nuestros celulares para ver cuál es la notificación más reciente, le damos a nuestros cerebros un poco de dopamina, la hormona del placer. Esto resulta en un circulo vicioso de adicción a nuestros aparatos y causa que le pongamos mas atención a las conexiones virtuales y menos atención a las conversaciones en persona, lo que beneficia a las empresas publicitarias y nos perjudica a nosotros. Reconozco las numerosas ventajas de usar un smartphone; sin embargo, también soy consciente del alto peaje que pagamos, dado que separar la vida laboral y la vida familiar se complica cada vez que siento la tentación de revisar mis e-mails, mensajes de voz, mensajes de texto y notificaciones en mis horas de descanso.

Haber leído este libro antes de la cuarentena me ha ayudado a ser más consiente de mi uso del celular y a implementar algunas de las técnicas sugeridas por Newport. Mientras que estemos en esta cuarentena es posible que

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COMMUNITY la gente pase más tiempo interactuando en persona (manteniendo la distancia social recomendada, por supuesto) y que revalúen sus vidas digitales. Pero me preocupa que la cuarentena acelere y aumente nuestra preferencia hacia las conexiones virtuales en detrimento de las conversaciones en persona. Al pasar más tiempo en casa quizás seamos más propensos a utilizar las redes sociales más y más. Esto, además de la falta de contacto humano fuera de nuestras casas y las teleconferencias para trabajar y estudiar virtualmente, podría abrir una caja de Pandora de conexiones virtuales que nos privaría del contacto humano que necesitaremos incluso más después de que termine esta cuarentena.

Digital Minimalism WRITTEN AND TRANSLATED BY LAURA PICO

M

y cell phone has become an external appendix for my brain—going anywhere without it is inconceivable, even as I go from the living room to my bedroom during quarantine. I recently read Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport, considered to be the Marie Kondo book of our digital lives. Newport advises us how to declutter our digital lives by removing apps we do not use, spending less time on our phones and figuring out what we truly want and need from our technology. We have become more electronically connected, and this has resulted in serious psychological effects, according to Newport.

Digital Minimalism explains the business model of popular social media companies, which oftentimes includes research on exploiting human vulnerabilities to be able to coax their users into spending more time on their products. These companies are able to essentially sell their users’ time and attention to advertisers. The book also mentions that the now-ubiquitous iPhone, which debuted in 2007 (a time in which most people used social media at home on a desktop computer), only had a handful of features with no ability to install additional apps.

Newport then goes on to detail the detrimental effects of a constantly connected 16 June 3-16, 2020 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282

LittleVillageMag.com

world on our in-person communications including, among other things, difficulty maintaining eye contact, engaging in conversations over dinner without glancing at a phone and ignoring our devices at a movie theater. He also contrasts connections (our online social networks and communications) with conversations (our in-person human contact). In-person contact, studies have proven, allows for better empathy, increased listening skills and the ability to recognize when someone is in distress.

Although many social media users (myself included) believe that maintaining a social media presence is an efficient way to keep up-to-date with their friends, classmates and relatives, studies have shown that we are often unable to self-regulate the time we spend tending to our digital lives. Checking our phone for the latest notification gives our brain a small hit of dopamine, the pleasure hormone, causing us to be stuck in a feedback loop that has us hopelessly addicted to our devices. This causes us to spend more time on our virtual connections and leave us with less time for in-person conversations, benefiting advertising companies and hurting ourselves.

I recognize the many benefits that come with using a smartphone; however, it comes with the pitfall of the blurring between study and home life when I am tempted to check emails, voice messages and text messages while I’m supposed to be relaxing.

Reading this book before the quarantine has helped me become more conscious of my phone usage and implement some of the techniques suggested by Newport. While we are quarantined, I hope that people spend more time engaging in person-to-person contact (while still maintaining recommended social distancing, of course) and reevaluate their digital lives. I am concerned that quarantining will help accelerate and increase our indulgence in digital connections over conversations. With more time spent at home, people may feel the urge to spend more time engaging in social media to occupy their time. Coupled with the lack of human contact outside our home, teleconferencing apps to work and learn remotely, we may be opening a Pandora’s box of digital connections that strips us of our much-needed human contact once we are in a post COVID-19 world.

Laura Pico is a first-year law student at the University of Iowa College of Law. While social distancing, she enjoys bird-watching from her apartment window.

LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282 June 3-16, 2020 17

BREAD & BUTTER

Somm Good News With dinner-and-a-show nights on hold, Brix is pitching in to help local theaters, businesses and nonprofits, while keeping the wine flowing.

BY NATALIE DUNLAP

W

hen Nick Craig, owner of Brix Cheese Shop and Wine Bar in Iowa City’s Northside Neighborhood, was making plans for his girlfriend’s April 19 birthday, he knew the couple couldn’t celebrate the way they would under normal circumstances. He and Lacy Laughton would usually mark the occasion by going to a performance or eating at a local restaurant.

“Unfortunately, considering the times, neither of those things is going to happen right now,” Craig said in a video posted to Brix’s Facebook page on April 15, “but to make sure via Brix Facebook page

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buy $5,000,” Craig explained. He joked that he might have to draw the line at $10,000 if the gift card purchases somehow got that high in just four days.

They did.

Brix’s customers held Craig to his word, and then some. By the end of the campaign, Craig “IT JUST STARTED AS THIS LITTLE had purchased $2,500 worth FUN IDEA AND IT GAINED A LOT of gift cards to the Englert and $75 gift cards to 100 different OF TRACTION AND I WAS SORT downtown businesses. He also OF SHOCKED [AT] HOW FAST AND gave an extra $1,000 each to the Brian Cretzmeyer Trust HOW FAR IT REACHED, WHICH IS A for Young Musicians, Brian TESTAMENT TO MY PATRONS AND JUST Johannesen of Dead Coast IOWA CITY IN GENERAL.” —NICK CRAIG Presents [Ed. note: Johannesen is also on staff at LV] and Mission Creek Festival to support musicians that he and Laughton love before April 19, he would pay forward 100 watching live, for a total of $13,000. percent, with 75 percent of the money going Craig confessed he didn’t think he would to various downtown venues, restaurants and reach that number when he initially threw out retail, and 25 percent to the Englert Theatre. the pay-it-forward concept.

“So if you buy $1,000 in gift cards, I’ll buy “It just started as this little fun idea and $1,000 in gift cards. If you buy $5,000, I’ll I can do that with her in the future, I can support the places that we like to do those things at, right now.”

He issued a challenge for his customers: For every $100 Brix gift card purchased

it gained a lot of traction and I was sort of shocked [at] how fast and how far it reached,” he said in an interview with Little Village.

“Which is a testament to my patrons and just Iowa City in general and how we’re all kind of trying to look out for each other so that we can just keep the community strong.”

Brix—a wine bar and restaurant at 209 N Linn St, Iowa City—has remained partially open throughout Iowa’s COVID-19 pandemic, offering curbside pick-up for orders of wine, cheese and food bundles. They’ve also placed fold-out tables in front of their entrance, creating a walk-up window for patrons to make purchases on the spot at a safe distance.

