SPRING 2019
Loyal Sons OF BARBERING
Women in Farming
THE MEN THE MYTHS
Meet The MudbuMs
PLUS A COLORFUL CONTAINER YOU CAN CREATE AT HOME
SPRING 2019 PUBLISHERS MATT BOELMAN, KORY BALLARD CREATIVE DIRECTOR LINDSAY BERGER DESIGN TEAM PROJECT 7 DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHY AARON GRAVES, LOREN EKART, RICK LOZIER, KATHRYN GAMBLE, MICHAEL WATSON, JOELLE BLANCHARD WRITING MEGAN BANNISTER, BLAINE GARRETT, BARBARA HALL, LACY BRUNNETTE CONTRIBUTIONS GREG LUNA, CLAIRE SEDOVIC, LISA FAZIO
ON THE COVER The MudbuMs, P. 20
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A LETTER FROM THE pUBLISHERS
O
ut with the old and in with the new is a phrase we’ve all heard over the years. It’s a saying synonymous with change and a fresh start. The spring season is nature’s way of starting over, and we couldn’t be more excited to deliver a fresh look to this issue. We’ve assembled a new Living Details team that exemplifies creativity and passion. These individuals live their lives with an attention to detail that we love and inspire to have — not only as a company, but as individuals ourselves. We consider ourselves lucky to share this issue with you and we hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed making it. In this issue, we dig our heels in the mud (no pun intended) and get up close and personal with a cast of characters known as The MudbuMs. With a distinctive look that will make you smile, these guys are collectively united, forming one of the most unique band of brothers we’ve ever had the chance to meet. They’ve built a business with a wildly unique brand and have the story to match. This group of local Iowans will have you wanting to be a “MudbuM” yourself! This ain’t any old barber shop folks — Loyal Sons Barber Shop has flipped the Des Moines’ barbering scene on its head. This eclectic group of guys have transported us back in time with their one-of-akind, traditional neighborhood barbershop. With a waiting list a mile long, consider yourself lucky to get an appointment, and to experience one of best barber shops Des Moines has to offer. Women of the Land, an inside story on Jan Kaiser, a goat farmer, who has inherited a family farm passed down by generations of women. It’s just a peek inside this inspiring book filled with courageous Iowa women farmers created by two local artists. We’re also excited to share a story of our very own Jeff Goode, Perficut’s Quality Control Manager, who has been nicknamed the “Sheriff.” With an attention to every detail imaginable, Jeff ’s ability to ensure a job well-done has become second nature within the company. Passionate about inspiring others through his landscape creations, Jeff ’s story on what makes him tick is sure to be a “Goode” read. There’s plenty more inside. Enjoy.
MATT BOELMAN
KORY BALLARD
Vice President/Owner, Perficut
President/Owner, Perficut
WEB living-details.com
INSTAGRAM @living_details
FACEBOOK @livingdetailsmag
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CONTENTS
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10
14
30 FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
14 Women and the Land
06 Tools of the Trade
Take a look inside Kathryn
Discover a new line of unique,
Gamble and Barbara Hall’s
handmade knives from The
book on Iowa’s female farmers
MudbuMs Supply Shack
20 The Men Behind the Mask
08 Tribute
Learn who The MudbuMs are and what makes them special
See the world through Perficut’s Jeff Goode’s eyes and learn about the project
30 A New Generation
12 What’s New in DSM
Des Moines will soon have one of the largest skate parks in the country
38 Seasonal DIY
Perficut’s own Lisa Fazio outlines a beautiful floral planter you can create at home
he remembers most
Barbering the Old Way
Meet Eric Hutchison and the
10 Eats & Treats
crew at Des Moines’ newest
barber shop, Loyal Sons
Cook up a decadent cauliflower soup with cumin croutons
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TOOLS OF THE TRADE
WRIGHT & ROYAL The new line of knives from The MudbuM Supply Shack is founded in adventure and rooted in history BLAINE GARRETT
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LOREN EKART
I
n August of 2018, we (The MudbuMs — more on that on pages 20–28) took a trip to Chaffee County, Colorado in search of old gold mines, full trout streams, and high mountain campfires to enjoy our bourbon. After vivid nights sleeping on mountains and traversing miles of switch-backs, we ventured upon a building that beckoned us to enter. We found ourselves standing inside the tram house of the Mary Murphy Mine. Its timbers had been stacked almost 150 years prior and it was one of the first of its time. It operated like a ski lift. Carrying buckets full of minerals down the mountain via cable system that stretched over a mile. At the conclusion of that journey, those minerals were loaded onto mule carts and trains. It was an engineering marvel. The massive bull wheel which propelled the cable still stands today. The following day, we continued over the Continental Divide and into the small ghost town of Tin Cup. Once again, we were