My name is Pete Jones, I am just your average “Joe” with a passion for Des Moines. As I said on our About page, I believe Des Moines is not Boring and I am out to prove it. I am active in fitness, civic, community, and cultural aspects of this great city and I plan to bring all of those unique items to your attention. I am ecstatic to bring you a very diverse group of authors who are all equally as passionate about Des Moines as I am.

I am Digital Strategist with the Des Moines Register Media, where I get to bring the newly expanding digital market-place to businesses all around this great city.

Contact info: desmoinesisnotboring@gmail.com

My personal site: www.petewjones.com

Read my Posts here.

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Bloggers:

Shawn Harrington –

After growing up, completing school, and beginning my career in upstate New York, I came to Des Moines in the spring of 2007 ready to expand my horizons. What I found here was a city that wasn’t afraid to take on new challenges while thinking about its future. Since then, I’ve become interactive with my community while establishing Central Iowa as my new home and an overall great place to be. I am currently the Director of Business Development with edossea, which offers healthcare professionals a secure network to transfer electronic records.

Contact info: Shawn’s Email

Read Shawn’s Posts here.

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Amanda Gorsche Miller –

Amanda Gorsche Miller is a professional journalist, freelance writer and owner of Des Moines-based virtual agency, Miller Multimedia Solutions.  A mother of two, Amanda is a native of Des Moinesand enjoys experiencing the many exciting restaurants, watering holes and unique events the city offers. Amanda has worked in the city of Des Moines as a television news producer, a public relations professional and as a contributing editor to a variety of Des Moines publications.  Amanda and her husband, Josh Miller, enjoy introducing their two daughters, Harper and Hadley, to the many family-themed events Des Moines offers.

Contact info: Amanda’s Email

Read Amanda’s Posts here.

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Courtney Kimsey –

Courtney Kimsey is a Des Moines native and a freelance copy writer and editor. She loves how the people of Des Moines are changing the scope of their city, are engaged with one another, and are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance the community. Courtney is a mother of two boys, an avid reader, and a part-time crafter.

Contact info: Courtney’s Email

Read Courtney’s Posts here.

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Kiley Stenberg –

Kiley Stenberg is a Des Moines native.  After attending college in the Twin Cities and following jobs to Los Angeles and Cincinnati, she returned to her hometown.  In her spare time she enjoys traveling, running, cooking, shopping, and working on her blog, A Sequin Dress at Breakfast.  Kiley loves taking advantage of the great events and restaurants Des Moines has to offer, and thinks Des Moines is a hidden gem of the Midwest.

Contact info: Kiley’s Email

Read Kiley’s Posts here.

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Dave Murphy –

Dave Murphy is a lifelong resident of Central Iowa. He graduated from Indianola High School and attended Iowa State University and DMACC. A former part time freelance writer, Dave worked as a professional wrestling blogger and has written articles for various pop culture sites. He currently volunteers with the Des Moines Social Club and works full time at Sports Authority in West Des Moines. He is married with a young daughter named after a Pogues song.

Contact info: Dave’s Email

Read Dave’s Posts here.

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Lauren Zawistowski McCool –

 Lauren Zawistowski McCool married an Iowan and left the sunny coast of North Carolina to try her hand at becoming a Midwesterner. She has a degree from UNC-Greensboro in Theatre Education and will soon defend her master’s in Theatre History and Performance Studies at Bowling Green State University. Lauren would like to consider herself a foodie and while she reads tons of DIY blogs she never actually gets around to doing any arts and crafts. She and her husband Chase are proud owners of a collection of some rather random paintings of goats, were married in October of 2011, and attend the West Des Moines campus of Lutheran Church of Hope. Lauren’s personal blog, Microwaveless in the Midwest can be found at www.laurenzawi.blogspot.com.

Contact info: Lauren’s Email

Read Lauren’s Posts here.

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Tom Formaro  –

Tom Formaro is a freelance writer and author. His short stories have appeared in SoMa Literary Review, A Sexy Story, and Akkadian. He is also the co-author (with his lovely wife, Rachel) of a children’s book, Alfonso, the Christmas Pumpkin (Tramonto Press). His debut novel, The Broken Heart Diet, is the story of a lovelorn San Francisco chef who cooks up a cure for heartache and tries to find true love. Tom is also the father of a beautiful baby girl. After 14 years in the San Francisco Bay Area, he relocated back to his hometown of Des Moines in May 2011.

Contact info: Tom’s Email

Read Tom’s Posts here.

Des Moines is NOT Boring was initially started as a class project at Drake University. Pete Jones was challenged at the end of his class to start a blog, and the eventual maturation of his planning led him to write about the city he loves:

As a kid growing up in Des Moines, I was the one who commonly said “Des Moines is Boring” or “there is nothing to do in this city.” I always thought the big cities had so much more to offer and this little city in hickville Iowa was so lame. Those thoughts continued through High School, College, and even during the beginning of my professional life. Then, as if I were hit by a truck and given some sense, I started to read about new and innovative things going on in this great city. After some internal counseling, I realized I had no idea what the city had to offer because I had failed to look. I took this new found revelation and used it as motivation to start looking for new and cool things to do. I joined a community group and developed a passion for the city and really enjoy living here. So, as a result of my epiphany, I get sick to my stomach when I hear people say Des Moines is Boring, cause it is not!!! All it takes is a little motivation to look outside the door of your corner pub to see there are a ton of entertaining things to do in Des Moines, and I am going to prove it.