Johann Sebastian Bach assembled what many believe to be the greatest composition in western music, the Mass in B Minor. Set against the lovely backdrop of St. Mark Lutheran Church, the Des Moines Choral Society, chamber orchestra, and soloists will perform major portions of this time-honored masterwork: the Kyrie, the Gloria, and the Agnus Dei. Mark your calendar now and join us for this evening of Baroque grandeur!

with special guest Tim Mahoney

DMSC's Classic Variety Show LINEUP 9pm Bryan Baker 10pm St. Vitus and the Taxi Dancers 10:30pm Brent Houzenga More acts to be announced..

Join thousands of couples all across the country for this live simulcast as we celebrate God’s design for commitment. We will tackle Christianity’s biggest challenges – empowering you and your spouse to stay faithful, committed and encouraged in your marriage. Receive wisdom, encouragement and knowledge from leading marriage teachers such as Gary Thomas, Kirk Cameron, Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott, Francis Chan and Dr. Gary Chapman, all of whom have a passion for seeing marriages thrive – specifically yours! Register online at www.hopewdm.org. Cost is $25 per person, which includes lunch and snacks. Contact Deborah Boyer, Community Life for Engaged and Married Couples Coordinator, at marriageandparenting@hopewdm.org for more information.

Help Save Lives by donating Blood TODAY! Southridge Mall is hosting a blood drive with the Blood Center of Iowa today in the North parking lot from 8am until 12pm. We appreciate your time and hope to see you there. If you have any questions please call 515-309-4855.

Timothy Florer will be hosting a Fine Art Gallery Show at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1115 Grand in West Des Moines on February 27, from 5-7 p.m. His medium is black and white photography. On display will be works from his first two books, Rural Iowa Ruins and Against The Current. Tim has had solo shows on the west coast and Midwest, and his works are on display at major corporations and museums. He is also the co-founder and director of the 4-H Camera Corps. Tim's third book, Reflections Along The White Pole Road, will be available for sale on Gallery night.

St. Mark Lutheran Church is located at the corner of 12th & Grand in West Des Moines. Worship services are held on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. and Sundays at 8:30, 10:00, and 11:10 a.m. Direct questions about St. Mark to Pastor Dr. Michael Foss or Pastor Roy Nilsen. Find us on the Web at www.stmarkwdm.org or contact us at 515-223-4208 or office@stmarkwdm.org. For more information on its Fine Arts Program, go to the church’s web site or contact Mark Babcock at mark@stmarkwdm.org.

An intensive publishing seminar for adult fiction and nonfiction writers, led by two experienced local authors. Learn how to properly format your manuscript, compose a catchy "hook" for your story pitch, and a winning query letter. We'll cover the basics of a nonfiction book proposal or novel synopsis, the pros and cons of traditional vs. self-publishing and tips on finding an agent. To register email kalivanbaale@msn.com or catherine@catherineknepper.com Space is limited.

Got a really B.A.D. CHILI recipie? Just love GOOD CHILI? Come find out whose the best! Entries will be judged by a panel of Celebrity judges and a People's Choice award. Proceeds will benefit the American Diabetes Association of Iowa.

Join us for our inaugural Red Wine Lovers’ event at Tassel Ridge Winery. Meet in the cellar with our Winemaker, Rhonda Taylor, for a barrel tasting of Marquette, a varietal wine made exclusively from grapes grown in our Mahaska County vineyards. The grapes were harvested on September 22, 2009 and processed on our crush pad that day. A portion of the juice and skins was placed directly into our new 800 liter French oak barrels, with the remaining into a stainless steel tank. Learn more about the wine-making process while tasting samples of the wine from both the barrel and the tank. Enjoy our finished dry reds accompanied by appetizers featuring products available in our gift shop. Steve Richardson, our Vineyard Manager and Certified Wine Educator, will also be available to discuss grape production, and will join Rhonda in a discussion of the evolution of this wine from harvest to release. Call the Winery at 641.672.9463 to make advance registration required by Wednesday, February 24.

