Welcome to an extra edition of the mailbag where you will find some of the comments, questions and ideas sent recently by readers of this newsletter or our publications. They are edited for space and clarity.
“Good afternoon, Shane. I could not agree with you more about compressing the election season (Early voting, Oct. 21, 2024). I wrote years ago that if we could find technology to record our vote safely and then eliminate the viewer seeing any more political ads, it would be wonderful. Then we could get back to the important ads such as diarrhea cures, herbicides, crop seeds, Clean Boss and My Pillow.” - John
I like where you are going with this, John, but we should be continually leery of Big Tech and its promises to simplify our lives in safe ways. And, often times, that goes for our government, too. - Shane
“We need a new button on the TV remote (Early voting, Oct. 21, 2024). If you have already voted, you push the ‘voted’ button on the remote, and the TV automatically skips any and all political ads. Of course, it may result in skipping some news broadcasts as well.” - Chuck
Now you’re talking, Chuck. How much extra would people pay for that feature? - Shane
“Shane, I believe you’re absolutely right when you say Kmart demise was due to selling cheap items for low prices (Attention, Kmart shoppers, Oct. 22, 2024). When Walmart went national in the 1970s, they were selling quality goods at low prices. Only made sense that customers would start flocking to Walmart stores. Kmart just failed to adjust their marketing strategy. I do miss Kmart submarine sandwiches, though!” - Kevin
I don’t recall the Kmart submarine sandwiches, but you are in luck . I did a quick search and found a video from a person who shared the recipe from a former Kmart employee. And now I am hungry. - Shane
“We keep on hand enough towels to provide fresh ones for the occasional sleep over of five or more so each can have their own (Bath towels, Oct. 23, 2024). In case we run across any psychotic non soap sharers like yours, we keep a supply of unopened samples from our hotel stays. Shampoo, too. BTW, if you want to gross out your children, ask them how they feel about the trend of hotels supplying mounted bottles of bath liquids in refillable and tamperable containers. That'll creep them out this Halloween season.” - John
Yeah, I don’t use anything from those hotel refillable bottles either. - Shane
Have a thoughtful Thursday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com
See Shane Goodman's other columns here. |
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Clear Mortgage meteorology
Rain wraps up early today, then we’ll have cooler temps and decreasing cloud cover later in the day. Rain chances return Saturday afternoon, and they may last into Wednesday.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
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| Pick up your October CITYVIEW magazine, available on racks across the metro. | | | COLLECTIONS & HOBBIES
Halloween and Christmas displays turn heads at Beaverdale home
By Cyote Williams
Halloween is a time for trick-or-treaters, fun costumes, scary movies and, perhaps, a trip to a haunted house or two. For David Ladd, it is a time to let his imagination run wild in preparation for decorating his home for all to see.
Halloween and Christmas provide homeowners the opportunity to transform their lawns into something special for passersby to appreciate, and few take advantage of the opportunity better than Ladd. His inspiration to start the yearly tradition came from his childhood. | | | READ MORE |
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Orange wine, also known as "skin-macerated white wine," is the hot new wine thing. Produced by prolonging contact between grape skins and juice during fermentation, this extended maceration period imparts a spectrum of flavors and textures, ranging from delicate floral aromas to robust oxidative notes. Orange wine can be described as “a white wine made the red way.” Unlike traditional whites, orange wines possess more body on the palate, along with added structure, tannins and complexity, rendering it a versatile choice for food pairing. Spicy Mexican, Middle Eastern and Moroccan cuisines, although challenging for most red and white wines, pair well with orange wines. (Bon Appetit)
McDonald’s stock fell more than 6% in one day last week after it was reported that the latest fatal outbreak of E. coli was linked to McD’s quarter pounders.
Deals today
• Irina’s Steak and Seafood (650 South Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) now offers a USDA prime version of steak night. Choose a filet, New York strip or sirloin with a side for $25.
• Ribeye sandwiches are tonight's feature at The Station on Ingersoll (3124 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines), and chicken fried steak or liver and onions dinners are at Mickey's in Yale (217 Main St., Yale).
• Red Lobster (3838 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines) offers a Thursday special of Maine lobster tail with shrimp scampi and a side for $20.
• Chicago Speakeasy (1520 Euclid Ave., Des Moines) has fried chicken on special every Thursday with the ice-cooled salad bar.
