Tim Hankewich, 42, Cedar Rapids
Music Director @ Orchestra Iowa
Monthly dinners at Croissant du Jour
Not only do they have the best pastries I’ve ever had, but their monthly gourmet prix fixe dinners are to die
for. Whenever I think of the best times I’ve had with friends in the area, I almost always think of my time there celebrating with a bottle of wine and a great meal. YUM!
Post concert drinks at Zins and Blend
Hmmm, I see a trend here. I love hanging out downtown over a cocktail at these two establishments. I enjoy the quiet and elegant ambiance, which is perfect after a night of high adrenaline performance.
The Pedestrian Mall, Iowa City
Spending an afternoon sipping coffee, reading a book while people watching on the Pedestrian Mall is one of my favorite pastimes. It’s a place where crowds of all stripes come together — intellectuals, artists and artisans, students, professionals and laborers. It’s an exciting soup of energy that makes this area special.
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and Kernels
As a Canadian ex-patriot, I need to have my hockey fix. Ah the smell of ice and the sound of a clean body check — music to my ears! Always a great night out and the speed and skill level is very high. It’s a taste of home right here in Iowa. Of course the beer and hot dogs at Veterans Memorial Stadium for a Kernels baseball game are the makings of one of my favorite local experiences as well. Nothing can beat a baseball game under the spring sun in Iowa.
Arts and Culture
Nothing frustrates me more when I hear people say there is nothing to do here. NONSENSE! Whether it’s music (of course I’m biased towards Orchestra Iowa), the visual arts with so many amazing museums up and down the Corridor, or the great theater performances throughout the area, one could spend every night of the week experiencing something new and special. Coming from several larger cities, I’ve found that the access and quality of the arts here can equal and in many ways exceed those from larger centers. I’m proud to be living in an area that is so much more than just a 9-to-5 place to hang your hat. It’s more of a 24-7 place to live.
