Classic food and indie concerts stole my attention this year in Iowa City

My mom told me my New Year’s Resolution should be less snarky. I think my resolution this year is to stop telling people I am new to Iowa City, because, after all, I am a local now.

As I write this, I have lived in eastern Iowa for 497 days. Since I am reacquainted with the insufferable spring allergy season, Iowa winters, and highway driving, I feel comfortable sharing my favorites of 2024. From the restaurants you can find me dining at before a double feature at Filmscene to the yearly events I am looking forward to in 2025, let’s take some time to sit down and reflect on the year that was.

The best places I ate at in 2024

Reds Alehouse

This summer, I spent a lot of time doing meaningful journalism, writing about the best places in Iowa City, from bars to burgers. With the help of social media recommendations and self-guided assumptions, this reporting led me to Reds Alehouse.

As a 15-year institution, Reds Alehouse is always consistent and is the perfect place to bring people if you are aiming to please, whether it is a date with a craft beer snob or your parents wanting to take you out.

I think the perfect spring day is sleeping in, getting lunch on the patio at Red’s Alehouse, and then seeing where the day leads you. In my case, that usually means the mall.

My go-to order at Red’s is convincing whoever I am dining with to split the wedge salad as an appetizer sans the bacon, an impossible burger, and a vodka Diet Coke to drink. Don’t knock it till you try it.

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Nodo

During the work week, I spend a lot of time making phone calls, so I tend to refrain from making calls during my free time. It’s called work-life balance. I refuse to make a restaurant reservation of my own volition if there is no OpenTable option. I do, however, make my own doctor’s appointments; I’m not too far gone.

On Halloween, that led me to Nodo with my mom for a birthday meal before our screening of my favorite movie of the year, “The Substance.” We desperately needed a quick bite, and Nodo is precisely the spot for that.

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My mom was hesitant because she doesn’t like sandwiches, which has always confused me, but I promised her she would like it. If not the sandwiches, at least the sweet potato fries. The good news is that she loved it.

I’d only ever had the fries at Nodo, some of the best in town, but since that faithful day, Nodo has joined my lineup of monthly spots I dine at. I appreciate the variety of the menu and the innovation, though, as a creature of habit, the Cajun Salmon Melt is my favorite.

Uncle Sun

As a reminder to myself and everyone else, make reservations during graduation weekend in May. I’ll admit this was a newbie mistake, but it led me to Uncle Sun.

I never paid much attention to Uncle Sun; I mostly thought of it as the restaurant I would park at if lucky enough to snag parking on Linn Street. Uncle Sun, I am sorry.

I love Chinese food, specifically scallion pancakes. I struggled to find them after leaving Chicago, but luckily, they were right under my nose. Not only are the scallion pancakes to die for, but so is most of the menu, like the Thai Curry Shrimp and Egg Foo Young varieties.

There aren’t many restaurants I will defend with my whole chest, but Uncle Sun is undoubtedly the spot I ride for.

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My favorite events I attended in 2024

MJ Lenderman at Gabes

I don’t need to spend the time telling everyone how amazing MJ Lenderman is. If you give me a beer, I probably will, and trusted sources like President Barack Obama, The New York Times, The Rollingstone, and Pitchfork agree with me.

I’ve seen people on social media talk about Gabe’s, calling it grimy and complaining about the artists that make touring stops in town. To that, I say, you don’t know grimy, and you probably have bad taste in music.

On the local level, Iowa City has an exciting scene, from the hardcore sweethearts Bootcamp to indie prince Anthony Worden. Iowa City certainly punches above its weight when booking touring acts, especially on the indie front, bringing in the likes of Jeff Rosenstock and Slaughter House Beach, Dog − two shows I’m still devastated I missed.

My first show at Gabe’s was delayed mostly because I tend to put off buying concert tickets until the last minute. However, I couldn’t miss MJ Lenderman.

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After reporting on Gabe’s 50th anniversary, I better understood what to expect from the venue. I expected a great time, and a great time was certainly had; seeing balding dads and frat bros sway to music about lapsed Catholics and the contradictions of contemporary masculinity is a Friday night well spent.

As Iowa Citians, we should thank Gabe, whoever and wherever he is each day, for keeping the music live and being one of the best third spaces in town.

In 2025, catch a local show or buy tickets to a band you’ve never heard of, and you might surprise yourself.

Mission Creek Festival

I spent six years living on the Northside of Chicago, and though I was tempted to go to Lollapalooza, I never did. Truthfully, for a local, or a lapsed local in my case, it is a miserable time, from packed public transportation to inflated cover charges.

Therefore, I have sworn off music festivals, and If I ever say I’m going to one, please check in on me because something is wrong.

However, Mission Creek is different. In December of 2023, when I got the press embargo and found out the lineup a day before the public, I was beyond excited. I am a big fan of Michael Yonkers of The Osees. “Pop Song” by Larissa Pham changed my life, two people I got to see this year during the festival.

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Mission Creek Festival feels like an overlooked gem in Iowa City; it brings rising stars and modern contemporaries to one place for a magical three days.

During 2024’s Mission Creek, I was charmed by Hanif Abdurraqib, discovered my new favorite podcast, Live Wire, and was mesmerized by Asheville, North Carolina’s finest, Indigo De Souza.

The acts of the weekend aren’t what makes the festival special; it is how Mission Creek works with the venues across the downtown corridor to make the festival happen, embracing traditional venues and artists while also showcasing local musicians and unexpected venues.

I’d argue that Mission Creek 2024 embodied Iowa City to its core. I left the Indigo De Souza concert early to catch the final minutes of the Iowa Women’s Basketball game and reported on Iowa’s triumphant win over UCONN in the Final Four Tournament. Perhaps even I got a bit emotional seeing the arts and sports being revered on the same level. It is what Iowa City does best.

Downtown Block Party

Back in August 2023, during my first week on the Press-Citizen staff, I asked my coworker, Ryan Hansen, what his favorite events and spots are in Iowa City. He told me that the Downtown Block Party is a can’t-miss.

You certainly can’t avoid the Downtown Block Party because it takes over downtown. I’m no stranger to street festivals. My favorite in Chicago is Lincoln Square’s Square Roots, and CelebrAsian in Des Moines has been a yearly reunion for me and my high school friends.

Block Party is just plain summer fun, from activities to local music and, of course, street food and street beers. It’s the perfect way to celebrate summer, and I’m already looking forward to it again.

Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: These were my 2024 Iowa City favorites, from Gabe’s to Uncle Sun