A marquee glows again at 2711 Ingersoll Ave., which reopened Saturday night. (Photo: Abbie Sesker) |
Ringing and singing in the new year at The Ingersoll |
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After nearly a decade in the dark, The Ingersoll officially reopened on Saturday and has two more reopening concerts set for today. Local singer Steve Berry headlined Saturday's show with pianist Jason Danielson and graciously agreed to answer a few questions.
What did it feel like to perform on Saturday night?
Prior to walking into and performing onstage at the new Ingersoll, I was expecting a rush of nostalgia and reminiscences of performances past. And though there was an inkling of that, I was surprised at how linear the experience felt — as though the venue had never skipped a beat since it originally shuttered two decades ago. Certainly, everything was new, and I mean everything. Still, it felt as though it had never left. It was simply hibernating until it was lovingly awakened from a deep slumber. On “opening” night, I performed songs I had not performed on that stage since my early days in college. But it felt fresh, not nostalgic. I think audiences will notice that as well — enjoying fresh, new experiences in a place that was simply biding its time until somebody turned the stage lights back on.
What’s your history with the place? What did you perform back in the day?
My first of many shows at the Ingersoll Dinner Theater was “My Fair Lady” in 1981 when I got to sing “On the Street Where You Live.” My dad and his wife had already performed in a handful of shows there and it certainly looked like fun. Eventually, I ended up working there as the host and pre-show entertainer and got to open for touring artists like Phyllis Diller, Jay Leno, Buddy Rich and the Amazing Kreskin.
When are you returning?
My next show at The Ingersoll is on Thursday, Feb. 26, when I get to perform a show I’ve always wanted to do: The Songs of Neil Diamond. Such a beloved entertainer and prolific hitmaker, his music holds a special place for a lot of people, especially with his recent retirement for health reasons. I won’t be copying him, just presenting his music in my own way with a fabulous band and backup singers. Plenty of nostalgia and reminiscing will be in the air during that show.
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Steve Berry took center stage after Saturday night's ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo: Kari Taylor/West Side Chamber of Commerce) |
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WEEKEND SECTION PRESENTED BY CATCH DES MOINES |
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Listening to music surrounded by lush gardens lifts spirits on even the dreariest winter day. (Photo: Jeffrey Eisen) |
Midwinter hack: Escape to the tropics |
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Botanical Blues returns to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden this winter, celebrating 20 years of bringing live blues performances to audiences of all ages. The Sunday afternoon tradition pairs local music with the relaxed atmosphere under the tropical garden dome, making it a welcome escape during the colder months.
The 2026 series begins this Sunday, Jan. 4, and runs through March 29. This year’s lineup features a mix of musicians fans have loved over the past two decades, alongside fresh new voices in the blues scene. Food and drinks will be available from Flora.
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“Day One 2026: A New Year’s Day Wellness Pop-Up,” 10 a.m. Thursday, Surety Hotel. Pause Wellness Studio is setting up shop at the hotel to help guests start the year off on the right foot with personalized IV hydration sessions, compression therapy, a hydration station with fresh juices and detox tea and many more wellness amenities.
Winter Book Sale, 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Forest Avenue Library. Take home books, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks and other items withdrawn from library circulation.
First Friday at Mainframe, 5-8 p.m. Friday, Mainframe Studios. Mainframe invites you to start off the year with “Bright Beginnings.” This month’s “Dualities” exhibit features unexpected connections.
Live music at Middlebrook, 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Middlebrook Mercantile. Enjoy drinks, food and good company as the group Tighten Up performs live at the Merc.
“Unconditional Surrender: A Visit with Ulysses S. Grant,” 11 a.m. next Wednesday, Jan. 7, Hoyt Sherman Place. The Des Moines Women’s Club will host a one-man show written and performed by Pete Grady, who brings the late president's story to life in an informative, humorous and touching portrayal. |
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News changemakers: Each year, our sibling publication Business Record reflects on a year in the news and recognizes the people and stories that shaped Central Iowa with the annual News Changemaker Awards, launched in 2023. These awards honor incoming and outgoing community leaders and the top Business and Cultural Stories of the Year that had a positive or defining impact on the community. The Changemakers and top news stories are selected by BPC leadership. Here at dsm, we helped curate the Cultural Leader Legacy Awards, Cultural Leader Newcomers of the Year (including Catch Des Moines president and CEO Trina Flack, pictured) and the top five Cultural Stories of the Year.
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Garden-ready: The Des Moines Botanical Garden’s “Learn on Saturdays: Winter Learning Series” returns in partnership with the DIG Symposium, offering eight Saturday mornings of expert-led gardening education focused on sustainable, Iowa-ready practices. The series culminates in a symposium-style day with a keynote speaker, breakout sessions and a panel Q&A. Flora will be open for coffee and pastries.
