Enjoy a holiday event with a prairie pioneer feel! Learn how a typical pioneer family would celebrate Christmas on the prairie. Historical interpreters will demonstrate spinning & knitting in an indoor pioneer vignette. The Walnut Hill Choral Society will hold a social in the Church of the Land with carols, games & Santa Claus.

By Barbara Robinson. Based on her book.

The Herdmans are the meanest, nastiest kids in the history of the world. They lie, steal, and smoke cigars (even the girls)! When they take over the lead roles in the annual church program, everyone wonders if this will be the best Christmas pageant ever... or just the most memorable.

Show Days & Times
7:00 PM Thursday
7:00 PM Friday
1:00 PM Saturday
1:00 PM Sunday
4:00 PM Sunday

Tickets
$10.00 All Ages

Don't miss a minute of the action as the Iowa Chops take the ice at Wells Fargo Arena for the 2008 – 09 Season. The Iowa Chops, AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, bring a new look and attitude to hockey in Des Moines. I
owa Chops Hockey…It's Swine Time!

Tickets
$17 – Center Ice, $7 – endzone, $7 – endzone kids
Season tickets, including 7, 14, 28 and 40-game plans, are on sale now and start as low as $9 per game for season tickets. Individual tickets for Iowa Chops regular season home games will go on sale later in August. Fans interested in Iowa Chops season tickets can visit iowachops.com or call 515-564-8700 for more information.

Event Days:
December 12, 7:00pm -10:00pm
December 13, 7:00am -5:00pm

Location: Knapp Varied Industries Building sponsored by Principal Financial Group.

Contact Info: Rick Peters at (515) 643-5182

North Dakota St. vs. Stephen F. Austin at 5 pm.

Drake Invitational

Perry Community Theater presents: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the McCreary Community Theater. 

Tickets on sale NOW for only $7.00! Call (515) 456-5621

Grammy Award winning composer/musician Chip Davis, founder of Mannheim Steamroller, is one of the most successful innovators/entrepreneurs in music. He is credited with transforming popular instrumental music by introducing what has become known as the New Age music genre, making the Christmas music season the huge industry that it is. Mannheim Steamroller is one of the top 50 best-selling artists of all time. Four Christmas albums later, Mannheim Steamroller has sold more than 25 million holiday albums, making the group the #1 selling Christmas artist of all time.

Please note: Only children over age 5 with tickets will be allowed into the theater for this production

Ballet Des Moines presents The Nutcracker Ballet at beautiful Hoyt Sherman Place on December 12th, 13th & 14th. Under the artistic direction of Serkan Usta, the production features 260 local dancers & performances by professional artists: Melanie Hamrick, Kenneth Easter & Grant DeLong from American Ballet Theater, Rachel Hamrick with Steps on Broadway, Sergey Sergiev from Indiana Ballet Company & Julie Grooters from Ballet Des Moines.
The Ballet Des Moines Guild-sponsored Nutcracker Gala & Auction enhance the holiday classic.
Performance tickets are $15, $25, $35 & $55; gala tickets are $50 for adults & $25 for children. All tickets are available through the Hoyt Sherman Place Theater Box Office or www.ticketmaster.com.

The Terrace Hill Foundation invites the public to attend a heartwarming event the evenings of December 11, 12 & 13. For the 2nd year, the Repertory Theater of Iowa will present a dramatic reading of one of Truman Capote's beloved "Buddy Trilogy" stories about childhood memories of the holiday season.
The presentation will follow a "tummy-warming" dinner of homemade soups, served in the elegance of the Terrace Hill mansion. Because seating is limited, advance reservations are encouraged.
Tickets are $36 per person. Reservations available by calling 515-280-3450 or e-mailing stevenoperson@aol.com.

Featuring the Morehouse Comet in the James Collier Heritage Room through December.

