Let's say goodbye to the snow! Get ready for summer! Brenton Skating Plaza is firing up the grill this Saturday, March 6, 11am - 2pm. We'll be playing summertime music (live DJ) and grilling hot dogs and hamburgers. Enjoy a meal for just $5.00! Prize Drawings! What are you waiting for? Put on your summer clothes and come help us wave the snow goodbye!

Featuring a variety of works created by 15 students in Drake's Art and Design Department, the exhibit will run through Sunday, March 28. This year, 79 works were submitted for consideration. Jill Featherstone, museum education director of the Des Moines Art Center, selected 23 for the exhibition. Matt Selsor, exhibit curator and director of the Anderson Gallery, and the Art and Design Department faculty selected a final work for inclusion as the winner of the Provost's Purchase Prize. "I looked for works that demonstrated a competency in execution while retaining an emotional impact," Featherstone said. "I also wanted to recognize works in every program represented by Drake's Department of Art and Design." The exhibit will showcase art by the following students: •Hannah Boom, a senior graphic design, magazines and art history major from Manchester, Iowa •John Cannon, a senior graphic design major from Eldridge, Iowa •Jennifer Cerna, a sophomore psychology major from Milford, Kan. •Andrew De Broux, a senior graphic design major from Windsor Heights, Iowa •Amanda Rae Bruns, a senior drawing major from Newton, Iowa •Alexandra Doffing, a senior advertising and graphic design major from Hastings, Minn. •Meredith Gallivan, a senior graphic design major from Byfield, Mass. •Hannah Hoffman, a junior graphic design and international business major from Whitefish Bay, Wis. •Tatiana Klusak, a junior advertising and graphic design major from Tiverton, R.I. •Olivia Lansing, a senior graphic design major from Delwood, Minn. •Trisha Lightfoot, a senior advertising and graphic design major from Shenandoah, Iowa •Ashley Machacek, a senior painting major from Arvada, Colo. •Ashley Pettit, a senior drawing and graphic design major from Fort Benton, Mont. •Haley Tatom, a sophomore painting and psychology major from Anchorage, Ala. •Sandra Tomer, a senior graphic design major from Ames, Iowa The Anderson Gallery is open from noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. For more information about the exhibit, contact Matt Selsor at 515-271-1994 or matt.selsor@drake.edu. Search Archive Title and ContentTitleContent Go Go to ArchiveLatest News 03/09/2010 Education dinner to honor five outstanding educators 03/04/2010 Drake series to feature leterpress demonstration 03/03/2010 Drake signs exclusive agreement with Licensing Resource Group 03/03/2010 Greater Des Moines recognized as Track Central USA 03/02/2010 Drake pharmacy professor presented with leadership award 03/02/2010 Grad students help launch literacy program at Polk County Jail 03/02/2010 Student-athletes named to the Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll 03/02/2010 Professor LouAnn Simpson named university marshal 03/01/2010 Drake Students in Free Enterprise to host 'Brand Yourself' workshop 03/01/2010 Human-rights advocate to give Drake lecture on Survivorship Stories of War

10 Am to 9 PM Zipfy Races - 1 PM (sign up from 10 AM to noon) Live Music - 2 PM to 5 PM Thrift Store Clothing Contest - 2 PM Water Skim - 3 PM (sign up from 10 AM to 2 PM) Wine Tasting - Tasting provided by Summerset Winery. - 2 PM Everyone who participates gets signed up to win a free season pass for next year.

The Fort Des Moines Museum & Education Center will host the following programs in March to commemorate Women’s History Month: Saturday, 11 a.m. — Warrior Women of World War II, a look at the Women’s Army Corps & Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. All programs are hosted at the museum, 75 E. Army Post Road. For more information, call 282-8060 or go online to www.fortdesmoines.org.

Handmade arts and craft show held at The Living Room Coffee House in Valley Junction.

The Heart Connection Children’s Cancer Programs located in Des Moines, is planning their 2nd Annual Survivorship Connection Conference presented by Prairie Meadows. This is a conference for all young adult cancer survivors (ages 18-40), their loved ones & healthcare professionals. The conference will be held on March 6th. We feel this is an important event for survivors as it is a chance for them to come together, share stories with one another, find resources that are available to them in the local community & learn a thing or two! There will be a wide variety of speakers coming to talk about different issues that can come up for young survivors including: employment, nutrition/fitness, fertility, intimacy/relationships, advocacy, emotional care, resources & insurance. Staying healthy is an important part of being able to fight cancer, recovering from a cancer battle & preventing a secondary cancer, so this year we'll be holding our first Health & Wellness Fair, sponsored by Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. We are also pleased to be featuring closing remarks by Des Moines native, Rebecca Meyer, the at home winner of Season 8 of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” For more information/to register, go online at www.childrenscancerprograms.org or contact Brecka at (515)243-6239 ext. 1106.