Craig said his fellow downtown businesses have expressed thanks for his pay-it-forward gifts, including the Englert. The nonprofit theater was “an obvious first choice” to support, Craig said: He watched movies at the Englert growing up, and one of the first shows he and Laughton attended together was a Dawes concert at the venue. To show their gratitude, the Englert gifted Craig a signed poster from

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that show.

Craig launched phase two of the pay-it-forward campaign on May 13. Again, he made a local theater the focus of the fundraising, this time supporting Riverside Theatre. Each week for eight weeks, Brix is auctioning off a magnum bottle of Champagne Vollereaux. All the proceeds made in the auction over the bottle’s reserve price, $150, will go to Riverside.

In addition, the highest bidder at the end of each week can select a local nonprofit to which a portion of Brix’s sales for the following week (5 percent of walk-up window sales and 10 percent of delivery) will be donated.

Craig kicked off the first week by purchasing the first bottle of champagne for $500 and choosing Riverside Theatre as his nonprofit. “[Brix is] one of the places that makes the Northside so great,” said Adam Knight, Riverside’s producing artistic director. “A lot of our patrons go to Brix, before and after shows. And I certainly have spent a lot of time there with patrons and staff members and also just reading plays and planning my next season. So for him to approach us meant a great deal.”

Knight has a special relationship with Brix.

It was the first restaurant Knight visited when he came to Iowa City from New York to interview for his job at Riverside, and he lives right next door.

“This ecosystem that we’re in is very dynamic and it works on a lot of levels,” Knight said. “Business owners like Nick understand that there’s a lot of symbiosis going on.

Riverside patrons go to Northside restaurants.

Nick’s patrons find out about events on the Northside by going there … We all are kind of contributing to making this neighborhood work.”

In addition to supporting local businesses and nonprofits through the pay-it-forward campaigns, Brix is once again raising money for the Emma Goldman Clinic. Last year, Brix hosted a “Rosé v. Wade” party, which raised $3,642 for the women’s health clinic.

Craig was planning to have another party on July 12, but in light of COVID-19, he isn’t sure what that event will look like. However, this year, Brix is selling its first private label wine with the same name, Rosé v. Wade, as well as Rosé v. Wade T-shirts. For every $15 bottle sold, $5 will go to the Emma Goldman Clinic.

Natalie Dunlap is a Little Village intern, award-winning high school journalist and recent graduate of Iowa City West High.

20 June 3-16, 2020 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282

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COMMUNITY

via maskofwellness.com

Masks, Hygiene, Health

Businesses around Iowa and the U.S. are signing on to a new grassroots program promoting community wellness. BY SUZANNE CODY

A

winking yellow smiley face, complete with mask, grins from the front window of Iowa City downtown anchor store Active Endeavors. Inside, customers find a skeleton crew of masked employees who, after completing a daily health-related self-certification, spend the day waiting on customers, meticulously wiping down frequently touched surfaces, steaming clothing from the dressing rooms and directing customers to any of six sanitizing stations throughout the store.

Like many downtown businesses, Active Endeavors is working to be “COVIDconscious,” while staying afloat in the face of the pandemic—everyone puts on masks, but keeps smiling.

The cheerful face in the window is the logo of Mask of Wellness, brainchild of Mercy Hospital Iowa City ER doctor David Krupp and local pharmacist Robbie Schwenker.

A grassroots program emphasizing simple safety practices, Mask of Wellness is making an effort to preserve the local economy while still keeping consumers and workers safe.

The idea originated when Krupp reached out to Schwenker at NuCara Pharmacy about a COVID-related project. That resulted in a discussion about how they, as health care providers, might save more lives working on prevention at a social level than could be saved in the ER. Krupp felt that a positive message

22 June 3-16, 2020 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282

creating a sense of self-empowerment during the health crisis could drastically improve the physical, psychological and economic wellness of the community.

“Our message from the start,” Schwenker said, “has been focused on bringing about positive change while avoiding strictures and mandates. Through choice, we have the ability to change the narrative.”

The program encompasses three simple steps intended to reduce the viral spread until a real solution (such as a vaccine) is found: One, masks are worn by all employees in all areas of the work environment; two, good personal, surface and distance hygiene is enforced; and three, daily health certifications (attesting no primary COVID-19 symptoms) are completed by workers. By meeting these requirements, businesses are certified “COVID-Conscious” and promoted as such on the Mask of Wellness website.

“Consumers will seek out COVIDConscious businesses, which will benefit both the physical and economic wellness of the community,” Schwenker explained.

By positively promoting responsible behavior at a grassroots level, further “reopenings” encouraged by Gov. Kim Reynolds may be facilitated while keeping spaces as safe as possible.

Mask of Wellness’s straightforward message has drawn in volunteers from all over the

LittleVillageMag.com

community.

“Schwenker coordinated with Mike Draper from Raygun to create a logo, then linked in Iowa natives Breahna and Bryan Beecher of Revive Design Studios in Denver, Colorado for website development. Melinda Pradarelli at MELD marketing firm offered free assistance, and guidance from the EDC [Entrepreneurial Development Center] has helped tremendously,” Krupp said. “The flagship businesses in our website video—30hop, Pagliai’s Pizza, Thompson & Co. and Boyd Crosby Construction—helped give us credibility.”

He and Schwenker have also marshalled a volunteer force made up of family, friends and coworkers who meet each week to con-

“THROUGH CHOICE, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.” —ROBBIE SCHWENKER tinue to develop their vision.

On May 1, Krupp, Schwenker and a team of 20 students from the University of Iowa Medical and Pharmacy programs converged on the Iowa City Pedestrian Mall and distributed 300 free packets containing a letter of introduction, door clings, flyers and other printed information businesses could post in their stores and restaurants, as well as on websites and social media. Brian Nerad, a manager at Active Endeavors, said that when they received their packet, deciding to sign on was “a no-brainer.”

“We saw the web listing in particular as a way to contact a customer base that may not be aware of the changes we’ve made,” he said in a phone interview.

Once the launch of their local business listing was in sight (that list, now with more than 100 businesses, is posted on maskofwellness.com), Mask of Wellness began preparing to take their vision nationwide.

The inclusion of Revive Design Studios on their volunteer team gave them a foothold in Denver already. The Beechers lived in Iowa City for eight years and were excited to get in on the project.

“Robbie is a good friend of ours from high school and beyond,” Breahna Beecher said in an email interview. “He called us one night to explain this social good project he was working on and wondered if we’d be interested in

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helping. We understood the importance pretty quickly, so we started working on it the next day. Being business owners, we understand how much hard work goes into getting your business started and keeping it running. It’s been hard for us to watch how COVID affects businesses, so we see Mask of Wellness as a way to give consumers a sense of confidence in their safety when visiting participating businesses.”

The next steps are already in the works.

Krupp and Schwenker, working with MELD and EDC, are formulating a multi-pronged plan to get their message out to the rest of the country, including utilizing the power of social media, approaching nationally recognized syndicated columnists about articles, and sending directed communication to local and national organizations such as the National Retail Association, the National Homebuilders Association and local unions and chambers of commerce.

