The three finalists for the 2010 Terrace Hill Endowment for the Musical Arts [THEMA] competition will perform in front of a live audience at the Iowa Public Television Studios in Johnston on Saturday, February 6 at 2:30 p.m. The THEMA competition is held annually and is open to all high school seniors studying music throughout the state. Winners are awarded scholarships to be used to pursue college-level music studies in Iowa the following year. The award’s purpose is the promotion of Iowa’s young musicians and the outstanding collegiate music programs statewide. The THEMA finals are free and open to the public. The competition finals begin at 2:30 p.m. (doors open at 2:00 p.m.). The event is a great opportunity to enjoy some of Iowa’s best musical talent. In addition to the finalists’ performances, guest artists David Piersel and David Liljedahl will perform as a four hands combo. Lt. Governor Patty Judge has been invited to present the awards. The award-winning performances will be broadcast on IPTV later this year. THEMA Schedule: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Final Senior THEMA competition in Maytag Auditorium (doors open at 2:00 p.m.) 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Guest pianists perform 4:15 p.m. Award presentation for Senior Competition winners

The Des Moines Botanical Center’s Volunteer Advisory Council is holding its annual Scented Geranium Sale on February 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the lobby of the Botanical Center. There will be a variety of scented geraniums which make a unique gift for your Valentine sweetheart. Selection is limited, so come early! Rosemary, streptocarpella and ivy will also be sold at this time. All plants are $5.00 each.

Young women in grades 6-12 are invited to this conference covering the topics of true health, true friend, true self and true love. Cost is $10 (includes lunch). Register online at www.hopewdm.org. Also that day, moms are encouraged to attend a special informational session from 12:45-2:00 pm covering topics from the conference.

You will find a great selection of high quality hand made arts and crafts for sale throughout the mall.

Featuring D. Bess of Public C Property & Dubskin (Reggae from Colorado)

Join the Des Moines Derby Dames for a night of, fun, games, face painting, silent auctions and a live roller derby demonstration! Partial ticket proceeds will go to the Chrysalis Foundation, a charitable foundation that empowers today's girls to become the leaders of tomorrow! $10 skates included. Tickets on sale now! Ask for ROMINA at Skate North, 251-7655. You can also purchase tickets at Chrysalis Foundation 300 East Locust Street, downtown or call them at (515) 255-1853. Tickets can also be purchased from any of your beloved D3 skaters! Just ask! 

If you are not able to make it to the event and would like to purchase a ticket for one of the girls from the foundation please contact SugarSMACKS or Show Stopper.*** Hope to see you all there!

Sat, Feb 6th features special pre-game High School games with Ames & Harrison Barnes. Girls at 3pm; Boys at 5pm and Energy at 7pm.

Pumptown is a unique family band consisting of sisters Amy and Amanda, brother Joe, and Dad Bill. For the past 6 years, the band has created the drum infused country sound with their collection of hand drums from around the world. Their roots on the Hynek Tree Farm in Southern Iowa have given them rich storytelling material . The band has toured all around Iowa and its borders. Beyond being on the road, the group has branched out into writing musicals and also produces an annual Memorial Day music festival called "Farmer Song Fest" with Grammy nominated talent. Come to the show and meet the fam. If you're lucky, their 90 year old merchandise lady/grandma might even be there too. Pumptown's show is safe and engaging for all all ages.

Good Company Family Band performing with Shantii Productions doing Cinematic Visuals, Millard Fillmore and Peace Love and Stuff.

Join us for a unique opportunity to hear a presentation by Dr. Carl Halgren, Simpson psychology professor, who is actively engaged in the highly-acclaimed Great Ape project in Des Moines. Dr. Halgren will captivate as he shares how his research with the Great Ape Trust is "Making a Difference" on a large scale. Free and open to the public!

Join us for a presentation by G. Galen Berrier, Iowa Historian, to learn about Iowa's many station son the Underground Railroad. A network of meed and women, many being Quakers, who actively assisted runaway slaves to reach Canada and freedom.

In honor of 1LT (and later President) Ronald Regan's 99th birthday, the Museum will feature two of his early war movies, featuring Rear Gunner (20 min) and For God and Country (40 min) with a short presentation about his time at Fort Des Moines.

Dr. Jeff Stickel will present topics such as nutrition, exercise, toxicity, weight-loss and how to live your life to the fullest potential. Admission includes Maximized Living Nutrition Plan book ($25 value), program materials, chair massages and participation in our month-long 'biggest loser' Makeover Challenge. See www.ADIOChiropracticClinic.com for more details.

