Category Archives: Des Moines Dates

April 24, 2013 · 5:45 pm

First Friday in the East Village

Joe and I hung out last night (OK, yesterday evening) in the East Village for the first time in a looong time. We went down for the DSM Magazine unveiling at Salon Spa W, because I have the “Second Cities” story in this issue. Talking with the sources in that story totally made me want to pack my bags for another trip. Theoretically, we could try Arnold’s Park in Okoboji this summer – or is that wishful thinking with a newborn?

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I should have gotten a photo of us because we managed to pull ourselves together nicely, but it was a packed house! We didn’t feel like wasting our put-togetherness on a “date” to get groceries at IngerDahl’s, so we went on an actual date to Zombie Burger instead.

Not this Friday, but NEXT Friday, May 3, I plan on hitting up the East Village again for a craft-themed First Friday, when lots of the boutiques stay open late and serve treats and host artists, etc. That Friday is like the shining beacon of light at the end of the tunnel of finishing up my capstone. It would be a fun date night, too! Marissa from The Moon and the Honey put together this lovely little video of some of the spots that will be hosting crafters next week. It definitely makes Des Moines’ East Village look the way it makes me feel, so I’m happy to share her video with those of you who haven’t had the chance to experience that area firsthand.

I’m not sure if Ephemera is participating (ladies?!) this time, but they did just get a shoutout on the DSM website.

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April 6, 2013 · 1:07 pm

Breakfast of champions?

I convinced Joe to make pancakes for Friday night dinner (which we smothered with Nutella and a banana), so it didn’t seem that wrong to have a hot dog for breakfast at the Iowa Cubs open house this morning.

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Free hot dog, pop and chips in the Cub Club and you got to see the locker rooms (group shower!) and walk around the field. We met up with Ellen and Andy and the nieces and Caroline was pretty much in heaven. She took off around the warning track.

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The franchise is going to have to re-think Cubbie Bear as a mascot, or hire Caroline as their Poster Child.

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Polka dot leggings are the new baseball pants.

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Oh! And Joe shaved his beard, per our standing marital agreement that he grows it from his b-day until Opening Day. Otherwise, I miss his face.

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Bring it on, summer.

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If you’ve never been to breakfast at the Cub Club, that’s a fun little weekday date you can take, overlooking the field. It’s pretty cheap, too. Otherwise, we finally tried Mullets for brunch a few weeks ago, and that’s greasyspoon-tastic.

Oh! And if you think baseball without brewskis is like a beach without sand, think about getting an Iowa Cubs Mug Club membership. It went up to $40 this year, but it’s still a decent deal:

  • 5 tickets good for any 2013 Iowa Cubs home game
  • First beer FREE every Thursday home game in 2013
  • 2013 logo mug (will fit in stadium cup holders)
  • Discounted refills at all 2013 Iowa Cubs home games

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February 22, 2013 · 9:32 am

Des Moines day-date: Lunch Unplugged

I’m not a very good party-all-night person. I think I made it to 1 a.m. a couple of weeks ago, to see my friend Andy DJ at the Mews, thanks to Shirley Temples, his power pop playlist and a good crowd, but staying up has been a struggle lately. (I’m going to attempt to blame it on the bump and night classes, but I’m pretty sure I’m just solidifying my status a lame old lady.) So it’s been awhile since I’ve seen a live show, and possibly longer since I’ve seen an artist I wasn’t already familiar with.

Enter, the concert lunch date!

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Joe and I met up at the Temple for Performing Arts yesterday for “Lunch Unplugged.” We went to see Mieka Pauley.

I’d never heard of her, but was intrigued by how the series described her as a singer/songwriter whose “powerful alternative style melds together soul, blues, and rock, drawing comparisons to the likes of Ben Harper, Cat Power, Neko Case and Patty Griffin. She is the winner of the first ever Starbucks Emerging Artist Award, the Rocky Mountain Folk Festival Songwriter Showcase and the Rock Boat/BMI Song Contest. Mieka has performed over 650 shows in the past four years including bills with Eric Clapton, Jason Mraz, Citizen Cope, Wyclef Jean, Black Eyed Peas, John Legend and many others. Northeast Performer calls Mieka ‘a version of Sarah McLachlan with a switchblade in her shoe’.”

