alphred_stenson wrote:

I do not know what this means.

To be completely honest...neither do I. That is why the ladies love me. (again, no idea what i'm talking about.)

i'm pretty sure BRW was kidding, but a "Hawkeye" is one who is from Iowa. specifically, it is a reference to the "Iowa Hawkeyes" football team. like a person from Wisconsin (specifically a person who attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison) is sometimes called a "Badger," or a Minnesotan (specifically who attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities) is sometimes called a "Gopher."

...i agree. it's stupid. i have never called anyone any of these things, though i have been called a "Badger." it made for an awkward silence immediately following the remark.

i was in des moines once (while driving $20 million of art to portland, oregon from nyc - long story) to stop for lunch. my friend and i could hardly find anywhere in what looked like "downtown" (but i guess was some art district). we eventually settled on a greek restaurant that, it turns out, featured the surliest waitress in the entire world. so, we just got our food to go and ate it on the sidewalk. not a good introduction.

i've only been to iowa city twice and record collector struck me as a pretty decent store for a city that size.

instant_zen wrote:.... but a "Hawkeye" is one who is from Iowa. specifically, it is a reference to the "Iowa Hawkeyes" football team.

Iowa settlers were nicknamed Hawkeye's because prior
to Iowa joining the Union in 1922, the main currency they
used were the eyes of hawks. This is why you rarely
will see hawks in Iowa; to this day. And it's also why
the hawks in Iowa won't see you.

Is it true that Minnesota is an Indian word for weather Sucks big waumpum?

That's all the mid west jokes I have.

Anyone else?

Salut!

D'fn

Rog wrote:

instant_zen wrote:.... but a "Hawkeye" is one who is from Iowa. specifically, it is a reference to the "Iowa Hawkeyes" football team.

Iowa settlers were nicknamed Hawkeye's because prior
to Iowa joining the Union in 1922, the main currency they
used were the eyes of hawks. This is why you rarely
will see hawks in Iowa; to this day. And it's also why
the hawks in Iowa won't see you.

sorry, Rog, you are correct. i should have assumed there was some historical significance. in the same way, i'm also aware that a "Badger" was a miner in Wisconsin during the 19th century, so called because they tended to live in holes, as actual animal badgers did, but i forgot to mention this as well. i'm not sure what went on with the Gophers.

As per previous references in this thread that Iowa City's longest standing rock and roll club is closing I have this first hand, semi-insider report:

There is nothing to report.

I've lived in Iowa City since 1993 and the club has always been rumored to be closing (I think it opened in 1971). In the last year, however, the rumors have been so oft repeated I began to believe them myself.

But, since reading this thread yesterday, I've talked directly with some key players and they don't know anything about the place shutting down.

Hell, they just shelled out a big chunk of change to replace the outside staircase leading up to the second floor stage entrance (for those who haven't been there, they were your basic fire escape fare except half the stairs had been pounded into "V" shapes by sundry bass rigs being dropped somewhere on the way up. Those stairs were slicker than snot on a door knob when snow was coming down).

My band played a great show in Des Moines last summer at an all ages space called the Playground. It was an old store/aparment building that some kids were renting had turned into a DIY all ages venue. And by, kids, I mean kids; the fella that booked us was maybe 18 or 19.

It was also notable as the Hottest Show I Have Ever Played. We cut one of our songs because I was pretty certain I was going to pass out or vomit. Sadly, I did neither.

We played with a pretty good pop punk band from Des Moines called Stuck With Arthur. I don't normaly like pop punk, but they were sincere nice kids who could really play.

In reference to Gabe's:

cowtown14 wrote:
Hell, they just shelled out a big chunk of change to replace the outside staircase leading up to the second floor stage entrance (for those who haven't been there, they were your basic fire escape fare except half the stairs had been pounded into "V" shapes by sundry bass rigs being dropped somewhere on the way up. Those stairs were slicker than snot on a door knob when snow was coming down).

Thank god, those were pretty damn treacherous in August. And Bradley, the owner remembered you, and was surprised to find out you were living in Idaho

I've now officially lived in DM for a couple months now, and I must say the blandness of this typical american city is pretty clear to me now. Some nice places to grab a bite to eat, but musically, kind of "meh."

Sword of Exactly is pretty good, though, even though they might be from Ames. The Mews is a nice venue but the crowd at the shows I've been to just sits there. They act like they are in class as opposed to a show. I'm not asking for a mosh pit or anything, but for god's sake, feel free to speak above a whisper. I'm sure the band will forgive you.

instant_zen wrote:

connor wrote:Iowa City is also the home of the world's most prestigious writing workshop at the University of Iowa. I've been told by graduates of the program that this has made the town somewhat of a literary capital along the lines of New York City.

i once read (i think in a psychology textbook) that a hilariously disproportioned number of participants in said workshop suffered from either a personality disorder or some form of diagnosable depression. something like 40%.

Sounds like bullshit to me. (I attended said program about ten years ago.) However, I'd wager than perhaps 40% suffer from snarkiness and careerism. Overall, it was a great program, and I loved my time there. Lovely city, too.

(A few years before I attended, one student was hospitalized in a psych ward after trying--I'm serious about this--trying to cut off his face. Jorie Graham mentions the event in one of her poems, although I can't remember which one.)

cowtown14 wrote:As per previous references in this thread that Iowa City's longest standing rock and roll club is closing I have this first hand, semi-insider report:

There is nothing to report.

I've lived in Iowa City since 1993 and the club has always been rumored to be closing (I think it opened in 1971). In the last year, however, the rumors have been so oft repeated I began to believe them myself.

But, since reading this thread yesterday, I've talked directly with some key players and they don't know anything about the place shutting down.

Hell, they just shelled out a big chunk of change to replace the outside staircase leading up to the second floor stage entrance (for those who haven't been there, they were your basic fire escape fare except half the stairs had been pounded into "V" shapes by sundry bass rigs being dropped somewhere on the way up. Those stairs were slicker than snot on a door knob when snow was coming down).

Gabes closed it's doors on July 6th. It will be re-opened in August under the name The Picador. From my understanding it will be a cleaner version of Gabes, they are even re-doing the infamous bathrooms. Long live Gabes and it's awful bathrooms & treacherous stairwells.

-Jeremy