Summer Doldrums?
Not in CR!! Well… maybe???
At work we have a phrase, “Summer Doldrums,” which is used to describe the historical slowdown in work volume due to everyone in the industry coming to a collective agreement to really, just not work… Right about now is when it hits too! So, get out and about! Create your own Summer Doldrums feelings at your workplace.
We got plenty of great stuff going on around the community this week. Celebrate America’s 250th by checking out some Freedom Festival events (Dock Dogs anyone?), free library events, and tons of other great things!
Just for funsies, check out these good boi zoomies.
Gif by bestfriends on Giphy
Have fun this week.
Adventures Ahead📅📅
Check out some below happenings in the CR area!
Have an event suggestion? Just click here and let us know what it is.
Wednesday, 6/24
Craft for Kids: Under the Sea Jewel
Hiawatha Library, 10 am
Make it at the library or take it home! Limited to the first 74 kiddos.
Bounce Party
Hanna Park in Marion, 12-2 pm
There will be rides down the giant slide, climbing through the obstacle course, and jumping in the bouncy house. Yard games will be set up to play and music pumping through the park for extra fun!
Thursday, 6/25
Teen STEAM: Makers and Gamers
Cedar Rapids Downtown Library, 3:30-5 pm
Join us every other Thursday for various STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, & math) projects.
Wonderful Worms
Old MacDonalds Farm, 3-4 pm
7-10 year olds
Dig into the fascinating world of worms. Learn how these wiggly helpers support healthy soil and composting, then build a mini worm farm to take home. It's a fun and slightly squirmy way to explore science, sustainability, and the natural world.
Mississippi River Museum Shark Tank
Fairfax Library, 3 pm
Join us to learn and pet sharks brought to us from the Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque, Iowa.
Friday, 6/26
USA Days Foam Blaster
Fairfax Sports Complex, 7 pm
Starting at 7 pm when the sun is still up, and continuing after the sun goes down. There is a special additive to make the foam glow after dark. This is the third year we have had the Foam Blaster, and it is always a huge hit!
Storytime with Miss Rachel
Hiawatha Library, 10 am
Join the popular pink shirt preschool teacher for a special story time/musical event. Let’s read a story all about surprises and make some new friends. Afterwards, we can get our wiggles out and sing some favorite songs you know and love.
Dock Dogs (Saturday and Sunday too!)
The District, Czech Village & Newbo
Fri: 12-6 pm
Sat: 9 am-5 pm
Sun: 10 am-4:30 pm
This exciting multi-day event gives dogs the opportunity to qualify for the finals while competing in three thrilling aquatic challenges: Big Air, Extreme Vertical, and Speed Retrieve.
Saturday, 6/27
Jones Pool Luau
Jones Pool, 1-5 pm
Enjoy a Hawaiian-themed swim with a lei and limbo contest. Sno-cones and popcorn available for purchase.
Admission required, pass accepted
Fairfax USA Days 2026
Main Street Fairfax, 8 am-9:30 pm
Venture over to Fairfax for street dance, live music, movie in the park, street market, parade, big wheel races, kids carnival and more!
Freedom Festival Parade
Hiawatha, 10-11:30 am
Get ready for a fun-filled patriotic celebration as our annual parade marches into its BRAND NEW location in Hiawatha, IA! The parade route will begin on E Boyson Rd and end on Emmons St near Hiawatha Park.
Sunday, 6/28
Hiawatha Farmers Market
Guthridge Park, 10am-1pm
Whether you’re shopping for the week or simply enjoying the atmosphere, the market is the perfect place to gather, explore, and support local.
America 250: Freedom Festival Free Village Tour
Ushers Ferry, 1-4 pm
Tour Usher's Ferry on a rare weekend opening as the village celebrates America's 250th anniversary with an old-fashioned 4th of July.
Monday, 6/29
Monday Movies: Wreck it Ralph
Kingston Yard, 6pm
Bring your family, a blanket, and a lawn chair to the ImOn Stage and enjoy a FREE showing of Wreck-It Ralph, thanks to TrueNorth Companies.
Down on the Farm Featuring Farmer Rod and his Tractor
Hiawatha Library, 9 am
Let's go down on the farm as we listen to stories and songs about tractors. Then we will get up close and personal with Farmer Rod and his tractor!
Tuesday, 6/30
Storytime @ Stillwater
Stillwater Coffee Co., 9:30-10 am
Join us for a fun and cozy Story Time at Stillwater Coffee! Perfect for little ones and their grown-ups, this free event features engaging books, lively songs, and joyful movement activities to get everyone giggling and grooving.
STEM Discovery Stations for Tweens
Hiawatha Public Library, 1-3 pm
Absolute Science STEM Discovery Stations gives tweens plenty of hands-on ways to explore and discover. Check out the wide range of STEM activities and fun available!
Grown-Up Getaway… 99 problems and a kid ain’t one.
Candle Making Class
Create your own signature scent! Rhoads Riley will be at Big Grove in Downtown Cedar Rapids on Thursday, the 25th! This might be a little short notice given you are reading this message on Wednesday… but it seemed too cool to not mention!