St. Mark Lutheran Hosts Des Moines Choral Society Join us at St. Mark Lutheran Church on February 27  for this wonderful fine arts event. The Des Moines Choral Society will be performing one of Bach’s best loved choral piece, Timeless Masterworks: J.S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor. Tickets are $20/preferred seating, $15/general admission & $7/students. 

For more ticket information, call 273-5255 or go online at www.dmchoral.org.

Fellowship Community Church will host a special one-day marriage conference which is open to the public. The cost is $25 per person and includes the conference and lunch. Participants can purchase tickets on Sundays or by contacting the church office. Due to the length of the event, childcare will not be available. Join thousands of couples all across the country as we participate with Focus on Marriage’s “Celebrating God’s Design for Commitment” live via satellite broadcast. This life-changing, marriage-strengthening simulcast will help you tackle one of Christianity’s biggest challenges: empowering you and your spouse to stay faithful, committed and encouraged in your marriage. Scheduled to appear: Gary Thomas, author of Sacred Marriage; Kirk Cameron, lead actor in Fireproof, and his wife Chelsea; Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love; Stephen Kendrick, co-author of The Love Dare; Les & Leslie Parrott of Real Relationships Ministry; and Gary Chapman, author of The Five Love Languages. Find out more about this conference by visiting the FCC website at www.fccnorwalk.org or by contacting the FCC office at (515) 981-0699.

Southridge Mall has teamed up with Pharmacy students from Drake to host it's first ever Health &Wellness Show. The show is an exhibition showcasing people, products & services related to health and wellness industries. It will have over 25 exhibitors with demonstrations & special events, all reflecting the most up-to-date information on wellness & healthy living for adults, children & pets. FREE H1N1 shots will be administered, FREE Cholesterol Screenings, FREE Blood Pressure Checks and much more!

Learn about basic tree anatomy during this walk at the Brenton Arboretum. Kay Meyer, Director of Education & Outreach, will lead the tour to study the parts of trees & terms used for identification, pruning & tree care.

With Special Guest, TBA.

Ah yes - FEBRUARY - Valentine's Month :) Wear a "touch of red" for Valentine's Month with us on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27th. Celebrate another elegant & grand evening of live salsa music & dancing with the best. Live salsa music from the Salsa Vibes Orchestra! Come & join Salsa Des Moines once again at the Des Moines Embassy Club & help us continue to build a truly great latin music/dance tradition in Des Moines. Luisito & Melanie Artistic Directors, Salsa Des Moines.

LOCATION: Des Moines Embassy Club (34th Floor) 666 Grand (Ruan Center Building). Entrance on 7th Street (between Grand Avenue & Locust Street) 

DATE: SATURDAY, February 27, 2010 

TIME: 9 pm - Free salsa dance class by Salsa Des Moines; 10 pm - Live music by the Salsa Vibes Orchestra begins 

DRESS CODE: Dress to IMPRESS and Look your BEST means NO jeans, NO t-shirts, NO sneakers! SERVICES: Cash Bar (will require ID for alcoholic beverages)

Bring the kids and celebrate Black History Month by learning about the Black Officers who trained at Fort Des Moines. The event will include fun, hands-on activities for all ages. Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center, 75 E. Army Post Road.

Help kick off the Mid Iowa Rollers' roller derby season with a beer pong tournament. Sign up to play with one of the girls. Registration begins at 3:30. The event is single-elmination, with prizes for fist, second & third place teams.

Buy, sell and trade new and used fishing products and boats. There will also be fishing resorts at the show, lure making seminars and fishing seminars.

