On Monday of this week, I shared with each of you that we recently surpassed Issue No. 1,000 of The Daily Umbrella. I also asked each of you to participate in a simple ranking questionnaire to gather input on what you enjoy in The Daily Umbrella and what you could do without.
I explained how we will use this feedback to decide on any changes we might make. More than 125 of you chimed in already, and I truly appreciate that. I won’t share the rankings yet, as I don’t want to skew the results, but I will pass along some of the anonymous comments and suggestions:
“The Daily Umbrella is the first thing I read every day!”
“Stock market closings from previous day: Dow, S & P, Nasdaq perhaps?”
“The Daily Umbrella starts my day (except weekends, of course). Keep up the good, quality work. Thank you.”
“I love this email. I look for it every day. I HATE CHANGE. Please be very careful in how you enhance this presentation. I have unsubscribed to many other news sources when they changed how they presented their news and I couldn't find what I wanted to know from their emails anymore. Please don't do that. Again, I love this daily email. Thanks.”
“I read the Daily Umbrella each weekday with my morning coffee. If it isn't yet in my in-box by the time the coffee is ready, I don't know what to do.”
“Not pertinent to this survey, but I want to offer a suggestion for archived data. Add the subject of the column to the date.”
“I always enjoy receiving this email. So much news we get isn't local and I appreciate the local connection of people, places, and events that we hear of nowhere else. Keep up the great work!”
“Liked it when you did the speed trap locations.”
“Keep tweaking, and any change that folks don't like...well, your readers will be vocal about it.”
If you have not yet, please take the time to complete the survey and share your anonymous comments, too.
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 past columns here. |
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FROM KCCI: Pella girls wrestling coach talked down middle school student after alleged knife attack. PELLA, Iowa — Pella police are investigating a knife attack at the city's middle school. According to Pella police, an assault was reported in the middle school's cafeteria before school began Wednesday morning. ...READ MORE
FROM WHO-TV: Iowa’s Childcare Crisis could be alleviated with promising pilot program. DES MOINES, IOWA — There is a shortfall of roughly fifty thousand childcare spaces in Iowa at any given time. Lack of childcare is the number one barrier to financial self-sufficiency for women, so the Iowa Women’s Foundation launched a pilot program last year in an effort to create more options for families. ...READ MORE
FROM WOI: 'He will put AMERICA FIRST': Iowa native nominated as US Ambassador to NATO. Whitaker previously served as the country's acting Attorney General under Trump following Jeff Sessions' ouster......READ MORE |
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Clear Mortgage meteorology
Cooler weather sticks around through the weekend. It appears a light mix is possible Monday.
For help with pre-approvals or refinancing, get in touch with Originating Branch Manager Carrie Hansen at carrie.mortgage. |
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Des Moines Symphony
“Parker Plays Gershwin.” Nov. 23-24. Pianist Jon Kimura Parker ignites the Civic Center with the exuberant melodies and syncopated rhythms of Gershwin’s “Concerto in F.” “The Celebration: A Symphonic Jubilee” by Des Moines composer Linda Robbins-Coleman is also part of the program and marks Robbins-Coleman’s debut with the Symphony.
Poetry Open Mic Night at Beaverdale Books
Nov. 22, 7 - 8 p.m. Do you love to write poetry? Or read poetry? If so, grab a friend and head to Beaverdale Books for a free, fun and informal evening of open mic poetry, emceed by Iowa poet Kelsey Bigelow and special guest Caleb Rainey.
Iowa Stage announces 2025 Season. See details here.
Final weekend for “Charlotte's Web” and “Last Stop on Market Street.”
These two stellar family shows run through this Sunday. Both have been receiving great audience response, so don't miss the opportunity for a family bonding experience.
Call for photography artists
MASS, an artists' cooperative gallery and creative space located in Mainframe Studios, is inviting photographers to submit for their upcoming exhibit. Deadline for submission is midnight Nov. 30. Details can be found here.
Food Dude provides advance skinny
Jim Duncan, aka the Food Dude and someone who is very Art Smart, provided a wonderful interview in advance of the Moberg Gallery exhibit opening Dec. 8 featuring the works of Teo Nguyen, a Minneapolis-based painter. Check out the story, and plan to drop by this nationally celebrated gallery for this amazing show.
— John Busbee, The Culture Buzz |
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| Read the latest CITYVIEW | | | LUNCH WITH...
