Good morning Ames! McDonald’s New Zealand just rolled out a mullet-inspired cheeseburger where it’s a normal burger on one side and an extra slice of cheese hangs out the back. If Ames was a mullet, what side would be party in the back? I’m going to stay out of this one.

In today’s scoop:

Lets get started.

— Chance

The City Is Coming to Your Neighborhood This Summer

No need to drive to City Hall with your questions this summer. City Hall is coming to you. Ames is hitting the road with four Neighborhood Connections Road Trip stops across the city, bringing city staff, elected officials, equipment displays, activities, snacks, and good old-fashioned neighbor interaction directly to local parks and schools.

Here's the schedule:

May 27 - Moore Memorial Park, 3050 Northridge Parkway (4-6pm) June 17 - Kate Mitchell Elementary School Parking Lot, 3521 Jewel Drive (4-6pm) Aug. 19 - Tahira & Labh Hira Park, 3622 Woodland St. (4-6pm) Sept. 23 - Roosevelt Park, 905 Ninth St. (4-6pm)

Each stop is free, family-friendly, and genuinely a good excuse to meet your neighbors and ask the city questions you've been sitting on. Show up to the one closest to you — or all four if you're really committed to civic engagement. Rain dates are the following day for each event. (source)

The Fitch Aquatic Center Is Finally Opening

Ames, the wait is almost over. The $27 million Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center is opening in phases starting this month, and the full schedule is worth saving.

May 18 - Fitness classes in the multi-purpose room kick things off. May 23 - Indoor pool basins open for swim if weather forces Furman Aquatic Center to close. June 1 - The main event. Swim lessons, lap swimming, aqua exercise classes, and water walking all begin. Sept. 8 - Regular seasonal hours begin, coinciding with Furman closing for the season.

The phased opening isn't a delay; city staff identified some final improvements that made more sense to finish now rather than closing parts of the facility mid-season later. When fully open the facility includes a six-lane lap pool, zero-depth entry splash pool, current channel, wellness pool, body slide, training and party rooms, and a walking track. The walking track is free to use anytime the facility is open.

The $27 million project was funded through a combination of city, county, state, and private donations, including an $8.4 million lead gift from the Rich and Mary Fitch family. (source)

Located near Sawyer Elementary with quick access to Highway 30, this spacious 2,100 sqft, Ames home features a beautifully remodeled main floor, custom cabinetry, hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, and a private backyard lined with mature trees. The finished lower level adds even more room to spread out. Contact Morgan to 👉 take a look inside

Thursday Night Trucks @ The Parc - Loaded Food Truck and Jethro's BBQ Express are the trucks of the night! Show up hungry… this is not the day to eat before you come. 6-8pm (info)

Art from the Attic @ Octagon Center for the Arts - Art sale with over 400 pieces spanning every medium, size, and style. Grab a refreshment, and try not to redecorate your entire house in one visit. 4-7pm (info)  

🎸Pert Near Sandstone & The Shandies @ Alluvial Brewing - 7pm

🎸Pink Kodiak & No Lights Tonight @ Mary Jane’s - 9pm

The Toasted Cone @ The Parc - Kick off the weekend the right way = with something sweet, no justification needed. 6-8pm (info)  

🎸Jesse & The Medicine Men @ Patio Bar & Grill - 6pm

🎸Funky Delicacies w/ DJ Keith Rich @ London Underground - 9pm

Annual Seed & Plant Share @ 709 Clark Ave - Free vegetable starts, seeds, flowers, and houseplants up for grabs. Bring something to swap or just show up and take what you need, no judgment either way. 10am - 12pm (info)  

🎸Jeff Schipull @ Mary Jane’s - 7pm

Karaoke Night @ Mary Jane’s - First ever karaoke night hosted by Midnight Stars Karaoke. Your stage debut has been waiting long enough, so get in there and sing it like you mean it. Embarrassment is a mindset. 9pm (info)

Wild Adventures Zoo Experience @ Lowe’s - A full-blown animatronic zoo with lions, tigers, elephants, dinosaurs, a 40-foot smoke-breathing King Cobra, VR aquarium, fossil digs, and yes, famous deep dish cookies. Your kids are going to absolutely lose their minds. 12-6pm (info)   

2026 Arts Award Celebration @ Reiman Garden’s - The Ames Community Arts Council is throwing their annual Arts Awards Celebration to honor the people who make this community's creative scene what it is. Free to attend, refreshments included, and help cheer on the folks who keep Ames artsy. 1:30pm (info)

Good Neighbors Annual Block Party @ 613 Clark Ave - 5th Annual Block Party with free food, drinks, games for the kids, and live music. 4-7pm (info)

Thanks for reading this weeks scoop. If you found something useful, please share it with someone whose husband was going to get a mullet but then she told you and you told your husband and he called that friend’s husband and explained what a bad idea it was and then he thought about it for a couple days before deciding a normal haircut wasn’t so bad after all.

See you next week.