
Spooky Season!
It is officially Spooky Season around our house. The ghouls, goblins, and ghosts are welcome to come over! Our decorations are set up for Halloween and we are ready to Monster Mash.
We hope you took advantage of the recent gorgeous weather and got outside to hang some spider webs and set up skeletons on the porch, get yard work done, and just enjoy the perfect weekend.

Gif by ghostbusters 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, 10/7
Baby & Toddler Story Time
Downtown Library, 9:30-10:30 am
Join us for this 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime.
Fire Prevention Week Storytime
Marion Library, 10:30-11 am
Firefighters from the Marion Fire Department will visit the library for a special Fire Prevention Week Storytime. Following a story, firefighters will talk about fire safety, and attendees will be able to get a closer look at a fire truck.
Tween & Teen Crafternoon: Make a Time Capsule
Marion Library, 1:30-3 pm
Tweens and teens will create time capsules inspired by this milestone. Time capsules are a collection of everyday items, notes, or other materials that are meant to communicate with a future version of yourself or future generations. Make a one-of-a-kind box to store small items or use it for trinkets.
Thursday, 10/8
Partners in Play
Hiawatha Library, 9:30-10:15 am
Each session will focus on an aspect of early child development, with caregivers enhancing child-led play by encouraging exploration, conversation, and discovery. The program will conclude with a shared circle time that brings everyone together through songs, stories, or other activities.
Music & Movement Story Time
Busse Library, 9:30-10:30 am
Join us for a fun-filled story time focused on making music and exploring movement. This program is designed for toddlers and preschoolers.
Teen Makers & Gamers: DIY Painted Ghosts
Downtown Library, 3:30-5 pm
Get competitive or come for the vibes at these after-school crafting and gaming activities for teens.
Fall at the Farm
Bart’s Farm, 5-6:30 pm
Join The Growing Kind at Bart's Farm + Pumpkin Patch for their fall family social! They will have a reserved area for the TGK group.
Please pre-register here.
Friday, 10/9
Early Learning Story Time
Busse Library, 9:30-10 am
Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5, featuring stories, songs, movement, and bubbles!
Pied Pipers: Strings
Downtown Library, 9:30-10:15
Busse Library, 10:45-11:30
Orchestra Iowa presents a free concert designed for preschool-aged children. October features a string instrument performance.
Coffeehouse Nights
Lowe Park Arts & Environment Center, 6:30-8 pm
These musical performances feature talented local acoustic artists in a relaxed coffeehouse-type atmosphere. Admission is free and doors open at 6:30 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m. Coffee will be available for purchase.
Saturday, 10/10
Kids Halloween Brunch & Pet Costume Parade
Marion HyVee, 9-11 am
Join us at Marion Hy-Vee for a spooktacular morning full of delicious food, Halloween fun, costumes, and adorable pets!
Kids Halloween Brunch: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Adults — $12.99
Kids ages 6–12 — $6.99
Kids 5 & under — FREE!
Pet Halloween Costume Contest & Parade: 10:00 AM
Culinary Class: Making Johnny Cakes
Marion Library, 10-11:30 am AND 1:30-3 pm
Join us as we discover the rich, crispy heritage of one of America's earliest comfort foods! Watch a culinary demonstration to master the art of making authentic Johnny Cakes. You will learn why these traditional cornmeal flatbreads have stayed through the years and taste delicious samples.
Register for the morning session here and the afternoon session here.
Sunday, 10/11
Hiawatha Farmers Market
Guthridge Park, 10 am-1 pm
Whether you’re shopping for the week or simply enjoying the atmosphere, the market is the perfect place to gather, explore, and support local.
Monday, 10/12
Baby & Toddler Story Time
Busse Library, 9:30-10:30 am
Join us for this 15-minute story and song program for newborns to three-year-olds, followed by a 45-minute playtime.
Monday Morning Story Time
Hiawatha Library, 10-10:30 am
Join Alicia for stories, songs, and rhymes filled with fun!
Preschool Storytime
Marion Library, 10:30-11 am
Preschool Storytime includes books, songs, and activities geared toward children between the ages of 3 and 6, as well as their caregivers.
Teen Crochet Class
Marion Library, 4-5:30 pm
This class is beginner friendly and designed specifically for teens (ages 10-18). Supplies will be provided. Beyond learning the art of crochet, this class can provide a chance to socialize and meet new friends.
Register here
AirFX Sensory Night
AirFX, 5-7 pm
Sensory Night is a dedicated time for jumpers with special needs to use the park. Music is played at a lower volume, and sound is turned down on games.
One parent or guardian can support jumpers on the trampolines for free. Siblings of jumpers are welcome to jump for the same price, but must be more careful during this time.
Family LEGO & KEVA Building
Downtown Library, 5:30-6:30 pm
Builders are invited to construct and create with LEGO and KEVA blocks. Activities will include both challenges and free play. Geared to K-5th graders and their grownups.
Tuesday, 10/13
Early Learning Story Time
Downtown Library, 9:30-10 am
Join us for a fun-filled story time for children ages 2-5. This high-energy story time features stories, songs, and bubbles!
Expressive Arts for Kids
Marion Library, 10:30-11 am
Expressive Art is a music, drama, movement, and visual art prevention program that serves children and families on their journey toward mental wellness. Programs will include stories, drama, music, movement, visual arts, and activities.
This program is hosted in partnership with Tanager.
Teen & Tween Basic Cooking Class: Make Your Own Pasta Bowl
Marion Library, 5:30-7 pm
Tweens & teens will receive a demonstration on how to make pasta from a box and assemble a pasta bowl once cooking is completed. There will be various sauces and toppings for you to make your perfect pasta bowl!
Register here
Grown-Up Getaway… 99 problems and a kid ain’t one.
Trivia at WineStyles! 🍷
📆 Saturday 10/10 @ 4 pm
📍4201 42nd St NE #170, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
🍷🍺Wine, Beer, Friends & Trivia!
🧠Gather your team and join us for an afternoon of laughs, friendly competition, great wine, beer and delicious food! Nolan from Alehouse Academy will be back to host another fantastic trivia afternoon.
Best of all it's FREE to play!
🎉FREE to Play!
RSVP: Not required but highly encouraged!
☎️319-200-4171
Reserve a table for your team!
Knee-Slappers😂🤣
Kid Tested & Approved
Why can’t a nose be 12 inches long? 👃
Because then it would be a foot! 😅
What do you call a monkey in a minefield? 🐒
A ba-BOOM! 🙊 🙉 ☠
Knock knock…. who’s there?
Dozen…. Dozen who?
Dozen anyone want to let me in?! 🤣
🥁ba-dumm, tsssst…. 🥁