The Friends of the Des Moines Botanical Center have rounded up some of the area's most highly regarded plant & growing experts for this year's Learn on Saturdays Garden Talks. The program continues through March 27. Each week a visiting expert will tackle a different topic. Most sessions feature two topics, each by a different presenter. The sessions are free with the center's regular entry fee of $5 for adults & $4 for seniors. Center members, volunteers & badge-wearing master gardeners do not have to pay. For more information go to www.botanicalcenter.com or call (515) 323-6290. 

Streptocarpus and Other Gesneriads by Elvin McDonald, 10 a.m., Feb. 27; 11 a.m., Tea Plants and a Tea Tasting by Patricia K. Peterson.

Join Blue Moon Dueling Piano Bar and Restaurant for drinks, excitement and musical entertainment Jacob Wolfson, Don Peters and Brad Heron. These performers will keep you captivated and on your feet all night long! Enjoy $5 martinis, $5 glasses of wine, $3 micro draws and $2 domestic draws from 3 p.m.-6 p.m.

Spring Awakening - By Frank Wedekind, in a version by Ted Hughes

Directed by Ann Woldt.

Performances—March 26-27 at 7:30 p.m. and March 28 at 1:00 p.m.

For further information:  www.simpson.edu/finearts

Swim Spa, Hot Tub & Spa blowout! Savings up to 60% off this weekend...come check it out!

Robyn O'Neil: The World Has Won. A Final Bow Was Taken is a survey exhibition devoted to the Omaha-born, Houston-based artist's work.

This is the largest craft show in the state of Iowa with over 300 talented exhibitors presenting & selling the Midwest’s finest handcrafts. There will be something for every style, taste, and budget with products such as leather goods, oak furniture, paintings, jewelry, candles, clothing, floral wreaths, yard art, and many more original products. All products sold are handmade by the actual exhibitor present at the show. Exhibitors will also be selling food items such as homemade salsa, barbecue sauce, dips, jams, dried food and soup mixes, gourmet bread mixes, honey, and wine.

Pheasants Forever has always billed its largest event, National Pheasant Fest, as more than an outdoor tradeshow. The show is really about your favorite hunting field or a nearby wildlife area. It's about Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever's mission. It's about wildlife habitat. National Pheasant Fest is returning to the Iowa Events Center to rejuvenate interest in restoring and creating upland habitat in Iowa and beyond; to galvanize hunters to be strong stewards of the land; to give youth the sense that the outdoors and conservation can be fun and rewarding. So bring the family, especially the kids. Come admire and inquire about the bird dogs. Seek out advice from wildlife habitat professionals. And of course, check out the great outdoor gear that will be available from all our sponsors and exhibitors. But most importantly, come ready to leave a legacy!

A Charity Scrapbook Crop Benefiting Easter Seals Iowa and Camp Sunnyside Preserving memories while creating opportunities to live, learn, work and play. We've had so much fun the last two years, we have expanded Crop for Camp into three days of cropping - 32 hours of good friends, good food, lots of vendors and prizes. Registration fee includes shared scrapbook table, beverage tickets, snacks, breakfast, lunch AND dinner, one free door prize ticket per day, and a goodie bag. You won't want to miss this. All the time you are cropping, you will be helping disabled children and adults, making a difference in their lives.

Finding themselves suddenly orphaned, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny Alden band together and make a home for themselves in an abandoned railroad car. Based on the book by Gertrude Chandler Warner.

Mother Davis Project, written by DMSC's locals, directed by Matt McIver and produced by Subjective Theater Company, Des Moines Mother Davis Project The Mother Davis Project explores the life and legacy of Evelyn Davis. A longtime social activist and advocate for the children of the inner city, "Mother" Davis was tireless in her efforts to care for the children and mothers who were struggling to make their way in the world.

Energetic…Funny…Familiar “Collin’s show is a steady flow of sharp and relevant humor driven by loose and fun likeability” Collin brings a fast paced and highly engaging mix of clever stand-up and gut busting physical comedy that appeals to people from Earth. He draws on life experiences, current events, and incisive personal observations to create a comedy ride that is hilarious, and memorable. This is the guy you’ve been waiting for.

