12 Sep 2014

CITY CIRCLE PRESENTS THE 2014 NEW PLAY FESTIVAL

By Megan Flanagan

Celebration includes 8 new 10-minute plays September 20 and special performances of Sue Gilbert's Catchin' the Babies September 18 and 20

City Circle Acting Company of Coralville presents the 2014 New Play Festival on Saturday, September 20 at 7pm. City Circle will also remount Sue Gilbert's one-woman play about pioneer midwife Annie MacFarlane on Thursday, September 18 at 7:30pm and Saturday, September 20 at 2pm.  The Festival is sponsored by Cedar Rapids-based Heuer Publishing and celebrates emerging voices in theater.

All performances take place at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts at 1301 5th Street in Coralville.  Tickets are $12; packages for both the New Play Festival and Catchin' the Babies are $20.  Tickets are available by phone at 319.248.9370, online at coralvillearts.org, and in person at the CCPA box office and Coralville Recreation Center (1506 8th Street).

The Saturday evening performance will feature eight brand new 10-minute plays by writers with Iowa ties.  The plays present a wide variety of tone, styles, and subject matter.  Some contain adult themes and language.

Boy In A Cage by Catherine Shook, directed by Robyn Calhoun.
An allegory of what can happen when a man's sexuality is suppressed.

Hot In The Kitchen by Christopher Okiishi, directed by Elijah Jones
A radio cooking show staring high-energy, mildly naughty hosts Phil and Phyllis.

Lovely Wonderful Thoughts by Elizabeth Breed, directed by Mary Sullivan
What if Peter Pan came to a modern-day Darling family?

On the Possibilities of Endings by Jennifer Fawcett, directed by Scott Strode
A thoughtful look at the moment before leaving this world.

Shoving It In The Alleyway by Elijah Jones, directed by Patrick Du Laney
A comedic look at a drug deal gone wrong.

The Concentrated Masses by Duane Larson, directed by Adeara Jean Maurice
A farcical look at corporate America.

They Grow Up So Fast by Duane Larson, directed by Scott Strode
A father's hilarious attempt at sending his son out into the world.

Wednesday Night Witness by Amy White, directed by Liz Tracey
Two boys' disturbing conversation in the library.

Catchin' the Babies
As part of the New Play Festival week, City Circle is also presenting a remount of Sue Gilbert's award-winning play Catchin' the Babies on Thursday, September 18 at 7:30pm and Saturday, September 20 at 2pm.  Catchin' the Babies was developed through two previous New Play Festivals and is a glimpse into early pioneer life, as seen through the eyes of Annie MacFarlane, a half-Cherokee, half-Irish midwife. In February 2007, Catchin' the Babies competed in the Iowa Association of American Community Theatres Festival and won Best Play, Best Female Actor, and Best Set Design (Michael Blake).  It is directed by John Harper. 

About the playwrights

Elizabeth Breed is an Iowa City native; her first show was produced at City High when she was fifteen.  She attended Nebraska Wesleyan University, where more of her plays premiered.  She has performed in both the Iowa City area and in her current home of St. Louis, Missouri.

Jennifer Fawcett is an Iowa City based writer and the Associate Artistic Director of Working Group Theatre.  Her most recent play for WGT, Out of Bounds, was awarded the NEFA National Theatre Project Award.  Other plays for WGT include The Broken Chord (Hancher commission), After Ana (In the Raw Series/Englert), The Toymaker's War, Atlas Of Mud, Telling: Iowa City (co-written with Jonathan Wei) and Odysseus Iowa (co-written with Sean Lewis).  Her play Birth Witches premiered at Riverside Theatre and was nominated for the ATCA/Steinberg Award.  She was the NNPN Emerging-Playwright-In-Residence at Curious Theatre Company (Denver) and is the winner of the National Science Playwriting Award from the Kennedy Center.  A graduate of the University of Iowa MFA Playwrights Workshop, Jennifer's plays have been produced at the Tennessee Women's Theatre Project (Nashville), The Drilling Company (New York), Riverside Theatre (Iowa City), Available Light Theatre (Columbus), the Adirondack Theatre Festival (Glens Falls, NY), Alcyone Festival (Chicago), Theatre Masters (Aspen/West Palm Beach), the Hatchery Festival (Washington, DC) and in festivals across Canada.

