🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🍽️ A happy hour where three appetizers absolutely count as dinner especially when flaming cheese is involved.
😂 Your suggestions could become part of the show when Whose Live Anyway? takes over Hoyt Sherman.
✈️ Planes, skydivers, helicopter rides AND fireworks! This Saturday outing might be worth the short drive.
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
OPA! Italian and Greek | 2800 University Ave., West Des Moines |
Photo: Old Fashioned (L), Lemon Drop Martini (R) | Emily Johnson
Photo: Happy Combo (foreground), Gyro Fries (background) | Emily Johnson
Photo: Greek Charcuterie | Emily Johnson
🍽️ Happy Hour = Dinner – We went to OPA! for happy hour and decided three appetizers absolutely counted as a meal. We shared the Greek Charcuterie with tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, gyro meat, olives, and Greek dressing; Gyro Fries loaded with gyro meat, tzatziki, and feta; and the Happy Combo with six garlic knots, two ravioli, and marinara. Add an Old Fashioned and Lemon Drop martini, and we were very happy with this decision.
🍰 Save Room for Tiramisu – Everything we ordered was delicious and we still found room for tiramisu for dessert. The restaurant filled up quickly while we were there, which gave the whole place a lively, energetic feel. This would be an easy pick for happy hour with friends when nobody can agree between Italian and Greek because here, you can have both.
🔥 And Then Everyone Yelled “OPA!” – Twice during our meal, another table ordered the flaming cheese, and the whole room got to join in with an enthusiastic “OPA!” It’s one of those little details that makes dinner more memorable. OPA! also recently celebrated six years in business which is especially impressive considering they opened during COVID. Check out their happy hour and daily specials and go help them celebrate year seven. Highly recommend! 👉 View the menu here.
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🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
The best bets handpicked for your week:
😂 Whose Live Anyway? | Hoyt Sherman Place
If you loved Whose Line Is It Anyway?, here’s your chance to see that quick-on-their-feet comedy happen right in front of you. Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, and Joel Murray turn audience suggestions into 90 minutes of completely improvised scenes, songs, and games — and yes, you might even end up onstage.
It’s open to all ages, although parents should know there may be some PG-13 language.
| Friday, Sept. 18th | 7:30 pm | Ticketed Event | hoytsherman.org |
🎶 R&B Fest | Platform
If songs from Usher, TLC, Ashanti, Destiny’s Child, Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey, and Ja Rule immediately transport you back a couple decades, your Saturday afternoon plans may have just been decided. R&B Fest is bringing five hours of ’90s and ’00s throwbacks, DJs, dancers, and big nostalgic energy to downtown Des Moines.
One important detail: this event is 21+. This is a DJ-driven R&B party celebrating our favorite music from back in the day.
| Saturday, Sept. 19th | 4–9 pm; Last Entry 6 pm | 21+ | 400 Walnut St., Des Moines | Event Info |
✈️ Fly Iowa Festival 2026 | Winterset Municipal Airport
Here’s one that sounds worth the drive to Winterset. Fly Iowa brings military, vintage, and classic aircraft together with live music, food, vendors, kids activities, and a fireworks show at dusk and admission is free.
You can also catch a special America 250 demonstration from the Des Moines Skydivers, see the YL-37 Flying Memorial, and even book a $50 helicopter ride with Iron Horse Aviation.
| Saturday, Sept. 19th | 2–9 pm | FREE Admission | Winterset Municipal Airport | flyiowa2026.com |
🍂 Beaverdale Fall Festival | Beaverdale
There are neighborhood festivals, and then there are neighborhood traditions. The Beaverdale Fall Festival has been bringing the community together for more than 40 years, and this weekend is packed with the kind of familiar fall fun that makes it easy to spend half a day wandering around the neighborhood.
Friday brings live music and an 8:30 pm street dance, while Saturday starts early with a pancake breakfast, followed by the dog parade at 9:15 am and the big Beaverdale Parade at 10 am. Add bingo, carnival rides, more live music, and plenty of neighborhood energy, and you’ve got a very full weekend.
| Friday, Sept. 18th & Saturday, Sept. 19th | Various Times | Beaverdale | Full Schedule |
📚 Meet Jodi Picoult | Franklin Jr. High Event Center
Book lovers, another big author is headed to Des Moines. #1 New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult returns to town to celebrate her 30th novel, Hollow Bones, just days after its Sept. 15th release.
Your $40 ticket includes admission, a pre-signed copy of the new book, and a photo with Picoult. She apparently enjoyed her 2024 Des Moines visit enough that she specifically asked to come back and I love that for us.
| Wednesday, Sept. 23rd | 6:30 pm; Doors 5:30 pm | $40 | Franklin Center Auditorium | Tickets |
🐾 Pet Pick-Me-Up
Now get out there, Des Moines!
With local love,
Emily
AroundDSM
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