dsmWeekly - April 10, 2024

The chicken shawarma from Karam's Grill Food Truck comes in a wrap or a bowl. Both versions are loaded with grilled chicken and veggies, plus hummus, tzatziki sauce, feta and optional Sriracha or harissa sauces. (Photo: Karam's Grill Food Truck)

FOOD & DINING

Savor the flavors of Eid

By Mathany Ahmed

The past month of Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month, has been a time of reflection, devotion and fasting for many Muslims around the world and here in Central Iowa. Now that the crescent moon has graced the night sky, Eid al-Fitr dawned today, marking the end of Ramadan and the beginning of three days of festivities.

For practicing Muslims, it’s a time for prayers, gifts and, of course, delicious food. And for those interested in joining the celebrations, one of the easiest ways is through the culinary delights offered by local restaurants. Here are a few spots around town where you can savor the flavors of Eid:

Lzaza Indo-Pak Restaurant: After a brief closure for extra prayers during the final days of Ramadan, Lzaza is back open for business. Known for its authentic fusion of Indian and Pakistani cuisine, this spot offers a mouthwatering array of regional classics, from chicken tikka masala to lamb biryani. (Just east of Drake University, at 1409 23rd St.)

Karam’s Grill Food Truck: The iconic green food truck run by Moroccan-born Hamid Karam has been serving up some of the city’s best grab-and-go Mediterranean cuisine since 2010. We recommend trying the lamb gyros, chicken shawarma or vegetarian falafel pita. (According to this week’s schedule on Facebook, you can find the truck Thursday in Slater, Friday in Greenfield and Saturday in Granger.)

Persis Indian Grill: While not Muslim-owned, Persis Indian Grill is getting into the Eid spirit this week by offering a traditional Middle Eastern and South Asian dish called haleem. It’s a specialty in India’s Hyderabad region, a hearty stew made with spiced mutton and wheat, perfect for celebrating the holiday. (6925 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines.)

Finally, for a full immersion in this week’s festivities, don’t miss out on the first-ever Eid Fest hosted by the Islamic and Cultural Center Bosniak of Des Moines noon to 3 p.m. Saturday in Granger. The slew of vendors, food trucks, a bounce house and chess tournament offer a fun afternoon for practicing Muslims and others who just want to explore some new traditions. Eid Mubarak!

The Latino Film Festival features several genres from Latino producers, directors and students April 16-19 at the Fleur Cinema and Cafe. (Photo: Latino Center of Iowa)

BEST BET

Latino Film Fest lights up screens

How does a 40-year-old woman find meaning in life after a career as a hitman? That’s the question at the heart of "PLACEADA," a documentary by Mexican filmmaker Alejandra Sanchez Orozco.

It’s just one of the films that will be screened during the Des Moines Latino Film Festival, set for April 16-19 at Fleur Cinema and Cafe. During the free four-day celebration, untold stories from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the United States can be seen on the silver screen, alongside food, art, music and live performances.

While the subject matter varies, the representation of Latino culture is at the forefront. Every selection, from documentaries to shorts, is either crafted by Latino filmmakers or intimately connected to Latino heritage.

To learn more, view the full lineup or reserve your spot, check out the Latino Center of Iowa’s website.

The Week Ahead

James Patterson (7 tonight): The bestselling author headlines the Des Moines Public Library’s annual AViD series with a visit to the Scottish Rite Consistory, where he’ll discuss one of his latest books, “The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians.”

“Mean Girls” (7:30 p.m. Thursday): Beware: The national tour of the musical about high school hierarchy takes the stage — and no prisoners — at Stephens Auditorium in Ames.

Martha Redbone (7:30 p.m. Friday): The storytelling songwriter draws on her Black and Indigenous heritage to serve up a bluesy, folksy, gospel gumbo at the Temple for Performing Arts.

“States of Becoming” live performance (1:30 p.m. Saturday): In this newly commissioned performance artwork, Ethiopian American artist Helina Metaferia uses her body as a metaphorical cannon to examine the role of women and people of color in art. The performance coincides with the Des Moines Art Center’s current exhibition, which showcases through May 12 an array of work from contemporary African artists working in the United States.

Des Moines Symphony: Dance Beats (7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday): The BRKFST Dance Co. joins the orchestra to bust out some moves for Beethoven’s nearly 200-year-old Grosse Fugue at the Des Moines Civic Center. Before and after: music from Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty” and Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

Lao New Year (11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday): Enjoy traditional dances, dishes and a pageant at the annual Lao New Year Party at the elaborate Buddhist temple on Des Moines’ southeast side.

Eat | Drink | Architecture (1-4 p.m. Sunday): These guided walking tours highlight architecturally significant buildings throughout the central downtown, Court Avenue, the East Village and Market District. You can choose any of four distinct routes.

AJR (7 p.m. Tuesday): Three brothers — Adam, Jack and Ryan Met — who started busking in New York’s Central Park hit the big-time in 2013 with “I’m Ready,” which sampled SpongeBob SquarePants, followed by “Weak,” “Bang!” and “World’s Smallest Violin.” Catch them at Wells Fargo Arena.