Formally a stalwart of the Iowa City Community Theatre and then a founding member City Circle Acting Company, Sue Gilbert has worked in theatres all over the Midwest as an actor, director, designer, costumer and now playwright.  She has appeared on stage in shows as diverse as The Rocky Horror Show, The Lion in Winter, A Little Night Music, Gypsy, Come Back Little Sheba and The Boys Next Door.  Sue is also a historical re-enactor across three centuries teaching children and adults about the lives and skills of our ancestors.  Her work as a re-enactor led to writing Catchin' the Babies, the family stories about her 2x Great Grandmother that became a play.

Elijah Jones is a recent graduate of Iowa City High School.  He got his first stage experience at The Second City Training Center in Chicago and has performed for City Circle and other local theater groups for the last four years.

Duane Larson lives in Cedar Rapids and has previously had plays produced for TCR's Underground Festival and MVLCT's Slices of Life, and has been a member of the Black Dogger's playwriting group. Duane has performed with TCR, MVLCT, ICCT, and Usher's Ferry Theatre, among others.

Christopher Okiishi is a native Iowan and over 20 year resident of Iowa City.  His work has been seen at Riverside Theater (Walking the Wire), SPT Theater (Tales from the Writer's Room), No Shame Theater (including seven "Best of" and one "Best of Best of" events), and Working Group Theater (Was the Word).  His play Faithless was made into an independent film in 2001.  He divides his days between four mental health facilities as a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Catherine Shook is a senior at the University of Iowa, focusing on creative writing.  She had her playwriting debut last year at the University's 10 minute play festival with her piece Just One Puff and recently completed a staged reading of Too Few To Mention for the fall non-mainstage season.

Amy White of Mt. Vernon is a member of the Black Doggers playwriting group and serves on the board of directors of Mt Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre.  Her plays and monologues have been produced locally bu MVLCT, Dreamwell, City Circle and Riverside, and by groups as far as Kansas City and Madison.  Her most recent production was Someone Who Knew Her, based on the 1959 murder of Lisbon teenager Marlene Padfield.  Amy is a volunteer speech coach at Mt Vernon High School and director of the Lisbon Public Library.

###
12 Sep 2014

Artists First: College Art Faculty of the Quad Cities

By Natalie Dunlop

Davenport, Iowa (September 10, 2014) - Starting Saturday, artwork by over forty Quad City area art professors will be on display at the Figge Art Museum for the new exhibition Artists First: College Art Faculty of the Quad Cities.

The Figge frequently partners with colleges and universities in the region to engage students with projects, such as the College Invitational exhibition, College Night, brown bag lunches with visiting artists, classes in the studios and intern and volunteer opportunities. The college art professors are the unsung partners in these projects.

The Artists First exhibition will focus on the talents and achievements of these professors as working artists. Works from art professors at Ashford University, Augustana College, Black Hawk College, Eastern Iowa Community College, Knox College, Monmouth College, St. Ambrose University and Western Illinois University will be featured. (The art faculty of the University of Iowa will have their biennial exhibition at the Figge in March 2015).

The artwork on display in this exhibition was selected by guest curators Pamela White, professor of Museum Studies at Western Illinois University and former director of the University of Iowa Museum of Art, and Leslie Bell, artist and retired art professor at St. Ambrose.

Artists First will be on view through November 2 and is presented through a grant from Quad City Arts.

 

Companion Programming:

Opening Reception

5:30 p.m. Thursday, September 18

7 p.m. Curator Talk

 

Artists First PechaKucha Night

Thursday, October 9

5:30 p.m. $5 Burger baskets

6:30 p.m. $Special PechaKucha presentations featuring contributing artists

Art Talks

1:30 p.m. Sundays, October 12 and 26

Contributing artists will take turns discussing their works, as well as the rewards and difficulties of being teaching artists at the college level

 

Panel Discussion

1 p.m. Saturday, October 18

Panel discussion with artists focusing on the topics of creativity and teaching

About the Figge Art Museum

The Figge Art Museum is located on the riverfront in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and Sundays 12-5 p.m. Thursdays the museum is open until 9 p.m. Admission to the museum and tour is $7. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members and free to all on Thursday evenings from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org.
 

