–Jan. Dec. 2, 2020 ISSUE 289
5, 2021
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WE NEED YOU FOR THE
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Strengthen Grow Evolve is an ambitious collaboration between FilmScene and The Englert Theatre to build the greatest small city for the arts in Iowa City.
2 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Strengthen Grow Evolve is an ambitious collaboration between FilmScene and The Englert Theatre to build the greatest small city for the arts in Iowa City.
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THE IOWA CITY POLICE LOG A coffee table book
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Best Poet/Spoken Word Performer Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey Jason Smith / Little VIllage
VOL. 28 ISSUE 289 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 ALWAYS FREE LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM PUBLISHER MATTHEW STEELE DIGITAL DIRECTOR DREW BULMAN ART DIRECTOR JORDAN SELLERGREN MANAGING EDITOR EMMA MCCLATCHEY ARTS EDITOR GENEVIEVE TRAINOR NEWS DIRECTOR PAUL BRENNAN VISUAL REPORTER JASON SMITH STAFF WRITER/EDITOR IZABELA ZALUSKA ENGAGEMENT EDITOR CELINE ROBINS STAFF WRITER ANJALI HUYNH MARKETING AUTOMATIONS SPECIALIST MALCOLM MACDOUGALL FULL STACK WEB DEVELOPER ADITH RAI MARKETING COORDINATOR, GRAPHIC DESIGNER CHOSIE TITUS DISTRIBUTION BRIAN JOHANNESEN, DAI GWILLIAM, NORBERT SARSFIELD, NICOLE ELDRIDGE ADVERTISING ADS@LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM LISTINGS CALENDAR@LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM CONTRIBUTORS TERRANCE BANKS, ANNA BIXBY, AUDREY BROCK, JENNI CANNELLA, ALEX CHOQUEMAMANI, THOMAS DEAN, SARAH ELGATIAN, BRITT FOWLER, BOB GOODFELLOW,
Long before our neck of the woods was dubbed the ICR or the Corridor, before the Derecho of 2020, before the Pandemic of 2020, it was known as the CRANDIC—taken from the CR-and-IC train line that has served the area since 1904, “the CRANDIC Route.” Whatever you call this area, we love it and we love you. Thank you for voting for the Best of the CRANDIC!
HOW DOES THE CONTEST WORK? We asked. You answered. We tallied. You waited. Now it’s finally time to celebrate the winners! From Aug. 1-Sept. 30, Little Village readers cast their votes in our third annual Best of the CRANDIC awards. From the Best Craft Brewery to the Best Place to People-Watch, readers didn’t just vote for who they think should go home with the title—they also wrote in why. That’s where the fun part starts for us. We tallied the votes and collected all the funniest, truest and most touching explanations into this issue, so you’ll get the lowdown on the Best of the CRANDIC from the locals themselves, plus a few shout-outs to the runners-up along the way.
LAURA JOHNSON, CARRIE LIEBERGEN, JOHN MARTINEK, ROB MERRITT, SETH OWENS, FRANKIE SUPPORTED BY
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8 - In Memoriam 10 - Interactions 14 - Brock About Town 16 - Cortado 22 - Arts & Entertainment 32 - Community 40 - Health & Recreaion
52 - Goods & Services 68 - Food & Drink 80 - Events Calendar 93 - Ad Index 95 - Dear Kiki
97 - Astrology 99 - Local Albums 101 - Local Books 102 - Reader Survey 103 - Crossword
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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.
FOR JH John Hopkins died on Nov. 21, 2020. IN THE LATE FALL of 2005 I had just started
working at New Pioneer Co-op in Coralville. One afternoon at a local Indian buffet, I was discussing my newfound and still shaky employment with an acquaintance. She reassuringly told me she had done “a few good years” at the co-op. These were kind words for a young adult who had no idea where life would go, and little did I know then my own few good years would have me meet not only my future wife and a host of oddball characters, but also one of my favorite human beings: John Hopkins. If you knew John, and many knew him better than me, you have at least one, but more likely a catalog of great
Melissa Newman
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F U T I L E W R A T H
SAM
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stories to tell. Here’s one of mine. After working together for a few months we would occasionally carpool to or from work, talking trash about coworkers, listening to the radio, what people do. On a winter afternoon John was giving me a ride home from work in an old car—a late-’60s Plymouth Valiant, I believe—and we chugged to a stop at the intersection of Highway 6 and First Avenue, out of gas. John just looked at me and said, “I thought I had enough to make it.” The afternoon traffic puffed and swerved past in the busy intersection, and it had just started snowing a bit. As we got out to start pushing, another car pulled up beside us and someone yelled from the window, “Hey Hopkins, need a hand?” John was, of course, recognizable from about a mile away, and I already knew he possessed the disarming ability to talk to almost anyone as if he had known them for a lifetime, but discovered on that afternoon he also had no problem picking up a suspended friendship in the middle of a highway. The guy in the other car was a former coworker of his from Mickey’s, years prior. He didn’t hesitate for one second to help us push the Valiant into a nearby parking lot and ferry John to a gas station. Waiting for them to return, I stood in the flurries smoking cigarettes and marveling at our
luck. But I realized much later it wasn’t luck at all, just the sort of auspicious thing that happened when you were around John long enough. Years passed. After Melissa and I left the co-op and moved to Tennessee, John too left to follow a new path, sound-checking and metal-clawing literally around the world. Whenever he would come through Nashville on a tour we would make it a point to get together for a scant few afternoon hours to eat hot chicken, shop for records, have him hold the baby or just sit and chat as if no time at all had gone by. I have no doubt that as he drove around the world for the better part of the past decade he met and bonded with an uncountable number of fortunate people. Each one of them has a John story they tell regularly. I am certain of that. So whether your story about John is something preposterous that happened at Gabe’s one night, or thrashing on a stage somewhere, or crossing the Canadian Rockies by van, or pushing a Plymouth through a busy intersection, remember that what sometimes begins as a few good years with a coworker can stretch out into a lifetime of memories. It’s impossible to know when it changes from one to the other, and you never know when it will end. —Ian McCuskey, Nashville
HAVE AN OPINION? Better write about it! Send letters to: Editor@LittleVillageMag.com
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INTERACTIONS S T R E S S F R A C T U R E S
JOHN
MARTINEK
Letter from an Iowa City nurse: The situation is worse than you think. Stay home. (Nov. 18) Send this to the governor. —Helen B. The moment Covid ceases to be the uncontrollable monster it is, these health care professionals need to be compensated outrageously for their work trying to keep the sick alive. —Gerardo R. Iowa reports 40 COVID deaths, a oneday record; Gov. Reynolds relaxes a restriction she imposed two days ago (Nov. 18) She didn’t take meaningful action until she realized there would be no place for her in a Trump administration starting 2021. Now she’s desperate to catch up and salvage her chance at a second (second and a half?) term as governor. Shame on her for too little, too late. Arrogant, shameless and dimwitted: the kindest way I can describe her style of governing. —Kirsty C. A pandemic PSA premieres as COVID-19 ravages care facilities, holidays loom (Nov. 19) What a huge waste of money...a mask mandate costs nothing. —Ellen V.L. Pubic service announcement with famous Iowa folks has not one of them in a mask. I’m disappointed with these people. —Sara H. Letter to the editor: Tired of the negative comments (Nov. 19) It’s not a matter of “hating on her.” We absolutely have a civic obligation to hold our leaders accountable. —Karen D.
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Translation: You people who demand better from their elected leaders are the reason Iowans elected bad leaders. —Nick B. I somewhat agree with the letter writer. We should stop focusing on anything the governor says or does.
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INTERACTIONS
/LittleVillage READER POLL:
Our efforts should be on taking care of ourselves and encouraging anyone we can to do the same. We are on our own. Nothing we say or do now will change her. Let’s agree to circle back to her, say.....in 2022. —Bonnie F.M.
Where are you going for winter vacation?
I am pretty sure that if we Iowans knew what to do, to handle this on our own, the numbers would reflect that. It is infinitely clear that we can’t handle it, so the governor should be expected to provide that leadership. If she is only willing to rely on Iowans to govern themselves, then tell me what exactly is her job as GOVERNOR. It’s like the parent who is enforcing no snacks, and the other parent is saying (while winking, and eating snacks) yeah... don’t eat snacks... IT ISN’T working. —Sarah B.
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AU D R E Y B R O C K
Welcome, reader, to the last 2020 issue of Little Village. This year, more than any other, it feels like a milestone, but I cannot imagine an appropriate way to commemorate it. Is there anything to say about this year that hasn’t already been said? Have you heard a single current events-related witticism that made you feel anything other than utter despair since April? Yeah, me neither. Every single blog, publication and friend you have on Facebook seems determined to constantly remind you of everything that’s gone wrong in the last year. It’s OK, they insist, that none of your pants fit and you spend most of your free time sitting down in the shower and weeping. They then offer you a “friendly reminder” of the skyrocketing COVID rates, rapidly melting ice caps and imminent implosion of the U.S. government. For those who already have the state’s COVID-19 dashboard bookmarked and saw every single one of the president’s Randy Quaid retweets in real time, it’s absolutely exhausting. The concept of self-care is definitionally incompatible with caring about everything in direct proportion to how important it is, and it’s easy to urge people to prioritize both from behind the comfort of your laptop screen. Look, I’m doing it now! If I could make one wish for all of you this Festivus (I’ll try, but Jerry Seinfeld no longer grants my wishes because I made fun of his haircut too much) it would be that you find some peace before the year is over. However, it’s pretty obvious that if you want it, you’re going to have to just make it. If one of your Facebook friends says something even mildly annoying, block them, even if it’s your mom. Don’t go to the bars, because at this point, that pretty much makes you a psychopath; instead, get plastered with your friends on Skype like it’s 2009. Eat your veggies and get your eight hours of sleep and floss, because when you finally do get to go outside, you’ll be glad you haven’t physically turned into a cave troll, as well as emotionally. Assuming the planet hasn’t been destroyed by gamma rays or some equally out-of-pocket thing, I’ll be back in January. Hopefully, by then, life will feel a little funnier.
Someone hasn’t read the “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” and it shows. —Latisha M.G. Letter to the editor: Tired of the lies, obfuscation and apologists (Nov. 20) Yeah, one of the problems with objective journalism is if one side is completely wrong you look like you are biased for saying so. And scammers (like the ones who have taken over the republican party) are always objectively completely wrong. —Jason A. Iowa surpasses 200,000 COVID cases; Republican lawmakers talk about relaxing restrictions (Nov. 20) I wonder if the people who say “The cure must not be worse than the illness” would change their tune if children instead of elderly were the ones dying most frequently. —Kristine T.D. Seriously, allow COVID positive staff care for non-positive residents in LTC, (if they wear a mask)??? Not a good idea. —Joyce G. COVID-19: Gov. Reynolds fears ‘over-mitigating’ as Iowa’s care facilities flounder (Nov. 24) Another statistic to point out is that almost half of the deaths from COVID in Iowa have been people in long term care facilities. That is truly frightening. —Nasreen S. Yeah, Kim, over-dying is way better. —Ken H. CRCSD applies for waiver to continue all-online learning after Thanksgiving break (Nov. 24) This policy should have an automatic trigger that allows school districts to bypass the application process to opt-in to hybrid or online learning if rates reach a certain threshold within a day-determinate period. Districts shouldn’t have to fumble with superfluous and burdensome bureaucratic red tape when seeking to protect their students and communities from COVID. —Ben C.
Each year the world commemorates World AIDS Day. People around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS. It’s an important day to raise awareness and a reminder we should never stop fighting to end HIV.
DECEMBER 1 Resources to learn more about HIV prevention, testing, and treatment can be found here: www.stopHIViowa.org www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics
CORTADO
Los dueños de la ciudad W. ALEX CHOQUEMAMANI
A
l final se preguntó: ¿a quién pertenece esta ciudad llamada Iowa City? La pregunta le vino luego de tantas caminatas, y muchos paseos en bicicleta por las calles de la ciudad (College St., Market St., Debuque St., Muscatine Ave., Sheridan Ave., Summit St.). Pero ¿acaso esta ciudad no le pertenece a ese conjunto de individuos que a diario pululan por las calles, ocupando bancas, veredas, paredes, intersecciones, y hasta pequeños espacios libres al costado del depósito de basura? ¿No eran acaso ellos los verdaderos dueños y amos de esta ciudad poblada de estudiantes universitarios, oficinistas, escritores, burócratas, comerciantes, todos ellos encerrados la mayor parte de su tiempo dentro de cuatro paredes? Algunos de los “dueños” solo piden una moneda al transeúnte apurado y distraído. Otros solo sueltan una canción con su guitarra o su saxofón. También están los que se recuestan en una banca o sobre un cartón tendido en el suelo, y concilian el sueño sin mucha dificultad en medio del ajetreo de la ciudad. Por último están los que solo vagan por las calles sin rumbo fijo, y siempre mirando el piso o el horizonte, tal vez guiados por una ilusión, un deseo, una imagen. Si él intentara describirlos diría que ellos son una mezcla de sencillez y vulnerabilidad, pero a la vez inconformidad y rebeldía. Son individuos que se resisten a vender su tiempo a cambio de un sofá y una sopa caliente. Pues ellos consideran que la ciudad vale más que todo ello, y cualquier otra fortuna parecida. Pero él se equivoca cuando afirma que todos ellos ejercen un dominio absoluto sobre la ciudad. Pues en lugar de ello lo que existe es un pacto implícito que consiste en lo siguiente: si bien todos están distribuidos en diferentes partes de la ciudad, no todos están presentes al mismo tiempo. Por el contrario van alternando el señorío de la ciudad según la posición del sol y la luna, la intensidad del calor y el frío, y la dirección desde la que sopla el viento. Todo esto para él es muy misterioso y confuso porque le cuesta diferenciar unas cosas de otras (la idea de pactos implícitos, el hecho que exista una propiedad que no sea absoluta, el disfrutar de la ciudad según la posición del sol o la luna, etc.). Tal vez esta confusión se deba al hecho de que él también forma parte de esta extraña casta de individuos denominada los dueños de la ciudad.
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Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey, Jason Smith / Little Village
BEST OF THE CRANDIC JS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey
“T
he oldest poem I can think of was one in elementary school. Obviously, it rhymed,” Best Poet of the CRANDIC Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey said in a recent phone call, laughing. “But the poem that I count as my first real tackle at this career was a poem I wrote at 16.” Rainey described a piece exploring some pretty heady but understandable themes for a 16-year-old: the contradictory masculinity involved in deciding whether he should be the “nice guy” or the “bad boy” to have a shot at a girl he liked. “I’d switch language, and I’d switch vocab,” he said of his efforts at balancing both personas within a single piece. “And that was the first time I took the stage and performed a poem.” Performing has been at the core of his poetics ever since, with key influences including Rudy Francisco (“I wouldn’t be a poet if I hadn’t seen one of his
/ BEST POET SPOKEN WORD ARTIST!
videos,” Rainey said) and Danez Smith (citing their “ability to weave between the conversation of blackness and queerness almost effortlessly”). “Of course I also have to give a shout-out to Langston Hughes,” he said of the poet from whom he lifted his stage name, The Negro Artist. Rainey does write for the page occasionally, but, he said, “If I want it to be a spoken piece, I most likely will handwrite it. … If it’s a page piece, I’ll type it, and play with form that way.” On the role of poets in society, Rainey asserted that “all artists, their job is to pay attention.” “I am constantly trying to find the stories and the experiences that will connect us,” he said. “This act of connecting one another [may be] regardless of experience, but almost because of our experiences we get connected.” ––Genevieve Trainor
Protest
Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey this poem is a violent protest a raging riot set fire to your precincts, your klan sanctuaries, steal every piece of life from Target so that our death will be decked out in the decor of what’s always been on our backs. ‘cause didn’t we always own Target? weren’t we always fresh to death? isn’t that an oxymoron, like being Black in America like this poem like expecting what you deserve from people who benefit from your death.
BEST LOCAL BAND:
Elizabeth Moen ELIZABETHMOEN.COM
Her stage presence is as beautiful as her voice, if you can believe it. —Heather D.
Courtesy of Elizabeth Moen
Dan Padley’s guitar playing really fills out Moen’s soulful, beautiful sound. —Andy K. What a wild betch. —M.M. RUNNER-UP:
The Pork Tornadoes I absolutely love me a good cover band, and these guys exceed that... they are GREAT!! I have their music from Spotify on my favorite playlists that I listen to daily! —A.B. They perform covers that are better than the originals. A must-see show if you ever get the chance. —D.A. BEST MUSICIAN OVERALL:
Kevin Burt
KEVINBURTMUSIC.COM
i will not play peace as you play war which means these words will press its knee down on you perspective so your bigotry cannot breathe. it will choke out every bit of privilege until you are calling out for your mama and I will watch the ignorance fade from your eyes because —because
—because
i refuse to write another obituary. i have run out of words for grief. there is only room for anger now. it is the only thing that stops the crying, the backbone holding me upright when the world wants me face down on the ground. I’d rather die than live this way. So if I must die, let me die fighting.
I have listened to him for years! Always loved his voice! Kindhearted person who stuck it out and was recognized for it. —Dawn W. Heart and soul, justice- and community-minded —Annie T. He speaks from the heart, and his music always moves me. —David H. RUNNER-UP:
Elizabeth Moen And she just keeps growing as an artist. —Paul J.
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 23
BEST ARTS PRESENTER:
The Englert Theatre 221 E WASHINGTON ST, IOWA CITY 319-688-2653, ENGLERT.ORG
RUNNER-UP:
Riverside Theatre BEST LOCAL THEATER COMPANY:
Riverside Theatre 319-338-7672 RIVERSIDETHEATRE.ORG
Riverside’s commitment to diversity and originality is tremendous, plus its creativity in coping with COVID challenges. —Natasha W.
KRUI 89.7 FM
T
hings are constantly changing in Iowa City as students move in and move on and familiar parts of the landscape disappear, replaced by new apartment buildings. Sometimes nothing seems permanent except the flocked wallpaper at George’s. But at the left end of the radio dial, KRUI has been a consistent voice as “Iowa City’s Sound Alternative” for 36 years. That’s not as long as George’s has had that wallpaper, but for Iowa City, it’s impressive. KRUI is an independent, nonprofit radio station run by University of Iowa students. It wasn’t the first incarnation of student radio at UI, but it was the first that could be heard as far away as Coralville. The awkwardly named KWAD was launched by students in 1952. The studio was a converted broom closet in the now-gone Quadrangle Residence Hall. The audience was limited to Quadrangle, because that was as far as its signal reached. Over the years, the station expanded into all the dorms and changed its name, first to KICR and then in 1975 to KRUI. The station’s reputation grew too. In the late ’60s and early ’70s, it was the only reliable source of rock music for UI students. But KRUI almost didn’t survive the ’70s. It relied
24 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
BEST RADIO STATION!
on funding from the Associated Residence Halls, and by 1976 that money dried up. The station shut down. However, some students never gave up on KRUI. The Student Government replaced the residence halls as a funding source, and a student-run corporation took over responsibility for its license. By the time the fall semester began in 1980, KRUI was available again in all the dorms. And there were plans to finally reach listeners beyond campus. After years of preparation and paperwork— KRUI not only needed permission from the Federal Communication Commission to broadcast, it needed permission from the Coast Guard to use those letters, because a ship had once used them as a call sign—KRUI began broadcasting at 89.7 FM on May 28, 1984 at 7:18 p.m. Since then, it’s been a steady source of new music for Iowa City and Coralville, with public affairs programs addressing issues important to students and area residents. In 1996, it became the first college radio in the country to switch to an all-digital broadcasting format. That’s a big change from a studio in a broom closet. ––Paul Brennan
Riverside Theatre is amazing! Also, I love that their Shakespeare in The Park makes theatre accessible to so many people. —Scott Y. RUNNER-UP:
Theatre Cedar Rapids
‘The Agitators’, Rob Merritt
Jason Smith / Little Village
Most thought-provoking professional theater around! —Lesanne F.
