Showing posts with label not so boring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label not so boring. Show all posts

Monday, August 5, 2013

Not So Boring 3rd Quarter

Leslie Jasper
Group Sales Manger
Des Moines Performing Arts
It’s IOWA STATE FAIR time! 

And, although “Nothing Compares”… really, nothing does… I am here to remind us of all the great happenings as we wrap-up the remaining summer months, in addition our beloved Iowa State Fair.  Just in case someone wants to load their August calendar with something other than the Butter Cow or Porkchop-On-A-Stick!

If the Iowa State Fair really DOES occupy most of your August days/nights, be sure to check out these awesome places and events that make our community and state not so boring after the fair, too! 

“Not So Boring” Happenings
(Find past happenings here and here)

I-Cubs
“Dog Day” August 12, bring your dog to the park for a game and enjoy dollar hot dogs!
www.MILB.com/index.jsp?sid=t451

Fridays at the Fountain
Free live music Friday nights at the West Glen Center in West Des Moines.  Family friendly.
August 9 and August 23
www.WestGlenTownCenter.com

Nightfall on the River
Nitefall on the River, presented by Veridian Credit Union, is an annual summer music series at the picturesque Simon Estes Amphitheater.  All Ages Shows, tickets $22-$31.
Final two shows of the summer!
Owl City, August 9 and Hanson, August 28
www.NightfallDSM.com

Des Moines Social Club
Fireball is back in a big way. It’s the ball of all balls. This year they’ve got sizzling sets by The Envy Corps and The Olympics, pair that with a fire-tastic performance by Chicago’s Pyrotechniq — all happening at the beautiful Simon Estes Amphitheater.
August 15, 7:30p.  Advance tickets $15 or $25 at the door.
www.DesMoinesSocialClub.org

Science Center of Iowa
Don’t miss the Science Center of Iowa’s 15th Annual Fundraising Event & Auction, one of the most talked about celebrations in Des Moines! With amazing live and silent auctions, delectable cuisine and cocktails and live music, the event is an exciting celebration of SCI and our commitment to informal learning.
August 23, 6p.
www.SCIowa.org

“Dancing on the Lake”
It’s the last one of the season!  Every Thursday night, come out and learn to dance social dances like salsa, swing, line dancing or contra dancing. Lessons start on the Overlook Terrace at 7:30 and the dancing begins at 8:00.Each week (June – August 22 ) will feature a different kind of dancing and music.
www.DMGov.org

Iowa Wineries
Did you know Iowa has over 70 wineries to explore?  During the remaining warm months, plan a road trip to visit these beautiful destinations and sample their delicious wines!
For a complete list of Iowa wineries:
www.CatchWine.com/wineries/iowa/
www.TravelIowa.com/attractions/wineries

Principal Riverwalk
Check out one of downtown’s hottest attractions, the newly finished riverwalk, starting at Walnut and Court Street in Des Moines.  Featuring a new “rest stop” that offers drinks, food, and a gorgeous view, The Riverwalk Hub Spot.

Ewing Park STAR Party
Bring your picnic blanket and come to Ewing Park to view the Perseid meteor shower! SCI and Des Moines Astronomical Society (DMAS) will have telescopes set up for you to experience this annual cosmic event. The action in the sky doesn’t get started until later, but the fun starts at 6:00 pm with activities in the park. August 10
www.DMGov.org

Parks and Recreation
There are only a few weeks left to take advantage of the pools and outdoor water fun!  Most pools close for the season September 2.

Des Moines Parks and Recreation
Gray’s Lake Bike Rental and water sports
www.DMGov.org

Big Creek Marina
www.BigCreekMarina.com   

Windsor Heights Parks and Recreation
www.WindsorHeights.org/index.htm

Waukee Parks and Recreation
www.Waukee.org/parksandrecreationdepartment.html

Polk County Conservation
www.PolkCountyIowa.gov/conservation

Knoxville Raceway
The biggest sprint car race in the world with the top drivers in the sport.  Join us for Knoxville Nationals, A four-day racing extravaganza that includes music, food, camping, expo and more that ends each night with some of the most exciting racing you can ever experience.
August 7 – 10
www.KnoxvilleRaceway.com/Event/53rd-Annual-Knoxville-Nationals

