Children 10 and under are FREE with a paid adult.

For most shows, gates open at 6 p.m., music starts at 7 p.m.

Parking
Free Parking is available after 6 p.m. at the parking meters on Walnut Street and Locust Street. City Hall parking lot is also available after 6 p.m. and is located on Robert D. Ray Drive between Locust Street and Grand Avenue, just one block North of the Amphitheater.

Show Schedule
5/26: Hairball
6/1: The Nadas
6/12: Jimmy Cliff
6/20: Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
7/1: BoDeans
7/5: Yonder Mountain String Band
7/12: Ingrid Michaelson
7/26: Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
8/12: Matisyahu
8/21: Andrew Bird

It's May - time for salads!

Speaking of fun feasting, our friends at Noodles & Company also tell me that May is National Salad Month, and they have some new concoctions to mark the occasion, including the spinach and fresh fruit salad below. It’s perfect for the greens popping up in my spouse’s garden and at local farmers’ markets as well as the strawberries coming in from California; when they’re no longer in reason, you can swap out other fresh fruit, such as chopped apple or mandarin orange slices.

I’ll be sharing more Noodles & Company salad recipes in the coming weeks, and not just because the friendly folks at the Valley West Mall location in nearby West Des Moines have invited me for a tasting. And not because it offers healthier options (with many entrees under 500 calories) in a family-friendly environment, although I love that, too. The company has hundreds of locations nationwide, but it bucks the faceless fast-food franchise feel with its commitment to the community. For example, on Wednesday, May 16, our local Noodles will donate 25 percent of all sales from 4 to 9 p.m. to the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity. The restaurant has hosted similar benefits for The Pet Project Midwest and Dowling High School. It’s the official restaurant sponsor for this year’s RAGBRAI, the Des Moines Register’s Great Bicycle Race Across Iowa.

Great food, great causes and a better community – what’s not to love about that?

Spinach and fruit salad (recipe for the home chef)
Serves 4 regular salads or 6-8 small sides

• 12-oz. bag of spinach
• ¼  cup red onion, sliced thinly
• 1¼  cups croutons
• ¾ cup of your favorite balsamic vinaigrette
• 4 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• ½ cup pecans, chopped
• ½ cup blue cheese
• 1½ cups strawberries, cut into bite-sized pieces, or other fresh fruit
• Balsamic glaze – see recipe below

Prepare the glaze by mixing ½ cup balsamic vinegar and 3 tablespoons honey in a sauce pan. If you would like it sweeter, simply add more honey. Bring glaze to a boil, then simmer whisking regularly until it thickens slightly and becomes syrupy, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely before placing over top of salad.

To assemble the salad, mix the spinach, croutons, onions and balsamic vinaigrette in a large bowl. Place the ingredients on top of the salad in the following order: bacon, pecans, blue cheese and strawberries/other fruit. Drizzle the top of the salad with the balsamic glaze, to taste.

• May 14: Two-Wheel Caucus, 7-8 a.m. Meet at 39th Street and Grand Avenue, as politicians from central Iowa will ride with commuters downtown. Ride ends at Congressman Leonard Boswell’s office, 300 E. Locust St.

• May 16: Join cyclists nationwide in a silent, slow-paced Ride of Silence (max of 10 mph) to honor those killed or injured while cycling. 6:30-7:45 p.m., State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust St.

• May 18: Ten-year anniversary of Bike to Work Day. Celebrate between 4:30 and 8 p.m. at Gray’s Lake with music sponsored by Des Moines Park and Recreation and Jasper Winery.

• May 20: Bike to Art, 2-4 p.m. Meet at 13th Street and Grand Avenue on the east side of the Pappajohn Sculpture Park for a bike tour of downtown architecture and art. Recommended donation: $10 per person, $20 family.

• May 20: Community Bike Picnic at Woody’s Smoke Shack, 2511 Cottage Grove Ave. From 4 to 7 p.m., enjoy barbecue with fellow cyclists. Bring a side dish and something to drink. The Des Moines Bicycle Collective will recognize the Commuter and Advocate of the Year along with all volunteers.

• May 28: Metro Trail Ride, 1-5 p.m. Celebrate the central Iowa trail system at a gathering at Birdland Park.

The Downtown Farmers’ Market opens up for the season this Saturday and has grown to span nine city blocks in the Historic Court District in Downtown Des Moines. It is held every Saturday, rain or shine and even holidays, from May 5 – October 27 from 7 a.m. – 12 p.m.

The Downtown Farmers’ Market, recently named one of America’s Best Farmers Markets by Country Living magazine, supports local producers from across Iowa, offering seasonal fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, cheese,  flowers, plants, breads and so much more. The Market also offers specialty and artisan food, provides a variety of entertainment and local art. Hope you can make it out this weekend!

**Check out our square downtown on Court Avenue in front of Dos Rios restaurant.

Saturdays in 2012:
May 5 – Fiesta Latina
May 19 – Gardening & Conservation
June 2 – Life in the Ice Age
June 16 – Healthy Living
June 30 – Science
July 14 – When I Grow Up
July 28 – Zoolympics
August 11 – Safari Splash
August 25 – Explorer

This free art museum contains an impressive permanent collection as well as ever-changing traveling exhibitions. Currently, it has Jackson Pollock’s Mural on loan from the University of Iowa Museum of Art. This is definitely something you won’t want to miss!

Mural, Jackson Pollock (April 5 - July 15)

On top of all the wonderful paintings and sculptures that you’d expect, they also have an extensive events calendar. A few upcoming events that I’m looking forward to include:

April 21: Yoga + Pollock Gallery Talk

April 22: Earth Day @ the Pappajohn Sculpture Park

April 26: Art Crazy

May 5: Kentucky Derby Party

June 1: Talk + Live Music “The Coming of Rock & Roll”

June 8: Free flicks

In my mind it is never too early to start thinking about the Iowa State Fair, so it is fitting that the 2012 Grandstand act tickets go on sale this Saturday, April 14.

Grandstand line-up:

Thursday, August 9: TobyMac with special guests Tenth Avenue North and Jamie Grace
Friday, August 10: Happy Together Tour 2012 starring The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, The Monkees lead singer Micky Dolenz, Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, The Grass Roots & The Buckinghams
Saturday, August 11: Larry the Cable Guy with special guest Reno Collier
Sunday, August 12: An Evening with Miranda Lambert
Monday, August: 13: Deery Brothers Summer series for late models
Tuesday, August 14: The Band Perry with special guest Easton Corbin
Wednesday, August 15: Grand Outlaw National Tractor and Truck Pull
Thursday, August 16: An Evening with Big Time Rush
Friday, August 17: Hank Williams Jr. “Taking Back the Country Tour” with special guest George Thorogood and the Destroyers
Saturday, August 18: Demolition Derby (at 11:30 AM), Journey with Pat Benatar and Loverboy (at 8 PM)
Sunday, August 19: Rascal Flatts with Little Big Town, Eli Young Band and Edens Edge

How to get tickets:

Tickets for all concerts and events go on sale April 14 at 10 a.m. through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1.800.745.3000. All concert seats are reserved, all track events are general admission. The Iowa State Fair Ticket Office will open July 9 for walk-up orders only (assuming tickets remain).

The countdown is on until the greatest state fair around!