summer to do list

Summer is officially here — though if you ask anyone around here, we've been sweating it out in 90+ degree temps for weeks now — and with it comes our bucket lists of everything we want to do before the snow comes again. I mentioned last year that even after a year in Des Moines, there's still so much that I haven't done or seen in this city, and the same is true this year.

Of course, I was able to venture out and find some new things to do in the last 12 months (exhibit a and exhibit b), but this year I want to keep adding to the list. Some of my goals are Des Moines-specific, but many of them can be done wherever you live.

1. Rent bikes to ride by the river.

2. Take a tour of the botanical gardens.

3. Go on a hiking trip.

4. Join an outdoor pop-up yoga event.

5. (Try to) learn how to golf. ;)

6. Plant my own succulent garden.

7. Picnic at a winery.

8. Read a classic novel.

9. Make a fun summer cocktail treat.

What's on your bucket list this summer? Would you try any of these things? I'd love to know!

P.S. here's to new adventures and my travel guide to Des Moines

dining des moines: +39 italian

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Anyone have any big plans for the (drinking) holiday? I'm thinking margaritas and chips and salsa are a must tonight ;) In other food news, I had the chance to check out the newest Italian restaurant in Des Moines last weekend and couldn't wait to share my thoughts with all of you. This location is the second for +39 Italian Market, which started in Ames (shoutout to my college town!) a few years ago. The owners are from Italy and both restaurants have separate wine rooms with hundreds of bottles on the walls (swoon!).

Walking in, the restaurant is small but beautiful. It's clean and white with small black tables and simple decor. I loved everything about the look and design, but the acoustics were terrible. We had reservations at 8 p.m. on Friday. The place was packed, and the buzz of conversation was almost overwhelming, and we had to yell just to hear across the booth — major bummer for such a chic space.

We also had mixed reviews of the food. The menu is small and everything sounds delicious, but when we started asking our waitress questions, we found out all but one of the pasta dishes was made with store-bought pasta and the fish was frozen, not fresh. I decided to take a chance on one of the pastas anyway, and we were all further disappointed when it arrived. The menu's description of the pastas listed food items as if they were included in the dishes, but it turned out they were listing the ingredients in the actual sauces — as in my pesto pasta came without the expected pine nuts (the best part!)

The gourmet pizzas were the redeeming factor, though. We tried one with prosciutto, apples and brie cheese, and it was amazing. Perfectly cooked, and the flavors came out perfectly without being overwhelming. The best part? Dessert. The homemade tiramisu is to. die. for. Seriously, I've been craving it ever since!

Final thoughts: we were a bit disappointed that the "authentic" Italian restaurant didn't make its own pasta and use all fresh ingredients. The pastas seemed like a dish anyone could make at home, but for a much higher price tag. If you're going to check it out (which I do recommend!), order a pizza, save room for dessert, and definitely explore the wine list!

Have you been to +39 restaurant yet? Will you? I'd love to know...

P.S. Eatery A, RoCA and the Scenic Route Bakery

7 things to do for the holidays in Des Moines

It’s easy to get lost in all the holiday prep this time of year, and sometimes we forget to actually celebrate. We’re too busy shopping for presents, decorating the house, etc. to take a minute and remember that there is still fun to be had before Christmas hits. Anyone feel me on this? Well, this year I found some fun holiday-themed activities to do before Santa gets here! Some are family-friendly, and some are for the more booze-enthused ;) Whatever you're looking for, here are 7 holiday-themed events and activities to add to your calendar this year:

My Travel Guide to Des Moines

Today I am very excited to share with all of you one of the projects I've been working on for the past couple months! When the lovely Susannah of Feast + West asked me to prepare a travel guide for Des Moines as part of her Hidden Gems series, I practically jumped for joy. Partially because I love writing guest posts and working with fellow bloggers, but also because I just love the city of Des Moines so much.

I had a lot of fun writing the post, which you can read in full here, but the hardest part was narrowing down the list of places to go. There are just so many things to recommend here! And there are even more that I haven't had the chance to do yet.

Des Moines may not be the biggest city, but it has so much to offer. I hope you enjoy my travel guide — it includes some of my favorite bars, restaurants local shopping and other things to do — and if you're ever in the area, look me up! :)

Have you ever been to Des Moines If you're from the area, what would you put on a travel guide? I'd love to hear! 

