Everything fabulous in Iowa: restaurants, spas, things to do, resorts and more!
Akwi Nji, a full-time Iowa artist and writer, recently launched a “nationwide visual and audio storytelling arts initiative to tell the true stories, inspired by the keepsakes in our houses that are made of fabric, of who we are in our everyday lives.” Each US state and territory will be represented at the project’s completion in 2024.
Amanda Dee is a photographer and owner of Amanda Dee Photography, located in the NewBo neighborhood of Cedar Rapids. “My passion is capturing the connection we have with our world and the people most important to us.”
Michelle Marine is a healthy lifestyle and family travel blogger at SimplifyLiveLove.com as well as a freelance writer and photographer. In 2020, Marine published her first book, How to Raise Chickens for Meat, with 30 farm-to-table recipes she developed and photographed.
Melanie Abu-Nameh is the co-owner of Feedwell Kitchen and Bakery, a casual kitchen and bakery serving pastries, breads, soups, salads and sandwiches in Cedar Rapids. Abu-Nameh is also an associate professor for the Kirkwood Community College-Hospitality Program.
Liz Lidgett is the founder of Liz Lidgett Gallery + Design in Des Moines. Lidgett helps clients both locally and around the world, consults with clients for public art projects and finds art for offices and restaurants.
Iowa native Stephanie Watts is the owner of Stephanie Marie Boudoir Photography Studio in North Liberty. “I’m lucky enough to get to work with and photograph women of all shapes and sizes to show them how beautiful and truly badass they are.
Stephanie McClure is the content creator and blogger behind five-year-old Blonde Style Blog. Learn about Stephanie McClure…
New Stanford University graduate, Sydney Rieckhoff, is the co-founder of Almost Famous Popcorn, a Cedar Rapids-based business specializing in gourmet popcorn and super premium ice cream. Rieckhoff and her brother, Carter, laid the foundation of Almost Famous when they were 10 and 13 years old!
Sarah Jane Wick is the director of the museum store at the award-winning National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids. The store focuses on unique and custom products imported from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as works by regional Iowa and national artisans, authors and craftspeople.