COMMUNITY
Media award: For the third time in four years, Business Publications Corp. Inc. (BPC), publisher of the Business Record, dsm and ia magazines and BPC Custom products, has been named one of Ten Publishers to Watch by Editor & Publisher (E&P) magazine.

Published since 1901, E&P reports on all aspects of news media and multimedia news publishing and is widely considered the authoritative voice of the media industry.

In 2020 and 2022, BPC was recognized for innovation and excellence during a time of disruption, including the pandemic and a volatile business climate. This year, BPC was specifically noted for ongoing digital transformation, product evolution, and a 40-year legacy of strength and stability through a changing journalism landscape.

“This niche publishing company serving the business, cultural and philanthropic communities in Iowa’s capital city is growing, thriving, and staying nimble in a changing media landscape, laser-focused on meeting the evolving needs of its readers,” said the E&P article announcing the 2024 list of Ten Publishers to Watch.

Past recipients of E&P’s Ten Publishers to Watch have included Variety magazine, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Financial Times.

To learn more about the recognition, read a letter from Suzanna de Baca, our president and CEO.

COMMUNITY
Spring cleaning: Celebrate Earth Day on April 20 with a scavenger hunt around Water Works Park. Handmade glass eggs will be hidden throughout “The Wild,” around Lauridsen Amphitheater for individuals or groups to find from 8 a.m. to noon. The search will take you throughout the park to appreciate the surrounding nature, and as you go, you can pick up litter for a chance to win a prize. Bonus: The biergarten will be open if you’d like to reward yourself and your cleaning crew.

ARTS & CULTURE
Volunteers wanted: The Des Moines Arts Festival is gearing up for its annual takeover of Western Gateway Park, so the organizers need your help. The call is out for volunteers to set up, tear down, greet guests, sell merch and handle various other duties before, during and after the June 28-30 event. All volunteers receive a Des Moines Arts Festival volunteer T-shirt, a free pint from Exile Brewing, plus snacks and other drinks. You or your group can sign up for a shift online.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
dsm Lifting the Veil: This year’s first event in our ongoing series about mental health is a virtual panel set for noon on June 13. Tune in to hear experts discuss how people are using — or may soon use — advanced technology and new AI tools for mental health care. The panelists are Ryan Crane, executive director of NAMI Iowa; Joshua Larson, co-founder of Numinous Games; Jon Lensing, CEO of OpenLoop; and Ciara Lewis, director of the Student Counseling Center at Des Moines University. Registration is free but required.

FOOD & DINING
Five restaurant openings and a closing: There's been a lot of news about restaurants over the last few weeks. Here are a few on our radar:

Wilson’s Orchard & Farm officially opens today in Cumming, with its farm market, bakery and Ciderhouse Restaurant and Bar.
Zavy Kitchen, a spinoff of Pho Real, opened April 6 in the former Franka pizza place at 111 E. Grand Ave.
The Stuffed Olive is stuffed itself, ever since it reopened March 29 on Court Avenue. Its patio is set to reopen in May, with expanded hours for weekend brunch.
Ta’Chido Cantina, a “tequila sports bar” with a lively dance floor, opened this past weekend at 409 Court Ave.
HoQ, the restaurant at 303 E. Fifth St., is expanding next door to open its new HoQtail Lounge on April 16.
Malo, the pan-Latin restaurant at 900 Mulberry St., will close on April 27. We'll be sorry to see it go.

Caleb Rainey will emcee a Poetry Palooza! program on April 20, featuring poets Traci Brimhall, Paul Brooke, Camille Dungy, Jennifer L. Knox and Debra Marquart.

ARTS & CULTURE

One-uh, two-uh, it’s Poetry Palooza!

A pride of lions. A parliament of owls. An eloquence of poets?

We’re not sure what the best word is, but there’s a good chance the poets themselves could figure it out during this year’s Poetry Palooza! set for April 19 and 20 at Grand View University. The second annual festival, smack dab in the middle of National Poetry Month, is a celebration of the written, re-written, re-re-written, spoken, shouted and whispered word.

This year’s palooza is an affiliated program of the Iowa Poetry Association, with support from Humanities Iowa, and features a full slate of events. Here’s a quick preview, longer than a haiku and looser than sonnet:

Reception and awards, 5:30 p.m. April 19 – Former Iowa Poet Laureate Debra Marquart will receive the James A. Autry Award, and Lucille Morgan Wilson will receive the Iowa Honorary Poet Laureate Award.

Poetry slam finals, 7:30 p.m. April 19 – Top spoken-word poets will compete in the Iowa Poetry Association’s state championship.

Workshops, 10 a.m. April 20 – Distinguished writers will share a few pointers.

Book launch, 3 p.m. April 20 – Local poet, photographer and Iowa Arts Council fellow Paul Brooke will read from his latest collection, “The Cities of the Plains.”

Open mic, 3 p.m. April 20 – Anyone who wants to speak up will get a turn.

Featured performance, 7 p.m. April 20 – An eloquence (an articulation? a syntax?) of poets from Iowa, Colorado and Kansas will share the stage in a lively program emceed by Caleb Rainey.

All the events are free and open to the public. Find more details at poeteryamp.org.