It was a fun show! I’m honestly not a huge fan of the Temple’s second floor stage as a concert venue (it feels really rigid and overly polite for some of the acts I’ve seen there), but it’s right upstairs from South Union. Of course, in the winter that means a hot sandwich and a big bowl of potato pepperjack soup, which is on my shortlist of things I miss about working downtown.

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Mieka has a dark sense of humor that she kept up in her between-song-banter and the lyrics themselves. She struck me as sounding like a rebellious sister of Norah Jones who I could imagine sneaking out of a bedroom window at 2 a.m. with a guitar slung over her shoulder, headed out to play a show at an underground bar in the city. Listen Mieka’s Daytrotter session.

Check out the rest of the series, which includes piano, dance, opera, Americana and and another female singer/songwriter at desmoinesperformingarts.org/LunchUnplugged. (Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door and you can BYO lunch.)

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December 12, 2012 · 5:41 pm

Ringing in 2013 with the Beatles

The plan for New Year’s Eve this year is to host a little dinner party for a group of friends (anyone have a favorite lasagna recipe?) and then all head down to the New Year’s Eve Pops at the Des Moines Symphony. It’s the “Classical Mystery Tour,” featuring Beatles hits. The cheapest tickets were just $15. We’re sitting in the waaaaay back, but I think that will work out well because no one will be able to tell me to sit down and stop dancing!

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I think I’m going to wear this dress that I picked up last weekend while shopping for other Christmas gifts. I’m hoping the sheath sees me through the next few months of my expanding waistline.

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The Symphony goes from 8-10 p.m., so we’ll have to find a spot for a nightcap and countdown. I wonder if Sbrocco will be open until midnight. Maybe the bar at Proof? Or we could always keep the jukebox going at the Alpine Taproom, my favorite nearby winter bar.

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Photo via Pitter Patter Clunk

Last year I helped out at the Des Moines Social Club’s annual celebration, “The Bash”. It’s all-ages at Cap Square this year.

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October 9, 2012 · 5:20 pm

Des Moines-date-in-a-box: Historic Dinners at Living History Farms

For our first Christmas as a couple, Joe got me tickets to one of the Historic Dinners at Living History Farms. (He got to double dip a bit by scheduling the dinner near Valentine’s Day, too.)

It will not surprise many of you to know I read all of the “Little House” books in second grade and have never abandoned my love of the pioneer life. I think anyone who likes a delicious home-cooked meal and has an appreciation for the past could enjoy this experiential dinner.

I had to dig way back (Feb. 2008, baby!) in the Facebook archive to find this red-wine-stained-smile photo from the dinner:

The meals are served family style, with up to 12 people at a table and the first person to make a reservation for a certain date picks the from-scratch menu. The group setting was actually kind of fun, I thought. We BYO-wined, which is do-able with a $10 corkage fee.

I also found this photo in the album captioned  “This is what we looked like after the dinner:”

We got to tour the barn and those were some of the hogs.

Joe and I missed out registering for the Living History Farms race for the first time since we started dating, so we might have to revisit the Historic Dinner experience instead!

I’d pair this date with an old black-and-white movie back home on the couch, with popcorn made on the stove top and sprinkled with sea salt, pepper and paprika. It’s not exactly a romantic comedy, but one of my favorites is “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.”

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September 13, 2012 · 6:00 pm

Des Moines Dates: Mixology Night at SCI

Want to find out if you and your date have real chemistry? Nothing encourages couples to get physicsal (get it?) like a date to the Science Center of Iowa.

Photo via Metromix

Joe and I stopped into SCI last Friday for the first “Mixology Night” of the year and I was impressed by the concept. Drinks are pretty cheap and they have pizza and whatnot so you won’t get too crazy before letting loose after hours in the museum. Normally I feel like napping on Fridays after a busy week, but this was a low-key option that made me feel like we went out without having a late night. We even got Juiced!

