Hancher is a wonderful place to celebrate the holidays— and this season our gift to you is three wonderful performances you can share with your family!
BY CHIP DAVIS
Saturday, November 19, 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm
The bestselling Christmas artist of all time comes to Hancher Auditorium for the first time! Enjoy Mannheim Steamroller’s beloved renditions of your holiday favorites in a concert that is sure to be the perfect kickoff to your family’s holiday season.
CANTUS Thursday, December 1, 7:30 pm
Cantus has a simple but powerful vision: to give voice to shared human experiences. And what beautiful voices they bring to the task. This low-voice choir is known for its warmth, blend, and innovative approaches to programming and performance. In this holiday concert, the members of Cantus will wrap you in the joyous sounds of the season.
Friday, December 9, 7:30 pm
She is known as the “Godmother of Soul” and her hitmaking career has spanned seven decades—and she’s coming to Hancher to help us ring in the holidays.
Patti LaBelle’s powerhouse vocals are a national treasure—and you and your family will treasure this holiday gift.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Hancher in advance at (319) 335-1160.
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November Contributors
Adam TetzloffItat, Alexa Vicius, Au drey Brock, Beatrice Giunta, Chris DeLine, Erin Casey, John Martinek, Kaylin Butterfield, Kent Williams, Lauren Haldeman, Lev Cantoral, Mike Kuhlenbeck, Sam Locke Ward, Sara Weiler, Sarah Elgatian, Tiffani Green, Tom Tomorrow
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meet this month’s contributors:
Issue 312 , volume 32 November 2022
Cover illustrations by Sara Weiler
LV has partnered with local nonprofit orgs and retailers once again to start the holiday giving season off right. Also in this issue: record stores, Wildlife W.A.R.S., Encounter Cafe, gift markets across the state, and signs of change in downtown Iowa City.
Chris DeLine is a music writer living in Cedar Rapids. He also curates playlists at villin.net.
Erin Casey (she/her) is an urban fantasy writer and author of The Purple Door District series.
Kaylin butterfield is a multicultural non-binary artist in Iowa. They like to paint and watch birds with their catmate, Lilith.
Kent Williams lives, works, writes and complains in Iowa City.
mike Kuhlenbeck is a freelance journalist and National Writers Union member based in Des Moines, Iowa.
Sara Weiler is a nurse and artist quaintly living with her striped grey cat, Yuki, in Iowa City.
Sarah Elgatian is a writer, activist and educator living in Iowa. She likes dark coffee, bright colors and long sentences. She dislikes meanness.
Tiffani Green is an Iowa Citybased writer and Little Village food columnist.
bio here.
Culture writers, food reviewers and columnists, email: editor@littlevillagemag.com
Illustrators, photographers and comic artists, email: jordan@littlevillagemag.com
Catch up on Little Village’s most-viewed headlines from last month. Read more at LittleVillageMag.com.
They’ve outlasted recessions, floods and indoor smoking bans. Every other customer through the doors is a regular. Longtime employees dispense beer, life advice and local legends in equal measure. Some are nestled into neighborhoods, aging alongside generations of residents who find it hard to imagine their hometown without “the bar.”
Election 2022: Public measure 1 would eliminate ‘current and future common-sense gun laws’ by Paul brennan, oct. 13
Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks was blunt in his assessment of Public Measure 1, which would amend the Iowa Constitution in a way that would stop most attempts to regulate guns in the state. “This amendment is a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Maybanks said at a news conference at the Cedar Rapids Public Library.
Noreen Bush, superintendent of the Cedar Rapids Community School District, died on Sunday. She was 51 years old. Bush was on medical leave and had submitted her resignation to the CRCSD Board of Directors last month, as her health declined due to the cancer she was first diagnosed with two and a half years ago.
For the first time in four years, screenwriter and Iowa Writers’ Workshop alum David Kajganich is back in Iowa City for the inaugural ReFocus Festival, screening his genre-bending, spine-tingling new work. Bones and All is the third adapted screenplay Kajganich has crafted for director Luca Guadagnino.
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Adamantine Spine Moving (12) Arnott & Kirk (71) Artifacts (17) Brides by Jessa (18) Collins Community Credit Union (53) Coralville Public Library (68) Corridor Entertainment Group (4) Eddie Bowles Project (17) FilmScene (47) Firmstone Real Estate (32) Give Guide 2022 (22-29)
NONPROFIT - The Arc of Southeast Iowa - Bur Oak Land Trust - CommUnity - Coralville Community Food Pantry - Crowded Closet - DVIP - Friends of the Center (IC Senior Center) - Iowa Abortion Access Fund - Iowa Shares - Mercy Hospital Foundation - Multicultural Development Center of Iowa - OneIowa - Public Space One - Riverside Theatre - Shelter House - SILT
- Systems Unlimited - Table to Table - Young Parents Network RETAIL - Raygun - Revival - The Rosé Room
Goodfellow Printing, Inc. (18) Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (53)
Grinnell College Museum of Art (61)
Hancher Auditorium (2-3) Honeybee Hair Parlor (61)
Independent Iowa: Northside Marketplace (64-65)
- John’s Grocery - George’s - The Haunted Bookshop - High Ground - Dodge St. Tire - Russ’s Northside Service - Hamburg Inn No. 2 - Pagliai’s Pizza - R.S.V.P.
Independent Iowa: Downtown Iowa City (62-63)
- Record Collector - Yotopia - Merge - Fix!
- Alebrije
- Revival - Critical Hit Games - Beadology - Release Body Modification
Independent Iowa: New Bohemia & Czech Village (59) - Rare Bird Soap Shop - Next Page Books - NewBoCo - Parlor City - The Daisy - Chrome Horse - Goldfinch
- Iowa Running Company
Iowa Children’s Museum (60)
Iowa City Burger Haul (52)
Iowa City Communications (17)
Iowa City Downtown District (35)
Iowa City Public Library (14)
Iowa Department of Public Health (51)
Iowa Public Radio (33)
Johnson County Public Health (35, 55)
KRUI (43)
Kim Schillig, REALTOR (45) Mailboxes (33)
Martin Construction (57) Micky’s Irish Pub (43) Musician’s Pro Shop (18)
Nearwoods Winery (45)
New Pioneer Food Co-op (6)
Nodo (53)
Oasis Falafel (32)
Obermann Center (37)
Old Capitol Screen Printers (40)
Orchestra Iowa (36)
Perez Family Tacos (39)
Phoebe Martin, REALTOR (31)
Prairie Lights (39)
Press Coffee (39)
Public Space One (56)
Raygun (35)
Riverside Theatre (16)
Scratch Cupcakery (34)
Shakespeare’s Pub & Grill (16)
Summer of the Arts (72)
Taxes Plus (39)
Ten Thousand Villages (37)
The Club Car (16)
The Englert Theatre (66)
The Highlander Hotel (21)
The Wedge Pizzeria (17)
Trunk (51)
UI Stanley Museum of Art (34)
University of Iowa Department of Dance (41)
University of Iowa Department of Theatre Arts (53)
West Music (33)
White Rabbit (53)
Wig & Pen (48)
Willow & Stock (43)
Little Village magazine print readership 25,000—40,000 per issue LittleVillagemag.com readership 200,000 monthly article views 74,000 unique monthly visitors
mEDIAN AGE: 37 18-24: 14% 25-34: 20% 35-44: 21% 45-54: 17% 55-64: 14% 65+: 10%
AVERAGE NUmbER oF CHILDREN 1.85
mEDIAN PERSoNAL INComE: $50k 23.4%: $40k—60k 20.9%: $60k—80k 15.8%: $100k+ 12%: $20k—40k 15.8%: <$20k 12%: $80k—$100k
GENDER Female: 69.6% Male: 27.8% Nonbinary/other: 2.5%
This issue of Little Village is supported by: Ads@LittleVillagemag.com (319) 855-1474
EDUCATIoN Masters: 35.8% Bachelors: 38.5% Ph.D: 12.3% Some college: 7.8% Associates: 4.5%
AVERAGE NUmbER oF YEARS LIVING IN EASTERN IoWA 27
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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.
CoVID, the derecho, and financial stress continue to take a heavy toll on Iowans’ well-being. Governor Reynolds and other state officials have said that mental health ser vices are needed more than ever, whether it be affordable and accessible counseling, psychi atric beds, or suicide prevention.
There is a new, cost-efficient, and easily available service in Iowa. 988 is a three-dig it phone number that anyone can call or text to reach a trained counselor who will provide immediate support and referral to additional mental health services. 988 has only been in operation since July but has already helped thousands of youth and adults in rural as well as urban areas.
Iowa allocated roughly $2.8 million for 988’s first year. The administrator of the na tional suicide prevention lifelines projected a need of $3.2 million for the first year, with cri sis calls increasing rapidly as people become more aware of 988. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is planning a national media campaign, which is sure to increase the volume of 988 contacts. Kansas allocated $10 million for its first year of 988.
988 creates immediate access to mental health support and reduces barriers to services state-wide. To protect the health and safety of Iowans, it must have sustainable long-term state funding. It’s time for our elected officials
Better write about it!
Send letters to:
Editor@LittleVillageMag.com
and department heads to act. Ask them—and candidates for state office—to allocate longterm funding for 988, and make mental health a key factor when you vote.
—David Leshtz, Iowa City
Letter to the editor: Single-issue poli tics are bad for Iowa (oct. 5)
Totally disagree. Until abortion is not used as a tool by the GOP to take away freedom here in Iowa and elsewhere, it’s my single issue.
—Carol E.
Pieper Lewis case reignites conversa tions about sex trafficking in Iowa: ‘I think things are going to change’ (oct. 10)
Me and Chains Interrupted are deter mined to make that the case. This was a horrific series of events that could have been prevented. —Ashley Vanorny, Cedar Rapids City Council member
Writing led Dessa to hip hop. Her music career brought her back again — and into the Iowa literary world (oct. 10)
Ah, man. A very sweet write-up about writing, re jection, music, and takeout. Thanks, @LittleVillage.
—Dessa
Election 2022: Public measure 1 would eliminate ‘current and future com mon-sense gun laws’ (oct. 13)
“But when a Democrat, Sen. Tony Bisignano of Des Moines, offered an amend ment that would replace the language of the measure with the text of the Second Amendment, Republicans rejected it.” Because for them, the 2nd Amendment doesn’t go far enough to “protect” guns.
—Amanda C.
Shall not be infringed. E x c e p t if you’re convicted of a crime. If there’s one excep tion (in the name of “public safety,” no less), then there can be others. But that’s just common sense logic. —Brian
“Any and all....shall be sub ject to strict scrutiny”.... what does that even mean in a legal sense? Is “scruti ny” defined in our constitu tion? A strict interpretation of this could mean no re strictions permissible ever or anywhere, including the state capitol or courtrooms. Good for Maybanks! Vote no! —Craig A.
The black Angel and Ana mendieta (oct. 13)
Ana Mendieta was an amaz ing artist! —Shannon Z.
Interesting urban legend stuff. We would have a few beers then dare each other
to touch it. I used to have a picture. The Black Angel, in her anger, burned it to ashes.
—Robert M.
During my Hippie days my friends and I used to sneak in at night and smoke weed under this statue.......We thought it was magical.......And meant no harm.......it seemed to shelter us from evil...... —Michael B.
Iowa City had a long running vampire live action role play game here named “L’ange Noir” after this monument.
—Steven G.
Black Angel Festival would be a truly bohemian event, a departure from the majority of our shiny, polished events. Just putting that out into the universe.
—Dina B.
So, a footnote to this story mentions a stack of quarters and a couple credit cards being on the pedestal all those years ago. I saw the same thing last month. Is there some secret tradition going on here? —John H.
we saw cash there a few weeks ago.
—Lauri D.
Yes, a couple of dollar bills, folded, weighed down by a piece of pink quartz. Also, recently, a guitar pick and a hand-painted stone.
—David Duer (article author)
A great read full of information a lot of people just don’t know. I literally grew up playing in these cemeteries and the surrounding woods as they were about a 45 foot walk across my grandparents yard. It always amazed me that no one ever paid attention to Eddie’s marker, so much so that when I would bring it up people go, “What broken tree stone?” The Black Angel has been my subject for at least 3 or 4 works but my favorite one will always be the one that puts Eddie into the foreground. My lit tle way of saying “I see you there, even if no one else notices.” —Drew W.
We [The Feralings] got to record “Perennials,” a song about losing a loved one in front of this angel. —Nicole U.
“Despite all the stress around us, politics, judgment, lack of funding, we have to lean in and look towards our kids, and build a system of hope for them that no matter what, we’re still going to help them flourish, learn and feel loved.”
—Noreen Bush in 2021. The Cedar Rapids Community School District superintendent died on Oct. 23 at the age of 51 after 2.5-year battle with cancer
“You were the greatest leader. The best mentor. The most compassionate person. You showed us all how to be better. No matter your situation, you gave us all hope. No matter the struggles and difficulties the job threw at you, you led. Rest in eternal peace, friend.” —Kennedy High School Principal Jason Kline in tribute to Noreen Bush
“This amendment is not about putting Iowa on the same page as 44 other states that have a constitutional amendment for the right to bear arms. It’s about putting us on the same page as three other states that have strict scrutiny in their constitutions … This is not a top five that we want to be in.”
—Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks on Iowa’s Public Measure 1
“We are the future of healthcare, and we have concerns about entering the practice of medicine in this changing environment, where physicians are being asked to carry out the acts of the legislators in a way that’s harmful to patients.” —Margaret Fuller, University of Iowa MD/Ph.D. candidate, at the Do No Harm Rally for Reproductive Justice
“I was in an industry where my degree from Stanford didn’t mean anything and where it was hard to move up. If I wanted to progress, I had to start my own label.” —Chris Christensen, the Cedar Rapids-raised founder of Bodkin Wines
Hawkeye fans: What change would you like to see to the Ferentz regime?
Rival family stages coup 18.9%
Both Kirk & Brian gone 45.9%
Brian out as OC 35.1%
When it’s the “A” not the “U” … They had to know. —Caitlin W.
Ohhhhh Iowa City, we love ya. —Jess M.
Are the sticky floors for safety?
—Paul C. “I just wanna ride that magic bus.”
—Charley K.
So that’s why my seat is always wet.
—Ben B.
The cmbus on the way to the km and go to fill up the love tank. —Kristy H.M.