BEST THEATRICAL PRODUCTION OF 2020:
Riverside Theatre’s The Agitators By Mat Smart, directed by Chris Okiishi JAN. 24 — FEB. 16, 2020
One of the best productions I have ever seen! —Amelia K. An amazingly directed and
THANK YOU for voting us “Best Physical Therapy,” in the CRANDIC.
2400 N DODGE STREET, SUITE B, IOWA CITY (319) 246-2006 @TEAMIOWAPT on Facebook and Instagram
Flat Black Studios (Long Play Records)
F
lat Black founder Luke Tweedy and second-in-command Dana T have been cranking out phenomenal records from their Lone Tree oasis for years now. They lure in the best local and regional talent by being simply the best at what they do— and by loving it wholeheartedly. There is never a doubt, when it comes time to review the best albums of the year from Iowa artists that many have come to fruition under their care. Between the two of them, there have been an impressive number of albums recorded out at Flat Black even in this year, when everything artistic seems to have slowed to a crawl. Here are the top 10 that you simply can’t miss. —Genevieve Trainor
designed play that pushes what is possible on that stage. —Mark H.M. RUNNER-UP:
Theatre Cedar Rapids’ A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder Paul Cary Raven At the intersection of trippy and folksy, like a 21st century Donovan (but darker), Cary sends out tendrils of sound that snag and embrace your weirdest of musical wishes.
Citrus Sunday Terry’s Revenge EP Scratch that classic rock itch with this IC band’s debut, featuring vox from Travis Siegel (channeling Dave Wyndorf) and fab ’70s-tinged guitar licks from Kameron Valdivia.
Penny Peach Jr., Mission Creek Underground
L BEST LOCA RECORD OR L LABE G RECORDIN STUDIO!
BEST CONCERT OF 2020:
Mission Creek Underground
MISSIONCREEKFESTIVAL.COM/UN-
Dope Walker Save Save William Elliott Whitmore is great on his own, but he just can’t seem to help forming supergroups of area heavyweights (remember Middle Western?) and elevating ever higher.
Brian Johannesen Holster Your Silver Released in the Before Times of late January, this sophomore effort is a masterful piece of storytelling, with “Music Business Blues Breakdown” feeling damned prescient. (Johannesen is on staff at Little Village)
Elizabeth Moen Creature of Habit EP Anyone who doubts the voice is an instrument has never heard Moen play hers, expertly echoing your inner monologue, simultaneously familiar and strange, ethereal and grounded.
Dan Padley Truesmith EP Jazz guitarist and composer Padley has been nonstop in 2020 (and he’s got another release out Dec. 4!), but this spare, delightful release from May will calm your soul.
DERGROUND
RUNNER-UP:
The Pork Tornadoes at Paramount Theatre BEST PLACE TO SEE ART:
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
410 3RD AVE SE, CEDAR RAPIDS 319-366-7503, CRMA.ORG
A Cedar Rapids staple that just gets better! —Angie S. RUNNER-UP:
Public Space One
Jordan Sellergren Sweet, Bitter Tears I listen to this album when I’m sad, and Sellergren’s voice inevitably soothes me, carrying the weight of wisdom gracefully with a conspiratorial wink that buoys the listener. (Sellergren is on staff at Little Village)
Twin Wizard Glacial Gods I’m a sucker for a great drummer, and Anthony Dreyer is one of the best in the game, here alternately anchoring heavy guitar riffs and driving conversation with the power vocals.
26 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Various Project Connect EP This wonderful collaboration paired Iowans with disabilities with Iowa musicians to empower them “to create music about their lives and experiences,” with phenomenal results.
William Elliott Whitmore I’m With You Just give it up and admit you like country—Whitmore allows no illusions that he’s some exception to the rule; he’s country to the core, he’s just the best possible example of the genre.
They are true activists and artists. The vision of love for our community is spectacular. They haven’t slowed down for a second since the plague hit; they’re all about modeling how art can save our lives in day-to-day living. —Kymburly K.
BEST LOCAL AUTHOR:
Marilynne Robinson Best in the U.S. —Ann R. ‘St. Nicholas’ at Brucemore. Farrar Design
RUNNER-UP:
Caleb Rainey
BEST LOCAL ARTIST:
Sayuri Sasaki Hemann SAYURISWORLD.COM
RUNNER-UP:
Shadow Fox Photography
BEST Y COMMUNIT (NONONAL) PROFESSI MUSIC OR GROUP! THEATRE
BEST LOCAL STAND-UP COMEDIAN:
Theatre Cedar Rapids
T
heatre Cedar Rapids traces its history back nearly 100 years, to a small group of players in 1925 producing sporadic shows in Grant Wood’s studio apartment at 5 Turner Alley. Out of that was born the Community Players in 1929, a group that performed until World War II. After the war, the company was reformed and reimagined as the Footlighters, who then became the Cedar Rapids Community Theatre, rebranded as Theatre Cedar Rapids in 1981. Three years ago this month, beloved area director Angie Toomsen was named as TCR’s newest artistic director, part of a sea change at the theater that began earlier that year when Katie Hallman was named executive director. The pair make TCR one of a too-small collection of theaters led by women. Toomsen has directed a number of fan-favorite productions for the theater, including 2019’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame and 2018’s Diary of Anne Frank. She answered a few questions for Little Village via email.
What has been your favorite artistic experience of the pandemic? It’s probably no surprise that my favorite artistic experience during the pandemic was the live one! We produced outdoor theater in October with our friends at Brucemore Historic Site. The piece was the Irish vampire tale St. Nicholas by Conor McPherson. The cast was small (one actor, one dancer/performer) and the audience was distanced and with safety protocols enforced. Which might not sound like a relaxed evening, but it really was. We won’t plan to hold any in-person events again until we can gather outdoors again, or until there is a vaccine. So this experience was one we savored. How have you found ways to create opportunities for TCR out of the challenges this year threw down? Our small team adopted the mantra “Roar On” (with a majestic lion mascot) to help motivate ourselves to keep going and keep delivering on our mission with full heart and intention. Though we would prefer to be live and in person, virtual theater brings with it a breezy freedom to experiment with programming we might never have 28 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Megan Gogerty MEGANGOGERTY.COM
An awesome feminist comedian who pushes the package on intellectual comedy and theater. —Jamie H.
Bob Goodfellow
considered before. The concerts we’ve produced have been a fun discovery and I would expect to see more events like that in the post-pandemic world. We’ve also found a way to involve a large number of volunteers for a very short commitment with our virtual play festivals. Our executive director, Katie Hallman, has been hosting a coffee talk each week and we’ve had crazy famous (theater famous) guests join. We want to be a beacon of love for theater. We love theater in New York, we love regional theater, we love academic theater, we love new works, we love community theater—so we’re following that intention and remaining nimble and curious.
So smart, funny and so much heart. —Karlē M.
What are you most looking forward to about TCR’s upcoming At Home for the Holidays show? The little kid in me is most looking forward to Dave the Mouse! He’s so cute, and Joe Link does a fabulous job bringing him to life. We are all a little bit childlike during the holidays so I suspect kids from 3 to 103 will love him too. —Genevieve Trainor
I have been dancing like a fiend at Studio since I was 19, I’m 25 now. —Lauren M.
So approachable. So clever. Sometimes so clever, it doesn’t hit you until later. —Kate M. RUNNER-UP:
Spencer Loucks BEST PLACE TO DANCE:
Studio 13
13 S LINN ST, IOWA CITY 319-337-6464, STHIRTEEN.COM
RUNNER-UP: Gabe’s
Thank you so much for voting us BEST HAIR SALON for the second year in a row, and BEST BARBER in the CRANDIC! We could not bee more thrilled with this honor, and send so much love out to our community for all the kindness and support you’ve given our hive this year!
B E E S H A R P. B E E U N I Q U E . B E E YO U R S E L F. 755 S Gilbert St. Iowa City | 319. 338. 5589 | honeybeehairparlor.com
BEST MOVIE THEATER:
FilmScene PED MALL,
118 E COLLEGE ST, IOWA CITY THE CHAUNCEY, 404 E COLLEGE ST #100, IOWA CITY 319-358-2555, ICFILMSCENE.ORG
The most beautiful and modern cinema in the country! Their shift to online cinema and concessions pick-up (benefiting other nonprofits) shows they are the most community-minded theater around. —Katie R. RUNNER-UP:
Courtesy of Frisbee Jenkins
Collins Road Theatres BEST LOCAL RECORD LABEL OR RECORDING STUDIO:
Flat Black Studios (Long Play Records) 5012 540TH ST SE, LONE TREE FLATBLACKSTUDIOS.COM
BEST DRAG ER! PERFORM
Frisbee Jenkins
RUNNER-UP:
The Sound Box BEST COMMUNITY (NONPROFESSIONAL) MUSIC OR THEATER GROUP:
Theatre Cedar Rapids
BEST CULTURAL EVENT:
Iowa Arts Festival
SUMMER OF THE ARTS, SUMMER-
Caleb Rainey
OFTHEARTS.ORG
THENEGROARTIST.COM
RUNNER-UP:
Hands down my favorite! I wait each day in anticipation for new work! Thanks for all that you do to positively impact our community, Caleb. You’re an absolute gem! —Anna W.
Mission Creek Festival
102 3RD ST SE, CEDAR RAPIDS 319-366-8591, THEATRECR.ORG
TCR presents something for everyone from family musicals to cutting-edge plays. —Lisa K.
BEST DRAG PERFORMER:
Frisbee Jenkins (a.k.a. Sasha Belle)
INSTAGRAM: @SASHABELLEY TWITTER: @SASHABELLE3
RUNNER-UP:
Iowa City Community Theatre
BEST POET/ SPOKEN WORD ARTIST:
RUNNER-UP:
Roxie Mess
Not only is Caleb an incredible poet and performer, but he’s also an effective community organizer and local arts programmer. —Elly H.
BEST PLACE FOR A CHEAP DATE:
Iowa City Pedestrian Mall The Ped Mall is Iowa City’s agora. —Matt D. RUNNER-UP:
Lake Macbride Have an EXPERIENCE. —J.N. BEST FREE FUN:
Lake Macbride RUNNER-UP:
BEST PLACE TO SEE LOCAL MUSIC:
Gabe’s
330 E WASHINGTON ST, IOWA CITY, ICGABES.COM
BEST PLACE FOR A KID’S BIRTHDAY PARTY:
The Iowa Children’s Museum CORAL RIDGE MALL, CORALVILLE
RUNNER-UP:
Nora Claire Miller
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History
BEST RADIO STATION:
Keep calm and sloth on! —Ashley B.
RUNNER-UP:
The Giant Sloth is Iowa’s true mascot. —Neil G.
RUNNER-UP:
KRUI 89.7 FM
319-625-6255, THEICM.ORG
Trumpet Blossom Cafe RUNNER-UP:
Lake Macbride State Park
30 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
KCCK 88.3 FM
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BEST OF THE CRANDIC
COMMUNITY
BEST LIBRARY:
Iowa City Public Library 123 S LINN ST, IOWA CITY 319-356-5200, ICPL.ORG
ICPL has it all: books in all formats, movies, art and is always looking for new ways to innovate. Even during COVID the library has continued to find ways to keep people connected to books, to each other and to community resources. —Meredith R.C. There’s something about public libraries that often feels stigmatizing. This library is not like that. Anyone can hang out here and feel accepted. While most places in liberal cities try, few actually succeed at this. —Biff S. I miss the familiar faces and anonymity I feel zig-zagging through the book shelves at ICPL so MUCH. —Alice V. RUNNER-UP:
Cedar Rapids Public Library BEST MUSEUM:
University of Iowa Natural History Museum MACBRIDE HALL, N CLINTON
Iowa City Police Log
L
ong before there was Iowa City Police Log the book (published by Little Village), there was the Iowa City Police Log social media presence (@IC_ ActivityLog on Twitter, IowaCityPoliceLog on Facebook), a curation of funny and striking dispatcher summaries pulled from the public postings of the Iowa City Police activity log. Since its founding, the Iowa City Police Log has become so popular it won CRANDIC awards for both its Facebook and Twitter.
L BEST LOCA COUNT! TWITTER AC L BEST LOCA PAGE! FACEBOOK
Little Village spoke to Iowa City Police Log founder Christopher Patton via email about the Log’s origins. What year was the Iowa City Police Log founded? I started the Twitter account in 2013 and the Facebook page in 2015. Probably the biggest thing that got me to do it was the increasing popularity of social media at the time. Without a ready audience it’s highly unlikely I would have spent so much time collecting log entries. Have you ever gotten feedback from law enforcement on your curation of their escapades? Only a little and it’s
Seth Owens
JS
all been positive. A few officers have occasionally liked posts and Jody Matherly attended a reading I did at a comedy festival while he was police chief. He laughed along with the rest of the audience and generally seemed to enjoy it.
Any thoughts on the responsibility that the general public bears in terms of “policing the police,” and how the work of the Police Log may play into that? The public bears complete responsibility
for policing the police. As citizens in a democracy we’re supposed to be in charge of our entire government. I definitely have opinions on how we could do a better job of it, such as giving more power to the Community Police Review Board, but the core social commentary in my police log project is focused on the people who are calling the police. The log entries I post are, after all, mostly just dispatchers’ summaries of these calls. Unfortunately, getting members of our community to stop making calls to the police for racist and/or trivial reasons is probably an even more difficult problem than reforming how law enforcement responds to them.
STREET, IOWA CITY 319-335-0480, MNH.UIOWA.EDU
I love this museum, not only is it a great place to visit but also a fantastic place to work. I love the environment and the in-depth exhibits which feel like you are escaping into a movie set or another world. —Lea P. RUNNER-UP:
Iowa Children’s Museum
How did the process of compiling the book affect or give perspective to your initial efforts on the Log? As I worked on turning my archive of log entries into a book, I read through every entry I’d ever saved.
Going back over five years of material in a short period of time reminded me just how frequent certain types of calls are. I had always intended to include some serious calls, such as those pretty clearly driven by racism or prejudice against homeless people, along with the amusing ones about wild parties and delinquent raccoons, but seeing so many of them as I worked on the book reinforced the importance of doing so.
What’s next for you? Artistically, I don’t know. Politically, however, I feel compelled to get more involved in our community. The Iowa Freedom Riders’ protests this summer made me more optimistic about the prospect of police reform, but that’s faded somewhat as I’ve been paying attention to the city council over the last several months. Now I’m becoming increasingly focused on the 2022 election for county attorney. Electing a more reform-minded candidate who would be willing to do things like stop prosecuting people for possessing small amounts of marijuana would be great. Over the next year, my goal is to help recruit and campaign for such a candidate. —Genevieve Trainor
32 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
BEST STICE SOCIAL JU ! ADVOCATE
BEST HISTORIC BUILDING:
Old Capitol Building
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA PENTACREST, IOWA CITY
RUNNER-UP:
Brucemore
A local and national treasure right in our own backyard! —Katie B.
Iowa Freedom Riders
May 30, 2020. Anjali Huynh / Little Village
“W
hat do we want?” “JUSTICE!” “When do we want it?” “NOW!” Hearing chants like these in downtown Iowa City became the norm this summer as demonstrations for racial justice became a daily or weekly presence. Leading these marches and rallies was a group founded by several former West High students, many of whom attended protests in Minneapolis following George Floyd’s murder on May 25. They sought to organize and call for change in the Iowa City community; in early June, the group began calling themselves the Iowa Freedom Riders (IFR) after the 1961 Civil Rights group the Freedom Riders. “We saw that our calling was to do something not only for Black Lives Matter but also to better the community, because we say Iowa City is this liberal bubble, but it’s not,” said Ala Mohamed, an IFR organizer and senior at the University of Iowa. “There are internal problems that we need to fix and work on to better Iowa City.” Issues central to IFR’s mission include abolishing the police, providing equitable housing and increasing visibility of people of color, Mohamed said. The group, predominantly led by college-aged students, has engaged with Iowa City Council and the Iowa City Community School District’s board to advocate for underserved demographics. They’ve also used social media to uplift local organizations like CommUnity and the Center for Worker Justice. What they’re most renowned for, however, is their work in the streets. Since June, IFR has held events ranging from marches on Interstate 80 to memorials to letter-writing sessions. These protests, Mohamed said, have led to changes, including the Iowa City Council creating a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to oversee restorative justice efforts. Though cold weather and COVID-19 surges have made organizing in-person protests more difficult, Mohamed noted that IFR’s work is far from done. She said the group will continue engaging others via social media and build coalitions with other Black Lives Matter-affiliated groups across the Midwest. Six months after Floyd’s death, IFR expects their work to continue as long as there remains a hunger for reform in Iowa. “I’ve seen the community really cares and wants to change, and that’s why they’re out there protesting,” Mohamed said. “In order to keep that momentum going, the community’s going to have to also see that change starts with them as well, not only just IFR, because we wouldn’t have made it to where we are without the community.” —Anjali Huynh LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 33
BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER:
RUNNER-UP:
1121 S GILBERT CT, IOWA CITY
BEST SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE:
CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank
Table to Table
319-351-2726
Iowa Freedom Riders
CRISIS LINE: 1-855-325-4296 BUILTBYCOMMUNITY.ORG
FACEBOOK: @IOWAFREEDOMRIDER
Each year, the staff of CommUnity step up to the needs of the people by offering assistance of all kinds. From answering crisis texts to continuing to provide crisis food distribution during the pandemic, they continue to answer the needs of our people. —Anne D.
INSTAGRAM: @IOWAFREEDOMRIDERS TWITTER: @IAFREEDOMRIDER
Iowa Freedom Riders have brought change and important conversations to the area! —Krista B. IFR went to the streets and got it done AND they had Jason Smith / Little Village
Mayor Bruce Teague
W
hen Bruce Teague was sworn in on Jan. 2, he expected much of his first year as mayor of Iowa City to focus on affordable housing and other typical mayorial issues. But 20 days later, the CDC received the first report of a case of COVID-19 in the United States. There was no chance of it being a normal year after that. Instead, 2020 turned into the kind of year when even a devastating natural disaster like the Aug. 10 derecho competes for headlines. “This has been a challenging year, but I am so grateful that 2020 happened,” Teague told Little Village. That sentiment may sound strange to anyone who doesn’t share Teague’s optimism—or his habit of looking for opportunities during bad times. “When it comes to the coronavirus, I think it really did band our community together and show us that we could come together to handle it,” he said. And it was up to the community and to local governments to take action on COVID-19, after the state and federal governments abdicated much of their responsibility for stopping the spread of the virus. Of course, the pandemic wasn’t the only major challenge the city faced in 2020. On May 25, Minneapolis police officers killed George Floyd, and public reaction to video footage of the killing forced communities nationwide to face the problems of systemic racism and police violence and inspired weeks of protests in the streets. “As an individual, as a Black man, what I saw in that video crushed me to my core,” Teague said. “But as mayor, I knew our whole community was hurting, and it was important for people to grieve together as a community.” The mayor was one of the main speakers at the first Black Lives Matter protest in Iowa City on May 30. But Teague said he was concerned that people who he knew weren’t at the protest didn’t have a chance to share their stories, so the city organized three community conversation events. “We took the meetings to where people live,” Teague said. “It was important to do that.” The protests continued in Iowa City, and there were tensions between 34 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
BEST ELECTED OFFICIAL!
the city’s elected leaders and the Iowa Freedom Riders (IFR), the newly formed group of community activists leading the protests— especially after law enforcement used tear gas during a June 3 protest. On June 16, the city council responded to the protests by passing a 17-point resolution creating a framework to address systemic racism and the need for police reform. Teague credits IFR with bringing the issues in the resolution to the forefront and pushing the city to take action. IFR leaders have criticized Teague for moving too slowly and said the city council’s actions haven’t gone far enough. “I understand that,” he said. “There’s a need for change, and it should have happened yesterday.” But he also stressed the actions taken so far are only the first steps. “We need to make some huge progress,” Teague continued. “This year has sidetracked some of that, because of the major events we’ve experienced. But I do believe we will recalibrate and move forward on making some bold changes within our community that are so desperately needed.” —Paul Brennan City of Iowa City
BEST PANDEMIC ON–– ADAPTATI ARTIST!
the stamina and political savvy to work on policy and long-term goals with elected officials. Who else did half as much? Who else even tried? —Nathan K.
