Everything fabulous in Iowa: restaurants, spas, things to do, resorts and more!
Sugarfire Smoke House, an award-winning casual, chef-driven restaurant, is located on the southwest side of Cedar Rapids. Sugar Fire features barbecue favorites, including its top-selling brisket, plus a variety of other tasty dishes including pies and boozy ice cream shakes.
Meg Dickinson’s business, Sugar Grove Goods, began as a goat milk soap endeavor operating out of her 120-year-old farmhouse. In April 2020, Dickinson opened a coffee shop in Dallas Center to house her bustling business and also spotlight some of Iowa’s most talented food purveyors.
Jessicca Lenehan is the owner and designer of Landy Lou & Devie Too Handmade Clothing, offering trendy heirloom-quality clothing for babies, children and women. “Everything is cut and sewn from scratch using soft fabrics that both children and women love.”
Chelsea Johnsen is the owner of Sisters in Cheese, a cheese-based catering business in Madrid that likes to share the spotlight with other local small business. “We’ve focused on working with other small businesses (Snus Hill Winery in Madrid, The Cornucopia in Ames, Sugar Grove Goods in Dallas Center, and more) to bring our product to more people and help lift each other up during a difficult time for small businesses, especially those in hospitality.”
Jordan Brooks is a creator, educator, facilitator and owner of KNWSLF: Creative Approach to Identity. KNWSLF, which stands for KNowedge, Wisdom, Self Love and Fellowship, blends the creative process with identity exploration and development strategies to guide people on their personal and collective journey toward knowledge of self.
Iowa artist Jennifer Drinkwater is an assistant professor of Art & Visual Culture, a community arts specialist for Iowa State Extension and Outreach, and creator of The What’s Good Project, which celebrates the meaningful stories from where we live. “Inspired by the conversations I have with folks around the country, I create original paintings and limited-edition art prints about what’s good in each of their communities.”
Lovar Davis Kidd (who goes by L.D.) is a poet, author, dance educator, musician and CEO of 100% OVER RACISM., which started as a protest sign combating racism and is now an apparel company that encourages people to #wearyourtruth. A portion of proceeds from 100% OVER RACISM. support Black-owned businesses in Eastern Iowa.
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.
Torey Rohde, of Iowa City’s Torey Rohde Photography, is a wedding and lifestyle photographer who takes an artistic approach to capture people being, well, people. “I love candid moments, movement and lots of laughter and play in my portraits.”
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.”