🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🍔 The burger I ordered right before I went into labor is still my go-to order, and it's still that good.
🤘 Mastodon is bringing one very loud, all-ages Friday night to the Val Air Ballroom.
🇳🇴 Lefse, krumkake and Norwegian fiddle tunes make Taste of Norway the tastiest Saturday morning in West Des Moines.
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
Gateway Market Café | 2002 Woodland Ave., Des Moines |
Photo: Gateway Burger with cheddar and fries | Emily Johnson
Photo: Fish tacos | Emily Johnson
🍔 The Burger With a Birth Story – Some people have a lucky shirt. I have a lucky burger. Right before I went into labor with my daughter, I ordered the Gateway Burger with cheddar, cooked medium, with a side of fries. So on our most recent visit, I ordered the exact same thing. No contractions this time, just a really delicious burger. My husband went with the fish tacos (blackened tilapia, chipotle coleslaw, avocado and salsa), and we were totally satisfied.
🥗 Our Other Go-Tos – Honestly, the food here is always delicious, so it's hard to go wrong. Our family also loves the Pad Thai and the Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad. If you're bringing kids, the kids' menu is extensive enough that even the pickiest eater should find something to order.
📍 Easy to Get To, Any Time of Day – Gateway Market comes from chef George Formaro and the team behind Centro, so the quality isn't exactly a surprise. It sits just off Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway near downtown, which makes it easy to reach from pretty much anywhere in the metro. The café serves lunch and dinner daily, breakfast Friday through Sunday, and even has a small patio. 👉 View the menu here.
🤝 Partner Spotlight: heyhae Gel Nail Strips
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🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
Photo: Potato lefse demonstration | Daughters of Norway-Iowa Facebook page
The best bets handpicked for your week:
🤘 Mastodon with Deafheaven & Alcest | Val Air Ballroom, West Des Moines
If you like your Friday nights heavy, this one's for you. Atlanta metal heavyweights Mastodon are headlining the historic Val Air Ballroom, with Deafheaven and Alcest as special guests. That's three bands on one bill and a guaranteed ringing in your ears on the drive home.
The show is all ages, and doors open early, so grab dinner first and get there in time to catch the openers. Bring earplugs. Future you will thank you.
| Friday, Oct. 16th | Doors 5:30 pm; Show 7 pm | Tickets Required | Event Info |
🇳🇴 Taste of Norway | Valley High School, West Des Moines
Come hungry and maybe bring a cooler bag. The Daughters of Norway–Eva Nansen Lodge is selling traditional Scandinavian treats like lefse, kringla, krumkake, rosettes, kransekake and almond bars. There's also a Scandinavian café with coffee and baked goods, plus a live lefse-making demo.
Fiddlers will play Norwegian folk tunes all day while you shop rosemaling, nisse ornaments, wood carvings, jewelry, textiles and handmade gifts. Early holiday shopping, anyone?
| Saturday, Oct. 17th | 9 am–3 pm | FREE | Event Info |
🧶 Learn to Knit | Johnston Public Library
Always wanted to knit but didn't know where to start? This beginner-friendly class at the Johnston Public Library covers how to hold your needles, make a slip knot, cast on, and make your first knit stitch. It works whether you've never touched yarn or you're picking it back up after a few years away.
All supplies are provided, so just bring yourself. The class is for adults 18+, and registration is required.
| Saturday, Oct. 17th | 10 am–12 pm | FREE | Registration Required | Register here |
👻 Spooky Sip N' Thrift | Captain Roy's, Des Moines
Thrifting, but make it Halloween. Captain Roy's annual Spooky Sip N' Thrift brings in local vendors, spooktacular drinks and plenty of Halloween vibes. The vendor spots are already full, so expect a lot to dig through.
Costumes are encouraged, so this is a perfect excuse to test-drive your Halloween look a couple of weeks early. Grab a drink, shop around, and see what treasures turn up.
| Sunday, Oct. 18th | 10 am–4 pm | 1900 Saylor Rd., Des Moines | Event Info |
🎵 SPOOKY Musical Bingo | Big Grove Brewery, Des Moines
Bingo, but you're listening for songs instead of numbers. Elite DJ's is spinning the music for this Halloween-themed musical bingo night, with prizes, a costume contest, and plenty of laughs.
It's free to play, and donations are welcome to support the roughly 140 men and women who call the YMCA Supportive Housing Campus home. Big Grove is a restaurant too, so kids are welcome. Bring the whole crew! A fun Tuesday night that also helps neighbors? Easy yes.
| Tuesday, Oct. 20th | Doors 6 pm; Bingo 7 pm | FREE (donations welcome) | Event Info |
🐾 Pet Pick-Me-Up
Now get out there, Des Moines!
With local love,
Emily
AroundDSM
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