ia: The best of Iowa arts and culture

Fill your weekend with a bit o' Irish luck. (Photo: Skylar Gerald)

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day across Iowa

You don’t need a rainbow to find these Iowa pots of gold. Find several St. Pat’s celebrations across the state.

Davenport: The St. Patrick Society keeps luck alive in the Quad Cities. The party kicks off Friday with a luncheon and live music. The 37th annual Grand Parade begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, followed by a post-parade bash. Learn more about each event and make your travel plans on the society’s website.

Emmetsburg: This northeastern Iowa town overflows with Irish heritage and culture. Named by early Irish settlers for Irish patriot Robert Emmet (1778-1803), Emmetsburg goes all in for Ireland’s patron saint. Festivities include a Miss Shamrock Pageant, parade, fish fry and chainsaw artist. Check out the full schedule.

Dyersville: Pretend you’re chasing leprechauns in the 43rd annual Gaelic Gallop on Saturday. The race includes two options, 8K or 2 miles, plus a kiddie version for anyone 6 and under.

Other cities: If you love green beer with bangers and mash, you can find them at plenty of Irish pubs across the state. Party like an Irishman at the Founders Irish Pub in Bondurant or head to one of Iowa City’s official St. Patty’s pub crawls. Otherwise, Jameson’s Public House in Waterloo and Dublin Bay Irish Pub & Grill in Ames serve Emerald Isle fare any day of the year.

Calling everyone with a sweet tooth: The syrup fest is for you. (Photo: Indian Creek Nature Center)

Around Iowa

Find the sweet stuff in Cedar Rapids

Hungry for an adventure? Lace up your boots and head to the 41st annual Maple Syrup Festival March 23-24 in Cedar Rapids.

This year, as in the past, visitors to the Indian Creek Nature Center can hike the property, hear maple sap drip-drip-drip into buckets and see (and smell!) the historic sugar shack where all that sap is distilled, the traditional way, in big steaming cauldrons. And then, of course, you can head to the main building to hear some live music and stuff yourself with syrup-slathered pancakes and sausage.

In Council Bluffs, hot air balloons are popping up like flowers. (Photo: City of Council Bluffs)

Food & Dining

Glowing and blowing into spring

Sometimes, hot air balloons are just as breathtaking when they’re tethered to the ground as when they’re flying high in the sky. At River’s Edge Park in Council Bluffs this Friday, you can enjoy the bonfire-like glow created by the burners on a half-dozen parked balloons. Enjoy food, fire pits and acoustic music from Joe Reynolds while you take in the magic.

Giveaway alert: The first 100 people who bike to the event, which will have plenty of bike parking, will receive a free T-shirt. Kids will take home free glow sticks and balloon animals.

Find that classic Main Street charm in Ames and other cities across the state. (Photo: Downtown Ames)

Around Iowa

Main Streets with main character energy

More than a few historic Main Streets in Iowa could easily serve as a setting for a Hallmark movie. Go ahead, pretend you’re the lead in a rom-com while you shop for vintage records and handmade jewelry. Plus, brighter days and warmer weather means you can actually linger outside again. So get some sun on your face while you browse boutiques, indie bookshops, antique stores, cafes and more.

Ames: The historic downtown district has shops and restaurants that cater to visitors and students alike. Cooks' Emporium sells cookware, cutlery, kitchen tools and gadgets. Local food enthusiasts and chefs sometimes offer cooking demos, too. Savor lunch at The Spice, a Thai-inspired restaurant that showcases favorite dishes like pad thai and curry, plus tiramisu for dessert. Finish your day on a sweet note at Chocolaterie Stam and take home a box of white, milk or dark chocolate truffles.

Elkader: Take a scenic drive and enjoy the charming downtown district that borders the winding Turkey River. The community tempts shoppers with a variety of unique stores and restaurants. Grab a tasty treat with Gear Elkader's delicious selection of fresh baked goods and coffee drinks, or sit down and enjoy lunch.

Manning: German culture permeates the historic community of Manning, especially along its Main Street. Shop till you drop at The Market Place, where you can wander through displays of home décor, including repurposed and refinished furniture. For a pick-me-up, sip a hot cup of joe from the in-shop coffee bar.

Find eight more Main Street destinations from Travel Iowa.

Slow and steady: Villages Folk School in Van Buren County offers art classes at a deliberate pace. (Photo: Duane Tinkey)

Arts & Culture

Hit the road for folk art

By Brianne Sanchez

There’s joy in taking the slow road. Soaking in the scenery. Letting small-town attractions and oddities put a smile on your face.

My trip to the Villages Folk School in Van Buren County took me through Eldon, where I pulled off for a stop at the famous American Gothic House. Here, it’s easy to appreciate the serenity of simplicity. Many folk schools are outside of cities, so participants can revel in the relaxed pace of rural life while learning their craft.

Most of the classes at the Villages Folk School focus on handicrafts that have lasted centuries: basket weaving, blacksmithing, jewelry making, leatherwork, letterpress and pottery. They are all taught by skilled artisans. Some workshops play out over a single day in a particular season, while others span the course of a week or multiple sessions throughout the year. Either way, the experience enables participants to carve out the space and time to focus on craftsmanship and culture.

This story appears in the current issue of ia magazine. Read more online about Brianne Sanchez’s trip to scenic Van Buren County.

The Tony Award-winning show could restore your faith in musicals. (Photo: Julieta Cervantes)

Around Iowa

‘Book of Mormon’ is ringing doorbells around Iowa

Spread the Good Word, dear brothers and sisters: “The Book of Mormon” musical comedy is touring around Iowa at the end of March. All are welcome, elders and new converts alike. Check ticket availability at any of the Iowa stops to see the misadventures and surprising revelations of two Mormon missionaries sent to a village in Uganda.
March 26 at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids
March 27-28 at the Orpheum in Sioux City
March 29-30 at the Adler Theatre in Davenport.

Charles City native Carrie Chapman Catt, shown here in 1909, helped lead the charge for women's suffrage. (Photo: Library of Congress)

Around Iowa

Learn something new (and old) during Iowa History Month

The State Historical Society of Iowa invites Iowans to celebrate Iowa History Month with activities for all ages throughout March. Online and in-person programs include historical presentations, kid-friendly activities, guided tours and special exhibits from the Iowa History Collection Catalog.

Some of this month's events include:
Research Center open house events (March 15, 23 and 29 in Des Moines and Iowa City): Discussions vary by location and date, from topics like Grant Wood’s controversial “Sultry Night” painting to the colorful history of the Central Iowa Railway Co.
Iowa History Book Club (online): Watch a recording of Annals of Iowa editor Andrew Kumpp’s March 7 chat with Jeff Bremer, the author of “A New History of Iowa,” which tells the story of our state in an easily digestible narrative.
Spring Break Programs (online and through Saturday in Des Moines): Historians of all ages can join guided tours through select exhibits and 80,000 objects at the State Historical Museum of Iowa.
Carrie Chapman Catt documentary (1 p.m. Saturday in Des Moines): The historical society and Iowa PBS team up for a special showing and panel discussion of “Carrie Chapman Catt: Warrior for Women,” a documentary that tells the story of the Iowa suffragist.

Read the full schedule here.