Good morning Ames! t's officially construction season, which means there are now three certainties in life: death, taxes, and detours. If you've been enjoying your 15-minute commute, cherish the memory. Here's what you need to know this week.

In today’s scoop:

Lets get started.

— Chance

Aquatic passes for Furman Aquatic Center and Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center are officially on sale and buying early gets you a discounted rate. Furman is your warm-weather spot. Fitch keeps you swimming year-round. There's a pass option for both, so whatever your aquatic lifestyle looks like, they've got you covered.

Grab yours at CityofAmes.org/Aquatics and let the countdown to Summer or next Winter? - begin.

If you've ever tried to navigate the Ames Farmers' Market on a busy Saturday and ended up basically body-surfing through the crowd, good news: there's more room coming.

The Ames Main Street Farmers' Market is expanding into the 200 block of Main Street for the 2026 season. Last season, a single market day topped 8,000 visitors. Eight thousand people. On a Saturday morning. In Ames. We love to see it.

Mark every Saturday morning May 2nd through October on your calendar. The market now features around 95 vendors. More farmers, more makers, more baked goods you'll tell yourself are a reasonable breakfast. The extra block means more small businesses get a spot and shoppers actually have room to browse without elbowing a stranger over a jar of honey.

Want me to adjust the length or add a detail about vendor sign-ups or the website?

South 16th Street Project

The City has contracted with Con-Struct to widen South 16th Street to four lanes from University Boulevard all the way to the Veterinary Medicine Trail. The shared-use path along South 16th Street will be fully closed for the entire project — so cyclists and walkers will need to find an alternate route for a while. Access to ISU Vet Med buildings stays open throughout, so no disruption there.

Substantial completion is targeted for August 21, timed around the ISU academic calendar and football season. Because in Ames, Cyclone football is a legitimate infrastructure consideration.

Eastbound traffic on South Fourth Street between University Boulevard and Ioway Creek drops to one lane for tree removal. This is all for a pedestrian bridge and shared-use path along the south side of the street. Good stuff eventually. Just a little inconvenient right now.

This phase should wrap up in one to two weeks, so it's not a long one. But if you're rolling through that stretch, give yourself a little extra time and keep your eyes open. The finished path will connect University Boulevard all the way to Ioway Creek — a solid addition for walkers and cyclists once the dust settles.

Tuesday

Tokyo Tea Room @ The Maintenance Shop | 8PM 

Display Case & Riley Jane @ Ames City Auditorium | 7PM 

Run Dog & Joel Sires @ Alluvial Brewing | 7PM

Iowa No MTN Boys @ Alluvial Brewing 7-10PM

🎨Colorful Still Life @ Octagon Center | 🕰️6-8PM | A still life painting class is all about unlocking what colors can actually do; it's a lot more than you learned in kindergarten. (Details) 

 🌱Deep Roots Book Club @ Ames Public Library | 🕰️7-8:30PM | It's a book club, but make it garden-brained. Join fellow plant lovers for deep discussions on seeds, gardening. (Details) 

🎭Daniel Tosh @ Stephens Auditorium | 🕰️7PM | Sometimes you just need to laugh at someone else's problems for a couple hours. (Details) 

🎨Art Walk: Mind Body Connection @ Thielen Student Health Center | 🕰️12-1PM | This free guided art walk takes you through Iowa State's wellness spaces to explore artwork built around the connection between mind and body. (Details)  

🎭Grandma Mojos Improv Comedy @ The Maintenance Shop | 🕰️8PM | Sometimes you just need to laugh at someone else's problems for a couple hours all for $1

🎲Bingo Night @ Torrent Brewing Company | 🕰️7-9PM | Free, family-friendly bingo night with great prizes and even better beer. It's a wholesome excuse to spend your evening at a brewery. (Details)  

🎭Du, Meine Welt @ Simon Estes Music Hall | 🕰️7:30PM | Passionate love story of Clara and Robert Schumann brought to life through their own music and letters in this world premiere performance. (Details)  

🍽️Live Mariachi @ El Patio Bar & Grill | 🕰️5:30-8:30PM | Show up hungry and leave happy. Live mariachi, $5 margaritas, and loaded nachos.

🍽️Murder On The Orient Express Dinner @ Clouds | 🕰️5:30PM | Clouds is turning dinner into a full-on murder mystery experience this week. Reservations required, alibis optional. (Details) 

💽Ames Record Show @ North Grand Mall | 🕰️10AM-7PM | Admission is free, so the only thing you're spending is whatever self-control you have at the record bins. Come dig through the classics and try not to leave with more than you planned. (Details) 

🏛️Explore America 250 @ Farm House Museum | 🕰️10AM-1PM | The Farm House Museum is hosting a free, drop-in event packed with crafts, activities, and treats as part of the America 250 celebration. Free crafts and treats are perfect for the kids. (Details)  

💃Central Iowa Barn Dance | 🕰️7:30-10PM | Head to the CASA building on Sheldon Avenue for a fun, beginner-friendly dance night where everything is taught. No partner or experience required; just show up early to learn the basics, then stick around and just try not to have a good time. (Details) 

🛍️Iowa Vintage Fest @ Scheman Building | 🕰️11AM | 50+ vendors, vintage finds, jewelry, records, food trucks, and giveaways. Clear some closet space before you go, because you're not leaving empty-handed. (Details) 

Thanks for reading this weeks scoop. If you found something interesting, share this with someone named Evan.

See you next week,

Chance