immersed in rich history. This time, with that of an old mining town enshrined in gold rush nostalgia. As we passed by the Tin Cup cemetery, my mind raced. Wondering what it would be like if we could listen to the stories of those who were laid underground within those four knolls. Coincidentally, we were simultaneously designing a new collection of hand-forged knives crafted by an Army veteran. We had been seeking a name for our new brand until that moment. We would call the brand Wright & Royal in honor of the founders of the mine; Dr. Abner Ellis Wright & John Royal. Each knife to bear the last name of a local found in the Tin Cup cemetery burial records: Chadwick, Wolfe, Harrington, Maximer, and Klauber. Each person buried there had a story full of grit. One day, our knives will be handed down, full of stories that can be told for generations. These five knives comprise the Continental Collection. This name was chosen because the Continental Divide connects the Mary Murphy
Mine to Tin Cup. I came home to find myself looking deeper into the story. I discovered that Dr. Abner Ellis Wright moved to Colorado from Iowa, which is our home state. The products offered under the Wright & Royal moniker complement one another. Sheaths for tools, leather wrapped bourbon glasses, journals, pipe stands, and holsters. Our product line is a direct exemplification of what you would find on the belts, in the hands, and on the tables of the men who carved their fate from the earth. Quality handcrafted items that can be passed down to the next generation with a story of the man that once carried it, sharpened it, and used it as it was intended.
Read more about The MudbuMs on page 20
Though each knife and sheath are hand-crafted by an Army veteran in a barn in Alabama, they remind you of something out of the 19th century Wild West.
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TRIBUTE
Perficut Quality Control Manager, Jeff Goode, has always had an eye for detail MEGAN BANNISTER
J
BARBER PHOTOGRAPHY, PROVIDED BY KCL ENGINEERING
eff Goode has been in the landscaping industry since 2002. He first started work as a crew member on a landscape installation crew before becoming a foreman and organizing a number of crews for a small landscaping company. Today he helps coordinate and oversee the work of all of Perficut’s landscaping crews. While Goode doesn’t have a formal background in landscape construction, his experience and passion for the projects he works on makes him the perfect person to oversee installations from start to finish. “I think my favorite part has always been looking back on the things we’ve created after a couple of years and seeing how the plants and trees have matured,” Goode said. “Seeing the clients being able to utilize those spaces is incredible.” Goode recalls the work that Perficut did on the Mercy Cancer Center’s Community Healing Garden, which opened in 2014. He worked on the project from the planning stages until the installation was complete. “Now I get to drive by and see the people at this facility, people who are struggling with cancer and going through treatment being able to sit in that space and enjoy the things we created,” he said.
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Goode’s passion for his work not only comes from seeing how clients can enjoy their transformed spaces, but also from the ways the work Perficut does can inspire others. “I have totally bought into Perficut’s vision for being the best at what we do. That goal of perfection is not just all about how quickly we get things installed, or how much money we can make. It’s also about people being able to look at the things we’ve done and say, ‘I want my landscaping to look like that and will pay whatever it costs to get it to look that way.’” It’s no surprise that Goode’s attention to detail translates beyond his work with Perficut. “I think the detail it takes to create things with wood is the same detail I have to pay attention to and look for in landscaping installs. Things should be square and have the right measurements. Everything being in its place the way it should be.” As an avid woodworker, Goode uses the skills that make him a talented quality control manager to transform spaces using a different medium. But even away from the job site, his passion for perfection still shows through. “I’m super particular about clean lines, and right angles. I am really kind of a minimalist,” Goode laughs.
“ I think my favorite part has always been looking back on the things we’ve created after a couple of years and seeing how the plants and trees have matured. Seeing the clients being able to utilize those spaces is incredible.” – JEFF GOODE
Perficut is honored to have worked with their friends at KCL Engineering to make the Community Healing Garden a tranquil, relaxing oasis for Mercy Medical Center - Des Moines’ patients. The garden began in 2014 as a way to provide cancer patients and their families with organically grown produce, and to serve as a healing environment where people could retreat, rest and reflect while undergoing treatment.