“August: Osage County” scooped up both the 2008 Pulitzer Prize & the 2008 Best Play Tony Award and comes to Des Moines during the first year of its national tour. So what’s it all about? Charles Isherwood of the New York Times may have described it best: “A fraught, densely plotted saga of an Oklahoma clan in a state of near-apocalyptic meltdown . . . probably the most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years. Oh, forget probably: It is, flat-out, no asterisks & without qualifications, the most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years.” For further information: www.civiccenter.org.

Bacon Festival expands to a week this year! The schedule includes:

Monday (2/22): Bacon specials will be served at Baby Boomers Cafe (think Obama girl cookies) in Des Moines’ East Village. 

Tuesday (2/23): Homeless shelter dinner at United Shelter & Services for 120 people. 

Wednesday (2/24): Bacon Elegance Dinner at Cafe di Scala. This annual dinner is a 6 course dinner created by chef and owner Tony Lemmo and Phil Shires. 

Thursday (2/25): Bacon specials at the El Bait Shop’s Jimmy Carter Happy Hour featuring the Iowa Homebrewers Union. 

Friday (2/26): Enjoy time with your family and friends as you mentally prepare for Saturday’s premiere bacon festival! 

Saturday (2/27): Be at the Des Moines Scottish Rite Masonic Center at 519 Park Street, Des Moines, IA when the doors open at 10am to enjoy the day’s festivities! 

Tickets available beginning Feb. 4th at www.blueribbonbaconfestival.com.

First Steps Dance classes are designed to introduce children to the fundamental skills of dance at a cost and time commitment that is minimal to parents. All classes are led by Jennifer McCullough, an instructor who has taught dance for over 12 years. Let your child learn basic dance movements in a non-threatening, recreational environment! Beginning Tap Class NEW! Bring in the Noise!!! Students are introduced to the fundamentals of tap and the foundation of rhythm. The focus is on basic technique and terminology. Students develop body awareness and the ability to express themselves through movement. The program fee covers all 6 weeks of instruction and a long-sleeve t-shirt. Basic children’s tap shoes are available for purchase at The Theatrical Shop in Valley Junction, Mark’s Dancewear in Johnston, or on-line through many retailers. Date(s): Mondays, February 22-April 5 (no class on March 15) Time(s): 6-6:30pm Program #: 10761 Time(s): 6:45-7:15pm Program #: 10762 Location: Raccoon River Park Nature Lodge Ages: 4-6 Fee: $30 PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!

A romantic comedy, reminiscent of the TV series “Northern Exposure” – known for its quirky, off-beat and original sense of humor. On a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine. As the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, Almost’s residents find themselves magically falling In and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend – almost – in this delightful midwinter night’s dream. Please note: only children age 5 and over with tickets will be allowed into the theater for this production.

