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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

Searching for Bigfoot in Iowa

Searching for Bigfoot in Iowa

Madeline Liegois, Arts Reporter December 8, 2020

It was a cool spring evening in Waterloo, Iowa, 2009 when brothers Seth and Jesse Alne ventured into a small patch of woods. Cameras and flashlights drawn, the pair walked side by side down a dirt...

A silent mic along with an empty chair sits on the stage at Gabe’s on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. A stage that once was alive with music is now quiet due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Historical Iowa City music oasis grapples with pandemic-caused financial strains

Megan Conroy, Arts Reporter November 3, 2020

Whether the front of the building reads “The Pub Gabe’s and Walkers,” “Picador,” “Gabe’s Oasis,” or just “Gabe’s,” 330 E. Washington St. has been a haven for music lovers since...

The Villisca Ax Murder House is seen in Villisca, Iowa on Sept. 30, 2020. Villisca is the site of one of the oldest cold cases in Iowa in which eight people were murdered in their beds. The killer was never found, sparking many theories and interest in the case. The house, which was renovated and reopened as a museum to the public, is now the site of paranormal activity and attracts thousands of tourists every year. The date on the sign, June 10, 1912 is the morning the Moore’s and Stillinger children were found murdered.

A spooky endeavor: DI editors spend night at Villisca Ax Murder House

Madison Lotenschtein and Brooklyn Draisey October 20, 2020

Listening to the whispers of disembodied voices was not something I planned on falling asleep to. The voices, reminiscent of parseltongue from the Harry Potter book series, caused me to open my eyes...

Contributed.

Changing the tune: Iowa City bands transition to virtual music production

Megan Conroy, Arts Reporter October 6, 2020

On a bitter chill night in February, the warm air of Gabe’s invited attendees to take refuge inside its walls. Concertgoers meandered upstairs as a local band, the Megababes, played its set. Soon...

Hancher Auditorium is seen in Iowa City on Sunday, September 20th, 2020.

Hancher looks ahead while grappling with unknown

Madison Lotenschtein, Arts Editor September 22, 2020

It’s a normal Friday evening at Hancher Auditorium, where University of Iowa marketing student Paris Sissel works as a house manager. The front-of-house staff arrives 45 minutes before the doors...

Photo illustration by Megan Conroy.

Skating through the summer: the return of roller skating during COVID-19

Megan Conroy, Arts Reporter September 8, 2020

Sunshine poured onto the pavement as Ellie Zupancic whirred past skateboarders on her slightly faded, white roller skates. She dropped into the graffiti-laden concrete bowl of the Iowa City Skatepark,...

The Voxman Building is seen on July 8, 2018.

Online performances increases accessibility, pose new challenges for fine arts

Jenna Post, Arts Reporter September 2, 2020

This fall, stages have been swapped for computer screens. The performing arts at the University of Iowa have taken a particularly hard hit over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. As students...

The English-Philosophy Building is seen on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020.

UI Nonfiction Writing Program sees changes going into fall semester

Madison Lotenschtein and Josie Fischels August 26, 2020

Amid a summer of protests and societal push for change, the University of Iowa’s Nonfiction Writing Program will see both internal and external shifts in the near future, starting immediately this...

Contributed - DJ Paimon Alipour at the Union Bar

121 E. College St.: Union Bar and its earlier iterations were home to many Hawkeye nightlife memories

Alexandra Skores, News Editor May 11, 2020

Ten-cent cold, foamy beer specials, hit tunes spun by nighttime DJs, and a slick glass dance floor illuminated by kaleidoscopic colored lights — since the late 1970s, 121 E. College St. has been...

Contributed

COVID-19 pandemic forces UI pianists to adjust to new dynamic

Madison Lotenschtein, Arts Editor April 21, 2020

When Gustavo do Carmo heard that the University of Iowa decided to continue instruction online, he began to record himself playing English, Italian, and German songs, including opera arias and musical...

Various sneakers are seen at Vice in Iowa City on Thursday, March 5, 2020.

The stories behind the shoelace: Sneakerhead culture and its economic rise in Iowa City

Sarah Stortz, Senior Reporter March 12, 2020

Slipping on a pair of Air Force Ones Mid Tops, Elliott Martin’s white sneakers serve a deeper purpose for him than just protecting his feet — they’re a documentation of his travels. The University...

Midwestern creators push for a more nuanced definition of Midwestern art and detail

Midwestern creators push for a more nuanced definition of Midwestern art and detail

Addie Bushnell, Arts Reporter March 5, 2020

The Midwest: red barns, fields of corn, and gravel roads winding through small, rural towns. Renowned artists like painter Grant Wood and songwriter John Prine have found inspiration in the rolling farmland...