Go Fourth and Celebrate This Weekend!

The Yankee Doodle Pops concert starts early this year on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. on the west side of the Iowa State Capitol building.

This event is free to the public and will open with the Metro Arts’ Jazz in July featuring Soya Vista starting at 6:45 p.m. This is one of the many events planned for the holiday weekend.

Des Moines is not lacking in events this weekend at its attempt to celebrate the 4th of July celebration! Fireworks, concerts and parades can be found throughout Des Moines and the surrounding areas!

There’s nothing better than a summer day filled with family activities for the ultimate 4th of July celebration! Where do you like to go?

Melissa Etheridge at the Civic Center!

Melissa Etheridge is bringing her Fearless Love Tour to the Civic Center in Des Moines, August 14, 2010!

She has survived cancer and is one of the greatest female rock icons. Melissa Etheridge is a human rights activist, and that doesn’t begin to describe her.

Her hits— “Bring Me Some Water,” “Ain’t It Heavy,” “I’m the Only One,” “Come to My Window,” “I Want to Come Over,” “Angels Would Fall,” “I Run for Life” and “I Need to Wake Up” among them—have rewarded her with five Platinum albums, a pair of Grammys®, an Oscar®, an ASCAP Songwriter of the Year honor and the ASCAP Founders Award.

Buy Tickets to Fearless Love Tour!

Going on Vacation Security Check List

As Summer approaches, many of you will be going on vacation and we would like to take this opportunity to provide you with a check list to keep in mind before leaving home.

• Inform the manager or a trusted neighbor of your departure and return date and leave a telephone number where you can be reached in the event of an emergency.

• The Ankeny Police Department offers a vacation notification form on the city website which allows you to notify police that your home will be unoccupied.

• Cancel all deliveries, including mail, or have your neighbor pick up your newspaper and mail.

• Arrange for lawn care or snow removal in your absence to help make your house appear occupied.

• Use timers that activate lights and radios to give the impression that someone is home.

• Store valuables in a safety deposit box.

• Before leaving, check that all doors and windows are secured.

• Do not indicate your vacation intentions on social networking sites.

We hope you will find it helpful to make a vacation checklist that’s designed to safeguard your home and possessions during your absence.

Stay safe!

Tour Ankeny Landscapes

Ankeny Landscapes

Ankeny Press Release:

The City of Ankeny, in partnership with Prairie Landscapes, will be offering four tours of local native and prairie projects. These tours will highlight the City’s conservation design practices in parks and public areas. All tours are free and are limited to 13 participants.

The dates are as follows:

• Tuesday May 25 @ 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday June 30 @ 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday July 27 @ 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday September 14 @ 5:30 p.m.

The tours will offer participants an up close look at native and prairie plantings in different stages of bloom. All tours will depart from the Parks & Recreation office at 210 South Ankeny Blvd.

To sign up, please email Jacky Kruse or call 963-3570. Participants may sign up for one or more tours. All tours will last approximately 2 hours.

Contact:
Ankeny Parks & Recreation
515.963.3570
jkruse@ankenyiowa.gov

Frontier Airlines Offers New Destinations

Frontier Airlines, Inc. is a low-cost airline headquartered in Denver, Colorado.  The carrier operates flights throughout the United States, Mexico, and Canada.  Frontier is a major low-cost airline with two thirds of its US destinations west of the Mississippi River.

Frontier Airlines is Denver’s second largest carrier and is very popular among travelers because of the airline’s discounted fares; nonstop service; comfortable seats; on-board entertainment; great destinations; and an outstanding safety record.

Frontier Airlines recently announced it is adding a third daily frequency to New York-LaGuardia on April 19th and a fifth daily frequency to Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; and Seattle/Tacoma on May 14th for the peak summer travel period.  This is in addition to its seven new markets and continued service out of Des Moines, IA.

Find out which new destinations have been added to the nonstop service.

The Hollywood Sign in Need of Saving?

If you have ever been to Hollywood, then you know that the Hollywood sign is an image that seems to define the city with a “you’ve arrived” feeling.

The Hollywood sign attracts thousands of tourists each year that either want to take a picture or hike the massive hill for a serene look at the LA basin.

Unfortunately, USA Today is reporting that the sign is in danger of being torn down by developers who want to use the prime real estate for more mansions. Groups are reportedly rallying behind the cause to save the sign and are trying to raise money to buy the land on which the famous sign rests.

Read the article from USA TODAY.

Welcome to Metro Arts Alliance!

Metro Arts strives to connect the community to the local arts through programming, communication and support of artists and arts organizations. Whether you are looking for an artist to book for your event, or a theatrical production to attend, Metro Arts has what you are looking for. Check out what’s happening around Des Moines under the Calendar section and attend an event today!

Des Moines artist and actor Gene Hamilton explores an aspect of his past for a new body of paintings titled “Vent Figure Fun” at Chicago’s Packer Schopf Gallery.

Gene Hamilton presents cartooning workshops…

Is there an artist lover in you?

Activities abound for Ankeny’s active older adults

Contact:
Leanne Clemenson
Parks & Recreation
515.963.3573
lclemenson@ankenyiowa.gov

Ankeny’s active seniors will have several opportunities this winter to get out of the house, socialize with friends, take in some theater or improve their health with the many activities offered from the Parks & Recreation Department.

What activities interest you? Let them know.