On Thursday & Friday at 7:30pm, the Des Moines Gay Men's Chorus presents their Winter Solstice Concert.

The Civic Center also announced additional events for the holiday season! The Manhattan Transfer will perform its Christmas show with members of the Des Moines Symphony on Thursday, December 18, 2008.

Tickets on sale starting October 13. For further information at (515) 246-2300 or www.civiccenter.org.

The Civic Center and the Des Moines Symphony will present The Manhattan Transfer this holiday season accompanied by members of the Des Moines Symphony. Together since 1982, the group is famous for mixing jazz, big band, classical and pop music to create four part harmonies that mesmerize audiences.

with Katie McMahon, the voice of Riverdance

A play for the entire family about the true spirit of giving! December 11-16, and December 18-23 Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays @ 7pm; Sundays at 2pm. NO WEDNESDAY PERFORMANCES!

12/17 - The Brix Big Band - 6pm 12/18 - "Stoned Up Comedy" w/Pagor Acot, T-Mo and Jim Ramsey - 9pm 12/19 - Shatter, TBA - 5pm; Indigo, Bare Bones, The Noise - 9:30pm 12/20 - Colonial PA (Final Show!),The Dharma Bums, Slaughterhouse6 - 5pm; Slyde, A Curse of Hail, TBA (see website for time)

His tours have him appearing at such classic venues as: Radio City Music Hall, The fox Theatre in Detroit, Foxwoods in Connecticut, Universal Amphitheater in L.A., Caesars Palace in Las Vegas & virtually every major showroom in Atlantic City.
Recently John Joseph has been touring with ""King of the Piano Bars"" Johnny B, in a show titled ""A one man show wit 2 guys."" This incredible show incorporates comedy, music & theatre for 90 minutes of sheer entertainment.

John's corporate ""In demand"" status has him playing nationwide! Whether he's performing for 100 people at at corporate show or 10,000 people at a concert venue, John combines stand-up comedy with music & improvisation to not only entertain but truly ""Blow Away"" every crowd he performs for. John Joseph performs as a headliner in the best comedy clubs around the world!

Experience a buffet-style dinner in the inviting atmosphere of the 1875 Flynn House. Enjoy a buffet dinner including sliced turkey breast, tenderloin of pork w/apples, beef croquettes, assorted vegetables, relishes, brandied fruit, an assortment of cakes & tarts, bonbons & coffee as you explore the main level of the Flynn House. Evening Gatherings are available November 13-16 & December 5-10 & 15-21. Entertainment is available for an additional charge, if requested in advance. Available options include piano music, parlor games, or the language of Victorian fans.
Event begins at 6:30pm & lasts approximately 2 hours. Reservations are $40/person.

Enjoy a Holiday tea at the 1875 Flynn House complete with an assortment of delicious sweets and savories. Holiday teas take place December 5-10 and 15-21, 2008. The tea experience begins at 1:30 p.m. and lasts approximately two hours. Reservations are $30 per person and are limited to 18 guests for each seating.

The 3rd Annual “Breakfast with Santa” will be 9-11am on Dec. 13 and Dec. 20, at the State Historical Museum, 600 E. Locust. Tickets may be purchased at www.iowatix.com or by calling (515) 277-3727. Doors open at 8:30am. All tickets must be purchased in advance. Those who wish to have their picture taken with Santa may do so in front of a Gingerbread House. The Elves’ Workshop will be open for children, with accompanying adult, to make gifts for friends or family members. Lastly, all children will receive a special gift as they leave.

Children can come for a pony ride to see Santa in our decorated indoor arena! They will get their picture taken, make a craft & enjoy hot chocolate & a cookie.

No reservations are necessary!

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

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

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.

Family Drama

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

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.

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.”

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

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.

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.