DART starts Sunday service this weekend and is still offering free rides for people who board with their bicycles. If you only visit a church on Easter and Christmas, take this opportunity to rediscover the experience of a non-holiday service.
The weather is forecast to be on the chilly side but that makes enjoying the autumn leaves during a neighborhood walk more exciting. If you see a crosswalk with the new blinking pedestrian lights, give them a try.
If you want to take a drive, it is the weekend of the Covered Bridge Festival in Madison County, about 25 miles southwest of Des Moines. The festival centers around Winterset, the county seat, and most activities will be held on either Saturday or Sunday. There is a mix of events, from an antique tractor show to covered bridge bus tours. Some events have an admission charge. If you are primarily interested in the bridges, I wrote about them this past summer for AroundDesMoines.com.
If you lean more towards Indians instead of cowboys, perhaps you would like to attend a showing of Lost Nation: The Ioway. This film tells the story of two Ioway brothers who traveled to Washington, DC, and signed a treaty ceding land that would become the state of Iowa. Each brother saw a different meaning in that act. The film looks at the story of the brothers and how modern-day Ioway are working to hold onto their culture.
Lost Nation: The Ioway will premiere on Thursday, October 11 at the State Historical Building (600 E. Locust). For $14, you may attend a reception and watch the movie, starting at either 6:00 or 8:00 p.m. The reception includes atrium displays, Ioway drummers, and Native American flute music. There will be a Q&A with filmmakers/panelists after the movie. The film and the filmmakers’ Q&A also will be presented on Friday at 7:00 and at 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday at 2:00 and at 7:00 p.m. On Sunday there will be a 1:00 p.m. showing followed by a Q&A with film participant Melinda Carriker. The cost for Friday-Sunday shows is $8.00.
If live theater is your preference, the All Iowa AIDS Benefit will be held at Embassy Suites (E. Second Street and Locust) on Sunday, October 14. There will be a pre-show party (4:30 p.m.), a silent auction (5:00 – 7:00 p.m.), and a variety show (6:00 – 10:00 p.m.). The cost is $20. According to a brochure promoting the event, the AIDS benefit was first held 21 years ago in a bar. It was then held in the lobby of the Civic Center for two decades. The money raised helps Iowans with AIDS/HIV to cover necessary expenses and pays for holiday baskets and a Wellness Summit. The variety show will feature female impersonators and entertainers offering up song, dance, comedy, and drama.
For an old standard, Friday, October 12 is Gallery Night at Valley Junction. From 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. visit art galleries, enjoy a restaurant, and stroll along Fifth Street in West Des Moines.
Guest Writer: M.R. Field is editor of Leading Voices: Iowa.
You must log in to post a comment.
{ 1 trackback }