P.S. Another guest post: The Tipsy Traveler

8 places to pick pumpkins in central Iowa

With my intense love for fall comes a natural love for all things fall-related, and that includes pumpkin patches. When I was a kid, one of my uncles bought the family farm from my grandparents and started growing pumpkins. He has acres and acres of pumpkins, and every fall my whole family would get together for a big party to help him pick them and then celebrate with tons of delicious food. It is one of my favorite childhood memories to this day.

A visit to Sidebar

One of my favorite things to do is check out the new stores/restaurants/bars that open in Des Moines. This city is growing so much that new places are popping up all the time —it’s almost hard to keep up! The latest one Adam and I ventured to is called Sidebar. It’s part coffee house, part gelato shop and part cocktail lounge.

It opened on Monday in the Capital Square building in downtown Des Moines. We stopped in for lunch on Tuesday but found out they weren’t quite serving lunch yet — the chefs said that will be starting around next week-ish. So I settled for an almond latte and a scoop of gelato (big sacrifice, right? ;).

The coffee was good but not particularly special, but the gelato was out of this world. I opted for the caramel sea salt, and I barely let Adam have two bites because I wanted it all for myself! It’s a little pricey — $3.50 for one scoop — but once I tasted it I didn’t care how much it cost. It was creamy and perfect. I told Adam I wanted to come back every day for more!

My favorite part of Sidebar was its look. Everything is clean and white, and since it’s located on a corner, with two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows, it’s really bright and cheerful. I wish I worked downtown so I could go there every day...although it’s probably a good thing I don’t because I would literally go there every day!

P.S. a tour of Hotel Renovo, Eatery A and RoCA 

A tour of Hotel Renovo

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend a Des Moines blogger brunch at the newly opened Hotel Renovo in Urbandale. First, I want to say a huge thanks to Chelsea for planning the event. I haven't had the chance to meet many of the bloggers in my area, so it was great get to know these fabulous ladies. Now, let's talk about how gorgeous this place is! (Get ready for picture overload!)

Iowa wineries: Penoach Vineyard and Winery

For anyone who knows me well, they know I love a good glass (or two... or bottle...) of wine. So when my mom invited Adam and me to go to a local winery to hear a live band last summer, I wasn't about to say no. My first-ever winery visit was to Penoach Winery in Adel (a small suburb of the Des Moines region), and it has since become my favorite place for local wines.

The events are simple, yet so fun. Twice a month from May through September, the winery has a live band and a tent set up for guests to park their picnics under. You can bring in all the food you want (some people bring in literally tables full of food!), but they also usually have a food truck as well. Outside drinks aren't allowed because obviously they want you to buy their wine, but for just $15 a bottle you can have any flavor they have, chilled and ready to go. They also have a tasting station so you can sample a few kinds before you order a whole bottle. One of my favorites is the Rustic Red.

For food that night, my mom stocked up on some of our favorite wine-pairing appetizers, like gourmet cheeses, ham and turkey, focaccia, olives and crackers. Honestly, if I could eat these items for dinner every night, I probably would! I love picking out our favorite foods and packing a cooler for the winery. It's so much cheaper than eating out, but it's just as fun because you get to be around other people and listen to live music! The best part about this night was seeing a group of 50- to 60-year-old women dancing to all the 80s tunes — one woman was so into it that she stripped her jacket off and threw it in the air!

The winery itself is absolutely adorable. It's located outside the city on a gravel road and a large acreage. The owners live there in a gorgeous two-story white house, and they sell the wine out of a little barn in the backyard. The bands perform on a patio attached to the barn, and the guests are seated in an open grassy area next to the vineyard. It's such a beautiful area that I love to just walk around and take it all in.

If you live in/around Des Moines, Penoach is definitely a place to add to your bucket list!

P.S. 10 free things to do in Des Moines, 5 happy hour specials in Des Moines and my own summer bucket list

Lighter than air: the National Balloon Classic

The part I love most about being a journalist is the exposure I get to new things. Since starting my job as a reporter in Des Moines, I've written about professional bull riding, the local transgender community, Wizard World Comic Con and, most recently, the National Balloon Classic, which is the second-largest hot air balloon event in the U.S., hosted right here in central Iowa. For each of these stories, I've studied up on the subject and talked to people involved to learn about it from the inside, and then inform the general public about it. I love being able to do that, but what I love even more is being able to experience some of what I cover. Which is why I ventured the 30 miles or so out to Indianola last weekend for my first hot air balloon experience.