With our friends James and Katie. Photo via Metromix

There’s a live band and you can explore the exhibits without having to feel like a big jerk for cutting in front of kids. Since the first week was free (general admission to Mixology Night is $5), we splurged to see the Facing Mars Exhibit. My favorite part was trying to put together tools wearing “space gloves” that mimic the conditions your hands would experience while on the Red Planet. I also enjoyed doing the simulated Mars walk:

You don’t have to don this ridiculous white space suit, especially if you’re wearing pants, but I was in a dress and wanted to look extra nerdy and embarrass Joe, so there you go. We had to leave before the indoor fireworks demonstration to go to Sophia’s birthday dinner at Raccoon River*, but we did hear the first set from the Snacks. This is the band lineup for the rest of the season:

*Did you see Raccoon River redid their menu a bit? I almost had a tantrum about it when Joe and I went over 80/35 weekend because they took off the Raccoon River Burger, which used to be one of my favorites. It’s more British pub now or something, although they did keep a few of the favorites.

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August 27, 2012 · 9:25 pm

Des Moines date-in-a-box: Equestrian edition

What woman doesn’t love horses? Their smell and velvety noses and the way they chomp sugar cubes from an outstretched palm. And who doesn’t secretly or not-so-secretly love a cowboy/girl? (If you’re not already familiar with The Pioneer Woman blog, Ree will teach you to love cowboys.)

It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden, though. And even though Joe buys lots of his shirts at G&L Clothing, I’ve yet to see him on a horse.

I’m no equestrian, but I really have an itch to get back in the saddle – at least for a day. I think that calls for scheduling a fall trail ride date at Jester Park, where you can do one-hour guided trail rides for $30 per person. It’s not going to be as romantic as riding on the beach, but in Central Iowa, ya gotta work with what you’ve got. I bet with the leaves turning, it could be really beautiful out there.

In the winter, Jester Park also does wagon and sleigh rides! This would be a great double date or something to do with a group of friends.

Mycountyparks.com lists some more spots for equestrian activities in Iowa. If you’re in the mood, you can even go camping before or after and make a weekend of it. Perhaps prepare some “campurritos” in advance?

Oh! And the Des Moines Dates series has inspired the auction items for the upcoming Brews&Brownies, a benefit event for The Des Moines “I Have a Dream” Foundation, where I work. We’re going to do a blind auction of different dates-in-a-box at the Sept. 25 event at Creme Cupcake. Buy tickets for you and a date and have fun and do good in the process!

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July 2, 2012 · 8:29 am

Des Moines date-in-a-box: Summer symphony sweetness

I’m back with another from my occasional “Des Moines Date-in-a-box” series with a special anniversary edition! This one is a treat for your tongue and ears. Tell your date you have plans Tuesday night!

Dessert before dinner: Pack a picnic for later, but first head to Chocolaterie Stam on Ingersoll to enjoy gelato or their wine and chocolate sampler out on the patio. Their magical alcove has a lovely fountain and a relaxed, private feel to it. Stam chocolate is rich and creamy and makes you sit and savor it, so maybe get a few pieces to break out again after the picnic. Stam closes at 7 p.m. on weeknights, so scoot downtown right after to settle in for the concert.

The activity: The Yankee Doodle Pops on the lawn of the Capitol. This free, patriotic concert is a highlight of summer. If you can somehow factor sweet corn into your picnic, you’re doing everything right. Wear red, white and blue, bring a big blanket, your picnic dinner and set up looking out over the East Village. Early birds can enjoy a prelude concert by the Turner Center Jazz Orchestra at 6:30 p.m. before the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra takes the stage at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3. The concert caps off with a fabulous fireworks display.

It’s been two years since I’ve seen the Yankee Doodle Pops, so I’m extra excited. Joe and I were married on July 3, 2010 and last year my best friend and her husband tied the knot on the same weekend. I’m thrilled to spend our second anniversary this year out on the lawn together, listening to the Des Moines Symphony! I’ll have to zip down and join Joe after my class lets out, but I hope he can get there early and save us a spot with a big blanket. We’re also celebrating early with a dinner at Baru 66 tonight because Joe has never been and it is amazing.

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June 10, 2012 · 2:06 pm

Taking the trail: Waterpark fun

Last summer, Sophia introduced me to the suburban guilty pleasure that is the Cascade Falls Aquatic Center in Ankeny. It’s one of those places you might not think about going until you have kids/a nanny job, but without any minor to watch over, it’s exponentially more fun.

