dsmWeekly: August 14, 2018

Visit Table 128 and other popular restaurants with this video link to catch their plans for Restaurant Week.

RESTAURANT WEEK FIRES UP AUG. 17

It’s that most wonderful time of August again: the return of Restaurant Week! Dine at Greater Des Moines’ top restaurants Aug. 17-26 for just $28 for two lunches or one three-course dinner. The metro area’s innovative and talented chefs will create special fixed-price menus that will showcase their palate-pleasing cuisine at pocketbook-pleasing prices.

Once again, diners can win a $600 prize package and the use of a Lexus automobile, simply by submitting Restaurant Week receipts. Click here for details. And visit DesMoinesRestaurantWeek.com to find participating restaurants, their menus and other information. This annual festival of food is presented by dsm magazine in partnership with the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau.

A sparkling summer drink from Ireland is our writer's new "go-to," and she's working at not having to "go to" the Emerald Isle to get it.

IRISH GIN & TONICS: THEY'RE MAGICALLY DELICIOUS
By Wini Moranville

I just spent three weeks in Ireland—my third trip in four years (yes, Ireland is my new France). Every laudatory cliché you’ve ever heard about the Emerald Isle is true: The welcome is genuine, the landscape enchants and the Guinness tastes better there than anywhere else in the world.

What was more surprising (to me, anyway) is that Irish boutique gin is a thing. Once I tasted Dingle Gin served with Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic, it became my go-to aperitif. Made in the west of Ireland, the gin brought more of what I love about the spirit: the botanicals, which in this case tasted not stronger, but wilder. The Elderflower tonic simply underscored that herbaceous-floral angle in a lightly sweet/lightly bitter way.

Dingle Gin is not yet available in Iowa, but I’ve rattled the cage of my friends at Ingersoll Wine and Spirits, who are now checking into bringing some our way. I have, however, located that fabulous Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic (which is crafted in Great Britain). I scored it at World Market, where a 16.9-ounce bottle costs $2.99. According to target.com, it is also available at the Urbandale and Mills Civic Parkway Target stores, where four packs of 6.8-ounce bottles cost $5.99.

I’ll let you know if and when Dingle Gin comes our way, but meanwhile, try the tonic with your favorite gin—Hendrick’s from Scotland currently does the trick for me—for an elevated take on your usual summer G&T.

LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT DIVERSITY
By Christine Riccelli

Ken-Matt Martin (pictured), co-founder of Pyramid Theatre Company, is tired of talking about diversity. So tired of it, in fact, that he’s leading a three-session seminar-style class—aptly titled "I’m Sick of Talking About Diversity"—at the Des Moines Social Club, starting today and continuing Aug. 21 and 28. You can attend one, two or all three of the sessions.

At predominantly white institutions, "everyone is having conversations about diversity, but no one is addressing inclusion and equity," says Martin, who has developed the series as the Social Club’s new artist in residence. Diversity, he says, focuses on how people look—and therefore can end up being more about quotas and tokenism than true understanding—whereas inclusion and equity are about creating a culture that is welcoming, and fair, to all.

Martin says the class will address "the tough questions" about how people and institutions can be more inclusive and equitable and also how the arts, especially theater, can be used to help achieve those goals.

Organizations and companies "work hard to implement diversity [initiatives], but once we have different people in the room, what do we do with that? How do we communicate?" Martin asks, noting that institutional leadership is still primarily made up of white males. "How do we have a larger conversation about how cultures function?"

While Martin will return to Brown University this fall to finish his MFA in directing, he’ll continue as the Social Club’s artist in residence whenever he’s in Des Moines, and he’s actively—and enthusiastically—seeking input from people in the community. "I want to hear from you about what the Social Club should be doing—and what this job should mean," says Martin, who has been involved in numerous theater projects in Chicago, New York and other cities as an actor and director. You can contact him at ken-matt@desmoinessocialclub.org.

Each session of "I’m Sick of Talking About Diversity" begins at 5:30 p.m.; the cost is $20 per session. For more details and to sign up, click here.

Salisbury House revives the era of its construction as the site of the Gatsby Gala on Saturday, Aug. 25.

GATSBY GALA: FLAPPERS FLAP, FOXES TROT

Glitz and glam come fox-trotting back to Salisbury House when the Gatsby Gala returns Saturday, Aug. 25, marking the 90th anniversary of the home’s completion.

Guests are encouraged to throw on their jauntiest fedora or fanciest 1920s-inspired attire to travel back in time for this roaring party, beginning at 6 p.m. Expect an evening of dancing under the stars to the Ballyhoo Foxtrot Orchestra along with complimentary signature cocktails from the new Foundry Distilling Co., beer from Peace Tree Brewing Co., hors d’oeuvres from Cyd’s Catering and dessert from Crème.

The festive event is the largest fundraiser for the historic property. Tickets are $150 ($100 for ages 35 and under). For more details and to purchase tickets, click here.

James A. Autry flew F-86F and F-100D fighters in Chaumont, France. Later he rose to the rank of major in the Iowa Air National Guard.

EX-PILOT AUTRY TAKES OFF IN 'RAUCOUS' NOVEL

James A. Autry, celebrated local author, poet and publishing legend—who also writes a delightfully thoughtful column for dsm magazine—has come out with his first novel.

Autry draws on experience as a young fighter pilot stationed in France in the 1950s to recreate that era in "The Cold Warrior: When Flying was Dangerous and Sex was Safe."

The author himself describes the work as a "raucous novel," weaving the dangers of supersonic flying with a world of wild parties, uninhibited sex and, of course, love. Quite the departure for an elegant gentleman best known for guiding readers through essays on life and leadership.

"Yes, there are some triple-X passages in it," he notes. "Some folks will be shocked wondering why Autry would write this stuff after all those uplifting books."

Ask him yourself at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, when he introduces the novel at Beaverdale Books. The event is free and open to the public. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

Anyplace can be a movie set, anyone can be a star in the quick and quirky world of 48-hour films.

SEE 48 HOUR FILM PROJECT'S BEST ON THURSDAY

Thirteen finalists for the 48 Hour Film Project in Des Moines will be shown in the Best of City screening Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Fleur Cinema & Cafe.

The screening of the four- to seven-minute films will be followed by an awards ceremony in which the winner of Best Film, along with several other awards, will be announced. Tickets for the screening are on sale online and at Fleur Cinema’s box office.

Participants had just 48 hours in a weekend last month to create their films, which had to include a character, prop and other details assigned to them. In all, 36 teams participated, and 31 films were produced on time and eligible for awards.

The film declared to be the overall "Best Film" of Des Moines will be sent to the international 48 Hour Film Project competition, Filmapalooza, to be screened and judged with over 100 city winners from around the globe. From there, 12 films will be chosen to screen in the Short Film Corner at the Cannes International Film Festival. For details on the films and the program, click here.