10 free things to do in Des Moines

Since I'm a recent college grad and living on a college grad's budget, making weekend and evening plans typically revolves around the cost — because let's face it: fun can get expensive. Even just a simple night at the bars with friends can quickly add up to a $100 tab, and that's just drinking and talking! So when Adam and I think about our next date night or our weekend plans, we try to find things to do that won't break the bank. The great thing about Des Moines is that there are so many free activities to do here. Live music, museums, dancing, exercising — just to name a few. So even if you are on a tight budget, your social life doesn't have to suffer for it. For those of you living in the Des Moines area or even just visiting, here are 10 free things to do in Des Moines:

1. Bike on the many Iowa bike trails. The Des Moines area has approximately 1 billion (maybe a little less...) miles of bike trails, with plenty of restaurants and bars along the way. A great way to get exercise and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the state — you might even find more than cornfields (gasp!).

2. Explore the East Village shops and boutiques. This one could cost you some money — especially if you like vintage pieces and eclectic finds — but I really do love just the experience of walking through all the shops in the East Village. From antiques to modern home decor, there's a little bit of everything.

3. Tour the Iowa Capitol building. This is something I've never done, but I've heard from several people who have that it's a very cool experience. The capitol is beautiful from the outside, so I can only imagine how the inside looks. And hey, you might even learn a couple things while you're there.

4. Try yoga at Gray's Lake Park. Yoga in the Park is every Saturday morning from June to September, and tons of people turn out each weekend to participate. You don't have to be an expert to go, just willing to try a few poses and meet new people.

5. Experience the Des Moines Farmers Market. Also known as the Downtown Farmers Market, this is the king of all Iowa farmers markets, stretching several blocks every Saturday morning from May through October. This one can also cost a few bucks, but it can be done for free — if you have good will power. Find everything from fresh produce and lemonade to handmade jewelry and yard signs.

6. Visit the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Free and open 24 hours a day, the Pappajohn Sculpture Park is an outdoor grassy area next to the Des Moines library that displays art by 22 artists from around the world. It's the perfect end to a dinner date night downtown, or the beginning of a Saturday spent with family.

7. Learn to salsa with free lessons at Lime Lounge. If you've ever wanted to learn how to salsa, you can do it for free at Lime Lounge on Thursdays. Salsa Des Moines provides free lessons at 8 p.m. and the floor opens at 9 p.m., so come alone or with a group and dance the night away.

8. Tour the Salisbury House. The Salisbury House is a historic 42-room mansion built in 1923 (completed in 1928). With ties to Salisbury, England, it now houses various events, including Shakespeare on the Lawn each summer.

9. View an exhibit at the Des Moines Art Center. The DMAC holds various art exhibits throughout the year, many of which are free to the public and open for several months. The hours can be a little difficult for those working 9-to-5 jobs, but they're always worth it.

10. Enjoy an outdoor concert at one of the wineries or outside of Jordan Creek Town Center. Live music is in abundance in Des Moines, especially during the summer. You can find outdoor concerts pretty much anywhere, and many of them are free. We like going to Penoach and taking our own snacks for dinner. They don't allow outside beverages because they want you to buy theirs, but you certainly won't be disappointed — it's my favorite wine in the area.

P.S. my summer bucket list, 10 patios to enjoy in DSM and 5 happy hour specials 

That time I went to Comic Con

In my attempt to make this summer my best one yet, I went to my first Comic Con last weekend. But before I get into that, let’s talk about the perks of being a journalist. A few weeks ago I had the amazing opportunity to interview four celebrities and write a story about Wizard World Comic Con Des Moines. I have never been interested in the whole comic thing, although I do tend to fangirl a little bit about the Avengers and I love the nerdy-ness that is Big Bang Theory. Aside from that, I’ve never seen Star Wars (insert shocked reactions here) and I’ve never so much as touched a comic book. But I was really excited to write this story.

My summer bucket list

Even though I've lived in Iowa my whole life and in Des Moines for a year, there are still so many things I haven't done here. People always say there is nothing to do in Iowa — I used to be one of those people — but the truth is, if you look for it, you can always find something happening somewhere. And that is why I've resolved to make this summer my best yet: trying new things, meeting new people and just making memories. Here are a few things that are on my summer bucket list:

1. Zoo Brew at Blank Park Zoo. Booze plus animals — what's not to love?

2. Eat at a food truck. I've never done this! Is food better on wheels? I'm going to find out!

3. Walk on the High Trestle Trail Bridge. Because architecturally pleasing bridges are what Instagram is all about.

4. Rent a paddleboat at Grays Lake. The best chance I have at recreating any scene from 10 Things I Hate About You.

5. Go to the Hot Air Balloon Classic. Where else am I going to see a sky filled with giant balloons?

6. Ride bikes downtown. The best place to re-learn a childhood skill is a high-traffic area with lots of people, amiright?

