While the devastation from Iowa’s 2020 hurricane-strength derecho windstorm still weighs heavily on tree canopy in parts of the state, some areas are hitting their peak for fall foliage. Related: Fall colors in post-derecho Iowa The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reported this week that recent warmer weather has extended the fall color show for […]
Czech Village shop moves to new location
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A shop at the entrance of Czech Village has relocated to a new site. After more than 6 years at 98 16th Ave. SW, The Create/Exchange is reopening at 615 Center Point Rd. NE. The unique craft supply upcycle and exchange store has filled a niche for crafters and creators with […]
End of an era: Final photos of Czech Vil...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The legacy of a Czech Village meat market isn’t lost on Steven Prochaska, who is closing shop on the last remaining one. His great-grandfather, Jerry Prochaska, a Czech immigrant to the United States in the early 1900s when he was just a toddler, eventually worked at Polehna’s Meat Market, an iconic […]
Czech festival in Iowa returns with trad...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Aside from gusty winds that played havoc with cash and sheet music, the weather could not have been more picture-perfect for the comeback of a long-running festival that was sidelined last year by the coronavirus pandemic and Iowa’s hurricane-strength derecho. Czech Goulash Day, celebrated in various forms for the past 99 […]
Photos: Return of Market After Dark
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — After a one-year hiatus, crowds returned to Market After Dark, the popular nighttime farmers market in downtown Cedar Rapids. Organizers noted that pandemic precautions included an expanded area to allow for more social distancing and encouraging attendees to walk in a one-way directional loop, but as thousands of maskless people walked […]
Her restaurant survived the pandemic and...
NOTE: Runt’s Munchies, 529 Fifth Ave. SE, is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed Sundays. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — More than four years ago, Jess Johnson opened Runt’s Munchies, a diminutive restaurant in a historic building on the edge of downtown Cedar Rapids. “We’ve survived COVID and the derecho, but we […]
Iowa River Corridor battles reed canary ...
Our family’s heritage farm, known as Sandhill Acres, is located in rural Chelsea, Iowa, and while we seem to be in a constant battle with weeds, another battle takes place nearby along the Iowa River Corridor. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources notes that a program is underway to cut and bale reed canary grass […]
Entertainment announced for Market After...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Event organizers announced the entertainment lineup and other details for Market After Dark, set for Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. Dubbed “Lighting the Night with Alliant Energy,” the nighttime farmers market will feature more than 100 vendors, plus entertainment, special lighted attractions, games and more in downtown Cedar Rapids. The sixth annual […]
Cedar Rapids parish works to overcome de...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church is preparing a post-derecho comeback by hosting its popular festival, Czech Goulash Day, on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, after a one-year absence. Like many places in Cedar Rapids, the church sustained damage during the August 2020 derecho, including a severe hit to its Glovik Parish Center. The […]
Czech, Slovak culture celebrated as muse...
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — The National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library celebrated the belated 25th anniversary of a monumental event with a weekend full of activities. On a chilly day on Oct. 21, 1995, U.S. President Bill Clinton, Czech President Václav Havel and Slovak President Michal Kováč visited Cedar Rapids to dedicate the museum’s […]