Des Moines is not Boring

Funny Friday

Pete Jones — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:26:00 GMT

Shawn has been very busy planning the Do More Village for 80/35 this weekend and has not had time to prepare his usual Friday Guest Blog. So, in place of our usual Friday treat, I thought I would post this picture that I found in the Des Moines Register...if for no other reason than it made me laugh really, really hard. Look at the kid on the buckled over in front on the right...priceless.

Happy @8035 to everyone! Please use #8035 in your tweets to get the word out there to the entire world!

Fired up weekend

Pete Jones — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:28:00 GMT

I was so fired up on Tuesday about the 80/35 Music Festival I failed to mention a few other options for ‘not boring’ events going on this weekend.

For starters, there is the GoodGuys Heartland Nationals out to the State Fair Grounds from Friday through Sunday. If classic, hot rod, or custom cars is of any interest to you, I highly suggest you head on to see all of the vehicles. This is the 18^thannual event for the Heartland series (there are other GoodGuys events throughout the nation), which features nearly 3,000 vehicles from any date before 1972. The events will feature a swap meet, street challenge, nostalgia event, fireworks, and much more. There will also be the annual awards for Truck, Custom Rod, Muscle Car, Muscle Machine, Dream Car, and Builders Choice.

Another event this weekend that falls into the ‘not boring’ category is the Valley Junction Street Party. This is a one night only event on Friday the 3rd and it will feature Throwing Toast and One Night Stand on the musical stage. There will be tons of food and adult beverages to choose from. Stop on over and enjoy the live music and libations.

These are just two other options to the list of items I discussed on Tuesday’s post. This is truly a weekend that no one in the city can complain about being bored. If you know someone who is complaining about boredom this weekend, direct them back here and give them a firm kick in the back side cause they are being lazy and not looking for fun things to do. I will be at the 80/35 Festival for as long as I can be on Friday and you can most likely find me in the Do More Village if you need me to do the kicking for you. Saturday a buddy of mine is getting married, so I will not be available for any kicking, which may mean you will need to schedule your time accordingly.

80/35 grin

Pete Jones — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:54:00 GMT

Whew….ok, I think I am recovered from last weekend. What a whirl wind! I bet most of us in Des Moines are feeling the weekendhang-over, since it was such a huge weekend!! There was the Des Moines Arts Festival, the Hy-Vee Triathlon, Big Country Bash, Summer Jam, Keith Urban and Taylor Swift, MCC Fights…all in one weekend!! I heard on the news last nightthat the initial return from the three days that comprised last weekend was near $4.6 million spent, but they said they had yet to receive the confirmation on that statfrom the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Either way, a fantastic showing and atrue illustration that Des Moines is not Boring.

So, this weekend we can all take a big exhale and justenjoy some relaxation. Right? Cause, there can’t be two weekends in a row withsuch an increased level of activities. Right? Cause this is dead Moines…

Wrong! This weekend is going to be just as busy as last weekend. For starters let’s focus on the 80/35 Music Festival, which last year attracted near 30,000 people during the two days. This year is going to be just as crazy with an amazing line up. The live music starts at 4pm on Friday with Tilly and the Wall’s first beats on the Main stage and Des Moines’ own Mooseknuckle on the West Stage. The 17 different acts performing on Friday will be capped off with Public Enemy’s performance. The music starts at noon on Saturday, with three groups on three different stages, Des Moines’ own Poison Control Center will be on the Main Stage and Hanwell on the East Stage,and a group out of Los Angeles, Anni Rossi, showcased on the West Stage. All and all, 27 music groups will perform on Saturday with the finale of Ben Harper and the Relentless 7’s performance on the Main Stage.

When ever I see the photo’s from last year’s festival I can’t help but get a big grin on my face. I had a complete blast last year, I saw people from all walks, directions, and lifestyles all wrapped into one conclusive group that were all their intent to hear live music. The entire timeI kept reminding myself that the event was organized by a group of volunteers. A festival that entertained nearly 30,000 for two days was organized by a group of people volunteering their time and efforts for a mutual cause. That fact still amazes me to this day, but I have gone from true amazement to wonderment as I cannot be more proud that their efforts embody what being an Iowan is all about. Iowans are known for working hard for our causes, our goals, our future and it shows what we are capable of.

While at the festival, stop through the Do More Village(hosted by the Young Professionals Connection) over by the Des Moines Social Club building on Locust Street if you are interested in the opportunity to winup to $500 in downtown gift cards or a CAR! The gift cards are via the Downtown Community Alliance and the car raffle is being held by the 4-H Foundation. There will be live street performances and many interactive options to entertain your time in the Village.

If live music is not your thing, there are tons of other events to go to this weekend, including the I-Cubs, Iowa Barnstormers, Des Moines Menace, Downtown Farmers Market, and too many holiday celebrations to count.

So, let’s recap. If your plans include sitting on aboat at Saylorville or leaving town this weekend, change them! Focus your efforts and attention at either the Music Festival or supporting one of our local teams this weekend, you will not be disappointed!

Thanks goes to Derek Brooks for the photo of last years Flaming Lips show at 80/35.

Legendary

Pete Jones — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:05:00 GMT

Please find the Friday Guest Blog below. This was written by Shawn Harrington

The Iowa sports world stood still on Wednesday. The shock is still just barely wearing off. Upon hearing the news from a co-worker that Aplington-Parkersburg's Coach Ed Thomas had been shot and killed, I could feel the impact digging deep very quickly. Even as someone who played all my high school and college athletics 900 miles away, I could feel that there was a strong sense of loss among all of us.

From everything I've been hearing over the last two days, there are people all over Iowa sharing these same feelings. Here is a quick recap of Coach Thomas's most notable career accomplishments:

-Overall record of 292-84 over 37 seasons as Head Coach
-Two State Titles
-Produced four current NFL players including Aaron Kampan (Green Bay Packers), Casey Wiegman (Denver Broncos), Jared Devries (Detroit Lions), and Brad Meester (Jacksonville Jaguars).

These credentials contributed to Thomas being named 2005's NFL High School Coach of the Year. The four players from this high school moving onto the NFL is no small story, especially considering that this is drawn off a population of less than 2,000! All have moved on with high remarks for their former coach and have referenced the values and work ethic taught to them that make up who they are today as successful pro athletes. Outside of his football profession, it is an amazing accomplishment of how well respected he became within his own community. As a survivor of one of Iowa's most devastating tornadoes in May of 2008, Thomas has since been the stand-out leader for rebuilding the town of Parkersburg.

My personal memory of Thomas' impact will be of driving into Parkersburg last summer to meet with customers. I was there to set up flooring arrangements on the first set of houses under construction. The scene was still unbelievable devastation of a town only a couple months past its tragedy that took 6 lives. The place was leveled with trees still uprooted and piles of rubble on the curbs of what used to be people's homes. With only the slight beginnings of framed houses, it was a clear view across town and to the high school that was sheered in half. What stuck out was the red and white practice jerseys on the hill, an entire team running straight lines up and down the field to the sound of the whistles. This was the organization that stood out among the chaos. As the residents moved about that day, whether it was for clean-up or construction efforts, what was in the background was the symbol of their community moving forward and starting a return to normalcy.

It does not surprise me that it would be rallying behind a man like this to help Parkersburg regain itself when it could have been easy for them to give up to Mother Nature's powerful forces. What Thomas did for these people was what the best coaches out there do for individuals on a regular basis. They find us when we are most vulnerable, when we feel defeated, like the opposing forces are more than we can handle, and then they remind us that the strength is within us and somehow find a way to bring it out of us when it is needed most. That is what Coach Thomas did for Parkersburg when the town stood at its most critical moment.

Besides just pro athletes, this man touched the lives of all those around him and many who played for him. He stressed that he was not only teaching his athletes football, but was also teaching these young men values that they can carry with them through life. This was evident Wednesday afternoon when Aaron Thomas, the son of Ed, spoke publicly at a time when outrage seemed to be justifiable. Within hours of the murder, Aaron asked for prayers to be with the suspect's family.

There has already been much discussion on if Aplington-Parkersburg will recover from this tragedy and move on, however we know that they will. It is the one individual they are remembering who has already given them the power and the strength to do just that.

Does progressive = Not boring?

Pete Jones — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:26:00 GMT

Des Moines is starting to be labeled a progressive city, which some have questioned but no one can deny the movement has started to gain steam. Well, if anyone had any doubts,this weekend is a prime example that those discussing Des Moines and progressive in the same sentence are onto something.

For starters, there is the Hy-Vee Triathlon, which I discussed on Tuesday (see below). There is also the Des Moines Arts Festival, which features over 175 artists, live music, food, activities, a Film Festival, a Jazz and Wine Pavilion, all jammed into three days at the national renowned festival. Both events will feature a dichotomy of participants and crowds all intermingling this weekend.

What could be better!? List another city in the nation that has a World Class triathlon AND a nationally renowned Arts Festival going on at the same time!

In case you are concerned you might miss all the action in West Des Moines while sipping wine and looking at all the cool art at the Festival downtown; not to worry, the city has set up buses to run between each event all weekend long. That is probably the best idea since….well, since sliced bread if you ask me. Both events are BIG time pulls for the city and it is great to see the cooperation and planning to set up this huge weekend! Not to mention the huge amount of local corporate sponsorship involved in both events. For instance at the Arts Festival: Aviva USA, Principal Financial Group, Prairie Meadows,GuideOne Insurance, U. S Cellular (also a major sponsor at next weekend’s 80/35 Music Festival), Budweiser, Meredith Corporation, Hubbell Homes, Nationwide are all involved with the Arts Festival. These are some of the largest employers in the city! Hy-Vee is the main sponsor of the Triathlon, thus the name, but they are also providing a piece of the sponsorship and pull for the Arts Festival with the Friday night concert. Other sponsors of the triathlon are not necessarily local companies since the sponsors of the athletic event tend to be more regional hubs of larger companies in the health care and food industries.(Pepsico, Gatorade, etc.) Yet their investments in this huge event are a going to bring great returns for the community.

Every thing at the Arts Festival starts tomorrow night at 4 pm with the official opening,and will be capped off by Collective Soul and Gavin DeGraw’s performance, that is sponsored by Hy-Vee Food Stores, in recognition of the triathlon.The events continue all day Saturday and until 5 pm on Sunday.

The next two weeks are entirely huge weeks for the city of Des Moines and main reasons why I consider Des Moines to be a not boring city. These are the large scale events, which often get more press and media attention (as illustrated by my Blogs this week), yet there are tons of other events going on this weekend that I haven’t had time to discuss. But, it is a good thing to have not enough time to discuss all that is going on in our city.

Right!?

First of its kind Des Moines

Pete Jones — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:30:00 GMT

I have to admit, I was a little torn trying to figure out what I wanted to lead with this week in my Tuesday Blog. The decision was made a little easier once I considered which event is most important to me (selfishly). There are so many events (Des Moines Art Festival, Keith Urban/Taylor Swift, 80/35 planning, MCC Fights) going on in Des Moines in the next two weeks, I chose the event that I will be participating in, the Hy-Vee Triathlon. Also, I think it is fair to say most people have the least knowledge of the Triathlon, when compared to the arts festivals, concerts, fights, etc...

Anyway, now that’s out of the way, the Triathlon activities start on Saturday, with the kid’s triathlon at 8 am, and the ITU Triathlon races later in the afternoon. What may still be unknown to most is Hy-Vee’s place in the world of Triathlon racing. This is the third year Hy-Vee has sponsored the race with the largest purse ($700k) to the winners of any race in the world. That is pretty cool considering the fact that the world’s top Professional racers come to Des Moines Iowa every year to compete for the prizes. Not to mention the impact of having the worlds Professional racers in Des Moines has on the local economy. This year’s field will have all of the top prize winners from last year’s Beijing Olympics, with Jan Frodeno, Simon Whitfield, Bevan Docherty (Gold, Silver, Bronze respectively) competing for the Men and Emma Snowsill, Vanessa Fernandes, Emma Moffatt (same order for women) competing for the women. Snowsill and Moffatt finished last year’s Hy-Vee race 1 & 2 respectively and are sure to be in the lead pack again this year. For the men, none of the Olympic winners have placed at Hy-Vee in the past (which shows the level of competition), but not to worry Rasmus Henning will be back to see if he can get his third victory in as many years. The elite events are truly amazing races to watch because all of the competitors in the fields are so evenly matched. The ITU Triathlon events start at 12:30.

Not to be undone, the amateurs (me included!) kick off their racing at 6 am on Sunday with a 1500 meter swim in Blue Heron Lake, a 40k bike out west on Grand Avenue, and a 10k run throughout the Valley South Woods area in West Des Moines. This event will have nearly 2000 participants (1600 at last count) competing for the individual goals and accomplishments, not the largest prize purse in the sport of Triathlon (unfortunately). If you can tear yourselves out of bed on Sunday morning early, watching the large number of athletes compete is something everyone should experience, not to mention how great it will be to have people cheering at every transition and corner along the race. After the amateurs finish, the ITU Professional gang will be back at it with a first of its kind event, the ITU Triathlon Team Championships. This unique event will team two pairs (2 men and 2 women) to make a team of four, which will represent their nation. Each participant will compete in a super sprint triathlon (250m swim, 7km bike and 1.8k run) before handing off the baton to the next participant on their team. The winning nation’s team will take home $70k and bragging rights for the first event of this kind held in the United States and only the third time in history.

The triathlon provides Des Moines residents an opportunity to see professional athletes racing in a first-of-its-kind event on Sunday, as well as the richest prize in the sport on Saturday. Not to mention the coverage from NBC (covering Sunday’s event) that will air nationally during the afternoon (check your listings). The racing also provides an opportunity for us amateurs to test our fitness and compete among friends. I hope Des Moines will embrace the racing and take some time to swing by the Raccoon River complex this weekend between all of the other activities going on in our great city this weekend.

Racing Forward

Pete Jones — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:59:00 GMT

Please find the Friday Guest Blog below. This was written by Shawn Harrington

While a Texas-based sports group feels it needs to deliver the message to Central Iowa that we are not capabale of supporting a professional sport that is non-native to our region, another seems to be taking off faster than ever. This Sunday, the Iowa Speedway, in Newton, will host the Iowa Corn Indy 500 (12p.m. Central, ABC). This will be the 3rd major Indy Car Race of its kind in as many years since the facility opened its gates in 2006.

Outside of this annual race, the Speedway itself has caught plenty of national attention as a one-of-a-kind facility unique to its sport. It was set to seat 25,000 and then had to develop expansion plans for seating toward 30,000 once the fanbase started growing. That was only after a couple seasons, they now head into 2009 with a seating capacity of 50,000! The track was desgined by Nascar's Rusty Wallace and has been known to bring down what I've learned to be strong G-forces on the drivers as they're heading around the 7/8 mile track. These make it a physically tough race on any driver and are making this Iowa stop one of their more challenging races on the schedule.

The success of this track for bringing in publicity, superstars, and revenues to Central Iowa should not be overlooked. Like any other major sport, this is a business and those behind the scenes at Iowa Speedway have been doing a pretty stellar job so far. Indy Car Racing in particular has been taking off in popularity due to the rising fame of its international stars Marco Andretti, Dario Franchitti, and Danica Patrick, among many others. There's definitely more cities out there in competition to host these events and the small town of Newton has done a pretty good job catering to them and locking itself in as a must-have race on the Indy schedule.

As if there's not enough buzz building, Nascar itself has now been entertaining the option of holding a top race at Iowa Speedway. While overall ratings for the sport have been slipping, many racing professionals have acknowledged that having a new market here in Iowa is critical to the future of their sport. It seems pretty obvious that this track knows how to promote itself to racing's fanbase and has established many great relationships already within its circles (yeah, circles, like inner groups).

As a true hockey fan, I would hate to compare ice to pavement. However, I would not mind comparing two professional facilities sitting within 30 miles of each other. The two opened within an 18 month span and have seasons that off-set each other. One is pushing 20,000+ season tickets and gaining continual corporate sponsorships at an economic time that has most cutting back. The other finds itself downgrading its product for the fans who support a 17,000 seat facility built primarily through public funding. One keeps driving forward with its plans while the other is switching gears, just not in the right direction for the time being.

Transcending with beats

Pete Jones — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:32:00 GMT

Summer is here, officially, as of this week! Not that anyone has forgotten with the current temperatures exceeding the 90 degree threshold. One great way to get out and enjoy the summer weather, even during 90 degree temps and humidity, is to listen to live music. It’s true, a great way to just forget about the temperature is to listen to the beats from the speakers…the vocals transcending you to a much happier, and more comfortable, place in time which will evaporate sensations of the ever-increasing body temperature and need for liquids.

One of the best places to take the forget-about-the-temperature journey is the Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater. The Amphitheater is a fantastic place to bring a blanket and just relax during the Friday happy-hour or on a Saturday evening after you have spent all day at the Farmers Market or in the East Village. Even if you didn’t spend all day at the Market or in the Village, the amphitheater provides a tremendous opportunity to see the sun-set and hear your favorite musician strumming a fantastic tune. The lineup of musicians this summer is top-notch, which is sure to make the opportunity one you will truly never forget.

For instance, the calendar for the next month is below:

Tonight – Matthew Street
Tomorrow – Des Moines own The Nadas
June 25 – Carolina Liar
July 2 – Sister Hazel
As if you need any more music during the week of the forth of July week after the 80/35 Music Festival - The Black Crows July 7
July 9 – Mat Kearney
July 15 – Umphrey’s McGee
July 16 - American Idol’s David Cook

So, as you can see, there are tons of options at the amphitheater this summer and ample opportunities to transcend your warm experiences. Break out the folding chairs or blanket and head to the amphitheater to relax and enjoy some great live tunes.

Thanks to Des Moines Alive for the great picture of the amphitheater and the Des Moines skyline.

Quit screwing us!

Pete Jones — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:36:00 GMT

I just got done reading an article in the Des Moines Register about the owners of the Iowa Chops intent to sell their franchise and pull it from Des Moines. Their plan would be to replace the AHL franchise with a Central Hockey League team; the CHL is a lower division than the AHL.

After reading the article, my initial question was:

Why is Des Moines getting screwed?!!

Let’s recap for those non-hockey readers:

Our first attempt at an AHL franchise in Des Moines was two years ago with the Iowa Stars, a team affiliated with the Dallas Stars. After a year, the Dallas franchise decided they wanted to have their team closer to home and moved the team to Austin, Texas. Why didn’t they think of that option in the first place? I realize the first year’s ticket sales were not much to be admired, but they had to have planned lower tickets sales in the first year of the franchise….right? Why would a company, not located in Des Moines, decided to invest in Des Moines only to pull their investment after 365 days. (not sure the exact daily count, just providing an example here) That seems fishy. (I stand corrected, after I posted this Blog I received notice that my facts were not accurate. The Iowa Stars were in Des Moines for three years, starting in 2005 when the Arena was completed.)

Then, the Anaheim Ducks decided the Stars had opened up enough of a window they may be able to swoop in and capitalize on the already created market. The second franchise in-as-many-years had a very successful year considering the circumstances. I even seem to recall a stat (that I cannot find now) that said the Chops had the largest increase in ticket sales year-over-year than any AHL franchise. Yet, a company, not from Des Moines, screwed the Ducks and did not own up to their end of their agreement. That company, Schlegel Sports located in Dallas, failed to pay a substantial amount of debt to Anaheim, which prompted the Ducks to pull their team from Des Moines well after a year when they nearly made the playoffs!

I seem to see a very glaring trend here; companies not from Des Moines have been screwing us! We have held up our end of the bargain and purchased tickets for an AHL affiliated teams two years in a row. We threw away the Stars sweaters after the first year and purchased the pork affiliated gear last year, even after other teams laughed at our choice of a mascot. Yet, we are now going to be subjected to a third team in-as-many-years, a fact that can not be disputed, and possibly a team in a lesser division than the AHL. Des Moines deserves an AHL team and we deserve a team that is willing to invest in our city and stay for the long haul. We have shown that we can support the most “farm teams” of any city in the nation and do it with great pride. We need a team that has no plans to pack up their sweaters and move after a year, or realize that their initial investment may take a few years to show a solid return (as is with any new business investment). We deserve a team that is willing to invest in us as we have in the past two teams…only to be let down by companies that are not in the Des Moines area, or even the region for that matter!

Where are the Minneasota Wild when you need them?

Thanks to Don3rdSE for the photo a Wells Fargo Arena.

What a week!

Pete Jones — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:17:00 GMT

What an amazing week! I have heard past DMDC trip participants saying they had a blast while in Washington DC, but I had no idea how much of a blast they truly had. The week was amazing. Err, I already said that didn't I? Anyway, I put together a brief daily recap below. By the minute updates from the discussion between a handful of us while we were on the trip can be accessed at Twitter.com, search for #Dmdc.

Wednesday

We arrived in DC around 10:30 and went straight to the Capital Hyatt where Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Leonard Boswell spoke during our luncheon. Pelosi spoke on the increased importance for Health Care Reform and the Pay/go system, which mandates any money spent has to come from another area of the government and not from an increase. Interestingly, Health Care Reform is not part of the Pay/go system, but many other important initiatives are. She also said we need to act to release our dependency on foreign oil as it is a security issue.

Later in the day we had Legislature Briefings, which included the White House Office of Public Liaison, Department of Transportation, Department of Education, and the Department of Health and Human Services. These were mainly informational segments where each Department spoke on their focus for 2009 and going forward. The most interesting information I got from these meetings is the government has $8billion set aside for a light rail system, which they see as a regional investment in the Midwest Region. Also, the stimulus bill doubled the Dept of Ed's budget overnight, which is never a bad thing.

The evening found our group at the Russell Building for our reception, which included many Iowans who currently live and work in the DC area. The reception was a great opportunity to network and meet many of the staff of our elected officials.

Thursday

Started with the Iowa Congressional Delegation Briefing, which included Senators Grassley and Harkin, Congressmen Bruce Braley, David Loebsack, Leonard Boswell, Tom Latham, and Steve King. This portion included each representatives take on the major issues facing us, Health care and Highways & transportation were the hot topics. The major take away from this segment was the consensus of each of the Congressmen that Iowa is extremely blessed to have two senior Senators fighting for our causes. The interesting this is both parties are pulling for Health Care Reform and both speak to bipartisinship, yet each had their jabs towards each others approach and illustrated the fact that we have a log way to go with this regard.