Teo Nguyen in Jackie Akerberg’s Jackfruit Kitchen
By Jim Duncan
Teo Nguyen is a Minneapolis-based painter whose “The Politics of Worthiness” (PoW) visited Des Moines on a world tour reimagining how war is perceived. Jackie Akerberg is a wealth management guru, author of “The Clean Vegan Cookbook,” and creator of The Jackfruit Kitchen, a food blog with nearly half a million followers. She is also a collector of Teo’s paintings. We asked Teo and his partner Micah Tran to lunch when their exhibition was in residence at Moberg Gallery. We met in Akerberg’s home kitchen where she hosted Teo and Micah in Des Moines. | | | READ MORE |
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The super sub. Legendary chef/restaurateur Steve "Gentle Ben" Little (Johnny's Vets Club, Winston's, Chef's Kitchen) has temporarily stepped out of retirement/consulting to fill in as "grill god" at Jesse's Embers after their chef's surprising death. Little was the first local, non-Chinese chef to drill holes in his gas range to achieve the high flames that accommodate the best sears.
Also from Jesse's Embers, owners Marty Scarpino and Deena Edelstein will operate the speakeasy in the $15 million Italian American Cultural Center of Iowa due to open in early 2026.
Thursday specials
• Irina's Steak and Seafood (650 S. Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines) offers a steak special with choices on Thursdays. Choose one: prime filet mignon, New York strip or baseball cut sirloin, plus one selected side, $25
• Sirloin steak dinners are featured specials today at Sully's Irish Pub (860 First St., West Des Moines), Front Row (9956 Swanson Blvd., Clive), and Winn’s Pizza and Steakhouse (122 W. Ashland Ave., Indianola)
• Thursday nights, Moroccan couscous — lemon chicken, beef keftas, five vegetables, harissa — are $17 at Purveyor (505 E. Grand Ave., Des Moines)
• Eastside Eddie’s (3517 E. 26th St., Des Moines) Thursday special is a hot beef sandwich with green beans, $10
• Sprockets (2314 University Ave., Des Moines) offers a breaded pork tenderloin special on Thursdays for $9.99
• Kids eat free at Scornovacca’s (1930 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) on Thursdays
• Mariscos El Pirata (6050 S.E. 14th St., Des Moines) offers $2 off all sushi on Thursdays
• Chuck's (3610 Sixth Ave., Des Moines) has karaoke tonight from 6 p.m.
• ShortE's BBQ (8505 Chambery Blvd., Johnston) has $1 smoked wings Thursdays.
• Cyd's Catering has a football "pre-game meal deal" that includes crudité with tomatoes, shrimp cocktails, corn chips and three dips, bourbon meatballs, dry rubbed chicken wings and fudge brownies to feed four - $100.
• It's prime rib night at Flying Mango (4345 Hickman Rd.) and burnt end pork belly night at Whatch Smokin (Luther, Iowa).
• Bevy’s Tavern (1300 50th St., West Des Moines) has a special of beef stew and cornbread Thursdays for $13.
• Fareway is offering free turkeys, 10-14 pounds, with $50 or more of in store purchases this week.
• Amruth Indian Grill (9974 Swanson Blvd., Clive), a recent Tuesday Tout, offers an all-you-can-eat dosa (gram/rice flour crepes) buffet on Thursdays 5:30-9 p.m. $18.95. This locally owned store is the raj of south Indian cuisine and dosa is its prophet.
• Iowa Events Center hosts a winter farmers market tomorrow from 10 a.m.
• Southridge Hy-Vee has a $10 steak dinner special on Thursdays with $1 going to Southside Cares.
— Jim Duncan, jd91446@aol.com |
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The 2024 results ...
CITYVIEW's Best Of Des Moines® | | | Best Local Bathroom Facility
1. Prysm Jewelry & Piercing
2. Shade Tree Auto
3. Star Bar
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 | | | |
$1,550,000 7378 S.E. Ninth Ave. Pleasant Hill, IA 50327
Welcome to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a meticulously maintained ranch-style home with a walk-out lower level, situated on 9.321 acres of stunning land. This property offers a perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and endless possibilities. The main level features spacious living areas, including 2 bedrooms 1 bath, all beautifully updated with tile flooring, hardwood accents, quartz countertops, and modern bathroom finishes. ...
