April 4, 2017
Mary Sellers, left, is the new national president of United Way. Elisabeth Buck, right, will succeed Sellers as head of the United Way of Central Iowa.
THIS JUST IN: SELLERS TO LEAD U.S. UNITED WAY
  
After more than five years as president of United Way of Central Iowa, Mary Sellers has been appointed United Way Worldwide's U.S. president. Beginning in mid-May, she will lead the strategic direction for United Way across the United States, a network of over 1,200 local United Way organizations. Sellers will continue to live in Des Moines.
 
Elisabeth Buck will succeed Sellers as president of United Way of Central Iowa. She currently serves as chief community impact officer.
 
"Mary has been leading one of the most successful United Ways in the country. She's ahead of the curve on donor engagement and has built bridges across the community," Brian A. Gallagher, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide, said this morning in a prepared statement. 
 
Describing Sellers as "an incredible asset for our community," local United Way board chair Chris Littlefield noted: "The fact that United Way Worldwide has selected their U.S. president from Des Moines is something we can all take pride in. And thankfully we will not be losing her presence here in Central Iowa." 
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The day-brightening kale salad at Scenic Route Bakery.
LUNCH OF THE MONTH: SCENIC ROUTE BAKERY
  
By Wini Moranville

That stretch of cloudy, drizzly days last week had me craving some brightness, and since the weather was clearly not going to cooperate, I opted for a more surefire way to lift my spirits: lunch at the Scenic Route Bakery in the East Village.
  
Is there a lunch spot in this town with more windows? Floor-to-ceiling panels sparkle along East Locust and East Fourth streets. If all that natural light -- plus the playful displays of vintage kitchen gadgets -- doesn't help lift your spirit, nothing will.
  
I opted for a kale salad, and I loved everything about what came to the plate. The bite-size kale leaves glistened with a coating of a sprightly red-wine vinaigrette, and I especially appreciated the way every ingredient came in judicious amounts tossed throughout the salad: small slivers of roasted peppers here and hearty garbanzo beans there, with a delicate scattering of sunflower seeds dotting the leaves. The neatest trick of all: As I forked into the salad, the crumbles of goat cheese -- creamier and with a more subtle tang than the feta that a lesser chef might have used -- softened and melded onto the kale leaves. Suddenly, rough, sturdy (and yes, sometime joyless) kale became luscious wonder.
  
On an earlier visit, I sampled the orange-peanut salad. Though its mix of romaine, cucumber, mandarin oranges, lo mien noodles and peanut dressing was a bit more predictable than my kale delight, this salad, too, showed the kitchen's passion for enlivening the workaday lunch.
  
Scenic Route Bakery is at 350 E. Locust St.; 515-288-0004; scenicroutebakerydsm.com.

Wini Moranville covers food and dining for dsm . Follow her at All Things Food - DSM Wini Moranville. 
Enter the complicated life of Alison Bechdel at three stages in "Fun Home," the hit musical opening tonight.
'FUN HOME' TONIGHT; READ OUR REVIEW TOMORROW
  
The national traveling production of Tony-winning "Fun Home" opens tonight (through Sunday) at the Des Moines Civic Center, with compelling music and a complex story. Based on Alison Bechdel's best-selling graphic memoir, the show introduces Alison at three different ages as she explores and unravels the many mysteries of her childhood, including her father's sexuality as well as her own.
 
If you have tickets or an interest in the show, check with us tomorrow. dsm theater critic Michael Morain will review tonight's opening performance and we'll share his insights tomorrow morning on our Facebook page and our website, dsmMagazine.com.
West Des Moines Mayor Steve Gaer speaks to an assemby at groundbreaking ceremonies Monday for The Foundry.
THE FOUNDRY TO OPEN IN VALLEY JUNCTION 
  
A onetime railroad car repair barn, built in Valley Junction in 1899, is on track to become The Foundry, a social destination focused on food and spirits.
 
We attended the groundbreaking ceremonies yesterday to learn more about the concept, which will roll out over the course of the next six to 12 months. The Foundry will include a nonprofit commissary kitchen for local food truck operators and caterers, a public Food & Beverage Hall and an on-site distillery, Foundry Distilling.
 
The Hall will serve as the nucleus of The Foundry, providing a unique opportunity to experience a variety of food truck menus and an assortment of craft beers and cocktails, as well as live entertainment, according to Jorgen Jensen of Rock Island Development Co. The concept blends a contemporary flair with a nod to traditional European beer halls, Jensen explained.
 
The Justice League of Food -- a nonprofit serving the homeless and the hungry by offering skills training and job placement services -- will operate The Kitchen at The Foundry.  
 
"The Kitchen is the heart of The Foundry, carrying out the mission of the Justice League of Food," founder Nick Kuhn said. "If The Kitchen is the heart of The Foundry, The Hall will be its soul, bringing together food, beer and conversations."
 
Foundry Distilling Co. will occupy the east end of the building, featuring a variety of distilled spirits as well as retail and event space. "We are thrilled to unveil this entirely new concept to Des Moines," said distillery owner Scott Bush.
 
An interesting detail: Foundry Distilling Co. will offer whiskey enthusiasts an opportunity to make barrels of whiskey using their own recipe. Reservations can already be made here
Popular band Abby Normal will rock Cowles Commons on June 2.
'COMMONS OFF THE CLOCK' BANDS ANNOUNCED
  
Downtown Des Moines is getting the biggest happy hour in the metro -- Commons Off the Clock,  starting May 19 -- bringing bands, brews and bites to Cowles Commons on select Fridays this summer. Des Moines Performing Arts, which manages Cowles Commons, wants this new event to offer a week-ending opportunity for folks to unwind and have fun.
 
Inspired by the tradition of "Seniom Sed," which brought people together to launch weekends in the 1980s and '90s, Commons Off the Clock will feature food trucks, beers and live music. Admission is free; you'll just need to bring a few bucks to enjoy the food and drinks.
 
The musical lineup is scheduled to include:
May 19: Boogie Wonderland
June 2: Abby Normal
June 23: The Flying Marsupials
July 7: Randy Burk & the Prisoners
July 21: The Punching Pandas
Aug. 4: Brazilian 2wins
Aug. 25: Tony Valdez Large Band
Sept. 8: Bob Dorr & the Blue Band
Sept. 22: Final Mix

The kickoff event on May 19 will start at 11 a.m. and run until 7:30 p.m. The event will move to its regular time, 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., on select Fridays through Oct. 13.
The band MGMT is one of the headliners at 80/35 this year. Photo: Amanda Bullick Photography
50 ACTS SLATED FOR 10TH ANNUAL 80/35
  
Math nerds might be tempted to refer to the 80/35 music festival as the 2.2857 music festival. But whatever the number, organizers have calculated the lineup for this year's event, and it is prime.

This is the 10th year of the 80/35 event, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 7 and 8, at downtown's Western Gateway Park. Nearly 50 acts will perform, including headliners the Shins and MGMT.

The 2017 festival also features the transcendental folk of Elephant Revival, Denver funk outfit the Motet, Nashville garage-punks Diarrhea Planet, hardcore punk band Modern Life is War, blues rock from Radio Moscow, Tropicalia psych-rockers Chicano Batman, jam funkersters Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and Minneapolis new wave group the Suburbs.

Early-bird two-day tickets ($55) and VIP passes ($160) are now available at midwestix.com. For more information, click here

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