Olson-Larsen Galleries will host an opening reception for a group show of artwork by Blair Benz, Karen Chesterman, Mary Koenen Clausen, Peter Feldstein, and Jeanine Coupe Ryding. This event is free and open to the public. The exhibition will be on display through April 3. Butterflies, moths and flowers populate the intricate charcoals of Blair Benz. Benz achieves impossible depth and richness in his small still lifes, which sometimes include landscape elements. His work has been shown in the Gallery of Art in Eugene, Oregon, the Iowa Artists Exhibit at the Des Moines Art Center, and the Midlands Invitational 2000 at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha. Karen Chesterman’s recent oil paintings feature hints of unreadable script, Asian symbols and geometric elements. These components both contrast with and complement their backgrounds—the rich, vibrant color fields Karen creates using layers of thin oil paint. Karen’s works hang in Midwestern galleries, private collections, and institutional collections in banks, hospitals, and corporate offices, including those of American Republic Insurance and Kirke Financial Services in Des Moines. Mary Koenen Clausen’s collages are complex and contemplative. Figures composed of mismatched heads and bodies float among animals, icons, musical notes, and foreign texts on backgrounds of thickly layered paint. She was part of the Iowa Artists show at the Des Moines Art Center in 1991 and has been in group shows in Kansas City, Boston, and New York as well as at the Davenport Art Museum and Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. The most recent series of Peter Feldstein’s inkjet prints feature layers of abstract shapes that appear to be moving and morphing into new configurations. Peter writes that his images “provide an anchor for reflection upon, and hopefully understanding of, my place in my macro community.” Peter’s work has been exhibited at The Center for Creative Photography in Tuscon, the Walker Art Center and the Rhode Island School of Design. In Jeanine Coupe Ryding’s woodcuts, layers of colors, patterns, and shapes are arranged into rhythmic compositions. Her most recent series emphasizes natural imagery such as vines, flower blossoms and leaves. Her prints are in the collections of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Des Moines Art Center, New York Public Library, Amoco Corporation, Marshall Fields Company, and Hallmark, Inc. All exhibition works can be viewed at www.olsonlarsen.com on the EXHIBITS page.

The Iowa Machine Shed restaurant has added pheasant to its menu during the National Pheasant Fest at the Iowa Events Center. One-quarter pheasant will be pan-roasted & served in country gravy.

Center’s Dome will be filled with brightly colored bulbs, including tulips, daffodils, alliums, hyacinths and a variety of unusual bulbs, February 15-March 31. The garden design is inspired by There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe and will include a giant shoe, porch swing and children’s toys. Easter lilies will be incorporated for the holiday and children can visit with the Easter Bunny and live animals including bunnies, chicks and ducklings on March 20. Visitors to the Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center in 2010 will be welcomed with a new horticultural and educational experience as the gardens transform throughout the year, all inspired by popular children’s stories, including Dr. Seuss, Charlie Brown and Eric Carle books. “Story Time in the Gardens” includes seven plant bed changes in the Dome – many bringing the stories alive with life-size props – educational activities, theme-related gift shop items, Riverwalk Café menu choices and special events, all inspired by children’s books. The theme continues into the Show House, with four unique, seasonal designs, and outside to the Herb Garden which is open May through September. Please visit the Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center throughout the year to see each new garden. The Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center is a family-friendly environment with plenty of free parking and wheel chair accessible. The Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center is open daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center is one of the most popular cultural attractions in Iowa, providing educational, recreational, and community resources to thousands. More than 150,000 visitors visit the Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center to see over 200 different kinds of tropical and household plants in the Dome. The Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center is operated by Des Moines Water Works.

Running out of ideas for winter entertainment for the kids? Your Altoona Hy-Vee has the perfect solution. Every Monday from February 15 until March 15, we will be holding Fun-Day Mondays upstairs in the Club Room from 5-6:30 pm. There will five, themed sessions that will include fun activities, crafts, snacks and games. Your kids will also come home with instructions on how to make the crafts/snacks on their own for a later date! Feb 15- Winter Olympics Feb 22- Oscar Night March 1- PJ Party March 8- Spring Fling March 15- St. Patty's Day Party Please call 967-7676, or stop by Customer Service to register. Please register by 5 p.m. the Saturday before the session you wish to sign up for to ensure we have plenty of supplies and food. Payment is due at time of registration.Classes will be held on the second level of the store in the Club Room. Please drop off your child five minutes early, and pick-up no later than 6:45 p.m. at the Club Room.

Schedule too busy for a 13 week course? Come try our new and exciting mini courses. A wide variety of materials are used in each course to create one complete work of art. The possibilities are endless! Each course meets for TWO Saturday sessions. Ages 6-8 and 9-12 African Masks - February 13 and 20 Gnome Homes and Fairy Houses - February 27 and March 6 Papier Mache Animals - March 27 and April 3 Impressionistic Landscapes - April 10 and 17 Puppet-Making - April 24 and May 1

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 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.