Free Week returns to Iowa City from February 16-22, 2026! An expansive and sprawling celebration of the arts here in our town, with performances, workshops, screenings, and more, free for all! Here are our day-by-day highlights.
Tom Arnold hosted a show at The Englert Theatre on February 6th. Though Tom Arnold is an undoubtedly adept comedian, I found myself at odds with his material.
KRUI’s Logan Melia talks with Sierra Hull ahead of her stop at The Englert Theatre on February 12th with The Milk Carton Kids.
There were many tours in 2025, but one stood out. On a weekend that housed five shows at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Oasis Live ’25 was the standout of the weekend, and of a lifetime.
Portland indie-pop duo Joseph made their way to The Englert Theatre as they tour their new record “Closer to Happy”
KRUI’s Logan Melia chats with Jaret Reddick, frontman of Bowling for Soup. Jaret talks about Warped Tour’s return, diving into setlist creation, and their biggest headlining gig ever at Wembley Arena.
In this companion piece to Siya Mali’s “MERGE:Homeland to Heartland” KRUI Radio show, we sit down and chat with Anthony Odele. Odele is the founder of Ovolv3, an electronics resale company headquartered in Iowa City. (Image via MERGE Innovation Space)
Image via MERGE Innovation Space.
How can a major corporation engage with a key segment on Twitter? Image via BVWeb Designs
Danez Smith guides festival-goers through the things that hold their creative minds captive.
Photo VIA: MythosLife (Twitter).
Chuck Peters & Janet Hilary shared their thoughts on the future of empowerment within early education. Image via St. George’s School
Read the second installment of The Media Court here! (Image via: Media Education Center)
This column will take a look at various industry players currently operating within the shifting media landscape of our country and how these major corporations interface with major media platforms. Image via Media Education Centre.
Nick Scappaticci, a Rhode Island School of Design alumnus and current CEO of Tellart, began his “Unexpected Futures” presentation by posing rhetorical questions to the audience that invited us to imagine our future means of engaging with domestic spaces, healthcare, government, and the environment. This proved to be something of a challenge. I wasn’t sure if the ideas that came to my mind were actually my own or just what I’ve seen in books, television shows, and movies. Nothing but vague images of automation that centered around the seamless integration of human beings with our technology. Nanobots, driverless cars, and … Continued
Carrying on my exploration of local caffeine hubs, I decided to take a trip over to 345 S. Dubuque and visit Fair Grounds Coffeehouse. What struck me most about the establishment upon entering was how much it had going on simultaneously. After making just a cursory glance, I was swimming in sensory overload. Two televisions were streaming classic films above the main seating area. Blues guitar beat out from speakers that I couldn’t quite locate. An array of potted plants in various stages of disrepair lined the bank of windows behind tables to my right. Two separate ventilation systems bulged … Continued
This month I traveled into the belly of our town’s burgeoning coffeehouse scene by way of Cortado—a newcomer to the 52240 zip code located on 26 South Clinton Street between late-night Iowa City staples The Airliner and Pancheros. After its grand opening on January 23rd of this year, the café has quickly developed a reputation for hot drinks and quality baked goods. Looking at the menu posted outside the establishment, potential customers can find almost any type of caffeinated beverage imaginable. Edible offerings appear subject to change; however, an abundance of variety is consistent across these listings as well. Upon … Continued
Hey all, I am a third-year English and Creative Writing major who is also pursuing a Media Entrepreneurialism certificate at the University of Iowa. This semester I’m going to be roaming around Iowa City in search of interesting coffee shops, restaurants, study spaces, liquor stores, and snack vendors. Hailing from Chicago (yes the ACTUAL city, not the suburbs), my standards will start high. Being a college student, my budget will be low. How might these conflicting factors resolve themselves? Over the next fifteen weeks, one young man’s mind, stomach, and wallet will be put to the test in order to answer … Continued