Keep em and hold out hope 0%
Iowa City switches to new mobile parking app (oct. 14)
Enjoy your change, phone fetishists! —Lindsay A.P.
We don’t have to carry change. :) —Kristin L.
C♥mbUS comin’ through beep beep!
You know, I rode the bus many times during my time at Iowa. Thankfully, I don’t think I ever rode this one.
—Holly C.B.
It’s coming alright. —Jennifer J.A.
NGL. I always see “CAN(NI)BUS” on these at first glance. Ironic, given we live in a medieval, purityrannical state.
—Brian
The internet has ruined me and evi dently all of you too. —Erin M.
Oh shit, I’m caming. —Luke B.
sponsoring a Little Village rack,
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It is with no small amount of regret that I announce that this will be the last ever Brock About Town column. I’ll be leaving Iowa City soon, and while I would love to keep this column running until my editors wise up and stop ac cepting my emails, I can’t very well be Brock About Town if I’m no longer About Town. Besides, I’ll need all the spare time I can get in the coming weeks for packing and plant ing glitter bombs in my boss’s office and suchlike.
I’ve been living in Iowa City for nine years, and it’s time for me to go. The peo ple I started college with have moved to Chicago or New York or Portland to be come lawyers or journalists or, in one particularly bizarre case, a Buddhist monk. I’ve seen the rise and fall of so many ill-fated concept restaurants (anyone remem ber Melk?) and watched as half the buildings in our adorably ramshackle village have been replaced by luxury high-rises. Also, apparently drunk people can rent rickshaws downtown now? Definitely a sign that it’s time for me to split.
My friends have also mostly gone in search of greener pastures. I went to their going-away parties and helped them pack up their U-Hauls and, as I watched them drive away, I wasn’t as sad as I thought I would be, because I knew that it was the right thing for them. And now, adventure is knocking down my door and blowing up my phone and it’s time for me to answer.
It won’t be easy. Iowa City is a pretty special place, and I know that no matter where I go, I’ll never find anywhere quite like it. Like that kid who break-dances with his ferret on the Ped Mall—am I ever going to meet someone that wonderfully bizarre again? No way, baby. I’ve loved being a part of this community. Having this platform, which has allowed me to share my love with all of you, has been a tre mendous privilege. Thanks, Iowa City. Stay cool.
Local bartenders are serving cre ative NA cocktails to keep the party going, without the buzz (oct. 20)
Wild Culture is our fav for non alco holic fun times!!! —Beth M.A.
It’s really nice to have an option for a drink that isn’t alcohol or pop, so I appreciate the mocktail movement! —Sharon F.
Don’t forget Fortuna Board Game Cafe!! —Elinor L.
The shrubs at The Green House are my fave NA drinks! —Katie R.
‘Healing is fundamentally a political act’: Future doctors grapple with the encroachment of anti-abortion laws on Iowa health care (oct. 20)
I was there, representing social workers! So cool! —Christie L.
Love always, Audrey Six-year-old calico Annie is seeking a calicompanion for life. BBW. Was surrendered to the Iowa City Animal Center by her previous human when they had to focus on their own health. Slow to warm up but graciously accepts attention when offered by a worthy suitor. Would like a quiet home with a she-shed to retreat to when she needs some me time. Will your lap be the one she curls up in this holiday season? Drop by the shelter or call 319-356-5295 to arrange a meeting.
Send your personals for consideration to editor@littlevillagemag.com
line “Personals.”
SUPPorTING CommUNITY is a shared effort. Luckily, there are many different ways to plug in! You might volunteer your time: building homes, serving food, helping animals, cleaning public spaces. Maybe you’re able to commit to shopping locally and directly supporting your town’s economy. Or perhaps you choose to support causes you believe in with a monthly or yearly donation to a nonprofit that reinvests in your area.
In these pages, you’ll find a few of the hardworking nonprofits in the CRANDIC that fight day in and day out to make this a more livable place. These groups rely on donations and volunteer hours from community members like you who share that vision.
You’ll also learn about some independent retailers that bring a thoughtful and unique product mix to local shoppers. These businesses depend on shoppers’ dollars to continue to adapt, thrive and improve the community themselves.
It’s essential that these nonprofits and retailers receive year-round support. But endof-year giving and holiday gift purchases can provide a much-needed boost into the new year. This winter, find a new favorite cause to support in our donation drive (www. littlevillagemag.com/give) or knock out some gift shopping at a small business you can be proud to live near.
people of all abilities through advocacy, support and service. The Arc of Southeast Iowa is a local chapter member of the state and national organi zation, but is a separate and independent 501c3 nonprofit, providing services to more than 400 individuals with intellectual, developmental and other related disabilities and their families within an eight-county area in Southeastern Iowa.
space is also allowing the day habilitation pro gram to further develop and increase opportuni ties for adults.
Founded in 1957, the Arc of Southeast Iowa fosters communities of respect and inclusion for
The Arc’s programs are growing! The facility on Muscatine Avenue, in Iowa City’s Towncrest Neighborhood, is going through construction and renovations to expand the inclusive daycare/pre school program. This will allow the Arc to more than double that program’s capacity. The entire facility will become the Bill Reagan Children’s Center, with administrative offices and adult pro gramming moving to another location nearby. Once construction is complete, existing children and teen programming will be able to expand into the Children’s Center, also allowing for growth and opportunity for afterschool, group respite and camp programs. The additional rental
The Arc of Southeast Iowa was formed by families and professionals interested in the wel fare of children and other individuals with dis abilities. These families joined a budding move ment advocating for the rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Arc has a proud history of “finding a way” to meet needs in the local community.
Bur Oak Land Trust works to permanently pro tect native prairie, woodlands and water corri dors in Eastern Iowa, providing safe spaces for animals, insects and plants to flourish.
Bur Oak staff, volunteers and AmeriCorps members increase biodiversity by removing in vasive plants, surveying for different species, replanting native seeds after prescribed fire and trail building that allows people to enjoy the spaces without disturbing the natural landscape.
By providing free access to 13 natural spac es, primarily in Johnson County, Bur Oak is connecting community members to native Iowa landscapes through education and fun activities
for anyone to enjoy.
In 2023, Bur Oak Land Trust will celebrate its 45th anniversary! The organization will kick off an array of exciting events with a First Day Hike on Jan. 1 at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. Register online at buroaklandtrust.org.
Community financial support provides fund ing for Bur Oak’s AmeriCorps land management and conservation education team. Individual contributions, planned gifts, employer-based matching gift programs and business sponsor ships allow Bur Oak to continue protecting land for the future.
Email info@buroaklandtrust.org for volunteer opportunities and how to join the AmeriCorps team.
CommUnity, based in Iowa City’s South District,
is a volunteer-driven organization that provides immediate and non-judgmental support for indi viduals facing emotional, food or financial crisis. It was founded in 1970 and serves thousands of clients annually.
CommUnity’s roughly 200 staff members in clude Crisis Helpline Services counselors, who can provide emotional support to all Iowans through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline via text, call or chat. Mobile Crisis Response
provides in-person crisis counseling to homes, schools or any location in Johnson or Iowa counties where a mental health crisis occurs. Financial Support provides Johnson County residents with housing and utility assistance, career-enabling items, ID assistance, temporary mailing addresses and more. The Food Bank at Pepperwood Plaza provides grocery assistance to those facing food insecurity.
The program has found that many area resi dents know them only by one aspect of their services (and aren’t aware of the others). But the wide variety of offerings are approached as a single effort.
“All of our programs work together to provide a holistic approach to crisis,” said CommUnity’s Emma Huntzinger. “Our goal is to disrupt the cycle of crisis. Clients experiencing a financial crisis are likely also struggling with their mental health and food insecurity, so it’s important to stop the cycle and provide support wherever the client needs it.”
The Coralville Community Food Pantry is an anti-hunger nonprofit organization providing critical and innovative food assistance services to the greater Coralville community. Founded in 2009, CCFP believes that food is a human right, and that food has the power to bring people to gether. The vision of the organization is to build
a stronger, healthier, and hunger-free Coralville community.
CCFP is in the process of moving into a new ly constructed and direly-needed Food Pantry facility. The larger and perfectly customized space will allow expansion of existing program ming and new projects aiming to increase food access and build community in innovative ways. This infrastructure enhancement comes at a time when the prevalence of food insecurity in our community and throughout the State of Iowa is at an all-time high.
When visiting the Food Pantry or placing a home delivery order, members are invited to freely choose from an extensive selection of non-perishable staples, fresh produce, meat, eggs, dairy, plant-based proteins and milks, ready-to-eat meals, bread and pastries and nonfood items such as diapers, menstrual products, condoms, soap, shampoo, toilet paper and pet food. Additional programming includes free community meals, a community fridge, school break nutrition support for kids, a seed library and a local fruit and veggie prescription program.
Crowded Closet was founded in 1978 with a mis sion to share God’s love and compassion in the name of Christ by supporting Mennonite Central Committee world relief, service and development programs, as well as local community relief agen cies. Located in Iowa City’s South District (851 Hwy 6 E, Unit 101), the thrift shop provides Iowa City, Coralville and surrounding communities a sustainable, philanthropic alternative for both do nors and shoppers. Donors know gently-used items will be transformed to help others—assistance to local families with the help of organizations like CommUnity and giving to Mennonite Central Committee to support relief, development and peace around the world. Shoppers enjoy accessible prices and the treasure-seeking fun of thrifting.
The “special spark” at Crowded Closet, said Julie Birky, is “the spirit of love and compas sion” embodied by its 350-strong volunteer com munity. Crowded Closet is structured to promote volunteer engagement, which opens doors of connection, purpose and community building.
Since the shop’s relocation to Pepperwood Plaza, Crowded Closet is finding that many new people are discovering it for the first time. But its mission has remained steadfast since its founding: to share love and compassion, and support the global work of Mennonite Central Committee,
with the power of a neighborhood thrift shop.
more than provide emergency shelter. Advocates work to meet clients where they are.
opportunities for older adults to stay active, curi ous and connected. While people often assume the Iowa City Senior Center is a nursing home, that’s a misconception. It’s actually a community recreation center designed specifically for older adults. The Center itself is located in downtown Iowa City, but serves the entire community and beyond.
dvipiowa.org
The mission of the Domestic Violence Intervention Program is to provide comprehen sive support and advocacy services to victim/ survivors, focusing on immediate and long-term safety, empowerment, dignity, and hope. In col laboration with the community, DVIP strives to end domestic abuse through education, ac countability and social justice. Founded in 1979, DVIP served 2,415 victims/survivors in FY22 in Johnson, Iowa, Cedar, Washington, Henry, Van Buren, Des Moines and Lee Counties.
DVIP provides services including safety plan ning, housing assistance, legal advocacy, emergen cy shelter and hotline and more. Coming up next is the annual Souper Bowl, February 2023 (details coming soon!). The org offers advocacy and safety planning around all aspects of intimate partner vio lence and has mobile advocacy, emergency shelter and hotline available 24/7/365. DVIP does so much
The Friends of the Iowa City Senior Center was founded in 2006 to raise funds to support the valuable mission of the Iowa City Senior Center, which is to enhance quality of life by creating opportunities to support wellness, social connec tions, community engagement and lifelong learn ing for a diverse and growing older adult pop ulation. Serving 1,500 adults aged 50 and older each year, the group boasts an annual economic impact of $118,000 on the strength of a staff of just eight volunteers.
In addition to ongoing programming, the near future holds a renovation project for the Senior Center, helping to maximize its capacity to provide
Iowa Abortion Access Fund (IAAF) is dedicated to the belief that the freedom to choose legal abor tion should be available to everyone. Founded in 1978 in Cedar Rapids, IAAF is the second-oldest abortion fund in the U.S. Every year, IAAF helps hundreds of Iowa and Quad Cities residents who would otherwise not be able to afford an abor tion. In the past three years, IAAF has provided over $300K in assistance to residents of Iowa and the Quad Cities region, serving an average of 479 callers per year (2019-2021).
The sole function of IAAF is to provide funds to callers who need support paying for a safe abortion. IAAF coordinates with clinic staff to confirm the appointment and sends payment di rectly to the clinic to be applied to the caller’s
RAYGUN (founded 2005) raygunsite.com, Des Moines, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, Davenport
Do you ship? Yes
Get your own, then tell it what to do ($24) For over 10 years, this shirt has been raising money for Planned Parenthood North Central States as well as Access Funds in the Midwest. Unfortunately, we seem to be going in the wrong direction, in a lot of ways. Wear this shirt, or support reproductive health directly with your money or vote!
Revival (founded 2003) revivaliowacity.com 117 E College St, Iowa City
Do you ship? Yes
Striped beanie ($36) This beanie is warm, it’s versatile and it supports access to abortion for all. A portion of all of Revival’s proceeds goes to support the Emma Goldman Clinic and the Iowa Abortion Access Fund.
bill. Community support makes this work pos sible. Aside from one part-time staff member, IAAF is entirely volunteer-run. One-time gifts and sustaining monthly support are the best ways to support their mission to ensure reproductive freedom and access for all. Learn more or con tribute today at their website.
The Rosé Room (founded 2021), theroseroomia.com 107 5th St, Coralville
Lash extensions, microblading, brow shaping, Lash lift and tint, Full body waxing (Price range: $15-200) Feel holiday ready with semi-permanent custom lashes or brows. Or give the gift of beauty and relaxation with a gift card. The Rosé Room offers 20% off all services for first time clients! The Iowa City area’s premier lash and brow bar.
With a mission of Connecting People Who Care with Causes that Matter, Iowa Shares is a coali tion of social change, environmental and cultural nonprofit organizations throughout the state of Iowa. Iowa Shares, founded in 1995, makes a di rect impact on the communities it serves through research, education, advocacy and direct service.
Based in Iowa City, Iowa Shares serves 10s of thousands of Iowans through its member or ganizations, many of which (such as ACLU Foundation, Trees Forever and I-RENEW) are statewide. In eastern Iowa alone, its mem ber organizations (such as Girls on the Run, Environmental Advocates, Linn County United Nations Association, Quad Cities World Affairs Council and QC Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees, Center for Worker Justice and the Quire) serve thousands. Communities served include civil rights and human rights advocates, immigrants, environmentalists, those interested in international cooperations, LGBTIQ, women, racial minorities, animal welfare workers and pet owners.
