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Upcoming Events, Pie Fundraiser, Moberg Gallery
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October 27, 2020  |  VIEW AS WEBPAGE
 
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Our first-ever virtual dsm Dinner Party will include a food video led by Bubba chefs and dsm contributor Karla Walsh (right). Bubba's managing partner, Chris Diebel, will also be on hand to guide you through the dinner.

DON'T MISS THESE UPCOMING EVENTS

The next few weeks will be busy here at dsm magazine and Business Publications Corp., with several events and a new magazine unveiling.

dsm Dinner Party: While sales for Bubba's exclusive meal closed yesterday, you can still sign up to attend our first-ever dsm Dinner Party at 7 p.m. tomorrow. Registration is free, and you'll get a virtual behind-the-scenes look at the publication and Bubba's menu, brought to you by dsm staff and contributors as well as Bubba's chefs and managing partner Chris Diebel.

Lifting the Veil - Effective Employer: The second installment of the fall Lifting the Veil series, which focuses on  mental health during the pandemic, starts at noon Thursday. Expert panelists will discuss tools and techniques  employees and employers can use in navigating the COVID-19 crisis. The discussion, lead by local business owner and dsm contributor Deidre DeJear, is virtual and free to attend. Find sign-up and panelist information here.

Iowa Stops Hunger - Confronting Drivers of Hunger: The second event in our companywide initiative, Iowa Stops Hunger, will focus on the roots of hunger from state and local policy perspectives. The virtual discussion starts at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 4. Registration is free.
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    This finished pumpkin pie is from a test batch baked by Les Dames d'Escoffier. For the fundraiser, the pies will be sold unbaked and frozen; that way, they can be baked at home for optimal freshness on the day of your feast.

    WINE AND PIE DRIVE-BY FOR THANKSGIVING

    Writer: Wini Moranville

    The Des Moines chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) can help you eat well, drink well, and—while you’re at it—do a little good this Thanksgiving.

    Sign up for their Wine and Pie Drive-By Fundraiser, and you can snag a hand-crafted pie made by esteemed local food pros, plus a bottle of wine chosen by an expert local sommelier. Better yet, net profits from this initiative will benefit three local charities: the Food Bank of Iowa, Eat Greater Des Moines, and Give the Girl a Knife Scholarships, which support Iowa women pursuing studies in the culinary arts. 

    Dedicated to helping women in the food, beverage and hospitality industries succeed, as well as to promoting sustainable food systems and food security for everyone, the Des Moines LDEI chapter includes restaurateurs, chefs, caterers, nutritionists, food writers and editors, and more. That’s a lot of know-how going into these pies!

    For $60, the wine-and-pie packages offer a choice of apple-crumb, apple lattice or pour-and-bake pumpkin pie, plus a bottle of 2016 Pike & Joyce Rapide Pinot Noir from Australia. Local wine pro Abbe Davidson (aka Abbe the Wine Lady) hand-picked this wine for the holiday. 

    “Coming from the Adelaide Hills of South Australia, and with a few years of bottle age, the wine shows beautiful savory components, as well as tart fruit, with a fine line of acidity—to cut through the richness of Thanksgiving's spread,” Davidson says.

    You can order packages online via the Les Dames website through Nov. 20, or while supplies last. (Be advised: One selection, the pear-cardamom lattice pie, has already sold out, so you might want to get on it.) Packages are to be picked up via a contactless drive-up (with masked and gloved volunteers) at Meredith Corp. between 1 and 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21. Further details are on the website.
    TJ Moberg and Ryan Mullin in their new gallery space at 2411 Grand Ave., which is set to open Saturday.

    MOBERG GALLERY MOVES TO GRAND AVENUE

    Writer: Christine Riccelli

    If you’ve noticed the “For Lease” sign on Moberg Gallery’s longtime home on Ingersoll Avenue, don’t fret. The gallery isn’t going far—just moving a few blocks to 2411 Grand Ave.

    Gallery owners TJ Moberg and Ryan Mullin bought the building in September and have transformed the 7,000-square-foot space into a gleaming showroom that will open Saturday.

    The move almost didn’t happen. When Moberg and Mullin first started looking for a new location in mid-June, they walked into the building and “I freaked out,” recalls Moberg, who founded the gallery in 2003. “I walked out thinking there was no way it’d work.” The building, which most recently housed the headquarters of the Biden campaign, was a tired, cramped office space that would require an interior demolition to make it suitable for a gallery.

    Mullin remained intrigued by the building's possibilities, though, and after the two viewed about 10 other properties, he persuaded his business partner and longtime friend—the two were locker buddies at East High School—to reconsider.

    In mid-September, they started the renovation, removing the vestibule, ripping up the floors, tearing down the ceilings—essentially gutting the space and starting anew. In a sneak peek, we were impressed by the result: The sleek concrete floors, raw ceiling, fresh white walls and open floor plan give it a modern look perfect for showcasing the contemporary artists Moberg represents. The gallery’s framing business will operate out of the lower level. Moberg and Mullin also plan to rent the space for private parties and special events, including wedding receptions.

    The first exhibit in the new space will open Nov. 20. Curated by well-regarded muralist Jason Woodside, “Sway” will feature works by an acclaimed group of 11 national and international street artists and muralists, including Ruben Sanchez, Swoon, Adele Renault and Adam Lucas.

    In the meantime, Moberg and Mullin (as well as the friends and family they’ve recruited to help with the project) are finishing up the renovation, including painting the exterior, and are looking forward to welcoming people to their new home. “We were able to build it from the bottom up the way we wanted,” Mullin says. “It’s been fun to walk around [the space] and dream.”
    Bananas Foster-topped banana bread is a speciality of Jasmine Hayes, who was featured in our At the Table series earlier this year. You'll find the recipe for this dessert specialty in the new issue of dsm, which will be published tomorrow. Stylist: Sammy Mila. Photo: Dera Burreson.  

