dsmWeekly: August 20, 2019

There are always old friends to greet and new friends to meet at a dsm magazine launch party. The next is Tuesday, Aug. 27.

LAUNCH PARTY NEXT WEEK FOR NEW DSM ISSUE

Please join us Tuesday, Aug. 27, a week from today, to celebrate the arrival of dsm's September/October issue. Our launch party, from 5 to 7 p.m., will be hosted by Lincoln Savings Bank 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 join us.

Sean Wilson has something new on his plate — the role of director of culinary operations for the Justice League of Food.

UPDATES ON PROOF AND CHEF SEAN WILSON

By Wini Moranville

Earlier this summer when I spoke with Sean Wilson, chef/proprietor of Proof, about his decision to sell his celebrated restaurant, he expressed a bit of trepidation about exactly what he would do next. I told him, "Talented, hardworking, good-hearted people will always do well in this world."

In Wilson’s next step, he’ll not only be doing well, he’ll be doing good, too: He has accepted the position of director of culinary operations for the Justice League of Food. Located at the Foundry in Historic Valley Junction, the JLF provides the homeless and hungry with job training and placement in the food and beverage industry. In his new role, Wilson will instruct and lead at-risk youths in the Culinary Job Training program.

What’s next for Proof? According to spokesperson Carolyn Jenison, Proof will reopen Saturday, Aug. 31. The restaurant has been purchased by a new local management company comprising longtime fans of the restaurant. While Jenison declined to release the names of the new owners at this time, she did share the key players in the kitchen.

"The culinary legacy of Proof will be continued under the guidance of three amazing chefs, all students and wunderkinds of chef Sean Wilson," she said. They are:

• Diego Rodriguez, executive chef, who has served as sous-chef at Proof for the past year.
• Jaydon Hernandez, sous-chef, who is returning to Proof after two years at Django and other venues.
• Megan Snyder, chef de patisserie, who has served under Wilson the longest of the three. Snyder won the 2018 Culinary Fight Night summer series.

The restaurant has also undergone some infrastructure improvements, including new beer and wine storage, the refinishing of the dining room floor, new tables and chairs, and renovations to the restrooms.

Proof is at 1301 Locust St., 515-244-0655; proofrestaurant.com.

Fresh and creative--that's a fine formula for Restaurant Week meals, as shown here at Alba.

TRIED ANY RESTAURANT WEEK MEALS YET?

Here we are, smack dab in the middle of dsm’s Restaurant Week, which runs through Aug. 25. We have 43 participating restaurants this year, hopefully including some of your favorites or places you've been eager to try.

Each restaurant has gone all out, creating special restaurant menus to provide great value: $14 lunches and $28 three-course dinners. And you can submit receipts for a chance at $600 in prizes (see details here).

Many restaurants will offer both lunch and dinner; some are just offering lunch or dinner, but all are excited to host you and share their latest and greatest.

Craving more details? Visit DSMRestaurantWeek.com to learn more, including a list of participating restaurants, and follow the fun on facebook.com/dsmrestaurantweek and on Instagram (#dsmrw2019). We also have a handy app (search "dsm restaurant week") and are tweeting while we eat at (@DMRestaurantWk).

Heidi Mason and Sid Juwarker starred in the Iowa Stage Theatre Company's production of "Disgraced." The play and Juwarker are both nominated for Cloris awards. Photo: Joe Crimmings.

CLORIS AWARDS SUNDAY HONOR LOCAL THEATRICS

Join in the celebration of local theater Sunday when the Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theatre Arts Awards are presented at Hoyt Sherman Place. The free annual awards program brings together the theater community, its production companies, patrons and fans. Awards are presented in categories ranging from actors and directors to behind-the-scenes volunteers. This year's ceremony starts at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, preceded by a reception at 5:30 p.m.

Artwork, memorabilia and travel packages are typically among the many diverse items auctioned at the SCI Big Blast Gala.

SCIENCE CENTER PARTY BLASTS OFF

The Science Center of Iowa hosts its annual Big Blast fundraising gala from 6:30 to 11 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 23. We have enjoyed this event in past years, raising money for educational programs. It draws a fun crowd and provides fine food and cocktails, music, and a silent auction for very tempting items and packages. This year, it celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Tickets — $150 ($275 per couple), $75 for young professionals age 35 and younger — are available here.

Marilyn Artus, left, creator of the "Her Flag" project, and Iowa collaborator Annie Swarm Guilberg of Mount Pleasant.

FLAG MARKS CENTENNIAL OF 19TH AMENDMENT

As the 10th state to ratify the 19th amendment, Iowa had a proud role in establishing women's right to vote nationwide. An event at the Des Moines Social Club on Saturday, Aug. 24, celebrates the centennial of that amendment.

Oklahoma artist Marilyn Artus is touring the 36 ratifying states, working with a female artist in each state to create a commemorative flag. Each local artist has designed a stripe for the flag, representing her state. Called "Her Flag," the flag will have 36 stripes and measure 18 by 26 feet.

"The Iowa stripe is inspired by the great heritage laid down for me and all women, as well as all Americans, by the women of the Suffrage movement," says Annie Swarm Guldberg of Mount Pleasant, who created the Iowa stripe. "They were looking ahead of them, to the future generations and the country as a whole that would benefit from their difficult work. The quote, names and Iowa state motto included in my artwork support the theme of forward movement and are meant to inspire us all to keep fighting for what we believe in, and to never take our freedoms for granted."

The Her Flag sewing event Saturday will be held at 6 p.m. in the Social Club's Kum & Go Theater, 900 Mulberry St. Spoken word artist, writer and poet Akwi Nji will accompany the artist.

The Georgia Satellites headline an outdoor concert starting at 8 p.m. Saturday at Jester Park, with local opening band Suede.

GEORGIA SATELLITES, FAMILY FUN AT 'GLOW WILD'

Southern rockers the Georgia Satellites will headline this year's Glow Wild event from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Jester Park Nature Center. This family-friendly day includes nature programs, canoeing, horse-drawn wagon rides, a bonfire, climbing walls, tethered balloon rides and more. Admission is $15 ($5 for children). For tickets and information about the programs and camping opportunities, click here.