🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🍔 A cozy South Side lunch spot where the food comes out hot, fast, and worth squeezing into the parking lot for.
🧤 A feel-good Saturday morning: fresh air, community cleanup, and maybe even a prize or two.
📚 Bridgerton fans, your carriage has arrived. Julia Quinn is coming to Des Moines.
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
Angry Goldfish Pub & Eatery | 2301 SW 9th Street, Des Moines |
Photo: Warm Bacon Salad | Emily Johnson
Photo: Pulled Pork Sandwich & Parmesan Fries | Emily Johnson
🧭 A South Side favorite with a true neighborhood feel – Angry Goldfish has that cozy, wood-filled pub vibe that makes you want to settle in and stay awhile. We stopped in for lunch and the place was packed which is always a good sign. Even while busy, service was still quick, friendly, and on point.
🍔 Come hungry – We ordered the pulled pork sandwich, the warm bacon salad, and the Boursin burger with parmesan fries, and everything came out hot and fast. The burger/fries combo especially felt like solid comfort food done right, and it’s easy to see why this place has such a loyal local following.
🚗 A few insider tips before you go – The parking lot can fill up quickly at busy times, but there’s additional parking across the street, so don’t let that scare you off. And yes, the bathroom is tiny. Like tiny tiny. But it gets the job done, and honestly, that kind of just adds to the charm. 👉 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.
🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
The best bets handpicked for your week:
🎭 Broadway Sing-Along | Temple Theater
If you’ve ever wanted to belt out your favorite Broadway songs without worrying about who’s sitting next to you, this is your night. Broadway Sing-Along brings musical theater lovers together for an evening of big songs, big feelings, and a lot of joyful, dramatic energy in the best way.
Hosted in the intimate Temple Theater downtown, this sounds like a really fun night out for theater lovers, friend groups, or anyone who knows that sometimes the correct volume for show tunes is simply full voice.
| Friday, April 3rd | 7:30 pm | Tickets Required | desmoinesperformingarts.org |
🧤 Cache In, Trash Out Cleanup | Walnut Creek Trail
A little fresh air, a little community pride, and a good excuse to do something good for Des Moines. This annual cleanup along Walnut Creek Trail invites volunteers of all ages to help care for one of the area’s best outdoor spaces by picking up litter and helping keep the trail beautiful.
Hosted with Iowa Geocachers, this one adds a little fun to the cleanup with an eco-hunt feel, plus treats, drinks, and even prizes to keep things light and family-friendly. A great option if you want to get outside and give back at the same time.
| Saturday, April 4th | 9:00–11:30 am | All Ages | Registration Required |
🐶 Doxie Dash | ARL-Iowa at a Des Moines Buccaneers vs. Sioux City Musketeers game
It’s a hockey game and a dachshund race all rolled into one! Head to the Des Moines Buccaneers’ final regular-season game and bring your pup along for the fun. During the first intermission, local dachshunds will hit the ice for the annual Doxie Dash, racing for prizes and bragging rights.
And here’s the best part: all dogs are welcome this year. So even if you don’t have a wiener dog, you can still bring your pup to cheer from the dogs-only section and enjoy the rest of the game together.
| Saturday, April 4th | 5:00–8:00 pm | Dog-Friendly | arl-iowa.org |
📚 Meet Julia Quinn | Hoyt Sherman Place
Bridgerton fans, this is a big one. Julia Quinn — the #1 New York Times bestselling author behind the wildly popular Bridgerton series — is coming to Des Moines for a free public event at Hoyt Sherman Place.
Expect an evening of conversation, a Q&A, and a book signing to follow. Whether you’ve read every book, binged the Netflix series, or just love a good author event, this is one that will likely draw a crowd.
| Tuesday, April 7th | 7:00 pm | Free | First Come, First Served | dmpl.org |
🎸 Journey: Final Frontier Tour | Casey’s Center
Get ready for a night of big vocals, bigger nostalgia, and all the songs you know by heart. Journey is bringing their Final Frontier Tour to Des Moines, delivering the kind of arena show that turns into a full crowd sing-along.
Whether you grew up on their music or just love a good throwback concert, this is one of those nights where you’ll be tempted to sing every word (and honestly, everyone else will be too).
| Wednesday, April 8th | 7:30pm | Tickets Required | iowaeventscenter.com |
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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