The next segment was a workshop called Encouraging Regional Sustainable Development through Federal Policy. This segment was cut short because of travel to the next segment, but the major things I took away was an interesting fact: Dupont saved $3billion in a year after changing to a green business approach. Also, who knew there were 8 thousand pieces to a Wind Turbine?

We then traveled to the Department of State to hear the World Food Prize Nomination Ceremony, which included the nomination of Dr. Gebisa Ejeta for 2009. Included in the panel at this event were the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and John Ruan III the World Food Prize Chairman. There was such a strong Iowa contingent at the event Hillary Clinton labeled it "Iowa Day." Also, it was announced Bill Gates will be the keynote speaker at the Food Prize event in October held in Des Moines.

Then we rushed back to the Hyatt to hear House Republican leader John Boehner, who said we cannot compete as a nation until we have a sound educational program for young kids. He also said the nation has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.

From here, there were 4 different options to choose from, they included a trip to the Us Capital Visitors Center, tour of the US Supreme Court, Smithsonian National Museum of American History tour, and Featured Priorities Presentation to Congressional Staff. I chose to tour the Visitors Center, which was very interesting. We actually ran into Nancy Pelosi as she walked to the House while we were there.

Thursday night included a trip to Mount Vernon and a performance later by The Nadas, who traveled with us on the trip.

Friday

This day started very early, at 4:15 am to be exact. I was given the opportunity to run with Senator Grassley that I could not pass up. I traveled to the Senators house with Rob Denson, Paula Dierenfeld, Paul Hassebroek and Heather Wilcox. We ran 3 miles with the Senator and were treated to his homemade oatmeal by his wife Barbara.

Then, back to the Hyatt to the Congressional Staff Policy meeting and a Continental Brunch and Congressional Staff Briefing. The brunch included the keynote speaker Tom Vilsack and many of the congressional delegates and staff members. I was previously unaware that the USDA controlled or had access to 80% of the US land mass. Vilsack said his office has $7billion set aside to focus on creating broadband access nationwide, which will open up access for rural farmers to attain information and also increase their markets.

After these meetings we checked out and headed to the airport. Unfortunately, the airport experience was not the best because we had to wait 3 hours on the tarmac as the tower failed to allow us to leave...and when they did our gas was too hot so we could had to wait for it to cool down. We eventually made it back, 3 hours late, to Des Moines and many of us rushed to the Coldplay concert...which was great!

But, I can honestly say the major focus from this trip was not about who we saw or who spoke to us, rather it was about who we met while we were out there. It was said it is interesting that we have to travel to DC to meet so many great and passionate Iowans, and I have to agree. I am just glad I had the opportunity to make the trip and meet the aforementioned Iowans. I have made contacts and friends that agree with me, Des Moines is not boring.

Yes, I posted a photo where my eyes are shut...but it is the only one I have. Thanks to Rob Denson for taking the photo.

DmDc travelin

Pete Jones — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:22:00 GMT

I am going to switch things up a little this week since I am not going be able to get my usual Tuesday/Thursday and Friday Guest Blog schedule accomplished. Reason being, I am traveling with the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Advocacy Trip to Washington DC on Wednesday through Friday. This is the 30^th year a group from Des Moines will travel to the nation’s capital to present a public policy agenda promoting local economic growth. This year’s focus is on innovation, infrastructure, human capital, and quality of place. I will be representing the Young Professionals Connection and will be traveling with around 170 other Central Iowans who will be representing their organizations for the three day trip.

We are going to have an extremely busy three days but I am sure it is going to be well worth it. Our first speaker on Wednesday for lunch is the speaker, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Iowa Congressman Leonard Boswell. On Thursday we will be joined by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and on Friday former Iowa Governor and current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. We will have many other speakers and visitors during the three days, but those are the three that stand out for me. The complete schedule can be found here to get the complete list of guests and events.

Instead of three Blog posts this week, you can follow me on Twitter by adding my “handle” @dsmisnotboring and using #DmDc so you can easily follow the conversation. I will be posting as regularly as I can and addressing the topics of discussion during the daily segments. But, to make this as interactive as we can, I need your feed back:

What do you want to hear?

What topics are on your mind with regard to innovation, infrastructure, human capital and quality of place?

Send me your thoughts and questions via Twitter and listen in on the conversation. I will do my best to incorporate other Twitter users who are at the events so we can truly discuss our feedback and have a conversation with Central Iowan’s while in DC.

Thanks to Elliott Teel for the photo.

Fighting to keep it alive

Pete Jones — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:55:00 GMT

Please find the Friday Guest Blog below. This was written by Shawn Harrington

The news story hardly made an impact when it went out last month, not even within our local sports world. Des Moines' Pro Hockey team, the Iowa Chops, had been dropped as the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Anaheim Ducks. The ownership group of the Chops, Schlegel Sports, based out of Dallas, apparently had not met the obligations of its financial arrangements with Anaheim. These were rumored to be somewhere around $1 million for the two year contract between the teams, which covers team expenses, including coaches and team personnell.

It did not surpirse me, however, that most local sports fans did not feel the full effects of this loss. How could they? It's tough to get you or your family behind a team that changes its name and logo before you have the chance to settle into your new hockey jersey. AHL hockey has only been here since 2005, and has already gone through two identity changes from the Iowa Stars to the Chops. For as passionate as I am for hockey, I would not hesitate to point out that this is a cultural sport that needs time to grow in new markets. The opportunities for hockey to find that growth in this market may be right around the corner.

The Chops plans are to stay in Wells Fargo Arena heading into the 2009-10 season. As they continue playing, there will be much potential for increased exposure to pro hockey, especially with Kansas City being marked as a leading candidate for one of the next to acquire an NHL team. Already, the Wild are heading into their 9th NHL season in Minnesota as their popularity continues to spread down from the North. To add to this, The Blackhawks just made a great payoff run that turned plenty of heads in a city heavily influenced by Chicago's sports scene. With a young talented team, its apparent that the Blackhawks are set to provide us with plenty more runs in the near future. This exposure from surrounding markets definitley could not hurt the Chops' staying power.

An example of longevity leading to a developed fan base can be found with our own Des Moines Buccanneers. The Bucs Hockey Team has been around since the 1980-81 season, and now we find many nights where its KGGO Arena packs sellout crouds for gamenights.

Many have been quick to discredit Wells Fargo's experience to that of the Bucs' concerning the downtown parking, higher food & beer prices, etc.; these would be unfair comparisons as the two are much different, yet unique. What we get with Wells Fargo Arena is a high-class facility that could definitely use more appreciation from our community. At the same time, the on-ice products are incomparable. The Bucs are USHL, with all players under the age of 20, fighting for their chance for scholarships and to go Pro. What we get with the Chops is developed professionals, one step away from hockey's highest level. What becomes of last year's local payers has been discussed in my previous "Flying Chops" write-up.

I've never expected this sport to find its fanbase overnight. However, there's still plenty of potential here, especially as two separate NHL teams (Dallas and Anaheim) have invested into our market within the last four years. Give up on hockey? I'm not ready to, unless we're a warm weather city and I just didn't know it.

Networking circles

Pete Jones — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:27:00 GMT

One of the things that makes Des Moines not boring is the ability to network with virtually all circles of people at any given day. It is not uncommon to see the CEO of Wells Fargo or Principal across the dining room at the local restaurant or at a local sporting event. That ease of contact with business leaders is really what sets Des Moines apart from many of its larger cities in the region. But, the ease of networking or contacts in Des Moines does not stop with CEO’s, there are many networking groups and options for Des Moines residents that are unique to our area. This fact has recently been supported by a couple of options that I just came across:

1. UnemployedinDesMoines, is a Blog that just started by Suzanne Hull – who, as you might have guessed, is unemployed. Suzanne is not unlike many Des Moines residents since she was just let go from her long term career this year. Her Blog contains very interesting reading and focuses on networking opportunities for the unemployed and employed alike.

2. The other option I just came across is Metrolinkz, which is a networking site specific to Des Moines. For Metrolinkz, think Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or many of the other Social Networking sights all wrapped up into one site with a focus on local networking. It is a fantastic way to stay in touch with local business people and expand your network using Social Media.

Of course, networking goes back to the dark ages…before Social Media. There are many other networking groups in town which you can join to expand your network. Many of us have recently realized how important a strong network is, especially in the crazy times we face these days. You can never have too large of a network, especially in a city the size of Des Moines. Networking does not mean going to all of the local happy hours and trading business cards, there are many ways to increase your network. I chose to get involved with the Young Professional Connection and have expanded my network exponentially. Now, I must admit networking was not my major motivation for joining YPC, I was more interested in getting involved with the community. But, I have met tons of great young professionals and business leaders through my involvement with YPC. I will admit a strong bias with my praise for YPC as I am the President-Elect for the group and have been on their Board for three years. But, trust me, there are ample opportunities for young professionals through YPC. If YPC is not your thing or you may be worried whether or not you qualify as “young,” there are many other options to consider. There are political, community, recreational, theatrical, artistic organizations all across the city. There are book clubs, support networks, Tweetup’s, Lion Clubs, Blogging, Chamber of Commerce…you name it and there is the option out there for you. Reach out to those around you, with an open mind, and the opportunities are truly endless.

The attached photo is from a previously held YPC Networking event.
There is a great list of networking options on DM Juice.

Them trails are healthy

Pete Jones — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:35:00 GMT

I was blown away when I heard a surprising statistic about Minneapolis; I guess it is one of the healthiest cities in the nation. Who knew? Very surprising to me since it is so cold there for 9 months out of the year, but the facts don’t lie...MSN lists Minneapolis as the 13^th healthiest city, behind mostly the entire state of California, which is obvious. There are other reports that have Lincoln Nebraska as the healthiest city in the nation, which does not jive with the MSN reports, but I guess it is just which one you read.

The fact that Iowa has no city represented on a majority the list is even more amazing, realizing we are not well known for our fitness achievements, more so for our Bacon celebrations. But, with such a focus on our local trail system it is interesting to see how poorly we are rated on the national level. There is a local group that is working diligently to help get Iowan’s out on the local trails and into shape, The Friends of Central Iowa Trails are holding their 4^th Annual Trail Daze this coming weekend, an event focused on numerous ways to utilize the fabulous 460 miles of local trails. The festivities start on Friday and run all weekend, they will include Inline Skating, Running, Walking, Canoing (yes, but not on the trails…next to them), Volkksport Triathlon, and the list goes on.This is a perfect opportunity to get out and enjoy all of the many trails this weekend and start to sway next years Healthiest city voters.

Des Moines may not be on the healthiest city listings but our trail aficionados do have trail etiquette, which I cannot say for all the bikers that passed me (I was running) this past Saturday near Wayzata, MN. Only one of the many bikers did the right thing and told me they were passing me, and she was 8 years old. At least Iowans know the proper way to alert others and have manners.

You can find a more detailed version of the Central Iowa trails by clicking here.

Summertime...BBQ's and Weddings

Pete Jones — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:09:00 GMT

Please find the Friday Guest Blog below. This was written by Shawn Harrington

My guest blog gets written in advance this week as my end-of-May road trip has finally arrived! This is to include a stop onto Memphis' Blues' ground, known as Beale Street, and then to Little Rock for my good friends Marc and Melaney. Saturday will mark the day of their wedding, a day we have anxiously been awaiting for as it also brings the hometown crew together from our present homes in Buffalo, D.C., Miami, and L.A., and myself as the lone representative of the Midwest.

One thing this upcoming weekend's events have been sure to promise is top-of-the-line Bar-be-que. However, before traveling down South, I had to take advantage of our extended Memorial Day Weekend to make sure I got a good round of it here in Des Moines. Saturday was West Des Moines' first ever Smokin' in the Junction, which I headed down to with my brother Chris. For an event advertised as 10am-10pm, we definitely felt like we missed out on all the action when we stopped down in the middle of the afternoon. Outside of the regular food vendors, we found almost all the contestants shutting down and packing up. What about all this original bar-be-que we had been hearing about? The rest of the day's food was going fast and it seemed the only way to get anything from this was to know someone.

When faced with these situations, my solution has always been.. get to know someone! Luckily, we found PJ with "Blowin' Smoke", based out of Urbandale, who wasn't ready to pack up his party early. Not only was he generous to share with us and the other visitors coming by, but the ribs were falling off the bone and amazing. Even though the rain was starting to downpour on Valley Junction, the day had just been saved. "Blowin' Smoke" ended up taking home a top 3 prize for their Chicken.. congratulations!

To top off the weekend, I made an extra trip out to the Drake neighborhood's Jethro's. Wow, I forgot how much I love this place.. it's one of those places that noon leaves hungry (ok, maybe vegetarians). This time I added in the Waffle-fry Nachos to my order, which were piled high enough to bring back memories of my first Garbage Plate in Rochester, NY. Either way, its all good stuff!

That's enough about food, its time to celebrate. I wish Marc and Melaney the best as I get ready to proudly stand with them on Saturday afternoon. Should be a great weekend!

Gotta get that big wig out!!

Pete Jones — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:00:00 GMT

This weekend is the bi-annual Big Hair Ball, which is organized by Art Noir. Art Noir is an affiliate group of the Des Moines Art Center that focuses on the educating the young professional demographic and developing art appreciation programs. It might be best to head to the Art Center early on Saturday because this event has grown so large Art Noir can only hold it every other year. Your admission charge will go toward furthering the mission of the Des Moines Art center, so your donation will go to a great cause and you will have the time of your life.

This is truly your event if you ever had a desire to put on a really big wig and get dressed up, this is your chance! This Big Hair Ball will feature 5 local hair salons, a fashion show, burlesque show, live DJ’s, painted ladies, and tons of Glam Revolution. The kicker is each hair salon has a rule for their hair creations; they have to be at least one foot wide and more than a foot tall. But, not to worry, the rules only apply to the professionals during the fashion show; you don’t have to meet their standards for your wig of choice. The Ball will surely be a very exciting event and I know the Art Noir group has worked very hard to get everything put together for the big night. Events like these are truly great examples of the efforts young professionals are making to ensure Des Moines is not Boring! Head on out and enjoy the festivities on Saturday and make sure to let your hair down…err, or up…which ever works best for you.

The after party will head downtown to the Des Moines Social Club's location at 1408 Locust Street, where I am sure Zachary and his crew will rival the energy at the Art Center.

Since I could never accurately describe what to expect at the Big Hair Ball, I thought this picture from the 2007 Ball might suffice. This was found on the Des Moines Metromix site.

Staycation anyone?

Pete Jones — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:26:00 GMT

This morning I read an article in the USAToday that discussed communities banding together to “chip in.” The article focused on one city in Indiana whose pool had been closed since the funds from the city would not be enough to repair it. Those residents banded together and raised nearly 90% of the money needed to open the pool for the summer. The article really made me think of the Greater Des Moines Partnerships I Believe campaign and the term Staycation, which has been used very often lately.

Staycation means to; essentially, take a vacation here in Des Moines or Stay here to spend your money. I spoke to a local leader last week who was doing just that, taking a Staycation. That leader was planning to spend the weekend attacking the city as she would if she were on vacation. No chores, no housework, no driving the kids to and fro. Just going shopping, eating out, and enjoying the city with her husband, as if they were in an area they have never gone to before. This seems like a very logical idea and something we should all consider, as I know many have changed their summer holiday plans due to restructured budgets. Taking a Staycation with your loved one, or ones, seems like an ideal option to save a little coin and not lose the piece of mind that comes with a vacation. There are tons of options to consider, for instance you could:

    1. Take a Saturday and head over to West Glen Town Center to explore the shops and food options, or the East Village area.
    2. Take the kids to Adventureland
    3. Travel to a wine tasting at Tassleridge
    4. Take a tour at Living History Farms
    5. Head out to Saylorville for a relaxing day on the water

There are so many things to do here in the city I really cannot put them all into perspective.

The best part of the Staycation is your coin will be spent locally, with local employers who are supporting your neighbors, friends, and family. The reward for taking a Staycation is to enjoy the same opportunities you would have going elsewhere, but by supporting your local community. I always hear people say the best part of a vacation is getting home...with a Staycation, you never have to leave!

Why the 4th of July?

Pete Jones — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:01:00 GMT

Please find the Friday Guest Blog below. This was written by Shawn Harrington

It's getting close to that time to start getting ready for 80/35 Music Festival. The anticipation is definitely spreading and the buzz is once again building for the two-day music festival set to take place in only a month-and-a-half! It's been fun sharing the details and new developments with everyone while coordinating the festival's Do More Village to be presented by the Young Professionals Connection.

While talking to many organizations, friends, co-workers, and various groups, it's been very obvious that many Des Moines area residents are excited to once again have this coming back as an annual event. At the same time, I've still come across many who are not catching onto the idea of having this as one of our largest community events (not that I would want to rival the State Fair for this title!). Like anything, it's most likely going to take time to build as many did not make it out to last year's 80-35, which has plenty of potential to keep growing this summer and in year's to come.

One of the most common and objectionable questions I've been hearing out there by those not planning to attend has been "why July 4th weekend?". This actually has me puzzled, as I've always known July 4th weekend as a time to be festive and to celebrate with family & friends. Maybe we just need to take a better look at how 80-35 found its current home on the weekend of us celebrating our Nation's Independence.

The non-profit Des Moines Music Coalition established its presence in Des Moines through its contributions to local music and bringing us its own series of music festivals (Gross Domestic Product, Little Big Fest, among many others). After having success at showcasing Des Moines' music presence on a local level, the DMMC became eager in 2007 to produce one gigantic attraction. The goal would be to start drawing national attention to our city's music scene, which had been lacking up until this point.

While this was going on, the city of Des Moines found itself with the dilemma of no major attraction to its city on the 4th of July. This is widely known as one of the busiest travel times of the year! What did we have to showcase our city while filling our restaurants, shops, and hotels up until this point?  At a time of tourism, parades, and festivals going on across the nation, Des Moines was ready to step up on what it could offer its residents and visitors in comparison to its rival cities. It was only natural for the city and its business community to give the DMMC the resources it needed to get started on planning the first-ever of its kind, which launched July 4th & 5th of 2008.

It's obvious that many people travel away on this weekend, however we can't forget those who travel in on this weekend. Central Iowa has much to showcase and be proud of; having a two-day concert series to entertain out of town guests definitely can not hurt our chances of doing this. At the same time, we're ready to show our own residents the level of entertainment we're capable of producing!  At a time known for barbecues, boats, blowing stuff up, and Will Smith movies, its time to welcome in the music to this category.

The next time someone asks "why have it July 4th weekend?", I'll just state what the alternative was.. for us to do nothing.

Milestone stormer

Pete Jones — Thu, 21 May 2009 20:28:00 GMT

This Blog post marks a milestone for desmoinesisnotboring.com, this is my 100^th Blog post so please allow me to take just a second to reflect. I reflect back on August of 2008, well…that is not true, I reflect back to May of 2008 when I started to brainstorm for a Blog. Last May I had just completed a class at Drake University that was led by Timothy Johnson. Tim’s class was the first to have a Blog intertwined with the lesson plan and used as a means to learn. The detailed concept blew me away for a number of reasons, but mostly because I had no idea there were books about Blogging, or Blogging coaches, etc. I knew what Blogs were at the time, but not the extent they were changing the landscape of communication. It was after a trip to Chicago and SOBcon08 that the Blog itch started scratching me and I knew then I needed some Blog ointment, which is where this Blog came from. Between May and August, I brainstormed to determine how I wanted to brand the Blog, what would make me unique enough to get readers to actually read, etc. Then, once the concept hit me, I had to organize and design the Blog. I have made changes over the time, most recently incorporating Guest Blogging, and plan to continue to make the changes as we go. As my friend Art Dinkin said, 'a Blog is never complete.' So, thanks for sticking with me and I look forward to continuing the road ahead.

Wow, that got to be a little longer reflection piece than I intended. Not unlike this Blog, the Iowa Barnstormers are working towards milestones themselves. They are currently playing in their second season of the Arena Football League 2 and are carrying a 4 win and 3 loss record heading into this Saturday’s battle with the Armadillo Dusters. The local crowd is definitely on board with the home team and as I understand it these tickets are very hard to come by. I have yet to make it to a Barnstormer game, which is shameful on my part, but I hear they are tons of fun and come highly recommended. The Barnstormer history goes back to the original Arena League back in the 1990’s, and from what I understand the reincarnated Stormers are equally as exciting and the buzz in the stadium is just as energetic as back then. I spoke to a handful of friends immediately after the April 25^th heartbreaking loss against the QC Steamwheelers, their excitement and reaction to the loss really made me wish I was at that game. Their reactions to the devastating loss were equal to a loss by their favorite college team, which I was shocked that they had the same feelings as they did for their favorite teams. It is great to see the city rally around the Barnstormers and really embrace all that the Stormers have to offer. If you are in town this Memorial Day weekend and are free to make it to the game, I highly suggest you get out and support our team and be a part of their milestone.

This picture is of # 5 Errick McCown being introduced.

All American home town

Pete Jones — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Des Moines is an all American city. Really! I am not just trying to pull the wool over your eyes and sell you on this great city or making this stuff up. In fact, Des Moines was just named one of the finalists for the 2009 All American City Award, which is held annually by The National Civic League. The 60^th annual contest determines ten cities in the nation that are to be recognized for their civic accomplishments, such as job creation and crime reduction. The award is deemed the “Oscar” for communities all over the nation. The Civic League poured over all of the cities in the nation to determine the finalist list, which have been dwindled down to 32 cities. Interestingly, Des Moines is competing right along side another local finalist, Windsor Heights.

The two local cities will battle, along with all of the other finalists, during a three-day competition (June 17-19) in Tampa, Florida. The competition focuses on civic challenges and the solutions the local cities have determined.

I find it a little humorous that Des Moines and Windsor Heights are competing in the same tier since there is such a large disparity between the two cities. Plus, I don’t know of anything specifically that either city has done to reduce crime since neither city had a large crime problem to begin with. That may be the point, there is little to no crime so obviously the respective cities have found a solution to keep crime down. Either way, that does not mean the cities are not worthy of the “Oscar.”

You might be asking, what can I do to ensure Des Moines is chosen?

