Local Flavor




LAMONI, IA - I'm writing from the Linden Street Coffee House (above) in the town of Lamoni (pronounced li-MO-nye), a community of about 1,500 residents and the home of Graceland University. The town sits just a few miles north of the Iowa/Missouri border on Interstate 35. This evening we will be performing Così Fan Tutte at the University.

For as many small towns that we pass through on this tour, rare is the chance for us to stop and actually have a look around. Today we were blessed with such an opportunity, thanks to an uncommon kink in our schedule. There are two streets that comprise Lamoni's business district. Its offerings are fairly typical of small towns here. There's a pharmacy, a bank, a couple of restaurants, and a barber shop, among other things. Unfortunately, Lamoni also resembles other small towns in that its downtown is dotted with some storefronts that are either vacant or evidently struggling with their business.

This cafe, however, seems to be thriving, as evidenced by their Wi-Fi connection. They offer freshly baked goods to go along with their full selection of coffee, and the room is cheerfully lit and appointed with comfortable furniture and board games for patrons to enjoy. The cafe even has a quaint rock garden adjacent to the property, where Brian and Nicole are reading in the sunlight as I write this. Townsfolk come and go to get their java fix and greet the proprietor of the cafe. Small-town life is frequently depicted on television and in movies as a neverending series of friendly encounters and homespun hospitality. For those who are curious, Lamoni seems to be exactly that.


Upcoming entertainment in Lamoni

We'll see how tonight's performance goes. In spite of a relatively kind performance schedule today, we are carrying the cumulative fatigue of several weeks with us wherever we go. The load can be burdensome at times, but the thrill of performing has a tendency to make it a little better. In the meantime, I'll finish my homemade strawberry smoothie (purchased at the small-town price of $2.75) and prepare myself mentally for the evening ahead.

Posted: Thu - March 31, 2005 at 04:09 PM      

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