12/10 - Modern Day Satire, Crew of Humans, Sleep is the Enemy -5pm 12/12 - G. B. Leighton- 9pm - tickets in advance www.IowaTix.com 12/13 - Divided We Stand, Only, TBA - 5pm; Divided We Stand, I.M.N.E., TBA - 9:30pm

Making his home in West Virginia was not the soundest of desicions for someone in the entertainment industry. ""You can't explain the Middle East crisis to someone where I live. If you say this group of people studies the Koran. They're like, Well what color crayon do they like the best."" West Virginia has turned Tom Foss into the consumate outdoorsman."" This year I got a 1 pt. buck, it would've been an 8 pt. buck but his head hit the bumper real square. Now I got a deer over the fireplace that looks like he's going to sneeze."" A diagnosed dyslexic, one can see how Tom finds the unusual side of everything. ""It's not a bad disease, I can use those handicap parking spaces. I just gotta back the car in."" There isn't a venue that Foss hasn't tackled with success. ""From Las Vegas to Norwegian Cruise Lines, people are paying way too much money to see me."" Foss loves to talk politics but never dwells on the 'headline joke'. His opinions are often met with applause. Foss has a way of coming up with 5 minutes of material for every town that he works in simpling by taking a ride around town

Three Sundays - Dec. 7, 14 and 21. Enjoy live holiday music from local vocal and music groups. Bring your camera - Santa will be here to get your kids' wish list, and additional children's activity will be provided. Holiday treats available for purchase at the Riverwalk Cafe.

Live music from true Polka acts keep the Hessen Haus crowd dancing many nights.

SCHEDULE:
Dec. 5: Bob Pace Band, 6pm-10pm
Dec. 6: Stratford Rhythm Ramblers, 6pm-10pm
Dec. 13: Barry Boyce Band, 6pm-10pm
Dec 19: Bob Malek's Fishermen, 6pm-10pm
Dec. 20: Barefoot Becky, 6pm-10pm

Come and hear some exciting bands at Dos Rios in downtown Des Moines throughout the month of December - best of all, it's FREE! 

Dates/Bands scheduled: 

Friday, Dec. 5: Sallgood Saturday, Dec. 6: Brian Congdon Friday, Dec. 12: Chris Ranallo Saturday, Dec. 13: Mike Aceto Friday, December 19: Brad Seidenfeld Saturday, December 20: The Jesters Friday, Dec. 26: BoboCoco Saturday, December 27: The Jesters

Family Drama

The Repertory Theater of Iowa performs David Linsey-Abaire's Wonder of the World, a wild ride over Niagara Falls in a barrel of laughs. Nothing will prepare you for the dirty little secret Cass discovers in her husband's sweater drawer. It's so shocking it short-circuits her view of life and sends her fleeing to the honeymoon capital of the world in a frantic search for the life she missed out on. Cass embarks on a journey of self-discovery that has her crossing paths with a blithely suicidal alcoholic, a lonely tour-boat captain, a pair of bickering private detectives, and a strange caper involving a gargantuan jar of peanut butter, all of which pushes her perilously close to the water's edge.

Monday December 1st, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-6 pm
Learn To Skate from 6:15 pm-7:25 pm

Tuesday December 2nd, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-9pm

Wednesday December 3rd, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-9pm

Thursday December 4th, 2008
Public Skate from 9am-8pm

Friday December 5th, 2008
Rock the River from 8 pm-11 pm
Public Skate from 9am-8pm

Saturday December 6th, 2008
Freestyle from 9am-10am
Public Skate from 10am-11pm

Sunday December 7th, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-8pm

Monday December 8th, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-6 pm
Learn To Skate from 6:15 pm-7:25 pm

Tuesday December 9th, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-9 pm

Wednesday December 10th, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-9pm

Thursday December 11th, 2008
Public Skate from 9am-8pm

Friday December 12th, 2008
Rock the River from 8 pm-11 pm
Public Skate from 9am-8pm

Saturday December 13th, 2008
Freestyle from 9am-10am
Public Skate from 10am-11pm

Sunday December 14th, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-8pm

Monday December 15th, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-6 pm
Learn To Skate from 6:15 pm-7:25 pm

Tuesday December 16th, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-9 pm

Wednesday December 17th, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-9pm

Thursday December 18th, 2008
Public Skate from 9am-8pm

Friday December 19th, 2008
Rock the River from 8 pm-11 pm
Public Skate from 9am-8pm

Saturday December 20th, 2008
Freestyle from 9am-10am
Public Skate from 10am-11pm

Sunday December 21st, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-8pm

Monday December 22nd, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-6 pm
Learn To Skate from 6:15 pm-7:25 pm

Tuesday December 23rd, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-9 pm

Wednesday December 24th, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-9pm

Thursday December 25th, 2008
Merry Christmas! from 4pm-9pm

Friday December 26th, 2008
Rock the River from 8 pm-11 pm
Public Skate from 9am-8pm

Saturday December 27th, 2008
Freestyle from 9am-10am
Public Skate from 10am-11pm

Sunday December 28th, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-8pm

Monday December 29th, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-6 pm

Tuesday December 30th, 2008
Public Skate from Noon-9 pm

Enjoy live holiday music from local vocal and music groups. Bring your camera - Santa Claus will be here to get your kids' wish list and an additional children's activity will be provided. Holiday treats will be available for purchase through the Riverwalk Cafe. Regular admission fees apply.

