Here Comes the Sun: Cafe di Scala Beatles Brunch

Kensie Smith

“Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” -John Lennon

"The things is, we're all really the same person. We're just four parts of the one." -Paul McCartney

The Beatles knew a thing or too about the good things in life–golden slumbers, walruses, submarines and how to come together. In their next reunion tour I fully expect to hear a song about Des Moines, because Cafe di Scala knows a few things about the joys in life too. Like brunch. Combine the two and you’ve got Cafe di Scala’s Beatles Brunch.

After two visits to the Cafe, it’s clear that brunch should be Sunday staple. As compared to the rush of the week, it should be done slowly and tastefully. You should saying hello (not goodbye) to and let your date hold your hand. It should be savored like the last lingering line of a McCartney melody. (Sorry, no more poor attempts at song title inserts.) Lennon would have loved it tenderly.

Cafe di Scala contemporary italian restaurant located at 644 18th Street, Des Moines

The British invaders croon over the speakers as brunchers settle into the warmth of the historic Victorian Sherman Hill mansion. Light streams past the wrap around porch through the numerous parlor windows to highlight the smiles of a crowd that vary from young couples to groups of old friends. It’s the place to be to start of a simple Sunday to stop for those good things in life. Forget that impending project at work and the house cleaning can wait. Beatles Brunch is a time for creative cuisine to rejuvenate the basic breakfast.

Menu items are playfully based of Beatles tunes, like the savory Sgt. Pepper crepes filled with a fresh variety of veggies and chevre. Relish the Rubber Soul french toast topped with a meld of marscapone, maple syrup and mandarin oranges. Portions are plenty, but if you can resist the temptation to eat all of entre there is also a delectable set of desserts, like the Strawberry Fields fruit-topped vanilla panna cotta.

To accompany the small, but seasonal menu, is a sophisticated sampling of prosecco based drinks. The coffee mugs never run dry with the friendly staff that seem to have a sixth sense for when another sip of the smooth brew is needed.

Indulgence can only happen the first Sunday of every month. Not only is this good on the pocket book (more pricey than your basic buttermilk pancakes), but good for the novelty of the experience. Reservations are required for the 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (Call 515.244.1353)

Can’t make brunch? Cafe di Scala is open Thursday-Saturday 5 p.m.-10 p.m. and if there is any need for extra incentive–corkage fees are waived and free desserts are offered for the rest of January. Follow @cafediscala for tasty tweets, menu updates and reservation openings.

Tchaikovsky and Tutus: Ballet Des Moines does the Nutcracker

Kensie Smith

Until those first live orchestrated overture violin chords are heard against a swaying red velvet curtain, it’s truly not the holiday season.

Yes, I may start listening to the Nutcracker soundtrack in October and yes, I’ve seen the ballet many a time before (probably not as much as the 24-hour Christmas Story marathon), but it always a pleasant surprise the way the story captures and then continues to captivate the audience.

The party scene is always expected and realistic. And, in the age of technology as Uncle Drosselmeyer (Mitch McCoy) breaks out the toy dolls (where can I find such a long-lost uncle?) it’s nothing too exciting. However, by the time the ballet hits the climax of the pas de deux at the end of the first act, you’re caught. As the Snow Queen (played by Stacy Lowenberg, one of the four special guest principals) pirouettes to perfection with those spins and dashing Snow King (Jeffrey Stanton), the audience is enveloped and falls gracefully into wonderful winterland of sparkle and snow.

Ballet Des Moines did a beautiful job with it’s 9th annual production in bringing together all of the elements of the traditional show and incorporating their own cast/stage elements. Hoyt Sherman Place Theater, with its plush chairs, large mirrors and chandeliers was the optimal stage for the classic, even though it does lack the spatial area space of the Civic Center stage. With a different cast for each show, Ballet Des Moines obviously tries to include the most number of participants as possible. They tried to include the most audience members as well and I have to give them snaps for their active social media presence and free ticket giveaways. Thanks for those.

