Who's Packing?

 

Nearly 5,200 Polk County residents applied for new permits to carry through March 31


When the new permit to carry law took effect on Jan. 1, few people expected the explosion of applications that came through the doors at the county sheriff department. The change in the law shifted the power, making it more difficult for county sheriffs to deny someone a permit to carry. The sheriff was previously able to use his or her judgment as a factor, but now, as long as applicants meet the minimum state requirements (can't be a felon, have a domestic violence conviction, a conviction for assault in the last three years or been committed with mental impairments), they can receive a permit to carry.

 

...Read More>>

Who’s racist? Praise for Kibbie. Branstad v. Wiggins (Round 1)

 

Two questions a reporter might want to ask Gov. Terry Branstad.

If it’s racist, as you say, for the Iowa Senate to reject “the only black department head that I appointed”...

1. Was it racist for you to reject the only black among the nine names sent to you to fill the three Supreme Court vacancies?

2. Why was there only one black among the 30 or so men and women you chose to run state agencies?

Just a couple of suggestions.

The Governor over the weekend took on Supreme Court Justice Dave Wiggins, who chaired the Supreme Court Nominating Commission that sent Branstad those nine names. Wiggins, who joined in the unanimous decision allowing gay marriage in Iowa, is up for retention in 2012, and Branstad clearly doesn’t like that ruling or Wiggins himself. Read More>>

Local music scene welcomes new jazz center, rooftop patio and rock club

 

What Jazz at Lincoln Center is to New York City, the Turner Jazz Center could be to Des Moines if all goes as planned.

While Drake University’s new state-of-the-art facility will be used primarily by faculty and students, a professor of jazz studies and trumpet says it will host public concerts and become a home base for the new Turner Center Jazz Orchestra.

“ Our vision for the space was for it to be a multi-purpose facility and a jazz club. We want it to be a focal point for the community,” Andrew Classen said. “The acoustics are perfectly designed for big band jazz and the club will hold 70 to 90 people with table seating. The stage is beautiful, and we have a built-in sound system that includes a 40-channel, Pro Tools board and an isolation room, making it the biggest and best recording studio in Des Moines.”

Construction of the Turner Jazz Center was funded by a $1.5 million grant by former McDonald’s Corp. CEO Fred Turner in memory of his wife, Patty Turner. The couple met while they were students at Drake during the 1950s and shared a passion for jazz.

 

...Read More>>

What’s in a name?

 

For better and worse, language isn’t as rigid as it used to be. Nouns can pass for verbs (to effect, to sex) and verbs can impersonate nouns (a hire, a feel).

Food definitions have loosened, too. Ethnic cuisines are no longer bounded by their ethnicities: Taco pizza has been around for decades now, and Cityview readers voted Hy-Vee the best “Chinese” restaurant in Des Moines this year.

What’s in a name is often up to the user. Some places require all “farmers market” vendors to be personally involved in raising the foods they sell. A new farmers market coming to 13th Street this summer anticipates that only 45 percent of its vendors will be farmers and local food producers who sell wine, cheese, salsa, jams and baked goods. Many of the rest will be mobile lunch stands that will compete with the six brick and mortar restaurants within a block of the market.

 

...Read More>>

Say somethin'!

Tell us what you think about local politics, music, restaurants, bars, entertainment or anything else going on in Des Moines.

 

...Read More>>

On the town

Cityview brings you updated
nightlife images, trivia and bar
specials from the metro area's
hottest spots.
See More>>