Happy weekend, Ames! In today’s happening-today edition: New recycling bins, pollinator fest, and a detective story about a lost schoolhouse + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.
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01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
New waste plan ahead: Starting July 1, Ames will launch a new recycling program with royal blue bins and pickup every two weeks. Deliveries are underway now, with a $7.75 monthly fee per household -- read the full story.
New ways to explore agriculture: Boone’s Farm Progress Show 2026 will debut an Agronomy Zone with live field demos, a 500-by-500-foot Drone Zone, and premium tickets. Discounted $15 general admission available through Aug. 28 -- see what’s planned for 2026.
Women-led indie success story: Ames grads Amanda Lepper and Ellyn Grimm grew Dog-Eared Books, Ames’ only locally owned bookstore, into a 16-employee hub with events, cafe, and banned titles exploring LGBTQ+ and BIPOC themes -- read their full journey.
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Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest -- this one's $150 off right now.* Highlights this week: |
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Wine, your way: Treat yourself this week at Della Viti, Iowa’s first self-serve wine bar where 40 wines pour by the taste, half, or full glass from sleek WineStations. Not feeling grape-exclusive? Their cocktail lineup and craft beers make it easy to keep everyone’s glass, and mood, right.
A quick nature reset: Whether you need five minutes to clear your head or a low-key spot to linger with coffee, Sleepy Hollow is the kind of tucked-away green space locals keep to themselves. Swing by this week, breathe deeper, let the birds do the playlist.
Dial in your swing: From custom club fittings and pro-led lessons to an indoor Full Swing simulator that keeps practice going when Iowa’s weather does its thing, Wagner's Golf is the low key upgrade your game’s been begging for. Pop in, groove a few swings, then go stripe it around town.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Around town today & tomorrowOur favorite events going on the rest of this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🍖 Purple Ribbon Beef @ Ames Main Street Farmers' Market | Saturday (6/20) at 8:00 AM – Take your coffee downtown for the Ames Main Street Farmers Market, where Purple Ribbon Beef brings premium dry-aged cuts alongside produce, flowers, and crafts. A proper Saturday loop with live music, free kids activities, and enough small-town charm to fill your fridge, not your calendar.
🐝 Pollinator Fest @ Reiman Gardens | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Wrapping up Pollinator Week calls for a wander through Reiman Gardens, rain or shine. Expect live bees and butterflies, hands-on displays, and pollinator-friendly plants, the rare combo that entertains the kids and teaches the adults. Free for members and ISU students, admission otherwise.
✂ Free-will Donation: Gender Affirming Haircuts @ Trend Setters (Boone) | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Good hair, good cause. Treat your mop and karma to gender-affirming cuts from Whitney at Trend Setters, first come, first serve, with free-will donations fueling Boone Pride’s work. Grab the new Pride shirts for $25, or two for $40.
💃 Salsa Technique Class @ KHOI Community Radio | Saturday (6/20) at 3:00 PM – Whether you lead, follow, or just sway convincingly, this technique-first salsa class at KHOI radio station tightens your basics so you can dance with anyone from Des Moines to Miami, and actually look good doing it. Weekly vibe, friendly crowd, bachata after, sensible prices.
⛳ Veenker Father / Son or Daughter 2 Person Scramble @ Veenker Memorial Golf Course - Iowa State University | Sunday (6/21) at 8:00 AM – Veenker is teeing up a Father/Son or Daughter two-person scramble with a shotgun start, perfect for bonding over birdie putts, gentle coaching, and the occasional sand trap sermon. Pick your partner, chase prizes, rack up points, and call it quality time that actually scores.
🕵 Great Detective Story: Finding Hoggatt School @ Hoggatt School | Sunday (6/21) at 2:00 PM – Only in Ames do we misplace a schoolhouse, fold it into a 3rd Street home, then bring it back looking sharp. Learn the twisty tale of rediscovering and restoring Hoggatt School, then pop by on summer Sundays. Free, local, and for all ages.
🐐 Great Caesar's Goat @ Roosevelt Park | Sunday (6/21) at 7:00 PM – Local boys Great Caesar's Goat are lighting up Roosevelt Park with twangy Americana, rock bite, and Texas Hill Country roots that could sand a picnic table. Free for everyone, and since the park is dry and smoke-free, your footwork, chatter, and socks get rocked responsibly. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — The Ames report Weather forecastToday — High: 81°F — Low: 59°F — Precip: 5%
Sunny. High near 81, with temperatures falling to around 79 in the afternoon. Northwest wind around 3 mph. Later: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 7pm and 1am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy. Low around 59, with temperatures rising to around 62 overnight. East wind 3 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 70°F — Low: 56°F — Precip: 86%
Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. East northeast wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Later: Rain showers likely before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. This house is wildThis 3,285-square-foot home in the Gilbert school district pairs low-maintenance living with a prime pondside setting beside Ada Hayden Park. The open main level features 9-foot ceilings, a gas fireplace with custom built-ins, quartz and stainless kitchen finishes, and a spacious primary suite. An oversized composite deck, finished lower level, and 1,057-square-foot 3-car garage complete the package.
Take a peek inside → |
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