Blog
Blog posts, photos, videos, and more created by Chris DeLine, 2005 onward.
- 2023 Photo Dump ()
Hiking photos shot June 3, 2023 at Palisades-Kepler State Park in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Photos shot May 21, 2023 at and around the Marblehead Lighthouse in Marblehead, Ohio, including a look at the Cedar Point amusement park from the shoreline. Photos shot May 21, 2023 on Lake Erie, via Port Clinton, Ohio, including the day’s […]
- villin on The Nasty Collective Podcast ()
March 2023 interview with Miguel of The Nasty Collective, discussing Iowa music and the value of celebrating local talent.
- Palisades-Kepler State Park (Mount Vernon, IA) ()
Hiking and trail photos shot November 26, 2022 at Palisades-Kepler State Park in Mount Vernon, Iowa.
- Iowa Record Stores ()
For the music industry, 2021 was definitely a memorable year. With concerts and live entertainment essentially on ice for much of the year, consumers pivoted, directing their expendable income to physical products instead, resulting in a landmark year for record stores. Variety reported in March that 2021 marked the first year since 1996 that both […]
- 2022 Photo Dump ()
Photos shot October 30, 2022 at the Olympic South Side Theater in Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the Iowa Music Awards. Photos shot October 22, 2022 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri. Photos shot October 8, 2022 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa (for the Iowa State Cyclones vs. Kansas State […]
- Letterboxd Film Diary, October 2022 ()
Film diary and review entries made on the movie social media website Letterboxd. 10/2/2022 Witchboard, 1986 (Rating: 2/5) First viewing and I greatly appreciated the ’80s-ness of it all, but looking back on it I’m internally debating whether there was a sense of self-awareness to the production. I guess it doesn’t matter a whole lot. […]
- Lacey-Keosauqua State Park (Keosauqua, IA) ()
Hiking and trail photos shot October 23, 2022 at Lacey-Keosauqua State Park in Keosaqua, Iowa, including shots of the Des Moines River.
- Parkville Nature Sanctuary (Parkville, MO) ()
Photos taken October 22, 2022 at Parkville Nature Sanctuary near Kansas City in Parkville, Missouri.
- 20 Years Awesome ()
“Music was everything,” said Rick Noggle from behind the counter of his vintage store, 20 Years Awesome, located in downtown Cedar Rapids. “Work was not relevant. Money was not relevant.” Writing, recording and performing under the name imperfekt for roughly two decades, music was Noggle’s main focus—his baby, even—until he had an actual child. Then his world […]
- Mount Trashmore (Cedar Rapids, IA) ()
Photos shot October 7, 2022 at Mount Trashmore in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, along with the surrounding Czech Village and New Bohemia neighborhoods.
- Pikes Peak State Park (McGregor, IA) ()
Hiking, trail, and overlook photos shot October 2, 2022 at Pikes Peak State Park in McGregor, Iowa. Hike began at Pikes Peak overlook following the Bridal Veil Trail to East Hickory Ridge, West Hickory Ridge, Weeping Rock, Chinquapin Ridge and Point Ann trails back to the overlook.
- Iowa Rap & Hip-Hop Fall Music Preview ()
This fall will see a wide range of releases from Iowan artists spanning the diverse rap and hip-hop spectrum. While this is far from a comprehensive list of what’s on tap for the next several months, here’s a cross-section looking at five releases from young, up-and-coming artists who have new projects on the way. [Continue […]
- Big Grove Vinyl Market ()
“It’s a fun atmosphere to sell records in,” Brian Brandsgard told Little Village of the aesthetics and energy Big Grove Brewery in Iowa City. “It’s just a perfect place to have it.” Brandsgard is the organizer of the Big Grove Vinyl Market, which he has held periodically at the brewery since it opened five years ago. Now, […]
- Teller Bank$ “The I & I” Review and Interview ()
The album opener to The I & I by Teller Bank$ finds the Des Moines-based rapper reflecting on the practical value of processing his trauma through his art. In “Friends,” he comments on the market forces which encourage work that perpetuates negative stereotypes: “I had to swing my sword before I use my pen / I had […]
- The Ideal Theater & Bar ()
Once on the brink of demolition, a building constructed over 100 years ago is about to be reborn as Cedar Rapids’ newest bar and music venue. First opening as the Ideal Theatre over a century ago, the building at 213 16th Ave SE will start a new chapter of its story, written by its new […]
- F.W. Kent Park (Oxford, IA) ()
Hiking trail and lake photos shot September 2, 2022 at F.W. Kent Park in Oxford, Iowa.
