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Little Italy DSM is working to get a business district on the south side of Des Moines designated as "Little Italy" to help preserve the community's history. The area along the south bank of the Racoon River includes Southeast First Street and East Jackson Avenue. Little Italy DSM co-founder Jenifer Caito-Ellingson said the neighborhood is rich wit...

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As Iowa temperatures climb, a traveling circus is on its way to offer a cooling respite. Setting the Cirque Italia apart is its unique big top, a tent housing a stage surrounded by a 35,000-gallon pool with fountains, and shimmering curtains of water reflecting various lighting effects to enhance the performances. Cirque Italia's Silver Water Circu...

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The Butler Mansion, the striking white concrete building that sits on a hill overlooking Gray’s Lake and downtown Des Moines, has a new owner. The Italian American Cultural Center of Iowa is buying the property at 2633 Fleur Drive on contract for $3.3 million, according to Polk County real estate records. The transaction was recorded Dec. 28."We ar...

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The business lockdowns in mid spring hit many small business owners in the entertainment industry particularly hard. Romina Muse and her husband have been operating Skateland together for years, and the shut downs were tough."We were closed for two and a half months," Muse said. "That was a huge hit for us." That also left more free time with no bu...

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An hour before free meals were to be distributed, the line of cars spilled out of the parking lot of Baratta's Restaurant and onto South Union Street.  The restaurant was shut down for the day until 3 p.m. Employees were focused on one goal: Make enough food for more than 1,000 people. On Monday, the Italian restaurant served 300 family meals, each...

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The coronavirus took the game away from Lisa Birocci Banse in early March. The Des Moines native had flown to Guatemala from her home in State College, Pennsylvania, to play in leagues there. The Iowa softball legend is a member of the Italian Olympic national team. “I wanted to pitch some games and get some live at-bats,” Banse said. The virus had...

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If you stuck at home looking for something new and different to explore, this weekend would be the perfect time to take the plunge into the opera world. It's possible you may have heard a famous aria, which is part of an opera, and haven’t even realized it. Arias can pop up when you least expect them to, in unusual places like commercials or movies...

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Five dollars at the Iowa State Fair goes further than you think. Know the right stand and a snow cone, some cotton candy, a strawberry shake, a ride down the big slide or even an order of X-Treme Balls (pork tenderloin balled up on a kebob with pickles and onions) will only cost you a Lincoln. But all the Scarpino family wanted for their $5 was a s...

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The 10th annual Italian Heritage Festival is taking place in Western Gateway Park this weekend. Hundreds have already filter through the festival, enjoying Italian classics like pizza, pasta and sangria. There are more than 20 vendors at this year’s festival, along with music and family-friendly activities. Additionally, there is a wine and beer ga...

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Des Monies City Councilman Joe Gatto will run again for his Ward 4 seat this fall, he announced at a kickoff event last week. Gatto first joined the council in 2014, winning a special election for the seat. He won his first full four-year term in 2015, running unopposed. He'll face at least one challenger — ToyA Johnson, a former libertarian candid...

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