    AT THE TABLE: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

    Writer: Karla Walsh

    We had no idea what was in store when we published this focus on Black-owned eateries in June. At the time, we vowed to make a concerted effort to make the food coverage in dsm more equitable. The next week marked the launch of this series highlighting Black-owned food businesses—which will continue and eventually evolve to highlight a variety of culinary-related companies owned by people of color.

    What’s grown from this in just four months has been quite magical. Friendships have been forged, the dsm audience has shown up, and the people behind the brands have continued to innovate and evolve. With that in mind, for the next two stories, we wanted to share “where are they now?” updates from a few of the owners to allow some of the previously featured individuals to bring us up to date.

    Be sure to keep an eye on the “Snagged the Recipe” feature in the November/December issue of dsm, which is where you’ll find Jasmine Hayes of Jazz It Up’s out-of-this-world Bananas Foster Banana Bread Sundaes. You can also see her now-famous hands featured in recipe demo videos on Food & Wine’s website and social channels, including this busiate with pork ragù and Madhur Jaffrey's green lentil curry.

    Since her story, Kiana Hines of Kiana’s Cookie Creations has started baking and decorating cookies full time. The demand for her custom sugar cookies continues to be high, and she’s introduced some new menu items including “Little Dippers” we can’t wait to try—think of them like grown-up and more gourmet Dunkaroos. Check out the latest and greatest on her Facebook page.

    “Our numbers spiked up for pre orders from July to September, so we decided to go from one pre-order each month to two,” reports Amara Sama of Palm’s Caribbean Cuisine. In July and August, Palm’s participated in the DSM Eats program (put on by the City of Des Moines using CARES Act funding) and provided over 2,500 meals to Des Moines residents in need of hot meals. “For the remainder of the year we plan to just do one pre-order each month, and the next one will be on Saturday.” Same says. Learn more about that and future ordering opportunities here.

    Soon after the most recent At the Table feature went live, Andrea Reddick of Big Momma’s Catering and her husband/business partner Daron were featured on a segment that aired on Channel 5 News. “We discussed what it’s been like starting a business during a pandemic,” Reddick says.
    Since 2012, Wooly's has served as a mid-sized music venue for local and touring acts in Des Moines. The pandemic has put that role in jeopardy.

    WOOLY'S LOOKS AHEAD AS PANDEMIC TAKES TOLL

    Writer: Allaire Nuss

    The pandemic has hit the music industry hard, particularly local venues that rely on live entertainment. Over the next few weeks, we’ll cover several Des Moines music venues and provide updates on how they’ve handled the past few months. You can read last week's feature on xBk Live here.


    After one of its most successful years in 2019, Wooly’s is now staring in the face of one of its worst.

    The East Village music venue has gone seven months with virtually no income, says owner and operator Sam Summers. That has led to budget deficits; the business has lost up to $30,000 every month during the pandemic. Summers says he's had to use personal money to get through the past several months.

    “Filling that gap from when we closed down is really important because nobody’s going to be able to make that up once we open,” Summers says. “We’re just going to be sitting here with this debt that we can’t pay off.”

    Wooly’s has reopened, but in a limited fashion. There aren’t many touring acts to book, as tours have been nearly eliminated because of differing lockdown restrictions in each state and the general health concerns around COVID-19. Most of Wooly’s recent in-person shows have featured local cover bands. Each show requires masks, and those who attend are assigned seating to ensure proper distancing.

    Summers is happy to see live music return to his stage, especially since so many of his peer organizations have turned to livestreamed shows. Summers has been intentional about staying away from online performances.

    “Going to a concert is a highly emotional experience for people that you don’t really get from livestreaming,” Summers says. “There’s that personal connection that you get being around people.”

    But even with the slow re-emergence of live music, things aren’t quite the same. Summers notes that shows that would normally attract 400 people now only draw 70. In short, attendance alone isn’t enough to get Wooly’s through the foreseeable future, Summers says.

    That’s why grants are still essential. Various grants have helped Wooly’s retain staff and make in-person shows possible. Summers is also hopeful about the Save Our Stages initiative by the National Independent Venue Association, which is raising money and pushing the U.S. Congress to provide relief for struggling venues.

    “When we come out of this, which we will, hopefully we go back to the way things were in 2019, which is kind of just grinding and getting by,” Summers says.

    Despite the circumstances, Summers is still confident that Wooly’s will stay afloat through the winter and into next year. He and his team are looking ahead, booking in-person shows for 2021 and beyond. When people ask Summers how they can help support Wooly’s in the meantime, his answer is simple: “When we put shows up and when you’re comfortable buying tickets, buy tickets. That’s the best way to get money directly into our hands.”

    Find out more about Wooly’s upcoming live shows here.
    The Project Room at Steven Vail Fine Arts is hosting "The Show Must Go On." Photo: Art in America Guide.

    STEVEN VAIL HOSTS FIRST EXHIBITION IN 5 YEARS

    Steven Vail Fine Arts, an art gallery near the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Garden, is featuring a new exhibition, "The Show Must Go On," through Dec. 10 in its Project Room. The group exhibition, which features 14 international and national artists, is the gallery's first showing since 2016 and debuts the gallery’s newly occupied and renovated area in downtown's Fitch Building.

    “The Show Must Go On” highlights various contemporary artists, including Alex Katz, post-minimalist Richard Tuttle, conceptual artist John Baldessari and more.  “After nearly five years of not having an exhibition open to the public, I thought it would be fitting to show a small cross-section of contemporary artists whose work we have represented over the last few decades," owner Steven Vail said in a release.

    The exhibition is open by appointment only. You can also view the artwork in virtual reality here.
     
     
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