Fish Dishes for Lent

Lua Brewing offers a new "Fish Friday" special each week. Among favorites is the shrimp po'boy, featuring cabbage slaw, tomato jam and scallions on a hoagie bun with fries. Photo: Lua Brewing.

FOOD AND DINING
10 Restaurant Seafood Dishes to Try for Lent

Writer: Karla Walsh

Admittedly, the closest ocean to Iowa (the Atlantic) is about 1,200 miles away, and there are few fresh sources of fish nearby. But speedy shipping on ice makes it possible for us to savor seafood across the metro.

Besides Splash and Waterfront Seafood Market, which specialize in all things seafood, there are many venues worth the trip to get your fix. Considering the fact that it’s Lent, ‘tis the seafood season in Des Moines. Whether you recognize Lent or not, these dishes will inspire you.

Proudfoot & Bird's Black Cod ($34): Seared cod with miso, turnip, uni butter.
Django's Bouillabaisse ($33.99): A French fisherman’s stew with snow crab, scallop, mussels, shrimp, white fish and vegetables in saffron-scented seafood broth.
Mi Patria's Camarones al Ajillo ($17.49): A zippy shrimp soup that includes sautéed hot peppers and house special sauce, served with steamed white rice, lettuce, slices of tomato and fried plantains.
Clyde’s Fine Diner's Crispy Shrimpwich ($16): A hearty sandwich stuffed with breaded fried shrimp, chow chow remoulade, lettuce and onion.
Lua Brewing's Everything Lox Toast ($15): A thick slice of toast topped with cream cheese, cucumber, brined onions, capers, dill, chives and smoked salmon. Or if you’re visiting on a Friday before Easter, opt for the Friday Lent special—recent fan faves include grilled mahi mahi tacos, shrimp po’ boy (pictured) and cioppino.

Click here to read about five more dishes perfect for Lent.

Conductor Joseph Giunta will lead the Des Moines Symphony in Beethoven's triumphant Ninth Symphony, joined by choirs and soloists. Photo: Ben Easter.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

Symphony to Perform Beethoven’s 9th Symphony

The Des Moines Symphony will be joined this weekend by two choirs and four soloists for a soaring performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, which will be dedicated to the people of Ukraine. Each concert will conclude with the Ukrainian national anthem.

First performed in Vienna in 1824, the Ninth Symphony is also known for the final movement’s uplifting chorus of the well-known tune “Ode to Joy.” The choirs’ addition to the orchestra promises to inspire.

The program will also include scores from Arvo Pärt and Richard Wagner. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Des Moines Civic Center. Tickets are available here.

PLAN YOUR WEEKEND

“The Fringe” exhibit opening (Friday, 5-7 p.m.): Olson-Larsen Galleries (203 Fifth St., West Des Moines) will open a new show featuring artists Becky Beckett, Byron Burford and Jeremiah Elbel, among others. The reception is free.

Wolf Alice–North American Tour (Friday, 7:30 p.m.): Grammy-nominated rock group Wolf Alice will perform at Wooly’s with special guest Charlie Hickey. The London-based band is touring to support their latest album, “Blue Weekend.” Tickets are available here.

Michael Longfellow and Denim-A-Palooza (Friday and Saturday, times vary): Los Angeles-based comedian Michael Longfellow, as seen on “Bring the Funny” on NBC, will present two performances at Teehee’s Comedy Club on Friday at 7:30 and 9 p.m. To find tickets, visit Teehee’s website. Denim-A-Palooza, a comedy event featuring five headlining comedians and an all-denim dress code, will be Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets and details, including the comedians performing, can be found here.

Fargo Force vs. Des Moines Buccaneers (Saturday, 6 p.m.): The Des Moines Buccaneers will face the Fargo Force of North Dakota at Buccaneers Arena (7201 Hickman Road, Urbandale). Tickets here.

ARTS AND CULTURE
Interactive art: Be sure to check out the new interactive art installation, “LAPS: A Journey Through Time–Here and Now,” at 401 Robert D. Ray Drive, across the street from City Hall. The installation features six towering hourglasses, with steering wheels that allow you to manipulate time as you please. Vivid light and sound accompany the movement of the “sand” in the hourglasses. LAPS was designed by Olivier Landreville in collaboration with Serge Maheu and will run through April 30. Read more about it on the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s website.

FOOD AND DINING
Grand opening: Cinnaholic, a new gourmet vegan bakery, will host its grand opening on Friday. To celebrate, they’ll offer $1 cinnamon rolls (one per customer) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. opening day. Located at 505 E. Grand Ave., the new establishment will also serve "create your own" cinnamon rolls and other sweet treats including brownies, cookies and edible cookie dough. Catering is also available. Check out their website for more details, or send them an email at cinnaholicdsm@gmail.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Neighborhood fundraiser: Oakridge Neighborhood will host its annual Breakfast at Tiffany’s April 24 at the Tea Room to benefit the Oak Academy Early Learning and Preschool Program. The event will feature brunch and cocktails, a Tiffany & Co. gift raffle, and a fashion show with models from Oak Academy showing off designs by local boutiques Amiée and Jane’s Family Shop. Purchase tickets here. (Pictured: Teree Caldwell-Johnson, president and CEO of Oakridge.)

ARTS AND CULTURE
Live music: New York City pianist and composer Taylor Eigsti will perform at Temple Theater April 12. The jazz pianist was most recently nominated for a 2022 Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for his eighth album, “Tree Falls.” The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available here.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Unveiling event: Join us for the launch party for the May/June issue of dsm and the annual edition of Inclusion May 3 at Prairie Natural Meats & Seafood (1860 N. 88th St., West Des Moines). Celebrate the new release while munching on snacks, drinking cocktails and networking. Register here and visit dsm’s Facebook event for details.

A large island serves as the hub of this kitchen. Homeowners Bobbie and Ruth Kelly love to cook and turned one end of the island into a butcher block for food prep. Deep blue-green cabinets with a matching range hood add depth and bookend the oven. The lighter wood tone of the display cabinet brightens the wall and keeps it from feeling overbearing.

DSM HOME

Wall-to-Wall Style Distinguishes Ankeny Home

Writer: Andrea Cooley

Sometimes you fall in love with a house and sometimes you fall in love with a lot. In the case of Bobbie and Ruth Kelly, the 1.5-acre property with a wooded backyard sold them on their Ankeny home. They were drawn to the setting and knew they could rework the interior to suit their taste. The 2014 home was a bit traditional for the couple’s tastes, so the first step was remodeling to infuse a modern aesthetic.

To make their vision a reality, the couple worked closely with interior designer Hal Davis, who started with a warm color palette to create a welcoming transitional design with a modern edge. The Kelly's enjoy cooking and spending time in the kitchen, so they wanted the space to be warm and inviting, where people could gather and relax. “It’s easy and comfortable,” Ruth says.

Two smaller windows on the sink wall were replaced with a larger option. Instead of tile, Davis used a graphic wallpaper to soften the kitchen’s strong lines. The walk-in pantry is bright and colorful, making it an extension of the kitchen with room for display and storage. Ruth first chose a vibrant wallpaper and then found cabinets to match.

Read more about the Kellys' modern remodel on dsmmagazine.com.