See the listing here.
| | | See More Homes For Sale |
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| SOLD: Featured commercial real estate transaction | | | 4520 S.E. 14TH ST., DES MOINES
SALE DATE: 2024-07-24
SALE PRICE: $350,000
SELLER: DJ INGERSOLL PROPERTIES LLC
BUYER: HAWKEYE AUTO SALVAGE OF DE SOTO LLC
ACRES: 1.217
SQUARE FEET: 1,344 |
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Featured in the current
issue of Adel Living magazine | | | On the map
Landmarks add to the community’s character.
By Ashley Rullestad
The Simpson House and Barn
Head to the Johnston Library, and you can’t miss the majestic old barn and house not far away. The Simpson House, completed in 1902, was built by John H. Bauman and his wife, Mary Friar. The original barn on their property burned down in the mid 1930s. In 1936, their grandsons rebuilt it using clay tiles for the ground floor walls.
In 1955, Laverne and Shirley Simpson bought the house, barn, farm and orchard. In 1975, the Simpsons built a new house across the street and kept the old house to rent to friends and family. When the Johnston Historical Society was founded in 1993, organizers started looking for a home. Then-president Mary Jane Paez approached the Simpsons about purchasing the farmhouse as the headquarters for the organization. | | | READ MORE |
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FROM ESPN: Caitlin Clark won't play in Unrivaled league, source says ... READ MORE
FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Ex-Virginia Football Player Pleads Guilty to 2022 Shooting That Killed Three Players. ... READ MORE
FROM Yahoo Sports: Jake Paul's co-promoter responds to Netflix streaming issues, accusations Mike Tyson fight was rigged ... READ MORE |
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1989: Millions tune in to find out who shot J.R. On November 21, 1980, 350 million people around the world tune in to television’s popular primetime drama “Dallas” to find out who shot J.R. Ewing, the character fans loved to hate. J.R. had been shot on the season-ending episode the previous March 21, which now stands as one of television’s most famous cliffhangers. The plot twist inspired widespread media coverage and left America wondering “Who shot J.R.?” for the next eight months. The November 21 episode solved the mystery, identifying Kristin Shepard, J.R.’s wife’s sister-in-law and his former mistress, as the culprit. … READ MORE
1916: Britannic, sister ship to the Titanic, sinks in Aegean Sea. The Britannic, sister ship to the Titanic, sinks in the Aegean Sea on November 21, 1916, killing 30 people. More than 1,000 others were rescued. In the wake of the Titanic disaster on April 14, 1912, the White Star Line made several modifications in the construction of its already-planned sister ship. … READ MORE
1877: “Scientific American” announces Thomas Edison’s “wonderful invention”—the phonograph. On November 17, 1877, the publication Scientific American enthuses about Thomas Edison's new invention: the phonograph, a way to record and play back sound. … READ MORE
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| Weekly fuel report | | | The price of regular unleaded gasoline fell 5 cents, averaging $2.75 across Iowa according to AAA. Prices are down 21 cents from a year ago. The national average on Wednesday was $3.07, down 1 cent from last week’s price.
Retail diesel prices in Iowa fell 1 cent this week with a statewide average of $3.30. One year ago, diesel prices averaged $4.18 in Iowa. The current Iowa diesel price is 24 cents lower than the national average of $3.54.
Wholesale ethanol held steady and is currently priced at $2.16.
Natural gas prices rose 22 cents at the Henry Hub reporting site and are currently priced at $3.20/MMbtu.
Propane prices averaged $1.53 per gallon in Iowa.
Home heating oil prices had a statewide average of $2.81 per gallon. |
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| Birthdays and notables | | | Happy Birthday Carolyn LeWarne!
These celebrities were born on this date: Carly Rae Jepsen, Goldie Hawn, Ken Griffey Jr., Marlo Thomas, Michael Strahan, Troy Aikman
SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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The answer to the last riddle: What do you get when it rains mashed potatoes and gravy? SPUD-DLES! - Gail Tomlinson. Or SIDE DISH SHOWERS! - Rex Post.
Today's riddle: Why is tennis such a loud game?
Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com |
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To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or the Winterset Living magazines, contact:
Kristine McDonald
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 321
Mobile: C: 515-975-3543
kristine@iowalivingmagazines.com
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www.biggreenumbrellamedia.com.
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