dsmWeekly: August 27, 2019

Unveiling parties always include big crowds—with friends like Deshara Bohanna, Sophia Ahmad and Trudy Holman Hurd—plus the release of the new issue.

OUR NEW ISSUE PARTY STARTS AT 5 P.M. TODAY

Today's the day! Please join us to celebrate the arrival of dsm‘s September/October issue. It’s a fun tradition, one we’re happy to maintain: a party for our readers where we unveil our new issue and chat with friends about all that’s new and exciting in Greater Des Moines. We’ll do it again from 5 to 7 p.m. today (Tuesday, Aug. 27). Lincoln Savings Bank will be our host at the River Center, 340 S.W. Third St. As always, we’ll have free food and drink, and free copies of our newest magazine. And as always, we’ll enjoy mingling with a fun crowd; it’ll be even better if you can be there.

A good burger is a good burger, whether it's made with beef or a plant-based medley.

SHE'S DOWN WITH VEGAN-BASED DIRT BURGER

By Wini Moranville

I’ve often said that I’d be happy to make some major inroads into a vegan lifestyle if someone else did the cooking. I just don’t love chasing down ingredients like flax eggs, aquafaba and Irish sea moss, even if I do enjoy the flavors of thoughtfully made plant-based cooking when they’re on my plate.

That’s why I’m happy to discover Dirt Burger and will likely be letting them do the cooking for me whenever I’m looking for something quick and satisfying that’s more healthful than your usual quick and satisfying fare. The restaurant specializes in burgers made from all-vegan products that are organic or verified grown without chemicals.

Here’s what I love most about my inaugural "Original Dirt Burger": It didn’t taste like it was trying to taste like beef. Instead, it had a hearty and wholesome vegetable-and-grain flavor of the things that go into it, including mushrooms, flax, buckwheat and "nooch" (that’s nutritional yeast, in vegan-speak), as well as a slew of raw vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, spinach, beets and more. Served on a brioche bun with raw onions, herb vegan mayo, ketchup, mustard, lettuce and a big, fat pickle slice, it satisfied like a beef-based burger, but tasted like its own wonderful thing entirely.

Set up like a brightly colored, pepped-up fast-food joint, the order-at-the-counter East Village venue is decidedly spartan, but with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out into the neighborhood, who cares? Also of note: The clientele included some of the healthiest-looking people I’ve seen in a Des Moines restaurant: They had a certain glow, and I’m not just talking about youth—all ages seemed to be enjoying this spot.

Dirt Burger is at 407 E. Fifth St.; 515-850-3890; dirtburger.us.

There's an irresistible charm in paper lanterns, whether they're suspended by balloons or by tranquil waters, as they will be this week at Water Works Park.

WATER WORKS PARK LIGHTS UP

We hope you share our excitement about developments at Water Works Park. It's fun to see events there gaining attention and enthusiasm, including two in the next week.

A free Labor Day Legacy Celebration is scheduled 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2, with free ice cream, music and activities for the entire family. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets. Food and beverages will be available for sale. Activities include concerts, games and face painting. Performances on the Killinger Family Stage of the Lauridsen Amphitheater include the Iowa Military Veterans Band at 1 p.m., the Killinger Big Band at 2 p.m. and the NOLA Jazz Band at 3 p.m.

Even before that, the family-friendly Water Lantern Festival returns to the park to cast its warm glow on hearts and waters Saturday evening, Aug. 31. The rice paper lanterns float on wooden bases and carry the personal messages of participants. Adult admission prices start at $25. It all begins with food trucks and entertainment from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Designing begins at 8:30 p.m., followed by the launching of lanterns. Details? Click here.

A scene from Pyramid Theatre's "Intimate Apparel," with Brendan Dunphy and Davida D. Williams, who won a best actress award.

NEW AND OLD COMPANIES TOP CLORIS AWARDS

Rapidly rising Pyramid Theatre Company's production of "Intimate Apparel" was named the best local play of the past year during the fifth annual Cloris Awards ceremony Sunday at Hoyt Sherman Place.

"Disney’s Newsies," produced by the Des Moines Community Playhouse, won the award for best musical. Also from the Playhouse, longtime artistic director (now emeritus) John Viars was honored with a lifetime achievement award.

Leading actor awards were presented to Sid Juwarker for his performance in Iowa Stage Theatre's production of "Disgraced," and to Davida Williams for her role in Pyramid Theatre's "Intimate Apparel."

For more information on winners and nominees, see clorisawards.org.

A food truck is a rolling party, not just for patrons but for operators like Shon Bruellman, pictured here aboard his Big Red Food Truck,

FOOD TRUCKS SERVE PARTY CROWD ON THURSDAYS

dsm Restaurant Week may have ended Sunday, but food fun continues for the next five weeks of Food Truck Thursdays at Cowles Commons downtown. Trucks are on-site from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Thursday through Sept. 26. It's an opportunity to sample a variety of foods and meet other downtown denizens in the late summer sunshine. We've become food truck fans this summer, enjoying the discovery of interesting foods at random sites around the city. Cowles Commons brings more trucks to one location, and we'll be on hand for several of the final Food Truck Thursdays. Hope to see you there!

The Miffy sculpture has a sweet sunny spot downtown, but the poor bunny can't stop her sorrowful sobbing into a pool of tears.

MIFFY FOUNTAIN DEDICATION DOWNTOWN TODAY

Renowned artist Tom Sachs will be on hand at 4:30 p.m. today (Tuesday, Aug. 27) for the dedication of his sculpture "Miffy Fountain," a public art project on the south side of the downtown library.

The program will include remarks by Sachs and local dignitaries including Mayor Frank Cownie and Tom Hickman, board president of the Greater Des Moines Public Art Foundation. Also on the program: musicians Dartanyan Brown, Joe Burriola and Scott Dawson.

"Miffy Fountain" is based on a well-known character in a series of children’s books that have been popular with kids since 1955. For more about Miffy, the character and the sculpture, read this story from dsm magazine.

We've enjoyed her before and would certainly go again: Joan Jett will blow the doors off the Well on Oct. 7.

ALSO COMING SOON...

• Iconic rock band Kiss Sept. 3 at the Iowa Events Center.
• Yaro Dance Company Autumn Gala Sept. 8 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
• The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra: Tribute to Frank Sinatra Sept. 9 at Hoyt Sherman Place.
• Kitten Bomb Comedy Sept. 14 at the Civic Center's Stoner Theater.

AND LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD...

• Heart plus Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Oct. 7 at the Iowa Events Center.
• Comedian Tom Segura Oct. 8 at the Des Moines Civic Center.
• Ballet Des Moines Presents The Nutcracker Dec. 13-20 at Hoyt Sherman Place.

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.