Iowa Shares operates with just one half-time employee and 12 regular volunteers, plus addi tional volunteers who step in as-needed. Its main
focus is workplace charitable campaigns, which bring in around $68-72,000/year on average. Iowa Shares is frequently asked, “Why don’t more people know about you?” and the organization is actively trying to raise its profile to just that end.
in STEM is not a problem. Myth: BIPOC-owned businesses have everything they need to succeed. These are all common and false misconceptions around our community’s need to address racial equity in STEM education and economic devel opment.
Based in Iowa City, the Multicultural Development Center of Iowa has a mission to address racial equity and inclusive economic development for historically underrepresented, disadvantaged and underserved members of our community. MDC Iowa programs work to re move barriers that limit access to tools, technolo gy, training, mentors and support.
with community partners to ensure the work it does is rooted in intersectionality and prioritize efforts to serve trans and nonbinary Iowans.
With five staff members, and serving 1015,000 clients each year, One Iowa is in the be ginning stages of planning a Midwest LGBTQ Health and Wellness Conference for Fall 2023 that will bring healthcare professionals from around the region together to learn how to best serve LGBTQ patients.
The Mercy Hospital Foundation supports Mercy Iowa City with designated initiatives for pa tient care area improvements and impact. The Foundation’s staff of two engage in approximate ly 280,000 patient encounters per year. Coming up next, the Foundation has plans for breast can cer technology improvements.
MDC Iowa, founded in 2017, operates three locations and several programs entirely through the efforts of 10-15 community volunteers. All are welcome, and the organization serves all communities in Iowa, with a “local first” focus that emphasizes underserved, underestimated and historically disadvantaged community mem bers in Johnson County.
In the coming year, MDC plans to invest in more equipment that BIPOC entrepreneurs and small business owners can use to accelerate the growth of their business. This equipment will be part of the expanded use project at INNOV8 idea Lab, the first community-based makerspace in Iowa.
As a nonprofit organization it has been chal lenging for MDC to educate the community to understand the impact that its programs have on degree and career pathways for BIPOC students, youth development and economic growth. What does it take to make change? Time, talent, and treasury from allies.
Public Space One (PS1) is an artist-led, commu nity-driven, contemporary art center that aims to:
• provide an independent, innovative, diverse, and inclusive space for making and presenting art,
• produce unique programs that stretch boundar ies and present diverse perspectives,
• provide resources for artists and cultural educa tional opportunities, and
• advocate for the importance of art in everyday life for any and everyone.
PS1 values:
• Openness
• Accessibility
• Community
Myth: STEM is not for everyone. Myth: diversity
One Iowa, a Des Moines-based nonprofit serving LGBTQ Iowans since 2005, seeks to improve the lives of LGBTQ Iowans by protecting and ad vancing equality and inclusiveness through edu cation, improving workplace culture and increas ing access to quality healthcare across the state.
One Iowa takes a comprehensive approach to ensure LGBTQ Iowans are respected in every facet and stage of their lives. The organization trains workplaces and healthcare facilities on LGBTQ best practices, provide inclusive re sources to LGBTQ folks across the state, work
• Process & Experimentation
• Art & Artists’ Work Relationships
• Care
• Generosity
• Transparency
• Equity
• Joy
Founded in 2002, PS1 bridges downtown Iowa City with three locations, two on North Gilbert (225 & 229) and one on South Gilbert (538).
Dec. 1 is the start of PS1’s 20th Birthday cele bration! The Surreal House installation involves completely transforming the PS1 Close house into an immersive, if festively illogical environ ment, for December and January (please inquire if you’d like to host a strange holiday party for
your team/family/etc between Dec. 22-Jan. 28). Alongside this transformation PS1 will be host ing an array of programming celebrating artists and people who made its first 20 years success ful (and weird!). Highlights will include: PS1 Assembly (our annual membership convening, Dec. 1), Art Market (at Big Grove, Dec. 8), Dada Prom (an absurdly extravagant costume party, Dec. 10) and an array of other events includ ing music, comedy and even Dickens & Donuts (Dec. 17).
PS1 operates with a broad definition of art and does programming that often pushes at many sides of it, from art installations to punk shows to mutual aid projects to social practice and any/ all points in between. This makes it hard to cat egorize. “If we feel a bit mysterious,” said John Engelbrecht of PS1, “it may be because we val ue a multi-vocal, grassroots, inclusive approach and don’t ascribe to a cookie-cutter definition of what a contemporary, community arts organiza tion should be.”
are now completely free for all members of the community.
Riverside’s 42 seasons were made possible thanks to our community’s continued invest ment, so visit their website today to make a do nation and help keep this Iowa City institution thriving for generations to come!
without a safe place to rest at night.
A great city deserves serious theater. Theater that sparks discourse, builds community, delights, inspires, breaks down barriers and explores the complexities of the human spirit. Riverside Theatre strengthens the cultural fabric of Iowa City through intimate, engaging productions from classics to new works, fostering a deeper appreciation for the dramatic arts.
In January 2022, Riverside opened a new 150seat theater in the heart of the Ped Mall, offering audiences an ever-expanding selection of pro gramming including world premieres, classics, educational programs and cabarets. In addition, Riverside’s Summer Shakespeare in Lower City Park has been a staple of Iowa City’s Summer cultural scene for 22 years, performances that
Founded in 1983, Shelter House operates with the mission to provide safe shelter and help people improve the quality of their lives as they move beyond homelessness.
Shelter House serves individuals and families experiencing, at risk of or exiting homelessness. This includes those for whom homelessness has become a chronic occurrence as defined by HUD, those having an acute experience of home lessness, those fleeing domestic violence, veter ans, individuals with mental health conditions and those living in extreme poverty (between 0-30 percent of Area Median Income).
Its staff recently opened 501 Southgate, a 36unit apartment building for individuals exiting chronic homelessness (a HUD definition that includes a diagnosis of at least one serious and persistent mental or behavioral health disorder). 501 has ground floor offices and meeting rooms as well as on-site services for tenants including case management, a clinic offering mental health care, physical health care and mental health counseling.
Tenants are housed without condition, mean ing they are not required to engage in services; rather, they do so when and if they are ready.
Research and practice show that the solution to ending homelessness is simple: a home. And the quickest way to end homelessness is to offer affordable, accessible housing. Not after achiev ing sobriety. Not once someone can maintain employment. Before anything else. Because it is nearly impossible to address other problems
With five staff serving more than 2,000 clients annually, the Sustainable Iowa Land Trust (based in West Branch) has worked toward the mission of permanently protecting Iowa land to grow healthy food since 2014. SILT’s primary focus is on beginning and under-resourced table food farmers as well as landowners wishing to leave a legacy.
SILT just launched a statewide Circle Our Cities campaign to circle 10 Iowa cities with 10 permanent food farms in 10 years, beginning in Des Moines and Dubuque. People often think SILT has to convince people to farm a certain way. On the contrary, the org seeks landowners and farmers who already believe in the power of diverse, ecologically-based table food farming then start the conversation about preserving that land for the future.
Systems Unlimited, Inc. (SUI) has provided sup port to people living with disabilities and mental health needs for over 50 years. SUI’s mission is to partner with the people served to advance their personal independence, dignity and growth.
Based in East Central Iowa, SUI serves peo ple in their home and work life. Currently,
SUI works with approximately 400 people and has around 950 staff. All services are based on each person’s needs and preferences. Supported Living staff provide daily living skills support, mental health management, medical needs and social support while encouraging the person to be as independent as possible. Services can range from 24-hour support in a home operated by SUI to drop-in services.
SUI holds day programs in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City where people served can build friend ships, volunteer and visit area attractions. Many people served by SUI receive assistance with seeking and maintaining community employ ment. Currently, 55 area businesses employ peo ple served by Systems.
If you’d like to help support individuals with disabilities and mental health needs to live rich and connected lives, visit the website for more info on how to help.
food from warehouses and food transport trucks. This wholesome food would otherwise have en tered the waste stream for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to mislabeling, incor rect amount or item ordered, or simply more pro duced than can be sold.
Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank, which has given out 169,012 diapers in FY22. YPN provides prena tal, parenting and early childhood comprehen sive programming for expecting parents and those with children ages 0-5, including: weekly group meetings, home visits, multi-lingual ser vices, literacy initiatives, community resources and referrals. All participants earn points to the YPN We Care Shop, an incentive-based, 100% donation supplied/funded store where families can get diapers, clothing, toys, baby care items, books and more.
Since 1985, YPN has been based in Cedar Rapids, serving Linn, Jones, and Benton/Iowa counties. There are 18 staff who supported 634 volunteers serving 3,778 hours in FY22 and 2,560 shoppers in the We Care Shop.
ypniowa.org, eidiaperbank.org
Founded in 1996, Table to Table keeps whole some, edible food from going to waste by col lecting it from donors and distributing to those in need through agencies that serve the hungry, homeless and at-risk populations. T2T’s five fulltime and two part-time employees work out of their South District Iowa City office to recover and deliver food to 45 Johnson County organiza tions, serving thousands of neighbors.
The organization recovers about $6 million worth of food each year, which is distributed free of charge, supporting crucial community programs by reducing partners’ food expenses so they can use those funds to meet other needs or enhance their services. This year, T2T hosted a second season of Free Produce Stands, collabo rating with food pantries, neighborhood centers, youth programs and other partners to distribute fresh, locally-grown produce at free produce stands close to where people live and work.
The food T2T distributes is not only food that’s close to the “best-by” date. A large amount of food comes directly from producers, proces sors and distributors, including excess produce at local farms, milk from local creameries, and
The YPN mission statement—creating a net work of support through education and resourc es, to build confidence and personal account ability for healthy and successful families—has led to 2,440 individuals served in FY22 through YPN programs and 958 families through the
Among YPN’s current initiatives, the Eastern Iowa Diaper Bank just got a Mobile Diaper Bank, which will allow distribution to reach those who have transportation barriers (eidia perbank.org). The Parents As Teachers ShortTerm Home Visit program was recognized with an Accreditation plaque by Iowa Family Support Credential. Multi-lingual and cultur al families are an ongoing focus, including English, Spanish/English, French/Swahili and Pashto/Dari. And YPN collaborates with local organizations Tanager Place and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Corridor in the YouthPort program, which continues to see growth and extends ser vices and referrals to reach more families in the area (youthport.org).
The “post-pandemic” era in downtown Iowa City prompted some longtime business owners to reevaluate—and move on. bY mIKE KUHLENbECK
Yotopia marks its 11th anniversary this year at the Clinton Street entrance of the Iowa City Ped Mall. The lo cally owned shop serves frozen yo gurt sourced from the County View Dairy in Hawkeye, Iowa, non-dairy vegan desserts and full-fat options “for those who want a more dec adent indulgence,” as Veronica Tessler, owner of Yotopia, told Little Village
“I am an accidental entrepreneur,” Tessler said. “I came upon this idea to start a self-service frozen yogurt shop when I was traveling a lot for my old job at a nonprofit, then called the Stanley Foundation [now called the Stanley Center for Peace and Security] based in Muscatine. I saw more and more frozen yogurt shops popping up across the country and thought it was a good idea.”
Though Tessler was only 25 years old in 2011, her business proved a success with Iowa City’s families, students and tourists. She grossed $750,000 in her first year and was able to quickly pay off the $110,000 small business loan from MidwestOne Bank.
The downtown destination naturally faced an existential crisis during the COVID-19 lock down, but Yotopia found new ways to increase revenues. They added delivery through CHOMP, DoorDash and Uber Eats, and launched a line of pre-mixed Froyo MashUps, made available for purchase from Field to Family’s online farmers market in the summer of 2020. Tessler said they hope to get the packaged treat into grocery stores this winter.
“Since the pandemic started, we tried to get more creative about how we get our frozen yo gurt and desserts in the hands of customers, wherever they are,” Tessler said.
Amid inflation and supply-chain issues, Yotopia not only maintained its commitment to buying local ingredients, but benefited from it, she said.
“When you shrink your supply chain to a lo cal level you can feel the resilience of the local economy, as we are getting things from a couple dozen miles away versus sourcing things from a Sysco truck from lord-knows-where across the country. I think our ability and relationships with our local purveyors have benefited us and the lo cal economy in general.”
So it came as a shock to many Yotopia fans
when Tessler announced in May that she was looking to sell the business. Tessler said she wants to focus more on Nosh, the cafe she launched with her managing partner Lesley Rish in Des Moines’ East Village in December 2019, but told Little Village “exorbitant rent hikes and other cost increases” in Iowa City moved her hand as well.
“Our rent has more than doubled since last November from pre-pandemic levels. We’re currently paying roughly $54 a square foot,” she said.
may have shifted a bit during the pandemic.
“One of the things that happened downtown that was less public was that properties were bought and sold, and you may not even notice it because the same business tenants stayed,” Bird said. “The change in ownership is different today than it was two years ago, and I think that dif ferent owners have different approaches to how they manage their properties.”
Many property owners build rent increas es into their contracts relative to the Consumer Price Index, Bird explained, or work with tenants to keep prices steady through economic upheav al. Others set a price and seek tenants who can afford it.
“It depends on the goals and values of the property owner and whether or not they’re trying to attract more national tenants versus whether or not they’re working to find local solutions that are long term.”
According to the Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD), a nonprofit business association representing 150 property owners and organiza tions, typical commercial rent rates downtown are between $20 and $40. But ICCD Executive Director Nancy Bird acknowledged the market
Tracy Barkalow, whose company Barkalow and Associates Realtors acquired the building Yotopia occupies earlier this year, along with several other retail and office spaces in the downtown district, said the lease agreement he presented to Tessler was fair.
“Real estate costs have gone up for acquir ing the real estate, and when an investor comes in and spends more on a building today than it did 20 years ago, you can’t keep the same rates,” Barkalow told Little Village. “All of our
“oWNErSHIP IS DIFFErENT ToDAY THAN IT WAS TWo YEArS AGo, AND I THINK THAT DIFFErENT oWNErS HAvE DIFFErENT APProACHES To HoW THEY mANAGE THEIr ProPErTIES.”After a liquidation sale in February, Active Endeavors cleared their space of nearly 35 years at 138 S Clinton, retiring their painted wood sign and relocating to Coralville. Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
investments are based on fair market rate rents. There’s nothing on our leas es that is not in that price range.”
