Feb 7, 2012

Even though it’s a short drive away from Des Moines I don’t know Ames that well.  As a Hawkeye I don’t have too many reasons to venture into Cyclone Country.  In college I would make an occasional trip to the city for a concert or to meet up with friends and leave quickly and groggily the next morning.  To be honest there are really only two landmarks I...

Feb 6, 2012

Guest Post: Submitted by Sunni Swarbrick The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines introduces a new and exciting Giving Card program to encourage giving in our community that is unique, meaningful and fun, just in time for the holidays. Much like a retail gift card, Giving Cards can benefit any 501(c)(3) charitable organization. • Purchase Giving Cards at...

Feb 3, 2012

Guest Post: Submitted by London James Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is an international nonprofit organization that aims to fill community needs through the power of business principles. We have divided up into four major projects this semester, and my project is Helping the Homestead. The Homestead is a nonprofit campus in Runnells, IA that provides...

Feb 3, 2012

That moment in a web conference or at a convention, where half-way through my presentation someone gets curious and asks “so, where are you guys from?”  Then the answer and their response: “Des Moines?? (blank stare, awkward pause) Iowa??”  It’s not just me as these stories are numerous for many of us who establish this our home...

Feb 2, 2012

I had somebody ask me the other day why I write for a blog about Des Moines and include so many bands who aren’t technically from Des Moines.  The answer is very simple. If you think of Des Moines less as a town and more as a music scene, then you have to include the talent from some neighboring cities.  Des Moines as a music scene, I think, includes the...

Feb 2, 2012

Having Wells Fargo Arena in our town has opened up so much opportunity to host different musicians and sporting events. This March Des Moines will be hosting the NCAA Division I Regional Finals for collegiate women’s basketball. The winner of our regional final will advance to the NCAA Final Four championship in Denver. Hosting the regional finals will be...

Jan 31, 2012

Jet Set Studio recently announced that the largest video game tournament in Iowa will be hosted in downtown Des Moines on March 17-18, 2012. The Iowa Pro Gaming Challenge (#TIPGC on Twitter) is a regional video game event.  It has been established as an annual destination for gamers all around the country.  For the third annual event this year, TIPGC 2012 will...

Jan 31, 2012

When my wife and I (and our baby girl) first moved here from the San Francisco Bay Area last May, it took a little while to get our Iowa legs. While I was getting mine back after being away for 14 years and Rachel, who never lived here, was just finding hers, we looked for anything that felt familiar. Not because anything here in Des Moines was lacking or...

Jan 27, 2012

The Young Professionals Connection showed last Friday that they could not be off to a better start in the new year.  400+ flooded into People’s after making the decision to begin their weekend at YPC’s Annual Kick-off Party.  I don’t think anyone regretted that decision, this was once again the best “social hour” in town. Mike...

Jan 26, 2012

I have been told there is very little music that I don’t like and that I seem to find the good in pretty much everything.  That’s close to  true, but there is one type of music that I kind of universally dislike, and not surprisingly it is modern popular country music.  I say not surprisingly because, for as popular as it is, it seems almost equally as...

Jan 25, 2012

Well, To Kill a Mockingbird has opened and I have my evenings back. Meaning I don’t have to be rushed eating dinner and I actually see my husband for more than just an hour or two a day. While that is of course very good, I am also kind of sad. Not disappointed by any means, after all I am very proud of the work that we did and continue to do in each...