A new multi-day festival celebrating local artists will debut June 22-28. Co-creators David Safris and Liz Adelman are calling on the community--including individuals, businesses, venues and organizations--to host a variety of events during the week. The aim is to bring people together to participate in the local arts scene and to support artists across all genres.

Called Art Week Des Moines, the event is designed to ramp up to, and complement, the Des Moines Art Festival (June 26-28 in Western Gateway Park), not compete against it. "We decided on that week because the buzz in arts and culture is already created during this time," Adelman explains. "It will be an effort between all artists and organizations that have an interest in hosting art events that week. We are excited that it can be what people want it to be."

The idea stemmed from a 2014 show Safris' company, Visionary Services, opened the Friday of the Des Moines Art Festival at the Des Moines Social Club. Safris believes Art Week Des Moines will build upon that concept and provide a way for community members and artists to work together. "The challenge is to build a collective event that is bigger and better than anything one group could build on their own," he says. "We started using the tag line 'What are you doing for Art Week' to encourage venues to think of creative ways to get involved." 

Once Art Week organizers approve an event, it will appear on the Art Week Des Moines events page. The team is hoping to attract events that focus on more than the visual arts, including performance art, design and fashion. So far, the Des Moines Art Center and Des Moines Social Club have signed on; more are expected to follow. Find more info here and like Art Week Des Moines on Facebook here.

The evening, which benefits the Playhouse and honors Van Orsdel for her contributions to the community, kicks off with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the 8 p.m. show. The lineup not  only will feature the talents of Van Orsdel and other notable community members but also showcase the various non-profits she has supported over the past 20 years.  

By Wini Moranville 

Here's another reason you'll want to go to dsm's unveiling party tonight: The new issue has a story on five great brunch dishes (and drinks) in Des Moines. Don't miss it!

While the story will inspire you to try one of the city's great chef-driven brunches, I'm also a fan of a good brunch at home. However, because weekends are for leisure, I tend to keep mine simple.

Here's a perfect recipe for an upcoming springtime brunch, such as Mother's Day--or any day you want something bright, sunny and easy. It's particularly good when you use a product of Iowa like La Quercia prosciutto from Norwalk. 

Baked Eggs with Prosciutto and Comté

For each serving:

* 2 eggs

* 1 tablespoon cream

* 2 tablespoons diced prosciutto (such as La Quercia)

* 2 tablespoons Comté or Gruyère cheese, or any other cheese that melts well

* Snipped fresh parsley

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter an 8-ounce mini quiche dish or custard cup. Break the 2 eggs into the dish. Drizzle the cream over the eggs and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Place the dish on a baking sheet. Repeat for as many servings as you need.

2. Bake for 10 minutes. Sprinkle each dish with prosciutto, cheese and parsley. Return to the oven and bake until the egg whites are set and the yolks are done to your liking, 2 to 5 minutes more (custard cups may take longer than the shallow baking dishes).

• Please join us as we unveil the May/June issue (our biggest issue ever) of dsm magazine tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. (short program at 6 p.m.). Audi of Des Moines is hosting the party at its new location at 5190 Merle Hay Road in Johnston. We look forward to seeing you there!
   
• Great Des Moines Botanical Garden's four-day Spring Garden Festival May 7-10 will include more than 500 limited-edition varieties of plants, garden merchandise and educational sessions and activities. Opening night kicks off with a party from 5 to 8 p.m; advance tickets for the party cost $50 for members, $60 for non-members and can be bought here. For all other days, the festival is free with the regular cost of admission. For more information, click here.
   
• Malay Bouaphakeo, creator of Des Moines Derby Dames, a women's roller derby league, and founder of Full Pursuit Life Coaching, has launched a workshop series called "Discover Your 30s in 30 Days" to help women in their 30s build strong networks, increase self-empowerment and master financial stability. Each workshop will be held at Full Pursuit Life Coaching (901 Thomas Beck Road, Suite 310) and costs $109 per person. For more information, to see the schedule and to register, visit fullpursuitcoaching.com. Some sessions begin in May.
   
• Des Moines Performing Arts will present a three-week run of Tony Award- winning "The Lion King" tonight through May 17. The hit Broadway musical's colorful costuming, intricate makeup and carved masks bring the African savanna to life on stage. Showtimes and ticket prices vary; visit desmoinesperformingarts.org for more details. 
   
• The Des Moines Art Center is gearing up to open two new exhibits. As a part of the Iowa Artists 2015 show, Ames artist Austin Stewart will present the Des Moines premiere of his ongoing web and performance-based piece "Second Livestock" April 30 at 6:30 p.m. The work addresses the ethical debates of animal husbandry and the profitability of conventional chicken farming. Then on May 9, the Art Center will open "Fiber: Sculpture 1960-present," which explores the development of abstract fiber art from the mid-20th century to today. A members-only opening will be held May 8 at 5 p.m. For more information on both exhibits, click here.