There are water slides, diving boards, a lazy river — even a foam version of that lumberjack log roll! The best part: At adult swim, kids have to get out and the adults can cut in line for the slides and have the lazy river to ourselves. You can also pay extra to try a surf simulator. It’s hilarious to just watch people wipe out..

Since Joe got me a sweet  Terry biking outfit for my birthday (he sure knows how to mine my Pinterest boards for awesome present ideas!), I wanted to break it in.

I’m not the kind of person who can just go on a 20 mile ride without a destination, so I suggested we try to bike to the Aquatic Center. Lo and behold: It’s super simple to get to the Cascade Falls Aquatic Center from central Des Moines using the trail system!

We caught the inter-urban trail up in Beaverdale, but it’s also easy to hop on from downtown. You cross the river on this great bridge; the Inter-Urban intersection is a hub for cyclists on a beautiful day.

The trail is pretty well-shaded for most of the route, and it runs past the river. On a hot day like yesterday, you can see lots of people partying on the banks.

(Not pictured: If you’re lucky like us, you can also see a 70-year old guy in only a Speedo bolt up the riverbank on a bike, right in front of you. Yowza!)

We took the ‘Ding Darling’ to the Neal Smith Trail for a bit before turning onto the Oralabor Gateway Trail, through a little corn field and up past some neat neighborhoods. Sign me up for a creepy wooden man statue and paddle boat docked in my backyard.

There’s a nice wide trail that runs along the highway in Ankeny, right past Kyle’s Bike Shop.

We stopped in and bought some extra tubes for my bike, to be on the safe side. In the strip mall next door to Kyle’s is 34′s Sports Bar & Grill.

Joe and I treated ourselves to lunch (the BLT was pretty delish, and they have those crispy twice-fried french fries that are killa). If you’re not in the mood to dine in, the restaurant is pretty much across the street from the Aquatic Center, which I’m pretty sure allows you to bring your own food in.

This slide swirls you around and flushes you out like a toilet bowl. Intense!

Admission to Cascade Falls is $7 per adult, and you currently have to pay by cash or check. Bring a picnic and this is a cheap little athletic Ankeny adventure! It’s about 14 miles one way, but I am out of shape and barely broke a sweat in the summer heat. Don’t let the double-digit mileage deter you. Happy trails!

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May 18, 2012 · 8:24 pm

Des Moines date-in-a-box: Retro roadtrip

Time to don some Wayfarers and your favorite Hill Vintage dress, hop in the DeLorean (or, a hatchback will do) and head East! This date night brings the fun of the fifties to your backseat. Whether you’re dating a Sandy or a Rizzo (hey-o!), who can resist a drive-in double feature?

© Time Inc.via Life Magazine photo archive

Your destination: The Valle Drive-In in Newton. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been to the Valle Drive-In, but I do have a fuzzy recollection from when Joe and I first started dating of how fun it was to pack lawn chairs and sleeping bags and go on a little mini road-trip together. It’s about 45 minutes to Newton, and the movies start at dusk, so you probably aren’t going to get home at a decent hour, if you see both shows. Bonus points if you put together a fun mix for the ride. The last song should probably be “Wake Up Little Suzy,” by The Everly Brothers. Feel free to leave other driving-to-the-drive-in song suggestions in the comments!

To eat: I’m pretty sure you can bring your own food to the Drive-In, but if you want to eat in Newton and keep with the classic kind of theme, there’s a Maid-Rite on 1st. Ave., just about 4 miles from the movie. (Confession: You guys might revoke my Iowa card right here and now, but I’ve never been to a Maid-Rite, nor have I had one of their famous loose-meat sandwiches. Can you believe it?)

I think we’ll be packing up our Passat for a night at the Valle Drive-In this summer. I might just experience my first Maid-Rite, too. Then I’ll be a true Iowan. A belated Des Moines-iversary trip to Newton in June sounds like the perfect way to celebrate FIVE YEARS of living in this great state.

This is part of a series of Des Moines-area date suggestions for lazy lovers (of friends!) who need a plan!

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