BEST SHOPPING DISTRICT:
Downtown Iowa City RUNNER-UP:
Czech Village/New Bohemia District
IFR is changing our town. If you’re not being changed by their work, you aren’t paying attention. —Elizabeth P.
BEST VIEW:
Vue Rooftop ON TOP OF THE HILTON GARDEN
RUNNER-UP:
INN, 328 S CLINTON ST, IOWA CITY
Stacey Walker
Walker goes beyond politics to bring about positive change to our community. He’s shown the content of his character, and it’s been refreshing to witness. —Chad C. BEST ELECTED OFFICIAL:
Bruce Teague, Iowa City Mayor
He has his finger on the pulse of the community! —R.H.
RUNNER-UP:
Public Space One RUNNER-UP:
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD FOR FAMILIES:
TIE! Teamsters Local 238, SEIU Local 199 and UE Local 896 (COGS)
Longfellow Neighborhood Iowa City
Among all the positive things about this neighborhood, the Front Porch Music Fest is one of my favorite, and I am not even living there. —F.G.
BEST LOCAL NONPROFIT OR CHARITY:
Shelter House
429 SOUTHGATE AVE, IOWA CITY
It was an honor to have Mayor Teague sing “Amazing Grace” for the inside singers at Oakdale Community Choir. —Bridget T. RUNNER-UP:
TIE! Stacey Walker, Linn County Supervisor, and Abby Finkenaur, U.S. Representative IA-01
319-351-0326, SHELTERHOUSEIOWA.ORG
Shelter House is providing great financial support to people with housing needs due to COVID. —Matt D. RUNNER-UP:
TIE! United Action for Youth and CommUnity
TWITTER: @MOOGYSMASZIMO
These young people are fighting for a future that they’re going to be dealing with more so than any of their elders. And their example humbles me daily. —Jane M. New Pioneer Food Co-op HARDEST FIGHTIN’ UNION:
AFSCME Council 61
BEST NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE RISE:
Iowa City Northside
RUNNER-UP:
Czech Village
AFSCMECOUNCIL61.ORG
36 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Iowa City East Side
Mount Trashmore BEST PUBLIC RESTROOM:
Iowa City Public Library RUNNER-UP:
Von Maur
Von Maur’s bathrooms are an utter respite for a new mom! Places to sit and rest or feed your baby. Dedicated diaper changing room. Doors that go all the way to the floor so when your toddler decides that they need to take off ALL of their clothes to go potty, you have some privacy. —Kate M.
BEST TOURIST ATTRACTION:
Czech Village/New Bohemia District
BEST LOCAL TWITTER ACCOUNT:
Iowa City Police Log (@IC_ACTIVITYLOG)
Genevieve Trainor / Little Village
Iowa City Student Climate Strikers
RUNNER-UP:
CEDAR RAPIDS
BEST ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE:
RUNNER-UP:
Jason Smith / Little Village
Great place for families to stop at local restaurants (Aroma!) and shops on the weekend. Check out the Czech and Slovak Museum while you’re there! —Mitchell H.
RUNNER-UP:
Iowa Action (@IowaAction) BEST LOCAL FACEBOOK PAGE:
RUNNER-UP:
TIE! Devonian Fossil Gorge and Iowa Pedestrian Mall
Iowa City Police Log (@IOWACITYPOLICELOG)
RUNNER-UP:
IC Quarantine Survival BEST YARD/GARDEN:
Brucemore’s gardens 2160 LINDEN DR SE, CEDAR RAPIDS
RUNNER-UP:
University of Iowa Student Gardens
BEST LOCAL HERO:
Hospital staff RUNNER-UP:
Iowa Freedom Riders
THANK YOU A great city deserves serious theatre: Theatre that sparks discourse, builds community, delights, inspires, breaks down barriers, and explores the complexities of the human spirit. Thank you for continuing to believe in Riverside's mission during this time.
BEST LOCAL THEATRE COMPANY THE AGITATORS BEST THEATRICAL PRODUCTION OF 2020
Bart Carithers, Next Page Books
BEST NEUR! ENTREPRE
T
he Best Local Entrepreneur of the CRANDIC, Bart Carithers, celebrated five years of ownership at Next Page Books (which first opened as NewBo Books in 2012) this December. That also marked his five-year anniversary as a businessman. “I had no prior business experience before buying the shop,” he said in an email. “A number of friends from around the country thought I had lost my mind when I decided to take this on. I spent my prior life working in student affairs administration at colleges and universities around the country so this adventure presented a pretty steep learning curve. Frankly, I’m still not convinced I know what the hell I’m doing. But the shop keeps chugging along.” Next Page Books made national news in April with a feature in Forbes highlighting Carithers’ personal delivery to local patrons during the height of the pandemic’s first wave. His dedication to both service and books began in his childhood, when he helped his mother out at work. Britt Fowler / Little Village “My mom managed the book department at the old Sanford’s store in downtown Cedar Rapids back in the ’60s and early ’70s. She would ask me to come in and help during peak seasons or to assist with inventorying stock,” Carithers said. “The thought of owning a bookstore some day appealed to me but I never thought it would actually happen. So, in a way, this opportunity was a dream come true.” So where does Carithers turn when he’s ready to do some reading of his own? “One of my favorite books is A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara,” he said. “The book was released the year I bought the store and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Just an incredible story and so beautifully written.” Read on for a list of Carithers’ top 10 picks of perfect holiday book gift choices (which you should buy locally, of course!). ––Genevieve Trainor
BEST LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR:
Bart Carithers, Next Page Books RUNNER-UP:
Nate Kaeding
BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL:
Scattergood Friends School
1951 DELTA AVE, WEST BRANCH 319-519-1856, SCATTERGOOD.ORG
They have a beautiful property that means a lot to their community and the area. —Mitchell H. RUNNER-UP:
Willowwind School BEST PANDEMIC ADAPTATION—ARTIST:
Public Space One’s Yard Installation 229 N GILBERT ST, IOWA CITY PUBLICSPACEONE.COM
Public Space One is an art space that reflects and responds to the questions and issues impacting Iowa City at any point in time. That’s why I think it’s such an important institution for this region. —Biff S. The Dead are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne (biography)
Eleanor by David Michaelis (biography)
Leave Only Footprints by Conor Knighton (travel/nature/ memoir)
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson (history/social science)
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (fiction)
RUNNER-UP: Megan Gogerty
BEST PANDEMIC ADAPTATION—BUSINESS:
Iowa City Public Library The ICPL has handled COVID especially well—keeping the building closed but continuing to provide excellent service by mail! —Matt D. RUNNER-UP:
Iowa City Farmers Market The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones (fiction)
Dinner in French by Melissa Clark (cooking)
Woodcut by Bryan Nash Gill (art/nature)
38 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Plantopedia by Lauren Camilleri & Sophia Kaplan (gardening/house plants)
Camp: Stories & Itineraries for Sleeping Under the Stars by Luc Gesell (camping/outdoor skills)
Amazing that they’ve converted to online orders so smoothly—it’s not the same as the market but it works really well as a temp solution. —S.U.
B
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US
Best Restaurant to Cure Your Hangover in the CRANDIC
M
We are serving HOT and FRESH takeout via CHOMP and Curbside pickup
330 E. Market St., Iowa City | 319-351-1470
BEST OF THE CRANDIC
HEALTH & RECREATION
Photos courtesy of Andrew’s Bar Exam
Stacey Huffstutler
JS
BEST PLACE TO EXPERIENCE NATURE:
Lake Macbride State Park
3525 HWY 382 NE, SOLON
Kayaking around Lake Macbride is so peaceful! —Alicia B. Hiking all year long lets you really feel the change of seasons. —Lauren L. RUNNER-UP:
F.W. Kent Park BEST BIKE TRAIL:
Cedar Valley Nature Trail HIAWATHA
BEST TRIVIA NIGHT!
I
Andrew’s Bar Exam
n 2014, Andrew Juhl attended a bar trivia event at Old Capitol Brew Works. The organizer was planning to step down after the next event, so Juhl offered to take over, and Andrew’s Bar Exam was born. Over the next six years, it grew to weekly shows at 21 venues and monthly shows at another 13, with 14 active hosts and scorekeepers. That included Big Grove Brewery, winner of the 2020 Best Trivia Night category. Of course, that was all pre-pandemic. This year, Juhl has taken the game online. Andrew’s Bar Exam does public events and private parties, as well as charity events—19 as of November, bringing in over $130K for partner organizations (all told, in the six years since its inception, Andrew’s Bar Exam has raised over $500K in more than 100 charity events). Juhl answered a few questions for Little Village via email. Why bar trivia? What sucked you into this scene?
Iowa River Trail
I just kind of fell into it. At first it was just a little bit of fun, a few free drinks, and some extra cash in my pocket. When I realized I was pretty good at writing and running the shows, it turned into a side hustle.
BEST GYM:
What’s the most rewarding thing for you about running trivia? When people have a legitimate great
CEDARVALLEYNATURETRAIL.COM
RUNNER-UP:
University of Iowa Campus Recreation and Wellness Center 309 S MADISON ST, IOWA CITY
time, laughing hard and having fun. The charity aspect makes me feel like I’m doing something positive with the skills I have. And I’ve also made some of the best friends I’ve ever had doing these shows.
319-335-9293, RECSERV.UIOWA.EDU
How have you pivoted in COVID-times? We went RUNNER-UP:
Barre3 Iowa City
online on April 1 after three closed test shows with regular teams to work out kinks and get feedback on best practices. We’ve now done about 170 online
40 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
shows, including closed events (corporate parties, team-building, etc.). What’s your favorite kind of quiz to write? I like movie trivia and honestly probably have too much of it in my games. But it comes to me easily, and I don’t have to factcheck myself as often. I also like music trivia/Name That Tune. What subject stumps you? Sporps. Other than
Hawkeye football, I don’t watch it. I don’t retain names. I don’t understand the draw. I don’t understand why people care. It’s just not my thing. I respect that it’s a lot of people’s thing, but it befuddles me. As a consequence, when I write sporps questions, they’re almost entirely too easy or impossibly hard—nothing in between. —Genevieve Trainor
THANK YOU!
Voted best Poet/Spoken Word Artist in the CRANDIC
Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey poet | performer | producer (573) 823-2385 | thenegroartist@gmail.com Published books: “Look, Black Boy” & “Heart Notes”
BEST FITNESS INSTRUCTOR: Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
Jennifer Evans, No Limits Personal Fitness 1855 LOWER MUSCATINE RD, IOWA CITY, 319-512-9252 NOLIMITSIOWACITY.COM
Jen knows what she’s doing. She will push you and make your body do things you didn’t know were possible. You will also realize you have parts that you didn’t know you had until they are sore. —Sandy H.
ESS BEST FITN OR! INSTRUCT
Jen is an excellent trainer and teacher. I attended Jen’s studio when I lived in Iowa City and now that I have moved to another state and can access her training online I realized that my fitness journey was not complete without her training, knowledge and guidance! —Deb T.
Jennifer Evans, No Limits Personal Fitness Little Village asked the Best Fitness Instructor winner to share some advice for working out at home.
N
ow is the time to make exercising a priority for our mental and physical health. A new study in the Journal of Affective Disorders shows that strength training, like aerobic exercise, may be an effective way to alleviate symptoms of, or prevent, depression. Bodyweight workouts were included among the strength-training workouts shown to ward off depressive symptoms.
RUNNER-UP:
Erica Reimers, Barre3
Some tips to get you on your way: • Use multi-joint movements that utilize multiple muscle groups. These include popular movements such as squats, pushups, planks, lunges and bridges. • Move from one exercise to the next with minimal rest to maximize cardiovascular benefits. • Use stair steps to change the angle of push-ups, tricep dips, lunges or split squats. • Pay close attention to form to achieve maximum benefit and reduce likelihood of injury. Instead of just going through the motions, concentrate on the muscles you’re working.
Erica’s mindful guidance and sense of humor have me leaving class feeling refreshed! —Alissa A. She’s always so joyful with a quick laugh that’s infectious. Helps break up the tension of a tough workout when you can laugh through it! —J.P.
Find ways to challenge an especially strong area of your body by being creative! A few examples include: • Time Under Tension. Slow your repetitions down to 3-5 counts during the contraction (concentric) phase, and 3-5 counts during the lengthening (eccentric) phase. • Pulse. Add 1-10 tiny, low-end range pulses to overload the muscle. This is an especially effective way to work lower bodies. • Add a negative. Slow the eccentric phase of the exercise. For example, take 3-4 seconds to lower yourself towards the floor in a pushup. • Stack exercises. Challenge yourself by creating an overload, and select 2-3 exercises for the same muscle groups. For example, after completing 15-20 squats, do 10-15 side lunges for each leg, followed by 15-20 sumo squats.
BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST:
Jaime Nevins, Back Together Massage
1700 S 1ST AVE STE 11A, IOWA CITY 319-481-2524, EASTDALE PLAZA
RUNNER-UP:
Hannah Zahs Martin BEST LGBTQ HANGOUT:
Studio 13
13 S LINN ST, IOWA CITY 319-337-6464, STHIRTEEN.COM
Optimally, you’re strength training 2-3 times per week on nonconsecutive days. Take pride in completing each workout, and find your success in feeling good! 42 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
RUNNER-UP:
Deadwood JS
RUNNER-UP:
Domestic Violence Intervention Program BEST PHYSICAL THERAPIST:
Team Iowa Physical Therapy Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
2400 N DODGE ST, STE B,
BEST WOMEN’S HEALTH CLINIC!
IOWA CITY, 319-246-2006 TEAMIOWAPHYSICALTHERAPY.COM
RUNNER-UP:
Performance Therapies BEST CHIROPRACTOR:
Black and Gold Chiropractic and Wellness
401 S GILBERT ST, IOWA CITY
Emma Goldman Clinic
319-337-6000 BLACKANDGOLDCHIROPRACTIC.COM
BEST PLACE TO READ A BOOK:
BEST PICNIC SPOT:
Lake Macbride
BEST WOMEN’S HEALTH CLINIC:
15 S DUBUQUE ST, IOWA CITY
RUNNER-UP: Pentacrest Green
227 N DUBUQUE ST, IOWA CITY
Prairie Lights Books 319-337-2681, PRAIRIELIGHTS.COM
Emma Goldman Clinic
BEST CAMPGROUND:
F.W. Kent Park 2048 US-6, OXFORD 319-645-2315
RUNNER-UP:
University of Iowa Women’s Health
Miss those Friday night crowds. —Phil O.
Town Square Dermatology
501 12TH AVE #203, CORALVILLE TOWNSQUAREDERMATOLOGY.COM
BEST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER:
RUNNER-UP:
RUNNER-UP:
RUNNER-UP:
BEST EYE CLINIC:
MOST TRUSTED PHYSICIAN:
BEST CRISIS MANAGEMENT SERVICE/ORGANIZATION:
Sugar Bottom Campground
University of Iowa Health Care Psychiatric Associates
Java House
Downtown Iowa City/Ped Mall
BEST AESTHETICIAN/ DERMATOLOGIST:
319-337-4566
Kent Park has a wide variety of flora and fauna and excellent teachers … a lake, wi-fi and camper washout stations. —Bill W.
RUNNER-UP:
BEST PLACE TO PEOPLE-WATCH:
Coralville Chiropractic
800-848-7684 EMMAGOLDMAN.COM
Prairie Lights is not only the best place to read a book, but their coffee house is perfection. During these times of social distancing they did the coolest community-minded thing and worked with the Bike Library to deliver books! Nothing cooler than getting your book delivered by an awesome nonprofit dedicated to getting bikes into people’s hands. —Katie R.
RUNNER-UP:
Infinity Skin Care
Alberhasky Eye Clinic RUNNER-UP:
Dr. Katie Imborek
FAMILY MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA HOSPITALS AND CLINICS
Helps literally everyone and treats all with respect. —J.F. RUNNER-UP:
Dr. Margaret Smollen
RUNNER-UP:
Deadwood
44 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
CommUnity Crisis Services and Food Bank
1121 S GILBERT CT, IOWA CITY
Eye Associates BEST ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY/ RETIREMENT HOME:
CRISIS LINE: 1-855-325-4296
Oaknoll Retirement Residence
BUILTBYCOMMUNITY.ORG
1 OAKNOLL CT, IOWA CITY
319-351-2726
319-351-1720
They helped save my life. —Megz S.
RUNNER-UP:
Melrose Meadows Retirement Community
BEST CSA AND BEST FARM IN THE CRANDIC Sign up for the 2021 CSA and learn more about our farm community at echollectivefarm.com
Courtesy of Shauna Gray
BEST SUMMER CAMP!
Camp Wapsie
I
f you’ve ever felt that gentle pull of nostalgia while watching Wet Hot American Summer (or its brilliant serial reboot), the Babysitters’ Club “Hello, Camp Moosehead” finale, either version of The Parent Trap or, say, anything in the Friday the 13th franchise, you may have spent some time as a kid at a summer camp.
background, faith, gender identity, income, origin, race or sexual orientation.” Heather Bright attended Camp Wapsie from 1979 through 1987, returning as a counselor in the summers of 1989 and 1990, and serving as director of the camp store in 2003. She even met her husband there, as well as many of her closest friends, she said.