We've been open for one year! We can't believe it! Let's celebrate with dancing and really great drink specials in the Sideshow Lounge. DJ Jesse Jamz will be in the house!

For Tickets contact Tim Powers 319-455-0015; Jeff & Angie Miller 515-388-4074. This Event is Limited to 300 Tickets! Sold Out for the past 8 years! Buy Early!! Come Enjoy a Great evening out with excellent food!

Sample Iowa micro-brewed beers along with fresh artisan breads and other savory snacks. Local home brewers will talk about their craft as they compete in a brewing contest. Complimentary Millstream Sarsaparilla will be available as well. Don't wait to purchase your tickets - this is a very popular event! Tickets are $15 each or 2 for $25. A limited number of tickets may be available at the door, but advance purchase is recommended.

The legendary voice & performance visuals of Judy Garland accompanied live in perfect synchronization by the Des Moines Symphony create this remarkable concert event. JUDY GARLAND IN CONCERT features over dozens of her greatest musical hits, including The Trolley Song, The Man That Got Away & Over the Rainbow. Experience Judy's dynamic life in song as she performs on multiple screens, accompanied by the orchestra in the classic repertoire & arrangements that thrilled worldwide audiences. Using breakthrough technology, this unique entertainment incorporates rare home movies, photographs & the star's own reminiscences to present the magical & timeless JUDY GARLAND IN CONCERT. For further information: www.civiccenter.org.

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. 

Growing Food Plants in Containers, Herbs, salads, tomatoes - and more, 10 a.m., March 6; 11 a.m. ,Community and Youth Gardens in Des Moines by Teva Dawson, Des Moines Parks and Recreation

The Variety Telethon is a 23 hour locally produced program that raises money for Iowa's children. The telethon provides Variety the opportunity to highlight the kids & agencies that benefit from the dollars raised. This event is free to attend and open to the public.

The St. Petersburg String Quartet, from Russia, will perform a recital in Levitt Auditorium that includes works by Russian composers Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky. The concert is part of the Art Center’s On Stage series.

Tickets sold through IowaTix at www.IowaTix.com or 515-277-3727.

Southridge Mall is hosting a Sport Card & Collectible Show on March 5-7. Come out and find your special collectible!

Contact Info: Daryl Klein @ 888-552-1486.

Each year the Iowa Deer Classic brings to the hunters of Iowa a full day's worth of huge trophy whitetails, world class hunting seminars, hunting and outdoor exhibitors and so much more. Mark your calendar, and we hope to see you all the first weekend in March! 

For more information:  www.iowadeerclassic.com.

AVATAR takes us to a spectacular new world beyond our imagination, where a reluctant hero embarks on a journey of redemption, discovery and unexpected love, as he leads a heroic battle to save a civilization. Days/Times: Friday, March 5: 1pm, 4pm & 7pm Saturday, March 6: 1pm, 4pm & 7pm Sunday, March 7: Noon & 3pm Monday, March 8: 3pm Tuesday, March 9: 3pm Wednesday, March 10: 3pm Thursday, March 11: 3pm & 7 pm Friday, March 12: 4pm & 7 pm Saturday, March 13: 4pm & 7pm Sunday, March 14: Noon & 3pm Monday, March 15: 3pm Tuesday, March 16: 3pm Wednesday, March 17: 3pm Thursday, March 18: 3pm & 7pm Friday, March 19: 3pm

Fun for the Whole Family! Children & Families of Iowa’s Kidsfest is about families, fun and lending a helping hand. Kidsfest is a kid-centered festival full of fun activities, games and entertainment for kids and their families. This exciting event promises to thrill families and children of all ages. Kids Helping Kids The greatest thing about Kidsfest is that it is truly an event where kids can help kids. While you and your family are having fun at all of the great attractions, 100% of your ticket price goes to helping at-risk families and children in Iowa. Kidsfest expenses are underwritten by our sponsors, so you can know you are really helping to make a difference. In fact, Kidsfest raised over $162,000 in 2009! Look for more information about Kidsfest in January 2010!

Learn nonviolent communication skills that help you reframe how you express yourself, hear others, and end habitual, automatic reactions. Normally $150, this is being offered at only $25, by a teacher trainer for the Center for Non-violent Communication, Reverend Lori Woodley, MDiv., Lori@peacematters.com. Will be using Marshall Rosenberg's book, "Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life" available at our Unity bookstore, which is open 10:00am to 3:00pm, Mon.-Fri.

Annual fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Iowa!
Individuals gather teams of 4-6 bowlers. Each participant raises $100 and receives two free games of bowling & free shoe rental.
For further information, please go to www.bowlforkidsiowa.kintera.org or www.bigbrothersbigsistersofiowa.org.