Blank Park Zoo
Last month of Zoo Brew!  Every Wednesday in August, starting at 5:30p.
www.BlankParkZoo.com





Monday, April 8, 2013

Not So Boring April - June

Leslie Jasper
Group Sales Manger
Des Moines Performing Arts

We’ve all heard and/or said the rhyme at some point of our lives:  April showers bring May flowers. 
As Midwesterners, we’ve been trained by the sometimes-unpredictable weather patterns, to talk about what Mother Nature is offering us and, due to that, this old saying has maintained its popularity for hundreds of years.  Since it’s origination in the mid-1500’s – beginning as “Sweet April showers do spring May flowers” in a collection of writings by Thomas Tusser – it has continually served as a great reminder that with even the most unpleasant, we must be patient and something beautiful will always follow. 

Considering most of our most recent “showers” have been snow showers, for most of us, the spring flowers can’t come soon enough.  We’ve been patient for months, getting through the deep winter freeze, so it’s time for the May beauty promised to us by this age-old rhyme.  Along with the flowers however, come some things that may be even better than a colorful spring bloom.  Warm sunshine, grills and firepits, patio dinners, and of course, outdoor activities.

And so, to all you patient it’s-been-gloomy-too-long-I’m-ready-for-flipflops Iowans:  It’s time to celebrate spring’s arrival and Thomas Tusser’s famous words (hoping that April showers really do spring us some May flowers)!

“Not So Boring” Happenings

I-Cubs
Home Opener April 12!
www.MILB.com/index.jsp?sid=t451

Valle Drive-In Theater
Opens April 19, come visit Iowa’s oldest running drive-in theater. Open Friday-Monday.
www.ValleDrive-in.com/default.asp

Farmers Markets:
Valley Junction Music in the Junction, Opens May 2
www.ValleyJunction.com

Downtown Des Moines, Opens May 4
www.DesMoinesFarmersMarket.com

Drake Farmers Market, Opens June 5
www.DrakeFarmersMarket.com

Tulip Time
The most colorful Dutch celebration in Iowa!
May 2 - 4
www.PellaTulipTime.com

Temple Theater
Sit outside at Centro’s patio for dinner/drinks and attend Broadway’s Next Hit Musical, an award-winning improvised musical comedy, May 1 – 12.
www.DesMoinesPerformingArts.org
www.CentroDining.com

Science Center of Iowa
Bring your picnic blanket, grab some popcorn, and attend Cinema Under the Stars, May 11!
Jurassic Park will be playing, beginning at dusk.  Free to attend (will be held inside if bad weather).
www.SCIowa.org

Habitat for Humanity
Spring volunteer opportunities available (get outside and BUILD)!
www.GDMHabitat.org/

Jasper Winery
Summer Concert Series begins May 16.
www.JasperWinery.com

Parks and Recreation:
Check your local parks and recreation website for pool dates, park shelter info, and sports leagues.

Des Moines Parks and Recreation
Gray’s Lake Bike Rental, Begins April 14
www.DMGov.org/Departments/Parks/Pages/BicycleRentalProgram.aspx

West Des Moines Parks and Recreation
RUNzing 5k and 10k, May 18
www.WDM.Iowa.gov/index.aspx?page=197

Windsor Heights Parks and Recreation
Curbside Spring Clean-Up, May 9
www.WindsorHeights.org/index.htm

Waukee Parks and Recreation
Sign-up for summer programs now!
www.Waukee.org/parksandrecreationdepartment.html

Sports Events:
Des Moines and surrounding communities offer a wide variety of special sports activities throughout the year – check out these great spring/summer events!

Glow Run
April 20 (register now through April 18)
www.GlowRun5k.com/dm.html

Drake Relays
April 25 – 28
www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com/SportSelect.dbml?SPID=8142&SPSID=71588

Gladiator Challenge
May 18 – 19 (register now through May 15)
www.Gladiatorassaultchallenge.com/

Dam to Dam
June 1 (20k almost full, register soon)
www.damtodam.com

Electric Run
June 15 (Register now through June 6)
www.ElectricRun.com/desmoines


Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Not So Boring...