Luckily, all you have to do is go to this weekends Farmers Market downtown (such a hard task) and purchase a theme basket at their raffle. The proceeds from the raffle will pay for the Des Moines delegations trip to Tampa in June. The raffle will also offer an opportunity for a two stay-at-home vacations

I can’t hate on Windsor Heights, because they are technically part of the Des Moines metro. If you want to help support that delegation, go to your local Hy-Vee and purchase one of the $5 coupon books they usually sell as they are donating the funds to Windsor Heights’ cause

Let’s hope both communities are chosen in the top 10 and deemed All American Cities.

Thanks to Livingdowntowndesmoines.com for the wonderful photo of downtown.

Oh what a Saturday!!!

Pete Jones — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:58:00 GMT

Please find the Friday Guest Blog below. This was written by Shawn Harrington

As we set out to provide as much information as possible on what’s going in Des Moines, two important events can not be overlooked as they fall on the same day this weekend. If anyone decides they don’t want to leave downtown after the Farmer’s Market on Saturday, the good news is that they don’t have to! 14 blocks each way of downtown’s river banks will be two annual events, with almost too many forms of entertainment to describe.

CelbrAsian: 7^th Annual Asian Heritage Festival

May 16^th, 10am-8pm at Iowa State’s Capital Building – East Campus (A.K.A. the giant lawn behind the Capital)

“CelebrAsian is organized around distinct Asian “villages,” representing twelve distinct Asian communities that live in Iowa. Villages include: Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Laos, Nepalese, Taidam, Vietnamese, and Thai. Each village showcases the food, culture, history, arts, and crafts indigenous to their culture. Participants of all ages can enjoy a wide array of activities, including Asian cuisine, martial arts performances and competition, cooking demonstrations, exhibits and sale of traditional and contemporary Asian crafts, and live musical, martial arts, and arts performances.”

Last year, I showed up at the festival fully impressed by everything the Asian community from right here in Iowa had to showcase. The neighborhood provided easy parking and the festival is FREE TO ATTEND. This year, I’ve stepped it up a notch as a volunteer scorekeeper for the competitions. Outside of everything going on here, the food is reason enough for anyone to stop in! -I’d like to thank my friend’s Mike and Golda Curry for introducing me to one more great aspect of Iowa. Their efforts, along with the Asian Alliance’s many other volunteers, have made this annual attraction possible.

Subjective Circus at the Des Moines Social Club

May 16^th, 6pm-2am at DMSC -1408 Locust Street, across from Gateway Park

What else is there to say that Pete hasn’t mentioned already?! Being active with DMSC and serving on the club’s Board of Directors has given me a glimpse of what a bunch of are capable of ding when we combine our creative energies. There’s really a touch of everything here to suit EVERYONE’s interests in one venue. We’re looking forward to getting more people in the door than ever before on Saturday night for 8 hours of non-stop entertainment. It will be impressive to continue showcasing a building that stood vacant less than 3 months ago, and to acknowledge just how quickly it's becoming an attraction for anyone coming through Des Moines.

Anyone attending CelebrAsian or the Subjective Circus can also capitalize on something else, cost-efficient family entertainment. Many of my friends with children have acknowledged that they feel like they’re missing out on what’s going on due to their family obligations. These two events have worked hard to cater to these interests. The Subjective Circus from 6-9pm is family friendly with carnival games, inflatable bounces, cotton candy, popcorn, and a petting zoo (kids under 12 free). All said, should be a great Saturday!

Prominent Speaker

Pete Jones — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:36:00 GMT

I recently saw the controversy President Obama is having with his trips to college graduations across the country. The issue is especially close to me as this Saturday is my Graduation from Drake University, which is why I have paid an especially close attention to the discussion. The issues are prominent at numerous universities, but Notre Dame and Arizona State University are the most prominent of late.

The Catholic Church associated with Notre Dame is in an upheaval because the President supports abortion rights, which goes completely against the beliefs of the Church. The fact that the school, separate from the Church, has allowed the President to speak sets a pretty interesting standard and truly separates Church and state(in this example the school). The issue at Arizona State University is similar, but there ASU failed to award the President an honorary degree, which is common for guest speakers, because he has not yet completed a ‘body of work.’ I guess their definition of a body of work includes more line items on the Presidents resume than he currently has. They do realize he has only been the President since January…don’t they? Both cases are good illustrations of the increased hubbub surrounding presentations at graduations.

Luckily Drake University is not as prominent as Notre Dame or ASU and we don’t have to deal with all of the security and red tape that goes with a Presidential visit. There will, however, be a powerful speech at our Graduation. A speech that will, in my estimation, rival President Obama’s ‘build a body of work’ speech at ASU, only our presenter will not need Secret Service and national press. Our presenter is Sudu Radia, the President and CEO of Bankers Trust, also a trustee at Drake University. I have had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Radia speak before and I know his speech will certainly rival President Obama’s, yet the best part is he is a local ‘boy’ with local stories that will reference the local economy at a local school. To me, that sounds like a much better time and opportunity than sitting in the desert and enduring the triple digit temperatures. I wonder if Mr. Radia uses teleprompters?

Have an urge to go to the circus?

Pete Jones — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:51:00 GMT

This Saturday the Des Moines Social Club is holding their second annual Subjective Circus at their 1408 Locust location downtown. If you are unfamiliar with the DMSC, they are a non-profit group made up of DSM residents using art as the catalyst in a city filled with people aching for a way to grow, a way to stay, and a way to be part of a movement. They have over 250 volunteers who put on weekly shows, performances, classes, social gatherings, art gallery, just to name a short list of all the things they do.

The Subjective Circus is the clubs annual fundraiser that will feature 3 Rooms – 3 Rings – 3 Times the Fun! Specific features will include theater, music, movement, spoken-word, film, live art acts, live ANIMALS (courtesy of the Blank Park Zoo), carnival games, FIRE EATERS!, mid-way games…and the list really does go on and on. The music will be headlined by local favorite the Poison Control Center.

I went to the inaugural event last year and was completely blown away by a number of things, mainly the support the club received from the over 2,500 people that went through their doors, the eclectic dichotomy of people (young, old, suits, hippies), and the events the club presented, etc… Last year the weather outside stank, and people still came, which was very impressive for our not boring city. I have to imagine a years worth of planning will make this years event completely insane, since ‘round two’ has been under the direction of their formal Board and location, which they did not have at this point last year. Plus, this year the structure within the building is set and, of course, there is the Sideshow Lounge with a full bar for those looking for an adult beverage or two. All in all, there will be over 8 hours of entertainment on Saturday and I highly suggest you take the time to check it all out. Or, realistically, your senses will not be able to check ALL of it out, so I would suggest you just start with the first event inside the door and see how far your psyche will allow you to digest.

Safely biking to work

Pete Jones — Sun, 10 May 2009 15:53:00 GMT

Ever heard of a concept that sounds great on the surface, but sounds too good to be true?

I feel that way about the 7^th annual Bike to Work week that is organized by BikeIowa and the local businesses/community. The concept, ride your bike to work. Simple, right?

It sounds simple, but I am not so sure it actually is for a couple of reasons:

Safety
Security

Let’s talk about safety first. Biking to work means I have to ride my bike among all of the half-awake, coffee-drinking, drivers each morning…then after work all the eager to get home, hot heads. Obviously, the half awake part frightens me more than the hot head part, but both are equally fearsome as neither are typically bike friendly. There are no bike lanes in Des Moines, so the intermingling of bike vs. vehicle is a very common perspective. Granted, there are trails that run to and from downtown, but I would rather take the main roads since they are the quickest means to get to downtown.

Ok, so in the perfect world I have made my way to work. Now, let’s talk about security for my bike. I know, bring the trusty bike lock with you Pete…your bike will be secure. Will it? I mean I am a Triathlete who values his bike like Chimps value their Bananas. Plus, let’s consider the cost of my trusty steed, Triathlon bikes are not the cheapest steeds in the bunch. I actually emailed my Corporate Properties group (for my employer) last year during Bike Week to inquire about their bike security. Their response is they have a few bike racks and each rack is secured by the video cameras which are monitored by our trusty security staff. I laughed when I received that email because our trusty security staff is not the first bit secure, not to speak ill, but they would watch someone take my bike apart and hock the parts before they would get up and head down stairs to stop them. I know that is a generalization and maybe they would be able to stop the culprits before they actually hocked all my bike parts, but my point is valid.

I guess I could just go and buy a trusty Huffy steed to get me to and fro during Bike to Work Week, and for the entire summer for that matter. I don’t know, I just think there needs to be more secure bike lockers in downtown and bike lanes on the roads to get us there if we are to take Bike to Work Week seriously. I know there used to be bike lockers over by 801 Grand, yet I am not sure if there are still there. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and this is only the 7^th Annual week, so maybe some day bikes and vehicles will be able to intermingle without frustrated motorists and wounded cyclists. Lets consider another 1% of the 70,000 workers downtown biking to work each day and consider the ramifications. For one, there would be even more accidents related to bikes...and two, there would not be enough secure racks for them to park their steeds. I would love to ride my bike to work all summer long, but until there are safe means and secure options, I am going to have to keep traveling in my trusty my V4 Altima.

Thanks to the Sietch Blog for the photo.

Clean city

Pete Jones — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:54:00 GMT

Please find the Friday Guest Blogs below. This was written by Shawn Harrington

When responding to a friend last week on my first impressions of Des Moines, I remembered back to my first drive-through of downtown. One of the most notable things was not something I saw, but rather what I didn't see. Not one wall, bridge, or alleyway had been littered by graffiti. This is the type of image that leads one to send out labeling Des Moines as a "clean city". This comes into light with the April 21st article in the Des Moines Register on a new and expensive problem. Over 50 calls to clean up graffiti in April alone! While its upsetting to hear that this is happening, it's been good to know that the city has been responsive on cleaning this up when it does happen. As the budget continues to tighten, I would encourage the city to stay on top of this.

Outside of its typical unattractiveness, a graffiti-laced neighborhood will often effect the morale of its young residents who may be on the verge of joining gangs or engaging in violent activities. This is discussed in Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point, in which efforts on the verge of a 1980's crime epidemic in New York City centered around first cleaning up the graffiti.Taking this away led to the gang members to feel less in control over their neighborhoods. Crimes like this are considered to be contagious, which make them even more important to keep from spreading.

Many taxpayers may argue that the city could spend in other places rather than repeatedly cleaning the gang-related markings. Keep in mind that one of the new challenges for Des Moines heading into 2010 is commercial real estate vacancy rates. The soon-to-be former homes of Wellmark, Aviva, etc. along with landmarks such as the former Younkers building will require much attention from out of town investors. As this space is marketed, let's hope the potential new tenants can picture themselves settling in and doing business here in Des Moines without the image of devalued property down the street from them. Allowing others to experience that first impression of Des Moines that I once had can only help make this happen!

LIVE UNITED

Pete Jones — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:15:00 GMT

Ever wanted to LIVE UNITED?

Well, now is your chance.

The United Way of Central Iowa’s is currently accepting video submissions for their Best of LIVE UNITED contest. The contest involves producing a video that details how you or your organization LIVE UNITED. The contest is pretty simple, follow the rules listed on the UW website to produce your video. Once completed submit the information to Youtube by May 20th. Then, an esteemed panel of judges will review all of the video submissions and pick their winner. If you win your video will be used by UW for their 2009 Campaign Video.

Sounds fun…right?

Just be sure to focus on the below information in your one minute spot…oh, and you HAVE to wear the LIVE UNITED shirts during the video! There are four pretty guidelines to follow:

Introduce yourself or your organization
Explain how you LIVE UNITED and why it’s important to you
Encourage others to join the movement and be a part of the change
Be original

Now is the time to make your submissions and show Central Iowa how you LIVE UNITED.

Sustainable Des Moines

Pete Jones — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:22:00 GMT

The term sustainability has been tossed around a lot lately,

whether it is in relation to Global Warming or environmentally friendly cars. The term means to maintain balance of a certain process or state in a system. That can mean a host of things, and the fad has started to grow in numbers lately. I say FAD, not to be derogatory to the concept or lifestyle, but because many still consider it to be just that…a fad ,something most people fail to take in to consideration as they live their lives.

A local company is working to change the perception of sustainability and has put that definition to work to make our city a better place. Urban Ambassadors, was started by Adam Hammes, and set up to provide education, specific action steps in line with that education, and local resources with which to successfully complete those steps. They intend to add sustainable seed projects that will develop models to be used by organizations in the future. All of which is intended to enrich the city through sustainable growth and efforts like renewable energy, green buildings, better public transportation, healthy water, as well as clean air.

Part of the educational component of Urban Ambassadors is their Transforming Business Speaker Series, which will feature Bob Willard (May 13^th), Bill Witherspoon (May 27^th), and Ray Anderson (June 10^th) at the Iowa Events Center’s Polk County Convention Complex. All three speakers are very well known and will surely bring unique sustainable aspects for Des Moines to their presentations.

I applaud Adam for his vision in working to bring a sustainable culture to Des Moines. I know there are many ways that we all can learn to live a more sustainable lifestyle and I am reminded of that fact daily. For instance, I learned just the other day that the cups coffee shops sell are not biodegradable, meaning they don't leak coffee all over the place, but they will be here when our grandchildren are raising their children. As a result of this new found fact, I have made it a point to purchase another stainless steel coffee cup for work to ensure I stop using the cups that are provided by shops. This is just an example of one item that I changed in my life to work towards Adam's cause.

What have you done?

Flying Chops

Pete Jones — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:57:00 GMT

Please find the first in many Guest Blogs below. This was written by Shawn Harrington .

So you haven't found a team to watch yet in the NHL playoffs? If you take pride in your local sports scene, I'll give you one, the Anaheim Ducks. This is a team stacked with talent from our own ice arena down the street.

Anaheim advanced to Round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this week by beating the San Jose Sharks in a 4-2 series. Much credit has been given to their young talent; Drew Miller, Andrew Ebbett, and Bobby Ryan. That's right, the same guys who have all been playing for the Iowa Chops through significant portions of their '08-'09 inaugural season. In Game #2 on April 20th, this Des Moines trio combined for ALL THREE goals in a 3-2 Anaheim win. That's an impressive effort coming from players new to the NHL system at the league's most competitive peak of the season. It also has something to say for the quality of the system in place here in Des Moines.

On top of all this, rookie Goaltender Jonas Hiller has stepped in for former Stanley Cup winner Joey Giguere and has also been a stand-out player in Anaheim's Round 1 victory. With a 4-2 record, 95.3 save percentage and 1.77 Goals Against avg., he has just put in one of the best series performances by a first-year playoff goalie in NHL history! This creates a great mentoring system for our players here in Des Moines getting ready for their next chance at pro hockey's highest level.

Expect to find Anaheim's future NHL stars back on the ice at Wells Fargo Arena when next season kicks off. Just because these guys are getting their playing time right now, does not mean they are gone for good from AHL hockey. These are players who get called up at a time when injuries have occurred to the NHL veterans. When everyone returns healthy to kick off the next NHL season, there will be limited roster spots forcing players right back for more AHL play with the Chops. This will bring in a higher level of players to Des Moines who are gaining bonus experience right now while most other NHL teams are on the golf course.

Push aside thoughts of the "Flying V", the Anaheim Ducks are ready to get put to the test once again as they take on #2 seeded Detroit Red Wings. Game coverage can be caught on Versus.

Fast Fact: Iowa Chops Forward Drew Miller is the brother of Ryan Miller, Goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres.

Thanks to the Iowa Chops for the picture of Andrew Ebbett.

Market staples

Pete Jones — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 21:32:00 GMT

All right, I know it has been hard to enjoy spring so far this year, mostly because it has been extremely wet the past week and a half. Nnot sure if everyone is feeling the same thing as I am, but I know my need to outdoors has hit its peak. I am yearning for a nice 65 degree Saturday morning with the smells from Court Avenue rolling across my nose. No, not the smells you might be thinking of, the ones from the freshly cooked breakfast burrito or breakfast pizza...Luckily for me, the start of the 33rd year for the Downtown Farmers Market is this coming Saturday!

The Farmers Market is the largest market in the area and typically features vendors of all kinds for as far as the eye can see. I say typically because I only have the last few years as my reference base, I am not sure if this years version will be quite as awesome, but I think it is a pretty safe bet. The demand for the market was soooo high the Downtown Community Alliance, with the support of their vendors, decided to open early this year! The best thing about the Market is just about anything can be found for sale there. Typically the staples are the vegetables, produce, etc. But, you can also find a warm breakfast sandwich, coffee, and more dog poop than you could wag a stick at. Just kidding, most K9 owners up after themselves, but I would suggest you keep an eye out in front of you.

From the looks of things, Saturday is going to be the only day with any sun this weekend so head on out and support the 200 local vendors from 49 Iowa counties. Now, I realize 65 degrees is not realistic on May 2nd in Iowa, especially before noon. But, it will be a good glimpse of what is to come this weekend. If you can’t make it out, no worries…you can always become a fan of Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market on Facebook to keep track of events in the future. I found this photo on the Market's Facebook page.

I Believe

Pete Jones — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:32:00 GMT

The Greater Des Moines Partnership will be launching a new marketing campaign next week called I Believe. The campaign ‘aims to celebrate Greater Des Moines, its opportunities and the people whose conviction and spirit continually pushes this community toward greater success (even in tough times).'

The campaign is a partnership between local media, and many community partners, who are all going to work together to formulate the local rally cry for our community. This is a very interesting effort by the Partnership to build community interest during tough economic times. They plan to focus their efforts to illustrate the current local economy, with features of local community members, both individuals and businesses. It will be great to shift the focus from the national media, who continue to sensationalize the current economic situation as a national phenomenon when many areas of the country have not been as hard hit as others. That shift will focus their efforts on local success stories and opportunities for central Iowans.

It will be exciting to see what comes of this and if Iowans are truly willing to rally around each other during these tough times. I know there are many here who are thriving and working to ensure the community continues to flourish, it will be great to see their stories broadcast with this campaign. It will also be great to have the focus on job opportunities in the metro and testimonials that feature many of the great aspects of our city.

Check out the official launch of the campaign on May 4th at Principal Park with live music and entertainment preceding the ICubs game that night.

Expansion plans

Pete Jones — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:53:00 GMT

Ah, Sunday's.

Today is the last Sunday I will have to prepare any course work for Grad School!!! Very excited about that, but I am sure I will be even more excited tomorrow as I exit my last class at Drake University.

This Sunday also marks that last Sunday for the current structure of this Blog. Starting next week, with May 1st, Desmoinesisnotboring.com will be expanding to include Guest Bloggers. The Guest Bloggers will provide another opportunity to see how truly entertaining this city is and with differing perspectives. We will start out with Shawn Harrington, a transplant from Buffalo, New York. Shawn is a good friend of mine, he has been active with the Young Professionals Connection and the Des Moines Social Club, where he sits on both Boards. He is a few years my junior and has a slightly more active life than I do since he has not been in Grad school the past two years. He will be able to provide an entertaining perspective on the city and enlighten us on his decisions to call Des Moines home.

If you are interested in Blogging on desmoinesisnotboring.com, send me an email and lets chat.

100 years

Pete Jones — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:57:00 GMT

There are so many things to do this weekend that are associated with the Drake Relays…I don’t know where to start. I guess it makes sense to start with the actual Relays…

Friday –

Events start at 8 am and go until 4:25
Then starting at 5:30 the “Relays Under the Lights” segment starts
Featuring events athletes from Elementary School up to Olympics
Also Friday night the Court Avenue Association's will host live music and festivities starting at 7 pm until 1 pm

Saturday –

All day fun at the Relays

Events start at 8 am with the 8k and Half Marathon On the Roads races
These events include amateurs - expecting up to 1700 people
At 2:50 – the Athletes of the Century segment
Recognition of many of the stand out athletes of the first 100 years at the Relays
Specific event finals will be held all day long
Official end of the Relays is at 6:30 pm.

The Relays will feature a record 43 Olympians from 66 countries. If you can’t get out to watch them live, check out the first ever national coverage of the Drake Relays on ESPN 2.

Just because the Relays are officially over at 6:30 it doesn’t mean the festivities are. Many of the local hot spots are still going to be featuring Relays parties and I am sure there will be many a thirsty athlete looking for a watering hole.

Thanks to the Des Moines Register for the photo from 1959 at the 50th Anniversary of the Drake Relays.

Getting close

Pete Jones — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:46:00 GMT

We are just under 24 hours away from the official kickoff of the 100^th Annual Drake Relays. Today we had a prelude of sorts, as 13 teams competed at the Fake Relays for free passes to the official Relays this weekend, not to mention bragging rights for the rest of the year. A team from State Farm pulled out the win, edging out a team from Kaplan University.

The first official event of the Relays is the Heptathlon and Decathlon, which both kick off tomorrow afternoon and conclude on Thursday morning. The Pole Vault, which will be held at the Jordan Creek Town Center tomorrow night, Wednesday 4/22 at 6 pm, will surely draw a crowd at the indoor mall. The Vault, along with the events at Nollen Plaza this week, are great efforts by Drake University to include the entire city of Des Moines and really goes to show their appreciation.

Thursday night the distance events kick off with the Men’s and Women’s 10,000 meter races. I am a distance athlete, but I can say I have no desire to run a 10,000 meter race…of course I couldn’t keep up with those athletes so it really doesn’t matter. It sounds like (knocking on wood) the weather is going to cooperate and actually warm up to near 90 degrees on Friday, which I imagine will draw in larger crowds than initially projected. The expected 7,500 athletes, from 66 countries, a record 43 Olympians, are going to have ideal conditions to compete this weekend, which will surely lead to many record breaking performances. The American Athletic Classic is set up to provide a great showcase of Des Moines and Drake University, and I for one am very excited to take it all in.

On a side note, I found out my Grandfather ran in the Relays back in 1935 for the University of Missouri, he competed against the great Jessee Owens from Ohio State. Just a personal spin to the event, which I found interesting.

Relays Week!!!

Pete Jones — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:14:00 GMT

As a soon to be Drake University Alumnus, I am proud to show my excitement for Relays Week! I am not proud to make it known that this will be the first year I am going to actually attend the Relays. Yes, I know I have been in Des Moines since 1986 and been a student at Drake since 2007, but I have never made it out to the relays. It is hard for me to admit that, especially in such a public and permanent forum, but it is the truth, and I do so knowing I am going to make amends this Friday when I spend the entire day there...weather permitting. I am also going to run the road race on Saturday morning for the 4th year in a row.