7. Hike at Ledges State Park. Hiking in Iowa? It really can be done!

I'd love to know...what's on your bucket list this summer?

P.S. small town vs. city living, 10 patios in Des Moines and best happy hour specials in Des Moines

10 patios to enjoy this summer in Des Moines

First off, let's just get it out there that when I say Des Moines, I'm usually talking about the Des Moines metro as a whole, which includes the surrounding cities. Second, when it comes to eating out, if I'm ever trying to think of places with patios, it always seems like there are only a couple to choose from. But that could not be further from the truth. In making this list, I came across dozens of bars and restaurants with patios in the metro. I even had a hard time narrowing it down to 10, but I think I did a pretty good job with my picks (if I do say so myself ;).

5 great happy hour specials around Des Moines

For the last year, one of my main responsibilities at work has been covering the nightlife section, which means I write an article each week about a different bar in the Des Moines area. I know, rough life, right? ;) But I've researched and visited a lot of bars and restaurants around here, and I'm beginning to know my way around fairly well.

I'm not saying I know all the hottest spots — there are approximately a billion (or at least a couple hundred) places to get a drink in Des Moines — but I do know a great happy hour special when I see it. And since everyone needs to take some time for happy hour once in a while, I've rounded up 5 of my favorite happy hour specials in downtown Des Moines and West Des Moines.

1. Cowboy Jack's / West Glen
3-6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight / $2 rail and call drinks, select beers; $4 house wines; half-off select appetizers
This might be THE best happy hour around — and it happens twice a day! My mom actually meets her friends here after work about once every two weeks, and I don't blame her. Cowboy Jack's has great appetizers (try the calamari!), and you can't beat $2 drinks. The really great part? Happy hour continues on Saturdays, which is extremely unique.

2. Eatery A / downtown
3-6 p.m. / Half-off beer, wine and wood-fired pizzas
Disclaimer: I've only actually eaten here once. BUT that's all it took for me to fall in love. Adam and I went to Eatery A for our anniversary last year and tried one of their amazing wood-fired pizzas. We thought they were reasonable at full price, so the half-priced happy hour is pretty amazing. The wine was equally delicious.

3. Johnny's Hall of Fame / downtown
4-6 p.m. / 50-cent wings; $2.25 domestic draws, bottles and wells; $7.50 domestic pitchers
Any place that offers 50-cent wings is my kind of place. Johnny's has great food all around, and the atmosphere is so lively and fun. Plus, you can't beat those drink prices, especially if you're going with a group.

4. Bar Louie / West Des Moines
4-7 p.m. / $3.25 drafts, $4.25 wines, $5.25 martinis, half-off select appetizers and flatbreads
Bar Louie holds a special place in my heart because it was one of the first bars I wrote about when I started my job. It had just opened up and I took my mom there for martinis at happy hour. I ordered my first-ever dirty martini (and impressed the bartenders for drinking it). Anyway, Bar Louie has a all sorts of great cocktails, but the flatbreads are the real winners.

5. The Stuffed Olive / downtown
4-6 p.m. / $2 off tapas, beer and wine
Speaking of martinis, The Stuffed Olive (formerly The Standard) has a martini menu the size of a small book. For real. It's a classy place, so the prices are a bit higher than the other bars on this list, but if you're in the mood for it, it's definitely worth it.

Enjoy your happy hour :)

P.S. Creme Cupcakes + Desserts, Eatery A and RoCA

Small town versus city living

I moved to the Des Moines area right about a year ago, and it's still amazing to me how different it is from the town I grew up in just 75 miles away. I lived in Tama-Toledo (two separate towns but, for all intents and purposes, the same) for 18 years. For as long as I can remember, I knew I wanted to move to a bigger city. I had my sights set on New York (much to my family's horror), because I wanted to go somewhere completely different from home (plus, all the magazines, celebrities and fabulous things are in New York). What I didn't expect, though, was to find a city so different so close to home.

A guide to summer concerts in Des Moines

One of my favorite things about summer in Des Moines is the live music that seems to be happening around every corner, at every bar, winery and concert hall you can think of, which is why I decided to make a little guide to some of my favorite spots to see live bands in the area this summer.

