Pride and Juneteenth have so many intersections to navigate. Jo Allen has challenged Des Moines to take those roads and realize that every marginalized community in the city are fighting for the same rights against the same people. “I was just recognizing that there wasn’t anybody that was doing something that focused on the intersections […]
Des Moines
Posted inCentral Iowa
Ride your toad into battle: The Rook Room encourages adults to play games, get creative
Because of their similar sounding surnames, their shared love of board games and their charming banter, Annelise Tarnowski and Tony Tandeski almost seem like siblings. But the pair of best friends met while volunteering for the Drake Alumni Board. It was there they realized that they had a lot more in common. “After most meetings, […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
Spots for Spot: Five dog-friendly things to do in the Metro
Our dogs are our best friends. That’s why it hurts a little extra to leave them at home while we go out and enjoy our favorite summer activities. And while there are quite a few dog-friendly patios in the Des Moines area, sometimes our pup deserves a little more stimulation than just sitting on the […]
Posted inCentral Iowa Arts & Entertainment
DMPA premieres August Wilson poetry set to dance and jazz with ‘Pieces of My Heart’
Editors’ Pick When playwright August Wilson died in 2005, he left behind more than just a powerful and unparalleled body of work examining the consciousness of Black America. Wilson, who started his writing career as a poet, also gifted the world a selection of unpublished love poems. Pieces of My Heart sets them as a […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Ballet Des Moines announces six-show free summer tour for ‘Of Gravity and Light’
Ballet Des Moines has announced a six-stop trip across Iowa for Of Gravity and Light, a deeply immersive, science-packed show that received a standing ovation at its one-night only show on April 22. Gravity on Tour will include a mobile planetarium, Iowa State University’s FLEx Virtual Reality lab and more STEM experiences, as well as […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Oh Say, Can You Sing? Competition is open for submissions
Audition slots are open for the Oh Say, Can You Sing? Competition hosted by the Yankee Doodle Pops. Every year, singers from across the state enter to sing the National Anthem with the Des Moines Symphony during the concert. This year’s Pops concert will be on Friday, July 1 at 8:30 p.m. on the West […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Des Moines opens second concession stand at Gray’s Lake Park due to high attendance
Seeing increased park attendance, Des Moines’ Gray’s Lake is reopening its second, beachside concession stand after a decade of vacancy on the northside of the lake. Jennifer Fletcher, spokesperson for the Des Moines Parks and Recreation Department, tells Axios Des Moines that the department has seen a spike in park-goers since the beginning of the […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
A library card could earn you a free pass to museums, gardens and more in cities across Iowa
Library cards have always allowed you to read about other people’s experiences for free, and now they can help have your own experiences. Also for free. Adults with active library cards from the Iowa City Public Library (ICPL), the Cedar Rapids Public Library (CRPL) and the Des Moines Public Library (DMPL) — as well as […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Six Central Iowa podcasts to spice up your drive
There’s a good chance you’ve dipped a toe or two into the world of podcasting. Whether you record them or just listen, podcasts are an increasingly common way to get and spread information (or daily true crime content, no judgement either way.) If you’re looking to enhance your commute with a podcast recorded a little […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
Photo Gallery: Gamers, comic fans and Klingons gather for Des Moines Con 2022
The line to enter Des Moines Con snaked around the first floor of the Iowa Events Center on Saturday morning as cosplayers and con-goers came from near and far to attend the convention’s first year. Inside Hy-Vee Hall, attendees could purchase trading cards, comic books and artwork sold by vendors, as well as […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
Expect ‘nerdy flea market meets circus’ at the first Des Moines Con this weekend
Des Moines Con, a self-described “celebration of comics, toys, TV, film, art, cosplay, anime, games and all things nerdy!” takes place this weekend at Hy-Vee Hall. While the convention is coming to Des Moines for the first time this year, its presenter, Nerd Street, isn’t new to cons. Since the company’s formation in 2011, it […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Where and when to vote early in Polk County for the June 7 primary
Early voting for the June 7 primary election began on Wednesday, as county auditors started mailing out absentee ballots requested by voters, and opened their offices for in-person early voting. According to Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald, on Wednesday morning his office mailed out over 4,500 absentee ballots requested by voters . It’s not too […]
