Around Des Moines

The Pajama Game is a musical comedy based on the book, 7-1/2 Cents, by Dubuque native Richard Bissell. It was performed at the Des Moines Playhouse in 1967 and returns in its current production after winning the 2006 Tony Award for best Broadway revival. This is not a show with a complex plot or challenging characters. Instead, it is the type of show to attend if you want to hum some of the score while waiting in the bathroom during intermission.

A few people sitting behind me at the Saturday, April 12, 2008, performance snickered several times during the first act. While I did not appreciate the distraction, I agreed with their reaction. There are numerous similarities between a 1950’s factory as presented in the musical and modern day work places. However, there are also many significant changes, not least being the power of unions. An updated version of the play would be more likely to hold the attention of audience members younger than 40. One song in particular, “Steam Heat,” offers a good example of changes time has brought. While I have lived in numerous places warmed with steam heat and know what it is like to have radiators, years of central air heating reduced my emotional reaction to the song.

The premise of The Pajama Game is simple. There is a new male superintendent at the Sleep Tite pajama factory in Cedar Rapids. He has an encounter with the female head of the union’s grievance committee. Sparks fly, conflict erupts, all turns out perfectly. Boy gets girl and gets the union a 7-1/2 cents raise that lets the workers live like royalty, or so they dream.

Alison Shafer’s choreography was the first thing that I admired about this production of the musical. It offered an energetic coordination of moving bodies and objects in “Racing With the Clock” and a playful pas de deux in “Her Is.” After I stopped trying to think of the show in terms of a story and started looking at it only as a series of musical entertainment, I began to enjoy the singing, too. Susan M. Grozier (Gladys), Craig Peterson (Sid Sorokin), and Jim Benda (Hines) had choice roles and all deserved them. Andrea Markowsi (Babe Williams) gave a decent performance but she seemed to be trying too hard to get the chorus correct in “There Once Was a Man (I Love You More).” Yet she got the shouting in “I’m Not At All in Love” just right. She also had the misfortune of a small microphone problem at the start of another song. Lenny Houts (Prez) deserves mention for his acting and for the puppy dog steps in “Her Is.”

The entire cast earned the plentiful applause. The scenic design and most of the costumes complemented the story well. The lighting could have been much better. The musical was directed by John W. Viars. Viars is executive director of the Playhouse and was a member of the 1967 cast of The Pajama Game.

M.R. Field reviews arts for AroundDesMonies.com. 

There are plenty of activities for this weekend so put off doing your taxes until Monday night. Or, reward yourself with a new piece of art, an ice cream cone, or a night under the stars for finishing the pesky paperwork early.

As part of the Des Moines Public Library’s AVID series, George Guidall will talk about his experiences narrating and recording audio books. The event is at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 10th, at the Central Library.

Valley Junction’s spring Gallery Night is on Friday, the 11th., from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Eleven galleries, plus other shops and restaurants, will be open.

This is the last weekend for Sarah, Plan and Tall at the Des Moines Playhouse. Friday at 7:00 p.m., Saturday at 1:00 p.m., and Sunday at 1:00 and at 4:00 p.m. Adult tickets are $15.00. The Pajama Game opens at the Playhouse on Friday, April 11th.

For stargazers, Drake University’s spring series at the Drake Municipal Observatory (Observatory Lane off of Polk Boulevard in Des Moines) is on Friday, the 11th, at 8:00 p.m. This week’s topic is Stars That Are Not Stable. On Saturday, the 12th, the Des Moines Astronomical Society will offer tips on stargazing at 8:00 p.m. at the Ashton Observatory (Hwy. F-17, off of Hwy. 330, west of Baxter).

Ritual Cafe (13th between Grand and Locust) has performers scheduled Thursday through Saturday: Julie Loyd at 7:00 p.m. on the 10th, Nikki Lunden at 8:00 on the 11th, and Big John Burns at 8:00 p.m. on the 12th.

Java Joe’s CoffeeHouse (4th Street between Walnut and Court) offers a family game night and ice cream social on Thursday the 10th. The ice cream costs $2.50 per scoop and is provided by KaleidoScoops Ice Cream & More of Ankeny. On Sunday, the 13th, Pastor John Colyer will host an open forum on “The Bible,” from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A recommendation for QWIKSAND comes from a reader. The group will play at the House of Bricks (525 East Grand) on April 10th at 7:00 p.m. Because of the locale, this performance is age restricted (21 or older). There is a $5 charge. According to a February 28th press release, the band was in Los Angeles filming the pilot for a reality TV show.

