By Wini Moranville

Having covered the local dining scene for over two decades, I’ve interviewed a lot of chefs. Many of them have said fascinating things, but one quote that continually sticks in my mind is what executive chef Dom Iannarelli said when I asked him why Splash Seafood Bar & Grill endured while so many other fine-dining venues have come and gone.

"Everyone’s committed to fresh seafood," he said. "We will not get distracted."

I kept thinking of this quote as I enjoyed a lovely dinner at Splash the other night. I’m glad that other chefs seize the edgy and experimental – we’d have a pretty staid scene without some game-changing going on. But isn’t it nice to know that you can go somewhere and consistently have terrific oysters and sparkling-fresh seafood? Splash’s sharp, unwavering focus makes it happen again and again. In fact, in the two decades I’ve been going there, I’ve only been disappointed twice.

That Splash excels at seafood is not by any means news – and it was further evidenced the other night by our thorough enjoyment of a dozen oysters and two terrific entrees: a halibut special served in a heady lobster broth with shrimp dumplings, and a swordfish entree with a lush Oscar preparation (béarnaise, king crab, asparagus).

What gave me another angle of appreciation on this visit, however, was how hushed and serene the atmosphere was. White tablecloths and muted music may feel a bit fuddy-duddy in the days of high-volume, high-energy venues, but it was such a pleasure to hear and truly converse with my dining companion. On this particular night, it was just what we needed. And Splash delivered.

Splash is at 303 Locust St., 515-244-5686; splash-seafood.com.

Wini Moranville writes about food, wine and dining for dsm magazine and dsmWeekly. Follow her on Facebook at All Things Food–DSM.

Ahhhhh. Summer in the park on Sunday evening in small-town Iowa. People are sitting on lawn chairs or blankets, listening to musicians, as children romp and play happily. And it's free.

Kate Williams and Connie Terry plan to replicate that iconic scene this summer in their town of Earlham, just off I-80 west of Des Moines. Through their efforts, Earlham has received one of only 18 grants nationwide to present the Levitt AMP Earlham Music Series from the Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation of Los Angeles.

With a population of 1,400, Earlham is the smallest town to receive one of this year's grants of $25,000 to match local support for 10 free outdoor concerts, which will be on Sundays. Performers will include Iowa acts and others from as far away as New York (Sophistafunk on July 21) and Tennessee (Roanoke on June 23 and Devon Gilfillian on Aug. 4).

Concerts begin at 6 p.m. in  Earlham City Park (or in the local schoolhouse on rainy days). For more information about the concerts and performers, click here.

Boyz II Men, the best-selling R&B group of all time, will perform Oct. 1 at the Des Moines Civic Center. For other fun opportunities, explore a pair of easy-to-use online calendars. We at dsm magazine and the Business Record maintain this calendar with handy filters so you can see just the types of events you're searching for. For even more categories, check Catch Des Moines.