dsmWeekly: October 15, 2019

This new video, by Duane and Dylan Huey with Good Plan Productions, introduces our LGBTQ Legacy Leader awards, the focus of one of the dsm events coming up soon.

A TRIO OF DON'T-MISS EVENTS COMING SOON

We like to think we're always pretty busy here at dsm magazine. But that's rarely more true than the weeks coming up—and we hope you'll join us for some of these great events:

• Oct. 24: LGBTQ Legacy Leader awards. In partnership with the advocacy group One Iowa, we'll honor community leaders from—and for—the ranks of LGBTQ Iowans. Enjoy the video above, and for more info and tickets, click here.

• Oct. 29: A new issue unveiling party! Hopefully, you already know how fun these free events are. This one is hosted by Revel Hotel Des Moines Urbandale, Tapestry Collection by Hilton. We'll be there from 5 to 7 p.m., with brief comments at 6 p.m. Stop in anytime. We think you'll want to stay.

• Nov. 11: Sages Over 70. This is always an inspiring event, honoring those who have been so generous and influential in our community. If you join us, we guarantee you'll come away filled with pride and inspiration. For details, click here.

New on the menu at Truman's: the Balboni sandwich, an Italian-inspired take on the Club sandwich.

TRUMAN'S UNVEILS NEW MENU ITEMS

By Wini Moranville

Recently, when principals Rob Jackson and Andy Massoth invited me and a tableful of friends to Truman’s KC Pizza Tavern to taste through some of the new menu items, I knew it would be a fun night. Truman’s is part of the Full Court Press spate of beer-centric restaurants known for showing people a good time, both with their peerless selections of beer and their inexpensive but well-crafted bar food.

Jackson told me it’s really important that this neighborhood joint truly fits into the neighborhood—the south side. To this end, the kitchen, headed up by Dennis Epps, takes pizza very seriously. Of the new specialty pies, the Fall Classic especially won our hearts, thanks to its well-balanced combo of chicken, smoked cheddar, caramelized onions, mozzarella and bacon, plus—the all-out clinchers—apple butter, barbecue sauce and just a touch of cilantro. It worked. Wonderfully.

Those looking for more meat might prefer the Babe. Named for legendary Des Moines restaurateur Babe Bisignano, this hearty beauty arrived with Alfredo sauce, capicola, black olives, mozzarella, salami and mortadella.

But if you really want to go "all in" on the meat, you must try the Balboni sandwich. An Italian-inspired take on the club sandwich, this one brings warm bacon atop layers and layers of cool thin-sliced salami, capicola and mortadella; it’s served with lettuce, tomato and havarti on toasted brioche. Out of all the new menu items we tasted—which also included a terrific Burnt Ends Chili and an irresistible Graziano-sausage grinder—this is the thing I kept dreaming about the next day.

Oh—and there’s pie: lovely double-crust fruit pies crafted locally by Elizabeth Kirkman of ChaCha's Confections. Note, however, that they’re fresh, not frozen, so when they’re gone, they’re gone.

Truman’s KC Pizza Tavern is at 400 S.E. Sixth St., 515-214-2759; trumanstavern.com.

Ballet Des Moines presents a trio of distinctive programs at Hoyt Sherman Place this weekend.

LOCAL BALLET AT ITS BEST THIS WEEKEND

The special 2019-2020 season kicks off this weekend, Oct. 18 and 19, at Hoyt Sherman Place with a show that casual and longtime ballet enthusiasts will enjoy.

"Connections: A Triple Bill" is really three shows in one. Three separate ballets spanning about 15 to 20 minutes each tell three stories designed by separate choreographers. Two of the ballets will be world premieres, created specifically for the Ballet Des Moines audience.

One of the choreographers for "Connections" is Ma Cong, the director of the world-renowned Tulsa Ballet. Cong is well respected as a rising star in the ballet community. He was recently chosen to choreograph the Broadway revival of "Madame Butterfly"—an opportunity few Midwest ballet professionals receive. Cong connected with Ballet Des Moines through Artistic Director Serkan Usta, who used to dance for Cong.

More information on "Connections" and the rest of the 2019-2020 Ballet Des Moines season can be found here.

Great music is just part of the fun at the salons produced by River City Art and Music. The next one is Thursday, Oct. 17.

RIVERVIEW SALON THURSDAY AT MAINFRAME

We're impressed by the mission statement of local arts group River City Art and Music: "To elevate the status of creatives living in our city and state and provide a center for networking, public engagement, new ideas, personal development and artistic growth."

So we're eager to support their next Artist Salon event: 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at Mainframe Studios, 900 Keosauqua Way. These diverse cultural salons are always a delight of networking, verbal presentations, art advocacy, community outreach and pop-up art exhibitions. For more information, check the website: rivercityartandmusic.com.

With all the humor of a Tina Fey comedy, plus the musical flair of Broadway, "Mean Girls" opens tonight at the Civic Center.

CHALLENGES OF BEING A GIRL TAKE CENTER STAGE

The wickedly funny, complex lives of girls play out on two Des Moines stages this week. The traveling production of the Broadway musical "Mean Girls" opens at the Civic Center tonight, with daily performances through Sunday, Oct. 20. Across town, the Disney musical fantasy "Freaky Friday" has a mom and daughter trading roles at the Des Moines Community Playhouse this Friday, Oct. 18, through Nov. 3. It's the first in this season's children's productions at the Playhouse. Want to recall the anguish and humor of youth? For more information and tickets to "Mean Girls," click here. For "Freaky Friday," click here.

Honestly, could he have been the same had he never worn glasses? Nevertheless, Sir Elton is coming to Des Moines.

LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD ...

Tickets go on sale Friday for Elton John's "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour concert June 11 at Wells Fargo Arena. For more event information, we at dsm magazine and the Business Record maintain this calendar with handy filters so you can see just the types of events you're searching for. For even more categories, check Catch Des Moines.