Leslie Jasper
Group Sales Manager
Des Moines Performing Arts

I still remember the final drive of my move, from Minneapolis to Des Moines, like it was yesterday.  I was literally giving myself a pep talk as I crossed the Minnesota/Iowa border, reminding myself I can take as many weekend trips to the cities as I want and I’d see all my friends “at least once a month.”  I remember how I wanted to leave some of my things in Minnesota, in storage, just to have some sort of roots still there; to have some of my identity still within a mile of the places I once called my home.

Well, that was just over two years ago and it’s bittersweet to admit, those trips to Minneapolis have never exceeded once every three, to six, months.  I didn’t leave any belongings there (thanks to everyone who convinced me not to) and every day since that drive, I’m grateful I brought with me here, every bit of my identity that I possibly could.  It’s not that I don’t love my friends up North, it’s not that I don’t miss my Mall of America shopping trips, and not like it doesn’t cross my mind to head-up for a random day in the summer, just to lay in my favorite spot by the lakes.  It’s just that I’m busy here!  Almost immediately I was able to find new places every bit of my identity could connect with in this wonderful city, within this wonderful state, that’s become my wonderful home.  Even two years later, I feel so lucky to tell my Minneapolis friends when they ask where I’ve been, “Guess what, they weren’t joking – Des Moines is NOT boring!”

Since the early days of my move, I’ve been lucky enough to meet some wonderfully-connected (and social) people, build a career which has me exploring this city’s dynamic arts and culture scene daily, and be heavily involved on several committees that work with local businesses and entertainment venues.  All of those things combined, in addition to being a frequent user of social media, a reader of the various city guides, and a member of Iowa tourism networks, is why I couldn’t be happier writing this today. I want to remind us of – or introduce to us to – some of what’s going on, what’s worth checking out, and what activities you can fill your calendar with, so you too will find yourself one day saying (if you haven’t already), “Guess what, they weren’t joking, Des Moines is NOT boring!”

“Not so Boring” Happenings:
Because we all could use some fun activities to get us through the final days of winter!

Science Center of Iowa
A T. Rex Named Sue, through May
Mixology Night March 1st, for the 21+ crowd
www.sciowa.org

Wells Fargo Arena/Iowa Events Center
Iowa Energy and Barnstormers, Ongoing
Harlem Globetrotters, April 7
Bon Jovi, April 14
www.iowaeventscenter.com

Hoyt Sherman Place
Tracy Sherman, March 15
www.hoyshermanplace.org

Jasper Winery
Fun events weekly, check website for updates
www.jasperwinery.com

Funny Bone Comedy Club
Ongoing shows
www.funnybonecentral.com

Brenton Skating Plaza
Hurry, season ends in March!
www.brentonplaza.com

The Social Canvas
Ongoing “Paint and Drink” Classes, no experience required!
www.thesocialcanvas.com

Skyzone
Indoor Trampoline Park, Fitness Classes and Open Jump for all ages!
www.skyzone.com/DesMoines

Des Moines Art Center
Transparencies, February 22 – May 22
www.desmoinesartcenter.org

Temple Theater
The Second City, February 20 – March 3
Broadway’s Next Hit Musical, May 1 – 12
www.DesMoinesPerformingArts.org

Living History Farms
Sample over 20 different kinds of micro-brewed beer at Beer ‘n’ Bread, March 9
www.lhf.org

Summerset Winery
Monthly events, including “Scrapbook and Vino” and “Sunday Tunes”
www.summersetwine.com

Val Air Ballroom
Kick-Off Colon Cancer Awareness Month with “Bottoms-Up Blues Fest”, March 2
www.valairballroom.com

Climb Iowa
Indoor rock climbing for all skill levels
www.climbiowa.com

Des Moines Playhouse
9 To 5: The Musical, March 22 – April 21
www.dmplayhouse.com

Des Moines Social Club
Always something fun going on for everyone!
www.desmoinessocialclub.org

 Des Moines Performing Arts
Jekyll and Hyde the Musical, March 5 – 10
Million Dollar Quartet, March 19 – 24
www.DesMoinesPerformingArts.org

Need to know where to find all the local “happenings”?

www.CatchDesMoines.com
www.DesMoinesMetroMix.com
www.DMJuice.com
www.DesMoinesIsNotBoring.com
www.BusinessRecord.com

And, of course, all your favorite social media pages, friends, and event listings!