My one claim to ballet fame was that of a Nutcracker mouse in Iowa Dance Theater production at the Civic Center when I was little. Prima ballerina status didn’t happen, but the role just left biased that the baby mice are still the best part of the entire battle scene. The first act also featured Clara (played by McKenna Waller at the Sunday performance), who, at such a young age, demonstrated impeccable technique and is one to watch in the future.

I’m not suite sure what Mr. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky was thinking as he composed this classic, but he must have been a man of brilliant marketing (or the “King of Captivation” as a friend called him), because he composed a show suitable for all ages. There is nothing more refreshing than seeing little girls dance about the aisles in velvet holiday dresses, pointing and prepping in a way that only some of us do now when no one is looking.

A simple set fit the venue just right, but was outshone by a collection of costumes that got increasingly more ornate. The costume director (Ashley O’Keeffe) had a clear eye for twirly tulles and complimentary colors.

The company did a good job of keeping the second-half fast-paced and fantastical. The Trepak featured a great set of pirouettes à la seconde that would have made any Russian czar proud and the frolicking purple flowers waltzed wonderfully. It’s also debatable what original choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov were thinking with Mother Ginger, but the small children that escape the confines of her skirt were a delight. And, by the time the second-half cast takes their curtsies and exits, a smile tugs at the corner of your mouth.

“Mommy, look at the pretty princess. I want that tutu.” The little girl behind me echoed exactly what I was thinking. (A tutu is always a welcome gift.) The Sugar Plum Fairy (Janessa Touchet) and Cavalier (Ogulcan Borova) had an onstage chemistry clearly apparent in the strength of her arabesques and their matching grand jetés. Their solo spots did not outshine but rather accompanied the partner work.

Courtesy of Ballet Des Moines Facebook

It’s a blissful break from the stress that accompanies the season, with avoiding eggnog at the company parties and those terrible white elephant gifts and finding the perfect ugly sweater.

Regardless of your “real” job, at the end of the day there’s still that little urge to leap across a stage, adorned with crystal tiara. As with any Nutcracker performance, it’s a tragedy to have to leave the lucid dream and return to the frigid reality of winter. If you have the chance, get to a ballet. You’ll leave your heart a little lighter, your head humming and toes just a little more pointed.

-Missed the Nutcracker? Catch Ballet Des Moines back on stage with Alice in Wonderland at the Civic Center on February 19th.

Practically Perfect: Mary Poppins flies into the Civic Center

Kensie Smith

“Life is out there waiting, so go and get it.”- Mary Poppins

I can’t spell. Spellcheck is one of my best friends and the AP Style Guide travels around in my big purses. However, the infamous nanny, Mary Poppins did what she does best- teach a lesson. After one of the most energetic numbers I’ve ever seen on stage, I left the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines knowing not only how to spell “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” but doing most of the dance and wishing I could sing it backwards.

With a magical excitement that reverberated from the stage front throughout the entire theater, Mary Poppins flew into Des Moines last week for a run through Dec. 12. The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical originally opened in London in 2004 and the touring company didn’t lose any of the glamour and glitz defining of a Disney musical. And, like all good musicals, it hit just the right notes for multiple different ages. (Fun fact to learn and know: Disney Theatrical Productions has 15 current shows around the world, and hypothetically every hour around the world there is one being performed.) When offered free tickets to go see the spectacle, I was not about to pass this one up. Apparently being a media correspondent also has its perks including the original London cast recording, ball cap and get excited–a kite, which of course had to be flown after the show.

While no one is perfect, Caroline Sheen as Poppins comes conspicuously close with her wide smiles and floating up stairs (which I now intend to do whenver ascending anywhere). Bert, played by Nicolas Dromard, rocks some spectacular patchwork vests, but the favorite main character by far was Michael Banks, played by Talon Ackerman. For the sake of theater lets hope his youthful soprano voice never goes through puberty.

