Week of September 7th

Catch the smokin' hot blues guitar and killer rhythm section of the Bob Pace Band at Blues on Grand, 1501 Grand in Western Gateway. Music starts at 9PM and there's no cover charge.

Join us for an informal writers' workshop. Share samples of your work and receive feedback from other writers in the group. Meeting Room Three. This program is for 6th-12th graders.

Young Des Moines “Movers and Shakers” Meet and Greet with Congressman Boswell Suggested donation of $25

Practice playing bridge on Wednesday evenings in the Cafe Gallery at Central Library. Preregister by signing up online or by calling 515-283-4152 ext. 3. Call Laura at 515-283-4957 for more details.

Find out more about literacy programs in the community. Hear what volunteers are doing to help people of all ages with literacy skills. Meeting Rooms One and Two at Central Library.

2009 International Blues Challenge Winner, J P Soars performs at Blues on Grand, 1501 Grand in Western Gateway. Hear him starting at 8PM. Cover is $10.

Are you a "Theater HATER"? Have you always thought it was boring, dumb and unrelatable? Well, AMERICANA ABSURDUM is SURE to change your mind. This play is the "theater-hater's" dream. You don't even have to effing pay for it. THIS IS NO EXCUSE THEATER. "...the fastest theater I've have seen...funny, often hilariously so...Parks does wordplay, Pythonesque surrealism and brilliant banter. Thrilling." -Time Out London LOCUST PRODUCTIONS presents AMERICANA ABSURDUM by BRIAN PARKS directed by ZACHARY MANNHEIMER TICKET PRICE $0.00 - that means FREE September 9th-19th Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm Sundays at 2pm "Comically grotesque...biting" - Alexis Green, Variety PLEASE CALL 515. 288.3672 to reserve your FREE seat A BIG thank you goes to the grant from The Iowa Arts Council! Funding is provided by the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Come and check out Iowa's first PECHA KUCHA NIGHT!!! Be apart of a unique event that is happening in over 330 cities all over the world! When: Thursday September 9th at 7:00 pm-8:30 pm Where: Des Moines Social Club How much?: FREE!!!! A time to network, think, and drink (if you want, DMSC Happy hour will be extended just for this event!) What is this anyway?: Starting in Tokyo a few years ago, Pecha Kucha Nights were created as a way to present information in a condensed, yet visually unique manner. All presentations follow the same format 20 slides each timed for 20 seconds. All presentations are 6 min. and 40 sec long. It's a chance for everyone and anyone to share a topic they are passionate about, from hobbies to business to art work to design to summer vacation photos to toys that scared me when I was a kid. The possibilities are endless!!!!! How do you pronounce Pecha Kucha? Come Thursday Sept. 9th and find out! ;) Any questions please feel free to contact us through this site or pechakuchadesmoines@yahoo.com.

Sample wines from the Steltzner Vineyards and enjoy a four course dinner with wine pairings. Gateway Market will offer pre-tasting of Steltzner classic Napa Valley offerings from 4:30-6:30PM, and Allison Steltzner will be on hand. Then, head to Django for a four course dinner with wine pairings at 7PM. On the menu will be Saku Tuna Tarta, Frisee Salad, Cassoulet and Chocolate Hazlenut Cake. The cost is $75 per person. Make reservations at mtorres@djangodesmoines.com or call Maria at 288-0268.

Opportunity is knocking! Central Library is partnering with ISED to provide assistance in job searching for adults. The program consists of assistance in using the computer for searching and applying for jobs. Computer Lab at Central Library. Preregister online or by calling 515-283-4152 ext. 3.

Hear blues rocker Ronnie Baker Brooks at Blues on Grand, 1501 Grand in Western Gateway. Brooks performs at 9:30PM. Cover is $15.