But, all that aside, back to the excitement! Actually, everything started on Friday night with the street painting and the parade today, but there will be activities all week leading up to the 100th Annual Drake Relays this weekend. I am going to dedicate all of this weeks posts to the Relays, obviously starting with today.

The 30th Annual Beautiful Bulldog contest will be held tomorrow, Monday April 20th at 11pm in Nollen Plaza. Every year the winner of the contest represents Drake University during the Relays, and possibly all year, I am not certain. I used to work over in Capital Square and can recall my amazement at the number of participats and the crowd that all come out to look at a bunch of Bulldogs.

On Tuesday, the Fake Relays are held at the same location, Nollen Plaza. This contest is a little more relaxed than the events that will be held this weekend. Local businesses are represented by their employees as they compete to take home the winning times in several different relay contests. This event is sponsored by Drake University and the Greater Des Moines Young Professionals Connection.

There will be a full list of events all week long. Stay tuned.

The pictures is of last years Beautiful Bulldog contest winner, Buddy.

Share the Road

Pete Jones — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 21:56:00 GMT

Spring time! Know what that means? April Showers and May Flowers. The days start to get longer, the over-all energy from everyone is increased and winter is over!! It also means people are heading outside to play, exercise, and just enjoy the end of our annual hibernation.

Unfortunately, it is also that time of year where the reports of vehicle and bicycle collisions start to hit the local press. Just like last weekend when Doug Smith was struck by a truck that was pulling a trailer. Mr. Smith was traveling with a pack of 8 riders in Madison County when he was struck down by the driver, who was cited for Unsafe Passing.

I just don’t get it. This circumstance may be able to be chalked up as an accident since the trailer was involved. But there are numerous other circumstances where drivers do what they can to force cyclists off the road.

What makes drivers so enraged?

Why is it such a big deal to share the road with a bicycle?

I always hear the argument that the “Lance Armstrong wanna-be’s” should use the bike paths that were created for them. For starters, those comments reek of jealousy and it makes me picture a driver sitting in his Ford Pick-up spitting out chewing tobacco. It sounds to me like those drivers are jealous they are not the ones out there enjoying the weather and camaraderie of cycling. What ever it is, the comments are all over the Des Moines Registers articles of the accident this past week.

What those drivers fail to realize is it is more dangerous for a cyclist to ride on the paths than it is on the streets. For starters, most of the paths run next to major roads, those major roads (Hickman in Waukee for instance) have corss roads that meet them where cars intersect the bike paths. Those cars rarely realize there is a bicyclist closing in on them, which leaves the cyclist with no other option that to slam on their breaks to avoid the vehicle, which interrupts their workouts and is very dangerous. Lets not even start to discuss the other obstacles on the paths themselves, families, children, walkers, etc.

The point I want to make here is it is safer for cyclists who are training or riding for a purpose, rather than just a leisurely stroll, to use roads. Those cyclists need to utilize a common surface that allows them to ride at an average pace, and most over 20 MPH. The countless numbers of Triathletes or avid bike riders need these accommodations to train for their events. There is no other place in the state that provides this niche group of citizens the same opportunity as the highways and byways of the region. I have to be honest; I hate to ride in the street, because I fear what other drivers are going to do. I don’t want to be a statistic like Mr. Smith, because I was hit by a driver that was so outraged at sharing the road their only option was to try to force me off it.

I realize there are circumstances where the accidents are truly that, just accidents where the driver meant no harm to the cyclist. But, there are just too many of them for my comfort level. Mr. Smith, get better and know that we are all praying for your health.

National Donate Life Month

Pete Jones — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:37:00 GMT

Ever wanted to do a Dragon boat race?

You know, the ones you see in movies, but thought you would never get the chance to try.

Well, I have, and it is a blast!!!

The My Angel Foundation holds an annual Dragon boat race to raise awareness for organ and tissue donations. This year will be held on August 1st, but the race will move from Gray’s Lake to the Des Moines River, specifically with the back drop of the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens, which features the new partnership between the foundation and the Chinese Cultural Center of America (CCCA). Our team, pictured here, got 4th place last year. This year we hope to win, mostly because we have a years experience under our belts, plus we know what to expect. We raced nearly 10 times that morning, which was a little more than we expected, but we enjoyed every minute of it, even though we admittedly got a little warn out by the end. The best thing about it is it was our donations were for a great cause, and the weather surely cooperated that day. My Angel only accepts 24 teams, so get your team together now and register! Oh, and I suggest you start practicing your rowing, you are going to need it!

My Angel Foundation has another opportunity for interested donors, this one a little closer on the calendar. The 5k & 10k C.A.R.E run and walk for Organ Donor Awareness is scheduled for May 2nd out in Waukee. The run & walk is set up to help spread the word about organ and tissue donors, celebrating the lives of organ and tissue recipients, and recognizing the lives of those waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

Both events are for a great cause and something you will never forget. April is the National Donate Life Month,which is a great reason to sign up for either event today!

Three is never a crowd

Pete Jones — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:20:00 GMT

Did you know the Civic Center has three different theaters in Des Moines?

It is true, and this weekend is not unlike any other weekend for the Des Moines Civic Center, they have three separate events going on at the same time all weekend. For starters the hit musical The Color Purple is showcased at the Civic Center, the Comedy XPeriment Improv Show is being held at the Stoner Theater, and the Girls Only show is going on over at The Temple for Performing Arts on 1011 Locust Street.

It is not that much of a surprise three shows of this caliber are showing in a city of this size, the great thing lies in the fact that one of the shows is done with local talent. The Comedy XPeriment is a local Improve group that uses audience suggestions for their unscripted show. Their shows are hilarious and the promise to make your cheeks hurt, and possibly fall off.

The touring show, Girls Only, is at the Temple through mid-May when they leave for another not-boring city. I have not seen the show, but it features a two-woman cast who honor the silliness of being female. The shows advertisement implores women of all ages to come to the show and laugh at their feminine similarities.

The largest show in town this weekend is The Color Purple. The hit musical was first featured as a hit movie produced by Stephen Spielberg. (who would have thunk I would have mentioned Stephen Spielberg in a Blog about Des Moines?) The musical has many of the same aspects as in the movie, but a differing approach to the story written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Alice Walker.

If you are not headed to Gross Domestic Product, as I featured on Tuesday, head on over to one of the three Civic Center shows this weekend and share in all the fun.

Music music and more music!!!

Pete Jones — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:49:00 GMT

This is an extremely big week for the Des Moines Music Coalition. Just a quick background, the DMMC is a volunteer organization that is committed to building a stronger more diverse live music economy in Greater Des Moines. Their efforts include three major events, the Gross Domestic Product, 80/35 Music Festival, and The Little Big Fest.

Today’s big announcement centered on the headliners for this year’s 80/35 Music Festival. The DMMC announced artists Ben Harper, Public Enemy, G Love and Relentless Seven, and Matisyahu as the major national acts for this summers festival, which will be held over the 4th of July holiday at the Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines. The first year showcased headliners The Flaming Lips and The Roots to nearly 30,000 overwhelmed fans. I know I kept doing a double-take between the 801 Grand Building and the stage last year as I had to remind myself that a festival that large was being held in downtown Des Moines. Many people were amazed at the quality of planning and the number of bands (30 in all) that pumped out music over the two day festival. Obviously, this year is going to be bigger and better as everyone associated with the festival has had a year to plan and organize. The plan is for up to 50 local, regional, and national acts performing on 4 stages throughout the Gateway area over two days. The DMMC plans to announce another list of acts sometime next month.

But, before we get too far ahead of ourselves….we need to remember there is another big event held by the DMMC this weekend. The Gross Domestic Product, which is held annually, will feature 14 different local musical acts in two rooms at Hotel Fort Des Moines. Many artists playing this Saturday are new to such a large audience, but there are a few that also played last year at the 80/35 Festival. I am excited to see The Autumn Project, Cleo’s Apartment, The Dig Angees, and (of course) The Envy Corps. I had the opportunity to hear The Envy Corps warm up at the initial GDP 4 years ago, I was completely blown away by their sound. I had no idea there were musicians as good as that in Des Moines and that experience really opened up my horizons to many other great local bands. Give yourself the chance to open your horizons this weekend and come on down to the Fort to hear some of the best musicians in the city.

Of all the video's on the internet, this one is my favorite as Wayne Coyne of the Lips professes his support for DMMC and 80/35.

Oh the mistake

Pete Jones — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:38:00 GMT

I got a kick out of an article I read on Des Moines Metromix, which discussed restaurants that could make Des Moines great. Well, that is not exactly what they said, but it was how I took the article. They actually said there are restaurants in other cities that would add to Des Moines. First of all, lets all realize Des Moines has more than enough restaurants. I seem to recall at one point Des Moines had more restaurants per capita than any other city in the nation. Of course I cannot not find any facts to substantiate that claim since it has been a few years, and it just may have been a myth. But, I happen to have a few places that are making me salivate as I type this. Plus, I know there are restaurants in Des Moines that I would stack up against any of the restaurants suggested in the Metromix article. I even went out and asked a few people close to me to advise their favorite restaurants in the city, and here is what they have to add:

Jamie Keifer

J Benjamins - Because it’s small, quaint and the food is wonderful. The staff is very personable and friendly, especially Simon who enjoys talking and conversing with all customers. Also, they provide live music entertainment.
Miyabi 9 – I feel they offer the best sushi in the city and is comparable to some of the Sushi restaurants on the East and West coast. For people who work downtown it is conveniently located in the East Village and is within walking distance from my office.

Shannon Michelsen

Azalea - It has a chic cosmopolitan atmosphere and a wonderful staff. Every time I've eaten there the server knows the product and genuinely cares about your experience. The wonderful thing about the food is that whether you're ordering a meat dish or a salad dish either will be equally pleasing so I couldn't put my finger on just one thing.
Centro - Centro is the die-hard downtown restaurant. What is there not to like about it? It is located in a prime spot with a wonderful view of the hustle and bustle of downtown Des Moines on the week-ends. The amazing pizzas, especially the George's Favorite and the Margherita, are the perfect meal for any occasion. The wine list is outstanding and service is always four-star.

Dr. Quentin Huston

Chipotle - A steak burrito is my chicken noodle soup for the soul.

Hillary Brown

I have so many favorite restaurants that I can’t pick just one. My list includes, but is not limited to: Centro, Court Avenue Restaurant & Brewing Company, Frank’s Pizza, Mars Café, Café Di Scala, and Out of Box Catering. You might have noticed a few commonalities in my favorite restaurants, specifically my love of Italian food. While all of my favorite restaurants serve up delicious food and offer their own unique flavors to satisfy my cravings, I appreciate them all equally for one reason - because they are quality, local restaurants. They showcase the culinary talent that Des Moines has to offer and use fresh, local ingredients like Graziano Brothers sausage and fresh-and-local produce.

Now, I a few of my favorites were listed above. But, my favorite place in the city is actually over in Valley Junction, it is called Cafe Su. Cafe Su has by far the best Chinese food in the city, hands down - no comparisons. They actually take the time to prepare the food slowly, which brings out the tastes and is not something I have found at any other Chinese restaurant in the city. When you go there, be sure to try the Crab Rangoon, any of the meals on the menu, and the chocolate covered fortune cookies for desert. It is the bomb!

I realize the gang over at the Metromix were not intending to stir the pot, but their article about additions to Des Moines sort of chapped my hide. We have a ton of great restaurants here, and I guess the Metromixers were just sick of featuring them all so they decided to look outside of the city. That was their first mistake!

Who knew "Canstruction" could be so much fun?

Pete Jones — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:15:00 GMT

The Science Center of Iowa is truly a place where the experience is yours, as their tag line reads. The center is a fascinatingly visual experience, and that is just the exterior of the building. The experience inside of the building is overwhelming as well. Whether it is the Blank Imax Dome Theater, adult learning center, family fun nights, SCI After Five, exhibits, or the Food Chain Café, SCI has everything you could possibly want. SCI also has annual memberships for families and volunteer opportunities.

I chuckle a little as I write this because of an experience my nephew had at SCI when he was three. His parents took him to the Imax Theater to see a show, I cannot recall the movie, but it was geared towards kids. At first he loved the experience, then the sound and visuals kicked in and it really scared him. Need less to say they left the movie and took him to a more suitable experience at SCI.

This week SCI is holding their Canstruction of Central Iowa. That is right, I said Canstruction, no typo intended. The Canstruction (sorry, I just like saying that word) is a competition for local architects who use canned food to build sculptures. The national Canstruction (ok, last time I swear) group has been putting on this event in cities across the nation, and is in affiliation with the AIA and Society for Design Administration. The structures themselves are very cool since the architects use the cans to create a sculpture, but also the color scheme of the cans to lend to their designs. I highly suggest taking some time to scroll through the pictures of the structures to see what you could be missing by not heading down to the center this weekend. The displays will be taken down for donation to the Food Bank of Iowa after April 5th so now is the time to check them out.

The picture is courtesy of the Canstruction website, and was the 2008 National Winner - called the UnBEARable Truth by Butler Rogers Baskett

Long time opportunities

Pete Jones — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:54:00 GMT

The world renowned Harlem Globetrotters will be at the Wells Fargo Arena this Friday night at 7 pm. These are not the famous Globetrotters who worked to forge the name decades ago, but (shocker) they still win every game and have a ton of fun in the process. This generations Globetrotters tend to be more athletic than their forefathers, yet many of the initial tricks have stood the test of time. For instance, the Globetrotters always have a ‘funny man,’ to spur the crowd along, they usually have someone who can dribble very well and show a few great tricks. The entire act has changed over the years, but they still know how to have a heck of a lot of fun. It is a truly a show for all ages and hopefully Des Moines will be well represented in the stands on Friday.

Another great event this weekend is the Friendly Son’s of St. Patrick run on Sunday. They offer a 5k or 10k run, starting at 63rd and Grand in West Des Moines at 11 am on Sunday. The organizers of the 26th Annual run donate the proceeds from the race to local charities. This history of the Friendly’s Son’s goes all the way back to 1771 in Philadelphia. The organization has changed over the centuries, but maintains the core group of Irish-American’s who organize and celebrate their heritage. I am personally very excited for this run since it is the first of the year for me and a race I can normally get a pretty good idea where my fitness level is, plus it is a good motivator for the rest of the training season. It is always good to get out and see all of my friends since most of us have been cooped up training in doors all winter.

Oh, and for the record, I really enjoyed the showing of Hairspray this past weekend. I must admit those performers were very talented and I don't think any of them sat still for the entire night. The choreography was absolutely amazing! If you get the chance to see the musical, buy the ticket, it it is well worth it. Thanks to the Civic Center for the opportunity.

YP's take Des Moines to the Top 10

Pete Jones — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:53:00 GMT

I am about a week late with this post, but there is a lot going on in the city and I wanted to get that info posted last week. Des Moines was recently listed in the Top 10 list for Midsized Metropolitan Areas by bizjournals.com, which is the nation’s largest publisher of business newspapers. The bizjournals study focused on cities with populations between 250,000 and 1 million, which qualify the cities as Midsized. There were 20 different categories the study used to compare the cities, ranging from healthy economies, light traffic, cost of living, educational programs, etc. The study determined Provo, Utah to be the top midsized city, mainly due to its impressive inventory of big homes. I guess the people performing the study have not visited the ‘South of Grand’ area in Des Moines, as there are some huge homes down there. My bitterness is pretty obvious.

In Des Moines’ defense, our reasons for being placed in the Top 10 list are much better than Provo’s. Provo was listed due to their large houses and other material concerns, where-as Des Moines most impressive aspect is its strong core of young adults. The complete list is below:

Solid corps of young adults
Relatively few traffic jams
Strong rate of home-ownership
Sizable inventory of large houses
Heavy share of adults with high school diplomas

I think it is great that our cities most appealing aspect in this study is our strong young-adult demographic. There are so many passionate young adults and young professional groups in the city who work to make a difference, groups like the Young Professionals Connection, Des Moines Social Club, Des Moines Music Coalition, and many others. My point is Des Moines has a strong group of young adults, but there is also work to do when we look at the number of college graduates that leave the state for higher paying jobs. The Generation Iowa Commission illustrated this trend to the state legislature two years ago, with little government follow-up or action since. I realize there are larger concerns now, mainly the economy, but failing to address the vast number of ‘20 something’s’ leaving the state is going to have a drastic effect on our economy in the long run. It is time to address the issue now to ensure we continue to keep growing the strong group of young talented adults.

Thanks again to Livingdowntowndesmoines for the photo of the Nomade Sculpture that was in Des Moines last year, the sculpture is set to return once the new Gateway park inherites the $25 million worth of art work that was donated by John Papajohn.

Spring Weekend

Pete Jones — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:53:00 GMT

Well, let’s see…what is going on in Des Moines this weekend that is not boring?

For starters, there are the NCAA Men's and Women’s Basketball tournament games all weekend, which begin today. I bet they will be on big screens all across the city, but a few great places to go to watch the game are 3 Bag, Johnny’s Hall of Fame, Legend’s (any of them), and The Game, just to name a few.

If College Basketball is not what you are looking for, the Iowa Chops are home for three games this weekend. The Des Moines Buccaneers are away Friday, but home on Saturday night. Unfortunately for the die-hard basketball fans, if the Chops are in town that means the Iowa Energy are traveling, with a game Friday at Anaheim.

What else? Oh, there is Hairspray at the Civic Center. The Tony Award winning play will be in town Friday through Sunday, and features Tracy Turnblad’s rise in popularity as a direct result of the accomplishment of her dream to dance on a popular TV show. I am actually going to see this show on Friday night after dinner at The Continental.

If you are still looking for something to do, there is always live music at The Vaudeville Mews, People's, House of Bricks, Grand Piano Bistro, and the Blue Moon Piano Bar. Of course there are also many other places in the city that will have live music all weekend, just too many to name (and link to) here.Oh, and the Des Moines Social Club has wrestling...who knew?

So, I don’t want to hear anyone say Des Moines is boring this weekend, because there are so many things to do I am running out of time (and space) to discuss all of them. Get out there and support your local establishments and enjoy the warmer weather (please let the weather stay warm this weekend and my mention not jinx us).

Thank you to Matthew Boudewyns for the photo and Livingdowntowndesmoines for bringing it to my attention.

Tickets anyone?

Pete Jones — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:32:00 GMT

I had a couple things to post about today, but I cannot get the quality of music that is coming to Des Moines out of my head. So, that topic wins out…

Let’s start in the short term, tomorrow (3/18) Ben Folds and Nickelback are in town. Now, I am not a Nickelback fan, but some circles consider them to be pretty good musicians and a major pull for Des Moines. Ben Folds has his niche in the industry and has released some great tunes in the past, but is not a big fan favorite or pull for large stadium presence. But, both groups in one night is pretty cool and definitely provides for ample options to keep yourself from being bored; that is if you are not hung over from St. Patrick’s day and plan to do anything at all.

Then, later this year, the big time news is Coldplay is coming to town! Not only are they coming to town, but they are coming to town on a Friday night…which used to be unheard of. Typically groups swing through town on Sunday or an off night and spend their time on the weekend nights in the larger cities. So, I have to assume this means that Des Moines is definitely not Boring, since we are able to pull a Grammy winning group on one of the biggest nights of the weekend. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, and I just hope they do not sell out in a minute and I get left out of the fun, which would suck! One group I did get left out of the fun is Dave Matthews Band, who comes to town in September. Their tickets went on sale last Saturday and I neglected to get any. But, where there is a will there is a way, I will get those tickets!

Anyway, I am very excited to see the level of musical options and quality increase. Frankly, I think it is about time since the music scene here has grown considerably in the last few years. I believe the growth comes from the efforts of the Des Moines Music Coalition, and is a direct result of the 80/35 Music Festival, which garnered tons of attention this past summer. The 80/35 Festival illustrated the community’s passion for music and showed promoters that tickets can be sold here. DMMC's next local music feature will be on April 11th, the Gross Domestic Product concert, where 14 local bands are scheduled to perform. The GDP is always a blast and a great feature for local musicians. Hopefully, we will continue selling out shows and showing the world Des Moines loves music!!

Thanks to the Des Moines Metromix crew for the photo from the inagural 80/35 Festiaval last year. This is one of my favorite photo's from the event, and shows The Flaming Lips Wayne Coyne enjoying the show.

Great city focus

Pete Jones — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:13:00 GMT

A partnership between Drake University and Des Moines University was recently announced that specifically centers on Health Care Law, and teams the schools together with one of the most unique programs in the nation. The new program will feature a joint degree in Master of Public Health and Juris Doctor/Law Degrees, and further bring the two fields together on one playing field.

The previous drift between these two fields has been well documented, mainly because the Health Care industry has become a litigious haven. Doctors have more malpractice insurance than ever and rising Health Care costs, as well doctors cumulative concern of covering patients exists, rather than the overwhelming desire to treat the ill. The results have meant it is harder to find Health Care services because most doctors run a quantity-of-patients practice, where the norm is to get-in-and-get-out, rather than a quality-of-care practice to meet patients needs. This happens because doctors have the need to ensure they cover their insurance payments. More patients in the same amount of time as the old days means more return on their investment and the ability to pay their staggering insurance payments and potential malpractice concerns.

Ideally, this program will bring the two fields together and essentially close the rift between them. Granted it is a small step towards a complete closure, but the fact that the initial step has been accomplished by two universities in Des Moines is fantastic. Both universities are very well

respected and established on their own, and the fact that they are now working

together will surely mean there are going to be further collaborations in the future that will benefit the city and the institutions. This partnership should make Des Moines proud; hopefully it will be the beginning of a great future and increased national attention towards our great city.

Chicken and Waffles

Pete Jones — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:47:00 GMT

This past Saturday I went to the brand new restaurant called Town Hall Tavern over on 8th Street in West Des Moines. Town Hall Tavern is the newest creation by Chef Jeremy Morrow, who previously worked at Azalea, Zen, Bistro 43, and a few others over the years. This newest creation takes his flavors to a more contemporary menu that contains items like Chicken and Waffles, Stuffed Meatloaf and Ham, BBQ’D Salmon Salad, Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad, Deviled Eggs, and Fried Green Tomatoes just to name a few items.

