Smart Talk: Turn Pain In to Purpose. Fran Drescher at the Des Moines Civic Center

A review by David Borzo

Francine Joy “Fran” Drescher is a story teller. She clearly loves a good story and loves sharing them, especially when they illustrate important lessons learned. Twists and turns, success and failure, Ms. Drescher brought it all to the Smart Talk crowd at the Des Moines Civic Center on Monday night. As the kick off speaker for the 2010 Smart talk series, Ms. Drescher showed her star power and charisma, keeping the audience engaged with affecting stories of love, careers and health. She shared her survivor’s philosophy that when plans for the future don’t pan out like you want, you need to let go and write a new future.

Fran Drescher has had a lot of plans rewritten. With her successful career in T.V. and movies (she’s appeared in over 20 films) she is of course best known for the television series The Nanny, which she co-created and produced. She was also nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe Award for The Nanny. But Ms. Drescher can’t be neatly squared away in the archetypal TV celebrity files; she is also a screenwriter, political and social activist, author and producer…and is currently serving as a US diplomatic envoy, taking her message of women’s health to the world stage.

Ms. Drescher related back throughout her presentation to another important life lesson that she relies on: there is always opportunity—and when opportunity presents itself, you need to seize it.  Carpe diem is her mantra, and of course, there was a good story to go along, a chance meeting on a flight to Europe in the early ‘90s. She had purchased her ticket, but then decided to use her frequent flyer miles to upgrade to first class. Low and behold, she found herself sitting next to Jeff Sagansky, an executive at CBS. As they crossed the Atlantic, they talked about a series she was developing, featuring her quirky style as the focus of a show. By the time they landed, she had convinced him to take a meeting with her to discuss the production. Of course the show was The Nanny, which was an instant success on CBS, making Fran Drescher a star.

By the end of The Nanny’s six year run though, Ms. Drescher had much more to think about. She was having serious health issues, and her marriage was on its last leg. By the time The Nanny closed down in 1999, she was divorced. And the next year, after two years of misdiagnosis by eight doctors, Drescher was diagnosed with uterine cancer, and underwent an immediate radical hysterectomy. Fortunately the cancer was in stage one. This led to another mantra: “Stage one is the cure” and she began efforts advocating that women insist on early cancer screening and curing it in the early stages. In an interview with USA TODAY, Ms. Drescher said “Nobody knows your body better than you…remember back in the days…when you went to your doctor, listed your symptoms and let them take over from there? Well, those days are over.”

Ms. Drescher encouraged the Smart Talk crowd Monday to listen to the early whispers of possible cancer…get the endometrial test if you think something is wrong. Don’t wait. She said that after surgery she felt like she had been dealt an unfair hand. But then she realized that we have no control over what we’re dealt, so at least handle it with dignity. Another lesson learned, so she wrote about her experiences in her second book, Cancer Schmancer, counseling men and women “to become more aware of the early warning signs of cancer, and to empower themselves.” An important challenge for us all, and a stirring beginning to the 2010 Smart Talk series!

Seizing the day, Fran Drescher started the Cancer Schmancer Movement, a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all women’s cancers be diagnosed while in Stage ONE, the most curable stage. More information can be found on her website at cancerschmancer.org.

Jazz in July 2009

It’s time!

• it’s Des Moines
• it’s summer
• it’s hot and humid

It must be time for Jazz in July, and it’s free to all.

Each summer Metro Arts Alliance through generous sponsorship presents Jazz in July – and what a great deal this summer; we even have one day of Jazz in July that occurs in August! You can visit the Jazz in July website  or you may want to check out the links below to see the bands, parks, sites – 27 groups, 19 locations, and 19 dates.

