🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🫒 Restaurant Spotlight: With the fall weather finally here, I have the perfect meal recommendation for you!
🌉 Madison County Covered Bridge Festival: Celebrate one of Iowa’s most iconic fall weekends — food, music, art, and a whole lot of small-town charm.
💌 Help Us Grow: AroundDSM is brand new and powered by word of mouth! If you love discovering what’s happening around the metro, forward this to a friend or share the signup link. Let’s enjoy Des Moines together!
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
The Green Olive
#7 Gyro Kabob Royale
Two Locations - You have no excuse with two locations and delivery available with EatFuti. Southside on Fleur & West Des Moines off of Grand Ave.
Try the chicken shawarma wrap - trust me! While my #7 was delicious in every way, if you are someone that eats for the seasons, the chicken shawarma wrap’s warm spices bring all the cozy fall vibes.
It’s worth going right now because - the chill in the air + that wrap = heaven. While you are at it, grab an 8oz size of their green salsa. You won’t have enough with your meal and you’ll want to use it on your eggs the next day. It’s addicting.
🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
The best bets handpicked for your week.
Madison County’s Covered Bridge Festival | Winterset | An attraction since 1970, venture out for the bridges, music, parade, and over 140 food and craft vendors. Saturday 9am-7pm. Sunday 9am-3pm.
Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market | Now that it isn’t nearly as hot, it is the perfect time to venture downtown to the market. Fall hours are 8am-12pm until the season ends. There are only a handful more Saturdays left of the outdoor season. Season ends Oct. 25.
The Goonies in Concert with the Des Moines Symphony | Des Moines Civic Center | Can you believe this film is 40 years old? Bring your crew to watch the movie with the live symphony. | Saturday 3:30pm.
Slasher Movie Trivia @ Nightmare on Ingersoll | The Station on Ingersoll | Reserve a table by DMing @Nightmare on Ingersoll on Instagram or Facebook. Tuesday, Oct. 14 6pm.
Jasper Winery Cider & Pie Harvest Pairings | Jasper Winery | Include 4 hard ciders paired with mini pies from Once Upon an Apple Pie. Reservations only. | Thursdays-Sundays until November. $35/person.
If wine is more your thing, Winefest is hosting Pork & Pinot event at Middlebrook Farm in Cumming on Oct. 10. Cost is $60/person.
Stop wondering what to do and start doing. Pick one and make it happen!
📍New Around Town
Join the grand opening of Polk County Pickleball in Ankeny. It opens Oct. 11 from 11am-7pm. Free open play, snacks from Main Street Cafe & Bakery, and a drawing for prizes. Beginner lessons every hour. Located next to the Prairie Trail Sports Complex at 2222 SW Vintage Parkway in Ankeny.
🎟️ Reserve Tickets Now
Looking Ahead
🎭 Grab tickets to the Temple Comedy Series of 3 shows (Disenchanted the princess parody starts next week), the always-popular Triple Espresso show runs in Nov/Dec, Twilight Zone Unscripted begins in March 2026. Tickets for all 3 shows start at $97 and the first show starts Oct. 14th!
🐾 Pet Pick-Me-Up
It’s sweater weather!
Because We All Need a Smile 🧡
How about sharing furry faces in funny sweaters?
Send a photo of your pet in their best fall fashion or Halloween costume to [email protected] for a chance to be featured in next week’s newsletter!
I’ll kick things off with a pic of one of my crew. Check back next Thursday to see if your stylish sidekick made the cut. 🎃🐕🐈
Now get out there, Des Moines!
With local love,
Emily
AroundDSM
💡 Got a hidden gem? A cafe, band, or even just a quirky corner of Des Moines that we should know about? Reply to this email and share it with us. Your tip might end up in a future issue!
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