• Whatcha Smokin (Luther) offers its decadent pork belly burnt ends today.
• Hy Vee Market Grill has a Thursday special sirloin steak dinner with potato and green beans for $10.
• Price Choppers have tilapia fillets at $3.99/pound and catfish nuggets for $2.29/pound through Monday.
• Bubba (200 10th St., Des Moines) runs a dine-in “Sips & Sliders” promotion every Thursday, 4 p.m. to close - $6 select drinks and $10 mix-and-match BBQ slider trios.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
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The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Hotel
1. Surety Hotel
2. Hotel Fort Des Moines
3. Hotel Renovo
Cast your votes in the 2025 Best Of Des Moines Poll now! Open until Nov. 22. Results to be published in the February 2025 issue of CITYVIEW. |
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| Featured home for sale | | |
$315,000 4212 Ashby Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310
You know by address alone that this property is special. Homes here do not come up for sale often. But, here is your chance to own one before the holidays! Check out the photos to see what you are buying. This quintessential Beaverdale Brick has all the features you are looking for. ...
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 5608 S.W. NINTH ST., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-08-01
SALE PRICE: $5,750,000
SELLER: TZVI REALTY LLC
BUYER: SKYWALK HEALTH HOLDINGS LLC
ACRES: 1.855
SQUARE FEET: 25,412 |
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Featured in the current
issue of Altoona Living
magazine | | | The race is on
A family tradition
Following in the footsteps of his Grandpa Lenard and dad, Terry, Austin McCarl has been involved with racing since childhood.
“It’s all I really know,” he says. “My grandpa built racecars, built engines, raced himself, and owned racecars until he retired. He raced basically until he died. Then my dad started racing when he was pretty young. He followed in my grandpa’s footsteps and has raced for a living my entire life. Honestly, it’s kind of the cliché thing. It’s in my blood a little bit. It was what my grandpa did. It was what my dad did, and I just grew up loving it and being obsessed with it.”
For McCarl, who has raced since he was 8 and raced sprint cars since he was 15, it comes down to the fundamentals to be a successful driver. | | | READ MORE |
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FROM KCCI: Dowling Catholic briefly locked down Wednesday after robbery at nearby Walmart. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: Perry mayor says there’s a prospective buyer for Tyson plant ...READ MORE
FROM WOI-DT Local 5: No. 11 Iowa State on the cusp of making history. Here's why. ...READ MORE |
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Central Iowa Blues Society anchors this week's First Friday at Mainframe Studios
Join us for First Friday at Mainframe Studios on Nov. 1 from 5-8 p.m. CIBS will feature live Iowa Blues on each floor of Mainframe Studios at the Nov. 1 “First Friday” event as we celebrate the official unveiling of the new home of the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame exhibit. Cruise the open studios of the largest nonprofit creative workspace in the nation.
· 5-5:20 p.m. / 6:30-6:50 p.m. – second floor - Heath Alan
· 5:30 – 5:50 p.m. / 7-7:20 p.m. – third floor - Rob Lumbard
· 6-6:20 p.m. / 7:30-7:50 p.m. – fourth floor - Scott Eggleston Music
· 8-9 p.m. – first floor in the Big Room - Blues Hall of Fame All-Star Band featuring JC Anderson, Greg Sutherland and Dwight Dario
Mainframe Studios - 900 Keo Way, Des Moines, IA
Don’t miss the chance to view our curated gallery spaces featuring stunning art from featured Mainframe artists. It will be an evening of creativity, community and celebration that you won’t want to miss.
Documentary Film Screening of "The Negro Artist" at Drake University
Ages 18-plus
Become inspired. Come watch the acclaimed documentary film "The Negro Artist" at Drake University. Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey is an acclaimed poet and artist from Iowa, working with Los Angeles filmmaker Nik Heftman to produce this thought-provoking film.
By The Seven Times
Friday, Nov. 1 · 3:30-6 p.m. Doors at 3:30 p.m.
A most immersive, unforgettable musical and cultural experience: Four Shillings Short
Returning to Iowa for another series of eclectic concerts, events and even leading a church service, the incomparable duo of Aodh Og O’Tuama and Christy Martin, known collectively as Four Shillings Short and masters of Celtic, folk and world music, return to the Midwest.
