dsmWeekly: June 19, 2018

Now why would dsm magazine put a dozen people on boats in the middle of Saylorville Lake? Find out in our July/August issue.

DSM UNVEILING PARTY IN JESTER PARK JUNE 26

Everyone had so much fun at our anniversary party, we're eager to have another event! How about you? Let's get together again next Tuesday, June 26, to launch our July/August issue. And let's have a proper summer setting: the new Jester Park Nature Center, 12130 N.W. 128th St., Granger. AND, in such a summery locale, let's make it as casual as you care to be between 5 and 7 p.m., so you can stroll the grounds and enjoy some nature. We'll have brief comments and learn about the Nature Center at 6 p.m., when we pass out our new issue.

The recipe: Take one bowl, add several fresh ingredients. Yields one happy diner.

LUNCH OF THE MONTH: WHOLE FOODS

By Wini Moranville

If I could change one thing about our dining scene, it would be to make it easier to find truly life-enhancing salads at lunch. Aside from a handful of exceptions (such as an admirable kale salad at Scenic Route Bakery, my beloved fried egg salad at Cool Basil and a killer Brussels sprouts salad at Table 128), many are variations on the same theme: some kind of protein (chicken, salmon, crab cakes) angled over a carpet of lettuce and predictable trimmings. Beyond that, how many Greek, Caesar, Cobb and chop salads out there can you truly get excited about?

And so. On one of those hot and humid days, when I was craving something cool, crunchy, diverse and off the beaten path, I landed at Whole Foods. What a windfall! And what a price! The salad bar is priced by weight, and for about $7, I got a bowlful of sparkling and varied prepared salads. These included a delicately diced mix of marinated cucumbers with red onions, an almond-flecked Napa cabbage slaw and some nutty sesame noodles. Especially notable was the way each salad was expertly dressed in a way that made the ingredients slick and well coated without being wilted or drippy. Even the kale salad offered a certain finesse that the rough-hewn green rarely attains.

You can also add all kinds of extra ingredients, such as chopped egg or tuna, fresh mushrooms, asparagus, roasted beats, and crunchy snow peas. Better yet, every pan in the salad bar brims with the kind fresh, high-quality ingredients the natural grocers are known for (i.e., no hydrogenated fats, high-fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners or preservatives).

I loved poking around a few roasted beets here, some crunchy snow peas there, along with a delicate dice of cucumbers and red onions, an almond-flecked Napa cabbage slaw, some nutty sesame noodles.

Whole Foods is at 4100 University Ave., West Des Moines; 515-343-2600; wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/westdesmoines.

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

SAGES NOMINATIONS ARE DUE BY JULY 1

Remember that nominations for this year's Sages Over 70 honorees must be submitted by July 1, a mere dozen days hence. Reward the local mentors, civic leaders and role models who have influenced you by nominating them. Through their creativity, talent and vigor, such people have helped our community grow and flourish.

At dsm, we pay tribute to these remarkable achievers every November in print and in ceremonies. To nominate a leader you know, complete this nomination form by July 1. The nominee needs to be age 70 or older and should meet the spirit of these criteria:

Has demonstrated leadership through decades.

Has contributed and still contributes to the betterment of the community.

Has been a role model and mentor to others.

Ryan Koning of Urbandale is among the "emerging Iowa artists" whose work will be exhibited this weekend.

SO THERE'S THIS FESTIVAL …

This is it, the big one, the kahuna of local events: The Des Moines Arts Festival returns this week, running from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 22 and 23, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 24.

By one measure, the event is 60 years old, having grown from its origins in 1958, when the "All Iowa Art Fair" was hosted on the grounds of the Des Moines Art Center. The miracle of this beloved enterprise is that it somehow gets livelier every year.

At its core, the festival is a juried showcase for fine artists from all over the country. It's a fabulous opportunity to buy work directly from an artist and to enhance your appreciation for a broad range of artwork. Then come the layers: the musicians and other performers, the food vendors, the film festival, demonstrations and opportunities for all ages to participate. By our count (and we're pretty good at it), there are some 90 items on the festival's schedule. See for yourself here. Click items on that schedule to get details, or click the tabs at the top of that site to learn more about the fest.

Also, remember that Art Week is going on now. Now in its fourth year, Art Week is a collection of somewhat spontaneous arts-related events—as many as a dozen each day—each developed independently by local people and businesses as a "ramp-up" to the Arts Festival.

Des Moines Metrto Opera knows how to throw a party, and they have some biggies coming up.

SINGING THE PRAISES OF OPERA

Des Moines Metro Opera opens its 46th Summer Festival with a gala Saturday, June 23. Guests will stroll down the red carpet, sip champagne or a specialty cocktail and enjoy a three-course meal while listening to entertainment provided by the opera's principal artists. After dinner, the opera season begins in earnest with a performance of Johann Strauss II's "Die Fledermaus." Tickets ($150) and other details are available here.

New to the opera this year are opportunities to engage young professionals: Young Friends at the Opera events are tailored for ages 45 and under, giving them a chance to meet and socialize over cocktails and dinner before the opera, plus an after-party. For the 2018 season, Young Friends events will be Saturday, June 23, for "Die Fledermaus" and Saturday, June 30, for "Flight." Get tickets ($49, two for $90, including the opera) and details here. These events sound like fun, giving some of us yet another reason to wish we were younger.

From 15 years, we chose these as our favorite covers. You can read about each of them here.

A DSM ANNIVERSARY LOOK AT AMAZING PEOPLE

The best part of our job over the past 15 years has been meeting our city’s amazing people and sharing their stories with you, our readers. We’ve been inspired by their endeavors, creativity and insights. We’ve been touched by their passions, dreams and generous spirit. We’ve been awed by their courage. Here, from our 15th anniversary "special issue" of dsm magazine, are just some of the people we’ll never forget. Come to our office in The Depot, 100 Fourth St., for a copy before they're gone.