ia: The best of Iowa arts and culture

The Decorah High Point Cabins offer sweeping views of the sky in every season. (Photo: Decorah High Point Cabins)

A cozy winter cabin getaway

By Hailey Evans

There’s camping. There’s glamping. And then there are luxury lodges à la Vail or Jackson Hole. Iowa can’t match the altitude of Colorado or Wyoming, but a few renovated cabins in the state’s northeast corner rise to the same standards for style and amenities.

The Decorah High Point Cabins perch on 60 acres of secluded hills, with nine rental options to choose from, depending on the type of stay you prefer. The biggest draw are the four luxury homes with private hot tubs and uninterrupted views of the scenic Driftless landscape. Inside, a modern rustic aesthetic welcomes guests with soaring exposed-wood ceilings, glamorous living spaces and full kitchens, plus floor-to-ceiling windows that would make a planetarium jealous.

“We have 60 acres that overlook the Upper Iowa River and over a milelong hiking trail with another beautiful lookout. The setting makes you feel like you’re in the mountains,” property owner Shanyn Hart said.

In the colder months you can still hike and enjoy winter activities like snowshoeing, snow tubing and cross-country skiing. “It’s more secluded in the winter,” Hart said, “and some people really like that kind of vibe.”

Read more about the cabins in the latest version of ia magazine.

Workers harvest ice near the Cedar Falls Ice House in the 1920s. (Photo: Cedar Falls Historical Society)

The art, science and history of ice

The Cedar Falls Ice Harvest festival returns this year after a pause in 2024. Hosted by the Cedar Falls Historical Society, the immersive event on Feb. 1 spotlights local history with activities, education and demonstrations at Big Woods Lake. If the weather forecast looks too bleak, the festival’s back-up date is Feb. 8.

Festivalgoers can see demonstrations of ice harvesting, ice fishing and blacksmithing, along with several interactive STEM activities. Food will be available, for a freewill donation, from Moment in Thyme. Check the Historical Society’s website as the date approaches for specific times for activities and demonstrations.

The festival also promotes the city’s historic Ice House Museum, which preserves the legacy of the once-essential ice industry. Ice harvesting was crucial before refrigeration and allowed people nationwide to store and transport food year-round. The round ice house was built in 1921 to house ice harvested from the Cedar River and was part of a network of ice houses used to keep food fresh during cross-country trade.

Things are looking up in Clear Lake. (Photo: Ron Miles Jr. Photography)

Heads up: Kites fly high over Clear Lake

Whales soar, pigs fly and other rainbow-colored kites in all shapes and enormous sizes glide above the frozen lake during the Color the Wind kite festival Feb. 15 in Clear Lake. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., kite pros from around the country will dazzle spectators with skillful choreography and creative kite designs— astronauts, whales, jellyfish, you name it. You can bring your own kite to fly, buy one at the Lakeview Room, or just watch the spectacle from the shore.

To warm up, head downtown for doughnuts, hot drinks, pub fare and craft brews. Food trucks will be parked across from the Clear Lake Yacht Club, and you can visit the Clear Lake Arts Center (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and the Surf Ballroom (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.), which became Iowa’s 27th National Historic Landmark three years ago.

Raise a toast to Midwest brewers this Saturday in Coralville. (Photo: Iowa River Landing)

Get yer ice-cold Brrr!

Sample beer from 60-some brewers from across the Midwest during BrrrFest this Saturday in Coralville. In addition to tasting some unique pours, you’ll get a souvenir glass to take home.

If you get hungry, you can buy a pretzel necklace to support the Coralville Boy Scout Troop 207. If you need something more substantial, there will be food available for purchase, and plenty of restaurants within walking distance from the conference center.

Sink your teeth into fun and games at Winterfest. (Photo: amanacolonies.com)

Chill out in the Amana Colonies

Embrace the cold during the annual Winterfest this Saturday in the Amana Colonies, with activities in and around the Market Barn and local businesses. Visitors can watch a local chainsaw artist create an ice sculpture live and up close (but not too close!) and play some winter carnival games.

Warm up with various competitive events like a ham-put, wreath toss, and the Freezer 5K fun run. The Amana Volunteer Fire Department will also be on hand with open fire chili to chase away the cold.

"Working Remotely," by Areca Roe, is on display at the Sioux City Art Center.

Sioux City art show reframes what portraits can be

In an era when everyone has a powerful smartphone camera in their pocket, a photography exhibition titled “Close to Me” at the Sioux City Art Center from Midwest photographers highlights conceptual narratives of personality, economic status, racial identity, gender formation, and family relations.

The group show includes the work of Julie Blackmon, Rachel Cox, Heidi Draley McFall, Pao Houa Her, and Areca Roe. Each has her own distinctive take on the art form.

The exhibition opened today and runs through May.