Enjoy Live After Five Friday evenings during July and August in Central Park, 102 West Fourth St., Ottumwa, call 641-682-7541.

I have not always been diligent about checking the list to make sure we make all the events based on timing – for example, I found out about the Gothic Days event, one of my first entries, approximately twenty-eight minutes before it closed, and only because I overheard it on the radio during one of the brief periods I didn’t have XM on.

Since Mrs.JB* and LittleJB* (sigh – no longer BabyJB*) are down by Central Park almost daily, she had seen the sign and kept telling me of the Live After Five, even attending it once themselves – the same day they attended Lunch in the Park, actually. My schedule just did not line itself up with me being able to.

Finally, the weekend of Labor Day, I left work a bit earlier than normal (yay!) to attend the last Live After Five. Driving towards the park on Fourth Street, it seemed a little empty on the road – too many parking spots available.

As I drove past the Park, it was confirmed – the place was empty. Totally empty. Apparently “Friday evenings during July and August” is null and void when the Friday is the Friday of Labor Day weekend.

So, we turn to Mrs.JB* for her brief recollection of the one she went to -

There was only a handful of people in attendance, but we were there right at five. The band (picture accompanying) was playing bluegrass/folk music. Kids were dancing and running about and our son joined right in, though he knew none of them. Several older couples had picnic blankets out and were lounging to the music. Just a peaceful family friendly event – pretty much what I would expect it to be.

And there you go.

Summary:
As mom always taught, it is best to not wait til the last minute.

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Visit Farmers Market in the Market Street parking lot, Ottumwa, Wednesdays, 4:00 pm – 6:30 pm and Saturdays, 7:30 am – 10:30 am throughout the summer.

I am not ashamed to admit it, but I like markets.  I spent a bit of time in Europe, and visiting the markets on Saturday morning was always a great thing to do – so much activity, such a variety of stuff, so many people to see.

Probably far more than markets, though, I enjoy being able to sleep in when life is wearing down (particularly late nights at work).  I think it is a safe bet to say I like sleeping in during those weekend days a hell of a lot more than I like markets.

Anyway, near the end of August, I decided to try my hand at the Farmers Market.  Knowing that a Wednesday night would almost certainly never happen, since I seldomly leave work before 7 pm, I planned to attend a Saturday morning event.

On this particular Saturday, I roused at my cutomary early time to give my son his warm milk and breakfast, then promptly dozed back off on the couch to the sounds of PBS cartoons.  Somewhere around 8:30, I woke up for real and realized I was running late.  By the time I left the house, it was 9:15, and the short drive over to Market Street revealed what I figured – Farmers get started early.  And people in a small town, mostly from families of farmers, do not wait for their Farmers Market fruits and veggies.

As I arrived, there were two tents standing – and neither had much remaining.  One, in fact, was packing up his squash.  The other had tomatoes and corn art left.  I thanked for them for their courtesy and went home.

Summary
So – lesson learned, for aspiring fresh fruit and vegetable Ottumwans (I have no idea what the proper noun is here – someone share if they know) – get there early!

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Young men!  There’s a place you can go!

Work out at the YMCA, 611 N. Hancock, swim , exercise, call for more information.

Look, I have never been much of a work out guy, as anyone who knows me can attest to.  I’ll play sports for fun and competitiveness, but going to a gym to do little more than lift weights or ride a bike in place holds little appeal to me.

So joining the YMCA did not have a lot of appeal to me personally.  However, with a four year old and a pregnant wife, there was something in it for the family – time to start enjoying Y Leagues, picture packages every few months, and practice schedules galore.

And we were right in making that decision.

I am still not a work out guy, but the Y has been good for the family, and though the daycare hours could improve slightly (and word is they will), everyone has enjoyed it – be it six months straight of swim lessons, tumbling, indoor and outdoor soccer, and general run-and-scream-obics, or swimming with the grandmas, this has been one of the best things in Ottumwa for us as a family.

Summary
Loved.  Plus, the front of the building has an interesting architecture, to say the least.

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Driving home from work one evening (okay, more likely late at night), I noticed a promotion on the Bridgeview Center board touting the upcoming production by The Ottumwa Community Children’s Playhouse (whew, say that seven times fast) of “The Pied Piper”.  Since not much else was going on that weekend, plans were made.

I will not pretend to be any sort of artistic critic, and I certainly wouldn’t plan on being overly snarky about kids (most of the time… at least intentionally).

That said, the play was:

• Great in the make-up, costume, and scenery departments (see below)
• Featured a LOT of extras (though being an open community theater group, I am sure they did not turn anyone away)
• Heavily attended by family, which was a shame – I would expect it to be better supported by the community.  Maybe it was at other showings, since we did not attend opening night.
• A bit heavy on the singing, to me, though most all the singers performed admirably
• Seemed to over-rely on a few performers (caveat: I am sure that is because the Director thought there were a few key people they could rely on)
• Cute, and captivated most of the children in attendance.    I certainly had no complaints at the end of the night.