Reservations suggested.

Learn to Swing Dance and then dance the night away! Music provided by ICA jazz I & II.

For more information: Dave Sigmund at 210-5224.

Your little sweethearts are going to love our Valentine’s Day workshop! We will be making a variety of Valentine treats, like Valentine Chex® Mix, Lemony Love Potion and Cherry Crunch, plus we’ll be decorating cookies and cupcakes! Valentine’s Day decorations are also on the agenda, including puffy-heart magnets and conversation-heart wreaths. Your child will be hands-on every step of the way, and will bring home lots of Valentine goodies to share with the family! Parents are welcome to stay (recommended for children 4-6), or you can grocery shop at your leisure. Please fill out a registration form at Customer Service by Friday, February 5. Payment is due at time of registration. We will provide aprons, but old clothing is recommended. Please contact Kelly Crosby, Club Room Coordinator, for more information at 515-967-7676 or e-mail 1011catering@hy-vee.com

BRR – Bike Ride to Rippey; starts & ends at McCreary Community Center. The BRR ride is a 24-mile round trip from Perry to Rippey & back to Perry. he ride continues no matter what the weather! BRR is also known as the “Original WINTER Ride” as well as the “Winter Ragbrai Reunion.” The BRR event has attracted over 3,000 plus riders that attend from all over Iowa and the country. Breakfast 7-10:30am; Registration 8-10am; Food, prizes, DJ, & raffle drawings 11am-3pm; Visit www.perryia.org. Register at www.bikeiowa.com.

Come out & celebrate our 25th anniversary! The 2010 Skywalk Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, February 6, 2010. This popular wintertime tradition is a fun and zany miniature golf-style event that weaves itself through the three-mile skywalk system in downtown Des Moines. Check the website at www.skywalkgolf.com for further details.

Brenton Skating Plaza celebrates the 2010 Winter Olympics, Saturday, February 6th, with FREE performances by Des Moines area figures skaters at 9:00am, followed by a FREE skating clinic at 9:30am designed to sharpen your skating skills. And here's a plus: You'll receive a FREE Admission pass (valid Feb 6th and 7th only) just for attending the Wonderful World of Skating Exhibition!

Join in the fight against multiple sclerosis by attending The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s 16th Annual Taste of Generosity Wine Tasting and Auction. As foods from around the world are served and musical entertainment creates a festive atmosphere, one-of-a-kind auction items will be yours for the bidding. The evening begins at 5:30 with the exclusive Chairman’s Tasting where special guests can enjoy delectable appetizers paired perfectly with limited edition wines scheduled to be auctioned later in the evening. The main event begins at 6:30 with a silent auction and professional wine tasting, which features fantastic hors d’oeuvres and exquisite wines served by the top vineyards in Iowa. At 8:00 the focus turns to a live auction of rare and vintage wines which make the perfect addition to any collection. Professional Wine Auctioneer, Simon Lambert of the Chicago Wine Company, will be leading this exhilarating auction. The Taste of Generosity offers the opportunity to learn about MS, taste wines, enjoy the excitement of a live auction, and most importantly raise charity funds to benefit the North Central States Chapter of the National MS Society, which provides valuable support for the enhancement of programs and services for the more than 7,900 individuals with MS in our local chapter. Individual tickets for this fabulous event are $100. Tables of 8 are $750. VIP tables of 8 are $1,250. Register today to save your place at one of the premier wine events in Iowa! Call 1-800-FIGHT MS option 2, or visit www.tasteofgenerosity.org.

Orchid Festival - see website for further details!

Fathers, grab your kids & get ready for a thrill! We will once again be joining the Iowa Energy crew for a great night of food & fun. You will enjoy a buffet-style meal at the River’s Edge Restaurant located on the upper level of Wells Fargo Arena and then head on down to your sideline seats to cheer on your favorite player! Dinner, game tickets, and pre-game entertainment are all included in the fee for the event. Date(s): Saturday, February 6 Time(s): 5-10pm Location: Wells Fargo Arena Ages: Fathers and children (5 and above) Fee: $30 per participant Program #: 10685 PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED!

Come test your skills in the Yu-gi-oh Regionals. This is your chance to earn your invite to the Yu-gi-oh National Championship. Don't miss out!

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. 

My Grandmothers' Gardens by Wanda Lunn, 10 a.m., Feb. 6; 11 a.m., Succulents and a Visit to the University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley by Melissa Holst.