Beneath the sometimes distracting layers of special effects and people flying on cables, the premier aspects of Poppins were in the supporting details. We were lucky enough to sit near the pulsing pit orchestra and I often found myself drifting into the muted melodies of the trumpets. Never-overpowering or off-beat, the Sherman Brothers original crescendos fit right with the vocalists and dancers- especially in the toe-tapping rousing rhythms of  ”Step In Time.” Combine the music with a costuming closet any actor would kill for and an absolutely amazing set, and you’ve got a show set for success no matter the actual acting. The Cherry Tree abode opens like a pop-up dollhouse and a gloomy park seamlessly transforms into a candy-colored  scene with the snap of a finger. Best advice is to not blink throughout the entire show.

Adaption from the original 1964 screen version to stage production naturally wields changes in plot. Shrill, death-dressed, opera-trilling Miss Andrew, played by Ellen Harvey, with her bottles of cod liver oil, served the perfect juxtaposing antithesis to the sugar-wielding Miss Poppins. (I’ll never quite understand why original author P.L. Travers used such a strong bottle motif.)

Beyond the lovely life lessons of the show, I’ve always thought that Mary Poppins could easily be turned into a horror film. The family issues are scary enough (hello debt, depression, parental abandonment and patriarchy), but throw in a scene of life-size dancing toys and the scare-level increases considerably. Sock puppet monkey and bird woman could have gone, although adults were probably more fazed than the large population of little girls in Christmas dresses in the audience.

I also have to give the Civic Center marketing props. Buzz for the show has been building for months through bright

billboards and guerilla tactics seen around Des Moines. The show itself also has a successful brand to run off of, with a colorful collection of letters spelling ”supercalifragilisticexpialidocious“ against a azure background. Almost made it impossible to resist the $25 apparel.

Mary Poppins converges the realist world (if you’re considering working in a British bank it will convince you

Original Broadway company of "Mary Poppins." Photo by Joan Marcus

otherwise) with a bright, chalk-drawn painting of smiles, laughter and singing. Scenes such as “Jolly Holiday” and Mrs. Corry’s conversation shop, exalted by the entire ensemble cast, bring the imagination of a young child to life. Maybe it’s my dance background, but my absolute favorite character was pirouetting, marble-grey statue Neelus, played by Garret Hawe. With the body of a god, I would easily do a pas de deux with him any day.

I think one of the reasons I love musicals (beyond their overly optimistic endings) is that connection of a shared experience. For a few hours it’s a chance to escape. Someone else has problems, but those problems are always alleviated with a kick, jump and a song. Mary Poppins, at its very musical core, is an experience that will entice you to smile at the stranger walking through the door, just because you know you both embarked on the same adventure.

With the glittering dancing concluding cosmos of “Anything Can Happen,” Mary Poppins ends on a high note. A whole theater exited ready to go, dream, inspire and vision. Or at the very least, go fly a kite.

Only just a dream…

Norah Carroll

I firmly believe that the Des Moines Art Center is one of Des Moines’ most under-appreciated resources. I’m as guilty as anyone else, though — we have a world-class, free art center in our backyard, and in the three years I’ve lived in Des Moines, I’ve only visited twice. But thanks to the Art Center’s Art Noir group, a membership organization aimed at introducing young adults to the Art Center through engaging programs and events, I’m beginning to find new reasons to visit the Art Center on a more regular basis.

This summer, the Art Center held themed film screenings on its expansive lawn; in the spring, the Art Center will play host to Art Noir’s fifth Big Hair Ball. Art Noir unveiled a new event this fall, a celebration of the Art Center’s new “Bad Dreams” exhibit, aptly named Bad Dreams Ball.

From it’s “phantasmagoria photo booth” to the Bad Dreams Brew provided by Court Avenue Brewing Company, I’d consider last Friday’s Bad Dreams Ball a success. Always a sucker for commemorative gifts, I’m obsessed with the glow-in-the-dark mug I received with my $15 ticket to the event (like most Art Noir events, admission was discounted for Art Noir members). Many attendees matched the event’s theme with nightmarish costumes of their own, while others stuck with tried-and-true cocktail attire. And while I arrived too late to try out the members-only absinthe bar, the night’s entertainment carried us until the event’s end at midnight.

