Soil Compilation

Music
Riot Fest 2025 Preview

Douglass Park will once again be hosting Riot Fest from September 19-21. The largest independent festival in the US, Riot Fest has been a haven for diverse music, great food, and a unique community that can only be cultivated by lineups including anyone from The Beach Boys to “Weird Al” Yankovic.

Sports
Alone at the Top

As the final seconds drained away at Kinnick Stadium, Kirk Ferentz was doused in orange Gatorade and handed his place in history. With win No. 206, Ferentz passed Woody Hayes to become the winningest coach in Big Ten history, his understated Midwestern legacy built less on titles than on the thousands of players who call him their coach.

Sports
Trapped in the Box

The Hawkeyes fell three points short in Ames, trapped in the same box they’ve always played in. Cautious routes and a passing game that refuses to breathe. Even glimpses of promise, like Gronowski’s 22-yard completion, couldn’t break them free from their rectangle of comfort.

Sports
Iowa Falls to Iowa State 16-13 in Annual CyHawk Series Matchup

The Hawkeyes came up just short in Ames, falling 16-13 to No. 16 Iowa State in a rivalry game that slipped away in the final minutes. Despite a strong defensive showing and improved play from QB Mark Gronowski, Iowa’s offense couldn’t find enough answers as the Cyclones snapped the Hawkeyes’ six-game win streak at Jack Trice Stadium.

Music
Iowa City Songwriters Festival Preview

The Englert Theatre will host the inaugural Iowa City Songwriters Festival, headlined by Jeff Tweedy and Joy Oladokun, this weekend from September 4-6. Sprawling across many of Iowa City’s favorite venues, this town wide event is bound to be memorable.

When it comes to college life, it seems that everyone has some sort of pearl of wisdom to offer about what things are going to be like. When you’re a freshman you hear things like “you meet the best friends of your life” or “college is the best years of your life”. I don’t know about anyone else, but no one told me this stuff takes time. So I gathered a few of the things that I think these people left out about growing up, moving out, and what it’s like being in college. One thing that everyone looks forward … Continued

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Esteban and Martha may seem like ordinary people to everyone around them, but when things aren’t going so well, they do the only thing they can think of. To others, it may seem like a terrible idea that will only end badly. To them, it seems like a chance that will lead to a lifetime of happiness. Image via: www.evokefoods.com

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Iowa City Observations is a continuing column in which I venture out into the streets of Iowa City and ask people to inspire me, as well as make probably irrelevant observations about Iowa City itself.

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