Cougars are on the prowl every Thursday night at Blue Moon. Hunt out great deals like $5 martinis, $5 glasses of wine, $5 Crown drinks, $3 Captain drinks and NO COVER! Come early and stay late for dueling piano stars, Brian Lee, Jeremie Malotke and Brad Heron.

Join us for a night filled with love, mystery, fun food... and chocolate!! Please call 515-282-8060 by Feb 10 to reserve tickets

The Des Moines Home & Garden Show is the place for you to experience what's new in Home, Gardening, Remodeling, Home Decor, and More! You'll have the opportunity to meet over 500 experts and experience thousands of products and services.

Tickets for Blank Park Zoo father-daughter valentine's dances are on sale starting January 12. Dances will be held on three evenings to meet increasing demand. Guests may choose from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Feb. 5 or Feb. 12; or 6 - 8 p.m. on Feb. 11. All dances are at the zoo's Discovery Center, 7401 S.W. Ninth Street. Dads & daughters will enjoy desserts, drinks and dancing for $15 per couple. Additional daughters may attend for $2. Tickets are available at the Des Moines City Hall information center, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays. Tickets must be purchased in advance & in person. Tickets will not be sold at the event. For details, contact Robin Leaper, special event supervisor, at (515) 237-1404 or rrleaper@dmgov.org.

"Winter Art in your Backyard" by Linda Thomas - Wild Birds Unlimited Bring your lunch to the Gardens and enjoy an education program. Attend each month and experience a new topic presented by local and regional professionals and lecturers.

RTI celebrates love and other matters with six short plays by the literary great, Anton Chekov. Included in the evening of one-acts is THE BEAR, A RELUCTANT TRAGIC HERO, THE FESTIVITIES, SWAN SONG, THE PROPOSAL, and an RTI original adaption of one of Chekhov's short stories. Order Tickets online at www.IowaTix.com or by calling 515-277-3727.

Performing at The House of Bricks:
Wed. Feb. 10: KEY PARTY, POGO FORCE FIVE, ERIC LANGKAMP - 5pm - All Ages - $5 - rock. Advance tickets available directly from the bands

Thurs. Feb. 11: THE AUDITION, THE DANGEROUS SUMMER, SPARKS TO THE RESCUE, THE RIGHT COAST - 5pm - All Ages - $12 - rock
$10 advance tickets available at www.iowatickets.com

Fri. Feb. 12: HANGOVER, MOOD BESIDE, XXILE - 5 pm - All Ages - $5 - Rock

Fri. Feb. 12: IZZY AND THE ROCKETS, THE BOB PACE BAND feat. STEVE GEORGE - 9:30 pm - $5 - Rock

Sat. Feb. 13: “Petapalooza” Fundraiser for The Animal Rescue League of Iowa; Performing: BUSTER AND THE PUNKS, BY IT’S OWN NAME, ANDY FISH, TYKE, MONDAY MOURNERS, THE MANICS, P-58, TOM BRIGHTON, BLUTIGER FLUSS - 5 pm - All Ages until 9pm - $8 - Rock
Only $6 with pet item donation. Free cavatelli at 9:30!

Sun. Feb. 14: SECTION HATE, PAIN OF EVOLUTION, DOOMSDAY CRUSH, SCREAMING AGAINST SILENCE - 5 pm - All Ages - $5 or 2 for $8 - Rock

Wed. Feb. 17: SCARY KIDS SCARING KIDS, THE SLEEPING, TBA - 5pm - All Ages - $14 - Rock- $12 advance tickets at www.iowatix.com

Jim Short talks funny. Originally from Australia, now based in San Francisco, Short began his comedy career in Dallas, Texas in 1988. Television appearances include "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", "Comedy Central's Premium Blend", "NBC's late Friday", and "A&E's Comedy on the Road". Jim has performed at the Montreal International Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, and the San Francisco International Comedy Competition. Jim Short is winning over audiences throughout the nation with an act that is unique and original mix of personal observations on pop and social culture, world media and history, and television and music references.

