dsmWeekly: February 18, 2020

Space man: Robert Warren pauses to enjoy the spaciousness of the new Center for Artists and Education at Hoyt Sherman Place.

HOYT SHERMAN EXPANSION NEARS COMPLETION

By Christine Riccelli

Robert Warren, executive director of Hoyt Sherman Place, had a sweet birthday present last week: Along with the usual candles and cake, he received the certificate of occupancy for the new 9,000-square-foot addition to the venerable venue. Making that gift even better: The project is ahead of schedule and below budget. And that, it can be said with certainty, rarely (if ever) happens with these kinds of projects.

"We did it with record-breaking speed," Warren noted as he gave dsm a sneak peek into the addition—called the Center for Artists and Education—which broke ground this past July 1.

We were nothing short of wowed by the new center’s spaciousness, stunning yet practical design, and seamless integration with the original structure. It immediately became evident that every architectural and design decision was deeply thought out to serve the needs and enhance the comfort of both performers and the public.

The first floor features a space with the same dimensions as the stage, giving visiting and local performing groups a place to rehearse, plus sleek and inviting backstage areas for the artists, including dressing rooms, showers and laundry facilities, all outfitted with mod cons. Up until now, artists had to use an old broom-closet-sized half bath and two small, dated and rather musty dressing rooms. The lack of amenities "sometimes was a deal-breaker" in drawing artists to the venue, Warren notes.

On the second floor, a 3,000-square-foot rentable space with a catering kitchen can be used for receptions, business meetings, classes, weddings, lunches or dinners, and other events, as well as meet-and-greets with visiting artists. The organization’s administrative offices—currently crammed into a corner in the original mansion—are moving to the center’s third floor, which also showcases our favorite space: a VIP lounge with an exposed brick wall of the main building’s former exterior, windows that provide an engaging view of downtown and lighting that washes the entire room in a warm glow.

The overall $4.5 million project includes more than the new center: Inside the original building, former second-floor storage areas were transformed into a donor lounge and private donor bathroom, and on the first floor, the kitchen was bumped out to provide space for a walk-in refrigerator. Then there’s the newly built annex on the box-office level that everyone will heartily cheer: It contains new women’s and men’s restrooms, tripling the current capacity.

The venue will get new landscaping this spring, and eventually, the space in the 1877 mansion where the offices are now located will be restored. Near the art gallery, a passenger elevator will be installed.

You’ll get your own opportunity to check out the Center for Artists and Education June 17, when Hoyt Sherman will host a grand opening gala. In addition, there will be a series of open houses during the organization's free Jazz in July concerts.

Add fresh flavor to favorite recipes with a dash of new seasoning.

LATE-WINTER FLAVOR CHANGERS FROM ALLSPICE

By Wini Moranville

As always, during this final stretch of winter, I’m getting bored with my go-to cold-weather recipes. So I turned Rory Brown, owner of Allspice Culinarium, for a few new ideas. He came to the rescue with two new products as well as a new-to-me best-seller on his shelves:

• Seared Salmon Seasoning ($4.25/1.8 oz.): Brown says customers have been requesting a salmon seasoning blend, so he stirred up this beauty. No, it’s not lemon and dill! This unexpected blend stars coriander, cumin and orange zest with subtle anise-fennel notes. There’s brown sugar in the mix, too, and the warmth and depth of the spices are just so compelling. I used it in my recipe for Fish Meunière (just press the seasoning blend into the fish before you coat with the flour); Rory keeps it simple by simply sprinkling the seasoning over the fish before pan-searing.

• Gochujang White Balsamic Vinegar ($10/5 oz.): Brown suggests using this new vinegar, which is infused with a Korean red-chile condiment, for drizzling on tacos and making coleslaw dressings and quick pickled onions. He also mixes it with soy and wasabi when making sushi. I recently used it to add heat and acidity to the otherwise too-sweet poppy-seed dressing that came in a convenient chopped salad kit.

• Col. Pabst All Malt Amber-Lager Worcestershire Sauce ($11.25/8 oz.): This beer-anchored sauce offers many of the seasonings you’ll get in the usual supermarket Worcestershire (vinegar, anchovies, tamarind, molasses, garlic, spices, etc.) but in a different mix—what comes through most are the molasses and exotic-spice notes. Rory likes using it in the braising liquid for pot roasts and for sauteeing mushrooms. Or, add it to a bloody mary to steer the commonplace drink into craft-cocktail territory.

Allspice is at 400 E. Locust St.; 515-868-0808; allspiceonline.com.

