🎄 Merry Christmas, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
This week’s AroundDSM is a lighter one because it’s Christmas, and many of us are moving a little slower, a little softer. I still wanted to show up and share a few bright spots around the metro and a simple way to give back, in case you’re looking for something easy and meaningful.
However you’re spending the next few days, I hope they feel peaceful, connected, and full of moments that matter.
~Emily
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight - OPEN Christmas Day!
The Dam Pub | 2710 Beaver Ave., Des Moines |
A Place to Land on Christmas Day – If the turkey gets ruined like A Christmas Story, plans fall apart, or you simply don’t want to spend the holiday alone, The Dam Pub is open and welcoming you in. They’ll be open Christmas Day from 11 am–10 pm, offering a warm seat, good food, and the comfort of community when it’s needed most. Oh, and the special on Christmas Day is homemade goulash with garlic toast! 😋
Serving with Heart (Literally) – What makes this even more special? Every staff member volunteers their time so no one has to be alone on Christmas. It’s a choice rooted in kindness, generosity, and grace and a reminder that the holidays don’t have to look perfect to be meaningful. If you stop in, bring patience, tip well, and know you’re supporting a place that truly cares. ❤️
👉 See more on their website.
💛 Giving Back
Central Iowa Volunteer Hub | If you’ve been wanting to volunteer but aren’t sure where to start, the Central Iowa Volunteer Hub makes it easy. Powered by United Way of Central Iowa, this hub connects people with real, local needs everything from one-time opportunities to ongoing ways to serve.
You can filter by interests, availability, age requirements, and location, making it simple to find something that fits your life right now. Whether you have an hour, a weekend, or want to make volunteering part of your routine, this is one of the best places to find meaningful ways to show up for our community.
Explore opportunities here:
👉 volunteer.unitedwaydm.org
Sometimes giving back starts with just taking a look and letting something speak to you.
🎆 3 Ways to Ring in the New Year
Because there’s no one “right” way to welcome what’s next.
🥂 Go Out & Celebrate
If you want music, atmosphere, and a little sparkle without going all night, Noce is a beautiful option. Their late-night NYE show is already sold out (which tells you everything you need to know), but they’re also offering an earlier New Year’s Eve performance to kick off the night with live jazz, great drinks, and that intimate, candlelit Noce vibe.
It’s perfect if you want to feel celebratory and special — without committing to a midnight countdown in heels.
👉 Get details and tickets here: noce.turntabletickets.com🎲 Low-Key & Cozy (My Pick This Year)
I’ll be at home hosting friends and leaning all the way into cozy — snacks, 90s/2000s playlists, and a murder mystery night. We’re doing Unsolved Case Files, which are cold-case-style mystery games where you sift through evidence, read witness statements, and try to crack the case together.
Sometimes ringing in the New Year looks like laughter around a table, not a packed bar.
✨ Meaningful & Intentional
If you’re feeling reflective, New Year’s Eve can be less about celebrating and more about clarifying. A quiet moment with a journal, a warm drink, and a few good questions can be incredibly grounding.
Here are a few prompts you might try — no pressure to answer them all:
What felt most meaningful to me this year and why?
What am I proud of that no one else might see?
As I look ahead, how do I want to grow — gently, not urgently?
You don’t need resolutions. Just honesty. Sometimes naming what you want more of is enough to start moving toward it.
Stop wondering what to do and start doing. Pick one and make it happen!
🐾 Pet Pick-Me-Up
However you’re spending this week, I hope it feels peaceful, warm, and connected.
With local love,
Emily
AroundDSM
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