My favorite place is Simon Estes Amphitheater in downtown Des Moines. In my opinion, it's one of the coolest music venues in the city, and the rates are super affordable. They don't typically have huge-name artists, but Grace Potter, Eric Hutchinson, and The Ting Tings will all be performing this year along with a bunch of others. The photo above is from Fitz and the Tantrums last summer (amazing!). This venue is a great place to check out artists who are on their way to getting huge, and it's all open seating on a grassy area overlooking the river, so it's beautiful (plus you can even sit across the river or on the bridge and listen for free).

For a more relaxed setting, there are several wineries and breweries that have live music events throughout the summer. Some of my best memories from last year were taking a picnic basket and chairs to the wineries and listening to local bands while sipping new wines. It's so relaxing, beautiful and just a lot of fun. My preferred winery is Penoach, which has an amazing variety of wine and offers pizzas and tastings with some of their concerts. Another great one is Jasper Winery. It has different food options in case you forget to pack your own, but the lawn fills up fast so it's best to get there early.

And then there's Wells Fargo Arena. This year we've got Kenny Chesney, Ed Sheeran, Dave Matthews Band, Nickleback, Shania Twain with Gavin DeGraw, and Taylor Swift on this year's lineup. Now those are some big names. Adam and I already have tickets to see Ed Sheeran, and my sister and I surprised my mom with tickets to see Shania Twain. These shows can get a little pricey, but they always seem to be worth the money.

Finally, the amazing Iowa State Fair. Ten days of entertainment, beer tents, livestock and anything you can eat on a stick. It's definitely an experience everyone should have at least once in their lives, although my favorite part has always been the concerts. Year after year the fair manages to bring in some amazing headliners, and this year is no different. Casting Crowns, Justin Moore, Def Leppard, Reba (as in McEntire), Carrie Underwood, Alabama, The Fray with Andy Grammer, and Meghan Trainor are all on the 2015 schedule. I've already got tickets to see The Fray and Andy Grammer, and I am SO excited.

It's going to be a beautiful, musical summer here in Des Moines :) Where are your favorite concert venues? Will you be getting tickets to any of these shows? Let me know in the comments!

Lunch in the East Village

Adam and I rarely get the chance to have lunch together during the week since our offices are 20 minutes apart, but last week we were able to make it work one day and he took me to the cutest bakery/sandwich shop called the Scenic Route Bakery.

It had the most delicious paninis and the best chai latte. But my favorite part was how beautiful it was. The floor-to-ceiling windows let in so much natural light (even though it was cloudy the day we went) and it had modern elements mixed with vintage pieces to give it a cozy, eclectic feel. Adam was spot on when he said I would love it. Even the outside looked adorable — I'm especially happy I caught the little kid running down the sidewalk by accident :)

If you're in the Des Moines area, I definitely recommend making a stop here! And if you're from Des Moines, what are your favorite lunch spots? I love trying out new places so I love to hear about all the hidden gems around here!

P.S. Eatery A and RoCA

Dining in Des Moines: Eatery A

In continuing with my reviews of new restaurants in Des Moines, today I'm talking about one of my new favorites: Eatery A. It's a Mediterranean restaurant that uses fire and smoke to bring out the flavors in all of the food. Adam and I went there for the first time for our anniversary dinner last month, and we both loved it.

A new restaurant in Des Moines

A few new restaurants have opened recently in downtown Des Moines, so Adam and I have been trying visit some of them. I love all the new trendy hangouts coming to the area; they all have such great styles, and each has its own unique feel to it. Last week we went to RoCA (short for Restaurant on Court Avenue) and Eatery A (details coming soon!). 

Small towns, bigger city

I moved to the Des Moines area earlier this year from a much smaller town about an hour and a half away — and I immediately fell in love with this city.

I used to think Iowa was boring and didn't have much to offer (I grew up in a small town where the only places open after 10 p.m. were the gas stations and the 24-hour gym). But there's a surprising amount of unique, fun things to do and see here. You just have to go to the right place.

Des Moines has been ranked one of the top up-and-coming cities on several occasions and for different reasons. And there are even lists that say it's one of the best cities for young adults. It's really an exciting time to live in this area, with all the growth and change happening. Apartments are sprouting up on just about every empty corner, new bars and restaurants are opening all the time.

This summer Adam and I went to wineries, explored the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, scouted new restaurants and played mini-golf. And there's still so much more. I never thought I'd fall in love with Iowa, but there's something kind of magical about it — especially its capital city.

Can you relate? Have you ever discovered a "new" old place that changed your mind about your home state? Or somewhere new altogether?

(Photo via Iowa House Republicans)