They are also looking for sponsorships and donations to help fund the initiative, and community engagement on social media to help Mask of Wellness go viral. Krupp also mentioned a series of webinars in the works, “to help provide perspectives on ways to curb the spread of this virus.” The biggest hurdle to overcome, Krupp said, may simply be psychology.

“We need a cognitive reframing of society to understand the power of our three impactful measures: masks, hygiene, health,” he said.

“Unfortunately, masks are polarizing, but that is an issue that will change. This is a barrier requiring a complex response.”

Karen Kubby, long-time downtown business supporter and owner of Beadology, was approached directly by Krupp and now has a sticker in her window. Kubby, like many business owners, takes her safety protocols further than the three basic steps outlined by Mask of Wellness, but her association with the program still provides value.

“As people read what those three criteria are and see the Mask of Wellness sticker, they will know that we are meeting the basic criteria,” she said. “That creates consumer confidence.”

She also sees Mask of Wellness’s message as an effective positive-reinforcement tactic.

“We can spiral down what we can’t do,” Kubby said. “Or, we can focus on what we can do.”

Suzanne Cody considers masks to be a new opportunity for self-expression. She self-isolates in Iowa City.

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via Indigenous Peoples Art Gallery and Cafe

COMMUNITY

#StayHome Live Virtual Poetry

A-List

Poetry, #StayHome

Connection to community drives the online reading and performance series. BY CHUY RENTERIA

A

s any discussion of the ongoing pandemic should note, small businesses, organizations and communities have, in many cases, seen more pronounced effects from COVID-19 than their larger counterparts.

These entities, not usually included in major media discourse, nevertheless face the same questions as the world at large: How do we transition our pre-COVID lives into this current pandemic reality? How do we address the inequalities in our social constructs that coronavirus has exposed?

From conditions in hotspot factories to issues of accessibility in our education system, the depressing truth of it all is that marginalized groups, already vulnerable, are

26 June 3-16, 2020 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282

Reading Series, Indigenous

the ones most impacted by the virus.

A recent virtual poetry performance touched on this truth. The reading was part of the ongoing series #StayHome, programmed and livestreamed by the Indigenous Peoples Art Gallery. Meskwaki Nation member, author and spoken-word poet Dawson Davenport hosts the series live from the gallery in Iowa City.

The weekly, online-only poetry series began in mid-April. Since then, it has played host to a wide variety of Indigenous artists from across the country and even tapped into international artists with a featured guest from New Zealand. Born out of necessity, the #StayHome series looks to amplify voices lost in the shuffle of mainstream politics and news cycles.

The series, like office Zoom meetings and virtual happy hours, is a digital replacement for pre-pandemic IRL activities.

“The idea stemmed from my art gallery, and the vision I had for that,” Davenport said. “This is what I had envisioned for that, bringing in Indigenous artists to showcase here in Iowa.”

Peoples Art Gallery and Cafe (@ indigenouspeoplesartgalleryandcafe), Saturdays, 7 p.m., Free

The financial impact of losing those in-person opportunities was also a factor, another in a long list of ways that the pandemic has hit artists especially hard.

“I had to figure out something, because this gallery was my way of making an income, as well as using my newly earned education,” Davenport continued. “So, the idea was taking what I was already doing and going virtual with it.”

Taking the series online also grants Davenport a platform to talk to members of his community in a safe, socially distant way. A Facebook post sharing the first #StayHome event said they hoped the series would “provide some entertainment, as we want to promote the message and idea of staying home. We feel it is important that we protect our elders, and young children. By staying home we are helping protect those on the frontlines, the essential workers, and

LittleVillageMag.com

because you have to wait for emails, or messages. It seemed like before hosting or organizing events, it was easier to do with face-to-face meetings,” Davenport said.

However, those struggles also bring opportunities for collaboration and audience reach not possible before.

“This format has been easier as well, because artists seem to feel more “I HAD TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING, comfortable being home or performing from the comBECAUSE THIS GALLERY WAS MY WAY OF forts of their own home,” MAKING AN INCOME, AS WELL AS USING Davenport said. “Plus, we MY NEWLY EARNED EDUCATION. THE have a captured audience, and that is something that IDEA WAS TAKING WHAT I WAS ALREADY you couldn’t have in perDOING AND GOING VIRTUAL WITH IT.” son. People from all over the country can watch.”

Ultimately, the #StayHome series is another way to connect To me, it was proof that a socially distant in unprecedented times—times where social world needs the digital performances and connection and constructs are changing in conversations that the #StayHome series ways no one could have imagined a few provides.

On my evening with the series, Davenport short months ago. Viewers can tune in on Saturday evenings for a wide spectrum and I found common ground in how of artistic expression, from fiery hip-hop COVID-19 has affected our respective communities. My hometown of West Liberty had diatribes to comforting words for those impacted by a virus our nation is still grappling an outbreak at its turkey processing plant. with.

Many of the plant’s workers are immigrant Davenport is humble when he speaks parents of first-generation children like me. about the highlights of the series for him In response, Davenport related how hard the so far: “Having my friends be on,” he said. mandated closure of businesses hit many of “Showcasing their work, and just reconnectthe Meskwaki elders in his community. ing with them, since we haven’t been able This ties in with the ways in which to connect as much, during this pandemic.

Davenport says this #StayHome series can Also, getting artists who I’ve always wanted speak directly to Indigenous communities to see perform and having so much support throughout the country, providing not only from everyone.” art and entertainment, but solace and sup“It’s cool that people are liking this seport. ries,” Davenport added.

“We can share our stories and express He hopes that #StayHome continues to what we are going through with our art,” he grow. In the future, Davenport intends to said. “Other people can see our experiences simply “continue to do what I’m doing,” he from where they live in the country and can said, with hopes of “bigger-named artists” relate or find some kind of peace, by knowjoining in. ing that young Indigenous people care about “There are so many Indigenous artists, them as well, and that we acknowledge their both up and coming and experienced, that I struggle, because we too are facing that as would like to highlight,” he said. well. So they are not alone, and hopefully we can bring some positive joy into their lives, if only for an hour or so.”

Chuy Renteria is a writer and dancer residBringing that joy comes with challenges, ing in Iowa City. He is the public engageparticularly when planning is done entirely ment coordinator for Hancher Auditorium through digital means. and is currently working with the University “The challenge is not being able to comof Iowa Press on a memoir about growing municate in person, or when I recruit peoup in the town of West Liberty, the first maple, it seems harder to have a conversation, jority Hispanic town in Iowa. particularly the healthcare workers.”

In early May, I joined Davenport and Las Vegas hip-hop artist, producer, activist and polymath Olmeca to participate in #StayHome 5. We each performed and, in our own ways, spoke to those issues that COVID-19 is exposing in our communities.

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EDITORS’ PICKS

CALENDAR EVENTS AROUND THE CRANDIC JUNE 3–16, 2020 Planning an event? Submit event info to calendar@littlevillagemag.com. Include event name, date, time, venue, street address, admission price and a brief description (no all-caps, exclamation points or advertising verbiage, please). To find more events, visit littlevillagemag.com/ calendar. Please check venue listing in case details have changed.

NOTE! We are listing only ONLINE events in this calendar at the moment.