“FREE YOURSELF OF ANY NEGATIVE SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS AND LET YOURSELF HAVE FUN! GET OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND TRY ALL THE ACTIVITIES.” —SHAUNA GRAY For Eastern Iowans, the hub of that memory-generation is Camp Wapsie, a YMCA camp that celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018: more than 100 summers of filling campers with wisdom and self-reliance. The co-ed camp serves children ages 6-18, with an emphasis on cultivating the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. They also have a strong diversity and inclusion statement that promises to welcome campers “regardless of ability, cultural
“My most memorable experience at camp isn’t so much one particular memory. It is more a feeling that I have about camp,” Bright wrote in an email. “Camp, for me, is a feeling of acceptance, positivity, a place where people lift each other up and want what’s best for each other. It’s a wonderful utopian experience that has remained focused on a childlike wonder and simplicity.” Shauna Gray spent one year as a counselor at Camp Wapsie in addition to her “eight or
46 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
nine” years as a camper. “I absolutely loved the camp-wide game, Mission Impossible,” Gray wrote. “You teamed up with one or two of your friends from your cabin and ran around trying to find obstacle courses, hidden in the woods and at all the activity areas on camp grounds. ... The first team to complete all the checkpoints would run back and ring the camp bell, ending the game and declaring victory bragging rights for years to come.” Both Gray and Bright have wise advice for kiddos looking to sign up for camp for the first time (which hopefully they will be able to soon). “Try everything,” writes Bright. “Sleep when you get the chance, get as dirty as possible, eat lots of candy from the store and make new friends!!!!” “Lean into the experience,” says Gray. “Free yourself of any negative self-consciousness and let yourself have fun! Get outside your comfort zone and try all the activities.” Ultimately, Bright boils down the Camp Wapsie experience to this: “Camp is home.” —Genevieve Trainor
Thank you! VOTED
BEST CHIROPRACTOR
BL ACK & GOLD CHIROPRACTIC & WELLNESS (319) 337-6000 blackandgoldchiropractic.com
BEST PHARMACY:
Towncrest Pharmacy 2306 MUSCATINE AVE #100, IOWA CITY 319-337-3526, TOWNCREST.COM
RUNNER-UP:
Hartig Drug
Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
BEST YOGA STUDIO:
Muddy Feet Yoga 1705 S 1ST AVE, IOWA CITY 319-337-2331 MUDDYFEETYOGA.COM
RUNNER-UP:
Hot House Yoga
BEST PLACE TO ! PLAY POOL
BEST DOG PARK:
Thornberry Off-leash Dog Park
Hilltop Tavern
BEST DENTIST/ ORTHODONTIST:
Advanced Dentistry of Iowa
BEST TRIVIA NIGHT:
Big Grove Brewery (Andrew’s Bar Exam) BIGGROVEBREWERY.COM
1513 MALL DR, IOWA CITY
FACEBOOK.COM/
319-354-1409, ADOIC.COM
ANDREWSBAREXAM
RUNNER-UP:
RUNNER-UP:
BEST PLACE TO PLAY POOL:
BEST BIKE SHOP:
1100 N DODGE ST, IOWA CITY
816 S GILBERT ST, IOWA CITY
319-338-3063
319-338-7202
HILLTOPTAVERNNORTHSIDE.COM
GEOFFSBIKEANDSKI.COM
RUNNER-UP: TCB Pool Hall
The service after the sale is amazing. And their mobile service van is cool. —Peter K.
The Family Dental Center
Hilltop Tavern
2 Dogs Pub (Woody’s Trivia)
1867 FOSTER RD, IOWA CITY
RUNNER-UP:
ICGOV.ORG/DOGPARK
Fin and Feather Inc. RUNNER-UP:
Rita’s Ranch Dog Park
Thornberry Dog Park
BEST DOG PARK!
Geoff’s Bike and Ski
BEST KARAOKE NIGHT:
Shakespeare’s Pub and Grill
RUNNER-UP:
World of Bikes
319-337-7275 SHAKESPEARESPUBANDGRILL. COM
The owner always makes sure everyone is being taken care of. —S.H.
RUNNER-UP: Studio 13 BEST SPORTING GOODS STORE:
Scheels
CORAL RIDGE MALL, CORALVILLE SCHEELS.COM
48 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Emma McClatchey / Little Village
819 S 1ST AVE, IOWA CITY
Courtesy of Oaknoll Retirement Residence
Oaknoll Retirement Residence
Frankie Schneckloth / Little Village
“M BEST BOWLING ALLEY:
Colonial Lanes
2253 OLD HWY 218 S, IOWA CITY 319-338-1573 COLONIALLANESBOWLING.COM
RUNNER-UP:
Westdale Bowling Center BEST SUMMER CAMP:
YMCA Camp Wapsie 2174 WAPSIE Y RD, COGGON CRMETROYMCA.ORG/LOCATIONS/ CAMP-WAPSIE
RUNNER-UP:
Macbride Nature Recreation Area
BEST LIVING ASSISTED Y/ M CO MUNIT T RETIREMEN HOME!
y whole heart is at Oaknoll and in asdoing and what's next.” The holiday season is parsisted living,” said Jaclyn Craig, a regticularly challenging this year. istered nurse manager at the Iowa City “It's hard to ask somebody not to have retirement residence, Oaknoll. “We work really Thanksgiving with their 97-year-old father,” hard, and we are all like a family and a team here.” Bergen-Jackson said. “I can't guarantee that there The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the daily will be another Thanksgiving for some of our resilife of staff and residents at long-term care facilities, dents, and I feel that pressure every day.” forcing difficult decisions regarding visitors, activ“I'll never be able to thank the families for underities and other restrictions aimed at preventing the standing why we're being so careful.” spread of the virus. Bergen-Jackson and Craig both emphasized how Oaknoll began closing down and imposing dedicated and hardworking the staff has been and restrictions on March 8 when the first cases of how proud they both are of their colleagues. COVID-19 were confirmed in Iowa, which happened to be in Johnson County. “IT’S 24/7 FOR ALL OF US. WE’RE “The weight of this pandemic is enormous for ALL IN IT FOR THE RESIDENTS AND people who work in long-term care,” Oaknoll Administrator Kim Bergen-Jackson said. “Our staff TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY AND SAFE.” are getting tested three times a week voluntarily. —JACLYN CRAIG, RN We've had nobody quit their job. Nobody even complains about it because they know that they're “It's 24/7 for all of us,” Craig said. “We come here vital to come to work and they must remain free of and we go home, and we're all in it for the residents this virus.” and to keep them healthy and safe.” The facility has managed to keep COVID out of That Little Village readers selected Oaknoll as the building, but it’s still been “emotional” and “a the Best Assisted-Living Facility in the CRANDIC rollercoaster,” Craig said, adding that the staff is means a lot, Craig said, and is a “testament to everydoing everything they can to make it less isolating thing that we do here every day.” for the residents. “We want people to be happy when they're here Bergen-Jackson has been updating families twice and feel like they're at home, so that's what I feel a week—it’s “all about communication and letting like when I hear that we were picked to be the best,” everybody know what we're doing, how we're Bergen-Jackson said. —Izabela Zaluska
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h as be e n v ote d
BEST RETAIL STAFF (for the third year in a row)
&
BEST STORE IN WHICH TO SPLURGE ON YOURSELF
Thanks to the community and our amazing patrons for all thedlove and support! 117 E. College St, Iowa City | 319.337.4511 | revivaliowacity.com
JS
BEST OF THE CRANDIC
GOODS & SERVICES
BEST NEW BUSINESS OPENED IN THE LAST YEAR:
Thoma’s Meat Market 1331 MUSCATINE AVE, IOWA CITY 319-338-0780, THOMAMEAT.COM
Great to have a meat market back in this spot, hope they can live up to the Seatons’ legacy. —Dan D. Thoma’s quality and their prices are the best in town! I love their meats, but I constantly dream about their nacho cheese. —Krista B. RUNNER-UP:
Anvil Meat Market BEST RETAIL STAFF:
Found + Formed 65 16TH AVE SW, CEDAR RAPIDS 319-438-2727 FOUNDANDFORMEDSHOP.COM
These ladies are amazing and so resilient. They’ve been able to thrive with all of the bad in the world right now and really bring bright smiles and great styles to the area. —Zoe W. RUNNER-UP:
Crowded Closet I appreciate that they have a little section dedicated to goods made by women from different countries. —D.T. BEST VINTAGE OR CONSIGNMENT STORE:
Artifacts
331 E MARKET ST, IOWA CITY 319-358-9617 ARTIFACTS-IOWACITY.COM
The only place around where you can buy a vintage cowboy shirt, a tacky polyester necktie, a handful of smutty paperbacks and a mid-century modern sofa sectional. You could spend all day
Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
Artifacts
T
BEST VINTAGE OR ENT CONSIGNM STORE!
odd Thelan has owned Northside corner store Artifacts since 2003. This year he knocked a hole through a 150-year-old brick wall in the shop, tripling his space in the process. “It still freaks me out when I walk through that doorway,” he said. “It should not be there.” 2020 presented challenges to the small, artsy staff at Artifacts, causing them to close the vintage shop’s doors for weeks on end and cancel their 25th anniversary celebrations. But it’s also offered massive opportunities—most notably, the chance to expand into the neighboring storefront, which Thelan has dreamed of for years. “We’ve been setting aside money just waiting for an opportunity like this; we didn’t know if it was going to happen. It happened pretty quickly in July.” El Banditos announced it was moving in with Billy’s High Hat Diner, leaving 327 E Market St unoccupied. Thelan claimed the space and set about a three-month renovation process. The new, huge Artifacts—full of antique furniture, metal signs, wall art and even a giant painting of Richard Nixon’s head—opened in early November (a mask mandate and customer limit enforced). The reactions have been “immensely positive” and “heartwarming,” Thelan said. “I think it’s a sanity issue for a lot of people,” he said of customers’ attraction to vintage shopping during the pandemic. “The best compliment I got was the other day a woman came in, she said, ‘I feel like I’ve been on vacation. This is a brand-new place I’ve never been to and it’s right here at home.’” Artifacts’ tight-knit four-person staff—who have sold everything from mammoth teeth to rare, hand-painted African movie posters to an actual monkey paw—have also found the expansion fulfilling. “We have a lot of fun and we laugh most of the day,” said Margaret Roberts, an Artifacts employee for 10 years. “There’s just a chemistry that works as far as just us as people. Todd’s a very generous boss and real and easy to talk to. It’s never boring here—there’s always something or someone new coming in. It just feels like there’s a creative atmosphere and we all just get along.” —Emma McClatchey
52 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 53
Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
BEST BARBER!
The Men’s Room
Q&A with Chris Krause (not pictured), founder of the Men’s Room in Cedar Rapids How long have you been in the hair-cutting industry and when did you open the Men’s Room? I started cutting hair in 2006, so I’ve
been in the industry for quite a while. The first shop I opened was in 2008, which I lost in the flood. … I opened [another] shop, then sold that shop, and then opened the Men’s Room in 2014, which was was really my first successful shop—the staff being just a group of friends that I’ve gotten to know in the industry over the years, and we all kind of formed together to make the Men’s Room, which originally had seven barbers and now we’ve grown it to 13.
What is the atmosphere of the Men’s Room? I think the first thing that people
would notice and the thing that kind of makes it most special is just the diversity of clientele that we have. Not only ethnic diversity but also in age and in class. We have teenagers and toddlers and attorneys. We have healthcare professionals. … We have a mix of every person that you could possibly imagine.
They all kind of get along with one another … which is really, for me, the most gratifying part about the work that we’re doing, especially with the times we’re living in where everyone’s so divided. We’re really proud of what we’ve been able to do, as far as bringing people together in one room that might not otherwise cross paths out in the normal world.
staying busy, but it has been a challenge to try to keep everyone safe and keep everyone at a safe distance.
How has business been during the COVID-19 pandemic? There certainly have
What does it mean to you that the community picked you as the best barber?
been some operational restrictions and stuff that have been a challenge. We’re in compliance with the mask mandate, and we do our best to enforce some type of social distancing … and we’ve tried to switch to a more of an appointment-only model to reduce the occupancy a bit. We feel fortunate though because we have been probably doing 75 percent or 80 percent of revenues, so we’re able to stay afloat in terms of still being profitable and
54 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
It’s really a good feeling to know that people appreciate the work that we’re doing, and that we’re important to the community in that way and that they would think of us. It’s one thing to be respected just in Cedar Rapids, which is a challenge in itself, but also to be recognized in Iowa City, which is an area that we’re not even operating at, that’s a big thing for us—something that really makes us happy and makes us feel appreciated. —Izabela Zaluska
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 55
there and only make it through a third of the collection. —Ross M. I could spend days in a row looking at the book selection alone. This is truly a treasure trove. —Wendy V. RUNNER-UP:
Crowded Closet Great prices! Easy to find things on the floor. Spacious and well organized. Always fun to see the creative window display and mannequins dressed with classy gear that is donated to the store. —Martha Y.
You thought 2016 was bad!
Why yes, I do NEED that vintage copy of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Don’t ask dumb questions. —Scott K.
BEST ER! LANDSCAP
MOST UNIQUE SHOP:
BEST BANK OR CREDIT UNION:
RAYGUN
132 E WASHINGTON ST, IOWA CITY
Hills Bank and Trust
319-337-4511, RAYGUNSITE.COM
LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE
1028 3RD ST SE, CEDAR RAPIDS
IOWA CITY/CEDAR RAPIDS AREA
319-200-4083
1-800-445-5725, HILLSBANK.COM
RUNNER-UP:
RUNNER-UP:
White Rabbit
Green State Credit Union
Iowa City Landscaping
BEST STORE FOR GIFT SHOPPING:
White Rabbit
112 S LINN ST, IOWA CITY 319-358-9557 WHITE-RABBIT-SHOP.MYSHOPIFY.COM
White Rabbit is the best place to get a weird gift for your weird friends and I love it so much. ... I moved back to Iowa City after I realized White Rabbit was better than any of the stores in my old city. —Liz K. There is always room for more feminist stickers. —Salome P. RUNNER-UP:
Iowa Artisans Gallery BEST STORE TO SPLURGE ON YOURSELF AT:
Revival
117 E COLLEGE ST, IOWA CITY 319-337-4511 REVIVALIOWACITY.COM
RUNNER-UP:
Record Collector
Courtesy of Andy Swartzentruber
You can count on being greeted with a friendly “hello” and plenty of space to shop without feeling stalked. —Geni H.
Q&A with Andy Swartzentruber, Landscape Designer What is your absolute favorite native tree and why? Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa). This is a
prairie tree species with extremely thick and fire-resistant bark. Because of this, and because they are so drought-tolerant, they could compete with prairie grasses. They have a distinct “twisted” form as they mature and it’s not uncommon for this tree to reach heights of between 75 and 100 feet. They are a year-round beauty.
Which plant do you wish would disappear from landscaping in Iowa? Crimson Pygmy
Bur oak JS
Barberry (Berberis thunbergii). While the burgundy foliage is attractive and adds contrast, this plant is very thorny and therefore difficult for homeowners to maintain. This plant is also somewhat invasive which is another reason why I tend to avoid it.
56 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Which public Iowa City Landscaping project are you most proud of? As a company we are proud
of the landscaping we installed at Hancher Auditorium in 2016. This project looks better each and every year as it begins to mature.
Is there one winter landscaping tip you can give our readers to prepare their yards for spring? Take the winter
months to evaluate your gardens and landscaping. Consider any changes or additions that might be needed. I would advise anyone interested in hiring a designer to plan and install a project to contact them during the winter months. This will ensure timely installation once warmer weather returns. It’s never too early to begin planning for spring. ––Jordan Sellergren
Thank you for voting us
BEST TOBACCO & VAPE SHOP in the CRANDIC
106 S. Linn St., Iowa City 319. 321. 6401 thekonnexion.com
BEST E APPLIANC STORE!
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
What are the most commonly rejected appliances people try to donate?
IV: Trash compactors and vintage dishwashers. CV: Dishwashers—and anything gas. Since we don’t have a way to test them, we don’t want to sell them! Runner-up goes to non-working and dirty appliances—not much we can do with those. What would you most like to communicate to the public about this service?
What’s the most interesting appliance you’ve seen come through your doors?
IV: A gas chromatograph mass spectrometer. It was also the heaviest thing we’ve moved. CV: A coffin! Wait—that’s not an appliance, but we really did have one donated once. We’ve been lucky enough to receive a few “collectable” appliances— Vintage Philco refrigerators and ovens, Singer sewing machines and even a giant loom! You truly never know what you’re going to find at ReStore on any given day.
individual donor base in the area. CV: The majority of our stock is gently used items donated by the public, but when contractors and appliance stores end up with a surplus of stuff that’s costly to ship back, we’re always happy if they think of us. Window
Do you have relationships with contractors and local appliance stores, or are items generally donated by households and landlords?
IV: We do, to a degree. Amana/ Maytag has been consistently amazing with us here in ReStore, as well as with the Habitat for Humanity affiliate. Slager Appliance and Appliance Barn have also been great to us over the years. We are called by real estate agents, occasionally, but the majority of our appliance donations are from our generous 58 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Depot just donated 50 brandnew windows to ReStore at the end of November! Lowe’s and Phelans are known to send great stuff our way as well. We do also maintain a small selection of purchased products, from recycled paint to brand-new hand tools and floor rugs.
Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
Q&A with Iowa Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore Co-Directors Thorin Peugh and Aaron Kiesey and Communications Coordinator for Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity Galen Hawthorne
IV: We accept clean, working appliances with all their parts. We will even pick them up for free. There is a comprehensive list of what we do and do not accept on our website. You can schedule your pick-up there, too. CV: When you shop, donate and volunteer at any ReStore you’re directly empowering Habitat for Humanity’s mission of building safe, decent, affordable housing in your community. You’re also helping divert hundreds of tons of usable materials from the landfill annually! ––Jordan Sellergren
MOST TRUSTED MECHANIC:
Dodge Street Tire
605 N DODGE ST, IOWA CITY 319-337-3031, DST-IC.COM
RUNNER-UP:
Whitedog Import Auto Service MOST TRUSTED PLUMBER:
Bea Day
537B HWY 1 W, IOWA CITY 319-354-2814, BEADAY.COM
Great communication and attention to detail. —Brittany A. RUNNER-UP:
Hawkeye Sewer and Drain BEST HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANY:
Martin Construction
1824 G ST, IOWA CITY, 319-248-0561 ANDREWMARTINCONSTRUCTION.COM
RUNNER-UP:
McDonough Structures MOST TRUSTED ELECTRICIAN:
John Gay, Copperhead Electric
1203 FRIENDLY AVE, IOWA CITY, 319-541-1693
John is an artist! —Brenda P. RUNNER-UP: Shay Electric
Each fair trade piece is crafted by a skilled global maker mixing traditional ways with modern designs.
MOST TRUSTED REALTOR:
Phoebe Martin
506 E COLLEGE ST, IOWA CITY 319-541-8695, PHOEBEMARTINREALTOR.COM
Honest, smart, knowledgeable and real. All great words to describe Phoebe. —Eleanor S. Amazing! Wonderful service in helping us find our first home. —Sarah U.
So many ways to find and enjoy Ten Thousand Villages items! Free local delivery available: tenthousandvillagesiowacity.com National shipping: tenthousandvillages.com Schedule your private shopping experience before or after store hours See something you want? Give us a call and we’ll get it to you!
RUNNER-UP:
Ricardo Rangel Jr. Caring and compassionate and wants what you want! Very helpful in the search for a new home. —Edward P.
105 S. Dubuque St. , Iowa City On the Ped Mall (319) 519-2104 tenthousandvillagesiowacity.com
BEST PHOTOGRAPHER/ VIDEOGRAPHER:
StudioU Photography 1203 3RD ST SE, CEDAR RAPIDS 319-471-0101 STUDIOUPHOTOGRAPHY.COM Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
RUNNER-UP:
Pilsen Photo Co-op BEST WEDDING VENUE:
The Celebration Farm 4696 ROBIN WOODS LN NE, IOWA CITY 319-800-9212 THECELEBRATIONFARM.COM
BEST MUSICAL T INSTRUMEN STORE!
I’d get married there. Any takers? —Megz S.
West Music
Easily the best realtor in town, took me around the city and helped me find the house of my dreams! —Carol M.
RUNNER-UP:
Neon Dragon
BEST BODY PIERCER: MOST TRUSTED IN AUTO SALES:
Toyota of Iowa City 1445 IA-1, IOWA CITY
Release Body Modification
110 S LINN ST, IOWA CITY 319-594-1965 RELEASEBODYPIERCING.COM
RUNNER-UP:
HABA Salon
They are very accommodating to my schedule and have their sanitizing game on point. They’re a little pricier but when I leave there I feel like a princess and I know I got my money’s worth. —D.T.
RUNNER-UP:
Billion Auto
BEST TATTOO ARTIST:
Anne Marsh, Iowa City Tattoo 393 E COLLEGE ST, IOWA CITY 319-499-5892
Release is the place to go if you’re looking for high-quality jewelry and the highest-quality customer service. Steve is an artist as well as a professional. He walks you through the process step by step and ensures that you are taken care of. —Delany B.
