A glimpse of Prime Land & Sea's bar area, as seen at a recent preview event. Photo by Andy Fjellman.

GET PRIMED FOR PRIME

By Wini Moranville

David Baruthio, chef-owner of Baru 66, Baru at The Art Center and Blue Tomato Kitchen, is rolling out a new venue, Prime Land & Sea.

The address--1261 8th St. in West Des Moines--may sound familiar to those who've dined in these parts for the past few decades. Many will remember this as the site of the much-loved 8th Street Seafood Bar & Grill during much of the '90s. Later, the address was home to Toscano, Fratello's, Skybox Lounge, and more recently, Raul's Mexican Restaurant.

Baruthio's concept will hark back to more stylish iterations of the building. Still, don't expect an all-out upscale steakhouse along the lines of 801 Chophouse or Splash Seafood Bar & Grill. While the menu will offer prime meat (including dry-aged options) and high-quality seafood (including fresh oysters), Baruthio foresees more of a good-time, party-with-friends spot. Early follow-throughs on this vision include a fireplace-focused lounge with soft seating, plus plans for a committed happy hour (known as Prime Time) and Sunday brunches, featuring a bottomless craft cocktail of the week.

Prime Land & Sea opens for dinner on Black Friday (Nov. 27); reservations will be required the entire weekend. Call 515-221-1325. Follow them on Facebook at Prime Land and Sea Food.

Wini Moranville is a food, wine and travel writer who covers the food and dining scene for dsm. Follow her at All Things Food - DSM Wini Moranville.

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Detail of an orchid from an untitled 2014 oil-on-linen painting by Jeffrey Thompson, one of the artists with studio space in the Fitch Building.

OPEN HOUSE AT ARTISTS' STUDIOS

Tour the studios of more than 30 artists at their annual open house in the Fitch Building, 304 15th St., from 6 to 9 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 14.

In addition to meeting artists in their own creative spaces, visitors can purchase art directly from printmakers, painters, photographers and sculptors. They include three of the five 2015 Iowa Arts Council Fellows: sculptor Rachel Buse, painter Larassa Kabel and printmaker Robert Stephens.

Since the 1980s, Des Moines artists have flocked to the old brick building's concrete floors, high ceilings and large windows. Originally a factory for a company that made soap and other personal-care products, the building is among several iconic structures, each named after historic figures, whose origins will be explained in the January issue of dsm magazine.

LINK HELPS VOLUNTEERS SEARCH

FOR LEADERSHIP ROLES

A slick new online system is making it easier to match volunteers with leadership opportunities at local nonprofit organizations.

Called LeadershipLink, it enhances an online volunteer-matching system already managed by United Way of Central Iowa. With this feature, organizations will be able to post all volunteer opportunities, including leadership roles such as boards of directors, committees, task forces and councils.

Search for leadership opportunities now on LeadershipLink. Learn more about the program online or by contacting Erica Sherman at the United Way, 515-246-2504.

LeadershipLink is a joint project of the United Way, the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines and the Regional Leadership Council.

Singer Max Wellman will be Noce's general manager and entertainment director..

NOCE TO OPEN NEW YEAR'S EVE

The jazz and cabaret lounge Noce, 1326 Walnut St., will open its doors for the first time in the final hours of the year. Tickets are now available for Noce's debut "Wild Party," a jazz-age-themed New Year's Eve celebration Dec. 31, from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Featured performers include the Des Moines Big Band, Max Wellman, Tina Haase Findlay and burlesque artist Phoenix Lamour.

General admission, $75, includes complimentary food throughout the evening. VIP tickets, at $150, also include a tour of the building, reserved prime seats and champagne. Tickets and information are available at nocedsm.com. Find out more about Noce in this story in dsm.

Greater Des Moines residents Adijana Dizdarevic and Lejla Mehmedovic raise their hands reverently during a Muslim prayer. Photo by Bob Blanchard.

ONLY IN dsm

Have you seen the new issue? The November/December dsm magazine is our biggest yet. It's full of fascinating and surprising local people:

Big-time comic book illustrator Ron Wagner.
Horseman and political pundit Jerry Crawford.
Leaders of some of Greater Des Moines' least-understood religious communities.
And our annual tribute to Sages Over 70, who this year include longtime community leaders Margo Blumenthal, Philip Dorweiler, Vernon Johnson, Gary Kirke, Elvin McDonald, Polly Moore, Kenneth Quinn and Jack Wahlig.