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Cauliflower Soup
WITH Paprika Oil & Cumin Croutons
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RICK LOZIER
eats & TREATS
S
pice up your spring with this savory cauliflower soup garnished with zesty paprika oil and crunchy cumin croutons. The instructions for the paprika oil and croutons are pulled out below, you will need to make those two things while you are preparing the soup. SOUP: ¼ cup Extra Virgin Olive oil 4 cups sliced yellow onions, about 1 lb. 1 teaspoon kosher salt 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ cup white wine 6 cups reduced sodium chicken broth 7 cups cauliflower florets (1 head trimmed) 1 8-ounce russet potato, peeled & diced Salt to taste PAPRIKA OIL: ½ teaspoon paprika 2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive oil CUMIN CROUTONS: 4 ounces crusty bread ¾ teaspoon ground cumin 1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive oil Dash of salt
1 In a 6-quart saucepan or Dutch Oven heat the olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the onions and salt to the oil. Cook the onions covered, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes until very tender. The goal here is to get all the flavor possible out of the onions without browning them. Once the onions are tender add the garlic and cook 5 more minutes. 2 Add the wine to the saucepan. Increase the heat to medium-high and cook until most of the wine has evaporated, 2-3 minutes. Add the chicken broth, cauliflower, and potato. Bring the soup to a simmer. Reduce heat, cover and simmer about 20 minutes or until cauliflower and potatoes are very tender. 3 Working in batches, filling the blender no more than 1/3 full at a time, purée the soup until it is smooth. If you haven’t blended hot liquid before be warned: overfilling the blender is dangerous. It is important to slightly open the lid to allow some steam to escape and loosely drape a towel over top of the blender and lid before blending. 4 Season puréed soup to taste with salt. Drizzle the soup with the paprika oil and top with croutons. Serves about 6. Paprika Oil: In a small saucepan heat the olive oil and paprika over medium heat until hot, remove from heat and set aside. Cumin Croutons: Preheat oven to 450°. Cut the bread into 3/4-inch cubes and toss with the olive oil, cumin, and salt. Toast in oven until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes.
ABOUT THE CREATOR Greg Luna is the senior food stylist for Meredith Corporation and contributes to a variety of national publications including Better Homes and Gardens, Eating Well and Allrecipes. He is a Culinary Institute of America graduate and has over 20 years of cooking experience working both in restaurants and as a food stylist.
ANDY LYONS
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WHAT’S NEW IN DSM
Skating onto the
National Scene MEGAN BANNISTER
A
PROVIDED BY NORM STERZENBACH
dream 14 years in the making will soon become realized thanks to the dedication of countless community members. From its inception in the early 2000s to its final planning stages, the Lauridsen Skate Park has been a community labor of love. GPS Impact Principal Norm Sterzenbach has been one of more than 20 community members dedicated to making what will be one of the largest skate parks in the country a reality. Over the years, the committee has launched a variety of efforts to garner public support for the $3.5 million project. During the 2018 Des Moines Arts Festival, the group invited members of the community to help paint benches made of skateboards. The finished colorful pieces of functional art will be placed in the park as a way to connect the community back to the new space. Functional art is a theme in the park, which will also include a large scale skateable sculpture. Not only will the park add vibrancy to downtown Des Moines’ riverfront, but Sterzenbach says the Olympic-regulation course will also give central Iowa skaters a leg up when it comes to national and international competition. “We’ll see a batch of world-class athletes coming out of the Des Moines area,” he said. “I think this park will allow these kids an opportunity to train and progress.”
