🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🍔 A Des Moines drive-up classic where nuggets absolutely count as a side, especially when there’s ranch involved.
🚙 Grab your junkin’ crew! This weekend road trip comes with vintage finds, small-town stops, and plenty of room for unexpected treasures.
🎶 One Des Moines neighborhood is turning its porches into stages for an afternoon of free live music, food, and community fun.
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
B-Bop’s | Various locations around the metro |
Photo: Single hamburger, 6 piece nuggets with ranch, chocolate shake | Emily Johnson
Photo: Fish filet sandwich, fries, and a pop | Emily Johnson
🍔 My Order Has Basically Become a Science – My go-to is a single with everything, no cheese, plus a 6-piece nugget with ranch. Their ranch is so good, and because I can never decide between the burger and the nuggets, I’ve decided the nuggets are my side. Plus, added protein, so that’s a win, right? On our most recent visit, my husband went with the fish filet, fries, and a chocolate shake which is another B-Bop’s favorite for good reason.
🥤 Something for Everybody – The burgers are always popping up on “best of” lists, but our family has plenty of favorites beyond the classic single. My kids love the sloppy joe sliders, my husband occasionally splurges on the BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger, and that chocolate shake is hard to pass up. It’s fast, easy, satisfying, and one of those meals where everyone can find something they’re happy about.
🎶 A Little Trip Back in Time – B-Bop’s has been around since 1988, and I love that it still feels like a nod to the good ol’ days. The ’50s and ’60s music playing at the drive-up, the colorful patios, the walk-up windows — it has that old-school diner charm, just without the sit-down diner part. Grab it through the drive-thru when you need an easy dinner, or make it a little outing and eat outside when the weather cooperates. If you’ve never been, I’d put this firmly in the “Des Moines must” category. 👉 View the menu here.
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🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
Photo: Junk Jaunt
The best bets handpicked for your week:
🧵 Des Moines Area Quilters Guild Quilt Show | Iowa State Fairgrounds
Quilters, makers, and anyone who appreciates seriously impressive handiwork will find plenty to wander through at this three-day show. Expect member quilts, special exhibits featuring everything from star-themed designs to boro and sashiko, plus vendors, demonstrations, a Quiltmaker’s Market, and hands-on classes if you’re feeling inspired to try something yourself.
| Thursday–Saturday, Sept. 24th–26th | Opens 9 am Thursday | Tickets Required | Event Info |
🛍️ Central Iowa Junk Jaunt | Central Iowa
Grab your favorite treasure-hunting buddy and clear a little trunk space. This vintage-shopping road trip winds through Ames, Boone, Madrid, Nevada, Story City, Jewell and several other small towns, with stops at shops, barns, sheds, outdoor markets, and plenty of places where you never quite know what you’ll find.
My advice: choose a few must-stop spots, then leave room in the schedule for the places that catch your eye along the way. That’s half the fun of junkin’, right?
| Friday–Sunday, Sept. 25th–27th | Fri.–Sat. 9 am–5 pm; Sun. 11 am–3 pm | centraliowajunkjaunt.com |
💃 Big Band Swing Dance Party | Greenbelt Landing, Clive
Friday night plans, but make them swing! The Des Moines Big Band will provide the soundtrack while Heartland Swing offers basic dance lessons, so you absolutely do not need to know what you’re doing before you show up.
Dance if you want, or bring a chair and just enjoy the music. Either way, this sounds like a fun old-school way to spend a September evening.
| Friday, Sept. 25th | 6:30–8:30 pm | Event Info | FREE
🎶 Porchfest DSM – Waveland Park | Waveland Park Neighborhood
Porchfest is back and after last year’s turnout, they’re doubling the fun. Both 44th and 45th Streets between College and Forest will fill with live music, food vendors, neighbors, lawn chairs, and that easygoing block-party energy that makes this one feel especially Des Moines.
Admission is free, but bring cash to tip the musicians, plus a chair or blanket and your appetite. Bonus: bike racks will be available if you want to pedal over and skip the parking hunt.
| Sunday, Sept. 27th | 12–6 pm | FREE | wavelandpark.org/porchfest |
🎤 Tell It Like It Is: Iowa Storytellers Project “Voyages” | Hoyt Sherman Place
Sometimes the best night out is simply sitting down and listening to a really good story. Five Iowa storytellers will take the historic Hoyt Sherman Place stage to share personal stories centered around this year’s “Voyages” theme, with a team of local writers and journalists helping coach the tellers behind the scenes.
If you love live storytelling, personal essays, or events that leave you talking about what you heard on the drive home, put this one on your list.
| Tuesday, Sept. 29th | 7 pm | Tickets Required | Ticketmaster |
🐾 Pet Pick-Me-Up
Now get out there, Des Moines!
With local love,
Emily
AroundDSM
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