Conversations with a group of people last week made it very clear that this is the season for new puppies and kittens. If you want to help make sure they have good and healthy lives, consider volunteering with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. ARL has a volunteer orientation the second Saturday of every month. One is scheduled for April 12th. These events are held from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at 5452 NE 22nd Street in Des Moines. Volunteers are important for providing services to animals, including making sure dogs are walked. No pre-registration is required for the orientation.

If you do nothing else, take a walk, look at the flowers, imagine a canopy of leaves overhead, and wave to your neighbors.

M.R. Field encourages organizations and performers to send news about their upcoming events to events@AroundDesMoines.com. 

Writing for AroundDesMoines.com has helped me realize just how many little events and activities there are scattered around the metropolitan area. Little by little I hope to make readers aware of just how difficult it is for people to access most of those options if they are not driving. The response, “You just need a car in Des Moines,” is unacceptable to me. The attitude of transportation planners that buses serve either the middle-class commuter or the downtrodden urbanite is also a self-fulfilling prophesy. Using public transportation instead of owning a car can save an individual or family thousands of dollars a year. That money could be used to buy theatre tickets, to eat at a restaurant, or to shop at a local retailer. Passable sidewalks are a major part of non-car transportation and that is where Des Moines has been particularly irresponsible this past week.

There will not be a review of the Des Moines Playhouse’s High School Reunion because of the ice. I was unable to attend last weekend and am not crawling over ice to see it this weekend. The performances are on Friday and Saturday night, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $40 and include dinner. While I cannot speak of specifics for this show, I have no doubt that the acting, directing, costumes, and scene designs will reflect well upon the Playhouse and will entertain the audience.

Similarly, buses stop only half a mile from the Botanical Center but the expectation of blocked curb exits have kept me from attending Sunday Blues performances. Matt Woods will be performing this Sunday, February 24, 2008, at 909 Robert D. Ray Drive. Cost is $4.00 for adults and show time is 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

The 7th annual Thresholds Festival starts Friday, February 22nd, with an opening ceremony at 6:45 p.m. at Sheslow Auditorium at Drake University (2507 University Avenue).. A concert begins at 7:30 p.m. with performances by mezzo-soprano Ruby Hinds and Grammy-nominee Odetta. Tickets, in advance, are $34 for adults and $15 for students. Additional concerts, lectures, a worship service, and luncheons will be held on Saturday and on Sunday. The Threshold Festival is hosted by First Christian Church and by Drake University.

You can catch jazz by Taz at the Central Library (1000 Grand Avenue) on Saturday, February 23rd, at 10:00 a.m. The performance is courtesy of the Metro Arts Alliance.

The 801 Power Climb, up the 41 flights of stairs at 801 Grand Avenue, will be held on Sunday. This benefits the American Lung Association and while registration for the climb is now closed, pledges to participants and donations are still being accepted.

If tea is your idea of entertainment, Sherry Borzo and her mother, Sheryl Van Weelden, will talk about their new book, Tea Leaves: Reflections of a Mother-Daughter Journey. on Tuesday, February 26th, at the Franklin Avenue Library, at 1:00 p.m. The book also looks at tearooms in Iowa. Patricia Peterson, a local tea expert, will be in attendance to share her knowledge.

M.R. Field encourages organizations and performers to send news about their upcoming events to events@AroundDesMoines.com. 

It will be warm enough to go outside this weekend, but you will want to be indoors at the Botanical Center on Sunday, January 27th for week four of the Botanical Blues. Performing this weekend will be Dewey Cantrell and Jodi Bodley. Cost is $4. Time is from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Location is the Botanical Center (909 Robert D. Ray Drive). Hopefully it will be cold enough to stay on the ice at Easter Lake by Shelter #2 where the Polk County Conservation Board has a lesson on the basics of ice fishing planned for Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Neither of these locations is really convenient to public transportation, but the Botanical Center is only about a 20-30 minute walk from the bus routes that run along East Locust and East Walnut Streets.

