Andrea Dietzenbach
Clean Plate Club
Andrea is an avid baker and home chef who also works full time as a graphic designer for a large internet company. She is currently teaching her 10-month old daughter the fine art of baking the perfect chocolate chip cookie.
Caitlin Slessor
Book Talk
Caitlin spends her days as a private practice attorney in Cedar Rapids and her nights in slippers on her porch with a book. She’s come a long way since her childhood, when she tried to sneak books into church and spent weddings under tables reading.
Natalie Ditmars
Book Talk
Natalie grew up in Council Bluffs. She went to Iowa State University and law school at the University of Iowa College of Law. She currently practices law at Bradley & Riley, P.C. She enjoys reading, biking, cooking, traveling and spending time with friends.
Carly Weber
Editor
Carly Weber is an Alaskan transplant who had to learn to navigate by interstates not mountains and has to pretend she’s seeing the ocean by squinting when she crosses the Mississippi River. She loves new foods, $5 bottles of wine, learning new words, reading beautiful phrases and most of all spending time with her family.
Anne Kapler
Anne Kapler lives in Cedar Rapids, works in Iowa City, and shamelessly plans all her road trips around dining and food shopping. Visit her blog at www.pearvana.com She writes InTheKitchen and BehindTheBar.
Justin Braden
Justin Braden is a graduate of Coe College and Iowa State University, a writer, director, actor and musician who currently sells his soul for a living. Also, he loves baseball. He contributes to Music Notes and People You Should Meet.
Pete Looney
Pete Looney, a lifelong area resident, has got music in his blood. If you ever get out to hear local bands, you might see him jump up on the stage and jam with the band. Or you might see him up there belting out karaoke songs. Either way, run. He contributes to Music Notes.
Robby Cooper
Robby Cooper is a working man by day and musician in the local scene by night. He contributes to Music Notes.
Quinn Pettifer
Quinn is a past Access Iowa Board member, the Director of Marketing for the Downtown District and enjoys connecting young talent to area volunteer opportunities. She writes InTheKitchen, BehindTheBar and Music Notes.
Katie Mills Giorgio
Katie Mills Giorgio is a freelance writer living in Cedar Rapids who enjoys the balancing act of being a writer, wife, mom and hip young professional in the corridor. She contributes to Five Minutes of Fame, Three Things and Get Out.
Maggie Mills
Maggie Mills is a recent graduate of Loras College in Dubuque and is happy to be back living and working in her hometown of Cedar Rapids. She contributes to Five Minutes of Fame, Three Things and Get Out.
Winter Packingham
Winter Packingham works with children during the week and spends her weekends enjoying the local music scene. She contributes to Music Notes.
Micah Mogle
Micah Mogle is what some would call a music fanatic. He loves all styles, genres and will listen to just about anything at least one time. He contributes to Music Notes.
Brittney Robinson
Britt has been told despite her petite size at 5-feet tall, that she is able to eat like a pro! She hopes to stretch a dollar and leave a meal feeling full. So, she has taken on the challenge of searching for food finds of generous size but a manageable budget of $10. She writes about it for Fill Her Up.
Eric Van Dril
Eric graduated from the UI in 2009 and has listened to The Strokes every day for three years. He is very tall, but gets enraged when people ask him if he plays basketball. (Stereotyping happens in all forms). You can read his work outside of HooplaNow at RipcordNews.com
Blake Rasmussen
Blake moved to Iowa about eight years ago and over uses the word awesome. There is almost nothing more you need to know about him. Except that he’s awesome.
Erin McNeill
Erin McNeill is a student at Cornell College, majoring in Sociology and Anthropology. Born and raised in small-town Missouri, she spends most of her free time at the barn with her horse. She enjoys shopping with her sisters, devouring muder mystery novels and has a secret obsession with office supplies.
Misti Huedepohl
This Iowa girl is a busy wife, mom and chocolate lover. Misti works as a writer at The University of Iowa and is happy to pick up the pen as a freelance writer, too. Wether she’s off to work or a soccer game, this mom always has chocolate in her purse.
Kam Hubbard, Shannon Hanson and Eric Hanson
Two Guys, A Girl and A Movie
These three love a good movie and they aren’t afraid to call it like they see it.