“Locations” listed reference the presenting institution. Please visit our online calendar for relevant links, or check the organizations’ websites and Facebook pages.

Wed., June 3 World Wednesday: Make a Cubano with Local Spanish teacher Megan Cleveland, Iowa City Public Library (@icpubliclibrary), 1 p.m., Free Boundaries, Legion Arts CSPS Hall w/ Dead Coast Presents (@cspshall), 7 p.m., Free

Thu., June 4 EntreFEST Virtual!, NewBoCo (entrefest.com), 8 a.m., $100-199/program No Touching Sessions 04 // Ion Alexakis + TBA, Threshold Apprehension Sound (@Threshold.Apprehension.Sound, thresholdappsound.com), 12 p.m., Free

Fri., June 5 EntreFEST Virtual!, NewBoCo (entrefest.com), 7:15 a.m., $100-199/program

FILMSCENE AT HOME CONCESSIONS BUNDLES A weekend supply of popcorn complete with buckets, candy, and your choice of soda, beer or wine!

Available for pickup at The Chauncey every Friday - order online at ICFILMSCENE.ORG

LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM

NOTE! We are listing only ONLINE events in this calendar at the moment. “Locations” listed reference the presenting institution. Please visit our online calendar for relevant links, or check the organizations’ websites and Facebook pages.

Iowa Arts Festival Online: Carnival Parade

Immigrant Foodways—Czech Open-faced

video, Summer of the Arts (@summeroftheARTS),

Sandwiches, National Czech and Slovak Museum

6:30 p.m., Free

and Library (@czechslovakmuseum), 2 p.m., $20115

Iowa Arts Festival Online: James Tutson

and the Rollback, Summer of the Arts (@

Iowa Arts Festival Online: River Glen, Summer

summeroftheARTS), 7 p.m., Free

of the Arts (@summeroftheARTS), 3 p.m., Free

Out the Box Weekly Reading Series Presents:

#StayHome Live Virtual Poetry Reading

‘The Gap,’ by Emma Goidel, Mirrorbox Theatre

Series, Indigenous Peoples Art Gallery and Cafe (@

(@MirrorboxTheatre), 8 p.m., Free (registration

indigenouspeoplesartgalleryandcafe), 7 p.m., Free

required)

Sat., June 6

Iowa Arts Festival Online: Brad and the Big

Iowa Arts Festival Online: Sneezy Dollar,

7 p.m., Free

Wave, Summer of the Arts (@summeroftheARTS),

Summer of the Arts (@summeroftheARTS), 2 p.m., Free

‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ Northeast Iowa Shakespeare Society (@Northeast-Iowa-ShakespeareSociety-113542537043884/), 7 p.m., Free

30 June 3-16, 2020 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282

EDITORS’ PICKS

Sun., June 7

IOWA CITY DOWNTOWN

Iowa Arts Festival Online: Ingrid Streitz, Summer of the Arts (@summeroftheARTS), 1 p.m., Free Iowa Arts Festival Online: Abbie Callahan, Summer of the Arts (@summeroftheARTS), 2 p.m., Free Iowa Arts Festival Online: Bernemann Brothers, Summer of the Arts (@ summeroftheARTS), 3 p.m., Free Crumbs ft. Donnie Biggins (Harmonica Dunn Presents, the Tonic Room, FitzGerald’s), Crumbs w/ RyJo & BriJo (@ crumbstheshow), 4 p.m.

The Iowa Motion Picture Awards Showcase: Commercials/Marketing—EZ Ring, Quality Auto - Rehabilitation Center

Open 7 days a week

of Hampton, TIGI Jen Planck Promo, Unlease the Power of Your Workforce, impa.tv/showcase, 6 p.m., Free (registration required)

NOTE! We are listing only ONLINE events in this calendar at the moment.

“Locations” listed reference the presenting institution. Please visit our online calendar for relevant links, or check the organizations’ websites and Facebook pages.

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LITTLE VILLAGE?

HELP US KEEP IT FREE. Voluntary contributions from readers like you help keep Little VIllage free for everyone to enjoy.

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Wed., June 10 World Wednesday: Irish Dancing with Champagne Academy, Iowa City Public Library (@icpubliclibrary), 1 p.m., Free Boundaries, Legion Arts CSPS Hall w/ Dead Coast Presents (@cspshall), 7 p.m., Free

Thu., June 11 No Touching Sessions 04 // FOOCH + Denny Richards, Threshold Apprehension Sound (@Threshold.Apprehension.Sound, thresholdappsound.com), 12 p.m., Free FilmScene & ICPL Kanopy discussion, Iowa City Public Library w/ FilmScene (@ICFilmScene), 7 p.m., Free

Fri., June 12 Online! Friday Night Concert Series: Jordan Sellergren Band, Summer of the Arts (@summeroftheARTS), 7 p.m., Free Out the Box Weekly Reading Series, Mirrorbox Theatre (@MirrorboxTheatre), 8 p.m., Free (registration required)

Sat., June 13 Immigrant Foodways—Czech Honey BBQ Ribs, National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library (@czechslovakmuseum), 2 p.m., $20-115 #StayHome Live Virtual Poetry Reading Series, Indigenous Peoples Art Gallery and Cafe (@indigenouspeoplesartgalleryandcafe), 7 p.m., Free Isolation Improv LIVE, Isolation Improv (@ IsolationImprov), 7 p.m.,

Sun., June 14 Crumbs ft. Adam Spriggs & Chris Drizen (Madison Entertainment, Kaaboo Festival), Crumbs w/ RyJo & BriJo (@crumbstheshow), 4 p.m.

The Iowa Motion Picture Awards Showcase: Norskedalen Norwegian Nature and Heritage Center, Rocks in My Head, Swipe Right, impa.tv/showcase, 6 p.m., Free (registration required)

Welcome to the Big Grove Drive-Thru!

Place a pre-sale order for beers and breakfast burritos!

Available beers are listed at biggrovebrewery.com

WHEN

Pick-up in Iowa City & Solon: Saturdays between 9-11am.

Orders will be accepted until Friday at 8pm.

HOW

On Saturday, pull into the parking lot and follow the on-site instructions. Please don’t get out of the car (#socialdistancing) and have your ID and order number from your receipt ready.

A Big Grove employee will come to greet you, check your ID, and retrieve your order.

Please have the order number from your receipt available.

PRE-SALE SUMMARY

Anything ordered from the Drive-Thru page is available for pick-up only.

You will select your pick up location upon checkout.

Your order will be available for pick-up between 9-11 the following Saturday.

New beers will be released every week.

When you arrive, please stay in your car and have your ID and order number ready.

If you want to add other swag to your order, go for it!

We will have it ready with your order.