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A LOOK INSIDE 14 | LIVING DETAILS
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A LOOK INSIDE : women and the land
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GETTING HER GOATS JAN KAISER, BOONE COUNTY
Y
ou hear them before you see them. Then a door swings open and a jumble of knee-high, squirming, bleating beasts do their best to clamber up gates to get to her: the woman with the milk. Jan Kaiser has been a goat farmer for less than two years, but she has taken to it like mother to babe. Jan points to a white board on the wall of the old barn. It documents all the births, a whirlwind of 60 babies born in the spring; 27 of them in just 30 days. Each baby is listed by name along with lineage, birth weight and feeding habits. “It’s a lot more work than we bargained for,” she says. Jan and her sister Sharon Hoskinson own a farm in Boone County. The land has been in their family since 1864, one of the rare farmsteads that has been passed down through generations of women. Jan’s great-grandfather died in the Civil War, leaving behind a wife with three children she couldn’t raise alone. Two of the children were sent to an orphanage, not uncommon in those days. The youngest, Florilla, was given to neighbors along with the land her mother had inherited. When Florilla was 16, she was married to a relative of her adoptive parents, and the land, 100 acres, was given to the couple as a wedding gift. Florilla and her man were fertile as the land, and one of the nine born to the union was Jan Kaiser’s maternal grandmother, Iva. Jan’s parents, Vern and Melva, eventually took over the farm, and it has now gone to Jan and her sister, as there were no brothers. Jan and Sharon cash rent their property, and Jan and her husband LIVING DETAILS | 17
A LOOK INSIDE : women and the land
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Steve Kaiser have another farm, Preston’s Creek Ranch, where they have raised horses and mules for many years. A few years ago, observing that they had a lot of timber and weeds that need to be cleared, Jan and Steve heard about Goats on the Go in Ames, a service where you can rent goats to do what they do: clear the land. “Goats are great at weeds, plus poison ivy and oak,” Jan explains. They completely strip greens from every stem and limb, preventing photosynthesis, and so the next generation of plants don’t return. Instead of renting goats, however, the Kaisers decided to buy some. And then they found out they had bought the wrong kind. “We got Boer goats,” Jan says. “They’re South African. They’re great for meat but not as great for clearing land because they need shelter.” But, by the time they discovered this, Jan was kind of in to the goat thing. “We discovered that 63% of the red meat in the world is goat, and there’s a growing market in Iowa with our increasing populations of cultures that eat goat meat.” It’s been more than 150 years since Florilla married into the land that was rightfully hers by birth. Jan says it will be interesting to see what happens next, as she and her husband have two daughters. As of now, they’re not interested.
Book author, Barbara Hall, has been writing stories since approximately age 10, and holds a journalism degree from Iowa State University.
Read more than 25 unique stories by picking up your own copy of Women And The Land at select retail locations or at icecubepress.com
Book photographer, Kathryn Gamble, earned her BA from the University of Georgia and also studied at the International Center of Photography in New York.
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the men behind the mask BLAINE GARRETT
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LOREN EKART
G
ardeners, gatherers, bow-hunters, psychologically curious costume enthusiasts, wood-fired pottery artists, steadfast entrepreneurs, self-taught songwriters, carpenters, riflemen, fitness fanatics, skydiving and speed junkies, outdoor culinary craftsmen, motor-heads, family men, coaches, river fishermen, and cold weather predator trappers immersed in stories of failure, death, successes, inventions, hard lessons, and victories. We cling to tradition with personalities that range from soft and steady to erratic machine gun fire and incessantly drink life from a fire hose. We recently shattered a world record and hung all 23 feet and 7 inches from the ceiling in our store as an example of what perfect timing and a homonym can create. We are drastically different individually, but decades in the fiery forge have bonded us as a walking iceberg. What is below the surface is much more immense than even we understand. Even when all of this passes, we will remain a tightly tuned unit. We are The MudbuMs. The backstory Articles do not typically require an explanation; this one, however is warranted. When the highly talented Lindsay Berger with Living Details approached us to garner interest in this article, our initial response was “Did Lorena Bobbit own a knife?” We were honored and stoked! However, I had two requests. I asked if she would allow me to write the article. My reasoning was that it seemed every article ever written about us lackadaisically mixed names and left out the good stuff. To put it bluntly, they have never been totally right. Past articles about us have been like eating a melted bowl of sugar-free vanilla ice cream with a fork. I also wanted to execute an idea for a photo shoot (with her approval of course). Thankfully on our end and
graciously on theirs, they obliged. We combined forces and here we are. Perception isn’t always reality We live in Des Moines and fly our Iowa flag high and proud. Every year with the assistance of the Video Taper Guys, we produce 13 original episodes airing 250 times on two national networks: Sportsman Channel and World Fishing Network. Naturally, most folks think The MudbuMs are just cat-fishermen, but that could not be further from the truth.
AT THE CORE we are a vivacious group of grinders who work ridiculously long hours, concoct elaborate pranks, love the catch, respect the kill, and are addicted to an unknown adventure.