It’s hard not to notice that three successful, locally owned downtown businesses—Yotopia, Beadology and Active Endeavors—decided to sell or relocate in the past year rather than sign new leases with Barkalow’s com pany. But the investor takes umbrage at the idea that he is trying to squeeze money from the tenants he inherited.
“Not all landlords are rich,” Barkalow said. “The rent is not free money to the landlord, there’s costs associated with it. For example, it was a large number to buy the building Beadology was in, which means the rent has to support the mortgage in order to pay the bank back.”
Beadology is a full-service bead and craft supplies store, offering repair services, custom designs and private parties. For 15 years under Karen and Laurel Kubby’s ownership (and three years before that under a different owner), Beadology leased the property on 220 E Washington, across the street from the Englert Theatre.
It’s the only store of its kind in Iowa; other full-service bead stores in the Midwest are located in major cities like Chicago and Minneapolis. The Kubbys would also sublet space in their E Washington Street location to other women-owned arts businesses that otherwise could not have afforded space in the heart of the city. Over the years, the store became a fixture downtown and emblematic of the unique local businesses that help give Iowa City its character.
Karen Kubby said the biggest challenge for the business in recent years was speculative purchasing of property downtown by Barkalow, who bought the longtime Beadology space in June 2021.
“A new person, Tracy Barkalow, bought the property way above the as sessed value, hoping to make a lot of money from it,” Kubby said. “In the meantime, he wanted what I consider to be a predatory lease.”
Under Barkalow’s ownership, Kubby said, the new lease charged $40 per square foot, burdened Beadology with the responsibility of replacing major infrastructure, and enforced a six-month development clause, which meant that Barkalow could come in at any moment and give the business six months’ notice to leave.
“He wanted us to pay 100 percent to replace an ancient, 30-year-old HVAC [Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning System]. The reason I feel that is predatory is that he wants us to go into debt to replace the HVAC system and then he comes in and says, ‘You’ve got six months to leave.’ I don’t feel that landlords should be asking for the six-month development clause and have tenants pay 100 percent for major system upgrades. You can’t have both of those things.”
stanleymuseum.uiowa.edu
Barkalow disputes Kubby’s version of events, saying he and the Kubbys “never discussed heat ing and air conditioning,” as they “never got past the discussion of fair market rent.”
As for the six-month contract, “There’s a re development clause in all of our leases and it’s a very common clause in many of the downtown buildings and any other real estate everywhere,” he said. “It’s across the board. Ninety-nine per cent of new commercial leases in any market have development clauses in there for any pur pose whatsoever.”
In any case, Beadology decided not to do business with Barkalow and relocated just out side the downtown district at 355 S Clinton St in December 2021. Kubby said staff and customers have been happy with the new space.
“I respect Karen’s position,” Barkalow added, “but at the end of the day, Karen made a busi ness decision. She couldn’t afford the space so she relocated to a space she could afford. You can’t expect someone to subsidize your business for you.”
As Bird suggested, property owners’ goals and values may indeed be at the heart of afford ability issues downtown. Barkalow’s vision for the future of the district doesn’t place emphasis on retailers like Kubby.
“I just think that the city needs to compete with Iowa River Landing. I think Iowa City should be more restaurants, bars, entertainment and night life to pull in the younger generation,” Barkalow told Little Village. “Let’s face it, the older folks are not going to go downtown for drinks on Thursday or Friday or Saturday night. Most of them want parking and that’s why they’re going to Coralville … Downtown is getting rid of park ing as they improve the street districts.”
“For example,” he continued, “Active Endeavors, the building I currently own, moved to Coralville because of the challenges from Iowa City’s lack of parking. The downtown homeless
IOWA CITY DISTRICT DOWNTOWN
Jordan Sellergren / Little Village
people were part of the issue.”
No one Little Village spoke to for this article mentioned unhoused people downtown as an “issue,” besides Barkalow. Housing and human rights advocates have long fought against the scapegoating of unhoused people for real and imagined problems in the community, often for merely existing in an area with storefronts and heavy foot traffic.
Active Endeavors manager Dave Nerad did say the relative lack of parking downtown was a contributing factor in their decision to relocate to Coralville’s Iowa River Landing this year. Plans to move were already in motion when Barklow took over ownership of their building this year, and Dave Nerad said their rent was already “high to start with.”
Active Endeavors, an outdoor apparel and equipment store, opened in downtown Iowa City in 1986—within months of Prairie Lights Books’ debut on the same block. After a couple years, owner Mark Weaver decided to relocate to a Clinton Street storefront formerly occu pied by Things, Things and Things; before long, he bought the building and expanded Active Endeavors across all five floors. He also opened locations in Des Moines in 1993 and Davenport in 1998.
The flagship Active Endeavors remained at 138 S Clinton St for more than three decades. Longtime employees Dave and Brian Nerad took over managing the store in 2018 after Weaver’s retirement. While their customers never stopped supporting them during the pandemic, Nerad said lower weekday sales, possibly as a result of remote work, made it harder to justify paying downtown rent prices.
“We found the weekdays never really re bounded downtown. The weekends rebounded immediately. I place it on the fact that almost ev erybody is still working at home—the University, the banks, everything like that—so it turns into,
‘Hey, let’s go downtown this weekend,’” Nerad said. “Our weekdays pre-pandemic, you could take lunches from 11:30 to 1:30 because the University was on lunch breaks, the banks were on lunch breaks, and there was so much foot traf fic.”
After a soft opening period, Active Endeavors’ new spot in the Iowa River Landing celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 27. While it was bit tersweet to leave the downtown district, Nerad said he hopes the move makes their store more accessible.
“We’re finding new customers,” he said. “It is very appealing out here. We get people from the Quad Cities up here all the time, Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Southeast Iowa, everybody. We have rear access or back access to the parking garage, so that’s four hours of free parking right outside our back door.”
Meanwhile, the long-occupied space at 138 S Clinton St remains empty, with Barkalow’s con tact information on the door. He remains confi dent in his investment.
“I think the downtown area has a lot of up swing and potential to do things,” he said. He doesn’t see the pandemic as an ongoing concern, adding, “I think everybody has bounced back in the downtown area. If they haven’t I’d be shocked, because I have not heard anybody that hasn’t recovered and is on a positive track from COVID, which is great.”
But Barkalow also noted that, “The city wants to be all retail downtown, and retail is less likely to be a thing in the area anymore.”
While she awaits the right buyer or investing partner in Yotopia, Veronica Tessler continues to pay the rent to keep her beloved froyo shop open. Her Des Moines cafe Nosh has partnered with more than a dozen local suppliers, including Eastern Iowa’s Country View Dairy, The Local Crumb—a Mt. Vernon-based bread and bagel bakery—and Wild Culture Kombucha in Iowa City.
“Independent businesses make up the culture and the character of cities like Iowa City and com munities like the East Village in Des Moines,” Tessler said. “I think Little Village readers are keenly aware of the differences between national chains and those of us like Yotopia and Nosh are offering. I think it is important to challenge read ers on what they want their communities to look like and putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to the kinds of businesses they support.”
Mike Kuhlenbeck is a journalist based in Des Moines. Emma McClatchey contributed to this article.
LV Recommends
376 S Clinton St, Iowa City 319-519-2044
the-encounter-cafe.square.site
The first thing I noticed when I walked into the Encounter Café was the feeling of calm. Coffee shops are typically bus tling, noisy places where orders are be ing called out and people are squeezing past each other to get to tables, the counter, the bathroom. The Encounter is as lively and full of customers as any cafe, and you’ll hear familiar sounds: the grill and steam wands hissing or a coffee grinder roaring to life. But it’s as if all that were being muffled by a blanket—a hum instead of a roar.
It could be the nature of the physical space itself: the building occupies half a block and is spacious and high ceilinged, perhaps allowing the sounds of daily business to trail off instead of bouncing off the walls. But I tend to think it’s a perception created by the employees themselves. The Encounter has a large staff and their fluid efficiency and quiet friendliness creates seamless service. You don’t really see the sausage being made, all you know is that it arrived quietly at your table while you were gazing out the win dow.
The Encounter Café opened at 376 S Clinton St in 2017 with simple goals: to build genuine re lationships with their customers and to give back to their community. The business is owned and staffed by a Mennonite congregation and man ager Ray Yutzy says that the principles of love, kindness and service that are central to their faith also inform the way they run their business. He particularly noted that they wanted the Encounter to be a place where students would feel welcome to linger for as long as they wanted.
The gleaming building has a wall of win dows looking out onto Clinton Street, and is full of brick and wood surfaces. The space is huge but is carved into a number of inviting spac es to suit any and everyone: Seating includes a mix of booths, high and low tables and even a living room-like seating area with a sofa and a fireplace. In one sunny window, there’s a cluster of plants and a fountain.
While coffee shop customers can often skew young, especially in a college town, you’ll find families with children, older couples and, yes, plenty of students all making themselves at home on a typical day at the Encounter Café.
The business’s popularity allowed it to ex pand in May of this year, adding a bakery count er and doubling its footprint. The success also
allows the Encounter to further its mission of giving back. Since they opened their doors in 2017, they have donated all of their net profits to local charities and community organizations. These run the gamut from children’s camps to supporting University of Iowa fundraisers.
“Even though we’re a church-run business, none of the profits go into our church or its pro gramming, it all goes out into the community,” Yutzy said. A bulletin board of cards and notes in the entrance testifies to the impact this philan thropy has had.
All of this is possible because the food at the Encounter Café is as well crafted as its environ ment. The menu is extensive, offering breakfast, lunch, pastries and smoothies as well as tea and coffee. All the baking is done in house and they utilize a number of local ingredients, including Farmer’s Hen House eggs, dairy from Kalona Organics and Capanna coffee beans.
On a recent visit, I ordered an oat milk chai and a soft pretzel. I always believe that simple things that can be found anywhere are often the best indicators of a café’s quality and skill. Chai
and pretzels can be done really wrong, really well or any number of degrees of mediocrity between. Encounter does them really well. The chai was perfectly sweet without drowning out the flavors of the spices and the oat milk was so creamy and perfectly steamed that the foam heart on top stood up to three sips.
The pretzel was equally well made. It was large and I’m a slow eater, so I took it home and ate it over the course of an hour and a half at my desk. Pretzels can get tough and chewy as they cool and the cheese sauce that often accompanies them can get plasticky. But the flavor and texture of the pretzel and cheese were just as good after they cooled as they were right after I received them.
It’s difficult for a business to be broadly appealing without also being boring, but the Encounter Café has pulled it off by focusing on well-executed classics made with quality ingre dients, and by creating an environment where everyone feels at home.
Open Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
—Tiffani Green
Through industry variations, record stores and their fans have held true.
bY CHrIS DELINEFor the music industry, 2021 was defi nitely a memorable year. With concerts and live entertainment essentially on ice for much of the year, consumers pivot ed, directing their expendable income to physical products instead, resulting in a landmark year for record stores. Variety reported in March that 2021 marked the first year since 1996 that both “CDs and vinyl records experienced revenue growth in the same year.” This boom saw vinyl records breaking through the $1 billion revenue thresh old for the first time since 1986—an extension of the format’s resurgence, which has seen revenues grow for 15 consecutive years.
That trend has started to slow a bit in 2022, however.
“People aren’t hiding [from the pandemic] in their basement with their turntable anymore,” said Dennis Hite of NewBo Vinyl Emporium in Cedar Rapids.
Discretionary income is again being spread across other outlets as society regains its equi librium, and wallets have become tighter due to broader economic trends. Various stores cited everything from rising inflation and gas prices to political uncertainty as reasons sales have slowed down.
“Now that people feel more comfortable go ing out and going to bars and restaurants and movie theaters again, some of that entertainment money is now going to other places,” said Nate Niceswanger of Zzz Records in Des Moines.
With the holiday season fast approaching, we spoke with a cross-section of those still waving
the flag for independent record stores throughout the state to better understand what today’s record store ecosystem looks like across Iowa, and how record stores continue to serve local communities.
A quick head-count reveals no fewer than 30 stores around the state that sell new and used vinyl records. Yet while the format has largely returned to the zeitgeist, the evolution from vinyl to cas settes to CDs to digital took with it many retail casualties across the region. With the introduction of CDs 40 years ago, vinyl as a format was put on life support, and most albums lost the bulk of their value.
“Records were almost getting phased out when
I was getting started,” said John Rohlf, who opened Metro Records in Cedar Falls 28 years ago.
“This is not an industry that is easy to survive in,” said Niceswanger, who noted Zzz Records has largely hewn close to its market in music and selling ephemera since first opening in 2000.
Current store owners and employees across the region frequently reflected fondly on other shops that have gone under over the years, such as Relics Records in Cedar Rapids, Peeples Music in Des
Moines and Antiquarium, just outside the reaches of the state line in Omaha. Survival has been pos sible, however, even amid the rise and fall of vari ous physical music formats. Many we spoke with persevered through not only the ebbs and flows of market trends, but also the generally unexpected nature of life.
John Blabaum of Marshalltown’s Wax Xtatic Record Audio Stereo Shop might be the poster child for perseverance when it comes to record
selection of used vinyl to mostly new records. This is one of the most alluring aspects to look ing at the state’s selection of stores on the whole: They’re all in the same business, but no two have the same footprint in terms of selection, specialties or character.
Hite’s Vinyl Emporium offers a classic selec tion of some 7,000 records from the format’s hey day in the 1960s and ’70s, all hand cleaned and graded. But just a few hundred feet away in Cedar Rapids’ New Bohemia district is Analog Vault, which serves up a completely different selection and atmosphere.
FIvE DECADES AGo, bESSINE DECIDED To TAKE THE PLUNGE INTo oPENING HIS SHoP AFTEr A STINT IN LAS vEGAS, WHErE HE WAS INTroDUCED To 8-TrACK TAPES. HE rETUrNED To bUrLINGToN, NoTICED THErE WAS oNLY oNE oTHEr STorE SELLING THEm, AND rECoGNIZED AN oPPorTUNITY. IT WASN’T LoNG bEForE HE roUNDED oUT HIS SELECTIoN bY SToCKING vINYL.
stores in Iowa. After shifting from the first itera tion of his business into a new building, the shop was among the many damaged after a tornado struck in July of 2018. Unsuccessful in re-open ing at that location, he purchased a building of his own only for his reopening to be derailed again by pandemic and derecho. Wax Xtatic finally re opened its doors to the public in April of 2021.
