Life

This 1943 military bicycle was purchased for Larry Hoffman by his his father in 1943. He sold the rare bike to Uncle Stan's Military Surplus were it is now on display after undergoing a frame off restoration by Bergerwerke Bicycle in Antigo, WI. Taken on Thursday, June 7, 2013. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

New again: World War II bicycle completely restored

“Everything is original, right down to the wooden pedals”

  MARION — Larry Hoffman will never forget his first bicycle. The year was 1948. A trip to Hebron, Neb., led to the purchase of a 1943 U.S. Army bicycle. “My dad bought it in a junkyard after World War II,” Hoffman says. While the U.S. Army had used bicycles before World War II, they [...]

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The Hill House in Cedar Rapids was built in 1938 on land that was once part of the Brucemore estate. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette)

Cedar Rapids’ Hill House

Grounds formerly part of Brucemore estate now family’s retreat

  The Hill’s yard rolls out before your eyes, unfurling like a lush green carpet into the far distance, finally ending at a “T”, at a long beige ribbon of a driveway. That driveway belongs to Brucemore, the 19th century Queen Anne mansion now on the National Register of Historic Places. The Hill yard’s, nearly [...]

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A sleeping porch in Brucemore in southeast Cedar Rapids on June 7, 2013. The porch was painted by Grant Wood in August of 1925, and cost $182 at the time. It is now valued at over 4 million dollars. The porch will be conserved this summer. (Kaitlyn Bernauer/Gazette-KCRG9)

Porch preservation

Conservation under way of three-dimensional fresco mural by Grant Wood at Brucemore

  CEDAR RAPIDS — At first glance, the concrete flowers, vines and leaves of the plaster mural wrapping around the walls of Brucemore’s sleeping porch are beautiful. Look closer. The mural is whimsical, too. Exotic birds and squirrels perch on several branches while a tiny mouse hides underneath a window. “I still find things I [...]

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The Iowa City Pride Parade turns onto Washington Street from Dubuque Street in front of a crowd gathered on the Ped Mall on Saturday, June 15, 2013. (Liz Martin/The Gazette-KCRG)

Gay rights celebrated at Pride Fest

Annual festival in Iowa City celebrates its 43rd year

  IOWA CITY — A few summer showers couldn’t dampen their pride. Rainbow umbrellas dotted downtown Iowa City, which quickly were replaced by rainbow flags as the sun began to shine. “To fight for the right to be yourself it’s important to show up,” said Jewell Amos, chair of Iowa City Pride. “Water is nothing [...]

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From the ground up: Soggy, rainy conditions are stressing plants

Knowing how to counter the side effects of drought as well as excess water important

Water extremes are starting to become the norm in Iowa. It is important to know what to do to counter the side effects of drought as well as excess water. Linn County Master Gardener Lisa Slattery fills you in on what to expect with all this moisture. Q: What are the effects of too much [...]

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Cedar Rapids, city of. Restaurants. The lunch crowd enjoys the fare at the Flame Room, 312 Third Avenue (3rd Ave.) SE, on the restaurant's penultimate day in downtown Cedar Rapids Wednesday. The owners will close the doors at close of business Friday (6-29). It's unknown if the business will open under a new ownership. June 27, 1990.

The Flame Room

Building near Guaranty Bank evolved into one of Cedar Rapids' fine dining restaurants

The door between the bank and the theater opened onto a food related business more often than anything else. As far back as 1918, 310 Third Ave. SE was Sleight’s Restaurant. W.L. Sleight and his son ran the restaurant for a little more than a year, but on April 1, 1919, patrons were given notice [...]

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Aqua Sarong Wrap w/Ombre $46.00Metallic fabrics for Spring/Summer 2013 for Living section. Model: Claire Caruso. Make up artist: Blakeney Kehler, Hair styling: Blakeney Kehler, Photo Assistant: Dawn Lively, Clothing: dressbarn,Cedar Rapids store. Taken at Allen's Orchard in Marion on Saturday, May 13, 2013. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

Summer fashion shines in metallics

Show off a summer glow with this trend

  Models weren’t just walking on metal runways at the spring fashion shows, they were wearing metal as well. Metallic fabrics create a space-aged futuristic look that can be out of this world. They time travel too with flapper-inspired looks made popular by the release of the film, “The Great Gatsby.” The dress pictured here combines the [...]

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safety village summer camp 2013 (Kelsey Kremer / Sourcemedia Group)

Kids learn safety lessons during annual camp

The "Safety Village" in Iowa City features hands-on presentations for youngsters

Pedal cars and ambulance tours are not a part of a normal summer camp experience – but are mainstays of the two-week long annual camp called Safety Village in Iowa City. Children ages 5, 6 and 7 get the opportunity to learn about safety through hands-on presentations, demonstrations by groups like local law enforcement, ambulance services and Mercy [...]

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Eighth-grade students Hirsche Henstrom (from left), Eva Linklater and Bernie Erb add sugar to plastic bags to make ice cream at North Central Junior High. Students learned the process of making a homemade version of the summer treat during Lindsey Downes’ Foundations of Science class. (Justin Torner / Freelance)

Sweet summer science

Make ice cream, no machine needed

NORTH LIBERTY — Summer and ice cream go together like peanut butter and jelly, or, well, ice cream and cones. To satisfy summer’s sweet tooth with a cool creamy cone (or bowl), head to the local ice cream shop, hit up the grocery freezer aisle or make your own. Sound complicated? It’s not. And you [...]

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Great Harvest Bread Co. to open in Cedar Rapids

Bakery to open in August near Lindale Mall

Great Harvest Bread Company will open its first bakery in Iowa this August in Cedar Rapids. Cedar Rapids residents Dion and Laurel Williams will own and operate the store, at 5070 Lindale Drive NE, across the street from Lindale Mall. Laurel Williams said the space will be about 2,500 square feet, most of which will [...]

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