Weekend Pick: Silent Night

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.