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The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Manny Gálvez arranges decorations during the construction of an ofrenda for Día de Muertos at the Iowa City Public Library on Oct. 30. The altar to the dead stayed up until November 2.

Iowa City’s community ofrenda: a touching and fun way to remember those who are no longer with us

Hannah Childers, Arts Reporter November 5, 2024

For some people, the idea of death can be scary or saddening. However, for some Latin American people, death is something to be celebrated on a special day called Día de los Muertos, or The Day of...

Illustration by Marandah Mangra-Dutcher

True crime dramas and documentaries draw in viewers

Krysten White and Riley Dunn November 5, 2024

The eight-foot Black Angel statue imposes its shroud over the Oakland Cemetery. A staple of Iowa City folklore, The Black Angel’s history has been twisted over time to spawn rumors and myths. This...

Customers enter The James Theater in Iowa City on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.

Pursuit of the unknown in FEaST 2024

Olin Myhre, Arts Reporter November 4, 2024

A pile of records ranging in color from transparent blue to deep black was distributed among the audience. A simple instruction was raised to "break the record." In its fractured state, the shards of...

Art installations adorn the walls during open gallery hours of HOLD ON/LET GO inside Public Space One on North Gilbert Street on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. HOLD ON/LET GO is a community art project by University of Iowa MFA candidates Heather Steckler and Harper Folsom, incorporating unneeded objects donated from Iowa City residents.

‘HOLD ON/LET GO’ teaches the value of personal effects

Hannah Childers, Arts Reporter November 3, 2024

Everyone has an item they cherish, or maybe a piece of scrap metal or wood lying in their garage. Whether it was fabric scraps or a scratched-up record, artists Harper Folsom and Heather Steckler collected...

Tiny Moving Parts drummer, Bill Chester, plays during Tiny Moving Parts show at Gabe’s in Iowa City on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. Bands Greywind and Action/Adventure opened and audience and band members were dressed up for Halloween.

Review | Tiny Moving Parts, Action/Adventure, and Greywind bring the heat to Gabe’s.

Charlie Christenson, Arts Reporter November 3, 2024

What do you get if a group of squirrels, Ted Lasso, and the Grim Reaper walk into a bar? You get a Halloween Tiny Moving Parts concert in Iowa City. On Oct. 31, Tiny Moving Parts, Greywind, and Action/Adventure...

An electronic poster outside the theater playing National Theatre Live: Nye. Nye played for one showing only at FilmScene’s Chauncy location on Nov. 3, 2024 at noon.

Review | Michael Sheen impresses in National Theatre Live’s screening of ‘NYE’

Flynn Milligan, Arts Reporter November 3, 2024

On Nov. 3, I relaxed in my seat at FilmScene at the Chauncey to watch National Live Theatre’s “NYE.” Just like the theater’s other screenings of NLT’s plays, I was delighted with my experience. The...

Racks of recycled clothing that can be used for Halloween costumes are seen at Ragstock in Iowa City on Oct. 15. Many of the items in the store have been for sale for several years.

Halloween generates excess waste every year. Ragstock gives an alternative

Emma Isenhart, Arts Reporter October 29, 2024

Beneath the spooky costumes and ghoulish face paint, an even scarier monster lurks — Halloween waste. Every year, millions of pounds of costumes, candy, and decorations are dumped in landfills across...

Portrait of Charles Baxter.

Ask the Author | Charles Baxter returns to Iowa City with a new novel

Charlotte Ericson, Arts Reporter October 28, 2024

Charles Baxter, a renowned author and multiple-time award-winner read from his new book “Blood Test” at Prairie Lights this past Thursday. His work has been included several times in The Best American...

Two sisters, Agnes Evans (Norah Jo Robinson) and Tilly Evans (Shea Sanders) reconcile during a performance of She Kills Monsters at the James Theatre on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. Performances were held Oct. 25-27.

Review | ‘She Kills Monsters’ is a heartfelt drama comedy

Hannah Childers, Arts Reporter October 28, 2024

The loss of a loved one is never easy, and moving on is even harder. In “She Kills Monsters,” this is what 25-year-old Agnes Evans, played by Korah Jo Robinson, deals with after the sudden death...

An audience member shows off their outfit onstage during the song “Time Warp” at the Rocky Horror Picture Show screening and live show at the Englert Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The performance was presented by Comics in Action and props like newspapers, gloves, noisemakers, and party hats were provided for the audience to use throughout.

Englert’s ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ was a raucous Halloween screening

Kyrsten White, Arts Reporter October 27, 2024

A normal movie viewing would be ruined if audience members yelled and threw things at the screen, but not when it comes to seeing “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Englert. At midnight, the buzzing...

Micah Tenenbaum performs during the Homecoming Concert on the Pentacrest in Iowa City on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. The show featured 502s and Magdalena Bay.

The 502s and Magdalena Bay take stage at the Homecoming concert

Kate Wolfe, Arts Reporter October 27, 2024

Just hours earlier, Schaeffer and McBride Hall stood as they always do; unremarkable gray stone monoliths, blending seamlessly into the campus backdrop. As the sun dipped below the horizon, however,...

Andy Grammer sings during a performance at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City on Oct. 23. Grammer read poetry in between each of his songs.

Andy Grammer redefines one man band

Charlie Christensen, Arts Reporter October 24, 2024

Escaping the cold October night, the audience made its way into the Englert Theatre. Immediately met with warm, yellow lighting coming from singular bulbs lining the ceiling, more and more people fill...