Blabaum has been in the used vinyl business for over two decades.
“We call them ‘pre-heard’ records here,” he said, with his trademark laugh. “Every one is cleaned and graded before it’s put in the rack.”
However, in the span of just a few years, Wax Xtatic has shifted from primarily selling a curated
Analog Vault owner Jeremy Vega explained that his approach is unintentionally different from Hite’s, to a point where they al most complement one another.
For “a reissue from the ’90s or even something brand new,” Vega said, he would be the bet ter option, while Hite might be better suited when it comes to his more period-specific selection and broad selection of audio equip ment. Zzz Records, on the other hand, just filed its 350,000th piece of inventory (a CD from ’90s alt-rock staples the Lemonheads, for anyone curious), suggestive of a distinctly
Vinyl Cup Records Des Moines
The Dig Inn* Reinbeck
metro Records Cedar Falls
The Underground Rock Shop Des Moines
moondog music* Dubuque
Vinyl Cafe Ames
odds N Ends music movies & Video Games Marshalltown
Vinyl Cup Records Cedar Falls
Ragged Records* Davenport
Record Collector* Iowa City
marv’s music* Des Moines
Secondhand Story Algona
Wax Xtatic Record Audio Stereo Shop* Marshalltown
Rogue Planet music Des Moines
Zzz Records* Des Moines
Jays Cd and Hobby* Des Moines
Weird Harold’s Records* Burlington
CDs-4-Change* Dubuque
Unforgivable Records Dubuque
*This store signed the Record Store Day pledge not to gouge customers or sell online
Make sure to pick up LV contributor Sam Locke Ward’s artwork on the Dead Milkmen “RSD First” Metaphysical Graffiti 7-in. rerelease!
Editor@LittleVillageMag.com
different business model.
“We do get some collector’s items, but I want to have a different store every time someone comes in,” said Niceswanger, “meaning that I want to buy a lot of stuff but I want to turn it over quick. … My philosophy from the beginning has been to sell most of our records for two to six dollars. I think that’s worked out well for us.”
The resurgence in popularity over the past de cade and a half has brought with it several new names to help carry the record store torch. One of those is Rogue Planet Music in Des Moines. Despite both just having entered their 30s, co-own ers John Pope and Jesse Pace have geared their selection to that of an earlier vintage, whether it be records that date back a century or decades-old audio equipment that has stood the test of time.
“We try to have a good selection of high quality vintage audio equipment,” Pace said, adding, “We also do our own audio repair. So, we fix our turnta bles, receivers, amplifiers, guitar amplifiers—we can do all those repairs in-house.” This makes for what he calls a “listening experience.”
One thing that several store owners, including Pace, share is particularly fond memories for one other record store in particular: Record Collector in Iowa City.
The story of Record Collector, and the store’s founder Kirk Walther, has become nothing less than local lore, starting from the time Walther be gan selling used records out of the back of a comic book shop called Barfunkels in 1982.
“I’ve been going down there for years,” said Vega. Asked what would happen if the store closed down for good, he quickly shot back, “Do you know the hole that would leave?!”
“At the top of my list would be Record Collector,” said Niceswanger when asked for his
favorite stores around the state.
“I would go in the Record Collector there on Linn Street every other day,” said Pace, reflecting on a period when he lived in Iowa City. “[Walther] was always the overseer of the store. I’d like to think he tucked some things away for me to find.”
In 2017, Walther died from cancer, working at the store right up until he passed away. Since then, Alissa Witzke and Bobby Larson have continued to carry on his legacy as co-owners of the store.
“One of my favorite things that Kirk ever said was that he collects collectors,” said Jo Adams, who has worked at Record Collector for eight years. Those collectors were Larson, Witzke and the other staffers Walther invited aboard in creat ing his wonderland of music.
“The selection that he brought to the Record Collector—it was always eclectic and it was alive,” said Pace. “He brought in so many differ ent artists that you just wouldn’t really see in the region.”
“He wasn’t always stocking best sellers,” added Adams, speaking to an ethos that continues on in Walther’s absence. “He was looking for new and exciting things.”
The store celebrated its 40th anniversary this past May and saw an outpouring of support in cel ebration of the milestone.
“Record Collector isn’t a place I am just nos talgic for,” read one Facebook comment, which summed up the thread’s overwhelming sentiment, “it’s a place that still fills my heart with joy every time I go there.”
About 80 miles southeast of Record Collector, another record store will be celebrating its own 2022 milestone. Weird Harold’s in Burlington marks its 50th year in business in November. The store was founded by Danny Bessine, who turned
over the reins of the shop to its new owner Andrea Fritz about three years ago.
“She’s a perfect fit,” he said of Fritz, who had worked at the store since 1994.
Five decades ago, Bessine decided to take the plunge into opening his shop after a stint in Las Vegas, where he was introduced to 8-track tapes. He returned to Burlington, noticed there was only one other store selling them, and recognized an op portunity. It wasn’t long before he rounded out his selection by stocking vinyl.
In the following decades the store saw numerous trends come and go, but records have never left. Now over 50,000 of them are available to browse across the store’s two floors of retail space. Fritz and Bessine (who continues working at the store) esti mate that vinyl makes up some 90 percent of their business. They have seen a shift in their customer base, however, as records returned to the main stream.
“A new breed of people are coming into this era,” Fritz said. “College-aged kids are really getting into it.”
When asked how it feels to reach this milestone, Bessine said, “It gives me a lot of, I don’t know what you would call it,” before trailing off and pausing. “I get emotional about it.” Weird Harold’s 50th an niversary celebration will take place Nov. 19.
It can feel cliche to praise the merits of buying lo cal, but what record stores provide goes far beyond merchandise: They are a safe space that represents a generational tradition of sharing sounds and stories that inspire. Having the world’s library of music at our fingertips with an internet connection is a thing of magic, but record stores exist to change a listen er’s relationship with that music, to take it out of the ethereal and make it something you can explore with all of your senses.
“We’re like the barber shop of old,” Blabaum said, “where you weren’t always getting a haircut but you could just go and hang out.”
“Where can you go, other than your immediate group of friends, in town, and find people that are into the exact same thing you are?” asked Vega. “At a record store.”
“I think there’s something just to coming through and flipping,” said Adams. “And even if you don’t buy it, taking a picture and going home and listen ing to it. There’s that act of discovery that I think is magical and we just kind of miss that when we’re online looking for a specific thing. … We’ve got everything that you could ever want and things you didn’t even know you needed.”
Chris DeLine is a writer living in Cedar Rapids. He also curates Iowa-centric playlists at villin.net.
This Independence org gives at-risk Iowa wildlife a second chance.
bY ErIN CASEYWhen pets get sick or injured, they go to the vet. But what happens to wildlife like owls, coyotes and deer when their lives hang in the balance? Tracy Belle, director and founder of Wildthunder Wildlife & Animal Rehabilitation and Sanctuary (W.A.R.S.) comes to their res cue, alongside her team of generous volunteers. From baby raccoons to majestic bald eagles, Wildthunder W.A.R.S. strives to give every an imal a new lease on life.
Located in Independence, Iowa, Wildthunder W.A.R.S. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that’s both state and federally licensed in animal welfare and rescue. At the helm is Belle, a mas terclass wildlife rehabilitator who has been sav ing wildlife for over 25 years. The organization works with many injured and orphaned species, including bobcats, coyotes, foxes, deer, reptiles, bats, raptors and more! The organization’s ulti mate goal is to follow treatment and rehabilita tion of these animals with reintroducing them to, and eventually releasing them back into, their natural environments.
Belle’s own story is a difficult one, laced with hope.
“I’m a previous homeless street kid,” Belle said as she explained why she was drawn to help ing animals. “I left home at 15 and was basically homeless until I was 18 … I learned what it was like to be scared, hungry, alone and unwanted.”
She was introduced to caring for animals af ter she stayed with rehabilitators in the ’80s, but really dove into it in 1995. She studied under a masterclass wildlife rehabilitator and joined the raptor academy at the University of Minnesota, where she studied raptor medical care, manage ment and release, as well as ambassador care. After school, Belle started Wildthunder W.A.R.S. in 2000, which became a nonprofit in 2016.
She sees a direct line between her struggles of growing up homeless and her organization.
“We usually work with the animals that no body else will … to give them a second chance,” she said. “It was a path I was put on so I could help others today. I want others to know they’re not alone.”
With the help of volunteers and the commu nity, Wildthunder W.A.R.S. has turned into an
incredible care center with a medical suite com plete with anesthesia machines, metal operating tables, incubators, oxygen chambers and more. Volunteers are vital to its growth, and Belle is always looking for people to tend to lawnwork, build and modify enclosures, and help the ani mals.
At the end of November, they’ll unveil their new 100-foot flight pen. This will give falcons, hawks, eagles and other raptors the chance to exercise their wings before they go back out into the wild. The facility also has access to acres of wooded area and streams where rehabilitated animals are released.
Of course, running a facility like this comes with a big bill. Generous donations from the community keep the lights on, the medical ma chines running and the animals fed.
They also partner with other organizations like Saving Our Avian Resources (SOAR) in Dedham, Iowa, and work alongside humane societies and the local sheriff’s office to bring in injured and unwanted animals. So if you find an injured crit ter, be sure to reach out. While it’s tempting to treat the animal yourself, it’s best to leave it in the hands of the experts.
If you are look ing for a new furry, feathered or scaled friend, several animals are currently up for adoption at Wildthunder W.A.R.S. And if you can’t bond with one there, Belle strongly encourages people to adopt from local rescues and shelters.
When Wildthunder W.A.R.S. isn’t busy with their patients, they’re leading informational ses sions at libraries and state parks. They even teach classes, like Pet CPR, at their educational center. Running a rehab center isn’t always pretty.
“I LEFT HomE AT 15 AND WAS bASICALLY HomELESS UNTIL I WAS 18 … I LEArNED WHAT IT WAS LIKE To bE SCArED, HUNGrY, ALoNE AND UNWANTED.”Kaylin Butterfield / Little Village
While the hope is to return all animals to the wild, not every patient survives. Belle explained that TV and Hollywood give a false impression of what actually happens at rehab centers.
“[People] see this animal come in, and you have this big beautiful release, but what people don’t understand is, that’s not the percentage. They don’t understand the broken birds, the bro ken animals, the maggot infestation … they don’t get the percentage of the days that you feel like you can’t keep doing this,” Belle said.
Volunteers may spend weeks caring for an animal only to have it regress. Sometimes pa tients recover, but due to a debilitating injury that would make living in the wild nearly impossi ble, they’re euthanized humanely. It may be a difficult thing to hear, but not every animal can be turned into an ambassador for the facility. If there’s no quality of life, the kindest thing to do is to end their suffering.
Luckily, many stories don’t end in tragedy. Belle fondly recalled the rehab of a newborn deer named Stinky due to the smell of his wound.
“He had a skull fracture. He had one eye that he couldn’t properly blink, and that was a con cern. But one-eyed deer can survive! He inte grated into the herd very well. Later on that fall, we released him, and we have pictures of Stinky trotting away with the rest of the deer.”
Stinky is just one of many animals Belle and her team have rescued. A snake named Big Hoss was found as a stray in Waterloo. He had pneu monia and wasn’t expected to live. But after a few weeks of extensive treatment under just the right temp and humidity, he fully recovered.
Some cases are even more challenging.
“Scrimshaw came to us a teeny, tiny baby rac coon,” Belle said, adding that he had been bitten deeply. “[He] had holes in his face, and as he got bigger, he would eat and water would come out!”
Despite all this, and after much medical care, he could still manage to get fish and wintered over at the facility. A doghouse served as a cave, and he would poke his head out to get food. Like Stinky and Big Hoss, Scrimshaw survived and rejoined the wild.
Success stories are what keep Belle and her volunteers going. You can watch many incredible releases on their Facebook page.
Without Wildthunder W.A.R.S., countless an imals would go through needless suffering, or never find a way back to the woods. Fortunately, Belle and her team are there to save the day.
Erin Casey (she/her), an urban fantasy author and a founder of the Writers’ Rooms, once spent several months volunteering at a raptor rescue center. (erincasey.org)
Receiving gifts is great, and giving them can feel even better. But even the best gift givers can find themselves scroll ing glassy-eyed through Cyber Monday sales, sweating in a mile-long self-checkout line or cursing the supply chain gods as the estimated delivery date gets bumped to Dec. 26.
Give yourself a present this year and try to en joy the gift shopping process! Holiday markets across Iowa celebrate local vendors, Old World traditions and family friendly frivolity, helping you make some memories while crossing names off your list. Rather than seek out the perfect gift, mill around the market with some mulled wine and let something special find you. All markets are free and open to the public.
Downtown Swisher Holiday market
Nov. 5 (8 a.m.-2 p.m.)
This small-town tradition features special deals from a range of local businesses, including Vault Boutique, Plum Creek Boutique, Kava House and Salon Two Twenty One. More than 20 vendors in the Swisher Legion will table the market, with wine tastings, live music at Black Squirrel Tap and a screening of the Iowa vs. Purdue football game to keep the party going.
Hampton Holiday Craft and Vendor Fair
Franklin County Convention Center, Saturday, Nov. 12 (11 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Hosted by Iowa author Amber Rodgers, this fifth-annual fair features over 40 vendors, from crafters selling their wares to authors signing
books. Grab lunch from Mama Dee’s Mexican Food Truck, take a photo with Santa and even “adopt” a child or family to brighten their holiday season.
250 Ansborough Ave, Waterloo, Nov. 12-13 and Dec. 3-4 (9:30 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Established last year, this multi-weekend market features vendors selling indoor and outdoor de cor, bath and body care items, jewelry, children’s toys, clothing, metalwork and more. Note: Some multi-level marketing vendors in attendance.
