There’s no doubt that the downtown districts in many Iowa cities have seen better days. National retailers have opened cookie-cutter stores on the outskirts of towns, forcing local businesses to go under. Downtown areas once bustling with activity are now filled with dilapidated buildings and empty storefronts.
Fortunately, Muscatine seems to an exception, as a number of well-kept shops, charming boutiques, and local restaurants line the city streets. One of the highlights of the downtown area is the Button Factory Woodfire Grille, an upscale casual restaurant that combines first-rate food with great service and spectacular atmosphere.
The amateur and minor league sports teams in Iowa are a great source for entertainment year-round. Smaller cities like Burlington and Clinton sport professional baseball, while larger communities such as Davenport and Des Moines offer arena football, soccer, and more.
Sioux City is home to the Musketeers, one of twelve teams in the USHL junior hockey league. With over 30 home games this year at the Tyson Event Center, there are plenty of opportunities to catch an exciting game. The atmosphere is great, seating is plush, and the PA, music and occasional lighting effects complement the action well.
Best of all, the price is right: for under $15, you can get a front-row view of the action; or, you may opt to save a few bucks and choose seats in the third row or higher.
It can sometimes be difficult for a locally-owned pizza place to differentiate itself from the chain-dominated competition. Fortunately, that is not the case with Tomaso’s Pizza in Cedar Rapids, which is best-known for its deliciously unique “Detroit-style” deep dish crust.
Like traditional Chicago-style pizza, the cheese and toppings are placed first on the crust, with the sauce added last. The difference with the Detroit-style pizza is the absence of a “lip” for the crust. This allows the cheese to melt and caramelize along the edges of the pan, resulting in an excellent pizza unlike anything else in the area.
If you make a trip to Tomaso’s, expect superb pizza and a well-kept dining area but not a formal dining experience: after you place an order, you will be responsible for gathering white styrofoam plates, red plastic cups and metal forks for your pizza.
A few miles north of the community of Kalona, Iowa, sits Stringtown Grocery, a small but delightful store that sells fresh produce, baked goods, plus bulk groceries and spices.
When you walk in, you’ll see a few cakes and cookies for sale on the front shelf of this Amish-run store. Peruse the aisles and you will find bulk packages of everything ranging from flour to brown sugar to chocolate chips to pasta. There are no gimmicks here: prices are extremely reasonable and goods are packed in plastic bags with hand-written or hand-stamped labels.
The entire area has a certain charm to it: take a drive down the country roads near Kalona and you’re likely to see an Amish family working in the field or riding down the road in a horse-drawn carriage. And, make a point to stop by Stringtown Grocery, located just off Highway 1.
Onion rings, pizza, and the town’s only stoplight are highlights of the character-filled Checkerboard Restaurant in the charming town of Pleasantville, Iowa.
The atmosphere is memorable, as antique signs and tools fill the wall. A funtioning stoplight hangs from the ceiling where you wait to be seated. The newspaper-styled menus are fun to read before you place an order, and the waitstaff is usually at the top of its game.
Add top-notch food into the mix and you have all the traits of an absolutely fabulous restaurant. The hand-battered onion rings are worth the drive alone. If you’re in central Iowa, definitely make Checkerboard a destination: you won’t regret it.
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