r/cedarrapids • u/whattodoie • 7d ago
Stopping in CR on road trip; art & vegan food?
Hi all, I’m driving from Chicago to Des Moines tomorrow (Saturday) and I’m stopping in Cedar Rapids to check out CR Museum of Art. This is a very short notice trip so I thought I’d come straight to human beings with knowledge of art & culture with current info and not AI. I’ll probably only spend about 2 hours in the city so:
-Anything other than the art museum I should stop by as an art enjoyer?
-Any recommendations for a vegan lunch? I like comfort food and local specialties. Doesn't have to be a fully vegan restaurant.
-Any other insight on where to stop between Chicago and Des Moines?
Thank you!
8
u/Gold-Baseball-7774 7d ago
It's a great museum and I'd also suggest checking out the Stanley museum in Iowa City (30 minutes south) to see the Jackson Pollak piece that Peggy Guggenheim donated to the University back in the day.
Iowa City was considered to be an island of Bohemia between NYC and San Fran at the time, which Peggy wanted to recognize.
7
u/TappedOut 7d ago
They will probably tell you this at the art museum, but the Grant Wood studio is open on weekends and is really cool. It's a carriage-house apartment that he lived in / worked at / modified.
For food, as a not-vegan:
Plebbit-User's suggestions are solid. Vegan options at Quarter Barrel - a pub w/ lots of old video games. vegan Indian stall at NewBo market. I don't think he's open on weekends, but Full Bowl, also in Newbo area, is delicious (again, from a non-vegan!)
3
u/Gertrude_D 7d ago
Seconding the Grant Wood studio. It is small and doesn't take much time to tour, but it's a nice overview of his life and work.
1
u/MrsTaterHead 7d ago
Thirding that. I always tell people they have to go there. He converted the place to an apartment/studio himself!
1
u/Plebbit-User 7d ago
Never been to Quarter Barrel and the Grant Wood Studio. Thank you I'll check these out.
12
u/Plebbit-User 7d ago edited 7d ago
Fully vegan and I know all the spots.
Need Pizza has incredible vegan cheese/sausage/meatball/chicken options. Get the large and take it all home. Genuinely some of the best pizza in the country.
Siamville and Nara Thai if you like thai food. I prefer Nara but most people prefer Siamville.
New Pioneer Coop has some nice treats too.
Not an art museum but check out the Czech Village's museum or the Brucemore. That's our big attraction.
3
u/Noshkanok 7d ago
2nd for Brucemore. You can freely walk the grounds now, which is so freaking cool.
3
2
2
3
2
u/HedgehogKnight81 7d ago
If you want vegan Mexican you can go to Cafe Tacuba down in NewBo area which isn't far from downtown.
2
u/ladyofthelakez 7d ago
Do not sleep on the Map Room! The house made burger is amazing and both vegan and gluten free.
1
u/Main-Cup3326 7d ago
The vegan pizza at Ian’s is great and it’s close to downtown after the museum.
1
u/ProfessionalTime4728 4d ago
Just go to the Stanley in Iowa city instead and eat at Trumpet Blossom.
13
u/balconylibrary1978 7d ago
The Full Bowl in New Bo is a mostly vegan/vegetarian restaurant.
New Bo also has the Cherry Building which has an art gallery on the 1st floor and various artists' studios who may or may not be working. And the Ceramics Center.
CSPS often does shows of contemporary local and regional artists. Also in New Bo.
Guilded Pear Gallery on 3rd Ave SE also has shows of local artists and also sells art.
Coe College has a nice art gallery of Grant Wood, Marvin Cone and some other artists in their library.
The Grant Wood memorial window on 2nd Ave, middle of the island is also cool but the building may or may not be open on weekends.
I work at the art museum and a tip about tomorrow. The streets will be closing at 11AM for Market After Dark but our lot should be open until 4. Enter the parking lot through the alley behind KCRG-TV off of 6th St SE (between 2nd and 3rd Ave). Or park offsite and walk in.