🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🍕 One of the best happy hours in town is still worth repeating.
🎈 Hot air balloons over the Indianola square two months before the National Balloon Classic? That feels like a pretty good excuse to leave the house.
🦫 A bike ride, a scavenger hunt, and beaver costumes. Need I say more?
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
Eatery A | 2932 Ingersoll Ave. Des Moines |
Photo: Half off bottle of wine for happy hour | Emily Johnson
Photo: Pizza special of the day | Emily Johnson
🍕 Yes, the happy hour is as good as people say – Eatery A already has a strong local reputation for a reason and the everyday happy hour absolutely deserves it. From 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. daily including weekends - pizzas are $10.99 and beer and wine are half off. In a city that loves a deal, this one still feels like one of the best.
🍄 Order the chalkboard pizza and don’t overthink it – The special of the day was topped with oyster mushrooms, asparagus, prosciutto, truffle oil, and a soft egg, and it was one of those combinations that sounds a little fancy but eats in a very satisfying, “we made the right choice” kind of way. We paired it with a bottle of Overstone Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Splitting one pizza plus the bottle was plenty for us. A very solid Ingersoll evening, if you ask me.
☀️ The patio is doing exactly what you want a summer patio to do – It was hopping when we were there, but still felt relaxed and easy. The mostly covered patio has plenty of shade, plus a great view of Ingersoll and downtown which gives it just enough people-watching energy without feeling chaotic. This is absolutely one of those spots to keep in your back pocket for summer.👉 View the menu here.
🤝 Partner Spotlight: New Martha Stewart Kitchen Collection
Elevated Countertop Upgrades.
Martha Stewart’s new collection of kitchen appliances brings together simple design, everyday function, and a calm, elevated look for the countertop. From the toaster to the slow cooker and French door air fryer oven, these pieces are made for easier mornings, cozy meals, and a kitchen that feels less cluttered and more intentional. Check it out on Amazon! #ad
Photo: State Historical Building of Iowa | https://history.iowa.gov/visit/state-historical-museum-iowa
🧑🧑🧒 Family-Friendly Pick: Summer Family Fridays at the State Historical Museum of Iowa
This is such a good one for families who want something educational that still feels fun and low-pressure. Summer Family Fridays include hands-on crafts, themed scavenger hunts, and guided tours, with a different theme each week so it doesn’t feel like a one-and-done.
This Friday’s theme is Planes, Wagons and Automobiles focused on transportation history, and kids can also collect stamps in a Summer Museum Activity Pass throughout the season for a chance to win a museum collections tour.
| Friday, June 12th | 10:00 am–1:00 pm | Free | https://history.iowa.gov/visit/events |
🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
The best bets handpicked for your week:
Photo: Hot air balloons | Andre Frueh
🎈 Nights and Flights | Downtown Indianola
This sounds like one of those summer nights that manages to pack in a little bit of everything: hot air balloons, live music, shopping, food, drinks, and a downtown square full of energy. Summer Nights & Flights combines the National Balloon Classic Sky Parade with Summer Nights Live, so you get the visual magic of balloons overhead and a fun community night on the ground.
Good for couples, friend groups, families, or anyone who hears “beer flights and hot air balloons” and thinks yes, that’ll do nicely. Bring a lawn chair and settle in.
| Friday, June 12th | 5:00–10:00 pm | https://experienceindianola.com/summernights_flights/ |🌿 Jester Park Native Plant Sale | Jester Park Outdoor Recreation & Wellness Center
If your garden needs a little help and you’d like to do something nice for pollinators while you’re at it, this is a great stop. The sale features more than 50 types of native Iowa plants, all chosen for being low-maintenance once established and genuinely helpful to local wildlife and landscapes.
They’ll also have rain barrels for $50, which feels like a practical little bonus if you’ve been meaning to become the kind of person who collects rainwater. Be proud of yourself as a plant-parent.
| Saturday, June 13th | 9:00 am–12:00 pm | Plants: $6–$12, Rain Barrels: $50 |
🦫 Beaver Hunt Bike Ride | Begins at Beaver Tap, Beaverdale
This casual party ride supports the Beaverdale Fall Festival and leans all the way into the beaver theme. Riders will pedal about 18 miles along Des Moines trails, stop at local businesses, and hunt for Beaver-themed items along the route with prizes for top collectors plus bonus fun for best costume or best-decorated bike.
It’s the kind of event that feels peak local: slightly goofy, very community-driven, and way more fun than “bike ride” alone suggests. Starts and ends in Beaverdale.
| Saturday, June 13th | 9:00 am–5:00 pm | $35–$45 | https://www.bikeiowa.com/Event/16648/beaver-hunt |
🇵🇭 Filipino Fiesta 2026 | Living History Farms, Urbandale
A full day of food, music, dancing, and cultural celebration? That’s a pretty easy yes. Filipino Fiesta brings together authentic food vendors, traditional and contemporary performances, and family-friendly activities that make it feel welcoming whether you’re deeply connected to Filipino culture or simply excited to learn and celebrate alongside the community.
Come hungry. Between the lumpia, halo-halo, and everything else in the mix, prepare your belly.
| Saturday, June 13th | 11:00 am–7:00 pm | https://www.filipinofiestaiowa.org/ |
🏳️🌈 PrideFest Parade | Historic East Village
Capital City Pride Parade returns Sunday at noon, traveling down East Grand from E. 13th to E. 2nd right through the heart of the East Village and the PrideFest grounds. It’s colorful, joyful, and one of those events that makes the city feel especially alive.
PrideFest vendors and booths will also be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., so there’s plenty to do before and after the parade. And for the first time, the parade will also be livestreamed by Local 5 News, which is a nice option if you’re cheering from home.
| Sunday, June 14th | 12:00–2:00 pm | Free | https://capitalcitypride.org/event/2026-pride-parade/ |
🐾 Pet Pick-Me-Up
I just had to include this for a pet pic! Photo: https://nationalpurebreddogday.com/hot-air-balloon-dogs/
Now get out there, Des Moines!
With local love,
Emily
AroundDSM
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