Are you a "Theater HATER"? Have you always thought it was boring, dumb and unrelatable? Well, AMERICANA ABSURDUM is SURE to change your mind. This play is the "theater-hater's" dream. You don't even have to effing pay for it. THIS IS NO EXCUSE THEATER. "...the fastest theater I've have seen...funny, often hilariously so...Parks does wordplay, Pythonesque surrealism and brilliant banter. Thrilling." -Time Out London LOCUST PRODUCTIONS presents AMERICANA ABSURDUM by BRIAN PARKS directed by ZACHARY MANNHEIMER TICKET PRICE $0.00 - that means FREE September 9th-19th Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm Sundays at 2pm "Comically grotesque...biting" - Alexis Green, Variety PLEASE CALL 515. 288.3672 to reserve your FREE seat A BIG thank you goes to the grant from The Iowa Arts Council! Funding is provided by the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Manav Gupta is an internationally acclaimed multifaceted painter, poet, performance artist, and environment film maker. Gupta, will be displaying his artwork in the Instinct Gallery at the Des Moines Social Club September 7th-17th. The artist reception will be on Friday, September 10th from 7-10pm. Gupta is listed by Financial times as one of the ten contemporary artists of India whose works would fetch good returns, his works have been auctioned and sold successively at Christie’s ,Bonham’s, etc even as his handling of light and colour have received rave reviews from critics, media and art lovers alike. His works are in the permanent collection of the Parliament, the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Birla Academy museum, Chitrakala Parishad museum, and museum of the Royal household, Oman, and DRDO museum besides several private and permanent collections. He has been invited on the expert committee of Republic day celebrations, and has the distinction of being invited by former President of India Dr Kalam for a book of poetry and paintings, by Ministry of environment, Govt of India for one minute films for television, by Times of India and Amity for leadership award paintings to Mr Kumarmangalam Birla and Mr Kamath, Hitachi singapore for paintings as plasma tv screensavers, Jindal flag foundation to name but a few Awarded the Sanatan puraskar by the former french ambassador, Manav has pioneered this rare performance art concept where he paints live with the likes of Dr L.Subramanium, Shubha Mudgal.Anoop Jalota Rahul sharma, and others.

Are you a "Theater HATER"? Have you always thought it was boring, dumb and unrelatable? Well, AMERICANA ABSURDUM is SURE to change your mind. This play is the "theater-hater's" dream. You don't even have to effing pay for it. THIS IS NO EXCUSE THEATER. "...the fastest theater I've have seen...funny, often hilariously so...Parks does wordplay, Pythonesque surrealism and brilliant banter. Thrilling." -Time Out London LOCUST PRODUCTIONS presents AMERICANA ABSURDUM by BRIAN PARKS directed by ZACHARY MANNHEIMER TICKET PRICE $0.00 - that means FREE September 9th-19th Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm Sundays at 2pm "Comically grotesque...biting" - Alexis Green, Variety PLEASE CALL 515. 288.3672 to reserve your FREE seat A BIG thank you goes to the grant from The Iowa Arts Council! Funding is provided by the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Instinct Gallery and Jaded Lotus present WARPAINT …BLACK TO BASICS August 13 – December 4, 2010 WARPAINT features the most talented, creative artists Des Moines has to offer, working out of their element, in the purest form. WARPAINT is a bracketed live art competition focusing on raw energy and the ability to create in a somewhat controlled environment. Participating artists will have one hour to complete their ‘4×8′ piece, with only a black marker. WARPAINT will showcase artists from all disciplines, styles and backgrounds. At each WARPAINT event, 2 artists will compete against each other for votes from selected jurors as well as audience members. The winner of each bracket will move on to the next level, ending in a Grand Finale Competition and party to be held Saturday, December 4th. All works created for WARPAINT will be on display until the next competition, and will be available for purchase at the Grand Finale Event December 4. Call for artists: Interested artists should submit samples of their work, as well as their name, phone, email and website if applicable to michelle@instinctgallery.com -Please remember if chosen, you need to be able to create a complete piece, from start to finish, in the hour allotted, with only a black marker (supplied). -All Submissions must be received NO LATER THAN FRIDAY JULY 30 For more information about Instinct Gallery, please visit www.instinctgallery.com

Are you a "Theater HATER"? Have you always thought it was boring, dumb and unrelatable? Well, AMERICANA ABSURDUM is SURE to change your mind. This play is the "theater-hater's" dream. You don't even have to effing pay for it. THIS IS NO EXCUSE THEATER. "...the fastest theater I've have seen...funny, often hilariously so...Parks does wordplay, Pythonesque surrealism and brilliant banter. Thrilling." -Time Out London LOCUST PRODUCTIONS presents AMERICANA ABSURDUM by BRIAN PARKS directed by ZACHARY MANNHEIMER TICKET PRICE $0.00 - that means FREE September 9th-19th Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm Sundays at 2pm "Comically grotesque...biting" - Alexis Green, Variety PLEASE CALL 515. 288.3672 to reserve your FREE seat A BIG thank you goes to the grant from The Iowa Arts Council! Funding is provided by the Iowa Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Opportunity is knocking! Central Library is partnering with ISED to provide assistance in job searching for adults. The program consists of assistance in using the computer for searching and applying for jobs. Computer Lab at Central Library. Preregister online or by calling 515-283-4152 ext. 3.

The Young Women's Resource Center will sponsor a fundraising Celebrity Servers Night at Centro, 1011 Locust in Western Gateway. Local celebrities will be paired with experienced servers to help guests enjoy a prix-fixe dinner. All gratuities given to celebrities will benefit the Young Women's Resource Center. The event will run from 5:30-9:30PM. Reservations for the dinner are required. For more information, contact Christina Jarck at 515-244-4901 or e-mail cjarck@ywrc.org.