· Nov. 1 – First United Methodist Church, Indianola. A SAMHAIN/HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION: Stories, Music and Folklore for the Celtic Bonfire Festival of Samhain (COSTUMES ENCOURAGED). Ticket prices $15 per person, $25 per family. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time by contacting Maureen Korte, moekorte@cs.com 515-321-9581 or at the door.
· Nov. 3 – UCC Ames worship service.
· Nov. 3 – Ames Public Library.
Look for details on their website:
RHPS returns to Varsity Cinema Oct. 31
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” returns to Varsity Cinema for a very special HALLOWEEN performance on Thursday, Oct. 31 at 10 p.m. The film will be accompanied by Des Moines' only local, live Shadow Cast performance, lip-syncing and dancing along. Prop bags will be available for purchase in-person before the show.
— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz The Culture Buzz |
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World Series:
ESPN: Dodgers win World Series after wild comeback in Game 5 ... READ MORE
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Jalen Hurts Reveals Why He Didn't Actually Play Golf With Barack Obama ... READ MORE
CBS Sports: Tom Kim apologizes for damaging locker after losing DP World Tour event in playoff to Byeong Hun An ... READ MORE |
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1517: Martin Luther posts 95 theses. On Oct. 31, 1517, legend has it that the priest and scholar Martin Luther approaches the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, and nails a piece of paper to it containing the 95 revolutionary opinions that would begin the Protestant Reformation. … READ MORE
1926: Celebrated magician Harry Houdini dies. Harry Houdini, the most celebrated magician and escape artist of the 20th century, dies of peritonitis in a Detroit hospital. Twelve days before, Houdini had been talking to a group of students after a lecture in Montreal when he commented on the strength of his stomach muscles and their ability to withstand hard blows. Suddenly, one of the students punched Houdini twice in the stomach. The magician hadn’t had time to prepare, and the blows ruptured his appendix. … READ MORE
1993: Actor River Phoenix dies. On Oct. 31, 1993, the 23-year-old actor River Phoenix, who appeared in such films as "Stand by Me" and "My Own Private Idaho," dies of a drug overdose outside a West Hollywood nightclub. At the time of his death, Phoenix was considered one of the most promising actors of his generation and had received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his performance in 1988’s "Running on Empty." … READ MORE
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| Weekly fuel report | | | The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 6 cents, averaging $2.90 across Iowa according to AAA.
Motor Fuels
As of Wednesday, the price of regular unleaded gasoline averaged $2.90 across Iowa according to AAA.
Prices fell 6 cents from last week’s price and are down 31 cents from a year ago.
The national average on Wednesday was $3.14, down 2 cents from last week’s price.
Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 5 cents this week with a statewide average of $3.38.
One year ago, diesel prices averaged $4.56 in Iowa.
The current Iowa diesel price is 17 cents lower than the national average of $3.58.
Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.
The current Des Moines Terminal/Rack Prices are $1.91 for U87-E10, $2.13 for Unleaded 87 (clear), $2.14 for ULSD#2, $2.44 for ULSD#1, and $1.79 per gallon for E-70 prices.
Heating Fuels
Natural gas prices rose 54 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $2.85/MMbtu.
Propane prices averaged $1.54 per gallon in Iowa.
Home heating oil prices had a statewide average of $2.86 per gallon. |
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| Birthdays and notables | | | Happy Birthday Michelle Haupts!
These celebrities were born on this date: Peter Jackson, Rob Schneider, Vanilla Ice, Piper Perabo, Danielle Rose Russell, Deidre Hall, Dan Rather, Dermot Mulroney, Holly Taylor, Vanessa Marano, Willow Smith, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Justin Chatwin, Samaire Armstrong, Frank Iero, Johnny Marr
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to yesterday's riddle:
The answer to yesterday's riddle: Why don't witches buy cars with automatic transmission? BECAUSE THEY PREFER TO DRIVE A STICK! Correct answers from Brent Antisdel, Rex Post, Mike Chiston, Paula Becker, Carolyn Rogers, Kris Laursen. Other answers sent by William Snyder.
Today's riddle: What happened when the turkey got into a fight?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or Winterset Living magazine, contact:
Kristine McDonald
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 321
Mobile: C: 515-975-3543
kristine@iowalivingmagazines.com
©Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc., all rights reserved.
www.biggreenumbrellamedia.com. Add webmaster@dmcityview.com to your address book to ensure delivery. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Click here to get it delivered to your inbox for FREE! |
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