dsmWeekly: March 8, 2023

Blue-ribbon baker Lana Ross lives by a simple motto: "Everything is better with pie." We couldn’t agree more. Here's her lattice-top cherry pie, available through special order from Pies and Pastries by Lana. Photo: Duane Tinkey.

FOOD AND DINING

Celebrating Pi Day is as Easy as Pie

You don’t have to be a mathematician or a baker to be giddy about next Tuesday's numerology. Embrace the fun holiday on March 14 (or 3.14) by treating yourself to a savory or sweet creation from one of several local businesses pedaling pies.

For dinner
You can score single hand pies from Domestic Bones at pop-ups at Peace Tree Brewing Co. or six-packs through Iowa Food Co-op. But the most devoted fans of the savory hand pies, which are like fancy homemade Hot Pockets, order a subscription package through domesticbones.com. Sign up for $150, and you’ll receive eight savory hand pies per month for three months. Choose among three seasonal flavors for each batch, with meat- or plant-based options, such as spicy chicken sausage, cheeseburger, mushroom Philly and vegan Buffalo cauliflower.

The variety of crusts and the creative toppings from Gusto Pizza Bar make the pizza pie shop stand out from the parlor competition. Choose from Detroit-style, Chicago deep dish or the signature New York-meets-Des Moines classic crust. All come with various toppings and cheeky names like Seoul Food (Korean barbecue beef bulgogi) and Fuhgeddaboutit (meatballs, sausage and giardiniera).

For dessert
Save room for a slice of Cha Cha’s Confections’ fruit or custard pies, or check out Pies and Pastries by Lana (which rhymes with "banana") for dessert pies in jars; some are even made with sweet corn. For an all-butter crust, as many local and seasonal ingredients as possible, and plenty of gluten-free options, preheat your appetite and order from Pie Bird Pies. All are available only through pre-order.

Violinist Aubree Oliverson performs this weekend with the Des Moines Symphony.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Des Moines Symphony Hosts West Coasters

Hailing from the south edge of Los Angeles, Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St. Clair guest-conducts the Des Moines Symphony in two performances this weekend at the Des Moines Civic Center.

The program features John Wineglass’ “Alone Together,” which the Emmy-winning composer wrote as a tribute to George Floyd. The program also includes Tchaikovsky’s powerfully atmospheric “Pathétique Symphony" (No. 6, which was mistranslated from its original "passionate" title) and Max Bruch’s dazzling Violin Concerto featuring 20-something, Los Angeles-based violinist Aubree Oliverson and her 280-something Italian violin.

The concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15-$70 and available online or at the Civic Center ticket office.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Steve Berry at Noce (9 p.m. Friday): Showman Steve Berry and his band are traveling a half-century back in time. Hear 1973 hits from Stevie Wonder, John Denver, Elton John and more. Tickets are limited, so snag them soon.

The Black Jacket Symphony performs “Rumours” (8 p.m. Saturday): The Black Jacket Symphony takes over Hoyt Sherman Place to cover Fleetwood Mac’s iconic “Rumours” album. They'll play the whole album, so nobody’s favorite track will be left out. Find tickets online.

Party with Oscar (6:30 p.m. Sunday): Leave the popcorn at home and step out for “A Red Carpet Affair," an Oscars watch party at the Varsity Cinema, where the ceremony will be broadcast on the big screen. During the commercial breaks, there will be games and prizes. Tickets include bites from Dough Co. Pizza and Lucky Horse, plus a movie-themed cocktail.

All-Iowa Auto Show (11 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 12 p.m. Sunday): Whether you’re browsing for your next big purchase or just want to take some selfies for Instagram, pull over for the All-Iowa Auto Show at the Iowa Events Center. Plus, learn about electric vehicles with presentations from experts each day. Admission is free.

ARTS AND CULTURE
Playhouse season: The Des Moines Playhouse recently announced its plans for the 2023-2024 season, which includes a thoughtful mix of musicals (“Once,” “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”), a classic drama (“Our Town”), a comedy (“The Play That Goes Wrong”), plus an array of shows in its children’s theater program and another groundbreaking Penguin Project, which involves the talents of young artists with various developmental disabilities. Find the full schedule online.

"Girl From the North Country" tells a 1930s Minnesota tale, set to songs by Bob Dylan. Photo: Matthew Murphy.

ARTS AND CULTURE
Des Moines' Broadway Series by the Numbers

After Des Moines Performing Arts announced its lineup for next season’s Willis Broadway Series on Monday, its president and CEO, Jeff Chelesvig, walked us through a few of the key numbers. Ready? And a-one, a-two, a-one, two, three ...

Six shows are in the main mix: “Girl From the North Country,” “The Wiz,” “Company,” “Funny Girl,” “MJ” and “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.” Three more are returning as optional add-ons: “Stomp,” “Mamma Mia!” and “Les Miserables.”

Four shows have received DMPA investment funding, a strategy that helps Des Moines book shows relatively early in their national tours. The four with DMPA support are “Company,” “Girl From the North Company,” “Moulin Rouge!” and “The Wiz.”

One show, “The Wiz,” will visit before it goes to Broadway. Most national tours follow a run in New York, but this revival will tour the United States (like the land of Oz) on its way to the big city. The last shows that followed that path were “Bring It On” in 2012 and “State Fair” in 1995.

One show may be a sleeper hit, Chelesvig said. “Girl From the North Country” takes place during the Great Depression in Duluth, Minnesota, and weaves together 20 songs by Bob Dylan. “You don’t quite know what it’s about, but you get drawn into it,” Chelesvig said. “It’s really a cool period piece.”

A total of 23 Tony Awards were given to next season’s lineup, including the 2021 award for best musical, for “Moulin Rouge!” and the 2022 award for best musical revival, for “Company.”

More than 13,000 Broadway series subscribers from across Iowa help bring the latest, greatest shows to Des Moines. That’s almost two-thirds of total sales – and music to producers’ ears.