Enchanted April starts performances this weekend at the Des Moines Playhouse (831 42nd Street) with opening night on Friday, January 25th, at 8:00 p.m. Can Matthew Barber’s stage adaptation do justice to post-World War I women created by novelist Elizabeth Von Arnim? Marc Cherry hasn’t done poorly with his post-modern desperate housewives. I wonder if this play’s characters will be comparable to that television show’s characters. Tickets are $24-$34. Show times are 8:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, 2:00 p.m. on Sundays, and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays through February 10th.

Turning serious, the American Friends Service Committee is presenting two performances of My Name is Rachel Corrie, with talk-backs on Saturday, January 26th at 2:00 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. The location is Grace United Methodist Church (3700 Cottage Grove). For students, a suggested donation is $10; $20 for adults. This is a play that is based on writings by the late activist. The performance, put on by a troupe from Denver, runs about 100 minutes, so allow at least a couple hours. Afterwards, the performer, Rachel’s father, and members of the community will discuss the current issues of Palestine and Israel with the public. Any money not needed to cover production costs will be given to the Rachel Corrie Foundation.

At 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, the 2nd Avenue Jazz Band is scheduled to play at Ritual Cafe (13th Street between Locust and Grand) for an unspecified donation. On Friday, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Java Joe’s (4th Street between Walnut and Locust) the Urbandale High School Jazz Combo Showcase will perform. From 9:00 to 11:30 p.m. DJ Keelix, from San Francisco, will mix a “smooth jazzy house and downtempo.”

A Chocolate Affair won’t happen until next Friday, February 1st, but tickets are $40 at the door and only $30 in advance so I’ll mention it in this weekend’s picks. This event is a social fundraiser for Ballet Des Moines. The adventure begins at 5:00 p.m. with chocolate samplings at various East Village merchants. Starting at 7:00 p.m. at the Ballet Des Moines building at 504 East Locust there will be chocolate martinis, salsa dancing from Salsa Iowa, and more.

M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa. She encourages organizations and performers to send news about their upcoming events to events@AroundDesMoines.com. 

There is one blessing due to the caucuses being held earlier than planned. It means we have a week of moderate rest before state legislators descend on Des Moines. As an added bonus, the weather is supposed to warm up over the weekend, unlike the December pattern.

Civic responsibility compels me to tell you to go participate in the caucuses on Thursday (Republican locations; Democratic locations; Polk County Democratic locations). My personal preference is to tell you to take along a television set or a radio so you can catch the Orange Bowl.

If you need a laugh on Friday, Caucus! The Musical is still being performed at the State Historical Building (600 East Locust). Tickets cost $29, plus taxes and fees, with some discounts possibly available. Show times are 8:00 p.m. on Friday and on Saturday, plus 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and on Sunday. The web site for the musical notes that there is now an adaptation for the New Hampshire primary that will run from January 4th through the 20th in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

For a play that ends with everybody getting along, Prince Brat and The Whipping Boy opens at the Des Moines Playhouse (831 42nd Street) on Friday. Sid Fleischman adapted his own Newbery Award-winning book, The Whipping Boy for the stage. Performances are on Fridays at 7:00 p.m., Saturdays at 1:00 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and at 4:00 p.m. through January 20th. Tickets are $15.

Hudson & Hudson will be featured as part of the Salisbury House (4025 Tonawanda Drive) chamber music series on Friday, January 4th at 8:00 p.m. Tom Hudson plays the cello accompanied by his mother, Sue, on piano. Tickets are $25 or $10 for students.

Blues at the Botanical Center start on Sunday, January 6th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.. The cost is $4. Rob Lumbard kicks off this eight-week series. According to a local weekly print publication, there will be a jam session that immediately follows the official performance.

The Central Iowa Blues Society will present a fundraiser at Blues on Grand (1501 Grand Avenue) on Saturday, January 5th, at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $7 and will help cover costs for Iowa’s representatives to attend the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee at the end of the month. Alternating seats will be Matt Woods & the Thunderbolts and Alan Smith & Willie McKnight.

Comedienne Christine O’Leary filled Ritual Cafe and brought the house down earlier in the week. She will be at Club Impulse (508 Clifton Street) on Friday at 11:00 p.m. She’s in Des Moines with several other people working for ImGay.tv.