I had the BBQ’D Salmon Salad, which had a tangy dressing that was separate from the BBQ sauce and was something I could not pin-point. I am not known for my refined pallet, so it is not surprising I failed to identify the dressing. What ever it was, it mixed well with the sprinkle of chips on the top of the salad and the tangy BBQ’Q sauce on the Salmon breast. The Salmon was cooked perfectly, basically just marked with the grill, and not over cooked.

There was also a significant list of adult libations on the menu, but I went with the old stand by – Fat Tire. I do not recall the quantity of options on the adult libation menu, but I remember it to be pretty extensive. The location used to be a Mexican and Italian restaurant previously and you can definitely see both heritages in the molding of the restaurant. But, Morrow and his staff have done a nice job changing the ambiance into their tavern theme. I highly suggest you swing by the Town Hall Tavern the next time you are over in the that area and you are looking for a place to drink, eat, or love…as they say on their website.

Most promise

Pete Jones — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:43:00 GMT

The buck stops in Des Moines this weekend, with the opening of the Des Moines Social Club. The Social Club is the brain child of Zachary Mannheimer, who is the founder of the Subjective Theater Company, which he started over 7 years ago in New York City. As I understand the background, Zachary was looking for a city that could bring new challenges to his personal and professional life, as the theater scene in NYC was growing too large. As a result of this passion, he drove to 18 different cities across the country in search of a city that could be use his services. Zachary chronicled his search for a new home on his Blog, which detailed his perceptions of the 18 cities he visited on his two month journey. Eventually, Zachary decided that Des Moines had the most promise, so he moved here shortly after his journey and has called Des Moines home ever since. The part that is more amazing, many of his friends from NYC have also made the migration here to start something fresh and new in Des Moines.

That fresh and new endeavor is the Des Moines Social Club, as I stated above. The Social Club is a place where everyone can call home, if they wish. Their mission is to have the hippies, suits, preppies, yuppies, the curious, the young, the old, the rich, and the poor, all collaborate and enjoy each others company in one multifaceted location. Sounds like a great plan, right? Well, after a few years of blood sweat and tears, they have brought the plan to fruition. This weekend is the opening of the Club at 1408 Locust Street, with special events planned all weekend. On Friday night they will hold the official Grand Opening and showing of R.U.R, which is a play that was written by Karel Apek back in 1919 and is based on robots, which will be catered by Proof Restaurant. On Saturday night, the Instinct Gallery opens at the Social Club location and their feature Femme Fatale, which will include local art work, Burlesque Show, and music, as well as the R.U.R. showing later that night. The best thing about the Social Club is all events are ABSOLUTELY FREE! But, the shows have a capacity of 50 seats available so it is best to register on their website fast! What ever you do, stop over to 1408 Locust Street this weekend and check out what the Social Club brings to Des Moines. I can speak from experience, their Subjective Circus event last year was a great first step. What amazed me most about that event, was the eclectic mix of people, which goes to show Des Moines is ready to open up and is curious enough to accept this new endevor.

The video is a showing of some of the changes the Social Club has made in preparation for this weekend. For the record, Zachary should wear more IOWA gear.

B-Bops withdrawal

Pete Jones — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:11:00 GMT

This was sent to me in an email, but I guess it was originally posted somewhere on Facebook. I have no idea who created it, so I cannot provide the proper credit. But, it does appear whom ever thought all of these up is now living in Illinois - and that may just be their first problem. Some of these are very random, but others did make me laugh. Enjoy!

1. ...You've ever chanted "Free Education" to a Maroon.

2. ...You don't like Hartford because they have more insurance companies

3. ...You've gone through withdrawal when you don't have B-Bops for more than a week.

4. ...You know all about the Rough Riders, Polar Bears, Scarlets, Railsplitters, and Huskies.

5. ...You think (know) Omaha sucks!

6. ...You know the significance of "South of Grand"

7. ...You know what "The Barn" and "The Well" are.

8. ...You know what people mean when they say "801"

9. ...You've ever gotten out of school for the Drake Relays.

10. ...You know what Nollen Plaza is.

11. ...You know the Travelers Umbrella not for the company logo, but for the kick-ass sign downtown.

12. ...Someone in your family works for Principal or Wells Fargo

13. ...You know not to go over 25 in Windsor Heights (at least when a cop is around)

14. ...You still have pride in the Barnstormers

15. ...You know what Central is

16. ...You thought it was cool when they added International to the airport.

17. ...You've ever been in a Tasty Taco's eating contest

18. ...You know what the Absolut Vodka building is.

19. ...you know the significance of the mcdonalds on grand

20. ...you know what the cement field and sandbar is.

21. You have parked on someone's lawn for the State Fair

22. You have been to the State Fair every year of your life....and you know it is one of the top things to do in the U.S. every summer.

23. You've stood in a long line to see cow-shaped butter.

24. You know how to use the word "barbeque" correctly as a noun, a verb, and as an adjective.

25. You remember having gone to malls in the metro before Jordan Creek was put in.

26. No night out is complete without a trip to Perkin's

27. Somewhere in your house is a t-shirt that says "I survived the Floods of '93"

28. You can correctly pronounce "Ankeny"

29. You laugh really hard in the last 20 minutes of Secretary the movie.

30. You know all about the stinky soy bean plant on the East Euclid.

31. You ever had a party at the tracks or the cement fields...and it was most likely busted.

32. You can engage in a discussion of the pros and cons to Hy-Vee, Dahl's, and Fareway.

33. You forget sometimes that Kum & Go is hilariously named. (living in Illinois now, I personally know three people who have put up pics of Kum & Go because they think it is funny).

34. You are aware of 70th and Beaver as the ultimate shortcuts to everything.

35. You find the drivers of the other 98 counties completely incompetent.

36. You know what IBC stands for...(and if you go to Roosevelt, you most likely know the entire work force, I myself having worked there )

37. Snow days occur once every 5 years due to the excellent equipment that the city owns

38. You see the word "slipknot" and think of your hometown

39. You don't even really like Slipknot but brag about them anyways.

40. You know what happens in the OLD Science Center parking lot on weekend nights

41. You know and fully comprehend - Green: no change foreseen, White: colder weather in sight, Red: warmer weather ahead, and weather beacon flashing night or day, precipitation is on the way.

42. If a 20-minute hold-up constitutes a major traffic delay

43. You feel very cosmopolitan when you take a trip to the art centre

44. The owner of IBC is a creep and has hit on you....particularly if you are a 14-16yr old girl.

45. You know exactly what the waitresses at perkins are like.
They are six feet tall, have blonde weave, fake nails that stretch three inches long, nursing a drug addiction of some sort, and have a name like cheyanna or cherokee (or PRECIOUS G!!!!)

46. If you meet someone who went to Valley or Dowling you go "Oh" In that your one of those kind of way.

47. You've gotten lost in the skywalks looking for Kalidescope.

48...when people refer to West Des Moines as Des Moines you get upset. (I hate it when suburbanites say they are from DM, especially here at school. im the only one from the DM here)

49...you know the significance of 6th Ave and what kind of "business" goes on there.

50...You constantly say DMI, DSM or DM, as in "When will you be in the DMI again?"

51...You know the answer to almost every question on the Des Moines Register's online quiz about DM

52...You've ever been to a show at the House of Bricks (Brick house!) especially before it moved

53...You were very angry when they started enforcing the curfew at bars for people under 21

54...You've taken at least 10 pictures of the Gray's lake bridge, and thought it was so cool when they put it in

55...You've driven through Jolly Holiday Lights at least 10 times in your life

56...You love that they are beautifying Ingersoll, because there are some really cool shops there

57...You've ever gotten up at 6 a.m. in the summer to go to the Farmer's Market downtown

58...You've ever spent several hours perusing the shops in Valley Junction

59...You know that Des Moines is growing, even though Census thinks otherwise

60...You loved it when downtown started to pick up again and all the shops opened

61...You can strike up a conversation about anything involving Des Moines

62...When you live in another state, you get excited to meet people from Iowa, especially Des Moines

World renowned

Pete Jones — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:23:00 GMT

This past Tuesday I had the opportunity to see Legally Blonde at the Civic Center. I had no expectations going to see the event, and actually had to search my memory-bank to remember the concept of the movie, let alone put together any expectations for the musical. Once I dove head-first into my bank of memories I did recall watching Reese Witherspoon in the original Legally Blonde movie some years ago, but even then I more remembered Reese Witherspoon than I did the movie itself, if you catch my drift (wink, wink; nod, nod). So, the concept of going to the Civic Center to watch a musical really contained most of my thoughts. I should digress a little to provide the entire perspective; I do have a small background in musicals, because I was in the world renowned performance of Oklahoma during my freshman year at Urbandale High School. So, it is with that massive perspective at the behind-the-scenes of musicals that entered the Center.

I have to admit, I was impressed at the level of performances. It was interesting to see how many roles some of the performers played during the nearly 3 hour musical. The main characters really had the easy job, staying in character and only memorizing three hours of music. The secondary performers really had to stretch and remember different characters and performances, not to mention character nuances. I counted one of the males played something like 5 different roles, and those were speaking roles, some of the other males danced in different attire at different times and could be considered different characters. I know you might be asking why I was concentrating on the males, ahem, I was also very interested in the females as well, but didn’t see as many different roles as I did with the males. True, some of the secondary characters changed outfits and roles a few times, but not to the extent of some of the males. Now, I am not trying to create a gender issue here, more so just providing the perspective of a male at a musical, we look for little things to keep us entertained and awake. I could provide some of my memories of the female characters, but I would suggest you just go and see the musical because my memories will surely be much less than your own perceptions. (hardy har har).

Over all, I was very impressed with the production and I would highly recommend you take in a show this weekend before the musical leaves town on Monday. I must also mention that I was cautioned by my loving cousin about posting the topic of a musical right after a post about Yoga, and I have to admit I took her suggestion into consideration. Yet, I will state for the record, I am sound enough in my manhood to post two items that have been typically considered feminine, and have no apprehension on the content or the order of their posts.

Giddy as a school girl

Pete Jones — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:32:00 GMT

I have never been one to give Yoga much consideration. I am not sure why exactly, but I have never thought it was important to my training or well-being. But, I have to admit my error, which is not an easy thing to do.

I had my first session at Firehouse Yoga, over in the Drake Neighborhood, last Friday and I have to admit I was a little apprehensive at first because I had missed the previous weeks class, and everyone in the class had previous Yoga experience and was much more knowledgeable. I will admit I went into the class with an open-mind, and was amazed (first and foremost) that I was able to do the positions, yet alone how easy they were. Not to imply I was Mr. Limber and had no problem getting into the positions, and I think Maggie took it a little easy on us as well. It was pretty amazing actually; my muscles that are generally very tight were so loose I felt like I could have run a marathon after class. I felt as if a 1000 pound load was removed from my shoulders and I was nearly as giddy as a school girl. Well, that is a slight exaggeration. Mostly, my stress level was down to a manageable amount, which was great for a Friday night.

The class we did was set up by the coaches over at Zoom Performance. They suggested we take the class to increase our flexibility, strength, and lung capacity . The class was focused on specific areas that Triathletes need, the legs and specifically the hamstrings. I only have this one class as a reference point, but I would recommend Maggie and Firehouse Yoga to anyone who would be willing to listen. The feeling of relaxation and euphoria I felt after class was a close comparison to how I feel after an hour Deep-Tissue massage, but not the soreness the next day. The only thing is I have failed to maintain the looseness over the week and reverted back to my normal stretching habits, which got me into the tight mess I was in before. So, lesson learned; after this Friday’s class I will make sure to continue with the stretches to maintain the flexibility. If you are going to take a Yoga class, give Maggie a shot.

Thank you to amuseline for the picture.

Tragedy

Pete Jones — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:48:00 GMT

The following came to me via email from a friend of mine. The story is something I think most of us can relate to because it is such a shocking and tragic tale. I know most of us have not lived through the extremes from this story, thankfully, but have had a taste of what Shawn's family went through. Shawn Harrington is a native of Buffalo New York, and the below story details his memories of the shocking news that came from Buffalo just a few short days ago.

On Thursday night at 10:20 pm my parents were in their kitchen while watching an episode of ER. My mother describes the noise she heard for 3-4 seconds as a “plow truck racing 100mph down the street”. This was followed by an earth-shattering boom, in the time it took to turn towards the window, there were flames shooting into the sky 150-200 feet in the air above the early 1900’s brick house that Joe lives in next door to them. The instant this happened, my father dialed 911 to explain that a plane had just fallen from the sky. Not knowing his neighbor’s address, he told them he was at 6050 Long street and that they were needed immediately for the house two doors down. Our friend Paul was the first responding firefighter to the scene. His pick-up was not able to get down the street through the fire and debris. He ran on foot to the fire hall to suit up, which was only 1 block away from the scene of the crash. Many of the neighbors were pouring out of their houses unsure of what they were witnessing. The Wielinski’s house was engulfed in flames and there were explosions coming from the fire. Many were in disbelief to hear that a plane had actually crashed into the house. News reports began to flash across Western New York that a plane crashed into a house at “6050 Long Street in Clarence Center”, which was most likely reported from the original 911 call. Friends and relatives began calling each other. My brothers were trying to call me to explain that the worst had just happened to my parents. I was out jogging at the time missing these calls. The exact moment I found out what happened is when we were able to contact mom on her cell phone and confirm that her and dad made it out of the house ok. While we all were able to have a temporary sigh of relief, we would only soon find out the scope of the tragedy that was taking place. As I talked to my parents, they were watching the firemen care to the scene of one house that was on fire. They said it was a plane that hit, however we all assumed it was a small one due to the fact that it was only a minimally sized area of damage. The Wielinski’s garage was standing out back, and the mail box standing in front. What was hidden within the flames was the fact that a 74 passenger commercial airliner was what crashed into the house, killing all 49 on board and Doug who was in his dining room fixing up his collection of sports memorabilia. I was able to grasp bits and pieces of the news reports online while taking phone calls until CNN broke with the coverage around midnight here in Iowa. There were still more questions than answers at this time, I watched as a world spotlight was placed on the town and immediate neighborhood I grew up in. The TV networks were still displaying my parent’s address, “6050 Long Street” as the sight of the crash, which included in their coverage a Google Maps image of our house. A friend of my parents contacted their local Congressman, Chris Lee, who called into CNN and told Anderson Cooper live on the air that the wrong address was being reported. This was only a minimal mistake by the media as they continued to report through the night on as many details as they could obtain at that time. I was proud of how responsive my hometown was to this tragedy including friends, neighbors, and the local volunteer firemen who did the best they could with a near hopeless situation. I look forward to catching up with many of them when I make it back home in June, to here their stories and to personally thank them for being there when the rest of us hated being so far away. My parents have been evacuated from their house and are staying with grandma as the wreckage and recovery continues. They think that they will be back in by the end of this week. It has only been a minor inconvenience as there are so many other families out there who have been greatly affected by this unfortunate by this tragedy.We wish them the best as it is now a time to grieve for all those lost. Things will never be quite the same whenever I go back home, however I know the community well and know that they will pull together to overcome this tragedy and move forward.

Thank you for sharing Shawn. Here are a few links to the headlines for further reading, and a link to the Red Cross support effort.

Where are the keys to the tractor?

Pete Jones — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 02:18:00 GMT

Well, I guess I put off the inevitable long enough. I know I wrote about the Iowa State Fair, so I did touch on the great Iowa’s Historical perspective a little bit. But,I have tried to stay away from items that lend to stereotypes about Iowans. Oh well, I guess it’s time I truly hit rock bottom and discuss something that is truly at the heart of all Iowans, the Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival. True, you might not yet know about this annual gala, but I know I tricked your saliva glands. The 2nd Annual Festival is this weekend at the EL Bait Shop bar downtown. The event is not without equals; for instance there is an event in Madison, Wisconsin called Brat Fest, where the annual goal is to beat the last years record for Bratwurst sold in one three-day weekend. Considering the average amount of Bratwurst sold is near 190,000, it is obvious the event is very popular. Now, I can’t try to compare Brat Fest with the toddler festival in Des Moines, since our event is only two years old. But, I think it is safe to say the festival organizers definitely did their homework when they picked the location because a festival about Bacon is a perfect fit for Des Moines.

It is pretty obvious, I am a fan of Des Moines, and I am truly excited to be a part of an up-and-coming city with so much happening. I also know that it is hard for many people who are not from Des Moines to understand, since Iowans are often the butt of many jokes and stereotypes. But, it is with that in mind that I see the humor in a Bacon Festival in Des Moines, Iowa. I think it is hilarious and I wish the creators well, but it also is a little tongue-in-cheek, because it belabors the stereotypes of people who live here. Even for just a small moment, everyone who has ever made fun of Iowa is chuckling a little to know we have developed a festival that is dedicated to Bacon. They probably think we are all driving our tractors to the local barn to pop the bacon on the open pit as we spin around the tumbleweeds in our mouths and dance around to songs about a girl, a dog, and a truck. I realize the stereotypes of Iowans have come a long way with all of the new technological innovations, like the internet, where people can actually correspond with diverse-ethnic-cultural Iowans that do not fit the historical mold. So, the exaggerations I listed above are merely for humors sake. I do appreciate a Bacon Festival, I just think it is also a little hilarious to have a festival that celebrates the lining of the arteries. But, I know we Iowans are always looking for a celebration in February to remind us winter is nearly over. So, lets party-on and enjoy some bacon!

Click To Play

Thanks to Mrbaconpants.com for the link to the video from last year. If you haven't already, I suggest turning the volume down a little cause the middle has a bunch of screaming. But, it looks like a ton of fun. Oh, and for the record, I had to crack open a beer while writing this post, it just felt right.

Brrr run

Pete Jones — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:39:00 GMT

This coming Saturday is the Red Flannel Race, which starts at the downtown YMCA and meanders through downtown before ending at the Embassy Suites. The race is generally very well attended and a good number of people break out their Red Flannel outfits to show off a little. The race proceeds go to the YMCA's Partnership with Youth Campaign, which is an extremely good reason to make your donation soon and register for the run.

Now, I always treat this race as a 'weather depending' race, because it is February, and it is Iowa. The last Red Flannel I raced was a very crazy weekend, Friday was a interstate-closing blizzard, with sunny and unseasonably warm Saturday morning. The race went off without a hitch and I only got a little frost bite on my nose. The weekend the top rated Meteorologists have predicted up to 6 inches on snow on Friday and highs of 26 degrees for Saturday. Lets hope they stick to their 30% accuracy numbers and have this weekends forecast off just a tad, at least for an hour on Saturday morning. Otherwise, I am not sure I am going to do the race because the forecast for Saturday is just a tad colder than I I usually enjoy for my Saturday morning workouts. I guess it is only fair that this race faces severe weather since last weekends Brrr Ride went off without a hitch and 50 degree weather. Wouldn't you know I didn't do that race, just my luck. Anyway, this race is a great way to get off the couch and get out to enjoy a late winter morning in Central Iowa. I know, it is just a little crazy, but that is the fun of it, to get out and just enjoy the fact that we are healthy enough to get to race. Wish me luck if I do decided to layer up and head out to run among the flannel people.

Thanks to ikin84 for the picture.

Home pucks

Pete Jones — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 01:16:00 GMT

The Des Moines Buccaneers have called Des Moines home since 1981, when their first puck dropped into the USHL League. The USHL is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States that consists of players younger than 20 years of age, and total of 12 teams, mainly located in the Mid-West. The league has had a number of players progress to the NCAA and the NHL throughout the years, none more notable than Des Moines' own Scott Clemmensen. Scott was drafted back in 1997 by the New Jersey Devils while he was attending Boston College, where he helped his team win a Beanpot Title in 1998 and 2000.

Tomorrow (2/11/09) night the Des Moines Buccaneers play host to the Indiana Ice. The Ice are a conference foe that has the 5th and 7th leading scorers in the league. The Buccaneers are not having one of their better seasons and do not appear to be heading to another deep playoff run, but that doesn't mean tomorrow’s home game at 7pm is going to lack excitement. Plus, the Bucs are the only hockey show in town since the Iowa Chops are taking the night off. I realize the weather is nice outside, but put on the jacket and head on out to tomorrow's game and watch a few potential NHL greats emerge onto the scene.

Thanks to Zimbo.com for the great photo of Scott in action.

Gender thing

Pete Jones — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:26:00 GMT

I saw this week that the Jordan Creek Town Center was recognized in the Urban Land, which is a publication that is affiliated with the Urban Land Institute. That publication listed Jordan Creek as "one of 10 developments worldwide that creatively brings together retail and entertainment options." It is pretty cool to have Jordan Creek mentioned in this publication, especially during these hard times, when I have to imagine the stores in the mall are hurting financially. I know there was mention awhile back that the owner of Jordan Creek, General Growth Properties, was on the verge of bankruptcy. Although, it appears the initial press about the potential bankruptcy was a little premature since all of the recent news surrounding General Growth Properties has been about restructuring debt, loans, and refinances, so it appears they are weathering the storm.

I am male (I know that is pretty apparent) so I have a hard time considering Jordan Creek as a place that is not boring in Des Moines. But, I will concede there are many things to do, and many great restaurants. But, it is still a mall, and there are generally large crowds of people there for long-extended amounts of time. I typically don't do well with crowds of people, and malls especially, which goes back mostly to the gender thing. I have honestly only been in the core part of the mall to go to the Apple Store, and even then I got online to figure out which entrance was the closest to the store so I would run in and out without having to deal with all the people. Oh, and I have been to Scheel's, luckily for me they have an external entrance so I don't have to deal with the actual core of the mall. Anyway, it is good to see a local establishment mentioned in a national press, even if it is for a mall.

Thanks to the Jordan Creek Town Center Blog for the photo.

Hard at work

Pete Jones — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:11:00 GMT

I wanted to carry over my thoughts on last Thursday’s YPC Annual Party on a post this past Sunday. But, I got tied up with the Super Bowl, and an unusually busy all-around day, and ran out of time to post.

My intent on Sunday was to express my satisfaction with the Annual Party held a few days previous. The Party was very well attended, we actually assumed 120 name-tags would be enough but we ran out, and guess the number to be around 150 people. I don’t tell you the attendance numbers to flatter our organization or make us sound better than the next group, more so to provide perspective, the perspective which I hope to expand on below.