-end-
12 Sep 2014

Jacobs announces Thomson Prison Job Fairs

By Reena Tandon

THOMSON- After State Senator Mike Jacobs (D-Moline) passed legislation last year to secure the transfer of the Thomson Prison to the Federal Government's Bureau of Prisons, it recently announced the agency's first phase of hiring 300 employees.

Next week, the Federal Bureau of Prisons will host three opportunities for area residents to participate in hiring events at AUSP Thomson. After the initial hiring, the agency will be working toward filling an additional 800 positions.

"The transfer of Thomson Prison brought in an initial $140 million to help us balance the state's budget and pay our backlog of bills.  Now with the reopening of the prison we can easily expect an additional 1,100 jobs in our region," said Jacobs. "These are good paying jobs for area residents. This is the type of economic development our region needs to continue to grow."

Last year, Jacobs worked to pass Senate Bill 30, which secured the transfer of Thomson Prison from the state to the federal government. The transfer meant the federal government could begin using the shuttered state facility.

The reopening of the Thomson Prison is estimated to generate more than $122 million annually through payroll and operating expenses. Additionally, local business sales are projected to net an additional $61 million in the area.

AUSP Thomson Job Fairs:

Location: AUSP Thomson (1100 One Mile Road, Thomson)

Date: September 16

Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Date: September 17

Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Date: September 18

Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on Thomson Prison job openings visit www.bop.gov/jobs

###
12 Sep 2014

Bettendorf Native in U.S. Marine Band - At Fort McHenry for National Anthem Bicentennial

By SSgt Rachel E. Ghadiali

Bettendorf native Master Gunnery Sgt. Elizabeth Matera will be participating in the National Anthem Bicentennial ("Star-Spangled Spectacular") this Saturday, Sept. 13 at Fort McHenry in Baltimore with "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band. She is a clarinetist for the band and graduated in 1984 from Bettendorf High School.

Marine Band to Perform at 200th Anniversary of National Anthem Event

Performance to take place at Fort McHenry, Md.

WASHINGTON - On Sept. 13, 2014, "The President's Own" United States Marine Band will perform at Fort McHenry in Baltimore as part of the Star-Spangled Spectacular, a celebration of the National Anthem's 200th anniversary.

In commemoration of the anthem's bicentennial, the Marine Band will perform at 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13, to pay homage to Francis Scott Key and those who fought for freedom two centuries ago.

"We are honored to have been invited to perform during the Star-Spangled Spectacular in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the poem that would eventually become our national anthem," said Marine Band Director Lt. Col. Jason K. Fettig. "Although the Marine Band was not present during the legendary battle at Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key penned his famous poem in 1814, the organization was already 16 years old and very active in nearby Washington, D.C."

The program will feature patriotic selections spanning the past two centuries of American music as well as a performance in collaboration with recording artist and actress Jordin Sparks and the Morgan State University Choir from Baltimore. The concert will culminate with a grand finale honoring the national anthem and a spectacular fireworks show.

"Our country's unique musical history will be on full display for this special and historic occasion," Fettig said. "It's an opportunity for us to come together as a nation to honor the birth of a cornerstone in our American musical heritage and a work that, 200 years later, still so eloquently celebrates the land of the free and the home of the brave."

The performance will air on local PBS stations and Maryland Public Television from Fort McHenry beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

# # #

12 Sep 2014

Braley Receives Top Award from National Farming Group

By Kirsten Hartman

National Farmers Union presents Congressman with Golden Triangle Award

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today received the Golden Triangle Award from the National Farmers Union (NFU) for his consistent advocacy for Iowa's farmers and agricultural community. The Golden Triangle award is NFU's highest legislative honor given to sitting members of Congress.

"We've seen agricultural innovation power Iowa's economy for generations, and I know the future of Iowa agriculture is bright," Braley said. "I'm honored to receive this award and will continue to fight for Iowa's ag community."

 

Braley has been a consistent champion for Iowa's rural communities and agricultural industries, and is a strong leader in the fight to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard and the thousands of jobs and billions of dollars it contributes to Iowa's economy.

Last year, Braley cosponsored the beginning Farmer and Rancher Opportunity Act to provide incentives to ensure the effective startup and success of new farmers and encourage a new generation of Iowans to choose a career as a farmer.

In January, after Braley repeatedly urged House leadership to put the bipartisan Senate Farm Bill on the House floor, the U.S. House successfully passed a long-term, comprehensive Farm Bill.