The best way to describe us is to look at another life, from another time, Miss Hedy Lamarr. Hedy was born in Austria in the fall of 1914. She later fled to the U.S.A. and became one of the most popular actresses of her day. She was talented, funny, articulate, and stunningly beautiful. She is mostly known for her acting career, but there was much more below the surface. She was an inventor. To this day, no one knows the amount of inventions Hedy created, but one in particular helped the U.S.A. win the war against those
pesky German rascals. She invented “Frequency Hopping” which allowed us to successfully shoot torpedoes at underwater Nazi rigs without them jamming the signal. This technology eventually morphed into what is called Spread Spectrum, a way to transmit signals and data through the air without interference. A great example of this today is Bluetooth. The core Though we have invented a product and do have nearly a dozen IP certificates on the wall, that is not the correlation. You may be thinking the comparison is because Hedy and Red both share some serious sex appeal, but that is not it either. What Hedy was known for and what she was passionate about were two different things all together. That is the common element. She was a curious inventor at heart, but even to this day, she is mostly known for being a big screen bombshell. The MudbuMs may be known for being cat-fishermen, but that does not define us. In fact, when you peel the onion, we are dissimilar in most aspects of our lives. However, as you continue to peel the onion, every layer leads to the core, which we all share. At the core we are a vivacious group of grinders who work ridiculously long hours, concoct elaborate pranks, love the catch, respect the kill, and are addicted to an unknown adventure. It’s a destination You may not know we operate a store in Urbandale known as The MudbuM Supply Shack, right by Beer Crazy on 100th and Douglas. During a visit to the MSS, you may encounter the U.A.B. (Urban Assault Beaver) followed by a “Hey, how ya’ doing? Can I get you a cup of coffee? Or how about a cold one?” From there you will see what it looks like to cram 10 LIVING DETAILS | 21
prairie dogs with a group of hardened men who operate a fourth-generation ranch. In MudbuM style, we always have a competition. So, when the work was done, we dawned a pack of balloons and brandished our pellet revolver, so we could once again identify who gets a trophy and who lost. We believe trophies should only go to winners and the losers shall be reminded of their defeat. Each man had 10 rounds in the cylinder as he sat in the saddle straddling a nine-year-old bay mare and rode a homemade course about as big as a football field shooting at balloons. The highlight was when Red was launched from the back of a pony that was highly underestimated for its short stature. It is things like this that can turn a group of grown men into children rolling around on the ground in laughter. Months later Red got bucked off Ricky’s ( Jonny’s) Suzuki RM 250 as we all watched him drop the clutch on his inaugural 2-stroke whiskey throttle. These are snippets of what to expect when you watch the show, check out the YouTube page, or follow us on social media. You may see some fishing from time to time, but that is just something we do for a few weeks in late spring. Much like you, our hobbies change with the seasons. Why we exist gallons of stuff into a 5-gallon bucket. We have been told the MSS is a lot to take in. Most customers hang around for a while. In many cases, by the time they depart the short hand on the clock has made a full rotation. Your ears will be gently tickled with outlaw country, ‘90s rock, or a podcast playing over the surround sound. All dependent upon who is working the store that day. Your nose will tell you that your grandpa is sitting in a rocking chair in the corner smoking a pipe. The rustic, weathered displays are designed and handmade by Willy and Crash. All of the lumber for the displays comes from a sawmill
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right here in Iowa. At the MSS, you can rent canoes, kayaks, and any type of camping equipment or gear you need for your next adventure. Plus, we even sell hunting and fishing licenses. It’s a lifestyle store full of swag, outdoor cooking supplies, and tons of gear that screams “I go outside, eat what I kill, mix oil in my gas, can actually use a chainsaw, love a good story, and appreciate humor.” Hang on for the ride Recently, we took a trip to South Dakota to break horses and shoot
We believe in saving the best for last and that is our customer. We opened the store because we love people and their stories. We take pride in customer experience, customer service, and an old-school attitude of hard work and servant-hood. We would not be here without those who walk through our door every day and we are committed to making each visit to the store memorable. Knowing our fans and customers by first name and taking care of them like family means the most. We hope we can soon brew you a cup of coffee or provide that hard-earned beer. The final ingredient of what makes us who we are is serving you.