- “Wings” Preview [Dir. Matt Falduto] ()
“This play is really about gun violence,” Wings writer and director Matt Falduto told Little Village. “It was inspired by the student advocates after different school shootings that have happened.” Wings, which opens Friday, Sept. 2 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, is set in a world “where teenagers come of age by getting their wings […]
- Ledges State Park (Madrid, IA) ()
Hiking and trail photos shot August 30, 2022 at Ledges State Park in Madrid, Iowa.
- Indian Creek Nature Center (Marion, IA) ()
Photos shot August 28, 2022 at the Indian Creek Nature Center in Marion, Iowa.
- Coralville Lake (North Liberty, IA) ()
Hiking photos shot August 21, 2022 at Coralville Lake along the Squire Point and Woodpecker Trail Systems in North Liberty, Iowa.
- Lake MacBride’s North Shore Trail (Solon, IA) ()
Photos shot July 21, 2022 along Lake MacBride’s North Shore Trail/Hoover Trail (~10 miles total) in Solon, Iowa.
- Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area (Palo, IA) ()
Hiking photos shot July 10, 2022 on a ~9 mile hike around Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area in Palo, Iowa.
- Wildcat Den State Park (Muscatine, IA) ()
Hiking photos shot July 7, 2022 throughout Wildcat Den State Park in Muscatine, Iowa, including the Lower Picnic Areal Trail, Park Boundary Trail, Campground Trail, Punch Bowl Trail, and Mill Trail, leading to the Pine Creek Mill.
- Maquoketa Caves State Park (Maquoketa, IA) ()
Hiking photos shot July 2, 2022 at Maquoketa Caves State Park in Maquoketa, Iowa.
- FlyLife “A Different View” Review ()
“Cause who the fuck gon’ save your family if it isn’t you?” raps FlyLife on the title track from his recently released album. “I know it’s usually guns and drugs but this a different view.” The song serves as the culmination of a broader idea, each prior track helping to redefine a concept of what […]
- Wapsipinicon State Park (Anamosa, IA) ()
Hiking photos taken June 30, 2022 around Wapsipinicon State Park in Anamosa, Iowa, starting at the Overlook Trail by the Golf Course Club House, down to the Wapsipinicon River, before returning to the main trail and proceeding past the Horse Thief Cave, Ice Cave, by the Rotary Lodge, and to Hale Bridge.
- villin: “yezzir” ()
The “yezzir” beat was made using GarageBand, Audacity and an Akai Professional MPK Mini MKII. The video was made using Premiere Pro with audio and video samples including Pharrell Williams from Snoop Dogg’s “Let’s Get Blown” music video, Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Kevin Durant’s interview on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David […]
- Backbone State Park (Dundee, IA) ()
Hiking photos taken June 23, 2022 in Backbone State Park in Dundee, Iowa, along the East Lake Trail to Bluebird Trail to Backbone Trail to off trail to West Lake Trail. I unintentionally strayed off trail for an hour or so and reached a point in the woods where I saw a dead raccoon. It […]
- villin on the Fringe Radio Show, Round 2 ()
On Monday, June 20 host AL-D invited me to select another hour of music for his radio show, which hit the radio airwaves on Radio Free Nashville, featuring 20 tracks from Nashville artists: 1) Kaby & Brian Brown “Showstopper” (produced by Ohdee)2) 2’Live Bre feat. Kyle Jefferson “Put The Work In”3) Jody Joe “Nonchalant” (produced […]
- Sac & Fox Trail (Cedar Rapids, IA) ()
Hiking photos shot Saturday, June 11 from the ~15 mile out-and-back along the Sac & Fox Trail in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.