Gif by fallontonight on Giphy
Bon appétit! It’s time to eat!
Sweet & Spicy Avocado Toast
We are millennials… so of course we’ve got a tasty avocado toast recipe to share! This one might be catered more to Mom, Dad, and the big kids, but sometimes, the little ones get excited to try this breakfast meal.
Ingredients
2 ciabatta buns
½ oz dill (fresh is best, but dried works too)
Pepper Jam/Jelly (to taste)
Crispy Fried Onions (to taste)
1 mini cucumber
½ cup guacamole (or smashed avocado)
½ cup feta cheese
1 tsp. chili flakes
Step 1: Halve ciabatta buns and toast until golden brown.
Step 2: Trim and slice cucumber on a diagonal, ~1/4 inch thick. Season with sprinkle of salt and pepper. If using fresh dill, roughly chop that up too while the ciabatta toasts.
Step 3: Spread guacamole (or avocado) on toasted ciabatta halves. Layer with cucumber slices, then drizzle your pepper jelly on top.
Step 4: Sprinkle with feta, dill, crispy onions, and chili flakes. Make it your own!
Step 5: Enjoy!
This is a HelloFresh recipe we regularly keep in rotation… no personal photos this go around, it is too good to not DEVOUR as soon as possible, but trust us, ours look just as good as the professional photo…

Courtesy of HelloFresh
Need to know Nuggets
Weather Report ⛅⛈
Wednesday, 10/7 | 78℉/49℉ | ⛅ |
Thursday, 10/8 | 71℉/51℉ | ⛅ |
Friday, 10/9 | 75℉/59℉ | 🌧 |
Saturday, 10/10 | 82℉/59℉ | ⛅ |
Sunday, 10/11 | 81℉/58℉ | ☀ |
Monday, 10/12 | 76℉/58℉ | ☀ |
Tuesday, 10/13 | 60℉/46℉ | 🌦 |
WOW. We don’t know if it is possible to have much better weather than what we have on deck!
Weather courtesy of KCRG.com
News Worthy Nuggets
Some interesting local stories from the past week:
Volunteers needed for Linn County's Data Center Advisory Committee - from CBS2 (IowaNewNow)
Mercy’s “Especially for You” Race brings 16,310 participants to Cedar Rapids - from Corridor Business Journal
Mercy Medical Center announces its new CEO - from KCRG
Map lesson! 🧭
Cedar Rapids Quadrants
“What part of town do you live in?” “Northeast side”
“Ahh, by Marion then, nice!” “Not Exactly….”
The city of Cedar Rapids is divided into 4 different quadrants: NE, SE, NW, and SW what you may or may not know is how and why your address got the “SW” or “NE” label.
Essentially, the answer boils down to your location in relation to the Cedar River and 1st Avenue. The Cedar River separates the east and west sides of the city. First Avenue separates the north and south portions.
If you are north of 1st Ave. and east of the river → Northeast address.
If you are south of 1st Ave, and west of the river → Southwest.
So on and so forth….
EASY! The City Council made this mapping decision back in 1930s. This was an update to a decision from the 1880s, which originally decreed that "Avenues” would be roads that run east-west and cross the river. Whereas “Streets” would be roads that run north-south and cross 1st Avenue.
For more details, check out this archived Gazette article on OurCommunity.com.
That’s it for this week.
We’ve been doing this thing for 6 months! 26 weeks, that is half a year…. Crazy.
We assumed we’d have like 8 (all friends and family), let alone a few hundred readers who give us feedback!
It is cliche, but we do appreciate all of you!