BEST NAIL SALON:
Grace Nail and Spa
227 16TH AVE SE, CEDAR RAPIDS FACEBOOK.COM/MADMODERN
GRACENAILSPAIOWACITY.COM
RUNNER-UP:
Elite Nails
Eastside Pet Clinic
[They] employ great people that truly care. —J.F. RUNNER-UP: Dwell BEST ATTORNEY/LAW FIRM:
811 S 1ST AVE, IOWA CITY
Hayek, Moreland, Smith & Bergus, L.L.P.
319-354-4877, IOWACITYVET.COM
120 E WASHINGTON ST, IOWA CITY
Anne is the actual best. I’ve gone to her with abstract ideas and she makes them come to life in the most perfect way! Thanks, Anne! —Abigail R.
BEST HAIR SALON:
HONEYBEEHAIRPARLOR.COM
Cedar Rapids Animal Hospital
Talented, professional, great conversationalist and community-minded to boot. —Brooke D.H.
JoAnn creates a warm and inviting environment where everyone is welcome. I’ve never felt more at home in a salon. —Eleanor S.
They know their patients and the family. Personalized care and concern. Knowledgeable and trusted. —Dorea B.
319-337-9606, HMSBLAW.COM
755 S GILBERT ST, IOWA CITY
60 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Mad Modern 319-533-8162
BEST VET CLINIC:
319-338-5589
Beautiful location and amazing dining experience. —Richard K.
319-351-1518
Iowa City Tattoo
Honeybee Hair Parlor
Rapid Creek Cidery
1301 S GILBERT STE 3, IOWA CITY
RUNNER-UP:
IOWACITYTATTOO.COM
RUNNER-UP:
BEST HOME FURNISHING STORE:
319-351-1501 TOYOTAIOWACITY.COM
Lovely venue for large or small groups, indoors or outside! —Maria K.
RUNNER-UP:
RUNNER-UP:
TIE! Shuttleworth & Ingersoll and PLC/Leff Law Firm
Thank you for voting us BEST HOME FURNISHING STORE in the CRANDIC MID-CENTURY MODERN IN NEW BOHEMIA BY APPOINTMENT ONLY | (319) 533-8162
Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
BEST AUTO DETAILING/ CAR WASH!
Johnny Boy’s Car Wash BEST DAYCARE:
Kirkwood School for Children
RUNNER-UP:
Colony Heating and Air Conditioning
BEST SHOE STORE:
Iowa Running Company
1107 KIRKWOOD CT, IOWA CITY
1000 3RD ST SE #2, CEDAR RAPIDS
319-337-2644, KS4CC.COM
319-364-0641, IOWARUN.COM
1398 TWIXT TOWN RD, MARION 319-377-9100
RUNNER-UP:
Musician’s Pro Shop
BEST LANDSCAPER: RUNNER-UP:
Precious Moments Montessori
Iowa City Landscaping 520 HWY 1 W
RUNNER-UP:
Active Endeavors
BEST INSURANCE AGENCY:
BEST FINANCIAL PLANNER/ TAX SERVICE:
1110 N DODGE ST, IOWA CITY
319-337-8351 IOWACITYLANDSCAPING.COM
BEST ROOFING COMPANY:
Martinez Roofing 319-325-0649
MARTINEZROOFINGIA.COM
Very helpful and always friendly. Good selection of trees. —Martha Y.
He has done several roofs for us and does an excellent job. —Stephanie W.
RUNNER-UP:
RUNNER-UP:
BEST TOBACCO/VAPE SHOP:
Fiddlehead Gardens
Kenneth J. Haldeman, CPA, PC — KJH Accounting & Tax Services
Don Naughton, Farmers Insurance 319-354-6541
RUNNER-UP:
Chad Burtch-State Farm Insurance
519 HIGHLAND AVE, IOWA CITY 319-354-7539, HALDEMANCPA.COM
BEST JEWELRY STORE:
Andino Construction
The Konnexion
RUNNER-UP:
Taxes Plus
106 S LINN ST, IOWA CITY
101 S DUBUQUE ST, IOWA CITY
319-321-6401, THEKONNEXION.COM
BEST HVAC COMPANY:
Brandt Heating and Air Conditioning
RUNNER-UP:
The HaZy Hideaway
319-338-4212
BEST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STORE:
West Music
2325 HEINZ RD, IOWA CITY
1212 5TH ST, CORALVILLE
319-338-3637, BRANDTHEATING.COM
319-351-2000, WESTMUSIC.COM
62 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Herteen & Stocker Jewelers HERTEENANDSTOCKERJEWELERS.COM
RUNNER-UP:
Hands Jewelers
BEST PET BOARDING/ GROOMING:
Lucky Pawz
RUNNER-UP:
The Hotel at Kirkwood
130 STEVENS DR, IOWA CITY 319-351-3647, LUCKYPAWZ.COM 975 238TH ST NE, NORTH LIBERTY 319-626-7299
BEST APPLIANCE STORE:
Habitat for Humanity ReStore 2401 SCOTT BLVD SE, IOWA CITY
RUNNER-UP:
Hilltop Kennels
319-338-5687 350 6TH AVE SE, CEDAR RAPIDS 319-294-1500
BEST BOOKSTORE:
Prairie Lights Books
RUNNER-UP:
Appliance Barn
15 S DUBUQUE ST, IOWA CITY 319-337-2681, PRAIRIELIGHTS.COM
Their pandemic drop-off service has been a lifesaver. —Liz K.
BEST BRIDAL BOUTIQUE:
Brides by Jessa 920 E 2ND AVE STE 120, CORALVILLE
RUNNER-UP:
CREATING
319-400-4200
The Haunted Bookshop
BRIDESBYJESSA.COM
Love everything about that place—have a favorite chair, piano, ambience—and CATS! —Erika T.
RUNNER-UP:
White Willow Bridal Boutique BEST COMIC BOOK/ GAMING STORE:
BEST PEST CONTROL:
D&R Pest Control
Daydream Comics 21 S DUBUQUE ST, IOWA CITY
3591 PERCH DR SE A, IOWA CITY
319-354-6632
319-354-1606
DAYDREAMCOMICS.COM
DANDRPESTCONTROL.COM
RUNNER-UP:
Critter Control of Iowa City
Join Little Village with your business or nonprofit to access our reach of 700k+ in the Iowa City/ Cedar Rapids Area?
All the love for this place. Clean and well-lit. Welcoming to new fans. If every town had a place like this, the comic book industry would be booming. —Ross M.
BEST BARBER:
The Men’s Room Hair & Beard Parlor
RUNNER-UP:
Critical Hit Games
1052 MOUNT VERNON RD SE, CEDAR RAPIDS 319-200-7777, FACEBOOK.COM/
I love this place, they raised my child. —Jordan S.
MENSROOMHAIRANDBEARDPARLOR
RUNNER-UP: TIE! Honeybee
Hair Parlor and HABA Salon
Chance is a knowledgeable owner who will help you find exactly what you’re looking for. They also have awesome gaming events! —Mikala D.
BEST HOTEL:
319-855-1474
ads@littlevillagemag.com LittleVillageMag.com/Advertise
The Graduate Iowa City
BEST FLORIST:
210 S DUBUQUE ST, IOWA CITY
Willow and Stock
319-337-4058, GRADUATEHOTELS.
207 N LINN ST, IOWA CITY
COM/IOWA-CITY
319-338-1332 WILLOWANDSTOCK.COM
"MOST TRUSTED REALTOR IN THE CRANDIC"
Phoebe Martin, Realtor® &
Thank you so much to everyone
Allison Hall, Realtor®
in our community for awarding
Assistant to Phoebe Martin
us with this honor for yet
Blank & McCune, the Real Estate Co. 506 E. College Street Iowa City, IA 52240 319.541.8695 phoebe@phoebemartinrealtor.com phoebemartinrealtor.com
another year. It has been an amazing first year with Blank & McCune, and we sincerely look forward to serving you all in 2021. Cheers to the New Year!
RUNNER-UP:
BEST STORE FOR KIDS BOOKS:
BEST FLOORING/ CARPET STORE:
The Haunted Bookshop
401 2ND ST, CORALVILLE
BEST HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE:
Every Bloomin’ Thing
Prairie Lights Books RUNNER-UP:
Randy’s Flooring Asian-inspired & traditional pizzas
319-354-4344 RANDYSFLOORING.COM
Oranges and Elbows ORANGESANDELBOWS.COM
UNIQUE APPETIZERS & SANDWICHES
RUNNER-UP:
Sobaski Abbey Carpet & Floor
IOWA BEERS ON DRAFT CEDAR RAPIDS’ ONLY TIKI BAR
319 . 32 0 .9 9 9 2 fon gspi zza. c om FONGSCR
FONGSpizzaCedarRapids
Brooke’s Cleaning Service
BEST GARDEN STORE:
Iowa City Landscaping and Garden Center
BEST ANTIQUE STORE:
Artifacts
520 HWY 1 W, IOWA CITY 319-337-8351 IOWACITYLANDSCAPING.COM
1006 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids
RUNNER-UP:
RUNNER-UP:
The Crowded Closet
RUNNER-UP:
Earl May Garden Center BEST RECORD STORE:
Record Collector 116 S LINN ST, IOWA CITY
BEST AUTO DETAILING/ CAR WASH:
Johnny Boy’s Car Wash 1317 1ST AVE SE, CEDAR RAPIDS 319-365-3853 JOHNNYBOYSCARWASHIA.COM
319-337-5029 RECORDCOLLECTOR.CO
Is there a place in Iowa City any more fun than Record Collector? —Stephanie W. RUNNER-UP: Analog Vault
RUNNER-UP:
Westport Touchless Auto Wash BEST MOVERS:
Adamantine Spine Moving 319-519-4564, SPINEMOVING.COM
Jeremy can turn you to some music you’ve never heard of, repair your turntable, and above all is a genuine dude that pours his love for music into his shop. —Chad C.
Outstanding staff who flawlessly pack and move households without breaking a thing! —R.B. RUNNER-UP:
Two Men and a Truck
BEST TOY STORE:
The Haunted Bookshop
BEST LOCALLY MADE PRODUCT:
219 N GILBERT ST, IOWA CITY
Bug Soother
319-337-2996
BASED IN COLUMBUS JUNCTION
THEHAUNTEDBOOKSHOP.COM
SIMPLYSOOTHING.NET
RUNNER-UP:
When it’s gnatty outside, it’s the only option. —Jacob D.H.
The Hobby Corner
RUNNER-UP:
RAYGUN T-shirts
I’m Mike and I’m really proud to be connecting
Iowa City customers to our advanced fiber
optic internet
IʼM A FIBER OPTIC
INSTALLER. IʼM A HAWKEYE FAN. IʼM ON FOR IOWA CITY.
network. See more of my story at ImOn.net/IC.
Call 319-519-6484
or visit ImOn.net/IC
DEDICATED TO YOUR dream HOME
CREATIVITY CRAFTSMANSHIP CUSTOMER SERVICE
andrewmartinconstruction.com | 319.248.0561 | 1824 G Street
BEST OF THE CRANDIC
FOOD & DRINK
BEST RESTAURANT:
Rodina
1507 C ST SW, CEDAR RAPIDS 319-200-2515, RODINAIOWA.COM
Rodina’s food is such a great evolution of food in Iowa —the combination of classic dishes from Czech and German culture, produce from local farms, and other staples from local makers makes this place so special and unique to our part of the world and we should cherish it like the treasure it is. —Liz K. RUNNER-UP:
Trumpet Blossom Cafe
! BEST CHEF MOST VE INNOVATI MENU!
Katy Meyer
“I
look forward to autumn every year, one of the many reasons being it’s pumpkin season and pumpkins are a favorite food of mine,” the Best Chef of the CRANDIC, Trumpet Blossom’s Katy Meyer, said in an email. “Not only are pumpkins beautiful, interesting and technically considered a fruit, they provide a delicious base for both sweet and savory dishes.” “Since I have a late October birthday I would always ask for a pumpkin pie instead of a birthday cake as a kid and this tradition has carried into my adulthood,” Meyer said. “I end up making my own birthday treats these days and each year I make a slightly different incarnation of pumpkin pie, but recently I switched it up a little and made this dessert, which I call a pumpkin cheesecake tart.” Meyer agreed to share that recipe with Little Village readers. “The filling uses local pumpkin that we roast but you can definitely substitute butternut squash (the difference is virtually undetectable),” she said. “The cheesecake portion of the recipe is based on a pretty simple savory cashew cheese that we make and the end result is a perfect balance of savory, tangy, spiced and sweet.” “It satisfies all my pumpkin cravings and is possibly my favorite dessert I’ve created,” Meyer said.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart Katy Meyer
Bake on a parchment-lined pan
Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20
in a preheated 350-degree oven
minutes, careful not to burn; it
for 10-12 minutes, until it starts to
should just start to darken around
18 1/2 S CLINTON ST, IOWA CITY
GRAHAM CRACKERS
darken just a bit around the edges
the edges
319-351-1690
Cream together using a mixer:
and is not soft to the touch
Let cool completely
BEST COCKTAIL MENU:
Clinton Street Social Club
CLINTONSTREETSOCIALCLUB.COM
Speakeasy realness. — Karlē M. RUNNER-UP:
Rodina
• ½ cup brown sugar (brown sugar is made by incorporating a few
CRUMBS
FILLING
drops of molasses into sugar)
Let graham cracker cool, then
In a food processor add:
break into pieces and pulse in a
• 3 tbsp water
food processor until it’s uniform in
night or cover with water, bring to
• 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
size. It should be very fine and dry.
a boil, turn off heat and let soak for
Freeze any unused portion for up Sift together:
BEST CHEF:
Katy Meyer, Trumpet Blossom Cafe
• 2 cups raw cashews (soak over-
• ½ vegan butter
to six months.
to puree beforehand since every-
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, or graham flour, or gluten-free flour • ½ tsp baking powder
half an hour; rinse before using) • 1 cup roasted pumpkin (no need
TART CRUST In a food processor add:
thing will be blended) • 1 ¼ tsp cinnamon
310 E PRENTISS ST, IOWA CITY
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
319-248-0077,
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup toasted walnuts (toast on
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
TRUMPETBLOSSOM.COM
Add dry to wet and fold together
Katy makes magic out of plants. There is a reason she sells aiolis by the deli container... —Kate M.
a dry pan in 350-degree oven for
• ¼ tsp cloves
15-20 minutes, careful not to burn)
• 3 tbsp vanilla soy creamer (or
by hand until combined, but do
• 3 tbsp pure maple syrup
not overmix
• 10-15 pitted dates (medjool are most popular but we always use deglet)
plus ½ tsp. vanilla) • 1 tsp powdered ginger • ¾ tsp ground cardamom
Form dough into a disc, wrap in
Chef Katy cares about our local growers and community, our environment, and the animals with whom we share our time on Earth. And everything she makes is pretty damn delicious, too. —Sara J.P.
plant-based milk of your choice
Pulse until everything is chopped
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
finely and incorporated and a
• 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
Remove from fridge, let it sit for
uniform texture is achieved—you
• 1 tbsp sugar
about 10 min.
should able to take some dough
plastic, refrigerate for one hour
couple pinches salt
and squeeze it together and it Flour surface and roll dough out
should hold its shape
Blend until a smooth consistency is reached.
to about 1/4” thickness Press dough into the bottom of
RUNNER-UP:
Sam Charles, Rodina
Use a fork to dock the dough in-
a greased round tart pan, making
Top the tart crust with filling and
termittently
sure to evenly distribute and get
chill overnight, or minimum one
right up to the edges
hour.
68 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Jenni Cannella
JS
SPONSORED BY CHOMP DELIVERY
Katy Meyer, Trumpet Blossom Cafe, Jason Smith / Little Village
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 69
SPONSORED BY CHOMP DELIVERY
BEST BARTENDER:
David Basinger, Rodina One thing that’s constantly apparent about David is his love for bartending. Not only does he always have a smile on his face, he brings immense skill and positivity with him. —Dylan C. RUNNER-UP:
Carlos Amaya, Deadwood
He’s everything you want in a great tender. I love his attitude and his service. He’s a really amazing person, just pop in and see for yourself. —Cassie L.
Maestro Empanadas
BEST RESTAURANT STAFF:
Q&A with Maestro Empanadas owner Cristian Bejarano
17 S DUBUQUE ST, IOWA CITY
When did you open Maestro Empanadas? Had you always hoped to own a restaurant? We opened our store in December
Pullman Bar and Diner 319-338-1808, PULLMANDINER.COM
MOST BLE COMMENDA COVID-19 ON PRECAUTI GAME!
Pullman’s staff is the best! Always greeted with kindness and a smile, the waitstaff is attentive and knowledgeable, and if you sit at the bar, watching the cook staff is entertainment in itself. —Sara F.
2015, however we started selling empanadas at the Farmers Market in 2012 as seasonal vendors. To be honest, before moving to Iowa City in 2008, I did not imagine having a restaurant. We started making empanadas at home because we missed the food from our country and there was not any place to buy something similar. Since our friends liked the empanadas so much, we got the idea to start selling them in the Farmers Market. It was also an opportunity to share a piece of our culture. To open the store was quite an adventure! We have clients that come every week to the store and love to learn about Argentina.
RUNNER-UP:
How did the pandemic affect your business? How did you adapt? I think the main thing that affected
BEST FOOD-SCENE GAME-CHANGER:
us was to lose all the catering and event sales and of course we were not able to participate in the Farmers Market. We had the advantage of being a takeout restaurant, so our business model works well during this time. … We’ve required customers to wear a mask since March. We also expanded our sales of frozen empanadas to the New Pioneer Co-op and to Hy-Vee Eastside so they were more accessible and a good option for people to bake at home.
RUNNER-UP:
You were one of the first sources for cloth masks in the area. Why did you decide to sell masks? How did customers respond? Having masks for sale at the store was an initiative from my wife [Marta
Rodina
Rodina
Trumpet Blossom BEST GROCERY STORE:
New Pioneer Food Co-op
22 S VAN BUREN ST, IOWA CITY
Hamity]. She works at the University and knew early on how important it was to wear a mask to reduce the possibility of getting sick. As she was aware of the shortage of surgical masks and how difficult it was to get fabric masks online, she started sewing masks for friends and coworkers and then decided to have some masks available for our customers and for donations to several places. Part of the motivation was to have masks available for customers that were coming to the store without a mask and to help to educate people on the need of wearing one. The response from our customers was great and we ended making at least 1,000 masks between donations and the ones we sold at the store.
1101 2ND ST, CORALVILLE 3338 CENTER POINT RD NE, CEDAR RAPIDS NEWPI.COOP
What are your plans or hopes for the future? It is very hard to plan right now but we hope to keep growing our business and start selling our frozen empanadas in other stores. We also hope that as a community we find a way to keep fighting this pandemic and overcome the differences that are dividing us right now. We are stronger together! ––Emma McClatchey
70 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
Puts the “tender” in bartender. —Michael T.
Thank you! BEST PLACE FOR A KID'S BIRTHDAY PARTY IN THE CRANDIC 2020
Imagine
Create
Discover
Explore
THEICM.ORG • 319-625-6255 • LOCATED IN CORAL RIDGE MALL
Thai BBQ Beef and Pad Bai Ka-Prao with Shrimp. Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
SPONSORED BY CHOMP DELIVERY
RUNNER-UP:
John’s Grocery BEST PRODUCE:
New Pioneer Food Co-op RUNNER-UP:
Iowa City Farmers Market BEST FARMERS MARKET VENDOR:
Hoffman Farms 625 W MOUNT VERNON RD, MOUNT VERNON, 319-241-2100
RUNNER-UP:
Pavelka’s Point
/ BEST EAST T SOUTHEAS E ISIN ASIAN CU T! OR MARKE
BEST LOCAL FARM:
Echollective Farm 879 ECHO AVE, MECHANICSVILLE
Thai Spice
social distancing. —Em B.