Doors open at 6 pm, with the class running from 6:30-8:30 pm
Registration is required. Tickets: $45 each, includes 8oz Candle & Gifted Candle!
Unwind, get creative, and learn the art of hand-pouring your own candles! Whether you're a complete beginner or a DIY enthusiast, this hands-on workshop is the perfect way to spend a cozy evening.
Knee-Slappers😂🤣
Kid Tested & Approved
What do you call a cold wolf? ❄ 🐺
A chilly dog! 😂
Knock knock…. who’s there?
Iva…. Iva who?
Iva sore hand from knocking! 😅
Why did the music teacher neead a ladder? 🪜
To reach the high notes! 🙃
🥁ba-dumm, tsssst…. 🥁
Giphy
A tasty meal, everyone should love.
Mexican Zucchini Boats
A few years ago, our family did the HelloFresh meal-delivery after our first two kids were born, then promptly cancelled as soon as the promo discounts ran out. We kept all the recipes in our cabinet and have a few that we routinely go back to. This week’s feature is perhaps our favorite and can be as simple or as complex as you’d like!
So tasty in fact, that a certain great-grandparent that thinks the only hearty homecooked meal should be steak and potatoes dinner even gave his seal of approval.
INGREDIENTS
4 zucchini
2 Roma tomatoes
1 large red or yellow onion
1 lime
1 ½ cups rice (white or jasmine, or 2 packs Mexican style Knorr rice)
2 ¼ cups vegetable stock
1 cup shredded cheese (pepper jack, Monterey jack, cheddar, Mexican blend, etc.)
8 Tbsp. Guacamole
6 Tbsp. Sour cream
Cilantro (to taste)
Garlic (to taste)
2 Tbsp. Taco Seasoning
Optional Items
Hot Sauce
1 lb ground beef or turkey
Prep & Preheat. Oven set to 450 degrees. Dice onion and tomato, halve zucchini lengthwise, then scoop out and discard seeds. Halve lime, zest 1 half and create wedges with the other. Rough chop cilantro.
Cook Rice. (CRFW Tip: This recipe assumes jasmine rice, time this step up in accordance with directions for your rice of your choice with the next step of roasting the zucchini)
In pot, heat a drizzle olive oil and put in diced onion and garlic, season with salt & pepper until softened.
Add rice to pot & stir in taco seasoning
Pour in veggie stock and bring to boil, reducing to low simmer and cook until rice is tender (15-18 mins)
Roast Zucchini. Rub zucchini halves with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, then arrange on baking sheet with cut sides down. Roast until browned and tender, 15-20 mins
Make Pico and Crema. In small bowl, combine tomato, half your cilantro, squeeze of lime juice and remaining onion. Season with salt and pepper.
For the crema, combine guacamole, half of the sour cream, squeeze of lime (to taste). Season with salt and pepper, then add water 1 small tsp. at a time until consistency is drizzly.
Stuff and broil zucchini. Remove zucchini from oven and turn on broiler. Fluff your rice and then flip your zucchini (carefully!). Then stuff the zucchini half with rice, top with cheese.
Broil for 2-3 minutes, until cheese is browned
ENJOY.
Divide remaining rice between plates and lay the zucchini on top. Top with the guacamole crema, your Pico de Gallo, and your other favorite Mexican style toppings!
Hello Fresh
Need to know Nuggets
Weather Report ⛅⛈
Wednesday, 6/24 | 81℉/58℉ | 🌦 |
Thursday, 6/25 | 79℉/57℉ | ⛅ |
Friday, 6/26 | 77℉/62℉ | 🌧 |
Saturday, 6/27 | 82℉/70℉ | ⛅ |
Sunday, 6/28 | 89℉/74℉ | ⛅ |
Monday, 6/29 | 92℉/73℉ | ☀ |
Tuesday, 6/30 | 90℉/72℉ | 🌦 |
The weather will be a little cooler towards the end of the week, then rapidly will become an outdoor sauna this upcoming weekend and into next week.
Weather courtesy of KCRG.com
News Worthy Nuggets
Some interesting local stories from the past week:
New research finds pregnant and postpartum women often unbuckle seat belts mid-trip, highlighting safety gap - from University of Iowa
Cedar Rapids continues to develop railroad quiet zones, noise continues to bother hotel guests - from KCRG
GreatAmerica completes Heritage Bank acquisition, launches national bank - from Corridor Business Journal
Cedar Rapids police K-9 Riggs to receive protective body armor donation - from Iowa News Now
That’s it for this week.
We have had some great recent suggestions and feedback, whether it is a quick email or reply or an official submission on our fancy schmancy Google Form. If you have any fun 4th of July activities that you are looking forward to attending, please let us know!
In other news, we officially eclipsed over 200 subscribers, and we’d like to keep the train rolling! We rocketed out of the gates with tons of growth, then slowed down quite a bit, but now feels like we might be gaining some more momentum. We appreciate your support!
See you later! 👋