🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🚂 Broad menu, perfect execution: Looking for a fail-safe casual spot that your pickiest friends and family will love? Check out our restaurant spotlight 👇
🐾 Beware of the bark side: Dress up your pooch and grab some pup-kin treats at Paws & Pints!
⍰ Did you know? AroundDSM is a brand-new, locally made newsletter that helps you get out and enjoy the metro! If you love discovering what’s happening around Des Moines, forward this to a friend. Let’s enjoy Des Moines together!
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
Cobb salad with salmon
Reliably Delicious with Excellent Service - This is the kind of casual place you take a business associate or out-of-towners - pretty much anyone you want to impress. The bar area gives off a Cheers vibe which is welcoming and cozy.
Close your eyes and point! Check out the pictures on their website of the food. What you see is what you get! My go-to is the Vegetarian Pasta (peppers, zucchini, grape tomatoes, onion, mushrooms, and more) in a garlic butter and white wine sauce. I don’t miss the meat (but you can add it).
It’s worth going right now because - once you go for one meal, you’ll want to try them all! They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And they have terrific Thanksgiving and Christmas Take & Bake options if you are looking to serve delicious food without the hassle.
🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
The best bets handpicked for your week:
Grimes Annual Holiday Craft Sale | 801 W 1st St. Grimes | Prairie Creek Church hosts this kick-off to the holidays with handmade gifts, a bake sale, and breakfast and lunch options available on site. | Saturday 9am-2pm.
Halloween at the BOOtanical Garden | Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden | Spooky fun for all ages! Boos & Brews (Friday 7-10pm), Trick or Trees (Saturday 9am-4pm), and Eerie Evenings (select dates 6-9pm). | Ticket prices vary.
Night Eyes | Blank Park Zoo | A beloved tradition. Roam the grounds in costume with the animals, admire the festive light displays, and find all 15 animatronic dinosaurs on site. A fun family tradition! | Oct. 23-26th, 5:30-9:00pm | General Admission $10.
Trick-or-Treat with Your Pup | Paws & Pints | Free day passes for pups in costume, photo booth, trick-or-treat stations, and a costume contest with prizes! | Sunday 12pm-4pm.
Pumpkin Fest | Wilson’s Orchard & Farm, Cumming | Grab a flannel and get your farm on! Wilson’s has all the fall vibes: Pumpkin Candle Pour Bar, Blacklight Corn Maze, Pumpkin Bowling, along with live music, movies, and treats. | See the event for times & admission.
Stop wondering what to do and start doing. Pick one and make it happen!
Photo: Paws & Pints “Dogs in Costumes” (https://pawsandpintsdsm.com/events/)
🧸 Family-Friendly Pick
So much trick-or-treating, so much sugar! If you are looking for a non-candy option for Halloween fun, check out the Des Moines Children’s Museum’s Halloween Party on Friday evening. There will be a scavenger hunt, slime-making, sensory bins, and more! Sensory-friendly party hour is 5-6pm with the party continuing from 6-8pm. Costumes optional. Learn more about the Des Moines Children’s Museum here.
🎟️ Reserve Tickets Now
Looking Ahead
💨 Get through hump day next week with a pep in your step by grabbing tickets for Greensky Bluegrass at Hoyt Sherman Place. Bluegrass + Rock + Folk + Jazz. And fun covers! Show is Wed. Oct.29th at 8pm. Buy tickets here.
🐾 Pet Pick-Me-Up
Send your pet’s best fall sweater or Halloween costume to [email protected] for a chance to be featured next week! 🎃🐶🐱
Charlie 🎃
Living his best life
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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