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

More than 700 people attend the opera's annual showcase of wine, food and beer, each enjoying numerous servings.
Photo: Devita Paschell Photography

OPERA SHOWCASES WINE, FOOD & BEER

Enjoy sampling wine? Or beer? And food? We do. That's why we've attended Des Moines Metro Opera's annual Wine, Food & Beer Showcase in recent years. The opera fundraiser has been a midwinter highlight since 1985, now featuring more than 40 fine restaurants, caterers, wineries, breweries and distilleries in the area. It also includes a raffle and silent auction for a wide variety of products, services and experiences. This year's event is 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at the downtown Marriott. Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the door. For tickets and more information, including a list of participating vendors and lists of raffle and auction packages, click here.

Paris becomes the backdrop for the drama and romance of "Anastasia," opening Feb. 25 at the Des Moines Civic Center.

'ANASTASIA' PRESENTS LOVELY IF UNLIKELY HISTORY

After success on Broadway, the musical "Anastasia" comes to Des Moines next week, with performances
Feb. 25-March 1 at the Civic Center.

Based on the 1997 film of the same name, the musical adapts the legend of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna, youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas of Russia, the last sovereign of imperial Russia. She may have been assassinated with her family as a teenager in 1918, but some have insisted she may have escaped execution, including women who have claimed to be Anastasia. The film and musical production depict the possibility of Anastasia's escape, pursued by—and defended against—Russian agents in Paris.

For tickets ($40-$154), showtimes and more information, click here.

Iowa native Carrie Chapman Catt became a strong voice for women's suffrage. Even a century ago, political success required a lot of time on the phone. Photo: New York State Museum.

SUFFRAGE PLUS A CENTURY: LOCAL OBSERVANCES

American women could finally vote nationwide after the 19th Amendment was ratified in August 1920.

A hundred years later, the State Historical Society is commemorating that milestone—and the Iowans who marched toward it—with a series of monthly programs and events through August.

"The ratification of the 19th Amendment was one of the most significant equal rights issues that women all across the country faced 100 years ago, including women right here in Iowa," says Susan Kloewer, administrator of the Historical Society. "Over the next seven months, we will present a series of programs that explore the people, places and issues behind Women's Suffrage. I ask all Iowans to join us as we honor that period of our time in the history of our state and nation."

Seven Central Iowa events are included in the series, beginning this Saturday, Feb. 22, when the award-winning suffrage film "Iron Jawed Angels" will be screened in the State Historical Museum downtown at 1:30 p.m. Details about other events in the series are listed here.

More information is available at iowaculture.gov or 515-281-5111. Read about Iowa's leadership role in the quest for voter equality in this article from the current issue of dsm magazine.

Marie Schmidt Fuller as Juliet and Matt Wiggins as Romeo star in an imaginative free production Sunday. Photo: Eric Salmon.

A NEW AND MUSICAL LOOK AT ROMEO AND JULIET

The Des Moines Community Orchestra and Iowa Shakespeare Experience (ISE) are joining forces to present a free production showcasing actors and musicians at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, in Drake University’s Sheslow Auditorium.

In light of Valentine’s Day, this collaborative concert and play explores the relationship of two of the most legendary lovers of all time: Romeo and Juliet. The two-act play is surrounded by orchestral presentations of Berlioz’s Overture to "Romeo and Juliet"; "Romeo and Juliet: Fantasy Overture by Tchaikovsky"; plus Prokofiev’s "Romeo and Juliet." Meanwhile, the dramatic presentation explores what might have happened had Romeo and Juliet not died so tragically young, but stayed married for many years after that famous balcony scene.

Written by Iowa playwright Lorenzo Sandoval, ISE’s artistic director, the script was honored by one of the world’s most venerated Shakespearean authorities, England’s Cambridge University Publishing.

Seraph Brass includes Mary Elizabeth Bowden and Raquel Samayoa on trumpets; Rachel Velvikis, horn; Gretchen Renshaw James on tuba; and Elisabeth Shafer, trombone.

TOURING BRASS ENSEMBLE HERE FEB. 25

The strains of a brass quintet will ring out across the campus of Grand View University next week when the Nielsen Concert Series presents Seraph Brass—Tuesday, Feb. 25, beginning at 7 p.m. The all-women Seraph Brass won the 2019 American Prize in Chamber Music, and is currently touring with a diverse repertoire that includes new pieces as wall as classic works by Liszt, Grieg, DiLorenzo and others.

Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for youths with ID. Click here for more information.