Get out and enjoy the weather this weekend. There is music, comedy, and theatre aplenty to keep you delighted. Just remember that voting for president doesn’t ease your civic responsibility. Pick up trash that was buried under snow. Keep an eye on the melting ice to make sure the water is draining where it should. Say “hello” to your neighbor.

M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa. She encourages organizations and performers to send news about their upcoming events to events@AroundDesMoines.com. 

Settle into your seat at the State Historical Museum Theatre for a performance of Caucus! The Musical and the first thing you will notice is a stage set that is eerily reminiscent of a political convention. Within seconds of the musical’s start, you will have no doubt that this is a parody of the feeding frenzy that occurs every four years in Iowa. The practicality of props that easily convert from being signs for one candidate to being signs for another candidate sets the theme for the next two hours.

The performance on December 27th, was billed as a preview. I am tempted to attend the last performance on January 13th (remember, the day that was before the caucuses?) to see the nuances that change as the actors get more accustomed to their roles. There was a slight rawness on the 27th but that is not uncommon for a preview and in this case it just added to the fun.

The story has some timeless parts but there are many references to the current crop of presidential candidates. The fact that the two children of the typical Iowa voter attend separate colleges elicited laughter and approval from the audience. (Yes, one is a Hawkeye, the other a Cyclone.)

Robert John Ford wrote the book, music, and lyrics. Some of the jokes slap you right in the face, some hit you after you’ve had time to think about them. There are also plenty of punches straight to the gut. Although the ideal candidate sneaks up on the protagonist in the musical, the audience has it figured out long before the first act ends. There’s a really great finish, too.

Tony Humrichouser directs. No single character stands out except when he or she is supposed to be noticed individually. When that happens, the egos of the characters grow very large. The sound work, e.g., volume, tone, speed, was exactly where it needed to be for the stuck record. (That’s a stuck record as in all the candidates tend to look and sound alike.) Nothing on the technical or production sides was totally wonderful but sometimes the perfect creative inspiration was found.

Susan Grozier as Kate Wise came close to stealing a scene when the Wise family members revealed the candidates they supported. The only reason she did not totally succeed is that the other performances were quite good. The orgy that springs to mind as the candidates sing “I Need That Man” makes it clear that politics is sexy, and in the year before a caucus Iowa has the power. There are many other memorable moments.

If you are an Iowan ready for a cathartic release from campaign overload, this is the show to see. If you are visiting Iowa to promote a campaign, this is the show to see. If you just want to experience good theatre, this is a show to see.

M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa. 

Santa has it easy. He just needs to keep a list of who’s naughty and nice. The rest of us have to keep track of who’s opened and closed. Stores that are normally closed on Sunday and/or Monday are staying open to help last-minute holiday buyers. The Des Moines libraries will be closed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, December 23rd through the 25th. Even the retail service desks at the postal station in Capital Square will be closed on December 24th but there are other postal locations that will be open.

Maybe I’ll have to go gather some lumps of coal to leave on the doorsteps of all those businesses and residences that have failed to clean the ice from their sidewalks. I’ll have to leave a big bag outside of City Hall because there are mounds of snow obstructing pedestrians at many curbs. Coal is too good for the snow plow operators who have cleaned off parking lots by creating huge blocks of snow and ice across sidewalks. The city has an online form to report sidewalks that have not been cleared of snow and ice. You can also call Public Works at 283-4950.

If you are thinking of eating out on Christmas Day or even on Christmas Eve, call the restaurant, deli, or coffee shop towards which you are heading to make certain it will be open. The buses will not run on the 25th so many people will be stuck at home whether they want to be there or not. The buses will be running a regular weekday schedule on the 24th.

Some holiday entertainment continues through this weekend. Check out the Events category in the column to the far right to find special holiday activity posts.

Another winter storm is headed towards Iowa late Friday night. As I write this, local forecasters are predicting wind but only a few inches of snow. If you are on the road to relatives or friends this weekend, or just out shopping or celebrating the start of Winter, be careful. Taking your time driving can save you from spending even more time waiting for rescue and a tow truck.