BLAINE
"CRASH" GARRETT
Everything flowed until I got here. Writing an excerpt about myself. I asked Jonny, “What should I say?” he replied, “Tell them why you play your Grandpa’s guitar and not the many you have hanging on your wall; that ought to paint a pretty clear picture.” My choice for playing my Grandpa’s 40-year-old FG 335 Yamaha is three-fold. I believe it is a true representation of me today. Out of the gate, it is my Grandpa’s. Second, I love old stuff. That is also why I wear my other Grandpa’s pocket watch, still hunt with their shotguns, carry their old knives, and wear their old coats. I am carrying on a tradition in their honor. When I’m carrying those items, I feel that I am carrying their principles as well. You can have the fancy new composite stuff, I will always opt for the scatter gun nestled in walnut. Most times, the oldest stuff has the best story. Third, it is a sleeper. Anytime I start picking these strings with another guitar player, they are shocked at the amazing sound. They then look at the head and expect to see Martin, Taylor, or something expensive. Then they say, “Yamaha? Wow, I never knew they made something that sounded so good.” I love when the underestimated exceeds expectation. It leaves people questioning if what they have thought to be truths their whole lives are, in fact, not truths at all.
REID
"RED" BAKER
While you are still brewing up a fresh batch of morning breath sleeping in your warm bed, Red is already past his stretch phase and could have already filled a milk jug with his sweat. As consistent as a metronome, hard as a bar top, smooth as thousand-dollar bed sheets, and as frugal as a single mother living in the Great Depression. This is why he lives at the gym. Red resides in what could be considered a janitor’s closet. “Living in the back room at a gym is cramped with no concealment. Life is simple at the gym. Just a bed, couch, TV, and dresser makes my world work. If you pay the toll to join the gym you might as well be sniffing my underwear after a three-mile run. From the time I get up for the 5:00 a.m. class until 7:00 p.m., there are always people at my headquarters. Good thing if I’m running late all I need to do is roll out of bed and open my door.”
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JONNY
"RICKY RIPSNORT" WALLERICH
People regularly question Jonny’s decision-making process for an abundance of reasons. Seldom are his decisions motivated by practicality. Whether a vehicle, an outfit, or a social experiment, there exists an affinity for the absurd. “Doing and saying things seemingly daft reliably produces genuine reactions. There’s no greater feeling than removing yourself from a situation you’ve created, leaving the other party with the inability to comprehend what they’ve just been exposed to. When you can both walk away convinced the other person is the idiot, that’s when the magic commences. Most can’t let go without proclaiming it was a joke. The power lies in preserving the authenticity for a lifetime.”
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NILES MICHAEL JAMES
"WILLIAM OAK" BAILEY
A square jaw encapsulated in the undergrowth of what would resemble a southern Iowa bramble patch. Hands that mimic the bark on a scaly-bark hickory. One could argue that Willy was carved from the earth. When it comes to chilling with Willy in a boat or around a fire he is as warm as your morning coffee. However, when it comes to touching anything, Willy has a knack for total destruction. “For some reason, I was gifted with the art of destroying things I come into contact with. It takes no more than a glance at something and it falls subject to destruction. I believe that this is a conclusion of two things. First off, that said item is pure junk and was going to destruct even before I laid eyes on it. Second, that God put me here to determine the strength of man’s creations. This is exactly why I test all of our products that we design and build. If it survives me, you will hand it down to your great-grandchildren.”
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AARON
"SHINER" CREGER
If you pay close attention to someone’s reaction when they hear the name Aaron Creger, their face lights up like an adolescent young man who just found a Playboy under the workbench. The term “Life of the Party” may have been more appropriate in previous years. A time when you would find him dressed up in outfits not suitable for most people’s eyes. However, there is no doubt he still wears that badge. “It’s funny how things like this can shift as we age, but I still have a little of those pre-father tendencies buried inside that sometimes just need to escape.” Aaron’s attitude is as infectious as anthrax, only with opposite side effects. “Concentrate on the positive aspects of life. Attitudes are very contagious so if you are enjoying yourself, most likely your positive vibe is going to rub off on those around you.”
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At The MudbuM Supply Shack, you can rent canoes, kayaks, and any type of camping equipment or gear you need for your next adventure. Plus, they even sell hunting and fishing licenses.