Principal Park, Dec. 1 (5-9 p.m.), Dec. 2-3 (11 a.m-9 p.m.) and Dec. 4 (11 a.m.-5 p.m.), christkindlmarketdsm.com
A team of organizers present this German Christmas market each year in downtown Des Moines, first launched by the nonprofit Des Moines European Heritage Association (now called the Iowa European Cultural Connection) in 2016. Pick up a traditional pickle orna ment, German stein or nutcracker from the Christkindlmarket store; German wood art from DSM Foundry; goat milk products from Swede Point Creamery; and a range of other glass, wood,
Above: Kerstmarkt: Pella’s Dutch Christmas market is inspired by ourdoor markets in the Netherlands. via Kerstmarkt. below: Artist rachel Hall of Indianola Glass Creations demonstrates glass blowing at the Christkindlmarket Des moines in 2017. Video still from Christkindlmarket Des Moines
tin, ceramic and specialty food products from ven dors across Iowa and the Midwest, representing a range of European craft traditions. Fuel up with a beer, bratwurst, strudel, kringle, pretzel, Polish King sandwich or other rich food and drink op tions. New this year: Guests can take a photo in a reindeer-drawn sleigh from 1-4 p.m. on Dec. 4.
Molengracht Plaza, Dec. 1-3 (11 a.m.-8 p.m.)
facebook.com/pelladutchchristmasmarket This new Pella tradition is inspired by outdoor
“I saw this and thought of you” is often the best present of all.
markets in the Netherlands, featuring artisan vendors, Dutch delicacies and live music. Held in conjunction with Pella’s Christmas Tour of Homes.
Amana Colonies, Dec. 2-4, amanacolonies.com
This weekend-long, Colonies-wide celebration brings out the best in one of Iowa’s oldest and coziest settlements. Catch carolers, food and bev erage samplings, a Christmas Cookie Walk and Holiday Bazaar (schedule TBA). Don’t skip the Tannenbaum Forest in the Festhalle Barn, featur ing over 60 Christmas trees and the 17-foot-tall German Christmas Pyramid.
But if you stop at only one spot, make it the Amana General Store, which includes a yearround International Christmas Market. Shop or naments and home decor imported from around the world, surrounded by artful tree displays—any time of year!
National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, Cedar Rapids, Dec. 3-4, ncsml.org
European traditions meet “Midwest magic” at the NCSML’s annual market. Shop handcrafted goods, eat holiday treats, sit on Czech Santa’s lap and celebrate the community. Visitors also enjoy free admission to the museum’s galleries on mar ket weekend.
Hyatt Regency Hotel Expo Hall, Coralville Dec. 3 (10 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Dec. 4 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), summerofthearts.org
Summer of the Arts hosts this fine art market, which is one of Iowa City’s oldest events. The Holiday Thieves Market has been around for more than half a century, and many of its vendors have returned for 20 years or more. Shop art made in every medium imaginable: paintings, photos, prints, ceramics, jewelry, sculptures, glass art and much more.
Hotel Maytag Ballroom, Newton, Dec. 10 (10 a.m.-2 p.m.)
You can not only knock out some gift shopping among the vendor tables at this indoor market, but get them gift wrapped as well! Note: Some multi-level marketing vendors in attendance.
Winterset Livery, Winterset, Dec. 10 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) and 11 (noon-4 p.m.), madisoncounty.com More than 20 talented creators will sell their work at this market in picturesque Madison County.
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.
at 7 p.m., $20-55 Kevin Smith has taken his show on the road. Since its premiere in New Jersey at the beginning of September, the third installment of Smith’s classic trilogy, Clerks III, has been hitting theaters across the country, with Smith along himself for Q&As after the screenings. The original Clerks film—a black-and-white ode to the working class, small-town friendships and not giving a fuck—premiered in 1994, molding the minds of countless young Gen Xers and elder Millennials and setting the stage for the entire View Askewniverse, now coming up on 30 years of worldbuilding and character development. The film is a recursive homage to the original, seeing titular clerks Dante and Randall embarking on a quest to make a black-and-white film of their ear ly days at Quick Stop and RST Video. It’s going to be magical.
Thursday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Predator: An Evening with Ander Monson, FilmScene—Chauncey, Iowa City, $9.50-12
Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10 p.m. Clerks, FilmScene—Chauncey, Free-$7
Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. Esteban & The Children of the Sun, FilmScene—Chauncey, $9.50-10.50
Friday, Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. Slaughter house-Five, FilmScene—Chauncey, $9.50-12
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 12 and 13 at 11 a.m. Sherlock Jr, FilmScene—Chauncey, Free-$5
Saturday, Nov. 12 at 10 p.m. Pink Floyd—The Wall, FilmScene—Chauncey, Free-$7
Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m We Feed People, FilmScene—Chauncey, $10 suggested donation
Thursday, Nov. 17 at 3:30 pm. Sherlock Jr, FilmScene—Chauncey, Free-$5
$85 The Mic Check Poetry Fest returns for its two-day celebration of spo ken word. There’s ample ways for poets, performers and poetry lovers to get involved in the fest’s happenings. Festival goers can engage in various panel discussions, participate in writing workshops and poetry slams and catch live performances by local and nationally-acclaimed acts. Don’t miss the festival’s showcase on Sunday at 4 p.m., at the Englert; IC Speaks poets are opening for festival headliners Ebony Stewart and Patricia Smith.
Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. Juliet Patterson, Prairie Lights, Iowa City, Free
Thursday, Nov. 3 at 10:30 a.m. Preschool Stories w/Ellen Buchan an, Iowa City Public Library, Free
Friday, Nov. 4 at 10:30 a.m. Days of Future Past: Histories and Fu tures of Racial Representation in Comics, Iowa City Public Library, Free
Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. Joshua Weiner and Christopher Merrill, Prairie Lights, Free
Saturdays, Nov. 5, 12, 19 and Dec. 3. Queer Storytime, PS1 Close House, Iowa City, Free
Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5 and 6. KidLit Pizzazz Festival, Sidekick Books & Coffee, Iowa City, $35
monday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. Patricia Bryan and Tom Wolf, Prairie Lights, Free
Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. Lau ren Haldeman and Kaveh Akbar, Prairie Lights, Free
Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. Anne Lamott, Englert Theatre, $62.50
Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. Book Signing w/Chloe Angyal, Sidekick Books & Coffee, Free
Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. Rainbow Rowell, Prairie Lights, Free
Sunday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. Transla tion Reading with Vala Thorodds & Aron Aji, Prairie Lights, Free
monday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. The Iowa Review Virtual Readings, Prairie Lights, Online, Free
Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. Jeff Deutsch and Jan Weissmiller, Prai rie Lights, Free
Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. Hist & Friends Reading, PS1 Close House, Iowa City, Free
Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. Pride at Film Scene: Happy Together, FilmScene–Chaunc ey, $8.41-12
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 10 p.m. The Nice Guys, FilmScene–Chauncey, Free-$7
Sunday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. What’cha Reading Book Club w/ Katie Mills Giorgio, Craft’d, Cedar Rapids, Free
Sunday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. Infra structure: Poetry in the Public, Iowa City Public Library, Free
Thursday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. Drew Bratcher, Prairie Lights, Free
Nov. 26 at 9 p.m., $20 Liz is heading home to celebrate the release of her new album, Wherever You Aren’t. The album embodies connection and introspection, and it includes both previously released singles and new songs. Moen’s been working on many of these tracks for years on the road and in her new home in Chicago. She’ll be performing at Gabe’s on Thanksgiving weekend alongside Annalibera and former local bandmates Dan Padley, Blake Bass, David Hurlin and Penny Peach.
Thursday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Will Sheff and Okkervil River, James Theater, Iowa City, $15-28
Thursday, Nov. 3 at 9 p.m. FE(a) ST: Olivia Block and Patrick Shiroi shi, Trumpet Blossom Cafe, Iowa City, $20-75
Friday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. FE(a)ST: Lubomyr Melnyk w/Rachika Nayar, Englert Theatre, $20-75
Friday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Old Capitol Chorus, Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, Free-$20
Friday, Nov. 4 at 9 p.m. FE(a)ST: Joe Rainey, Duma, Masma Dream, Gabe’s, Iowa City, $15-75
Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. Miguel Espinoza Fusion w/Dave Hage dorn, James Theater, $20
Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. Sweetie & The Toothaches, Wildwood Saloon, Iowa City, $15
Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. WH & FE(a)ST: Godspeed You! Black Emperor w/Marissa Anderson, Englert Theatre, $20-37.50
Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. Orches tra Iowa: From the Heartland, Coralville Center for the Perfoming Arts, $10-25
Sunday, Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. Allison Russell, Englert Theatre, $20-100
monday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. Autopi lot, Gabe’s, $10
Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. Die Mad, Birdlabs, Free Music, M Denney, PS1 Cloud House, $10
Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Cursed Existence, Bovinophobic Bile Puddle, Duo Beats Dhobi, Animals on LSD, Wild Culture Kombucha, Iowa City, $5-10
Friday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. Tower of Power, Paramount Theatre, Cedar Rapids, $44-85
Friday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m. Newski w/Genevieve Heyward, Lucky Cat Comedy, Cedar Rapids, $15-20
Saturday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. Awful Purdies, CSPS, Cedar Rapids, $10-13
Sunday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. Blame Not the Bard, James Theater, $15
Sunday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. Some Kind of Nightmare, CSPS, $10-12
Thursday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. Slaughter Beach, Dog, Gabe’s, $20
Friday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. Adam Ezra Group, CSPS, $16-19
Saturday, Nov. 19 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Mannheim Steamroller Christ mas, Hancher, Iowa City, $85
Saturday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. Cedar County Cobras, CSPS, $10-13
Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. Cantus, Hancher, $24-30
Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Lissie w/ Cat Clyde, Wildwood Saloon, $25-40
Friday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. Susan Werner, CSPS, $25-30
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Deb Talan, James Theater, $20
Sunday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. Irish Christmas in America, CSPS, $30-35
Truthsgiving, Englert Theatre, Iowa City, Friday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m.,
Free-$57.50 The Truth Will Not Be Whitewashed, co-presented by Great Plains Action Society, is a pay-what-you-can night of truth telling, music and laughter. The goal of the event is not to simply rename Thanksgiving celebrations, but to challenge the mythology and white washing endemic to the holiday and offer a voice to those who continue to be oppressed by that rose-colored history. Presenters/performers include AUDIOPHARMACY; Jessica Engelking, Anishinaabe, GPAS; Sikowis Nobiss, Plains Cree/Saulteaux, GPAS; Damita Brown, PhD; Alejandro Murguia-Ortiz, Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice; Dave Whiting; and Native Harmony Drum Group.
Thursday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. Loteria Game Night, Big Grove Brewery, Iowa City, $1
Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. Game Night, Giving Tree Theater, Marion, $24
Saturday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. Gallery Talks w/Andrew Casto, Stanley Museum of Art, Iowa City, Free
Sundays, Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27 and Dec. 4 at 11 a.m. Makerspace Sunday, NewBo City Market, Cedar Rapids, Free
Sunday, Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. Performance Art Lab of Iowa (PALI) Meeting, PS1 Close House, Free
Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. Science Lab, Sidekick Coffee & Books, Iowa City, Free
Thursday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Jeanne and Richard Levitt Lecture: American Crafts in Context, University of Iowa Main Library, Iowa City, Free
Saturday, Nov. 12 at 8 a.m. Holiday Market, Robert A. Lee Recreation Center, Iowa City, Free
Sunday, Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. Cranksgiving, NewBo City Market, Free
Sunday, Nov. 13 at 9 a.m. Vintner’s 5K Run-Walk-Crawl, Walker Homestead, Iowa City, $60
Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m ArtLinks, PS1 Close House, Free-$20
Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. A Crisis of Care: Iowa’s Childcare Predicament, Obermann Conversation, Online, Free
Sunday, Nov. 20 at 10 a.m. Artists Market, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Free
Thursday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m PS1’s 20th Birthday Party, PS1 Close House, Free
Saturday, Dec. 3 at 9 a.m. Nature’s Noel, Indian Creek Nature Center, Cedar Rapids, Free
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3-4 Holiday Thieves Market, Hyatt Regency Hotel Expo Hall, Coralville, Free
Sunday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. The Eye Opener, FilmScene–Chauncey, $20-25
Sunday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. Surreal House Costume Workshop, PS1, Iowa City, Donations encouraged
via the Great Plains Action Society
Opening Friday, Nov. 18, $18-48 Soften your cynicism and sink into the holiday spirit with Meet Me In St. Louis, the 1989 Hugh Martin/Ralph Blane/Hugh Wheeler musical spun off of the classic 1944 Judy Garland MGM film. Set at the eve of the 1904 World’s Fair, the story is told through a series of vignettes pulled from a series of semi-autobiographical short sto ries by Sally Benson, published in The New Yorker from June 14, 1941 to May 23, 1942. Fun fact: Without the 1944 film, we would not have the indomitable Liza Minnelli, whose father, the film’s director Vincente Minnelli, met her mother, Garland, on set. The TCR production, directed by Lisa Kelly, boasts a fantastic cast of 34, including both an adult and a youth ensemble. It’s the show not to miss if you want to be sure to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
Thursday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. the wish, Willow Creek Theatre Company, Iowa City, $15
Friday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m. Girlies for Emma Goldman, Willow Creek Theatre Company, $1115
opening Friday, Nov. 4 The Bacchae, David Thayer Theatre, Iowa City, $5-20
Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. Comedy Show w/ Jimmy Pardo and Fritz Nothnagel, Olympic Theater, Cedar Rapids, $25-50
Saturday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m. STOMP, Paramount Theatre, Cedar Rapids, $48-78
Saturday, Nov. 5 at 9:30 p.m. Colorado Comedy Takeover, Joystick Comedy & Arcade, Iowa City, $5
opening Friday, Nov. 11 A GTT Murder Mystery, Giving Tree Theater, Marion, $18
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 11-12. Dance Gala, Hancher, Iowa City, $5-20
monday-Wednesday, Nov. 14-16 Annie, Hancher, $60-75
Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 17-20 The Book of Will, James Theater, Iowa City, $12-22
Saturday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. Comedy Show w/ Josh Arnold and Doug Thompson, Olympic Theater, $20
Sunday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. National Theatre Live: Jack Absolute Flies Again, FilmScene–Chauncey, Iowa City, $9.50-10.50
opening Friday, Nov. 25 The Flick, Riverside Theatre, Iowa City, $15-35
Friday-Sunday, Dec. 2-4 The Nutcracker, Englert Theatre, $20-42
opening Friday, Dec. 2 Miracle on 34th St, Giving Tree Theater, $23
Artist Lecture + Exhibition Reception: Miriam Alarcón Avila, Des Moines Art Center, Sunday, Nov. 13 at 1:30 p.m., Free Join photographer and multimedia artist Miriam Alarcón Avila and Laura Burkhalter of the Des Moines Art Center in a conversation about the artistic process, the impor tance of community making, and leading creative acts. They’ll also be discussing Alarcón Avila’s photo series Luchadores Immigrants of Iowa that will be on display at the Art Center until mid-January. Alarcón Avila’s images and masks, videos and other objects will also be part of the new exhibition.
Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. The Author Afterparty: Kelly Barnhill and Antonia Angress, Raygun, Des Moines, $6
opening Friday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, Tallgrass Theatre Company, West Des Moines, $3335
Saturday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. Iowa Abortion Access Fund Benefit Show, xBk Live, Des Moines, Free will donations
Saturday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. Magdalena Bay, Wooly’s, Des Moines, $20
Sunday, Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. Kirk Knuffke and Jesse Stacken, Caspe Terrace, Waukee, $30-35
Friday, Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. My City My Health Equity Summit, Mainframe Studios, Des Moines, $25-40
Friday-Sunday, Nov. 11-13. Art on the Prairie Festival, Various Venues, Perry, Free w/registration
Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. Iliza Shlesinger, Des Moines Civic Center, $29.50-79.50
Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. Charlie Burg w/Genevieve Stokes, xBk Live, $15
Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. Rose Colella, Noce, Des Moines, $20-60
Friday, Nov. 11 at 9 p.m. Duma, ONO, Masma Dream World, Sarin, Gas Lamp, Des Moines, $12-15
Sunday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. Burlesque Workshop, Reliable Street, Ames, $45
Fridays, Nov. 18, 25 and Dec 2. Holiday Promenade, Historic East Village, Des Moines, Free
Friday, Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. Allegra Hernandez’s Album Release, xBk Live, $15
Sunday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. Makers Market & Bar Hop, Big Grove Brewery, Des Moines, Free
Sunday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. Smallpools and Dreamers, Wooly’s, $25
opening Tuesday, Nov. 22. Come From Away, Des Moines Civic Center, $40-130
Thursday, Nov. 24 at 9 a.m. Turkey Trot, Downtown Des Moines, $1240
Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 1-4. Christkindlmarket, Principal Park, Des Moines, Free
Friday, Dec. 2 at 5 p.m. First Friday: Annual Ceramics Invitational, Mainframe Studios, Des Moines, Free
opening Friday, Dec. 2. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Des Moines Community Playhouse, $29-53
Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. Lady Revel w/The Second Shift and Betsy Hart, xBk Live, $10-15
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4. The Nutcracker, Des Moines Civic Center, $20-55
Late Fall Writing Retreat, Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat Center, Wheatland, FridaySunday, Nov. 11-13, $160 (all expenses covered) Our Lady of the Prairie is offering a writing retreat led by author Jodie Toohey, owner/operator of Legacy Book Press LLC, during the weekend of Nov. 11. All skill and experience levels are welcome to spend the weekend in this prairie retreat center with opportunities for writing instruction, prompts and assistance. The retreat runs Friday at 2 p.m. through Sunday at 11 a.m. There will be time to socialize and explore the large property. Meals, room and instruction are included in the fee. Anyone with dietary restrictions is asked to register three days be fore the retreat. Co-presented by the Midwest Writing Center.
Quintessential QC
Saturday, Nov. 4, 8 a.m Breakfast Nature Club: Notorious Past of Nahant, Nahant Marsh, Davenport, $10
Sunday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m. PetTech Pet CPR 7 First Aid Certification, Black Dog Canine Massage, Davenport, $135
monday, Nov. 6, 10 a.m. Preparing to Breastfeed Education Event, Crafted QC, Davenport, $20
monday, Nov. 7, 5:30 p.m. Cooking with Catalina: Gorditas, Silvis Public Library, Silvis, Free
Thursday, Nov. 10, 2 p.m. Afternoon Classic Films, Davenport Public Library Fairmount Branch, Free
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m. No Pressure Book Club, Davenport Public Library Eastern Branch, Davenport, Free
Friday, Nov. 18, 8 p.m. Village of Idiots: We Haven’t Got A Clue, The Village Theater, Davenport, $10
Saturday, Nov. 19, 6 p.m. Rock N Roll Bing, Unimpaired Dry Bar, Davenport, Free
monday, Nov. 21, 6 p.m. Adult Arts and Crafts: Pressed Flower Mini Pumpkins, Silvis Public Library, Free
Midwest
holiday shopping
Over
vendors
all day at the Waterloo Center for the Arts. Browse original works by
artists
W’loo + more!
Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert, Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, Cedar Falls, $6.75-80.75
Friday, Nov. 4 at 9 p.m. Atlas Support Group EP Release Show, Octopus College Hill, Cedar Falls, $10
Sunday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. Ailey II, Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, $26.75-50.75
in
and
opening Friday, Nov. 11. Shrek the Musical, Waterloo Community Playhouse, $10-25
Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. Comedy Night, Octopus College Hill, Free Thursday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. Vertigo A-GoGo: A Night of Performance Art, Waterloo Center for the Arts, Free
Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. Turkeys, Tails & Trails, Katowski Greenbelt Park, Waterloo, $6
Friday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. Holiday Hoopla Kickoff, River Place Plaza, Cedar Falls, Free
Sunday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. Charlie Parr w/Lily DeTaeye, Octopus College Hill, $25
opening Friday, Dec. 2. Miracle on 34th Street, Cedar Falls Community Theatre, $10-25
Magic the Gathering. Video Games. Warhammer. Warmachine. RPGs. Board Games. X-Wing. Dice. LotR. HeroClix. Miniatures. GoT. Blood Bowl. L5R. Pokemon. Yu-Gi-Oh. Kidrobot Vinyl. Retro toys. Pop vinyl & plushies. Gaming & collectible supplies.
Huge Magic singles inventory plus we buy/trade MtG cards. Weekly drafts, FNM, league play, and frequent tourneys.
Now buying/selling/trading video games & toys! Bring in your Nintendo Gameboy, NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube, Sega, WiiU, Xbox 360, PS1-2-3, & other used games, consoles, action figures, and toys for cash or trade credit!
Fun atmosphere and great customer service!
Dear Kiki, I have a client who is getting a little … too personal with her stories. She works in a location that I deliver to for my job, and I see her pretty often, almost every day. She’s very nice; problem is, for the past couple months she’s kept me up to date with her love life. She’s divorced and in the dating scene and keeps telling me about whatever person she’s met and gone on dates with, and how often they don’t work out. I didn’t really mind this at first, but she’s got a little more explicit with certain details as of late, and it’s making me a bit uncomfortable and taking up my time. I’m not
and are praised for it. That’s probably why you get the impression that your workplace chatter box might get her feelings hurt if you call her out: She’ll read the interaction as though she broke the social contract and get embarrassed.
The thing is, Tired, that she did break the social contract. And this is where “nice” butts up against “kind.” By smiling and nodding, you’re leading her to believe that she has a closer relationship with you than she does, which also ironically pre vents any actual friendship (which requires inti macy from both parties) to blossom. Essentially, you’re treating her like a TV program, and you’re annoyed because you can’t find the remote. The only action avail able from a place of kindness is to en gage with her as a person. Holding her at a distance may be nice, but it’s unkind.
115 S. Linn Street (by the Public Library), Iowa City Tel: 319-333-1260; Email: chg@criticalhitgames.net www.criticalhitgames.net @criticalhitgamesiowacity
really one to share a lot of details about my per sonal life, so it’s also very one-sided. My issue is, she seems like someone who is very sensitive and gets her feelings hurt easily, which I’ve gathered from her stories about her love life. I don’t think that’s a bad quality, but I’m nervous about poten tially hurting her feelings and ruining our friendly work relationship. Should I just come right out and tell her she’s making me uncomfortable? Should I get my supervisor involved? Should I just try to avoid interaction as much as possible? I’m at a loss.
Sincerely, Tired of TMI
Dear Tired, You’re very kind to be thinking about your acquaintance’s feelings. It’s likely that kindness is what makes her feel she can open up to you. And while I’m never going to recom mend that someone be less kind, I will say that, for the sake of kindness, you should probably start being less nice
A distinction without a difference, you say? Ohhhh, buckle up, Tired, because this is one of Kiki’s favorite topics.
“Iowa nice” is more than just an ambiguous phrase deployed as praise and insult in roughly equal measure. It’s also the way that anyone who has spent any substantial amount of time in the Midwest is conditioned to behave, on pain of so cial ostracization. It’s the impulse to equate polite ness with minimizing ourselves.
People living on the crowded coasts have learned to share physical space, but will fill emo tional space with abandon. Here, on the wide open prairie, we shrink and cower in our interactions
Step one: Be honest and specific. Tell her, “I enjoy chatting with you, but it makes me uncomfortable when you share intimate details of your life with me.” She might not believe the first part, and yes, she might feel hurt at first— but she’ll probably stop oversharing.
Step two: Keep talking. You’re the one who nixed this line of conversation, so you need to come up with a new one. Future awkward silences are on you to fill, at least to start. Show her with your actions that you value your daily banter and that you want to remain friendly.
Be your best self, Tired. That’s the other glaring difference between nice and kind: Nice is a way we attempt to control the reactions of others; kind is the acknowledgement that we can only exert authority over ourselves. Maybe she will freeze you out. Maybe she’ll retaliate in some way (in which case, do get your supervisor involved). But however she responds, you’ll know you were re spectful and kind—both to her, and (importantly) to yourself. —xoxo, Kiki
Submit questions anonymously at littlevillagemag.com/dearkiki or non-anonymously to dearkiki@littlevillagemag.com.
Questions may be edited for clarity and length, and may appear either in print or online at littlevillagemag.com.
I DIDN’T AT FIrST, bUT SHE’S GoT A LITTLE morE EXPLICIT WITH CERTAIN DETAILS AS oF LATE, AND IT’S mAKING mE A bIT UNComForTAbLE.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Fear is the raw material from which courage is manufactured,” said author Martha Beck. “Without it, we wouldn’t even know what it means to be brave.” I love that quote—and I especially love it as a guiding medita tion for you Scorpios right now. We usually think of fear as an unambiguously bad thing, a drain of our precious life force. But I suspect that for you, it will turn out to be useful in the coming days. You’re going to find a way to transmute fear into boldness, bravery and even badassery.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): For decades, the Canadian city of Sudbury hosted a robust mining industry. Deposits of nickel sulphide ore spawned a booming business. But these riches also brought terrible pollution. Sudbury’s native vegetation was devastated. The land was stained with foul air produced by the smelting process. An effort to re-green the area began in the 1970s. Today, the air is among the cleanest in the province of Ontario. In the spirit of this transformation, I invite you to embark on a personal reclamation project. Now is a favorable time to detoxify and purify any parts of your life that have been spoiled or sullied.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): The literal meaning of the ancient Greek word aigílips is “devoid of goats.” It refers to a place on the earth that is so high and steep that not even sure-footed goats can climb it. There aren’t many of those places. Similarly, there are very few metaphorical peaks that a determined Capricorn can’t reach. One of your specialties is the power to master seemingly improbable and impassable heights. But here’s an unexpected twist in your destiny: In the coming months, your forte will be a talent for going very far down and in. Your agility at ascending, for a change, will be useful in descending—for exploring the depths. Now is a good time to get started!
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Evolved Aquarians are often bless ed with unprecedented friendships and free-spirited intimacy and innovative alliances. People who align themselves with you may enjoy experimental collaborations they never imagined be fore engaging with you. They might be surprised at the creative potentials unleashed in them because of their synergy with you. In the coming weeks and months, you will have even more pow er than usual to generate such liaisons and connections. You might want to make a copy of this horoscope and use it as your calling card or business card.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I surveyed the history of literature to identify authors I consider highly intuitive. Piscean-born Anais Nin was my top choice. She used language with fluidi ty and lyricism. She lived a colorful, unpredictable life. No one better deserves the title of Intuition Champion. And yet she also had a discerning view of this faculty. She wrote, “I began to understand that there were times when I must question my in tuition and separate it from my anxieties or fears. I must think, observe, question, seek facts and not trust blindly to my intu ition.” I admire her caution. And I suspect it was one reason her intuition was so potent. Your assignment, Pisces, is to apply her approach to your relationship with your intuition. The coming months will be a time when you can supercharge this key aspect of your intelligence and make it work for you better than it ever has before.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In the coming weeks, I encourage you to work as hard as you have ever worked. Work smart, too. Work with flair and aplomb and relish. You now have a surpris ingly fertile opportunity to reinvent how you do your work and how you feel about your work. To take maximum advantage of this potential breakthrough, you should inspire yourself to give more of your heart and soul to your work than you have
previously imagined possible. (PS: By “work,” I mean your job and any crucial activity that is both challenging and rewarding.)
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Here’s my weird suggestion, Taurus. Just for now, only for a week or two, experiment with dreaming about what you want but can’t have. And just for now, only for a week or two, go in pursuit of what you want but can’t have. I predict that these exercises in quixotic futility will generate an unexpected benefit. They will motivate you to dream true and strong and deep about what you do want and can have. They will intensify and focus you to pursue what you do want and can have.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Your most successful times in life usually come when all your various selves are involved. During these interludes, none of them is neglected or shunted to the outskirts. In my astrological opinion, you will be wise to ensure this scenario is in full play during the coming weeks. In fact, I recommend you throw a big Unity Party and invite all your vari ous sub-personalities to come as they are. Have outrageous fun acting out the festivities. Set out a placemat and nametag on a table for each participant. Move around from seat to seat and speak from the heart on behalf of each one. Later, discuss a project you could all participate in creating.
CANCER (June 21-July 22): A Cancerian reader named Joost Joring explained to me how he cultivates the art of being the best Cancerian he can be. He said, “I shape my psyche into a fortress, and I make people feel privileged when they are allowed inside. If I must sometimes instruct my allies to stay outside for a while, to camp out by the drawbridge as I work out my problems, I make sure they know they can still love me— and that I still love them.” I appreciate Joost’s perspective. As a Cancerian myself, I can attest to its value. But I will also note that in the coming weeks, you will reap some nice benefits from having less of a fortress mentality. In my astrological opinion, it’s PARTY TIME!