• July 1, 6 pm, Fuzion Mix, 4 Mile Community Center, 3711 Easton Blvd.
• July 2, 4:30 pm, Dave Camwell and the Jazz Addicts, Lions Park, 72nd & Aurora in Urbandale
• July 2, 7:00 pm, Tony Valdez Large Band, Lions Park, 72nd & Aurora in Urbandale
• July 2, 7:00 pm, Roxi Copland Band, West Capitol Steps, Des Moines (Yankee Doodle Pops)
• July 7, 6:30 pm, Ed Kaizer, Jr. Group, Wesley Acres, 3520 Grand Avenue
• July 8, 6:30 pm, Jim Oatts Quintet performs Freddie Hubbard, West Des Moines City Hall, 4200 Mills Civic Parkway
• July 10, 6 pm, Scott Davis Quartet and Friends perform the late Miles Davis, Greenwood Park, Sylvan Theater, south of 45th near Grand Avenue; but what if it rains (and chances are 50%)? For this concert, the alternative is Merrill Middle School (map) and Metro Arts will make the call about 90 minutes ahead of time. Check the Metro Arts Alliance website for the update!
• July 11, 6:30 pm, Max Wellman Quartet, Waveland Neighborhood Association, Waveland Golf Course and Observatory, near Polk Boulevard on Observatory Road (map). The Des Moines Register reports more activities including food, kid stuff, and Observatory open house starting at 5:30.
• July 12, 5:30 pm, Des Moines Tango Group performs Pablo Ziegler, Salisbury House, 4025 Tonawanda
• July 12, 7:30 pm, 3×5, Salisbury House, 4025 Tonawanda
• July 15, 5:30 pm, Brazilian Sunset performs the late Stan Getz, Heartland Presbyterian Church, 14300 Hickman Road (map)
• July 15, 7:00 pm, Ashanti Jazz, Heartland Presbyterian Church, 14300 Hickman Road (map)
• July 16, 5:30 pm, Old School performs the late Wes Montgomery, Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Road
• July 16, 7:30 pm, Tina Haase Findlay, Living History Farms, 11121 Hickman Road
• July 17, 6 pm, One Nite Stand, Chautauqua Parkway Neighborhood Association, 1412 Chautauqua Parkway (map)
• July 18, 6 pm, Java Jews, Beaverdale Neighborhood Association, Beaverdale Park, 3333 Adams St
• July 18, 8 pm, Los Saltinos, Beaverdale Neighborhood Association, Beaverdale Park, 3333 Adams St
• July 19, 6:30 pm, Party Gras Classic Jazz Band, Music Under the Stars, West Capitol Steps
• July 21 (Tuesday), 5:30 pm, Judi Ann Brown performs the Gershwin Brothers, Roosevelt Cultural District, behind the Shops at Roosevelt (map)
• July 21 (Tuesday), 7:30 pm, Ed East, Roosevelt Cultural District, behind the Shops at Roosevelt (map)
• July 22 (Wednesday), 5:30 pm, Dave Rezek’s Alpha State Agents, Gray’s Lake Neighborhood Association, Gray’s Lake South Pavilion, Fleur Drive near George Flagg Parkway (map)
• July 22 (Wednesday), 7:30 pm, The People’s Connection performs the late Grover Washington, Jr., Gray’s Lake Neighborhood Association, Gray’s Lake South Pavilion, Fleur Drive near George Flagg Parkway (map)
• July 23 (Thursday), 7 pm, The Jazz Page, Waukee Area Arts Council, 6th and Walnut, Waukee (map)
• July 24 (Friday), 12:15 pm, The Belin Quartet, Civic Music Association, on the downtown library lawn at 1000 Grand Avenue, Des Moines
• July 26 (Sunday), 5 pm, The Jason Danielson Trio, Union Park Neighborhood Association, Union Park (map)
• July 28 (Tuesday), 5 pm, Mel Hrubetz performs the late Bix Biederbecke and the late Harry James, Oakridge Neighborhood Association, 1236 Oakridge Drive
• August 1 (Saturday), 5:30 pm, Patron Party, Village of Ponderosa, 590 Market Street, West Des Moines (map)
• August 1(Saturday), 7:30 pm, Four Fried Chickens and a Coke, Village of Ponderosa, 590 Market Street, West Des Moines (map)

That’s the schedule. It’s all free. Try some.

photos by flickr by olivander and volume 12

2009 Two Art Festivals in Des Moines

First, the Des Moines Arts Festival is the big one. It’s coming up so be prepared to show up in Western Gateway Park.

• Friday, June 26, 4-10 pm
• Saturday, June 27, 10 am – 10 pm 
• Sunday, June 28, 10 am – 5 pm

The festival website is so thorough and easily navigated that I couldn’t add anything worthwhile; you should go there for all of the information: 

• a listing of artists and links to their websites
• listing of performing artists with links
• the live music
• street theater
• interactive arts
• food

Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, Des Moines Arts Festival is free. 

The second show in town is ArtFest Midwest. It’s at the Fairgrounds and it’s also free.

• Saturday, June 27, 10 am – 6 pm
• Sunday, June 28, 10 am – 5 pm

There will be a free shuttle between the two events.

photo by James G. Lindberg

2009 Greek Food Fair

It’s a great Des Moines event. Put it on your calendar.

