🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🍹 One pizza. Two cocktails. Zero regrets.
🎭 9pm is “late” in Des Moines and this comedy show is daring you to prove it.
🍳 Brunch, beer, and a reason to wear high socks and dad energy with confidence.
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
Hugo’s Wood-Fired Kitchen | 3206 University Ave, Des Moines |
Photo: The Collins (L) Fig & Stormy (R) | Emily Johnson
Photo: Pork & Apple Pizza | Emily Johnson
🍽️ Happy Hour That Actually Feels Like a Steal – From 3–6pm Tuesday–Saturday (dine-in only), Hugo’s serves up $10 wood-fired pizzas and $10 cocktails which means dinner for two can be surprisingly reasonable. We ordered the Pork & Apple pizza (white sauce, apple butter, braised pork, minced dates, pickled red onion), and one pizza was plenty for the two of us. Cozy, filling, and layered with sweet-savory flavor that just works.
🥃 Cocktails Worth Trading Over – I ordered The Collins. My husband ordered the Fig Dark & Stormy. Within minutes, we switched. 😄 Both were bright, balanced, and beautifully done. We just preferred the other’s drink. These are the kind of cocktails that make you slow down and actually enjoy a meal.
🕯️ Cozy Now, Patio Later – The dining room filled up quickly (always a good sign), and the vibe felt warm and intimate with attentive, personal service. And when the weather cooperates? Their patio is one of those “put this on your spring list” spots that turns a good meal into a linger-longer kind of night. 👉 View the menu here.
🤝 Partner Spotlight: Amazon Echo Spot
The new Echo Spot shows time, weather, song titles, controls your lights, and plays music with rich, clear sound. It also has built-in privacy controls that are as easy as pushing a button. #ad Learn more here.
Enjoy great sound with deep bass and clear vocals.
Check time, weather, and alarms at a glance.
💸 Local Deal of the Week
🍝 Sunday Dinner = Solved.
Did you know Baratta's Restaurant offers family-style carryout specials every Sunday from 4–8pm?
These hearty Italian meals feed 4–6 people, come with salad and bread, and are ready in about 30 minutes. It’s the kind of no-brainer dinner that makes you feel like you planned ahead even if you didn’t.
Pro tip: Call it in, set the table, invite me over 😉, and enjoy a cozy Sunday night without turning on your stove. Order the old-fashioned way ☎️ 515-243-4516.
🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
The best bets handpicked for your week:
🎤 Up-Late! at HiFi Lounge | HiFi Brew Lounge, West Des Moines
Des Moines, staying out past 9 pm? We can do this. 😎
Head upstairs at the HiFi Brew Lounge for a late-night comedy set in their cozy 40-seat lounge. Cameron Logsdon (known for his spot-on impressions and massive online following) joins forces with Clifton Antoine and local favorite Dante Powell, and others. They’ll be fresh off an earlier sold-out show, so expect the energy to be high and the laughs to come fast.
Full bar. Tight quarters. Big comedy. | Thursday, Feb. 19th | 9–11 pm | $15 | Tickets at crowdwork.com
🍳🍺 50’s Dad Brunch | Confluence Brewing Co., Des Moines
Break out the tucked-in polos and white sneakers — 50’s Dad Brunch is back at Confluence! This playful morning party celebrates the release of their beloved 50’s Dad Stout with a full buffet spread (think French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, fruit, and sweets) plus two pours of your beer of choice. Yes, brunch with beer is absolutely the vibe.
Costumes are encouraged (but not required), and tickets include a commemorative 50’s Dad coaster. Want to take the stout home? There’s a ticket option that includes a 4-pack to-go.
| Saturday, Feb. 21st | 9–11 am | $45–$65 | Tickets required | confluencebrewing.com
🛍️🚌 Thrift Trolley Tour | Departs from Whiskey River, Ankeny
If thrifting is your love language, this one’s calling your name. Hop aboard the Charters on Vine trolley for a full-day shopping adventure across some of the metro’s best secondhand spots — from Thrift Mart and Stuff in Clive to Many Hands, St. Vincent de Paul, and The Attic. It’s a treasure hunt on wheels with plenty of “I can’t believe I found this” moments.
There’s a lunch stop at The Machine Shed (on your own) and the day wraps up at Whiskey River where you’re highly encouraged to show off your haul. Seats are limited, so grab yours.
| Saturday, Feb. 21st | 10:30 am–5 pm | $45 per person | Departs Whiskey River, Ankeny | Tickets required
🌌🎶 Pink Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon | Science Center of Iowa
Ready to feel music in your bones? The Science Center’s 50-foot planetarium dome transforms Pink Floyd’s iconic 1973 album into a fully immersive, full-dome visual experience. Lights ripple and swirl overhead while you are surrounded by the music — it’s part concert, part cosmic journey, and completely unforgettable.
Whether you grew up with this album or you’re discovering it for the first time, this is one of those “you just have to experience it” events.
| Sunday, Feb. 22nd | 5 pm, 6:15 pm, 7:30 pm | Tickets going fast | sciowa.org
🐴🧧 Chinese New Year Celebration: Year of the Horse | Jester Park Nature Center
Ring in the Year of the Horse with this lively and educational celebration through Polk County Conservation. Learn about the history and traditions of the Chinese New Year, explore the similarities between the Chinese zodiac and Western astrology, and dive into fun facts about horses along the way.
The highlight? A live lion dance and kung fu demonstration from Shadow Fist Kung Fu.
Registration is required by Feb. 21, and two different time slots are available.
| Sunday, Feb. 22nd | Times vary | Registration required | polkcountyiowa.gov
Stop wondering what to do and start doing. Pick one and make it happen!
🐾 Pet Pick-Me-Up
Now get out there, Des Moines!
With local love,
Emily
AroundDSM
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