The Good Life in Des Moines

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Brandybuck

The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by Brandybuck »

Work will be sending me to Iowa soon, Two weeks onsite, two weeks back home, rinse, lather and repeat for several months. I know the old jokes about the lack of culture in the corn belt, but having been raised in a heavily agricultural area, I suspect there's an element of truth there.

So what is there to do in Des Moines or the surrounding area? Anyone have any idea what to see or do on the weekends? Any decent museums, historical sites, sightseeing, etc?
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Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by rogfulton »

It's been a few years since my wife (native Texan) and I went, but the Capitol tour should be well worth the effort.

Most counties have museums of local interest that can give you a feel for the area if you want to get out of Des Moines. As an example, the Wayne County museum in Corydon is about a 2 hour drive south of Des Moines and has a large section devoted to the Mormon Migration as well as an electric car that was developed there in the early '60s.

If you will be there in the spring, Pella (in Marion County) has a spring tulip festival. it's about 1-1/2 hours southeast of Des Moines. Knoxville, the county seat in Marion County, is home to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum. The link to the Wikipedia page is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_S ... %26_Museum.
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Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by Imalawman »

Uh...you should REALLY PM me. I happen to know Des Moines rather well. It's a really surprisingly fun town - great restaurants, lively downtown living, and great music. Perhaps, not a tourist destination, but it's really fun. In case you don't PM me, here's some fun things to do:

1. Restaurants - Splash!, Baru 66, Court Ave brewing, Lucca, Alba, 801 Chophouse just to name a few.

2. Music - Blues on Grand (well, it just changed names, but its a cool blues venue), Brickhouse, various outdoor festivals, Court Ave (weekend evenings)

3. Arts - The Civic Center always has a lot of great broadway shows come through, comedic events; the convention center usually has something going on, the Des Moines Art Center is a pretty good small city venue.

4. Sports - There's the Iowa Cubs, Barnstormers (arena football), Iowa energy (minor league NBA), the minor league soccer is a must miss.

Well, that's a start.
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Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by Kestrel »

Imalawman wrote:4. Sports - There's the Iowa Cubs, Barnstormers (arena football), Iowa energy (minor league NBA), the minor league soccer is a must miss.
Why does everyone keep omitting the hockey teams? I've had more fun at minor league hockey games than at any arena football or basketball game. Des Moines is home to the USHL Buccaneers. First 2011-2012 home game will be October 1st.
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Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by Cpt Banjo »

UGA Lawdog wrote:Real American men do not tolerate soccer.
Speak for yourself. Anyone with an appreciation for athletic skills and incredible stamina (you try running up and down a 105 meter pitch for 90 minutes (or 2 hours if the game goes to penalty kicks) with no substitutions or time outs) should tolerate it very nicely. It'll never replace baseball, football, or basketball, but it's a lot better than watching hockey or (yawn) Nascar.
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Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by Imalawman »

Kestrel wrote:
Imalawman wrote:4. Sports - There's the Iowa Cubs, Barnstormers (arena football), Iowa energy (minor league NBA), the minor league soccer is a must miss.
Why does everyone keep omitting the hockey teams? I've had more fun at minor league hockey games than at any arena football or basketball game. Des Moines is home to the USHL Buccaneers. First 2011-2012 home game will be October 1st.
HA, a Des Moines Bucs game is a very interesting experience. It's like something out of a movie. Lots of alcohol, cursing, and of course many, many fights.
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Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by Pottapaug1938 »

Cpt Banjo wrote:
UGA Lawdog wrote:Real American men do not tolerate soccer.
Speak for yourself. Anyone with an appreciation for athletic skills and incredible stamina (you try running up and down a 105 meter pitch for 90 minutes (or 2 hours if the game goes to penalty kicks) with no substitutions or time outs) should tolerate it very nicely. It'll never replace baseball, football, or basketball, but it's a lot better than watching hockey or (yawn) Nascar.
To me, it's every bit as boring as hockey, NASCAR, tennis or golf. I've heard people go into raptures over the athleticism of a 0-0 tie in soccer; but to me it's marginally better than watching the grass grow.
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Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by Judge Roy Bean »

Brandybuck wrote:Work will be sending me to Iowa soon, ...
What did you do to deserve that?
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Brandybuck

Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by Brandybuck »

Judge Roy Bean wrote:
Brandybuck wrote:Work will be sending me to Iowa soon, ...
What did you do to deserve that?
Not sure what I did wrong. Trying to figure it out so I can amend my ways... :?

Seriously, my job has me travel on occasion to clients on-site. This client happens to be in Iowa.
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Imalawman
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Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by Imalawman »

Judge Roy Bean wrote:
Brandybuck wrote:Work will be sending me to Iowa soon, ...
What did you do to deserve that?
Hey! There is nothing wrong with Iowa. Screw you Judge! :twisted:
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Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by webhick »

Imalawman wrote:
Judge Roy Bean wrote:
Brandybuck wrote:Work will be sending me to Iowa soon, ...
What did you do to deserve that?
Hey! There is nothing wrong with Iowa. Screw you Judge! :twisted:
Didn't someone send one of my Igors there?
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Nikki

Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by Nikki »

Imalawman wrote:Hey! There is nothing wrong with Iowa.
At least when you compare it to Camden, NJ.
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Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by Pottapaug1938 »

Nikki wrote:
Imalawman wrote:Hey! There is nothing wrong with Iowa.
At least when you compare it to Camden, NJ.
Even worse -- Elizabeth, NJ. I was there once, In January of 1976; and that's once too many.
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Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by The Observer »

webhick wrote:Didn't someone send one of my Igors there?
You referring to that combine harvester in the Witness Protection Program?
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Re: The Good Life in Des Moines

Post by webhick »

The Observer wrote:
webhick wrote:Didn't someone send one of my Igors there?
You referring to that combine harvester in the Witness Protection Program?
Details. He was replaced.
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