Area farm toy enthusiasts will enjoy the chance to buy, sell, and trade with a variety of dealers in the Living History Farms Visitor Center. The eighth annual show will feature a variety of farm toy collectibles, from die cast tractors to farming books and trucks. Admission is $3.50 per person at the door. No coupons or discounts will be accepted for this event. Everyone is welcome to sign up for a chance to win door prizes drawn every hour.

Support to keep this event here. (They are trying to add this event to the Olympic Winter Games) The event is open to everyone, so sign up now at www.dmwintergames.com, and compete for the top prize in the amateur event. The World Series race is spectating only.

www,dmwintergames.com Find all things DMWG, including schedules, registration, rules, sponsor information, and more. This is the third year for the DMWG, and if last year's growth is any indication, we are in for another amazing event. All of our returning events last year showed increased participation, often double, tripling, and in some cases quadrupeling attendance.This year we have added two new sponsors and two new events. We want to say thank you to Monster Energy Drink and the Court Avenue District for becoming a part of the 2010 Winter Games. Their support is greatly appreciated. Check out their websites under the Sponsors tab. We are very proud and excited to introduce our two new events this year, Pond Hockey and the World Series Zipfy Races. The Pond Hockey will take place at Birdland Lagoon, and we expect almost 40 teams. The World Series Zipfy Race is will be held at Sleepy Hollow. This event will bring competitors from all over the world as they pit their skills against each other in a quest for victory. Sleepy Hollow is the first place in America to hold a Zipfy World Series race. For more information on Zipfy sleds and the World Series, click our links tab. Check back frequently for more updates. See you this year at the Des Moines Winter Games!

SCHEDULE: Feb. 4: Say What! Poetry and open mic, 9pm ($5) - poetry/acoustic Feb. 5: FOUR YEAR STRONG, STRIKE ANYWHERE, TITLE FIGHT, THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, 5pm ( All Ages - $14) Rock - $14 advance tickets at www.iowatix.com. Feb. 5: TRASH PLATINUM, SUICIDE BLONDES, TEN TON HALO, ABSOLUTE POWER, 9:30pm - Rock Feb. 6: THE SOAPBOX PROPHETS, HOLLYWOOD BURNOUT, CAT MILK, 5pm (All Ages) - Rock Feb. 6: GIMIKK, 9:30pm - Rock Feb. 7: FOUR LETTER LIE, LOVE HATE HERO, CLASSIC IN THE MAKING, OF MACHINES, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS, 5pm (All Ages) $10 - Rock. Advance tickets available at www.iowatix.com Feb. 10: KEY PARTY, POGO FORCE 5, ERIC LANGKAMP, 5pm (All Ages) $5 - Rock

Recently named by Entertainment Weekly as one of the top 10 comics to watch, rapidly rising comedy sensation Pete Correale brings his keen eye for the humor found in daily life to Comedy Central with his first-ever special, “The Things We Do For Love.” The show debuts on Saturday, May 30 at 11 PM (Eastern and Pacific times). Praised for his “brash and energetic” humor by the Anchorage Daily News, Correale is a veteran of the comedy club and festival circuit as well as television talk shows like “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Late Night with David Letterman” and “Last Call with Carson Daily,” and co-hosted the Sirius satellite radio show “Breuer Unleashed” with former “Saturday Night Live” star Jim Breuer for four years. The Long Island native began his comedy career after graduating from college in 1992 and moving to New York City, where he cooked hamburgers and mopped floors at the New York Comedy Club in exchange for stage time late in the night to hone his act. He quickly rose to headliner status and began making his living as a comedian.

Join some furry, feathery, slimy & fuzzy animal friends in an exciting, hands-on adventure during which we will read books, make crafts & eat some yummy animal snacks. Classes are 45 minutes long & open for 2-4 year olds w/accompanying adult. Classes will be held at 9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays. Regular registration is $16 & includes admission to the Zoo. Zoo members get a discounted rate of $10. Classes are the same during each theme week, so please register for only one class per week. Registration/prepayment required - register by calling Miranda at 515-974-2588 or online now! Classes fill quickly, so register early! *Please note Zoo Tots classes may include exploration of the zoo, please wear weather appropriate clothing.*

“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 Toast of Broadway classes at the Des Moineso Playhouse teaches kids in grades 3-6 Broadway tunes that come alive with choreography and acting techniques. During the final class kids can perform for their family and friends. Children in grades 1-2 can join the Broadway Babies classes, 9-11 a.m. Saturdays, Jan. 9-Feb. 6., to learn Broadway tunes and add beginning dance moves in a playful atmosphere.

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.