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Visit The MudbuM Supply Shack at 3894 NW Urbandale Drive in Urbandale, IA
WE GO TO
GREAT HEIGHTS FOR OUR CLIENTS
perficut.com | 515.965.0951 |
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A NEW GENERATION
THE OLD WAY
LACY BRUNNETTE
AARON GRAVES
Barber shop culture is a way to connect to the past and present
T
he breeze stirs the leaves of the tall trees that mingle with brick buildings along Ingersoll Avenue. On the 36th Street block there’s a row of single-story shops, recently refinished to welcome new tenants. Much like the revitalization of other spaces on Ingersoll, the familiar barber pole and its beacon of red, white and blue hearkens to a different American era. The friendly neighborhood barber shop in the low brick building is home to Loyal Sons, founded and opened by Eric Hutchison in the late summer of 2018. “The name is from a line in the Iowa State fight song, ‘Loyal sons, forever true,’” said Hutchison. “The other meaning behind the name ‘Loyal Sons’ is five young barbers, working in a shop that looks like a barber shop that their grandfathers would go to. We’re trying to work in a very traditional aesthetic barber shop, and are also in the mindset of being 110 percent committed to honoring the trade.” Whiffs of mid-century nostalgia are incorporated throughout Loyal Sons from the beautifully modern teak
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MICHAEL WATSON Loyal Sons barbers (left to right) Derek Simpson, Travis Revel, Ian Wolfe with Agnes, Jay Wendt and Eric Hutchison.
cabinetry to the teal blue paint on the walls that perfectly matches a 1958 Chevy Impala to the floral wallpaper with its silver curls and pink and blue gardenia print. There’s a taxidermied wolf head in one corner that snarls menacingly over a vintage “Health Chart” floor scale. Cans of pomade are stacked neatly inside a vintage cabinet. A print of pheasants bursting into flight, that hung in Hutchison’s grandpa’s living room, now hangs above a few chairs where customers wait for their turn in the barber chair. Like a chef ’s mise en place, barbering tools are prepared and ready at each station. Clippers sit next to three sets of scissors, and then a brush, and then a neatly folded towel. Each tool and bottle purposefully arranged for smooth transition and service. Five refinished and reupholstered chairs with fresh chrome line one wall. Each chair’s station is decorated with signature talismans of the barber who presides. Hutchison’s spot in the front near the big bay window — that has a perfect vantage point of all the activity on the block — is a nod to his grandfather and the old guard of barbers that he has met from around the state that inspired him to pursue this trade. Preserving and promoting a sense of neighborhood Loyal Son’s new home on Ingersoll — beautifully appointed with its mix of mid-century and quirky Midwestern touches — is an important fixture in the neighborhood, as barber shops have been since the 19th century.
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Barber shops have historically played a role in not only being a place for a haircut or a shave, but also as a space to gather, catch up on community happenings, and to mull over current events. Barber shop culture is centered around connection and friendship, whether a customer has just walked in for the first time or has been a regular for 20 years. “I really want a neighborhood barber shop that people of all demographics feel comfortable going to and can walk in to,” explained Hutchison. The goal is to be that space on Ingersoll, “hopefully, a 40-year barber shop,” and to help keep the neighborhood firmly grounded as new restaurants and retail move in, spaces are built and renovated, and more foot traffic frequents the sidewalks. “To me, most importantly, it goes back to being authentic,” said Hutchison. “My goal to opening Loyal Sons is to be the best little neighborhood barber shop we can be.” Barbers and the barber shop extended family The act of a haircut or a quick shave may seem transactional, but as Hutchison describes it, it is a time to bond and share stories with the customer. Something he attributes to learning in barber school — when the director said that barbering is “80 percent customer service and personality” — it is the opportunity to build common ground and a much deeper relationship. “You can’t teach someone how to make a real human connection with another person. If they don’t have
“My goal to opening Loyal Sons is to be the best little neighborhood barber shop we can be.” – ERIC HUTCHISON
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Loyal Sons Barber Shop owner and barber, Eric Hutchison, cuts his customer, Finn Graves.