Sweatpants and Slippers Online Benefit Gala, Riverside Theatre (@ RiversideTheatreIowaCity), 7 p.m., Donations encouraged

Big Grove Brewery & Taproom 1225 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 319-354-2687

Big Grove Brewpub 101 W Main St, Solon, IA 319-624-2337

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- WILLOW & STOCK - EL BANDITO’S IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (7) IOWA PUBLIC RADIO (28) JIANGU ASIAN STREET FOOD (44) JIMMY JACK’S RIB SHACK (19) JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS (30) JOHNSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH (31) KCCK JAZZ 88.3 (44) KIM SCHILLIG, REALTOR (39) KRUI 89.7 FM (38) LEGION ARTS (37) LINN COUNTY CONSERVATION (44) MAIN STREET WATERLOO (47) MARTIN CONSTRUCTION (15) MATTHEW 25 (39) MICKY’S IRISH PUB (44) MOSLEY’S BARBECUE AND PROVISIONS (24) NEW PIONEER FOOD CO-OP (20) NODO (35) OASIS FALAFEL (42) POP’S BBQ (20) PRAIRIE LIGHTS (36) PUBLIC SPACE ONE (4) PULLMAN (23) RANDY’S FLOORING (48) RED’S ALEHOUSE (17) RED VESPA (38) SAIGON’S CORNER (6) SANCTUARY (6) SART (35) SILT (10) SOSEKI (36) ST. BURCH TAVERN (23) THE WEDGE (28) TIN ROOST (30) TOYOTA OF IOWA CITY (36) TRUMPET BLOSSOM CAFE (48) WHITEDOG IMPORT AUTO SERVICE (46) WIG & PEN (46)

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YOUR VILLAGE

BY PAUL BRENNAN

open call submit to Instagram by using

@CSPSHall #CSPSVP

Have there been any changes to Iowa City’s recycling program to protect workers from COVID-19? —Anonymous, Iowa City, via the Your Village feature on LV’s homepage

T

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he people working in Iowa City’s recycling program have always had to take the sort of precautions the rest of us are now having to think about. It’s just the nature of the work—you have to be careful when handling items other people have thrown away.

“Our staff have full access to personal protective equipment,” said Jane Wilch, recycling coordinator for Iowa City. “We take that seriously anyway, but even more so now with the pandemic.”

Like other city facilities, the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center closed to the general public on March 18, as part of the city’s attempt to limit the spread of COVID-19. It didn’t fully reopen until May 18, and when it did, customers were encouraged to practice social distancing and use

it’s overflowing, all of a sudden we have a situation where our staff have to be in more contact with the waste material.”

When the carts are used properly, workers don’t even have to touch them. The recycling program trucks have automated arms that can lift carts and empty them.

The same is true for the city’s organic waste collection. Proper use of those carts is also important to limit contact between the materials and workers, and the automated arm on the truck can be used to empty the cart.

“We do still offer and accept personal containers and paper yard waste bags, just because not everybody has a city cart,” Wilch added.

The changes caused by the pandemic aren’t limited to how items are being collected, they’re also seen in what is being collected.

“Waste represents our behaviors and what we do on a daily basis,” Wilch said.

“At the landfill, and “BECAUSE OF COVID-19, AND ALL THE at landfills across UNCERTAINTIES REGARDING HOW LONG THE the state, we’re obVIRUS CAN SURVIVE ON VARIOUS SURFACES, serving changes in THERE’S BEEN AN INCREASED FOCUS ON the waste-stream.

Anything that has MAKING SURE WORKERS DON’T HAVE to do with online CONTACT WITH THE ITEMS.” —JANE WILCH shopping or takeout meals, and sanitation and public health— all of those types of materials we’ve seen an credit and debit cards instead of cash to limit increase in.” contact with the staff. The Eastside Recycling But some of those now more common Center remained open, but its Environmental items can’t be recycled.

Education Center closed. The city’s curbside “Any sort of personal protective equipment recycling program kept going as usual. cannot be recycled,” Wilch said. “Face masks, “Waste is an essential service, so we’ve gloves, disinfectant wipes, tissues should all worked very hard to keep our curbside collecgo into the regular trash.” tions operating,” Wilch said. But because of And as for the regular trash, the landfill is COVID-19, and all the uncertainties regardasking everyone to bag their trash to prevent ing how long the virus can survive on various spills when it is being collected and help limit surfaces, there’s been an increased focus on the contact workers have with it. making sure workers don’t have contact with the items being picked up curbside.

“Using the program correctly is really important right now,” Wilch explained. “It enHave a question about what’s going on in sures that our staff can collect items efficientyour community? Ask Little Village. Submit ly and helps reduce contact between materials your question through the Your Village and curbside staff.” feature on our homepage, or email us at “Any time there’s the wrong type of editor@littlevillagemag.com. material in a cart, or if a lid isn’t closed, or

LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282 June 3-16, 2020 37

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DEAR KIKI

LittleVillageMag.com/DearKiki

D

ear Kiki, I coexist in a divorced step-family and we have different approaches to coronavirus.

There’s nothing I can do to convince either my S.O. or their ex to make their kids wear masks in situations where they might be exposed or expose others. (I know this because I’ve been trying for years to get them to wear helmets and have been utterly defeated by the kids and parents alike.) I am “fairly strict” myself—I have conversations, even lengthy ones, at a distance with friends and neighbors, and only really leave my house for walks and essentials.

I’m in a scenario where I have no control over whether or not I’m exposed, though, but I’d like to be one of those people who can

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(cough Sweden cough).

The trickiest thing about existing in a pandemic is that we have no control over the actions of others. But it’s important to discuss with your partner what, exactly, you’re comfortable with in your own home. You do have some control there. If your partner isn’t willing to enforce mask use with their children, perhaps they will compromise by, say, requiring that the kiddos shower immediately every time they come in from being exposed (similar to if they had a job outside the home).

As for opening up with other families, the best I can offer is that you be completely upfront with all parties about your risk factors.

You’re likely to find folks willing to welcome you and/or your son into their circle, but the challenge is that anyone willing to accept your risk likely has a higher THE TRICKIEST THING ABOUT EXISTING risk tolerance in general, and more open to others IN A PANDEMIC IS THAT WE HAVE NO than you’d prefer.

CONTROL OVER THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS. We’re in a situation BUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS WITH where very few people are able to manage their YOUR PARTNER WHAT, EXACTLY, YOU’RE risk in a personally satCOMFORTABLE WITH IN YOUR OWN HOME. isfying way. People who would rather be out are constrained at home; “open up” with a friend or two, and allow my people who would rather be hunkering are required to work. The important thing to own child to do the same. There are so many remember is that your view is valid and reavariables out of my control, and I also feel sonable, and while you might not be able to I’m overreacting in comparison to the two come to a place where you feel safe, the other other parents in my life. adults in the situation do have a responsibility I don’t know if I am looking for an answer to negotiate with you. or a place to vent, but I’m interested in what Be safe, and be patient—with yourself and you have to say about it all.

—Coexisting with those around you. xoxo, Kiki Dear Coexisting, First off, you’re not overreacting. You’re just reacting. Each of us has a different comfort level, and it’s informed by a whole slew of different things, including our history with disease, our understanding of the situation, etc. I know you know this, but I’m harping on it because an accusation of overreacting can be a tactic of dismissal, and I hate to see you preemptively doing that to yourself.

Questions about love and sex in the Iowa It’s telling that our culture condemns City-Cedar Rapids area can be submitted “overreacting” to situations more than “unto dearkiki@littlevillagemag.com, or derreacting.” The onus always seems to fall anonymously at littlevillagemag.com/ on the careful to ease up or be more laid back. dearkiki. Questions may be edited for And it should be obvious to us all at this clarity and length, and may appear either point that that approach, taken to the extreme, in print or online at littlevillagemag.com. simply does not work as a pandemic response

KIKI WANTS QUESTIONS!