319-325-3910 ECHOLLECTIVEFARM.COM
Echollective puts their money where their mouth is. They offer sliding scale CSA shares for folks with limited resources and donate so much beautiful produce to local nonprofits. —John B.
RUNNER-UP:
Lion Bridge Brewing Company
RUNNER-UP:
BEST CSA:
Echollective Farm RUNNER-UP:
Kroul Farms
BEST CRAFT BREWERY:
Big Grove Brewery 1225 S GILBERT ST, IOWA CITY 319-354-2687 BIGGROVEBREWERY.COM
BEST COFFEEHOUSE:
Dash Coffee Roasters
Their Saturday morning drivethrough featuring new pours got me through the first months of
206 N LINN ST, IOWA CITY
RUNNER-UP:
La Regia
287 N LINN ST, IOWA CITY 120 3RD AVE SW, STE 2, CEDAR RAPIDS
Dash not only roasts the best coffee in the Corridor, but creates some of the most unique coffee drinks I’ve ever had and provides one of the best environments for either lunch or a quick chat. The baristas go out of their way to treat visitors by name and make everyone feel welcome—a testament to the environment created by the owners. Dash has been a great addition not only to the CR and IC coffee scenes, but to our communities in general. —Matt C.
101 W MAIN ST, SOLON 319-624-2337
Oasis Falafel
BEST RESTAURANT FOR A FIRST DATE:
Clinton Street Social Club
319-358-7342, OASISFALAFEL.COM
DASHCOFFEEROASTERS.COM
Kroul Farms
BEST RESTAURANT FOR DELIVERY/TAKEOUT:
RUNNER-UP:
Prairie Lights Cafe
72 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
BEST PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH:
Goosetown Cafe 203 N LINN ST, IOWA CITY
Not over-the-top fancy, but as a 30-something, just enough classy to say, “We’re adults who like good food, good cocktails and want to be able to have a conversation without having to raise our voice over all of the other people and music in the restaurant.” —Jamie H.
319-351-1924, GOOSETOWNCAFE. COM
The aesthetic, music, lighting... It’s all a vibe. —Andrea P.
RUNNER-UP:
Pullman Diner
RUNNER-UP:
BEST RESTAURANT TO TAKE YOUR PARENTS TO:
BEST PIZZA:
121 IOWA AVE, IOWA CITY
302 E BLOOMINGTON ST,
319-337-2010, BASTAIOWACITY.COM
IOWA CITY
Basta
Basta
A&A Pagliai’s Pizza 319-351-5073, PAGLIAISIC.COM
RUNNER-UP:
Rapid Creek Cidery
Pizza worth moving back home for. —Liz K. RUNNER-UP:
Wig and Pen
you CRANDI k n a Th e & miss you—sta C! lov We
y saf e!
“ BEST LIBRARY IN THE CRANDIC! ” BEST PANDEMIC ADAPTATION—BUSINESS BEST PUBLIC RESTROOM
Short’s Burger and Shine 18 S CLINTON ST, IOWA CITY 521 WESTBURY DR, IOWA CITY 780 11TH ST, MARION
Every time I’m in Deluxe I want to stuff every single pastry in my mouth. When I’m not there, I wish I were so I could stuff every single pastry in my mouth. —Jav D.
SHORTSBURGER.COM
Simple presentation but when I leave I feel satisfied for the next three days. —D.T. RUNNER-UP:
Molly’s Cupcakes
Oasis Falafel RUNNER-UP:
Big Grove Brewery BEST BAKERY:
Deluxe Cakes and Pastries 812 S SUMMIT ST, IOWA CITY 319-338-5000, DELUXEIOWA.COM
650 W CHERRY ST #9, NORTH LIBERTY 319-626-2603, BLUEBIRDNL.COM 319-351-1470 THEBLUEBIRDDINER.COM
BEST SOUL FOOD: RUNNER-UP:
Heyn’s Ice Cream
The Dandy Lion
VIVIANSSOULFOODCR.COM
BEST LATE-NIGHT FOOD:
HEYNSICECREAM.COM
George’s Buffet
811 S 1ST AVE, IOWA CITY
312 E MARKET ST, IOWA CITY
319-354-1981
319-351-9614
No doubt about it. Best scoop in the Iowa City area. Any day of the year. I think I went there on a very cold day this year... when you want Coffee Oreo Ice Cream, you want it. —Jamie H.
After a few drinks, completely sober, or somewhere in between, the burgers are always craveable. —Charles B.
RUNNER-UP:
Yotopia
My guilty pleasure is the Russian tea cakes. When I have a bad day I pick up a dozen and POOF no more bad day. —Alea W.
Vivian’s Soul Food
2925 WILLIAMS PKWY SW, CEDAR RAPIDS, 319-396-2229,
25 E CHERRY ST, NORTH LIBERTY 319-665-2249
BEST FRIES:
Bluebird Cafe and Diner
330 E MARKET ST, IOWA CITY
RUNNER-UP:
BEST COLD TREATS:
Stella
BEST BREAKFAST/BRUNCH:
The catfish at Vivian’s is indescribable. Truly a life-changing experience. —Jennie J. RUNNER-UP:
Sugapeach
BEST BARBECUE: RUNNER-UP:
Estela’s Fresh Mex
Jimmy Jack’s Rib Shack 1940 LOWER MUSCATINE
This place came in and blew my previous favorite burrito place out of the water. Open late and delicious. —Jesslyn C.
RD, IOWA CITY, 319-354-7427 JIMMYJACKSRIBSHACK.COM 745 COMMUNITY DR UNIT F, NORTH LIBERTY, 319-665-2486
Her Soup Kitchen
B
arb Farnsworth, 60, owns and operates Her Soup Kitchen alongside her two kids and husband, Dick Farnsworth. Prior to opening the South Dubuque Street restaurant, Barb worked in the printing business and Dick owned and operated a mechanic shop for 30 years. “We decided 11 years ago to open our restaurant because we’re all foodies” Barb said. “When we went on vacation we always took our kids to five-star restaurants, whether that was in Chicago or New Orleans or other cities.” But their little lunch restaurant, complete with a kitchen visible from the dining area, is all about home cooking. Unlike most comfort food restaurants, Her Soup Kitchen serves a range of healthy, non-fried and gluten-free options within their menu of sandwiches, salads and, of course, soups. “When we decided to open the restaurant we said ‘hey, let’s take our knowledge of cooking and recipes and turn it into something great,’” Barb said. Dick smokes all the meat they use for soups and sandwiches, while Barb makes their broths and sauces from scratch, in-house and gluten-free. Their gluten-free bread is purchased from Rich’s Bakery, originally based in New York. “I believe we are definitely more well-known because of our gluten-free menu,” Barb said. Prior to opening a restaurant, Barb had no professional culinary experience: “I have just always been a wonderful cook.” She does admit it is sometimes hard working with family. When her daughter had a baby, Barb and Dick were left to run the restaurant by themselves. Before COVID-19 hit, Barb said Her Soup Kitchen—which is open for just four hours a day, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., four days a week—was making $1,500 a day. Now she says they’re taking in about $300 a day. “COVID hit us hard,” she explains. The majority of their patrons are older, and at higher risk for serious illness due to the virus. Their dining room and patio have remained closed, but the restaurant offers curbside pick-up and catering. —Carrie Liebergen
74 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
BEST REEGLUTEN-F FRIENDLY OPTIONS!
Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
BEST BURGER:
Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
SPONSORED BY CHOMP DELIVERY
THANK YOU
for voting us BEST MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STORE in the CRANDIC CORALVILLE • CEDAR RAPIDS • QUAD CITIES • CEDAR FALLS • DECORAH • DUBUQUE westmusic.com • 1212 5th Street, Coralville, IA 52241 • Curbside Available
SPONSORED BY CHOMP DELIVERY
RUNNER-UP:
Mosley’s Barbecue and Provisions
BEST EUROPEAN CUISINE OR MARKET:
Baroncini Ristorante Italiano 104 S LINN ST, IOWA CITY
BEST LATIN/SOUTH AMERICAN CUISINE OR MARKET:
La Regia Taqueria 436 HWY 1 W, IOWA CITY
BEST AFRICAN CUISINE OR MARKET:
Modina African Market 399 IA-1, IOWA CITY
Masala Indian Cuisine
319-855-5211
9 S DUBUQUE ST, IOWA CITY
319-337-2048 BARONCINIRESTAURANT.COM
319-338-6199,
RUNNER-UP:
RUNNER-UP:
Iowa City African and Oriental Market
BEST MIDDLE EASTERN/ MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE OR MARKET:
BEST EAST/SOUTHEAST ASIAN CUISINE OR MARKET (CHINA, JAPAN, THAILAND, VIETNAM, ETC.):
Crepes de Luxe
319-341-8226, LAREGIAIA.COM
Totally impeccable for learning about and totally enjoying solid Mexican food. Talk about explosion from food truck to commercial empire—wow, La Regia killed it. Led the charge into the Corridor’s new golden age of taco places. Take your family plus a bunch of friends here on a Saturday afternoon and just order all the stuff from the menu that you have never eaten before—it will be awesome. —W.S.
Oasis Falafel
BEST SOUTH ASIAN CUISINE OR MARKET (INDIA, PAKISTAN, ETC.):
Thai Spice
MASALAIOWACITY.COM
Masala is a genuine treasure and every visit is a delicious delight. —Jane M. RUNNER-UP: Exotic India
BEST SEAFOOD:
725 MORMON TREK BLVD,
How the heck is the hummus that damn good? I can’t live without it! —Phoebe C.
St. Burch Tavern
IOWA CITY, 319-339-1999
127 IOWA AVE, IOWA CITY
1210 S GILBERT ST # 200,
319-341-7700,
IOWA CITY, 319-351-2581
SAINTBURCHTAVERN.COM
Their hummus is addictive and makes all other hummus jealous. —Sara R.
RUNNER-UP:
RUNNER-UP:
JiangHu Asian Street Food
Soseki Cafe
RUNNER-UP:
Maestro Empanadas
Tabooleh
John’s Grocery
J
ohn’s Grocery isn’t just Iowa City’s oldest grocery store, but, according to the 2020 Best of the CRANDIC survey, locals’ favorite place to shop for beer, wine and liquor. With dozens (if not hundreds) of options to choose from in each section, John’s manager Doug Alberhasky took the time to make a few recommendations. BEER Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Our bestselling
beer for curbside pickup during the pandemic, this Bavarian Wheat Bier is light and crisp with a refreshing citrus zestiness. $7.99/4pack of 16 oz cans. ReUnion’s Pounder Hazy Pale Ale One of the first beers made in their new Iowa City brewhouse from our friends at ReUnion Brewing Company, Pounder is a refreshing New England-style citrusy pale ale that you can’t get enough of. Great for sippin’, of course… $10.99/4-pack of 16 oz cans. WINE Caparzo Sangiovese 2019 Intense ruby
color, fruity with a spicy aroma. The palate is full, fruity, persistent and soft with ripe blackberries, wild strawberries and vanilla on the finish. $9.99/750 mL.
BEST BEER N! SELECTIO E BEST WIN N! SELECTIO OR BEST LIQU STORE!
Delas Cotes du Rhone St. Esprit Rouge 2018 The St. Esprit’s deep color
has a dark, plum-like hue. The nose is classic Syrah, with berry fruit, violet and licorice. It has a full, rounded palate with delicate tannins, making it very unique. $13.99/750 mL. LIQUOR Legent Bourbon Where Kentucky
tradition meets Japanese detail. This Kentucky straight bourbon is partially finished in sherry and wine casks. $39.99/750 mL. The Botanist Gin Hand-forged in Islay, Scotland and a one-of-a-kind gin, this has been the top pick for our at home mixologists throughout the pandemic. $42.99/750 mL.
76 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
RUNNER-UP:
We’re especially honored to be voted BEST MOVERS in the CRANDIC this year, when we’ve all worked so hard to keep each other safe and well. Onward! www.spinemoving.com/moving-quotes | 319-235-MOVE
SPONSORED BY CHOMP DELIVERY
BEST PATIO/ OUTDOOR DINING:
RUNNER-UP:
Big Grove has the biggest and most beautiful patio in the Corridor. The landscaping and design are wonderful, too. —Mikala D.
BEST GLUTEN-FREEFRIENDLY OPTIONS:
IOWA CITY
625 S DUBUQUE ST, IOWA CITY
Big Grove Brewery
Rodina
Her Soup Kitchen 319-354-1602,
BEST SUSHI:
BEST TACOS:
1853 LOWER MUSCATINE RD, 319-337-8801, OYAMASUSHI.COM
To say there are better tacos than La Regia is to lie to yourself and to God. —Nick B.
RUNNER-UP:
RUNNER-UP:
A quarantine discovery based on a ton of recommendations from the IC Quarantine Facebook group. Their sushi is my silver lining! —Jacki M.
I dream about the Perez Family Tacos. —Stephanie W.
BEST PUB FOOD:
Everyone should remember Trumpet Blossom for a great place to go with your vegetarian and vegan family and friends or just when you want to try some great food in a fun restaurant. —Justin F.
Oyama Sushi and Steakhouse
La Regia Taqueria
Soseki Cafe
El Banditos
HERSOUPKITCHEN.COM
So many dogs to ogle. —Brooke D.H.
RUNNER-UP:
Trumpet Blossom Cafe
RUNNER-UP:
Vue Rooftop
Can’t beat eating with a view for miles around! —Karen P.
BEST USE OF LOCAL INGREDIENTS:
Rodina
RUNNER-UP: MOST COMMENDABLE COVID-19 PRECAUTION GAME:
Maestro Empanadas
Big Grove Brewery
RUNNER-UP:
Mickey’s Irish Pub
BEST CHICKEN WINGS:
423 10TH AVE, CORALVILLE
Vine Tavern
319-621-7481
330 E PRENTISS ST, IOWA CITY
MAESTROEMPANADAS.COM
319-354-8767 IOWA-CITY.VINETAVERN.COM
Christian’s empanadas are otherworldly. His chimichurri sauce is the nectar of the gods. He’s incredibly generous and donates food to the community as well. —John B.
Shakespeare’s
39 2ND AVE, CORALVILLE
George’s Buffet
RUNNER-UP:
Rodina
RUNNER-UP:
Deadwood
BEST APPETIZERS/ SMALL PLATES:
CORALVILLE.VINETAVERN.COM
Clinton Street Social Club
BEST DOUGHNUTS:
2 Dogs Pub
Daylight Donuts 1681 S 1ST AVE, IOWA CITY
RUNNER-UP:
319-338-1429
Brix Cheese and Wine Shop
DAYLIGHTDONUTSIC.COM
John’s Grocery Store
BEST BEER SELECTION:
John’s Grocery
401 E MARKET ST, IOWA CITY 319-337-2183, JOHNSGROCERY.COM
Their response to COVID was kind, responsible and on point. —Matt F. RUNNER-UP:
Bootleggin’ Barzini’s
They go out of their way to source a great selection of beers. —Michael B. John’s Grocery forever and ever and needs to be protected at all costs. —Megz S. RUNNER-UP:
30hop BEST ATMOSPHERE:
Deadwood Tavern 6 S DUBUQUE ST, IOWA CITY 319-351-9417
It’s where folks in the know go to have fun and get stupid. —Matthew L.
BEST WINE SELECTION:
RUNNER-UP:
Hurts Donut Company
They have got delicious vegan cuisine down to a T. I bring all my friends who haven’t tried it yet there and everyone loves it; even the non-vegans! —Wendy V.
Bluebird Cafe and Diner
The green chili is the perfect hangover cure. —Ben C.
Give it to me, pickle daddy. —Patrick B.
RUNNER-UP:
Hamburg Inn
RUNNER-UP:
Pie shake power-up. —Ched W.
78 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
Trumpet Blossom Cafe
BEST RESTAURANT TO CURE YOUR HANGOVER:
John’s Grocery
Brix Cheese and Wine Shop
BEST VEGAN OPTIONS:
RUNNER-UP:
Jordan Sellergren from Tom of Finland
BEST LIQUOR STORE:
Trumpet Blossom Cafe
BEST DIVE BAR:
319-338-7770
RUNNER-UP:
MOST INNOVATIVE MENU:
Oasis Falafel
THANK YOU FOR VOTING!
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 79
December Online Programs at the Coralville Public Library
EDITORS’ PICKS
CALENDAR PRESENTED BY FILMSCENE
DEC. 2, 2020–JAN. 5, 2021 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 and OUTDOOR events in this calendar at the moment. “Locations” listed for online events reference the presenting institution. Please visit our online calendar for links, or check the organizations’ websites and Facebook pages.
Wed., Dec. 2 (Continuing) ‘A Christmas Carol,’ Riverside
Visit our website for more details
Theatre (riversidetheatre.org), $10-15, available through Dec. 13 Virtual 1 Million Cups Iowa City: Year-End Town Hall, 1 Million Cups Iowa City (@1MillionCupsIC), 9 a.m., Free Chat From the Old Cap: Angela Linn (94BA), University of Iowa Center for Advancement (foriowa. org), 3 p.m., Free (registration required) Immigrant Foodways: Czech Soups, National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library (ncsml.org), 6 p.m., $20-115 (registration required) Eco Film Discussion: ‘Bag It! Is Your Life Too Plastic?,’ Iowa City Public Library and Green Iowa AmeriCorps (icpl.org), 7 p.m., Free Critical Conversations: It’s Not Debatable— Difficult Dinner Conversations, The Academy for Scholastic and Personal Success (@theacademysps), 7 p.m., Free
STAFF PICKS: DEC. 2, 2020–JAN. 5, 2021
PRESENTED BY FILMSCENE
WHAT ARE WE DOING? FRIDAY, DEC. 18–
THURSDAY, DEC. 3
Iowa Stories: ‘Plagued By Fire: The Dreams and Furies of Frank Lloyd Wright’
SUNDAY, DEC. 20
‘A Christmas Cabaret’
City Circle Theatre Company (coralvillearts.org), 12 a.m. Friday, Dec. 18 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20 $12 - $17 City Circle has
brought in Katie Colletta (formerly of Old Creamery) to write and direct their virtual cabaret, a great opportunity for both—and lucky for audiences, too! Elves attempt to restore Santa’s holiday spirit and convince the big man not to cancel Christmas, despite COVID. A slew of talented performers from across Eastern Iowa will lend their voices to the effort.
State Historical Society of Iowa (@IowaHistory), 12 p.m., Free (registration required) Six-
time Pulitzer Prize nominee Paul Hendrickson joins the State Historical Society to talk about his seventh book, his 2019 biography of Frank Lloyd Wright, renowned architect of over 400 significant works, including two in Mason City, Iowa. Hendrickson, an English professor at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote Plagued By Fire under a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 30,
Internet Watch Party: ‘New Year’s Evil’
LITTLE VILLAGE? HELP US KEEP IT FREE.
Voluntary contributions from readers like you help keep Little VIllage free for everyone to enjoy.
Chip in today: LittleVillageMag .com/Subscribe
Late Shift at the Grindhouse (@ICgrindhouse), 10 p.m., Free Late Shift at the Grindhouse
always tracks down the perfect slasher flick for every occasion. What better way to close out this wild year than with Emmett Alston and Leonard Neubauer’s 1980 offering New Year’s Evil, about a killer who plans to kill hour by hour as the new year is celebrated in each time zone? Watching this on New Year’s Eve eve may just do the trick of convincing you to stay at home this year. ––Genevieve Trainor
SATURDAY, DEC. 5
Tiny Porch Concert: Ukulele Christmas with Melissa Caminneci
Anna Bixby
Cedar Rapids Public Library (@ CRLibrary), 1 p.m., Free Melissa Caminneci
is a woman of many talents; her warm humor and delightful alto are two of the best to get excited for this online show, available on the CRPL’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. As a grown-ass woman, it’s possible she won’t appreciate being described as spunky—but that’s the best word to capture her unpretentious ebullience, guaranteed to burst through the screen and get you into the holiday spirit.
