🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🍎 This apple fritter is basically layers of apples held together by donut magic.
🖤 Des Moines is getting a little weird this weekend in the best way.
🐶 Baseball + your dog + a pregame pup parade. Sounds like a solid Tuesday night.
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
Donut Hut | 4941 Douglas Ave, Des Moines |
Photo: Maple donut, Apple Fritter, Pink with sprinkles | Emily Johnson
Photo: Inside of Apple Fritter | Emily Johnson
🍎 Come for the donuts, but do not skip the apple fritter – Donut Hut is easily one of my favorite spots in Des Moines for a fresh donut and the apple fritter is the star. It is packed with apples — layers and layers of them — so dense, so good, and exactly what I want an apple fritter to be. On this trip, we also grabbed a maple donut, cherry donut, and a pink-frosted donut with sprinkles because my kids wouldn’t forgive me if I didn’t get some for them.
🍩 Classic favorites + plenty of fun choices – You’ll find all the traditional donut-shop staples like long johns, cream- and jelly-filled Bismarcks, fried turnovers, and pecan rolls, but there are plenty of less-expected options too. Think Snowball Bismarcks, Old Fashioneds, Tiger Tails, and flavors that change regularly. There are usually even more choices in the case than what you’ll see on the online menu, which makes standing there and adding “just one more” dangerously easy.
☕ The people are a big part of why I love it – Donut Hut isn’t fancy, and it doesn’t need to be. The owner and staff bring so much energy and kindness to the place, and they keep that line moving because they genuinely want to help as many people as possible. Insider tip: take a quick look at the menu before you reach the counter so you’re ready to order when it’s your turn. They also have coffee plus a cooler stocked with juice, milk, soda, Gatorade, and other drinks if you’re grabbing breakfast on the go. View the menu 👉 here.
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🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
Photo: World Oddities Expo in Philadelphia | The Philadelphia Inquirer
The best bets handpicked for your week:
🎬 Movies On the Yard: Cars 3 | The Yard at Johnston Town Center
Bring a blanket and/or lawn chairs and settle in for an easy summer night outside with Cars 3 on the outdoor big screen. Johnston High School PTO will be running concessions, with proceeds benefiting the organization, so your movie snacks are doing a little good too.
| Thursday, Aug. 20th | 6:30–8 pm | The Yard at Johnston Town Center |
🎨 Fused Glass Pocket Vase | Ridge Point Park Pavilion, Waukee
If you’ve been wanting to try something creative without needing any actual artistic skills, this is a fun one. Simply Glam Boutique is bringing back its popular fused-glass pocket vase class with all supplies included and no experience required.
The last local class sold out, so don’t linger too long on signing up.| Thursday, Aug. 20th | 7–9 pm | $45 | Sign Up Here |
🖤 Des Moines World Oddities Expo | Iowa Events Center
Des Moines is about to get wonderfully weird. The World Oddities Expo makes its first stop here with eclectic vendors, rare preserved specimens, workshops covering everything from taxidermy to miniature terrariums, plus live performers, guest speakers, and plenty of things you probably don’t encounter on your average Saturday afternoon.
Whether you love art, science, curiosities, macabre history, or just discovering something completely unexpected, this one definitely earns the title of experience rather than ordinary expo.
| Saturday & Sunday, Aug. 22nd–23rd | VIP $30: 10 am–7 pm • General Admission $20: 11 am–7 pm | Children 12 & under free |
🎶 Vibes in the Village | Simon Estes Amphitheater
Here’s a good reason to keep your Saturday going after the Downtown Farmers’ Market wraps up. Vibes in the Village brings live music back to Simon Estes Amphitheater with local artist Brian Herrin playing from noon–3 pm, plus food from East Village vendors and drinks from The New Northwestern.
Bring a blanket, hang out along the riverfront, then wander into the East Village for a little shopping, eating, or whatever else sounds good. It’s the first event of its kind at Simon Estes in seven years, which makes this feel like an especially fun return to the riverfront.
| Saturday, Aug. 22nd | 12–5 pm | Simon Estes Amphitheater |
🐶 ARL Dog Days | Principal Park
Baseball is better with your dog. For the final Dog Days of Summer this season, you and your pooch can watch the Iowa Cubs take on the Omaha Storm Chasers from the pet-friendly section, join the pregame dog parade on the field, and stop by the ARL booth for a bark-cuterie cup or raffle entry.
Your $16 ticket includes admission for you and your dog, a dog bandana, and the parade opportunity plus 100% of ticket proceeds sold through the ARL go back to pets in need. All dog owners will need to complete a pet waiver before entering, so stop by the ARL table outside Gate B when you arrive.
| Tuesday, Aug. 25th | Gates: 5:30 pm • Game: 6:30 pm | $16 | More Info & Tickets |
🐾 Pet Pick-Me-Up
Photo: Dog at Iowa Cubs game | Iowa Cubs Instagram
Now get out there, Des Moines!
With local love,
Emily
AroundDSM
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