A high-quality photo of the event can be found HERE.

# # #
12 Sep 2014

Brucemore's Autumn Landscape Hike

By Rick Martin

Embrace the harvest season by exploring 26 acres and over 125 years of history during Brucemore's Autumn Landscape Hike?Thursday, September 18 at 5:30 p.m. Witness the subtle and spectacular dressings of the autumnal landscape highlighted by the dusky plum and rusty barn red colors of the season. Discover current landscape issues, the role of public use, and the seasonal chores required to preserve the historic grounds. See how planting choices with sensitivity to native species and seasonal display affect the overarching impact of a landscape design. Seek advice from Brucemore gardeners and ask questions on topics ranging from particular plantings to landscape designs. Admission is $15 per person and $12 per Brucemore member. Space is limited; purchase tickets online at www.brucemore.org or by calling (319) 362-7375.

The Autumn Landscape Tour is part of Brucemore's Thursday Night Lineup. Every Thursday night, Brucemore will feature a different specialty tour focusing on topics for all interests, including arts and culture, Midwestern industry, gardening, landscape design, architecture, preservation, behind-the-scenes at Brucemore, and growing up in the early twentieth century. For more information on the Thursday Night Lineup, visit www.brucemore.org or call (319) 362-7375.

About Brucemore

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

###


11 Sep 2014

Distillery Expanding In LeClaire

By Ryan Burchett

Le Claire, Iowa, September 10, 2014 - Mississippi River Distilling Company is breaking ground on a new barrel storage warehouse and patio area in downtown LeClaire.  The nearly four year old distillery is increasing their footprint in order to age more of their popular Cody Road Bourbon and Cody Road Rye whiskies.

The project has been talked about since the distillery's inception in 2010.  "The city owned the land directly south of our building and the vision was always to have some sort of public plaza there." said Mississippi River Distilling Company owner Ryan Burchett.  "The idea was to break up the buildings and allow for river views from the highway.  But we never figured out the details on how it was to be developed because the empty lot to our south hasn't been developed yet."

Over the years, demand for the distillery's Cody Road whiskies has grown.  They now have distribution in 22 states and 3 foreign countries.  "We're thrilled that people want our whiskies.  But with more people buying it, we have to be putting more away in barrels to keep up with demand on down the road." Said Burchett.

As space got tight in the existing facility, owners say the perfect opportunity presented itself right beside them.  "We needed space and the city had an empty lot sitting next door."  Said owner Garrett Burchett.  "So we offered to purchase the lot and develop it in exchange for a public easement on top that would allow for visitors to access the plaza area as originally envisioned.  We gained over 1,400 square feet of barrel storage and a patio; the city gets the public area we all hoped for from the beginning."

LeClaire Mayor Bob Scannell says it is a win-win for everyone.  "From the City's perspective, we have a great business in LeClaire that continues to grow.  With this investment, the distillery gets stronger and we get a nice addition to our riverfront.  It's all done with private dollars and returns the land to the tax rolls. It's just great progress for all of us."

Burchett says the construction should be complete in about 6 weeks. "It's kind of like a big concrete garage, so it shouldn't take too long.  The top will be at street level and will be a large patio with public access from Highway 67.  Our tasting room will have a door out to the plaza as well.  Underneath will be a 57 by 25 foot barrel room."  The project is being handled by Friemel Construction of Bettendorf.

As this construction commences, LeClaire city officials are beginning to consider a separate brewery project to the north of the distillery.  The new Green Tree Brewing Company goes before the LeClaire Planning and Zoning committee on Thursday with hopes to break ground on the LeClaire riverfront later this fall.  "With everything going on in downtown LeClaire, we through this would be the perfect location for our new brewery."  said owner Richard Day.  "With the distillery next door, we think it will make the area even more of a destination and give LeClaire another first class attraction."

The brewery also plans construction of a similar plaza area just north of their building.  "The City has another 25 foot plaza area just north of our development." said Day.  "We're proposing to handle the construction exactly the same way as the distillery has.  We think it's a great solution for all involved."

#####

11 Sep 2014

A Culinary Tour of Iowa in One Room!

By Iowa Restaurant Association
Grand Tasting Gala Tickets On Sale Now!

Our travelling team of judges has tasted the first competition dish of the
Dine Iowa Culinary Competition, and they can't wait for you to try it too!