Kyle Dunnigan is a standup comedian/actor, best known for his role as Craig (aka The Truckee River Killer) in the hit series "Reno 911!" As a standup, he has had his own special & has been featured on several shows including Late Night With Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Live & The Late Late Show. He also has a significant online presence which includes his viral video Craig vs Wild that boasts over two million hits on multiple platforms. He is an alumni of the Groundlings Sunday Company & holds a BFA in theatre from the Univ. of Connecticut. Kyle can currently be seen as a correspondent on The Jay Leno Show. If you don't enjoy Kyle live, there might be something wrong with you.

From the dazzling coral reefs of the Bahamas to the wind-swept seas of Patagonia, DOLPHINS takes audiences under the water's surface for a romp with inquisitive Atlantic spotted dolphins, acrobatic dusky dolphins, & the familiar bottlenose dolphin of Flipper fame. From rarely seen fish-herding behavior to a close-up look at complex communication activities, DOLPHINS will give audiences a fascinating new perspective on the lives of dolphins & their remarkable intelligence. Days/Times: Wednesday, March 3: 11am; Noon, 2pm & 3pm Thursday, March 4: 10am; Noon, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm Friday, March 5: 10am & Noon Saturday, March 6: 10am & Noon Monday, March 8: 10am, Noon & 1pm Tuesday, March 9: 10am, Noon & 1pm Wednesday, March 10: 11am, Noon & 2pm Thursday, March 11: 10am, Noon & 2pm Friday, March 12: 11am, 1pm & 3pm Saturday, March 13: 10am, Noon & 2pm Monday, March 15: 11am & 1pm Tuesday, March 16: 10am, Noon & 1pm Wednesday, March 17: 11am & 1pm Thursday, March 18: 10am, Noon & 2pm Friday, March 19: 11am, 2pm & 4pm

Performing at The House of Bricks:

Wed. Mar. 3: SETTLE, FRIDAY NIGHT FEVER, BACKDROP, LET’S BE FRIENDS - 5pm - All Ages - $6 - Rock

Fri. Mar. 5: JACKIE GREENE, TBA - 8 pm - $15; $12 advance tickets at www.midwestix.com

Sat. Mar. 6: THROW THE FIGHT, SHOOT THE MOON, 3 PILL MORNING, BLACK BY DAWN - 5pm- All Ages- $8 - Rock

Sat. Mar. 6: TOADSTOOL, LESSON 7, COMRADE GENERATOR - 9:30 pm- Rock

Sun. Mar. 7: HIV / AIDS Awareness Benefit Concert- 1 pm - All Ages - Free will donation; Performing: BELLA SOL, MELINDA VANAGS, BRYAN BAKER, MARY MCADAMS, R.J. COLLIER, WENDY WILLIAMS, HEATHER HANSEN AND ABEDON, TBA

Join some furry, feathery, slimy and fuzzy animal friends in an exciting, hands-on adventure during which we will read books, make crafts and 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. and 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and 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 Gallery Show of Timothy Florer will be on display during the month of March at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1115 Grand Avenue in West Des Moines, Room 113 in the east lobby, as part of its Fine Arts Program. The display is open to the public during office hours and during worship services, Saturdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. and Sundays, 8:30 a.m. – noon. 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 began a serious endeavor into fine art black-and-white photography in 2000. Since 1974, Tim sold life insurance and annuities in rural Iowa and in his travels, he witnessed the decline of rural structures and small towns. He felt the need to capture images of these structures before they became extinct. This mission evolved in 2002 into Tim’s first book, Rural Iowa Ruins. Using the same format, Tim’s second book, Against the Current, was published in 2003; a photographic study of the Upper Mississippi Valley. Tim has had solo shows on the west coast and Midwest, and his works are on display at major corporations and museums. He has been the featured photographer in The Iowa magazine 2005 calendar. He is also the co-founder and director of the 4-H Camera Corps.

Beginning March 1, learn to skate; classes are pay as you go!
Just $12 per class! No 4-week session commitment needed...drop in as your schedule (and the weather) permits.
For further information: www.brentonplaza.com.

The Great Frame Up is hosting a special fundraising exhibit for HOPE International thru March 31st to help rebuild Haiti after the devastating earthquake. Talented local artists have joined with The Great Frame Up to create a special art exhibit to benefit Haiti. Proceeds from the sale of the originals in the collection will go directly to HOPE International for Haiti and a local charity. This is a wonderful art exhibit with proceeds benefiting Haiti. Local artists featured who have donated their artwork for the event include Jill Wells of Indianola, Bill Gordon of Clive, Jane Robinette of Urbandale and many others.

IGHSAU Girls State Basketball Tournament presented by the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union

Des Moines Women's Club presents the 102nd Annual Art Exhibition! Mark your calendars for these exhibition events, throughout the week. Feb. 25-28: Entries accepted, judged, installed & prizes awarded. Feb. 28-March 7: Exhibition opens to public - FREE! March 5: Gallery Night from 5-8pm. Bring your friends! Enjoy complimentary wine & cheese & great art! For further information: www.hoytshermanplace.org.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.