Calling all soonlyweds: The Des Moines Wedding Show is heading back to the Scottish Rite Consistory Jan. 10-11. It’s a good chance to meet a bunch of local and statewide vendors all at once and get a head start on that planning checklist.
Party time: Join us for BPC’s first event of the year at the Book of Lists Unveiling on Jan. 8 at Hilton Des Moines Downtown. The annual publication from the Business Record contains listings of businesses across 70-plus industries, a community calendar, market research and more. We will also announce the Most Influential Business Leader and the Most Influential Nonprofit awards. RSVP for free on Eventbrite.
A few days later, at 5 p.m. Jan. 13, we'll unveil the year's first edition of dsm magazine. Please join us at SOMA Cosmetic Surgery & Aesthetics in Clive. |
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Iron Maiden’s heavy metal concerts are world-famous. Their soccer skills, well, not so much. (Photo: ironmaiden.com) |
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That time Iron Maiden played soccer at Grand View |
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By Jean Logan
It was a muggy Friday in June 1985, and Grand View University (then College) was quiet. Few students were around. Blair Reid, the men’s soccer coach, sat in his office, a tiny closet located on the east side of campus, when his telephone rang. |
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| On the line was a radio personality making an unusual inquiry. “Do you have some soccer players you can round up? Iron Maiden is in town for a show tonight at Veterans Auditorium, and they want to scrimmage your boys.”
Reid (pictured, right, in 1986) quickly calculated which players might be around for the summer and responded. “I’ll see what I can do.” |
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“Good, and there can be no cameras, no security and no publicity, all right? No girlfriends or other students, either. The guys just want to relax and loosen up before the show tonight. We’ll be there around 10 this morning.” Agreeing to the band’s terms, Reid quickly rounded up nine players for the scrimmage.
Since Grand View was one of the first schools in the area to add men’s soccer, the old baseball field had to be configured into a “pitch” for the fall soccer season and then converted back into a baseball diamond for the spring. So Coach Reid readied the field, greeted the players as they arrived and gave them a little pep talk. “Now, just be courteous. No slide tackles. And go easy on them. It’s just for fun. Let them have some success.”
Soon enough, the Iron Maiden entourage arrived in several nice cars and a truck pulling a trailer. Out popped drummer Nicko McBrain and the guitarists, Dave Murray, Steve Harris and Adrian Smith. Their roadies filled out the roster. One of the Grand View players asked if the team could wear their uniforms to class up the match a bit, but the uniforms couldn’t be found during the off-season so they slipped on some old red bibs instead. In the meantime, the roadies threw open the doors of the trailer and unpacked complete kits from England’s national team: a full set of whites and a full set of reds. The Iron Maiden players pointed to the white set and then nonchalantly donned them, all the while smoking cigarettes and bantering with each other. Reid and the GV boys were impressed. Maybe these guys were good? They certainly looked the part.
The Grand View players got into position, and Reid served as the referee. Iron Maiden kicked off. Within two minutes Grand View was up three goals and Iron Maiden was sweating, swearing and gasping for air. It was a raucous game. Any 50/50 call went to Iron Maiden. And any time Grand View scored, Iron Maiden yelled in protest. At the end, Blair declared it to be a close game, with Grand View winning 5-4. |
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Grand View hosted Drake in this photo from 1986, a year after Iron Maiden's visit. (Photo: Grand View Athletics) |
Afterward, Harris offered players tickets to that night’s show. “Coach, call this number and tell them how many you want — 60 or 100, just say the word.”
After the Grand View students departed, the band still had time to kill so Reid directed them to the small locker room in the gym while he put away the gear. Half an hour later, he entered the smoke-filled room and found the band members sprawled around a metal tub filled with every kind of American beer imaginable. With a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other, they motioned for Blair to join them, while bantering about their lead singer, Bruce Dickinson, who’d stayed back at the hotel. “F-ing prima donna Bruce, that wanker, can’t even play football with us. But we love him.”
After a few more rounds of beer, someone lit a joint and passed it around. Everyone mellowed out and relaxed. Iron Maiden, one of the world’s most famous heavy metal bands, had just stepped out of their celebrity routine to enjoy a summer day with the Grand View soccer boys.
After the concert, Reid received a letter from the band, who thanked the team for the opportunity to play soccer. They said that if they ever came back to Des Moines, they’d like to play again. It’s been 40 years since that 1985 summer day. Earlier this month, Grand View’s Cinderella soccer team became the 2025 NAIA National Champions.
Iron Maiden is still going strong and plans to bring its “Run For Your Lives” tour to the United States in 2026, with stops in Minneapolis and Chicago. Between those gigs, might there be time for a rematch of the famous encounter? Never mind that the band members are now in their late 60s and early 70s.
Grand View would welcome them with open arms — and might not even keep score. |
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This year's winning team. (Photo: Grand View Athletics) |
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Contributing writer Jean Logan is professor emerita of nursing at Grand View University. |
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