Written and performed by Bo Eason and directed by Larry Moss, RUNT OF THE LITTER opens in the final hour of Jack Henry's lifelong dream, only one thing stands in his way -- his brother. The play looks at what happens to two brothers in a family of over-achievers: when their parents assure their oldest son he is destined for football superstardom, and tell their youngest son he is too small to compete, a line in the family sand is drawn that colors the rest of their lives. Runt of the Litter is, in fact, a semiautobiographical account of Bo Eason's life and career as a defensive back for the Houston Oilers in the 1980s, where he played safety. His determination and killer instincts on the playing field remain the stuff of legend. His brother, Tony Eason was the quarterback who led the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl in 1986. It debuted in New York in 2002 and has subsequently been performed by Bo Eason at theatres around the country. Please note: only children age 5 and over with tickets will be allowed into the theater for this production.

A museum exhibition that focuses on the ties between Abraham Lincoln & Iowa is hitting the road as part of a new program from the State Historical Society of Iowa. "History on the Move" is a first-of-its-kind venture for the society. Contained in a 32-foot-long semi-trailer, the rolling museum will visit schools around Iowa in conjunction with a play about Lincoln produced by the Old Creamery Theater of Amana. The exhibit will call attention to the connections binding Lincoln, Iowa & the Union Pacific Railroad through time. The bond was forged in 1862 when President Lincoln signed a bill authorizing the construction of the transcontinental railroad. One of the displays sheds light on the visit that Lincoln made to Council Bluffs in 1859 to discuss the route for the transcontinental railroad. Other displays focus on the land Lincoln owned in Crawford & Tama County & his role in a lawsuit concerning the first bridge across the Mississippi River, built in 1856 between Rock Island, IL & Davenport, IA. The State Historical Building in Des Moines will play host to the exhibit, February 9 - 11 before moving to Red Oak on Feb. 22.'

Artists of the Saturday afternoon Sketch Club.
RECEPTION: Sunday, Feb. 28, 1 - 3 p.m.

“The Dolls of Japan: Shapes of Prayer, Embodiments of Love is sponsored by The Japan Foundation. Japanese dolls reflect the customs of Japan and the aspirations of its people, possess distinctive regional attributes, and over the centuries have developed in many diverse forms. Dolls also provide a showcase for traditional Japanese craft products, such as textiles. In “The Dolls of Japan,” dolls are grouped according to particular events in the Japanese calendar, their method of manufacture, their design and regional characteristics. Included are Japan’s representative dolls, including Hina ningyo (Girls’ Festival dolls) and Gogatsu ningyo (Boys’ Day dolls), which have their origins in ancient customs; dolls connected to traditional performing arts like noh, bunraku and kabuki; regional dolls from throughout the country; and “creative dolls” produced by contemporary craftspeople.

The setting is April 23, 1961, when a 38-year old Judy Garland performed at Carnegie Hall in what the New York Times called "the concert of the century". Woven into her concert performance are memories from her past. Her family, husbands, friends, costars & critics appear in flashbacks, bringing the star's story to vivid life. Each of the show's 25 songs map Judy's journey from poverty in Minnesota to Hollywood stardom.

The exhibit traces the history of ACT, Inc. – originally known as American College Testing Program – to a meeting of co-founders E.F. Lindquist, a University of Iowa professor and national expert in educational measurement; Ted McCarrel, UI Director of Admissions and Registrar; and 16 state representatives who met in Iowa’s Old Capitol on the University of Iowa campus on Aug. 21, 1959. That event founded the American College Testing Program, now known as ACT, Inc. The display includes a timeline of major events in ACT history and artifacts from ACT’s past including test documents and components from early test scoring machines. Visitors can also view an audio-video display with recordings from early leaders describing how the organization evolved.

Do you have an active toddler & looking for an outlet for them to burn off some energy? Do you want your child to learn the essential components of life-long fitness at an early age? Fitness Fun for Me! is a NEW program designed to introduce your child to the benefits of learning motor skills; gaining muscular & cardiovascular endurance; and increasing flexibility, strength, coordination & balance. Not only will your child learn aspects of fitness that will help them later in sports, but they will also learn social skills! Date(s): Wednesdays, January 13-February 17 Time(s): 10:30-11:30am Location: WDM Community Center Ballroom Ages: 2-4 with at least one adult Fee: $40 Program #: 10681 PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!

The only Christian Fitness and Meditation classes in the Des Moines Area. Zoe classes are a fusion of Yoga and Pilates. You will leave feeling recharged and refreshed. The long term result is a healthier body, mind and spirit.