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July 1, 2014

Oatcakes are a cross between
a cracker and a cookie.

Three Things to Buy at The Cheese Shop (That Aren't Cheese)

By Wini Moranville

Of course, cheese is the main draw at The Cheese Shop of Des Moines (followed closely by charcuterie and pâté), but the staff's handpicked food finds can be standouts too. A few recent discoveries:

1. Effie's Oatcakes:

The English would call these "biscuits"; with their lightly sweet, buttery-good, slightly salty flavor, they're a little like a cross between a cracker and a cookie. I find them just right for midmorning coffee or afternoon tea, or to accompany cheeses you're serving after the main course ($5.99).

2. Vollereaux Brut Reserve Champagne:

One of my favorite moments last winter was hosting a young Fulbright scholar from the Champagne region of France and seeing her eyes light up when I brought out this bottle, which she loved. I love this classic fine dry bubbly too, and at this price, you can keep a bottle chilled in the fridge for any time you have a guest worth celebrating ($32).

3. Zzang! Original Candy Bar:

You may have outgrown your taste for Snickers or Baby Ruth, but this handcrafted candy bar takes the treat to an artisan level, with brown-sugar caramel, Virginia peanuts and a rich coating of dark Colombian chocolate ($3.99 each).

The Cheese Shop is at 833 42nd St.; 528-8181.

Home to Hospitality
From fine arts to building arts, an abundance of energy and excitement
was felt this past weekend at the Des...

Read More »

An artist's rendering of the proposed Jester Park Conservation Center.

Leadership Grants

By Vicki Ingham

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines has announced its latest Leadership Grants, totaling $240,000. The Polk County Conservation Board received $100,000 to build the Jester Park Conservation Center, a multipurpose welcome center, interpretive and educational facility and administrative headquarters for the board. Community Youth Concepts received $50,000 toward a new facility in the city's urban core. A $35,000 grant to the Des Moines Water Works Park Foundation will fund a feasibility study as part of the foundation's organizational development and startup. Harbor of Hope, a residential addiction recovery center for men just released from prison, will use its $35,000 grant to support its Lifetime Recovery Program. The Des Moines Art Center's $20,000 grant will help renovate "Greenwood Pond Double Site" (1989-1996), an environmental sculpture by American artist Mary Miss.

Max Wellman will perform July 24

in a lunch-hour concert at

American Enterprise Group.

Get Jazzed

Jazz in July sizzles with 16 concerts this year, three of them at new venues: Farm Bureau Financial Services in West Des Moines on July 10 features the music of Junior Jazz Combo and the Alpha State Agents; American Enterprise Group in downtown Des Moines hosts Max Wellman July 24 with the only lunch-hour concert, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; and High Society Big Band performs at Copper Creek Lake Park in Pleasant Hill July 25. This is the 32nd year for the free, family-friendly concerts, thanks to a partnership between Metro Arts Alliance and local neighborhoods. Learn more about who's playing when and where here. -V.I.

Golf for Good

Mark Twain reportedly said, "It's good sportsmanship not to pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling." You can be a good sport and do some good too at the ninth annual Score Fore Kids Golf Tournament July 7. Held at Norwalk's Echo Valley Country Club, the tournament benefits Awesome Days, an educational and enrichment program for kids at Moulton Elementary School. Administered by Children and Family Urban Movement, Awesome Days fills kids' school breaks with reading, writing, computer skills and math as well as art, cultural activities, field trips and recreation. The fee is $125 per golfer or $500 per foursome. Registration is at 10 a.m., tee-off at
11 a.m. and dinner at 5 p.m. -V.I.

A Luigi Bianchi sports coat and Eton shirt, both from Badowers.

Fitted and Flattering

Men's clothing styles change slowly-but they do change. In the new issue of dsm, Kevin Hansen, manager and buyer at Badowers, and Drew Emerson, a Des Moines-based independent style consultant, offer tips on updating your style to a
more streamlined look. Click here to read the story.

Correction and Credits

In the new issue of dsm, the dates in the story on the Buddhist relics exhibit are incorrect. The exhibit opens Aug. 15, with a concert by kirtan musician Wah! taking place on Aug. 14. We apologize for
the error.

Also, we want to provide credit to more of those involved in the cover photo shoot. Amber Hathaway with Freestyle Design was the hair stylist and Lindsey Ritland was the makeup artist. For the story on Art Meets Fashion, we want to acknowledge Mayim Yael as a styling assistant, and Patrick Boltinghouse and Hunter Wilhelm, both with Vanity & Glamour Cosmetics, as makeup artists.

Vicki Ingham

Vicki Ingham is a
Des Moines freelance writer and editor. A former book editor at Meredith Corp. and freelance editor for John Wiley & Sons, she writes for a variety of magazines, including dsm. She's also the author of "Art of the New South: Women Artists of Birmingham, 1890-1950" and is currently researching Iowa's historic architectural stained glass.

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.