Despite being scared at the beginning, my son was quite excited to get his picture taken after the show in the receiving line.

Summary
It was a good time and definitely a nice distraction from the typical weekend in small-town Iowa.  The Ottumwa Community Children’s Playhouse does two shows a year, from what I overheard, so this would be something we’ll watch for later.

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Get your mind out of the gutter – the Red Garter Parlor closed down a long time ago.

Watch the fireworks in Ottumwa Park on the 4th of July, HWY 34 & 63.

It was bloody miserable out – 93 degrees, according to the notes I have, with a humidity in the 80s.  Sticky, hot, damp from the floods and previous rains… but the 4th of July is a tradition, and my wife’s favorite holiday.  So trek out to the park we did.

Joining us were probably at least another thousand-plus people, all wanting the best view of the fireworks from the Ottumwa lakes.  With parking jammed tight, we were somehow lucky enough to get a parking spot with a clear shot of the launch point right in front of us, allowing for minimal walking.

After that, it was just a matter of waiting for it to get dark enough.  After a number of test fires, the show began.

Summary
Hey, it is the Fourth.  it was everything the kid in me wants, and organized enough by the local police – hat tip to them – to satisfy the need for the adult in me to not get road rage.

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Attend Ottumwa Pro-Balloon Races held in June of each year

After being told for several months how big a deal the annual pro balloon races were, I was excited for the big weekend to arrive.  The fact that it came on the heels of flood watch only served to buoy many people’s spirits.

Note: If your wanderlust for balloon racing is significantly piqued, the official Ottumwa Pro Balloon Race website can be found here.

Unfortunately, weather did not entirely cooperate (once again), which seems to have become a recurring theme for the balloon races.  The dusk glows over the Ottumwa lakes, which are a highly anticipated event due to the beauty of the balloons lit up and reflecting off the water, had to be canceled due to winds.

However, the other precursor events – beer garden, carnival, and fireworks – went off without a hitch.  We have a giant white tiger throw rug to show for it, courtesy of my son winging a ring on the top of a bottle toss.

The big event came to the harsh sound of a 5 am alarm clock – on a Saturday, no less! – for the kick off pancake breakfast.  When we arrived shortly before 6 am, there were no more than fifty people at the breakfast.  Also, four year old boys (and their thirty-one year old fathers) find 6 am to be a very early to be out of bed, even for delicious homemade pancakes and sausage.

The ballooneers (balloon pilots?  balloon folk?) were gathered, but seemed concerned.  Little meetings were huddled about, with groups meeting with official-looking people.  Shortly after the scheduled 6 am take-off, it was announced  that the winds would necessitate a move of the launch point.  Apparently, the path of the winds would leave  the competitors only one stopping point – which was pretty much under water due to the flooding.

With that, a new launch point was announced and the competitors’ trucks took off like popped balloons (see what I did there?)  Since I still do not know my way around, we just enjoyed some more pancakes and sausage before heading home.

Along the way, we saw some of the balloons in the sky and started chasing them for a half hour or so.  It was a bit of a disappointment to not see the full scale launch, but something was better than nothing.

Summary
A fun time which, if things had all gone according to plan, could have been a great time.

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Take your picture in front of the American Gothic House, one of the world’s most recognized images made famous by Iowa artist Grant Wood.

It is part of an American icon, but probably three-quarters of the country does not know it actually exists.  The house portrayed in Grant Wood’s American Gothic is located in southeast Iowa, in a town of less than one thousand people (as of the millennial census), Eldon.

Located just off the main road through town, the site features both the house itself and a cultural center, highlighting the story of the painting – among other facts:

•    The couple was not married, contrary to popular opinion
•    The woman was the sister of the artist; the man, his dentist
•    The pitchfork shape is repeated throughout the painting – most prominently as the pitchfork obviously, but then again in the overalls, the male’s face, and the window frame.
•    The two never actually stood together, they were posed and painted separately

Additionally, the center includes hundreds of parodies of the painting, ranging from advertising to political.  During my visit, it was said it may be second only to Edvard Munch’s The Scream.

The cultural center and visitor’s shop is not the reason people visit, though, it is to get their picture taken.  The center has replica dresses and overall/suitcoats to stage the photos available to all.  During our visit (mid-July), unfortunately, the weather was just too hot to take the picture.

Summary
It is a nice stop along the road if you are in the area – say, for Gothic Days – or passing by, but it is a half hour stop at most.  Art students, cultural historians, and Grant Wood devotees may find it essential; the rest of us will just goof off for the photo.

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