LOVE
Professional Printers for 65 Years 408 Highland Ct. • (319) 338-9471 bob@goodfellowprinting.com
EDITORS’ PICKS Internet Watch Party: ‘Night of the Living Dead: Reanimated,’ Late Shift at the Grindhouse (@ ICgrindhouse), 10 p.m., Free
Thu., Dec. 3 Iowa Stories: ‘Plagued By Fire: The Dreams and Furies of Frank Lloyd Wright,’ State Historical Society of Iowa (@IowaHistory), 12 p.m., Free (registration required)
Fri., Dec. 4 Podcasting at University of Iowa and Beyond, Obermann Center (obermann.uiowa.edu), 12:30 p.m. ‘Endless Planes’ Virtual Reception with Julia Kottal, Gilded Pear Gallery (@GildedPearGallery), 5:30 p.m., Free ‘War of the Worlds: Panic Broadcast Radio Play,’ West High School (theatrewesthigh.com), 7 p.m., Free-$25
Sat., Dec. 5 Virtual Holiday Thieves Market, Summer of the Arts (summeroftheARTS.org), 10 a.m., open through Dec. 31 Drive Through Cookie Walk, National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, Cedar Rapids, 10 a.m., pre-order through Dec. 4 at ncsml.org/owcm Tiny Porch Concert: Ukulele Christmas with Melissa Caminneci, Cedar Rapids Public Library (@ CRLibrary), 1 p.m., Free Immigrant Foodways: Czech Christmas menu: Pea Soup and Schnitzel with Potato Salad, National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library (ncsml.org), 2:30 p.m., $20-115 (registration required)
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM ‘War of the Worlds: Panic Broadcast Radio Play,’ West High School (theatrewesthigh.com), 7 p.m., Free-$25
Sun., Dec. 6 Writers Open Mic, Iowa City Poetry (iowacitypoetry. com), 4 p.m., Free Deck the District Virtual Tree Lighting Ceremony, Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District (@deckthedistrict), 6:30 p.m., Free Midwest Writers Virtual Holiday Potluck, Prairie Lights Bookstore (prairielights.com/live), 7:30 p.m., Free
Tue., Dec. 8 Blueberries Strawberries Raspberries, Oh My! (Via Zoom), Indian Creek Nature Center (indiancreeknaturecenter.org), 6:30 p.m., $5 Danielle Evans and Laura van den Berg: Writers @ Grinnell, Prairie Lights Bookstore (prairielights.
2020 wasn’t the way we'd planned to celebrate our 40th anniversary -- but Riverside is still fulfilling its mission. Continuing to expand the types of stories we tell, and who gets to tell them. As a 501c3 non-profit, professional theatre we rely on donations to fulfill that mission. Please consider conside making a donation so that we can continue to create art and theatre, to promote healing and empathy and much-needed discourse through the stories we share.
com/live), 7 p.m., Free Stanley Studio Visit with Johnathan Payne, Stanley Museum of Art (stanleymusem.uiowa.edu), 8 p.m., Free
Wed., Dec. 9 Virtual 1 Million Cups Iowa City, 1 Million Cups Iowa City (@1MillionCupsIC), 9 a.m., Free Favorite Author Showcase: Lou Russell, ‘10 Steps to Successful Project Management,’ Mount Mercy University (mtmercy.edu), 12 p.m., Free Chat From the Old Cap: Lew Montgomery, University of Iowa Center for Advancement (foriowa. org), 3 p.m., Free (registration required)
RIVERSIDE THEATRE . ORG
PRESENTED BY FILMSCENE Immigrant Foodways: Dumplings Filled with Sauerkraut, National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library (ncsml.org), 6 p.m., $20-115 (registration required)
ROBERT SCHUMANN’S
Talking About “Good” Schools and “Good” Neighborhoods with Sara Alvarado, Iowa City Public Library (icpl.org), 6:30 p.m., Free Obermann Around the Table: A View of Bilingual Education in Iowa w/ Jesus “Chuy” Renteria and Christine Shea, Obermann Center
DECEMBER 10, 7 PM youtube.com/cedarrapidsopera
(obermann.uiowa.edu), 7 p.m., Free Critical Conversations: Health Care and Black
Enjoy free digital content from CROpera at 7pm the 2nd Thursday of
Americans, The Academy for Scholastic and Personal
each month. Also available on demand after at cropera.org.
Success (@theacademysps), 7 p.m., Free
CHRIS CARR TENOR
Internet Watch Party: ‘Carnival of Blood,’ Late Shift at the Grindhouse (@ICgrindhouse), 10 p.m.,
DANIEL KLEINKNECHT PIANO
Free
Thu., Dec. 10
SEASON SPONSORS PRODUCTION SPONSORS
GAIL & PAUL WILLIAMS
Immigrant Foodways: Sarmale, National Czech WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM IOWA PUBLIC RADIO
and Slovak Museum and Library (ncsml.org), 6 p.m., $20-115 (registration required)
CEDAR RAPIDS NEW BOHEMIA/ CZECH VILLAGE
Come work with us
JOHN@NEWBO.CO • (319) 382-5128
honest local BBQ
Great for Catering – lunch for a few or dinner for a crowd 1940 Lower Muscatine Rd, Iowa City - 319.354.7427 | 745 Community Dr, North Liberty - 319.665.2486
LUNCH
WITH US PIZZERIA | RISTORANTE
half-portions of handmade pasta, soups, salads, sandwiches and Italian specialties 1 1 - 5 DA I LY 121 Io wa Av enue, Io wa City
319.337.2010 | bastaio wacity.com
EDITORS’ PICKS PRESENTED BY FILMSCENE 2nd Thursday Series: Schumann’s ‘Dichterliebe’ featuring tenor Chris Carr, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre (youtube.com/cedarrapidsopera), 7 p.m., Free Jeff Porter in conversation with Ann Hood,
Wishing you a happy and safe holiday season!
Prairie Lights Bookstore (prairielights.com/live), 7
We will get through this together, separately.
months (via Zoom), Indian Creek Nature Center
p.m., Free How to stay active during the winter (indiancreeknaturecenter.org), 7 p.m., Free Parquet Courts: On Time, Englert Theatre (noonchorus.com/englert-parquet-courts), 9 p.m., $15
Fri., Dec. 11 Holidays with the Hawkeyes: UI Holiday Tubas,
Kim will help you find your way HOME! Kim will help you find your way HOME!
UI Center for Advancement (@UIAdvancement), 12:30 p.m., Free Coralville Community Food Pantry Free Community Meal—To Go!, Coralville United Methodist Church, 5:30 p.m., Free
typo! NotNot a a typo!
Holiday Laser Light Show, Hawkeye Downs Speedway and Expo Center, Cedar Rapids, 5:30, 7:30, and 9:30 p.m., $25/car Jim Brickman: Comfort & Joy At Home Live! Virtually, Paramount Theatre (creventslive.com/p/ venues/paramounttheatre), 7 p.m., $40-125 ‘At Home for the Holidays,’ Theatre Cedar Rapids (theatrecr.org), 7:30 p.m., $25 suggested ‘The Nutcracker’: 2020, Nolte Academy and Englert Theatre (englert.org), 7:30 p.m., $20-250 UI Dance Presents End of Semester Event, University of Iowa Department of Dance (virtualdance. studio.uiowa.edu), 8 p.m., Free
Sat., Dec. 12 Holiday Open House 2020, Midwest Writing Center (@MidwestWritingCenter), 1 p.m., Free (registration required) ‘The Nutcracker’: 2020, Nolte Academy and Englert Theatre (englert.org), 2 p.m., $20-250 Immigrant Foodways: Vánočka, National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library (ncsml.org), 2:30 p.m., $20-115 (registration required)
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 87
EDITORS’ PICKS Holiday Laser Light Show, Hawkeye Downs Speedway and Expo Center, Cedar Rapids, 5:30, 7:30, and 9:30 p.m., $25/car ‘The Nutcracker’: 2020, Nolte Academy and Englert Theatre (englert.org), 7:30 p.m., $20-250
ONLINE HOL I DAY MAR K E T
Sun., Dec. 13 The Eye Opener Virtual Celebration, FilmScene (icfilmscene.org), 5 p.m., Free-$30 (treat bundle pickup Dec. 11) Holiday Laser Light Show, Hawkeye Downs Speedway and Expo Center, Cedar Rapids, 5:30, 7:30, and 9:30 p.m., $25/car
Tue., Dec. 15 Gardening with Children (Via Zoom), Indian Creek Nature Center (indiancreeknaturecenter.org, 6:30 p.m., $5 Digital Minimalism discussion, Iowa City Public Library (icpl.org), 7 p.m., Free
Wed., Dec. 16 Virtual 1 Million Cups Iowa City, 1 Million Cups Iowa City (@1MillionCupsIC), 9 a.m., Free Chat From the Old Cap: Dr. Edwin Stone, University of Iowa Center for Advancement (foriowa. org), 3 p.m., Free (registration required) Magical Writers Night ft. Laura Johnson, Kae Apothecary (@kaeapothecary), 7 p.m., Free (registration required) Critical Conversations: Black Cookin’—More Than Soul Food, The Academy for Scholastic and Personal Success (@theacademysps), 7 p.m., Free Internet Watch Party: ‘Dude Bro Party Massacre III,’ Late Shift at the Grindhouse (@ICgrindhouse), 10 p.m., Free
SUPPORT LOCAL • SHOP SMALL
Fri., Dec. 18 ‘A Christmas Cabaret,’ City Circle Theatre Company
APOTHECARY • ART • FUN • HOME • JEWELRY • KIDS KITCHEN & BAR • MEN • WOMEN
(coralvillearts.org), 12 a.m., $12 - $17, available through Dec. 20 ‘It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Play,’ West High
Free copy of Little Village Magazine delivered with every order!
DowntownIowaCityHolidayMarket.com
School (theatrewesthigh.com), 7 p.m., Free-$25 ‘Holiday Zoom-topia,’ Rich Heritage of Cedar Rapids Theatre Company (@RHCRTheatre), 7 p.m., Free (donations accepted)
SUSHI?
LET’S ROLL!
It takes a village to endure a pandemic. Through December, we’re raising money for 12 local nonprofits that make a difference in our community.
Your one-stop for sushi, rice bowls, and ramen...
...plus bubble tea, smoothies, and sake! 227 S Dubuque Street, Iowa City • (319)-351-1800 www.sosekicafe.com
The Council for International Visitors to Iowa Cities (CIVIC) · Coralville Community Food Pantry · Domestic Violence Intervention Program · Friends of the Center · Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation · Grow: Johnson County · Iowa City Hospice · Multicultural Development Center of Iowa · Public Space One · Strengthen Grow Evolve · Table to Table · Ten Thousand Villages Visit LittleVillageMag.com/Give to learn about these hard-working organizations and find out how you can contribute.
EDITORS’ PICKS NOTE! We are listing only ONLINE and OUTDOOR events in this calendar at the moment. “Locations” listed for online events reference the presenting institution. Please visit our online calendar for links, or check the organizations’ websites and Facebook pages.
Locally owned since 1993
Voted BEST PIZZA in the CRANDIC
Sat., Dec. 19
Wed., Dec. 23
Talent Show Live!, Iowa Freedom
Virtual 1 Million Cups Iowa
Riders (Instagram: iowafreedomriders),
City, 1 Million Cups Iowa City
6 p.m., Free
(@1MillionCupsIC), 9 a.m., Free
‘It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Play,’
Internet Watch Party: ‘Santa’s
West High School (theatrewesthigh.
Slay,’ Late Shift at the Grindhouse (@
com), 7 p.m., Free-$25
ICgrindhouse), 10 p.m., Free
‘Sense and Nonsense, Again?,’ SPT
Wed., Dec. 30
Theatre (spttheatre.org), 7:30 p.m., Free
Virtual 1 Million Cups Iowa City, 1 Million Cups Iowa City
Sun., Dec. 20
(@1MillionCupsIC), 9 a.m., Free
December Art in the Afternoon: Léonard Kibala, Artifactory
Critical Conversations, The Academy
(artifactory.artsiowacity.org), 1 p.m.,
for Scholastic and Personal Success (@
Free (registration required)
theacademysps), 7 p.m., Free Internet Watch Party: ‘New Year’s Evil,’ Late Shift at the Grindhouse (@ ICgrindhouse), 10 p.m., Free
WIG & PEN PIZZA PUB 1220 US-6, Iowa City • (319) 354-2767
WIG & PEN EAST 363 N 1st Ave, Iowa City • (319) 351-2327
WIG & PEN NORTH LIBERTY 201 Hwy 965 NE, North Liberty • (319) 665-2255
serving fine coffee and tea located in the Chauncey - level 2 404 e college street mobile app: fix!@chauncey
wigandpenpizza.com
rk andma city l a w an io
OPEN AGAIN ON IOWA CITY'S NORTHSIDE WITH NEW, LIMITED HOURS. IN STORE SHOPPING, CURBSIDE PICK UP, AND IN STORE PICK UP AVAILABLE. Thursdays & Fridays 11am–4pm Saturdays 11am–3pm 15 South Dubuque St., Iowa City, Iowa • 319-337-2681 www.prairielights.com
Your Design. Your Home. With education, backgrounds, and professional experiences in interior and graphic design, our in-house, on-site design team is available at no additional cost to help transform your space into something you love. Carpet | Tile | Hardwood | Window Treatments
RANDYSFLOORING.COM
HOLIDAY WREATHS • GARLAND WEDDINGS & EVENTS • WORKSHOPS FLOWER SUBSCRIPTIONS • WRAPPED BOUQUETS CUSTOM ARRANGEMENTS
207 NORTH LINN STREET, IOWA CITY 319.338.1332 • WILLOWANDSTOCK.COM
L E F LA
A F E TH
ity C a w et, Io
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St n n i L . N 6 0 2
T N I JO
92 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289
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DEAR KIKI
D
ear Kiki, Should I be OK with my significant other personal messaging and having phone conversations with her ex-fiancée? I was given total transparency and told that absolutely nothing was going on beyond friendship and that I could read their conversations anytime. Finally agreed to read a Messenger conversation which shocked said significant other but the phone was turned over to me reluctantly while trying not to look fazed, [on] which was found a million selfies of them looking their hottest for each other, my s/o being told, “Tell me I’m HOT!” to which my s/o replied, “Of COURSE you are!!!” My s/o was being sent photos of the island of which the ex-fiancée is a pastor, an army chaplain. “All these sunsets—All for YOU.” The ex-fiancée pastor sending my s/o recordings of their sermons on marriage, then telling my s/o “I have sermons on SEX for you, too, but it might be awhile ‘til I can get it ready to send you.” and my s/o responding, “Ohhh, I can WAIT!!!” I showed my s/o all the selfies and said “I never got any of these selfies from you. NONE of these hot pictures of you. What the heck.” ... My s/o told me, “Do you WANT me to be with my ex?? Look, you can believe me when I say you’re the only one I want to be with and have a future with, or you can NOT believe me, and we can part ways and never see each other again. If you want to be with me, this topic has to be off limits. I don’t deserve to be accused of something I’m not doing!! If I didn’t want to be with you, I wouldn’t be!” I have never been jealous of any other relationship; I’ve never had reason to be. But I do not like this. Do I just put up with it all? I have softly brought it up two times since then and have been abruptly told, “We are NOT going there.” Guess I just wait and see and enjoy my time with this person? Just an annoying thing I have to put up with? Or ignore? I don’t want to be a fool, but I love this person dearly in all ways but this one! Your thoughts? —Not the Fool Dear Not the Fool, I’m going to lay it all out there. Without hearing both sides of the situation, it’s impossible to know for sure. But the behavior you are relaying is controlling and abusive, and you don’t deserve to be treated this way. Here’s what raises red flags for me:
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- You were offered transparency and then criticized when you took advantage of it. This was a “test” that you “failed.” We do not test people we love, we test people we’re looking to control. Now that you have “failed” this “test,” your partner gets to feel justified in their behavior. After all, you didn’t trust them, so you’re suspicious, you’re judgmental, etc. - The statement, “Do you want me to be back with my ex?” You may have been paraphrasing, but ultimately, this is another attempt to turn the situation back onto you in an attempt at absolution. - The demand that the question be dropped. IMO, nothing should be off the table in a relationship with healthy communication. I’m sure there are exceptions to that rule—but those exceptions should not include something that puts you in distress. If you’re upset, you should be free to talk about why. Now, I’ll reiterate that I haven’t heard both sides of the story. Certainly, in the raw facts, your s/o is right: They shouldn’t have to relinquish close friendships for the sake of a relationship. And, if they’ve never been unfaithful, then you should trust that they will continue to be faithful. But they have a role to play in easing your concerns. Your s/o needs to remain true to themself, but without the blame, accusations and stonewalling. You might find that better communication can come from going to a relationship counselor together. Only you can decide if it’s worth pushing through this discomfort that you feel in order to salvage this relationship. You need to decide for yourself if the “annoyance” is worth the joyful parts. xoxo, Kiki
KIKI WANTS QUESTIONS! Questions about love and sex in the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids area can be submitted to dearkiki@littlevillagemag.com, or anonymously at littlevillagemag.com/ dearkiki. Questions may be edited for clarity and length, and may appear either in print or online at littlevillagemag.com. LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 95
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ASTROLOGY
BY ROB BREZSNEY
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): “Pictures of perfection, as you know, make me sick and wicked,” observed Sagittarian author Jane Austen. She wrote this confession in a letter to her niece, Fanny, whose boyfriend thought that the women characters in Jane’s novels were too naughty. In the coming weeks, I encourage you Sagittarians to regard pictures of perfection with a similar disdain. To accomplish all the brisk innovations you have a mandate to generate, you must cultivate a deep respect for the messiness of creativity; you must understand that your dynamic imagination needs room to experiment with possibilities that may at first appear disorderly. For inspiration, keep in mind this quote from Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich: “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn novelist Anne Brontë (1820-1849) said, “Smiles and tears are so alike with me, they are neither of them confined to any particular feelings: I often cry when I am happy, and smile when I am sad.” I suspect you could have experiences like hers in the coming weeks. I bet you’ll feel a welter of unique and unfamiliar emotions. Some of them may seem paradoxical or mysterious, although I think they’ll all be interesting and catalytic. I suggest you welcome them and allow them to teach you new secrets about your deep self and the mysterious nature of your life. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Aquarian philosopher Simone Weil formulated resolutions so as to avoid undermining herself. First, she vowed she would only deal with difficulties that actually confronted her, not far-off or hypothetical problems. Second, she would allow herself to feel only those feelings that were needed to inspire her and make her take effective action. All other feelings were to be shed, including imaginary feelings—that is, those not rooted in any real, objective situation. Third, she vowed, she would “never react to evil in such a way as to augment it.” Dear Aquarius, I think all of these resolutions would be very useful for you to adopt in the coming weeks. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In June 2019, the young Piscean singer Justin Bieber addressed a tweet to 56-year-old actor Tom Cruise, challenging him to a mixed martial arts cage fight. “If you don’t take this fight,” said Bieber, “you will never live it down.” A few days later, Bieber retracted his dare, confessing that Cruise “would probably whoop my ass in a fight.” If Bieber had waited until December 2020 to make his proposal, he might have had more confidence to follow through—and he might also have been better able to whoop Cruise’s ass. You Pisceans are currently at the peak of your power and prowess. ARIES (March 21-April 19): An anonymous blogger on Tumblr writes the following: “What I’d really like is for someone to objectively watch me for a week and then sit down with me for a few hours and explain to me what I am like and how I look to others and what my personality is in detail and how I need to improve. Where do I sign up for that?” I can assure you that the person who composed this message is not an Aries. More than any other sign of the zodiac, you Rams want to be yourself, to inhabit your experience purely and completely—not see yourself from the perspective of outside observers. Now is a good time to emphasize this specialty.
