🌟 Good morning, Des Moines!
Your weekly nudge to get out, feel connected, and love where you live.
In this week’s AroundDSM:
🍸 A tucked-away Clive restaurant with a swanky vibe, seriously good food, and a happy hour worth knowing about.
🎡 The Iowa State Fair is back. Come for the food on a stick, stay for the people watching.
🌳 Make something pretty for your window! This Friday night workshop involves copper wire, colorful beads, and a little creative therapy.
🍽️ Restaurant Spotlight
Aura | 12851 University Ave. #400, Clive |
Photo: Cubano sandwich | Emily Johnson
Photo: Tiramisu | Emily Johnson
🍸 Don’t Let the Strip Mall Fool You – Aura is tucked into the corner of a strip mall near Anglo International, but once you step inside, the vibe changes completely. It feels swanky and elevated without being stuffy. I’ve enjoyed their catering at events before, and the food has always been inventive and beautifully executed. Their bartenders deserve a shoutout too! They are knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely helpful if you’re deciding what to order.
🥪 A Menu That Makes Choosing Difficult – The menu includes tapas like ceviche, Korean fried cauliflower, ginger pork dumplings, and caprese lavash to lunch entrées, salads, and handhelds. On this visit, I went with the Cubano — shredded pork, Black Forest ham, Swiss, stone-ground mustard, dill pickles, and Cuban bread with fries and could not say “no” to taking a slice of tiramisu home. Dinner gets even more tempting with dishes like Tomahawk Pork Chop and Duck A L’Orange, so this could easily work for lunch with a friend or a nicer night out.
🍷 Put Happy Hour and the Wine Dinners on Your Radar – Happy Hour runs Monday–Saturday from 3–5:30 pm with $2 off draft beers, $6 well drinks, $8–$10 signature cocktails, 30% off bottles of wine $50+, and reduced prices on select appetizers. Aura also hosts monthly wine dinners, and Aug. 20th’s theme is especially fun: the Iowa State Fair. Chef Sean Clemons is giving favorite fair foods the Aura treatment including “Purple” Ribbon Potatoes and a housemade corn dog paired with wines selected alongside locally owned Ruby Fine Wines and Ciders. Fair food, but make it fancy. View the menu 👉 here.
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🎉 Top 5 Things to Do
Photo: Giant Side
The best bets handpicked for your week:
🎡 Iowa State Fair | Iowa State Fairgrounds
It’s officially that time of year when eating something on a stick before noon feels completely reasonable. Pick your version of fair fun: Grandstand concerts, carnival rides, local beer at the Iowa Craft Beer Tent, fair food, people watching or, realistically, a little of everything.
If you haven’t made your fair plan yet, this is your sign. I’m planning on getting an All-American Scrambled Egg Roll from Winn & Sara’s Kitchen.
| Thursday, Aug. 13th–Sunday, Aug. 23rd | Times vary | Admission varies | iowastatefair.org |
🌳 Make a Tree of Life Suncatcher | More Pieces Retreat Center, Winterset
Spend Friday evening slowing down and making something beautiful. In this hands-on class, you’ll use copper wire and glass beads to create a Tree of Life inside a 3-inch metal hoop, choosing your own colors and following along step by step.
The class is limited to just 15 people, so it should feel relaxed and personal. And a practical tip from the organizers: if you need glasses for close-up work, bring them!
| Friday, Aug. 14th | 5:30–7:30 pm | $38 | Register here |
🇮🇳 India Day 2026 | Living History Farms, Urbandale
Come celebrate India’s rich culture with an afternoon full of food, music, color, and community. India Day brings together cultural performances, authentic Indian food, a bazaar and shopping, henna, art, activities, and plenty to explore.
This sounds like an especially fun pick for families or anyone looking to experience one of the metro’s biggest cultural celebrations.
| Saturday, Aug. 15th | 11 am–5 pm | Living History Farms |
🎸 Gladys Lite | The Soggy Frog Marina Bar, Saylorville Lake Marina
Live music just hits differently when there’s a lake in the background. Gladys Lite aka Sons of Gladys Kravitz is making its first appearance at The Soggy Frog Marina Bar with acoustic rock classics and, according to the band, a healthy dose of “inadvertent comedy.”
Grab a drink, settle in dockside, and enjoy an easy summer Saturday night by the water.
| Saturday, Aug. 15th | 7–10 pm | The Soggy Frog Marina Bar |
🧘 Free Sunday Yoga on the Patio | Big Grove Brewery DSM
If your ideal Sunday starts a little slower, Big Grove has you covered. Their free outdoor yoga series continues with a gentle, restorative class that welcomes all ages and skill levels.
Bring your own mat, grab a friend, and get in a little movement before the rest of Sunday begins. Free plans are always nice. Free plans that leave you feeling better afterward? Even nicer.
| Sunday, Aug. 16th | 10–11 am | FREE | Big Grove Brewery DSM |
🐾 Pet Pick-Me-Up
Not a real dog, but it’s State Fair time! I had to! 🤭
Now get out there, Des Moines!
With local love,
Emily
AroundDSM
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