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LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282 June 3-16, 2020 39

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ASTROLOGY

BY ROB BREZSNEY

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “It’s OK to live a life others don’t understand,” writes author Jenna Woginrich. That’s a healthy attitude for an eccentric person like her, who taught herself by trial and error how to run a small farm with a meager budget while all alone in the middle of nowhere. But does her advice apply to everyone? I say yes, it does. All of us have quirky behaviors and idiosyncratic ideas and odd feelings that other people find hard to understand, let alone appreciate. I bring this to your attention, Gemini, because the coming weeks will be a time when it’s best for you to emancipate yourself as much as possible from the need to be perfectly understood as you express your raw, pure, unique self.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I’m one of the lucky people who has never been addicted to alcohol or drugs. What’s the source of my great fortune? Two kinds of grace are key: I suffered no abuse and trauma when I was growing up, and my genetic make-up doesn’t predispose me to self-medicate with intoxicants. But I am indeed a bit addicted to other things, like fearful fantasies, sexual feelings, and the urge to win arguments. So I’m blessed in some ways, cursed in others—just like all of us! In honor of our season of introspection, my fellow Cancerian, I invite you to do what I just did: Count your blessings and curses. Doing so will bring you just the right kind of healing.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “Jacquemus Mini Le Chiquito” is the name of a tiny purse you can buy for $522. It fits into the palm of your hand, and won’t hold much—maybe a single-use strand of dental floss, a shoe from a Barbie doll, a snippet of a loved one’s hair, an aspirin, maybe a few crumbs from a potato chip. In any case, I don’t recommend it for you. You should be surrounding yourself with symbols of capaciousness and roominess. You need influences that inspire you to be a spacious container. It’s time for you to welcome and receive an abundance of blessings, inquiries and invitations.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): “Worry is a way to pretend that you have knowledge or control over what you don’t,” writes author Rebecca Solnit. “And it surprises me, even in myself, how much we prefer ugly scenarios to the pure unknown.” Your assignment in the coming weeks is to thoroughly incorporate Solnit’s wisdom—and then wield it with tender ferocity as you reshape your relationship with the future. See if you can manage, if only for 10 days, to fight off and dissolve the reflex to worry. Here’s a tip: Any time the agitated fantasy of an ugly scenario rises up in your imagination, remind yourself that it’s not objectively true and immediately replace it with a fantasy of a desirable scenario.

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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Nobel Prize-winning Libran author William Faulkner was asked by a cousin if he was drunk when he dreamed up the imaginative stories and characters in his novels. The truth was that on occasion Faulkner did indeed consume alcohol in excessive amounts. However, he rarely indulged while actually writing. His creative ideas mostly came from his fertile imagination, not an unhinged spirit. In the coming weeks, I hope you will be like Faulkner during the inventive phases he enjoyed while sober and disciplined and driven by focused intention. The astrological omens suggest that’s the best recipe for generating original ideas and productive visions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “What use is this howling tenderness?” wrote 8th century Tamil mystic poet Andal. My research on Google reveals that no one has answered her question until now. I decided you would benefit from hearing my response, since you are in a chapter of your life story when howling tenderness could work to your benefit. So here’s my counsel: Howling tenderness is useful because it has the power to shatter mysterious barriers that have been at least partially obstructing you from exploring the frontiers of sacred intimacy.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield articulates the spiritual medicine I think you should seek in the

coming weeks. You especially need it, and by happy coincidence, it’s likely to be available. Kornfield writes: “When we have for so long been judged by everyone we meet, just to look into the eyes of another who does not judge us can be extraordinarily healing.” I urge you to identify the people who can perform this service for you, then ask them pointblank to perform this service, even if it has to happen over FaceTime or via Zoom. To generate the good karma that will ensure this happens in just the right way, offer to perform the same service for others.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): “The changes we dread most may contain our salvation,” writes author Barbara Kingsolver. Although I mostly agree with her conclusion, I’ll also suggest that we could come up with less melodramatic versions of it. For example, we might say, “The adjustments we’re resisting may actually be healthy.” Or “The uncomfortable transitions we’re avoiding might ultimately lead to a better version of comfort.” Or “The revelations we’re attempting to ignore and deny could eventually be the source of relief and release.” Do any of these work for you right now, Capricorn? I bet at least one does.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Some people seem to think of sacredness as being pristine and pious—an immaculate and orderly transcendence of earthly concerns. Author and minister Marilyn Sewell has a different perspective. “Who can order the Holy?” she asks. “It is like a rain forest, dripping, lush, fecund, wild. We enter its abundance at our peril, for here we are called to the wholeness for which we long, but which requires all we are and can hope to be.” I recommend Sewell’s version of holiness to you in the coming weeks, Aquarius. You’re primed to upgrade and deepen your sacred lust for life.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): When Europeans arrived in the New World, the Iroquois Confederacy in what’s now northeastern North American had been practicing participatory democracy for 350 years. The visionary principles of these native people ultimately influenced the formation of the United States and its Constitution. Now would be a good time for you to be inspired by these facts. How? You could draw teachings from the past and use them to create your future. You could study the perspectives of indigenous people and incorporate their wisdom into the way you live your life. You could tune in to and explore the traditions of people you respect and adopt them for your own use.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Aries poet Paul Verlaine wrote “Autumn Song” in 1866. It became a well-known French poem, and eventually played a role in a historical turning point. In June 1944, a top-secret British spy organization used the poem as a code to communicate crucial information to the French Resistance, via BBC radio, about the allies’ upcoming D-Day invasion of Normandy. In the spirit of poetry being used to accomplish practical actions, I’m now sending out a burst of code to you, Aries. It’s adapted from another poem by Verlaine: “Delight in good-omened fortune, baptized by the bristling scents of mint, thyme, and clover on the wind of dawn.” Regard this as a signal for you to acquire a necessary resource, strengthen connections with key allies, and intensify your current quest.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Taurus philosopher Bertrand Russell observed, “The best life is the one in which the creative impulses play the largest part and the possessive impulses the smallest.” That is always an important principle for everyone to embrace, in my opinion. But it will be an especially essential truth for you in the coming weeks.

Your creative powers will thrive, even soar and generate blessings, to the degree that you downplay and outwit your possessive inclinations.

LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282 June 3-16, 2020 41

L E F LA

A F E TH

T N I JO

ree t S n in L .

N 206

ity C a t, Iow

LOCAL ALBUMS

TWINS Dream On TWINSTHEBAND.BANDCAMP.COM

T

he four years leading up to the latest album from Cedar Falls band TWINS, Dream On, could be summarized in this line from track two, “Hearts”: “Well, I was playin’ around ’til you came to town…”

Singer and songwriter Joel Sires told me in a chat, “I’d exhausted the type of songs on [2016 album Square America] about chicks and ‘teenage’ lust.

I wanted to grow up in my songwriting.”