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that desire or that ability, then you can’t force them to do that. They have to be a ‘people person’ and you have to have a good personality to be a successful barber.” The beauty in building an extended family within the barber shop is that there are customers who return for years and bring their children and their children. Barber shops are a place to prepare for the mundane or for the extraordinary. Hutchison embraces that expectation and insists on the importance of knowing everyone’s name and story. There is no television in Loyal Sons and no one answers their phone. “If you’re going to sit in my chair, I don’t want to just know you for 30 minutes while I cut your hair,” said Hutchison. “I look at someone like Aaron Graves, I’ve cut Aaron’s hair for the last three years, but I’ve also cut Finn’s hair (Aaron’s son). Someday I’ll do Finn’s hair for prom, someday I’ll do Finn’s hair for graduation, someday I might cut Finn’s hair for his wedding. That’s how important this relationship can be. That’s how I treat that.” Keeping an American tradition alive Forbes reported that the men’s grooming industry is estimated to reach $26 billion by 2020. Like a good dive bar, barber shops are the revitalized establishment that continue to have pull across generations. “There are guys in their late 60s and early 70s, who looked at barbering as a career in the 1950s and 1960s,” said Hutchison. “Then there’s us, 20s to young 30s guys, that are like ‘This is a legitimate thing.’ And I think Instagram really helped that. I loved the (barber shop) culture, kind of like a tattoo shopspeakeasy-bar feel, there’s that community aspect.” The connection to a different era remains relevant as more millennials gravitate back towards trends that resonated with their grandparents. “We want to ride old motorcycles, we want to drive old trucks, we want to wear cuffed jeans, we want to have flat tops, we want to smoke pipes, we want to have that sense of
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JOELLE BLANCHARD
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adventure and masculinity,” says Hutchison as he fondly takes a frame down off a shelf and shows me a senior picture of his grandfather from Waukee High School (pre-Great Depression era). “People connect to that type of scene. Young men going back to barber shops is part of that — feeling connected to what their fathers and grandfathers were connected to when they were young.” While each establishment puts its own spin on the aesthetic, the foundation and tradition of barber shops is sacred. “If it wasn’t for the dudes at Mike’s barber shop in Spencer, Iowa, 40 years ago, I would not be opening the doors of Loyal Sons. It’s like the truth of it, you know. If it wasn’t for Pope’s or Roosevelt or Penrod’s, you know these barber shops that are 97- to 110-years-old, I couldn’t open Loyal Sons. These people are keeping barbering alive,” Hutchison says passionately. “There’s no reason to change. Stay true, stay the course to the tradition of barbering and the craft of barbering and people will see that in your work, and your attitude, and how you treat your customers. Don’t change the game, just stick to it. The road map is there, just stay on it. Do it your own way, but stay cool.” Hutchison said one of the most memorable and meaningful moments since opening the doors of Loyal Sons came when Lanny, the owner of Waveland Barber-Stylists, stopped in with a bottle of Clubman’s aftershave for each of the five barbers. “As a young barber it should be my goal to show those guys that I deserve their time and their respect. I have to earn that and I have to show them. I want to show you that I respect the tradition and the foundation like the guys who did it in 1966. I want you to know that I have a lot of respect for you and how long you’ve been doing this. And like Lanny coming in, that was like a big moment. That’s what I want. For barbers to come in and be like ‘Well done guys. Well done.’ That means a lot.”
To learn more or book a classic haircut or hot towel shave, visit loyalsonsbarbershop.com
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COLORFUL CONTAINER
YOU GOT THIS!
ABOUT THE DESIGNER Lisa Fazio is Perficut’s Landscape Maintenance Manager. Her day-to-day includes maintaining her clients landscape beds as well as installation of color with annual and perennial gardens and planter pots. She is passionate about creating and caring for beautiful green spaces, colorful gardens and hundreds of planter pots throughout the city. Lisa received her Associate degree in Commercial Horticulture and has over 30 years of experience in all areas of landscape, specializing in annuals and perennials.
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THE STEPS 1
START WITH THE CENTER To add height and visual interest to your planter, begin by planting something tall like spiky orange bromeliad at the center.
2
KEY PARTS BROMELIAD
FILL IN THE EDGES Next, add your trailer plants like lotus, yellow lantana and purple potato vine. These more neutral plants are placed along the edge of your planter.
3
MAKE THE MOST OF THE MIDDLE Add additional pops of color by finishing your planter with colorful orange zinnias and pink sunpatiens at its center.
PURPLE POTATO VINE
PINK SUNPATIENS
ORANGE ZINNIA
This planter does best in partial shade with careful watering. The bromeliad does not take much water but the other varieties need water 3-4 times a week. CLAIRE SEDOVIC
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COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPING PERFECTED BY PERFICUT perficut.com | 515.965.0951 |
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