Des Moines has a unique number of passionate young professionals who work very hard to ensure our city consistently gains. The “gains” come in many shapes and sizes; mainly economic development, night life, dining, entertainment, professional development, music, and the list can go on and on. Yes, I understand having passionate young professionals is not unique to Des Moines. But, what is unique is the fact that there are so many groups in the city that focus on specific niche “markets”, which provide for a focused approach, and great collaboration. For instance, the Des Moines Music Coalition focuses on music (I know, shocker!), the Des Moines Social Club focuses on art and bringing together many different types of people for a common cause. The Young Professionals Connection focuses attracting and retaining young professionals, the 21st Century Forum focuses on providing a forum to discuss civic matters. The point I am trying to make is each of these organizations have a different core group of passionate young professionals who work on their free time to develop the group’s missions. The key word here is FREE TIME as most, if not all, of these groups have completely volunteer members who provide their talents because of their passion for the city and the groups mission at hand. There are a much larger number of YP’s willing to give back to their community recently, and there efforts are increasing with equal respect to the passion and energy our city has experienced in the past years. This was best illustrated at the Annual Party event last week, where many of the groups mentioned above, and others, were present to enjoy the celebration and the excitement of a new year.

It is easy to go along with the status quo to think the city you live in is boring, and then do nothing about it but complain. It is harder to take a stand and invest your time to better the community around you, which is what these young professionals do on a daily basis. The YP’s referenced above are making things happen in our city and working to change it for the better. I very much applaud their efforts and am proud to consider myself a member of their community!

This picture was found on the YPC Facebook page.

Party time

Pete Jones — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 01:46:00 GMT

This coming Thursday (1/29/09) is the Annual Party for the Greater Des Moines Partnerships Young Professionals Connection (YPC). The party is held to allow YPC members an opportunity to look back on 2008 and to celebrate the new year. The event will be held at Johnny's Hall of Fame from 6 to 9 pm and will include many door prices from numerous gracious donors.

YPC is an affiliate of the Greater Des Moines Parnership, with a sole focus to attract and retain young professionals to the area. There are many events planned for this year, most notably the Golden Circle Games, Do More Village (at the 80/35 Music Festival), and the 2009 YP Iowa conference (in conjunction with Young Professionals of Iowa). These events are the showcase for YPC, but there will be many other events scheduled throughout the year focusing on Professional Development, Civic engagement, Charitable contributions, Social events, Impacting Downtown development, Diversity, as well as internal Marketing and Membership functions. YPC consists of nearly 500 young professionals in the Des Moines area who are all eager to give back to their community.

If you are a YPC member, check out the event on Thursday night.

Big Thanks goes to fellow YPC member Justin Brady and Test of Time Design for the graphic.

Hookah heaven

Pete Jones — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:01:00 GMT

Des Moines has another first, its first Hookah bar. The Chicha Shack has replaced the Java Lava coffee shop, in the Drake Neighborhood. The Des Moines Shack will have a lounge area, and many of the ammenities of the coffee shop it replaced, mainly wireless internet, teas, coffee, etc. It will not have the Bar & Grill that the Ames location has, both places are under the same ownership.

Hookah smoking originated in India and has spread to be a very prominent fixture in the Middle East. In the Hookah, the smoke is filtered through the water in the base, which is suppose to provide a more pure smoke vs. a traditional filter in a cigarette. Three people generally smoke from the same Hookah, usually with a tabacco that is flavored.

I actually have developed an allergy to smoke, so I will not be frequenting this establishment any time soon. That and I don't condone smoking as it has numerous harmful effects, and studies have shown smoking through a water filter does not limit those effects. But, I think it is great that part of the Arab culture has made its way to Des Moines and I wish them well. It will be interesting to see how our city embraces this form of public expression. The Chicha Shack is situated in the right spot in town, next to Drake University, where a majority of the students come from other states or countries.

Thanks to Studio DC for the photo.

Chocolate!!!

Pete Jones — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:37:00 GMT

I have to admit, I was at a loss trying to figure out what I was going to post about tonight. My remedy to this loss prompted me to scroll through the numerous entertainment guides and websites that feature Des Moines' happenings. I know, I see the humor in that myself, the Blog speaking to Des Moines' activities looks to find inspiration elsewhere. I typically find good info through my own reading and exploration for knowledge about our great City, but for some reason nothing come to mind tonight. Luckily for us all, my loss ended when I stumbled across an announcement about Willy Wonka at the Des Moines Playhouse.

The current rendition of the old classic Willy Wonka is showcased at the DSM Playhouse Kate Goldman Children's Theatre, from January 16th through February 8th. The current version was initially written by Roald Dahl's and is likely the version we all read when we were kids all those years ago. I think it is pretty safe to say that everyone remembers Charlie Bucket's escapades through the Chocolate Factory. I know for certain I always dreamed of ending up in a bath of chocolate. Luckily, I haven't had that dream much since I turned 30.

Now, I have to admit, I have never been to the Des Moines Playhouse, but I have heard many great things about it and it appears to be a fabulous place. The Playhouse consists of a total of two stages, the Kate Goldman's stage (geared towards younger audiences) and the Mainstage, which is currently showcasing Doubt, A Parable from January 23rd to February 8th. The Playhouse also provides an opportunty for aspiring local actors to get involved with performances throughout the year, as well as acting and educational classes.

I know going and seeing a play is only something a select few will deem "not boring." I just think it is great to have such a long standing gem available in Des Moines, and it is truly one of many venues that promote local and touring acts. It is venues like these, among others, that encourage the growth of culture in Des Moines, and I highly applaud their efforts. The Playhouse is obviously a place where I am going to have to get too soon to continue my exploration of Des Moines.

Inauguration pizza

Pete Jones — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:22:00 GMT

The one thought that came to mind today on Inauguration Day was Frank's Pizza. More of a craving than anything, and it really has nothing to do with Inauguration Day, other than they both fell on the same days. But, truly one of my first thoughts today was about Frank's great pizza. Frank's has been open over on University (in the Drake Neighborhood) for awhile, although I am not sure exactly how long. It has been some time since I had their pizza, easily back into last semester, I think it was during one of our planning sessions for a Project Management class I was in. Anyway, more to the point, I Ioved the pizza! This was the second time I have tried their pizza, but the time before was not recently enough that it came to memory as we were ordering it. Honestly, we ordered it just cause it was close to Drake and we could go and get it easily.

As W.E. Moranville wrote "if a restaurant limits our choices to a chiseled-down menu, everything on it had better succeed. Happily, that's pretty much the case with Frank's Pizza." He is absolutely right! Frank's is not known for a wide selection of items, but they do each item VERY well. For instance, they only have four types of pizza on the menu, the Mona Lisa, Sinatra, Soprano, and the Dimagio. I bet you have heard these name on pizza's at other establishments, but I can attest you have not had this quality of pizza associated with those names in Des Moines. I have only tried their pizza's, but I am sure their sandwiches are equally as good. One of the interesting things Frank's does is hold a 'Monday Night Movie Night,' where they feature a movie in classic black and white that ranges from "from Brando & Sinatra to Jarmusch & Hitchcock."

Next time you are over in the Drake Neighborhood, check out Frank's Pizza. They are a local establishment and they are one of the newer restaurants in that area, and I am sure they would love to see you.

Streetcar friendly

Pete Jones — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:35:00 GMT

I am a strong proponent for the recent discussion surrounding adding a rail system or streetcar system to downtown Des Moines. The discussion heated up this past week with two segments held by the Downtown Community Alliance and their guest Charlie Hales. Mr. Hales is best known for implementing a similar system in Portland, Oregon, which has been deemed wildly successful, mostly from the terms of economic development. His presentation was more of a feasibility study to determine whether or not Des Moines could handle a system in the near future. I believe Des Moines needs a system for a number of reasons.

Economic Development - The downtown core office-space is going to be very bare in the next few years after Wellmark and Aviva move to their respective new buildings. This open office-space is very important to fill and increased transportation to and from these spaces will assist with those efforts.
- Retail development - many have felt the Skywalk system, implemented in the late 1970's, took away a very important aspect to a vibrant downtown, street level retail. A newly implemented system, engineered with a focus towards street level retail, will bring back the street level retail and add to the vibrancy downtown.
- Housing - increased travel around downtown will increase the level of people interested in living downtown. It will be that much easier to get to the grocery store or to the local tavern, and will alleviate the current concern regarding owning a vehicle downtown. The initial version of the streetcar will not facilitate travel to the newly proposed Grays Landing district or to other areas of the city, but with its expansion comes more means for these areas, which will increase downtown housing even more.
Environment - Adding a streetcar system to downtown means many of the 70,000 people that currently commute downtown every day would have a means of transportation that is environmentally friendly. This "Green" approach will assist with emissions each and every one of the cars gives off and will lower the need for parking garages or street level parking lots. I realize the initial version of the streetcar will not run to the suburbs or provide a means of travel from those places. But, implementing a system downtown will open up a major portion of the current DART routes and allow that group to focus more on transportation from the suburbs.

I know there are concerns with adding a streetcar system to a city the size of Des Moines. For one, the cost associated with implementing a system like this is going to be staggering. But, I believe it is a gamble that needs to be strongly considered now because of the long-term benefits to the city. There has already been a big investment in downtown during the last 5 years, implementing a system like this will only increase the returns on the investment and make downtown a thriving destination for all of the above bullet points. Also, adding a system and increasing all of the above points will be very attractive to larger employers in the future, employers considering moving their main offices to the area, which will add to the economic vibrancy of the city.

There have been numerous studies that illustrate the increased economic development in cities as a direct result of an implemented streetcar system. Those studies show drastic return on the investment and increased expansion of those cities, as well as the over lying unification of the city, which is sometimes not considered during the proposal stage.

Lets face it, there are those people who still complain about downtown at this point. Most of those complaints revolve around transportation or an aspect of transportation that will be addressed by a streetcar system. On the flip side, many people love the fact that they can get downtown in the mornings in around 10 to 15 minutes, and the over-all commute to anywhere in the city is not hindered by delays, like many larger cities. Adding a streetcar system to Des Moines now, will ensure a means for transportation as our city grows, a means that will impact our transportation long into the future.

Thanks to Stephenrees for the picture of the Portland Streetcar system.

Division battles

Pete Jones — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:21:00 GMT

Well Fargo Arena is going to be jumping this coming Saturday with all sorts of division leading action. If you haven't had a chance to check out either of the teams that call the arena home, this is your chance for one big day of sports.

First, at noon, the Central Division leading Iowa Energy host the Southwest Division leading Austin Toros, for a game that is sure to be packed with tons of excitement. The teams represent athletes from Chicago Bulls & Phoenix Suns, as well as the San Antonio Spurs respectively. Then as if that division battle is not enough, at 4 pm the Iowa Chops play host to the West Division Leading Milwaukee Admirals. A win by the Chops will put them in a tie for first place with the Admirals.

A Saturday like this in Des Moines, Iowa is pretty amazing. I have heard people say Iowa will not "make it" until they have a professionals sports team, a real professional sports team. Well, I am not sure how much more real those people need since the Energy and Chops are currently in fights for their respective division leads and each of the teams is chalked full of professionals athletes. The same professionals athletes that we have seen in NCAA battles and on pre-season NBA and NHL games on TV.

Des Moines is proud to be home to the most farm teams in the country, with 6 teams (representing 5 sports) calling Des Moines home. The fact that Des Moines has as many teams as we do illustrates the investment those teams have made into the future of our city. Trust me, those teams would not have invested in the city if they didn't feel we have every opportunity to support their investment and future expansion. I am very proud to call Des Moines home, in case you couldn't tell from the Blog, and I am excited that these events are available.

Can you name all of the "farm" teams in Des Moines?

Taxidermied animals

Pete Jones — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:12:00 GMT

Ever had a desire to eat Mexican BBQ food and look at fish?

No, me neither. But if you ever had that desire, I would strongly suggest you head over to El Bait Shop, themed “The Only 1970’s & fishing themed Mexican BBQ restaurant you’ll run across…ever.” I can guarantee you the theme holds true because this place is as unique as it sounds. If you don’t believe me, check out their 107 beers on tap, a working shower (?), taxidermied animals, breweriana (no idea what that is?), and a giant patio. Not sure why any bar needs a working shower, but I guess it would come in handy for those rare times when you need to get the fish smell off or for a number of other reasons. El Bait shop is just down the street from Principal Park and shares a doorway to The High Life Lounge, which is an equally unique bar in-and-of itself, but we will save that for another day.

Live Bait is featured every Wednesday and Sunday at El Bait Shop, the bait being live musicians. This Wednesday’s feature is a home town favorite, Brother Trucker who always puts on a good show. Brother Trucker has been playing local hot spots for a number of years and is a perfect fit for the Bait Shop crowd. The two will surely make for tons of stories when they unite tomorrow night. So, if you are bored tomorrow and looking for something to do I would suggest heading out to El Bait Shop for the festivities.

Thanks to the Court District Facebook page for the picture.

Controlling the plague

Pete Jones — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:01:00 GMT

This Wednesday is the inaugural Take Control Campaign, which is being held by a few local entrepreneurs in Urbandale. The event is geared towards instruction on how one can take control of their lives, thus the title of the Campaign. There will be specific instruction surrounding Health and Wellness, Personal Finance, Relationships, and Careers. I plan to attend the Campaign for a number of reasons, but most importantly to support local businesses and assist with spreading their message. I am also sure I will be able to gain a few tips to better control my life, plus the obvious option to network with some very exciting people.

Concepts like this have really taken root in the past few years and I know Twitter has assisted in a big part of the local entrepreneurial spirit. The #DMTweetup group has really blossomed into a major part of the spirits expansion throughout the city and is often credited for some of the very creative concepts. Many of these concepts are not a direct result of Twitter, meaning Twitter did not create the concept, more along the lines that the concepts were shared with a vast number of people through the medium Twitter provides. Concepts like the Impromptu Studio, for the very people being discussed here, and other businesses have utilized Twitter to assist with their business, like Lavarow. These are the businesses that will galvanize the core market and work together to assure other larger companies come to Des Moines in the future. We all know we are in trying times right now, but many of the smaller to middle market business have not seen the same large scale results as many of their larger peer business have. I realize large businesses like Wells Fargo, Principal, and Microsoft have a much larger impact on the local economy, but the entrepreneurial spirit is what is going to continue to keep the city vibrant and ever-changing. I know that can be said about other cities, but the spirit here has increased so quickly it has been discussed in numerous other forums and is slowly growing into a major force in the city. I know that sort of makes it sound like something crazy like the Bubonic Plague or something. Trust me, the entrepreneurial spirit is a good thing and I applaud the creators of the Take Control Campaign for their efforts and their vision.

Side note: I love Spell Check, without it I would not have been able to spell entrepreneurial so well in this post.

Hungry hippo

Pete Jones — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:35:00 GMT

I first saw this piece at Larry's blog Livingdowntowndesmoines.com and thought it was a wonderful piece about our great city. It is a little dated, but does provide an amazing portrait of the changes to our city in the nearly three years since the Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau created it.
I especially got a chuckle out of the guy putting his head into the plastic hippo, that really made my day. I have no idea where the hippo is located or if it is still there, but I have to imagine it is at the Zoo.

Anyway, this piece does my point a ton of justice and I thought it would be a great way to illustrate how many thing there are to do in this great city. Enjoy!

Libations

Pete Jones — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:23:00 GMT

I flew out of DesMoines International Airport yesterday for a trip to Phoenix for three days of meetings. I know the Airport is not often considered some place to go and hang out or some place that is truly not boring in the city, but there are a few things you can do there that could be considered entertaining. For one, there is a Bar located right before you go through security. Then once you go through security there is another bar and a few places to get food. I know Iowans typically need their libations, I just think it is hilarious that an airport the size of Des Moines has two bars. I guess one for people heading out of town and one for those waiting to their loved ones to come into town.

Anyway, I got off on a tangent there. The Airport is a great place to spend your hard earned dollars and truly make an investment in the city. I would make it point to head out there at least an hour before your next loved one arrives in town and make sure to bring your wallets, cause the more we spend at the airport the better the facilities. At least that concept works in theory, not sure if it will actually pan out If you are not into the bar scene, there is a wonderful gift shop located on the ground floor with tons of attire with DES MOINES plastered all over it. What better item to buy for your next Birthday present, or better yet, for Valentines Day. Ok, I have gone a little over the top there, I would hope you would get your loved one something a little more special than something from the gift shop.

Smoking Mews

Pete Jones — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:48:00 GMT

A great place to see live music and other live acts downtown is the Vaudeville Mews, on 4th street down the road from the Royal Mile. The Mews just celebrated its 6th Birthday and is one of the original smoke free bars in the area. The Mews tends to feature some of the up-and-coming groups and more of the "under ground" music, when compared to People's just around the corner. Every venue has to have its niche, and the Mews carved theirs out well before People's moved from Ames. Amedeo Rossi has turned the Mews into one of the cities most unique venues, with music, live art, spoken word, and an assortment of other shows featured each night.

Here is a list of a few acts featured this week: The Unknown Component plays tonight, River and the Tributaries plays on Tuesday, Adai on Wednesday, Old Panther on Thursday...and so on. Each of those groups has numerous other opening bands playing before them so each show is a great example of local and regional music. The Mews is known for its very eclectic tastes and willingness to play any genre out there. I happened to see one of my favorite groups there not long ago, The Envy Corps.

Thanks to purevolume for the photo.

Local flavor

Pete Jones — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:03:00 GMT

I have been a fan of Centro Restaurant since it opened in the Temple for Preforming Arts some years ago. I have always loved their Coal Fired Brick Oven New York Style Pizza's, the Chicken and Prosciutto Pasta, and the last few times I have been there I have enjoyed their Pesto Steak Sandwich, which I highly recommend. But, I had no idea they rent out the South Union Bread Cafe location during the evenings for special groups. I was there this past week for an event and had a great time eating an assortment of their Pizza's and other small finger-food items and a few adult beverages. They drape a black curtain over the oven area, for those of us who have been to South Union during the lunch hour, and dim the lights and create a complete different ambiance than what I would have expected. It is a great way to utilize that space during the evenings and reach a few more customers who may have otherwise not given Centro a chance.

For those of you who have not tried South Union, it is located directly next door to Centro, and is usually very busy during the lunch hour during the week.

South Union serves an assortment of great sandwiches, which are all sandwiched (sorry for the pun) between South Union's wonderful fresh bread. South Union was, I believe, the first restaurant by George Formaro when it was opened a few blocks east closer to the core of Downtown. That place was obviously very well received by the 77,000 people working downtown during the work days, and thankfully, Mr. Formaro has taken his specialties to other endeavors, like Centro and The Gateway Market, just to name a few.

Happy holidays

Pete Jones — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 02:02:00 GMT

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday.

This picture was taken at the Jolly Holiday Lights event at the Waterworks Park. The proceeds from the admission to the 3.3 miles of Holiday Lights goes to the Make A Wish foundations.

Thanks you to Aplseed's Garden for the photo.

Versatility is key

Pete Jones — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:37:00 GMT

New to Des Moines this week, and just in time for the Holidays is The Nutcracker, performed by Ballet Des Moines. All the fun starts this coming Friday at 7 pm over at Hoyt Sherman, the other showings are Saturday at 7 pm and Sunday at 1 pm. I know everyone knows Hoyt Sherman is not boring because they read my previous blog, but I know there are some people who think seeing The Nutcracker is one of the most boring things on the planet. But, not to worry, there are tons of things going on this weekend.

For starters, for those more into in the UFC scene, local fighter Kevn "The Fire" Burns is fighting on UFC's The Ultimate Fighter Finale live on Spike TV starting at 8 pm CST this Saturday night. I happen to know Kevin personally and I know he is very ready for this fight and his chance to go 3-0 at the UFC level. Kevin didn't actually participate in the reality show, he was actually put on this card because his rematch with Anthony Johnson is a big draw for the UFC. The show is going to be live and not on Pay Per View, but this is a perfect opportunity to head out on the town to support a local fighter and a local establishment. Hopefully bars like Johnny's Hall of Fame, 3 Bag, Twisted Parrot, and others will be showing the fights. If not, remember you have the power to request the fights be put on the main screen and over the sound systems. I really can't hold my enthusiasm in until Saturday night, guess which event I will be watching.

I know there are tons of other cool things going on this weekend, but I just wanted to touch on a few and show how versatile a weekend in Des Moines can be; The Nutcracker on Friday night and UFC fighting on Saturday night. It is a great opportunity to see both sides of the entertainment spectrum in one weekend. Granted one of the options is on TV and live in another, much larger city, that is fine because going to the fights means long lines and steep ticket prices. This way you get the best of both worlds, you get to watch Kevin win and help the community out at the same time.

Thanks to Bob Cat North and UFC for the photo's.

Many a fine meal

Pete Jones — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 02:38:00 GMT

The Historic Court Avenue District Association is holding a celebration this Thursday night to celebrate the development of the Court Avenue district. The celebration will begin at 5pm and run until around 7 pm at Liars Club, in the Court Center Building, on 3rd and Court Avenue. The festivities will include drink specials, appetizers from Dos Rios, a picture show of the districts changes over the years, and the unveiling of the new Court Avenue District logo.

Court Avenue really has come a long way over the years and grown into one of the entertainment hubs of downtown. I remember there were a handful of older buildings on the street, but there was no real theme for the area. Luckily the passion of the Association assisted with the revitalization of the area and the growth we have seen over the last five years. I can think back before all of the recent the changes to the Court Center Building, Johnny’s Hall of Fame, Spaghetti Works, Sbrocco, and a handful of establishments on the South side of the street.

The changes have not just happened on the South side of the street, however they have been more prevalent there. The North side of the street is slowly changing as well, most notably with some of the changes to the older Smithson bars. I believe the bar caddy-corner to Court Center has recently been purchased by Tom Baldwin, owner of Drink in Clive as well as a number of other bars in the area. Hopefully Baldwin will make a few changes to that establishment and update it to rival the crowd at Johnny's and Liars clubs. I really hope he makes the decision to stop blaring music at obnoxious decibels on the corner patio every night, and I know I am not alone with that comment as the residents on Court Avenue will enjoy it as well. There have already been a few changes to the bars north of Court Avenue on 3rd, I just hope those changes continue to the establishments on Court. One of the staples of the North side of Court Avenue that needs no changing has been the Court Avenue Brewery, which I have had many a fine meal and drink in during my day.

There is a great link to more historical Court Avenue information on Livingdowntowndesmoines. Here Larry provided so much information on the district ,I would do his work no justice by even trying to state a historical fact here.