In 2020, the TWINS’ style has moved from the chunky power pop send-ups they got very damn good at to a well-polished vehicle for Sires’ introspective songwriting. You might compare the transition to the one Chris Bell made from his work in Big Star to his solo work captured posthumously in I Am The Cosmos.

This direction in songwriting (plus a lineup change adding Toby Sires on lead guitar and Ben Rendall on piano and keys) has resulted in an album with complexity, demonstrating the band’s ability to stretch beyond the sparkling guitars and harmony juggernauts of their previous albums to reach a distinctive roots rock sound.

Which isn’t to say that the hooks and riffs aren’t there.

Track four, “Passenger,” kicks off with familiar TWINS swagger and humor: power chords, strong backbeat and a tasty Stonsey Keef-esque bending guitar solo. It’s an anthemic tune

Submit albums for review: Little Village, 623 S Dubuque St., IC, IA 52240

for summer which belies its humorous UFOlogy (a timely topic, considering last year’s “movement” to storm Area 51 and the recent Pentagon UFO video releases).

The narrator and his friend spot some heavenly objects and decide they’ve been chosen for a close encounter of the absurd kind: “Neon summer night / Sky came alive / Four glowing orbs just hanging ’round the burger shack,” and, “Patiently await / In our green face paint / For the beautiful day we’re pulled aboard.”

Aside from “Passenger,” the songs and lyrics center around themes of love and loss and self-reflection. “Reminds Me Of The Rose” paints the picture of someone who realizes they, to

Jordan Sellergren Sweet, Bitter Tears JORDANSELLERGREN..COM

J

ordan Sellergren, local songstress and woman about town [Ed. note: and Little Village art director], has a new record out, titled Sweet, Bitter Tears. And I’m fairly certain that it’s the album we all need right now.

It opens with “Get in the Woodshed,” which explores the idea of lacking time—or THE TWINS’ STYLE HAS MOVED FROM desire— THE CHUNKY POWER POP SENDUPS to create.

A fullTO A WELL-POLISHED VEHICLE FOR time job, SIRES’ INTROSPECTIVE SONGWRITING. dishes, kids, life are quote Alexander Pope, “rush in all themes we can relate to. Lots where angels fear to tread” and of things get in the way of our wreck the good they have around creative processes, and this song them. captures that with a clarity that “We’re both the rebel kind / we all need right now: Take the Following a foolish heart sometime, do the thing. times / It’s a slow-burning coal It also helps that the song is / We’re too far away to see the wonderfully twangy and alive. smoke.”

Sellergren’s voice is sweetly TWINS and Joel Sires are mareminiscent of Amanda Shires or turing as a band, and in doing so a softer Neko Case, and it lilts in are writing songs that their audia way that belies the tough subences and fans will increasingly jects the record grapples with. identify with. As Sires relates The record really speaks to in album opener “The Laws of the idea of cleaning out, moving Love”: “Still dancing with the on and examining ourselves in ghosts of what we’ve become / the world. “Luggage Full of Wonderin’ how the world slipped Stones,” easily one of my favorfrom under my thumb.” ite songs on the record, is a train There’s no useful instrucsong. The song itself chugs along tion book for getting older, like a train. Musically, it has but with Dream On, we have a some of my favorite moments on soundtrack. the record. This particular track —Michael Roeder is also a duet with Paul Cary, and

it is a real highlight of the album.

I am a sucker for a train song, and this track definitely moves the record forward.

The title track of the record, “Sweet Bitter Tears,” is a meditation on unpacking the shared dreams one has with a lover.

Again, her voice, in all its melancholic glory, calls the listener to remember that it’s OK to mourn the things we have lost. This is the most traditional country song on the record, and her voice and the band really stand out.

Lyrically, “A Room of My Own” is my favorite track on the record, especially right now, in this uncertain moment in time.

Sellergren really shines here, from the opening line: “Give me a clean house first thing in the morning, and unbroken solitude so I can get in my head” all the way to the chorus: “My free time is extra guarded because I don’t have long / Must be nice to disregard it and drag my time along / But every time I need a moment that I could be withdrawn / You see, that’s like havin’ a room of my own.”

It’s just such a great track, and Randall Davis’ pedal steel really shines, as does Sellergren’s voice, which is more forceful here than anywhere else on the record. It’s a rallying cry for anyone who has been experiencing a lot of togetherness. It makes you want to belt out the song, and I admit, I do it every time I listen.

Sweet, Bitter Tears evokes dark bars, late night drives and listening alone, in your kitchen with your beverage of choice. It’s a torch and twang exploration of what a woman might need to get through some shit. I feel like it’s a deeply personal record for Sellergren, while having universal appeal to those of us longing to get over our issues, carve out some space and remind ourselves that we can bloom and fly.

—Darcie Hutzell

LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282 June 3-16, 2020 43

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LOCAL BOOKS

Lynne Nugent Nest THE FLORIDA REVIEW

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s the world shuts down and ultimately starts to reopen, Iowa City circles its figurative wagons, our institutions working to keep local artists and retailers engaged.

Little Village reaches out for book reviews.

Prairie Lights delivers books for reviewers right to their doors.

I have the privilege of reading Nest, a series of heartfelt essays about life and parenting from Lynne Nugent, editor of The Iowa Review.

Nest is a thin tome, “pecked out,” the author says, “with one finger on an iPhone cradled in my hand while a baby slept against my other side.” Her essays are very personal, but they speak to a broader perspective of motherhood.

My own days of having a child fall asleep while nursing are long gone, but well do I remember the way that baby’s entire demeanor would change after they latched on and began to soothe, as described in the essay “the suck.”

Nursing a baby is, as Nugent says, “exquisitely boring,” but also a strong act of physical presence and love for your infant.

Although the consuming job of mothering her two sons is the overarching theme of the book, Nugent also includes essays about herself in her roles outside that of mom: grieving daughter (“my grief is a student of the humanities”); woman whose husband has a medical condition (“the get-out-of-jail free card”); Korean language learner (“the year of language learning”). In all

Submit books for review: Little Village, 623 S Dubuque St., IC, IA 52240

of these, too, she strives to make connections with others, reveling in relationships—with her departed father, her spouse, her Korean mother.

Nugent has a disconcerting way of referring to her children as “A.” and “D.” and her husband as “K.” Often, authors don’t use actual names of family members due to privacy concerns. But if this is her plan, it is negated by the fact that she mentions Alasdair, Damian and Kembrew in her acknowledgements.

The essays were written over a period of time and are not necessarily ordered, which means that the reader is not always sure which child she means in each essay. My mind likes to put things in order, so I see this as a drawback—but it is true that parenting, and writing, are not always straight and chronological lines.

Nugent’s essays speak to the urgency of early motherhood: the fear that if she dies today her child will not remember her (“the 781 days”); the to-do list that’s never complete (“running late”); the promises to oneself that seem both easy and impossible to keep (“lines from a journal I kept after my son was born and i promised myself i would write at least one line a day”). She writes beautifully of this time in a parent’s life, the early baby and toddlerhood days when years rush by but days last forever. It’s a joy to linger in these moments, to remember those endorphin-soaked early motherhood days.

