🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🌶️ Reliably good Thai food, crab rangoons you should absolutely order, and a patio that makes a good thing even better.
🎨 Two big community festivals are taking over the west side this weekend and both are worth leaving the house for.
🐝 One of the sweetest family-friendly picks of the week invites kids straight into the hive.
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
Cool Basil | 1250 86th Street, Clive |
Photo: Spaghetti Sweet Basil (foreground), Crab Rangoons (background) | Emily Johnson
🌶️ Cool Basil is one of those places that earns a regular spot in the rotation - it’s just dependable. We ordered the spaghetti sweet basil and a side of crab rangoons which are a must every single time, and everything was fast, hot, and delicious.
🍜 The menu is customizable - you can choose your heat level on a 1-5 star scale and pick your meat on a lot of dishes which is especially nice when you’re dining with a group and everyone likes things a little differently.
☀️ There’s plenty worth going back for too - Larb, Tom Ka Kai soup, Cool Basil Lettuce Wrap, Angry Dish, Pineapple Delight, and Pad Thai are all favorites of ours. They also have sushi, and the patio they added a couple years ago is such a nice bonus when the weather cooperates. 👉 View the menu here.
🤝 Partner Spotlight: Etsy
Made-to-order outdoor bar from Etsy maker
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Check out the options for a custom outdoor bar that will soon become your favorite place to gather. With rustic wood frame, corrugated metal detail, and made-to-order options for size, shape, and accessories, it’s a beautiful setup for patio parties and outdoor entertaining. Free nationwide shipping makes it even easier to say “yes.” Check out your options on Etsy! #ad
Photo: Polyglot Theatre’s Bee | https://polyglot.org.au/show/bees/
🧑🧑🧒 Family-Friendly Pick
🐝 Polyglot Theatre’s Bees | Windsor Heights + Urbandale
This looks like such a lovely one for little kids. Bees is an interactive performance that invites children into a buzzing, imaginative world of movement, sound, and play, where they get to participate alongside three human-sized bees in a way that sounds gentle and creative.
It’s especially good for families looking for something a little different than the usual outing. Each performance is around 30 minutes which is a very parent-friendly length, and the whole concept feels thoughtful, immersive, and sweet.
| Thursday, July 16th | 6 pm | Colby Park, 6900 School St., Windsor Heights |
| Friday, July 17th | 4:30 pm & 7 pm | Walker Johnston Park, 9000 Douglas Ave., Urbandale |
| Roughly 30 minutes | Weather dependent | https://polyglot.org.au/show/bees/ |
🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
Photo: Waukee Arts Festival | https://www.waukeearts.org/
The best bets handpicked for your week:
🎨 11th Annual Waukee Arts Festival | Centennial Park, Waukee
If you’re in the mood for one of those full, lively summer weekends with a little bit of everything, this is a strong contender. The Waukee Arts Festival has grown into one of the city’s biggest events, with 100+ artist exhibits, live music, food and beer trucks, kids activities, and free concerts both nights.
It’s the kind of event where you can browse art, grab something good to eat, and stay later than you planned once the music starts. Bonus: Proceeds support future arts programming and scholarships for local students which makes showing up feel even better.
| Friday, July 17th–Saturday, July 18th | Friday 5–8 pm; Saturday 10 am–8 pm | Free | https://www.waukeearts.org/ |
🎆 50th Anniversary Clive Festival | Greenbelt Landing, Clive
Clive’s biggest community event is back and this year it’s celebrating a pretty big milestone. Expect a packed lineup with free live music, fireworks both nights, food trucks, bounce houses, kids activities, vendors, Touch a Truck, a cardboard boat regatta, and enough going on that you may want to glance at the schedule before you go.
This feels like a very easy pick for families, groups, or anyone who loves a classic summer community festival with lots of energy. Bring a chair, wear sunscreen, and plan on staying through the fireworks if you can.
| Friday, July 17th–Saturday, July 18th | Free | www.clivefestival.com |
🐶 Pupchella 2026 | Paws & Pints
A dog festival with foam, music, games, and ice cream for both pups and humans? Honestly, that’s a pretty convincing Saturday plan. Pupchella is bringing back the festival-for-dogs vibe with a DJ, vendors, carnival games, treats, and a whole lot of happy chaos.
This one is obviously great for dog people, but it also just sounds like a fun, low-pressure afternoon if you want something playful and summery. Expect cuteness overload.
| Saturday, July 18th | 3–6 pm | Regular Admission | https://www.facebook.com/share/1E4wipvffe/ |
🌭 4th Annual Hot Dogs & Hot Rods Car Show | 755 W. Hickman Road, Waukee
This one has a little something for everyone: shiny cars, live music, vendors, family-friendly activities, and yes, hot dogs. After a big turnout last year, the event is coming back even bigger, and it sounds like a fun way to spend a Saturday whether you’re deeply into cars or just enjoy wandering an upbeat community event with snacks in hand.
Even better, vehicle registration supports AHeinz57, so there’s a giving-back angle built in too. Furry friends are welcome which always feels like a nice bonus.
| Saturday, July 18th | 12–3 pm | Free to attend | https://www.facebook.com/share/1L77mRzyyy/ |
🎶 The Head and the Heart with Wilderado | Val Air Ballroom
If you’ve got a soft spot for indie folk and the kind of songs that make a whole room sway a little, this show will probably be your thing. The Head and the Heart are celebrating the 15th anniversary of their debut album on this tour, playing it in full along with other favorites from their catalog.
Val Air feels like a fitting place for a show like this too: intimate enough to feel it, big enough for a crowd. A very solid Sunday night option if you want to wrap the weekend with live music.
| Sunday, July 19th | 7:30 pm | Tickets required |
🐾 Pet Pick-Me-Up
Now get out there, Des Moines!
With local love,
Emily
AroundDSM
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