Head on out to the event on Thursday night to support the Court Avenue District and help celebrate all the hard work the group has put into developing the area so many of us really enjoy.

Bowling for a $1

Pete Jones — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 02:12:00 GMT

A great place to go in Des Moines that is definitely not boring is Inplay, which is located just north of the heart of Downtown. Inplay is just about the coolest place in the city, in my estimation. They have a Bar, which I realize is not very unique. They have meeting rooms, again not unique. They have an arcade, starting to get a little more unique now. They have a climbing wall, leaning more towards unique. The completely unique part about Inplay is everything I just listed is all under one roof!

What could be better for a cold Saturday afternoon or a family outing than something for everyone?

The bar is known as The Stadium Bar and Grill; they have great food, drinks, Televisions and just about everything you could want in a sports bar. The meeting rooms are organized by the Forte Conference and Banquet Center; they can cater your wedding party or a group meeting after work. Last but definitely not least is the two story arcade that has so many games I dare you to try to play them all in one visit. In the middle is the climbing wall, which I have never done but I bet it is completely a blast. For that matter, I am not sure if they let old guys like me on the wall, it may be just for kids, I’ll have to check that out next time I am there. Oh, I nearly forgot, they have a miniature Bowling Alley! It is not truly miniature, it is just a little smaller than your typical Bowling Alley, but is a very cool addition. If the Alley is booked, they take reservations, there is a pretty cool smaller bowling game downstairs you can play for a $1.

I realize times are tough right now with all the difficulties in the financial market place. But, heading out to Inplay is truly something your entire family can enjoy and I am pretty sure you can do it rather cheaply. After all, there is no fee to park downtown on the evenings or weekends, so you can save a few coins there.

I found a picture of the Bowling Alley online, thanks to the Beta Alpha Psi Fraternity at Iowa State University for the picture.

Quenching the giggles

Pete Jones — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:38:00 GMT

The entertainment industry in Des Moines.

I know, that statement probably makes people on the coasts giggle a little because most people believe the stereotypes that Iowans drive tractors to school, etc.There really is an entertainment industry in the city and those associated with it have banned together to ensure their livelihoods prosper, along with the cities.

The Crossroads Conference was created a few years ago by Kathryn Dickel and Heather Hansen and was intended to bring the entertainment venues together to work for a common cause. This is the third year for the conference and it is expected to be the best ever! Dickel and Hansen plan to grow the conference each year, with aspirations of making it one of the biggest events for the entertainment industry in the Midwest. This year’s festivities start on Wednesday night and continue into Thursday, with the culmination event planned at the Court Center Building starting at 6pm. I say the Court Center Building, because all of the bars in the building will be participating with live music at People’s all night. The festivities will include over 20 different musicians from all over the Midwest as well as a visual art showing featuring 13 different artists. The conference is not all about the closing party, there will be different speaking segments throughout the day on Wednesday and Thursday at different locations all across the city.

These two days will be completely jam packed with great items focusing on the entertainment industry. The best thing is the conference will feature our city as well as the budding industry that is rapidly growing.The showcase will be the first time many in the Midwest will be able to see what many of us have grown accustomed to. Head out and support the cause and hear some of the areas best musicians while you are at it. Oh, and if the conference doesn't already sound amazing, Fat Tire is one of the sponsors! How can you beat that?

Thank you to Maxilla Blue for the picture, they will be one of the local groups featured at the conference on Thursday.

Historic dichotomy

Pete Jones — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:28:00 GMT

Last night was the Little Big Fest, which was put on by the Des Moines Music Coalition, and held at the Hotel Fort Des Moines. I was truly impressed with all of the musicians and very happy to see that most, if not all, were from the Des Moines area. I was also very impressed with the turnout and the participation levels indicated most of the crowd followed the groups and knew the songs well enough to sing along. I realize the Internet provides the ability to hear many local musicians, but the fact that people were able to sign along to the songs is a testament to the growing music scene in the area and the hard work of many.

Last nights vibe was very motivating, and the diversity of the crowd was truly amazing, I saw people of all shapes, sizes, colors, and demographics there to celebrate local musicians and enjoy the festivities.

I couldn’t get past the dichotomy of the historic hotel's classis facade and the event that features local musicians and their fans. There have been many famous people at the hotel in the past and it was very interesting to see the elegant Chandeliers over-head of the jam bands and large masses of dancing revelers. I have to imagine the festivities last night never crossed the minds of the hotels initial visionaries. But, it worked, it worked very well as rooms were the perfect size for the sound the groups projected. Both rooms featured very talented musicians and MooseKnuckle’s performance of Fantastic Jungle really brought crowd to their feet. Last nights success just goes to support the culture in Des Moines and the hunger for more events like this in the future. The Music Coalition has opened the door for many musicians to pursue their dreams, a door that in years past was closed due to unfounded perceptions of the area and the lack of depth to support the art form. I was truly inspired last night, I hope the same can be said for everyone in the crowd.

Thanks to Des Moines Metromix for the picture. I chose this shot because it shows Douglas Acres and the hotels elegant lighting and assist in illustrating the dichotomy.

Hearing the ringing

Pete Jones — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:15:00 GMT

I am thankful for many things this holiday weekend. For starters, I am done with my semester at Drake, I have a great family, my health, my extended family is coming to town for the holiday, and the list goes on. I am also thankful for the Des Moines Music Coalition's hard work bringing more live music to Des Moines and helping expand the horizon of musicians in the city. Not to mention their efforts to promote the city as a thriving destination where young people want to live.

The Des Moines Music Coalition has been working very hard in preparation for this Saturday nights third annual Little BIG Fest at the Hotel Fort Des Moines downtown. The festival features 8 bands, products from a local Brewery, and tons of fun. “Putting talented Iowa bands at the forefront, Little BIG Fest is an alternative culture celebration featuring the best of Iowa’s roots, jam, blues, bluegrass, folk, and electronica.”

I am most looking forward to seeing MooseKnuckle, because I missed them at the 80/35 Music Festival this summer and have not had a chance to catch them since. I have not heard much about the other groups, but that doesn’t mean they are not going to blow me away. I was completely blown away when I heard The Envy Corps during their sound check at the first Little BIG Fest, and now they are one of my favorite bands. I hope I can walk away on Saturday with a new favorite band. At the very least, I just hope I still have my hearing and the ringing sound goes away at some point during the day on Sunday.

What better way to work off some of the Turkey and Stuffing on Saturday night than listening to Iowa’s homegrown music?

I found this picture on Moosekuckle's Myspace page.

That time of year

Pete Jones — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:27:00 GMT

Wow, I can not believe it is already Thanksgiving week. The only College football games left are the annual bowl games. The leaves are all off the trees, and it actually snowed yesterday. I guess it is finally time to accept that winter's moved in and the holidays are going to be fast upon us. I imagine that means we will start hearing holiday music everywhere for the next month or so. It is sort of funny, when we were kids this time of year was the best time because we had so much fun during the holidays and were let out of school to enjoy all of it. Now, at least in my case, all I am concerned with is how many times I am going to have to shovel snow or deal with winter drivers. Maybe I just need to finally purchase that elusive snow blower to start enjoying the season a little more. Thanksgiving has always been a fun holiday for my family because I get a chance to see so many of my extended family and over-indulging in the feast as well.

Another Holiday past time starts this week, the annual Jolly Holiday Lights display will open on Tuesday at the Des Moines Water Works. The display has been an annual treat for as long as I can remember, certainly back into the 80's. Each year different organizations donate a light set to the event , which adds to nearly 3 miles of lights that provide for a pretty good show. All of the proceeds are donated to the Make-A-Wish foundation to help make a wish come true for one of Central Iowa's children.

Our family used to get everyone in the car and go at least once a year to see the lights. But, as I got older I have to admit I have not been quite as supportive of the cause. But, the lights are really perfect for a family with small children since each different light display is unique. Just be forewarned, going to see the lights means you have officially accepted winter and have no ability to complain about cold weather until February. That is the challenge,should so choose to accept it. (Cue in the Mission Impossible theme now)

Food and wine

Pete Jones — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:29:49 GMT

It this Heaven, no it’s Iowa….I thought of that line when I saw the amazing event going on this weekend.

Ok, I will cut to the chase. Head on over to the Celebrity Food & Wine Expo over at the Iowa Events Center, specifically the Hy-Vee Hall, from Friday night through Sunday. The event brings in some of the worlds, and cable televisions, most renowned Chefs to showcase their talents during the three-day festival. They will have different segments throughout the weekend that will include an opportunity to meet and greet with the Chefs. The event will have Chef Sandra Lee from the Food Network, Chef Jamie Gwen from the Home Shopping Network, Chef Curtis Stone of the Discovery Network, as well as many others. OH! Plus there will be Wine! What is better than celebrity Chefs, food, and WINE!?!?

The best part of the event, outside of touching someone famous…if you get a chance to get that close to them, is the support of local establishments. Tons of local establishments will be available during the weekend in The Emporium location. Local favorites like Alba Restaurant, Old Main Brewing Company, Big Daddy’s BBQ, Gateway Market, Trostel’s Dish, and Sbrocco Wine Bar, just to name a few.

Thanks to Chef Sandra Lee for the picture of her Grilled Beer Salmon.

Reflection of the passion

Pete Jones — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:44:00 GMT

Tonight I had the pleasure to meet with 20 youths at the Children & Families of Iowa (CFI) location on University Avenue. Our group of Young Professional Connection Members have met with the youth 5 times over the year, and I must say I have really enjoyed myself each time. Our meetings were set up via a challenge from Joe Young that was issued back in February. Mr. Young, who was a Downtown Community Alliance Board Member, challenged the YPC Impact Downtown Committee to mentor youth with CFI's Elevate group.

The Elevate group seeks to inspire others to new levels of understanding about the foster system. Their goals are to train and empower youth to become advocates for foster youth everywhere. The Elevate members are typically between 13 to 18 year old and they are faced the realization that they will soon be too old to be part of the foster care system in the state of Iowa. That realization is part of the reason we were challenged to meet with the youth.

It was thought that we could help to teach the foster youth a few concepts that they will need to know to live in the world. For our first meeting we invited representatives from the Admissions Office at Grand View College to speak about college admission. At our other meetings we did mock job interviews, discussed how to dress to impress, identify differing personality traits, and general skills needed to live on their own. As a special treat, we were invited to participate in first Annual CFI's Apartment Make Over event in April, where we made over a youths apartment who recently aged out of the foster system, though very generous donations from YPC members.

I know many people don't think of mentoring foster youth when they are considering items that are not boring in Des Moines. But, I have to say, I am very impressed with the CFI organization and the youth in particular. I don't know if CFI is a good fit for everyone, but take the time this holiday season to give back in some way to a group in our community. After all, that is what Central Iowa is known for, our community and our kind hearts. It is not often I advocate items of this nature, I guess it is more just a reflection of the passion I have seen at CFI and my way to try to give back to the youth.

This picture was taken at the apartment we made over during the Apartment Makeover event in April.

Initial turmoil

Pete Jones — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:06:00 GMT

The big hit Triple Espresso is in Des Moines for another go-round. The hit was here a few years ago and really received rave reviews. The show will be featured at the Temple for Performing Arts on 10th and Locust Streets, right next to Centro Restaurant, where it was featured some time back. Triple Espresso was the initial act featured at the Temple, when it initially opened, and the two were a great fit for each other as the hit show was a great feature for the new location.

The Triple Espresso main actors, “Maxwell, Butternut & Bean,” are back for their 25th Anniversary tour starting this coming Wednesday, playing every week until early January. The write-up for Triple Espresso says it is the 25th Anniversary of the initial showing of the comedy, and I understand the show caused some turmoil that initial night which got the actors banned from show business. I guess the comedy is a little spicy and went above and beyond what was expected those years ago. All I know is now the show is a big hit and I think I am going to have to go and see what all the fuss is about. Any show that makes that much of a splash is worth seeing, right?

I was previously unaware the Temple for Performing Arts is now branded as part of the Civic Center. It makes complete sense to have both locations under the same management and I bet they are able to ensure better acts by booking for the Civic Center, The Stoner Theater, and The Temple for Performing Arts. All three locations are great options for a night out on the town this holiday season. Granted, the theaters do not fit to everyone's idea of a great night out, but for those that appreciate live arts, they are a great hit.

Sleep out in November?

Pete Jones — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:37:00 GMT

An amazing thing is happening this weekend, people are going to sleep over night in Drake Stadium. Really! I am not kidding. They are actually going to sleep out side, over night, in Drake Stadium knowing full well it is November in Iowa. I know, sounds crazy. Right?

Well, tell that to the Reggie's Sleepout organizers who are putting together their third annual event to raise awareness and donations for homeless youths. The group raised $138,000 last year and are looking to expand on those figures this Friday night as they donate their time and effort for a great cause. According to the statistics listed on the event website, nearly half of the 21,000 homeless in Central Iowa are children. That is a truly amazing statistic and a figure I bet many people don't know.

Reggie's Sleepout is organized in loving memory of Reggie Kelsey, a youth who aged out of the foster care system and died nearly three years later from exposure near the Des Moines River.

I realize this post is not very conducive to fundraising since it is so close to the event, but I wanted to get the word out just the same. Plus, I am sure you can still donate funds on the website if you wish. Help support a great cause and donate some of your resources tomorrow. After all, aren't Friday's pay day?

The picture was taken at last years event.

Free press

Pete Jones — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:15:00 GMT

I was all ready to research a new topic to post for today's Blog when I came across the article below from the Kansas City Star. After reading the article, I dont't think I can do anything other than re-post it here because it paints a great picture of Des Moines. So, that being said, please forgive me for taking the day off and utilizing some of our free press.

KC Can Learn From Downtown DM

By KEVIN COLLISON
Kansas City Star

DES MOINES, Iowa | I took a busman’s holiday recently, visiting an old college friend and taking a tour of downtown with a staffer from the nonprofit responsible for its well-being

Bottom line: Anybody in Kansas City who believes we’ve done enough revitalizing our downtown over the past few years had better wake up. Regional cities such as Des Moines have been striving too, and, more importantly, they’ve been doing it consistently over a longer period of time.

It was 20 years ago that Des Moines civic leaders hired Mario Gandelsonas, a Princeton University scholar of urban design, to help the city come up with a plan to foster its downtown revitalization. The results have been impressive.

More than $2.8 billion has been spent downtown since 2000, much of it aimed at making the area more appealing to that educated, younger adult crowd with an appetite for urban living.

Factoid: While metro Des Moines is much smaller than metro Kansas City, 525,000 vs. 1.95 million people, its downtown has 77,000 workers vs. 100,000 in KC. The city can thank major employers, including the Principal Financial Group, Meredith Corp., Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co., Wells Fargo Financial and the state of Iowa, for its downtown employment base.

First off, we hopped on a free trolley that began operation last spring. It loops through downtown from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Amy Baker, communications director for the Downtown Community Alliance, took me to a burgeoning area called the East Village. It’s a district on the doorsteps of the Iowa State Capitol that a few years ago was parking lots and car dealerships.

Feel free to read the rest of the article at the link below. Nice work Kevin!! http://www.kansascity.com/501/story/873090.html

Collective Sigh

Pete Jones — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:36:00 GMT

For the record, I am not much of a Wine connoisseur, but I do have a favorite place to drink wine. Sbrocco’s on Court Avenue is one of the greatest places to drink Wine in the city. For one, they have Wine. Who knew? For two, they have a fabulous restaurant headed by Chef Darin Sturgill. Chef Sturgill uses organic and seasonal food to mold his culinary creations. Sbrocco’s passion for wine is very much equal to their passion for food, which I can attest is very true. Downstairs they have over a 1000 different kinds of Wine for sale by the bottle as well as a Cheese Bar, which I have not tried myself but I have heard the cheese is very good. On Thursday nights they have a Wine Tasting that runs from 5 to 8 pm, which is a good opportunity for those of you in the same non-connoisseur category like me. The tasting is a great way to hear about the wines as well as try a few you would otherwise not attempt to order for yourself.

I would imagine we all need to a collective sigh and opportunity to sit back with a good glass of wine after all the election hoopla that has overwhelmed us all for the last two years. Or, if you like Beer, they have that too, but the selection is not nearly as vast as their Wine list, obviously. Head on out on Thursday night to taste some wine and have dinner at Sbrocco. Not only will your purchase have a direct impact on local economy, but it will also provide the necessary distraction needed to halt all the discussion about our new President-Elect. I know I will need it.

Thank you to Palm Court for the picture.

Why the animosity?

Pete Jones — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:01:00 GMT

Des Moines and Central Iowa have well over 300 miles of trails available for use on beautiful days like today. This morning I went for a run on the Bill Riley Trail, from Grand south into Waterworks, and was really overwhelmed at the fall colors back in that area. I had not run on that trail before so I had no idea how far back it went or what to expect. Unfortunately for me, most of the trees had already changed and dropped their leaves, but I was still able to see some of what I missed. I am certain there is a trail near your house that you could get out and try before these great fall days turn to terrible winter ones. It is a great time of year to really enjoy the changing climate, especially if you start in the morning and get to experience the daily warming. As a Triathlete, I have used most of the longer trails during my rides or runs, mainly the Raccoon River Valley Trail that runs along Hickman road out to Adel and eventually up to Jefferson.

One thing is for certain, I wish vehicles would share the road with bikers, especially Triathletes or Road Bikers who keep their pace faster than most. Unfortunately, there are stories each year of deaths attributed to vehicles hitting bikers. Why the animosity towards bikers?

I try to stick to the trails because I don't trust vehicles, especially ones going 50 miles per hour and above, it is just too dangerous to be on the same road with them. I realize most of the animosity is expressed in the form of a finger our a yell, but some people swerve towards bikers and try to run them off the road. I just don't get it. Is it because we are out enjoying the weather and you are stuck in a car/truck?

The thing is, the trails that run through town also have to go by intersections with people driving vehicles, so there is really no true way to get around it. Luckily, on the trails in town, all we have to worry about is vehicles turning right or left and stopping directly in front of our path without looking, which happens in 9 out of 10 vehicles per ride.

Anyway, I got off on a tangent there. Get out and enjoy the trials while you still have time this year. They are definitely not boring. Oh, and driver, share the road with your fell biker!

Do you smell what The Chops are cooking?

Pete Jones — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:45:00 GMT

For those of you who may be looking for something to do this weekend that does not involve putting on a costume and doing a bar crawl, you are in luck! The Iowa Chops are hosting the Chicago Wolves on Friday night, which will close out their first month in Des Moines. If you are not familiar with the Iowa Chops, you might have lived under a….I have to refrain using my “you might want to crawl out from under the rock you have been living under” saying because I have been told I am a little too sarcastic when I start out using that phrase.…

So, where were we? Oh yes, the Iowa Chops are the new American Hockey League team in Des Moines, they replaced the Iowa Stars who, you may recall, left town last year be closer to their NHL team The Dallas Stars. The Chops are the minor league team that supports the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League. So far The Chops are sporting a 6 - 5 record heading into tomorrow nights bout with the Wolves from Chi Town, and they seem to be really jelling as a team. Friday nights game will be a great way to support your local team and avoid some of the Halloween mayhem throughout the city. Not that you can expect Halloween to be completely lacking from the game, they will be featuring a costume contest and free candy for the kids during the game. So, put on your best CHOPS costume and head on down to Wells Fargo Arena to support the Chops. It may just be the one time you will feel at home in your pig outfit.

Now, I need to get some of my sarcastic personality out here and I can’t let a post on The Chops go by without expressing my opinion on the choice of name. I don’t know what the other options were, and I understand it is important to pick a name that is indicative of the area. I also understand something related to farming or livestock lends to the typical perception of Iowans. But, I can’t believe they named the team The Chops. I mean, come on, there had to have been a better name than that. Does it have a deeper Hockey meaning? I don’t know I never played the sport. Maybe it does and I am just missing the point of the name. But, it seems there could have been other names that would be better suited for marketing the team other than the one chosen. Regardless of my opinion, it is still important to support the local team, even if it means you need to dress up in a Pig Costume on Halloween.

Unique items

Pete Jones — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 21:18:00 GMT

For those of you who may be bored in Des Moines, a great place to go to avoid any further dips into boredom world is the Des Moines Art Center. This year marks the 60th Anniversary for the Center and there are many special events planned in celebration. One of the features of the Art Center is their feature of some of the best local and national art work, but that is not all. There is a very good restaurant that was given 5 Stars by the Des Moines Register. Chefs Lisa Lavalle and Rose Punelli feature a new menu each week that is tailored to the seasonal items for that particular season. The culinary treasure is a hidden treat that is nestled among the exhibits and art programs, and open for Lunch and Dinner during the week. The Art Center also hosts numerous art classes and programs for the art enthusiast as well as the novice. There are two locations for the Museum Shop, one on Grand Avenue, and the other Downtown at 9th and Walnut Streets, in the Wells Fargo Financial Building. Each shop is packed with books, jewelery, art work, and other a sundry items. Of course The Art Center also has art, duh. They currently have three exhibitions showcasing work by Yan Pei-Ming: Life Souvenir , On Line, and Private Universe.

One of the most unique items about the Art Center is their approach to enhancing the lives of Young Professionals in the area. The Center has a specific group of young professional art enthusiasts which acts as an affiliate group of the Art Center, called Art Noir. Art Noir's mission is to engage youth into art programming and work to expand cultural horizons. This group has held some fantastic events in the past, the Big Hair Ball which is done each year, and most recently The Cornell Ball, that was held earlier this month. The events are set up to work along with their mission as well as raise funds for The Art Center.

The younger "me" who thought Des Moines was boring years ago would be very surprised that I am now recommending an Art Center as a place that is not boring. Back then, I wouldn't have been caught dead in an Art Center. But, I guess appreciating the Art Center comes with maturity and wisdom, plus now I know a good thing when I see it.

Next time boredom comes knocking on your door, hop into the car and head on down to the Art Center to check out the exhibits or a art class, you won't be disappointed.