November 30, 2008: Off the Cuff & Special Arrangement & Freight Train Frank
December 7, 2008: Certainty
December 14, 2008: Walnut Street Players
December 21, 2008: Uptown (Judi Brown and Bruce Martin)

Rekindle the Old Younkers Tea Room Breakfast with Santa Tradition at the 4th Street Theater! See Magician Keith West; sing along with Santa, enjoy the reading of "The Night Before Christmas; come hungry for a buffet breakfast; and photo ops with Santa.

When: November 29, December 6, December 13 and December 20.

Enjoy an hour long roundtrip ride from the Boone & Scenic Valley RR depot to the ""North Pole""! Hear the story of the Polar Express - you will also get hot chocolate & a cookie. Each child will also receive a silver bell.
Be sure to arrive in your pajamas for this great adventure!

DATES/TIMES:
Nov. 29: 1:30, 3:30 & 6pm
Dec. 6 & 13: 1:30, 3:30 & 6pm
Dec. 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11 & 12: 6pm

Tickets on sale online Nov. 1 at the depot or by phone, Nov. 3, Mon-Fri 8:30-4pm.

Bring the whole family to experience the larger-than-life version of this inspiring adventure based on the beloved children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. When a doubting young boy takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. Stars Tom Hanks. Film Length: 99 minutes

Join us for an enchanting 75 minute ride aboard The Santa Express!

Enjoy a ride from the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad depot to the ""North Pole."" Hear the story of ""The Polar Express™"" .

Hot chocolate & cookies will be served! Also, each child receives a silver bell.

Be sure to arrive in your pajamas just like the boys and girls in the book!

TICKETS GO ON SALE NOVEMBER 1

DATES:
Saturdays: November 29, December 6, December 13
(Departure times: 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 6pm)

Tuesdays: December 2, December 9
(Departure time: 6pm)

Wednesdays: December 3, December 10
(Departure time: 6pm)

Thursdays: December 4, December 11
(Departure time: 6pm)

Fridays: November 28, December 5, December 12
(Departure time: 6pm)

TRAINS DEPART PROMPTLY AT ADVERTISED
DEPARTURE TIMES. BOARDING BEGINS A MINIMUM OF 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. PLEASE ARRIVE AT THE DEPOT ONE HOUR PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TIME.

During this holiday season Iowan’s may be facing record job losses & financial concerns & need an inexpensive place to relax & spend family time together. Blank Park Zoo decided it would be a good time to give back & are planning to open their doors for free admission, from Friday, November 28th until Sunday, January 4th, to Iowans who need a holiday family break due to job loss or financial difficulties. Zoo’s winter hours are Thursdays-Sundays from 10am-4pm. Directions/other information are available at www.blankparkzoo.com. “Bring the family to the Zoo, say “I want to Do the Zoo”, and you’re in free - no questions asked,” explains Anne Shimerdla, the Zoo’s Director of Operations. “All we ask is that if you can afford to pay, you do. But we won’t question anyone. We trust Iowans’ honesty.” Zoo employees also plan to reach out to low income families through organizations like United Way, Employee and Family Resources, Youth Homes of Mid America, and many more. “We are gearing up for another big season and thought it might be a good time to give those in need a peek at the fun,” says Terry Rich, the Zoo’s CEO. “Zoos across America have always given positive experiences to families. They need it the most this holiday season.” Shimerdla said over 70% of the animals are on exhibit during the winter (outdoor exhibits depends on ice and weather), including exotic birds, monkeys, tropical fish, amphibians and snakes in a warm, indoor lush rain forest. Outdoor exhibits will have more active tigers, lions, snow leopards and snow monkeys. Even the “fleeing Flamingo” will be on exhibit for the public. (Be sure to dress warm for the cold days.) “Animals tend to be more active in cool weather”, she said. ”The Zoo is a great place for a warm, and cool, winter break.”

DUE TO THE FLOODING, THE LIGHT DISPLAY WILL RE-OPEN ON NEW YEAR'S EVE & WILL STAY OPEN 2 EXTRA DAYS (thru Saturday), weather permitting!