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TAURUS (April 20-May 20): “Humans like to be scared,” declares author Cathy Bell. “We love the wicked witch’s cackle, the wolf’s hot breath, and the old lady who eats children, because sometimes, when the scary is over, all we remember is the magic.” I suppose that what she says is a tiny bit true. But there are also many ways to access the magic that don’t require encounters with dread. And that’s exactly what I predict for you in the coming weeks, Taurus: marvelous experiences— including catharses, epiphanies and breakthroughs—that are neither spurred by fear nor infused with it. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In 1994, the animated movie The Lion King told the story of the difficult journey made by a young
lion as he struggled to claim his destiny as rightful king. A remake of the film appeared in 2019. During the intervening 25 years, the number of real lions living in nature declined dramatically. There are now just 20,000. Why am I telling you such bad news? I hope to inspire you to make 2021 a year when you will resist trends like this. Your assignment is to nurture and foster wildness in every way that’s meaningful for you—whether that means helping to preserve habitats of animals in danger of extinction or feeding and championing the wildness inside you and those you care about. Get started! CANCER (June 21-July 22): Is there anyone whose forgiveness you would like to have? Is there anyone to whom you should make atonement? Now is a favorable phase to initiate such actions. In a related subject, would you benefit from forgiving a certain person whom you feel wronged you? Might there be healing for you in asking that person to make amends? The coming weeks will provide the best opportunity you have had in a long time to seek these changes. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Scientists know that the Earth’s rotation is gradually slowing down—but at the very slow rate of two milliseconds every 100 years. What that means is that 200 million years from now, one day will last 25 hours. Think of how much more we humans will be able to get done with an extra hour every day! I suspect you may get a preview of this effect in the coming weeks, Leo. You’ll be extra efficient. You’ll be focused and intense in a relaxing way. Not only that: You will also be extra appreciative of the monumental privilege of being alive. As a result, you will seem to have more of the precious luxury of time. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Adventurer Tim Peck says there are three kinds of fun. The first is pure pleasure, enjoyed in full as it’s happening. The second kind of fun feels challenging when it’s underway, but interesting and meaningful in retrospect. Examples are giving birth to a baby or taking an arduous hike uphill through deep snow. The third variety is no fun at all. It’s irksome while you’re doing it, and equally disagreeable as you think about it later. Now I’ll propose a fourth type of fun, which I suspect you’ll specialize in during the coming weeks. It’s rather boring or tedious or nondescript while it’s going on, but in retrospect you are very glad you did it. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “I made the wrong mistakes,” said Libran composer and jazz pianist Thelonious Monk. He had just completed an improvisatory performance he wasn’t satisfied with. On countless other occasions, however, he made the right mistakes. The unexpected notes and tempo shifts he tried often resulted in music that pleased him. I hope that in the coming weeks you make a clear demarcation between wrong mistakes and right mistakes, dear Libra. The latter could help bring about just the transformations you need. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Home is not where you were born,” writes Naguib Mahfouz. “Home is where all your attempts to escape cease.” I propose we make that one of your mottos for the next 12 months, Scorpio. According to my astrological analysis, you will receive all the inspiration and support you need as you strive to be at peace with exactly who you are. You’ll feel an ever-diminishing urge to do something else besides what you’re actually doing. You’ll be less and less tempted to believe your destiny lies elsewhere, with different companions and different adventures. To your growing satisfaction, you will refrain from trying to flee from the gifts that have been given you, and you will instead accept the gifts just as they are. And it all starts now.
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LOCAL ALBUMS
Elizabeth Moen Creature Of Habit EP ELIZABETHMOEN.BANDCAMP.COM
L
iz Moen’s origin story, as relayed to me by Luke Tweedy of Flat Black Studios, begins before she recorded a single note. He said she decided to record an album of her own songs, and in short order she was at Flat Black with a band she had just formed. She came to that debut project with a load of raw talent and a uniquely expressive voice. In the last four years, she’s gone places with her music, literally and figuratively, including tours of Ireland and Italy and three full albums. The COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to her touring schedule, only delaying what seems inevitable: a global audience for her music. She holds her own in the company of any contemporary singer/songwriter— Phoebe Bridgers, FKA Twigs, Billie Eilish. Creature Of Habit, out Dec. 11, is in part the product of lockdown isolation, which pushed her in different musical directions from her usual rootsy pop music. On the title track her songwriting is wedded to the bedroom electronica production of Avery Mossman. The EP ends with a solo guitar and voice version that’s just as compelling and feels very much of the current moment. The electronic version puts one in mind of a song by Lana Del Rey or Mitski: a contemporary production. The closer feels like a performance you might have seen her give down at The Mill. It’s the version sung to an audience,
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where the electronic take is personal and introspective, her voice floating against sparse thumpand-click drum sounds and sine wave bass. “Eating Chips” brings in Mossman’s synth impersonating a theremin, the polar opposite of the rootsy sound one expects from Moen. But her bluesy drawl is accentuated by a hint of distortion, grounding the uncanny electronic wail. “It’ll Get Tired Too” is just nylon-string guitar and Moen’s vocals in duet with Penny Peach. It highlights what makes her remarkable: the way her voice swoops, coos and growls, sometimes in a single line. “Pain is here, it always is; showed up as soon as life did / Let it pick a song to play, it’ll get tired too and go away.” It’s a prayer of endurance, finding ways to outlast life’s fears and suffering. “Who Wants Takeout” returns to a full band sound, but it is any-
Jim Swim Softee Boy EP ITSJIMSWIM.BANDCAMP.COM
W
hen I first listened to this Jim Swim project, I wasn’t sure if this was all done by one creative or if there were multiple people—a rapper/singer just going over some instrumental tracks. I’ve heard a single or so here and there, but not enough to know his style and what he does musically overall. So I played this project once, then worked through his other releases on Spotify, then made my way
lyrical imagery, setting a scene and not letting up until he comes to his harmonized vocal exit. My favorite is “Embodied,” a track with a mellow, calming vibe that has an almost familiar opening tune in the production. I can’t quite put my finger on what it reminds me of. The intro seems like it has a clock ticking, which I would assume he dropped into the song to complement his reminiscing lyrics. His melodic flow is flavorful on the song “All New (Energy).” I especially love this one because I can imagine it being performed live in a venue, with the crowd singing the words as loud as they can. He places a few musical breakdown sections in the song before he comes full energy with one last quick rap verse that accelerates up until the last chorus. The tune finishes out with a justright vibe. There’s a mainstream sound on Softee Boy that somewhat re-
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PUT A STOP TO HER TOURING SCHEDULE, ONLY DELAYING WHAT SEEMS INEVITABLE: A GLOBAL AUDIENCE FOR HER MUSIC. SHE HOLDS HER OWN IN THE COMPANY OF ANY CONTEMPORARY SINGER/SONGWRITER—PHOEBE BRIDGERS, FKA TWIGS, BILLIE EILISH.
thing but slick. When she sings at the bottom of her vocal range she has a nasal, guttural sound. It’s her “I mean business” voice. Then she modulates seamlessly to a breathy, delicate tone and ends up pure and sweet in the upper register. Moen is both a throwback to ’60s folk-pop and very much in the moment. One welcome oldtimey idea is that Creature Of Habit works as something to hear from beginning to end. The songs are varied in production and mood but all of a piece. Just as the blues is music about feeling bad that makes you feel good, Moen’s songs of lonely isolation make the listener feel less alone. —Kent Williams
back into the Softee Boy EP. The first song I listened to off of Softee Boy was “Big Homie Told Me a Lie.” It opens up with a real catchy hook that I’ve definitely replayed for about a week now. I always love to hear choruses that have a single vocal line that needs no harmony. The production on the project overall is very well put together. As seen on his social media, Jim Swim is a multi-instrumentalist adept at guitar, bass and keys, as well as working with an MPC. You can definitely see the time and effort he puts into his art. The intro track gives a quick foundation for what can be expected on this release. It starts with a rap flow with some nice
minds me of songs you hear from Mike Posner projects. It’s got strong, catchy hooks with backing tracks and live instrumentation that have very melodic R&B/ hip-hop/pop vibes meshing in the best ways. The project title track “Softee Boy” is a great example of the lyrical substance across the board. This is something I could definitely throw on at home while cleaning, playing video games or heading out on a trip. I’ll always love the one-person-wreckingcrew-type music artists. I know a few, and they always seem to have their own distinct style. Jim Swim is an underrated artist. Iowa is lucky to have him. —Terrance Banks
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LOCAL BOOKS
Marc Rahe Gravity Well RESCUE PRESS
R
eading Gravity Well by Marc Rahe was a struggle. I read each poem at least twice. I studied the meter, used a dictionary, took notes. This book was like going to school. My brain hurt, my feelings got twisted. I legitimately asked a former teacher for help. Slowly, the gravity well drew me in. A gravity well, I now know, is the pull of gravity exerted by a body in space: a planet, a star, an asteroid, a black hole. While this book is small (without much mass), its density is in alignment with its title. My notes on the poems I struggled with remind me of my Senior Synthesis class in college—sweat and search engines. My notes on the poems that grabbed me immediately are all exclamation points and underlines. Their connective tissue is what I was missing. I couldn’t see the forest for the trees. Arranged in a calendar based on the cycles of the moon, Gravity Well reads as a year in the life—slow, deliberate building of slow, deliberate days matches the slow march of 2020 and the constant march of time. We sit, we observe, we drown in sudden drama, we breathe in sweet recuperation, we sit. Buried in his own mortality, within seasons constantly but predictably changing, Rahe offers readers some
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combination of reprieve and workout: “Minutes run in place in red.” Rahe’s poetry is observational, domestic vignettes arranged in cycles, braided together with perfect phrases like, “memory’s bent knuckle,” and “I’m as / alive as I’m / ever going to be / except as echoes / living in / your smallest bones.” We enter Gravity Well to vulnerability and patience, but it is Rahe’s playfulness and humor that carried me from simple universals like in the poem “Never Divide By Zero” to depths as in “The Centipede” (far and away the MVP of this volume). “Appetite,” though, is the poem that first awakened me to the weight Rahe puts on each word. Prior to this poem he hints at medical issues and explores his mortality, but here his semantics give way to the concrete. With poems as strong as “Nightstand,” “August Keeps Its Promise” and “Blackout,” the pacing of the book feels almost staccato: We wade through domestic unreality to find ourselves in peaks and valleys of (emotional) observation that seem supersensory, even uncharted. Each page of Gravity Well is a page of a calendar, a photograph of grief or a glance out the window of a childhood home. There is pain in the everyday of Rahe’s year and it is a slow burn, as in “How I Miss You:” “This is your street your numbers bring / my letters to, like a spell” or “a self-construction / of unused pieces of time / and subtle matter” and “I have become itchy, / the result of the self-defence of stillness” from “In Gratitude.” Truly, I am still sitting with this book. I must have read it three times but, like all honest art, this is one I will have to wrestle with for a long time. “Earth, turn me.” —Sarah Elgatian
Kelsey Bigelow Sprig of Lilac SELF-PUBLISHED
I
n 2019, Des Moines-area poet Kelsey Bigelow self-published her first collection, Sprig of Lilac, a chapbook of 21 poems that focus on mourning and the loss of a mother. Bigelow writes free verse, employing a variety of structures throughout the short collection. The themes that she is able to bring forth are particularly poignant now, as the
questions such as “How do the living become altered when the dead depart?” or how one loss might be more difficult to endure than another one in the poem “How Many Lives?” If the first half of the book is a meditation on loss, the second half is dedicated to the gradual evolution of grief. This is not to say that the poet suggests grief abates, but rather that it changes over time. In the poem “Hold True” the speaker tenderly remembers snapshot moments with her lost parent, “But I don’t talk of the beginning or the end / I talk of little things / like when she called to wish me luck at the prom.” The poem “Today I Choose a Life” reflects on the mother’s marriages and what the speaker learned from them. Readers will see a movement away from grief and toward the future in the last few poems of
IF THE FIRST HALF OF THE BOOK IS A MEDITATION ON LOSS, THE SECOND HALF IS DEDICATED TO THE GRADUAL EVOLUTION OF GRIEF. THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT THE POET SUGGESTS GRIEF ABATES, BUT RATHER THAT IT CHANGES OVER TIME.
nation sees so many families losing loved ones. From the second poem, the reader encounters the loss that the speaker experiences. Does Bigelow use the same speaker for all the poems here? It would seem that if the speaker is not one person, they are all speakers who have endured similar losses. There are lamentations, as in the poem “November 16, 2014” where the lines “Tonight, I go to bed dreaming of you / angel shape and ask / what good are clouds / if they take / the only light I had in my life?” The speakers wrestle with
the collection. To ground the progression of time, Bigelow has several poems whose titles are marker dates, including one flashback to the mother’s birthday. Several poems are co-written with Tony Lieb. In these poems, you will find a narrative lyricism that brings loss into sharp focus while also offering a few softer edges. Overall, this poetry collection is a meditative narration on loss, grief, mourning and the ways that one might find to move forward from tragedy. —Laura Johnson
LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 101
Reader Survey
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Thank you for reading Little Village! Our goal is to provide you with relevant and meaningful stories and to make every issue of Little Village a great one. We value your feedback, and we appreciate you taking the time to complete this two-minute survey to help us plan for 2021. *NOTE: All sections optional; all answers confidential. Fill out your survey today, then cut it out and mail it in: LV HQ, 623 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240. Rather take it online? Visit LittleVillageMag.com/survey (before Dec. 20, please!) Where did you get this copy of Little Village? How often do you read the print edition of Little Village? Never miss an issue Occasionally This is my first time What other magazines do you read regularly? What are your primary (top 1-3) news sources?
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How many times a month on average do you... __ Eat at a full-service restaurant? __ Order take-out or food delivery? __ Visit a bar or nightclub? __ Consume locally made beer or cider? __ Attend a live concert or theater production? __ Go to the movies? __ Visit a fitness establishment (gym, yoga, etc.)? How often do you visit downtown Iowa City for pleasure (not work)? Less than once/week 1-3x/week 3-5x/week 5+ x/week
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How often do you visit downtown Cedar Rapids for pleasure (not work)? Less than once/week 1-3x/week 3-5x/week 5+ x/week Are you planning to shop at local retailers this holiday season? Yes No How do you usually access LV online? I go directly to LittleVillageMag.com Via Facebook Via Twitter Via LV’s Daily Digest newsletters I only read it in print What is your highest level of education? Some high school High school diploma Some college Associate’s degree Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Ph.D.
Has a Little Village advertisement influenced your buying decisions in the last six months? Yes / No Given the choice, would you rather do business with a Little Village advertiser? Yes / No What is your zip code? How many years have you lived in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area? Do you own or rent your home? Own Rent What is your current employment status? Unemployed Employed part-time Employed full-time Self-employed Furloughed How has COVID-19 affected your employment status? Lost employment Reduced hours or pay No change Increase in pay Initially furloughed then rehired or found a new position. How many children do you have?
What is your personal annual income? Less than $20,000 $20,000-$40,000 $40,000-$60,000 $60,000-$80,000 $80,000-$100,000 $100,000+ If you could, would you like to receive LV by mail? Yes / No
What year were you born? What is your gender identity? What is one thing LV should do more of in 2021? ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
YOU WEAR IT WELL
BY FRANCIS HEANEY
LittleVillageMag.com
The American Values Club Crossword is edited by Ben Tausig. 1
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ACROSS 1. Part of your face to cover when you can’t social distance 5. Conn featured in Grease and Grease LIVE! 9. “Balderdash!” 14. Declines to join an email list, with “out” 15. Events where things stop being private?: Abbr. 16. Barely winning 17. Makes a comeback 19. They serve as subjects and objects 20. Test in a tube
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21. “Everybody knows ...” 23. Bernie in favor of Medicare for All 25. Setting in the 1970 musical Two by Two 26. “Put down the stapler, ___ will electrocute you”: Detective Pikachu 27. Clamp for a guitarist 29. Org. with pennants and bunting 32. Opponent’s introduction? 35. Suffix for iron or armor 37. Playing House costar [51-Across] St. ___
39. Name associated with orderly marches 42. Bud for Cheech Marin? 43. Cougar by another name 44. Bites a bit 45. Knights of ___ (characters with absolutely zero impact on the most recent Star Wars trilogy) 46. Plus-size model Holliday 48. Shlep 50. They’re ahead of U 51. Best Friends Forever costar ___ St. [37-Across] 55. Trait of Sesame Street’s Oscar
60. Go-___ (favored options) 61. It cuts out all the time on Zoom if you have a Bluetooth speaker (ask me how I know) 62. Letterman featured stupid ones 64. Sound of a pin dropping, maybe 65. Singer James at whose funeral Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder performed 66. Another part of your face to cover when you can’t social distance
sounds like a lawn decoration 34. Like watery soup 36. Another part of your face to cover when you can’t social distance 38. Pines away (for) 40. It may permeate the air at a Phish concert 41. Regressive way for states to make money 47. Abbr. on a Facebook post with a belated clarification 49. Country that had the Olympic mascot Misha: Abbr. 50. Sites with relics 51. Volkswagen compact 52. Like that spot in the small of your back that you can’t quite reach, all too often 53. Roberts who cohosted This Week with Sam Donaldson 54. Orgs. 55. Lacunae in one’s knowledge 56. Be frickin’ awesome 57. God in charge of Valhalla 58. Detail on a blueprint 59. ___ diet (Atkins alternative) 63. It’s often shaved on the street
DOWN 1. Presidents at least pretended to abide by them, once upon a time 2. Glass creation, e.g. 3. Result of a leaky pen 4. In particular: Abbr. 5. Marlene whose name can be split into two words that mean the opposite of each other when they precede “food” 6. “This bridge hand isn’t worth bidding on” 7. Place where cramming happens 8. Kumail’s costar in The Lovebirds 9. “Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death” music genre 10. He’s often shipped with Kirk 11. About 0.3 percent of a fortnight 12. Coming of Age in Mississippi author Moody 13. Toward Seoul, from Tokyo 18. It lets you walk on water 22. One who believes anything said by any Trump press secretary, e.g. 24. Busy with LV288 ANSWERS 27. The Plague novelist CU T T H E CR A P T A R P ON A R AMP AGE A R E A 28. “I don’t know R O T O R O O T E R L A S T him from ___” A S SOR T S P AMBO T 29. Trickster god P I E T Y S CU L L Y in Moana S L U E S R A N OD E UM P O N D J A V I E R A T E 30. Speech theraOU I SOD A C A N GE L py issue N I N P E E P E R CU L T 31. They may GE S SO D A S J OE Y S E L P A SO I T S U S contain chicken BO I L E R S P R EOP S cutlets A UR A BON S A I T R E E 32. Not quite shut T I E R I S A A C S T E RN H E D Y T A S T E T E S T S 33. City that
Make Music, Make Memories 1212 Fifth Street, Coralville, IA 52241 319-351-2000 westmusic.com
BAND • ORCHESTRA • PERCUSSION • PIANO • GUITAR • MUSIC THERAPY • LESSONS • REPAIR LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 103
104 Dec. 2, 2020–Jan. 5, 2021 LITTLEVILLAGEMAG.COM/LV289