It’s also a blessing to find something brief to engage the mind, a chapbook easily consumed even with COVID-brain— or new-mommy brain.

Nest is a collection that wants to be shared. I found myself wondering which friend or new mother would most appreciate its words, the evocation of memories of the times when we have protected our own children in our nests.

—Sharon Falduto

Becca Klaver Ready for the World BLACK LAWRENCE PRESS

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omewhere around “Disney Princess Pageant,” I start to cry.

“I’m Snow White / We’re telling the truth…. On the Internet / This is the best party I’ve ever been to.”

If I were a gambler, I’d bet that the magic infused throughout Becca Klaver’s poetry collection, Ready for the World, released in February 2020, made it prescient.

The first dozen-plus poems are odes to connectivity, to a digital world, to finding the spaces between bits and bytes where the self seeps through.

Poems like “Anagnorisis,” “Sharing Settings” and “Like Machine” are deep dives into a world that must have seemed simultaneously crucial and tangential to Klaver as they were written, but which now make up the whole of our existence, as the pandemic continues to keep us all, by and large, physically apart.

“On the internet it is easy to love you,” she writes in “Anagnorisis.” “On the internet it is easy to love me / We let each other off the hook / We get to it when we can.”

Klaver, an Iowa City resident and Robert P. Dana Director of the Center for Literary Arts at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, pulled together writings from over the years, explorations of the fungible and the fantastic in the digital age. But regardless of when the pieces were written, their entry into the world in this form was nothing short of mystically aligned.

Ready for the World is peppered through with poems styled as spells, and it is in the piece “Spell for Going Out” that Klaver’s world shifts, and the similarities with our current time begin to shift into memory and universality. She draws the reader in, and then she sends us out again with this poem, as though her spell has worked. (Perhaps they all do.)

The book is dense with meaning, woven together by love and audacity and witchcraft.

The subjects of the pieces hide themselves well within willfully sweeping words that tease out our commonalities.

This is a collection that you tattoo on yourself in phrases; if I were 16 again, at least a quarter of these lines would be scribbled on the rubber of my Converse.

There are truths like gifts in here: “I traded it in & now they’re telling me / to try to get it back to get it back different,” Klaver writes in “Vanity Mirror,” and, in “Reproductive Logic”: “I’ll raise this solitude like a foundling.”

In “Spell for the Solstice,” she gives us, “by now you might think / you have all the light // in the world / and you do // the next feat is to stay graceful / while you give it up,” an elegant callback to the three poems “Kitty’s First Lunar Eclipse” and second and third. That notion of light is yet another theme woven through.

In “Wish Piece,” she promises, or invokes, “There are wishcatchers among us,” and “If you can’t find a wish you can make, find a wish you can grant.”

It’s no accident that this poem comes directly after “Spell for the Health of a Heroine.” Klaver wants nothing less than for us all to own our heroism. The spells in Ready for the World are there for our use, yes, but she is also saying them over us as we read them.

—Genevieve Trainor

LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV282 June 3-16, 2020 45

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slate clean 24. “Truth Hurts” singer (and flautist) 26. Cheap, in slang 28. Pilot’s announcement, briefly 29. ___ Friday’s 30. Bowen Yang’s show 33. Style for the Who 34. Sleepytime, when the chamomile runs out? (after hanging out with the diva behind “Believe”) 38. What some proceeds might go to 40. Behind on the scoreboard 41. Like some kids’ beds (OK, fine, mine, too)

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ACROSS 1. The Romanoffs ancestor 5. Join an improv scene, say 8. Kurdish title 11. Outdoor shower makeup 15. Mount 17. Notes sung in rapid succession 18. “Blecchhh ...”

19. “Singer Louis, meet ad exec Draper”? (after rubbing elbows with a hip‑hop legend from Queens) 20. Game of Thrones actor Harington 21. Canopy provider 22. Something to wipe the

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42. Emphatic Spanish affirmative 44. Treats for swelling, in a way 45. Large shopping center where you can buy fishnet stockings, strainers, screen printing tools, etc.? (after drinks with the singer of “Chandelier”) 49. Cheese whose red coating was seen as a harbinger of death in All Quiet on the Western Front 52. German 101 article 53. Isn’t imaginary 57. Independent type 60. Respond to, as another dog who just threatened

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The American Values Club Crossword is edited by Ben Tausig.

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you 61. Twist something in the manner of pork? (after playing tennis with the singer of “Loser”) 64. Simpsons character who was widely canceled but not, you know, actually canceled 65. Tempe sch.

66. Ave. crossers 67. “Help! ___ fallen and ...”

68. Boxer’s bowlful 70. How some committees meet 72. Convey again, as an email that someone lost 74. Thin tie

76. Dora’s talking prop 78. Casually mention, as the famous musicians you know personally, and a hint to this puzzle’s theme 82. Able to reach the high shelves, perhaps 83. Copycat 84. “I can’t get the splinter out if you keep moving ...”

85. Ocular owie 86. Divider for Serena 87. Indulges too much, briefly 88. Betting site figures

37. Potion 39. Rear-ended 42. N.K. Jemisin’s genre 43. It might be positive or negative 46. Dystopian spot 47. Dunham who wrote an essay about her hysterectomy 48. Studies closely 49. Idris who was 2018’s Sexiest Man Alive 50. Bucks’ partners 51. How physicals might be recommended 54. Modern poetry forum 55. Beer spouts 56. Former NBA coach Jackson 58. Thing placed upon a star, as it were 59. Cushioned footstool 60. Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey bestseller 62. Cassis cocktail 63. “I guess? But still!”

69. Supplement 71. Dish (out) 73. First responders, for short 74. K-pop megastars (I think Jimin is the cutest, but Suga’s eyes ...)

75. ___ bran 77. Darling 79. Cleared (of) 80. Like the Methuselah tree 81. Abbreviation at the end of a text message request

DOWN 1. Small baking amt.

2. Viola’s sect.

3. Grande, to fans 4. Shoyu or tonkotsu, e.g.

5. River to Lake Como, in Italy 6. Walkable, perhaps 7. Basic beliefs 8. Flood insurance, once?

9. Result of saying “I would think that if you loved me you would call me more often,” say 10. West Indies island 11. Nabisco cracker 12. Type of puzzle with numbered blanks 13. Eisenhower, informally 14. Bowtie-clad scientist Bill 16. Knights of Ren power source 23. Pizza ___ 25. Pasta that is totally tubular 26. Throne 27. Genesis guy 31. Real LV281 ANSWERS Housewives of B I T M I S SM MO L D E D Atlanta star UNH AMA T I E L A I N E Leakes S H I I T A K E S N EWAGE 32. Slows, as a F E NC EME ND I NG P A P YouTube video A RCH T O T E S E R E might R I O H AM ONWA R D S 33. World that E T A A L A RM A S S E T S T A K E S I S H I GH contains Thor ME S S AGE BOA RD and Loki but not S T OWE A R L E N E E S Superman, for L A B AMB A P T S V A N short E N V Y E T S Y DODO 35. Salt Lake City E L I T H E C A R E T A K E R college team K I AOR A A H AMOME N T 36. Words after a E N T A I L MOP U P RD A knock R E E KO F POS S E S S T

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