2009 Greek Food Fair (their Web site is so good, I wouldn’t have to say any more, but)

• Saturday June 6, 2009 (always the first Saturday in June)
• 11 am until 8 pm
• Greek Orthodox Church of St. George
• 35th and Cottage Grove
• wonderful Greek food, lovingly prepared
• a la carte (eat what you like for individual prices) or a complete dinner ($12 ahead of time; $14 at the door)
• tours of the church (then or online now)
• Greek dancing (at St. George’s; elsewhere)
• free parking
• kids are welcome too

Your friends will be there!

photos by James G. Lindberg

More than Luck: Diane Keaton intrigues and delights in Des Moines Smart Talk

A review by David Borzo

Diane Keaton brought energy and excitement Wednesday to the stage at the Des Moines Civic Center, displaying an unquenchable embracing of life, and her own special brand of “luck”. Her program charmed the appreciative audience with a powerful testament of how to live life well. Very well. Keaton, the final speaker in the Smart Talk series for 2009, deftly blended stories from her incredible career in the movies, her close relationship with her mother, and her recent joy and challenges of raising two adopted children, Dexter, 13 and Duke, 8. Her stories and experiences were intertwined with a series of vintage family photos and home movies, and was a living testimonial for keeping memories alive.

Keaton, who along with being a legend in the movies is also a director, author, photographer, singer, producer, businesswoman and mother. She reveled in what she called her “luck” all through her lengthy career, lucky with associations and connections in getting roles; like starring in Woody Allen’s Broadway 1969 hit “Play it again, Sam”, (and winning a Tony Award) and getting the great role in 2003’s “Something’s Gotta Give” (earning her latest Academy Award nomination). OK… luck…sure…but it’s safe to say that talent has a lot to do with it too. As she put it at Smart Talk − “Luck is preparation meeting opportunity”.

She had just finished acting school when she got her role in the original Broadway production of Hair. On the screen she has starred in what have turned out to be many of the greatest films of all time; from her role as Kay Adams in the Godfather Trilogy, to her Academy Award winning title role in Annie Hall and Warren Beatty’s epic Reds (another Academy Award nomination). Throw in other classic films like Manhattan, Sleeper, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and more recently comedies like Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Part II, and The First Wives Club. She also directed the poignant and powerful film Unstrung Heroes in 1995 to high acclaim. Next year, watch for Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford in the newest of her over 50 films, Morning Glory.

Keaton’s straightforward presentation and messages resonated with authenticity and empathy, a full life of messages received and lessons learned. She shared them generously. With both poignant memories of her mother’s tireless love and support for the young Diane’s acting, and then watching her mother struggle with Alzheimer’s (she recently passed in 2008) Keaton provides a strong tribute to her theme of taking on life and preserving memories. On the subject that is most asked of her – growing older – she also had a clear message: aging is just another opportunity…“ Don’t let Age become an act of submission” she declared, and clearly Keaton has not. Her positive perspective of embracing the past – while reveling in the present – and not fearing the future is so affirmative as to be contagious. An excellent cap to the 2009 Smart Talk season here in Des Moines.

photos by Kim Snellink

Everlasting Moments

Maria Larssons eviga ogonblick is the title in Swedish – Everlasting Moments in English, and the film is playing at the Varsity Theater.

I read a lot of film reviews Saturday including Roger Ebert’s review of Everlasting Moments and decided that of all the films in Des Moines, it looked the best. He gave it 4 stars; tv4 in Stockholm gave it 4 solar.

In one of the scenes the main character is described as having “the gift of seeing”.  As the moviegoer, you will need the gift of seeing too. Everlasting Moments is

• wonderfully visual
• melancholy
• unrushed
• subtle in color, music, and spirit

This factual story is based on a real character (Maria Larsson) as narrated by her daughter Maja.

The movie is set in southern Sweden about 100 years ago, about the time my father’s family was leaving Sweden. I enjoyed hearing the Swedish spoken, the subtitles seemed good, and the characters seemed very real (rough men, strong women, quiet children). The movie has enough stories to tell that it kept me entertained over its 2 hour 11 minute run. You might like it too.