Some musicians will be playing at local coffee shops. Wendy Jans, originally from Iowa but now living in Nashville, will be at Ritual Cafe (13th between Locust and Grand) on Saturday, December 22nd, at 8:00 p.m. Kate Morrissey will be at Ritual Cafe on Friday, December 21st at 8:30 p.m. and at Java Joe’s (4th Street between Court and Walnut) on Saturday from 10:00 to 11:30 p.m. Java Joe’s web site includes the description “urban fables and fairy tales.” Morrissey started out in South Dakota and now lives in Athens, Georgia.

One last holiday stop is the Botanical Center (909 Robert D. Ray Drive). The center will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday the 20th through Saturday the 22nd. Admission is $2-$4. There will be poinsettias, lights, holiday treats to buy, and Santa.

M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.

While Christmas is promoted as a time for peace and for joyous celebration, I know it’s really about competition. Who gets the most expensive gift? Who gets the most presents? Who gets the biggest year-end bonus? Who wins the football games? You can get the young ones in the spirit by having them enter a coloring contest Dahl’s on Ingersoll at 35th Street is holding for children 1-9 years old. The reward for winning is a child-oriented gift basket and a ham, packaged separately, as a thank you for the winning child’s adult(s). Pages to be colored are due back to the store Monday, December 17th. This is specific to the Ingersoll Dahl’s but apparently other stores have their own holiday traditions.

If bread is your gift of choice, Great Harvest Bread Co. at 28th and Ingersoll (515-288-0899) is accepting orders to Wednesday, December 19th. The regular baking schedule determines when loaves will be shipped. I stopped by to find out when stollen would be baked (Thursday, December 20th) and found out that white chocolate cherry swirl will be available on the 18th. Great Harvest will be open on Sunday and Monday, the 23rd and 24th, from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 25th and 26th. They will also be closed on New Year’s Day.

I meant to check out other bakeries around Des Moines to report on their holiday schedules and specials. I also had intended to check out some of the Christmas tree lots. There’s just too much to do and not enough time. Herndon’s on Grand near 61st Street has trees that seemed very uniform in size and shape from a passing bus, but I could not see all the lot or the details. For holiday sweets, Hiland Bakery at 3615 6th Avenue (515-282-4059) probably has some delights worth noting. I have tasted their cakes and found them delicious.

The Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus presents Winter Solstice II on Wednesday and Thursday, December 19th and 20th, at the Temple for the Performing Arts (1011 Locust Street) at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5-$15, with the higher end being charged at the door. Advance tickets may be bought at Liberty Gifts (333 East Grand) or through the chorus’ web site.

The solstice arrives at 12:08 a.m. on Saturday, December 22nd. I have had conversations in recent days with people about how Des Moines proper will be under an overcast sky even as the sun reaches brightly to the ground just a short distance from the small bowl in which the city rests. Maybe the returning sun will push some of those gray clouds away.

The Santaland Diaries started on December 12th. It runs through the 23rd at the 4th Street theatre (between Court and Walnut). Performances are at 7:30 p.m. It is the fifth season for David Sedaris comedy about a Macy’s elf. The children should be left at home. Tickets are $15, $20 at the door.

Merry Christmas everyone.

M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa. 

AroundDesMoines.com has received requests from readers for more information about holiday goings-on. There are many events on our calendars and Christmas activities are getting mixed in with political showcases and professional development meetings. There is no way I am going to be able to list everything that is happening in the next four weeks, but I will try to capture an array of seasonal celebrations.

Holiday Carols in Concert will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 29th at the Central Presbyterian Church (39th and Grand) by the Southwestern Community College Concert Choir. December 2nd is the first Sunday of Advent. Look for other church-based holiday celebrations in this period leading up to Christmas Day.

In the spirit of the season, please consider donating to the Salvation Army’s 2007 Miracle of the Bell campaign. Money is tight for several households this year, but money raised through the kettle donations helps central Iowa families, your neighbors. Buy your gifts with cash and drop the change in the kettles. You could have a little less weight to carry around as you shop and a whole lot less debt to move around in 2008.

Another fundraising event special to this time of year is Jolly Holiday Lights at Waterworks Park (off of Fleur Drive). Driving through the display costs $9 per car and may be done from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. through January 1st. The money goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Public transit doesn’t pass by the park and it is too cold to walk there, so I cannot speak personally about this event. Several news publications across the country ran an Associated Press travel story on November 18th that mentioned this Des Moines light show.

