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Team USA celebrates after winning the cup last year in Germany.
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The
Solheim Cup next August is going to be the coolest thing to happen to golf in Des Moines since Waveland laid claim to being the oldest public course west of the Mississippi.
Consider: In an atmosphere of intense national pride, the top 12 female golfers in the United States will compete with Europe's best right here at
Des Moines Golf and Country Club. Oh, and they'll have a couple hundred thousand screaming fans and an international TV audience glued to each of the matches.
It's a biennial event, alternating between courses in the United States and Europe (it heads to Scotland in 2019). The event was named for Karsten Solheim, who created the popular Ping brand of golf equipment and was an early advocate for a women's equivalent of the Ryder Cup.
Here at
dsm, we appreciated a visit from tournament representatives who shared some of the inside story:
- Crowds? Expect about 200,000 people, more than half from beyond Iowa.
- Value? The economic impact has been estimated at $32 million.
- Fun? Events apart from the three-day match-play tournament include a gala diner, a pro-am, spectacular opening and closing ceremonies and two nights of "big name" concerts and a junior tournament for teenage golfers.
- Participation? Some 2,000 volunteers will be involved; about 1,200 are already signed up, so you have 800 more opportunities.
Why Des Moines? Organizers were impressed by the U.S. Senior Open, which drew more than 200,000 people to Des Moines Golf and Country Club in 1999. And local civic leaders submitted a strong application for the tournament. Since its creation in 1990, the Solheim Cup has seen great results at Midwestern sites, including courses in Minnesota, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.
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Here's a section of the 7-foot-tall painting "The Repentant Magdaline" before restoration. When unveiled next week, viewers will see it as it was painted more than 300 years ago.
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PAINTING REGAINS ORIGINAL BRILLIANCE
We're fascinated by the restoration of old paintings. So we enjoyed a presentation last May, when
Barry Bauman, a fine arts conservator from Illinois, spoke at the State Historical Museum about the arduous, intricate work that went into reviving
the Gerhard Nollen painting "Dream of Arcadia," a 19th-century treasure from the museum's collection.
Bauman will be back in town next week, discussing his work in conserving another local masterpiece, the 17th-century Flemish painting
"The Repentant Magdalene" for
Hoyt Sherman Place. In all, he has restored some 1,500 paintings, including 44 for Hoyt Sherman Place.
Bauman takes you inside the months-long process of mending torn canvas, reattaching loose flakes of paint, retouching lost bits and reviving colors dimmed by time. The presentation
Nov. 16 is free and will be followed by a reception. In addition to Bauman's insights, the program includes information on Hoyt Sherman's
"Adopt a Painting" program to restore 52 works of art. Hoyt Sherman's galleries will open to visitors at 5 p.m., with the program in the auditorium beginning at 6 p.m.
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There are a lot of elements to the new home store in Ankeny.
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IT'S ELEMENTARY: NEW STORE TO SCORE
We're looking forward to checking out
The Elements at Prairie Trail in
Ankeny. Or maybe we should say we're looking forward to losing ourselves in The Elements. That's because the new store, which opened last week, is a whopping 8,866 square feet.
You'll find custom furniture from Lexington, Moroni, Stanley and more; rugs from Feizy, Loloi and other notable companies; over 10,000(!) fabrics; artwork and decorative items; and bedding, bath items and home accessories. What's more, interior designers are on staff to help with projects of any size.
The Elements is owned by
Kathy Sorbe, who also owns The Elements in Storm Lake. Since opening in 2005, that store has grown from three employees to more than 20 and has undergone four expansions. With a strong customer base already established in Central Iowa, Sorbe decided to open the second location in Ankeny.
Luann Sampson
is managing the Prairie Trail location and its staff of 10. The store is located at 1380 S.W. Vintage Parkway; there's no local website yet, but you can learn more about the company on the store's Storm Lake website.
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Our 2016 Sages Over 70 talk about lessons in life in this insightful video.
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We're excited to honor this year's
Sages Over 70 honorees Thursday at the Temple for Performing Arts. The event is sold out, but you can learn about these generous mentors, leaders and philanthropists in
this article from the current issue of
dsm magazine. And hear from the Sages themselves in
this video by
Good Plan Productions.
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Are your kids into theater? Get them into the Second Saturday improv program.
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JUST FOR LAUGHS: IMPROV FOR TEENS
Students from the sixth through 12th grades can get monthly coaching and experience in improvisational comedy at the
Des Moines Community Playhouse starting Saturday,
Nov. 12, from 7:30 to 10 p.m.
The evening marks the return of a 23-year Playhouse tradition called Second Saturday, an evening of laughs, skits and theater games on the second Saturday of each month, November through May. The program is led by members of the theater's professional education staff, who help teams create impromptu skits. The cost is $9. Students can register online at
dmplayhouse.com.
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CONTACT DSM
To contact us
515-288-3336
To submit news items
Christine Riccelli
To get ad rates
Kris Maggard, x220
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