Watch the trailer on YouTube, and you’ll know if you want to see it.

photo by flickr by dreamsjung

Victoria Rowell, actress, performer, author, foster care advocate

Tuesday night’s Smart Talk appearance by Victoria Rowell impressed the Des Moines Civic Center crowd with an inspirational personal story, a stirring journey complete with a ‘call to arms’ for all. Want to make a difference in other people’s lives, or in your own life? Victoria Rowell, movie and TV star, dancer, writer and philanthropist, had some Smart Talk for you. Raised in foster care through her childhood, by her description she still is in the foster care program, playing forward the nurturing she received. She started the non-profit Rowell Foster Children’s Positive Plan in 1990, fighting for foster children all over the world – “a world without borders”- as she described it. She talked of a “pandemic in the foster care system”, encouraging that we all can do something and make a difference, no matter how small.

Victoria Rowell carries more that a “celebrity endorsement” for her charities. She has lived the life, and today her organization supports the gamut of direct services for foster children – in fine arts, higher education, healthcare, financial literacy, reunification programs, cultural enrichment, and resources family support. It’s no wonder Ms. Rowell has received the United Nations Association Award for her work in human rights and world peace. She’s what you call a player.

This last year Rowell she shared her story with the world with her award winning book, The Women Who Raised Me, [4] a journal dedicated to the many role models in her foster care. “Growing up in foster care, I was never meant to be raised by one mother, but by many,” Rowell has said. Rowell received an NAACP Image Award in 2008 for Outstanding Literary Work by a Debut Author, for The Women Who Raised Me, and has been honored with multiple NAACP Image Awards in her career.

But it wasn’t all serious talk Tuesday night, and there were and plenty of questions about her role as Drucilla Winters on The Young and the Restless, [6] and whether she would be returning to that role soon. The Daytime Drama Diva was also a Prime-time star on Diagnosis Murder [7] with Dick Van Dyke for 7 years, and has guest-starred on The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and has a recurring role in the series Noah’s Arc. And Ms. Rowell is currently co-producing an HBO movie based on that award winning homage to The Women Who Raised Me. And Ms. Rowell also has an impressive list of film credits, [8] including Eve’s Bayou, Leonard Part VI, The Distinguished Gentleman, and Dumb and Dumber.

But what impressed Tuesday most was the personal message to the audience about not selling yourself short. “Don’t self-edit” as she put it – we all have something to offer to people in need, be it assisting someone for “a day or a week, or with a couple of bags of groceries”. She charged the audience to chase personal passions and dreams – do not hold them in – manifest them. Great encouragement from an award winning dancer who received a prestigious dance scholarship at age 8 – by learning dance from a book, one of many her foster mother showed her and by watching the June Taylor Dancers [9] and the Ted Mack Amateur Hour [10] shows on TV!

Photo by flickr by Dasruets

Article written by David Borzo

Mormon Tabernacle Choir

I was in Salt Lake City for a national meeting of the American Chemical Society. Now while I love chemistry, the best moments of my visit were musical. On Sunday March 22, 2009, I heard The Mormon Tabernacle Choir as part of the 4149th broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word.

What a great moment! The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang with a spiritual power that transcended religion.

• The late President Ronald Reagan called them America’s Choir.
• Since July 15, 1929 each broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word has begun with the words, “From the crossroads of the West, we welcome you to a program of inspirational music and the spoken word.“
• The general public is welcome in the Mormon Tabernacle as the choir performs for the broadcast, and the Purple Wren and I were two of them.
• You can get an impression of the choir by listening on YouTube, for example, to Consider the Lilies.

You can also hear broadcasts of Music & the Spoken Word around Des Moines too.

In the metro, early risers are in luck. KCOB in Newton (95.9 FM and 1280 AM) broadcasts the half hour program at 7:00 am on Sundays. The closest Iowa stations are

• Atlantic KJAN (1220 kHz on your AM radio) at 10 am on Sundays
• Cedar Rapids WMT (600 kHz on your AM radio) at 10 pm on Sundays
• Newton KCOB (1280 kHz on your AM radio or 95.9 MHz on your FM radio) at 7:02 am on Sundays
• Oskaloosa at William Penn KIGC (88.7 MHz on your FM radio) at 9 am on Sundays
• or you can find the others from Bonneville Communications

I know that I heard hundreds of radio broadcasts as a child because my father loved the music. I saw a few more broadcasts on black and white television. So when I walked into the tabernacle for the first time in 2009, it all looked very familiar. It should. The Tabernacle has been there (of course remodeled some) since 1867. The Tabernacle is known for its acoustics, but I was unprepared for the power and quality of music – an organ with 11,000 pipes; 360 disciplined, well-rehearsed voices (They rehearse or perform on 180 days/year). It was quite a thrill. If you are in Salt Lake City on a Sunday, don’t miss it.