This photo and others were taken by Doug Miller and posted on Bluffton.edu

Life Threatening Illnesses

Pete Jones — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:42:00 GMT

One thing I really don’t get is how people turn their noses up when someone is trying to hand them a promotional item. I was just walking through the Skywalk and came across this guy who was handing out a piece of paper that was similar in size to a bookmark. The paper promoted an event this Saturday at the Hoyt Sherman Place. Obviously this guy has passion about this event, or he wouldn't have decided to stand in the Skywalk to ensure everyone is the wiser. Yet, everyone who walked by him either gave him a glare and continued on their jaunt throughout the enclosed walkway or lied straight to his face about their attempt to come and see the event this weekend. It was as if he had the Bubonic Plague and he was looking to spread his disease with everyone, yet all he wanted to do was merely hand out a piece of paper promoting a passion of his.

Why is it people react that way? Aren't Iowans suppost to be nice and hospitable?

For the record, the event he so passionately promoting is the Dracula: A Comedy Noir, which is featured at Hoyt Sherman this Saturday at 3 and 7:30 pm. The Comedy Noir is sold as The Ballet that Really Bites! Unfortunately, there is no other information on the event on the Hoyt Sherman website, but I guess that adds to the intrigue. I Googled the event name to find out that it is presented by the Iowa Dance Theatre and it’s their 10^th year of presenting this specific event. Iowa Dance Theatre’s description: "Dracula, A Comedy Noir is a dark comedy ballet of romance and intrigue." The show must be a good if it has been playing for 10 straight years. Toss in the fact this guy has gone out of his way to help promote the play to all those fearful of contacting a life-threatening illness, and it must mean it’s fantastic.

Thanks to Adam Whitney for the photo of Hoyt Sherman.

Market is calling

Pete Jones — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:06:00 GMT

This Saturday is the last Downtown Farmers Market for the year at the traditional Court Avenue location. The Farmers Market is a great place to get your local produce or catch an early morning warm-meal from several local vendors. Each Market has live entertainment features and numerous local vendors who bring their products, food and otherwise, to showcase each week. Of course with the Fall season upon us the Market is a little different than it is in mid-June, but that doesn’t mean it is any less appealing. I am not sure the average number of quests at the Market, mainly because I am not sure there is a way to tally the hundreds of people there each Saturday. I would have to assume the crowds will be there this last time in celebration of the end of the season. This Saturday’s Market features representatives from the Brenton Skating Plaza, they will be bringing by information about their skating packages and features for the up-coming season. The Skating Plaza is a place I have yet to try out, but one that has been on my list since they opened a few years ago. As much as I tend to dislike the cold weather, ice skating is one thing I thing I need to try out this winter.

The Market will relocate for the winter from November through December and the Downtown Community Alliance is looking for meat and produce vendors for those weekly events. I am not sure where the Winter Market will be located, but I would wager to bet it will be in-doors, and I think it was in the Capital Square building last year.

So, take the opportunity to get out this Saturday morning and support your local food vendors at the years last Farmers Market on Court Avenue.

I found this picture here.

End of the World

Pete Jones — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:42:00 GMT

This Halloween we are going to be treated to a first of its kind in Des Moines. The Des Moines Social Club is going to provide an opportunity to Journey Through the Last Seven Days of the Earth, which is going to take the traditional haunted house and flip it completely up side down and change if for ever. The Social Club plans to provide their terrifying theatrical attraction for three nights, the first is the preview night on Thursday, October 30^th. Then, on Friday the 31, they will have their The End of the World event and Big Tent Performances by local musicians North of Grand, Maxilla Blue, Why Make Clocks, and Horseshoe Spatulas among others. On Saturday they will provide the Post-Apocalyptic Trance Night that will feature a DJ Dance Party that includes DJ Mindblur & Flatform, DJ Reaktor, DJ El Chill from Minneapolis. So, you basically have the options, you can go and enjoy the festivities on Halloween and see a bunch of local bands as well as the End of the World, or you can see what life is like after the End of the World on Saturday and enjoy some great DJ’s. The festivities will be held in the East Village at 118 SE 4th Street and the events typically run from 6 pm to 2 am, with the exception of Thursday night, which is from 7pm to 11pm. These events are in connection with The Des Moines Food Bank, guests can bring 2 canned goods to lower the cost of admission.

The Des Moines Social Club, for those of you living under a rock and not familiar with this group yet, is a local group that is focused on promoting live entertainment, art education, and just a great new vibe for Des Moines. The group is run by New York transplant Zachary Mannheimer and his team of local talent, as well as a few other transplants, who are passionate about promoting an artistic culture here in Des Moines. Their long-term vision is to develop one location where shows and food are provided 365 days a year. That initial vision is a little slower to develop than they would have liked as they are working to attain the capital needed to see the vision come to reality. I have no doubt they will achieve their goal once they are able to organize the donations needed to purchase a building and develop it to their standards. I know Des Moines will be better off once we have the opportunity to see this group on a daily basis and are able to take in their passions.

Most scenic

Pete Jones — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:17:00 GMT

Runners on your marks….get ready…bang(gunshot)!

That bang will resonate through downtown Des Moines on Sunday morning, when the Des Moines Marathon starts at 8 am. Race organizers are expecting nearly 7,000 runners this year, which is up from a record race last year of nearly 5,700 runners. Chris Burch has been running the event for the past few years and he actually saved the race from the previous organizers, who nearly run it into the ground. Sorry for the pun. Anyhow, Chris took over the marathon a few years back and he has really turned it around. The race used to have a couple thousand at best run each year, but obviously Chris is pushing envelope a little harder and the race has grown to record numbers. The Marathon is labeled one of the best-kept secrets in marathon racing and also described as the most scenic autumn races. The top handful of runners in each age group actually qualify for the Boston Marathon, I say handful as each age group has a different amount of qualifiers. All accolades Chris can definitely market around. But, to me, it really doesn’t pose the best views of the city. I have to qualify that statement; I have only run the Half Marathon, the last two years, which heads from scenic downtown to Water Works Park and back. Now, I can run among a bunch of trees for free and not pay the fee to race with the pack at the Marathon. Really, I do it every Sunday. I realize I only know a fraction of what Chris has to do to get this successful race put together each year and some of his efforts have to be to please the City of Des Moines, or possibly take what they give him for the course. I get it. But, wouldn’t it make more sense to try to run the Half-Marathon, which is a big part of the over all race experience and the last half of the full Marathon, through the heart of Des Moines rather than the Park among the Burch. Again, sorry for the pun, that is Chris’ last name. Maybe the park is what sets the race apart from others and provides the “most scenic autumn” setting. But, I truly doubt that is the case and I would wager to bet there are other more scenic parts of the city Chris could be utilizing. I just wish they could do something about Water Works Park and reward all the athletes who train so hard for the race with some scenery instead of a bunch trees that line a river bed.

All that being said the race is a great for Des Moines and something that we should all get out and enjoy, as it is truly a great experience. This year I am going to be watching from the sidelines as my training does not include the Half-Marathon. Who knows, maybe my training would have had I had more to look forward to than just a bunch of trees.

I found this picture on KCCI.

What Madness?

Pete Jones — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:06:00 GMT

Stage West Theater Company of Des Moines is one of the most dynamic groups in the city and one of their hit shows coming to a close this weekend. Reefer Madness was originally slated to run for three weekends in succession, but it has been so popular they are extending it for one final set of shows this weekend at the Stoner Theater. I know, you hear stoner and reefer in the same context and your mind most likely drifts to youthful transgressions or stereotypes. I don't think there is a way to really get around the two terms in the same advertisement. But, the Stoner Theater is part of the Des Moines Civic Center and, well, Reefer Maddness is honestly just as it sounds. True, the context of the play is the effect of marijuana on clean-cut kids, but the adaptation of the 1936 original play to today's contexts is surely going to be a hilarious association. All the reviews have had nothing but good things to say about the show. Toss in the fact that is has been so popular it was extended a week and I would have to think this is a show that I wouldn't want to miss.

The Stage West Theater group has been around since 1995 and in that time have put on some of the most well known plays right here in Des Moines. They are homegrown talent and they perform at a price that is affordable to most. It is truly a gem to have such a talented group here in our little city and it is great that they have been able to keep their art form going and there appears to be no end in sight. They are accepting auditions for new talent all the time and they are already working on their next adaptation slated to start in November.

Great opportunity

Pete Jones — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:28:00 GMT

On October 16th the Young Professionals Connection, in cooperation with The 21^st Century Forum and The Bull Moose Club, is putting on From Des Moines to DC: A Press Perspective. The event will feature many local political journalists and discuss many of the issues facing young professionals during this election. The meeting will be a first of its kind and will truly provide an ample opportunity to learn more about the election and the issues at hand.

This is a great opportunity to illustrate how young professionals are making a difference in Iowa. The fact that the organizers of this event are all volunteers, who are working on their free time, shows the passion they have for the electoral process and their willingness to share that passion with others. Organizing an event that has many high profile journalists must not have been easy, but this group has worked to pull it off, and I highly suggest anyone who is interested attend the event. Specifics for the event are on the Young Professionals Connection Calendar and I have attached their promotional piece as well.

Kudos goes to all three groups involved with planning this event.

Expanding horizions

Pete Jones — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:42:00 GMT

This weekend is the 4th annual edition of the World Food Festival, which will be located over in the East Village. The Festival will have more than 20 different culinary ethnicities featured for only $1 per taste, and amble opportunity for drinks as well. The event will feature live musicians on stage, with some of the more mobile groups meandering through the crowd. The Festival was organized by the Downtown Events Group and is a great opportunity to support local restaurants. It is safe to assume local restaurants have been hit the hardest by the recent economic troubles and this is a great way to give back for a very minimal investment. Not to mention supporting local businesses at the Festival will also broaden your own horizons as I am sure you have not tried every item available this weekend. I know I have been lucky enough in my day to try a vast variety of ethnic food, but I know there will be an opportunity at the Festival to taste test new items that would really expand my own horizon. So, get out there on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and try out something new and exciting. Who knows, you may just find something that is so good it may just become your favorite.

Cloud Room

Pete Jones — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:14:00 GMT

Each year about this time regular buildings are converted into Haunted Houses just in time for Halloween. One of my favorite Haunted Houses is the one at Linn's Supermarket on Sixth Avenue. Linn's tends to have new and innovative gimmicks rather than the same old scare tactics other places have had since I was a kid. There are a bunch of Haunted Houses around the Metro, and even a Haunted Forrest in Ames that is pretty cool. But, did you know the Des Moines International Airport is also haunted? Really! According to the Shadowlands Haunted Places Index, the DSM International airport is haunted by a deceased flight attendant who materializes in autumn and is confused because she cannot find her flight. I guess there was a Cloud Room Restaurant back in the 60's and 70's, which is now an office, and there is the occasional breaking glass noise or cold spell that lets the staff know the flight attendant is present. Also, Dowling High School is haunted by an occasional purple orb seen. Crazy stuff, I know.

This is the time of year that means people can become someone other than themselves. Sadly, somehow it now means everyone can dress in a slutty outfit and be the Slutty Nurse or CatWoman or even Slutty Adam and Eve. When did it become Slutty Halloween? I am not complaining about Slutty Halloween, to each their own, and a small fraction of the population can actually fit into the Slutty costumes. I just don't know if it has always been this way or if TV has really had its affect on all of us. I guess it is the one time we get to shed our inhibitions and leave our cubical behind to become someone else for an evening. Just watch out for the Digital Camera or one of the local websites blasting your photo for prosperity and all the world to see.

I found this picture frugallawstudent.com. What? Even Law Students get to enjoy Halloween!

Rehab or jail

Pete Jones — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:56:00 GMT

I realize this post may sound sort of Metromix(ish), but it is for a good cause, so I am going to run with it. This weekend we all need to take the time to vote for a local band called The Dig Angees. They just competed in the LG Rally For Music competition that was held in New York City and they have the opportunity to win $15,000 when they win. It’s not all about the money baby! A win at the Rally For Music contest will surely bring attention to the quality of music in Des Moines metro/Central Iowa region and as you can summize, that sort of publicity and recognition is invaluable. Plus, the more recognition the region gets, the more it will help groups like the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition (DMMC) grow the music vibe in Des Moines. I know a handful of people were not happy (gasp) with the Flaming Lips and The Roots headlining the 80/35 Music Festival this past summer. I guess some people felt those groups were not that "main stream" and they would rather hear the same music they heard during the 1990’s. Well, here is your opportunity, outside of actually volunteering your time with the DMMC and supporting the cause, to ensure the Angees win and everyone in the world knows about Des Moines, Iowa and our awesome bands. You can vote at the link to the Rally For Music contest above. Also, check out the Dig Angees tunes on their Myspace page, or it is likely they will be at the Little Big Fest in November, unless winning the contest means they will hit the big time and forget where they came from.

DISCLAIMER: Voting for this small Iowa band does not guarantee the DMMC will be able to get the Stone Temple Pilots to headline the 80/35 Music Festival in 2009. The DMMC can make this disclaimer because they cannot confirm Scott Weiland's rehab or jail status during July 2009. Please don't feel the need to vote for The Dig Angees solely because they are from Des Moines, Iowa. Vote for them because they are good....and they are from Des Moines, Iowa.

Buy a few nights

Pete Jones — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:27:00 GMT

I am absolutely amazed at the amount of live music People’s Court has this month. If you are not familiar with People’s Court, I would suggest you crawl out from under the rock you have been living under for the past year and open any local media publication. People's is a very exciting venue for local and touring music and it truly adds flavor that Des Moines lacked in the past. People’s, along with Vaudeville Mews, and the Des Moines Music Coalition, have really taken the local music scene and kicked it into high gear over the past few years. Couple that with Iowatix.com’s selling tickets at a decent price, and there is really no reason to miss the shows this month.

It all starts at People’s tomorrow night with MGMT at 7pm and continues all month long. Personally, I am most excited to see central Iowa’s own The Envy Corps performance on October 9^th, because they are a great group and I was not able to see the them perform at the 80/35 Festival over the July 4^th weekend. My tickets are purchased and I will be sure not to miss this show, even if I happen to be on my death-bed that day. Other notable performances this month are the Kooks on October 10, Against Me! on the 15th, or the Flobots on the 17th, just to name a few. Check out the listing of shows on Iowatix.com and go ahead and buy a few nights worth of tickets now, you won’t regret it.

The picture is posted on The Envy Corps Myspace site, but the guys want to make sure everyone knows it was taken by Dan McClanahan.

Follow the trend...

Pete Jones — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:53:00 GMT

Why do bars still have dress codes? I get the overall reason to have a dress code, but in this day in age, are they really needed?

At my age, I am flabbergasted that we were turned away from the 101 Lounge last night because my friend was wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey. Evidentially, they have a policy that prohibits jersey's of any kind, which is crazy to me because they are right down the road from Principal Park where the Iowa Cubs play. Do they turn away all of the baseball fans? That would seem like bad business so I have to assume baseball jerseys are accepted. Last night the 101 Lounge had a band outside and a decent crowd. The humorous thing to me was 75% of the guys at the bar were wearing Affliction brand T-Shirts, a brand that is directly affiliated with Ultimate Fighting or human cock fighting as John McCain once called the sport. Now, who do you think is more likely to get into a fight after a few liquid courages? The Troy Polamalu fan or the kids wearing Affliction gear? I would wager to bet the odds would sway towards the Affliction kids, but they were allowed in the bar and the Steeler fan was not. I know each person wearing an Affliction shirt may not actually be the type to start fights or even train like a MMA fighter. But, they are the guys who enjoy sitting around and watching people bloody themselves. I am not labeling, because I have a good friend who fights for the UFC and I fully support him and I have watched a fight or two myself. I am just merely trying to make a point that dress codes, intended to be a prohibitive measure to lessen the likelihood of a fight, are severely out dated and really need to be reconsidered for their effectiveness. All the dress code did last night was turn away 5 guys who were willing to mind to themselves and enjoy the night, and maybe spend a dollar or two.

Getting turned away turned out to be a blessing, actually, because we went to Johnny's Hall of Fame and had a great time. That bar is a ton better than it was before they renovated. I have spent some time there before, but I never really looked around and watched the crowd like I did last night. It was interesting to see the different types of people in the bar enjoying themselves without issue. The shocker, some even wore sports Jersey's, and they didn't start fights. Des Moines has improved a ton over the years and I guess I thought some of the rules that inhibited us from attracting diverse youth had changed. Obviously, last night was a slap in the face and an understanding that even though the city is changing, some of the establishments have failed to follow the trend.

This cartoon was found at Cartoonstock.com

Did someone say Lederhosen?

Pete Jones — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:43:00 GMT

All right, this weekend is Oktoberfest, which is always a great time and something people have looked forward to each year. This year my excitement is a little more withdrawn, mostly because I have class this entire weekend and my memories of last years event are a little blurry, which is not at all a reflection of how many adult beverages I consumed. I have really enjoyed Oktoberfest in years past and I think the addition to Des Moines has been an annual blessing. But, that was with the Full Court Press (FCP) (Hessen Haus, Royal Mile, El Bait Shop) team running the show, this year the FCP team is passing the baton to the Iowa Cubs to organize the festivities and it will be located in the parking lot at Principal Park instead of 4^th street right in front of Hessen Haus. From what I understand the FCP team always intended to grow the festival and eventually hand it off, which means it is currently on schedule for that plan. I am all about change, and it is possible the new location will provide for a better time. But, moving the event from the location in front of Hessen Haus to an open parking lot is like splitting up Ben & Jerry, it just doesn’t make sense. I am sure the Iowa Cubs will put on a great time and it will be well attended. I just think the bar (sorry for the pun) has been set extremely high from past years and it may be hard for the Cubs organizers to live up to it. Lets be honest, Iowans are not too hard to please, and I say that with all the love in the world and as a proud member of that community. Typically, cheap beer and a good time are enough for us, and it is likely that will be our reaction once we sober up on Sunday. I just hope the water cooler conversations on Monday are in reaction to a great time and applause for the organizers instead of the alternative. Further, I just fear the parking lot will fail to provide the culture Hessen House provided in the years past. I know I enjoyed the opportunity to walk in and out of that establishment during the night. But, this year when I walk outside the party will be a few blocks away instead of right in front of my face. I guess I will just have to put my feet to work and make it over to the park to enjoy the festivities so I can join in on Monday's conversations.

I found this photo and others from the 2005 festival here.

Spark the bug

Pete Jones — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:24:00 GMT

I know I mentioned the Capital Striders in a post a few weeks back, but I failed to mention their 26^th annual Capital Pursuit race, which is this coming Sunday morning. The Pursuit is a great race that is organized by the Striders and Pella Windows, with part of the proceeds donated to the Woodland Hills Ranch. There are two races in the Pursuit, one is a 10 mile race that starts at 8th and Locust and runs through the Drake and Roosevelt areas before heading back downtown, and the other is a 5 k run through the downtown core. Both events are very well attended and the colors and the cooler temperatures make Fall the best time to run. Plus, for those of you Marathoners, the Pursuit is a good race to determine where your fitness is before next months Des Moines Marathon.

I made this race a priority the past the past two years and I really enjoyed each race, mostly because the last few miles are along Ingersoll, which is mainly downhill. Unfortunately, this year I will be a spectator, but I look forward to taking photos and posting them here later on Sunday. So, get off the couch on Sunday morning, or more likely out of bed, to come and support the athletes before football starts. The event is for a great cause, and helps support two central Iowa organizations. You never know, it could just spark the bug that starts your training for this race next year.

The photo shows the start of the 2007 Capital Pursuit on Locust Street heading east towards the Capital.

Plan for Saturday night

Pete Jones — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:26:00 GMT

What to do this Saturday?

If you can’t find something to do this Saturday in Des Moines you need to check yourself. There are so many things going on all over town, I have no idea what I am going to do. For starters, there is the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series in Newton, the Beaverdale Fall Festival in Beaverdale (Duh), the Latino Heritage Festival at the Blank Park Zoo, Vino in the Village over in the East Village, The Blend, Aeon Grey, and DJ Touchnice performing in Ames, Huge F’N Street Party held by the Liar’s Club guys on Court Avenue.

I guess my plan is to head downtown and be in a central location where I can hit most of these events after a quick drive, Blank Park Zoo, Court Ave., East Village, Beaverdale. Unfortunately, I think Newton and Ames are out of the picture for me, but I am sure those places will have good turn outs. Either way, this just goes to show that Des Moines is truly not Boring. I just touched on 7 different things this Saturday and my head is spinning trying to figure out which will be more fun. All that and I failed to mention all of the local drink specials, if that is more your bag, or a good amount of other fun things going on. If any of these items fail to interest you, a good place to find info on local events is with the Des Moines Register's Metromix crew, although surprisingly enough, the Huge F'N street Party was not listed on Metromix. Another good place to find local info is on Downtown Des Moines for downtown events, or Facebook through your contacts, which is where I came across the info on the street party. What ever your poison on Saturday, I am fairly confident no one in the city will be able to say Des Moines is Boring. If that thought does pop into your head, think before you say it because you may just get laughed at.

***Update 9/19 - I didn't realize the Vino in the Village runs from 11am to 2pm on the 20th, so technically not considered a Saturday night event.

East Village Fix

Pete Jones — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:07:00 GMT

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of going to the East Village with a couple of friends to get our fix of one of my favorite places in the city. We started our night by stopping into Smash to buy a new T-Shirt, the "Damn it Feels Good to be A Gangster"shirt, mostly because I enjoy the shirts sarcasm. We then went to Alba Restaurant for dinner, where I had the Red Wine Glazed Salmon, which was fantastic. I have been to Alba four times since it opened this Spring and I have tried four different meals, all of which have gone way past my expectations. After dinner and a few drinks at Alba we made our way over to the Grand Piano Bistro for a night cap. There we found Tony and Josh just starting their evening set of Dueling Piano's with Pianopalooza, we got there right at 8:30 and were still able to find one of the last tables. Everyone at the Bistro was in a great mood and the energy in that place was very addicting. Although, I could have done without the Birthday girl trying to remember the Nebraska Fight Song, it was not her signing, more the team she was trying to support. The best part about the evening, outside of the company, was each of the establishments we frequented pay their taxes here and need our support to survive. Add in the fact that the East Village as we know it was not there when I was in high school, or even 5 years ago for that matter. The village is truly the result of all of the hard work of our local planners and visionaries who have made it a true destination stop and very comparable to the West Glen Shopping center in West Des Moines. If I were asked to choose between the two shopping destination, I would pick the East Village hands down for a number of reasons, but mostly because of the three establishments we went to on Saturday. But, it is not a competition, each of the villages are distinct places that make Des Moines great. I am just happy I have had my fix which will last me for a few weeks.