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April 29, 2014

Join Us

Be among the first to snag a copy of the May/June issue of dsm at today's unveiling party, 5 to 7 p.m. (unveiling and comments at 6 p.m.) at LS2 Group, 510 E. Locust St., Suite 200, in the East Village. What will you find in the new issue? Stories on Des Moines' jazz scene, a tucked-away treasure in the state Capitol, an artist you should know and so much more. See you there!

Sublime Space: devilish delights or gracious gestures?

Details always impress! What impression do they leave behind? Is God in the detail, or are details the work of...

Read More �

The Des Moines Social Club opens
in the former downtown firehouse
May 10. Photo by Lucas Moser.

Social Call

By Kellye Crocker

You don't have to be Hipster McCool to "Come See Des Moines Change" May 10 at the official opening party for Des Moines Social Club's downtown digs. If you're breathing, you're welcome. "The Des Moines Social Club belongs to everyone and is for everyone," Executive Director Zachary Mannheimer recently wrote on the nonprofit's website. "You've gotta see it to fully understand the significance this is going to have (for) the community."

The free all-ages bash runs 5-9 p.m. (plus an after-party) at the renovated historic firehouse, 900 Mulberry St., and includes a packed schedule showcasing the venue's diverse art, entertainment and educational offerings. This is a party seven years in the making, with a talk by Talking Heads founding member David Byrne, live music, theater performances, visual art exhibits and much more.

Your problem will be deciding how to do it all. Groove to local bands and see other performers (including Byrne) in the outdoor courtyard. Inside, peruse the Grand View University juried student art show at Viaduct Gallery and help paint a collaborative mural. Joe Crimmings and Aeon Grey's multimedia installation takes over the handball court. You also can browse the comics at Capes Kaf�, sit in on a 30-minute preview of a photography class and sample Latin American flavors at Malo restaurant. In the Kum & Go Theater, five drama troupes stage productions ranging from classical to "pro wrestling." Need more info? Click here.

Repertory Theater of Iowa's performance of Shakespeare's
"A Midsummer Night's Dream"
last year at the Salisbury House.
Photo by Andrea Markowski.

Much Ado About Something

All the world's a stage, but surely Salisbury House & Gardens is the sweetest setting for Shakespeare. As good luck would have it, Repertory Theater of Iowa (RTI) brings such stuff as dreams are made in two upcoming productions.

"In the Words of Shakespeare" (May 8, 7:30 p.m.): Sample the Bard's most famous plays at one fell swoop as RTI performs selected scenes throughout Salisbury House, the 1920s home-turned-history museum modeled after a 15th-century English manor.

"Shakespeare on the Lawn: The Merchant of Venice" (June 12-15, 7:30 p.m.): Atop the south gardens (along the primrose path) with Salisbury House as a dramatic backdrop, RTI performs the play that gave us "love is blind" and "all that glitters is not gold." Lawn chair seating provided, but you can bring a blanket to sit on, if you prefer.

To be or not to be (there)? Don't be a knot-pated canker-blossom! Get advance tickets for each event ($25 adults; $22.50 Salisbury House members; $15 ages 9-18; and free for 8 and younger) online here or call 274-1777. (In case you missed it, Shakespeare's 450th birthday was last week. Check out The New York Times' resource page here. Huzzah!) -K.C.

Just for You

Celebrating the bond women enjoy with animals, the Just for Her expo returns May 2-4 with a new partner, the Animal Rescue League of Iowa (ARL). A $5 ticket gets you into Hy-Vee Hall at the Iowa Events Center all three days (buy in advance here), and 100 percent goes to the ARL. On May 3 at the expo, the ARL brings in pets available for adoption at a special $25 rate. A vet will be there too. On May 4, designers with Studio 7 Salon & Spa in Ames take the expo stage for "Cuts for a Cause," offering a basic haircut and style, with proceeds going to the ARL.

The event features more than 150 exhibitors offering items for sale, beauty treatments, health information, entertainment and treats. The Handcrafted & Vintage Marketplace--think Etsy offline--is new this year. Other fun: Des Moines Social Club entertains May 2-3 with belly dancing, burlesque, circus acts and more; LaJames International College provides $6 mini-spa treatments; Skinnygirl pours drinks; and True Style Boutique presents a fashion show. Plus, you could win $1,000 diamond earrings from Christopher's Fine Jewelry or Cher concert tickets from Clear Channel Communications.

Hours: 5-10 p.m. May 2; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 3; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. May 4. Tickets also available at the door. For more information, visit the Just for Her website. -K.C.

Creative Asparagus Platter

By Wini Moranville

Des Moines' Downtown Farmers Market opens Saturday, and I'll be poking around the stalls for some fresh local asparagus. Here's how I love serving this harbinger of spring, using ingredients from a few of my favorite local food shops. I
suggest serving this platter as a sit-down course instead of a salad; it's also an eye-catching
addition to a potluck table.

Roasted Asparagus with Mayo-Dressed Eggs and La Quercia Prosciutto

1 pound asparagus, trimmed

1 tablespoon Vom Fass lemon olive oil
4 hard-boiled eggs, cut in half

2 tablespoons good-quality bottled mayonnaise

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon Vom Fass herb vinegar

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chives, tarragon or chervil, or a combination

Salt and ground pepper to taste

To Finish:

La Quercia prosciutto

Piment d'Espelette (a crushed chili from the Basque country)
Shavings of Ossau-Iraty, Manchego or other medium-to-hard sheep's-milk cheese.

1. For the asparagus, preheat oven to 450�F. Place the asparagus spears in a large, shallow roasting pan. Rub each spear with enough lemon olive oil to coat but do not oversaturate. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

2. Spread the asparagus into a single layer. Roast until crisp-tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

3. For the eggs, cut the eggs in half lengthwise. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, herb(s), and salt and pepper to taste.

4. Arrange asparagus, eggs and prosciutto on a platter. Dollop a little of the mayonnaise mixture atop the eggs. Top asparagus with shavings of cheese. If desired, serve with a bowl of olives and breadsticks. Makes 4 servings.

Sources: Find the oil and vinegar at Vom Fass (833 42nd St., 244-5020); Piment d'Espelette at Allspice (400 E. Locust St, 868-0808); and sheep's milk cheese at either Gateway Market (2002 Woodland Ave., 243-1754) or The Cheese Shop of Des Moines (833 42nd St., 528-8181).

Kellye Crocker

Kellye Crocker lives in Clive and writes fiction for teens and nonfiction for adults. A former Des Moines Register senior reporter and current dsm contributing writer, she's also written for Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and Glamour, among other national publications. Connect with her on Twitter: @kelcrocker.

Wini Moranville

Wini Moranville, author of "The Bonne Femme Cookbook: Simple, Splendid Food That French Women Cook Every Day," is a food, wine and travel writer who covers the dining scene for dsm magazine. Follow her at All Things Food DSM - Wini Moranville and catch her food segment on Fridays at 6:40 a.m. on KCWI-23's "Great Day" morning show.