Find a local Church of Latter Day Saints.

photos by Jim Lindberg

Billie Jean King, a Champion still championing great cause

Where do you start with a champion like Billie Jean King? Her incredible tennis career? Her decades of fighting for social change and equality?

Billie Jean King’s legendary career in sports does seem to be eclipsed only by her endless efforts on behalf of the rights and dignity of people across the globe. The American icon spoke Tuesday night as part of the Smart Talk series at the Civic Center of Des Moines. She continued to champion a commitment to worthy causes.

King retired from competitive tennis 19 years ago, but it’s hard not to highlight some accomplishments on the court: 39 Grand Slam titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles, including a record 20 titles at Wimbledon. Starting as a 15-year-old in 1959 in her debut at the U.S. Championships, King gained international recognition just two years by winning the women’s doubles title at Wimbledon. Things just got better: for one 10-year period from 1966 through 1975, King won

• 12 Grand Slam singles titles
• 9 Grand Slam women’s doubles titles, and
• 10 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles.

On March 24, 2009 at the Civic Center of Des Moines, Billie Jean King paid little homage to these statistics, instead focused on lessons learned in her extraordinary life.

Three themes framed her message -

• Accept and cherish the relationships in your life.
• DON’T make assumptions. About yourself, or others.
• Accept pressure as a privilege.

King, (named “one of the 100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century” by Life Magazine in 1990), emphasized the work that still needs to be done to achieve equality in all facets of our culture. The crusader for women’s sports, told of her passion for empowering others with “micro financing”, where small loans to entrepreneurs in poor countries can “change generations” of poverty. Of course, King has been helping people stand on their own two feet for decades – whether fighting for Title 9, or for equal rights for the Gay and Lesbian (GLBT) community.

Crowd favorite’s on Tuesday night included her illustrious victory over Bobby Riggs in 1973, dubbed the “Battle of the Sexes”, and how at the last minute she decided not to just crush opponent Riggs, but to run him all over the court. And of course her 37 year relationship with Sir Elton John, and how the #1 hit and homage to King, Philadelphia Freedom, came to be. The song was played at her entrance and exit from the Civic Center stage.

Following up in the “Meet and Greet” after the show, Billie Jean was generous and attentive to her fans, talking freely about family, human rights, her favorite tennis moment, and expressing a love for Bigelow Tea. Once she signed everything, from her latest book Pressure is a Privilege to several tennis racquets, it was clear that her championship ways included the message from her presentation, that the most important relationship is being comfortable with yourself.

Photo by flickr by The Heart Truth

Article written by David Borzo

State Historical Museum of Iowa

And a good time was had by all.

The State Historical Museum of Iowa is a wonderful place. Visit frequently

• by yourself
• with your children
• with your grandchildren

Use any excuse.

They are quite pleased to tell you that they are open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. That’s a credit to them; they serve the public first.

The museum has permanent exhibits and changing exhibits, and they are all very well done. One exhibit that seems to be a sure hit traces the history of people in Iowa and their connections to our natural resources. That’s where the buffalo above is found, along with loons, foxes, raptors, and other Iowa creatures.

When you first enter the museum, you are greeted by a mammoth skeleton. When I was there Tuesday that prompted the question, “Was it really that big?” Mammoths ranged from 9′ to 15′ tall and roamed the Midwest during the Ice Age. Read up at the museum’s site or go see for yourself.

There are also artifacts and modern representations of Native American cultures including a walk through bark shelter. While I went through it four times in both directions, my unofficial 7 year old guide was leading a fast-paced tour, and some of the details have escaped me – a decent docent nonetheless.

If you like local history Patten’s Neighborhood is terrific.

And you can visit a few exhibits on-line.

I went to the museum on Tuesday for the Irish Fest and did something for the first time: I got a green stegosaurus spray painted on my face. I thought it matched my personality.

Keep posted about the goings-on at the State Historical Museum. Until you get there, you won’t know how good it is – so go.

• visit the museum
• visit the gift shop
• use their archives
• use their libraries and special collections
• check out the education resources
• visit their remote historic sites away from Des Moines
• check out their historic preservation program
• read their publications
• volunteer and get involved

You can even rent space!

Or you can read what I said last year.

photos by James Lindberg and the Purple Wren

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