Jolly Holiday Lights - Des Moines @ Water Works Park, Des Moines, through January 1, 2009! Jolly Holiday Lights is a Des Moines tradition like no other. With 3.3 miles of wonderfully lit splendor, the event has become a magical centerpiece to many, a night of holiday light viewing. Santa's Wish Shop Open from 5:30-9pm. (Note: Tour de Lights will take place on Sunday, November 23rd, starting at 5:30pm-7:30pm as a special preview of Jolly Holiday Lights).

Questions/comments: Call the gallery at 286-2242 or visit www.heritagegallery.org.

SHELTER is a group show of 13 artists who have explored the concept of shelter in a variety of media. The exhibition works range from common ideas of shelter such as houses & barns to more abstract concepts such as shells and pods. Jules Kirschenbaum & Cornelis Ruhtenberg will be featured in DRAWINGS & PAINTINGS. Works by the late artists from Des Moines will show their talent in creating still lifes & figurative pieces. Jules was a professor at Drake University for over 25 years. Works by Cornelis are in the collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Berlin Museum (Germany) and the Denver Art Museum. PRINTS & ASSEMBLAGES will also feature a married couple, Yuko Ishii & Ken Smith. Yuko’s mixed media assemblages & Ken’s pigment ink prints, though diverse, are influenced by their home in the North Cascade Mountains of Washington State. Yuko is a native of Japan and a self-taught artist with gallery representation in New York, Virginia and Washington. Ken, originally from Des Moines, is in the collections of the Washington State Arts Commission, Thomas McGee L.C. in Kansas City and Iowa State University.

What did 3 guys do in 4 minutes that got them barred from show business for life? And why would they do it again 25 years later? Explore these & other mysteries of show biz at the Triple Espresso Coffeehouse, where the once-promising comedy team of "Maxwell, Butternut & Bean" is back for a reluctant 25th anniversary reunion. NOTE: Only children over age 5 with tickets will be allowed into the theater. Triple Espresso is performed in The Temple Theater at The Temple for Performing Arts at 10th and Locust in Downtown Des Moines.

All ages welcome, but anyone younger than age 5 must wear a helmet.
Come dressed in warm, comfortable clothing. Skaters are tested at the end of each session & receive either an evaluation form or a certificate of achievement allowing them to advance to the next level.
Class includes a group lesson, practice ice & one-year United States Figure Skating Basic Skills membership.

Call 515-964-2210 for more information!

The opening reception/talk on Friday, Oct. 24 will begin at 6pm at the gallery with Seuss curator, Bill Dreyer!

Regular Gallery hours: 10-5pm Monday-Saturday; Open Thursday evenings until 7:30pm.

An art show called ""Dr. Seuss for President"" opens Friday, October 24 at Kavanaugh Art Gallery! The traveling collection of Theodore Seuss Geisel's prints & sculptures includes a number of political works he created during & after World War II.
It can be jarring to see such grim subjects drawn in the whimsical style of ""The Cat in the Hat"" or ""Yertle the Turtle."" But before Geisel wrote the 40-some books that helped teach millions of baby boomers to read, he published cartoons that decried a host of controversial ""-isms"": racism, fascism, anti-Semitism and American isolationism before World War II.

The gallery's permanent collection of about 50 prints & sculptures by Seuss remains indefinitely at the gallery.

The presence of potters in Iowa can be documented as early as 1836. Records indicate that during the period 1830 to 1930, more than 300 individuals identified by name were actively engaged in the production of Iowa ceramics. The marks of about 80 potters have been located on pieces for inclusion in the exhibition. The earliest of these from around 1836

Classes and Workshops; Fall/Winter 2008
Adult Classes/Workshops
Children's Classes
Teens Classes

Two centuries of history are preserved in "The Working White House: Two Centuries of Traditions and Memories," an artifact-based traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, developed with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife & Cultural Heritage & the White House Historical Association. The "Working White House" gives exhibit visitors a rare view of the inner workings of America's most renowned residence through the experiences, firsthand accounts & one-of-a-kind artifacts of the largely unrecognized people crucial to the everyday lives of our first families. For two centuries, workers at the White House have witnessed history in the making and, in the process, they have created their own. "The Working White House" showcases the souvenirs, housekeeping implements, clothing, letters, menus, photographs and other objects to help illustrate the full story of the presidential residence. New interviews conducted by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage and WHHA staffers with past workers provide eyewitness accounts of White House work culture and will be included in an audio tour and exhibition video.