Join us at the 2014 Grand Tasting Gala and taste Rastrelli's Restaurant Chefs Mike and Tristan's dish for yourself! In fact, try all 10 dishes from top chefs across the state then vote for your favorite dish to win People's Choice award. This is your chance to truly "Dine Iowa"
without even leaving the room.

2014 Dine Iowa Grand Tasting Gala
Capital Square - The Atrium
400 Locust St.
Des Moines, IA 50309
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
$50 per person

Click here, visit www.restaurantiowa.com
or call 515-276-1454 to reserve your tickets today!

11 Sep 2014

Quad Cities Comic Book Convention

By Alan Morton

The Quad Cities Comic Book Convention will be held on Sunday October 5 at the Ramada Inn in Bettendorf, IA. The Ramada Inn is located at 3020 Utica Rd (I-74 @ Kimberly Rd / Spruce Hills Dr, IA Exit 2). It will be open to the public from 10 AM to 4 PM and admission for the public is free.

Dealers from three states specializing in comic books new and old, toys and related. Or if you have old comics lying around that you no longer want bring them by dealers are buying. For further information contact Alan at (309) 657-1599 or visit www.epguides.com/comics.

11 Sep 2014

What Should You Do If Your Dog Doesn't Like Your Date?

By Rick Martin
Vetting a Romantic Partner Can Be Tough - Especially When You're Already Committed

If you're single and in the market for romance, you probably know at least two things: Online dating is a viable and efficient way to find a potential partner, but dating sites cannot guarantee a perfect match.

While a third of all married couples started their romance online - including on social networks like Facebook, according to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, only 23 percent of those who went on a date through a match-making site say it resulted in a long-term relationship, according to the Pew Research Center.

"Really, that's not a bad success rate - I imagine it beats the club scene," says Kris Rotonda, founder and CEO of www.YouMustLoveDogsDating.com, a website devoted to singles who've already found their canine companions, but have yet to find true human love.

"Still, that's a lot of scrolling and dating before you find the right one. I think it's important to narrow the search by letting users start with what's most important to them."

Rotonda, who has four beloved dogs including one he's had since age 8, says his commitment to his furry family became a problem in his dating life. He's happy to report he has now found true love - she loves his dogs and they love her back.

What should you do if your dog doesn't appear to like the new love interest in your life?

•  So, you're dog reacted negatively to a girl or guy you really like ... Of course, how your dog reacts matters if you love your dog, but he or she may be picking up on something that's nonessential to the character of your date, who may be nervous, not used to dogs or simply wearing the wrong perfume or cologne that day. While dogs are very intuitive - and, you want your canine companion to get along with a potential long-term partner - realize that the chemistry can improve. Give it a little time and proactively look for ways to help your dog and your potential love interest relax and get to know each other.

•  Different reactions can have different meanings ... Did she bark for several minutes? Did he run and hide under the bed? If your dog barked in what sounded like a hostile or aggressive way, she's likely just trying to protect you. While you may have had plenty of time to get to know your date over long dinners, he or she may still be a stranger to your dog. If your dog ran and hid, he may be afraid. That doesn't necessarily mean that his fear reflects a real threat - something rotten about your new love interest. What else was going on at the time? If a plane was flying overhead or thunder rumbling outside, that may have been the source of anxiety. Don't try to pet or sweet talk your pet while he's in hiding as that will encourage the behavior. Instead, reward him when he emerges.

•  Mending fences between your canine and human companion ... When you are planning to re-introduce your dog to your date, start before they actually meet in person. This can be done by introducing the person's scent with an unwashed article of clothing. You can also add your scent to the clothing by rubbing it on your arm and then placing in a spot where your dog spends a great deal of time. This will help your dog get used to the person's scent over time and you are not introducing the person to your dog by invading all his senses at one time.

About Kris Rotonda

Kris Rotonda is the founder and CEO of www.YouMustLoveDogsDating.com, a website devoted to singles who've already found their canine companions, but have yet to find true human love. Rotonda, a competitive body builder and successful real estate agent, had experienced a number of unexpected challenges as a bachelor and dog owner and saw the need for a dating site geared toward like-minded dog lovers.

Pages

more

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

    

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.

 
 

Meetings Calendar

Kids Calendar

Eat & Drink Calendar