My only complaint about the event was that there wasn’t always much to do, but at the very least, the eclectic mix of guests provided ample opportunities for people-watching. I still have yet to check out the new “Bad Dreams” exhibit, so I’m planning a return trip to the Art Center very soon. And in the meantime, I’ll be reliving the evening through the extensive gallery of photos on the Metromix website. Look for me in photo 60!

Oktoberfest: Möre German Zan Ever!

Norah Carroll

When I first started hearing about Des Moines’ Oktoberfest celebration, I had no idea what the annual German festival entailed. I’ll claim a bit of German heritage from my dad’s side, but my family’s been so entrenched in celebrating our Irish culture that the world of bier, sauerkraut and polka is entirely foreign to me. So when I ventured down to the Court Avenue district with a few friends on Friday night, I was a little wary.

The $10 I paid at the entrance to the festival paid for my admission, one drink ticket and — my favorite — a commemorative mug. Once I walked through those gates, I was overwhelmed by the tell-tale drones of the accordion as couples in varying levels of intoxication polka’d their hearts out. The elderly musicians on stage cracked bad jokes as they sang songs of beer and women, and German-inspired costumes and silly hats were everywhere (my friends Macy and Erin dressed as German barmaids!).

Sipping my mug of Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest in the company of friends from YPC, Social Media Club and the Apple Store wasn’t much different than sipping a glass of Stella Artois at a networking event with those same people, but the cool fall breeze and upbeat polka music somehow added a bit of magic to the air. There’s something unique about outdoor festivals like this that seems to bring people together (although perhaps it’s just the beer), and though I returned to Oktoberfest on Saturday night, I can’t help but feel like my Oktoberfest experience ended too soon. A weekend that drew all of my favorite people in Des Moines together in the heart of this city I’ve grown to love? I couldn’t ask for more.

Choo choo: Rocking the Rails

Kensie Smith

Grassroots campaign. The word gets groups of young movers and shakers excited. This was the buzz word that hung in the air, August 31st, at the downtown Hessen Haus.

Supporters converged in the venue, conveniently right on the railroad tracks, to rally for a train connecting Chicago to the 515 with a have a stopping point in Omaha. The trip from Chi-town would fly across borders at 79 mph, take 4:58 min. or less (I enjoy the specificness) and needs funding from Congress to develop further. Many of the members of the sponsoring organizations — The Greater Des Moines Partnership, YPC and the Environmental Law and Policy Center — showed up to listen to advocates speak on the advantages for a passenger train.

Music by the native Des Moines band, The Nadas reverberated the Hessen Haus walls with old favorites and a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday. And that is one of the reasons why campaigns centralized to Des Moines have a certain spark to them; you get engaged citizens, good food, drinks and a cause to rally behind, and things start to take-off.

Watch for more passenger train information to come and I’ll jump on the first train ride with anyone else who wants to go.

Everything’s better on a stick

Kensie Smith

Our state fair is a great state fair, don’t miss it, don’t even be late. From August 12th through the 22nd, you couldn’t be late, simply because the Iowa State Fair offers too much to see, do, listen, play, learn and experience.

Courtesy of IowaStateFair.com

Anytime anyone mentions the state fair, I first break into song Rodgers and Hammerstein style and then a flood of memories come rushing back of sights and smells of when I was little. The fair was a place of new things big pigs, sculptures of butter, cow pie throwing contests and my favorite, the Bill Riley Talent Search.

As a college student, at the fair on the infamous “East Side Night,” the fair took on a different attitude from the purity of yesteryear’s carnival rides. Friday, August 13th was not only a full moon night, but a sociologists dream. You had people from all around the metro, with different styles, personalities and backgrounds all in one area, converging on an appreciation of all things Iowan (more than corn).

I’m not the best with numbers all the time, but I like lists. This is called “The Iowa State Fair could eat your state’s fair for breakfast” list.

2- The ranking USA Weekend gave the fair for national Summer fun.

30- The number of items on Midwest Livings “Top Things Every Midwesterner Should Experience”- of course, including the fair.

1854- The first year of a longstanding tradition. There was no butter cow then.

1,000- Number of items on the New York Times’ “Places to See Before You Die,” which wouldn’t be complete without the Iowa State Fair.

