The Week in Social rounds up the best of Iowa’s uplifting stories, exciting initiatives and fun events from all 99 counties discovered through social media. In a time where every bit of good news is cherished, this series is devoted to being a fun, lighthearted way to stay informed about Iowa’s good news.
#Iowa ranked #1 state “recovering the quickest from COVID-19” https://t.co/5abW9JBdxn @WalletHub @BusinessIOWA @IowaABI @IowaBizCouncil @IowaChamber @TechnologyIowa @CultivationCorr @IowaBio
— Jay Byers (@jaybyers) June 9, 2021
Iowa earned some serious bragging rights when ranked by WalletHub as the number one state recovering the quickest from COVID-19. WalletHub ranked the 50 states and the District of Columbia using 21 key metrics, such as vaccination rates, daily restaurant visits and unemployment rates. Iowa earned a high ranking on all three categories including COVID-19 Health, leisure & travel and the economy & labor market.
Beer lovers, rejoice! The Iowa Craft Brew Festival, put on by the Iowa Brewers Guild, is back this year. https://t.co/ANY49w906u
— dsm Magazine (@dsmMagazine) June 9, 2021
The Iowa Brewers Guild, a group dedicated to showcasing the quality of Iowa Beer, announced that the Iowa Craft Brew Festival will be held on August 7 from 12-4 p.m. at the Lauridsen Amphitheatre at Water Works Park in Des Moines. Guests who purchase a $40 general admission ticket will receive a commemorative sampling glass and access to unlimited samples of more than 300 varieties of craft beer. All guests will also be able to enjoy live music of local band favorites and some of Central Iowa’s favorite food trucks. Cheers!
????????????????Want to register your garden for Project GREEN's Open Garden Weekend? Be sure to register by Sunday, June 20, 2021! ???????????????? More info: https://t.co/axUFMbn2ZJ pic.twitter.com/Lh74Mb8QUp
— City of Iowa City (@CityOfIowaCity) June 9, 2021
Ready to show off your green thumb? Project GREEN, an organization dedicated to making Johnson County, Iowa, even more beautiful, will host an Open Garden Weekend July 10-11. This annual event allows people to open their garden to the public during set hours. Open Gardens Weekend began in 2019 and was met with enthusiasm from participants who enjoyed the opportunity to connect with other garden owners.
Iowa City or Coralville residents can register to participate by Sunday, June 20. Registration closes on Sunday, June 20. Whether gardening is a new hobby picked up during the pandemic or an annual tradition, your generosity in sharing your garden will nurture a deep love of nature and the community that fosters it.
Today in 1867, famed architect #FrankLloydWright was born. 40 years ago, Lowell & Agnes Walter donated the house he designed for them near Independence, now the heart of Cedar Rock State Park.
— Iowa DNR (@iowadnr) June 8, 2021
Plan your trip: https://t.co/bNWgroKgyo
??s: @Travel_Iowa #IowaStateParks pic.twitter.com/zzXC7vClhv
Any visitor to Cedar Rock State Park will recognize the warm and awe-inspiring architecture of the historic Walter Estate. Lowell Walter, a businessman, and his wife Agnes commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design their dream home at Cedar Rock in the late 1940s. Lloyd Wright designed the estate using a philosophy of organic architecture where the houses are characterized by using native materials to allow nature to be a part of the house. The Walter estate trademarks this Usonian-style home, stylized with its natural lighting design, coveted signature tile and the only site with Wright’s original designed boat pavilion still in existence.
Plan a visit to Cedar Rock this summer to experience this historic landmark, beautifully designed gardens and hiking trails. The Visitor Center and Walter Residence are open to the public from May to October. Free tours are available to be reserved by calling (319) 934-3572 or emailing cedar_rock@dnr.iowa.gov.