If you like to shop at the malls, no doubt you will find a Santa, maybe some elves, and other entertainment to entice you to spend your money on photographs, train rides, or in toy stores. I also noticed a sign in one of the local grocery stores that Santa would make an appearance on Saturday, December 1st, so keep your eyes open for these assorted visits from the North Pole.

You can support up to 300 craft folks at the Fairgrounds from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, November 30th and then during the day on Saturday and Sunday, December 1st and 2nd. A smaller venue of such folks can be found on Craft Saturday, December 8th, at Vaudeville Mews on Fourth Street.

Valley Junction has two more Holiday Open Houses on Thursdays (November 29th and December 6th) from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. These offer a mix of local, artistic, and fair trade shopping choices. In years past I have watched lunch-time performances from the skywalk near the Kaleidoscope and expect there will be some this year. In addition, there is another Holiday (Farmers) Market on Saturday, December 15th at Capital Square and Nollen Plaza.

In the evenings, there is the fun of ice skating at Brenton Plaza. Maybe we should start a tradition of a Christmas tree in the parking lot across Robert D. Ray Drive from the rink.

Yes, I did save the big events for last. The Radio City Music Spectacular brings the Rockettes to Des Moines from Thursday, December 6th through December 30th. The Des Moines Ballet performs the Nutcracker at Hoyt Sherman Place on December 7th through the 9th with a special gala and silent auction the evening of Saturday, December 8th.

The Weekend Pick posts on Thursdays may include other seasonal events. In addition, I will try to have another special holiday selection post next week.

M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.

Built in 1992, the Forest Avenue branch library was the smallest one in the Des Moines Public Library system. The addition of 2,300 square feet at Forest Avenue means the North Side library now has the smallest space. Although regular branch hours do not include Sundays, the Forest Avenue branch opened on Sunday, November 18, 2007, for a celebration of the renovation. With a table full of delicious appetizers arranged by Something Good Restaurant & Catering and a history of the Blues given by Fruteland Jackson, about 100 people of all ages enjoyed the special day.

After the posting of the colors by the Des Moines Police Honor Guard and the singing of the national anthem, a few short speeches were given. Don Mayberry, president of the King-Irving Neighborhood Association expressed the sentiment of the community when he said, “I wanted everybody to know how enthused we are about this beautiful building.” In the welcome speech, Forest Avenue Branch Manager Sally Wisdom told how Kesho Scott, an associate professor at Grinnell College, shared a command from her mother when Scott spoke at the 1992 opening of the building. In her introduction of Jackson, Scott repeated that phrase: “Get your butt to the library.” Scott added, “it is a statement we’re going to be saying forever.”

Wisdom has been branch manager for about four-and-a-half years. She has been an employee of the public library for two decades, previously working at the downtown central library and at other branches. In an interview with AroundDesMoines.com, she said, “our library is very well supported by the community.” She added, “we have a very dedicated, hard working staff.” There are ten people who work at the library either full time or part time. The Friends of the Forest Avenue Library hold a soul food festival in March. There is a foreign language section with an emphasis on books and other materials primarily in Spanish and in Vietnamese.

A display case in a meeting room told the story of the expansion in numbers. My favorite one was that 50,000 books were moved, twice. Other numbers were: 3,700 carpet tiles used; 3,650 feet of data/phone wire laid; 600 fluorescent light fixtures installed; and 150 gallons of paint applied. In addition, the library was closed for 5 weeks.

The design of the library is long and narrow. There is a tall window that offers a view of Evelyn Davis Park to the west, which is a nice touch. A new teen area offers a place for older students to gather. Over the check-out desk is a large neon sign giving the library’s web site address. The sign is very visible but its message about the future of libraries is very subtle. The ceiling should not be ignored by visitors to the branch. The bright red struts and the location of windows on the front side of the building make me want to dig out information on the building’s original architectural designs.

Jackson’s talk on the Blues ranged from the 1500’s when the blues was first observed in print, referring to turmoil, to the global reach of the musical style in the 21st century. For a person born in Mississippi, he talked fast, as though he had so much to say and too little time. Sadly, he noted that in Chicago, where he now lives, there is no radio station playing the Blues. If not for the Internet, his three CD’s would not be heard in the city. This was an example he shared of how the Blues are now just coasting along and starting to fade away.

M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.