🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🍕 Three pizzas, four people, zero regrets. This East Village favorite still knows how to keep things interesting.
🌷 One of Des Moines’ favorite Saturday traditions is officially back.
📚 Book people, this is your weekend.
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
Fong’s Pizza | 317 East Court Avenue, Des Moines |
Photo: Tiki Drinks | Emily Johnson
Photo: Our Pizza Order | Emily Johnson
🍕 Fong’s is still one of those classic Des Moines spots — For our group of four, we ordered three 10-inch pizzas so we could try a few different flavors — the Crab Rangoon, Sweet & Sassy, and Meatzilla. Honestly, it was the right move. It’s the best way to lean into what makes Fong’s fun: trying combinations you probably wouldn’t come up with on your own.
🦀 The Crab Rangoon Pizza is the one they’re known for — and it absolutely deserves its reputation. The Sweet & Sassy had a nice little zip to it, but the real surprise for me was the Meatzilla. I usually gravitate toward something with vegetables on it, so I did not expect the all-meat pizza to be the one I kept thinking about. Maybe it was the sauce, maybe it was the combo of meats, maybe it was some kind of pizza sorcery. Whatever it was, it worked!
🍹 There was a little nostalgia in the mix, too — I noticed mostly the red plastic Coke glasses and definitely missed the old tiki drink glasses from the original Fong’s days. There were a few tiki glasses around, just not those colorful ceramic ones that felt like part of the experience. That said, service was excellent, the mocktails and cocktails were unique and fun, and our server brought the ticket before the start of our event just like we’d asked at the beginning of the meal, which was such a thoughtful touch. 👉 View the menu here.
🤝 Partner Spotlight: Systeme.io | Build Your Business With One Tool For FREE!
First of all, the name isn’t spelled incorrectly - it really is Systeme.io. I’ve been using it for almost two years now and what stands out most is that it gives you everything you need to run a business in one place. What I used to pay for Kajabi in one month is how much I pay Systeme.io for an entire year! They even have a free plan to get started.
If you’ve ever thought about starting an online business, selling a product, growing an email list, or creating a course, but immediately felt overwhelmed by all the tech and monthly subscriptions, this might be worth a look.
With this platform, you can:
build landing pages and sales funnels
grow an email list and send emails
sell physical or digital products
host online courses or memberships
create an affiliate program
schedule meetings
organize your offers in a simple storefront
Basically, it can do the work of a bunch of separate tools without the giant learning curve or giant price tag.
If you’re in that “I know I want to build something, but I don’t want to make this harder than it needs to be” stage, this could be a solid starting point.
👉 Try systeme.io
🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
The best bets handpicked for your week:
🌷 Downtown Farmers’ Market Opening Day | Historic Court District
One of Des Moines’ very best Saturday traditions is back and it always feels a little like the city’s real kickoff to spring. Opening Day of the Downtown Farmers’ Market brings fresh produce, local food, handmade goods, live entertainment, and that unmistakable buzz of everyone being happy to be outside again.
This season’s market includes 305 vendors, including 43 new ones, with representation from 74 cities across 42 Iowa counties. Come early, wear comfortable shoes, and prepare to run into approximately everyone you know in the best possible way.
| Saturday, May 2nd | 7 am–12 pm | Free to attend | https://www.dsmpartnership.com/desmoinesfarmersmarket/ |
📚 DSM Book Festival | Franklin Event Center
If your ideal Saturday includes browsing books, meeting fellow readers, and leaving with a longer to-be-read list than you arrived with, the DSM Book Festival has your name all over it. It’s the kind of event that feels equal parts community gathering and book lover paradise, which is a pretty great combination.
| Saturday, May 2nd | 11 am–9 pm | See event website for details |
🌱 2026 Polk County Master Gardener’s Plant Sale | Demonstration Garden 3353 92nd St, Urbandale
Plant people, this is your moment. This is a great stop for seasoned gardeners, new plant parents, or anyone who’s been eyeing their yard and thinking it could use a little help. A wholesome Saturday morning with the potential to come home carrying more greenery than planned? Very likely.
| Saturday, May 2nd | 9 am–12 pm | See event website for details |
🍷 Vino in the Village | East Village Shops, Des Moines
A spring afternoon in the East Village with wine involved is already sounding pretty solid. Vino in the Village gives you the chance to sip, stroll, and make an afternoon of it, which feels especially nice this time of year when everyone is ready to be out and about again.
This is an easy pick for friend groups, date day, or anyone who enjoys events where the pace is relaxed and the beverage situation is handled.
| Saturday, May 2nd | 12–3 pm | $25 | https://winefestdesmoines.com/event/vino-in-the-village/ |
🎣 SCHEELS Fish Fest | West Des Moines SCHEELS
Fish Fest is back and ready to kick off the season with gear, demos, vendor specials, prizes, and family-friendly activities throughout the day. Whether you’re fully locked into fishing season already or just like an event with a little energy and a chance to browse new gear, this one has plenty going on.
There are also perks for the early birds: the first 100 people receive a 5-gallon bucket and a SCHEELS Fish Fest hat, which feels like a pretty decent reward for setting an alarm. A fun option for outdoorsy folks, families, and anyone who likes free stuff on a Saturday.
| Saturday, May 2nd | 9:30 am–4 pm | Free to attend |
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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