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Leo poet Antonio Machado wrote, “I thought my fire was out, and I stirred the ashes. I burnt my fingers.” I’m telling you this so you won’t make the same mis take, Leo. Your energy may be a bit less radiant and fervent than usual right now, but that’s only because you’re in a recharging phase. Your deep reserves of fertility and power are regenerat ing. That’s a good thing! Don’t make the error of thinking it’s a sign of reduced vitality. Don’t overreact with a flurry of worry.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo author Siegfried Sassoon be came renowned for the poetry he wrote about being a soldier in World War I. Having witnessed carnage firsthand, he became adept at focusing on what was truly important. “As long as I can go on living a rich inner life,” he wrote, “I have no cause for complaint, and I welcome anything which helps me to simplify my life, which seems to be more and more a process of elimi nating inessentials!” I suggest we make Sassoon your inspira tional role model for the next three weeks. What inessentials can you eliminate? What could you do to enhance your appreciation for all the everyday miracles that life offers you?
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You Libras have a talent that I con sider a superpower: You can remove yourself from the heart of the chaos and deliver astute insights about how to tame the chaos. I like that about you. I have personally benefited from it on numerous occasions. But for the next few weeks, I will ask you to try something different. I’ll encourage you to put an em phasis on practical action, however imperfect it might be, more than on in-depth analysis. This moment in the history of your universe requires a commitment to getting things done, even if they’re untidy and incomplete. Here’s your motto: “I improvise compromises in the midst of the interesting mess.”
$20 - 55 + FEES
NOV 2 TODD SNIDER
with Otis Gibbs
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CO-PRESENTED BY: First Fleet Concerts
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with Rachika Nayar
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CO-PRESENTED BY: Feed Me Weird Things: FE(a)ST
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with Marisa Anderson
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with Sam Rae
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CO-PRESENTED WITH: Brix Wine & Cheese Shop10th Anniversary Party
An Evening of Stories with a Theme of Great Expectations $10 + FEES
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$10 - 20 + FEES
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CO-PRESENTED BY: FilmScene
On-Stage Conversation with Jenny Colville
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CO-PRESENTED BY: True Endeavors Prairie Lights Bookstore
The Truth Will Not Be Whitewashed
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Gabi Vanek is the “label boss” of Oxcart New Music, but she isn’t precious about it. She didn’t use the word “curate” once in this interview.
“So I have wanted to use the name Oxcart New Music for quite some time, but I kind of made it a catch-all,” she told me. It’s almost as if the sound of the name in formed its mission as much as the meaning. It sounds cool.
Is it cool? As I said in my review of Vanek’s collaboration with Chris Wiersema, Death Bag: If you hear “experimental live electronic mu sic” and shout “where do I sign up?” this is a label for you. The two releases so far—Justin K Comer & the Unblessed Rest of Us and Ghost Actions (by Vanek and Will Yager) are resolutely experimental free im provisations. That kind of music is by definition new, insofar as no one hears it until the moment it’s per formed, including the performers.
Both releases came out on cas sette in addition to download, through the casual arrangements of musicians who don’t expect to make any money. Vanek said to Comer, “Hey, do you want to just put it on Oxcart so then it can live in two places: your bandcamp website and then Oxcart? I can just bring it with me when I’m playing gigs or post about it on social media.”
Improvisation, to Vanek, is not an arbitrary practice.
“Insofar as practicing and know ing your scales and music theory, it’s exceedingly helpful … because you develop a syntax. Kind of like
languages, you know all these words and phrases and then how to put them together in an interesting way, whether that’s melodically or experimentally, if that makes sense. Yeah, I’m a composer, but by acci dent.”
As for her own playing she says “I’m more interested in exploring the boundaries of the instrument, specifically the bassoon, because I’m a bassoonist,”
The COVID-19 pandemic was difficult artistically.
“I started doing some of the dai ly Instagram video Bleep Bloops for a bit, and Ghost Actions came out during the pandemic. I had been testing vocals for my bassoon [i.e. singing while playing] but I wasn’t work on specific projects for my self.”
The freedom of Vanek’s free im provisation is not without structure or intent. “When I’m performing, I should not be practicing for you. I did stuff in my laboratory, which is my practice space, right? And fig ured out that X and Y go together to make this sound or weird thing Z. So I would never perform being, like, “Oh, can X divided by Z make Y? Because if I didn’t practice that I don’t know if it’s going to work.”
As for Ox Cart New Music, Vanek has no particular plans but said, “I would mostly like to be able to just release things for, you know, new music, experimental buddies in town or even just friends out of state who just need an opportunity to have something on a label and put it on their CVs.”
Vanek stamps her personality on her label and her work as a per former: playful, but with serious intent.
“There’s a whole world of free and proposatory music out there,” she says, “and I think every play er must come at it a little different. You have some ideas, but you don’t know specifically what’s going to come out. You’re just not trying weird shit to try weird shit in front of people.”
—Kent Williams 5Cm RECoRDINGS Mathias Timmerman, founder 5CMRECORDINGS.BANDCAMP.COM
“I n 2013, I played my first solo set (as Underwater Escape From the Black Hole) at one of the Zeitgeist fests that were held in Boone,” Mathias Timmerman, of Des Moines la bel 5CM Recordings, said in an email. “And I ended up meeting a lot of other folks who were run ning little DIY labels, putting out tapes and releases for the weird little experimental projects that they were currently in. I loved the culture I found at the fests, people swapping tapes with each other and enjoying some waay out there experimental music. Iowa labels such Personal Archives, Warm Gospel and Centipede Farm were big inspirations.”
Originally from the Dubuque area, Timmerman and his partner Kaylee moved to Des Moines in 2014, and he started 5CM shortly after. The label’s first release was a split between his Underwater Escape … and a musician from Scotland named Soma.
“My half was mainly ambient loops and swells, and his half was in the same vein,” Timmerman said. “I’m still super happy with that release, both with the music itself and how the tapes turned out.”
More recent releases, he said, cover a wider variety of styles, from “shreddy prog punk” to “harsh noise.” Among them are a split from Gravity’s Constant (one of Timmerman’s solo projects) and Heaven Drugs, a cassette from Haploid (which Timmerman
is also part of), and work from Moulttrigger, from Ames, and Excrete, based in Des Moines.
“I’m actually in waaay too many projects haha,” Timmerman said. “I play synths in Haploid, bass in Leonard, and I’m also in an improvised col lective called Sarin and I do solo electronic music as Gravity’s Constant ... One of the reasons I started 5CM was to have an excuse to put out physicals for some of the releases I was work ing on at the time. It helps hav ing a little merch to sell at shows, and cassettes were a more afford able way to do that.”
Although he’s experimented with other media, Timmerman—a 7-inch vinyl, a lathe 7-inch, oc casional CDs—but he keeps re turning to cassettes.
“Cassettes are fun because they’re super easy to do on your own. You can order shells in al most any color you can dream of, and dubbing cassettes is something you can do totally on your own, without having to outsource anything. CDs can get a little tricky to do on your own and still look professional, but with cassettes, once you put some stickers on the tape and get the j card folded up and in place, and voila you have a legitimate looking somewhat professional release. When I started out in music having an actual physical release meant a lot to me, so I try to help others have the same.”
Ultimately, Timmerman said, “I’d like 5CM to become a little hub for some of the music that’s off the beaten path in the state. There’s some great little scenes that have been emerging across the state in the past few years, particularly in the metal and punk genres, but electronic mu sic and experimental stuff is a lit tle harder sell, so I think helping to promote some different genres will help diversify the music in the state a bit.”
—Genevieve Trainor
mWC PRESS
Ryan Collins, executive director MWCQC.ORG
Founded in 1979, the Midwest Writing Center (MWC) was created to provide a “permanent home” for writers in the Quad Cities. MWC, the only literary arts nonprofit in the Quad Cities, boasts a long tradition of uplifting local writers through resources, includ ing space for book signings, events and most recently, the addition of its very own press.
“My uncle was one of the co-founders of the writing center way back when. There are a couple of events that we still do that have been going on since [the begin ning],” MWC Executive Director Ryan Collins said. “Our annual Writers Conference, the original version of it, started in the mid 1970s. And then we do a thing called the Children’s Literature Festival, but we’ve been doing that since the late ’70s. They had a group of writers and they just sort of coalesced around this idea of cre ating a space to support local writ ers, to encourage people to do more writing.”
Collins joined the board in 2001 when his uncle unexpectedly died. After serving on the board for about 10 years, Collins decided to help out in a part-time position. But he’s stayed on ever since and has only gained more responsibility as time has gone on.
Although the center has moved around the Quad Cities throughout its lifespan, it is currently located in the Rock Island Public Library, where it hosts consistent program ming throughout the year. After
MWC had settled into its home at the library, the center began slowly looking for opportunities to publish the work that was being produced.
“Once we got a physical location in 2003, we would do kind of spo radic publications, but there wasn’t necessarily an imprint,” Collins said. “Somebody would have an idea for a program and maybe there would be a publishing aspect to it. Eventually that coalesced into an actual press and trying to have some regular publications.”
MWC Press puts out three to five titles a year. One of these titles is an annual literary magazine, The Atlas, which is a part of the summer internship program MWC hosts for 15-17 year olds.
“For most of those kids, that’s their first publication,” Collins said. “Whether or not they continue with writing [to be published], we hope they just continue to write.”
After all, encouraging people to write just for the sake of it is sort of what MWC does best—and it re mains central to their mission.
“I think a lot of people are like, ‘I like to write but I’m not a writer,’
Mackie Garrett, founder of Iowa City’s 508 Press, started tak ing classes on the letterpress after receiving an invitation to an event at Public Space One by a colleague.
“I was at a point with profession al changes where I felt a little adrift in Iowa City and I started going to poetry readings,” Garrett said. He had long been interested in the let terpress and took his first class in hopes of slowing down and getting to know a new creative medium. “I found it was an accessible art form as someone who isn’t trained as an artist.”
of the poems and stories shared for the evening’s attendees. Every print is one-of-a-kind and functions as a souvenir.
“I want a little roughness to it. I like print work that looks handmade and might have imperfections,” Garrett said. He started his read ing series with broadsides in mind, saying he felt lucky that other poets were also “willing to take these op portunities to take poetry out of its traditional spaces.” The reading se ries usually includes visual and mu sical art as well.
“The overall goal is to bring dif ferent—or thought of as different or separate—art forms together,” he said. The long-term goal is to return to the recording studio (the 508 Press house band, Antifahorn, has record ed with poets at Flat Black Studio) and pay artists for their contribution at the events.
Everything about Garrett’s work at 508 is personal and based on the community in which he lives. His press is named for his grandmother’s address, where, he said, “I day dreamed of one day putting books in the world.” While he sells 508 Press publications at book and art fairs and social media, what’s most important to him is that the work is in the hands of someone who appreciates it. At many events, the printings are free or available on a sliding scale, and he loves to send work through the mail.
because what they actually mean is, ‘I’m not an author. It’s just some thing that I do,’” Collins said. “And they sort of treat it dismissively. But we think everybody’s a writer. And we’re just trying to encourage peo ple to make writing a part of their life. Because whether or not they’re writing for publication, we believe that there’s a lot to be gained from it—for mind, body, spirit.”
Lily DeTaeyeThe environment at Public Space One’s Iowa City Press Co-Op, where he took his first three classes in letterpress, led him to take more classes with the Paper and Book Intensive and, eventually, share his new passion with others through 508 Press.
508 Press is an independent press out of Iowa City that specializes in small runs of often event-specific poetry. Garrett created a reading series where he prints selections
“There’s something to doing a limited edition print of a single poem, something special to the ar chival quality,” Garrett said of pre paring for a reading. “I write and I want to publish and print poetry that is accessible to people who might not be interested in it or have maybe had a bad experience with it in the past.”
Garrett said he had been taught that one must either self-publish or be published on a large scale. “I wanted to put that aside and sub scribe to both camps,” he said,”and I hope that in some way 508 can bring those two together. Those two dif ferent camps influence each other. I think you can have both.”
Sarah Elgatian508 PRESS Mackie Garrett, founder INSTAGRAM.COM/508PRESS
“I THINK A LoT oF PEoPLE ArE LIKE, ‘I LIKE To WrITE bUT I’m NoT A WrITEr,’ bECAUSE WHAT THEY ACTUALLY mEAN IS, ‘I’m NoT AN AUTHor. IT’S JUST SomETHING THAT I Do,’” CoLLINS SAID. “AND THEY SorT oF TrEAT IT DISmISSIvELY. bUT WE THINK EvErYboDY’S A WrITEr. AND WE’rE JUST TrYING To ENCoUrAGE PEoPLE To mAKE WrITING A PArT oF THEIr LIFE.
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subjects of study
Anna Freud
to Caesar?
in the Jungle,”
accessories
Cooper
___ Jepsen
the 2022
Wind
surname
into spicy things
Outfielder Moises
in the Bartman
That’s
fooled by
Himalayan
again?”
Robert the Bruce or
Burns
New show for Ncuti Gatwa, as the title is some times rendered
Team that moved to Brooklyn in 2012
Brewery that did not in fact win a blue ribbon at the 1893 World’s Fair
“___ Bass” (Nicki Minaj hit)
Like Zion National Park’s slot canyons
Popular flavored chip that originally wasn’t
flavored
Unsightly sight
It takes seconds at a race track or minutes on a road trip
Duck Hunt console, for short
Roadwork material
A Bug’s Life creature
Squeeze (out)
The “A” in”WAP” 65. Place to unwind in España? 66. “___ but a scratch ...” 67. Hibernation hideout
DOWN
1. Jurassic Park resin 2. Squeeze into traffic, say 3. “Il pleut des cordes,” e.g. (“it’s raining ropes,” in French)
4. Axes wielded by B.B. King, Slash and Rosetta Tharpe, among others 5. Quick end to a volleyball point
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9. Lead-in to mode or carte
10. Judgy way to refer to people who aren’t optimistic, or a description of three entries in this grid
11. “___ of Castro Street” (moniker for Harvey Milk)
12. Magazine unit
13. They may be conducted in batteries
21. Brand-name product for a barbecuer
22. Iconic escape artist born Erik Weisz
25. Brittany Murphy’s Clueless role
27. Greek letter shaped like a cross
30. Sites that store shuttlec rafts on Star Trek 31. Smart ___ 32. Get printed, as a newspa per issue
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37. Have the ___ for 40. Veer, as a ship 49. Soccer cleats, in the U.K. 51. Stark’s Iron Man love 52. “99 Luftballons” singer 53. Winners over a lone 28-Across
55. Puff from a spliff 56. Unreserved 58. Unit in history class, perhaps 59. Gently touch