50- Foods-on-a-stick. Because everything is better when it’s deep-fat-fried, smothered in chocolate and on a stick.

My challenge for the fair board for next year is getting the turkey leg on a stick. My challenge for the rest of Des Moines is simply go! Yes, it may not be your cup of tea or your typical crowd of friends, but there’s something t0 be said about taking a picture with Porterhouse on Drake Day, or cheering on the tractor pull or even braving the chicken coop to stare at a bunch of birds. Until next year’s fair (which at the time of this post, according to the Iowa State Fair countdown clock, is 347 days, 5 hours, 44 minutes and 45 seconds away), check out events at the fairgrounds such as the craft show, flea markets and Native American art show.

My Des Moines Style

Norah Carroll

Does Des Moines have style? From the fashion spreads in dsm Magazine to local shops like Vitae Design Collective, I like to think so. But beyond fashion, Des Moines truly does have a style of its own. In the months since I started exploring Iowa’s capital city, I’ve seen example after example of the things that make Des Moines truly unique. With this in mind, the lovely Katie Ketelsen organized Tuesday’s Social Media Club event, a Wellman’s patio shindig called Do It Des Moines Style (if you tweet, you’ll recognize the #DoItDesMoinesStyle hashtag) and tracked down communication powerhouses Trilix and the Business Record to sponsor the evening.

Quite honestly, I had no idea what #DoItDesMoinesStyle would entail, but knowing the great group of people I’ve had the opportunity to meet through SMCDSM, I knew I was in for a treat. The onion fries alone at the new Wellman’s in West Des Moines are worth the drive, but the conversations I had Tuesday night were even better. I’ve had the privilege of meeting some great new friends this summer through events like these, but it was also great to see some new faces in the crowd, whether they came representing one of the sponsoring organizations or were just casually interested in learning more about Des Moines’ ever-growing social media community.

So what is Des Moines style? Well, we’ll get a pretty good idea of what that means when Katie goes through the FlipCam interviews she took at the event, but for those of you who weren’t at the event, I’m curious to know what you think. As we move into our next season of seizing all Des Moines has to offer, what makes Des Moines unique? Why do you love living, working and playing in Iowa’s capital city?

Patience, young grasshopper.

Norah Carroll

To our faithful Carpe DM readers: I promise we haven’t deserted you. We’ll be back in full swing very soon. In the meantime, we’re working behind the scenes to roll out new features and partnerships to make Carpe DM better than ever. Stay tuned!

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That Building with the Big Golden Dome

Virginia Ferrer

Now that Des Moines is starting to buzz with excitement again (can you say “state fair”?), it’s a good time to visit our state’s beautiful capitol…for free!

The tour of the State Capitol of Iowa takes you through the many ornately decorated rooms of decision makers.  The first featured room is for the Supreme Court.  The justices sit at a bench that is made out of mahogany imported from the Dominican Republic.  Much of the Capitol is made out of marble from Minnesota and many materials are from Iowa.  This bench is one of the only foreign pieces.

The architect for the Iowa State Capitol (Alfred H. Piquenard) also designed the Illinois State Capitol.  A notable reminder of this is the bronze statue at the bottom of the grand staircase.  This was originally designed for the State Capitol of Illinois but was deemed to be too risqué for them so Iowa inherited it.

Much of the tour discusses a massive fire that occurred in 1904.  The fire happened just out of reach of fire hoses at the time and therefore damaged much of the western side of the building.  The Capitol’s electrician had the idea to close off all the air going into the building to suffocate the fire.  Unfortunately, as the same electrician was assessing the damage the next day he stepped on a faulty ceiling beam and fell to his death in the middle of one of the legislative chambers.

The last room of the tour is arguably the most beautiful, the law library.  With its spiral staircases and white lattice rails, the library is picturesque.  The tour boasts that this library has been featured in motion pictures.  The Iowa State Capitol is also shown in the opening scenes of Slipknot’s music video “Dead Memories.”

To learn more about the Iowa State Capitol or go on a FREE tour, you can go here or call 515-281-5591 for tour times Monday – Saturday.