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I know I have spoken about the Des Moines Social Club (DMSC) before in other posts, but I have never dedicated the time needed to truly express how much this group is working to ensure Des Moines is not boring.

DMSC was started by Zachary Mannheimer and Matthew McIver, NY City transplants who came to Des Moines to help change the city (No lie).  Mannheimer & McIvers’ intent was to create a place where everyone could feel welcome and grow their artistic expressions.  Their efforts sputtered at first because they were unable to initially attain a building, which hindered their ability to truly illustrate their vision. But, with the help of Senator Jack Hatch’s strong support for the group and his willingness to lease one of his buildings (1408 Locust Street), DMSC was given a true venue where they could literally wipe the slate clean and start to create a new venue for Des Moines. 

After weeks of cleaning and set-up (view the video here), DMSC opened its doors to the public for the first time with an event called the Subjective Circus.  They have since held numerous events showcasing the passion their volunteers have while adapting the building into a place were everyone is welcome. They now have a theater, an Art Gallery, and a Lounge where events are scheduled every night of the week.  There are no typical nights at the DMSC, but for reference you could find Wrestling, Eagle Claw Kung Fu, Spoken Word, Community Meetings, Live Music, CD release parties, just to name a few of their nightly events.  They have had an event as large as 170 with food catered in by Hal Jasa, the Underground Chef, although food is not usually on the agenda for the DMSC. They have also had packed-house with live performances featuring local artists at no charge to the guests.  

The future is very bright for the DMSC and their efforts are already very well received. The best part about this group is they are truly open to everyone and anyone, without any equivocation. They are working very hard to partner with other groups in the city to ensure all efforts are for the cities betterment.  Heck, they even worked to ensure we can dance past mid-night. Their mission statement says everyone is welcome, and I can attest they live by that initial statement and at truly eager for you to stop by.

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