May 23, 2013

It’s “Doc Hollywood” meets “Top Chef.” On May 16, four Des Moines residents won Iowa’s Best Bite Restaurant Challenge in Oskaloosa, Iowa, narrowly defeating a talented team from New York to win a $153,000 restaurant startup package. The restaurant – On The Green – is targeted to open in July. The $153,000 package of operating capitol,...

May 23, 2013

I loved going to the Natural Living Expo. This year was in a bit different place this year but I felt it was a more perfect spot for them! This year they were at the 4-H Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds instead of the Wells Fargo Event Center, where there were last year. Right as I walked in the door I was friendly greeted and the people there were so...

May 21, 2013

Neighborfood is an afternoon celebration to food, family, and the community we live in. A neighborhood is defined by the community within it, so, for one afternoon, we will be inviting your neighbors to live it, love it, and eat in it, because as Virginia Woolf said “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” On June 23nd ,...

May 21, 2013

Usually on this blog I write snarky rants about marriage and overly elaborate odes to nachos. Today, in light of the recent devastating tornado in Oklahoma, I want to write about something more hopeful and purposeful. At a time when there is a lot of sadness and suffering in the news, I want to offer some ideas for how people can make a difference in our...

May 20, 2013

To use the phrase that was said from the Hy-Vee blogger, I was a lucky recipient of not only getting to meet Mike Wolfe from American Pickers, but when I told him it was my birthday he signed a SPECIAL autograph for me wishing me happy birthday and then gave me a pucker on my cheek! I nearly swooned! I saw my pal Eric Wildman, who works for Iowa-Des Moines...

May 17, 2013

A long and storied legacy of track and field. Catch USA Track and Field events. NCAA Track and Field events. The prestigious, annual Drake Relays. Meet and greet Olympic athletes, national champions and coaches at the Track Central USA Fan Zone. Where fans gather. And appreciate the sport of track and field. Experience the energy. The spirit of this great sport...

May 17, 2013

The ultimate prize of company bragging rights seems to take over the Golden Circle Games each year.  Now entering it’s 29th edition, the games (GCG) are set to be at Water Works Park next month with their new theme of forming your “Dream Team”. As a past board member of the Young Professionals Connection (YPC), I knew it was quite a challenge...

May 16, 2013

The Poison Control Center has always been one of Iowa’s most popular, gifted and long-running bands. But with age comes new desires and new challenges. PCC has historically been a tight-knit group; but their members have always been willing and excited to do their own thing. Patrick Tape Fleming has Gloom Balloon, Devin Frank has Fliight and Mantis Pincers,...

May 16, 2013

Two weekends ago I wanted to go be a GUEST on Sunday to DemiCon. I did not want to be there all weekend, I did not desire to be a part of the conference, and I just wanted to be a guest On Sunday. I asked on Facebook and a few friends gave me the info and in my car I went to the hotel to see DemiCon. When I walked into the hotel there was one sign pointing far...

May 15, 2013

Enough with the flat screen televisions. I feel like I have to say something about the flat screens that have taken over the world, or at least seem to have taken over Des Moines. Before the flat screen craze began you used to be able to walk into a bar with multiple television screens and know immediately that it was a sports bar. That’s not the case...

May 14, 2013

My friend had free tickets to the Funny Bone last Saturday so we took the opportunity to go and enjoy a free show. There was one comedian who was a local here to Des Moines and I hate to say it, but he was not that great and so I don’t even remember his name except it was Duane something or other. I think they really need to get Benjamin Gran in there so he...

May 14, 2013

When I was a recent college graduate who moved to Des Moines in 2003, I was afraid that I had made the biggest mistake of my life. I didn’t know anyone. Even though I grew up in Newton, almost all of my old friends from high school and college had moved away. I was working long hours at a demanding, stressful job. I didn’t know what to do for fun or where...

May 13, 2013

When my husband and I lived in San Francisco, we were fortunate to attend a number of performances of the San Francisco Symphony with its famous Music Director, Michael Tilson Thomas (often referred to simply as “MTT”).  I remember our symphony date nights being pretty great evenings, with a few inherent extremes – an evening of beautiful music and...

May 10, 2013

CelebrAsian has always been worth the visit to the Capitol Grounds every May.  Taking in the food alone, which usually consists of me jumping between the Asian villages, has always been my favorite lunch of the each year.   Nothing can compete with this and the number of different cultures you can take in during an afternoon. You’ll notice it’s...

May 9, 2013

I am not good with money.  You’d think at 32, I wouldn’t spend my money on frivolous stuff, especially with a three year old and a newborn to worry about, but sometimes, I just can’t help myself. I think the ability to budget and manage your finances is a grand trademark of being a grown-up. But, when I get a little extra, instead of setting up a modest...